Overpowered Reincarnation Perks! - Chapter 16.5
If their only purpose was to capture and imprison the rebels, there would be no reason to broadcast to everyone like this. Only those with strong camaraderie would get angry, otherwise, the chances of people running away would be higher.
The one they’re aiming for, while taking on this risk, is probably me, not Arvan.
‘The commander thinks I’m the culprit who killed the lord.’
If Arvan volunteered to go, they might judge that the desired negotiation is impossible and try to kill him instead. It’s safest and most certain if I go.
“Callion.”
I only called his name, but as if his old trauma had resurfaced, Callion turned pale and grabbed me.
“Ju-in, I can’t leave you behind. You said you wouldn’t abandon me…”
“Callion. Don’t you have confidence in protecting me?”
“Huh?”
“I need someone to take me to the square and protect me from being threatened by soldiers while I talk to the commander. I want that person to be Callion.”
Telling Callion, who wants to avoid danger, that I’m going to walk into danger alone wouldn’t work at all.
So I have no choice but to say it like this.
“Protect me, Callion.”
“…Understood.”
It was Arvan who was flustered by Callion’s answer. He urgently grabbed my hand and tried to stop me.
“Ju-in, no.”
“Arvan, come with us too. It’ll be more reassuring if both of you protect me instead of just one.”
“Ju-in!”
“You said you trusted me. I’m the only one who can negotiate with the commander.”
Probably.
The color drained from Arvan’s face. He was calm when he said he would go alone, but why does he look like he’s about to die when it’s me?
“Ju-in. I didn’t give you my heart so you could manipulate it like this.”
“You’re the one who approached me, saying you liked me, knowing what kind of person I am.”
“…You’re quite cruel, you know.”
“Am I as cruel as you, who tried to leave me behind and go alone?”
Hit right on the mark, Arvan frowned and rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand, seemingly at a loss for words.
“How could I ever abandon you?”
When I reached out to Arvan, he sighed and fell into my arms. Leaning my back against Callion while hugging Arvan, I feel a chilling sense of guilt. But I decided to be satisfied with having gained the cooperation of both men.
“I’ll entrust the remaining people to Durak, Mr. Valt, and Mr. Welga. I’ll definitely succeed in the negotiation and bring back our dead comrades’ bodies, so please trust us and wait.”
“Uh, okay…”
“Alright, I got it. It’s not like anything will change right away if we don’t run away now.”
Unlike Mr. Valt, who nodded dazedly, and Mr. Welga, who sighed as if he couldn’t stop us, Durak looked back and forth between me, Callion, and Arvan with his mouth wide open.
“Wait, hold on. John… What’s the relationship between the three of you now?”
That’s none of your business, so I’d appreciate it if you’d stop being curious about it.
***
The crowd in the square was even more incredible than yesterday. It seems that the ‘execution’ rarely seen inside the castle has drawn tremendous interest from people.
[There are a total of seventeen in the group of vicious traitors. We will now execute them as an example, right here.]
“Kill them! Kill them all!”
“Blow their heads off one by one!”
“Rip open their chests! Show us their hearts!”
Cheers could be heard from everywhere. The beast luring operation was canceled, and there was a fire in the central palace last night, so they probably want to relieve their anxious feelings by watching this stimulating scene.
I understand that sentiment, but I don’t know why they’re so eager to see severed heads that they’ve gathered here in such numbers since early morning, leaving no room to step. Isn’t it horrifying?
“Callion. I think we need to get closer to the execution platform for my voice to be heard. Can we move forward?”
“Yes. I’ll clear the way.”
“No, don’t use violence!”
When Callion put his hand on his sword hilt without hesitation, I hurriedly stopped him. Then Arvan handed me a white magic stone.
“Ju-in. Use this.”
“What is it?”
“An amplification magic stone.”
The one the commander used earlier. I heard it’s extremely expensive and rare, so how does Arvan have something like this? He’s not even a beast hunter, isn’t it hard to get magic stones?
“If you’re not going to use it, should I?”
“Ah, no. I’ll do it.”
I held the round magic stone in my right hand and brought it to my mouth.
Ah ah. Mic test.
[Stop!]
I thought it would be quite loud up close since the sound travels far, but surprisingly, it was only slightly louder than my normal voice.
But it clearly reached far, as I could see the soldiers carrying coffins for the execution flinch.
[Stop disgracing the dead any further.]
I called out, pretending to be solemn. It’s a bit embarrassing since it’s my voice. Maybe I should have let Callion or Arvan do it.
But since I decided to step up, I had to do it properly. I can’t hide behind someone else when it’s my plan.
[The fire that broke out in the central palace last night was not a simple arson crime by ruffians.]
“Wh-what? Where is that voice coming from?”
“Ah, over there!”
Starting from around me, the crowd slowly parted, opening a path. I cleared my throat and continued speaking as I slowly walked forward.
[The beast luring operation announced in the square yesterday has a fatal flaw. You might think it would be easier to target and repel with the castle’s power if the monsters grow by eating each other, but that’s a miscalculation. A collective beast is incomparably stronger than ordinary monsters.]
Judging by how the castle’s investigators frantically tore off their buttons and threw them away, it seems they didn’t know that beast collectives become unbelievably strong.
They’ve probably never caught a beast themselves, so they must have just observed from afar as the monsters grew by eating each other and reported roughly.
[The beast luring operation was enough to put the castle in danger. The castle’s leadership pushed you into danger without proper verification. Don’t trust them.]
No matter how I look at it, these guys seem crazy from their eyes, I don’t understand why the residents trust them so implicitly.
Sure, the soldiers are young, tall, slim, and handsome, but there should be a limit to how much appearance can cover up.
“Who is that young lady? How does she know such things?”
“What nonsense… Oh!”
“That face. I’ve seen it before! It’s the intruder!”
Someone recognized me and pointed.
It seems no one taught them that it’s not polite to point fingers at people. It’s a pity. I feel sorry for them, and it would be nice if I could just snap that pitiful human’s finger backward, but unfortunately, I don’t have such an ability. Let’s just ignore it.
[Yes. I am an outsider, an ‘intruder’ from outside the castle.]
“Aaaaah!”
The people who had cheered at seeing corpses now screamed in terror and moved away from me. The narrow path to the execution platform suddenly cleared wide open.
‘Am I some kind of monster? Why are they screaming?’
Judging by how they’re retreating, it seems I wouldn’t have needed to bring Callion and Arvan as bodyguards anyway, as no one would have dared to approach me.
MeryS28
Thanks for the chapters ♡♡♡