640 Multi-end Day ③ - Gazran-Rutim, Kaku Talk

Waiting in the castle town conference hall were the figures of Malstein and Polearth and being messengers from the King's Capital.

It didn't explain what kind of person he was, but I think he was about my age and a fairly skilled person.

From what I hear, a messenger who tells you about a fire emergency doesn't let Totos pull his luggage, spans his back, and travels from town to town.

In doing so, I hear that you are dressed in a costume that is a testament to the messenger, and that you hold very little copper coin. If you're wearing that outfit, they don't need to have copper coins in order to be taken care of for sleeping in guard stuffs, dormitories, etc., in every town.

I guess not having a copper coin is a precaution to avoid being attacked by bandits and such.

Also, it seems that harming such an early-running messenger is considered a very heavy sin under the laws of the kingdom.

Attacking an early-running messenger will not earn you a copper coin, and you will also be guilty of an extremely heavy crime. In that way, you're protecting the messenger from the outlaws. Such a messenger even carries a serious mission, so it's a natural story.

Nevertheless, we have to make it through a long journey by ourselves, so it seems to me that the messenger will be chosen a man of inflexibility. It was so rare that some of the soldiers of the King's Capital, who once visited Genos, might have so much power.

- I'm sorry, the story suddenly went off the sidelines. Without Donda-Lou and the others getting angry, I'm going to move on.

The first person to cut out the story was Pole Earth.

"As a matter of fact, the other day, a major earthquake collapsed the mines where the great criminals like Zulo-Sung and Shiruel worked."

That's what Polearth said as he lowered his eyebrows looking so sorry.

"Oh, a mine is a place to mine the original minerals, such as iron and copper. Minerals are things that sleep deep down in mountains and valleys, so it takes a lot of work to dig them out."

"Does the mine and its collapse mean - Zulo-Sung et al., it's been buried alive?

It was Graph-Zaza who responded accordingly.

It's usually Graf-Zaza, who leaves Dari-Sauti and me to respond, but Zulo-Sung was a former blood clan, so I guess he couldn't keep his mouth shut. Polearths nodded, "Yes," as he became such a weak face.

"They were sentenced to hard labour. Among the mines, among other things, he worked in collapsible and dangerous places. Still no way, I wasn't supposed to really collapse or anything..."

"No such explanation is necessary. Zulo-Sung was... supposed to give his soul back?

Graf-Zaza was burning his eyes in a mess.

While under barometric pressure by its force, Polearth shakes his head with a "no".

"Fortunately, he took a life. He said he was going to break bones everywhere, underneath a crumbling rock bed... miraculously, you seemed to have survived."

"... well. By abandoning his corrupt life, he would have finally regained his original power."

"Yeah. If you were a concurrent person, you were talking about being sure you were dead. The toughness of a hunter by the woods is unparalleled."

Then Dari-Sautti raised his voice as if he was going to blame.

"So what was it for us? If Zulu-Sung is still alive, it doesn't seem like we have much to talk about."

"Yeah, that's... very hard to say..."

With that said, Polearth asked for Malstein and the messenger.

Malstein is smiling quietly and the messenger looks at us as he explores. Neither of them tried to open their mouths, so I kept looking like Polearth was all I had.

"Zuro-Sung has suffered a severe hand injury. Looks like you're going to need all year to regain your original strength. So... at this point, Zuro-Sung was offered to give his soul back..."

"What?," Graf-Zaza said quietly.

It's quiet, but I think the passion was boiling down in those eyes. Polearths, too, couldn't help but lay his eyes down.

"I don't know. What is that about? Would Zulo-Sung have been sentenced to hard labour, not death?

Dari-Sauti kept her deposition, but she still has a strong light in her eyes. And Donda-Lou was sending more gaze to Malstein and the messenger.

In the meantime, Polearth answers resolutely.

"This is what the Inquisitor of the King's Capital said. If there is no longer any power left to commute the sentence of hard labour, should we redeem our sins by returning that soul?"

"But after a year, will the power return? Zulo-Sung had been given a ten-year sentence, so shouldn't he be punished again after his return to power?

"Yes, so this is a story of warmth towards Zulo-Sung."

"Temper?", Dari-Sauti narrowed her eyes.

Pole Earth nods, "Yes."

"The story went back and forth, but Zulo-Sung said he showed remarkable work when that ground tremor broke out. I don't know the details, but it seems that Zulo-Sung's support saved many sinners and guard soldiers."

"Does that mean... that Zulo-Sung is going to take a deep hand in saving other humans?

"Yes, instead of saving so many humans, it seems that Zulo-Sung suffered such a deep hand injury by running late. If he hadn't tried to help others in the first place, he wouldn't have been buried alive."

That being said, Polearth revealed his expression.

"That should have been a commendable act. So the Inquisitor of the King's Capital also felt like giving Zulo-Sung some warmth."

"... taking a life becomes a temper?

"Yes. Even when it comes to taking lives, they're talking about giving death from poisoning, not the beginning or the decapitation. It's a special poison for Sims, who can give his soul back to sleep without suffering. … it is the most affectionate death ever inflicted on a person who is noble among sinners."

Inside the hall, it's been quiet for a while.

Dari-Sauti is thinking, and Graf-Zaza is silently eating up his teeth. The more I was likely to hear that backtooth tone, Graph-Zaza was in a tremendous shape.

"… then I would also like to suggest it here"

A while later, it was Donda-Lou who raised his voice.

"If we're going to give Zuro-Sung some temper, I'd like him to commute the sentence of hard labour, as first arranged. Even for Zuro-Sung, that would be the most desirable."

"Again... does Lord Donda-Lou seem that way, too?

"Naturally, if we can return to our homeland in ten years, there will be no more joy than that. No matter how tranquil death is, if you return your soul, you will lose your way to the joy of it."

Polearth nodded loudly, glancing at Malstein.

Malstein opens his mouth for the first time with a gentle grin as usual.

"Me too, I returned the same words. But they couldn't accept that word."

"... why is that?

"Well, it doesn't seem to make sense to nurse a great sinner for a year."

To Malstein's euphemistic rhetoric, Donda-Lou was snorting.

"I'm sorry, but I want you to speak in a language that we can understand. What do you mean it doesn't make sense?

"Nursing a great sinner will require tremendous effort and expense. First we have to keep watch to prevent escape, and we need medication and doctors to do that. If it lasts a year, it's gonna be a little hard to look at."

"That is -" Graf-Zaza gave his bottom voice.

"Are we talking about losing a whole lot of life rather than spending such a lot of effort and expense...?

"No, you can't blame the Inquisitor of the King's Capital for that. I'm guessing he made that decision with respect, not malice."

Malstein put both elbows on the table and his mandible over his combined hands.

"There is no such thing as generous nursing given to a major sinner who was physically injured in prison. Even if minimal treatment is offered, the rest will just be put to sleep in jail. So if you give your soul back, that's what Western gods think."

"Then you can treat Zuro-Sung that way too"

"Then Zulo-Sung is sure to lose his life. Not only did he break bones everywhere, but he also suffered severe lacerations all over his body."

Mulstein laughed softly, overlapping words that way.

"I've never seen a prison or anything like that in my life, but I'm sure it would be a miserable environment. If you are put to sleep in such a place without all kinds of nursing, you should be returning your soul after suffering. I suppose the Inquisitor of the King's Capital thought that it would be sneaky to inflict such suffering on Zulo-Sung that he saved not only the sinners but also the soldiers on the lookout. Otherwise, there's no reason to go out of your way to commit death."

"So... that's how you say it's only warmth that can be given to Zuro-Sung, huh?

"Mm-hmm. I believe that's how Zulo-Sung's deeds also moved the hearts and minds of the Inquisitors of the King's Capital"

That's what I said, Malstein woke himself up.

"Now let me ask the chiefs by the woods. Will you accept this offer from the Inquisitor of the King's Capital?

Graph-Zaza answered "No" immediately.

"I can't accept a story like that. Are there any differences, Dali Sautti in Donda-Lou?

"No," Donda-Lou replied in a low voice.

Dari-Sauti also nods silently.

"The three chiefs' views were unanimous. Even if it's warmth, we can't accept it."

"So what do you think we should do? No matter how tough the hunters around the woods are, they can't heal their wounds just because they're sleeping."

Graf-Zaza suddenly punched his fist in his lap.

Polearths was shaking his body terribly, but I think it's splendid that he didn't raise his voice. He's a lot of people with liver too.

And, when I think of it that way, Graf-Zaza has turned his eyes like fire.

"Gazran-Rutim, what do you think?

"Yes. May I make my point?

"I'm so boiled down in the contents of my head, I can't think. If it was you, I'd be able to show you the right way."

It was only an honor to have Graf-Zaza say these words.

Since there seems to be no difference between Donda-Lou and Dari-Sauti either, I have made my own point.

"Well, thank you. Earlier, you said it didn't make sense because nursing a major sinner for a year would be very laborious and costly... could you give us a little more details about that?

"That means there's no point in spreading such hassles and costs. As I said earlier, there is no precedent for generously nursing a great sinner who has served a hard time sentence."

Malstein answered that.

"The mines that have been redeemed to them are places where we can only hope for results that are not commensurate with our efforts. If you heal Zulo-Sung's wounds, for example, you'll be able to work again in a year's time. You've already completed nearly a year in prison, so you've got about nine years left. The cost of a year of treatment may be better than the results obtained in those nine years. So nursing Zulo-Sung doesn't even make sense in that sense,"

"I see. A hard sentence is a harsh punishment."

That's how I answered.

"So if we cover that cost, will we also be allowed to treat Zulo-Sung? Is there even enough copper coins to prepare something called a soldier or a doctor on the lookout?

"Hmm," Malstein smiled with her eyes narrowed.

"Of course, as long as there is a copper coin, it will be possible to accommodate the people and equipment needed for treatment. But when it's a year's worth, it should be huge."

"It can be difficult to pay for it all together. But it seems possible on several occasions."

That's how I turned my gaze back on the Chiefs.

Dari-Sauti is looking back with an eye that includes laughter.

"I see. If you can save Zuro-Sung's life with copper coins, it's cheap. Fortunately, thanks to Asta, we've just earned some copper coins."

"Yes, there will be no compatriots who speak out against this act"

And Malstein said, "Is that okay?" I've been asking.

"Zulo-Sung should be the great sinner who betrayed his fellow countrymen by the woods. Are you going to pay for a giant copper coin to save such a great sinner?

"We only sincerely hope that Zulo-Sung will redeem his sins. Is there something wrong with you?

Donda-Lou replied that way on the top of the Buddha.

"If Zulo-Sung was returning his soul in that earthquake, there is nothing else to accept that it is the contrition of Mother Forest and Western God. But if you don't have to let a copper coin die, then you don't have to."

"Right. Admitted."

Malstein looked back at the messenger.

"As you heard, the forest chiefs seem to feel the same way about me. I would like to convey my best wishes to the Inquisitor"

"What?", Graf-Zaza glanced.

"Wait, Lord Genos. What does the same feeling mean?

"That's literally what I meant. I also told the Apostle in advance that if we were to talk enough about copper coins and silver coins, it would be done in Genos."

"Yes!?" It was Polearth who shouted out loud.

"Hey, wait a minute, Lord Genos! I didn't hear a word of that!?

"I'm sorry, but I wanted to know what the Chiefs meant. He seems to have an incompetent temperament, so I let him lie down."

"It's terrible! How do you think I feel about being here?

Polearths had swept away like a child.

Donda-Lou is rubbing his mandible and twisting Malstein.

"As always, you're an eating man. What would you have done if you had stated that we would abandon Zuro-Sung?

"Of course I was going to take down my own words, too. If the people of the woods don't want it, it's not worth spending Genos' budget."

"Budget? Is that about copper coins?

"Mm-hmm. The cost of nursing Zulo-Sung will be taken out of Genos' assets. Zulo-Sung was a people of Genos before he was a people by the woods, so it's natural, right?

Saying with a cool face, Malstein stood up.

"That's all for today's talks, then. I'll take the rest of the story, so I want them to get on with their original work."

◇

"... that's how today's talks are supposed to end early. The reason I came home late was because I was exchanging a few words with Polearth afterwards."

Behind the stall, Gazran-Rutim turned a series of stories in those words.

"Thank you for your time and even the finer part. Gazran-Rutim's memory and reproduction are the same."

"I'm sorry. Maybe you're not very good at summarizing the story."

That said, Gazran-Rutim smiled loosely.

"So far, Zulo-Sung seems generously nursed. It seems that if you pay for the copper coin, you'll be able to keep it going."

"Really? Good.... I'm so glad"

That's how I was supposed to bow my head to Gazran-Rutim.

"Thank you, Gazran-Rutim. I really wondered what would happen for a while."

"Yes. With that mouthful, did Asta already hear about the mine collapsing?

"Oh, yes... actually, I am. It wasn't a definite story, so I kept it quiet from everyone..."

"Then let me also say a word of thanks from me. If we had spread the word with uncertainty, I'm sure Oura and Zwei would have had sleepless nights."

Gazran-Rutim smiled softly.

But I'm not in the right position to be thanked.

"It wasn't me that wanted that, it was Yamil-Ray. I thought I should let the Chiefs know, even if it was uncertain."

"Really? So Asta chose a place like this to talk."

Such a place meant behind Yamil-Ray's working 'Giba-Man' stall. It must have been overheard by Yamil-Ray and the Dagola ladies who are helping it.

"Rest assured, Yamil-Ray.... and I have to go right into the woods after this, so can I tell Zwei from you?

Yamil-Ray has put this one on his smooth shoulder.

"Do I have the strength to tell such stories? Both me and Zuvai-Rutim are cut off from Zulo-Sung's blood?

"Yes. But you were caring about Zwei's mood, too, weren't you? I feel the same way, so I hope you tell Zwei"

Yamil-Ray didn't say yes or no, but he finally turned back to the front.

In the meantime, I'm going to have my luggage ride home with Zwei-Rutim.

"Hey, it's Gazran-Rutim. If we don't get back, we'll be past Jomtien, okay?

And, from the luggage truck packed behind me, Darum-Lou flew out a sinister voice.

Gazran-Rutim nods "yes" towards you.

"Now, if you'll excuse me. I'm going to ask Zwei what happened in the lodging town at night."

"Yes. Thank you for your time.... Oh, wait a minute!

To Gazran-Rutim, who took Totos' reins, I call in haste.

"I didn't get a whole lot of talk about Silhouel, but how was that one? Was he safe?

Gazran-Rutim, "Oh," clouded his brow.

"Speaking of which, I also called Malstein and asked him about it. I should have told you that much."

The feeling of that voice allowed me to roughly anticipate the continuation of the words.

And Gazran-Rutim said the words as expected.

"Silhouel said he was being put to work in a different mine than Zulo-Sung... but that was more devastating and that a large number of sinners and soldiers alike had been buried alive"

"So... you didn't help?

"Yes, maybe I should say that I was officially missing because I couldn't confirm my life or death... but Silel was put to work deep inside something called a pit, so he said it was a helpless situation first"

At the end of the day, I was to be beaten.

To the best of my knowledge, Silhouel is an extremely evil man. He was like a symbol of all calamity, assassinating his real father and eldest brother and driving the fate of his second brother, Cycleus, and hence the Sung family, crazy.

(Cir 'el's sentence was twenty years, so it should have been more desperate than Zulo-Sung, but...)

Still, the loss of life in an accident was a painful story.

Moreover, on the same day, Cycleus, his real brother, also took a deep toll, which caused him to return his soul.

In this world, the earthquake is called The Turning Around of Ameshorn. By the return of Ameshorn, the father of the four great gods, the two great sinners were to return their souls. If it is Alishna, the astrologer, can we find any meaning or reason there?

"... Silel's soul would also have been judged by Western God. As the last remaining great sinner, Zulo-Sung wants us to redeem our sins within our lifetime."

Gazran-Rutim smiled at me and then stepped out.

"Now, if you'll excuse me. Look at Zedias' face again when you have time."

"Yes, please be careful. Thank you for everything."

After I dropped off Gazran-Rutim, I gently slapped myself on the cheek and then decided to head back to Fay-Baim's waiting stall.

Whatever it is, Zuro-Sung's path to survival remains. Right now, I wanted to congratulate you sincerely on that.

And after that, Levi and Lars were also left facing each other at Kimmus's Tail Pavilion.