"Hey! Stop!"
Shirone took a step forward and shouted.
Gamose looked at Shirone with a ridiculous expression. Wondering what a clueless guy jumped in, but in reality, he was just a teenager still, even holding a basket in both hands.
"What's the matter, kid? Where did this brat come from?"
"Please, let go of that woman. Everyone is watching, and the guards will be here soon."
"Haha! Guards? Do you know who I am?"
"What difference does it make if I know who you are? If you keep doing this, I'll go personally and call the guards."
"Mmm…."
As Gamose loosened his grip, the woman quickly darted behind Shirone. Despite being a child, among the many people in the crowd, Shirone was the only person she could trust.
"Please, save me. This man was trying to..."
Gamose frowned and stepped closer.
"How pitiful, you're making me angry. Hey, kid, I'm a merchant here in Galliant Island. That woman stole my stuff. She tried to steal fine porcelain and broke it."
"Eh? Porcelain?"
Shirone blinked. If the man's words were true, then the woman behind him would be a thief.
Ultimately, trying to get compensation with her body because she tried to steal something was an ambiguous situation to take sides in.
"That's right. Of course, I asked for her body on the premise of the ceramics. But since she broke my stuff, shouldn't she compensate in some way? If you call the guards, she will be the one arrested."
When Shirone turned around, the woman, who looked him in the eyes, quickly averted her gaze.
"Is what he said true?"
"Yes, I'm sorry. But I really needed that ceramics. I really need it."
"Hahaha! There's no case in the world where someone absolutely needs ceramics. If you need something, it's money. I was just trying to help you make money. See, kid? It's not good to get involved with women like her. Of course, unless they're looking for a partner for the night. Isn't that right, folks?"
The onlookers laughed along with Gamose. It wasn't a particularly funny situation, but it was because the tension, which had been overlaid with various factors, was relieved all at once.
"It seems you came to hang out with your friends, so why don't you hurry up and cook something delicious? This is what happens when you carelessly meddle in adult affairs."
The woman tugged at Shirone's sleeve and pleaded.
"Please, don't leave. I don't know what that man will do if you leave."
"Why don't you confess? If you talk to the guard, it will be resolved."
"I absolutely can't. That man has strict control over this island. Please, believe me."
"How much is the ceramics?"
"I don't know the exact price, but I'd say around 50 silver coins."
Shirone was lost in thought. It's not difficult for him to fork out 50 silver for a woman. But is it really right to pay compensation just because he has money? He thought that just as he had no right to judge another person's sins, he also had no right to forgive another person's sins.
Shirone made a decision and approached Gamose.
"I'll compensate for the ceramics instead. So please let this woman go."
Gamose squinted in surprise. Of course, 50 silver coins aren't much money for nobles. But what could be the reason for him to protect the woman even against his powerful position on Galliant?
"Ahh, I see you want to take her for yourself? Well, where could a kid like you get such beauty for only 50 silver coins?"
Shirone's forehead wrinkled. He felt uncomfortable with Gamose's words, who only saw things from a lustful perspective.
"I don't think like that. Do people think everyone is like you?"
"Then why intervene? This woman is a thief. You could hand her over to the guard, and it'll be fine."
"Whatever this woman has done, it's not for me to judge. However, the reason I'm willing to use 50 silver is that I believe she shouldn't pay a higher price for the crime she committed. If you plan to do something else to this woman, please accept this money and let her go."
The woman who heard Shirone's words brightened her eyes as if she realized something. Gamose, on the other hand, snorted.
"Just pay 50 silver."
"Here, 50 silver coins. Now, please let the woman go."
Gamose stared at the silver coin in Shirone's palm.
To be honest, he couldn't feel good about this situation. The woman was too precious to let go, and he didn't like Shirone's attitude.
"From his point of view, he seemed like an ignorant child who lost his senses due to the woman's beauty.
"No need for money. I have plenty. But I have a condition."
"Condition? What is it?"
"I know you're a brave man who sacrifices for a woman. So, can you apologize to me on her behalf? I mean, bow your head to me in front of everyone."
The attention of the spectators centered on Shirone. It was uncommon for someone to accept another's humiliation, but Shirone stepped forward without hesitation.
"Alright. If that's what it takes for you to forgive her, I'll apologize."
"Don't just speak, bow. I want a very sincere apology."
Shirone bowed deeply.
"I apologize on behalf of this lady for stealing the ceramic. Please forgive her."
"Mmm."
The man lowered his eyes arrogantly and looked at Shirone. Then, he burst into laughter and stepped forward, throwing a hook.
Seeing the fist speeding towards his eyes, Shirone reflexively stepped back. The man's large hand whizzed by, nearly grazing his nose.
"What—what are you doing?"
Gamose clicked his tongue as if expecting this and pointed at Shirone.
"See. You dodged it? You didn't really feel sorry. If you had taken the hit, you might have saved the woman. But you dodged it. You were afraid of getting hit. See now? The world isn't so easy. If you can refute it, do so. You're just pretending to be good."
People agreed with Gamose's words. If Shirone really wanted to save the woman, he could have closed his eyes and taken the hit. But Shirone dodged it. In the end, that meant he was hypocritical.
Scornful voices flew from here and there.
"He seemed so virtuous, but now he shows his true colors. I thought he was a saint."
"Anyway, kids these days are so rude. They think acting like this makes them look cool."
Shirone couldn't understand the crowd's reactions.
"What's wrong with me dodging?"
"You don't even know how to be embarrassed! Everyone watching is disappointed in you. You acted like a great apostle of justice, but it was all a pretext!"
Shirone's face turned embarrassed.
"What are you talking about? Doing good deeds, even if they're just for show, is much better than doing evil like you, isn't it?"
"What? That's..."
Gamose was speechless. Even those who had been ridiculing them couldn't hide their confusion.
The woman, who had been observing the situation from a distance, came to a conclusion close to certainty.
"My assumption was correct. This boy... is a mage.
A mage doesn't ask 'Who is the right answer?'. What they questioned was 'What is the right answer?'.
This boy doesn't rationalize himself. His method of recognizing facts and inferring the correct answer was a common thought process among mages.
The woman mocked the speechless people.
'Hmph, none of you thought to help, you just want to denigrate another person's good deeds, that's why you're unsuccessful.'
Anyway, now it was time for her to make her move. While everyone's attention was on Shirone and Gamose, it was best for her to slip away.
The woman, slowly moving along the wall, quickly disappeared around the corner.
Meanwhile, Gamose's face was flushed. From his entrance until now, the boy who had been constantly offending him was now insulting his worldview.
All in front of numerous people.
"Kid, it seems you've picked the wrong person."
Gamose's voice dropped heavily. It was his original voice, stripped of the merchant's facade. Then, the sharp-witted bodyguards drew the swords they carried around their waist.
The intention to kill is only a concept, but it is a force that affects reality. Simply the presence of a sharp long sword in the space makes a human imagine death.
"Why are you just standing there? Go and beat him up!"
Following Gamose's instructions, the bodyguards rushed from left to right. They wouldn't hastily kill someone, but they were ready to strike if necessary.
At that moment, dirt and dust flew into the bodyguards' eyes. Another stone flew and struck the forehead of another bodyguard.
Shirone looked towards where the stone had flown. In the alley, the woman from before was standing, holding a bunch of stones.
She kept throwing stones. As the bodyguards hesitated and stepped back, she grabbed Shirone's wrist and ran down the alley.
"Let's run! Follow me this way!"
"Huh? Excuse me..."
Shirone knew from the start that the woman had left, yet he pretended not to know because he thought it was for the best.
Gamose, with whom he held a direct conversation, was someone who would make a woman pay much more than the punishment for her sins.
"But why did you come back?"
"Quickly! It's a headache if you get tangled up with them!"
The two ran through the alley that seemed like a maze. Thanks to the woman navigating the intricate path, they disappeared from the sight of the bodyguards in an instant.
Gamose's voice came from the marketplace.
"Go and catch them all! I'll ruin them completely!"
***
The warehouse was filled with a feverish heat of violence. Falkoa's kicks mercilessly crashed against Jiss's side as he fell to the ground and curled up.
Each blow felt like his heart stopping. He was so overwhelmed by fear that he couldn't even remember where he was being hit. The only sensations he could perceive were pain.
"You piece of trash. You like getting beaten, huh? Hmm? You must like it. So, you'll get more."
Jiss's friends were crouched in the corner of the warehouse.
Their eyes were swollen from crying, but the tears showed no signs of stopping.
"Please forgive us! We'll go out and earn some! He'll die at this rate!"
"Oh, really? So, from now on, do you want to get beaten?"
Their friends' bodies froze. Falkoa's face, with wide-open eyes, looked like a demon.
If he wanted, he could kill Jiss as much as he wanted. But Falkoa deliberately avoided hitting him in the face. That fact was even more terrifying.
Falkoa grabbed Jiss's hair and pulled it forcefully. Despite being completely exhausted, Jiss sprang to his feet.
Although he wasn't hit in the head, his eyes were vacant. It felt as if his brain was paralyzed due only to mental shock.
"I-I'm sorry. I did wrong..."
"Does it hurt? Huh? Tell me. Does it hurt? Does it hurt?"
Falkoa slapped Jiss on the cheek. Although it wasn't a particularly powerful attack, Jiss convulsed each time he was hit. His friends burst into tears again at the sight of him.
killing someone.
Falkoa kicked Jiss to the ground. It wasn't for any particular reason.
If he had to question it, was it because he felt the effect of the drug he was using was diminishing?
"You returned 5 gold because your pride was hurt? Well done. Very well done, Jiss."
"I'm sorry! I'll never do it again!"
Jiss felt aggrieved. He wanted to fight back. But he was too terrified. Faced with Falkoa's madness, his pride was useless. He felt he could do anything if only he could get out of here."