Chapter 51

In the mean time, Cody, who had cut a deal, immediately readied himself to make his next move before the appointed time, but he was called to a halt.

【”C, captain Cody….”】

【”Hmm? What do you want?”】

【”…is it true that Harold is going to be executed?”】

Said Sid nervously. And Cody confirmed his worries.

【”It seems like it.”】

【”…..–!”】

【”… I don’t want Harold to die. But I just can’t forget the scene from that day…”】

【”The one we saw at that time was not the Harold that we know….”】

【”Tell us Captain, which one is the true Harold?”】

【”What? How would I know?”】

【”As if you could guess what Harold is like after knowing him for no more than a few months. That’s quite superficial of you, isn’t it?”】

【”So, you can only judge him based on what you’ve personally felt and seen. If I told you to give up on Harold’s life, would you consent to the execution? And would you stay true to that choice to the very end even when you’re asked for help as sparks of fire fall on his body?”】

【”So, what will you do? And remember, the criteria here is whether having faith in Harold will allow you to have faith in yourselves or not, alright?”】

Seeing his chance to act, Cody parted from his seat and invited Walsh to follow him to the counter with a hand sign. There, he whispered to him while including the shopkeeper to the conversation.

【”Alright, he should be drunk enough, let’s start the plan.”】

【”Hold on. What plan?”】

Walsh, who was only told to invite Finnegan there for a drink, promptly interjected. He was seriously lacking explanations.

【”Well, it’s nothing difficult. I just want you to ask him a question ―― and make him drink this”】

【”So, what is it you want to know?”】

【”There is that one subordinate of mine who is likely going to have his head sliced off because of an inexplicable judgement. I want to learn the truth of the matter from the people who were involved in the deliberations.”】

【”Even if you do that, you can’t overrule the decision of the council.”】

【”I’m well aware of that. It’s just some useless resistance on my part.”】

【”But you could end up in some serious trouble, too. If you overlook this situation, you might get caught, you know? Don’t you mind that?”】(Cody)

【”Hah…… shut the hell up and mind your own business, will you?  I just have to ask him about that deliberation, is that it?”】

【”Oh man, a friend in need is a friend indeed, am I right?”】

【”Maybe I should go home after all”】

【”Wait, I was just kidding!”】

For Cody, getting Walsh’s cooperation was the ideal scenario.

【”There you go”】

【”…Thank you”】

【”That thing the other day was really terrible.”】

【”…..terrible?”】

【”You were commander of the expedition, right? Who could have seen that coming”】

【”That thing….”】

While Finnegan was completely lost about what to answer, his eyes gradually turned blank under the effect of the medicine.

【”No we didn’t decide that… But that person said Harold was dangerous. Therefore, so that he wouldn’t kill my wife, for Cynthia’s life….”】

【”Who said it? Dangerous in what way? That has nothing to do with you wife, right?”】(Walsh)

【”…ah yes, it’s not related to her… But still, it’s no good. Harold being alive is no good. I could have opposed the judgement, but my child will soon be born….. So, I had to….”】

【”…..ah, aaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAH! AAAAAH!”】

【”Hey wait…!”】

【”What are you doing?!”】

The duo pulled him from both sides to stop him from inuring himself. Even so, Finnegan was violently swinging his head left and right as he continued letting out that bizarre voice.

【”…He’s alive”】

The shopkeeper had gone out, and for a short while, no sound could be heard in the room. As if he couldn’t bear this anymore, Walsh broke the silence.

【”What just happened?”】

【”…… I don’t know. All I can tell is that it can’t really be justified by the medicine’s effects.”】

There was no illusion or confusion factor in the medicine he made Finnegan drink. And drinking it with sake was fine as well.

【”The Finnegan from earlier was nothing like his usual self…”】

【”I know right? It’s as if he was “possessed by a demon”.”】