REAPER SCANS
Is It Bad That the Main Character’s a Roleplayer
[Translator – KonnoAren]
[Proofreader – Loopin]
Chapter 232 | Full of Suffering (5)
“You don’t regret it?”
I lifted my head at Kim Tae-kyun’s question. Realizing it lacked context, he quickly added what he’d left out.
“Deciding to sponsor them.”
A cigarette was in his hand, still unlit.
“Put that away.”
“Huh? Why?”
“You said you were quitting.”
“…I remember you were still debating whether to quit while in the share room, and now you’re actually doing it?”
“Of course I am. Did you think I was lying?”
Kim Tae-kyun’s mouth went agape at my words. It wasn’t an unreasonable reaction. Until recently, I’d been a pack-a-day smoker. Half a year ago, I’d even smoke two packs a day, sometimes three.
“Since when?”
“A month ago?”
“No way. Are you serious?”
I mean, what clearer way to mark a fresh start than by quitting smoking? That was why I’d suddenly stopped cold turkey, and it’d been my driving force to keep going ever since.
I snatched the cigarette from the dumbfounded Kim Tae-kyun’s hand and shoved a carrot stick into it instead. Now holding an orange vegetable, he stared at it blankly.
“You can just quit overnight?”
“As you can see.”
Actually, it was really hard for me. But how could I have gone back on my word after saying I would do it so confidently?
Especially when my dad personally handed me a pack of carrot sticks every day.
“You crazy bastard…”
“You might as well quit too. You’re the only smoker left among us.”
“And how the hell am I supposed to do that? People who actually quit are the weird ones here!”
“What nonsense are you spouting? You just have no self-control.”
I wrapped his crushed cigarette in a tissue I carried around before putting a carrot stick into my mouth. The crisp crunch it made after being bitten was a solid substitute and also great for cleansing my palate.
“You’re seriously insane…”
After seeing me do it, Kim Tae-kyun reluctantly bit into his own carrot stick as well. “How is this any good?” I’d always found it funny how a guy so obsessed with tea leaves couldn’t stomach vegetables.
“I won’t regret it.”
As for the sponsorship… At first, I wasn’t sure if it was the right choice, but now, I was certain. I knew I’d never regret this.
“Even though you were in so much pain?”
After hesitating for a moment, Kim Tae-kyun turned his head away and asked bluntly. Despite knowing he wouldn’t see it, I nodded.
“Yeah, even though it was painful.”
“Shit, shit. You, you’re really…”
Crunch, crunch. The carrot stick crumbled to pieces and disappeared into his mouth.
“You’re really a damn pushover.”
“I guess so.”
“Who worries about the kid of a criminal… especially when they were the victim…?”
“But the kid was too young to be left alone.”
“The remaining family should take care of them, then!”
“There’s no one. I checked. Aside from the dad in prison, that kid has no other family.”
And I was the one who’d sent their only family to prison. My parents were the ones who’d ensured he would get the maximum sentence without a chance for settlement.
“For fuck’s sake, why did you even look into that?!”
“Yeah. I wonder why.”
Honestly, I didn’t really feel bad about not settling.
Well, it was his own fault that he was serving time. And getting the maximum sentence was precisely what he deserved, perhaps even insufficient, after destroying my dreams and throwing my life into the gutter.
“…There are tons of kids out there. Kids left alone because their parents died or got locked up. So why that kid? Why, why the kid of the bastard who did that to you…?”
But what about the kid left behind? The one who now had to survive alone?
The one who’d had no choice but to rely on that kind of person as their family. What crime had they committed?
“But I saw them.”
I had no obligation to take responsibility. I knew that. What happened to that kid wasn’t my fault, and I had no duty to care for them. I was just the victim.
But still…
“I already… knew they existed.”
But yeah. I just ended up feeling this way.
I couldn’t really help it.
“How am I supposed to ignore that?”
I just wasn’t the kind of person who could find happiness while carrying someone else’s misfortune.
“Idiot.”
“I know.”
“Damn pushover.”
“That’s a bit too much.”
“…You really won’t regret this?”
“Yeah.”
And so, I smiled at my wavering friend.
“I learned from you all just how rare true selflessness is. I learned how desperately a helping hand is needed when times are toughest. How could I regret this after learning all that?”
Or perhaps I was actually smiling at the person peering into my memories.
My friend’s face crumbled away.
.
.
.
「If only you’d been selfish, it would’ve been easier. If only you’d cared solely for yourself. If that were the case, then I…」
I blinked at the deep darkness.
Was I sleeping, dreaming, or had I simply seen too much? Either way, I felt rather strange.
「I don’t know what the right choice would’ve been.」
But even while feeling like that, even in this world filled entirely with darkness.
「Back then, I-I truly thought that was the only way.」
The figure before me remained clear.
「…But one thing is certain: you’re a good person. Someone too good to have ever been our participant in this bet.」
Ash-gray hair, and pale cheeks untouched by anything. Eyes of the same color. A neat appearance wearing something reminiscent of a uniform. And…
「That’s why, at the very least, I want to make sure you can return.」
And…
「Blame me for my silence. Everything is my fault. Every hardship, trial, and suffering you’ve endured. It all started with me. I’m the cause. I-it’s all because I’m a bad person.」
…Ah. I see.
「So please… stop trying to know more. You only need to resent me. Don’t seek beyond that.」
You, you’re just…
「Ignorance will be your salvation.」
Just…
「…I’m sorry.」
I didn’t avoid the hand reaching for me. Rather, it might be better to say I couldn’t. Not that it really mattered.
My vision plunged into darkness. I was falling again.
* * *
Ah, at least the part that needs to be erased is clear this time. Tsk. Last time was such a hassle…
「…」
Why the long face? You’re the one who made the decision. Or are you just pretending to look pitiful to win Gretchen’s sympathy?
「Shut up. I know better than anyone that I don’t deserve sympathy. I just… just… Forget it. I’d rather bite off my tongue and die than talk to you.」
Oh… Then you should probably just go ahead and do that right now. Wow, I’d be so grateful.
「Get lost, you worm.」
Don’t forget. The mortals might be leaving the vessel alone for now, but if they decide to carry out the execution before leaving this place, then…
「…」
Tsk. More than that. I’m really looking forward to seeing how Gretchen will react. Will he, who has no memory of any of this, still refuse the execution even after hearing from the mortals that he went on a rampage?
「…Wait, don’t tell me you erased this too?」
You fool. I made a bet, remember? Until we leave this place, I won’t tolerate any sort of threat.
「That’s cheating!」
What are you talking about? It’s your fault for not setting the contract terms properly. How is this cheating?
「You…!」
More importantly, ah. He’s finally coming to his senses. Well then, let’s see how this plays out.
* * *
Reaper Scans
[Translator – KonnoAren]
[Proofreader – Loopin]
Join our discord for updates on releases! https://dsc.gg/reapercomics
* * *
‘Wake up, you idiot. I already told them to execute you, so just follow through with it like the pushover you are!’
Clank. The sound of metal pierced my ears the moment I awoke. My eyelids, which I instinctively tried to open, were pressed against something that made the task impossible.
That’s when I got this ominous feeling.
Clang.
Just in case, I tried twisting my body a little. It didn’t feel like I was lying down, but sitting… I couldn’t feel my limbs, though. I could tell I was exerting some strength, but there was no sensation of movement. Even attempting to move was strangely exhausting.
My lips and cheeks felt pressed and pulled, making me wonder if I had something in my mouth.
“Hmm?”
The problem was that this felt oddly familiar.
Yeah, this felt weirdly similar to something I’d experienced about 150 chapters ago. In particular, the sensation of having my limbs restrained and something stuffed in my mouth—
“What is it?”
“It’s nothing, just, it seemed like he was moving…”
—Wait. This wasn’t just similar, but literally the same thing. Was I seriously restrained for real right now?
I became aware of new voices filtering through my covered ears. A person’s voice. My thoughts started racing.
What’s the last thing I did? I got my ass kicked by a lava Demon, then I sent up a signal flare.
And after that? No idea.
So why was I (presumably) restrained? Again, no idea… but honestly, the possibilities were pretty limited. I probably lost control and went on another rampage. I didn’t remember [Rage] activating, though.
On another note, hearing voices around me and realizing I’d been restrained likely meant the situation was over. At least that part was relieving.
To be honest, when I collapsed, I figured there was a real chance the city would get completely wiped out. However, if they’d still had enough strength to subdue and confine me, they’d at least avoided total destruction. That was really good.
“…He’s not moving, though?”
“Was it just my imagination…?”
So, now what? Should I listen to those around me to gather information, or should I just let them know I was awake?
I hesitated, then finally chose the latter. Staying like this was just too stuffy. My neck, especially my neck, felt restricted.
Clang.
“Oh! He’s moving!”
“H-he’s awake!”
“…H-huh?”
I moved my head, trying to scratch my ticklish throat. There was definitely something around my neck, because every time my cheek brushed against my shoulder, I felt something hard blocking my movement. It was suffocating.
Clank!
“Mister!?”
It itched. More than that, I couldn’t breathe. It was too tight. Too constricting. Someone, untie me. I didn’t care about anything else, just my neck, please…
Clang!
“Mister!”
If only my hands had been free, that would have been so much better. But I couldn’t even reach my own throat like this.
I twisted my head, squirmed my body, and then fell forward.
Clatter. A dull pain spread across my shoulder and head as metal rattled wildly in my ears.
“Damn it! Mister! Mister, can you hear me?!”
“Wh-what? Why is he doing that?”
No. No. I hated this.
I couldn’t breathe.
“Wai@#$% rel##$&$it!”
“#@$^! Re@%*$em!”
“#*%&@##&%!!”
“@@#*@#&@&%!”
Clatter. Clank.
“@#$%&%%^#$!”
“#$^&#@!”
“#@%&$^#$—!”
I struggled helplessly. I couldn’t breathe properly. I had to breathe through my nose, but that wasn’t what was blocked…
My throat, my throat felt like it was being strangled.
“#@%^%$#$!”
At that moment, one of the dozens of voices drew closer. Something pressed down on my body. I didn’t like that. I tried to push back, but there were too many hands, and one of them grabbed my neck.
Clank.
One of the things that had been around my throat was removed. Finally.
“Unt$%#@.”
“Sto#@%%@#$.”
And then the pressure on my mouth vanished. “*@#@#.” The owner of an unfamiliar voice pulled me upright. But my throat still itched.
“Sir#@%^Sage! Watch out…!”
“#@%^%$. @%%@#$is so dang@%%@#$s? He’s %&$^#$panic#$%&%%^#$. What’s wr#$%&%라.”
“#$%.”
I could finally breathe again. But it was still suffocating. It felt like something was still there.
I tried to rub my shoulder against my neck, trying to find whatever might be causing this. Clatter! But before I could do that, the restraints on my arms disappeared.
My hands immediately reached for my neck.
“%%^#$.”
“%&$^#$.”
It’s itchy. It’s so damn itchy…
I pulled off the bandages and scratched my neck. Even though the metal thing that had been choking me was already gone, it was still difficult to breathe. Something was still there. It was still itching.
“Tsk. @%%@#$ seriously @%%@know#$?”
“…I didn’t@% this#^$.”
“#@$lam, an$#^alk.”
“Hmm, based on si^$#@ would it$%^# lea#@$% it alo#@$%?”
“#@hat if messing #@$%@# for his neck#@$%.”
“We #@$ it up. $#@^@# mess with it## @#$% could get seriously #@ore. @#$ patient #^might still #e strong# than &^$$#.”
Crunch. Finally, warm liquid touched my fingertips. But even then, the suffocating feeling didn’t go away. If I scraped off all the skin, maybe I could finally prove nothing was there. I dug my nails in deeper.
Only after my fingers were utterly drenched in blood did the itchiness finally begin to fade.
“…Yeah, I guess it’s best not to touch his neck anymore.”
The voices around me finally started sounding clearer. I focused, trying to catch words through the ringing in my ears. Not to touch. Best. Those were the words I managed to make out.
“M-mister.”
The words that followed were easier for me to understand. I was still focusing on the words when I suddenly realized this voice was very familiar.
He was alive.
“I-I’ll take off the blindfold now…?”
Beeeeep. The ringing in my ears was still there, but I could tell the voice sounded cautious. I noticed a faint movement before my eyes. Swish. The cloth blocking my vision slid down.
“Mi…ster.”
And then I saw the people behind the gaunt Deathbringer: soldiers gripping their weapons, inquisitors, priests, wizards, knights.
But all of them looked utterly terrified.
“Mister, are you alright…?”
“How many did I kill?”
The sight alone made it almost certain for me.
“How many did I kill?”
It seemed I was supposed to die here.
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