Read Novel Full Chapter 288
Chapter 288
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Chapter 288 – Rad Nogmaia
It was a small building that looked like a storage shed and was filled with gardening tools.
Stepping inside and sliding the floorboards aside as instructed revealed stairs leading down into the basement.
A soldier usually guarded the entrance to this hut.
Since the guard was on forced patrol, descending the stairs revealed a cell and, beyond it, a slightly larger room.
Though barred, the room was cleaner than expected and furnished with a bed, a desk, and enough furniture for everyday living.
There, sitting on the bed and hugging one knee, was a young man.
“Hello.”
When I spoke, he slowly turned his gaze toward me. Ah, I see.
He looked to be in his mid-teens, yet he seemed lifeless.
His face looked like he’d already given up on life.
Well, judging by what the guard said, I suppose it couldn’t be helped.
“I don’t recognize you. It’s a bit early for lunch, isn’t it?”
“Sorry, I’m not here to bring you food. Are you Rad Nogmaia?”
“That’s me. Who are you?”
“I’ve come to decide whether to save or kill you.”
“?”
“Hmm… Give me a moment.”
Glancing around, I saw it again—the wooden box near the front of the cell.
First, I’d need to stow this nuisance out of the way, and then I’d finally be able to see properly.
―Investigation―
Ah, this is probably the truth.
This boy is just a victim, and he is “white.”
“I’m sorry for bringing back unpleasant memories. Just to confirm, you are the sole survivor of the Nogmaia family, correct?”
“Yes. My father, mother, and brother were all slaughtered. Many of the servants who worked for us had their heads cut off right before our eyes.”
“The ones who killed them were Ash Bernard and Ask Bernard, the older and younger brothers, respectively, correct?”
“There were others in the Bernard group, too. I’m sorry; my memories from that time are hazy, and I don’t recall their names.”
“No, it’s fine. By the way, do you know why you’ve been kept alive?”
“To make me a puppet and keep the Nogmaia family line alive, I suppose? I’m bound by slave magic, so I can’t even kill myself. If things become inconvenient, I must report to the kingdom that my father and brother, who were blamed, died of illness.”
“Is that so… By the way, if those brothers cast the slave magic, it should have been forcibly removed by now. I killed both Ash and Ask.”
Clatter!
On the expressionless face, on the body as still as if frozen solid,
Clearly, a fire had been ignited.
“I-is that… true?”
“Yes, it is certain.”
“Then I no longer need to lie about my family’s deaths. I no longer need to pile up more sins.”
Tears quietly fell through the gaps between his trembling hands, which covered his face.
In a faint, quivering voice, he murmured, “I can finally be at peace.” Those words were impossible to easily dismiss.
They didn’t contradict the “truth” revealed by the man calling himself the deputy commander. If the content was exactly as stated, then it must have been an incredibly horrific scene for the boy, who was only in his early teens at the time.
But one thing needed to be confirmed and conveyed.
After that, whatever he chose to do, he should be free to decide for himself.
“There’s one thing I need to confirm.”
“…”
“You haven’t left this room once since you were imprisoned about two years ago. Is that correct?”
“That’s right…”
“Then I’ll tell you about the ‘outside’ as it is now. Until today, this entire town was like a prison, just like this place. Once you entered, only a few could ever leave. Anyone who tried to escape by force had their legs cut off and was locked underground, just like you. I’ve already rescued them, but honestly, they were treated far worse than you. They were used as playthings for all kinds of human desires, regardless of age or gender. Merchants and hunters alike were exploited, leaving the town in ruins. Yet, the nation has dumped all responsibility for these problems onto the late lord, who no longer exists.”
“Th-the Nogmaia family…how utterly pathetic…”
“But strangely, I never heard anyone speak ill of the lord.”
“Huh?”
It really is a strange story.
I haven’t had much contact with this town, but the inns with fewer customers and the restaurants and stalls with dwindling business…
Everyone seemed resigned to this situation as unavoidable. I saw no signs of anger directed at the Lord for being unable to improve things.
“I don’t know if it’s because the Bernard family was truly that terrifying or if the lord was simply someone no one ever expected much from. Or perhaps he possessed enough virtue to be forgiven.”
“You don’t mince words, do you?”
“This isn’t the time for such leisurely talk. The evil lies with the Bernard family, not the Nogmaia family. Besides, it seems the townspeople don’t even know your father is dead.”
“That makes sense. Those people needed someone to blame, so they would have concealed the fact of his death as much as possible.”
“Meaning, if you were to step up now, the townspeople would likely follow a new lord.”
“New lord…?”
“If we’re talking about the Nogmaia bloodline, wouldn’t that be you? Your family was killed. But you brought in mercenaries from outside and wiped out the Bernard family. From here on out, you’ll be the one leading this town.”
The script doesn’t matter as long as it resonates.
What matters is clear change. When that happens, those dissatisfied with the status quo will hope for more. Once results matching those hopes start to appear, the people below will naturally become motivated.
“I want the town to be vibrant again! Even if people mock it as a small, rural town, I want to bring back the days when we all helped each other. But I have nothing left—no one to serve me and no money to start with.”
“Well, that is certainly a problem. So, shall we try going back to your house first?”
“Huh?”
“Your family home, where Bernard’s brother, Ash, lived until this morning.”
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