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Chapter 73 Part 4 – The Tragic Caterpillar Doll Room

「That’s crazy. …… That’s not something an adult should do …… Oh God, please give salvation to their miserable souls ……」

Even the officials of the Inquisition fell to their knees and prayed to God.

Were these young lives born only to be played with by these bastards?
Just for the sake of their amusement, these people can be so cruel. This truth crushed the hearts of the adults.

「…… The smell in this room comes from the process of mummification that is done in a foreign kingdom. They must have treated the children so that their body wouldn’t decay after they died. This is not the kind of knowledge that a mere Inquisition officer can have. This increases the possibility that the guy that did this is『that guy』.」

The brown-bearded Bill sighed and added to the white-bearded Brian’s explanation.

Then the brown-bearded Bill spread his cloak on the floor and told the black-bearded Bobby to put the boy down there. It was the least he could do. The mayor stepped forward and put his jacket on the miserable body of the boy that was gently laid down. The brown-bearded Bill looked at the boy with a sad expression then after a while his eyes shook from the shock.

「…… You …… Could it be that you are …… Rona’s younger brother …… Teddy?」

The brown-bearded Bill saw his similarity with Rona’s face and asked him. The boy slightly nodded with a pale face.
The shadow of death had already appeared on him. There was nothing they could do to save him.
The terrible truth made the eyes of the black-bearded Bobby and the white-bearded Brian widen in shock. Their faces were distorted with sorrow.

「…… It’s too cruel. How are we supposed to tell Rona about this ……」

The black-bearded Bobby groaned in anguish and covered his face with both hands.

「Rona …… She was looking forward to seeing you again so much. I can’t possibly tell her about this ……」

The black-bearded Bobby was about to cry.
The white-bearded Brian patted the black-bearded Bobby on the shoulder and they exchanged places.

「…… Teddy. If there’s anything you want to say, I’ll listen. We are Rona’s acquaintances. She was worried about you and asked us to find you and your brother.」

The white-bearded Brian’s words made the boy’s dying and empty eyes lit up.

「…… Older sister’s …… acquaintances ……? Is …… she …… okay ……?」

Teddy asked hoarsely.
The three old warriors nodded in response.

「Rona has recovered from her injuries. She’s become so beautiful that it’s hard to recognize her. Right now, she’s staying at our friend’s place. She cried all the time, saying that she told terrible lies to her younger brothers and left them. She wants to meet her younger brothers, apologize to them, and make them happy this time for sure.」

Teddy smiled.

「…… I’m glad …… sister …… as long as she can take care of herself …… sister will be …… more beautiful than …… anyone else ……」

Then tears streamed down from Teddy’s eyes.

「…… I knew …… that you were lying …… long ago …… I know that …… you did that to …… save me ……. It’s all …… my fault ……」

Teddy then pleaded desperately as if wringing out the rest of his remaining life.

「…… Ronny …… He tried to protect sister Rona and me …… and was threatened by the Inquisition official …… He ended up doing what the Inquisition asked him to ……!! Even though he cried and said that he didn’t want to do it until the very end ……!! I’m sorry ……!! If you want to hate someone, just hate me ……!! Please, I beg you ……!! Please forgive Ronny ……!!」

Forgetting the intense pain, Teddy spoke all at once with the determination that he could not die until he had told the truth.

His bravery touched the hearts of the adults.

The town mayor quietly spoke up.

「…… We should forgive him. Let’s show this brave child that there are not only bad adults in the world, but also adults who are a little better. Otherwise, as the adults in charge of this town, we can’t face this child.」

The influential people nodded quietly.
They realized that the one they should hate is the Inquisition official that took advantage of the bond between the siblings.

The town mayor knelt beside Teddy and spoke to him.

「I am the mayor of this town. I promise on my honor to not hold Ronny accountable for his crimes. None of the grown-ups here are so petty that they can’t forgive Ronny. Be proud, you have touched our hearts. Thanks to your words, the town can avoid a strife filled with hatred. You saved this town.」

Teddy smiled from the bottom of his heart after hearing the mayor’s words.

「…… Thank you …… very much …… I’m glad …… I could be of some help …… in the end …… Please …… take care of …… sister Rona and Ronny ……」

「Leave it to us. In the name of the Hydrangea Imperial Guards, we promise that we will protect both of them.」

At the vow of the three old warriors, Teddy’s eyes widened and his mouth opened with surprise.

「…… It seems like a lie …… I never thought that …… I’d be able to meet people from the Imperial Guards …… in a place like this …… It has always been …… my dream …… to join the Imperial Guards ……」

The white-bearded Brian nodded and spoke gently.

「Well then. In that case, with my authority as the instructor, I will create a special quota and put you in. However, the training will be tough. Be prepared.」

The black-bearded Bobby’s eyes turned red, but he tried his best to hide it and said in a cheerful tone.

「It’s a piece of cake for our daughter, Marielle, to heal your injuries. She did a great job healing Rona’s terrible injuries. That’s why you should hurry up and get your body back in shape and join the Imperial Guards. I’ll be waiting for you with a welcome feast.」

It was a sad lie.
Even the healing techniques of the 「Lawless Crew」 could not possibly heal this much damage.
Above all, the three old warriors knew from experience that Teddy would pass away soon.

The brown-bearded Bill spoke last.

「I was the one who went with Rona to pick you guys up. I was looking forward to seeing you because Rona told me that she had a younger brother with great potential. Be prepared. From now on you will be our disciple. We will make you a full-fledged warrior, no matter what it takes.」

Teddy’s consciousness was beginning to become cloudy.
At the words of the three old warriors, he saw a vision of a bright future.
He saw himself at the head of the parade holding the flag of the Imperial Guards.
Amidst a flurry of colorful confetti, Teddy waved to the crowd.
Amongst the crowd were Rona and Ronny with a proud smile on their faces as they watched over him.
Then Teddy made a vow inside his heart as he was clad in a knight’s armor.

「…… Sister Rona …… Ronny …… Thank you for everything …… From now on …… I will …… protect you both ……」

Those became Teddy’s last words.

Teddy passed away with a happy expression on his face.
The brown-bearded Bill closed Teddy’s eyelids gently.

「…… You’ve done a great job. From here on out, it’s a battle of revenge for our dear disciple. …… We’ll make those bastards regret in the depths of hell for making an enemy of the Imperial Guards.」

The white-bearded Brian and the black-bearded Bobby fiercely hit their sickles together.
The trajectory of the sickles intersected and the resulting sparks flew above Teddy’s chest.

「It’s a send-off for a warrior.」

「We will carry your feelings with us on our sickles.」

It is rumored that members of the Hydrangea Imperial Guards often die with a smile on their faces when they lose their lives on the battlefield. It is said that this is because they have complete trust that other members will avenge their deaths and carry on their legacy. Teddy unexpectedly received death in the same manner as them. In response, the three old warriors stood up and turned into demons of vengeance.

The mayor and the other influential people that had been silently praying also raised their heads.

「…… Let’s go. In order to avenge this child’s death, we must crush the scheme of that Inquisition official.」

The clerical workers of the Inquisition nodded as well.

「This is not the work of a human being. We too will testify and report Inquisition official Glause and John.」

With Teddy’s sacrifice as the trigger, they were ready to launch a counterattack that would strike down the malice that had enveloped the town.
Their hearts have become united.

Before he left, the brown-bearded Bill looked back at Teddy one more time.

「You did it. You brought us all together. We are proud of you, Teddy. You deserve a medal. I’ll come pick you up later. So, be a good boy and wait for me.」

With that, the brown-bearded Bill flipped his black cloak and faced forward.
No more words were needed for the vengeful warrior.
Carrying the vow in his heart, all that was left was to concentrate on wielding his blade.