Chapter 728: The Trial

Oliver twisted his face in pain as he spoke.

He, too, had wrapped his memories, but upon revisiting them, he found them disappointing.

Though he didn’t specify what disappointed him, it was clear, and Kent also understood it.

But Kent smiled.

Even though he couldn’t fully hide his anguish and the bitter feelings appeared on his face, he smiled, albeit forcefully.

“Whew… So, a lot must have happened in Central Continent.”

“Didn’t you already hear from Puppet?”

Oliver responded.

Through those all-seeing eyes, Oliver knew Kent had heard almost everything from Puppet.

Kent didn’t deny it.

“True… In that sense, let me ask you directly. Why did you return to Randa?”

“Did you not want me to come back?”

“No. It’s just that Puppet told me you were locked in the underground prison of the Holy Capital. But I didn’t hear why you returned to Randa.”

“I thought you’d inquire about what happened first.”

“I want to, but asking might inevitably lead to my own story.”

“…”

“I’d rather delay my story for now. I want to hear yours. So let’s start with that. It’s a friend’s request. Can you grant it?”

The request of Oliver’s first friend, Kent.

After thinking hard for a while, Oliver opened his mouth.

“I didn’t originally plan on coming.”

“I’ve heard that. I know what happened to you. So I ask again, why did you return to Randa?”

“A certain princess kept pushing me.”

“Even if someone pushes you, ultimately it’s your own will that moves your feet.”

At Kent’s sharp comment, Oliver corrected himself.

“…The princess said I would be tested.”

“Tested? In what?”

“Anger, sorrow, and love.”

“I’m listening.”

“Two tests are done. Anger and sorrow.”

Oliver recalled being consumed by the Pied Piper’s anger, which led to Rosburn’s death.

“So, only love remains.”

“Yes, and I was told that love would be tested in Randa. Maybe.”

“Maybe?”

“I’m not sure. The princess said it would happen where I want to go but also don’t want to go.”

“And that place is Randa?”

“I think so.”

“That makes sense. People think similarly. Randa is the largest and wealthiest, admired by many, yet also fiercely competitive and violent, driving people away. But that’s not why you didn’t want to come, is it?”

“…”

“Why did you want to come to Randa?”

“Because there are people here. People I know and like.”

“Why didn’t you want to come to Randa?”

“Because there are people here. People I know and like.”

The same answer to two completely different questions.

It could have been called a contradiction, but Kent took it seriously.

“Why did you want to see the people you liked yet didn’t want to meet them?”

“I feared they might disappoint me. Like my temporary teacher.”

“You mean Merlin from the Archive?”

“Yes, you’ve met him.”

“Yes, and there’s no need to elaborate on his past. I’ve heard the basics.”

“That’s fortunate. I didn’t want to talk about it either.”

“But why did you come? I’m sure your reluctance was stronger.”

“Not sure? I don’t really know. I heard about Marie and others facing difficulty, but… maybe I had some hopes.”

“Hopes? For what?”

“That one person would not disappoint me, even with these eyes.”

Oliver voiced his innermost wish.

That despite seeing people’s sins with his eyes, there would be just one person who wouldn’t disappoint him.

At least one person.

“How was it?”

“I’ve met many people. And I’ve seen incredible figures. Even Paul Carver, the City’s official, faced the reality of doom and instead of trembling in fear, tried to do what he could. The Selectors and Fighter Crew protected their loved ones even in the face of crisis.”

“I’m listening.”

“Those who once committed horrendous sins risked their lives to help wash away even a fraction of their mistakes, and Forest took risks to expand his business for my sake, only to be imprisoned by the Royal Family.”

Yes. Forest was jailed due to a dispute over an island recovered after Neverland disappeared.

And that dispute arose because of his desire to care for those who followed Oliver.

So that Oliver could live a slightly more comfortable life.

In other words, he did it for Oliver.

“A girl pleaded with someone who had killed her brother, begging for her foster brother’s life without needing an apology. Another woman subdued her grandmother to atone for her grandmother’s sins… They were all amazing.”

“Are you impressed?”

“Yes, because they were all remarkable.”

“Were you not disappointed?”

“No, I wasn’t. But I was also disappointed.”

***

Even as Oliver admired others, he didn’t deny his disappointment.

Instead, it stood out more clearly than anything.

It was natural because sins don’t disappear.

No matter how much has been achieved, regardless of how many good deeds or noble accomplishments one has, sins never vanish.

“Can you tell me what those sins are?”

“There are too many to list.”

“It’s a friend’s request.”

Kent once again asked as a friend. A tone unfitting for him.

Yet, Oliver ended up granting the request.

Starting with Paul Carver, the first person Oliver met in Randa, followed by random citizens he passed, Royal Army members, Defense Force, The Selectors, Fighter Crew, Anti-Development Committee, Marie, Forest, Joe, and others.

He revealed all of their sins, from small ones like lies to much greater wrongs.

For instance, Carver had committed dereliction, distortion of duty, discrimination, and arrogance.

During his time as a public servant in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, he ignored the fact that people were unjustly evicted and even killed during a redevelopment project.

It wasn’t because he took bribes, but something worse.

In his self-justification, he assumed that the people being evicted were unimportant and believed that his actions were for the sake of the City.

Oliver could see and feel the whole situation clearly when he looked at Paul Carver, even sensing the feelings of the victims.

It was the same for the others.

The Selectors, once taught by Marie, fell into arrogance, believing only they were chosen, recklessly harming bodies and lives.

The Fighter Crew, likewise, used their tough lives as a shield, taking from others and harming their bodies and lives.

Everyone was similar.

“What about Forest’s sins?”

Kent interrupted quietly to ask. Oliver, who had been deep in his story, stopped.

“…They were like the others. Greed for wealth, arrogance stemming from misguided attempts at self-proving. He hurt countless people and took their homes.”

“Who do his sins resemble the most?”

Kent asked again, and Oliver hesitated for a moment.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to push your own story back?”

“It seems like now is that time. So please, answer me. Whose sins are most like Forest’s? I’m asking as a friend.”

In a heartfelt plea, Kent asked once more. Oliver eventually replied.

“Yours, Kent. You and Forest committed similar sins.”

Kent smiled as if agreeing with the answer.

In fact, it wasn’t just similar; it was the same. During the redevelopment boom, Kent and Forest had worked as partners.

However, the same sin didn’t mean that Oliver was equally disappointed.

There were relationships between people, and those relationships influenced how the same actions were received.

This was proof.

“—There’s only a difference in degree, but it’s similar to the others.”

Oliver consoled Kent, the man who had pushed countless people into misery for his own greed and, in the end, lost his family.

At those words, Kent’s bitter smile only deepened.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. In essence, sins are all similar. At least to my eyes. They only vary in degree based on talent and luck.”

Even so, Oliver continued to console Kent.

Kent was the man who had first helped Oliver selflessly when he entered the outside world and had assisted other beggars as well.

But precisely because of that, Kent had also become the person who disappointed Oliver the most.

Because Kent had once been mired in greed and arrogance, hurting countless people.

At that moment, Kent abruptly brought up a different topic.

“This may be sudden, but do you listen to radio dramas?”

“I occasionally do, but I don’t go out of my way to follow them.”

“Then, you probably wouldn’t know.”

“What are you referring to?”

“Red Nose made his debut as a radio actor.”

Red Nose.

A beggar that was part of Kent’s gang when Oliver had joined. As his nickname suggested, he had a red nose and was a chubby drunkard.

Hearing something new, Oliver reacted.

“Is that so?”

“Though he mostly does minor roles, it’s true. He was originally a stage actor. He fell and ended up here.”

“When did he debut?”

“It was around the time you left and I began recruiting new beggars. Red Nose brought an advertisement one day, asking for help. I gave him part of the money you left with me. That’s why he wasn’t around when you came back.”

The time he talked about was when Oliver was with Jane, running away.

Back then, he hadn’t noticed. Why Red Nose wasn’t around. He just assumed it was because Kent’s gang had grown and spread out.

‘Or maybe I didn’t care? Since all I cared about was Kent.’

As Oliver pondered this, a new question arose.

“Did Harmonika and the others leave as well?”

For the first time, a light appeared in Kent’s smile.

“Yes, Harmonika was picked up by a musician. She saw his performance and recognized his talent.”

Harmonika. A boy wearing shoes and clothes that didn’t fit, playing harmonica for alms.

He was a very naive child, smiling at everything, yet he consistently brought in income for Kent’s gang.

It was only now that Oliver realized why Harmonika hadn’t been there when he met Kent again.

“I looked into it, and he seemed to be in good hands. Still, I check on him occasionally, just in case. He’s performing with others on small stages now.”

Kent continued to tell Oliver where the original members of the beggar gang had ended up.

The cross-dressing boy with his grandfather had found light work, while the women with children had banded together and gotten jobs in a factory, using the money Kent provided to settle down.

Oliver could tell that it was all true, and he also knew that countless other beggars had returned to society thanks to Kent’s help.

“That’s quite impressive.”

Oliver half praised and half gave a polite compliment.

Kent shook his head.

“It’s not that impressive. After all, during this time, I also told you to ignore a boy like Rosburn.”

Oliver froze for a moment.

“Don’t you remember?”

“…I do.”

“I heard what happened to the boy. My condolences.”

“Thank you.”

“But to be frank, I’m more glad that you’re alive.”

“…”

“You’re more important to me. More than a boy I didn’t know.”

Oliver didn’t know how to respond to Kent’s unexpected statement.

Emotions became too complicated, beyond the ability to describe.

Then Kent apologized.

“I’m sorry if I disappointed you. But that’s just who I am. I pretend to be doing something great, but I’m still like this.”

“…”

“You said I was impressive earlier, but if you peel away the layers, nothing much has changed from the past. Even if some changes have occurred, it doesn’t erase the sins I’ve committed. You’re right. Sin is sin. It never disappears. I know that.”

“…Then why have you helped all these beggars?”

“Because past sins are past sins. It’s almost laughable to not do what I can now just because of the past, right?”

Oliver felt a strange sense of déjà vu at Kent’s words. He had heard something similar before.

From Amelin, the head of Ark Orphanage.

She, too, had once held fears and doubts as the orphanage director.

That fear came from worrying about whether she was teaching the children correctly and if she was even qualified.

Because she had once considered expelling children when the orphanage’s finances had hit rock bottom.

However, the former headmaster dismissed the idea, saying that no matter how bad a situation, even the most useless sheep should not be discarded, and after that, Amelin had resolved to teach the children correctly, even if it meant her future sins.

She believed that if she didn’t teach them right, the children wouldn’t even have the opportunity to become decent adults.

It was still an admirable sentiment, even now.

The past is the past, and the present is the present…

But even though Oliver understood this with his mind, his heart couldn’t accept it.

Because with his eyes that saw everything, the past and present held no distinction.

To his eyes, sins were always vividly alive, happening right before him.

Even at this very moment—

“The Dashwood sisters. Poor little girls who lost their parents in a tragic accident. They were in the redevelopment area I handled, and due to my lies and threats, they sold their house without fair compensation. Later, they got jobs in a match factory, but due to white phosphorus poisoning that disfigured their faces, they were fired, and they died that winter.”

For the first time, Kent dropped his smile, wiping his face with a weary hand.

Yet his lips continued to move.

“Rail Faddle. He was also in my area. A husband with a wife, a son, and a daughter. When he refused the compensation I offered, I got him addicted to drugs. His withdrawal worsened, and his family fell apart.”

Kent’s breathing grew heavier, but he steadied it and continued.

And told more.

Elton Martin. Covered up his accident death. His elderly mother died from grief.

Frank Smith. Used hired violence to intimidate him. His injuries left him disabled, his family scattered, and he eventually died in despair.

The Moreland couple. Framed the husband with drugs to send him to prison. His wife, left alone, committed suicide from poverty. Her husband also took his life in prison upon learning of her death.

Hervil Hater. Since no intimidation worked on him, he was killed. His family’s house was burned down as a cover-up, killing them as well.

All these were people Kent had harmed to satisfy his greed.

They weren’t the only ones, but Kent paused to ask his next question.

“Are all these things I said true?”

Oliver, who could see through sins, answered.

“Yes, all true… Did you investigate these yourself?”

“When I merged the beggar gangs and formed the Brotherhood of the Poor, I took some time and resources to look into it. I needed to know what happened to those who were displaced because of me.”

“Why did you investigate?”

“Because even if the past is the past, I needed to know. There are countless others, but I won’t go into them.”

“Because it’s too painful?”

“That’s part of it, but I’d prefer to hear it now.”

“What do you want to hear?”

“The sins that are tormenting you.”

Kent extended his hand.

“Would you share those sins with me?”