Ch.251Who Is the Sinner

16 dead, 3 severely injured, 1 minor injury.

The tragedy that unfolded in Hell’s Garden alley finally concluded after causing casualties numbering 20 people.

Jessica Hawkins, the owner of Hell’s Garden, died instantly at the scene. The ten or so employees working on the second floor were all found murdered. The three severely injured survivors and one person with minor injuries were revealed to be ordinary citizens with no connection to Hell’s Garden.

The newspapers of Westend Seventh rushed to publish this incident as front-page news.

The aftermath of the “beastfolk killing settlers” incident, the first in 20 years, caused a major uproar in the western city. Voices condemning not just Kasim as an individual but the “entire Aqua-King tribe” began to grow louder.

For us who are acquainted with the Aqua-King tribe of Nidavellir, this was a rather bitter incident.

Meanwhile, the Hell’s Garden building, where the horrific incident took place, was naturally designated as a restricted area.

All items in the store were seized as evidence, and apparently, after all related investigations are completed, they will be transferred to a new owner through proper legal procedures.

However, the “Box of Stopped Time” that was offered as a prize for ten consecutive victories was safely awarded to Seti despite being key evidence in the case.

According to the sheriff, “If this artifact doesn’t end up in Seti’s hands, the consequences would be even more difficult to manage…”

While I don’t know the exact details, it’s good that we obtained the item we were after, so we decided to accept it quietly.

Three days after the incident occurred.

We visited the Pioneer Project branch building upon being summoned by Director-General Geronimo.

“I said I expected great things from you, but I never imagined you’d get caught up in something this big so soon…”

“I don’t think this was our fault, though.”

“You’re right about that. The investigation of the scene revealed evidence that the victim, Josephine Hawkins, personally released the slave contract. She probably intended to remove the behavioral restrictions on the Aqua-King slave to avoid giving that artifact to you.”

“In a way, she brought it upon herself,” Director Geronimo said with a bitter expression as he took a sip of the tea on the table.

“…I’m sure you’ve noticed that public sentiment toward natives, especially hostile non-human slaves, has worsened after this incident?”

“Well, to some extent…”

Over the past few days, when walking with Iris, I could almost physically feel the unwelcoming gazes pouring down on us.

The fact that Seti still receives favorable reactions is likely due to her fame as an adventurer, her title as underground fighting champion, and the fact that she was the one who subdued the rampaging Kasim.

“In this situation, we’ve received some unwelcome news. Traces of the Aqua-King tribe have been discovered in ancient ruins to the southwest.”

“Are they refugees who crossed over from Riverside?”

“That’s unclear. Whether refugees who lost the war and lacked proper preparations could actually cross that vast swampland to reach here… However, if that is the case—”

“…Another war could break out.”

“War might actually be the better scenario. What I’m more concerned about is ‘hunting.'”

Hunting.

At that ominous nuance, someone could be heard swallowing dryly.

“This isn’t widely known, but toward the end of the Riverside War, there was open bounty hunting of Aqua-King tribe members and capturing them to be bought and sold as slaves.”

“I heard about it from the village elders. At night, settlers would raid villages to kill the wounded or capture children.”

“It was a war crime, too shameful to even speak of, committed when hostility toward native inhabitants was at its peak.”

“Then could that Aqua-King tribesman Kasim also…”

“He was likely captured by settlers when he was young and made into a slave. His sale records have been confirmed to be from about 20 years ago, and he’s estimated to be not yet 30 years old.”

“…So that’s what happened.”

They captured a child not even ten years old and used him as a slave for 20 years.

Then, due to his owner’s hasty decision, Kasim’s slave contract was terminated, and he unleashed 20 years of pent-up resentment on the settlers.

Of course, the massacre of innocent civilians deserves condemnation, but if the root cause was the settlers’ war crimes, we can’t simply blame Kasim alone.

“So, Director, you’re concerned that if another armed conflict with the Aqua-King tribe occurs, inhumane acts like the slave hunting from 20 years ago might happen again.”

“That’s right. Over the years, we settlers have built friendly relationships with Elves, Dwarves, and the White Earth tribe, and while we can’t say we’re very close with the Silver Wolf tribe, we maintain a relatively smooth relationship. In this situation, with Miss Seti, a Felis tribe member, doing great work as an adventurer, I thought perhaps we might have a chance to end the long-standing hostility with the Aqua-King tribe as well…”

Of all times, traces of the Aqua-King tribe were discovered in nearby ancient ruins right after an incident where an Aqua-King tribesman harmed about 20 citizens.

If they are refugees who survived the Riverside War, their strength and living conditions would be far worse than 20 years ago, which means the settler side could overwhelmingly crush them.

Finding the old enemy after 20 years, a power difference that ensures victory, and the widespread hatred toward the entire Aqua-King tribe resurging in settler society.

If all these conditions align, a battle to eradicate the Aqua-King tribe might begin this time.

“In fact, among the citizens who lost family members in this incident, some have submitted requests to the Adventurers’ Guild for the subjugation of the Aqua-King tribe. Of course, subjugation requests against native inhabitants aren’t accepted, but now there are even requests to put a bounty on the entire Aqua-King tribe as wanted criminals.”

“Public opinion is becoming quite emotional.”

“The newspaper articles covering this incident all have a tone condemning the Aqua-King tribe, which has had an influence. So…”

Director Geronimo looked at Seti with a somewhat troubled expression before continuing with difficulty.

“Would you investigate those ruins for us? I want to know if the Aqua-King tribe is really nearby, if they are indeed refugees who fled from Riverside, why they were wandering around the ancient ruins… I’d like to understand their situation before other adventurers spot them, and if possible, prevent any armed conflict.”

“That sounds good, but if they really are survivors of the Riverside War, won’t they try to kill us on sight? Humans like me and Jessica would be targets, of course, and even the Felis tribe seems to be treated as traitors.”

“That’s highly likely. However, with your level of skill, couldn’t you subdue Aqua-King warriors without killing them and then try to talk?”

Even so…

Unless one has overwhelming hand-to-hand combat or swordsmanship skills, there’s no guarantee of subduing an opponent without killing them when using guns.

No matter how gently you pull the trigger, bullets mercilessly pierce through the enemy’s body.

“Hmm…”

“I’m asking for your help. Adventurers who left during the Dungeon Overflow crisis are returning one by one, so we don’t have time to delay. Issuing a designated request to you in the name of the New Continent Pioneer Project Headquarters, and assigning you to exclusively investigate the area around those ancient ruins, is the only way to buy some time.”

“What do you plan to do with that time?”

“I need to somehow quell the citizens’ hostility toward the Aqua-King tribe. I intend to reveal that the child abductions from 20 years ago were related to this incident, and shift the focus from ‘settlers killed by Aqua-King tribe’ to ‘revenge of the oppressed Aqua-King tribe.'”

“That’s practically the same as publicly declaring that Josephine Hawkins and the Hell’s Garden staff deserved to die. Can you handle the backlash from that?”

Even though Grantis isn’t a democratic country, it’s also not an absolute monarchy where resentment or protest against social leaders is forbidden.

Yet here’s the Director-General of the New Continent Pioneer Project defending a non-human murderer and criticizing the sacrificed settlers?

Even though I don’t know much about Grantis’s political system, I can easily guess that this decision carries significant risk.

“…I must do it. Even if I have to step down as Director-General because of this, I must somehow resolve this matter. Before advocating for a sense of justice or racial equality, it’s to prevent us settlers from being defined as invaders of the world of Grantis.”

And I don’t dislike a politician who’s willing to shoulder such risks to change society for the better.

This otherworld Grantis reminds me of America’s Wild West era.

I hope that the history written here will be at least a little cleaner and more beautiful than America’s, which was stained with violence and exploitation.