I Got Reincarnated Into a Game I Was a Top-Ranker in and I Became the Leader of a Villain Group That Will Destroy This Shitty Country - 39

Chapter 39: Brien and Alwyn’s Confusion

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“…..”

“…..”

At an inn in a small village a little away from the slum, Brien and Alwyn were staring at Kaltz, who was still asleep. Both of the girls had a solemn look on their faces. After last night’s commotion, Brien quickly called the imperial army to help them bring Kaltz to this inn. However, Kaltz showed no sign of waking up even after morning came. 

“…. Hey, Alwyn…”

As more time passed, the scene that those two had witnessed made the suspicion take root in their heart. The roots grew thicker, spreading throughout their hearts. 

“Yes, Brien-san.”

“What do you think about yesterday’s incident?”

Though she knew she shouldn’t be talking about this, but Brien couldn’t stop herself. She couldn’t bear it any longer. She had to voice her thoughts.

Alwyn’s shoulder flinched before she turned her attention to Brien.

“That… What do you mean….”

“If I may be honest… I don’t feel like that demon boy was lying.”

“Br-Brien-san!”

“You also think so, right? I mean, it just doesn’t make sense. There’s no way Chloe could’ve built all those facilities on her own. Besides… She’s not the type to do that kind of thing. Sure, she can be cold sometimes, but… She’s a kind person.”

Alwyn couldn’t say anything back when Brien mentioned the word ‘kind’. After all, Brien was right. The time they had spent together made Alwyn know how kind Chloe was. Chloe wouldn’t do something like that. Sure, Chloe was an assassin that had a lot of secrets behind her back, but Chloe was also very considerate of her comrades. Chloe might be cold but sometimes, when the time was right, Chloe would smile at them, albeit awkwardly. Alwyn knew that Chloe was a lovely person.

“So in other words… Brien-san… You mean to tell me that one who built that was really Gebels-san…?”

“….Alwyn.”

“I…I…I can’t accept that! Because… Because if that were true… Then what are we fighting for?! I … I don’t know anything anymore…”

Her words trailed off, growing weaker and weaker. Alwyn’s face turned glum, she looked like she was about to cry anytime soon. Brien was an elf. She didn’t come from the empire. She originally came from the forest. However, had she been born in the empire and joined the Hero’s party, thinking she would be able to save more people for the empire… Brien doubted she could stay composed. 

It was only natural for Alwyn to react like this. If it was true that the empire was the villain… If it was true that the empire was filled with sinister nobles and royals…. 

Alwyn didn’t want to believe that Gebels would be the one behind those wicked facilities. She refused to believe the empire could be that cruel to its people. However… 

“This empire is hell.”

Kai’s words lingered in Alwyn’s mind.

“Alwyn, listen to me.”

“…Brien-san.”

Unable to bear the sight of Alwyn looking so distressed, Brien grabbed both of Alwyn’s hands tightly.

“Right now, we know one thing for certain. Chloe is innocent. There’s no way she’d do something like that. Not only she didn’t have the money to do it, but she also didn’t have time for it. Besides… That girl… She said she used to be trapped in a detention camp or something when she was young, didn’t she?”

“….”

“I haven’t heard the details of it, but… I’m sure she has a horrible past and that past was related to those kinds of facilities. Anyway, I don’t think Chloe is guilty and honestly? I personally started to believe the demon’s words. I don’t think that boy was lying to us.”

“Bri-Brien-san…!”

“Ssssh! What if Kaltz gets angry? In any case, deep down, you also think so too, right? You’ve also heard the rumors about a facility deep in the forest that’s been kidnapping orphans for years in this country. So because of this incident and Gebels’ body… I know it’s hard to understand, but I think that demon boy’s child has merit, you know?”

“But Brien-san! They’re the demons! They’re our enemy, you know?!”

“…That’s..”

“I know…! I know they’ve helped us, but still…!”

I can’t…My head is too muddled to think about anything straight. 

Alwyn was struggling to accept the reality. The boy’s demeanor when he was beating Kaltz to pulp truly showcased his nature as a demon, however… After he was done with Kaltz, the boy didn’t touch them. Sure, the boy asked to shake hands with her. She didn’t understand why but after she checked her body after that, she didn’t sense anything abnormal. That demon boy truly didn’t harm them, not in the slightest. 

That fact alone was enough to create a crack in the prejudice they had built up against demons. 

“…..Alwyn. I know the demons are our enemies. I know that.”

“Brien-san…”

“Of course, I don’t trust those demons—Shadow—either. At least, not completely. Maybe that laboratory was created by those kids with… I don’t know. With some kind of secret trick or something. But… What if… What if we had other enemies looming around us?”

“….”

“Let’s say the demons weren’t the one that created that laboratory…”

Brien trailed before she continued on in a voice lower than before.

“Our enemies are still out there. The ones who built that laboratory and the other wicked facilities.”

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T/N: I mean, I’m sure Alwyn was raised in a literal cult so I can see why she can’t accept reality that easily.