Beast Tamer Who Got Kicked Out From the Hero’s Party Chapter 163 Part 2

CHAPTER 163 PART 2

「No. No matter what, it’s not something that would ever excuse such hideous crimes.」

「Then why……!?」

「But if we were to follow that logic of yours, then wouldn’t that mean that those people who have betrayed and killed Iris’s friends and family shouldn’t also be forgiven? And that they should be met with a fitting punishment for their crimes?」

「But that’s…… That’s something that some idiots in the past did! We have nothing to do with this!」

Ax was right here.

He was definitely right, but……

Sometimes the right argument, which is correct for all intents and purposes, is something that was forged under the heavy influence of emotions.

And the answer that I just so happened to arrive at was going to be something completely devoid of the influence of emotions.

But we are people at the end of the day.

We are creatures with intelligence in our minds and emotions in our hearts.

And I simply couldn’t help it but to think about the emotions inside of Iris’s heart.

「I cannot believe this. Are you seriously going to let someone like that go? To get away with all that she did!? I can tell you that much, there is no way that this monster is ever going to change her ways! There’s just no chance for that! I can assure you that she’s going to kill someone again, and she’ll do that really soon!」

「I know. And I completely agree with you on that front.」

「Then why are you……!?」

「That’s why we have to seal her away for good. I don’t want Iris to commit any more crimes than she already did. But at the same time, I don’t want to see her waste her life on an useless struggle and die for something like revenge. That is why we want to seal her away.」

「Do you even realize just how selfish of you that is!?」

「Yes, I do. I realize that. This is nothing more but selfishness on my part. It’s selfishness on my part, because I don’t want Iris to die.」

「…… This is ridiculous!」

Ax then kicked the ground in frustration.

I’m sorry to make you act like that, but……

This is something that I have decided on. And I won’t allow myself to change my path now.

「…… Can I say something here?」

This time around it was Cell who opened her mouth to speak.

「Let’s just say, purely for example’s sake, that the Devil…… That Iris is going to go on a rampage before you guys manage to find the way to seal her up for good. Let’s say that she kills someone during the fight. Not that many people, but some people. Does that mean that you are going to be held accountable for that? Are you actually ready to accept that kind of responsibility?」

「…… No, I don’t think I would be able to do that.」

「So, you at the very least understand that part. That’s good. So, knowing this, Rein, you still won’t change your mind?」

「No, I won’t change it, unfortunately.」

I decided to say that in a really stern and confident tone, so that the strength of my convictions would be able to reach Ax and Cell.

「If you would really like for me to take responsibility for all of those potential people that Iris might kill, that would also require us to take responsibility for the actions that humans in the past did and the hurt they managed to inflict on Iris and the Heavenly Tribe as a whole. But instead of doing that, humans want to go straight to killing Iris, so that they could get themselves rid of a problem. I just can’t accept that kind of hypocrisy.」

「But wouldn’t that logic make us all killers by default?」

「I mean, it is the fault of us humans that this situation arose in the first place. So I would say that if anything, we sort of had it coming.」

「Do you really think that the Devil is someone who is worth helping?」

「I don’t care if helping Iris is worth it or not. It’s just something that I want to do for my own sake.」

「You are so stubborn it’s actually unbelievable.」

「That’s why I said it: I know that I am a very selfish person.」

I just don’t want Iris to suffer any more.

She has already been through so much bad stuff in her life……

If there was ever someone who would deserve a long break, that would surely be her.

Is it really that wrong for me to think so?

「Haah……」

Cell then let out a long and deep sigh.

It was……

It was the kind of sigh that symbolized a farewell, with a very slight hint of resignation to it.

「Very well. If that is what you think is right, then you should do just that. We won’t interfere with you.」

「Hey, Cell, what the hell!? Are we just going to let them get away with this!? With allowing them to do as they please!?」

「We have no other choice in that matter. They have wills that are strong enough to allow them to push through with this. Besides, do you really think you could possibly force Rein and the others to change their minds? Do you really think you could handle a whole lot of Ultimate Species in battle, as well as Rein who would be going all out here……? Because I don’t think that’s possible.」

「T-This is……」

「You can’t, can you?　Then the only logical conclusion here is that we leave them be and allow them to do as they please.」

And then……

Cell took a step back.

The distance between Cell and I seemed close and endlessly distant at the same time
.
It was only a single step away, but……

I instinctively realized that the distance between us was something that could not be filled by any means from now on.

「You can do whatever it is you want, Rein and company. We won’t try to stop you.」

「Thank you.」

「But we won’t help you in what you are trying to accomplish here.」

「…… I see.」

「Yeah, that’s right. It’s just as Cell said just now. Don’t think even for a second that we are going to help you out with that stupid endeavor that you are trying to pull here.」

This was indeed a declaration of separation.

…… Honestly, I had expected something like this to happen.

The two of them are top-notch Adventurers, after all.

They reliably kept to their contracts, and they also lived their lives reliably following the orders of the organization that they are a part of.

I thought it was unlikely that such two people would become allies with us.

I thought so, but……..

It’s a really sad thing when there comes a time when you have to say goodbye to someone with whom you have been working with for a while now.

These are the friends we traveled with for a short time.

I’m going to miss them, no matter what they might say to that.

「I guess this is where we say goodbye. I have really enjoyed our short time together.」

「Yeah, I had a great time, too.」

「Nyaah…… Thank you. For everything.」

Kanade, who had been quietly watching the situation develop until now, blurted that out, as if she was really sad and depressed.

Apparently, Kanade also managed to become really fond of both Ax and Cell, and now that we were officially parting ways, she seemed sad and lonely because of that.

「We might be going our separate ways from now on, but…… You should really watch your back out there, Rein.」

「I…… I know that I have said some nasty things to you, but…… I’m sorry that we can’t go with you with this.」

「Since this is going to be our farewell, why don’t you give them some more proper words of goodbye?」

「I have nothing to say to such goodie-two-shoes.」

Although Ax was not mincing his words, he had a rather complicated expression on his face right now.

His words were crude and harsh, but in a certain way, he must have been worried about us. 　
But even so.

I decided to walk forward.

I decided to save Iris.

So that I wouldn’t come to regret doing nothing…….

I held out my hand as I walked forward.

「Farewell, guys. Be safe.」

「Yeah. You too.」

「Let’s all do our very best.」

I shook hands with Axe and Cell and gently, gently let go of their hands.

And the bond between us, the bond we had formed with Axe and Cell, was irreversibly severed at that time.