Beast Tamer Who Got Kicked Out From the Hero’s Party Chapter 175 Part 2

CHAPTER 175: A PATH ON WHICH COMPROMISE IS NO LONGER AN OPTION PART 2

His every single action here was to protect the innocent humans from harm.

And yet, here I was, trying to protect Iris as well.

But still.

「I’m sorry, but this is the kind of solution that I simply cannot accept, no matter what.」

「Why, you little!」

「We humans are the ones who sowed the seeds of this tragedy. And now you are asking us to just murder the victim of our own crimes with cold blood? That’s just way too selfish, even for my own standards!」

「Yes, because it is inevitable here! She has already killed and hurt so many people! And if we are just going to leave her be, she is going to kill and hurt even more people!」

「That is why we want to seal her away! So nothing like that is going to happen ever again!」

「And that is exactly why I’m telling you that it’s useless to do so! Even if you do that now, she’s going to be released eventually and the entire tragedy is going to repeat itself! Sealing the Devil away is not a permanent solution to the problem! It’s only temporary at best! Don’t be so naive here! Don’t keep talking about things through your blue-tinged idealism glasses!」

At this point in time Ax was positively furious.

It was really hard for me to see Ax looking at me like that. It might not have been for all that long, but there was a time when I considered both of them to be my friends.

But still.

I have made up my mind.

「I do realize that I am selfish here. I do realize that I’m doing this purely for my own ego and self-satisfaction. But killing Iris…… even to save the world from her rage…… and her claiming more victims in the name of her revenge…… getting my hands stained with blood…… I would end up feeling so guilty about it that I would no longer be able to live with myself…… There is no way that I would be able to justify that and laugh as if nothing happened……」

「Ngh!?」

「That’s not the right thing to do. Kill someone because they are the ones who started killing first…… No matter what, I don’t want to accept that kind of solution as the right one! I know that it is naive. I know that what speaks through me is naive idealism. But what’s wrong with that?」

「You…….」

「What we are trying to accomplish here is at the very least much better than giving up so easily without even trying and choosing to kill someone just because it’s easier! I don’t want to see anyone cry anymore! I don’t want to see anyone die any more!!!　Even if that someone is Iris……!」

As we continued to shout through one another, I ended up spilling my honest, true feelings that I was holding close to my heart for so long.

Was it a right thing to kill Iris?

The answer to that question is yes.

But that was the right answer only from the perspective of us humans.

From Iris’ point of view, it was a colossal injustice.

And from my point of view, it was also something that should not happen.

After all……

What is right and what is wrong is just a matter of personal perspective on any given topic.

There is no such thing as absolute justice in this world.

There is no such thing as an overwhelmingly correct answer to most of the problems that you are going to be facing.

And that is why.

I’m going to follow the path that I believe in.

「Aaagh, greez! This is exactly what I hate about people like people like you are just……!!!」

Ax scratched his head in frustration after listening to my words.

Looking at his partner, Cell held up her bow.

「Cell……?」

「didn’t I already tell you? There is no way that you would be able to convince Rein and his companions that what they are doing is wrong.」

Cell’s voice was as calm as it could possibly be when she was saying that.

「Rein, I understand where you are coming from. And I don’t think we need to ask your companions the same question. I can already see that they are of the same mind.」

「Of course!」

「Yes, that’s right.」

「Sora would also like to help Iris.」

「I will do what I want to do!」

「I don’t think that it is healthy to pursue revenge like this……」

「Wherever Master Rein goes, I follow!」

Everyone showed their agreement to my ideals one after another.

Looking at everyone like that, Cell smiled slightly……

But almost right away, her face turned into a pretty stern expression.

「Alright, Ax. We can clearly see that it’s impossible to convince Rein and the others to join us. Like us, Rein and his companions stand here with the same firm resolve as we have.」

「…… Yeah, I think I know what you mean.」

「I sure hope so.」

Then Cell looked right at me.

「I don’t like to hide things. To be honest, we have been ordered to keep you and your friends here, and to not let you go any further.」

「That is……」

「After we parted our ways, we didn’t hide what you did from the others, and we reported it to the higher-ups right away. As for the higher-ups themselves, they are afraid that you would interfere with our efforts to defeat the Devil. So, they ordered Axe and I to stop you at all cost. In the meantime, the main Strike Force is to defeat the Devil in combat.

「……………」

「Now then, what is it that you would wish to do?」

「I think that we all already know.」

The truth is, I don’t really want to do this.

But if there’s no other way for us to do this……

We just need to keep pushing forward.

So I drew Kamui from behind my belt and put it at the ready.

「If you two are going to get in my way, I’ll have to force my way through you!」

「I knew it……」

Cell looked slightly sad upon hearing this……

But in the next moment she was back to her usual calm expression.

「If there are things that we can’t compromise on with each other no matter what, then let’s decide which one of us is the one in the right here!」

Cell raised her bow, keeping it in a battle-ready position.

「…… I’m really sorry for this, but I absolutely cannot go easy on you, guys. Please don’t hold a grudge against me, even if you happen to die as a result.」

Ax also readied his sword while holding it in both of his hands.

「Well, that should be our line here. Everyone, are you ready to do this?」

「Nyaah…… Hey, Rein? Are you absolutely sure that you want to do this?」

「Unfortunately, even if I did not want to do this, those two are not someone who would just back away simply because we ask them to do so. But if fighting them is going to prove to be too hard for you, Kanade, then you can just stand back for the time being and……」

「…… No, it’s fine, really. I can do this. After all, I cannot allow you to shoulder all of those burdens all on your own, Rein!」

Kanade nodded her head as if to reassure herself, and also assumed a battle-ready position.

Following that, everyone else began to prepare for the inevitable battle.