Chapter 92 - The Tangled EoS

When playing <Catch the Outlaws>, the fact that the protagonist character was actually from a rich family—for the female character at least—was revealed around the middle of the story.

I only understood then why the protagonist's personality was designed to be so arrogant.

Born to find that grandfather and parents were all high-ranking people...

With such outstanding abilities, it was only natural that the innate disposition would become arrogant.

In fact, the protagonist character of <Catch the Outlaws> was described as having been pampered since childhood and tended to be flustered when other NPCs showed behavior contrary to their wishes.

Just like now.

"W, w-what did everyone just say...?"

Sophia, who had been continuously claiming that Joe was Zodiac, became flustered when the deputies showed sharp reactions and kept shaking the innocent coachman's log.

"L-look at this coachman's log! Don't you see that Zodiac and Joe's movements all match? With such clear evidence, why are you saying Joe isn't Zodiac...?"

"..."

"Let's say Liese is indeed a TKK member! But why would a TKK member, who always hid their identity, suddenly claim to be Zodiac and go around committing serial murders openly?"

Sophia's argument was reasonable.

TKK always wore white masks to hide their faces and showed a secret society-like appearance, extremely averse to any information about themselves leaking out.

Zodiac's method of deliberately leaving evidence at the scene, as if wanting attention, was at odds with TKK's methods.

But then, one deputy who had been listening to Sophia with cold eyes raised his hand and asked, "...Then if Joe is Zodiac as the detective says, why did someone who lived so kindly suddenly start killing people like a madman?"

"It's common for people living ordinary lives to become outlaws when they can't control a moment of emotion. While Joe's motive for murder isn't certain yet, if I were to deduce..."

Sophia, who firmly believed her thoughts to be the truth, answered without hesitation even to the deputy's sudden question.

"The job of a coachman is quite arduous and sometimes they're treated with contempt. Joe probably suppressed his feelings of injustice over the years. But one day, unable to control his emotions, he committed an impulsive murder and felt the thrill of killing for the first time, so afterwards, to feel that joy again..."

"...What? So you're saying Joe is a madman who feels joy from killing people?"

"It's very rare, but there are such people..."

"Ah, really, this is too much to hear—!"

But no matter how much Sophia tried to persuade, she couldn't overturn the public opinion that had already shifted.

They say people were gathering more and developing now, but originally Justice Town had quite a closed atmosphere.

It was even more so because it was a place where outlaws frequently appeared.

The townspeople basically suspected and were wary of outsiders... and tended to trust the existing Justice Town residents, especially those who had stayed in town longer.

That community was so tight-knit that even I, who had immigrated to Justice Town 4 years ago, had been caught off guard several times.

Didn't they say Joe's family immigrated to Justice Town about 15 years ago?

In contrast, Sophia in front of us was a newcomer outsider who had been dispatched to Justice Town just last week.

As Sophia kept insisting Joe was Zodiac, complaints finally erupted among the deputies who were native to the town.

"Do you know how many years I've known Joe? Over 10 years, 10 years! Do you think I don't know what kind of person Joe is?"

"Isn't Kid also saying Joe isn't Zodiac? So are you saying Kid is lying?"

"Joe can't even step on a bug on the road.... What? Joe feels joy from killing people? This is really ridiculous..."

The atmosphere heated up, and someone even said this, "The probability that the detective is Zodiac is higher than Joe being Zodiac."

"...W-what?"

"To be frank, there's no evidence that the detective isn't Zodiac either, right? Zodiac appeared in our town from the day the detective arrived."

"Gasp, that's true?"

"What, could it be?"

"No, are you all serious right now...?!"

Soon, as the ignorant deputies really started suspecting Sophia and whispering, she shouted as if wronged and looked at Jett.

Jett, who had been silent until then, only stepped forward to mediate after seeing her wronged gaze.

"Do you all not know whose granddaughter Sophia is to be talking nonsense?!"

"..."

Of course, everyone knew whose granddaughter Sophia was.

The deputies who belatedly recalled this fact closed their mouths.

"Sophia is absolutely not the kind of person who would commit such a barbaric act as serial killing! You'd better stop indiscriminately suspecting outsiders."

"...Yes."

Only after Jett gave a warning and the deputies hung their heads did Sophia's shoulders rise a little.

But...

"I've scolded the kids, so you should stop tarnishing the dead Joe's honor now, too."

"Pardon...?"

Jett was by no means on Sophia's side either.

"Didn't Kid say it? That he fought Zodiac together with Joe. I believe Kid's words."

"But Sheriff...!"

Sophia tried to argue with Jett, but he had already turned his back.

"That's enough. Let's end this now. As the sheriff of Justice Town, I'll conclude the Zodiac case. Zodiac's identity was a TKK member, and Joe was a town hero who fought against Zodiac and the last victim."

"...Tsk."

As long as Jett was the officially appointed town sheriff, he had the final authority.

When Jett concluded the case, Sophia, who was only a 4th-grade agent, couldn't question further.

But...

"...Are you all out of your minds?"

"...What?"

"...You're investigating and concluding such an important case so sloppily? I absolutely can't accept this."

As expected, Sophia, being from the city, couldn't accept Jett's conclusion of the investigation.

She packed her things with an angry face and...

"..."

"..."

After glaring at us... especially me, she rode away on her horse.

Watching Sophia's retreating figure, I asked Jett, "Is it okay to just let her go like that? What if she tells her family?"

"...Haa, I don't know either," Jett answered with a sigh as if he too was frustrated.

"But what can we do? She keeps saying Joe is Zodiac."

"..."

"But Kid.... Are you sure Joe isn't Zodiac?"

Jett's eyes asking this contained trust towards me and Joe.

At this, I nodded confidently and said, "Of course."

"Haa... that must be right. How could a good guy like Joe..."

"..."

So the fact that Joe was Zodiac ended up being buried in my heart.

But this is right.

However, I didn't regret it.

If it was revealed that Joe was Zodiac, Joe's remaining family would live an even more painful life.

They might even be driven out of town with the label of being a serial killer's family.

In contrast... Liese had no family.

The dead didn't speak.

I had only made a practical choice for the sake of the living.

"Alright, let's wrap this up. Load Joe's body onto the horse."

"Yes—!"

At Jett's order, the deputies started preparing to depart.

But then there was one thing that caught my eye.

"...Hey, wait."

"Hm? What is it, Kid?"

"...You're loading Joe onto the horse, but why are you tying her behind the horse?"

The deputies were loading Joe's body onto the horse, but they tied Liese's feet with a rope connected to the back of the horse.

...So she would be dragged on the ground on the way back.

When I asked with a hardened expression, a deputy answered as if wondering why I cared about such a thing, "Why tie her? Who would want to load this terrible woman onto a horse?"

"..."

"...Damn, it makes me angry just thinking about it again. This..."

The deputy went further, taking out his gun, loading a bullet, and aiming at Liese's body.

It was a volatile situation.

Since it wasn't a duel, the [Best Gunslinger in the West] trait wasn't activated, but...

Whoosh.

"...Stop."

Before the bullet could hit Liese's face, my hand was already blocking the deputy's gun muzzle.

It was just an NPC... not even a living one, but a dead NPC, yet why did my hand move so quickly?

...I didn't know.

Swish—swish.

I turned the gun muzzle away and untied the rope binding Liese's ankles.

"I'll carry her on my horse."

"...Why bother?"

"If we tie her behind and drag her, it'll just slow us down. I'm tired."

"Ah, I see. Then please do."

At my words about being tired, the deputy immediately nodded.

I held Liese in my arms and got on No Name, who had come to my side at some point.

"If everyone's ready, let's head back."

"Yes!"

Clop clop.

As I started riding, holding the reins, Liese, whom I had seated in front of me, swayed lifelessly.

So I had to hold the reins with one hand and hold Liese in my arms with the other.

Squeeze.

"..."

She was said to be 15 years old, but... perhaps because she hadn't eaten well in childhood, her body was very small.

Holding Liese's petite body like that, I recalled the words she had said to me before she died.

— ...The organization has found out the Boss' location… Cough, Gonzales will soon send a bunch of executioners here.

— T-the little Deputy Leader... will soon come into the world.

— Before that... run away.

If the organization knew I was in Justice Town... this place would become a sea of blood within a few months.

...Maybe I should leave Justice Town before that.

"...My end of service has really gotten messed up."

The reason I settled in Justice Town 4 years ago was because this was a place where outlaws respawned, so I could have an easy time before finally going home.

But actually coming here, it seemed like I was just having a hard time constantly instead of an easy time.

It was like being notified by the company commander to participate in cold weather training a week before discharge.

TKK, the South Brotherhood, and even Sophia.

I was sick and tired of why they were all tormenting me when there wasn't much left until I could go home.

"...I'm tired."

Tonight was really long and arduous.

Unable to overcome the overwhelming fatigue, I closed my eyes.

It felt like reason had flown away from my mind and only instinct remained.

Clop clop, clop clop.

Squeeze.

Even then, I tightened my arm holding Liese, lest I drop her.

Whether it was because of the cold winter or because she was an NPC...

Liese's body in my arms was so cold.

"...I'm sorry."

Those words came out of my mouth without me even realizing it.

I woke up startled that I had said these words, and then...

"..."

Closed my eyes again.

No Name considerately took me to the destination on auto-pilot.