Chapter 42
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Translator: penny
Chapter:
Chapter Title: Will You Forgive?
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Will you forgive them?
"Ulpi, honestly, I don't know what Ulpi should do."
That was the puppy beastkin's answer from last night.
There was no agonising over that response. It came back quite refreshingly.
Refreshingly, but... that had nothing to do with the actual content.
"Don't know?"
"Yeah..."
The situation had unfolded so abruptly that it was understandable.
But it was fine. I could at least show her what paths lay ahead.
I had no intention of forcing her. Ultimately, Ulpi's own feelings were what mattered most.
"Then, instead of figuring out what to do, how about thinking first about what those people make you feel?"
"Umm..."
"Be honest. No need to read the room—just tell me how you feel."
No need to worry if it sounded too blunt.
"...But I really don't know."
Her voice mumbled a little, as if her confidence had dipped.
"Should I be angry? Like, of course?"
Yeah, normally you'd be furious after enduring that kind of pain. That's perfectly natural—not weird at all.
...But you're not all that angry, are you?
"It's weird. Ulpi really isn't thinking anything right now. All this time, it's just been fun."
"...Really? Well, that's better than moping around."
"Yeah. You know, I got a pretty decent gig outside."
"What is it?"
"Delivery work. They seemed to like me, so the, uh, bo, boss...?"
"That's not quite how you'd put it."
"Yeah, yeah. The boss said he'll keep giving me work for a bit."
The sun had set, leaving only the faint glow of distant streetlights, but I could still see Ulpi's eyes sparkling.
"Lately I've been coming home late 'cause I'm getting greedy, but soon I'll have lots of time with Rafi too."
"Greedy? For what?"
"Ulpi wants to save up some money for once. So I'm picking up extra shifts."
"Not too tough?"
"No way. Ulpi's done way more dangerous and harder stuff than this. How could this be tough, oppa?"
"Fair enough. Yeah."
Thankfully, Ulpi's voice didn't shake as she spoke of the past.
Still bright as ever. Bright enough to sound almost cheerful.
Even though those memories could never be good ones.
Shadows of the past and all that must have nothing to do with Ulpi.
"Save up money... buy a blanket or something. Sleep somewhere even fluffier."
"Sounds great. What's next?"
"And... not school or anything, but I want Rafi to learn something. I hope Rafi never has to live as hard as me."
"That's sweet."
"Yeah, yeah. Rafi's super sweet. Way sharper than me."
"Rafi is, sure—but I meant you."
"Yeah... Uh, what?"
"You're sweet. That's what I think."
"..."
Even in the darkness, I could tell Ulpi's face had turned red.
"Ahem...!"
"Right, so what's after that?"
"Yeah... Next, what I wanna do is..."
The girl dreaming of a bright future chattered on happily.
At length. For stories like this, at least, longer was infinitely better than short.
"...Yeah. That's everything I want. And how I've been getting by."
And with that, even those happy ramblings had wrapped up.
"Sorry, didn't mean to go on so long."
"Nah. Way better than the alternative."
"...Really? Good."
But now it was time to circle back to the original topic.
Ulpi took a deep breath.
"So, I've been living pretty well lately. Trying to put the past behind me. Think I can finally look ahead soon."
"..."
"So, so... even talking about those people now, I still don't really know."
You saved me, oppa. But honestly, I didn't do a thing.
Those people just suddenly stopped tormenting me.
And a few days later, oppa showed up saying they'd face the law now.
Grateful as I am—over the moon even—it just feels like someone else's story now.
"I've been living a total dream life."
"...Haha."
"All thanks to you, oppa. Yeah."
Well... that was enough. I'm no apostle of justice chasing some grand ideal.
Just seeing you happy and grateful was all I needed.
"So, you're forgiving them?"
"Yeah...?"
"No hard feelings at all, then forgive?"
"...What happens if I do?"
"Dunno—depends on what you want."
Depends on how far you wanna take it.
Those guys are backed into a real corner right now, scrambling to show some remorse.
They figured starting with apologies to the victims was the way to go.
"I haven't gotten one yet...?"
"It's fine. You're not alone. Told you—it was just the plan. Didn't actually happen."
It got scrapped halfway. People were pissed.
Wondered what those scum might pull under the guise of apologising.
So it got cancelled before they could even try—nearly got beaten to death first.
"Aah..."
Ulpi murmured softly, getting it.
"But people...? What people?"
"Mm, bulletin board pals."
"??"
Better if she didn't know, so I skipped it.
Anyway, no clue if their apologies are genuine or just a dodge.
If you wanna meet 'em face-to-face and decide, I'll set it up.
Your call whether to accept or not.
...Me? No way in hell. Yeah.
But that's me—this is about you, so forget it.
Your choice if you accept and forgive too.
Forgiveness doesn't nix legal consequences.
Or you could show some mercy, to a point.
...Or no forgiveness at all.
Let 'em take their punishment, and get your own revenge besides.
Punch that boss in the face or whatever.
I can back you up. Or go solo if that's your style.
"Umm..."
"And honestly."
"...?"
"Earlier, I mentioned those bulletin board friends."
"Yeah."
"They don't wanna let it end with just legal punishment."
"Uh..."
"Just keep it in mind."
No matter how harsh the law gets.
Laws can't deliver every kind of justice.
Morally right or not aside... it's pretty damn satisfying, no?
If it's not your thing, I'll shut it down.
...How? Don't sweat it. I got ways.
Just decide. I'll wait.
"..."
Ulpi sank into thought.
Blinking those big eyes in silence.
Her ears and tail, perked up from all the happy chatter moments ago, soon drooped meekly.
"I mean, I don't really hold any grudges against them anymore. Like I said."
"Mm."
"And... if anything, I'd prefer they just face legal judgment."
Aha—so forgiveness after all, huh?
"..."
Ulpi stayed quiet, against my expectation of a nod.
Just watched me with trembling eyes.
"...Oppa."
"Yeah?"
"Even without grudges... if forgiving them feels hard... am I weird...?"
Her voice quivered slightly. Probably nervous.
"I, I'm really fine. Totally not bothered...?"
"Yeah..."
"I've always... had a hard time hating humans. Always felt fondness for them."
Because that's how I was born. I'm a puppy beastkin.
"I don't hate that about myself. Better to like than hate."
"..."
"But... I'm really okay... other people suffered so much though..."
Other beastkin, other humans—
"...Rafi suffered a ton. Thought I was hurting bad. So Rafi hurt. Hated humans."
Not imagining it—her voice sounded a little wet.
"And I really, really thought it over hard..."
"...What?"
"Turns out... there are all kinds of humans out there."
The boss who trusted me with work. Oppa. Good, cool ones.
People I'm so deeply grateful for.
"...No matter how little grudge I hold, treating those humans the same as oppa—forgiving them like that—I really don't think I can."
"..."
"Am I weird...? But I really, really don't want them forgiven..."
Yeah, got it. That's your answer.
I get it completely. You're not weird.
"Everything's cool—just answer me this?"
"...?"
"You really okay? For real?"
"...Yeah."
"No, forget them—are you really okay?"
"...It was hard."
"Yeah."
"Really... so hard... so scary..."
A sob escaped. I chose not to look at her face.
"You did great."
"Ung..."
"Let's just be happy from here on out."
"We will... definitely..."
The night deepened further. The sobs stopped.
"I... don't want to..."
Rika's answer.
The people couldn't understand.
Why? Hadn't she suffered all this time?
They tried desperately to persuade Rika.
It was frustrating.
And heartbreaking at the same time.
Even now, in this situation, she refused to fight back, planning to bury all that past pain inside.
At the same time, some muttered and glared at the puppy beastkin.
Trying to play innocent alone, they said.
There was no logic to it.
Just pangs of conscience over their own deeds, deflected onto someone else.
"No... All of it..."
Rika continued, sniffling.
"Fighting, hitting, yelling, screaming... I don't like any of it..."
Tears welled in the girl's eyes, then spilled over.
The people around her were at a loss for words.
"I hate those people... hate them so much..."
How much? Enough that she still couldn't forgive.
"I don't wanna hurt them myself either. It's scary... I just want them to get the punishment they deserve..."
Rika wiped her tears.
And continued.
"I'm happy now. No more pain. I've got friends, a big sister too."
So, so...
"They're gone... Those people aren't in Rika's life anymore. That's how I want it."
Her gaze downcast, trembling all over, Rika finally hung her head and wailed.
"I'm sorry! Sorry, sorry...! Please! Please... let me live quietly! Please...!"
The child cried. Sobbed wildly as she begged.
Until Senyora and Karen, watching from behind, reluctantly stepped in to stop her.
The people watching her—
f felt ashamed.
In the end, they all scattered.