Chapter 22
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: The Executioner, Dalus
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The Executioner, Dalus
‘So many of them… I’d better use the guillotine.’
Dalus, the executioner of Casedic Castle, lifted a large-bladed axe, then changed his mind and set it down.
While personally lopping off heads with an axe always got a better reaction from the crowd, trying to behead all six of them that way could lead to a mistake.
He had sharpened the guillotine’s blade recently, so he should be able to get through all six without a problem.
Dalus nodded and slung the axe over his back. He wouldn't be using it, but carrying the axe when entering the castle was necessary to avoid needless conflict.
“That’s why you should start working out regularly at your age.”
“If I work out, can I get stupidly big like Aron?”
“Stupidly? This physique is an engineering marvel.”
Ted was thrilled to see Aron for the first time in a while, which made Dalus worry for his son.
He worried if his son, still so young, could withstand the torrent of harsh words that would rain down on him when they entered the castle together. But it was something he would have to face eventually.
‘I started at that age, too.’
Dalus dredged up a distant memory, but the gritty taste it left in his mouth made him shake his head.
“I’m ready.”
“Really? You could’ve taken your time.”
“Aaaah! Aron! Put me down! I’m dizzy!”
Aron was lifting Ted high in the air and spinning him around. Ted shouted as if he disliked it, but his beaming face showed he was having the time of his life.
Aron set Ted down with a disappointed smack of his lips. Ted rolled on the ground, giggling with delight.
Dalus went outside and pulled out the cart he kept in the storage shed. The cloth-covered cart held various tools for disposing of corpses.
The human body was useful in many ways. After an execution, Dalus was also responsible for disposing of the corpse. The blood could be sold for a high price, and many sought the skin for medicinal purposes.
Much like a pig, almost every part of a human could be used.
‘Six of them…’
The cart might be too small, but he could just make several trips. Dalus brought a horse over and hitched it to the cart.
It was a horse he'd bought long ago; its coat was dull, its eyes clouded. Dalus stroked the weary-looking animal's mane, trying to soothe it.
“When you can no longer run, I'll give you a painless end. Just a little longer, I ask of you.”
As if it understood, the horse gave a listless snort.
“This horse is so old I’d feel bad riding in the cart.”
“It’s Lightning! Lightning!”
At Aron’s words, Ted shot his hand up, his eyes sparkling as he spoke.
After becoming an executioner, Dalus never named anything. Even his son, Ted, had been named by the wife who had run away; it wasn't a name he had given.
“Ahahaha! I told you, Aron, you can’t ride! You have to walk, Aron!”
“Dalus! You earn so much, you could at least buy a decent cart. What is this? A sickly horse and a cart too small for a man to lie down in.”
Aron tried to hop onto the cart but got back down due to the lack of space. Seeing his son point and beam at Aron, Dalus finally understood why his own father's brow had been so furrowed on the day he had first followed him.
He gently put the reins on the wheezing horse and pulled slowly. The horse moved slower than a walking pace, but he was grateful it moved at all.
“You need to spend a little. Dalus, you live too frugally.”
“…Is that so.”
Maybe he was right. Dalus had sent many to the guillotine, and he had plenty of silver to show for it.
He had so much that he hadn't even been angry when his wife ran off with a hidden pouch, yet he still saved every coin he could.
‘Because Ted might not want to do this work.’
He watched his son poke Aron's biceps with a bright smile and swallowed his words. This silver was for his son—it was his chance at a choice.
Soon, they arrived where the castle gate was visible. A sizable crowd was waiting in front of the gate for inspection.
“I’m going to go have a quick word and come back.”
“Alright.”
“Aron! See you later!”
Aron disappeared toward the castle gate. Dalus straightened the collar of his overcoat and pulled his hat down low. His son, fascinated by the crowds of people he hadn't seen in a while, craned his neck to look around.
“Ptooey…! What rotten luck, first thing in the morning.”
A moment later, a sharp voice cut through the noisy crowd. Ted’s beaming face, which had been smiling just moments before, hardened.
“I wondered where that smell of blood was coming from…”
“Still, seeing that lowly bastard standing there, I guess an execution is coming up soon.”
“Tsk, they should make a separate doggy door for him to use…”
Pointed remarks flew at them from all sides.
Dalus pushed away Ted’s trembling hand as it clutched his own. He had to get used to it. If he chose this path, these were the stares he would have to endure for the rest of his life. Ted’s hand, now with nowhere to go, froze in mid-air.
The blatant, harsh words from those around them didn't stop but only grew worse. One man even came up and sneered at them openly.
For a child, seeing his father scorned and mocked by others was a difficult thing to bear. Dalus knew this well, but he said nothing. He simply raised the collar of his red overcoat.
“How dare you, you lowly scum? Are you ignoring me?”
Angered by Dalus’s continued silence, the man suddenly grabbed him by the collar. Ted couldn't stand it and jumped in. Dalus knew what would happen next, but he didn't stop him.
Just as his own father had done. Dalus simply covered his eyes with his hat.
“Let go! I said, let go!!”
“You lowly brat!”
Ted was pushed and fell to the ground.
“Tsk, where do you think you’re touching with those filthy hands—huh?”
“Filthy hands?”
“A-Aron?! Hiiiek!”
Just then, the name Aron burst from the man's mouth like a scream. At that, Dalus raised his head.
The complexion of the man caught by Aron instantly turned deathly pale. The long scar by Aron's mouth twisted hideously.
Seeing that, Dalus recalled the first time he met Aron. Dalus had thought Aron was an executioner. He reeked of the thick stench of blood, a scent unique to executioners.
“Did you just call my hand filthy?”
“Th-That’s not what I meant, I wasn't talking to you, Aron…”
The man trembled as if he were about to wet himself, answering cautiously.
“Filthy hands?”
“No, I wasn't talking about you, Aron…”
“Filthy hands?”
“That’s…”
“Hmm… Filthy hands?”
Aron kept repeating the same words, holding out his palm, which slowly moved closer to the man's neck.
Terrified, the man hastily pulled a pouch from his clothes and placed it in Aron's palm. Aron then patted the man's shoulder.
“A c-clean hand! Of course! Aron is a true squad leader who protects our Casedic Castle! Ha… haha.”
“Right?”
“Y-Yeah. Of course.”
Aron seemed to be trying to smile brightly, but the mess of scars on his face made him look all the more threatening. The man, laughing loudly in an awkward voice, claimed he had urgent business and disappeared.
“The same guys who’ll come out cheering for the execution… Bunch of savage, ignorant bastards. Tsk.”
Aron grumbled, opening the pouch to check its contents.
At the sight of Aron, the brute of Casedic Castle, calling someone else ignorant, Dalus’s lips curled up slightly.
“Hey, Squad Leader, where are you off to again?”
Just then, a bearded man who had been conducting the inspection approached and grumbled.
“It's work. Nova's orders. I'd rather just stand here and shake down kids for their money.”
“Are you sure? You smell like alcohol.”
“Ah, that's from this morning.”
“Why would you drink before work…”
“Whatever. I'll be back soon.”
After waiting a moment while Aron bickered with the bearded man at the gate, they passed through together.
“Ah, Ted. Buy yourself something tasty with this.”
“Th-thank you, Aron.”
Aron took a few coins from the pouch he’d gotten from the man and pressed them into Ted's hand. At that, Ted's expression softened a little.
“Aron.”
“Hey, I gave it to your son. And you earn more than me.”
Aron replied with a look of disgust. Dalus pondered for a moment what Aron's words meant before speaking again.
“Why are you so good to me?”
Dalus, who had lived his whole life in a hut outside the castle walls, didn't have the knack for beating around the bush.
He was the kind of man that even the woman who had been the child's mother—though he'd bought her with money—couldn't stand and eventually left.
“…What kind of bullshit is that.”
Aron sighed quietly and brushed his bangs back. A long scar on his forehead caught the eye. His deep, yet tired-looking eyes stared at Dalus.
“I plan on asking you for a favor later.”
“A favor?”
“Yeah. If I ever end up on the guillotine, I want you to make it a clean finish. With a freshly sharpened blade, of course.”
At Aron's out-of-the-blue remark, Dalus let out a hollow laugh.
Even though he was called a wreck and a brute, Aron was always surrounded by people. Dalus found it hard to imagine such a man lying on the guillotine.
He didn't know if Aron was just making it up or if there was some truth to it, but at the word "favor," he nodded.
After all, that was something Dalus was confident in.
“I will. A clean one.”
“Good, then we're set.”
“M-Me too! If I ever have to behead you, Aron, I'll make it clean!”
“Right… that's… really… thanks for that.”
Ted, excited again in an instant, raised his hand and shouted. Aron, with a troubled expression, muttered "little bastard" under his breath.
At that, Dalus laughed for the first time in a very long while.
***
“Did you hear? They're beheading six people at once tomorrow! It's bound to be a historic day, the first time since Casedic Castle was built!”
“The square will be packed. Shouldn't we save a spot in advance? Last execution, I was late and missed the head rolling!”
“The head rolling and plopping right into the basket is the best part! It's a real shame you missed it.”
“Fucking hell,” I muttered.
It was a small castle, so news of the execution spread quickly.
As if a festival were being held, the streets were filled with people running around with wide smiles, full of anticipation, while the women chattered about the food they would eat while watching tomorrow's execution.
“No day off tomorrow. They're pulling everyone in to clean up the area.”
A thoroughly disgruntled Berman grumbled.
“Of all times, on my day off…”
“Weren’t you off duty today too, Squad Leader?”
The petty Berman cut me off, whining.
“I told you, I wasn't. Getting all sulky because you were alone for a bit. That's why you get your ass kicked by mercenaries. A man's heart must be broad for his fists to grow strong.”
“Alone for a bit! Weren't you just lazing around, scratching your belly at the guard headquarters, Squad Leader! If I hadn't woken you, you would've slept there until tomorrow!”
“I had my reasons.”
“Go on, tell us. Let's hear these reasons.”
“Well… ugh… never mind.”
“My, do you not even have the decency to make something up anymore?”
Berman's long sigh made me feel unfairly accused.
On my way here, I stopped by the lodging, and I couldn't possibly refuse the ice-cold beer Kanna offered me the moment she saw me. How could I reject a gift filled with a child's pure heart?
Then, Hana, who had heard about the execution, asked me to taste-test the food she planned to sell at the square tomorrow. But it was so salty and greasy that I had no choice but to drink more ice-cold beer.
That put me in a good mood, so I packed up a bunch of food and beer and went back to headquarters, where I happened to run into the Pig Captain.
Naturally, one must stay on their superior's good side to make life easier for the subordinates, so I had no choice but to share the food and drink with the Pig Captain to strengthen our bond.
And he doesn't even know of my hard work, getting all sulky just because he had to man the checkpoint alone for a bit.
“Petty bastard. I'll cover a day for you next time.”
“Then that's fine. It's not like there was much to do today anyway.”
Seeing Berman's expression change so quickly, I realized I'd been had. But I'd already made a promise, so I wouldn't take it back.
“Anyway, this is why you get beaten up by mercenaries, you're so petty.”
“I didn't get beaten up. I was just outnumbered… And I beat two of them. It was only because of that coward who hit me from behind. If we'd fought fair…”
“Hey, Squad Leader. Did you hear the news?”
“Squad Leader, good work today.”
Just then, Snake-Eyes Pul and Fish-Bread Brick appeared next to the grumbling Berman.
“Anything happen?”
“Nah, nothing much today. Everyone's busy preparing for tomorrow.”
Snake-Eyes Pul answered, scratching the corner of his eye. He seemed disappointed that nothing eventful had occurred.
“Squad Leader, is it true they're executing six people tomorrow? I heard our day off got pushed back.”
Brick asked, his voice full of a complaint that didn't suit him.
“It wasn't pushed back, it was cancelled.”
“Squad Leader, Brick's been moping about it for a while. Isn't that weird? He never used to say anything before…”
Snake-Eyes Pul gestured toward Brick with a sideways glance. Brick cleared his throat, looking terribly awkward. I had a hunch.
“Don’t tell me… Charlotte?”
“What? Isn't Charlotte a waitress? Did something happen? What is it?”
Berman's eyes went wide as he asked hurriedly. He seemed anxious about being out of the loop and pressed for an answer.
“Well… while I was on patrol earlier… I ran into Charlotte… and she asked me to watch the execution with her tomorrow…”
Brick trailed off, scratching his cheek and blushing awkwardly.
“Ooh… asked you to watch the execution together?! Charlotte must be totally into you.”
“Even you, Brick… Dammit.”
Snake-Eyes Pul made a lewd gesture, all excited, while Berman muttered with a look of betrayal.
“Asking someone to watch an execution with you means you're totally into them?”
It was a barbaric dating ritual I couldn't possibly comprehend.
“Isn't it obvious? When one life is taken, a new one must be made to maintain the balance.”
Snake-Eyes Pul answered, his eyes half-lidded, moving his hands up and down like scales.
“I-Is that what it means?! Sh-She… she meant that! What do I do! I already said yes! Aaargh! The balance!”
Brick suddenly shrieked, flailing his arms and stammering. His face was beet red, as if he were already balancing the scales in his head.
“Dammit, why does no one… I was so sure growing a beard would make me popular…”
Berman muttered, glaring at Brick like a knight defeated in a duel.
‘Asking someone to watch an execution is a date proposal… Bunch of savages.’
Just imagining them laughing and chatting while watching a head get lopped off made my own head throb.
“Squad Leader, I think we could make a tidy profit selling some beer. Want in? We can just grab some local kid and have him do it.”
Brick, who had an uncanny nose for money, suggested with a nod. It wasn't a bad idea.
“Sounds good. But not beer, red wine. The color's similar.”
“Ooh… you truly are our Squad Leader. I'll get some on credit from a nearby tavern then.”
At my answer, Snake-Eyes Pul looked genuinely impressed, which was strangely unsettling.
“My mother's fish bread would go perfectly with red wine. How many should I bring? If it's for you, Squad Leader, my mother won't even charge…”
“Shut up, you son of a bitch!”
“Yeah, Brick, I told you before, your mother's cooking is shit. No, shit might actually taste better.”
Harsh words erupted simultaneously at Brick's horrific suggestion.
The blunt Snake-Eyes Pul didn't just tell him to shut up, but laid into him scathingly.
“Huh? I don't know why everyone hates something so delicious…”
Brick looked genuinely wronged, as if he truly didn't understand.
“You, when you meet Charlotte, do not, under any circumstances, bring fish bread.”
The thought suddenly occurred to me, and I told Brick.
“I… I wasn't planning on it.”
Brick replied reluctantly, avoiding my gaze.
“Anyway, don't be late tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir.”
They all answered, their voices somewhat drained of energy.
“And the red wine… put it by that guy in the square… you know, the one who always sells oranges? That spot has a direct view.”
“Red wine and a front-row seat… You're really something else, Squad Leader.”
Snake-Eyes Pul gave me a complicated look, while Berman and Brick nodded with weary faces.
“What are you looking at?”
Their stares were getting on my nerves, so I snapped at them, and they all quickly looked away.
***
When I came out after washing up, Kanna offered me an ice-cold beer, her hands still trembling.
I patted the head of my quick-witted mini-fridge, took the mug of beer, and sat down at an empty table in the hall.
Perhaps because of tomorrow's execution, the hall was completely empty.
“Aron, take a look at this!”
Just then, Hana emerged from the kitchen, struggling with a large wooden tray. Kanna rushed over to help support it.
‘What on earth did she bake…’
The wooden tray was piled high with bread stuffed full of various ingredients. It looked like she was planning to make a killing at tomorrow's execution.
“Just like you said, Aron, something easy to hold and eat is best, so I prepared bread. What do you think?”
Hana set the tray down in front of me and asked with a proud look, stroking Kanna's head. Kanna tried to pull away, but Hana grabbed her shoulder to keep her from escaping and continued to pat her head.
‘This is like a catering order for a school picnic…’
I shook my head, looking at the mountain of bread. With just bread piled up like that, it felt like something was missing.
“Ah, it would be good with some red sauce on it.”
“Red… sauce?”
At my words, Hana's face grew somewhat horrified, and she stammered.
“It'll stimulate the appetite, you know.”
“I… I suppose it would… You're really… um… amazing, Aron.”
Hana narrowed her eyes, expressing a strange sort of admiration.
“And for drinks, not beer. Red wine.”
I added, suddenly remembering my conversation with Pul.
At that, Kanna suddenly hid behind Hana, and Hana stared at me with wide eyes.
“O-Okay… I'll do that… Beer is heavy! And red wine smells much better! Right? No! You don't have to answer! I get it!”
As I started to reply, Hana shook her head and spoke quickly, cutting me off.
“Anyway! Where will you be working tomorrow, Aron? I'll pack some food and drinks and bring them to you.”
I scratched my head at Hana's question, her face slightly flushed for some reason.
“…With her!”
Then Hana pulled Kanna out from behind her and pushed her forward.
I looked at the mini-fridge for a moment, then nodded.