Chapter 115
Chapter 115
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 115
Chapter Title: Garfield's Decision
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"No, that's a bit..."
Garfield stared at Hae-jin in disbelief.
Of course, he wasn't a healing-type player, but he had extended the lives of family members or acquaintances who were on the brink of death using his abilities.
So, couldn't they see his powers as a well-intentioned white lie?
Garfield truly believed that.
But Hae-jin was unwavering.
"Anyway, you lied, so it's fraud."
"Ha..."
Garfield could only let out a sigh of exasperation.
He had no choice.
No matter how he looked at it, Hae-jin had pegged him as a fraudulent villain.
Anything he said now wouldn't get through to Hae-jin.
Seeing Garfield's awkward expression, Hae-jin spoke up.
"Anyway, since you're a fraud, I need to punish you as per Villain Vanguard protocol. Choose."
Hae-jin declared that Garfield, who had used player abilities for fraud, was a villain and thus deserved punishment.
Garfield reacted with utter absurdity.
"You call this a choice?"
"Why not? There are two options, so you can pick one."
He had given two choices.
So, just pick one.
Garfield retorted to Hae-jin's words.
"Rehabilitate and serve under Park Hae-jin, or die—what kind of choice is that?"
"That's exactly it. Become a rehabilitation squad member or die. Two options, right?"
Hae-jin reacted as if he couldn't understand why Garfield was acting like there were no choices.
From that, Garfield realized something.
'Ah, he has zero intention of offering any other options besides these two.'
No matter how he saw it, Hae-jin wasn't about to give him a new choice, so Garfield spoke up.
"Kill me."
"Really?"
"Yes."
At Garfield's insistence on death, Hae-jin briefly pondered if he should actually do it.
Garfield, who would become the Blood Demon, was a murderer who would kill many, so unless he joined his side, killing him was the right call.
He had come this far precisely because having the future Blood Demon under him would be convenient.
However, if Garfield truly refused to join, Hae-jin was prepared to cut his throat right then.
Still, since Hae-jin wasn't a psychopath who killed without reason, he asked one last time.
"Do you hate the idea of rehabilitation that much?"
"If rehabilitation means throwing away all the money I've earned and living like a slave forever, I'd rather die. I've survived the Trials' Arena by luck so far, but I'm increasingly feeling my limits."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, so if I'm going to die anyway, let it be now. Honestly, it's not bad. Dying at a hero's hand is better than getting killed by some random monster unknown to anyone."
"Then, immediate execution it is."
Even after the final question, Garfield chose death.
Hae-jin had no more reason to spare him.
Just as Hae-jin was about to sever Garfield's neck...
"Nooo!"
Amelia cried out desperately and rushed in.
Dropping the tray of coffee she had been holding.
Halt!
Hae-jin stopped right before slicing Garfield's neck.
Amelia had swiftly positioned herself in front of Garfield.
In truth, Hae-jin could have beheaded him before Amelia could protect him.
He hadn't stopped because she blocked him, but because of her shout.
There was one reason he halted before striking Garfield's neck.
'Even so, judging by Amelia's reaction, maybe Garfield hasn't lived a completely misguided life?'
If he had lived wrongly and their relationship was merely employer-employee, she wouldn't react this strongly.
Hae-jin asked Amelia.
"Are you two lovers?"
He wondered if she was protecting him out of love.
Amelia shook her head at Hae-jin's question.
"No, nothing like that."
Not lovers, then.
So why protect Garfield?
Hae-jin probed for the reason.
"Then why are you stopping me? If I hadn't stopped just now, your head could have rolled too, Amelia. Is it because you're worried about losing your source of income?"
"That might be part of it. But more than that, I owe a debt to my employer."
Her income source, yes, but above all, she owed Garfield a debt.
Hae-jin was curious about what that debt was.
"What debt?"
"When my husband was terminally ill, my employer helped, allowing us a bit more time together. He asked for less money than required back then, which is why I'm serving him now. But thanks to him, I could spend those final happy moments with my husband. I have to repay that debt."
"..."
Hae-jin fell silent for a moment.
From Amelia's story, though Garfield wasn't a healing player as he claimed, he had indeed given someone more precious memories of happiness.
Song Seung-hun had likely been the same.
If Hae-jin hadn't met him, Song Seung-hun would have gone to Garfield, offering money to heal his mother.
Of course, a full cure would have been impossible.
But if Garfield's poison extended her life a little, couldn't Song Seung-hun have made more good memories, like Amelia here?
Thinking that way, Garfield didn't seem entirely evil.
Amelia insisting on repaying the debt suggested he had helped despite the shortfall.
After pondering, Hae-jin sheathed his sword.
"Hm? You're sparing me?"
Amelia had stepped in to shield him.
Garfield, peeking over her shoulder from behind, cautiously asked Hae-jin.
Hae-jin had just sheathed the sword that was about to take his head.
In response to Garfield's question, Hae-jin, having put away his sword, replied.
"I'll make one final proposal. Join me, and I'll spare you. This is the last chance, thanks to Amelia."
Hae-jin gave Garfield one more opportunity because of Amelia.
Then Garfield, looking sheepish, brought it up.
"Ahem, then promise me one thing."
"What is it?"
"Exclude the condition of refunding the money."
Garfield said he absolutely couldn't return the money earned from his scams.
Hae-jin wondered why he was so obsessed with money.
Players could die anytime—did he really need to cling to it so desperately?
With that thought, Hae-jin asked Garfield.
"If I don't make you refund the scam money, you'll join me?"
"Yes."
"Is money more important than your life?"
"No, it's not that..."
When Hae-jin asked why he valued money over life, Garfield seemed to hesitate on what to say.
After a moment, he continued.
"I actually sponsor a lot of kids. The money has already all gone to them, so even if I wanted to refund it, I don't have it."
"I see."
"Yes."
It wasn't greed for money; he couldn't refund because it had gone to sponsoring kids.
This detail wasn't even in Joo-hyuk's memories.
Garfield was simply a madman who became the Blood Demon and committed massacres.
So Hae-jin had only considered two options for him: subordinate the Blood Demon or kill him.
Hence, only two choices offered.
But now, there was a reason he couldn't pay.
He sponsored kids.
He scammed to earn money for them.
At that, Hae-jin stroked his chin with thumb and forefinger.
"Hmm, alright, let's see then."
As Hae-jin stroked his chin and spoke.
What did he suddenly want to see?
Garfield tilted his head.
"Pardon? See what?"
"Let's check out the places you sponsor. If it checks out, I'll handle the money-related stuff."
"You're saying you'll fund it, Park Hae-jin?"
"I'll compensate the victims who suffered from you, and on top of that, cover your sponsorships. Will you join me then?"
"If you do that..."
From Garfield's perspective, there was no reason to refuse Hae-jin's offer.
Some might not see themselves as victims, but by Hae-jin's standards, the customers were indeed harmed.
Patients who trusted him as a healer got poison that only slightly extended their lives.
In a way, if he was a murderer, Garfield could be seen as one too.
After all, his poison led to their deaths eventually.
It depended on perspective.
Without him, they would have died sooner, so he extended lives—he saved them, in a sense.
Regardless, hearing Garfield earned it for sponsoring kids—not for himself—changed Hae-jin's view.
Garfield had shared his circumstances, and with Hae-jin accommodating, he seemed willing to join.
Garfield said to Hae-jin.
"I'll join you as proposed, Park Hae-jin."
A day passed.
To verify if what Garfield said was true, Hae-jin had told him the day before.
He'd visit today.
True to his word, Hae-jin returned to Garfield's mansion.
Having been there once, the coordinates were precise, allowing him to arrive in one go.
Whoooosh-!
Garfield's shadow surged and swirled into a vortex.
"Wha? What's this?"
Garfield was startled as his shadow suddenly rose.
Soon, as the swirling shadow dissipated, he spotted Hae-jin and realized.
Hae-jin had used a movement skill.
Seeing Hae-jin, Garfield greeted him.
"You've arrived, Leader?"
"Yes."
The day before, Garfield had heard what Hae-jin would do, so he decided to revere him as Leader.
After the greeting, Hae-jin immediately had Garfield guide him to the sponsorship sites.
After the tour, Hae-jin was quite surprised.
'He's sponsoring this many?'
He visited every orphanage nearby.
At least ten, making rounds and greeting everyone—the directors and kids all welcomed Garfield.
Watching that, Hae-jin thought.
'Sixteen places. He was supporting all these?'
He couldn't understand.
Why would Garfield, who lived so virtuously sponsoring kids, commit massacres after becoming the Blood Demon?
'Did becoming the Blood Demon change him?'
Hae-jin didn't know yet.
Why Garfield went on a rampage after ascending to Blood Demon.
Of course, it wouldn't take long to find out.
Anyway, after confirming the sponsorships, Hae-jin said.
"Good. I'll support them as promised."
Having verified Garfield's claims, Hae-jin committed to yesterday's promise.
Garfield bowed deeply to Hae-jin.
"Thank you, Leader!"