novelraw Chapter 157 : Greenwhistle (1)
Chapter 157 : Greenwhistle (1)
Chapter 157: Greenwhistle (1)
After safely regrouping at the newspaper company once the operation ended, we briefly explained everything that had happened there.
“…It was a tragedy.”
That was Alberto’s response after hearing the story.
“We’ll rest for a short while and then return. If there’s anything you need, please tell us before then.”
“Ah, of course! We have a lounge for our night staff, so feel free to use it. You all worked incredibly hard!”
And so, we headed toward the lounge.
Creeeak—
After washing up lightly in the capital, I roughly cleaned the dust and blood staining my outer clothes and laid them across the table.
Francia dried her hair with the towel she had used to wash her face while staring silently ahead.
One of the few moments of peace amidst the chaotic days.
“…….”
“…….”
In nearly every route, Francia experienced a lonely period of growth.
Even if it hadn’t been the Halenber Family, the Brida Family still collapsed for other reasons over ninety percent of the time, and during that process, she always became the sole survivor.
The resentment of wondering why she had to suffer such things eventually transformed into vengeance—
Into the belief that everything happened because of those bastards.
This time, the target merely happened to be the Halenbers.
Her essence itself never changed much regardless of the timeline.
But as far as I knew—
There had never been a route where she learned of her father’s death like this.
‘…Maybe I shouldn’t have brought her.’
No.
The moment we confronted Jeff Halenber, her involvement had already become inevitable.
If I truly wanted to keep her away from this, I should’ve visited Jeff with only Leah from the start.
Now that things had already happened, it was meaningless regret.
Lowering my head, I let out a silent sigh.
At one point, even such thoughts crossed my mind.
That perhaps my decision to give her a choice had returned in the worst possible form.
“…I thought he was dead.”
It was Francia’s powerless voice that finally broke the long silence.
Her lifeless eyes seemed unfocused, mixed with emotions too complicated to decipher.
“But he was still the head of a family. Since even his whereabouts became unknown… it wasn’t strange to think he’d died.”
Back then, I decided to believe that.
“At the time, I was too busy just trying to survive myself.”
Time passes.
Ironically, the girl who struggled desperately to survive had been able to avoid facing her reality precisely because of those struggles.
It was simply a natural defense mechanism for a human being.
“By the time I became strong enough to protect myself properly, I stopped trying to remember.”
I didn’t even want to think about it anymore.
“Because if Father hadn’t abandoned me… if he’d sacrificed himself to protect me… then I would’ve absolutely sought revenge against those bastards.”
Until this incident, her desire for revenge had remained somewhat vague.
She didn’t know exactly how the Brida Family had fallen.
Who the central figures behind it were.
Or even why it had happened.
Nothing had been clear.
But now she knew.
Behind Eric stood Jeff Halenber.
And behind him stood the Bernhardts.
The ones who destroyed her family.
The ones who carried it out.
And the reasons behind it all.
She had learned everything.
“And in the end… this is how it turned out.”
Leaning against the wall, Francia stared up at the ceiling.
“I still don’t know exactly what happened back then… but at least one thing became certain.”
Her eyes, which had lost focus moments earlier, slowly regained life through determination and fury.
“That the Bernhardts killed my father.”
“…Francia.”
For the first time, she looked directly at me and spoke firmly.
“I understand your thoughts completely. I understand that unless the world itself changes, more people like me will continue appearing.”
But… I can’t accept it.
“I’m going to find the person who killed my father and kill them with my own hands.”
Her lips trembled violently with rage as she spoke each word clearly.
“A new Empire and a new world… those are stories that come afterward for me.”
She abruptly rose from her seat and looked down at me.
“Don’t stop me.”
“I won’t.”
“Even if it’s you, Instructor, this time I’ll— …What?”
“I said I won’t stop you.”
I rose as well in response.
“If there’s someone you want dead, then kill them. Just like I did to that researcher bastard earlier.”
“…….”
“Do you remember when I once asked you what the end point of revenge was?”
Francia simply stared silently into my eyes.
“The end point of revenge… is living.”
For someone who fights solely for revenge, what comes afterward doesn’t matter.
“But if there’s no afterward, then you’ll lose your reason to live.”
“I….”
“So survive until the very end, Francia Brida.”
If you try to achieve revenge by sacrificing your own life—
Then I’ll stop you with my own life if I have to.
“Let’s pray for each other’s fortune in battle.”
At that, Francia asked tearfully in a trembling voice,
“Why… why would you go that far for me? Whether I’m destroyed by revenge or not has nothing to do with you at all!”
“What do you mean it has nothing to do with me?”
With a faint smile, I extended my hand toward her.
“You’re my first disciple.”
“…….”
Francia lowered her head deeply and desperately tried to suppress the overflowing emotions within her.
Staying beside her for a long while, I strengthened my resolve once more.
The sunlight that had been hidden behind clouds slowly streamed in through the window.
---
We returned to Karbenna at exactly 9 AM.
“Absolutely no training today. Get proper rest.”
“…I’m not obsessed with training to that extent, you know?”
“If Eric heard that, he’d laugh his ass off.”
“You should rest too, Instructor. Honestly, you haven’t rested at all lately.”
“Well… that’s true.”
I didn’t expect everything to progress this quickly either.
Hiding those thoughts casually, I awkwardly scratched my forehead.
“Will you be alright without eating?”
“Yes. If I rest a bit, it’ll already be lunchtime anyway.”
“Understood. Then… I’ll see you again, Francia.”
“Yes. You too, Instructor.”
After escorting Francia to the front of her dormitory, I quickly headed toward the cafeteria.
Although my mind felt relatively clear thanks to sleeping during the journey back, I hadn’t eaten properly since the conversation with Jeff.
‘My appetite’s increased noticeably lately.’
Even though my activity level hasn’t really changed.
— Isn’t it because there’s simply more weighing on your mind?
‘…Probably.’
The physical exhaustion remained the same, but the mental exhaustion had doubled on top of it.
— Putting that aside… their achievements were quite shocking.
“…….”
— Human Beastification… no, Demon Humans. I thought they were an impossible concept to realize.
‘Originally, they should’ve been impossible.’
— Really? But you saw it yourself, didn’t you? That man possessed both Beast and human traits simultaneously.
‘It’s proof the catastrophe is drawing close.’
— …What do you mean by that?
‘You’ll understand soon enough.’
By the time my casual conversation with Clina ended, I had already reached the cafeteria.
Since I arrived well past mealtime, there were barely any people inside.
Even so, one particularly noticeable figure remained.
Rubiana Magnus sat there stirring her soup with a deeply troubled expression.
“Did something happen?”
“Kyaah!”
“…….”
“S-Sorry, Sir Eugene! I was concentrating….”
“It’s alright.”
Naturally placing down my tray, I sat beside her.
Rubiana let out a long sigh before muttering,
“I received a strange letter, actually.”
“A letter?”
She pulled out a paper folded three times from her chest and handed it over.
“…Oho.”
The contents were simple and direct.
They wanted to overthrow the Bernhardts and build a new Empire, asking for cooperation.
The message itself was lengthy because it passionately detailed the unjust treatment Duel—Mallet had suffered, but that was the summary.
However, what truly caught my eye wasn’t the content itself—
But the initials written at the very end.
“Greenwhistle… huh.”
“Do you know something about them?”
“Yes.”
Answering briefly, I immediately began moving my spoon.
I stuffed the food into my mouth at incredible speed, barely even chewing before swallowing it down.
Then after chugging down my water in one go, I stood up.
“Phew… let’s discuss this somewhere else.”
“Elsewhere? Where?”
“Well obviously, the Chairman’s office.”
Only then did Rubiana finally understand the situation and hurriedly followed after me.
---
The moment Rubiana and I arrived at the Chairman’s office, I skipped greetings entirely and immediately asked,
“Did Greenwhistle contact you?”
Michel nodded while lightly tapping the desk twice with her usual gesture.
Now that I was closer, I could see the letter sent to her resting atop the table.
“…….”
“Judging by that expression, you clearly know something. Start talking, Carter.”
After organizing my thoughts briefly, I spoke.
“Greenwhistle. A subordinate organization under the Platinum Dawn Society whose stated goal is improving the rights of laborers and servants.”
Though of course, that’s merely their claim.
“In reality, much like the Resistance, they’re likely people attempting to overthrow the nation.”
“Since we’ve recently developed the image of resisting the Empire’s ruling elites, they probably judged contacting us would benefit them.”
“…Well, that does make sense.”
Despite saying that, Michel’s expression looked unusually unsettled.
Beside her, Rubiana shook her head and exclaimed,
“No, wait! You’re saying they’re trying to overthrow the nation! Then why even consider it? We should just ignore them!”
“At this rate, the Bernhardts are going to overthrow the Empire first.”
“…Huh?”
I briefly explained the recent events to the two of them.
The conversation with Jeff Halenber.
The Flos Advanced Research Institute.
Human Beastification.
And the evidence tying the Bernhardts to everything.
“H-How could they do something so monstrous…!”
“…….”
Unlike Rubiana, who slammed the table in outrage, Michel showed absolutely no surprise.
Even so, her expression remained filled with suspicion, as though confronting something that shouldn’t have been possible.
My gaze naturally shifted toward the letter on the desk.
To Chairman Michel Bernhardt of Karbenna.
You will remember me.
In that horrific place of abuse, only you understood me.
That is why, despite hating everything about the Bernhardts, I cannot hate you alone.
I will not allow the crew of a sinking ship to drag even you down with them and drown together.
You must join us, Greenwhistle.
Then you can survive.
You can cast off the burden known as Bernhardt and finally live as someone worthy of the name Michel.
We shall explain the details in person.
We would appreciate it if you could come to the location below by Sunday evening.
Then, we shall see you then.
From your servant, Maxie.
After reading through the contents, I carefully asked,
“Did you once have a servant named Maxie?”
Michel answered calmly.
“I did.”
“Is that why? Because a servant became involved in an organization like this? Or perhaps….”
“I just never expected him to contact me like this. So it’s… rather shocking.”
She added shortly,
“Because Maximilian is already dead.”