Author: Himezaki Shiu	Original Source: Syosetu
Translator: Jiro	English Source: Re:Library

Project GB is an official initiative by Re:Library.

“Please, help us¹.” Ichinari pleaded.

I was honestly surprised that he’d come up with such a ridiculous idea.

“And why should I do that?”
“Because I think that you can do it the way you are now, Toriyama.”
“You’re right, I probably can, but I don’t have the obligation to; wouldn’t you agree?”
“Aren’t we your classmates?!”
“Ridiculous. Weren’t you the ones who refused to believe your classmate and killed him? Now you want me to help you just because you’re my classmates?”

I could understand wanting to ask for help. They likely had to go through tough training every day and endure a lot of wounds. And judging by how things were, it seemed like the heroes had recently gotten stronger, so it was likely that the soldiers and knights had stopped holding back.

It wouldn’t be long before the heroes became stronger than them.

Apart from their status and skills, they also gained experience. And although they weren’t at the level of first-class warriors, they could probably win. They were equal to B Grade Adventurers.

But at the end of the day, the heroes were the kingdom’s slaves. This didn’t allow them to attack the soldiers or knights, be that during training or not.

Realistically, if the heroes attempted to catch the knights off guard and strike them, their bodies would stop just before they could land the strike. And as soon as they stopped, they’d be welcomed with a barrage of fists from the other side.

It was as one of the knights that had trained us in the past said, “You’re most vulnerable when you think you’ve won.”

The heroes must have had a terrible experience. They likely believed it was unreasonable. They likely thought they had it hard.

They probably desperately looked for a way out, but alas, I was not that way out. I immediately turned down Ichinari’s offer, but he persisted in refusing to let go and continued to persuade me.

“We were wrong back then. We regret not listening to you, Toriyama. We reflected on our actions upon learning the truth². That’s why we endured that harsh training. We’ve suffered enough. That is why I ask you to forgive us and help us. So that we don’t make the same mistake again.”
“Nah, too much trouble.”
“Why? I’ve apologized, and I’ve suffered! What should I do so that you can forgive me?”

Ichinari spoke from the depths of his heart, shaking his head and creating an image of a tragic hero.

(I see. I guess that’s normal. I should’ve expected him to go this route. After all, that’s how it was in school. You’re forgiven if you apologize. It’s the right thing to do. As long as you bear the consequences, you’ll be forgiven for breaking the rules. That’s normal. It’s right. But…)

“Don’t be mistaken. I won’t forgive you no matter what you do. Do you really expect that an apology will make me forgive you for killing me?”
“But you came back, didn’t you?”
“This is not the same as me lending you my eraser. Besides, you’re not the one that brought me back, Ichinari.”
“But I suffered.”
“Listen here… Even if I’ve come back, it doesn’t change the fact that it was you who killed me. It doesn’t change the fact that I had to experience the fear of death on false accusations. What will you do about my trauma, huh? What will you do about my frustration, about my resentment?”
“What will I do?”

There was nothing he could do. Especially when it came to my trauma.

I couldn’t believe that I’d been killed by him. I was both sad and annoyed. I figured that I’d just say what I wanted to say given that we’d met like this. Maybe that could help me feel a bit better.

“You don’t really give a damn about my feelings, Ichinari. That’s why you’re able to ask for forgiveness and help. You wouldn’t normally ask forgiveness from the person you killed, would you? You’re just trying to get this guilt off your chest because I happened to be brought back to life.”
“T-That not…”
“Let me tell you something. I already knew that you and the others were having a rough time. I knew that your training had become tougher and that you were constantly hurt. I also knew that you were often abused by the knights and soldiers.”
“Yes, we were. It was really tough. So…”

Ichinari said, his puppy-like eyes giving me the creeps.

He seemed to think that I’d reach out despite everything that had happened. Despite him not reaching out his hand for me.

“I do think you’ve had a rough time, but I wouldn’t call that punishment. It seems you’re confusing hardship with actual punishment. I won’t lie, you becoming slaves of the Fraus Kingdom felt like revenge to me. But I wasn’t the one who did that. The Fraus Kingdom had planned it from the start. If it hadn’t been for me, you would’ve suffered the same fate the moment you were summoned here. It was thanks to my Contract skill that you could live a comfortable life. Killing me would inevitably cause the life you have now. That is not punishment. It’s how it should’ve been from the start.”

If we went by Ichinari’s definition of punishment, then all of those who went to school despite hating it would be considered as being punished. All those who went to work despite hating it would also be viewed as being punished.

Ichinari was mumbling, “Is this really you, Toriyama?” but I ignored him and decided to properly explain how things were.

“That’s why, regardless of how the Fraus Kingdom treats you, I won’t help you, nor will I forgive you. Instead, I’ll laugh at your suffering, telling you I told you so. I’ll also say this but don’t expect that I’ll forgive you just because I was reborn. I’ll continue resenting you until the end. Oh, but if you do one thing for me, I’ll forgive you.”

Ichinari’s eyes, which had been clouded with despair until now, showed a ray of hope.

I never knew his expression could change so suddenly. Maybe it was because I was toying with him too much. It was too much fun seeing his moods go up and down, so I just couldn’t help it.

“If you die and come back to life, I’ll be willing to forgive you.”
“That’s impossible!”
“Like I care. To learn the fear of death, one must first die. Think of it like an eye for an eye. It’s a bit different in our case, but I think it gets the point across, no? Atone for taking my life by sacrificing yours. Though…”

I suddenly stopped turning my gaze away from Ichinari and towards Princess Topersion.

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