chapter 17

Chapter 11 part 2

: Nathaniel's Point of View

As expected, Nyabu's rage zeroed in on me, her blood boiling with blame. "That pest is to blame!" she spat, jabbing a finger at me.

"He's deceiving us, claiming that Soul Eater doesn't devour souls—that's why our leader can't decide properly!" Her accusation hung heavy in the air.

"Ehh…?" I choked out, stunned.

Her fury was palpable, but I stood by my actions—Zhui's innocence justified my defense, and Nyabu had no right to execute those who'd done no harm. Yet her slander didn't stop; she branded me a Soul Eater agent with sinister plans for the town, a grave charge lacking evidence, demanding my punishment.

Tired of her venom, I defended myself, countering her lies. "It's true—Suwi hasn't consumed a soul in fifty years and never will!" I insisted.

Nyabu cut me off, silencing me with a glare. "You know nothing about Soul Eaters or how vile they are in Endoryo!" she snapped. I knew her hatred stemmed from my comic's lore, but I couldn't let Zhui suffer for it.

Driven, I challenged her ignorance. "Am I the one ignorant, or are you blinded by the world's lies?" I retorted. I revealed the Soul Eaters' history—victims of an ancient war where Endoryans targeted their kind after discovering their ability to absorb power and energy. The war destroyed their homes and the sacred Spirit Tree, their life source, forcing them to consume souls to survive. Over two centuries, they'd been branded a Scourge, their extermination normalized.

"They're victims of that war," I added. "Even Eskapa has turned deaf and blind, letting this injustice persist by wiping them out."

Before I could finish, Nyabu interrupted, dismissing my words as a fabricated defense to save Zhui from certain death. "Your claims have no basis," she sneered. "my queen, let me punish him for his deceit!"

Sei remained silent, her gaze fixed on me. After a tense moment, she approached, a bread bag still tucked under her arm, and sat before me. Her stare, curious yet unreadable, lasted nearly ten seconds as she tilted her head, as if dredging up a memory. Her odd behavior baffled me, yet her beauty shone through.

"Ohh…" she murmured, recognition dawning. "You're that beggar outside the tower," she said casually.

I yelped, "I'm not a beggar!!" Humiliation burned—her morning charity now made sense, and hearing it from my favorite comic character stung my pride, especially from someone as stunning as Sei.

She sighed deeply, a flicker of sadness crossing her face. "Do you know the punishment awaiting you for protecting a Soul Eater?" she asked.

"But they're victims of war too," I replied, hoping to sway her.

I'd expected her support with the truth, but she countered, "Your words won't spare you from punishment." Yet, she offered a chance. "I'll give you an opportunity, young man," she said, her tone laced with a subtle threat. She demanded I explain my connection to Zhui to save myself and leave intact.

"What are you saying?" I stammered, confused.

She explained sensing no dark energy in me, ruling out Soul Eater control. "You pity her and want to save her," she noted. But she clarified Zhui's fate as a Soul Eater was sealed—not about justice, but Eskapa's duty to ensure Endoryo's safety for the majority.

Her words silenced me, her acceptance of Zhui's potential death clashing with the compassionate Sei I knew. "Can you hear yourself?" I burst out, rising. "This twisted belief fuels the racial wars, and you do nothing to solve it properly!" I shouted, questioning her divine righteousness.

I reminded her that many saw Eskapa as a light of hope, yet even they clung to a dark system. Claiming to be God's weapon for salvation, they embraced lies and evil. Sei sat quietly, letting me vent despite my raised voice.

"Don't you see they're crying for help, begging you to save them?" I added, hoping to stir her mercy.

Her lack of reaction deepened my dismay. As I stepped forward, something struck me. I blocked it with my wooden cuffs, the impact shattering them as I crashed to the floor. A female soldier—Agane, a dragon spirit leader with short light-blue hair—had unleashed a wind punch.

Dizzied, I forced myself up, facing her. "You are an insolent fool!" she roared, her overflowing energy swirling around her as she advanced, furious at my disrespect to their queen.

"Our queen shows you kindness, yet all I hear is your arrogance, acting like you know everything!" she snapped. "Do you know how many thousands vanished because we sheltered a Soul Eater like her?"

She recounted a past trust in a Soul Eater, hoping for redemption, only to lose comrades. They weren't cruel—just preventing tragedy, knowing some Soul Eaters couldn't resist their survival needs. The world's harshness struck me—killing to live, with no justice in sight.

"If you want to help, join her in the afterlife and beg forgiveness for their victims!" she taunted, her blue dragon energy forming on her arm.

Before she reached me, Sei raised a hand, halting Agane. "Please, Agane, let him speak," she requested.

Agane froze, disagreeing but obeying. Sei stood, her face expressionless, and approached. "We all have our beliefs and perspectives," she said calmly. "Perhaps you don't realize we're all victims of that ancient war."

Her soothing voice explained their necessity, recalling a past mistake aiding Soul Eaters that cost lives. "If she's like the others, unable to control her soul hunger, I regret she must die," she concluded.

Her words sparked hope. "She has a spirit pet, Serphia, providing energy without consuming souls!" I exclaimed.

Sei paused, glancing at Aoi, skeptical—spirit pets were rare since the Spirit Tree's fall, passed down through generations. Turning back, she bowed slightly. "I doubt your claims without proof. But I wonder—why protect this Soul Eater?"

I winced, crafting a lie. "Let's say she's my friend, so I must help her," I said.

"A Soul Eater with a human friend?" Sei mused, her tone reflecting the absurdity in their beliefs.

Before I could elaborate, Zhui screamed, "Liar!!" Her pride flared. "I'd never befriend a lowly being like you!" she sneered, halting my plea, deeming my help beneath her.

Stunned, I muttered, "Does she hear herself?" Her arrogance persisted despite her dire straits. She even accused me of being an enemy agent plotting her death for following her.

Perplexed, I stayed patient, knowing her temper. "Don't mind her—she's hot-headed but kind," I told Sei, hoping to continue my defense despite her complicating it.

"Tsk, if I escape, I'll kill you first, then devour everyone here!" Zhui threatened.

I snapped, "You're impossible to defend—what do you want, woman?!" I yelled.

She bowed, her voice softening. "Stop defending me and save yourself while you can," she said, disappointment and resignation etched on her face. As a royal, she couldn't accept pity from a "lowly" being. "I'm a Soul Eater—branded a scourge to die. Your words won't change that," she said sadly.

Her misery hit me—was my help just a pity? Risking myself, she was right to urge self-preservation, yet I felt responsible. Her death's impact on my mission to return home loomed, but her future suffering drove me to act. Could an ordinary, ignored human like me succeed?

I looked at Sei, awaiting her verdict, hoping for mercy as my options for saving Zhui dwindled. I'd said all I could, but no one believed me. Unexpectedly, Sei sighed. "Enough. Save yourself before others," she said, turning to leave.

"Please, Sei, don't kill her!" I begged.

Her guards blocked me as she ordered Agane to release me and dismiss me, instructing others to confine Zhui in a black cage pending Eskapa's decision. Relief washed over me—her death wasn't immediate, offering a sliver of hope to save her.