While playing <Outlaw>, it turns out around the middle of the story that the main character is actually a rich girl (if you’re playing as a female character).
“Finally, I understood why the main character’s personality was designed to be so arrogant.”
Turns out, her grandfather and parents were all high-ranking people…
And since her abilities were so outstanding, it was only natural for her to be born with an arrogant temperament.
In fact, the <Outlaw> protagonist is described as having been spoiled since childhood, and she tends to get flustered when NPCs go against her wishes.
Just like right now.
“W-w-what did you all just say…?”
Sophia, who had been insisting that Joe was Zodiac, panicked when the security team reacted sharply and kept shaking the innocent ledger.
“L-look at this ledger! All of Zodiac and Joe’s activities match up, right? With such solid evidence, why are you saying Joe isn’t Zodiac…?”
“……”
“Let’s say Rize is indeed a TKK member! But why would a TKK member, who always hides their identity, suddenly claim to be Zodiac and go on a public killing spree?”
Sophia’s argument was valid.
TKK, after all, always wore white masks to hide their faces and were extremely secretive, hating any leaks about themselves.
Zodiac’s method of leaving evidence at the scene, as if craving attention, was completely different from TKK’s style.
But then, one of the security team members, who had been listening to Sophia with a cold expression, raised his hand and asked,
“…Then, Detective, if Joe is Zodiac, why would someone who’s been living a good life suddenly start killing people like a madman?”
“People who live ordinary lives often become outlaws when they can’t control their emotions in a moment. While Joe’s motive for murder isn’t clear yet, let me speculate…”
Sophia, who firmly believed her thoughts to be true, answered without hesitation despite the sudden question.
“Being a coachman is a tough job, and sometimes you get treated poorly. Joe must have felt the injustice over the years while hiding his emotions. But one day, he couldn’t hold back and committed an impulsive murder, and that’s when he first felt the thrill of killing. After that, he kept chasing that thrill…”
“…What? So you’re saying Joe is a madman who kills people for the thrill?”
“Very rarely, but there are people like that…”
“Ugh, this is just too much to listen to!”
But no matter how much Sophia tried to persuade them, she couldn’t turn the tide of public opinion.
Justice Town, though now more developed and populated, used to have a very closed-off atmosphere.
Especially since it was a place where outlaws frequently appeared.
The townspeople were naturally suspicious and wary of outsiders… and tended to trust long-time residents more.
The community was so tight-knit that even I, who had moved to Justice Town four years ago, had faced setbacks.
‘Joe’s family has been in Justice Town for over 15 years, I think.’
In contrast, Sophia here had just been dispatched to Justice Town last week as a rookie outsider.
When Sophia kept insisting that Joe was Zodiac, the security team, made up of long-time residents, finally erupted in frustration.
“Do you know how long I’ve known Joe? Over 10 years, 10 years! Do you think I don’t know what kind of guy Joe is?”
“Even Kid says Joe isn’t Zodiac. Are you saying Kid is lying?”
“Joe wouldn’t even step on a bug… What? Joe kills people for the thrill? That’s just ridiculous…”
The atmosphere heated up, and someone even said this:
“If anyone’s Zodiac, it’s more likely to be the detective here.”
“…What, what?”
“Let’s be honest, there’s no proof that the detective isn’t Zodiac, right? Zodiac appeared in our town right after the detective arrived.”
“Gasp, that’s true!”
“Wait, seriously?”
“Are you all being serious right now…?!”
As the ignorant security team started whispering and suspecting Sophia, she looked at Jet with an indignant expression.
Jet, who had been silent until then, finally stepped forward to mediate after seeing her look.
“Do you all not know whose granddaughter Sophia is?!”
“……”
Of course, everyone knew whose granddaughter Sophia was.
The security team, finally remembering this fact, shut their mouths.
“Sophia would never do something as heinous as a serial killing! You all should stop blindly suspecting outsiders.”
“…Yes.”
After Jet’s warning, the security team bowed their heads, and Sophia’s shoulders finally relaxed a bit.
But…
“Since I’ve scolded them, you should stop tarnishing the late Joe’s reputation now.”
“Huh…?”
Jet wasn’t on Sophia’s side either.
“Didn’t Kid say it? He fought alongside Joe against Zodiac. I believe Kid’s words.”
“But Sheriff…!”
Sophia tried to argue with Jet, but he had already turned his back.
“That’s enough. Let’s end it here. As the Sheriff of Justice Town, I declare the Zodiac case closed. Zodiac was a TKK member, and Joe was a hero who fought against Zodiac and the last victim.”
“…Tch.”
Since Jet was the officially appointed town sheriff, the final authority rested with him.
As a mere 4th-rank officer, Sophia couldn’t argue further.
But…
“…Are you all out of your minds?”
“…What?”
“…You’re going to wrap up such an important case like this? I can’t accept this.”
As someone from the city, Sophia couldn’t accept Jet’s conclusion of the investigation.
With an angry expression, she packed her things…
“……”
“……”
They were targeting us… especially me, and then they rode off on their horses.
I watched Sophia’s retreating figure and then turned to Jet to ask, “Are we just letting her go like that? What if she tells her family?”
“…Sigh, I don’t know either,” Jet replied, exhaling in frustration.
“But what can we do? Joe keeps saying he’s Zodiac.”
“……”
“But Kid… are you sure Joe isn’t Zodiac?”
There was a look of trust in Jet’s eyes as he asked, directed at both me and Joe.
I confidently nodded and said, “Of course.”
“Sigh… I guess so. How could someone as kind as Joe…?”
“……”
And so, the fact that Joe was Zodiac ended up buried deep in my heart.
‘But this is the right thing.’
Still, I didn’t regret it.
If it came out that Joe was Zodiac, his remaining family would suffer even more.
They might be driven out of town with the label of being a serial killer’s family.
On the other hand… Rize had no family.
The dead can’t speak.
I made a practical choice for the sake of the living.
“Alright, let’s wrap this up. Load Joe’s body onto the horse.”
“Yes, sir!”
At Jet’s command, the security team began preparing to move out.
But then, something caught my eye.
“…Hey, wait.”
“Huh? What’s up, Kid?”
“…Why are you loading Joe onto the horse but tying Rize to the back?”
The security team had loaded Joe’s body onto the horse but tied Rize’s feet with a rope, dragging her behind the horse.
…So she’d be dragged along the ground on the way back.
When I asked with a stern expression, the security guard gave me a look as if to say, “Why do you care?”
“Why tie her? Who would want to load this wretched woman onto a horse?”
“……”
“…Damn, thinking about it again makes me angry. Just…”
The security guard went a step further, pulling out his pistol and loading a bullet, aiming it at Rize’s body.
It was a tense situation.
It wasn’t a duel, so my [Fastest Gunslinger in the West] trait didn’t activate, but…
*Click.*
“…Stop.”
Just before the bullet could hit Rize’s face, my hand had already moved to block the guard’s gun.
She was just an NPC… and not even a living one at that. So why did my hand move so fast?
…I don’t know.
*Swoosh, swoosh.*
I turned the gun away and untied the rope from Rize’s ankles.
“I’ll load her onto my horse.”
“…Really?”
“If you drag her behind, it’ll just slow us down. I’m tired.”
“Ah, got it. Then I’ll leave it to you.”
At my mention of being tired, the guard nodded immediately.
I picked up Rize and placed her on No Name, who had somehow appeared beside me.
“Let’s head back once we’re ready.”
“Yes, sir!”
*Clatter.*
As I grabbed the reins and started moving, Rize, seated in front of me, swayed weakly.
I had to hold the reins with one hand and keep Rize steady with the other.
*Tight grip.*
“……”
I remember her saying she was 15 years old… but maybe because she didn’t eat well as a child, her body was so small.
Holding her petite frame, I recalled the words she had said to me before she died.
‘…I found out the leader’s location. *Cough*… Soon, Gonzales will send a bunch of enforcers here.’
‘Well, the deputy leader… will soon make his appearance in the world.’
‘Before that… run away.’
If the organization knows I’m in Justice Town… this place will become a bloodbath within months.
…Maybe I should leave Justice Town before that happens.
“…My final years are really messed up.”
Four years ago, I settled in Justice Town because it was a lawless respawn zone, thinking I could enjoy the last bit of honey before heading home.
But now that I’m here, it feels like all I’ve been doing is suffering, with no honey in sight.
It’s like being told to participate in winter training a week before discharge by the battalion commander.
TKK, the South Brotherhood, and even Sophia…
Why are they all tormenting me when I’m so close to going home? It’s beyond frustrating.
“…I’m tired.”
Tonight has been so long.
Overcome by exhaustion, I closed my eyes.
It felt like my rationality was flying away, leaving only instinct behind.
*Clatter, clatter.*
*Tight grip.*
Even in that state, I tightened my arm around Rize, afraid I might drop her.
Maybe it was because of the cold winter, or maybe because she was an NPC…
But Rize’s body in my arms was so cold.
“…I’m sorry.”
It was a phrase that slipped out without me realizing.
I was startled by my own words and opened my eyes, but…
“……”
I closed them again.
No Name, sensing my state, autonomously drove us to our destination.
