A Random in Re:Zero

Loop 4 - Part 20

Smiling with satisfaction, Leandro pressed the end of the object against a specific area.

BANG!

Another burst, just like the first, was released from the revolver. Blood spurted out, forming a pool on the floor.

A piercing shriek erupted from somewhere nearby, but the knights were still trying to comprehend what was happening. Julius was the first to come to the logical conclusion.

"The enemy is... an invisible man?"

"Correct." Leandro said, standing up and raising his hands, which still held the dagger and the revolver respectively.

Gilbert was so overcome with grief that he unconsciously deactivated his Divine Protection, becoming visible to the bewildered gaze of those present.

Leandro was the only one who understood and enjoyed that scene.

"Now we're even."

After gathering all the information about the case, the knights found Gilbert von Falkenhayn guilty of high treason, double attempted murder, and other charges that could lead to the death penalty or at least life imprisonment.

Leandro received credit for his investigation and for capturing the criminal, preventing him from doing further damage.

However, it wasn't all good news. Before being caught, Gilbert had killed a small group of knights patrolling the royal capital during the pre-dawn period. It was during this time that he learned how the revolver worked, he stated.

That same afternoon, Felix and Julius led a squad sent to arrest Gilbert's accomplices and, incidentally, recover the remains of their fallen comrades. Gilbert had hidden them in a basement of the building he used as a base of operations for his organization.

For Leandro, this was a cold shower. The save point allowed him to save two important figures, but it wasn't enough to completely erase his sins. Because of his arrogance, innocent lives were lost forever.

Rem and Emilia couldn't ignore the sadness on the boy's face even as people congratulated him for his courageous actions. Julius was beyond grateful, and even Anastasia was speechless when she learned that she would have died if the young man she despised hadn't intervened to stop the killer in time.

Few knew that the murder weapon should never have existed in the first place, making Leandro the main culprit in the tragedy. Nadir was only doing his job, fulfilling Leandro's request, and Gilbert was a bastard, but it was Leandro who gave him the power to make so much disaster.

All these thoughts tormented the boy, who didn't know how to deal with the guilt and self-loathing he felt because of his irreversible mistake.

"I'm the most pathetic guy in the whole world..."

As the sun began to set over the horizon, turning the sky orange, Roswaal said it was time to go.

"What? You're not going back to the mansion?"

Emilia became worried when Leandro said he would stay in the royal capital. Rem silently exchanged a glance with Roswaal.

"Of course I will, but I have to stay here for a few days to take care of some matters."

"Do you know where you're going to sleep? Do you have enough money for food and the return trip?"

"Hey, you're not my mother." Leandro forced a smile. "I'll be fine."

But the half-elf wasn't convinced. After learning everything that had happened, she'd begun to believe that Leandro was prone to getting into trouble, especially if he was in the royal capital.