Isaac POV
Isaac flipped through the documents brought by Hans.
"The Protection of Noble Standing Act doesn’t allow nobles to harm other nobles. It can only be used against commoners, and you don’t have the right to strip any noble’s title to turn them into commoners," Hans said after some time.
"The farmers don’t know that. Besides, as I said, I will take responsibility even if they kill him," Isaac said, his eyes never leaving the documents.
The more he read, the more disgusted he became. The Baron’s crimes were far worse than he had initially believed.
"How will you deal with the royal hearing? You just killed a noble," Hans said.
"I have my ways," Isaac replied.
"Why did you risk so much for them? Killing a noble isn’t a small crime, even for someone of your standing. Couldn’t you have simply ignored their plea for help and lived peacefully?" Hans asked.
Isaac closed the documents and looked at Hans.
"Was that question about me or yourself?"
Hans flinched.
Isaac leaned on the table and spoke, "Since you like asking so many questions, let me ask you one. Why don’t you look guilty at all? Even if you planned to betray the Baron, he still raised you. Don’t you feel any affection for him?"
Hans lowered his gaze and stared at the ground. He seemed to be thinking about something. Minutes passed. He did not give an answer.
Just as Isaac was about to return to the documents, Hans spoke, "I’ve heard that you are called one of the two scums of noble society. You once slapped a Marquess. You even hit one of the Royal Knights under the King. But you were never punished. Duke Wright always covered for you. Why is that? Because he loves you?"
"I have the Weapon Element. You can say I have the potential to be one of the strongest humans. That’s why Duke Wright protected me," Isaac replied as he opened the documents.
Hans was stunned. He lifted his shocked gaze from the floor and looked at Isaac. The disbelief lingering in his eyes gradually melted into a self-mocking smile.
A self-deprecating chuckle escaped him.
"Talent. Is that what all of us heirs amount to?" Hans asked.
"Not really. There are some nobles who would fight the King to protect their child, regardless of their talent. It’s just that the two of us drew shitty lots," Isaac answered as he flipped another page.
Hans let out a soft laugh. "You speak quite frankly, Sir Isaac."
"That’s why I’m called one of the two scums of noble society," Isaac answered back.
After confirming that there was proof, Isaac left the mansion. The guards and the servants were waking up. Isaac left Hans to deal with them and make sure they did not escape. Isaac planned to get all of them to the court for not reporting the Baron’s crimes. Hans would go through the same. Though, he might suffer less punishment since he helped by collecting evidence.
’How do I deal with the death of the Baron?’ Isaac thought.
Killing a noble was no small crime. The current King—being stringent about laws—would not let Isaac go scot-free.
Despite knowing that, Isaac would do the same if he returned to last night.
As for the King, hmm... maybe it was time to help Vera become the next ruler.
Not that he could simply get rid of the current King. The Royal Dragon would intervene if a successor tried to claim the throne by force, and the old man was nowhere near death’s door.
’This reminds me, I still haven’t gotten permission to visit the Royal Dragon. What is that princess doing?’
Isaac had to check why the Royal Dragon had not intervened in the war in any of the loops.
By the time his thoughts were collected, he reached the hut of Nathaniel.
The sound of sobbing came from all directions. Whatever had been keeping the farmers’ emotions in check had finally given way, after they vented their rage on the Baron.
Some of the farmers noticed Isaac. They shifted back, creating a path towards the Baron for him.
Isaac was surprised.
He found Nathaniel inside his house, looking after the Baron’s injuries.
The ground outside the hut was covered in blood, proving they had vented their anger on him. But then why were they treating his injuries?
"What are you doing?" Isaac asked.
Nathaniel and the old woman—Freya, if Isaac remembered correctly—turned to Isaac as they treated the Baron.
"The Baron’s injuries were too grievous. If we didn’t act fast, he would’ve died," Freya answered.
"Why are you helping him? I told you that he can’t do anything to you anymore. He is a commoner now," Isaac said.
The old woman smiled gently at him. She patted Nathaniel on the back.
The old man—younger than Freya by at least two decades—had been staring at Isaac in a daze. He snapped out of it due to Freya’s touch.
"Why did you spare the Baron?" Isaac asked, his voice rising unconsciously. He saw himself in Nathaniel, and the God whom he wanted to kill in the Baron. That’s why he had helped Nathaniel kill the Baron.
And now, he was allowing the Baron to live...?
"My daughter would have been your age if she were alive," Nathaniel said with a small smile and bowed. "So please, live in her place, sire."
"..."
When Isaac remained silent, Nathaniel chuckled and raised his body to look at him. The old farmer remembered everything that happened last night. He could see why Isaac did what he did. That’s why, he had made his choice.
"We might be farmers, but we know that you can’t strip a noble’s title unless you are a king. If we had killed the Baron, wouldn’t you have been punished in his place?"
"That’s not for you to worry about—"
"It is," Nathaniel said, cutting off Isaac for the first time. His voice was gentle, but he spoke with firmness, as if he were a parent talking to a child. "We can’t not worry about the person who helped us."
He smiled.
"So please don’t throw away your future for us. We are happy enough with this much."