Chapter 192: Child Who Loses Little by Little (4)
This is the story after I gave up my memories to defeat Nocturne.Whenever I’d close my eyes, a similar dream would always come to me.Floating in a black sea, and from deep below, something was bubbling up.Those bubble-like things were memories.Memories that remained vivid in the soul of “me”.For example, what I saw now was like that. “Halfwit, a person’s conscience is triangular in shape.”
According to Salome’s words from some time ago, the shape of conscience is triangular.Every time you do something wrong that goes against your conscience, the triangular conscience spins round and round inside your heart.Then, those sharp vertices would Poke— Poke— my heart and make it ache.That’s why people often use the expression “conscience pricks” when they feel guilty.However, Salome said that the vertices of the spinning conscience were bound to wear away over time, and in the end, your conscience becomes rounded.
“Then, you can do bad things without feeling any guilt. All famous thieves have reached this state, but I’m not sure if you’ll be able to reach it yourself though.”
Salome said this while looking at me, who was clumsy at thievery.Apparently, all famous thieves were at a level where they had no conscience.Salome’s expression looked a bit bitter as she said that.Looking back now, I’m not sure if she was lying to me or if she was genuine.
“Thieves of Snix usually don’t kill people. But the robbers of Nocturne snatch and kill. Someday, you’ll have to kill someone too.”Let me tell you, Salome’s teaching method was strict.A completely Spartan teacher.
“In that sense, today we’re going to dispose of someone. It’s a weak, decrepit old man, so even a halfwit thief like you should be able to handle it quickly.”“Why are we killing him?”“That old geezer has a treasure my father wants, but he won’t give it up. So we decided to just kill him and take it. He’s trash anyway. An evil person whose death won’t make anyone shed a tear.”“……”“But that old fart has a tongue as smooth as a snake. It would be better if you don’t fall for the lies he might try to deceive you with.”
Retribution, it seems, is a real thing in this world.That’s why, they say, most thieves and robbers can’t find peace when they close their eyes.
That day, I headed towards the old man’s hut.I tried to sneak in as quietly as possible, but the old floorboards creaked so much that I was discovered. The old man was a light sleeper, after all.
“Who’s there?”