Chapter 48 : FAULT

Ruby spoke first.

“Have we met somewhere? Hmm… Your face looks awfully familiar.”

Reina ignored her, issuing a cold warning.

“Whatever you’re doing here, I won’t tolerate further disturbances.”

“Disturbances? Someone might misunderstand. This is just a family spat, or something like it. No need for a busy sheriff to bother with this.”

“You expect me to buy that flimsy excuse?”

When Reina didn’t back down, Ruby’s smile vanished, her voice low.

“Look. Since when did you care about Rat Town? It’s getting gross, so cut it out. Ignore us like always and live your life. We’ll handle ours.”

“…Maybe that’s how it was before. All the more reason to change now. Knowing a problem and not trying to fix it is the real crime.”

“Ha. So you’re gonna arrest me? That’ll make things way messier.”

She wasn’t wrong. The girl was Red Dog’s leader, the most influential figure in Rat Town. If she vanished, her mercenaries would scatter, causing uncontrolled chaos.

Arresting her here would be like declaring war on all the mercenaries under Red Dog’s protection. A decision far beyond what one person could handle alone.

Reina frowned, glaring at Ruby.

“Did you commit murder in that building?”

“Dunno. Things got heated; accidents happen.”

“You called it a family spat. So everyone in there was tied to Red Dog?”

“Sorta. It’s complicated—hard to explain to outsiders.”

Pointless formal questioning dragged on, a suffocating tension hanging between them.

“If even one innocent victim is inside, I’ll stake everything to arrest you and make you pay.”

Ruby smirked, openly mocking the sheriff.

“Good luck. But what’s this?”

Whoosh—!

A sudden heat grazed Reina’s cheek. As acrid black smoke billowed, her eyes widened.

“Whoops. Fire broke out. Hope the fire brigade comes soon. Though in Rat Town, who knows when that’ll be.”

“…You think you can get away with this!?”

The great fire’s scars still lingered, unhealed. A horrific disaster with countless casualties, it left many traumatized by flames.

In Neotopia, arson was the cruelest, most heinous crime.

Yet she set the fire without blinking to burn her sins. And in Rat Town, the area hit hardest by the great fire.

Trembling at her malice, Reina missed one thing: Ruby herself was a victim who lost everything in that fire.

The raging flames took her most precious person. So she could face the inferno without fear.

She had nothing left to lose.

“We’re outta here. Wanna arrest me? Follow if you dare. There might be survivors inside—sure a justice crusader won’t ignore that?”

Smiling, Ruby brushed past. Reina glared, certain the girl was pure evil. Not dark gray—jet black.

Swallowing her rage and helplessness, Reina muttered.

“…You’ll pay for this someday. I swear.”

Ruby paused, snorting.

“Don’t care. My world stopped five years ago.”

As Ruby left, Reina stared helplessly at the building turning to ash. She’d reported the fire, but no immediate action came. Rat Town had no fire services.

Ironic, considering the great fire started in Rat Town’s garbage incinerator. A disaster that could’ve been prevented with a little care.

Black smoke rose endlessly into the sky.

And then. Lapis arrived late at the scene.

I heard from Franklin what happened over the past five years.

It was shocking.

Lycan was arrested that day, and Ruby, thinking I died, fell into corruption. Franklin and Mary tried to stop her, but it was futile.

Franklin gave up, and Mary, exhausted, left.

This wasn’t what I wanted…

I believed my sacrifice would fix everything. I thought I could undo my damage. At least prevent things from getting worse.

Was it all arrogance and delusion?

What should I have done? If I’d stayed with Ruby that day, would it be different?

No, regretting the past now changes nothing. Maybe it’s not too late.

Ruby led her crew somewhere. Whatever she’s planning, I’ll go meet her. Talk, persuade her—she’ll listen.

Hearing I’m alive, she’ll be shocked, then cry.

Ruby’s no psycho villain. She’s my kind, gentle sister.

Yeah. Things just went a bit wrong.

I ran, breathless, to the place Franklin mentioned. Instead of Ruby, flames greeted me, engulfing a building. As I stared, I noticed someone standing in front.

Sensing me, she turned.

Blonde hair fluttered, blue eyes held a watery gleam. Her gaze, filled with deep sadness and rage, still burned with conviction.

Our eyes met, and we recognized each other instantly.

“You…”

“You…”

Her trembling eyes showed her shock at seeing me. I felt the same, but something else was more urgent.

“Was anyone else around? My sister’s supposed to be here…”

“Your sister… Right. I remember now. That trash was your sister.”

I froze, glaring at her words.

“What? Say that again.”

“Happy to repeat it. Know who started this fire?”

“Wait. What…”

Ruby started the fire? Why?

No time to ponder reasons. I scanned for ways to douse the blaze.

Spotting a steel water tank on a nearby rooftop, I clenched my fist.

“Sorry for some property damage.”

“What? Wait, where are you going!?”

Linking my Stone and connector, overwhelming energy surged through me. I sprinted to the building, leaped, and climbed.

Using signs and railings as footholds, I scaled to the roof like summiting a peak.

The sheriff, stunned by my near-acrobatic feat, scrambled up the stairs. I’d have mocked her if I had time, but I rushed to my target.

Up close, the tank was massive.

A flicker of doubt hit, but I shoved negative thoughts aside, focusing on success.

Boom!!

The sheriff appeared on the roof faster than expected. Her panting reached me—she must be exhausted.

“Hoo.”

Taking a quick breath, I touched the tank, maxing out my energy output. Blue sparks crackled around.

Then, the tank lifted about a centimeter off the ground. Barely noticeable from afar, but enough.

Releasing my grip, I spun, channeling all my strength into a kick.

Boom!!!

A thunderous crash as the tank tipped forward. The flimsy railing couldn’t hold, and it plummeted.

Crashing into the burning building, it unleashed tons of water.

Steam clouded the area, and confirming the fire was out, I collapsed.

The sheriff, watching, muttered in disbelief.

“Why go that far…”

“She’s my sister. If she caused it, I clean it up.”

“…”

“This is nothing to me…”

Mid-sentence, dizziness hit, and my vision blacked out.

‘Am I fainting?’ I thought, but I was already out.