More Than Half

Tales stared fixedly at Naki and began sizing up the man he had previously paid little attention to.

Naki tightly clutched the key to Bone Prison, looking flustered and miserable.

In fact, when Ricky and his Calamity Swords found the cell, Naki had been the first to speak. His voice had always carried a lazy, carefree indifference, as if nothing in the world concerned him.

But Tales could not remember when Naki's voice had begun to shed its laziness, becoming clipped, tense, and uneasy.

Thinking back, it had probably been when Sakrael appeared before them.

But what had caused him to react so strongly to the Execution Knight's appearance?

Was it simply fear and panic, or something else?

"The key, Naki."

Little Barney had wavered for only a second before decisively pulling his thoughts away from Naki's seemingly meaningful words. He spoke in a commanding tone.

Unfortunately, Naki was no longer as obedient as before.

"We had already escaped. The Prince was safe, and Sakrael was free..."

Naki struggled to tug at the corners of his mouth. He pointed at the tips of everyone's swords, trembling constantly, and seemed deaf to Barney's command.

"Then all we had to do was conceal our identities and live out the rest of our lives. Sakrael could do whatever he wanted, while this young Highness could return to Revival Palace and be the heir to the royal family. One day, he would rule the world and become a great king..."

"Wouldn't that have been better?"

Naki looked at Tales, his voice pleading, making the latter even more puzzled.

"Burying that unbearable past forever—wouldn't that have been a happy ending for everyone?"

Naki looked like a desperate wife questioning her heartless husband.

At last, he turned toward Little Barney, resentment and hatred filling his eyes.