The celebration lasted for several hours.

Many of the residents approached him again to thank him.

Among them were many he did not know. Citizens, merchants, and entrepreneurs all came to him during the celebration, some even in tears, to express their gratitude.

Kinto also came to him once more.

“I wanted to thank you properly again!”

“It’s alright! You’ve already done that.”

“No! I mean really thank you! If it weren't for you, I’d be dead! The last thing I would have done was shout at an innocent man! That’s something I can never forgive myself for.”

“Don’t say that! Anyone would have acted the same if they were in my shoes!”

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

“And that’s exactly what I can’t believe!”

“Hm?”

“Not everyone is as kind and helpful as you, Kawao! You probably don’t know this, but I fought in the last War of the Lost… It was hell on earth. Especially for people like me who don’t possess Nyd! We were nothing but ballast that our leaders threw into the battle so they wouldn’t have to deal with us later… To them, we were nothing but dirt on their shoes! There were even moments… when our own ‘allies’ slaughtered us in battle! In the end, no one would notice who killed whom. For us, everyone was an enemy!... And that’s why I can’t just overlook and ignore your act of kindness!”

He fell to his knees in front of Kawao, and it was clear he was crying.

“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I can never thank you enough! Nothing I can do can even begin to repay what you have done for me!”

Kawao knelt down beside him.

“Come on. Stand up!” he said, offering his hand.

Kinto looked up at him with tear-filled eyes.

“That’s what friends are for!”

Kinto looked as if he had seen God at that moment.

He stood up and walked away without saying a word.

Kawao just smiled after him.

“HEY! KAWAO!” someone suddenly shouted.

He turned around.

It was John.

This time, he seemed more sober.

“I hope you haven’t forgotten that we still have a word to discuss, right?” he asked angrily.

“No! Of course not!”