Persona 5 - The Jester's Point Of View

Scene 142

One evening, still within the time before the deadline set, the group of three (or four) had met just as they had agreed upon. Back to the massive castle covered in thorns, taking a closer look. After all, the treasure had to be somewhere! Not just that but Swan desired some answers… Answers in regards to what was exactly going on within this Palace. Because this was not exactly what they had expected. 

A Palace would usually be the place of the ruler. Yet being caged within a dungeon deep down was not how one would imagine a Ruler to be like. It was sad but more importantly it was a little scary. Not just that but having been so very close to, raising a hand against Officer Sato’s Shadow and being ready to slay him at a moment’s notice. Honestly, if they hadn’t seen his face for themself then maybe things could have gotten ugly, very ugly. But for once they were fortunate enough that things like this had not occurred in the slightest and instead were prevented just before it was too late. So maybe this wasn’t exactly so bad, a relief rather. 

And yet it also left them with more questions than answers. Because why would he do such a thing? Why would Sato–San desire such a fate? They didn’t know enough about him to conclude anything here…

Officer Sato, Lukanja had only recently gotten to know him. He always seemed to be a little snarky, sarcastic yet at the same time overly serious. But he wasn’t a bad guy, at least they didn’t dare assume that. At least not deep down. Him wanting to quit was already one thing yet going this far… They hadn’t expected that. Or maybe they just didn’t want to expect that. But in any case, it was worse than they thought. 

Not just that but the other two Shadows, the lookalikes of them and Akechi… How they have it out for the Knight Of Thorns, aiming for his death… One wanting to crush him without concern yet the other was more than furious. Something just cracked deep within. It made them uneasy, it hurt. And since this was the portrayal within the cognitive world, Sato–San’s cognition… That was how he perceived the both of them, wasn’t it? So, as for Lukanja… He really believed that— 

Ah, no. It was in their head, even while roaming through the ruins of the castle. “ Stay within close proximity, even when searching the other rooms for any hints. You two got that? ” O had asked of them, the glare unusually sharp, even for this old man. Yet all they could do was nod in response. It wasn’t as if they weren’t going to listen to him. At least Swan had no intentions to disobey, or however one would want to call it. As for Crow… They couldn’t read his mind. He might go do his own thing before they knew it. 

What made it even more unsettling was Pipistrello’s silence during all of this. The figure had barely lost a word. And when they wanted to ask about the Palace, just guess what it had told them? “ Perhaps you are a person who doesn’t mind spoilers dearie. But I can’t reveal too much. You have to find it out on your own. That’s part of the fun~ So go on. I wish to enjoy the current episode of this show. ” It wasn’t going to be of much help here outside of combat and they had to accept that. Then again, not like there was much it would do in terms of navigation either. Fair enough, this wasn’t the first time after all. And they weren’t doing this all alone either, at least not anymore. But what use was it to think about it? They had something to do here…

Hence why Swan looked at every possible corner by themself. But for the most part, nothing. Even within the rooms which were just barely holding themself together. This castle had seen better days. It was just ruins at this point and the last remaining places were just keeping themselves together, trying to not collapse on the spot. In the end the foundation was all shaky… Honestly, they were so close to giving up at that point, right then and there. If it wasn’t for something they had spotted from the corner of their eye.

They turned back, hoping that they hadn’t imagined it. But no, there it was, sticking out. It was right within the dust caused by all the rocks and bricks, making it all dirty. And yet it was there, right there. They walked up to it, kneeling down and picking it up between their thumb and index finger. A delicate touch, careful to not be too fast so they wouldn’t rip it apart as the dust fell off it slowly with each movement. A piece of paper. At first it might not look like anything special but once more of the dust had come off with a simple blow they were reading it… Each line only making their face more and more shocked before letting the crumbling paper fall back onto the ground yet again… 

“ The lord of this kingdom, my king… I have failed him until the better end. Daring to pierce my blade through him. All because I have believed the cursed witch’s words. ‘He is a tyrant who deserves severe punishment. If you want to bring peace to this kingdom, his life must be eliminated.’ A man who had only his best interest in mind, who dared to kill and slaughter the innocent… That’s what she made him out to be. I should have known better… Instead of believing her words I should have defended my lord… It should have been me, not him.

‘You’re a monster! A tyrant! Killing the king! Perish! Die! Rot!’ I can still recall her words of his daughter… No, it wasn’t just her. After a while it was everyone. But of course it was. I betrayed them. I killed the king, by my own hands. It was me. I let him die! He should have lived! 

All I can do now is face punishment but… Is it enough? I will accept it, being kept inside the darkest depths of this dungeon, within the kingdom which is no more… 

I will die where I have slain my lord… No matter what it takes. I have taken a life, now my life shall be taken… I must atone for my sins. ”