They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System
Chapter 349: You Will Have to Punish Me Too

Chapter 349: You Will Have to Punish Me Too

It wasn’t cold. It wasn’t guarded. It was… warm. Personal. Gentle in a way she had never experienced from Somto.

And it left her confused.

“Uhm… it’s okay,” she replied quietly, her voice uncertain.

Because truthfully, it wasn’t just his apology that unsettled her.

It was everything.

The way he had held her hand without a second thought. The way his eyes lingered on her like she was the only person that mattered.

It wasn’t like the love she got from Abuchi, loud, protective. Or Ebere’s endless chattering love. Or Carl’s quiet support. Or even Nurse Courage’s maternal warmth.

No, this was different.

And Nnenna couldn’t name it. That scared her.

After several tries, and failing miserably, she finally managed to pull her hand out of his grip. It felt awkward. Heavy. Unnatural. But she had to, because being near him like that made her feel… too much.

Somto’s hand remained suspended in the air for a second longer, as if still reaching for her. He slowly closed his fingers, letting them fall to his side. The warmth her hand had left behind faded fast, too fast, and with it came a hollow sting deep in his chest.

But he recovered quickly, locking the feeling away.

He still had somethings to handle.

He turned sharply to face Eglon, who was still frozen in place, trembling in full panic mode.

Somto didn’t blink.

He didn’t raise his voice.

He simply said, “Execute him.”

The silence that followed was deafening.

Gasps rippled through the crowd both online and offline like a sudden wind.

Shock painted every face in the execution yard and the viewers of the live stream.

Nobody had expected that.

Even the loyal guards of Purlit paused, unsure they had heard correctly.

Only Abuchi didn’t flinch. He didn’t need anyone to explain what was happening. The way Somto had looked at Nnenna, the protective rage when he saw her injuries, it wasn’t just the fury of an older brother.

Even Nnenna was shocked out of her confusion.

“Execute him?” she echoed, her voice almost a whisper, disbelieving.

She looked up at Somto, expecting a flicker of regret or hesitation in his eyes.

There was none.

“Yes, he deserves it,” she added quickly, as if trying to justify her reaction. “But… wouldn’t we be killing someone?”

Somto’s frown deepened. He didn’t say anything at first, but his sharp gaze stayed on her for a beat too long.

Too soft hearted, he thought quietly.

She still didn’t understand. The real world, the one soaked in blood and ruled by betrayal, didn’t always run on mercy. And time… time was moving fast. She wasn’t even ready yet. That worried him.

But Somto shoved those thoughts aside. Now wasn’t the time.

“What do you want to do?” he asked her instead, keeping his tone neutral. He wouldn’t override her in public, not here, not now. Not when eyes were watching.

Nnenna hesitated.

This wasn’t like all the decisions she made as a person, or even the brave moves she had made during the mission. This was about life and death. Power. Justice.

Her stomach twisted. Logically, she knew Eglon had to pay for what he had done, stealing a throne, hunting people down, killing innocent people and nearly killing more innocent people.

But still… she couldn’t bring herself to say the words.

Her voice shook slightly as she turned her head. “It’s your kingdom,” she said, looking at Mesha. “Your brother. Your decision.”

No stammering. No fear. Just calm respect.

Mesha didn’t hesitate.

He didn’t flinch or look away.

He simply nodded once he saw that Somto didn’t object, eyes sharp with resolution.

He was the rightful king of Purlit, and he would not falter now.

“Now that this is settled,” Somto began, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.

It was colder now, harder, completely different from how he had just spoken to Nnenna.

His eyes locked on the three young men standing nearby: Abuchi. John. Ekene.

Each of them straightened as his gaze swept over them. They were ready to admit their faults.

But Somto already knew everything, of course. He had known from the moment Little Sweetie’s first report came in.

But this wasn’t about what he knew.

It was about what they were willing to admit.

“So,” Somto said calmly, “whose brilliant idea was it to come to Purlit?”

The question was delivered with unnerving calm, but the tension in the air thickened immediately.

Silence.

Then Abuchi stepped forward slowly.

“It was my idea, Elder Brother,” he said, head slightly bowed. “I’m sorry. I put Little Sister in danger. That was never my intention.”

His voice was low, sincere. There was no excuse or defense.

John and Ekene exchanged nervous glances. They hadn’t even been addressed yet, but the weight of the moment pressed down on them.

Abuchi looked like he was already punishing himself. Even without being asked, guilt was all over him, raw and exposed.

Somto’s face didn’t soften.

“Apologies are useless,” he said coldly. “If something had happened to her…”

He didn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t need to.

The unspoken punishment hung heavier than any threat could.

“You’ll receive your sentence once we return home.”

“Yes, Elder Brother,” Abuchi replied, voice firm but subdued. No deflection. No protest. Only acceptance.

“It’s not his fault!” Nnenna’s voice rang out sharply, stopping Somto in his tracks.

All heads turned.

“I wanted to come,” she continued quickly, stepping forward. “You can’t punish him for my decisions. He told me to go back, multiple times, but I refused. So if you’re punishing him, then you’ll have to punish me too. I disobeyed just as much.”

Somto’s eyes widened slightly, not from anger, but from something much deeper.

She truly didn’t know. She didn’t know that he couldn’t punish her. That even the thought of doing so twisted something in his chest.

For a brief moment, the cool, commanding general flickered… and the protective, tormented brother stepped forward instead.