Akuyaku Kizoku to shite Hitsuyou na Sore - Vol. 4 Ch. 16 - What It Means To Be Evil

[orangerain7734]

I would say that him killing the people who he is killing could be seen as societally justified, and perhaps a good for society as a whole in the specific world of the story. It is still, as you say, extremely morally dubious, and I would say at best it could be seen as morally neutral, on some abstract level, since he is performing a job dictated to him by the country.

Though, what need there is to use secret methods to kill people who kidnap children is a good question, as it would seem like something that could be punished quite openly without much resistance. He also seems like he is quite powerful enough to be able to capture most criminals, which the people sending him should know, so it does seem quite suspect, and he is benefiting quite a lot from being a royal hitman.

I think it might be important to differentiate between "killing for the sake of good", and "killing for a good sake". Since the latter could be fighting in a war to protect people you care about, in such a case the killing is a result of wanting to do good for people you care about, while the former case the killing is the method. So I'm not saying that you are wrong, I just wanted to clarify the difference between murder as a method, and murder as an unwanted result.

Finally, I would like to add that I entirely agree that killing anyone for any reason would most likely weigh heavily on the person forever, if they are sane, even if they found a way morally justify it. Him saying "I am evil, that is my role" makes sense as I way to cope with this.

While I understand murder as method/unwanted result argument, I could argue that 'killing for a good sake' can also be as potentially bad as 'killing for the sake of good' depending on the people someone is fighting for.

Using that criminal organization you used for another commenter as an example, a member of that organization may be doing the dirty work for them just because they helped them out in a tight bind, got chummy with them, and is likely doing whatever they ask because of their 'close relationship' with that organization. In the worst case, that guy may just get thrown out and disposed of once they've outlived their usefulness to the organization, and then he'll question then and there what he had been killing for all that time.

Really, it all comes down to one's judgement of who they associate with, whether they are worth committing sin for, and why that sin over others that determines their sense of morality. Those who have 'killed sinners because God commands it' when they have never received such a thing directly, nor is it something that very God endorses to their followers should also be taken into account as that can be taken as a case of misinformed guidance, or lying under oath of a higher power for their own personal gain.

At the end of the day, nobody is good, and knowing you are not good or acknowledging that you are evil doesn't make you better in a social or moral standing than others, for certain. Repenting for the sins you have committed or doing good works for others doesn't guarantee you becoming good or saved, either, but Arc seems like he acknowledges that much at least, which makes him that much more of a rounded 'villain' than others, for sure.

 

[WiseOldKing]

maybe you shouldn't turn down his offer for the engagement

 

[mahtan]

IDK, I think his judgement was too hasty...
Yeah the guys were villains, criminals and all that but they demonstrated they were good at what they do so couldn't he take them and guide them to a better moral view of life?

 

[Raeandra]

Dude said "I'm evil by necessity. You're evil for the fuck of it. We're not the same."

 

[lenovoaxioo]

Villain with standard tend to attract lolis.

 

[Sollertia_]

Keeping in mind that his family name is Evil, repeatedly saying "I am Evil" in front of the family portrait was supposed to have more gravitas but I don't quite feel it from the art.

 

[Bibliothecarius]

Thank for the chapter!!

 

[Willie29]

he want criminals not monsters

 

[panzerkampfwagyu]

Good on Alicia to get out of a toxic relationship with a deadbeat wannabe hero

 

[Psychronia]

Are abduction skills...useful?

Like...if the Ark household doesn't deal in human trafficking, which I'm pretty sure it doesn't, then what other possible application is there?