Chapter 173

Prisoners is the one-hundred and seventy-third chapter of The Promised Neverland manga.

Synopsis
Peter's past with James is revealed, including where his desire to free the cattle children stemmed from. Towards the end, Peter decides to commit suicide after a series of realizations gained from Emma's words and his bond with James.

Plot
To protect the world, that was the honorable, noble, and most important mission of the Ratri Clan for generations. Peter Ratri always admired and respected his older brother, James Ratri.

But James changed when he discovered a mysterious document, an old confession from the Ratri's first leader, Julius Ratri. It was revealed to James that Julius betrayed his comrades to enter the "Promise". The children are descendants of his allies. Not the rogues who were against peace and wanted to continue the war. Even the citizens who were left behind were turned into food.

James was furious upon finding the truth of how the Ratri Clan came to be. Ever since that day, James has not been the same. Hesitation and guilt arose in him. But Peter never found anything wrong with Julius' betrayal. Instead, he saw a man who pushed aside personal feelings to save the world. It was a wise decision.

But James pointed out that it was anything but noble. It was a punishment as well as a curse. James did not have any other choice but correct this wrong.

Feeling that his brother was about to betray the clan and pit the world in danger, he convinced the other clan members to eliminate his older brother. However, upon seeing his brother's lifeless body, he can only feel grief.

In the present, Peter is torn. Were his and the clan's doings a curse or a noble duty.

Emma begs him to end the 1000 years of suffering. But Peter does not listen. Instead, he points out that the human world is not any different. Because demons are a mirror of humanity, he bids farewell.

With that, Peter takes a knife to his throat and kills himself.