Suddenly, I couldn't move at all.

　As my blue eyes stare ahead, the woman slowly stares at her hands.

　There are no more tattoo-like Thanatos letters on her brown skin.

(............)

　Her profile remained impassive.

　And her long red hair swayed, and her beauty turned to me.

(U.........)

　Our eyes meet, and I, for some reason, hold my breath.

'............'
..........

　My face was reflected in the lapis lazuli eyes.

　Various colors of emotions seemed to flow there, but they quickly faded away, and my eyes lost their light as if they were cloudy.

　My gaze is dropped to the side of the bed.

　There, my adventurer's luggage was placed.

　A backpack.

　A thermal robe.

Equipment such as the "Sword of the Fairies", "Marl's Fang, No. 2", and "White Silver Armor".

　Illtimina-san, Kilt-san and Solstice had also placed their equipment on the side of their own beds.

''.........''

　She looked at it for a while.　

　I swallowed my spit.

...Oh, uh, what?

　I took a chance and tried to talk to him.

　But there was no response.

"..........

　Wordlessly, she twisted and reached out, twisting her body.

　A natural motion.

　It was too natural, so my reaction was delayed.

　The brown hand grasped the hilt of my new dagger, 'Marl's Fang, No. 2'.

　Shlurp.

　Pull it out of its scabbard.

(What...?)

　My consciousness finally notices the white blade shimmering in the dimly lit room.

　In front of me, who is stunned, she presses the beautiful blade of the drawn dagger against her own brown throat.

(Ha, ha!)

You can't...

　firmly

　He grabbed the woman's wrist as hard as he could and pulled.

　The blade comes away.

　But a thin stream of blood spilled from her brown neck.

　Gu.........

(!)

　More force was added to his grasping wrist.

　The woman had a blank expression on her face and was once again trying to slash her own head with her dagger.

　I mean, why!

No, what are you doing?
..........
Hey, stop it, stop it!　You're really going to die!　Hey!

　Gggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg.

　With both hands, I hold her wrists firmly in place.

　But the woman's strength surpasses the child's muscular strength, and little by little the blade moves closer to her throat.

　The white blade scatters an ominous glow.

'Please, don't!'
..........

　He screamed desperately.

　But there was no change in his expression, and his strength never left him.

　His brown skin and the blade were no more than three inches apart.

(Bad, bad, bad!)

　If I don't, I'm really going to slit my throat!

　Really, this woman is going to die!

　In my impatient mind, I suddenly remembered the technique that Kirt-san once showed me.　

(.........)

　I have to do it!

　My little hand gripped the dagger that was closing in on her throat as hard as it could.

　Geez.

　A long time ago, when Mr. Kilt was teaching me about swords, I grabbed the blade of The Fang of Marl with my bare hands.

　If you don't move the blade, you can't cut it.

　Believing those words, I gripped the dagger now.

　But.

　chuffed

I.....

　It hurt.

　I felt a sharp pain in my fingers and fresh blood flowed through the space between the blade and the skin.

　I, who wasn't as skilled and grasping as Kilt-san, couldn't keep the blade moving at all.

(But I wouldn't let go!)

　My finger now resides between the blade and her throat, an obstacle in the way.

　She will not die unless it is severed.

"..........

　Her cloudy, lapis lazuli eyes stared at me, desperate.

　There, the color of my emotions seemed to waver again.

　But the power put into the dagger doesn't change.



　I can feel the blade digging into my fingers, the blade digging into my fingers.

　The spilled blood forms a stain on the bed, which spreads little by little.

　The pain of it, the pain of it burning my brain.

Merle!

　Illtimina's surprised voice played in my eardrums.

　I looked and saw that the door to the bedroom was open, and Iltimina-san and the three others were standing there with surprised faces.　

''Nuh?''
Huh...?　Ah, you guys, what are you doing?!

　They heard the commotion and came over.

　Before I can say anything, Illtimina-san runs up to me like a gale, grabs my brown wrist and pulls me away in one go.

　Gasp.

　With a beat, "Marl's Fang, No. 2" popped, spinning and stabbing the bedroom floor with a toss........

''What are you doing to my Marl!
..........

　A sharp blackmail.

　But the newly awakened woman doesn't respond with a blank expression.

　Like a broken mannequin, she remains sitting on the bed, powerless.

　Ms. Illtimina's crimson eyes burn with anger.

　But when she notices the blood flowing from my hand, she bites her lip and quickly kneels in front of me.

'I'm sorry, Marle. I was late in coming to your aid.
Nope.

　I'm glad you came.

　Thanks to that, my fingers are still barely connected, too.

　Illtimina holds my wrist to stop the bleeding and holds my head against her large chest.

'It's okay. It's okay now.
Yes.

　Her voice is gentle and reliable.

　The usual sweet smell also calms my nervous mind.

(Phew.)

　She exhales heavily in her cleavage.

　And.

Hey, Merle. Come on, let me fix you up and show you your scar.

　Solstice, with her own large wand in her hand, called out to me.

'Ah, yes.'

　Illtimina-san held me, and while the bleeding was stopped, she cast a recovery spell on me.

　When I looked at it, I saw that about half of my finger had been slashed.

　Ugh, wow.....

　I was obsessed with it, but when I looked at it again, I felt horrible now.

　With Solstice's magic, that wound also disappears.

　That's what Solstice is all about.

Thank you, Solstice. You saved me.
Hmm, you should thank me.

　A small sniffle and a good Solstice.

　Iltimina-san looked at my healed finger and muttered, "Good........" and hugged me again.

(Wapu.........?)

　I'm a bit panicked as I'm caught in the soft elasticity again.

'.........hmmm....

　Zu.........

　Mr. Kilt grabs the hilt of "Marl's Fang, No. 2" stuck in the floor and pulls it out.　

　The blade is wet with my blood.

　I stared at it, then those golden eyes looked at the brown woman sitting weakly on the bed.

'............

　His unfocused eyes were focused on the sheets.

　Mr. Kilt stared at the figure.

　Eventually, he wiped the blood off the blade with a cloth he took from his pack.

I'm afraid I have a lot to ask you.

　I sigh.

　Then, he sheathes the blade of "Marl's Fang, No. 2".

　Ting.

　A cool metallic sound echoed quietly in the room where we had gathered.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　The brown-skinned woman sits on the bed like a doll.

　Ms. Kilt stands in front of her.

　Ms. Illtimina is holding me protectively, while her sister Solstice is also standing on her back.

'Why did you do it like that?

　Mr. Kilt's iron voice asks a quiet question.

　The woman does not answer.

　Her lapis lazuli eyes remain muddy, staring at the sheets.

　That kind of imitation ... i.e. suicide.

　If I hadn't stopped him, he would have definitely slit his own throat.

　A chill runs down my spine at the thought of that possible future.

(Really ... why?)

　After ten seconds of staring with golden eyes, but no response, Mr. Kilt looked back at his fellow girl.

'Sol. What if Konoha was given a magical suggestion by the Child of Darkness that he would commit suicide if captured by the enemy?
I don't think so.

　The wizard girl clearly denies it.

'It's something that I examined after I turned it back into a person, but there was no stagnation of that kind of magical magic flow. It's impossible.
"Hmm.

That would be...

　Our eyes are drawn to the brown beauty.

"Is this about you?
..........

　Kilt's words are exactly what I expected.

(But ... why?)

　Mr. Kilt piles on the words to a woman who doesn't respond.

'Do you remember?'

　twitch

　The woman reacted for the first time to that word, and her body trembled a little.

(Memory...?)　

I remember when I was a demon, when I was a human being with many sins.

　....Oh.

　That is, I mean ... the memory of killing innocent people for them as ordered by the Son of Darkness.

　If they had been demons, it would not have been a problem.

　But now that you're back as a human?

(I mean, she's...)

　You couldn't accept the gravity of the crime you committed, and you tried to die from that guilt?

　I stare at his face.

　Potato.

　Large tears pooled in those lapis lazuli eyes and spilled out of both eyes.



　A low wail.

　Brown hands clench tightly around the sheets.

'Why ... why ... why did you turn me back into a person?'
..........
..........
..........
..........
Please ... let me die. Please let me die like this. Please let me die. Otherwise, I'll...............　

　A mournful voice wooded the bedroom.

　We couldn't say anything to the bed's prone, loudly crying figure.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　It took more than half an hour for the woman to settle down.

　In the meantime, Iltimina rented the inn's kitchen and made a soft porridge.

'Eat,'
..........
We have been asleep for three days now. You must eat a little or your body can't survive.

　With weeping, swollen eyes, the brown woman looks at the bowl.

　But she doesn't reach for it.

(............)

　Did I not think this through...?

　I thought it was the right thing to do - to turn a person who had been turned into a demon back into a human being - I thought it was the right thing to do.

(But....)

　I had no idea that it would drive the man himself to the point of trying to kill himself.

　Was I ... wrong?

It's not your fault.

　knocking

　Solstice's little fist punched me in the head.

　I looked at her and, unusually, she was looking at me with a serious face.

'Marle did nothing wrong,'
..........
You wanted to save this woman, didn't you?　Then Marr's actions are right. It's not the 'dark child' that's to blame.

(...Solstice)

　Iltimina-san nodded widely at her sister's words.

　Kilt-san nodded as well.

'Sol's right,'

　Then his golden eyes turn to the brown-skinned woman.

'Of course you are innocent,'
..........
Your actions are the result of a bias in your thinking due to being turned into a demon. The reason for this is because of the Child of Darkness. You are only a victim of it.

　A powerful, warm voice.

　The woman's eyes looked up at the 'Golden Mark Demon Hunter' with a flicker of emotion.

　The silver-haired beauty smiled, showing her white teeth.

''Eat first.''
..........
When a man is hungry, he can't stop thinking about what's wrong with him. You must fill your belly first.

　I said it too.

　I said, "I'm sorry for what I did.

"I'm sorry for what I did, But I still want you to live.
..........

　She stares at my face.

　Ms. Illtimina forces me to hold a bowl in her hand and a wooden spoon.

　Warm steam.

　The smell of sweet rice.

　The brown-skinned woman stared for a moment, and then the spoon was offered there.

　hummock

　A bite of porridge disappeared into its mouth.

'....Delicious.

　A small murmur.

　Another bite.

　And another bite.

　She begins to eat slowly.

　Pollock.

　Tears spilled down his cheeks.

'Uh ... ugh ...'

　As she cried, she kept eating to live.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


What is your name?

　Mr. Kilt suddenly asked as he watched the meal.

　His hands stopped.

"....Renu.......Renu Widert, that is.......

　She replied.

(Mr. Renu.....)

　Mr. Kilt nodded.

'Hmm. 'Renu, I have a few questions for you. You can do that over dinner. If you can answer them, I'd like you to tell me.
Yes, sir.

　Renu looked at Kilt with her lapis lazuli eyes and responded clearly.

''Where are you from?''
This is Tetet. I was born in the mountain village of Gitarka in the northeast.
"Law.

　Mr. Kilt raised one eyebrow.

'So it was here in Tetet that you became a demon?
Yes.
When was that?
...about three months ago.

　Renu's voice and expression were dark, as if she was remembering that time.

(Three months ago, I mean...)

　This was when we were still in the Arun God's Empire.

　So the Son of Darkness has been active here in the Teteto Confederacy since then.

"Hmm.

　Mr. Kilt also snorted as he put his hand over his mouth as he chewed on the information he had obtained.

　And then Solstice narrowed her red eyes as she looked at Renu-san.

You're one of the demon-bloods.

　I said.

'...........

　snappingly

　Renu-san nodded depressingly.

''Renu-san, you're a 'Demon Blood People'?'''

　I see.

　So when I tried to stop her from killing herself, I couldn't resist pulling with all my might.

(But I feel like if Renu-san was serious, she could have easily shaken off my restraint...)

　Was it her own survival instinct or her unconscious kindness in not wanting to cut off my fingers that didn't happen?

　While I was thinking like that, Kilt-san's questions to Renu continued.

　And so I found out a few things.

　First, Renu-san's age is 23 years old.

　He was working as a 'Blue Mark adventurer' in the Teteto Confederation.

''Although, I didn't make much money, but...''

　He adds.

　The Tetet Confederacy has a strong discrimination against the 'Demon Blood People' the further north-east you go.

　The same was true of the Gitarka territory in the northeast.

　The adventurer guilds they belonged to only mediated low-wage requests, and sometimes they were forced to accept requests with a high level of danger without being informed of it.

　Even if he completed the quests, he would be given a difficult time and his reward would be reduced.

　The regular fee would not be received at first.

''........How absurd.......?''

　I was stunned.

　I thought the Adventurer's Guild was on the side of the adventurers I belonged to.　

　When I was shocked, Illtimina said to me.

''Our guild, Moonlight Wind, is special because Lord Mumpa established it for the purpose of rescuing the Demon Blood People. Even in the Kingdom of Shumuria, there are not a few cases like that in other guilds.

(...no...)

　However, that was a rare case even in Shumuria.

　However, in the Gitarka territory where Renu-san was from, it was said to have been a commonplace routine.

　Thanks to that, she had always been poor.

　Still, her parents and sisters lived in the mountain village where she was born, and she worked hard as an adventurer to send money home.

　That routine was disrupted about six months ago.

　A bad harvest due to bad weather caused food shortages throughout the territory of Gitarka.

　Renu's home village was one of them.

　Renu worked harder than usual to keep up the physical effort and provided plenty of money for his family.

　He just couldn't do it all and became ill.

　He was unable to deliver the food to the village by himself.

　So he asked one of the guild's adventurers to bring the food he had bought to the village.

　But," said the adventurer, "the adventurer is missing.

That adventurer has disappeared.

　The entire precious food that Mr. Renu got for himself.

(............)

　That food will sell well because the whole country is food insecure.

..........
..........
..........
..........

　I, and the three of us, were speechless.

　It wasn't until two weeks after she recovered from her illness that Renu learned of the fact,

　Soltis says.

'Didn't the guild give you any insurance?
'Yes ... it was not admitted at the time of signing the contract because of some inadequacy in my filling out or something. .....I just wasn't told what kind of omissions.

　Huh?

(Which means ... the guild didn't want to pay and lied and refused to pay!

　Is the discrimination against the 'Demon Blood People' that bad?

''What's that!''

　Solstice is also angry.

''It's corrupt, that guild.
Hmm.

　The two older ones look scared, too.

　But Renu just smiles sadly.

　I'm sure she tried to resist a lot of things at the time too.

(.........but she couldn't help herself, could she?)

　I was so frustrated.

　Afterwards, Renu pushed his ailing body and went to his home mountain village.

　But

My parents and sister are dead.

　............

　He had become sick and died as a result of the famine.

　It is said that not only Renu's family, but many villagers died due to the famine.

　If Mr. Renu had sent money, things might have been a little different.

　However, that assumption was now meaningless.

　In desperation, Renu-san chased after the missing adventurer.

　After a month of chasing and chasing and chasing, she finally found him.

　But they were a party of five.

　This was the only one, Renu-san, who was getting sick.

　No matter how much of a 'Demon Blood People' they were, there was no way they could win, and she had been beaten back.

(............)

　She collapsed in the snow-covered streets, dying.

　She no longer felt the cold.

　A life of being deprived, despised and neglected... She tried to accept her regrettable death, spilling tears, wondering if she was really like that.

　--that's when.

'The next thing I knew, there was a black child peering at me as I lay dying.

　thumping

　Renu's words took our breath away.

　That black child, laughing like a red crescent moon.

Don't you want the power to exact revenge?

　He asked that question.