19. Demons and Humans (4)
You don’t know when they will die, so you should treat them with more respect.
I couldn’t help but ponder those words in my mind for a while.
I’ve never thought of it that way.
At one time, I even thought that I had no choice because I was terminally ill to accept Sylvia’s complaint.
In that rationalization, the country had no human value.
But Kati… .
“you are… .”
Kati raised her head and said.
“You are so precious to me. So much so that I don’t know what to do… .”
My cheeks and hands are warm.
To be precise, it was the warmth I felt from Kati’s hands wrapped around me.
“I want you to know that… .”
Suddenly, I felt Kati’s palms touching me hard.
It must have been an infinitely small, fragile and soft hand at first.
When did you grow up like this, and when did you get calluses on your palms like this?
Although still smaller than me… .
“I know what you are worried about. So, you don’t have to say anything. just… .”
Katie grinned with her red, swollen eyes.
It was a clearer smile than ever, but it didn’t look happy.
Kati said in a hoarse voice.
“From now on, just let me love alone. As always, I’m just fine with that… .”
“… What do you mean you’re going to do it alone after you’ve said everything?”
“But… .”
Kati became sullen and whined.
… what? Is this the first time I’ve seen him do this?
kinda cute… . Oh no.
Wake… .
“Okay, once… .”
“by the way.”
Kati cut me off abruptly and asked.
You said you don’t have to talk, so are you trying to keep me from talking on purpose?
“If I kill the Demon King, will the curse disappear?”
“right.”
“okay… .”
Kati, who accepted it calmly, declared it calmly as well.
“Then I will kill the Demon King.”
“… uh?”
“Perhaps it will kill someone other than me, but I will actively contribute.”
“You mean… .”
“Yes. I will become a warrior.”
A Demon Hero whose purpose is to kill the Demon King… .
That’s awesome.
Even if it was Kati on a level with the 1st warrior party, I have no choice but to welcome it.
Now, even if I ask if it’s okay to be a Mine, all the common sense I already know about ‘Mine’ is denied.
“I won’t ask for a promise after killing the demon king. If that happens, you will feel indebted to me.”
… Do you even use mind reading?
I’ll seal the words I was going to say in advance.
“So, in the future, it will be just, as before… . As long as nothing has changed… .”
I couldn’t say anything more in front of him.
It was because I realized that none other than that was the way Kati wanted it.
Kati must have been the same, but it is also true that I did not hesitate to act without hesitation even if we misunderstood because we were humans and demons.
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Just because there wasn’t such a thing, there’s no guarantee that it wouldn’t have happened.
It’s true that I’m not without responsibility, so I can’t let Kati do anything she doesn’t want.
“… okay. thank you.”
Again, Kati laughed again.
“That word alone is enough.”
“… But aren’t you hungry?”
“it’s okay.”
“I’m not very good.”
I took out some dry food for preservation and gave them a hand.
“Eat this and go to sleep for today. Because it’s late. Where the hell was it, I put something like this… .”
Out of habit, I tried to clean up the stains on Kati’s clothes.
Things like tree branches and leaves that were stuck everywhere.
“… ah.”
Then, I met Kati’s eyes as she looked up at me.
“… sorry. It’s kind of hard to do this now.”
“From now on, I will live as before, but you shouldn’t make it difficult for me from now on.”
… I feel kind of confused.
“However, it is true that it is quite pleasant to see you perplexed by this.”
“… Did you know you could say something like that?”
“I mean.”
Katie grinned.
It was a smile that was brighter than before.
“So, since it’s not yet ‘in the future’, it would be right to make it a little difficult.”
“… Are you excited?”
“Do you see that?”
Kati brushed off the branches and leaves herself.
“And, likewise, I will do everything I have to say today.”
“What are you going to say?”
Kati took a deep breath and looked into my eyes and said clearly.
“I will be by your side forever. So, the possibility that I’m leaving… Please don’t think about it.”
You’re referring to what I said earlier with the Ring of Subordination.
I was just trying to respect Kati’s wishes.
If this is how he feels, he must have been quite concerned… .
“… OK got it.”
“Then I will go now.”
After saying that, Kati handed me something.
It was the bell necklace she was wearing.
“Please tie me.”
“… Yes, do whatever you want, do it. So what’s in here?”
“It’s a secret.”
I obediently tried to put the necklace around her neck.
… I had to hang the hook from the back of my neck, so I had no choice but to get close enough to breathe.
“… why are you laughing?”
“I like it.”
“… … .”
I tried to ignore the soft skin of my neck brushing my hand and barely filled it.
“thank you. Then we will go now.”
“Okay, good night.”
“good night.”
Having said that, Kati hesitated for a moment before adding.
“… you.”
“… … .”
Then, he hurried out of the tent.
It was so fast that I didn’t even see it disappear.
All I noticed was that the entrance to the tent was flapping.
“Ugh… .”
I ran out of gin and lay down on the bed.
Forward… Should I be careful or what should I do?
Since he said he would live like before, I should adapt to that.
Rather, Kati is a hero… .
A group of 4 is the basic configuration, so it’s just right.
There is no problem because it is not always necessary to fill 4 people with different specialties.
Even though it’s extreme, there are parties with 3 knights and 1 priest.
Above all, Kati is strong on her own and has a lot of experience, so she can pull off any role.
Long-distance combat… It might be a bit difficult, but that’s because Vivian alone is enough.
However, Katy’s ability is so overwhelming compared to the other three, it will take a long time to work together on equal footing.
Does Kati have to register as a hero then…? .
Anyway, what is a Mine?
Galatea and Malion, those two might know more than I do.
I’ll have to ask tomorrow.
I’m worried about what to do with them now.
Then, suddenly, I thought of Kati standing side by side with the group.
Strawberries, oranges and grapes. and Katie.
… what kind of fruit is this?
It is a fruit that mainly consists of white and black… .
*
Kati finished eating the preserved food Ian gave her and carefully returned to the tent.
I made eye contact with someone who was sitting there.
It was Mercy who was awake.
“… did you come?”
Mercy’s voice was a bit bitter.
Since the party was sleeping, I couldn’t help but think it was like that, to put it mildly.
Before Kati could answer, she pushed back the tent entrance and looked outside.
Ian’s tent is visible.
The lanterns are still lit, so you can tell what’s going on inside from the moving shadows.
“… … .”
Kati looked at Mercy again.
“Mercy… .”
“It’s okay. don’t you know Anyway, the elf… .”
Mercy was speechless.
Kati knew the back story, so she didn’t ask any more.
“It’s nice to be back, though.”
“… yes.”
Kati glanced at Vivian lying down.
She seems to be sleeping peacefully, but Kati can tell that she isn’t asleep yet.
In fact, Vivian had been awake until just now.
“Keep going.”
Due to Mercy’s characteristic of being able to sleep only when hugging someone, Kati was the target today, when she was awake until late.
Kati lay down next to Mercy as usual.
Mercy naturally hugged Kati as usual.
“… What are you sorry for?”
“… … .”
“Have you not been patient enough? So you don’t have to feel sorry for me.”
“… yes.”
After that, the two were speechless.
it wasn’t sleeping
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Just, Mercy sniffed Ian’s scent from Kati, who was hugging her.
*
Kati looked down blankly at the baby in Galatea’s arms.
I couldn’t believe that something so small would one day become as big as other humans.
The soundly asleep baby looked like an angel or a devil.
It was because they had horns that were about to grow.
“Is not it cute?”
Galatea asked with a smile.
It was a smile that was happier and warmer than any smile Kati had ever seen.
“… yes.”
Not only Katie, but also Vivian, Helena, Lucia, and Mercy came to see the baby.
In case you don’t know, just a few steps away.
Unlike those who are preoccupied with petting the little baby with winks, Helena’s expression could not be bright.
Kati was also complicated, but for a different reason than Helena.
“Do you remember me?”
Lucia asked Galatea cautiously.
Galatea stared at her and put on a puzzled expression.
“I think I saw it somewhere… .”
“Why in the past… .”
After hearing Lucia’s old story, Galatea remembered her.
“Ah, is that child you then?”
“yes. I should have said thank you, but I couldn’t because I was distracted at the time.”
“no. Where is it that you have grown up so well? More than that, I should be grateful.”
Galatea smiled kindly and looked around the party.
They were people who did not have a single bit of hostility towards the devil himself.
Kati and Helena’s expressions were complicated, but I couldn’t interpret them as hostility.
Most of all, they are the ones who directly helped with their delivery.
Had there been hostility, it would have been impossible.
“… Thank you so much for yesterday. I was not able to say hello because I was not in a hurry. My name is Galatea.”
Galatea made eye contact with each one and bowed her head respectfully.
I couldn’t get up because I was lying down with my baby in my arms, but that alone made it clear to everyone that I did my best.
“You must have a lot of questions. Yes?”
It was a question for Helena and Kati, but the other party also had many questions.
The most curious thing was, of course, about the identity of the devil.
How are demons and humans different?
Why have humans and demons been classified as completely different species and antagonized?
“First of all, Mine… . It’s a kind of human, if you have to insist.”
“… Yes?”
The others tried to take it for granted, but it was hard for Helena.
“and… .”
After Galatea looked at Helena with pity, she said.
“Behind the truth you know, there is Seonghwagyo.”
“that is… .”
“Mmm.”
A sullen Galatea looked at Kati.
It was obvious that what I was going to say would never be good for Kati.
Kati, who immediately understood the meaning, said.
“I’m okay. In front of these people.”
“… okay.”
Galatea spoke slowly so that they could accept the truth more leisurely.
“There was something called the ‘Magic Soldier Training Plan’ that was planned and executed by the imperial family.”
“yes… ?”
“It was a plan for humans to use mines as power. In order to do that, it was basically necessary to brainwash the demons. I can erase my memory… .”
“Brainwashing… yo. this?”
Why are things like this coming out all of a sudden?
The party’s eyes focused on Kati, and Kati spoke calmly.
“I was a victim of that plan and one of the test subjects, and my master saved me.”
Helena burst in.
“Now, wait a minute! Never heard of anything like this! Aside from Kati-sama, who the hell are you to know this… ?”
Galatea glanced at Kati, then lowered her eyes and said.
“… I was one of the administrators of that brainwashing scheme that went on in many places.”
*
“Help me!”
Ian looked down in annoyance at Malion, who was kneeling in front of him.
“… What do you mean?”
“Please, please allow me to be with you… !”
“… ah.”
I know why Marion is doing this.
It is none other than his wife and children.
Unlike Kati, Galatea is overly conspicuous outwardly.
Of course, I couldn’t live among humans.
It would be nice if the three of us could live happily and safely forever, but that’s not an easy world.
So Malion wants to be safe with Ian’s party.
“Do you know what I am?”
“Ah, I… .”
“I am the warrior manager. In other words, our party is a warrior.”
“Yeah, that’s right… .”
“Are you good at fighting? It doesn’t look like a superhuman.”
“Yes… .”
“I know that your situation is pitiful. But you can’t carry them around with just that kind of sympathy. What can I do?”
“Some paperwork… .”
“There are two people who can do that already.”
“If you ask me to do anything else… !”
“Then can you enter the A-rank dungeon alone and explore it? Or, going on reconnaissance to the depths of the Pandemonium?”
“… … .”
The four warriors were equipped once.
If Iris invents the warp portal in time, the need for a supply base will decrease.
So, what Ian needed now was a scouting team.
But it didn’t look like Malion in front could pull it off.
“If it were my wife… .”
“I’m asking about your capabilities.”
“… … .”
Knowing this would happen, Ian’s answer was fixed.
The moment you want to say that the favor ends here.
[master. May I come in?]
Kati, who naturally changed her title, sent a telepathic message.
‘Uh, uh… .’
As soon as there was no answer, Kati opened the tent and came in.
She glanced at Malion and said to Ian.
“Please allow Galatea and Malion to accompany you.”
“… What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
I wondered if he did it out of sympathy for them, but Kati’s expression didn’t.
“They can help me grow to a stronger state. Certainly.”
“… What?”
Grow a Kati that is already equivalent to an individual in the 1st warrior party?
Surely?
“… Please explain.”
It was a proposal that moved Ian’s heart.