24 – Aran, the City of Water (3)
“Ah, you are here. “Inquisitor Krail.”
“…Priest Lian.”
In front of the statue of Raynell, an angel of punishment holding an hourglass in her left hand and a sword in her right hand, Krail, who was looking at her with admiring eyes, was the first priest of the church, who was clearly nervous. I turned my head to Lian’s call.
He looked at the man from a distance, who looked nervous and kept turning his head to see if anyone was around, and then he sighed softly and snapped his fingers.
-Just right
A bluish energy spreads around the angel statue, and the slow passage of time completely stops.
Rian nods his head in admiration as he feels the mysterious power.
“It’s truly amazing every time I see it. “This is the power of an angel.”
“… If you keep doing this, the saint will notice. “Let’s see it quickly.”
As the gray-haired man, who took out a cigarette from his pocket, frowned and glared at Rian, the first priest bent down repeatedly to the interrogator, who was much younger than me, and began to report.
“Well, there was an experiment on a high-ranking demon.”
“…Experiment?”
“Well, it is said that before releasing Nightmare and other high-ranking demons close to divine status, they experimented with reviving humans by releasing relatively weak demons first.”
“The saint did a lot of interesting things.”
Cryle exhales white smoke and clicks his tongue.
Feeling the words that this is a non-smoking area welling up to his chin, Lian forced himself to swallow his words and nodded.
“Yes, it is said that it was carried out against a trustworthy nobleman who lost his wife or husband.”
“What is the name of the person who dares to walk the path of heresy?”
“… If we think about it, they are all heretics….”
After barely answering, Rian closed his eyes tightly as he thought about the beatings the interrogator would inflict.
But instead of pounding, what came back was a small sound of laughter.
“Huh, okay. We are all already heretics. “Please continue reporting.”
“Oh, I understand. The name of the person who accepted Erman’s proposal was Rotani Aran. “He is the count who rules over Aran, famous for being the city of water.”
“Isn’t Aran famous for being a city without heresy? “The ruler of the place who faithfully followed the words of Telmere accepted the wager with the devil.”
“They say he was truly a famous loving wife. He was a romanticist who did not take any of the concubines or s*x slaves that nobles usually had, and only had eyes for the countess, Liliana Aran.
“There was another person like Julius in the world.”
Thinking of his close friend who must have met the devil by now, Kryle made a bitter expression.
“It is not known to the public, but it is said that the Countess actually fell ill two years ago, around the time of the epidemic, and left for God’s side.”
“… And Count Rotani, who could not accept her death, made a deal with Erman.”
“Yes. Instead, the condition was that we would conduct some experiments in the process of inhabiting the corpse and reviving it.”
“So? “What about the results of this important experiment?”
After burning out the cigarette that had burned out before he knew it, he took a step closer to the angel statue and turned his head.
“From the results, it was impossible to completely revive him.”
“… The devil’s mimicry was supposed to be perfect, but it still failed?”
“It is said that it was because the mimicry of high-ranking devils and the methods of other low-level devils were different.”
“Keep talking.”
“The truth that is recorded in the first Bible, which is now lost. “The devil’s evil actually came from humans.”
“Well, it was a pretty interesting story. But what does that have to do with this current situation?”
“Higher demons, unlike other lower-level Voids, are not completely tainted by evil even when exposed to human malice.”
“Yes, there are differences from individual to individual, but there are many that are a little lacking in evil to be called the king of demons.”
“So, unlike those who imitate humans simply for the purpose of ridicule, they chose to twist time to achieve incomplete revival.”
“Twisting time. “What a grandiose method.”
Kryle, who was now standing right in front of Raynell’s statue, touched his chin and looked very interested.
“The problem is that even though the time of the body can be turned back, human memories cannot be restored, and humans who are revived by the power of high-ranking demons are revived with their very existence damaged by the memory of death.
“Is that why the process of convergence is necessary?”
“Yes. Long ago, humans were beings whose souls were taken away as punishment for turning the world into evil. “The devil takes over the empty space in the soul and keeps it alive.”
Krail, who was tapping the hourglass held by the statue, lowered his head and suddenly frowned and shouted at Lian.
“So in the end, the conclusion is that even if you are mixed with the devil, it is possible to be revived. “Why are you talking so complicatedly?”
“Resuscitation itself is maintained, but the problem is personality.”
“… Personality?”
“Yes, usually the revived human personality is the main character, and the demon’s lighter personality is only secondary.”
“It’s already embarrassing to call it mimicry.”
“The problem is that a broken personality becomes too attached to the biggest reason why they longed for life. But if you try to get out of there.”
“The broken personality itself is broken. “What do you mean?”
“When something like that happens, the demonic personality that was unconsciously imitating comes out to the surface.”
The saint’s personal guards called this ‘double personality.’
“… It’s very complicated. To sum it up roughly, if you deviate from the reason for living to keep alive, you become the personality of a devil, and if not, can you say that you are the personality you had when you were a human?”
“First of all, it is said that this was the case in the countess’s case. “I heard Nightmare’s method of becoming one with Miss Cecile is much more complex and sophisticated, but I haven’t been able to find out that far.”
“That’s it. I just hate studying at this age. In any case, revival is revival, so Julius will take care of the rest.”
“… Isn’t that too vague?”
Have you gotten used to the man named Cryle a little?
Lian, who was looking at him with a slightly pitiful expression, was startled by the sound of footsteps coming from the hallway.
“No, someone is coming here.”
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“Tsk, it looks like I was caught using my powers. It’s probably Erman. “Hurry and get out of here.”
Krail flicked his fingers again to make time flow in the room where the statue was, and began to firmly grab Rian’s back and apply force.
“Woah, this is the 3rd floor!”
“There is no time for that. Survive on your own!”
While smoking a cigarette, the first priest flies vigorously towards the window that was previously opened.
Soon, a small groan was heard along with a thumping sound, and the sound of footsteps coming from the hallway was also very close.
If you are not careful, you may be suspected of carrying out a scheme without the saint’s knowledge.
Cryle quickly jumped towards the angel statue with tears in his eyes, and just in time, the door opened and a solemn voice was heard in his ears.
“… Krail Special Heresy Questioner. “What are you doing here?”
“As you can see, I was praying for Raynell.”
A gray-haired man hugging an angel statue tightly and burying his face in its voluptuous chest.
Saint Erman looked at the strange sight and eventually couldn’t bear it and became angry.
“I think this is a place to quench your lust! “I told you not to approach Raynell’s personal information!”
“I can’t take it anymore. “Please forgive me.”
Even though the saint is angry, Cryle does not change his expression and hugs the angel statue even tighter.
Erman, clutching his dizzy head, turned his head and looked at the open window.
The moon seems to be trying to imitate the sun, in the middle of the night as bright as day.
Thinking of God and angels in the heavens far away, the fallen saint thought quietly.
“… Could this possibly be God’s arrangement?”
That one small word reaches the ears of Rom, the master of heaven, beyond the wide sky.
The father of angels who gently lifts his bowed head.
-… It is not my arrangement.
It seems that the main god is also not involved in everything.
***
A woman with black eyes who is attractive, but somehow gives off an ominous feeling.
The ‘Emperor’s Nightmare’, who had come back out into the world due to a mental problem with ‘Cecil’, was lying on a bed in a cabin painted entirely in black, desperately trying to cool down his face, which was as red as a ripe apple. .
-Thump thump
As I barely entered the cabin earlier, the fearsome Heretic Questioner was knocking on the locked door.
-The game is not over. I will sleep next to you as you wish, so open the door.
“Oh, today’s match ends here. “I’ll handle the rest of the entertainment, and we’ll start again tomorrow.”
Nightmare, who felt fear from Julius’ sudden change in momentum, desperately tried to answer with his mouth that had difficulty opening.
-… ….
Po, have you given up?
Soon, the footsteps of the Heretic Questioner standing in front of the door are heard.
I guess I don’t plan on doing anything more tonight.
“… Wow, you’re acting so outrageously all of a sudden.”
He was definitely cute in the carriage, but what did he mean by what happened just now?
The cramps in his weakened legs subsided, and Nightmare searched through his memories, trying to find the reason why Julius was acting like that all of a sudden.
‘Julius! hehehe, I won, right?’
‘… Do it again.’
‘Okay, do it again. ‘I’ll win again anyway.’
When we made an archery bet on a date, Julius didn’t stop shooting until he won against his girlfriend.
‘Julius, you won’t be able to escape tonight.’
‘Three, Cecil? ‘What have you done?’
Even when he said, ‘Catch me!’ Every night, he gritted his teeth and never caught me.
A strange man who does not care if the opponent is a winner, even if it is his daughter.
Inquisitor Julius Tapnel.
Nightmare, who was carefully examining the memories revealed by Cecil’s body, began to tremble with a contemplative look on his face.
“Well, I was just trying to seduce you a little, but it’s like messing with a beehive…”
Even so, I definitely couldn’t move when I was a perfect Cecil in Kente Village.
It must be the same body, the same memories, and the same scent as when he dreamed of Cecil.
But isn’t there a huge difference between the situation then and now?
“… But it’s really sweet.”
I realized that I couldn’t win, but even so, the kiss from earlier was like honey, an affection that couldn’t be rejected by a demon who had lived in the void all his life.
She did not acknowledge herself as her wife, but the one kiss she gave to get her Cecil back was so sweet,
If her appearance as a devil is also recognized as her wife, then how much affection can she receive?
The eyes, which were slowly returning to blue, are once again enveloped in black light.
It has been a long time since Cecil Lionel Ta’s dream, which had already been ruined, was mended.
But for her true love, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to keep her as she is for a little while.
“I am also Cecil Lionel Thani.”
She didn’t lie.
It is true that Cecil’s dream is still incomplete.
Nightmare, who had regained his composure with a gentle smile again, slowly got up from the bed and looked at the shadow at his feet.
Only the soft moonlight illuminated the inside of the hut, but the shadow changed shape at will, like a swaying candle, and spit out a handful of black threads.
“Lal-la, la-la.”
The devil picks up a skein of beautiful, pure white agate and begins to weave it here and there.
A small, cute and cute bird is created at her fingertips.
The devil looked at the completed familiar for a moment, then gently lowered his head and blew on the creature he had created.
-Beep
A black bird that looks like a small sparrow and opens its eyes while making a sound like a chick.
The corners of his mouth, smiling softly, turn up a little more as if he likes the work he created.
“What color should I use? White? Or gold?”
Nightmare, who was pondering while gently poking Sparrow’s cheek with his finger, seemed to have made up his mind and snapped his finger once.
-Just right
The slightly ominous color with black feathers and black eyes becomes lighter and turns into white feathers and golden eyes.
The nightmare, which was smiling as it watched the bird playing in its hands as if it liked it, gave a final command to its familiar.
“… Stay by Layla’s side and watch over that child.”
Just in case you don’t know.
After giving a comical salute by raising its wings to its head as if asking to be left to its own devices, the white bird flapped its wings vigorously and flew around the room before suddenly disappearing without a trace.
After I finished my work, I heard something outside the cabin.
A nightmare that involves gently listening to the words being spoken.
-… Julius, in the time I haven’t seen you, you’ve become something of a swallow.
-… I just followed God’s will.
The Heretic Questioner’s voice as he said that seemed to be mixed with laughter.
It’s a shame.
“Oh no, this isn’t it.”
It was a perfect plan to make the interrogator lose his senses with his fatal charm, but he never even thought about being attacked on the contrary.
The King of Demons, who was lying down on the bed again, slapped the bed with his arms in anger and covered his face with a black blanket.
That night, the devil slept and had a dream, which was unusual.
Myself and Julius looking at the baby sucking my breast with happy faces.
The nightmare of living in a void all my life was an incomprehensible sight.
***
The middle of the city has a gloomy feel as dark clouds block the sun.
The name of the young child with blond hair neatly tied into two pigtails walking around the crowded streets of the slums there is Leila Tapnell.
The girl was alone in this dangerous alley full of criminals. She was in a huge crisis, but her child’s face was calm.
An expedition to find treasure, secretly escaping from Krail.
The gray-haired Heretic Questioner, who noticed this belatedly, displayed an unbelievable display of divine power that stopped time in the entire city.
A bluish energy floats in the air, and Rayra gently touches it with her small finger.
I stared at the broken energy like a sugar cookie from afar and started walking again.
Kryle’s power reaches out every moment to grab the child, but the flame-like energy emanating from the golden hair that resembles his father’s burns away all the blue energy.
“Well, Jo is cute and pretty, so why are there only ladies here?”
A comical sight of bearded vagabonds holding knives and stabbing each other, frozen in the air.
Rayla glances at those sights with her big eyes, as if she isn’t scared, and then goes on her way again.
The voice of a gray-haired man can already be heard coming from a short distance away.
I haven’t found any treasure yet, but it would be difficult if I got caught already.
Have they at least granted such a child’s wish?
A black energy breaks through the air and flows from above the child’s head along with a strange energy.
“…? Mo, mo?”
The child, who somehow managed to notice this, looks up to his head and makes eye contact with the white sparrow that was sneaking out from there.
-Beep… Beep?
The sparrow, who had never expected to meet her right away, quickly flapped her wings and tried to run away, but was shot down by the golden brilliance that came out of her child’s hand and fell into Leila’s arms.
A child looking excitedly at the incarnation of cuteness rolling his eyes in his arms.
Did she like her pure white fluffy fur and golden eyes that resembled her father?
In the middle of the night, Leila smiles brightly as she carefully lifts with her hands the trophy she obtained after all her hard work and exploration.
“Cute! “Let’s live together with me from today, Biyak!”
If Julius had seen it, he would have been moved to tears as he remembered his mother.
The sight of the little boy, the white sparrow, and the honey chestnuts that will educate the cheeky little boy flying towards the back of his head.
A story of a dark night where everyone is happy except Cryle and Sparrow.
.
.
.
No, it was a fun exploration story that only Layla was happy about.