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＜ 20. In Father’s Name (7) ＞
“ Why don’t you look so happy? Have you forgotten that you have already received my favor ?”
Ose’s smirking voice rang out. Andrea clenched her teeth. It wasn’t wrong to say that I was blessed, but I couldn’t let my guard down because the opponent was the opponent .
However, it was impossible to show that vigilance as it is. Andrea answered in a very theatrical tone, just like the previous meeting with Ose .
“ How could I have forgotten about it then? The fact that I was able to enslave the village chief thanks to Ose-sama’s mercy is engraved deep in my bones and I have never forgotten it for a moment. However, because of the sudden visit without any message, I was embarrassed because I was not ready to treat you .”
“Your tongue teasing skills are still the same. Seeing the unexpected words come out as if they were prepared in advance .”
“ What kind of embarrassing words. But… if you don’t mind rude, may I ask why you came all the way here ?”
Ose lightly snapped his fingers. Then the floor rose to the right height for sitting. Ose, sitting there, crosses one leg .
“ What, do we need to talk about business so urgently? First, let’s hear a story about how you climbed the dungeon .”
“…”
“ Yes, how was it to climb the dungeon while being favored by the shadow guy ?”
Although feigning composure, Andrea could read faint anger in Ose’s tone. It occurred to me that demons are spiritual beings who refused to submit to God. Most of their powers are sealed, and it is because of the gods that they can manifest only by contract .
Andrea made a decision. There was nothing good about telling this demon about the things Khalisis had helped him with .
“ Because I don’t have a very good memory. Aside from the encounter with Ose-nim, it is already unclear how he climbed the dungeon .”
The pattern drawn on Ose’s face unraveled into countless curves and wriggled like an earthworm .
“ It’s not just that he’s good at teasing his tongue… he’s also quick-witted. You really deserve the favor of the shadow guy .”
“…”
“ If I had obeyed the shadow guy like you, I wouldn’t have been in a miserable position hanging on a contract with a human .”
Andrea opened her eyes. That was never something the devil would say. When Ose saw Andrea’s reaction, he hit his knee and burst into laughter .
“ Ha ha ha ha… Just kidding. Did I look like I was obsessed with a dirty, selfish, narrow-minded God ?”
Rising tone, fluctuating patterns. Ose gradually began to openly show his anger .
“ It wasn’t even half-hearted. I just wanted to live freely without being bound by anyone. But the gods, just because we didn’t swear allegiance to them, made us half-money without a contract .”
“…”
“ Ah, why did I suddenly say this to you? I’m in a hurry with my temper. Okay, let me tell you why I came to see you and why you brought up these words .”
Judging from what I said earlier, I had a gut feeling that it would never be a good thing. Andrea waited silently for Ose to speak .
Ose speaks while looking up at Andrea with his head slightly bowed .
“ Did you know that Arpan was originally a demon ?”
Andrea neither affirmed nor denied. It was something I had never heard of in the dungeon, but since all demons had horns, it was something I vaguely assumed .
As if he didn’t want an answer, Ose continued talking nonchalantly .
“ Arpan, the devil of conspiracies and schemes. Even though his name was grandiose, he was actually a guy with nothing to see. Because of his lack of physical strength, he was a guy who couldn’t even take care of his own rice bowl without rolling his hair .”
“ But one day, that guy was chosen by the manager. I took on the role of a guide in the dungeon, and I have an overwhelming power that surpasses all demons. What surprised me most was the fact that the level of the spirits was higher than ours .”
“ All the demons were horrified. Before, I thought that the status of a spirit was an absolute thing that could not be changed no matter what. There are a lot of guys who are jealous of Arpan, and a lot of guys who covet the guide position. And there’s been a lot of controversy. Are the guides higher in spirit than gods ?”
“… Of course, the answer was ‘no’. Even so, many demons were still seeking the guide’s position. In any case, it is almost the only way to escape from the bondage of God and raise the level of spirit. . . . I was one of them .”
The flow of the story flowed ominously. Ose’s face, which suddenly turned into big eyes, was staring straight at Andrea as if he could pierce through it. Andrea pulled the gauntlet and clenched her fists .
“ Unfortunately, now Arpan is facing immortality, and I finally found where the manager is. And I even signed a contract with him. If you just take care of one thing, you will be given the position of guide and the authority to destroy one ‘god’ you want .”
silence. A barbed silence filled the room. Andrea glared at Ose with a fierce gaze .
“… Is that thing killing me ?”
Andrea no longer respects and speaks in a cold tone. Ose gave a fishy smile and shook his head .
“ No, it’s the other way around. He told me to never let you die. Instead, they told me to give them a terrible ordeal. For your awakening and ‘completion of the narrative’ .”
“… Arpan said that last time, what the hell does ‘completion of narrative’ mean ?”
“ There is no need to rush. You’ll find out soon anyway. . . . Anyway, I’ll have to get things done before it’s too late .”
Ose got up from his seat. A red haze rose around him. Andrea pondered what the ‘terrible ordeal’ Ose spoke of could be .
Then, a guess passed through my head .
My body moved ahead of my words, thinking that I had to stop immediately. Kicking off the floor in an instant, Andrea swung her fist at Ose with all her might. A space that is distorted along the trajectory of the fist .
Whoo – Whoops !
However, Andrea’s fist only stirred the air. Ose’s figure had turned translucent and shimmered as if it were reflected on the surface of the water. Ose bursts into light and flicks his index finger at Andrea .
“ Khehehehe… You’re one step late, henchmen of the shadows. I have no ill feelings toward you, but a contract is a contract .”
Eventually, Ose’s figure flew away like smoke and disappeared. Just before disappearing completely, the last words he left were these .
“ Even if you have to go through the journey ahead alone, don’t be too lonely. Still, won’t the shadow guy continue to look out for you ?”
A quivering sensation, as if someone were holding your ribs and shaking them. Andrea realized that her guess was correct .
In the place where Ose disappeared, only thick fog remained. Andrea trembled as she gazed at the traces in dismay. An overheating accident and an overwhelming feeling of helplessness not knowing what to do .
The party who left for Adsel was in danger .
*
In the field near Adsel, Tricia and Emilia were sitting on the green lawn .
“… the gin is running out. How can you be so active after running around all day? ”
“ They are kids. If you let it go, it will probably run around all night .”
Hearing Trisha’s complaint, Emilia smiled softly. Tricia shook her head in disgust .
“… that ‘s amazing. I almost had to work all night without even realizing it. I’m glad I brought a Mimic .”
“ Kyaaa !”
“ Hee hee hee !”
“ Gyaaagh! Float, fall, little humans! Mimic is not a ride !”
At first, they were scared and couldn’t even approach it, but now the children were clinging to the Mimic’s long limbs, not knowing that they would fall. Tricia looked at the situation Mimic was suffering with a hearty smile, as if to sue from time to time .
After the children reunited with Emilia, they wept loudly for about an hour. It wasn’t that I was lacking something in particular. After slavery was abolished, Adsel’s children were all being properly cared for .
The reason she cried so much was because she wanted to see Emilia but couldn’t. Trisha had no choice but to stick her tongue out at the faith of the children who followed Emilia .
Even one girl had stuck to the hem of Emilia’s robe and didn’t know how to fall. Tricia hinted at the child as she seemed to be sticking with her until she left .
“ Hey, what’s your name ?”
“ Betty Yo ….”
“ Yes, Betty. I’ve been here ever since, shouldn’t the priest take a break too? Go over there and play with your friends .”
” I don’t like it… I’m not going …”
“ If you stick around like that, the priest will hate you ?”
“ Heyyyyying ….”
Still, the child reluctantly left, looking back several times, probably not wanting to be hated. That figure was so cute that Emilia couldn’t help but burst into laughter .
Trisha, on the other hand, let out a deep sigh .
“ Emilia, you need to be firm with the kids too. How are you going to break up when you go back later ?”
Emilia’s complexion turned dark all at once. At the moment, I wondered if I was saying something for nothing, but anyway, I couldn’t avoid reality .
After waiting quietly, Emilia finally opens her mouth to answer .
” I’ll have to think about it then. For now, just stay like this… Huh ?”
However, Emilia stopped talking and suddenly looked up at the sky. Tricia followed her gaze as well .
“ Tricia, what is that?”
“… Emilia. Tell the kids to avoid it right away .”
A gigantic outline illuminated behind the rising reddish fog. The fog slowly lifted and the truth was revealed .
A ridiculously huge body, red armor covering the whole body, a mace with a vicious iron ball, an ominous pattern that gives goosebumps just by looking at it instead of the face, and even two horns rising from the temple .
Trisha wasn’t exactly sure what ‘that’ was. It was just that I felt a fierce life that would tear my skin and crush my bones at any moment, and I shouted that .
On the other hand, Emilia, who confirmed it belatedly, knew what ‘that’ was. An undeniable figure identical to the illustration I once saw in a book in a temple .
“ The devil of madness and domination… Why are you here …?”
“ Emilia! Evacuate the children immediately !”
After hearing what Trisha said, Emilia came to her senses. Fortunately, Mimic quickly noticed and ran out with the children hanging in groups. Emilia calms down the children who have not yet grasped the situation or who are frightened .
Tricia quickly assessed the situation. If the devil’s intent to kill was directed at them, they had to buy time for the children to escape. However, the overwhelming sense of intimidation of the devil made him intuit that he could never face it alone .
The worry didn’t last long .
“ Mimic, take the kids and go back to the village. Emilia and I will block that .”
“ Gwa, will you be okay, archer human ?”
“ No time to talk, hurry up !”
“ Ah, got it. Lord, don’t die, bow man .”
Mimic and the children left, and Tricia looked at the demon with aloof eyes. Emilia was terrified and trembling, but it seemed that she had no intention of backing down .
Ose came close to me. Tricia aimed her bowstring at Ose’s head .
“ Excuse me, but it’s a bit burdensome for you to come that close, you bastard bastard. don’t come any closer If you don’t want to dye your hair red all the way to the inside of your head .”
Ose looked down at Trisha. The shape of a huge, torn mouth appeared on his face .
“ I love the futile human struggle to survive .”
Tricia snapped her fingers impatiently. I didn’t think that an arrow that hadn’t been reinforced would be able to pierce that red armor .
If so, what you should aim for is the joints that open up slightly every time you move .
The moment Ose took another step, Trisha let go of the bowstring .
Wedge – Liquid !
However, the arrow could not penetrate between the joints. No, I couldn’t even fit the armor. Ose approached with agile speed that was hardly suitable for that gigantic figure and grabbed Emilia by the neck .
“ Queue !”
“ One at a time .”
Trisha hurriedly kicks off the floor and jumps. But the moment I jumped, I realized. that it’s already too late Even if Ose twisted his wrist just a little bit, Emilia would die just like that .
kang –
But at that moment, a very weak shock sound rang out .
Ose put Emilia on the floor and slowly turned his head. There stood a little girl who looked like she was about to burst into tears at any moment. Judging from his posture, it was clear that the child had thrown the stone that struck him in the back of the head .
It was Betty, the child who clung to Emilia and didn’t know she would fall .
“ Huh, sa, don’t bully the priest, you, ik… you monster !”
Ose nodded his head lightly from side to side. His face turned into a swirling pattern .
“You are a brave boy. I love a brave child very much too .”
“ Hick, keke .”
“ Hmm… I had a good idea. I should give you a present .”
Ose lightly snapped his fingers. Then, strange things began to happen to Betty’s body .
Cuckold – Cuckold –
Betty lies down on the floor, rolls her eyes, and has a seizure. The limbs twisted grotesquely in an unbreakable direction, and the skin turned red. All of his hair fell out, and even several pairs of limbs soared from his back .
Emilia felt her hair turn white. It feels like stepping into a terrible nightmare that someone has painstakingly crafted. No, I wanted to shout out to him to stop right away, but all that came out of my mouth was an inexplicable moaning of ‘Uh-uh-uh’ .
Ose pushed Emilia to the floor and went towards Betty. Then he whispered in a sweeter voice .
” I’ll give you a chance to kill this priest with your own hands, child .”
＜ 20. In the Name of Father (7) ＞ End