episode_0055

I looked at the body lying in the transparent coffin.

To be honest, I can’t say that I have a good-looking body.

A body full of scars that look like the skin has been torn away, and full of open wounds. Although she was tall for a woman, she was shorter than me. About a span…

The body, which had turned black like firewood that had burned here and there, was so miserable that one wondered what on earth could happen to a person like that.

“These are the qualifications of a warrior. You understand now, right?”

Latera looked at me with faint eyes, but unfortunately I couldn’t understand what the qualifications of a hero were.

“No, what do you mean you don’t understand?”

Latera looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“Okay, let me explain it again. What specifically do you not understand?”

“First of all. I know you feel bad for Kylie. You were told to suffer and die without receiving anything in return, and you ended up dying, right?”

“I think so too.”

Latera clenched her fists and nodded. Just by looking at these small actions, you can tell that she not only likes Kylie, but also respects her.

“You and I have something in common.”

“It’s funny to say something that connects with universal sensibilities.”

I slowly shook my head.

“The important thing is that I don’t know why you put the body in front of me. It’s a bit unpleasant because it feels like they’re forcing me to be like this.”

My eyebrows furrowed. I felt my expression becoming more and more rotten. Never do it. Who wants to be like this?

“I’m sorry. But that was never the intention.”

Latera said, lowering her head.

“…No, don’t be too discouraged. So, it seems like you’re upset because I picked a child for no reason.”

I reached into my pocket and took out some candy. It was a habitual action, and the ‘save’ ability was activated here as well. I was shocked for a moment when I realized belatedly that my body had returned, but I was able to properly take out the strawberry-flavored candy.

“…Are you treating me like a child? Even after this, I have lived for 500 years…”

“Ah, it’s just because it’s cute. It’s true that you look cute.”

“…I’m kind of cute.”

Latera stared at the candy, and eventually reluctantly took it.

No matter how you look at him moving the candy around and puffing out his cheeks, he looked like a child. But he has lived for 500 years.

“It’s a device to make people who come here feel friendly.”

“Friendliness? Is it at least inducing you to let down your guard? Take advantage of that opportunity and hit him in the back of the head! It’s about feeding them.”

“Well? The senior said I looked cute and liked me. He said that there are very few people who dislike a cute girl like me.”

Latera gave me a cute wink.

“Of course, as the hero said, there is a reason for that. However, my first rule of conduct is to act as a guide to welcome the warriors who come here.”

“Then were there other warriors who came here besides me?”

“No!”

Latera smiled brightly and answered.

“This is my first time as a warrior. After the warrior Kylie, you are the only one fit to come here.”

“…Only two people in five hundred years.”

According to what I’ve heard so far, in order to enter this place, you must give the name of a wizard who has been erased from the world and have the qualification of free devotion.

“There are only two conditions, but they are really tight.”

“But no matter how much I think about it, I’m not the type of person who goes along with such altruistic behavior, right? I never did anything like that in the first place.”

“Is that really so?”

Latera’s eyes narrowed. A faint smile appeared on his lips, as if he saw that it was fun.

“Hehe. You must be very shy.”

“…”

Latera turned around and walked around me. Her eyes narrowed, then widened again… Her expression changed in various ways, as if she was observing something interesting.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m looking at the warrior’s karma.”

Karma? Karma? Is this guy looking at my name now?

“Looking at it now, it’s not like I don’t understand the warrior’s feelings. Wow, there are a whopping 500 penalty points. This is a bit…”

Latera took a step back, as if she saw something she couldn’t see. Looking at the expression on my face that is deteriorating by the minute, I guess the penalty points are a result of all the crazy things I have done so far.

It was such a relief. I was worried about what would happen if the system didn’t work.

“This is a bit risky… But, since you are qualified, you narrowly pass.”

I listened to her. The word dangerous captured my consciousness more than the word passing.

“I’m also really surprised. If the penalty points were this much, you would never be safe. That means the hero is amazing, right? Even if you suffer this much of a penalty, you can still stick with me.”

Latera looked at me and said. The slightly suspicious glances I gave him, but now I feel much more at ease. Earlier, I felt burdened because my crush was so blind.

“But what do you mean, you won’t be safe?”

“Determined to be an intruder who poses a threat to the warrior’s home. We will step forward to exclude it immediately.”

“Who?”

“I am.”

Latera pointed at herself with her thumb and looked a little cocky. The smile on his lips looked quite confident.

“I am the guardian angel of this place! I will come forward and deal with you personally.”

“What happens if you step forward?”

“Would you like to take a look?”

“…No, it’s okay.”

I glanced at Latera. A girl whose head can barely reach my solar plexus. Black hair and purple eyes. A confident face.

The ring of light floating above her head gives the impression that she is quite a remarkable being.

Latera’s smile grew even deeper.

“Why? I want to show you.”

“What if I get scared by you after seeing it in person? I might not be able to treat you like I do now. And just now, you said it was breathtaking.”

I didn’t like having the brakes put on my actions.

If there is hesitation in a conversation, you cannot confirm your doubts. You can’t get what you want.

“I understand that, so let’s move on.”

I looked around and opened my mouth.

“Was there an intruder who broke into this place?”

“Quite a lot for 500 years.”

Latera sighed and turned her head to the transparent coffin.

“I wonder if there was something other than the body of Kylie, the first warrior, attacking me so hard, and yet it crawled in from afar… It wasn’t like the hardships were enough?”

“So, that means you can come here even if you don’t have that qualification.”

What is the identity of this place? Where is it? This place is not in my memories.

“It has to be that way. This is not a space completely independent from reality. It’s definitely on the continent.”

I had that question, but I didn’t dare say it out loud. I felt like the hairs on my whole body were standing on end because I had been on edge ever since. It wasn’t easy to keep from thinking about the things that popped into my head.

“Why are you so nervous?”

“You are really reading my thoughts.”

I kept my expression calm. He showed a smiling face on the outside and acted with a relaxed hand gesture and body posture. But this girl quickly realized that I was uncomfortable.

“The warrior’s house is that kind of place. Since it is a place where the soul exists, words and thoughts are all bound to be revealed.”

“…”

The feeling of having my thoughts read was really unpleasant. The feeling of being thrown naked in the middle of a busy street was enough to make me feel ashamed.

“You just stayed naked…”

“Anyway, what I look like now is what my soul remembers, right?”

“Yes. Even if an old man with gray hair comes here, he will probably come as his soul remembers. Each person’s dazzling appearance will be engraved most deeply, so the warrior’s most brilliant moment will be during those times.”

“Is there a mirror here? I want to see your face.”

“Sleep.”

Latera held out a hand mirror to me.

I took it with one hand and looked at my reflection in it.

The first thing to check is the scar under the eye.

also. It was engraved.

It wasn’t there before I came here.

Then, I sat down on the floor and looked at the soles of my feet.

There were the patterns of Encia and Ophelia. A picture of jagged patterns and tangled rose vines.

These were engraved in my soul and would not be erased even if the soles of my feet were torn off.

“Aaaa!!”

Then, Latera screamed.

When I looked up, he was pointing at me like he did when we first met.

“What! What is it! That!”

“Why?”

“Why! That’s the devil’s mark!”

“Ah.”

Latera came up to me, grabbed my collar, and pushed her face into me. The panicked face was quite a sight to see. His face is pale and his lips are quivering.

“Shouldn’t it be done?”

“Are you crazy? Are you crazy? Is there a warrior in the world who makes a contract with the devil? Oh my god, you did two of those?!”

“It’s okay. I did it because it was necessary, and I don’t regret it. Even if I lose my body because of this, it’s my choice…”

“It’s unclean!”

Latera interrupted me mid-sentence. His red face looked very angry.