I’m Sorry -3

After hearing the Demon King’s words, there was one thing that bothered me.

It was the dungeon “Lair of the Melting Ones.”

This dungeon, which only appeared in the later part of the game, was full of foreshadowing in a sense.

[Something… this place seems familiar. Have I been here before?]

[Strange… something is echoing in my head… it hurts… stop… please stop…?]

[Ugh… those monsters, somehow I can’t attack them… why?]

[I… I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I, I’m sorry…]

When Noah headed to this dungeon, she feels a strange fear and familiarity. At the same time, she shows an unusual reaction of feeling sorry towards the monsters.

That wasn’t all.

After that, Noah experiences severe mental penalties before collapsing in defeat. She even goes on to say that she’s sorry, that it’s only natural.

‘It was quite shocking.’

Even in the game, detailed information wasn’t provided, so it was ambiguous, but after hearing the Demon King’s words, I’m making some guesses.

Could that place be where Noah and the Demon King were born?

‘Will we find out something if we go there?’

Originally, there’s no need to go there together.

The monsters there are individually strong and numerous, making them tricky, but not impossible to deal with.

You can just run away, and for me, knowing the strategy, they’re easy opponents.

The reason for bringing Noah and the Demon King is to see if any changes might occur there.

And simply wanting to relieve Noah’s guilt a bit.

‘So that’s why.’

I only realized after hearing the Demon King’s story.

Why Noah suffered so much and apologized in the game.

Perhaps she.

‘Was she apologizing to the monsters, the other children she couldn’t save? Or maybe there’s some kind of curse.’

This is just my guess.

But it’s not an impossible story. She’s such a kind-hearted kid. She also looked upset when listening to the Demon King’s words.

I turned my head to look at Noah in the back.

Unlike the Demon King who was sleeping soundly, she had a dark expression.

I called out to Noah.

“Are you okay?”

“What?”

“I asked if you’re okay.”

Noah smiles weakly.

She seems to have quite a headache. She says this while pressing her temple.

Her smile is still powerless.

It’s like the last smile a dying puppy sends.

“How do I put it… there’s a sound constantly echoing in my head.”

“A sound?”

“Yes, it’s very faint and quiet… but it doesn’t stop. I keep hearing it.”

“I see. Can you rest a bit?”

It had been a while since Noah showed such a weak appearance.

Come to think of it, she has been through a lot lately. Meeting the Demon King must have had some effect too.

Noah’s gaze is fixed on me.

Her hand comes up to rest on my hand, which was habitually holding the gear.

“I’m feeling anxious, is it okay if I do this?”

I thought she might be joking again, but that didn’t seem to be the case.

“Do as you please.”

“Yes…”

Noah turned her gaze towards the window.

When she has worries or painful things, she turns her head with a pained smile.

It was Noah’s long-standing bad habit.

There’s nothing particular I can do for her right now.

Just.

“Hold on until you feel comfortable.”

“…Yes.”

I can only comfort her by sharing a bit of warmth.

Since I was driving, I couldn’t do much, but Noah seemed to feel better just by holding hands.

‘…It will get better.’

It would be good to get an essence this time and make her feel better.

And if we look, we might find something.

Above all.

‘Maybe she’ll feel better if we have some fun.’

+++++

Noah wasn’t feeling well.

“…Haah.”

Actually, it would be stranger if she felt good.

With her father’s situation and hearing such things from the Demon King. After hearing the Demon King’s words, she felt like a small sound was echoing in her head.

The sound of draining water and something banging on a glass window. The desperate sound of something struggling above.

If she tightly closed her eyes trying to forget, a few words came like a dagger.

‘Why couldn’t you save us? You killed us.’

“…!”

“Noah? Are you okay?”

“Ah… mister…”

“If you feel unwell, you can rest a bit. We’re not in the monster zone yet.”

“I’m fine. Let’s just keep going.”

Noah trembling and clinging.

Shin Hyun said “I see” and stroked Noah’s shoulder.

The Demon King was also somehow clinging to his leg.

Shin Hyun continued going inside with the two trembling children.

The place they arrived at was a dungeon.

Carrying the loads of stuff they brought, they began exploring inside.

An old laboratory, rusty and broken everywhere. The occasional sound of dripping water is creepy.

Splash, splash.

As they cross over a puddle of water.

‘Ahahahaha…’

‘Kya-hahahaha-!’

“…Hey, did you hear that too?”

“I did hear it.”

Children’s laughter can be heard.

What drove them crazy the most was this laughter.

It had gotten worse since they entered this place. Now even the insensitive Demon King could clearly hear it.

Whose laughter could it be?

What was happening that they were laughing like mad?

‘This is ominous…’

Noah directed all her senses forward.

Then she saw the answer.

It was a monster.

That was fine.

It’s very natural for monsters to be in a dungeon.

The problem was its appearance.

“Ugh… aah…?”

“It looks like… it looks like me and the Demon King…”

A body about the size of a small child, white hair in disarray dragging on the ground. The body was melting and sticky like slime but barely maintained a human form.

The Demon King quietly muttered.

“…That’s not all. They resemble them, those from before.”

“What?”

“Those I killed by pressing the button myself… they resemble them.”

Is that true?

The Demon King muttered to the astonished Noah.

“Thinking about it now, I could feel some magic… probably the magic circuit we had from the beginning. If there’s a problem with it…”

“You mean they could end up like that…”

“What are you thinking, magical girl?”

“Are you asking me?”

“Yes. These are ultimately related to us. If we’re going to end it, it would be better to end it with our own hands. Isn’t that why brother brought us here?”

“…The mister too…”

Actually, it wasn’t a problem that needed much thought.

In the end, they’re monsters, and once you get rid of them, that’s the end of the story. Noah had done this many times. Already a professional beyond professional.

Whether they knew this or not.

They smiled a sticky smile.

The voice echoed in Noah’s head again.

‘Why couldn’t you save us? You’re the one who killed us.’

Voices coming from all directions. Noah realized.

“It was you… those painful voices.”

That they were the source of that sound.

Flash!

Noah transformed into Iris with starlight.

“…It seems we’re in agreement this time.”

The Demon King also spread her palm with a stern expression.

As she curled her fingers tightly, a small black hole rose above her hand.

It was unusual.

Who would have thought their hearts would be in sync like this.

Phew, Noah sighed.

It was to shake off the distracting thoughts in her head.

If she had been alone. If she hadn’t had his teachings, she might have sat down and cried bitterly.

But that didn’t happen.

‘Kyahahaha… why did you do it…’

“Shut up.”

‘You could have saved us-‘

“Be quiet. No matter what happened to you. Now you’re just monsters.”

Iris gathered starlight in her fist.

At the same time, she deadened her heart as much as possible.

Compassion and regret. She excluded such things.

No matter how many voices she heard in her head, no matter how much they pleaded.

Somehow deadening her heart, she was about to throw her fist when-

Whoosh!

A huge tentacle shot out and grabbed Iris’s arm.

“Mister?”

Shin Hyun’s answer came after a moment of silence.

“I didn’t bring you guys here to beat them up.”

He looked somewhat surprised.

“You’re going to hit those poor kids again?”

“That’s…”

“It’s hard for you too, isn’t it?”

Noah thought deeply and nodded.

It’s true that she felt pangs of conscience.

Shin Hyun laughed and rummaged through the bag.

“There’s a different strategy for these guys, watch carefully.”

Swoosh.

Shin Hyun took out a doll from the luggage.

It was a soft and cute teddy bear.

“You knew about this too, mister?”

“Of course.”

One monster approaches.

The sticky, melting fingertips look unclean.

He didn’t care about that and reached out his hand to pat its head.

The monster with a question mark.

Shin Hyun offered it the doll.

“A gift. I’ll give it to you. It’s yours.”

“My… mine…?”

“Yes. Yours.”

“Th… thank… you…”

The monster hugs the doll and smiles brightly.

When one child received a doll and was happy, other children also sent glances. They were envious glances.

Noah, with a hopeful heart, took out one doll.

Attention focuses on her.

Eyes all sparkling.

Swoosh, swoosh.

When she swings the doll left and right, their heads sway along.

“Kids aren’t fixed by hitting them with fists.”

The monsters who saw the dolls gathered one by one, soon forming a crowd.

They all had excited expressions.

Shin Hyun, who stood up to hand over the dolls, smiled and said.

“With kids, you need to give them toys and snacks, calm them down first.”