episode_0035

This was unexpected.

Patton admitted to his actions in the basement of the Bellafolk Mansion.

But what he killed was not a person. Not even a different species. Not a slave.

He said he had picked up a young demon child, kept it in the basement for entertainment, and then killed it.

“The mansion has to be sold, so if there’s any unpleasantness like that, it’s understandable, right? That’s why I blocked off the entrance to the basement and covered it up. Well, since it’s true that I killed the demon child in the basement, you can claim compensation for that. Now, are we done? I’m busy, so whether I send the bill later or not, figure it out yourself and leave now.”

Patton’s attitude was nonchalant.

To him, it was a matter of course.

Demons have been enemies of humans for a long time. They are targets for extermination.

While one could criticize the cruelty, it was impossible to truly hold them accountable for their crimes.

Demons exist outside the protection of the law.

But I couldn’t bring myself to accept that fact.

The hallucination shown by the ghost of the child, presumed to be a demon, in the mansion.

The emotions that flowed into me during that horrific experience were not much different from those of a human.

Could it be that Patton was lying?

Killing a person and calling them a demon… No, if that were the case, he wouldn’t have bothered to claim there was no such thing in the first place.

There was no reason for him to admit to killing a demon with pride and not see any issue with it.

“What on earth…”

But I was confused.

What exactly is a demon to begin with?

I only know that they are a species led by the Demon King, and I have never actually met or fought one.

I naturally knew them as enemies of humans and targets for heroes to exterminate.

Returning to the guild, I told Tina.

“It seems like the ghost in that mansion was a demon.”

“A demon…”

Tina seemed slightly surprised, but she didn’t say anything more.

I suddenly became curious.

“I have a question about demons.”

“Yes?”

“Are they different from monsters?”

“Yes. If you want to differentiate… they are closer to a different species under the influence of the Demon King.”

Closer to a different species.

Meruru, a merfolk, is also a different species.

They speak, think, cry when sad, and laugh when happy like humans.

Even the lizardman I saw in the guild before is a different species.

They also speak, think, cry, and laugh like humans.

While these different species may face discrimination due to their race, they are not randomly tortured and killed.

But is it permissible to cruelly torture and kill demons? Why?

I understand.

It is well known that the people in this world have faced countless crises due to wars with demons.

To the people living in this world, demons are ‘enemies’ as much as common sense.

But…

Is it because I came from a different world?

No matter how much I think about it, it bothered me.

Especially the hallucination I experienced in the Bellafolk Mansion…

As Sylphy mentioned, during that hallucination, I felt uncontrollable feelings of fear and sadness.

Looking back now, those emotions were more of a reproduction of the emotions the ghost of the mansion felt in its lifetime.

Is it really okay to torture and kill a child who is so scared and sad just because they are a demon?

Even though I understand it logically, as someone who has indirectly experienced the emotions of that demon, I simply could not accept it.

It is common sense not to harm civilians and children during war.

Even when slaughtering animals, they are not tortured to death while still alive.

Patton Noah was not an adventurer, nor a strong human.

Was there a need to torture and kill a demon who couldn’t resist being captured?

“…I don’t like it.”

“What?”

It seemed like Tina heard the muttered words that slipped out unintentionally.

“No, it’s nothing.”

“Do you think the request will be resolved?”

Tina asked me.

As for the resolution of the request, I wasn’t sure either.

“I want to go back to the mansion one more time for now.”

* * *

Upon revisiting the Bellafolk Mansion, the eerie atmosphere still lingered.

Although Tina and Sylphy followed as an extension of the request, this time I planned to enter the mansion alone.

“Senior… Are you really going in there alone?”

I quietly nodded in response to Sylphy’s worried gaze.

I have no knowledge of the complicated relationship between demons and humans.

I am not originally from this world.

Therefore, I can only judge based on what I see and feel, in my own way.

First and foremost, I wanted to know what kind of child the deceased demon in the mansion was.

I will judge whether the bold actions Paten proudly revealed can be justified later.

Above all, I didn’t like Paten’s attitude of saying, “What does it matter what a demon does?”

No matter how much of a demon the other person may be, it doesn’t change the fact that they did terrible things to a weak child who couldn’t resist.

But will the ghost in the mansion talk to me?

Or will I only see those terrible hallucinations again and leave?

Perhaps this time, I will experience something even worse than a hallucination.

“Contrary to Yunoa’s concerns, the ghost of Bellafolk Mansion had no malice.

She simply wanted to tell someone about what she had experienced here.

However, no one who indirectly experienced what she went through ever visited the mansion again.”

At that moment, a narration echoed in my mind.

So, there was no malice from the ghost in the mansion.

And it seems there was no one in this world who would see those terrible hallucinations and then walk back into the mansion.

In that case, I will be the first crazy person to do so.

There was no need to hesitate any longer.

I stepped inside the mansion alone.

* * *

The interior of the mansion was still a mess.

Tables and chairs were scattered around, and muddy footprints were imprinted on the dirty carpet.

I shouted loudly in the empty mansion.

“Hey! Can you hear me? Ghost! I don’t know your name, so I’ll just call you like this!”

My voice echoed in the empty mansion.

There was no response.

“I know that you are a demon!”

I shouted again.

Suddenly, the surroundings slowly darkened, and mist began to creep in.

The sound of wind could be heard, and the windows rattled.

It’s starting.

But the narration clearly stated that there was no malice from this ghost.

Before the hallucinations worsened, I shouted again.

“Whether you are a demon or not, it doesn’t matter to me! I want to know what kind of child you were!”

Rattle. Rattle. Rattle.

Creak… Creak…

“I want to talk to you!”

Thud!

Amidst the intensifying storm of hallucinations, I waited for the ghost to show some kind of reaction.

And a moment later, just like before, my vision began to blur from the edges.

Ah, am I going to have to see that terrible hallucination in the basement again?

As soon as I thought that.

Suddenly, the surroundings brightened, and the scenery of the mansion returned to normal.

“You are…”

And in front of me, a semi-transparent and small figure appeared.

She looked like a human child of about ten years old, only half-visible.

“…”

The translucent girl stood still, staring at me.

Upon closer inspection, small horns protruded from her head.

However small, it looked like there were wings on her back.

Is that child the demon ghost attached to this mansion?

“Hello… Nice to meet you. What’s your name?”

I cautiously asked the ghost.

Suddenly, the scenery of the mansion distorted, and unfamiliar scenes passed before my eyes like a panorama.

It felt like showing fragments of memories in my mind.

Shari.

The ghost’s name seems to be Shari.

Instead of verbally answering my question, the child responded in a strange way by showing scenes directly in my mind.

Shari continued to show me various scenes and gradually conveyed the emotions she felt.

It felt like watching multiple movies in a short period of time.

I could know what kind of life Shari lived before she came into this mansion, what thoughts she had.

What she showed and experienced with me was nothing short of her entire life.

Born as a demon, but raised with ordinary love as a child.

She liked flowers, made wreaths with purple flowers grown in the demon world and wore them.

She enjoyed playing pranks, approaching other young demon children, tapping their shoulders, and poking their cheeks with her fingers.

When her pet died, she would cry all day and not eat anything.

Those memories passing through my mind were the answer to my question about what kind of child Shari was.

“….”

Sharing Shari’s memories, I could be sure.

Demons are not fundamentally different from humans.

I think no matter the race, children should not be harmed.

Fighting to the death is enough for adults.

Shari was looking at me with a gloomy expression, as if she had shown me everything she had to show.

What could have possibly been done to such a small and cute child?

“Shari, should I avenge that child for you?”

I asked Shari.

Shake shake.

It seems she doesn’t want revenge.

Shari was so small and fragile, she looked like she could disappear at any moment.

“To be honest….”

I explained to Shari why I came to this mansion.

The story of how this mansion became cursed because of the illusions Shari showed.

I told her everything, including the fact that I was commissioned to acquire this mansion.

Shari was quietly listening to me.

Then she directly conveyed her opinion to me in my mind.

“….Sorry? You won’t do that anymore?”

Nod nod.

She was a good child.

Shari just wanted someone to acknowledge the terrible things that happened to her.

That’s why she showed illusions to the people who came to the mansion.

The illusions were so terrible that everyone ran away.

My inner turmoil disappeared.

The act of Paten kidnapping and brutally killing Shari, may not be a crime officially.

But at least I couldn’t forgive him.

The curse of the mansion was already lifted.

Shari would no longer show terrible illusions to the people coming to the mansion.

But I wanted to punish Paten.

Although Shari said she had no intention of revenge, I couldn’t stand seeing scum like Paten sleeping comfortably.

“Shari, I have one request….”

I explained my plan to the small demon ghost Shari.

After hearing all the plans, Shari nodded her head and smiled broadly.

Her appearance was quite cute, so I reached out to pat Shari’s head.

But my hand touched nothing but cold air.