episode_0090

“… Explain.”

After hearing that he could help Katy grow, Ian decided to listen to the story.

As soon as his words fell, even Galatea came inside.

In her arms, the baby looked around with bright eyes as if everything in the world was amazing.

Horns as small as fingernails were growing on the baby’s head, and the pupils were horizontally long like Galatea’s.

Ian felt complicated as he looked at the baby.

“First of all, I would like to say thank you for your willingness to help me.”

“I got sick of hearing greetings from my husband. Rather, what does it mean to be able to grow Katy?”

“That’s… .”

Galatea looked at Marlion once.

The two shared an unspoken meaning with their gaze.

“I understand you know about the plan to train demon soldiers.”

At that comment, Ian looked at Katy for a moment.

Kati was quietly listening to the story.

Ian just nodded without saying a word.

“My wife and I were managers of a branch where the plan was carried out.”

“… … .”

Ian, who had been listening calmly, frowned slightly.

Galatea and Marlion became nervous.

“So?”

“It takes a lot of strength to be called a soldier. In that laboratory, work was also carried out to amplify the power of brainwashed demons.”

“And you can do it?”

“Yes… .”

Mallion also realized what kind of conversation Galatea and Kati were having.

“It doesn’t sound like a very good method… .”

Marlion quickly explained.

“You don’t have to worry about that part. Forcing the demons was all about will and brainwashing, and when it came to strength, their skills were raised only through pure methods… Oh, sorry… .”

The more I heard, the more Ian’s expression became less beautiful.

It was so distorted that it was so far removed from the expression that it was originally beautiful that it was to the point of being ugly.

Ian also understands why Marlion is so active.

Without this place, it is difficult for them to form a proper society or group and live.

“Katie, what about you? Are you okay?”

“This is what I asked for.”

“Ha… . Yes.”

While tapping on the desk, he took out a sugar bar, bit into it, and said.

“First. I really need to hear about your identity.”

“Yes.”

It was Galatea’s job to explain.

Before she came here.

He told me the story he had told to other members of Ian’s group.

*

“Now, please wait a moment! I’ve never heard of anything like this before! Aside from that, Kati, who are you to know such things? ?”

To Helena’s question, Galatea answered while avoiding everyone’s gaze.

“… He was one of the administrators of the brainwashing plan that was carried out in several places.”

Kati also frowned for a moment at the completely unexpected remark.

Even the party members who did not show hostility thought that Galatea was by no means an ordinary and kind demon.

Galatea smiled bitterly at that familiar reaction.

Although it was a reaction only seen from demons, not humans.

She said, hugging the child deeper.

“I don’t know if I can become a lawyer. My husband and I fled after completely destroying the branch we were managing. We also rescued the demons who were there.”

She seemed to have a story.

The group decided to listen to her story further.

“Didn’t you say you were an administrator…? ?”

“Yes. It was like that. I, a fellow Mine, helped brainwash and experiment on Mine. But, I didn’t do it because I wanted to.”

The laboratory decided to use the same mine to control the test subjects.

The target was Galatea.

She was the strongest in the laboratory, and at least she was a demon who could communicate with humans.

“If I refused, I was threatened with destroying all the test subjects and killing myself.”

Galatea spoke casually as if it was someone else’s business.

This is because he knew that he could not defend his sins.

“So… . I played the role of a traitor. I didn’t want it, it was horrible and unpleasant at every moment, but I still thought it was better than dying… .”

That was arrogant.

Galatea added in a barely audible voice.

“My husband was one of the researchers there. He was also the chief researcher who observed and recorded the mine most closely.”

She looked down at the child for a moment and then said.

“Funny enough, only the person who studied the demon closest to me was able to understand the demon’s mind. I eventually realized that Mines are creatures that feel and think just like humans. One day he asked me for a favor. Help yourself.”

Galatea’s hand slowly stroked the baby.

It was a fortunate moment that the baby did not yet know language.

It is too early to wake up to the cruelty of the world.

“I was also making a similar plan. They killed the patrolling personnel during the night, set fire to the laboratory, and tried to escape with only the demons. Thanks to my husband, who is a senior researcher, I had all the information at my fingertips, and we put the plan together and put it into action quickly. So that no more people die during experiments… .”

“The plan was successful. This may be a bit selfish for you humans, but all the humans died and all the living demons were rescued. But even if it was rescued, it wasn’t rescued. Because everyone was already not normal… .”

“More than anything, everyone hated me and my husband. of course. Because it was him, the head researcher, and me, the traitor. In the end, the demons formed their own groups and dispersed.”

At that point, Galatea looked at Kati.

It was a point where he deserved to despise himself so much.

However, Katy’s expression was calm.

“… The only ones left were my husband and I. I didn’t like him either. But without him, it would have been impossible for the plan to succeed so completely. So I couldn’t hate you… .”

Galatea did not say anything after that.

I just pictured the past in my head.

Is it atonement? Is it responsibility?

At that time, Marlion followed Galatea around desperately.

Even if she threatened to kill him.

Still, he did not give up, and the two continued their uncomfortable companionship.

Then, they attacked a laboratory under another training plan and rescued the test subjects, gradually getting closer.

It was Marlion who caught my heart first.

He courted her straightforwardly and actively from the beginning.

Even Galatea, who refused for a long time, could not overcome his sincerity and sincerity.

Because she also knew that the distinction between demons and humans was meaningless.

I think it was around that time that she received the name ‘Galatea’.

“And then, it happened like this.”

These were too personal things to talk about in this situation, so Galatea just swallowed them.

She looked at Kati and bowed her head deeply.

“… sorry. Actually, it should have been revealed in advance.”

Kati calmly shook her head.

Galatea recognized from Kati’s unwavering gaze that she had someone to lean on.

Just like you have Marlion.

“That kind of thing happened… .”

Vivian, Lucia, and Mercy were depressed by the depressing story.

It was difficult to suspect Galatea as a bad person anymore.

Helena was depressed and her mind was a mess.

Demons and humans are no different.

Then, what about the education you received at Seonghwa Church…? .

“I said earlier that Seonghwagyo is behind all of this, right?”

Galatea said while looking at Helena.

“The definition of a demon is known as a human who has been transformed into a demon. But if you think about it, isn’t this strange? Even though it has been transformed into a demon, it still means that it is essentially human.”

The essence of demons is not ‘demons’.

We must give more weight to the ‘humans’ who have been transformed into demons.

Galatea pointed out that blind spot.

“It’s natural that you don’t know. I heard this from my husband, and he also found out after a long investigation.”

“Then are demons human? ?”

“Yes. To be more precise, it is not even demonized.”

“… Yes?”

Galatea looked at Helena.

It was a pitiful look.

“A long time ago, they, no, we… . It was a race called ‘beast people’.”

“… … .”

“And since we were not religiously unified or compliant at all, the Seonghwa Church branded us as ‘humans transformed into demons.’”

“That means… .”

“Seonghwagyo manipulated history.”

*

Mine.

No, the ‘beast man’ did not worship the God of Seonghwaism.

They lived in a society of folk religion, each believing in their own god.

Long ago, beastmen lived close to humans.

That folk belief was sometimes transmitted to humans as well.

The Seonghwa Church could not ignore this, so they drove them out.

They reject them because they are heretics who believe in ‘demon gods’ that do not exist.

Crying that humans have been corrupted by paganism and have been ‘turned into demons’.

It was a long history of witch hunting.

“… … .”

Galatea calmly told the story she told the group from beginning to end.

After hearing everything, Ian was silent for quite a while.

‘He’s a prisoner… .’

Ian looked at Galatea’s horn for a moment.

Kati is a special case, but most mines are distinctive enough to stand out.

Some demons even resemble the description of ‘the apocalyptic monster wearing human disguise’ in the Bible of Seonghwaism.

Sometimes, humans cruelly reject someone simply based on their appearance.

I didn’t know that one of them was a demon, but Ian also knew of another similar race.

There is a race that was once on the side of humans, but has now turned to the demon race.

Ian thought about why he didn’t know this information before and realized.

This is information that was manipulated even before he was transferred to this world.

So it was impossible to know unless you did an in-depth investigation.

In the second episode, he occasionally fought against demons, but he never wondered about their identities.

‘The imperial family must have known this… .’

They believed that since Ian was a prophet and knew about the plan to train Majin soldiers, he would also know the fabricated truth.

However, that was outside Ian’s realm of knowledge.

“Then, the reason Kati doesn’t know her past or identity is… Is it because the memory was erased?”

“Yes… .”

Kati, who received Ian’s pitiful gaze, immediately intervened.

“I’m fine.”

“What’s okay… .”

“Because my memories are full of you alone.”

“… … .”

“So, I rather like it.”

At those sudden words, Ian couldn’t help but think of yesterday’s events.

Ian tried to shake off the memory and organized the information he had just heard.

‘… Anyway, in the end, demons are creatures that reproduce and live just like humans. Then, what is the identity of the Demon King?’

“… Do you know anything about the Demon King?”

Galatea and Marlion looked at each other in embarrassment and then shook their heads.

It was the reaction I expected.

I only asked because I didn’t know.

“Well, it’s okay. Rather, I’d like to hear more about how Kathi can grow further.”

The explanation was Galatea’s responsibility.

“How much do you know about the power of demons?”

“You mean black mana?”

When human mana begins to flow outward, it takes on a blue color.

In the case of Kylie, whose mana storage and output are overwhelming, when she spews out mana in a dark place, it looks like a blob of blue light.

On the other hand, Mine releases a black fog that seems to be filled with darkness.

Ian knows this because he has competed against Mine a few times in the second round, and he also knows it from watching Carty.

“That’s right. That is the biggest difference between demons and humans, and it is a trait that can never be changed. But Katy… .”

Galatea trailed off and looked at Katy.

As she said, Kati’s mana is not black.

Even Ian doesn’t know why.

From some point on, Katy naturally became like that.

“To put it simply, this child forced impossible power into his body.”

“… Is it that impossible?”

“Yes. Have you ever seen humans manipulate black mana?”

“Hmm. Never once.”

“I also knew from Katy that Mine could use human blue mana.”

Although such experiments had been conducted in previous laboratories, they all failed.

Galatea didn’t even mention that.

“This child left only a very small amount of black mana as needed and filled the rest with ordinary blue mana.”

The black mana that Kati uses remains just enough to help her infiltrate.

Unlike blue mana, which has only destructive properties, black mana has many uses.

“That’s almost like self-harm for Mine.”

“… That much?”

When Ian looked at Kati in surprise, Kati smiled slightly so that only Ian could see.

“Why so much… .”

“The more you use black mana, the more you become stained with murderous intent.”

Even before hearing Galatea’s answer, Ian felt like he knew another answer.

Because black mana shouldn’t flow out while protecting yourself.

Even if I was forced to do so, I took a different path.

“… Is that so. So, what does it have to do with Kati being able to grow?”

“I don’t know how strong this child is right now, but I guarantee that if he can handle the original black mana in this state, he will become much stronger.”

“Didn’t you say it gives you the urge to kill?”

“It’s a problem that can be overcome.”

As Galatea said that, a sticky black energy flowed from her body.

Contrary to the warning of a murderous impulse, Galatea’s expression was infinitely calm.

“I see. Are you saying you know it well?”

“Yes. Even when planning… I train myself not to be tempted by the murderous impulse that this black mana gives me. But for this child who already has blue mana in his body, that won’t even be a problem.”

A power that Kati had deliberately suppressed.

Draw it out and use it by fusing it with your existing power.

It was something I had no choice but to believe was definitely growing.

“Opinions are divided about Mine’s black mana… . There is a strong theory that it was a means of survival for the ostracized demons.”

“Hmm… .”

Ian looked at Katy.

She just looked at Ian with her usual calm expression.

That alone was enough for Ian to know her feelings.

“Good. Let’s do well in the future.”

“Thank you… !”

Instead of “. You’ll have to be careful so there are no problems with him.”

“Yes! Of course!”

Marlion jumped up and bent down with the intention of hitting his head on the ground.

“Just do it in moderation.”

“Ahaha… .”

As Marlion and Galatea laughed, the baby in Galatea’s arms also laughed.

The smiling baby looked at Ian’s hand and started reaching for him.

“Huh? Why?”

“Awww-.”

“You want to go to that person?”

“… That’s nonsense.”

“Aww!”

“… … .”

Galatea glanced up at Ian.

“Would you like to give me a hug?”

“You should not carelessly entrust your newborn baby to someone else.”

“If it weren’t for you, I might not have been able to have a baby. Living in the future… .”

“Grunt… .”

“Aww! Ow!”

Ian had no choice but to receive the baby.

I was as careful as if I were handed broken glass.

Galatea and Marlion looked at him in wonder as he fidgeted.

“Are you scared of the baby?”

“I don’t know how to treat the child… .”

It was true that it was scary.

Too small and fragile.

To the point where he thought that if he made even the slightest mistake in controlling his strength, he would die.

“Aww!”

The baby was not actually Ian, but saw the ring of dependence worn by Ian.

A ring with two sparkling white snakes intertwined.

“ stay still… .”

Ian was confused as to what to do with the baby, and Katy sneaked over to help him.

“Like this.”

Kati guided Ian’s hand to support the child’s buttocks and back, and allowed the baby to lean in Ian’s arms.

“You can do it like this.”

“Uh, uh… .”

The baby was happy to touch the ring.

Looking at Kati and Ian standing side by side, Galatea somehow felt like she was seeing Marlion and her old self.

The roles will be reversed.

Because Marlion was clinging to himself.

Galatea’s gaze moved to Kati’s left hand.

A black ring glowed softly on the ring finger.

A ring that looks exactly like Ian’s, only the color is different.

Galatea realized right away.

‘The reason that child worked so hard. ‘It’s that guy.’

The reason why Kati put blue mana into her body, even while destroying my soul, is because of Ian.

Galatea had been using her colleagues horribly for a long time, measuring and understanding their strength.

She could feel Kati’s power.

‘I thought it was weak at first, but… That’s because Black Mana is weak, it’s not that this kid is weak. The blue mana that has been forged this far… .’

Galatea read ‘tenaciousness’ from Kati’s energy.

A tenacity that can even be considered cruel and cruel.

It was just the karma of time that was constantly accumulated to protect someone.

I was afraid that he might feel burdened, so I used the time when he wasn’t looking to constantly build it up.

*

Ian and his party had no choice but to separate Galatea and Marlion in the middle.

This is because Mercy did not want the destination, the Elven Forest, to be known.

They had no choice but to spend some time in a forest with few wild animals and few people.

Unlike the ordinary Mallion, Galatea was a fairly strong demon, so she could feel at ease.

It was decided that Kati’s training would first stop by the elf forest before proceeding.

As he headed towards the Elven Forest, Ian was thinking about those he had left behind.

‘Should I get a piece of land…’ .’

I wanted to make sure that I took responsibility for accepting him as part of the group.

But it wasn’t easy to keep taking those two along.

Unlike Kati, Galatea’s characteristics are very noticeable.

‘I’d rather live on my own land… . I think it’ll be better.’

In the past, the emperor once refused to grant land along with a title of nobility.

He said he was going to clear out dungeons anyway and move around while being dispatched to the front lines, so what do he need the land for?

‘But soon, once the warp portal is invented, I will be able to move around in my land.’

It was a matter worth seriously considering.

On the way, Ian announced that Katy would join them as a warrior, and the group readily accepted.

All the common sense they knew about Mine had already been shattered.

Instead, since Kati’s skills were so much superior to the other three, cooperation would be a distant possibility.

Meanwhile, Ian arrived at the forest that Mercy had told him about.

“Hmm. I mean, it’s here. I can’t really tell just by looking at it.”

“Hmph. Just follow along.”

Mercy took the lead and went through the forest.

Lucia, who followed, said.

“Do you feel like an adventurer rather than a warrior?”

“Isn’t that what it was like in the old days?”

Lucia seemed quite happy about this situation.

On the other hand, Vivian and Helena just followed with serious expressions.

A few days ago, the two of them often became quiet and serious.

‘Is there something you’re worried about? .’

While I was thinking about what to do with the two of them.

The forest broke off and a cliff appeared.

Below the far cliff, a wide sea spread out.

“… Is this right here?”

“Yes, yes. Just wait and see.”

Mercy looked around and stood in front of the largest tree nearby.

She touched her tongue with her index finger and smeared her saliva on the wood.

‘… What is it?’

As if an unknown ritual was taking place, the space at the end of the cliff extending toward the sea became distorted.

The crack that started at the point quickly expanded and became a blue oval.

Ian immediately recognized what it was.

‘… Warp portal?’

On the other hand, Vivian and Helena, who had only seen something similar in the dungeon, went into a state of alert.

Lucia, who didn’t know much, tilted her head and asked.

“What is that?”

“It is a passage leading to the elf forest. Now, let’s go.”

“Where are you going? .”

“Eight!”

Instead of answering, Mercy ran to the cliff and threw herself into the blue oval.

“Mercy?!”

The surprised group followed along, but Mercy was gone.

“Huh? Where did you go?”

“… I moved through the portal.”

“Ne?”

“Is that even possible for humans?”

Most people who know portals will think of them in dungeons.

And the dungeon portal cannot be used by humans.

So this reaction from the group was natural.

‘I never thought there would already be a portal on the elf side that could be used… .’

In this world, the only person who knows about warp portals is Ian himself.

And it would only be a few members of the imperial family who heard about it and Iris, who was working hard to invent it.

Ian believed so.

‘With the help of the elves, perhaps it would be possible to accelerate the invention of the warp portal… ?’

Moreover, it is a warp portal that only appears when certain conditions are met.

If this was a type of witchcraft, it would most likely be of a level so great that it would be difficult to estimate.

Thinking about this and that, Ian took the lead.

“Let’s go too.”

“Yes, yes!”

As I stepped into the portal, a flash of light that I had not seen in a very long time filled my vision.

The whole son-in-law turned blue, then gradually turned white.

When I open my eyes, it feels like they are closed.

A brief moment where the sense fades, as if you were floating when you wind it.

When Ian came to his senses again, he was standing in a field surrounded by tall trees.

There were also sparsely colorful wild flowers blooming in the green fields.

A landscape that looks like flowers freely drawn on green paper.

Among them, Mercy smiled and greeted Ian right in front of him.

“Welcome to my hometown, Ian.”

“It is an honor for the family, princess.”

It was a field with warm sunlight.

Afterwards, the group arrived at Ian’s side one by one.

“Ugh?!”

“Ugh!”

“Oh… ?”

Vivian, Helena, Lucia.

And then Kati arrived quietly and just looked down at her hand.

“Now, can I just trust the princess’s guidance?”

“Uhm, probably not. Maybe soon… .”

“Human?”

Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice was heard.

When I turned my head towards the epicenter, a small fairy flew into the air.

She came up to Lucia and tilted her head.

“Human?”

“Yes, hello?”

Lucia smiled calmly and said hello.

“It’s human!”

The fairy was startled by that greeting.

Then the elves among the grass flew up all at once.

“You’re human!”

“Humans have arrived?”

“How are humans here?”

Their eyes soon landed on Mercy.

“… Princess!”

Mercy laughed awkwardly.

“I thought you would come out to meet me like this soon… .”

“It’s a princess!”

“The princess has arrived!”

“But, why are you the only ones? Without the Ranger coming out first?”

The elves were perplexed in their own way by Mercy’s question.

at that time.

[Memory Correction]

Old memories flowed into Ian’s mind.

‘Aren’t elves a little strange these days?’

‘Is it just something strange? I couldn’t see it at all… .’

‘What do you two mean? ‘Isn’t it natural that elves are such an unknown race?’

‘No, no, it’s true. The elf I knew suddenly disappeared without a word. ‘I’m not really that type of kid.’

‘From what I heard, it seems like something happened… .’

… … .

After confirming his memory, Ian looked around the elf forest scenery again.

Elves in trouble.

According to Mercy’s words, the people called ‘Rangers’ who should have come out to greet us first were absent.

‘Something’s wrong.’

One of the hesitating elves gathered courage and shouted.

“They’re blocking the dungeon!”