Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: The Purification Method
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Anis was bound by something. That was why she hesitated and wavered with Han U-sol standing right in front of her.
Han U-sol guessed it was because of a contract she'd been tricked into making with a demon.
Nothing changes.
Kill the demon who was the contract's subject, and Anis's contract would naturally dissolve.
However, even if the contract was broken, one problem would remain.
Demonic energy.
The demonic energy that was still tormenting Anis with hallucinations even now was separate from the contract. Only by removing both the contract and the demonic energy could she truly be saved.
Han U-sol immediately asked Camilla how to eliminate Anis's demonic energy.
"I have a rough idea of the method, but..."
"Don't beat around the bush. Just tell me."
"In a word, an angel's life force."
"Life force? Not mana?"
"A lot of people mistakenly think that angels purify demonic energy with their mana, but that's just forcibly shattering it—it's not true purification in the common sense. To cleanly erase it, you need life force."
"Life force... you mean something like blood?"
"Hmm, who knows. My research samples were so limited."
Camilla spoke without full confidence.
In her three years of research, test subjects injected with Anis's blood had all been rapidly overtaken by demonic energy.
The speed was far faster and more lethal than ordinary demonic energy. Proof that the demonic energy infesting Anis was exceptionally potent.
Injecting them with Betty's blood as they were dying would quiet it down for a moment.
But it only lasted a very short time. The subjects would calm for just a few seconds before convulsing again and dying.
Whether it was because the angel's blood mixed in Betty was too diluted, or because blood could only produce a temporary effect anyway, she couldn't tell.
All she knew was that 'purifying demonic energy is linked to an angel's life force.'
No matter how capable a researcher Camilla was, it was hard to draw firm conclusions without enough samples.
"Speaking of which, there's an even higher-grade sample right here. Researching with this could make it more certain?"
Camilla pointed at Han U-sol with her finger.
"You want to use your senior as a guinea pig for human experimentation right now? Think he'll allow that?"
"You're twisting my words too much. Who said anything about human experimentation? Though I do want to dissect you, just drawing some blood would be fine too."
Camilla made another proposal to Han U-sol.
Let her go to a lab, release the restraints, and allow research.
If Han U-sol cooperated even a little, she could pinpoint a way to purify the demonic energy more reliably.
"Do we really need to entrust the research to you? There are other researchers outside."
"Unlike those guys, I've researched for three years. Using Anis's blood. Do you think they can produce results faster than me?"
"......Tch."
Ronel clicked her tongue softly.
What a cunning woman.
He'd planned to extract all the info and kill her, but she was attempting negotiation with her last card.
She'd identify the fastest, surest way to remove Anis's demonic energy, so spare her life.
"...Haa."
A weary sigh escaped. It was exhausting how she clung so desperately to her life until the end.
He wanted to kill her right there, purification be damned, but he couldn't.
Because Han U-sol would never allow it.
Ronel glanced at Han U-sol.
Sure enough, he already looked tempted by Camilla's proposal.
The one commendable thing was that he hadn't opened his mouth first with the person in charge, Ronel, right there.
"...Fine. We'll prepare a separate research space later."
With no choice, Ronel nodded too.
Having finished their conversation with Camilla, Han U-sol and Ronel stepped outside.
Feeling the fresh outside air after so long, Han U-sol thanked Ronel.
"Ronel, thanks. For going along with my stubbornness."
"No big deal."
Han U-sol gave a wry smile at Ronel's nonchalant reply.
The contract, and purifying the demonic energy.
Han U-sol began to see a glimmer of hope in the two pieces of information.
If he told Aselrika about this, maybe her view of Anis would soften a bit.
But Ronel's thoughts seemed different.
"That might be tough."
"What do you mean?"
"Exactly what I said. It's true she's a pitiful victim. If you asked anyone, they'd feel sympathy. Of course they'd want to help. But here's the thing."
In response to Han U-sol's question, Ronel slowly began to speak.
"Back then, she shielded that traitor who was with her. Even took a bullet for it. That's the problem in the end."
"That was probably because of the contract..."
"Maybe. But it didn't look that way to me."
Ronel coldly cut off Han U-sol's words and recalled the previous memory.
The moment bullets flew and their eyes met with Anis.
That gaze had nothing to do with any contract.
It was hostile enough to make him wonder if she'd already formed deep bonds with them.
"Contract? Fine. Even if shielding him was solely because of the contract, and she still wants to come back... the higher-ups' policy won't change."
"What..."
"She's strong. With that much demonic energy, she must be incredibly powerful. That means her mind is extremely unstable too. And she treated us as enemies. Whether by her own will or not, that makes her a huge threat to humanity."
"........."
"She'll end up attacking us eventually, so how do we save her? Tell the heroes to hold out against her attacks until the contract breaks, even if it costs their lives? We don't have that luxury. Fighting back has to be our top priority, no helping it."
"If I can somehow convince Anis..."
"The contract will make that fall on deaf ears. Besides, that persuasion didn't work last time either, right?"
"Even if we succeed in saving her, she'll be a ticking time bomb that could go off anytime. Already strong, plus mentally unstable? That's a massive risk."
"That's why we're trying to find a way to purify the demonic energy!"
"Do you know what that method will cost? Purifying that level of demonic energy won't end with just blood. Will it stop at your blood, seniority? Your lifespan? Or your life itself? Who knows?"
"...Ugh."
"...From what I heard, the source of her power is the demonic energy. So purifying it would just turn her back into an ordinary civilian, right? Sorry to her, but... even if we risk countless dangers and uncertainties, even stake our lives to save her, all we'd end up with is one civilian."
"........."
"Simply put, it doesn't add up. Sounds cold, but... no choice. The world's gone mad, and humans don't have room to spare."
Han U-sol bit his lip. Grinding his teeth, clenching his fists until his palms hurt, but the rising frustration wouldn't fade.
How.
How could she be so cold?
Anis was a victim.
A victim dragged in unknowingly, suffering for someone else's unilateral goals.
How could they ignore her pain and pretend not to know?
Shirk all responsibility for her suffering and heartlessly abandon her?
The reason she was dragged to this world and suffered in the first place was all because...
.........
For a moment, his shoulders trembled with rage, but a dormant memory halted Han U-sol's body.
[It's your fault. Because you were born.]
".........Ah."
Right. It was my fault.
Not theirs.
They weren't responsible for Anis's suffering.
They'd only desperately pondered the best way to protect humanity.
The one obsessed with Anis, willing to sacrifice for her...
Was only him, the one who'd inflicted an unforgivable sin on her.
As he lifted his head with a moment's hope, the forgotten guilt weighed down again.
"...I won't report that you forcibly joined the interrogation this time. And if the higher-ups try to intervene, I won't report assigning the purification research to Camilla either. I can't help, but give it your best shot."
Ronel looked at Han U-sol, who slowly bowed his head, with pity in her eyes, said that, and turned away.
"Huff... huff..."
The man, breathing raggedly, came to a dead end and stopped.
Haneun and I closely tailed him and blocked his path.
"D-don't come closer! You lunatics!"
Ignoring the man, I approached to check his face.
"Hmm."
"Is it him?"
"Looks like it."
He matched the face on the wanted poster perfectly.
A B-rank Villain.
Couldn't remember his name.
"Let's grab this last one and call it a day."
"Yes."
I'd briefly considered rescuing Camilla, but since I didn't even know exactly where she was or if she was alive, I gave up quickly.
Instead, as a backup plan, Haneun and I were prowling the city's outskirts alleys, collecting villains.
They wouldn't be much combat power, but it was a crude trick to pad our numbers ahead of the heroes' impending invasion.
"Y-you bastards! Do you know who I am? I've killed twenty fools with this dagger alone for charging in like idiots!!"
The B-rank Villain yelled, drawing a dagger from his bosom and pointing it at us.
"Han, he says he killed twenty. What a real bad guy."
"Yeah."
"How many have you killed, Haneun?"
"Who knows. I stopped counting after five hundred."
"Wow! You're a villain who deserves to be chewed up and spat out."
"Agreed. What about you, Anis? How many?"
"Hmm, who knows. I don't remember either."
Not because I'd killed as many as Haneun, but because the hallucinations back then had my head in such chaos that my memories were fuzzy.
I closed my eyes briefly and focused to recall.
[How many was it. Roughly fourteen. Fifteen. Sixteen. Seventeen? Eighteen? A hundred thirty-seven?]
[Rockbell one. Rena twice, so two more. Elis? Elise? Floa? Three. Na-rin too? Four.]
"Around 193?"
"Don't lie. I've never seen you kill anyone in three years."
"I dunno. That's what it is."
"Who says?"
"Dunno."
"I see."
She's talking nonsense again. Muttering that, Haneun glanced at the villain, letting my words go in one ear and out the other.
Terror shadowed the villain's face at Haneun's gaze.
At the same time, I took a step closer to the villain.
"D-don't come near! Back off!"
"Nope—!!"
-Meow!
I personally gave the yowling man a solid flick on the forehead.
"Gyaak-!"
Thud. The man foamed at the mouth and collapsed.
"Great! B-rank Villamon! You're mine now!"
I dragged the unconscious man to a corner.
That made about thirty now.
Still far from enough to satisfy our numbers, but good enough for today.
Haneun and I linked up with Betty, who was snacking outside, and headed back to X District.