Chapter 431: Jane
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 431: Jane
“Th-thank you.”
“It is nothing worth thanking me for.”
Jane's face, looking a little more gaunt, came into view. Considering she was going through the condensed course born from Baek Ahyeon's obsession, it was only natural she would look that way. The sight of her, dressed in a rather fine dress and slowly putting food into her mouth, seemed to show that she had changed from the person she once was.
When she first ate, she had moved the prepared food to her mouth, wondering what was happening, but from the second and third time onward, she had felt a sense of revulsion at the very act of eating.
‘Was it because of guilt?’
When I had asked why she wouldn't eat, she had answered that she was reluctant because she thought of the others inside. It seemed she had now completely forgotten that. This was because the meals for those held captive in the prayer room with the other followers were, of course, pitifully meager.
Their bodies had been altered with holy power to survive without food, so there was no reason to bother giving them any. All they needed was the minimum amount of feed required to move their bodies. Thinking of them, her inability to touch the food before her would have been a natural reaction for a woman who had been called a Saintess.
I chuckled softly and spoke.
“I recall you couldn't bring yourself to eat at first...”
“Huh? Th-that is...”
“You don't have to say it. I think I have a rough idea of what you're thinking...”
The first reason was likely that the members of the raid party captured with her were not favorable toward her. The reason was quite simple. If one person was receiving special treatment while the rest were enduring harsh times together, even I would surely look upon that person with disfavor.
All sorts of envy and jealousy would follow, and it would be enough to make them imagine all sorts of things.
Why is that woman suffering less than us? What is she doing while we're going through this? It was completely separate from whether they or she understood my intentions. These were emotions that humans could not hide.
“The ones inside... they don't understand you.”
“Huh? Yes...”
“It seems they don't like you spending time like this with me. The other humans inside, I mean.”
“Yes. Th-that's right.”
“What exactly do they say?”
“...”
Jane lowered her head slightly. She must have been incredibly ashamed to say it.
“A... a bitch who's sleeping with a monster...”
But, as if deciding she had no choice but to answer the question, a tiny voice began to leak from her lips.
“They... they called me a whore.”
“Ungrateful wretches. Was it not because of your suggestion that they were given an environment to rest and that the pain inflicted upon them was reduced? If not for you, they would not have been able to rest at all.”
“Of course, that's true.”
Of course, nothing had truly changed. All that happened was that they were given a little free time to rest during their arduous daily routine, and the intensity had weakened slightly. The food, which had been inedible, was upgraded to the level of feed, and they were also permitted time to wash themselves.
It was all done on my orders. She hadn't directly asked me for anything, but after spending time with her, I had been granting them a few small benefits.
Simply because my conversations with her were pleasant.
That was the nominal reason I was reducing the pain being inflicted upon them.
“It was all ordered for your sake. To curse you, ignorant of your grace—are they not humans who know no decency? And did you not say that some among them were people you had helped before?”
“I-it was a long time ago, but yes. Though it's a bit much to call it 'help'...”
A slightly resentful expression flickered across her face. She was clearly recalling old memories.
“Humans are truly strange. You call us savages, but in my view, you are the more savage ones. How long has it been since you came here?”
“I don't remember clearly.”
“Thirteen days. Thirteen days and six hours have passed. And yet, no one has come for you. After the first force was repelled, not a single ant has been seen outside. Perhaps they think you are dead, or perhaps they intend to send a rescue team after gathering more information, but are they not taking too long?”
“That is...”
“I have heard of all the deeds you have performed on the continent. Not just from your lips, but from the lips of others as well. Talent is important, and by the standards of our continent, you are an exceptionally talented individual. If someone with your achievements were waiting for a rescue team, I can declare with certainty that I would not abandon them.”
In truth, this woman had devoted herself to many causes for the Western Continent. It wasn't simply because she helped those in need or gave generously to the people. Conquering dungeons, battling magical beasts large and small—while the strength of one person is meager, in a continent teeming with supernatural abilities, the power of a single individual is a factor that can never be ignored.
Perhaps the Western Continent would not exist as it does now if not for her efforts. I couldn't tell if she herself knew this, but the indignant look on her face now was genuine.
“...”
It was only natural for her to make such an expression.
“You have been abandoned.”
“No... that's not...”
“Can you say that it's not?”
“P-perhaps what you say is right, Lord Blood Dagger. If there has been no movement until now... then I suppose we have been abandoned.”
A terribly sad face. The face of a human whose faith has been betrayed.
“I do not like that expression. A smile suits you better.”
I let slip a slightly cheesy line. I didn't know if it would be effective, but it was best to try various things.
“Actually, it's not that there's no military movement at all.”
“What?”
“The humans of the West are currently moving east. It must be to check our main force, which has begun to move toward the Western Continent. The same goes for the places you call the Wilderness Forward Base and the Thornbush Valley. It seems my judgment that this place was the center of a strategic key point was mistaken...”
“...”
An expression of disbelief. I spoke again.
“It would be more accurate to say they've secured the necessary amount of weapons for war. It seems they consider the supplies at the forward base and the provisions in the valley to be an acceptable loss. It appears even a small rescue team for this place is too much for them to spare.”
“I-is that... really true?”
“Do you think I have any reason to lie to you?”
At my words, she shook her head. It was the undeniable truth. A few days ago, even the remaining personnel in this area began to withdraw. I don't know if they judged the assault to be impossible or if they plan to return after regrouping, but even those in the small cities nearby have moved to the continental front.
“Additionally, I've confirmed that the humans stationed in the small cities near this region have also moved out all at once.”
“Ah... th-...”
An expression of disbelief. I figured these words would be the final nail in the coffin.
It was a truth that was rather dumbfounding even to me. I had hoped they would move just as I intended, and I had indeed done a little work to steer things in this direction, but I never thought everything would proceed exactly as I had imagined.
They, too, were well aware that this would not be a prolonged war. I had expected them to concentrate their forces in one area, but they abandoned the people inside far more quickly and decisively than I had anticipated.
“It seems a person like you was of no value to them. It's not as if I kept you alive for negotiations, but...”
“V-value... value...”
She was muttering the same word with a dazed expression. No other words were needed. When I rose slightly from my seat, I saw her eyes tremble.
[Target - Jane]
[Status - Agitation, Anger, Resentment, Vengeance, Anxiety, Dependence.]
A mix of complex emotions entered my sight all at once. She may be a saint, a Saintess, but she is also human. It was natural for her to harbor such feelings. Amidst it all, it seemed my rising from my seat had filled her with anxiety.
I wasn't certain. But...
‘I want to stay a little longer.’
She must have been thinking that. Who would want to return to that hell?
“Our time is not yet over, so I would appreciate it if you weren't so anxious.”
“Th-that's not it.”
It was happening faster. This woman was being corrupted by this side more quickly than I thought. An unbearable reality and situation can do this to a person. She comes to believe that I am the only one who can free her from this hell, that the time spent with me is the only happy time she has. She begins to feel great value in this otherwise meaningless time, thinking of it as a moment when her mind and body can rest.
Watching her, I slowly opened my mouth.
“I have an interest in you. To be precise, I am interested in you as a person. This war will end someday. I do not know which side's victory will bring it to a close, but you cannot live here forever.”
“...”
“You will no longer hear the screams of your people from the prayer room.”
“What? Th-that is...”
“Exactly as I said. I respect those who are part of my clan. Baek Ahyeon is one of them. You all are a kind of achievement for Baek Ahyeon and her followers, and frankly, I have no desire to interfere or say anything about it. I believe that would be disrespectful to my people.”
“B-but then why...?”
“My mind has simply changed. No, rather... our conversations have been a pleasant diversion.”
“Ah...”
She wore an expression of someone who didn't understand what was happening. But one thing was certain: a strange smile was blooming on her lips. It was only natural for her to be happy at the news that her physical torment would end.
However, I suspected the happy event she desired would not come to pass. In fact, she might even come to miss the time before.
Rising to my feet, I slowly began to approach Jane. We had spent time together often, but this was, of course, the first time I had come so close. As she saw my face, her trembling eyes came into view.
Her hands were clasped as if in prayer, a sign of her anxiety. I moved my tail and seized both her arms. A short cry of "Ah!" echoed out. As I slowly raised my tail, Jane's hands went up first. Naturally, her body was also lifted into the air, making her look as if she were bound by a rope. However, as if she knew I would not cause her any harm, she did not resist or struggle much.
As her body, clad in a rather sensual dress, was lifted, her entire form came into view.
“Ah... th-... ah...”
When I pulled my tail toward me, Jane began to be drawn toward me, still suspended in the air. Despite our faces growing closer and closer, she didn't turn away or struggle. Watching her, I gently placed a kiss on her neck.
“Ah... ugh...”
A strange sound. I couldn't tell if she was in pain or thinking of something else. The moment I released her hands from my tail's grip, her body fell to the floor and crumpled.
“I will have a word with them.”
“Hah... ugh... Th-thank you.”
Of course, placating Baek Ahyeon in the process would be essential. Otherwise, I thought she might actually explode.