Escape. (19)
"No, no, no, no!!!!!!"
One of the eight tails hanging behind her back vanished into thin air.
Elli quietly admired the tail as it scattered starlight-like light and disappeared.
"It's like watching a cluster of stars."
But it wasn't just one that disappeared.
One, two, then past three, up to seven.
Miko could only stare blankly at the tails that were all disappearing, leaving just one.
It was useless even if she tried to catch them.
She ended up shedding tears as the streaks of light flowed through her fingers.
"Ah, ahh, this can't be..."
But that wasn't the end of it.
She was shrinking.
The voluptuous woman's body gradually shriveled and shrank, finally becoming small enough to reach Elli's waist.
Elli, who had been watching the entire process, her eyes shining.
"To get younger after losing one's virginity, how truly fascinating."
That was the extent of her impression.
"W-Waaaaah...!!"
Perhaps because her body had become younger, tears easily burst forth.
Or perhaps it was the sorrow that came from losing everything she had built up until now.
Miko, who had collapsed to the floor, began to cry as if the world was ending.
Her pristine white skin stood out between the clothes that had slipped off due to the ill fit.
The sight of a child crying sorrowfully with blood flowing from her groin was more criminal than imaginable.
"Now, now, stop crying, stop!"
"...Your hand, take your hand away!!"
With a *smack* sound, Elli's hand was knocked away.
It didn't hurt much, as it was just a child hitting her.
The sight of her glaring with large teardrops hanging from the corners of her eyes was quite pitiful.
'I didn't realize it when she was in her adult body, but now that she's younger, she looks a bit pathetic.'
Besides being a former Saintess, Elli had a soft spot for children.
She couldn't just leave a child who wouldn't even think of getting up and was just shedding tears.
The reason she had become hostile towards Ariel-ssi in the first place was likely because of the Goddess.
As long as she couldn't use Divine Power, there was no need to fight further.
In the first place, with a body like that, she wouldn't be able to fight even if she wanted to.
"Now, come here."
"H-Hick, h-h, don't hit me..."
When she placed her hand on her head, the large ears flattened.
She was trembling with fear, making it seem as if she was tormenting a child.
Yet, it was Ariel-ssi who was actually tormented.
She thought about spanking her bottom hard but then reassured herself that she shouldn't use violence on a child.
For children, with love and kindness.
Although she had turned from an adult into a child, a child was still a child.
"Serves you right, you damn fox!"
"Hiyak?!"
"Hallibel-ssi!"
With a *taak* sound, Miko screamed.
Although she had probably controlled her strength, it seemed to have hurt Miko quite a bit in her small body, as she started shedding tears again.
"No violence against children!"
Elli shouted, but Hallibel ignored her words.
"Who cares? That brat scratched my beautiful skin!"
"Rather than that, wouldn't it be better to escape quickly?"
"Kid!"
An familiar voice came from behind the two who were bickering.
At the sight of the tiny child, Hallibel shrieked.
The Baby hanging on the child's back had grown rapidly and was now enormous.
"The Hero will come on his own, so let's get out of here quickly."
Even if the Hero was holding back the other Suin, some were bound to head this way.
They had rescued the Demon King-nim and defeated that damned fox Suin, so there was no longer any reason to be here.
So, shall we go?
Her body was tingling from the Divine Power, but it wasn't unbearable.
"Demon King-nim, are you conscious?"
"...Yes."
She easily picked her up with both hands and swiftly took off.
Elli was hurrying over, carrying the child and the Baby.
And something golden was hanging on her back.
"Hey, why are you bringing that along too?!"
"B-But we can't just leave it behind, can we?! Besides, this child is holding onto it!"
At the irritable shout, Miko made a tearful face.
"You, you made me like this, so take responsibility!"
To lose her virginity and end up in such a miserable state...
She had no confidence to stand before her kin in such a state.
The fact that she was a nine-tailed fox Suin was her entire identity, but now it had become nothing.
She even lost her virginity.
The more she thought about it, the more she felt like dying from shame.
"No, if I just died—"
"Don't say such things!"
"Hick..."
At Elli's scolding, her fluffy ears drooped.
"W-What does it matter if I die?"
Elli frowned at the words that came out like a mumble.
"If you live and don't die, things will work out somehow. So survive."
"...Yes, yes."
The momentum with which she spoke was so great that Miko had no choice but to agree.
The fear of death that surged upon seeing the Masu's corpse was also one of the reasons.
Death was always vain and sorrowful.
Recalling a memory from sometime ago, she clung tightly to the arrogant human carrying her on her back.
Indeed, she still didn't want to die.
"Still, it seems to have ended smoothly enough."
"The Demon King-nim doesn't seem to be seriously injured either, so—"
"Where are you all rushing off to so quickly?"
A man's voice blocked their path.
***
Brother, are you aware of that fact?
That those beasts called Masu have actually killed more Majok than humans.
The number of those beasts tamed by the Majok is extremely small.
Yet, why should they be called Masu?
Brother, remember this.
No matter how much death and terror overflow in the world, do not turn your eyes away from the truth.
If the Majok tame those beasts, then we merely need to tame them as well.
Not as Masu that kill humans, but as Divine Beasts that kill Majok.
Oh, it seems you've become interested.
Were you so resentful of the Majok?
Even though it was those very Masu that killed your families.
So, you're asking what the method is?
You will naturally learn that if you come to The Order.
Why else would I call you brother, my brother?
Embrace the Goddess.
And behold the truth.
What is right, and what is wrong.
I hope you will judge not with human eyes, but with the eyes of a god.
"Even so, I never imagined you would be harboring the Demon King."
Saintess-nim.
Victor curled up the corners of his mouth.
A pure smile, devoid of any mockery.
But would it be a lie to say that it instilled more unease than any other smile?
"...Sir Victor."
"I even went to the trouble of sending a Divine Beast for Saintess-nim, but it unfortunately died."
As Victor's sleeve fluttered, several Masu appeared from the shadows of the forest.
If it were just one, they might manage somehow, but that many was impossible.
What should they do?
No clear solution was visible.
Suin were chasing them from behind, and Masu were in front.
She had a premonition that no matter which direction they chose, it wouldn't end smoothly.
"...No way, that guy!"
Miko, who was clinging to Elli's back, gritted her teeth.
She had thought that the Demon King was controlling the Masu until now, but it turned out that human was controlling them!
The direction of her resentment shifted in an instant.
If only she had the strength, she could have taken revenge on that damned bastard.
Feeling unfairly treated, a few tears welled up.
"At first, it was merely suspicion, but it truly was strange. Just in case, I sent Inquisitors to the inn where Saintess-nim was staying, but she had already left a long time ago..."
"..."
"Furthermore, there were even graves for Reina-nim and Emily-nim at the entrance of the village."
"That's...!"
"Did you betray us? Is it true that you are the only one who betrayed us? If the Hero also participated, I wonder what the reason is.
Honestly, I didn't want to harbor any suspicions, but I am merely a low-level human who can't help it."
It means I have no choice but to assume that you, who have fought for the world until now, have betrayed the world.
Victor's eyes shone black.
Perhaps he wished that the being before his eyes was not the Demon King.
"Sir Victor, I—"
"There they are!!"
A sound was heard.
At the angry voices shouting from behind, Elli's shoulders hunched.
'I can't waste time here—'
"What are you doing? Just run quickly!!!"
Even as she bit her lip and hesitated, she hurriedly followed Hallibel, who had already started running ahead.
Which side was more threatening?
Sir Victor and his Masu?
Or the enraged horde of Suin charging at them as if to kill them?
"I will hear your answer later."
As they brushed past Victor and the Masu beside him, a low voice was heard.
The words were mumbled, but they felt clear enough to be etched into her mind.
This person will definitely chase us.
It wasn't an assumption, but a certainty.
He would follow them no matter what until he got his answer.
"I said, just run quickly instead of looking back?!"
Hallibel, who was holding Ariel, shouted irritably at her.
Ariel, cradled in her arms, had her eyes tightly closed.
Only then did Elli come to her senses and increased her speed.
'Sir Victor, please be safe.'
No, in a situation like this, should she wish for him *not* to be safe?
Would the day ever come when she could tell others the truth that only she knew?
The taste in her mouth was bitter.