The Remaining Ones (5)
The Remaining Ones (5)
"Melanie."
"Huh?"
Melanie, who had been sleeping soundly while drooling, opened her eyes at Hilda's call.
Hilda frowned at her appearance.
It wasn't out of disapproval for sleeping in until the sun was high in the sky.
After being brutally violated by the goddess at night, then ravaged again by Lili and Pia in the morning trying to calm their erections, it was only natural she couldn't get up.
After that, Melanie had completely lost consciousness, so Hilda had no choice but to make do with a sponge bath.
Since Melanie showed no signs of suffering at all, the satisfaction was greatly diminished.
Though she'd been tolerating her slightly dull nature, seeing her sleep naked with her legs spread wide, exposing her thick thighs and crotch, Hilda's member couldn't help but react.
But now, she had to restrain herself.
"Someone says they want to meet you, Melanie."
"Wh-Who? Could it be the refugees..."
"No. It's someone else. I don't know who. Please put some clothes on first."
"Ah......!"
Melanie hurriedly sat up and checked herself in the mirror.
Fortunately, her appearance wasn't too much of a mess.
That's because Hilda had thoroughly cleaned the onahole after using it last.
After Melanie quickly put on her clothes, Hilda let the person waiting outside into the tent.
"Pleased to meet you."
"Ah?!"
Upon seeing who it was, Melanie frantically searched her pockets for something.
"If it's that object, you needn't worry. It won't work in my presence."
"Ah, you knew about it?"
"If you're asking whether I anticipated you'd have it, of course not. I only realized it after coming here."
Melanie had been looking for the object given to her by Seer Murgan.
It was a gift from Murgan to Melanie, but it was also a surveillance device.
Since the woman now before Melanie was an entity diametrically opposed to Murgan, it would be problematic if their association was discovered.
"......Since this is unexpected, I must clarify this point. Were you in a cooperative relationship with 'that person'?"
['That person'? What is she talking about?]
"I-I serve the Lust Demon God, Luxuria-nim!"
[Aah, so that's what it was. It doesn't seem to be her true feelings, but still, how commendable.]
Luxuria was unaware that Murgan had been continuously contacting Melanie.
Yuri, believing Melanie's words that she wasn't in a cooperative relationship with Murgan, nodded her head as if relieved.
"I see. My name is Yuri. I am the leader of the group commonly known as the 'Demon Cult'."
"Ah, the Demon Cult's......!"
Melanie pretended this was their first meeting, but of course, she knew about Yuri.
If Murgan was the one who manipulated the board to ensure all Demon Gods met their end, then Yuri was the person trying to prevent the Demon Gods from being killed.
Naturally, those who opposed the Demon Gods treated Yuri and her followers as heretics and opposed them as well.
But Yuri wasn't particularly a worshipper of Demon Gods; she simply knew how dangerous Murgan's plan was and was trying to stop it.
[Here we go again. That faint throbbing of the heart. It seems she's another one destined to die. How fortunate you were born a girl. If you'd been a boy, that bitch wouldn't have mourned you so. Disgusting.]
'Ugh......!'
Melanie tried hard to ignore Luxuria's whispers and focused her gaze on Yuri.
"My name is Melanie. I'm just a mercenary."
"A mercenary... I see. Melanie-nim. We have been watching you for a long time."
According to Sephemo's original story, Yuri was supposed to meet Melanie a bit earlier.
To be precise, around the time of the Demon God Acedia's subjugation, she reveals herself to stop Melanie from killing the Demon God.
But the fact that they are only meeting now must mean she has noticed that Melanie doesn't intend to kill the Demon Gods.
"I know you did not subjugate the Demon God Avaritia. So I thought you might be someone who could share our cause. But it seems Demon God Acedia met a different end."
"Acedia... it was unavoidable... because she wished for death herself."
"In that case, may I understand that, excluding such circumstances, you have no intention of eliminating the Demon Gods?"
"O-Of course. How could I possibly... harm Luxuria-nim's sisters."
Somehow, she found herself continuing the pretense of worshipping the Demon Gods.
Melanie's heart ached, thinking Yuri would view her poorly.
As mentioned before, Yuri wasn't truly a Demon God worshipper.
"Good. Then gladly, we will also cooperate with you from now on."
"Cooperate...?"
"Yes. You are trying to stop the refugees from heading to the capital, correct?"
"Y-Yes. If they go like this, the Imperial Army will kill all the refugees."
It wasn't just about blocking their approach.
It was clear they intended to draw troops from three entire cities to surround and annihilate them.
It wasn't that one couldn't understand why the refugees were so angry.
They had been treated as if they didn't exist until now, only for the Empire to react so hypersensitively just because they were getting close to the capital.
"The reason the refugees are moving is because the Demon God Gula is coming. I know a way to make Demon God Gula move elsewhere."
* * *
Melanie requested the refugees to return to their original location, promising she would drive the Demon God away.
Alino stared at Melanie with eyes full of suspicion.
"How do you plan to drive away a Demon God by yourselves? Are you that strong?"
"We don't necessarily have to drive it away by force. I can't tell you the detailed method, but I can lure the Demon God away."
"You know that much about Demon Gods? You're not a Demon God worshipper, are you?"
"Wh-What...!"
Melanie waved her hands in denial of a speculation that was perfectly reasonable and even correct.
"Then tell us after you've driven it away. Once we confirm your words are true, we'll agree to go back."
"By then it will be too late. The Imperial Army is probably already on its way here. You need to turn back now."
"Why do you care so much about us? Frankly, what's it to you if we die for nothing?"
"How can you expect me to just ignore and look the other way when all these people are about to die!"
Melanie shouted as if enraged.
As she did, she glanced at Alina standing next to Alino, and Luxuria didn't miss that moment.
[Hmph. You're really only worried about that one girl, aren't you?]
'Wh-Why are you being like this since yesterday? Is that something for you to get so angry about?'
[Tch. Now you're just being shameless.]
"......I will trust you."
Alina clenched her fists and spoke.
Both Melanie and Alino looked at Alina with surprised expressions at this unexpected statement.
"Alina? What are you talking about?"
"After hearing what she said yesterday, there must be quite a few people feeling anxious. Let's at least let those people return to where they were."
"And if it's not true? Then we'd be walking right into the jaws of the demonkin ourselves!"
"We'll die anyway if we keep going like this!"
In Sephemo's original story, Alina was even more wary of the protagonist than Alino.
Having lived persecuted all that time, she had completely lost trust in others.
Yet now, this Alina said she would trust Melanie.
Perhaps it wasn't the promise to save them from the demonkin, but the promise to save them from humans that moved her heart.
"How can you trust someone else so easily! What makes you think that woman is any different?"
"You're not doing this because you don't trust her. You're just consumed by anger."
"What?"
"At some point, your goal stopped being survival and became revenge against the world. But I'm not like that. From the beginning, I only wished for all of us to live, and I still do."
"......."
"So please, let's go back. Alino......."
Alina grabbed Alino's hand and spoke in an earnest voice.
Alino looked at that hand and fell into thought for a moment.
Soon, he looked at the refugees standing around and spoke.
"......I'll leave the judgment to each individual. Those who agree with Alina, follow her and go back."
"Alino!"
"The rest will wait here for the Demon God to retreat. That's the maximum concession I can make."
In the end, Alino meant he wouldn't go back with them.
As Alina tried to say something more, someone grabbed her wrist.
It was Melanie.
"There's no time to persuade him. We need to proceed with the plan as quickly as possible. We can come back to save Alino later."