The Shepherd Girl, Delarang (4)
Having wrapped up a satisfactory negotiation—or rather, blackmail session—with Delarang, I returned to the room assigned to me, only to find the entire party groaning in agony.
...Well, to be precise, not quite everyone, but close enough.
"What are you guys even doing in here?"
"Ah! Lord Alzen!"
Lampon Pashtra, who had been fidgeting anxiously, lunged forward the moment she saw me and threw her arms around me in a crushing embrace.
"The conversation is just way too hard, I can't follow it at all! And the mood is so terribly grim! Please help me!"
"...Right, I'm sure it is."
Secretly basking in the wave of soft flesh threatening to swallow the entire front of my body, I nodded in understanding. True to her words, the atmosphere in the room was gloomy, depressing, and utterly solemn.
"...What did you talk about with that demon?"
Leading that sullen charge was none other than Cecilia. Her eyelids rimmed with red, she sniffled and grabbed the hem of my trousers, gazing up at me with a look of desperate pleading.
"Nothing much."
"...Sir Alzen. How do you intend to resolve this situation?"
"I already told you, didn't I? I have no intention of stepping in."
"No. You cannot do that."
Her grip on my pant leg tightened with surprising force.
"Countless lives are on the line! Please, Sir Alzen, take an active hand in this!"
"Sorry, but I'm just not sentimental enough to torment myself over things like that."
Her mouth fell open in disbelief, and a single tear rolled down her cheek.
"Are you saying... that even if more than a thousand villagers die, you won't care at all?"
"That's right. People I have nothing to do with, dying wherever and for whatever reason—it's none of my business. Achieving my goal quickly and cleanly matters far more. How about I walk right back in there, kill Delarang, and seize the relic right now?"
"No. Please don't..."
Her voice dripping with profound disappointment, she threw her arms around my waist, clinging to me with all her might. She probably intended to restrain me so I couldn't go anywhere, but given our difference in build, she just looked like a small child hanging on for dear life.
"...Even so, I still believe in you. In Sir Alzen's goodness, and your justice."
"Where on earth is that nonsense coming from?"
"Even speaking your mind like you just did—you're doing that out of consideration for us, aren't you? If you truly didn't care, you wouldn't have left the matter to us or asked for our opinions; you would have simply killed Delarang without a second thought."
"Hmm... Or maybe you just want to believe that?"
I patted her head, letting out a mocking scoff.
"Just because the Goddess chose me? Is the Goddess the yardstick for your choices and your emotions?"
"...Yes. Is there something wrong with that?"
"Nothing wrong with it. But if that's the path you're taking, shouldn't you commit to it all the way?"
"What do you mean...?"
"The Goddess isn't absolute goodness. Nor has She ever declared that sacrifice is inherently wrong. There are plenty of passages regarding 'sacrifice' in holy doctrine, aren't there? Besides, the Goddess explicitly said it Herself: under no circumstances should you ever compromise with evil."
Realizing where I was going, she tried to avert her gaze. I grabbed her face, forcing her eyes back to mine.
"If you truly obey the Goddess's word—if the Goddess is genuinely the measure of your choices—what reason do you have to hesitate? Sprint into the parlor right now, unleash your divine power, and reduce Delarang to ash. Eradicate evil through the sacrifice of 1,221 villagers. I give you my word: the Goddess won't utter a single word of rebuke."
"...The Goddess would never wish for something like that."
"Are you presuming to define the Goddess's will using your own petty thoughts?"
"That's not true! I... I just..."
"Fine, fine. Whatever your reasoning, if you haven't made up your mind in two days, I'm killing Delarang myself."
"That's...!"
"So make your choice. And be certain of it."
With that, I glanced around at the rest of the group staring intently in our direction. Most of them were merely looking on as bystanders rather than taking any initiative, prompting an inward sigh. At this rate, hoping for all these brats to mature into capable adults was a fool's errand. My energy waned, but the mood practically demanded a parting word, so I spoke up.
"The same goes for the rest of you."
Taking a swig of liquor, I jerked my chin toward the bedroom door.
"Why don't you clear out of my room for now? I'd like to get some rest."
Exchanging glances, they filed out of the room one after another.
"...You really are harsh, Lord Hangil."
I shrugged at Rebecca's remark.
"You lot are just far too soft. They need a harsh shock like this to knock some sense into their heads."
"Ahaha... Still, they're young. Aren't you pushing them a bit too hard?"
"You know as well as I do, Rebecca. Fate, tragedy, misfortune—none of them care about your age."
"...You're right. You truly are. It has always been so."
As she nodded with a solemn expression, I gave her backside a couple of playful slaps. She cleared her throat, her face flushing crimson.
"...Shall I help relieve some of your tension?"
"Isn't it just that you want to do it?"
"Well... you're not wrong."
"Forget it. I want to rest."
"After you were the one to seduce me first..."
"When did I ever do that? Back off, will you."
As I waved my hand dismissively, she licked her lips with lingering regret. Terrifying woman.
During those two days of sweet respite, I happily buried myself in alcohol and tobacco for the first time in a while. Of course, Rebecca, Muriel, Cacciola, and Lampon Pashtra eventually lost their patience and devoured me a few times... but even accounting for that, I got plenty of deep rest.
"Lord Alzen. The situation is looking exceedingly dire."
"Huuuh...? I'm fineee... Thanks to the Permanent Flesh, booze and tobacco don't have the slightest effect on my body..."
"I am not referring to you, but to the others."
"Ah...?"
I groggily pushed myself up. Muriel, Rebecca, Cacciola, and Lampon Pashtra were all looking down at me with furrowed brows.
"Saintess Cecilia's condition, in particular, is critical."
"...Well, figures."
In the game, it hadn't seemed all that dramatic, but seeing it play out in reality made it clear that such emotional turmoil was unavoidable.
The quest was titled 'The Shepherd Girl Delarang'. Unlike the fable of 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf', it was a story about deceiving everyone with a single, colossal lie. Clearing this quest granted the Hero and the party members a substantial boost to their Intelligence stat and mental resistances. Because it raised stats and resistances that were notoriously difficult to train, and even yielded a remarkably useful relic, both the quest and Delarang herself enjoyed massive popularity among players. Moreover, despite the heavy premise, it concluded on a remarkably peaceful note.
Naturally, that all depended on the player's choice.
If the player chose to spare Delarang, her affection rating increased, and she handed over the Shroud of Sacrifice. She did so to aid the Hero in his righteous quest, to foster a future where demons and humans could coexist once the Evil God was slain, and because she decided to put her faith in the Hero—and by extension, humanity—who had chosen to trust her despite being a demon.
On the other hand, if the player chose to execute Delarang, she would quietly deactivate the relic's link and bear the brunt of the attack alone, dying in solitude. Naturally, not a single villager from Shepherd Village would be harmed, and the player could simply loot the Shroud of Sacrifice from Delarang's corpse. Her playing the villain and claiming the villagers were hostages had been a lie from the very beginning.
Incidentally, once killed, Delarang could never be revived in that playthrough.
"Will everything truly be alright?"
"It'll be fine. And even if it isn't, I'll make sure it is. That's the only way those kids will ever stand a chance of killing the Evil God."
"......"
"I wonder what choice they ended up making."
As I pulled myself out of bed, Muriel briskly stepped forward and smoothed down my clothes. Stumbling toward the dining hall, I found Delarang seated at the head of the table, placidly sipping wine, while the party sat around her with deeply troubled expressions.
Among them, Cecilia's condition was by far the worst. Bloodshot eyes and dark shadows beneath them, as if she hadn't slept a single wink. A deathly pale complexion, chapped lips, lifeless eyes, and a slack, slightly parted mouth. Anyone walking in cold would have mistaken her for an undead ghoul.
Not that the others were in much better shape. Nemeth held her lips firmly closed, her expression grave. Arpe wore a worried look, watching the other members of the party. Vivian looked nearly as haggard as Cecilia. Wendy was also worn thin, though for some reason, her gaze remained fixed intently on me. Weller was the only one who looked relatively unscathed. And Lira was taking deep breaths, as if bracing herself for something momentous.
"......"
The meal unfolded in heavy silence. Gloomy, somber, dead-serious, and oppressive.
"...Well then."
With none of them willing to utter a peep, Delarang casually finished her meal, dabbed her lips with a napkin, and broke the silence. Cecilia flinched, biting down hard on her lower lip as she stared at the demoness. Seeing her distress, a flicker of deep pity crossed Delarang's face, but after glancing my way, she simply shook her head and exhaled a quiet sigh.
"It seems ample time has passed. Have you decided how you intend to deal with me?"
"That is..."
As if her throat were clogged, she couldn't string words together for a long moment before tightly clenching her fists. A sacred radiance began to bleed from her pale golden eyes.
"...Demon Delarang. I have a few questions for you. In my current state, I can discern truth from falsehood, so I advise you to answer with the utmost sincerity."
A divine art that detects lies? That sort of thing isn't easily mastered. It didn't seem like she could use that before... Did she pick it up because of this ordeal? Trials really do accelerate growth, after all.
"Heheh, is this my final defense, then? I feel a bit nervous. Very well, ask away."
"Are you acting under orders from a Demon King or the Evil God?"
"No. I am not. My current circumstances, my way of life, my choices... all of it stems entirely from my own will."
"Do you truly, genuinely care for the livelihood and well-being of the people of Shepherd Village?"
"Yes. Of course."
"Have you ever killed a villager out of personal malice or whim?"
"No, never."
"Have you ever fed on their blood to turn them into your thralls?"
"I have not. Not a single one."
"...Then what is the true nature of the thralls encircling the village?"
"They are lower demons and monsters."
Relief and joy—those bright, positive emotions washed across Cecilia's features.
"In that case, do you have any intention of releasing the relic's power and granting the villagers their freedom?"
"Regrettably... no, I do not."
Cecilia's demeanor hardened in an instant.
"Why?! If you truly care about the villagers, shouldn't you guarantee their freedom as well?!"
"As I told you before, I cannot place my complete trust in humans. Furthermore, that relic is the bare minimum defense I require to ensure my own survival."
"How could you...!"
Hesitation and inner turmoil. The frantic wavering in Cecilia's eyes laid bare the chaotic storm in her heart. Observing the spectacle, I cut in with a low, measured voice.
"Make your choice, Cecilia."
"Wait, please! Just give me a little more time! If only I can persuade her...!"
"And what will you do after persuading her? Kill her? Or let her be? A demon?"
"...!!"
"When someone's life is on the line, mere words will never sway them. In the end, there was only ever one path from the very beginning."
I blatantly raised my hand, brandishing the Absolute Ring Set straight toward Delarang.
"Stop him! Wendy!"
Without a flicker of hesitation at the Saintess's command, Wendy drew her blade and charged straight at me. Yet, her strike was effortlessly intercepted by Rebecca, who darted in with blinding speed. A sharp clang of clashing steel shattered the quiet dining hall, casting a suffocating tension over the room.
"Sorry about this, all right? I have Lord Alzen's orders to follow, you see."
"No. You need not apologize. In fact, I am grateful that you are holding back."
As the two traded probing blows, the dining table splintered into airborne shards, and deep gouges scarred the floor and walls.
"Cecilia. Just what do you think you're doing?"
"I told you to wait just a little longer!"
"Futile. A complete waste of time."
The instant I turned my gaze as if to activate the ring, Nazareth Nemeth burst forth from the shadows. Her blade was promptly caught by Muriel.
"Hmm. Arpe. Are you of the same mind as Cecilia?"
"For now, yes."
Nodding at her nonchalant reply, I shifted my gaze toward Weller, Lira, and Vivian.
"What about the rest of you? I'd appreciate a quick answer."
"Mmm... I've made up my mind!"
Vivian thrust her hand high into the air, pointing at me with a radiant grin.
"I was a little confused at first, but seeing Orabeoni's attitude right now gave me absolute certainty! I'm siding with Cecilia! Because that's clearly what Orabeoni wants!"
Vivian's hopeless.
"...And what about Weller-noonim and Lira?"
"Your acting is absolute garbage."
"......"
I decided to ignore Weller-noonim. Fortunately, her voice was drowned out by the clamor of clashing steel. ...Or so I'd like to believe.
"Uh, um... I am remaining neutral, just like Lady Weller. Yes."
Hearing Lira's awkward, stammering reply, I gave a nod.
"......"
No, but seriously, that's kind of irritating. Even if she sees through my act, would it kill her to play along just a little? Sour old hag with a rotten temper.
An icicle aimed squarely at my temple was ground into powdered frost by Cacciola's aura.
She's uncannily sharp whenever someone insults her behind her back. With an attitude like that, who'd ever marry her?
"You little...!"
Flashing an infuriating, mocking smirk at Weller as she ground her teeth in fury, I turned my attention back toward Cecilia.