Chapter 17 - Lost Lamb (2)
Lost Lamb (2)
Translator : Elizabeth
I doubted my ears.
"It was quite a spectacle in many ways. It was so pitiful that even I felt bad watching."
"Right. He cried so much... Humans are really foolish."
I repeated the words Barzek and Mor-ssi said in my head over and over again.
"Even if an old man lives, how much longer would he live?"
"Even if it weren't for us, he surely would have died soon anyway. You could say it turned out well rather."
But I didn't mishear. The words that came out of Barzek and Mor-ssi's mouths were undeniable facts.
"Wouldn't that old man have liked it inwardly too? We saw him off on his last path."
"That might be true. If it weren't for us, he would have gone alone and lonely."
At Mor-ssi's agreement that followed, I felt a chill run down my spine. To think such an unbelievable behind-the-scenes story was hidden in this peaceful village.
As Barzek and Mor-ssi's conversation continued long. For some reason, tears of unknown cause slowly welled up in my eyes.
"Anyway, there's no need to pay much attention to that old man. The portrait too, just because it was annoying..."
"Sob..."
At my sudden sobbing appearance, Barzek-ssi hurriedly stopped what he was saying. Then looking at me intently with a bewildered expression, he blinked his eyelids puzzledly.
"...What is it, why are you crying suddenly?"
"To think such a sad story was hidden in this house..."
"Sad story?"
"You possess such beautiful hearts even though you are demons..."
I only knew demons as an incredibly cruel race that treats humans as toys and mocks them. But the demons I encountered here were different. Enough to make my prejudice pointless, their appearance was too far from the common sense I knew.
"W-Wait... What on earth does that..."
"To take care of the grandfather's last moments so warmly when no one else looked after him..."
I wiped away tears with the end of my sleeve and took a deep breath once. However, even the forced inhaled air was insufficient to calm my already highly agitated heart.
"I'm asking just in case... Do other demons living in this village also have stories similar to you two?"
"Well... You could say so...?"
"I see... So that's why the village scenery was similar."
The scenery of this place that resembled a village where people live terribly. Only now did all those questions solve. This place was originally a village where people lived. And demons with kind hearts who happened to pass by near here watched over the sides of people dying lonely one by one, becoming what it is now, perhaps.
"...You are truly amazing."
My nose stung and my head dropped. To think demons famous for being notorious actually took care of the weak... And bestowed warm good deeds of staying by their side until the end...
It was a moment I realized anew how narrowly I had been looking at the world. Of course, not all demons would be affectionate like these people. But at least it was certain that the prejudice I held wasn't everything.
"Excuse me, I think you're misunderstanding something a little. That old man is, you see..."
"You don't have to say it, I know everything, Barzek-ssi."
Barzek-ssi tried to add words hurriedly as if flustered. But I didn't listen to his words until the end. No, I couldn't listen. Because my heart was already filled with awe toward them.
"If they are benevolent people like you, the Goddess will surely accept them happily too."
"W-What...? Goddess?"
Barzek-ssi's face distorted bizarrely for a moment. It was an expression as if he heard the creepiest sound he had ever heard in his life. But dismissing his shock as humility, I gathered my hands even more desperately.
"The Goddess will surely recognize that there are demons harboring warm warmth too."
She is a Goddess who warmly embraced even insignificant me. There is no way such a person would ignore these people who protected someone's last moments with a much warmer heart than me.
"Oh my god, to think the word Goddess would come out of a demon's mouth..."
"I thought I misheard for a moment..."
Barzek-ssi rubbed his forearm roughly as if he got goosebumps and stepped back hesitantly. Mor-ssi also stared at me with shocked eyes, almost dropping the teacup she was holding.
"The Goddess is extremely benevolent. Whether demon or human, if one has good will, she will love anyone without discrimination."
However, despite that, I continued speaking calmly with a bright voice until the end. Regardless of what bizarre expressions Barzek and Mor-ssi are making in front of me. I decided to trust the strange warmth they showed me until the end.
"V-Vivian... It seems your mind was cut off along with your horns..."
"R-Right... What Goddess for a demon...?"
Soon followed Barzek and Mor-ssi's bewildered remarks. Since their roots are inevitably demons. It seems they feel instinctive rejection to the word Goddess.
"It's okay, everyone. You don't have to be so terrified."
"No, how can we not be terrified at this?"
"I understand. Speaking of the Goddess among demons is probably something like a taboo, right?"
"Talking about the obvious... That's almost the same as telling us to die."
Ah, this pitiful fate of having to refuse even salvation because of the shackles of race even while bestowing good deeds. Feeling the center of my chest tingling, I gazed at Barzek and Mor-ssi intently once again.
"Can't be helped. Then I will bless you on behalf of the Goddess."
As soon as the word blessing came out of my mouth. Barzek and Mor-ssi jumped high from the sofa immediately like people whose soles caught fire.
"W-Wait, Vivian...!! What are you trying to do right now?!"
"I know your mind became a little weird because of humans, but even so, this isn't right!"
Barzek and Mor-ssi showing a much more intense reaction than expected. Wondering if it's something to be that surprised about, I tilted my head in puzzlement for a moment.
"I'm just praying? Nothing is spewing out or anything."
Despite my innocent explanation. Barzek and Mor-ssi's complexions turned paler into turbid ashen color rather than getting better.
"Trying to pour such an ominous thing on a demon is the problem itself!"
"Please, Vivian! It's not too late, so lower those ominous hands first and calmly..."
I know well that a demon touched by holy light perishes on the spot. So I'm just trying to pray simply. What on earth are Barzek and Mor-ssi so afraid of to tremble like that?
"...If you dislike it that much, shall we postpone the prayer a bit?"
As I rubbed my swollen eyes and continued speaking regretfully, only then did Barzek and Mor-ssi's complexions begin to regain their original color little by little.
"Y-Yeah... You really thought well..."
"We'll just accept the thought for now..."
As if handling a dud bomb on the verge of explosion. Barzek and Mor-ssi, who opened their mouths extremely carefully, took a deep breath once and stuck their butts back on the sofa. But as if they couldn't lean comfortably like before. They straightened their waists and began to examine my mood strangely.
"Phew... Almost got into big trouble..."
"Really thought something was going to happen..."
I have no intention of forcing faith on people who dislike it. Even more so if they are demons who are extremely wary of the Goddess. Because true salvation comes from understanding, not oppression.
"Then, I will pray for myself, not you guys."
I spoke quietly and naturally took out a small wooden goddess statue from my arms. And immediately placed it gently on the edge of the table.
"...?!!"
"...?!!"
As soon as I took out the wooden goddess statue from my arms, Barzek and Mor-ssi's gazes flashed slowly in shock following the smooth curves of the goddess statue.
"Wh-What is that again?!!"
Soon followed Barzek-ssi's scream-mixed question. I answered while carefully wiping the dust off the goddess statue with my sleeve.
"It's a portable goddess statue I received from a friend named May. She gave it to me as a gift to pray comfortably anytime, anywhere."
A very precious gift I received from May before leaving Trevin Village. Since my faith isn't deep enough to carry something like this around and pray, I was slightly flustered at first. But looking at it now, it's quite a useful item. To think the cluttered atmosphere became this reverent with just this small wooden goddess statue. As expected, an item imbued with sincerity seems to exert its presence regardless of race.
"Don't worry. I won't think about you guys even a tiny bit."
"N-N-Now... Now that's not the problem!"
"Stop it!! Please stop it...!!"
Barzek and Mor-ssi suddenly kicked off their seats and threw themselves hurriedly onto the table. But before their fingertips could touch the wooden goddess statue, my clasped hands interlocked smoothly first.
Perfect silence to start the prayer.
In that momentary silence, I closed my eyes gently.
. . .
Fwaaaah──!!!!
A blinding white flash revealed itself once again as soon as I offered a prayer to the Goddess. That light started from the small wooden goddess statue placed on the table and swallowed the entire house in the blink of an eye.
"Kuaaaak!!!"
"Kyaaaak!!!"
The light that eventually escaped the narrow house and spread quickly to the outside. The peaceful village was instantly covered in holy radiance.
"...?"
Pain-filled screams rang out desperately from here and there in the village.
How on earth did this happen. I definitely didn't think of anyone and prayed only for myself. For some reason, light is spewing out from the wooden goddess statue, swallowing all the demons in the village.
As if it had been waiting for this very moment...
"...Huh?"