22. O Eclissi (4)
22. O Eclissi (4)
- 1 -
Leonis, whom I saw after several days, had become extremely haggard.
He had always been a slender man, but now he looked so gaunt that one might suspect the mana over-adaptation Sonia once had had somehow transferred to him.
I'd heard he was barely eating, so I had wondered, but still.
'Given that nothing shows up in the sacrifice information...'
He wasn't mentally dead or in a completely subjugated state right now. It was simply that 'Sonia's betrayal' had been that much of a shock to him.
"You..."
As if proving that, the look in his eyes as he watched me gradually came alive, glistening as it filled with emotion.
Hatred.
It was so thickly saturated that it could only be described as black.
"You... no, you monster bastard..."
Even his vulgarity seemed unfamiliar, only barely escaping his lips after rolling around in his mouth several times, so he probably hadn't lived a very rough life, just as his first impression suggested.
However, contrary to how blunt his way of expressing it was, his hatred was exceedingly vivid. As if all the intensity he couldn't express verbally had been sharpened into a blade.
If Scarlet had seen this, wouldn't she have said, 'If sold in this state, it would fetch a good price'?
Of course, I wouldn't do that. Because there was a contract.
"To think you'd end up in such a state after just a few days. Sonia must have been very sad to see it."
Charreuk!
"How dare you speak that name...!!"
"Is there any reason to hesitate in calling my disciple and attendant?"
"You...!! You...!!!"
The seething hatred was an emotion that could change a person in just a few days.
The proof of that was right before my eyes.
Because the man before me now didn't look like a gentle scholar, but rather like a wild dog beastman who had been starved for days and nights.
Charreuk!
"I'll kill you... I'll kill you... You...!"
The sight of the man, bound by iron chains restraining his neck and upper body fixed to the Skeleton's hands, yet kicking off from the spot again and again with a momentum that seemed ready to fling himself at me at any moment.
That seething voice, his eyes with burst blood vessels staining the whites red.
Even though his toenails had been broken and new ones were growing in, he showed no sense of feeling anything, as if his body was being burned up by intense hatred.
Literally, it felt like watching the start of a Frenzy, where it seemed he would fall into the abyss if 'pushed just a little bit more'.
Anyone who felt nothing from that would not be human. Because the reason for that state was 'love' for a woman.
Even I, who had become inhuman, was moved by it.
Enough to feel jealous.
"Strange. You act as if you wished for Sonia's death."
As long as he remained my enemy, such feelings would rarely leave my mouth under normal circumstances.
Instead, I could leash him and pull him back so that he wouldn't go further insane from love.
"That is...!"
"Look at her now. Where on that face does she look sick?"
Sonia had been present at the place where Leonis was summoned.
Perhaps curious if I was doing any harm to him, she had asked my permission, and I, having nothing to feel awkward about, had permitted her.
Standing in that spot as if nailed there with eyes filled with sadness and fear, yet growing more beautiful by the day, Sonia's gaze hadn't left us for a single moment.
But as if he couldn't bear to look at her, Leonis just squeezed his eyes shut once and ground his teeth.
"Even if she is alive, her path as a mage is completely blocked, isn't it! And on top of that, you intend to make her into a monster!"
"I wonder. Why do you think so?"
"A Dungeon Lord's contract is only for monsters...!"
"I see. So this is something you didn't know. Our contract can work on humans as well."
"What do you mean...?"
What is essential for a Dungeon Lord's contract is merely the human's submission, not necessarily the corruption of their humanity.
Once contracted, their body becomes unable to live without the dungeon core or demonic mana, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are strictly 'not human.'
"Human mages. Even if they cannot live without a dungeon core, can you call them inhuman when their cognitive functions remain as they were as humans and their physical bodies haven't degenerated?"
"Then, why have the ones discovered in dungeons until now...?"
"Because they couldn't live otherwise."
The way for a human contracted to a demon tribe to survive, unless in special cases, was ultimately just to prove their usefulness.
And that usefulness was usually 'strength.'
Therefore, humans affiliated with dungeons often pursued strength even if it meant breaking down their original forms. Since doing so didn't prevent them from enjoying worldly pleasures either.
Strength was, in essence, their wealth.
Those wealthy in that asset could live decently, even if they became inhuman.
"However, I have no intention of degenerating her. Not unless she wishes it. Even if she decides to marry a human later, I have no mind to oppose it."
Upon hearing this, Leonis, whose hatred had momentarily shrunk, looked quite flustered. It was because, as a mage, he was a man for whom rationality was essential even in his self-immolating rage.
Just as he had pressed logic even upon those who beat him.
"E-even so, you severed her ties of fate, and...!"
"I won't say I wasn't forceful. But ultimately, even that was her choice."
"You killed her friend too...!"
"Yes. That is something I must apologize for if I intend to keep her by my side."
Perhaps because of that, his subsequent words were incoherent.
Since the weakness of his ignorance had been struck while his hatred was still unresolved.
The mage, having heard my last words, turned his head with a blank expression to look at Sonia.
"A Dungeon Lord... apologizes to a human...?"
Nod.
"Lies...!"
Since it was true that I had apologized to her, she had nodded with her honest nature. And with that, I finished off the confirmation kill.
"What's left is you. If you keep your mouth shut, she might even be able to reclaim a life as a human."
"That...?"
Leonis slumped to the floor, looking as if the energy had drained right out of him.
It was the typical reaction of one whose cherished common sense and beliefs had been denied, yet who had simultaneously accepted that it wasn't a lie.
'An arrogant Dungeon Lord in human eyes'—that was an old piece of common sense.
"You'll need time to think. Let him rest today."
At that point, I decided to leave Sonia and Leonis alone for a while.
Not all processes would unfold as I thought, but I was certain that only the result would be so.
"... Thank you."
"Withdraw."
At Sonia's greeting—though she couldn't possibly know my thoughts—I simply waved my hand, and she approached Leonis and tried to help him up.
Since she hadn't recovered enough to support an adult yet, she ultimately had to rely on the Skeleton's help.
"Bring Maria and Daniel to me."
Now, there were only two left.
One who bore a grudge so deep we could never live under the same sky, and one who might soon become the same.
- 2 -
"It was because of me. No, maybe because of us?"
"Huh?"
On the way back under the escort and surveillance of the Skeletons, these words suddenly fell from Leonis's lips.
When Sonia looked at him in surprise, the mage, who had lifted his head with difficulty, looked at her and uttered the words that remained in his mouth.
"The reason you made a contract with that monster."
"..."
"I knew it."
As if he had gotten his answer from the silence, Leonis dropped his head weakly again.
He had already understood.
'I love her...? I couldn't even believe it properly. And despite that, I ended up driving her into this situation...'
That he himself had become a burden to Sonia.
Unable to think of anything to say while looking at him like that, Sonia simply supported him and walked the path back.
"Miss Sonia?"
As they headed back to their room, they ran into some people.
A man and a woman, dressed similarly to themselves but with the genders exactly reversed, walking without a helping Skeleton but under heavier guard.
It was Maria and Daniel.
"Mr. Daniel."
"Mr. Leonis is... still the same, I see."
"..."
The man smiled bitterly as he assessed the condition of Leonis and Sonia.
Sonia could recognize it.
A certain resolve shining in his eyes.
Something that resembled her own decision.
[Their fate is not for you to decide.]
What came to Sonia's mind at that moment were the words of Angelita, no, the Dungeon Lord Libertas.
"Miss Sonia? Why are you suddenly..."
"Huh? Ah..."
When she came to her senses at the man's words, what she saw was her own hand, having unknowingly grabbed Daniel's arm.
Startled, Sonia tried to let go of his arm out of habit, but then changed her mind and held on again.
- Dalkak.
- Dalgeurak.
As Sonia grabbed him, the Skeletons who had been escorting each person naturally took over Maria and Leonis and walked ahead.
And so, only the two of them and the soldiers watching them were left in that spot.
"I didn't know I was this popular. Even Miss Sonia has fallen for me."
"Stop it."
Daniel was trying to brush off the situation with a joke. But Sonia wouldn't let him go, simply stating her intentions.
Until then, Daniel hadn't lost his smile.
"You know what I'm going to do?"
"Whatever it is."
"Miss Sonia."
Sonia's hand, which had grabbed Daniel's arm, was detached very easily.
Even though she had used as much strength as she could.
Her body, not long freed from the curse of mana, was so frail that even Daniel, who wasn't usually one to be overly considerate, worried her arm might break.
Though it was a relief that she seemed to be regaining her health these days.
"There's a woman who stakes her life for a man who likes her but doesn't love her yet. Are you trying to turn me into that kind of lousy man who can't even put his life on the line for the woman he likes?"
Sonia looked surprised at his attitude, which seemed to grasp her entire situation even though she hadn't said anything.
But her expression quickly composed itself.
"You're all Maria unnie has left now."
"I only have Miss Maria too. She is no different from my light. Miss Sonia."
Words of confession that should be spoken to a loved one only at the most perfect moment.
But Daniel's confession held only bitterness, and his intended recipient wasn't even in a state to hear it.
A moment where both the person concerned and the one who could empathize couldn't hide their bitter feelings.
"Anyway, Miss Maria and that Dungeon Lord have become unable to live under the same sky. So then... we have no choice but to stake both our lives."
"... Master's common sense is different from a human's. You can't know what will become of you."
"As long as Miss Maria can live."
"Even if that life is worse than death?"
"Even so."
A resolve prepared for death, or a life worse than death.
Gone was the thug-like impression he usually gave off; only one man remained there.
Only a person who wanted to protect the one he loved.
"You're selfish."
"So was Miss Sonia. You didn't even try talking to Mr. Leonis before you acted, right?"
"... That's true. I was in no position to curse at Mr. Daniel."
After exchanging bitter smiles for a moment, the victims soon showed genuine smiles.
"I wish you success, Mr. Daniel."
"I hope things go well for you too, Miss Sonia. And just call me Daniel. No need for 'Mr.'"
"You too."
And so they parted.
With a camaraderie too strong for a brief connection, and with farewells too light for a situation where they might never see each other again.
- 3 -
"Fine. Do so."
"Huh...?"
However, unlike the weighty conversation and resolve of those victims, his proposal was accepted very easily.
As if she had been waiting for it.
"The condition of the contract is one. Daniel Smith becomes my 'retainer.' In exchange, Maria Olas's life shall be spared. Even if it is a life where she can achieve nothing at all, if that is acceptable, no matter what happens."
"No matter... what happens?"
"Yes. No matter what happens. Even if... something like this happens."
That thing happened the moment the Dungeon Lord Libertas nodded.
"Huaaak!!"
"Maria!!"
Maria Olas, who from the moment Daniel had mentioned the 'contract' had vented her fury at him once before bending over and gasping for breath.
She, who had been showing ominous signs all along, suddenly leaped up and tried to swing the shackles binding her hands at Rita.
Kang!
The attempt was simply crushed under the sword of Eve, who was standing beside her.
The shackles were struck down to the floor by the sword, and Eve immediately stepped on them to fix them in place, subduing Maria and preparing to cut off her head.
"It's fine. Eve."
- Ttak!
Evangeline had been seething with hostility, spewing blue light and black mana vapor from her mouth and eyes in her rage.
But upon Rita's simple restraint, she immediately calmed down and stood back at her spot, waiting for orders. Such was the swiftness of the calmness she regained that it was unbelievable she had been so fiercely furious just moments ago.
"Miss Maria, why...!"
"Then you expect me to just watch as your life is mortgaged away?! Why...! Why...!! Are you trying to take responsibility for something that happened because of stupid me!"
"Do you not know, Maria?"
The answer to the question came not from Daniel, but from Rita.
Rita, who had stepped up before Maria, now completely prostrate on the floor with her shackled hands pinned down, spoke in a tone as gentle as soothing a child, though without a smile at her lips.
"That is what love is."
"What do you know, you monster...!!"
"Something that makes people the most foolish and stupid. Yet at the same time, can make them the most sublime, or the most brilliant. That is the kind of emotion it is. That is what love is."
Libertas wore a rare smile.
Facing Daniel and Maria, who stared blankly up at her as she spoke words incomprehensible for a being known as a Dungeon Lord.
"I commend your foolish, yet admirable love. Daniel Smith. You shall be a herald for my legion for a long while to come. I will arrange it so you can meet Maria whenever you wish."
"Thank... you..."
"Don't do this...! I said don't!! Daniel!!"
"I love you. My light. Maria."
"I said don't!!!"
As Maria screamed like that.
Daniel Smith became the dungeon's second human.
"I look forward to your service."
It was the moment Libertas secured another person who would become the eyes of the dungeon in the future.
- 4 -
While transporting Maria to Master, Evangeline's eyes swept over Sonia and Maria in turn.
'Your choices have diverged a bit.'
This was probably what Master had talked about in the past, that 'butterfly effect.'
It was that story about time travel she had told jokingly, about how if something in the past changed, the outcome could change uncontrollably.
'Well, it should be fine.'
But Evangeline didn't make a big deal out of her worries.
It was certainly a plausible story that if one tried to overturn the flow of an era with individual power, that flow could grow mercilessly.
However, what if it wasn't an individual, but a group trying to change that flow in one direction?
'Because 'we' will protect Master in the end.'
Evangeline's faith was based on that.
It was true that she, who had met Master first and had to protect her, had arrived at the earliest point, but the others would cross over gradually as well.
All she had to do was hold her sword and guard her master's side until then.
