43
Chapter 43
With Aru's help, I pulled the spear that had been agonizingly stabbing my abdomen, and then I immediately poured a recovery potion over the wound.
What would I have done if I hadn't brought this? Then again, if I hadn't had potions, I wouldn't have attempted such a perilous feat in the first place.
The recovery potion flowed into the skin through the gaping wound. My torn internal organs healed moment by moment.
Aru watched me with a gaze full of worry.
"Sss, ah, ow, it stings a lot!"
"Whine... Young Demon, are you really feeling better now...?"
"I have to be. I have absolutely no desire to become a cripple."
"Whine, whine...."
With her waist and head lowered, Aru pressed her face against my abdomen.
A moist and soft mass of flesh touched my stomach.
"Hehe, what are you doing?"
"Mmm... lick, lick...."
"Are you actually licking me right now? Look at you, you've become a total dog."
"Grrr...! I'm not a dog...!"
"Whoa, whoa, calm down. Just like a wolf pup, you were sobbing and crying just a second ago, and now you're showing your teeth."
"Bark... so stop saying things like that. Bark."
"I'm the one who decides that, you brat."
Aru curled her body up and continued to lick my stomach. Looking down at her, I slowly raised my hand and placed it atop Aru's head.
Aru didn't reject me. She let out a small 'whine....' for a moment, but she didn't resist. This was a huge improvement.
"Come to think of it, you said this felt good earlier, right?"
"Whine, whine...."
"You can't even deny it."
Rustle-.
I fluttered my hand like a fan, stroking Aru's hair. Aru stayed still.
Driven by a mischievous curiosity, I tried pressing down firmly on Aru's head. Even though the feeling of being crushed should have been unpleasant enough, Aru didn't struggle.
"Whine... lick, lick-."
She simply kept moving her tongue diligently, sweeping over my scarred stomach.
"This is fun. Really fun."
"Bark...?"
"Aru had fun too, right? I mean this prank!"
"Grrr... Bark bark! Don't play pranks! I hate it!"
"What are you talking about? Why stop something so great?"
As I spoke mockingly, Aru's face turned red. She bit her lower lip and struggled to speak.
"Grrr... I-I was scared...! I didn't know it was a prank! Bark bark...!"
"Things like this are only fun when the person involved doesn't know! Where's the fun if you know?"
"Bark! It's not fun at all! Don't ever do that again!"
"And if I refuse?"
"Hiss...! I-if you refuse...!"
"What, are you going to hit me? Aru, attacking me?"
"Whine...."
Dejected, Aru's head drooped on its own. Burying her face in my stomach, she focused on licking the wound again.
If it weren't for the stiff ears and the bushy tail, her submissive appearance would make one think she was an ordinary Dog Beastman. How could this be a wolf, the pinnacle of nobility?
"Aru, you're no match for me."
"...."
"Hehehe, it means no matter what you do, you're ultimately in the palm of my hand."
Whispering secretly, I cupped Aru's face with my hand. Her soft cheeks were squished like a pressed balloon.
"Do you understand?"
"Whine...."
"Answer me."
"I understand... bark bark... b-but!"
With her cheeks still comically squished, Aru's lips trembled slightly.
What is it, what are you trying to say?
"Even if you keep playing pranks, do it safely! Bark bark!"
"Safely?"
"Things as dangerous as today! I hate it! My heart almost stopped!"
Ah, she was actually worrying about me.
The three most useless worries in the world are worrying about politicians, celebrities, and Joker.
How foolish.
"If you don't bet your life on a magic show, there's no tension."
"Tension! It's not important! Bark bark! I don't want Young Demon to die!"
"I'm the one deciding how to use my life, so why are you interfering?"
"Bark! Young Demon, you're my Captain now! You can't die!"
"Who said anyone's dying? Betting your life on a gamble and committing suicide are two different things, kid."
"Bark! Bark bark bark bark! Bark bark bark bark bark!"
Gosh, so noisy. How does Aru never get tired of barking? Doesn't her throat even hurt?
Sigh-.
I frowned at the noisy barking and turned my head. In the night sky, the full moon was being covered by clouds. The pouring blue light began to fade.
As the light of the full moon vanished, Aru's body, which had briefly become an adult, began to return to its original state. Her height shrunk, her stature decreased, and the length of the fur on her nose and hair shortened.
The wolf girl returned to the shaggy-haired Aru I knew.
"Whine... This is uncomfortable."
"Uncomfortable?"
"My clothes ripped a lot when my body grew because of the full moon. Bark."
"Really? You're right. Here."
I pushed myself up from my recovered body, walked toward where the bag was, and brought the entire bag over. Then, I pulled out a few pieces of clothing and handed them to Aru.
"Which one is the most comfortable? Pick one and try it on."
"Bark... this one. And this."
What Aru chose were a stretchy tank top and dolphin shorts. Since they didn't exist in this era, I had knitted them myself on the way here by carriage, and here they are being put to use.
Why make things girls wear, you ask? Who knows if they'll be useful for a disguise later. No one knows if I'll end up disguising myself as a man in his fifties, a grandmother in her seventies, or a fresh-faced girl.
Don't confuse this with the Demon King. The Demon King transcends the shell of the body and was intersex from birth, so he can switch freely between male and female if he wishes.
To recognize the Demon King, it's better to focus on the black sunglasses rather than the appearance. The person who suits sunglasses best in the world—that is the Demon King.
While I was having those useless thoughts, Aru, after receiving the clothes, immediately started to strip her rags to change....
"W-wait! You're not planning to change right here, are you?"
"Bark? Wasn't that why you gave them to me?"
"You little brat, how dare you do that in front of your Captain! Go behind there and change!"
"Bark... dirty. Dirty demon."
"You're the dirty one! Nobody's interested in a body like yours!"
Perhaps because she lived among wolves, Aru has almost no inhibitions in her actions. I don't mind much, but it would be a disaster if she acted like this when she goes out into human society. Above all, she shouldn't carelessly undress in front of a superior like me. It's not polite.
Well, there's plenty of time. I can just educate her over the next 500 years. Aru obeys me absolutely anyway.
Grumbling at my order, Aru gathered the tank top and dolphin shorts. Then, she walked behind the tree I pointed to.
Left all alone. Perhaps because I went through something so intense, drowsiness washed over me and my eyelids began to close. I lay down on the soil covered in grass.
Vibrate-.
My pocket rang. The rosary the Saint gave me must be ringing again. Why has it been doing this since a while ago? I should figure out things this close to me quickly to avoid trouble, but I'm too sleepy, so I'll just take a nap first.......
My consciousness cut off there.
*****
It is pitch black.
A space filled with a fog of darkness in every direction.
Within it, there is one person filled with a light aura. She is a woman with brilliant blonde hair, more vivid than gold, and radiant golden eyes that are particularly striking.
Her appearance is like Michael descending from heaven. If words like justice or hope were manifested, they would look like that. She is a little sun filling the space with righteous light. A dazzling radiance fills the surroundings.
The Hero of Justice, Cheonwoong Shine Stella.
The human woman who received overflowing respect and praise from everyone on the continent stands before me.
Her pure gold eyes are bloodshot, as if cracked. What, what's wrong with her? Is she sick?
Her cherry-like lips, which had been tightly shut, open. Through the gap, a sharp sentence leaks out.
"Joker... you are an existence that should never have been born."
"I've never heard of anyone as wicked and bizarre as you. I feel like any devil would be unable to even present their business card before you."
"A crystal made of pure essence of evil. That is the only way to describe you."
Wait, why is Stella so angry at me?
If I were hearing those words... ah, right.
It was when I sent her a 'gift' for Stella's birthday. It was a gift that held an immense meaning for Stella.
"Hehehe."
The 'me' in the darkness laughs. It is the past me.
Ugh, look at that gloomy laughter. That friendless loser. He hasn't changed a bit, then or now.
"You're angry, right? Angry, right? Angry, right? Angry, right?"
"...."
"You want to kill me, don't you? You want to cut off my head and take a bloody revenge, don't you? An unstoppable murderous intent is surging like a fountain, isn't it?"
"...."
"Stella! Don't hold back! Kill me just like this! Take your revenge! And then you, too, become a criminal! Break your iron rule and step across the forbidden line of corruption! Enjoy the freedom of being unrestrained!"
Stella silently listens to my sweet talk. At this point, I wonder what reaction she showed after I finished speaking.
"...No."
"Hmm?"
"I... will not play into your tricks...!"
"Bwahahaha! Are you serious? Did you say that sincerely? Amazing! As expected, you are perfect, Stella!"
"Ugh...! Y-you devilish bastard...!"
"Hehe, you know that's the highest compliment for a villain like me, right? But my pride is a bit hurt! To be compared to a mere devil!"
How foolish I was back then, in the days when I didn't know love because I hadn't met the Saint. How cute. Both me and Stella.
While I was thinking that, reminiscing about old memories, the silhouette of another woman slowly emerged from the darkness.
The last hope of the continent, the Saint Maria.
Unlike Stella, she isn't draped in golden radiance. Instead, faded lips, snow-white hair, and a worn, black nun's habit are the first things that catch the eye. Bandages stained with dark red blood are wrapped tightly around the Saint's eyes.
A light lingers around her, though not as bright as Stella's. Rather, it is subtle. That makes her feel even more special and beautiful.
She is the ideal for those who follow the Lord. No, she is the ideal itself.
If the word nobility were to take form, it would look like the Saint. Even a small gesture overflows with holiness, soaking the surroundings. A piety derived from faith dwells deeply within the Saint's pure white presence.
"I shall embrace you."
The words the Saint spoke to me were far shorter than Stella's. Yet, unlike with Stella, I could not offer any response. A wicked creature like me simply couldn't understand a human like the Saint.
I wonder if the Saint could have said the same if I had treated her the same way I treated Stella.
Even so, I cannot imagine a future where the Saint falls to corruption.
Unlike Stella, who walked the path of corruption, drenched in drugs at the very end-.
- Buzz. Buzz. Buzz....
- Bark bark! Demon! Young Demon! Wake up! This is weird!
Sounds drift in from outside the space.
I'm used to this by now. This is the space within a dream. A place that awakens memories sleeping in my subconscious.
And those sounds from outside are the sounds of reality. Aru is calling me.
- Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz....
- Captain! Young Demon! Wake up already! Bark bark bark! Bark bark bark bark bark!
That damn wolf pup is acting up again.
I should wake up before my eardrums burst. The method is simple.
Take a deep breath, and on the exhale, one, two, three!
"Hup!"
Flash. Right, this is how I should wake up.
"Bark bark! Young Demon! You're awake!"
The first thing that occupied my vision after escaping the darkness was none other than Aru. Aru was straddling me, her arms pressed against my chest, shaking me wildly.
Thanks to that, I feel nauseous. *Ack*.
"S-stop... I feel sick...."
"Bark! Look at this! Look!"
"Why... I was sleeping so well, why did you wake me up...."
I was so glad to see the Saint's face after so long. Though, if I had dreamed a bit more, I probably would have had a nocturnal emission like those nights in Tartarus.
"Look at this! Bark bark! This is weird!"
Ignoring my resentful grumbling, Aru made a fuss and held something out in front of me.
My gaze followed Aru's arm. At the end was an object with two bars added, measuring about 12 centimeters by 7 centimeters.
It emanated a brilliant, pure white radiance. Just as when the Saint releases holy power like a spray of water to treat someone.
Buzz-.
Whoosh-.
The Saint's rosary trembles. At the same time, it emits a light on a level similar to when I beat my eldest brother, Retavis, to death.
"...What? Why is it doing this?"
"Bark! It's weird! That's why I woke you!"
"Hmm, it certainly is strange. Good call on waking me."
"Bark bark! I did a good job!"
This is certainly an unusual occurrence. After giving Aru some meat for doing a good job, I took the cross.
Buzz-.
As it was grasped in my hand, the cross vibrated even more strongly than before. It is an incomprehensible phenomenon.
"Mmm... as expected, meat from the Young Demon tastes the best... munch."
Buzz- Buzz- Buzz- Buzz-.
The sound of Aru chewing the meat was quickly buried under the vibration of the cross. I turned the cross, flipped it, and examined it closely.
But nothing changed. Only my suspicions about this bizarre phenomenon grew.
In the silent dawn where deep contemplation bloomed, only the vibration existed vividly.
Buzz- Buzz- Buzz- Buzz-.
Looking at it for too long, my eyes began to sting. The light surrounding the cross was blinding.
I closed my eyes. One of my five senses, sight, was cut off. Then, the other four senses became clearer. One of those is the sense of hearing, which catches the sounds of the world.
Buzz-.
Buzz-.
Buzz- Buzz- Buzz- Buzz-.
Buzz- Buzz- Buzz- Buzz-.
There is a sound. The sound of air trembling. It is the sound produced every time the cross vibrates.
Buzz-.
Buzz-.
Buzz- Buzz- Buzz- Buzz-.
Buzz- Buzz- Buzz- Buzz-.
There is a certain rule. No, perhaps I should call it a rhythm or a beat. Regardless, the important thing is that it is 'consistent.'
One long burst. A short pause, then one short burst. Another short pause, one short, one long, and two short bursts. Then a short pause again, one short, one long, and two short bursts. This process repeats infinitely.
Buzz-.
Buzz-.
Buzz- Buzz- Buzz- Buzz-.
Buzz- Buzz- Buzz- Buzz-.
...What is this?
There is no variation in pitch in the vibration. There is only a difference in length and timing. This short but peculiar beat repeats continuously.
"Could this possibly be...."
Something comes to mind. It's absurd. However, the entire situation itself is the most absurd thing of all. Isn't the Saint's rosary an object that traveled back in time from the future with me?
The first thing that came to mind upon hearing the vibrations was Morse Code.
A communication method devised by the Empire's Prime Minister. This simple and crude system of dots and dashes would later become a great weapon for the Continental Army in the war between the Continent and the Demon Realm. A communication system that only humans could understand was truly terrifying.
Of course, knowing the importance of information and encryption, I had learned it in advance.
"Why is Morse Code here now... it shouldn't be invented for another five hundred years!"
I have absolutely no idea how this is possible.
Nonetheless.
Nonetheless, if this really is Morse Code.
...I won't lose anything by decoding it.
Buzz-.
Long line.
T.
Buzz-.
Small dot.
E.
Buzz- Buzz- Buzz- Buzz-.
Small dot, long line, small dot, small dot.
L.
Buzz- Buzz- Buzz- Buzz-.
Small dot, long line, small dot, small dot.
L.
Combined.
TELL.
Inform. Speak. As a noun, a telephone.
Gulp-.
In the suddenness of the situation, I swallowed hard. My throat felt dry.
I reached out to Aru, who was crouched down and inhaling meat.
"Aru, water."
"Bark."
"Gulp, gulp-."
I quenched my thirst with the canteen Aru handed me. The moisture felt cool, but the warm radiance of the cross brought back the thirst almost immediately.
Actually, it was because of my tension.
It's worth a shot.
Staring straight at the cross, I moved my lips.
"Magic Conversion."
Wuuung-.
I extended my index and middle fingers, sparking magic from the tips of my long nails.
"Communication Magic."
Buzz-.
I channeled it into the vibrating cross.
"Tell."
Wuuuuung-.
Purple energy seeps into the black rosary. The energy of the most fallen god enters the symbol of holiness.
However, there is no adverse reaction. Since the time I received holy power from the Saint, holy power hasn't reacted negatively to me. The same goes for the meeting between demonic energy and the rosary.
Screech, crackle, static-.
A noise like mechanical static occurs. This is the sound that happens when communication magic is activated. It is proof that my theory was correct.
No matter how much 'Tell' magic I use on an object without any measures taken, there's no way there would be a receiver.
Ah, in this case, perhaps I am the receiver.
[Ah-.]
From across the rosary, in an unknown place, the voice of the sender is heard.
[Ah- Ah-.]
Though we were apart for a while, it was a voice I had missed so much.
Plain and slightly faded, yet nobility that transcends all.
Always calm, never rising above a certain tone, yet possessing a weight that prevents anyone from looking down on her.
That was the voice of Saint Maria.
"Joker, can you hear me?"