74
Chapter 74
It's nice that it was this easy to make him an assistant, but I shouldn't let the convenience of it go to my head.
Relationships formed easily are just as easy to break. There was a reason I worked myself to the bone to recruit Aru and Beatrice. Because I risked my life and walked a tightrope to win their hearts, Aru and Beatrice have followed and relied on me for hundreds of years.
But the King of Humans... knowing his personality, he wouldn't betray me after becoming a comrade, but he could vanish without a trace the moment he felt like leaving.
Since this relationship was built on a mere few words.
And trying to put on some kind of show here... isn't easy. A "show" only works if you can draw out the other person's desires, but the King of Humans is someone who knows exactly what his desires are.
Saint Iroel, that impossible love. While she was alive, it couldn't happen because she didn't accept his advances, and now that she's dead, courtship is impossible.
I might be able to fly through the sky or carve paths, but I cannot bring the dead back to life.
The wilderness is an environment where life and death intersect. As a product of the wild, the King of Humans knows that immutable truth more painfully than anyone. That is why he only mourns and misses Iroel, without falling into the trap of denying reality. Thanks to that, he has become a savage with a very healthy mind.
"Assistant? I... want to be a comrade."
"That's the same thing. 'Assistant' is basically a synonym for comrade."
"Is that so? Then you are my assistant?"
"Hey, now that's not right. You're my assistant, John, so how could I be yours?"
"Hmm? Something... something feels off?"
"It's fine, don't worry about it. The world is naturally strange. The faster you adapt to that strangeness, the more of a civilized person you become. John, don't you want to be a civilized person? Like Iroel?"
"...!"
However, I am a hybrid who makes the impossible possible. I can't revive the dead, but I can rekindle the embers of desire.
The King of Humans' eyes widen. A savage reacting instinctively to the word 'Iroel.'
"I am... curious."
"Haha."
"Iroel was... unique. No beast in this forest could think like Iroel."
"That's because Iroel was a product of civilization. Aren't you curious? What exactly is civilization that it could shape a human like Iroel?"
In the primordial wilderness, there was nothing. A world where neither good nor evil existed. It was only natural not to distinguish between the two. Killing someone else's child to save one's own was common practice.
But once civilization emerged, ethics were created among the haves, and doctrines and laws were established to spread those ethics universally.
Then, it was decided which actions were evil and which were good. Those who killed another's child to save their own were met with rightful condemnation.
Saint Iroel, and my Lord Maria.
Both were products of civilization.
And, within our current party.
There is one "good person" shaped by the civilization called the Church.
"Dame Beatrice, could you step inside for a moment?"
Universally speaking, she isn't a good person but closer to a fallen villain. However, since good and evil are subjective, by my standards—as someone who denies civilization—she is a good person.
"My Lord, did you call for me?"
With her brown ponytail swaying, Beatrice entered the hut. I grabbed her shoulder and pulled her in front of me. Like a salesman describing a product.
"The Holy Church where Iroel grew up! Dame Beatrice here was also born and raised in that very Holy Church! Right, Dame Beatrice?"
"Ahem, that is true... but My Lord, why must you subject an apostate like me to such a trial...?"
"Though she currently resides with me in the Demon Beast Forest, she was once the one who held the Holy Church in her grip! The entire Holy Nation used to tremble at a single word from Dame Beatrice!"
"Ooh! A great person! I have never seen such a thing!"
"I am from the Holy Nation, but I didn't exactly 'hold it in my grip' or anything... *Sigh*."
Beatrice looked troubled by my flamboyant introduction, but she soon gave up and let out a deep sigh.
Haha, you chose this Lord. Just grit your teeth and bear it.
"Excessive modesty is not a virtue! To think that the finest Holy Knight of the Holy Nation would be so humble!"
"That's... not modesty. I really wasn't in such a high position..."
"Ooh! The finest in the Holy Nation! I don't know what that means, but it sounds incredible! You seem somewhat similar to Iroel!"
"That is simply because you have only ever seen two human women, John... *Sigh*, I suppose it's because we grew up in similar environments."
Coupled with the King of Humans' enthusiastic reactions, Beatrice finally surrendered and accepted it. A good attitude.
"Cool! Amazing! So you are a civilized person!"
"Yes, yes, that is correct. I am a civilized person."
"Civilized person! Iroel! Civilized person! Iroel!"
Thump, thump, thump—!
The excited savage begins jumping up and down. The sight is reminiscent of an orangutan. When I jump, I create a gust of wind, but when this giant savage jumps in place, the ground and the hut shake.
"Kiiiing... a monster... there's a monster..."
Aru, who remembers being disciplined by the savage, shivers in fear. She clings to my back like a caterpillar. Is someone who hides behind their Captain when seeing a monster really a wolf?
"Yikes, you might want to hold back on the jumping once we head out into civilized society. People might mistake you for a gorilla that escaped from a zoo. Or maybe King Kong, not a gorilla."
Rub, rub—.
Giving a casual piece of advice to the excited King of Humans, I placed my hand on Aru's forehead. She usually acts so prickly, but perhaps after tasting the King of Humans' finger, she realized how precious I am; Aru quietly accepted my petting.
Man, that feels satisfying. You arrogant wolf, this is exactly what you deserve.
"...Ah! Come to think of it, must we leave this place to become your comrade?"
The jumping King of Humans suddenly asks a question as if remembering something.
"Of course. We have to travel together to be comrades. Don't you want to go to the civilized world?"
"No. I want to go. I will go. But if I must leave this place... I will step away for a moment."
"Why? Do you have something to pack?"
When I asked, the King of Humans turned around. He left a few words behind with a hearty smile.
"I must say goodbye to Iroel."
*****
The sunset is already beginning. Watching the red sun slowly sink, I enjoy the rushing cool breeze.
A line hangs at the edge of the sun. A bright yellow line. The sun possesses a line that neither the stars nor the moon have. That is why I hate the sun.
If one were to pick the most equitable being for all people, who would it be? Most people would probably choose the sun. Even the savage sitting beside me now is receiving its light.
The sun is merciful. The vast majority of people live without knowing the sun's grace, yet it showers them with sunlight regardless.
"Iroel."
Does this savage know of such grace?
I suspect he does.
"I... am curious about this place called civilization, where Iroel grew up."
That is likely why he built Saint Iroel's grave in a sunny spot.
Even going so far as to set up a tombstone with crookedly carved letters.
"After Iroel died, I was lonely. I wasn't happy. There was no one by my side."
I am currently standing on a cliff. Below the precipice lies a vast river that seems to stretch on forever. It is the largest river in the Demon Beast Forest, once ruled by the Fish King Kraken.
A single tombstone stands solitary atop the cliff. "Iroel" is written in large letters across the stone.
"But then, a human appeared for the first time. He said he came from the same place as Iroel. He knows how to speak. The same words Iroel spoke."
The King of Humans knelt before the tombstone, stroking it with his thick fingers. Words flowed from his lips, whether they were soliloquies or conversations with a spirit.
"I'll follow him. Because Iroel told me to. To be happy. I love Iroel, so I must listen to her."
The King of Humans stands up. His tanned skin and thick black hair stand out in contrast to the brilliant sunlight.
Having finished his final farewell to Iroel, the King of Humans sat on the edge of the cliff. I quietly sat beside him and spoke.
"So you came to pay your respects to Iroel's grave."
"That is right. Iroel's lower body was gone, but her upper body remained. So I buried her here."
"Hmm, it feels a bit weird to call her my sister-in-law. Anyway, let me say hello too. Ms. Iroel? I'll take good care of your boy on my way."
"...You are quite optimistic. You seem to find joy in everything. A smile is always playing on your lips."
"Ahaha, I've always been one to laugh a lot."
I waved my hand at Iroel's grave. I wonder if Iroel saw my greeting; she probably can't.
Hehe, the King of Humans you raised so carefully is mine now. Just shut up in the afterlife and admire my wicked smile.
"Laughter is a good thing. It makes a person's life joyful and rich. Iroel taught me that."
"She taught you something great. Right, life is already tough enough, so you have to laugh hard to get your energy back."
"After Iroel died, I couldn't laugh for a long time. But Iroel was right. As time passed, laughter slowly began to emerge again."
"That's wonderful. Being able to smile again after losing your heart... that's not an easy thing to do."
With Iroel's tombstone behind him, the King of Humans stretched his arms back. His palms supported the flat ground. Just two steps forward, and there was a sheer vertical drop.
Following that vertical line down leads to another vertical boundary called the water's surface. A surface running parallel to the earth where the King of Humans and I are sitting. I shifted my gaze toward the invisible end of that water.
All that could be seen were the horizon and the sunset.
Whoosh—.
The wind brushing past my cheeks is cool. It is a peaceful atmosphere, unlike the usual Demon Beast Forest. Behind us, Aru, Beatrice, and Uriel are hiding behind their respective trees watching the King of Humans, but neither he nor I particularly care.
"Are you sure it's okay to leave Iroel behind?"
"Leave her behind? I do not understand. Iroel is dead."
"I mean, Ms. Iroel is buried here right now. I'm asking if you're okay with leaving her grave to follow us."
"Iroel said. The soul and the body are separate."
Clatter—.
The King of Humans fumbled through his leather clothes and pulled something out.
What he produced along with his words was a silver cross. A piece of metal glittering under the yellow light of the twilight sun.
"Iroel's body is here, in the earth."
"But?"
"Her soul is in the cross."
"Ho."
"I believe it. Because Iroel gave it to me. There is no way she would give it to me without a reason."
"So you believe Ms. Iroel's soul is inside that cross?"
"That is right. I always carry the cross with me. Therefore, Iroel is by my side."
A steadfast faith underpinned the King of Humans' words. Just as I worship Maria, he seems to worship Iroel. At this rate, they might actually become gods due to such faith.
John. That is the name of one of the twelve apostles who served the Messiah. The twelve apostles are famous for all betraying the Messiah, save for John, who alone remained faithful. Perhaps because of that, he was the only one who lived out his natural life.
There must be a reason why Iroel gave the King of Humans the name 'John.' The King of Humans, who would have to spend a long time alone after her death without a single person to hold onto. Loneliness often allows wicked things to take root.
An unchanging faith. Though it would be more accurate to say that faith should be turned into love, I suspect Iroel gave him the name 'John' because she worried for the King of Humans who would become lonely. Hoping that the love he harbored would never change.
As my thoughts reached that point, a mischievous idea suddenly occurred to me. A rather wicked thought, intended to crack the foundation Iroel had laid.
"Excuse me, Mr. John."
I spoke to the King of Humans, who was gazing at the sunset.
"Yes?"
"Twenty years have already passed. They say the landscape changes every ten years, so enough time has passed for the world to change twice since Ms. Iroel passed away."
"That is so."
"Why not look for a new connection? I'm sure Ms. Iroel would want that for you. A person only truly becomes happy when they have a partner. Loving the deceased Ms. Iroel will only leave you lonely for the rest of your life."
I spoke those words softly.
The King of Humans turned his head.
A pair of eyes gazed intently at me.
"Iroel always called me 'John' or 'sweetie'."
"Is that so?"
"But one day, when I realized my own savagery and felt ashamed of it, Iroel called me by a different name for the first time."
"What was it?"
"A man. Not a savage, but a man. That I could tear into raw meat and hunt beasts with my bare hands because I was a man. That is what Iroel said."
After saying this, the King of Humans took a deep breath. Then, with a wide grin, he shouted toward the vast sky.
"Death cannot part the love of a man!"
"A man!" "A man!" "A man!"—the shout echoed back to him.
That was a vow. A vow where the King of Humans pledged an unchanging love to the dead Iroel. As he left Iroel's grave, it was a commitment to himself that though their bodies were apart, he would never abandon her in his heart.
"Hehe."
I let out a hollow laugh. It was because I had abandoned the playful idea I had just had.
The King of Humans' love was not something that could be broken by mere words. To put it in a metaphor—yes, it was like trying to corrupt a person like Maria.
Honestly, whether it's Iroel or Maria, these Saints are really something.
"That is my answer to your words."
"Fine, fine. That was a truly wonderful answer."
"Praise is a good thing. Iroel said that praise makes a person's life more prosperous."
The King of Humans looked at me again. A hearty smile played on his lips. A smile without a single trace of darkness.
There is an unspoken rule among all the clowns of the world. That is, one may give their love, but never their heart. For a clown who loses their heart and can no longer laugh cannot make others laugh.
Yet, this man, the King of Humans, is smiling so brightly. Though he lost his heart, he did not lose his soul. That is why he can smile.
I, who had my very heart stolen by Maria, I wonder if I could ever do the same.