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Sunset (30)
I pushed past Kyle and moved forward.
I picked up the severed left leg that had fallen to the ground, casually tossed it behind me, and drew the sword from my pocket.
The somehow lukewarm feel of the hilt felt familiar in my palm.
The air was filled with a stench.
I could tolerate scattered limbs, but when burst or crushed humans lay around, the stench permeated even hundreds of paces away.
It was a smell I hadn't encountered in a long time, but it wasn't particularly welcome.
There were many demons in sight, but at least it hadn't started with Estelle or Seraphina being attacked.
Even if only one of them had been harmed, it would have been quite a headache.
I kicked off the ground towards the demon in Kyle's direction.
Its movements were grotesque.
As soon as I drew my sword, as if to intimidate me, it deliberately twisted its entire body, crawled on all fours like a beast, then instantly rose to two feet and sprang up.
It seized the hair of a nobleman who was fleeing nearby, a nobleman who even on the battlefield had quite stylish hair, and threw him as bait.
Though it didn't seem particularly tasty, as it took one bite then ripped him to shreds and flung him away.
It seems its palate was too refined, preferring a high-class Edelgard delicacy over some nameless low-ranking noble.
The demon rushing towards me disgustingly splattered blood and flesh it had held in its mouth.
A red mist obscured my vision, and the metallic stench made me feel like gagging with every breath.
The creature, crawling on all fours, bit into a nearby corpse, then repeatedly spat it out towards me.
It was difficult to approach carelessly.
The ground was squelching.
The green land, overgrown with weeds until just now, had turned into a swamp-like mess, tangled with blood and internal organs.
With every step, my foot sank slightly, and while dodging flying flesh, as soon as I stepped on something, a soft, collapsing sensation was felt beneath.
At that moment, something burst beneath my feet.
I lost my balance with a small explosion and fell.
I couldn't stand up.
But I didn't just lie there.
Barely supporting my upper body with my elbows, I lifted my head.
The demon was slowly approaching.
Pushing through the squelching ground on all fours.
It alternated its gaze between me, Kyle, and the surrounding corpses.
And it didn't seem like Kyle could escape.
So I put on the most pained expression I could, twisting my body and writhing in place.
At that, the demon grinned at me.
Its torn mouth seemed to reach its ears.
If it weren't for its crawling on all fours, it looked like it would have been complimented on its physique.
In any case, it spat out a sticky lump of flesh from its mouth.
I didn't dodge.
Because if I dodged vigorously, it would aim at Kyle instead of me.
The lump of flesh accurately hit my stomach.
The lump of flesh that slowly began to adhere was incredibly hot.
And slowly, it began to melt my flesh and burrow inside.
It wasn't unbearable.
It was much better than being burned in the square.
Nevertheless, I first diligently shed tears.
And I begged for my life.
Making myself look as ugly and disgusting as possible.
Tears and snot mixed and fell to the muddy ground.
"P-please save me, p-please save..."
My voice cracked.
The demon made a cackling sound, watching me.
It was a sound identical to human laughter, very much like joyful laughter.
It approached slowly, very slowly.
Demons tend to enjoy it when someone is in agony, begging for their life.
They also prefer to eat raw if possible.
I like sashimi too, but I don't particularly like eating things alive.
It buried its face in my stomach.
And took a large bite.
I twisted my entire body, screaming, then grabbed the demon by the back of its neck.
And with my left hand, I held its neck, and with my right, I drew the sword from my waist.
Gathering faint magic at my fingertips, I ignited a flame.
And I frantically stabbed the blade into the demon's face and neck.
The demon, with the blade embedded in its face, screamed but couldn't shake me off.
It probably would be flustered if the steak it was about to eat suddenly wielded a knife and attacked.
The me I saw in my dream could easily cleave such disgusting things in half with just a single sword, without needing to do these repulsive acts, but I wonder when I'll be able to imitate that.
The thoroughly flustered demon's claws raked my back, and its teeth bit into my shoulder.
However, there aren't many creatures that can live long with blades stuck in their neck and face.
I spat out a mouthful of blood, then struggled to get up but collapsed back down.
And after catching my breath, I looked back.
It was only a few high-ranking demons... yet, even if it was a surprise attack, corpses were scattered everywhere.
And Kyle was still staring blankly at me.
Seeing him make a face like he was about to cry, this time I smiled.
"...Somehow, you got lucky and survived."
"It hurts too much, I can't even stand. But why on earth..."
Kyle asked in a hoarse voice, looking at my gnawed-at stomach.
I slowly dragged my body and sat down beside Kyle, then picked up the left leg that was still lying nearby.
And placed it in front of him.
"I can't stand either."
Kyle placed the severed leg against the stump and tried to use the same technique he had used before when he pierced my hand with a fork.
But perhaps his concentration was disturbed by the pain, as only a faint light flickered, and the leg didn't reattach.
"Hmph, don't waste your energy, just wait."
"...Did that person just now need to be killed?"
"......Don't talk to me. I'm in agonizing pain."
"......."
Not long after, Estelle came running.
Her white clothes were stained with blood and dirt.
Estelle didn't spare a glance for the piles of corpses around, nor for Kyle, who was groaning with a severed leg.
She stumbled and ran only towards me.
Estelle knelt before me and gently touched my wound with trembling hands.
The warm, soft light emanating from her hands enveloped my body.
Estelle didn't let go of me even after finishing the healing.
She just hugged me tightly.
Her body was trembling madly.
"La-Lavin... I was scared... scared you'd die. Really... really scared."
Her voice was choked with sobs.
Tears soaked my shoulder.
Estelle continued to bury her face in my chest and weep bitterly.
It seemed as though only I existed in her sight.
Without a word, I slowly patted her back, then spoke softly.
"...Can you reattach Kyle's leg?"
"Ah, uh-huh."
At my words, Estelle made a reluctant expression, then picked up Kyle's leg that was lying on the ground and simply reattached it.
Kyle looked down at his leg with a complicated expression, then slowly stood up.
Pushing away Estelle, who was hugging me, and following Kyle seemed odd, so I just watched his retreating back.
While I was holding Estelle tight, Seraphina appeared from somewhere and looked at me.
This time, even seeing me holding another woman tightly in front of her, she didn't say much before leaving.
Thankfully.
****
It's not that surprising, but countless people died.
If they were just ordinary humans, I might have thought, 'Oh, the demons have more food now,' but the problem was that most of them were people who were supposed to fight alongside us.
Thanks to that, we were able to safely crawl back into the city, but unfortunately, we couldn't defend from the well-maintained walls we had originally.
Because from the brave knights to the noble high-ranking individuals, everyone was diligently running in the opposite direction to defeat the surging demons.
Anyway, today's task is simple.
All the refugees who have gathered from somewhere, and the humans begging that they'll starve to death soon because they have no food, are driven out beyond the city walls.
If they approach with spears and swords instead of begging for food, I make an example of them.
Occasionally, when demons invade, I grit my teeth and diligently fend them off.
Again, ordinary people gathered from somewhere are driven out beyond the city walls.
Even if they don't rush in with spears and swords after hearing rumors, commoners who sneak in are hanged in the village square under various fabricated charges.
Occasionally, when demons invade, I fend them off appropriately.
Even when those who are merely starving come, I don't open the city gates.
Even when those too weak from hunger to attack cling to the city walls and look up, I don't meet their gaze.
When demons invade, I push them back just enough so they can't climb the city walls.
And again, people gathered from somewhere.
"...Can't we let them in this time?"
Kyle, who hadn't properly spoken to me until now, said softly.
"How many times do I have to say no..."
And I met his eyes.
My reflection was visible in Kyle's golden eyes.
I looked shabby.
"No."
"...Weren't you fighting all this time to save people like that?"
"No."
"Then why am I even here?"
"Why are you asking me?"
I took one step closer to Kyle.
"Kyle, I asked why you're asking me."
At that, Kyle bit her lower lip and looked up at me.
"You should go and save everyone."
The height difference is so significant, why did I used to think he was similar in height to me?
"You should have gone, killed the demons, and easily repelled them instead of just watching like an idiot with your leg cut off."
She can't do anything, so why did I think she was someone who could do everything?
"Why are you only asking me? Don't ask me, go beg Levina."
"Your sister only listens to you."
"If you know that, then you go charm her."
Every time I spoke, Kyle trembled slightly.
His eyes seemed a little moist.
"Why are you acting like this is all new to you, like this is the first time such things have happened?
You also cut people down easily and burned villages.
You looked at me like I was a worm, tried to kill me, and now you're telling me you'll even be my friend.
And then you completely ignore me just because I didn't let in some commoners who might be heretics, or you ask if there was a need to kill one dog who turned tail and ran! Did they all need to be killed!? Huh? Did they all need to be killed!?"
I didn't like it.
"They died because there was a need, why on earth are you asking me about it?
I wanted to be by Seraphina's side, but I'm always dragging you along, and why do I have to hear 'Kyle says this,' 'someone says that,' from my fiancée? I ran away with Levina, and then, as expected of an uneducated commoner with nothing in her head, she handed someone over to the church to be burned alive, and I wanted to marry the person I love and live peacefully because life was hard, but then you barge in on my wedding day and cause such a fucking mess, why are you like this, you fucking bastard? Why are you doing this to me!?"
I don't know what I didn't like.
Anyway, after passionately rattling on, seeing Kyle just staring at me, I lightly flung a few stones like slingshots with a spell above the humans gathered in front of the city gates, chasing them away.
Even while I did that, Kyle just kept looking at me.
Seraphina's words, "You haven't improved at all," echoed in my ears.
Still, it's better than last time. Right now.
I want to say something like that, but I don't see anyone to say it to.
I don't see anyone who would just tell me everything's alright, without expecting anything in return.
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