83 83 "What I have nurtured" (1/2)

We were deep in the woods, running away from the city's soldiers.

My fists are clenched with anger rather than sadness as I'm beginning to understand the situation.

As if concerned for my safety, Dora-chan's hand grabs mine and holds me close.

That alone seems to soothe me slightly, and I gently stroke her head.

Just then, we hear a sound of grass roots parting from deep in the forest, and a woman appears in front of us as we brace ourselves.

It was a person we had never met before, a beautiful woman.

Who's after us?　We thought so, and we braced ourselves, but Jack was the only one gasping in surprise.

”This way,

The person who said that does not seem hostile and beckons us to the back way.

...... What to do?

For a moment, he looks at everyone else for a possible trap, but at that moment Jack does not hesitate to say

”It's okay, brother. She's on our side. Trust me.

It was Jack's voice, full of conviction.

You know Jack?　I was going to ask him about it, but I didn't have time to ask him about it, and then I saw a glimpse of soldiers holding torches from behind me.

If you wait here, the soldiers will surround you. Then it's better to trust Jack's word and act now.

We all nodded to each other and the woman led us deeper into the woods.

Soon there is a hut in the clearing, and the woman takes us inside.

We'll be safe here for a while. It's far from town, and only a few people know about it.

With that, the woman once again turns her head towards us.

The dignified expression on her face and her eyes looking straight at me was somewhat intimidating, but her gaze was not on me or Helu, but on Jack.

It's good to see you, Jack.

”...... Oh, it's been a while, Miss Est.

You knew Jack after all?　But when and where on earth?

As Dora-chan and I stared at each other with a question mark in our eyes, our meaningful conversation continued.

You can see again, can't you?

”Yes, thanks to Mr. Jack. Thank you.

”...... Sorry about that.

”?　Why is Mr. Jack apologizing?

”As you can see from ......, I'm the same kind of monster that took the lives of your parents. It must have been very annoying to have a monster like this meddling with you, who is blind, and doing all sorts of things with you.

Mr. Jack. I told you. You don't judge a man by his looks. And I've noticed you before.

”What?

I did notice, although I only noticed it afterwards. I told you before that I wanted to see you first when my eyes were healed, so I went to see you once when I could see again.

”...... when.

”We didn't meet in person. I just watched from afar. I heard there was a charmer who grows demons out of town, so I went to see him. I saw you there, Mr. Keogh, and you next to him. At first I thought it was you, but it wasn't the atmosphere I knew. Rather, the pumpkin-headed gentleman next to him looked more like someone I knew well, and so

...... I'm sorry I didn't notice. I'm sorry I didn't notice.

No, don't worry about it. And more importantly, I'm glad we were able to pay our respects to that time in this way.

It seems that they are talking to each other, creating a private space for each other.

Well, is it time for me to join the conversation?

”Oh, I'm sorry, brother. This is Mistress Est. Well, I know her for a long time.

”It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Keough. This is the first time we've met in person.

”Oh, oh, nice to meet you.

I also greeted the other party with a straightforward hello.

Esto smiles slightly as he sees us, but his expression changes to a serious one right away.

Do you understand the situation?

It seems that Esto knows what happened in this city.

...... I have a pretty good idea of what I'm looking at, but can you explain it to me?

”Yes. . and there's not much I know about it,

Speaking from Est-san's mouth.

As expected, a few days ago, messengers from the Albrus Empire came to the city, as I had imagined, and first met with the lord, and then went one by one to someone who was in close contact with me, the city's demon cultivator.

After he returned, the atmosphere of the town began to change.

Because Est originally lived deep in the forest, he came to town only occasionally and above all, because he had no direct contact with me, he didn't suffer from memory tampering.

After listening to the story, my sister Helu, who had been next to me until then, clenches her fist in anger.

It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on a new one. ...... I'll never forgive you, and if I ever see you again, I'll kill you for real.

Helle's face was clearly angry as she spat that out. And it was the same for everyone else.

”...... Papa, Rock and I can't forgive anyone who makes Papa suffer .......

When I looked at her, I saw that even her normally meek and innocent face was twisted as if she had bitten down on a bitter worm, and her hand that held my clothes was squeezed tightly.

It's the first time I've seen the face of a girl showing such dark emotions, and I was more heartbroken to see my friends like this than to see how they treated me.

...... Yeah, that's right. I can't forgive them for taking your place in the world, but I can't forgive them for taking your place, either.

That's right. I used to be shocked that my place was taken, but it's not.

She took Locke, Dora-chan, and Jack's place.

Not only that, he took the place of the demons I'd raised.

If it had been just me, I would have been shocked and that would have been the end of it.

But I can't allow people who are not involved in the process of pushing me into this, no matter how much I think about it.

Both Mina and her lord had their memories altered without their permission, and this meant that they had insulted their previous memories.

I'm not angry at myself, but at the fact that the place of my friends is defiled, and I've become aware of this.

Let's do it. I've been tricked. Let's make him pay for it.

Most of all, can we leave Lily, Fitis, and Amarnes alone while they're being robbed?

No, no.