Chapter 9 - Volume 1 (1/2)

Volume 1, Chapter 9: I Became a Saint

Author’s Note:

Once again, the theme of this work is [Love]. It’s the truth.

There’re cruel depictions again this chapter. Human readers, please take notice.

In the end, four people were taken. We children were put into a basement of sorts, but Elea was taken elsewhere.

In other words, there weren’t any particular problems. In the large basement there’re dozens of… Commoners? …Well, anyways, since other children were captured my plan was already done for.

But I’m calm. My heart is already satisfied.

“…… Yuru-sama…”

Shelly’s grasping onto my dress out of anxiety. …… Why are you over here?

“…… Fuun.”

Even though he’s acting tough, Rick’s legs are shaking like a newborn fawn. Fufufu. Rick, you… Why’re you sticking so closely to young ladies who’re only 7 and 4 years old?

It’s times like these that I remember that I’m a Demon.

The soul of a Demon, and the spirit of a Human. The spirit and heart are roughly the same, but there’s a slight difference.

Because the [Me] from that world of dreams passed on their memories, I’ve come to the understanding that their spiritual strength was high.

Of course, thinking about it like that only makes me think that this situation is all the more frightening.

Demons are to live in the Spirit World. Living here, my Spirit is being worn down constantly, and for my Demon soul to grow properly I require the souls of others.

And now, before my eyes, are a number of injured children.

Not given enough food, the children don’t even have the power to cry. Their eyes are vacant and without hope, perhaps due to assault. Without treatment, these children will most likely die.

In front of these children, I feel neither [Anger] nor [Pity].

I…… Instead, I have a profound [Affection] towards the children.

…… Hey, isn’t that funny?

I’m not feeling compassionate, despite it sounding that way. Facing the suffering and wounded children, I find beauty and satisfaction… Just what kind of pervert…?

…… Eh?

“…… That child……”

“… Yuru-sama……?”

My eyes are drawn to a child who lays unmoving amongst several children.

“That child…… Wishes to die…”

Just as those words leave my mouth, my feet begin to walk.

Probably because I forgot to give my usual smile, the wounded children clear my path out of[Fear].

When I approach, the children separate from the child out of fright. To the [Child Who Wishes to Die] I quietly approach and bend down on one knee.

“You…… Is it hard to live?”

There are signs of breath being held all around with my words.

The child looks at me…… And leaks out words which becomes nothing but a hoarse *HyuuHyuu*. But their vacant eyes say:”I want and end to this suffering…… I wish to be at peace…”

“…… That’s no good.”

Touching the child’s cheek softly, I let out those cold words.

At the same time, they flow into me……

The child’s [Pain] and [Despair] satisfies my heart.

Aah…… Human beings are such lovely creatures.

Such a small child… For such a small body and spirit to have such [Sweet Nectar].

“Even if it’s painful, you must live…… That is the fate of humanity.”

They must live their short lives as best they can. They will suffer and grieve… But they must still live.

Wishing to die so easily…… As a [Demon] I will not permit it.

“…[Let there be Light]…”

A dazzling light is emitted with me at the center, and wraps gently around the child.

My [Feelings] become the power of the spell, and healing magic is sent out.

At that time… I noticed.

For the first time, I realized why I could only use Magic directly, and couldn’t use ordinary magic.

It should have been obvious…… It’s because the usage of Magic between Demons and Humans is different.

If I was [There] I would be fine.

“…… Life is a blessing to all!”

Now, let my curse be born.

A curse warped into a blessing. May your life be filled with pain……

With that, I have the feeling that my other spirit was released at last.

With my [Spirit]unleashed, the entire basement was filled with light. This is the magic of a Demon, embodying the Spirit of Light which lacks a will and taking the form of an infinite host of [Angels].

When the light embodying the form of feathers heals all the children the remnants of light vanish, much like white snow melting away……

“……………”

I really did it…… I went too far. ……

I need to reflect on my behavior.

A heavy silence descends upon the room. When I peeped to the side, I found that all of the children’s eyes were excellently concentrated.

They’re either stupefied, dumbfounded, or both.

W-Well. What to do…?

While I’m thinking about that, the child who was half-dead… Now a pretty boy, stares at me with red cheeks and kneels in place quietly.

“… Thank you…… Saint-sama……”

………………………… Eh?

The voices of other children reach my ears, and many of them begin to kneel one after another. They then bring their hands together and start praying to me.

……… Ehhhhhhhhhh?　Me, a Saint-sama…… But…… I’m a Demon?

＊＊＊

“Albertine…… So it was you…”

A couple of walls further away, there was a large room with only unrefined pillars as it décor. This was where Eleanor found herself confronted by Albertine.

“That’s correct. Eleanor-sama, it’s been a long time… Even though it’s not to the extent that it bears mention.”

The two had been classmates in the Industry of Magic, neither of which had friends. They were famous as the[Two Beautiful Flowers of the Academy], so their faces and names were well known.

However, when the two met again their positions were different.

Albertine tried all she could to obtain what she wanted, but couldn’t succeed.

Eleanor demanded nothing, but obtained everything she wished.

She wanted it all.

A position worthy of honor and praise…… And the heart of the man she loved.

“Albertine… Why have you done such a thing…?”

“…… You wouldn’t be able to understand.”

Albertine lowered her eyes after letting out such words…… But she then adjusted her sight, and returned to her original gaze of brilliant arrogance.

“Well…… I’ll teach you a little. I’ll be taking everything away from you. But of course, I don’t need anything sullied with your hands. After taking everything I desire, I’ll pass the rest of the stage to your husband.”

Noticing what she meant, Eleanor’s eyes opened wide.

“…… My God… You know that it’s your fault from the beginning, don’t you?!”

“Certainly not…… Because he won’t look at me if I don’t do such a thing, I must……”

“……… You…”

Eleanor remained stunned while Albertine gave a command to one of her subordinates. She then started moving to another room.

“Wait, Albertine!”

“Now then. Eleanor-sama. I’ll show you a world in which all of that is special to you is broken.”

“Albertineー!”

Listening to her voice as she moves away, Albertine’s heart was healed ever so slightly.

However……

It still wasn’t enough.

“Marquis Brunnow, how are the preparations…?”

Moving back to the depths of the basement, Albertine called out to a nobleman who worked as a scholar and knight; a noble with delicate features whose age was in his mid-30’s.

“Your appearance is beautiful as always, Albertine-sama. And, of course, the preparations have been finished.”

After saying such, Marquis Brunnow kissed the back of Albertine’s hand gently.

It would be hard to tell based off of his appearance, but Marquis Brunnow was a General of the Kingdom’s military — one of the best, who personally taken command when a war started with a neighboring country.

“And as for its finished condition?”

“Right this way.”

Marquis Brunnow took Albertine’s hand, and when she shifted her gaze she saw a large Summoning Magic formation capable of dwarfing an entire mansion.

Looking there, Albertine knew.

“As you know, its size is approximately equal to the case four years ago. With the formation provided by Albertine-sama, we can summon a Greater Demon. Consecutive summoning will be possible so long as the number of bodies provided are adequate.”

Moreover, it would work so long as Magic Power was fueled by the practitioner…… In other words, a strong individual could be drawn out if a large amount of Magic Power was forced through. …… It was a great improvement compared to the previous formation.

“Then, how will we find an individual superior to the Demon…?”

The Marquis made a sad, difficult face in response to Albertine’s question.

In terms of war potential, several hundred Greater Demons were equivalent to tens of thousands of soldiers.

However, even in the neighboring countries individuals capable of summoning Greater Demons were scarce — they’d need to be individuals capable of calling upon Intermediate Spirits at minimum. Furthermore, even then profitable results weren’t guaranteed.

From the start this experiment was put in place to summon an individual higher than a Greater Demon. Thus, they had intentionally prepared 50 children as sacrifices, even if it would only summon one creature.

A [Greater Spirit] equal in power to a natural disaster, a Demon at the top of its species…… An [Arch-demon].

When such a being manifests in the world, it was said to appear with a human figure in old nobles’ clothing, cloaked in a sinister atmosphere.

“It’s displeasing…… But if we can call upon that……”

“Yes…… I can remember it all too well.”

The Demon Summoning case that had taken place four years ago.