Volume 7 Chapter 1 Part 1 (2/2)
”Just a maiden's intuition. Although, it is more than clear to whom Lady Yuki's affections are directed.”
Lilis.h.i.+la stated with confidence and a smile.
s.h.i.+n was quite troubled by her sudden change in personality. Lilis.h.i.+la probably thought that continuing to discuss the rewards would have inconvenienced him. In other words, the serious discussions were over.
”I-Is that soer, Yuki, why are you sticking so close to me?”
”I'm keeping watch.”
”You don't say”
Yuki the disguised Schnee had slipped very close to s.h.i.+n, no one knew when. It wasn't clear if her answer to s.h.i.+n's question was serious or in jest.
”Hehe, you two get along so well. I'm envious.”
Lilis.h.i.+la's expression while speaking to them was of someone enjoying a heartwarming scene.
Lilis.h.i.+la's warm look, so different than before, made s.h.i.+n feel slightly uncomfortable.
Only one thought came across his mind: ”What the heck is this situation?”
While s.h.i.+n and company were discussing ”rewards”, Wilhelm was guarding Hermie, Millie and Konig, who were recently released from the submission type item, in the neighbouring room.
Bulk was detained, however, he wasn't the only dangerous individual within the Church. There was no guarantee that individuals, who operate in a dishonest fas.h.i.+on, wouldn't move and take advantage of this situation.
”You should be able to go home soon, right?”
”Since Will-nii and s.h.i.+n-nii is here, everything will be alright!”
Millie was in high spirits: she was lying down, her head resting on Hermie's lap, who was petting her softly.
Everyone was safe and there was someone she could trust among those who came to her rescue.
That someone, Wilhelm, was right next to her even now, so she had no reason to be worried.
”..”
Wilhelm was looking intently at Millie, without speaking a word. He was observing her to find out if there was anything strange remains, while making sure she didn't notice and was unsettled by his observations.
After all, Millie had been manipulated by Eline and stabbed Wilhelm. It wouldn't be strange for her heart to bear a deep wound because of it.
However, asking Millie about Wilhelm and Eline's battle revealed that her memories stopped at the beginning of the fighting. It could be said to be rather fortunate.
Eline had probably made preparations to use Millie whenever needed. This one time, that actually led to a positive result.
”Are you concerned?”
”.well, yeah.”
The question to Wilhelm came from Konig.
Once s.h.i.+n removed his collar, nothing restrained his actions. He thus returned to his original duty, Hermie's protection.
His armor had been rendered unusable by s.h.i.+baid's attack, but his beloved blade, the Legend-grade magical sword Haufer, rested at his side.
Konig didn't know that the manipulated Millie had stabbed Wilhelm, but knew that the collar had been equipped on her. He a.s.sumed that, like him, something had happened while she was under control.
Wilhelm then inquired back.
”By the way, do you feel like your memories have been altered? It looks like memories while being manipulated remain differently from person to person.”
”I remember very well. The collar's power was not used too often on me, even when I was being manipulated I felt as if I was dreaming, everything was hazy.”
Bulk often used Hermie to force Konig to do his bidding, apparently.
Konig suggested that it was because when manipulating others via the collar, it was not possible to give concrete, detailed orders.
”I see. The lack of consciousness also means that only simple actions can be taken.”
”It's just an a.s.sumption, though. However, it is rather useful during battle. An order like ”strike with all your strength” will be executed even if it ends up costing your arms. During the battle with sir s.h.i.+baid, I performed a powerful blow I normally couldn't. It's also possible to order suicide attacks, the attacker has no regards for his own life.”
”The more I hear about that time, the more it makes me sick”
Wilhelm's expression was distorted by disgust.
”Some of those items leaked outside. Fortunately only a few did, but I'd want them dealt with before they're used for ill intents.”
”There's something I was wondering, though. If the person equipped with it dies, can the item be used on someone else?”
If such a repeated use was possible, the usefulness of the item would increase even morein the worst way possible. Wilhelm then asked Konig, as the latter was in the position to know.
”I have never heard about it being re-used. However, the number of items Bulk obtained and the number of times he used them do not match. This is just an a.s.sumption too, but repeated use after death could be possible.”
According to Konig, the number of women Bulk had submitted to his will was higher than the number of collars.
Konig had learned the number of collars from Bulk himself. Bulk could have let down his guard, as Konig was under his control.
”A sack of s.h.i.+t through and through, I see.”
”I must agree. If only I wasn't controlled by that collar, I would have cut him down on the spot.”
Konig was a knight firmly believing in the Church doctrine of protecting the weak.
His strong sense of justice not only made him despise Bulk, but probably made him even unwilling to recognize his existence.
”HoweverI might have been manipulated, but I have slain others with my own hands.”
”you're feeling guilty? If you worry about that you're going to die soon too”.
Wilhelm spoke rather bluntly to the tormented Konig.
”You say I shouldn't care about them?”
”I'm saying that nothing changes even if you do.”
Konig's tone had grown fiercer. Wilhelm, however, continued talking without losing his composure.
”Regret all you want, but the dead won't come back to life. In the end, it all depends on the feelings of the ones still alive. If you worry about that and end up dying, the people you should protect will die too.”
Hermie could be targeted again because of her abilities, as it had just happened. At such a time, were his sword dulled by doubts, it would spell death not only for Konig but for others as well.
The loved ones of the people he killed might want revenge. He might be demanded to atone for his sins.
However, those are natural consequences for his actions. There was nothing to do about it.
The flow of time does not reverse; the dead do not come back.
That is this world's rule.
In the world before the ”Dusk of the Majesty”, it is rumored that a potion of resurrection existed. But that world is no more.
(Maybe he couldno, this isn't something to think about)
In Wilhelm's mind the silhouettes of a certain High Human and his two followers appeared.
s.h.i.+n and Schnee might know of a way to create such a potion, or even have one already in their possessions.
He won't say a word about it, though. He had no proof, and even if such a thing was possible, Wilhelm doubted that s.h.i.+n and Schnee would revive the people Konig killed.
Resurrection of the dead. That was a heretical practice never to be attempted, it was burned within Wilhelm's consciousness.
Wilhelm knew of someone who had attempted such practices, and how they brought destruction upon themselves.
That is why he stopped thinking about it. Even in the Church, research concerning resurrection of the dead was a taboo among taboos. It was a completely lost miracle.
After a long silence, Konig spoke again.
”That would be a problem.”
”You just have to find your answer fast, then. Most of the time, things like that happen whether you like it or not, after all.”
”Are you speaking from experience?”
”Who knows.”
Wilhelm dodged Konig's question and fell into silence.
Konig, suspicious of such behavior, followed Wilhelm's line of sight and found a peacefully sleeping Millie.
”I see, so this is the man they call the ”Demonic Spear”.”
”Hmph.”
Wilhelm scoffed lightly. His silhouette was, much like a knight's, one of a protector.