Chapter 26: Patricia's Choice
A cold drop of water fell on her cheek and Patricia's consciousness was suddenly awakened.
"Nhh……"
When she opened her eyelids, the first thing she saw was a gray ceiling with a hole in it.
White sunlight was shining through the hole, illuminating Patricia's face.
(Where……?)
She sat up with a slight pain in the right half of her body.
Her vision is white, burned by the sunlight.
As she moved her right hand, she felt the touch of dry bed sheets and hay.
Something hits her thigh.
A thin tube.
She blinked a few times, looked down at her lower body, and saw the waist part equipment for a warrior woman.
A black skirt that covered about half of her thighs.
It had golden embroidery in the shape of the holy tree.
Underneath, a pair of sturdy indigo-dyed stackings should have been visible, but now they were removed, exposing Patricia's white thighs.
The exposure of the legs continues down to the knee-length women's warrior boots.
"A catheter……?"
Patricia pinches the thin tube protruding from her skirt with her fingers.
Then she felt the tube moving through her groin―― her urethra.
There was a yellow liquid remaining in the tube.
Patricia's mind went blank when she realized it was her own urine.
"Eh, why? Why? Where...?"
She looked around.
It was a room in an abandoned building paved with stone.
Several green weeds were growing out of the gaps in the stone floor, telling her that the inhabitants had long since disappeared.
The hay bed was made by piling up about 50 centimeters from the stone floor.
Next to the bed was an old clay urn, to which the end of the tube was connected.
Urine accumulates in the urn.
Patricia blushed and looked down at her thighs.
The tube was filled with a yellow liquid.
Regardless of her will, all the urine was let out, and soon there was an intermittent dripping sound and finally silence.
Patricia grabbed the tube and pulled it.
A sensation of the end of the tube moving through the bladder.
Then the pressure was released from the urethra, and there was a slight tugging at the urethral opening, but the tube was completely removed.
"Nhh..."
She trembled.
The exhilaration of releasing her urine and the strange aching she felt in her urethra.
Patricia forgot about it in a second and tossed the catheter onto the stone floor.
"Where is this, place."
The armor―― except for the undergarments, which have probably been removed is intact.
A shirt, a chest strap, and an indigo ribbon.
The shoulder armor and breastplate had been removed and were neatly stacked near an urn along with her waist pouch.
On the other hand, her weapon―― her beloved short spear was nowhere to be found.
The knife on her hip was also missing.
"Did you notice?"
"――――! Who are you!? ……You are."
Patricia's eyes become instantly alert as a figure steps out of the darkness of the abandoned room.
A blue mask and purple lips.
A clean shirt and vest.
It was the man in Patricia's last memory.
(That's right! I was on the bypass route to protect the holy tree together with Setanta and others.)
On the way, they encountered this ominous demon.
This demon killed many church knights and devalued human life as trash.
It is truly treacherous
"Don't come this way!"
Patricia yelled at him with her eyebrows raised.
In normal times, Patricia has a quiet, polite demeanor, but in the face of the enemy, she is a brave warrior maiden.
Patricia quickly tied the holy seal and produced the [God's Spear].
"If you come near me, I will kill you!"
"W-wait. I was taking care of you when you fainted. I have no intention of antagonizing you. Let's talk."
"What?"
She looks back at the bed of hay and the pot of urine.
This man was taking care of me――?
Reflexively, she recalls her memory.
It is useless.
She can only remember up to just before she engaged this man.
As she recalls, this man bowed, and Setanta gave the signal.
At that point, she felt a sharp pain and lost consciousness...
"......! No way, we lost?"
The [God's Spear] in her hand was dissipating.
She doesn't understand.
She doesn't know what happened.
"Here, read this."
"……Newspaper?"
Patricia caught the bundle of papers thrown at her feet with a sideways glance.
She doesn't know what will be thrown at her so she takes her eyes off it.
Ready to tie the seal at any moment, she prepared to fight bare-handed.
The man, however, pulled up a wooden chair in the corner, sat down, and began chewing on dried meat.
“…………”
Patricia quickly picked up the newspaper and leaped back a foot to the hay.
"Fairy race terrorist dies on the mountain of the holy tree."
While focusing on the man, she read the next text.
She's a quick reader.
(The enemy wanted the holy sword, but failed to steal it. The terrorists were all dead. Meanwhile, the hero's group was destroyed. According to Kat Lou, the only survivor, the entire squad was wiped out by a masked demon man. Setanta was found at the top of the holy tree, half turned into a tree, and has yet to regain consciousness. Church officials believe that the demon king's curse is in progress, and that if this continues, Setanta Lou will die as a small holy tree. The battle ended in victory for the light race, but with not a few casualties, including some brave souls.)
"Setanta is going to die as a small holy tree...? That's..."
“I don't think it's complete yet. I fought him at the top of the mountain of the holy tree, and at the end, he had roots growing out of his legs and his arms were branches. He seemed to be unable to move, so I left him there and left him alone, but I think he lost consciousness after that."
The demon man concluded that he was literally a plant human.
(The date in the newspaper is... two days after the day of the attack. If this is this morning's newspaper, today is the second day after the beginning of the week.)
She continued reading the text.
According to the article, Patricia was slammed against the wall and crushed, leaving a pool of blood, and was treated as dead. [Sei-shoku] and [God's Eye] also died. Both were pushed to the base of the holy tree and died. It says that Kat, after a one-on-one battle with the demon man, seriously wounded her enemy and forced it to retreat. Kat says that Setanta also fell to the base of the holy tree, but her words contradict the fact that Setanta was found at the top of the mountain. Therefore, it is suspected that her words are mixed with falsehoods――.
(Kat. I'm glad she's safe.)
In that case, Patricia must return alive.
"......"
She stared at the man in front of her.
The man nibbled on some dried meat and drank water from a dirty canteen.
"If you run away, not only you, but the surrounding farmers will be killed indiscriminately."
"――!?"
The man got up from the chair.
"This is outside the walls of the royal capital. It's a ruin at the end of a wheat field that fills the stomachs of the capital's citizens. If you go a little closer to the capital, there's a small village. I'll kill all the residents there."
“You, brute!”
Patricia had a ferocious look on her face that she could not see. "You have no shame in taking those who cannot fight as hostages!"
"I don't care. I don't have any feelings of shame for being a coward. I will win by any means necessary. I believe that the last one to survive is the winner."
"...I have no intention of preaching to you. As you say, this is the outskirts of a farming village, so what is your reason for keeping me, even taking innocent people as hostages!? ”
"Revenge."
"Revenge?"
"Yes, to the [White Knight] who betrayed me."
“Betrayed? ……What do you mean?”
When Patricia asked, the man's mouth twisted into a blatant rage and he slammed the canteen he was holding onto the stone floor.
"I was hired by the [White Knight]. He promised to pay me 30,000 gold coins if I could stop you and kill some of you. So I prepared carefully, I challenged you all by myself, even taking risks... Even with all that, he said that he won't be able to pay me!"
"――――"
The demon man continues.
"I repeatedly demanded that he pay me. Then he used his subordinates to attack me! Partly because I was exhausted from fighting with you guys, I barely escaped with my life and was wounded and stayed here to heal my wounds."
"Fuu, it's a nice feeling. It's a fitting end for you, who acted like a devil who didn't think of humans as humans."
“I'm not done yet! I'll make those scum eat their fill. I will bring the defeated hero back to life! While I revive the hero, I will find out where the [White Knight] is hiding and tell the hero. You guys will be my hounds!"
"Since you can't do it yourself, you'll use someone else."
"That's right."
"Coward. Shame on you."
"Whatever. More importantly, are you willing to join hands with me? If it's me, I might be able to save Setanta, who is becoming a small holy tree."
"...From the pictures in the newspaper, Setanta's condition seems to be getting worse. Can you break the Demon King's curse?"
While continuing the conversation, Patricia was looking for a gap in the demon man.
She was curious about what the man said about this place being in ruins near a farming village.
Assuming he's right, she must not only escape but also defeat this man in order to protect the people.
Patricia must fight, just as Lancelot did.
Protect the people.
She was sure Lancelot and Setanta would do the same.
However, Patricia's thoughts were blown to pieces by the next man's words.
"The Demon King's curse is a lie created by the church. There is no such thing as a Demon King's curse."
"……What do you mean?"
"Think about it. How can the curse of the Demon King cause you to turn into a holy tree and die? It's totally different from dying in agony. How can a small holy tree sprout from the body of the hero under the curse of the Demon King?"
"――――"
"You saw the ashes of the blue holy tree sticking to the neck and arms of the hero, didn't you?"
"...Yeah, well."
"The last person Setanta fought was me. After my onslaught, he attacked me for the last time as a giant god of blue light. I cowered, shielding my head, thinking I was done for. But the killing blow didn't reach me, and the next thing I knew, his feet had become roots of the sacred tree."
"Is that true?"
"It is true. Setanta's body turned into a small holy tree as he pushed himself too hard in the fight with me."
“……………….No. I don't believe you."
"Why is it so?"
"Because you are the worst piece of trash. I don't know what you're thinking, but if I take your words seriously, I'm bound to end up in the same lousy future you want."
"Then don't just take my word for it, but see, hear, and judge for yourself. ――Come. I can't send you back to the castle, but you can talk to the peddlers who pass by. Then you can decide if I am trying to deceive you or if I am really speaking with the intention of killing the white knight."
The man then tossed her a change of bedsheets that had fallen nearby.
It seems that he wanted her to cover her head with it.
"If you run away, I will kill the people. If you give any message, I will kill you. If you act in any other suspicious manner, you will be killed, regardless of the reason. If you are okay with that, then follow me."
× × ×
The man was right, Patricia was being held outside the walls of the royal capital, on the outskirts of a farming village.
Patricia grabbed a peddler on the street, showed him a newspaper, and asked him what information he knew.
The newspaper was not fake.
Regarding the [White Knight], which was not written in the newspaper, there were rumors that there was a guy who had escaped from the sacred tree mountain, and it turned out that he was still alive.
The peddler also traded with the church knights.
The topic of conversation with the church knight was, of course, about the elven attack, and the church knight gave him some background information that was not even written in the newspaper.
According to him, Setanta had indeed been found at the top of the mountain. He was standing in front of the holy tree at the summit. It was clear from the surroundings that he had been fighting with the enemy until just before, he said.
The mountaintop of the holy tree has signs of a fierce battle, indicating that Setanta had gone on a rampage against the demon. The elves found in the vault of the holy sword were all dead, with their heads exploding, suggesting that they had been crushed by Setanta's hand.
(There was a tree branch growing from Setanta's neck... huh?)
In this country, all people are taught the legend of the holy tree and the heroic tale of the hero Lou by the church in a form that is almost imprinted on their heads. Among the information they are taught is that becoming a holy tree and dying young is the curse of the Demon King.
When humans die, they return to the holy tree.
However, the hero's soul does not return and remains on the spot as a small holy tree to protect the land.
It is a beautiful story, but when combined with the information Patricia actually saw and heard near Setanta, as the demon man says, it's more natural to think that he turned into a holy tree while pushing himself too hard in battle. The Demon King's curse theory seems added to it abruptly.
If the people of light in Yggdrasil heard this story, they would doubt their common sense, but the sixteen-year-old Patricia could put aside common sense as common sense and think that what the demon man was saying was a possibility.
"Let's assume that Setanta is about to become a holy tree because he pushed himself too hard."
After returning to the building, Patricia faced the demon man and opened her mouth.
This man is trash.
And an enemy.
But if he is an enemy of the white knight, he can be used as an enemy of her enemy.
She can at least ask him about how to revive Setanta―― Patricia judged this to be the case because the information the man was speaking was so far untrue and consistent to a point.
"What is the way to save Setanta?"
"Make him the same as me."
"――――Ha?"
"First of all, listen to everything. Do you know Godfred Salvatori? He's the Grand Duke of the Night Empire, and is said to have stolen the Holy Sword of the Sun."
"Is it about you?"
"Yes. I am Godfred Salvatori."
(That is absolutely false...)
This man, who looked so strong at first glance, was beginning to look like a fool.
"During my lifetime, when I stole the Holy Sword of the Sun, I persuaded the enemy's holy sword maiden to switch sides. I made her my servant. ――I turned her into a demon."
"It is a famous story. Although it is about demons, it is often used as the subject of a play."
“If you reincarnate as a demon, you will not be able to use the holy sword or holy arts. If the reincarnation is successful, you will vomit the seed of the holy sword in your body, and the elements derived from the holy tree will disappear."
This is also a famous story.
However, she had hardly heard of anyone reincarnating as a demon.
Or rather, she only knows about the holy sword maiden who betrayed the light race and joined Salvatori.
However, there are certainly living examples.
The holy sword maiden who betrayed the light race should still be alive.
When the light race made peace with the Night Empire, the initial draft of the document included her extradition. In the end, she was not extradited.
"I have read it. In other words, you will make Setanta a demon."
"Simply put, yes. If you make him a demon, the element of the holy tree will be removed from his body. Instead, his body will be reconfigured with the meat derived from my body, and he will become a demon."
“Don’t underestimate my husband. He will not live on by turning to the enemy."
"That is your personal opinion, is it not? It is not Setanta's opinion."
"Yes, but I know him well."
"Do you really think he would make such a choice? He might choose to become a demon."
"That's not true."
"You just answered reflexively. Setanta hates more than anything to have his destiny decided by other people's arbitrary fantasies, right? Are you sure you want to dismiss him as not becoming a demon at your sole discretion?"
"――――"
The man continues his words before Patricia can respond.
“In the first place, is it because his body is that of a demon? Will his soul be dyed by demons? I know this because I fought him too. He's a proud and strong-willed warrior.
"――――"
“I believe that if he becomes a demon, he will live on without the element of the holy tree in his body. Regardless of becoming a demon, he will die in harmony with the Demon King's curse and become a holy tree. In that case――"
"Are you going to harm humanity by somehow manipulating Setanta, who has become a demon?"
"No. That's why I've been saying that it's up to you to make the decision. This is where we get to the heart of the matter. In conclusion, you, of your own free will, choose whether you want Setanta to become a demon or whether you want to stand by and watch him die."
The demon man then rummages through the bag behind him and pulls out a crystal vial that appears to be of a high quality.
Inside was a clear liquid.
"I will explain how the demons create their own household. Inside this vial is a [primordial elixir] that you must drink."
The man shows Patricia the vial.
The liquid in the vial glistened in the sunlight shining through the ceiling.
“If you drink the elixir, your body will become hot and you will develop a slight fever. During the fever, under limited conditions, the body fluid produced by the demon is ingested for three days and three nights, and the body of the person taking the elixir is transformed into the same race as that demon.”
“In the play, the saint is portrayed as having mutated into a follower after kissing Godfred Salvatori. In other words, saliva?”
"With such a small amount, the body will not mutate with that of a demon. In many cases, we use semen or love juice."
"It's a likely story. I understand what you mean. So you want me to take you to Setanta. You want me to help you turn Setanta into a demon."
"I told you, it is your decision. ――I will turn you into a demon. After that, if you want to turn Setanta into a demon, you can."
"………………, ……Ha?"
"Think about it. I am a man, Setanta is a man. Do you want me to get a boner in front of him and put my penis in his mouth or rectum? I'm not going to climax. ――So I'm going to turn you into a demon, and you, as a demon, will decide if you want to turn Setanta into a demon."
"……Eh?"
“I'll wait for you if you can't quite understand it. I understand that you are trying to save yourself. I know you don't want to become a demon."
"――――"
"You know, Patricia Lowell. Keep it simple. You're worrying too much."
The demon man spreads his hands.
"You either want to save Setanta or you don't."
"――――"
"Have you ever imagined what kind of future awaits if Setanta dies like this?"
"T-that's..."
It hits where it hurts.
Patricia's eyes distorted.
Currently, the Hero Family has two children, Patricia and Kat's, who are Setanta's successors.
If Setanta dies, there will be a fight over the head of the family.
Especially Setanta's younger brother is dangerous person.
Setanta is a dangerous man, but his younger brother is equally ferocious.
Patricia's child is three years old.
If Setanta's younger brother target him, he will not stand a chance.
The same goes for Kat's child.
Setanta's younger brother would want the child they sired to follow in their footsteps.
For this purpose, the young child born to his brother would be a hindrance.
Or rather, if Setanta's child is left unattended, his own child might be torn to pieces when he dies. Rationally speaking, they would come to kill him fast. The lords and kings have agreed to stop them, but she has no idea whether they will be able to do so in time, and even if they do, to what extent they will be protected.
Past history is replete with examples of bloody family feuds that did not go well.
(No, that is absolutely not allowed.)
At least two more years.
If Setanta does not stay alive until Patricia's child can hold a sword, Patricia's child will be in trouble.
If one thought about one's own children, one should abandon Setanta's noble ideals and Patricia's own feelings. Literally, if she doesn't become a demon, her child will be killed.
“――――It would be a problem if Setanta died now.”
Patricia looked down and said so quietly.
She has to face reality.
Patricia had always stood up to Setanta, but now she was faced with a situation where she would have to persuade him no matter what he said. If she makes a mistake, not only herself, but also her young child and Kat's child may die.
That is the position she was in.
The demon man's suggestion was not something that she should reflexively reject.
"If you are ashamed to be a demon, wait until your child grows up, and when he is able to defend himself, you can kill yourself in secret. That will balance the books."
"――――"
"Are you going to accept my proposal? If not, Setanta will soon become a sacred tree and die. If you accept my proposal, there is a chance―― it's not a small chance that you can save him."
"――, I-I..."
Patricia's eyes swim.
She is young, fighting on the battlefield, and precocious enough to lead Setanta, but in reality, she is a sixteen-year-old girl.
She can't even devalue the life of a child.
The girl is still not yet able to make decisions on her own, and she cannot throw a child over a cliff on her own initiative, even though she knows Setanta well.
“If you return to the royal capital, I will immediately disappear from here immediately. If you return here with a guardian knight from the royal capital, I will not be able to stand still. Patricia, make your decision here and now. My life is on the line, too.”
"――――"
"While hesitating like this, Setanta is getting closer and closer to death without even knowing that he has the option of becoming a demon and surviving. If you truly care about him, shouldn't you sacrifice yourself to bring the option back to him?"
The demon man's voice is gentle.
Listening to the man's voice, Patricia resigned herself to the fact that there was no other option.
She's starting to think the man is right.
She can sacrifice herself.
Sacrificing Setanta is... sad, but she can give up on him.
But a child who doesn't know anything...
"Can I really save Setanta by making him a demon?"
She said.
Patricia looked at the demon man without blinking.
She thinks her eyes were bloodshot.
"I don't know. But there is hope. You can either abandon Setanta here and erase your own future, or you can reach out to grab hold of it. Which will you choose?"
“…………”
Patricia's eyes swim.
In the face of the enemy she had to fight, Patricia had already relaxed her stance.
"Turn me into a demon"
"Is that what you want?"
"Yes."
Patricia closed her eyes as if she had made up her mind.
When she opened her eyes next, she had a face with a firm determination to protect her child.
"We don't have much time. Let's get started. Considering that it will take three days even to mutate Setanta, there is no time to spare."
Tftc
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