Chapter 95

“I’ll be going now.”

Veild readjusted the A-frame on his back and gripped the stick with his single arm.

“Alright, take care. Let’s try not to run into each other.”

“We’ll see each other again soon. Because Sheryl covets you, Quil.”

“What if, hypothetically, Sheryl accepts your feelings on the condition that you capture me for her……”

Veild smiled brightly.

“Never mind. I think I know the answer without hearing it.”

“Don’t worry too much. Sheryl only feels satisfied when she accomplishes things herself. She won’t ask others for help. Especially not me—she won’t make any requests of me.”

“Let’s say that’s true.”

It was better for his peace of mind to let goblin words go in one ear and out the other. There’d be no countermeasure if he trusted them completely and got backstabbed.

Using each other appropriately and killing when an opening appeared—that was the most ideal relationship with goblins.

“By the way.”

Quilbion spoke while watching lovers walking hand in hand.

“What if Sheryl doesn’t change? What if she never opens her heart to you?”

“Then I’ll have to use slightly forceful means.”

“Tie her up tight and keep her beside you?”

“That’s good too, but there’s a more certain method.”

Veild’s mouth opened round.

“I’ll completely devour her form and intent. I’ll create a small room inside me and keep her there. Always together, always feeling the same things, always conscious of each other.”

“That’s a really good method.”

It was a miraculous method of turning two into one. What beautiful mathematics.

“But I want to keep her beside me while maintaining her form if possible. Because physical bodies also contain many meanings.”

Veild looked down at his own body while speaking.

“Whatever it is, I’ll actively help, so just trust me. We’re soul friends now.”

He extended his hand to offer a handshake. A hand shot out from Veild’s fluttering sleeve.

“Quil is easy to understand, which is nice.”

“I like that you’re a pitch-black bastard too. Or is it multicolored?”

“I’m saying this out of concern, but if you kill Sheryl, I’ll burn everything I have to curse you, Quil.”

“Could I even kill her? Maybe in a crack, but in reality it’s not even close to possible.”

“Then shall we make a covenant?”

“Promises shouldn’t be used carelessly.”

He released his hand while smiling.

“That’s right. It’s still fine for now.”

Veild turned around. Quilbion called out to the handsome young man walking away.

“What are you going to do now?”

“I have to deliver mail. Since I’m missing one hand, I mainly get running jobs. See you next time, Quil! Take care of your health!”

Veild, who’d been vigorously waving the hand holding the stick high, disappeared into the crowd.

“He could just pull out an arm, yet he’s stuck with such a strange concept.”

Concept. Ah, it was a word he’d used in another crack.

Quilbion shrugged his shoulders and turned around.

It was time to move and find the fanatic and the goblin wearing a saint’s mask.

*

Sheryl carefully raised her left hand and felt around the top of her head. Perfectly sound bone without any dents. The moment when blood had been gushing felt like a dream.

“Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

Romen, who’d been walking beside her, spoke. His eyes held worry.

She was about to say it was nothing, but changed her mind.

“Sir Romen. If there’s a monster inside me, what should I do?”

“When you say monster……”

Romen narrowed the space between his eyes.

It was frustrating. If she told the truth, Sir Romen would kill her with his sword. But hiding it made her worry about the monster sleeping inside.

Quilbion said time would resolve it, but she couldn’t even guess how it would be resolved.

“I understand.”

“Pardon?”

“The Saint is worried about the evil people harbor.”

“Ah…… yes.”

“In this time when calamity approaches, our selfishness in failing to become one could indeed be described as a monster. I can only feel ashamed.”

“No. Sir Romen, you’re doing well.”

Sheryl looked back. She could see the castle walls surrounding the city.

If only she could escape like this, if only she could return to her hometown.

“You’re worried about the people.”

“Yes, well.”

“I know you’re dissatisfied with not spreading god’s word widely. But right now, I think controlling information to prevent confusion and prepare is more important than conveying the revelation.”

“You’re absolutely right.”

Sheryl smiled gently.

Thinking about it again, there probably wouldn’t be any danger of getting stabbed by Romen even if she told the truth. Whatever she said, they’d interpret it in a way beneficial to the sect. They really were frightening people.

Well, these were the dangerous people who’d kidnapped an innocent person and turned her into a saint.

Wait a moment.

Sheryl felt her head again.

It was a body that had been perfectly fine despite gushing blood. Not a single drop of sweat even after jumping in place for over 20 minutes.

She looked around. Only cargo wagons were heading toward the city in a line.

Right, this is outside the city.

Not the holy ground monitored by hundreds of believers.

She began to get excited.

Quilbion’s words had been true. Sheryl, you’re really stupid. You can escape now!

Calamity, monster, salvation, god.

It was time to throw it all away and seek freedom. Now was the opportunity, while that strange Quilbion wasn’t around.

“Sir Romen.”

Sheryl hardened her expression. Now was the time for the lie of her lifetime.

Creating a serious atmosphere made Romen tense up as well.

“What is it.”

“I can feel it.”

Sheryl pointed at the cargo wagon procession about 300 meters away.

“Evil is stirring there.”

Romen’s eyes became sharp.

“Evil.”

His hand was moving toward his sword.

Since he seemed halfway convinced, it was time to put a period on it.

“God has spoken. To face the reality of evil directly.”

“Ah, god has bestowed upon me a sacred duty.”

Sheryl immediately knelt.

“Go, Sir Romen. Go and deliver Necim’s punishment.”

“Understood.”

“I will pray here to prevent evil from spreading. Sir Romen, please be careful.”

“While god watches over me, I will not fall.”

Romen ran out. She could see silver holy power settling into his body.

The moment Sheryl confirmed Romen was far away, she quickly stood up and threw her body toward the forest.

She ran and ran again.

She set her direction toward the wilderness, places untouched by human hands.

Far away, she’d escape as far as possible, then find her way home.

No, wait.

If she returned home, the sect bastards would come barging in.

While organizing her thoughts as she ran, Sheryl realized her body was faster and sturdier than she’d thought.

Tree branches that flew at her face crumbled to pieces. Her skin should have gotten scratched, but it was perfectly fine.

Not only that. She’d stumbled on a stone while running frantically, but instead of falling, she shattered the stone.

It wasn’t a normal situation.

This body was definitely wrong somewhere.

“Haa, haa, haa.”

Her lungs sent signals of exhaustion after the round moon had risen.

How many hours had she been running?

Sheryl wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. It was only slightly damp. Even that dried up when the wind blew once.

Her ragged breathing settled as well.

If she ran again, she felt she could run until sunrise—no, until night came again.

“Ha, haha. I really am a monster.”

A self-mocking laugh came out.

It’s unfair.

Captured by lunatics, forced into unwanted saint duties, and after barely escaping, now she’s told she’s a monster, not a person?

“Can you hear me?”

Sheryl placed her hand on her chest and spoke.

“If you can hear me, say something. Are you living inside me? What’s going to happen to me now? Will you kill me? Will you eat me after killing me? Answer me!”

That sweet voice that had made her laugh just by hearing it. To think it was a monster’s voice.

“……Mom.”

She sat on the ground and sobbed.

Why did it turn out this way?

She’d never done anything bad.

Perhaps because she’d cried, her unsettled heart calmed down a little.

A place where the city’s shadow wasn’t even visible.

Romen wouldn’t chase her this far either.

The moment she realized she was completely alone, her tension eased slightly and she got hungry.

Sheryl looked around.

Nothing but trees everywhere. Was there a village nearby? She hoped there was.

She stared blankly at the moon floating in the sky without a care, then moved her feet.

About an hour had passed when she was walking.

Her stomach growled noisily. It was an unbearable hunger.

It was strange. She normally had a small appetite and ate very little food. She didn’t even know the pleasure of eating.

But now she felt like she could eat even rotten meat deliciously.

Drool dripped through her slightly parted lips. Sheryl shook her head vigorously and tapped her cheeks.

“What’s wrong with you. Get a grip.”

Sheryl, who’d been soothing herself, opened her eyes wide. Small lights appeared on the opposite side.

The lights appeared in pairs and increased one by one.

They were wolves.

The wolf standing in front lowered its stance and made a threatening sound.

It should have been a frightening situation. On a mountain path, alone, facing a wolf pack.

But why?

The corners of her mouth twitched. A strange thought of being able to solve her hunger filled her head completely.

Sheryl thought she should run away, but her body moved forward, opposite to her thoughts.

The wolf opened its muzzle wide and charged. Sheryl extended her right hand.

The wolf’s thick, sharp teeth sank into her right arm.

It was when pain covered her head.

It’s okay. She heard a sweet sound.

Sheryl swung her left hand. The head of the wolf biting her arm separated from its body.

The wolf fell sideways while gushing warm blood.

Come on! Attack me!

She looked at the other wolves, but they began running away while making whining sounds like dogs kicked in the stomach.

Sheryl smirked, then looked at the wolf’s head still biting her arm.

Her mouth watered. She opened her mouth wide and bit into the wolf’s nose first.

It was a delicacy like no other. She frantically tore off the wolf’s flesh. She chewed and swallowed the fur and hide too.

She frantically devoured the wolf’s body.

“Ah.”

Sheryl staggered backward while looking at the wolf with only bones remaining.

Something slippery covered her mouth. She tried to raise her hand to wipe it off, but her hand was a mess too.

“I need to wash.”

She caught the sound of water flowing from afar. She walked with heavy steps. While walking, she thought.

What did I just eat?

She soaked her body in the stream and washed off all the blood completely.

While still wet, she lay down on the ground.

She stared blankly at the sky. The moon set and the sun rose.

Sheryl brushed off the dirt on her body and stood up, then tidied her hair. She let the cloth that had wrapped her face flow down the stream.

She heard human voices.

She’d be able to meet them if she ran for about 30 minutes.

“Hello.”

Sheryl approached the three men while smiling. They were all armed.

Were they mercenaries?

She could see the three men exchanging glances. Their eyes boiled with lust.

“I’m quite pretty, aren’t I?”

Sheryl stood among the three men while smiling.

Hunger was opening its eyes again.