Chapter 85 - I Want to Speak (1)

["... Can you hear my voice?"]

["If you can hear me..."]

["Forget everything."]

* * *

If one loses consciousness without realizing it and wakes up, shouldn't they at least be permitted the cliché of 'an unfamiliar ceiling' or the modifier of a 'flash!'?

I felt pity at the presence of something bound around my eyes that didn't even permit that. Even I thought it was a truly useless regret.

I shouldn't be in a position to feel such things right now.

Anyway, thanks to that, my mind cleared a bit. I first tried to grasp my situation.

First of all, my eyes seemed definitely covered. And something was wrong with my body, as I had no sensation at all. My arms and legs were definitely still attached, but it meant I couldn't move them.

I even felt a slight pressure around my mouth. Seeing how hard it was to move my lips when I tried testing them, it seemed my mouth was gagged as well.

It didn't seem like my ears were blocked, but there was no sound coming from around me.

I slowly got the feeling that I was screwed.

If my eyes and mouth were bound, there was a high chance my body was restrained too, but why was I restrained?

I hurriedly traced back my memories from before I blacked out.

Let's see... I definitely fell into a trap and acted like a demon, and in that state, I took care of those guys called the 72 Knights or whatever, and I also took care of Bipurit who had turned into a monster. And then...

And then what did I do?

Uh... I mean, I felt uneasy leaving the demon worshipers in the castle, so I think I went to clear them out. And I have faint memories of saving the people meant to be used as sacrifices.

But I don't know why my memories are so blurry as if a filter was put over them. There are a lot of missing memories as if several frames were skipped... and I can't really recall the thoughts or emotions I had back then... Oh?

I suddenly felt the urge to blink. It was because of a memory that belatedly came to mind.

Me, didn't I see the Kimchi Dumpling swinging a mace at me while my Madness Gauge was super high at the very end...? Uh, I faintly remember the Meat Dumpling looking at me too?

... What kind of memory is this?

For a moment, it felt like cold sweat was streaming down my back. That was all I could remember, but I didn't have a good feeling about all the omitted scenes either.

Perhaps that was also the reason why I was restrained.

I can't be certain since I have no memory of it, but me... what if I filled the Madness Gauge completely and went on a rampage without distinguishing friend from foe? If that's the case, getting restrained is absolutely possible.

I became disturbed at the highest possibility. If that was really the case, what should I do? More importantly, how much time had passed?

I tried to check the clock first, but then remembered there was no clock function. If so, what function could check the flow of time?

GRUMBLE.

Just then, my stomach rumbled inside as if mocking my serious situation. Furthermore, what accompanied it was an absolutely maddening hunger.

Feeling a starvation close to pain, I chewed back a groan through my teeth. It was to the point that it hurt more now than when I was stabbed by a sword.

"Ugh."

I eventually let out a groan. "Hm?" Then, a sound came from nearby. It was a person's voice.

But when I actually felt a person's presence, I was hesitant to call out. I needed to let them know I had woken up, but I was reluctant to do so because I hadn't fully grasped the situation yet.

It was even more so since I was in a position where I was restrained without knowing the reason. I thought that if I carelessly pretended to have woken up here, my head might end up rolling.

"Is it just my imagination..."

So I waited quietly while holding my breath, and finally, the person nearby let their guard down. Relief heavily filled my chest.

I had bought time to think again.

The only problem was that even though I had time to think, I had no clues to figure anything out. I didn't even know how much time had passed, let alone...

Oh, wait a minute. Being hungry means my satiety has dropped that much, right?

I briefly opened the status window for a more certain assessment. It was truly a relief that the status window didn't disappear just because I closed my eyes.

「HP 2457/2457

Mana 2785/2785

Fatigue 51

Satiety 0」

After swiping past the stats that I had never properly checked since I wasn't the one raising them, I confirmed the information I wanted to see. The first impression I had was that it was a bit strange.

Setting fatigue and satiety aside, the mana state was strange. It was originally in the 1,500s, wasn't it? Why had it been inflated?

I kept looking at the mana section with a bizarre feeling. Seeing as my satiety had hit rock bottom, it seemed at least three days had passed... but no, why did my mana really increase? It had nearly doubled. Why?

However, that wasn't the only thing that surprised me.

「Rage | Wrath can be a strength, or it can be a poison.

Effect: Nullifies all active status ailments and ignores additional status ailments.

A new Madness Gauge is generated, and the Madness Gauge fills up as certain actions are performed.

※ This skill activates automatically in specific situations.」

「Mana Spear | Creates a spear made of mana in midair and fires it at a desired location.

Effect: Consumes 20 Mana. Pierces the enemy with 200% damage.」

「Bombard | Launches a mass of mana twisted into a spiral shape forward.

Effect: Consumes 100 Mana. Attacks enemies within range with 600% damage.」

「Three groups | Adds two trajectories to the swung branch.

Effect: Upon activation, adds two branches of trajectories to all attacks. The mana consumption of skills triples.」

「Mana Control | Allows delicate control of mana.」

I figured there was nothing I could do anyway, and since my level went up, I got points too.

Crucially, I tried to check if a new skill had been generated that inflated my mana, and a new skill really did pop out.

What is this?

Furthermore, the first skill was identical to the status ailment I had.

Though it had solidified not as a status ailment anymore but as a passive skill, and one that activates on its own at that.

The second and third seemed roughly like ranged attack skills.

The fourth... I think I know what it is, but I can't quite get a complete grasp of it. I should check it later.

Finally, the fifth skill... I have even less of an idea about this one. I wondered if the increase in my mana amount was because of this guy, but the description didn't actually say anything about the amount increasing, did it?

Moreover, just looking at the description only made me wonder what the heck it was.

I really couldn't understand it.

"Just what are you trying to show..."

Just then, along with the sound of something opening, a familiar voice was heard. It sounded like Windhand... right?

"... Is that, the Demon Knight?"

"Yes."

"Why, why is that person...!"

I listened to their conversation without showing any signs for now. I almost jerked up for a moment at the mention of me being sealed, but since getting restrained or sealed were pretty much the same thing, I regained my composure.

Rather, what I needed to focus on was the fact that I really did go on a rampage...

Wow, the Madness Gauge is scary. I had my doubts, but it really does make you run wild without distinguishing friend from foe. And it even blows away the player's sanity.

It was a skill that truly suited the Demon Knight class. Of course, I absolutely didn't want it! I'd want it deleted right away if possible! Damn it!

"Didn't you see the castle with its center part annihilated?"

"What?"

"Sir Knight did it."

Wait, what did I do just now?

I couldn't hold back and twitched my body slightly.

In truth, since I had no sensation, I hardly had any awareness of moving my body. It was just that I heard the faint sound of chains, making me think, 'Huh? Did I move?'

"... Wait."

However, it must have been visible to the others. A voice that sounded like the Inquisitor's cut through the center, and footsteps approached briskly.

"Demon Knight, have you awakened?"

At that point, I judged that it was slowly time to get up.

CLINK.

My body shook the iron chains—probably?—that were constricting it.

"If so... can you hear my words clearly? If you can hear me, please shake your head."

More importantly, wow, how am I going to face them? They must have struggled to subdue me. Of course, the Inquisitor had the elemental advantage, though.

"Are you really the Demon Knight? If you are, please nod your head up and down."

... No. This isn't what I should be worrying about right now.

"You really have awakened!"

Right, was the Demon Knight's concept the kind to brazenly brush it off even after going on a rampage?

"Please wait a moment. I will untie you."

And I hadn't just been affected briefly like last time—when moving from Somon to Tatara—but I had rampaged enough to get sealed?

Of course, my rampaging was merely a skill penalty, not because I was consumed by a demon. But in the eyes of others, it would unconditionally look like the former. Honestly, the only thing I could explain to them was the former as well.

Furthermore, to save myself and Lukkwan, I even acted like a demon! That was at least an act, but the other kids would absolutely not know that!

Aaaah, aaaaah.

Wh-What do I do now...? With my concept, now that such a huge incident has erupted, I would absolutely not forgive myself, right?

RUSTLE.

In the meantime, the thing covering my eyes disappeared. It was a relief that the surroundings weren't excessively bright.

By blinking my eyes a few times, I grew accustomed to the light.

"I will untie your mouth as well."

As my eyes adjusted to the light, the surrounding scenery also began to pour in. The Inquisitor was kneeling in front of me, bringing her hands to my face.

Thanks to that, I could look at the Kimchi Dumpling's face straight on. Her white, plump cheeks, her sparkling green eyes as usual, or her red hair with one side completely shaved off...?

More importantly, why did she shave her head again?

I barely managed to stop my pupils from shaking. In my shallow memory that was utterly useless, a portion of 'red' hair soaring into the air coincidentally remained. As well as the Kimchi Dumpling swinging her mace at me right after.

In other words, it seemed I was the culprit.

RUSTLE.

"It's done."

The piece of cloth sealing my mouth finally fell away, but my lips still showed no thought of parting. It was only natural. With what face could I open my mouth!

Not to mention, due to the Demon Knight concept, the words I could say were also limited.

"Demon Knight?"

Me... I probably have to ask her to kill me with my own mouth, don't I?

"How many, died."

Aaargh. Anything but that, please!

I asked anything to buy as much time as possible. Of course, this was also a question chosen after fierce contemplation.

Aside from asking to be killed, there aren't many things I can say with this concept.

"None."

However, no matter how much I racked my brain during the time I bought, there was no way for my concept to slip out of this situation. It was even more so since I didn't know the scale of the damage I inflicted or the progress of the incident.

"There is no need for lip service."

Seizing that opening, the shackle around my neck fell off with a CLANK. I hadn't even known it was there.

My neck felt ticklish and my breath caught for a moment, then the things I must have done while unconscious came to me first.

"It is the truth."

Ah, the strength is leaving my waist.

THUD.

Following the badgering of the Inquisitor and the others, the Mage shattered the chain constricting my waist.

Thanks to that, my back bent on its own. Indeed, having starved for over three days, would I have the strength to sit up straight? The chains were my restraints, but at the same time, they were my support.

My body was about to pitch forward. Since my two hands were bound separately, I couldn't even brace myself with my arms first.

"I..."

Narrowly, my head... forehead? The part between the crown and the forehead slammed into the floor first. I also managed to put strength into my waist somehow, barely preventing myself from limply sliding down.

However, did avoiding faceplanting change anything other than saving face?

"I..."

I tried running the happiness circuit as much as possible, again and again, but as expected, this was the only thing I could say.

"I have no worth in staying alive. Kill me."

... It seems I won't be able to avoid death after all.

I'm tearing up.

"Demon Knight!"

"I said, kill me."

Obviously, I didn't really want a retry. As I've said time and again, clearing it again is far too exhausting.

But what could I do when this damn concept refused to allow it?

In the end, without even wanting to—as had always been the case since starting this game—I cried out for death. I couldn't even risk not asking, as that felt like it would lead to a 'Bro, you're out of character. Please die' ending.

"I said kill me right now...!"

Hah, but could you still let me live?

"What are you saying, sir!"

DeB pulled my slumped body upright. As my upper body was straightened, I felt something lukewarm flowing down the bridge of my nose.

My eyes snapped wide open.

"I cannot do that!"

"No, you must do it."

No, no. If possible, I'd really prefer it if you absolutely didn't do it.

If I retried, I could definitely create a better situation than this, I could resolve it swiftly without falling into a trap and minimize the damage, I could start over without that damn passive skill, but still...

Oh, wait. Putting it like that makes a restart seem much better?

"That is your job."

No, I was thinking wrong. How could I retry when I didn't know when the restart point was?

This damn game has no manual save function, so I can't aim to load a save file, and restarting via auto-save is impossible too.

For reference, there are several reasons why the latter is impossible.

First, if I directly command a restart, only a system window saying something like 「Impossible command.」 pops up, and second, in the case of a restart via GAME OVER...

Even setting aside whether it's possible or not, the current situation itself is a bit of a stumbling block.

Because the last auto-save must have definitely occurred at a point after the fight!

Indeed, it's called an 'auto' save because it does it on its own every time a major event ends, right?

Judging from my long years of gaming experience, even if I hit restart from the last save point, it would definitely be past the part I want.

"Kill me, right now."

Ah, wait a minute. Looking at it like this, retry or not, aren't I just screwed? If the auto-save point is after the recapture, I'll have to keep seeing this state?

Crazy. Crazy. Crazy!

"..."

Mr. Admin, or Mr. Status Window, Mr. System. Whatever it is. Please give this poor soul a reset button. I'll beg like this, please.

I promise I really won't say a word even if you tell me to start over from the very beginning. No, I'd actually prefer if you did that. So I can finally clear out this concept.

So please, the reset buttooooon!!

"What are you hesitating for!"

I pressed the ones standing silent in front of me. Naturally, my inner thoughts were the exact opposite.

Of course, if a reset button wasn't given, the only way I could head toward the future was through their mercy.

Though my mouth actually had to whine for them to screw mercy and kill me.

Damn it. Is this extreme contradiction for real? My heart swells with majesty...

"Keeping a demon alive shouldn't be your job!"

Let it slide just once. Let it slide just once. Just this once, ignore my words!! Please!!

While desperately crying out to be saved inside, my mouth verbosely demanded death. 'He who seeks death shall live, and he who seeks life shall die' wasn't far off.

Stiffness entered my neck.

"Hey, what are you saying?"

"Sir..."

And when everyone was overwhelmed by my shout—no, you shouldn't be overwhelmed! You need to persuade me! Or ignore me! Hey!—the Inquisitor bit her lip firmly.

Did I come on too strong? Regret stealthily raised its head.

"I do not think you are a demon."

... However, the Kimchi Dumpling didn't betray my expectations in the end.

"If you truly were a demon, there would be no reason for you to ask me to kill you."

The Kimchi Dumpling was a god!

* * *

"Hah!"

A sharp laugh echoed through the hall. The parched, cracked voice without a single drop of moisture was like looking at ruins covered in desert winds.

"Then, what is the reason for binding me? With that reason, can you say that the thing I harbor did not run wild? Can you say that the evil within me did not run wild, and that there is another reason!"

It was the product of ruin and decline. Things that were perishing, wishing to do so, and for which that was the sole future.

"... I will say it again. Your job is to kill demons, and my job is also to kill demons."

Was it because of that? The sight of him shaking off the Thief's support and standing upright as usual looked exceptionally small.

He infinitely resembled his usual steel-like self, but somehow, resignation could constantly be read from his voice.

"Therefore... make sure to fulfill your respective missions."

Thus.

And so.

She couldn't carelessly open her mouth. Her scarce tact screamed that the others' silence was also born from the same sentiment.

"... My mission is."

But she couldn't keep her mouth shut forever. The Inquisitor finally opened her mouth after a long while.

"To save people from demons. Not to kill innocent people. Furthermore, as a person, you... are not a target I must kill."

Is this right? She didn't know. She was merely trying. As always.

"How could I kill you, when you resisted until the very last moment despite your body being taken over by a demon, and ultimately stopped before killing anyone?"

Because that was the path she had to walk.

"... Foolish words. Do you think that just because no one died this time, there will be no one next time?"

A refutation returned to her carefully spoken words. It was a rather painful remark. Even she couldn't rashly deny those words.

"If you intend to be careless by relying on momentary luck, fine. Undo the shackles. If you won't do it, I will."

But even so, she couldn't accept it. She didn't want to accept it.

"If that was luck."

Why would the Demon Knight lose to a demon? He doesn't lose. Just this once, didn't he eventually overcome it?

"Next time, it will be an inevitability."

So, she wished he wouldn't say things like that.

She wished he would uphold his pride and be certain of victory as always. Just like how he confidently stepped forward when even she was confused, just like how he nonchalantly turned what seemed impossible into the possible.

"I will make it so. I will absolutely stop the evil you shoulder from running wild, preventing it from harming anyone."

If so, she herself would be able to follow him and step forward.

"So please, trust me just one more time."

The Inquisitor finished speaking with that. Whether this would work or not, even she no longer knew. She had done her best.

"... Why."

And then, at the end of a long stillness and an extended silence.

"Why are you so certain that I can suppress the demon."

The Demon Knight quietly asked. It was an easy question.

"Because the person I have seen you to be is exactly like that."

A GRIT sound of teeth grinding could be heard.

"... There will never be another fool like you in this world."

A clear white flag fluttered.

It was a heartwarming conclusion.

Even though behind the conversation she didn't know about, there was an inner motive constantly testing the waters, thinking, 'Wouldn't accepting it here be out of character?' or 'If I say a few more lines, will the Inquisitor cover for my trolling?'