Chapter 19 – 19 – Sister Said
There was no solution. I pounded my empty head and ground my teeth.
Please. Please. This may be the last little bit of your life, so if you squeeze it like this, please give me at least one hint. It means that anything comes to mind.
But there is no sharp number. Should we attach an odor enhancer to the marten and have it chase the man’s body odor? There is no way such a method would work well in a cold storm like this.
Should we try to escape by jumping over the building with a grappling hook? How are you going to carry them one by one?
Is there any secret passageway here to escape to? The accommodation building is not an ancient catacomb. Is there such a thing?
“Even if they had escaped in the first place, would they have left the ship intact? If they had been thinking, they would have damaged the rudder.”
Captain Tomko’s comments were painful.
The clergy of each party are also losing the strength of their faith in the cold. Will the combatants’ stamina be able to outlast them?
I took a deep breath. This is like a puzzle written in a newspaper.
I thought I could solve it in 5 minutes, but it ended up taking longer than I thought.
There is no need to be angry or annoyed. No big trouble yet. There are still 5 minutes left to answer.
“There are 5 minutes left. “If there is no solution, let me make a suggestion.”
Shut your mouth, damn it.
Paladin Christensen, who broke my concentration, is smiling triumphantly. Eshen asked harshly.
“What are you thinking, you bitch? You have 10 seconds to speak.”
“Throw the men who can’t fight out there. In return, the woman survives. We escape this city through the storm.”
“Didn’t you hear the captain when he said the ship was probably damaged, you motherfucker? We’re going to have to find a way to fight and win!”
I feel refreshed inside. After all, it’s Eshen.
“We can escape by land. Wouldn’t wandering through the frozen wilderness be better than dying? Why? Are you too weak to endure even that?”
The female paladins stand up as if inspired by those words. And he loyally stays by Christensen’s side.
I guess their real leader was Christensen, not the warrior.
Did you say that the parish priest would look after your back? I understand now. Why did only Florica, among the paladins, come back injured? As if I had been left behind without anyone watching my back.
The person their party was trying to take credit for, even if it meant hiding the devil’s identity, must have been Christensen.
“Fuck you.”
“What?”
“I said you’re a fucking bitch. Don’t you know that harming other parties during joint operations is taboo?”
“Like you were preparing to attack us behind our backs? Didn’t the pagans work together to challenge Mithra’s authority?”
As Christensen threatened the enemy, our party members stiffened.
The opponent is twenty. If we were to fight, there would be far fewer of us than ten.
And the entire male party that was supposed to help us is tied up with ropes.
“In this current situation, are we going to fight? Are we going to die together?”
“If you are wise and follow our will, there will be no fight, right? Are you still there, damned bastards! We have reached a conclusion!”
Kris Tansen exclaims, taking off her helmet and shaking her short bob.
It’s fluffy. No matter how cold it was, the battle took place while it was raining and humid.
This means that he did not take off his helmet and did not fight hard.
“If we hand the men over to you, will we be able to let them go alive?”
[Oh my, there are all those bitches over there who can think!]
“No. Some bitches have no ideas.”
One of the Paladins who had been sitting down without getting up spoke up.
And in front of the embarrassed Christensen, he slowly gets up with his battle hammer in hand.
Florica, who managed to straighten up, threw down her helmet and shouted.
“Are you still a Paladin? You can’t stand on the side of people against the devil, but you’re willing to throw people to the devil?”
“I don’t think this would be said by someone who hid the devil’s identity with me until the end, proud warrior of Mithra, right?”
Florica bites her lip. His face, stained with blood, sweat, and tears, was dirtier than Christensen or any of us. The injury must have lingered, but I think he fought hard.
So for now, the intention was clean.
“Yes. I am just as dirty. It was a shame. If I die like this, I don’t think I will be able to enter Mithra’s hall.”
“If you know, listen to me. Do you want to return alive? Don’t you want to quietly go back to being the principal’s daughter? ‘Princess Paladin’?”
“But I will not return to my father’s protection. I will fight with the determination to die. I hope that after my death washes away the shame that cannot be revealed under the sunlight of Mithras, my body can be buried under the sunlight of power. “
“What is he saying now.”
Eshen and I shared an unhappy look.
Florica looked back at us and smiled softly. She and she stood by us and kept the paladins in check.
“Porter.”
“Yes?”
“Mix the scent enhancer I mentioned earlier with the man’s sweat and apply it to my body. Make them think I’m a man, and then we all run away to a building that is easier to defend. How about such a strategy?”
“First. Didn’t I tell you earlier that I couldn’t do it? Can’t you see the wind blowing? The smell and the people will all be blown away?”
“···Okay?”
The voice is gloomy. It seems like he wasn’t condescending because he knew it wouldn’t work, but he was sincere.
He’s a good person, but he must have shed too much blood earlier. I guess my head isn’t working properly.
“Second. The two of us were making a fuss about doing this and that, and the remaining 5 minutes have passed. Should we just ask for 5 more minutes?”
When I calmly scoffed, Christensen became angry.
It’s like he can’t stand things not going his way.
That’s what happens when a child who is the leader of an alley grows up hearing people ask him if he is coming or not. Her character is much better than Florica’s.
“···Everyone is crazy. I told you a reasonable alternative, but you didn’t listen…”
“Sounds like a reasonable alternative. Hey, do you think those bitches will just let you go? After you give up the men, how are you going to negotiate with the bitches who will attack you in the wind and rain?”
“Eshen Taiga is right. Have you reached your limit without fighting properly, Christensen? Rather than be embarrassed, fight like a paladin and die a martyr!”
“Shut up everyone! In the name of Mithra, I demand that you all obey my orders! I am the daughter and agent of the Vicar of Westeria and-“
“Shut up, Paladin.”
I have never heard such a cold voice in my life.
Everyone in our party turned around in shock. Sister Monica was glaring at Mithra’s paladins with cold eyes.
“Have you already forgotten what Eshen pointed out to you when you were captured? You are not our masters. What are you going to do if you are the daughter of the vicar?”
“It means these paladins follow my orders. I could subdue you by force, heretic healer!”
“Then, if even one person escapes alive, your actions will be exposed at the Religious Harmony Conference. Even if they try to bury us in this storm and forget us, they will not forget the witnesses. From my experience, the Church of Mithras is extremely concerned about leaving no survivors. “I’m clumsy.”
Even Christensen, who had murder in his eyes, flinched at the chilling suggestion tinged with venom.
The sister, who was breathing softly as if she had let go of a long-standing grudge, looked straight at me.
“Mithras seems unable to bring sunlight to this storm. His followers would know better whose fault it is, but my god is different. His power reaches us here. I feel it stronger than ever. “I lose.”
“What do you mean?”
“It means there is a way to survive.”
[I think 10 minutes have passed? Are you there, guys? Shall we go up again? Would you like to have a meeting together?]
A succubus shouts in a slightly angry voice.
But I no longer paid attention to that coquettish tone.
Sister Monica was crying.
“But not everyone can be safe.”
“Do you by any chance need a scapegoat?”
The sister slowly approached me and put her arm around my shoulder.
And whispered sad words into my ear.
“Similarly. If I, or my god, chose you as a sacrifice… Would you be able to bear it, Tan?”
“Sister?”
“And me? Can I bear the sadness?”
A storm colder than winter shakes the building. The thirst of the demons becomes a groan and resounds.
But at this moment, there were only me and Sister Monica where I stepped.
A person covered in tears and rainwater, who is my sister, older sister, and mother.
We are family It means that they are bound by an affection that is deeper than anything else.
I know why you find it difficult to call me Ran. It’s not because you’re stupid.
To my sister, I am the only one. You are my one and only Monica. It is not something that can be replaced with anything else.
“I believe it, Monica.”
“···What, Tan?”
“I trust Monica’s decision. If your God wants me to, and He says that’s the only way, then that’s it.”
“What if I might die for that belief? Does that even matter?”
The implications are ominous, but there is no time. If you stay still, you’re going to die anyway. There are hungry demons out there.
“Then, please at least give a letter to my younger brother. I left in the arms of my family.”
I held my sister’s head in my chest, stroked it, and smiled. I tried to put on a smiling face.
“Happily ever after.”
When Eshen volunteered without hesitation when told that a ‘sacrifice’ was needed, Eshen shook his head with shocked eyes, as if he couldn’t understand. He keeps pulling my sleeve, asking what I mean.
But he politely shook it off. He calmly and soothingly told me that I should try something.
This is what happens in the end. I knew that one day I would do something rough and get screwed.
Still, if I was destined to die somewhere, I’m glad I did it at this friendly party rather than somewhere else.
Making happy memories with Eshen. I was able to see my sister again. It’s a hundred times better than getting beaten up by Adamantone.
I have already prepared a plausible will. I didn’t tell you because I was afraid of hurting your feelings.
‘The porter sleeps here. By bearing the huge burden of the lives of the party members.’
I always write that at the beginning of my diary. If you are a member of a warrior party, even if you are a non-combatant, you must be prepared for any unexpected situation.
I hope that my colleagues who are organizing my belongings will find that phrase and bury it. Long live the Demonic Contempt Selling Party. I forgot the name again. Whatever it was, anyway.
If, in the next life, I rejoin the group as a woman, I would like to suggest that they change their name to something easier to remember.
The sister who has made up her mind takes my hand. And quietly instructed what to do next.
I obediently followed the sister up. To the 4th floor, the top floor of this building.
Several glances follow. The worried eyes of the party members and the hateful eyes of Christensen.
Eshen held my shoulder one last time and whispered.
“Are you sure this is the only way?”
“Nothing will happen. I’ll give you a detailed explanation when I’m alone with you. After listening, if you don’t like the method, you can come back then.”
“As you said, your life may be in danger, but if that sounds like a good solution.”
Eshen bit his lip once.
“Then are you going to do it even if I tell you not to?”
Eshen’s feelings were fully conveyed. However, after a moment of hesitation, I nodded.
Even when no one believes in me, I am the one who must stand by my sister’s side.
“That’s what family is like.”
“···Okay. I don’t know what it is, but come down alive. If that Paladin bitch goes up there and tries to cause trouble, I’ll just throw him out of the building. And-“
Eshen was about to say something, but just scratched the back of his head and laughed.
“Go quickly. We’ll stop it. We just need to buy time until the ‘ritual’ is completed, right?”
“You are a really great party member. Even if it’s not today, you will definitely become a top star. Thank you.”
Eshen stroked her head once. And then I climbed up with my back to Eshen, who was dazed.
The fourth floor, just below the roof, had an attic-like atmosphere. There were no lights.
The few windows are also blocked with clothes and furniture, as instructed by the sister. The sound of rain here sounds like a dream, not reality.
Sister Monica took a candle from her arms and set it down, and although she did not know how, she lit a flame without a match.
“Now sit back. Close your eyes.”
I did as I was told. My cold, trembling body keenly felt the warmth of the candle behind my back.
But the warmth grows bigger and bigger. It’s strangely hot.
Is it effective to block windows and light candles? How can it be this warm in weather like this?
No. This is heat that can only be explained by confining heat…
It occurred to me that what was flowing down my neck was not water but sweat. A scent passes by the tip of my nose.
Sweet, but awful.
A scent that resembles a strange dream I had.
“It’s not my fault… It’s not my fault.”
A bare arm with no loose sleeves wraps around my chest.
My bare chest, not covered with a single piece of cloth, rests softly on my back.
I almost convulsed in shock.
“···Sister?”
“How did I endure it?”
I closed my eyes tightly and tried not to look back. Just as you instructed me. I can swear to anyone that I did my best.
However, when Monica’s breath passed by my ear, I couldn’t help but open my eyes due to the intense stimulation.
The sister’s simple smile disappeared somewhere.
Between the ebony-like hair that hung down, eerie red horns stood out.
And the pink-stained eyes of a hunter.
“···So, you are bad.”
The sister was still crying. Not with rainwater, but with guilt and joy.
I finally remembered what dream I had.
“Sister.”
“I’m sorry, Tan.”
A red tongue covered the inside of my mouth.
