Chapter 295
Chapter 295: Understandable (11)
[…Is that all?]
“Then what did you hope for? “Did you want me to get angry, cry, and vent my resentment at that child?”
I smiled faintly.
“But I hate large corporations that commit illegal activities more than street food stalls that do illegal business.”
I can’t sleep even once, I have to endure the burning pain that the devil will cause from time to time, and I can no longer control the level of pain that everyone is against me, so I have to survive for 9 years.
Can I really do it? Can I hold out?
It’s human to be dazed even if you don’t sleep for just one day, but not for ten days or a month, but nine years. Will I be able to endure nine years?
“I hate child abusers like you even more.”
But I can’t throw away the child’s round head. I can’t ignore my cheeks that are shining with a sad color because I’m crying silently.
My life seems like shit and the world is like dog food, but I still can’t stay still.
[Ah, Gretchen, you really are….]
Therefore, I made a decision. Since you lasted 8 months, I think I can handle it too. I think I can do that much because it would be embarrassing if I couldn’t overcome what a child could overcome as an adult.
[You’re excellent at deceiving yourself.]
I’m sure it could be possible.
[If a throne is created for the original sin of lies, your name will definitely be at the first place.]
My true feelings were hidden behind the child’s fall. Somewhere in the heart, a crying adult is crushed, unable to breathe.
An adult who can’t even cry because he has a crying child is being crushed like that.
[You are the one who deceives yourself. How far can you go as a burnt offering for yourself? How long will the soul that is orphaned through sacrifice maintain its original form?]
It’s miserable. I’m sad. It’s miserable. I’m angry. I’m sick too. It’s painful. I need someone to comfort me. I also have someone who can tell me that it’s okay.
[You see the contradiction in that the good deeds you insist on doing to protect what little humanity is left end up destroying yourself─]
I miss my family, too.
Quang!
The world shook. It was a vibration that shattered both pitch black and white. The broken wall vomited blood.
[…what an ordinary bug!]
What is this again? I looked up in a daze and saw drops of blood pouring down like a waterfall. Strangely, I didn’t feel anything special.
Something seems to have gone wrong. Just that much. Evaluations without empathy drifted dryly through my mind.
“Shock from outside…”
[A dull beast attacking me without even knowing the subject?]
Except for me, the two were different.
The black and white world suddenly became translucent and reflected the external situation. It was like a shoulder view of a game, slightly expanded beyond the visual field of view.
Quang!
At the same time, a sound that felt like the speakers were turned on full blast hit my ears. Twohender, who had returned to his cocoon form to protect his body, was fighting against an enemy attacked by Ratel.
The white piece that covered only the major joints, more like a protector than tights, allowed my body to move as it pleased. Both legs jumped high to avoid the huge tusks, and both arms split the approaching insect clumps.
[Foolish golden beast, I will tear you to pieces just like your master.]
However, its movements were really limited to the minimum and could not overwhelm the enemy. It was clear from the fact that blood continued to flow in this space.
The body, which was focused on evasion rather than attack, moved unnaturally like the body of a dead person.
“…Do you think I’ll let you go?”
[…You kid can’t even understand the situation!]
At the same time, the devil who was trying to do something was also caught in the chain. The broken and cracked chain seemed ready to break at any time, but surprisingly, the devil could not shake it off.
Grumbling. Grumbling. Every time the devil tightened his grip, the chain continued to break and take time.
[If this continues, everyone will die. You probably don’t know that either, right?]
「….」
[Do you think this body is all that needs to die? One young one. That plague won’t go away after eating just this body. never! That greedy guy wouldn’t do that!]
Don’t you like that? Or are you afraid that your body will be chewed up by death in the meantime?
The devil continued to use his tongue as he struggled to break the chains.
[Honey.]
The voice suddenly became quieter and gave off a sweet scent.
[The hometown you tried to protect, even abandoning your benefactor, is behind you.]
「…I.」
[Then I must protect it. You have to protect it, baby. You have to choose before you miss everything because you’re too obsessed with what you once threw away.]
「…I!」
[Or do you want to see me burn your hometown to the ground?]
「…!」
The fangs hidden in that sweetness are full of vicious poison. I am embracing it. The boy’s face fell. Dried tear stains shine every time light falls on them.
[Let go, baby. If you release me now, I will leave behind your hometown in my name.]
Srreung. The chains that bound the devil have loosened a little. [Yes, good boy.] The devil laughed.
Sigh.
“…But it doesn’t matter. Either it breaks or it breaks or it burns.”
And once again the chain became taut.
“You’re right. I chose Munmund’s safety over yours. I miss the memories left there so much. I feel sorry for the remnants that remain. “I just want those people to live happily.”
The boy’s gaze returned to me.
“But it’s okay now.”
The child was no longer crying.
“I won’t be greedy anymore. Because now I know that I don’t deserve it.”
Ash is gray. The faded gray hair swayed in the wind that blew from somewhere.
“okay. “It was wrong to try to protect something precious to a subject that trampled on the lives of thousands of people and to drag the innocent you into it.”
The blood rose as if it was going to swallow us up. It was the sins piled up one after another, the tears we shed, and the karma we had to deal with covered our knees and swept our backs.
“sorry. “I know this isn’t a crime that can be solved with just one word, but I’m still sorry.”
Ah, I hope so.
“And thank you. “For telling me that I survived well despite being swayed by my force.”
A soul that can overcome evil.
“Now go to where you belong.”
A strong being who will not collapse in the face of evil.
“…I’m really sorry for bringing this in and trying to end it on my own. But if you miss now, you will never have the chance.”
The person who can win against Ma.
“…I should have sent it to you a long time ago.”
…Can you hear me?
[This damned kid—!]
“Ah.”
If you can hear.
If you can hear this voice…
“It hurts…”
Please help me…
[If you don’t let me out right now—!]
A black flame pierced the boy’s heart. The tears that flow freely add to the mounting karma and melt away without a trace.
The boy’s sorrow melted away without a trace, as if it had no meaning in the face of such a great crime.
[Damn it like this…!]
Still, the boy did not fall. Even when the flames burned his body and reduced it to ashes, his knees did not break.
it hurts. The inaudible scream was swallowed in my throat and died out. Blood was bleeding.
[The damned brat until the end…!!]
Blood flowed countless times.
To confine the fire, the blood containing sin became a river, a lake, and eventually the sea. The boy who once shed blood to live was immersed in blood poisoning.
“If I last nine years.”
But I was bigger than the boy, so I wasn’t swallowed. The boy in the lake, which was up to his chin, was caught in my hand.
“Let’s say I go back. What happens to you?”
I don’t want my child to be submerged in sticky blood. So come out.
I lifted the child up by supporting his buttocks with one hand. Cough. The red-faced child looked at me with tears streaming down his face.
“Why is that…”
“Answer me. Either you or you bastard.”
[…I promised that that child would become free and I would fall.]
“Can I roughly understand this as saying that you will leave this body and die?”
[okay. I won’t die, but I won’t have any strength left to do anything.]
The red liquid that had formed on my gray eyelashes dripped down. [But why do you ask that? Do you even have the desire to stay?] The person who is tired of nervousness is acting like he is bragging.
“No. When I think about it, that promise was an exchange of truth and Munmund’s safety. “I think that means we have to catch that monster as well.”
If it looks like a hedgehog with thorns, is it being viewed too favorably? I quickly blurted out the image that briefly came to mind. After thinking about it a little more, I realized that this is a metaphor that feels very sorry for the hedgehog. Nothing like cancer.
“…No way.”
“Is the value of the truth I’ve heard so far and the value of the threat I’ve defeated really equal?”
“No, please…!”
“What do you think, devil?”
“please please…!! You must not suffer any more!!”
[…Are you asking me?]
“Then are you the only devil here?”
“I don’t deserve to live on this earth at the expense of your pain!!”
[When this body dies, you can return. Still, you’re going to help?]
“If you tease me, I’ll tell you.”
“You say you can stop being sick anymore…!!”
[…No. I would welcome it if you said so.]
“Please stop… stop…”
I just thought about the image of the disheveled hedgehog. Will I regret this choice?
“Then make your promise again.”
I don’t know. Because I am not a person who can see the future.
However, I knew that if I went back like this, I would definitely regret it. I knew that well.
“When I sleep, it doesn’t try to hijack my body, it doesn’t cause burning pain on purpose to cause pain, and it doesn’t explode with magical energy at will. Anyway, I will never do anything to try to steal your body. Oh, you broke your promise to deliver the truth. “No matter what he tells me, make sure I don’t have to take any more penalties.”
Therefore, I decided to walk one more time…just one more time.
Just one more time with the intention of leaving if I don’t accept this condition.
“stop it. You also experienced it in Bemurchen…! You stayed for those people, but you suffered so much after that…!! So, so…”
“…What are you talking about? “I stayed for them?”
[Oh, you don’t remember. Because we erased it.]
“You guys really did a lot of things that I shouldn’t have done to me…”
…Oh. This is something I really didn’t know. I briefly thought about my new knowledge and then opened my mouth again.
“You can listen to this later. Anyway, are you going to promise or not?”
[That’s too much of a loss for me─]
“If you don’t like it, go after it.”
At the same time, I lifted my tiptoes slightly to avoid the blood that had filled my philtrum. I had no intention of being deceived like a child. I had to get what I got.
[Then remember it as it was before talking to us…]
“Hey, am I easy? Or do you not want to live?”
[Then, even if you swear not to die on purpose….]
“I said you don’t want to live.”
[Are you telling me to give up everything just to survive!]
“Of course I have to, then.”
The devil’s gaze and mine were intertwined.
“You were the one who said that being on the receiving end was foolish.”
The red eyes, shining brightly even in the blood, let out meaningless shouts. It was a meaningless act. Its servility was the karma it had accumulated.
“So are you going to do it or not?”
[…You will regret it.]
“Among the people who say that, there is no one who is truly scary.”
[You think I’m joking.]
“Isn’t it natural to ignore Pakchu, who didn’t expect that Appetite would target him, and thought he had won everything?”
[… Let’s proceed with the contract.]
Look, the person who gets hurt is stupid. Those who make a fuss don’t actually blame themselves when they get hurt.
I swallowed down the words that were about to come out. If that bastard turns around and has the guts to say he won’t sign a contract, this side will be in trouble too.
Churrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
Fortunately, he created a contract. A piece of paper was formed that did not shrink even in the blood, and articles were printed on it.
“Is this okay?”
The provisions were tight, but since I also did not have time, it was difficult to check them thoroughly. However, at a glance, it seemed like the guy’s options were mostly blocked.
So that was enough. Maybe it will work.
“Why, why are you like this…”
“…If I keep going like this, my hard work will be meaningless.”
“Please, please…”
No, actually, it’s okay even if it’s not enough. Just the assurance of putting you to sleep, maintaining pain relief, and intentionally removing the burning pain will be enough to endure.
After all, it’s human to survive for three years even if your legs are broken and your dreams are shattered, but under these conditions, you can probably live for nine years anyway.
“You can be happy now….”
“I won’t deny that. I haven’t committed any sins, but I don’t think I should suffer this much. “If you think that way, wouldn’t I also have the right to be happy?”
With that thought in mind, I buried my face in the shoulder of the crying child. This was possible because the height was right since I was holding a child in my arms.
“But why? Why…”
“Damn it, I’m the only one who can help you right now.”
Then he handed the contract to the devil.
“Hey, add one more clause. “In addition to the acts written in the contract, acts that I believe are considered body-stealing schemes can be added and banned at any time.”
[…I’d rather die than accept that!]
“Oh, okay. Then either die.”
[…!!!]
The devil gritted his teeth at the game of chicken, which had no losses for either party—except for not being able to go home right away. Sigh! As a result, the blood was pushed out and created a space for us. This was kind of good. It would have been better if they had done it sooner.
[…Don’t you think that the clause about you being the judge leaves too much room for abuse?]
“Should you just do it?”
[…Change it to the old magic judgment. Then I will agree.]
“I don’t like it.”
[How can I know and accept that even the fact that I am a parasite on the body is considered a trick!]
“…Oh. As expected, scammers are different no matter what. “I immediately find a loophole.”
Is it really right to do business with that bastard? After thinking about it for a while, I let go of the boy in my arms and sighed.
What can I do? I can’t abandon my child.
“I don’t know if the old magic is fair or not.”
[I swear on my name.]
“…It’s okay to say that.”
[Are you planning on signing a contract or not?!]
I have it, but what should I do if I really don’t have faith in it? I glanced at the boy. “Are you sure?” The boy nodded his head weakly in response to my question. “…Do not. “Please don’t do that.” Apart from telling me the truth, my croaking breath dissuaded me until the end.
“That’s not allowed. The method of asking for help was not good, but in the end, here is a child who asked an adult for help. “I don’t know if there’s anyone else who can help, but right now it’s just me.”
If you have faith in old magic, you’ll be fine. I raised my remaining hand. I need a pen. When I thought that way, a pen came into existence.
“It’s not a lifetime, it’s about 9 years… I think you’ve done some overseas volunteer work.”
Can I write my name here now? I reached for my pen to write my name at the bottom of the contract. “You’ll regret it.” The child took it away.
“I’m sure you’ll regret not helping someone like me.”
“Maybe so.”
“You’re really going to regret it…”
The child shed tears and held the pen he had taken away properly. “Why are you holding it?” In response to my question, the child whined and continued speaking.
“…You can’t give your name to the devil.”
“No, then what should we do with the contract…”
Crunch crunch. The words were engraved into the contract without time to stop them. Fortunately, it wasn’t the signature box.
“…I have already given my name to the devil, so you can use my own name.”
Mephistopheles does not pursue the ambition to steal Gretchen’s body.
The act of ambition includes…(omitted)….
The name the devils used to call me was put in the place where my name should have been written.
“Aren’t you using a trick just because you didn’t write down your real name?”
“…I can’t do that. “Because our notions recognize Gretchen as you.”
The boy looked at me again with red eyes.
“The moment you write my name in the signature box, you will have to endure another nine years on this earth.”
Tuduk. Pearl-like teardrops fell once again.
“Are you really sure it’s okay?”
That made my choice worthwhile.
“huh.”
The boy cried and wrote his name on the contract.
Faust. It was the name of a being who made a contract with the devil but was saved by Gretchen. I really liked it.