Monster no Goshujin-sama

18. Tales at the Temple

eighteen

Though Siran's request for me to join him in mourning confused me at first, after hearing the circumstances, I decided to accept the offer.

"Well, thank you"

To proceed with the necessary formalities, Silan took Kay and left the room.

We were advised to have lunch in the meantime. The meal was that Silan would arrange for me to bring it to the room.

The process didn't take much time, which meant eating a meal and resting for a little while, and then wanting you to come appropriately anticipating the time.

While Ayama and Asalina's younger group were losing their eyes and relaxing, me and Lily's older group made a mix of situations, as they did when they first came here yesterday.

"Our policy ahead -"

Lily sits in the chair that Silan was sitting in until just now and tells me she put it on the other chair.

"- After hiding your husband's abilities as a monster user, you get the demon stone of translation. Learn how to use it, leave the fort, and cross over to some village or town where your husband doesn't even know he's a transferee to secure a supply route. But I'm going to find Kato's protector."

Lily, who counted her fingers, saw me at the top.

"That's okay with Toko, right?

"Oh. And then we'll hide somewhere away, or, worst of all, we'll go back to the tree sea"

"Ugh. It's very difficult."

Lily, with a sinister face, roared. Even I feel the same way.

"This is a confirmation."

Lily offered her a quiet and well-handed hand.

"There's one very easy way to do this, but that means you're not going to use it, okay?

The tip of one hand melts into a loose, transparent slime and loses its contour.

"If you look for human bodies in this world, you'll get an interpreter quickly."

The tentacles stretched out sway before my eyes. I shook my head to the side.

"Eating people and gaining language skills is nashi"

"Right. Yeah. Just sayin"

If we had that option, we should have let Lily eat Ghoul's body when we found him before. He would still have used Lily as bait for the corpses of expeditions and residual groups, including Kaga.

This is something I also thought about during Kaga, but there is a risk to Lily's ability to prey and simulate.

Lily's fiction is excellent. It imitates not only the appearance, but all of the subjects it takes in. Looks and abilities. Even on the inside.

From my eyes, Lily looks somewhat influenced by Miho Mizushima, who has taken it in.

Unlike eating unwilling monsters, taking in humans carries the risk of being affected by them. There's no point in getting an interpreter and, as a result, losing the lily that's here right now.

This can be said to the rest of my family, but I do not intend to lose any one of them.

I don't want to survive.

We all want to live in this world.

"It's not a big premise that you're worried about Lily, but it's not that you have any other problems. If you eat otherworldly people, even corpses, you could incite their animosity to pranks. … well, maybe now around here"

Even at the moment, I, as a monster user, have circumstances that could lead to enemies being judged by the inhabitants of this world.

The otherworlds can't stop the Tree Sea invasion without the brave, but the threat is never low if they turn to the enemy.

Just because we are powerless from the big perspective of protecting human society, states are not the kind of things that individuals or small forces like us can counter. If anything were hostile, we would be forced to fight desperately.

Therefore, from now on, we should ensure the possibility of a dialogue that might remain if my identity were to be dispersed. In that sense, human eating was risky.

Most importantly, as far as the circumstances surrounding the elves are concerned, it is unlikely that they will be hostile without question at a time when they are following the monster. In that sense, it was now.

"Then I knew I needed to find a way to get the translation magic stone somehow and let you know how to handle it."

I nodded when Lily, with one hand back to the girl's, thought to herself.

He said, "It's gonna take a while."

"You're worried about around Gabella when it takes too long. I can't stand it. I've come all the way here, and I thought you might find me around Mr. Silan."

"Please don't. I feel like it's really going to happen when I put it in my mouth..."

They're all the same to think about. I was sniffing until I stopped.

What will you be doing by now? Would you be making a big deal out of it? Especially Gabella. I was worried.

"Well, we don't have to move right now. We were originally going to gather information for a few days, and for now, think about it in that policy."

"... yeah"

I asked for a change of heart, but Lily's response was slightly above the sky for some reason.

She seemed to have something in mind. I lean my neck.

"Lily? What's wrong?

"Ah. Yeah, nothing"

Lily blinked as she woke up, waving her hands in front of her chest.

"I was just thinking"

"Right. I hope so. Let me know if you think of anything. Lily is the only one who can count on this kind of thing."

"Okay. - By the way, it's about time, and I guess I could go to Mr. Silan."

If you ask me, sure. While we were talking, time was crushing there.

Following Lily's suggestion, I decided to head over to Silan.

Follow the path you were hearing in advance to the designated room. I thought I'd count on Lily's nose if I had to, but I didn't have to.

Knock on the door and enter the room. The room was lined with slightly cheaper and simpler wooden desks, stacked on top of which were several piles of paper.

"I'm sorry, Takahiro"

Syran, who noticed us, rushed in. There is also the appearance of Kay with you.

"The process went ahead, but I still need the approval of the last team leader."

Silan lowered his sneaky brow. Apparently, the situation didn't go as planned.

"Is something wrong?"

"Perhaps. Usually, the meeting should be over by now."

Where we interacted like that, a member of the group came back from the outside to pass by and speak to Silan.

"Lieutenant, if you're the captain, I saw you at the squad yard."

"Oh my God. Is that true? What were you doing? No. What number is the practice field?

"Seventh, right? The brave men are trained. Didn't the other heads of delegation invite you on a tour after the meeting? From the point of view of the captain, I can hardly say no if he invites me. At all, even the captain had trouble saying he was busy."

Silan and I seem to be cheap dating men, and from there on out was stupidity.

"In the first place, the content of the meeting itself tells us to fill the holes that the Empire soldiers put out to rescue the braves. Even though we have a vacancy..."

"Okay. Thank you, Marcus. Thanks for your help."

Silan cut up the stupidity of a man that seemed to last forever. Apparently, he's used to it.

My sorry face was pointed at me.

"I'm going to ask the captain to approve. It won't take as long as having them wait in the room...... Yeah..."

"I'll follow whatever you want."

"Are you sure?

"It's a hassle to rendezvous again. Besides, the captain is taking a tour of the other transferees' training. I'm a little interested, too."

When I said it, Silan nodded one thing as if he was convinced.

"Okay. If so, can you follow me"

We headed to the garrison to get Silan to lead the way.

……

For some reason on the road, Kay seemed oddly concerned about this one.

Turning his gaze to wonder what it was, he turned bright red to his pointy ear and was bowed down. The voice... I guess I shouldn't hang up. I have trouble turning my eyes and falling in the middle of a hallway like this, and in case things get grounded, that's what I can't even look at.

We went down some stairs and were led to a large room covered with dirt. Looks like this is the practice field. Perhaps, but it corresponds to the ground floor part of the fort. Less than twenty people were now moving their bodies.

"Captain"

"Oh, my God, Silan."

A tall woman with silver hair looked back from a few who were a short distance from the group.

He is also the leader of the Allied Knights, who met face-to-face in the welcome seat yesterday. My pale eyes, which seemed harsh, were pointed at me for a moment, but they strayed quickly.

Something came to my attention and waved at the boy at the head of the regiment who had begun to interact clerically with Silan. It was Kanahiko. Though I'm on this occasion, they're not in the training, as the foreword suggests. It must be the escort of the captain who was invited to the tour.

I waved back to Kanahiko, and I turned my gaze toward the center of the garrison.

Less than ten boys held a cloth-wrapped stick in one hand, dealing with one instructor per person.

Not everyone seems to be on the boulder for sword and magic training prepared to become aware of their cheat abilities, but the majority seem to be involved.

Some of the participants also looked blonde on the hillside. After all, I was a little surprised because I thought I was determined not to participate because I knew about the training.

The expedition also had two other people besides Iino. As I was saying when we met this morning, Iino must have taken the Imperial Knights to the Tree Sea to rescue their survivors.

As far as looking back at yesterday's students, who turn their longing gaze to the expedition, I guess not being here is as sick as illness for a reason.

It was a cool thing to be motivated.

However, as far as I was concerned, I felt resentful.

Looks like the expedition is totally going to live as a brave man.

The survival of the residual groups who turn their longing gaze to them like that is also bothering me with that.

By looking at the future of living as a glorious hero, some parts of us are deflecting our attention from the reality that we will never be able to return to the original world again, or perhaps the sense of contingency-specific union is making us do so. Either way, they're walking out for the brave.

The situation around it was the same on the other side of the world. Instead, they would be the first ones to make that kind of air. The Sirans simply believe that we, the brave ones, will fight with them. For all the brave men, bewitched by the legend, have done so.

As a result of these actions, the atmosphere naturally became more natural to fight as a brave man.

The atmosphere is strong. The one called collective psychology makes me work. Without it, some would have been reluctant to fight. In fact, it was a lot because even that hillside was enough to be in training.

And tied to the atmosphere, I can't get around right now.

If you behave differently from the others, you will be more or less suspicious. I'm questioned. For a man with a secret, that was deadly.

"Thank you for waiting"

Silan came this way. Safe, looks like we got approval.

"Now, come here."

"Okay."

Finally, I waved gently to Kanahiko again, and I left the squad field about Shiran.

Walk down the brick aisle. At the end of the journey, there was a staircase stretching underground.

We went down the stairs after Silan and the soldier we were talking to.

Going down to the bottom, an elongated passage followed at the end of the darkness.

When Silan touched the demonic stone - the lighting stone - beside the entrance, the passage was filled with lights.

"... this is the temple of the war dead. Since it was built about two hundred and fifty years ago, those who died at Fort Chile have been celebrated here as English spirits with the brave."

Hearing Silan's harsh voice, I breathed small.

Tens of thousands of rings were embedded in the walls of the distant passage so that the embedded pale stones could appear on the surface.

That was the same ring I gave Silan.

However, at one point, only the colors of the stones being embedded were different.

What we have here is a pale stone. What I gave Silan was a yellow stone ring.

That ring, he said, is a recognition card that will be distributed to the Knights and Legions. Though scum stone, it is the demonic stone that is embedded in the elephant, which can be housed in this temple after it has been recovered and confirmed dead. On the other hand, the bodies are burned and buried in a cemetery where the remains are located elsewhere in the fort or, in some cases, sent home with the artifacts.

This place, which is a spiritual temple, is home to some brave Italian objects such as swords, shields, armor, etc. In this world of faith in the brave, it is probably the greatest honor to be feasted on this place.

However, it is not this temple that we need this time.

"Let's go"

Instead of a straight passage, Silan led us to a narrow path built beside it.

This passage does not have a ring embedded in the wall. The ceiling was also low and occlusive.

Behind the aisle was provided an altar with glossy black stones scraped out. On top of that, a number of large plates are placed.

The plates were loaded with rings. The colour of the embedded demonic stone is the same pale colour as the one found in the temple earlier.

Silan takes out the ring I gave him. This one was a yellow demon stone.

"Give the poor dead a flame of purification."

Silan placed the ring on the plate and rubbed the edge of the altar.

Apparently the altar itself was a magic tool, and the green flame rolled up.

That's not all. In the green flames, the colour of the ring that Silan now placed at the top changed from yellow to pale.

Silan offered a silent prayer. Kay is also closing his eyes behind it.

Though strict, the ritual itself was a simple one.

More importantly, I'm afraid there are only four participants.

From what I heard briefly earlier, they usually have a few more steps. But that won't happen this time.

Because the owner of the ring is the one who became a ghoul.

- Originally, it is said that this ring, worn by those involved in the battle in our tree sea, was started to discern Ghoul.

Looking at Silan's thin back, I was remembering the painful voice at the time when she asked me to join her condolences and tell her the story.

- It is known that each monster has its own unique way of flowing magic. Those who went from person to ghoul are no exception. What is nestled in this ring is a demonic stone that has carved the effect of determining the magic pattern characteristic of Ghoul.

In this world, the dead don't necessarily just end up dead. Because once in a while, there are those who become ghouls.

The incidence of gools is abnormally high, especially in the tree sea. This has to do with the density of magic living in the land.

And on the battlefield, the incidence of ghouls jumps even more. Because where many corpses roll, the magic density of the land temporarily jumps.

As was also known in colonies, magic resides in the soul. You can earn this magic when you defeat a monster, and this is also one of the reasons why the Expedition used to capture a monster in a colony, or that I was trying to make contact with a monster.

However, the magic that can be stored at this time is only partial, and the majority will remain foggy.

As a result, when the dead are born, the magic density of the field temporarily increases around them. If the number of corpses increased, even the dark tree sea magic concentration jumped and the ghouls were mass-produced.

- Whoever changes the colour of the ring from pale to yellow and from person to monster will not be treated as a warrior. They didn't even get mourned back in the day.

Ghoul is a monster. Monsters are enemies of mankind.

In other words, being a ghoul in this world was the greatest disgrace.

I guess this ritual right now also has a stronger meaning of paying than consolation or soul quenching. This is a ritual that converts the dead from monsters to people by formatting demonic stones.

No one participates in the condolences of those who have gone out of their way to become ghouls. Instead, it may be an implicit understanding to shy away. Without being known, the dead are buried secretly.

But that's not why there's no pain in the hearts of those who know the dead.

"Ugh... hiccup"

Whimpering in the quiet passage. Blurry and Kay were crying.

Siran looking back holds Kay's shoulder. Her eyes were red, too.

"Oh, already. Your face is shaky. This is a good place. Wash up."

"... no, no, no."

Silan's voice, usually tightly tightened, is also gentle now. Perhaps this is the vegetable of 'Sister', who is not a knight.

With her face down, Kay turns her heel back and returns to the aisle. Siran, who dropped him off, turned to this way.

"Thank you for joining us, Takahiro, Miho"

Deep down, Silan raised his head.

She also mourned the dead, as did Kay. It must have made sense for the brave men to join us.

Now that I know it, I have decided to attend this ritual. It seemed to me that it was the responsibility of whoever delivered their ring here.

"... were they close people?

Lily asked, and Silan snorted.

"Yep. Kay was especially well received by some. He seemed to believe there was more hope than not finding the body. But for this sort of thing...... I'm sorry. Don't look down on me."

"It's not like I'm sorry."

Lily shook her head sideways.

"You're a good boy. Besides, I think I admire Mr. Silan for a long time. Sister, is it?

"No, she's my niece."

"Really? He looks a lot alike, and I thought he was really a sister."

"I grew up sisters alike. Kay is oblivious to his late brother. She also mourns her mother at an early age, so in the village she is my grandmother in my house… for me it is my mother, but she took it and lived in the same house"

Silan narrows his eyes to nostalgia. I broke my mouth. [M]

"The village of Silan? What kind of place is that?

I have only met people in this world at the fort. I was interested in something called the life of a different world.

"It's a small village near the tree sea. It's one of the pioneering villages where our elves live, but the villagers lived together, poor and shoulder to shoulder."

"Pioneering Village...?

It was the first word I heard when I came to this world.

"It's about a village that exists to cut and expand the sea of trees that will grow wider and wider if left alone. There are still countless pioneering villages around the tree sea. Naturally, these villages were often devastated by monster raids, and the villages were always ready for monster raids."

The word "poor lottery" came to my mind.

But I guess such a presence is definitely necessary in this world. Without them living near the forest and cutting and expanding the forest, the world cannot hold back the tree sea. Because brave men cannot open vast worlds by themselves, even if they can fight monsters and reduce their numbers.

The inclusion of elves in some of those in those roles also probably reflects the circumstances that this species has.

Even while we had been here, the gaze directed at the Silans was not all favorable. Insult. Contempt. If you think about it now, it's that gaze that Kay cared about on the road.

As far as that attitude of mourning the dead is concerned, apparently some of the people from the country are properly in their favor, though.

"I can't even flatter you for a good place. But still, that village is home to me. I miss it in retrospect. Has it been about five years since you left?"

Silan snapped at the chisel. Perhaps the sight of her hometown is now on her mind.

I was followed, and now I'm trying to remember as little as I can, and I almost have a world behind me that I can't go home to anymore.

I shouldn't. I'll break the recap right away. I asked Silan.

"You don't think I want to go home?

"I don't think so, it's not that. But you can't go home. Even for that village."

Siran replied with a bitter grin.

"Knights stationed in fortresses everywhere, including Fort Chile, are indirectly helping to defend the nearby pioneering village by reducing the number of monsters going out of the tree sea by crusading monsters on the surface of the tree sea. But still, some villages are ravaged by monsters every year, and even their remnants are swallowed by the forest."

Siran dropped his gaze on his palm, which he widened.

"My brother fought in this fort and died. Perhaps I will not return to my homeland alive."

Strong gaze. The perceived voice color of the core. And my fist gets gripped.

"But even if I never see it again with this eye, I want to protect my homeland. I want to protect those in the other villages who are in the same situation as my compatriots who were in that village. We want to protect our fellow fighters together. To this end I have trained myself and my moves."

I found that to be the truth in her. I can feel the weight of readiness in it, and I breathe unexpectedly.

"... ah"

seemed to notice all the time, and Silan fisted.

Laughing as illuminated, she teases her pointy own ears with her fingertips to delude.

"I'm sorry. I've made it sound boring."

"Nothing is boring"

I waved for the first time.

"That's because... I feel like I know that too"

Work hard and be strong for those who want to protect you. That was a particularly empathetic emotion for me recently, when I had repeated my training until I was blurry with Gabella.

In my case, it's more 'to protect someone' than 'to not pull a little leg when protected', but it still doesn't make a difference in my desire to work hard for my loved ones.

Whether it makes you faint or punch something in your stomach, there's nothing compared to the spiciness you can't do anything about it.

"That feelings are important."

"Right."

Unconsciously, I was holding Lily's hand. And Silan saw the hand that we had tied, and carved a little smile into his mouth.

"Thank you"