Jewel. I'm pretty sure that's what that Drigman guy called the person that kept bleeding in front of him. I've only known one person by that name. Or more accurately, one.

　The demon who serves the great demon Zebraeliris. Bau-Agathos.

　The jewels she wears around her are her shield and her cannon. The heat rays it spits out can make a flying dragon's breath of flame look easy. In the past, she had stroked such dangerous objects with great affection.

　The woman who reduced five cities to ashes and turned the life of a single city into jewels. Mankind's nightmare itself.

　Could that be the woman in front of me now? I make a small sound in my throat. I couldn't feel it on my skin. My brow naturally wrinkles up.

　I could tell that the girl who had called herself Leu was showing obvious signs of abnormality. There is no way that anyone can spit out a huge amount of blood like a madman and still move their mouth with impunity. The cheerful tone of voice against her pale face and wobbly feet creates an unnatural feeling.

　You could say she's a demon. But...

　--The jewel I once saw and the woman she is now are two very different things.

　As far as I know, Agathos was a demon with blood-red hair and white eyes like now. And yet, she had a more feminine figure.

　At least, she didn't look like a child like Leu. So why.

　I had a hunch. But I closed my eyelids slightly, letting a few other possibilities enter my mind. Then I chose my words and said.

"...... What's up, Leu? I told you to wait for me at the inn.

　He didn't engage in conversation, but rather said with a look of confusion on his face. I'm trying to make them understand that I don't know anything and that I need to explain what happened and what's happening now.

　Right now, I needed at least one piece of information. Who they really are, what happened, what they did. Was my intuition right? Or was I way off?

　Maybe Majin Agathos had a sourcebook that allowed him to transform. Maybe this is just a temporary form. I had such a slight expectation.

"............ Oh. I knew you, I don't remember much. But this body is mine now. Don't worry, she'll be gone soon. It's your destiny to ...... understand and give up. ......

　The moment I heard that. The first time I saw him, my corner of my eye twitched and I heard my teeth clicking spontaneously.

　--This body belongs to me.

　I'm not so ignorant that I don't know what that means. I knew that my own intuition had led me to guess, and that was the answer.

　I didn't know how to express my emotions. I have no idea how to digest his words. That sucks. I felt like I'd drawn the worst possible lot.

　He went on to say that this witch had taken the body of a girl named Leu.

　After letting out a few words, he sat down in the sewer, wobbling on his feet. His voice was as cocky as ever, but I could tell that his body had reached its limit. His face had turned pale and white, and he was breathing hard. And his eyelids wobbled heavily.

　He must have seen that. Lugis," I heard Caria whisper over my shoulder. Her fingertips gripped my arm slightly, as if her original energy had finally returned. At the same time, his silver eyes were fiercely fixed on the demon.

　I didn't mind the fragile atmosphere I had just felt, but... After all, the heroine I know, Kalia, must be like this. Otherwise, there is no meaningfulness.

　I gave a small nod to Kalia, and turned to face the demon who was sitting and leaning against the wall. I knew exactly what Kalia was talking about.

　That it would be easier to kill him now. That's it.

　A monster that could bring down a fortress single-handedly. Man's natural enemy. And now he's in such a vulnerable state. Perhaps in a less-than-perfect form.

　There was a drool-worthy opportunity here. If I could kill one of the demons here, it would more than make up for this loss. At his waist, the jeweled sword made a sound as if it had a will of its own.

　I took a step closer, my hand on the hilt. The demoness raised her head and looked at me with annoyance.

...... I'm going to bed. Fix it. Good. No, it has to be. I like beautiful things. I want to sparkle like a jewel. To do that, you have to be free. ....... So fix it.



　I wonder if he is almost dreamy. With unfocused, pale eyes, the demoness said abruptly.

　I stare at her without replying, and within a few seconds she closes her heavy eyelids. Her pale face as she sleeps, spitting out a lot of blood, is reminiscent of a dead person.

　Jewelry, beautiful things. Surely it has something to do with the source of these demons. For the source is the proof of their existence and what they have sought from their roots. As long as it does not decay, they may die a physical death, but they will not truly die.

　But that doesn't mean that physical death is meaningless. It is enough if they disappear from this earth.

　While gazing at the pale face of the sleeping woman, I pulled out my treasured sword. In the dim sewers, a beautiful purple line was drawn. The lustrous appearance of the sword made it seem as if only the sword was qualified to shine in this place.

　The demon in front of me did not seem to raise his eyelids. It was as if he did not know how to be alert.

　Perhaps now, a simple swing of the sword would do the trick.

"Lugis. You're doing the right thing. There is nothing wrong with you.

　Kalia whispered with thin breaths. I couldn't think of what that meant right now.

　The white-haired girl, Leu. She's definitely unhappy. No matter how she's lived her life, she's close to swallowing the greatest misfortune when her body is grabbed by a demon. You could say she has hit rock bottom.

　She will probably continue to be unhappy. Even if she survives, she won't be able to truly live in a body that's been eaten by a demon. And that will create even more misery.

　--If that's the case, it's better to cut off the source of it right here.

　That thought came to me at the moment.

　For a moment, the old days came back to me. The worst of the worst. The days when I had no dignity, no will. Days when I couldn't even live. The memory of that time lingered strangely vividly on my eyelids.

　A twisted smile on her cheeks. That of self-mockery. I've become a great man, I thought.

　How dare you make assumptions about people's fortunes and misfortunes, and then try to move things around based on what suits you?

　--You're a necessary sacrifice, for the good of others. I know it's unfortunate, but you have to give up everything.

　After all, that's what I was trying to say, with all my rationalizations. It makes me want to choke myself with self-loathing.

　People who say such things are not always willing to sacrifice themselves. They force their misfortune on others and try to wrap it up in niceties. They are good at giving good reasons why it is inevitable or for the good of the whole.

　It's a common phrase used by those who don't want to cross the dangerous bridge themselves to make others cross it. Oh, I hated that, didn't I?

　I gritted my teeth in disgust and fell to my knees. I'm not sure if you've heard of it or not. My eyes were burning slightly.

I'm sorry, Kalia. I'm not sure I like the idea of being right. I was raised to be sensitive.

　The first thing you need to do is to look at your eyes. I knew I was going to get some harsh words from her.

　Holding on to her back, Kalia sighs and says.

I'm sure I'll get some harsh words.　In fact, there have been times when what I thought was right was wrong and times when what I thought was wrong was right.

　Then it's up to you what you believe, Kalia said with a smile. The silver hair on her head was shaking in a good mood. She seemed to be in a strangely good mood today. If it were always like this, I'd be happy too.

　Kalia leaned back against me and said. I could feel the words crawling up my back.

"Whether you're right or not. I believe you. That's good enough for me.

It's a big responsibility. I'm willing to give you a little more benefit of the doubt.

　The word "idiot" was thrown behind my back.