396 395 "Don't touch the jewels"




 The morning sun came over the eastern ridge, clothed in Akane-colored robes and stamping on the dew.

 In the royal capital, black smoke began to billow out in cheers, and outside the city, where the deadly snow had not yet dried up, soldiers competed with each other for the bravest way to die.

 With these noisy scenes below her to announce the morning, the jewel, Bhau-Agatha, was simply in the sky.

 She flew through the air with the jewel and shot down the winged monsters that were attacking her. No matter how strong the claws and fangs of the monsters are
No matter how strong the claws and fangs of the magical beasts touched Agathos' body, they could not harm him in any way.

 Every time Agathos wiped his fingers, the hot rays from the jewel would devour the flesh of the Hexenbiests.

 You know that this is meaningless to you. Agathos let himself go into the sky for a moment, even feeling fed up.

 The feeling of the sky, which has not enveloped him in a long time, is extremely cold. His cheeks blush as he remembers the feeling of being torn apart by the cold wind. But originally, this was her domain.

 If the deep-rooted earth was the domain of Drigman, the ruler, then the boundless sky belonged to Agathos. Agathos opens his pale white eyes while letting the glittering jewels and pieces of magical beast flesh flail around him.

 He could see the humans below him - Fialaat, and those who called themselves Lugis - moving down the street. The only thing that the tip of the blade is aiming for is the neck of Drigman, the controller.

 Agathos turned the jewel at his fingertips, his cheeks relaxed.

 Agathos does not think that Drigman will be defeated. It's impossible for us, who defy even cause and effect, to be defeated by mere humans or magical beasts.

 But it will buy us some time. That time is worth more than gold right now.

 Then, it doesn't matter if it's a human or an elf. If you can just get your foot in the right place, it will all be over.

 In the sunlight, his white hair turns a slight shade of red. It was proof that Agathos' soul was sobbing for a body worthy of him.

 But the time has not yet come.

Why do you just stand here and watch? You're so ...... strong.

 It is because of these weak words leaking out of his chest. It was still churning in Agathos' soul, refusing to go away. This was something that would not normally happen.

 Those whose souls have been devoured by demons will perish before their time. There would be no proof that he was alive. That's the way it usually is.

 So why does this weak little soul named Leu still live on? It was an uncomfortable feeling, like a light that was about to go out, but kept wavering.

 Agathos opened his mouth as he continued to fly in the air and steer the jewel.

What, another one of your favorite "let's help someone else" things? You've got one hell of a head on your shoulders, you know that? Your idea of helping people is just a game. How many people can you save with that? You can run around and do all the hard work you want, but it's not gonna get you anywhere. So why don't you just mind your own business? You should live your life selfishly.

 Agathos's tongue rolls more often than ever. It's the result of her turning the gears of her emotions inexorably. She wasn't sure why, but Agathos could tell that she wasn't hiding her own frustration.

 Irritation. What is it that bothers and angers me? It was an emotion that had not come to mind in the past.

 As if to not even allow Agathos to ask himself such a question, Leu spat out words from deep within his chest.

'...... Yes, you're right. I'm not sure if I'd be able to do that if I were you.

 You can find a lot of people who are interested in this kind of thing. But that was only for a moment. While continuing to make Agathos' heart flutter, Leu continued to speak.

But I believe that if that game can be a chance to save people, it has a meaning. That's all I can do.

 Moment. As if following Agathos' emotions, the jewels dancing around him accelerated their speed. While shining in various colors, what they showed was a uniformly angry mood.

 Without saying a word, Agathos realized that a fire had lit up in her eyes. At last, she began to realize the meaning of the feelings that were growing inside her.

 I hate her. I still hate this girl.

 Why does she do it for someone else instead of herself? And how can you pray for a human being of all people? I've been thinking about this ever since I first met her. But even now, I still don't understand.

 When Agathos lets out a hot breath, they disappear into the sky as a white mist.

 --Hey... Didn't you suffer, despair, and almost die because of that human?

 When he woke up in this body for the first time, Agathos first felt more than a little upset. It was surprising that his soul had chosen the body of a human child, but on top of that, the condition of his body was abnormal.

 The fingers and toes were frostbitten, unable to move, and even necrotic. His bones and flesh were so distorted that their normal growth was stunted, and they were still contained in his small body. Her internal organs, including her lungs, were soot-ridden that she could not even breathe normally.

 Bad luck. That's what Agathos thought at first. It seemed that he had chosen a person who was a slave to the demonic. And they were treating him very roughly. Perhaps the reason for the incomplete fusion was that Leu's body and soul were too distorted.



 Agathos had no idea that this was the way she had been treated by her own kind, the humans.

 Even among demons, there are plenty of times when people of the same race kill each other or have conflicts over interests. Agathos himself had slaughtered countless demonic beasts that had attacked him. Some of them may have been unreasonable. Some of them may have been tyrannical.

 But still, it was hard to accept.

 A child who knew nothing and could do nothing. How dare a man of his own kind do this to him?

 And yet the child, with his characteristic honesty, accepts it as his life, and is willing to give his soul to others to die. It's impossible. The jewel, Bhau-Agatha, will never accept such a life without brilliance.

 The hair on his head, a mixture of clear white and flaming red, sways in the air, wriggling and shouting.

"Shut up already, Leu. Nothing you say will change me. The jewel is immutable and enduring. No one can change me. No one can defile me. That's who I am.

 But I've decided. Agathos's lips ripple as he says this. The beautiful lines of his cheeks lifted into a smile. It was the kind of smile a prankster draws when he has a sinister idea.

"If you live so much for humans, I'll kill a human every time. Every time you say a prayer, every time you throw a word, every time you decide to save. I'll make sure I kill you after I show you how ugly you are. You can live inside me until one day you decide you don't want to save people anymore. You're lucky to be alive.

 Agathos heard Reu say something loudly. Agathos couldn't make out what it meant, but it sounded like frustration or outrage. Agathos couldn't make out the meaning, but he was sure it was filled with some kind of emotion. Agathos still smiled and thought.

 Humans are ugly. That is an unforgivable sin for Agathos. For Agathos, the beauty or ugliness of the soul is the balance of all things, just as there are those who consider good and evil or the relationship of interests to be the absolute standard.

 Of course, there are some humans who are better than others, like the girl named Fialat or the one who calls herself Lugis. Even so, these are only a few exceptions. Beautiful or ugly as individuals, they were no longer worthy of consideration as a species.

 There is no way that the race that created these children could be beautiful. I won't allow it.

 If he could see the ugliness in her eyes countless times, he would surely admit his mistake. I was going to say I don't want to save people.

 Agathos spun his fingers and bounced in the air, thinking it was a good idea. The jewels danced happily around him.

First, let's strangle the ruler. After that, I'll turn all the people in this city into magnificent, beautiful jewels. Won't that please you, Leu?

 The jewel bah-agathos smiled pleasantly, but most of all beautifully.