"Are you okay, Shea?

　I called out to Shea.

　Her armor was scorched here and there from the aftermath of the monster's magic attack.
　There was blood dripping from her left hand.

I'm a little banged up, but I'm fine. Thank you, Master Chrom.
I'm glad you're okay.

　Then I looked at the frightened girl behind Shea.

　She's probably in her late teens, the same age as Shea.
　Her blue hair is cut off at the shoulders, and her dull eyes give off a pretty impression.

　She is wearing a white and navy blue apron dress and a white catsuit.
　She is wearing a white and navy blue apron dress with a white catsuit, the kind of maid's outfit you would see in a nobleman's mansion.

"No, stay away from me. ......

　She backed away, her face pale.

What's wrong?

　I asked, but the maid girl just shook her head from side to side.

I think she's scared.

　Shea said.
　I don't know why she was looking at me like that.

"Master Chrom has a very suspicious aura about him.
Is that so?
"He seems like a villain.

　Well, he has the power of [darkness], so it's not surprising that he has that kind of atmosphere.
　I'm sure you'll agree.

...... Sometimes you're just plain rude, you know that?
"I beg your pardon.

　She said, smiling wickedly.

　This is the kind of expression she sometimes has these days.
　It's a girlish smile that suits her age of seventeen.

　Since some time has passed since the death of Riot, her sister's avenger, there may be some changes occurring inside her.
　She may be starting to feel better.

　Of course, it will take more time for her to heal from her grief and anger.
　Or maybe that day will never come.

　Still... I felt that the change in Shea was her own way of trying to move forward.

　I wonder if there will be a day when I can laugh like this when I've finished taking revenge on everyone.

It's not that I'm afraid of him. ...... Well, the man looks a bit scary. You have a suspicious aura about you.

　Even a girl I've never met said that to me.

I'm sure you'll agree.

　Sheeran is proud of himself for some reason.

"You're too proud.
"Hmm.

　Shea smiles.

You'll be unhappy with me.

　The girl looks at us and lets out a sad sigh.

"What?
"I... I attract evil.



The scent of darkness.
　It is said that the emblem engraved on the target by this technique emits a scent that attracts demons.

　The girl, who gave her name as Yurin, was a resident of a nearby village.

　A few weeks ago, Yurin was kidnapped by a certain mage's men.
　She was treated as an experimental subject in his laboratory and had the aforementioned emblem engraved on her.

　He managed to escape when he saw a chance, but the scent of the air intensified at night, attracting powerful monsters like the ones mentioned above.

　It is said that many unrelated people have been sacrificed by being forcibly taken out for experiments in the open.
　It is suicidal to go out alone with such a spell on you.

"You... maybe you were hoping to be attacked by a demon and die?

　Guilt.

I was so scared. ......

　I'm not sure what to say.

"I ......

　I'm not sure if she can say anything else, but large tears are spilling from her dull eyes.
　Later, later, later.

"And the curse that was placed on me. I'm not afraid of the curse that was placed on me, or the people I've caused to die. I'm afraid of that mage who doesn't give a ...... d*mn about the horrible things he's done to me.
"That mage, ......?

　I mumbled to myself.
　Well, it's probably him.

You're saying I'm unhappy with you because you attract demons?
Yes. So please stay away from me.
My skill is to destroy any enemy that comes near me. Don't worry.

　I explain to Yurin.

"Didn't you see that? You saw it. The demon was obliterated in an instant.
"So, but ......

　She was still worried.

"Don't worry, Yurin. I've been saved by this man many times. Master Chrom's power is real.



　Shea will help you.
　Perhaps the words of a woman of the same s*x and around the same age as him reassured him, and Yurin's expression softened.

I'm sorry I'm late ......, but thank you for helping me earlier.

　I'd like to thank you.

I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one.

　I went right to the heart of the matter.
　I knew what to expect, but I wanted to hear it directly from Yurin's mouth.

"......!

　Ulin's expression tightened.

"No, no, that's not...
Would it kill you to tell me?
...... Yes.
But you're going to die anyway. Sooner or later, you'll be attacked by a demon.

　I could see Ulin gulp.

There's no future for you if you stay like this. The only way to survive is to tell me what happened and ask for my blessing. And to remove the cause of the problem...

　I looked at Ulin.
　Head-on.

"Fight.

　There was silence.

　After a while, Ulin let out a deep breath as if he had made up his mind.

"The one who performed the magic on me is ...... Valerie the Wise, a member of the party of heroes.

　Yes, I confess.

"So that's him.

　I knew that Valerie had a research facility in this area.
　And the spell she cast on Yurin sounds like something he'd think of.

　He doesn't care about people.
　He uses whatever he can to explore his magic.
　Just a tool.

　That's Valerie's view of people.

　It's so simple.

　But it's that simplicity - that simplicity - that makes him strong and terrible.

We're on our way to Valerie. You coming, Yulin?
What?
You were in his lab, weren't you?　Then I'd appreciate it if you could show me the way.

　I said to Yulin.

"If you go to him, he might know how to deactivate the formula. I think it would be beneficial to you. Shea and I will make sure you're safe.
I'll take care of it. I'll protect you, Yurin.

　Shea smiles at me.

"Go to the lab at .......

　Yurin looked down thoughtfully.

　It will take a lot of courage to go back to the place you escaped from.
　If you are rejected, then what?

　However, Valerie's laboratory is likely to have some sort of magic trap, so it would be helpful to have a guide.

"Can I get back to my original body?

　Ulin looked up.

"It's possible. It's possible, but not absolute.

　I gave a small shake of my head.

　Why did I make this suggestion to Yurin?
　I ask myself.

　Maybe I'm... putting myself in her shoes?
　Just like I did with Shea.

　Like me, Shea was fighting for the purpose of "revenge".
　Yurin, who was cursed against her will.

　Both Shea and Yurin have similarities with my situation.

　Maybe that's why it sprouted in a corner of my mind.
　I want to help her if I can.

If things continue as they are, ...... I'll never be able to go back to my old life again.

　Ulin murmured.

I want to see my family again. I want to see my friends again. I want to see my friends. I want to see everyone in my village. ......

　The words turned into sobs.

"Do you want to take a chance, Yulin?

　I asked her.

"The possibility that you might be able to come with us to the lab and lift the curse.

　Yurin looked up and stared at me.
　Her eyes are wet with tears and she looks straight at me.

"Please...

　There was no more sobbing in her words of decision.