Chapter 407 – The Meaning of Trade

000

“The perfect crystal…?”

Eustes’ reaction upon hearing that name was ‘what the hell is that?’

It was the first time I heard that something like that was born inside of me, and it was the first time I knew that it was giving me strength.

“What? Did you not hear any explanation from the people around you? Well. That can’t be helped. Among humans, only a few people know about the decision… How could such a person be interested in you?”

“…”

Eustes frowns at her words that seem to insult him, but her opponent her is a demon.

Creating gaps by stimulating people’s minds was her specialty, and she had to be careful not to get caught up in it.

“I’m sorry, so I’ll explain. Eustes. The ‘perfect crystal’ is a material that materializes the possibility of ‘perfection’ and ‘perfection’ that humans have. It is created from the human soul that satisfies special conditions. Perfection A crystal can create near-infinite magical power just by existing.”

“…That decision, is it within me? What is that special condition?”

To Eustes’ question, Ishtal smiled and answered.

“You’re going to be a perfect human being.”

“… Miss Justina doesn’t look like that kind of person.”

Eustes gets angry when Merca can’t stand her words and makes a fuss like that, but she nods her head thinking it’s what she said.

“It’s not a ‘perfect human being’ from a human point of view. Being flawlessly beautiful or having a great personality… Those aren’t the ‘perfect values’ created by human beings, right? The perfection required by the determination of perfection. Is to talk about the ‘perfection as a species’ of human-humankind. If so, the natural question here is, what the hell is perfection as that species?”

Even after listening to Ishtal’s explanation, Eustes still couldn’t realize that he had that kind of perfection.

Even when he was a man and now as a woman, he was a being who was far from such perfection.

People who are more attractive than himself are widely spread in the world, and it is difficult for him to follow in their footsteps.

Of course, his appearance does not mean that he is close to being ugly/ugly, and Eustes himself felt very ordinary in his surroundings full of attention-grabbing figures.

“When all animals are born, they are divided into male and female. And as they grow up, those born that way develop thoughts and minds appropriate to their gender. However, that is only ‘half’ of human potential. .”

“Half… Isn’t it natural for creatures to be born with one of the sexes? Then, do you think it’s true that humans naturally have both sexes?”

The devil smiled at Merca, who asked Ishtal’s words as if he was dumbfounded.

“Didn’t I tell you? It’s a story about possibilities. Originally, humans who have the potential to become male or female give up the other possibility at birth and live as a fixed gender. Are they really perfect as creatures?”

Everyone around them frowned at the devil’s words.

What are you talking about, this demon?

“——Wait, then you… Have you been working on turning men into women in order to ‘make humans perfect’? To get your hands on the decision?”

“Yes! I made a human who was originally male into a female. If I let him experience both genders… I thought that a human would become a perfect being who brought out all of his potential. But… I was wrong about that. I think it happened.”

Ishtal affirms Eustes’ words to her, but talks about her own failure to her.

“With the magic of the succubus, even if a man turns into a woman—sometimes a woman turns into a man, the perfect decision has not been made. Men who become women fall into two types after a while. They cannot accept themselves as women, Those who maintain their original spirit and live as men… Those who can’t stand the gap between their body and spirit, and eventually acknowledge themselves as women and live as women. You’ve probably seen them in that monastery too, right? The words of men whose genders have changed.”

“…”

Eustes is silent at Ishtal’s words her.

Certainly, men receiving treatment in monasteries were divided in that way.

Those who have not given up on themselves as men and those who have become women.

“But…That’s what it means. I’m not a perfect human being. My body may have experienced both male and female, but my mind-soul shape eventually leans to one side.”

“The shape of the soul…”

At Ishtal’s words, Eustes recalled the conversation he had with Ruba before the march began.

He said that it is better for him to have an unshakable attitude about what he should do.

At the same time as it is the core of the spirit, it may be something similar to the ‘soul shape’ that Ishtal refers to.

“But… You must be different. Eustace Woodnocker. You have a male mind and a female mind. You have experienced both male and female bodies while retaining both.”

“——!”

The words struck Eustes like a hard blow to the head.

As for Eustes, he did not abandon himself as a man and at the same time he did not deny himself as a woman.

That was possible because Cleon and her feelings for her for Leona, whom she had longed for when she was a man, coexisted and merged into one.

It was Leona who offered her heart her as Eustes.

It is Cleon who becomes a woman and is led as Justina.

It was true that they came to know that these two were one person, and to admit their feelings.

Both body and mind.

Eustes had surpassed the limits set as a creature and had reached the end of the potential he had been prepared for without even realizing it.

“I don’t know why you were able to do that, but thanks to that, your soul has the power to bring out all the possibilities originally given to humans. The ancients called it the ‘crystal of perfection’. A part of your soul, A magical material that was created beyond human beings and could be materialized. And… I knew that the grace it gave was greater than any magical crystal.”

“…Does that mean we have to hand such a dangerous thing to the devil?”

As Eustes listened to her, she muttered quietly.

If everything she said is true-

No, since she’s a demon, she can’t tell lies to Eustes, whom she’s about to make a contract with, so it’s really true.

Even more so, handing her the Crystal of Perfection to her was her nonsense her.

It was a story that a powerful magical power source entered Ishtar who summoned demons aiming to overthrow her kingdom, and accelerated the situation on this continent toward the world she wanted.

Not only the royal road, but also the road to hell where demons appear throughout the kingdom can unfold.

To the extent that she couldn’t imagine such a thing, Eusthes wasn’t an idiot either, so she shrank and glared at Ishtal.

“It’s easy to tell what he’s thinking from the expression on his face. Well, it’s a natural reaction… Huhuhu. Is it good? Even if it means giving up Cleon’s life.”

“…For you to spend this decision for such a thing… Cleon will never tolerate it.”

When Eustes firmly answered Ishtal’s temptation, she smiled.

“Don’t worry. What I’m doing with that magic crystal in my hands… It’s not about summoning demons in large numbers. In order to open the entrance to the ruins beneath this royal capital… A powerful magical power source is needed. It’s just that.”

“Underground ruins…? What’s inside them?”

At Eustes’ question, Ishtal put her finger to his lips and spoke as if she was pretending.

“Well? I heard there’s something great inside.”

“Because you know, you want to decide. Answer me. What’s inside, and what happens when you open that entrance?”

For a moment there was silence between the two of them.

However, Ishtal sighed and spoke.

“Hey, Eustes. I just can’t lie. I have no obligation to answer everything to you. …I think you’re mistaken, but it’s not me that’s in a hurry, maybe it’s you? Cleon is going to die ?If we leave it alone…Is it 30 minutes from now?”

“…”

Eustes looked at it for a moment, then took out the Mistiltein she was carrying around her waist her.

“Wait Eustes!”

Her Merca stops her, but Contrary to her worries her, Eustes does not run into her Ishtal her.

“…The decision of perfection is said to be the source of magical power. If Cleon were to die, I would pierce my own heart and use Mistiltein’s magical power to destroy every inch of my body.”

At Eustes’ venomous words her, Merca as well as Cadley, who was watching from her side her, opened her mouth in amazement.

Only Ishtal was looking at Eusthes, erasing the smile that had been on his face until now.

“…Ah. Yes? Well. As it pleases. Even if Cleon and your crystal of perfection are gone, I can continue the experiment with other humans. Someday, humans like you will appear.”

When Ishtal talks to Eustes as if she wants her to, Eustes listens to her words of her and is rather convinced of his own thoughts of her.

“Seeing you cling to such an uncertain possibility, it seems you don’t know exactly how to make a crystal happen. Maybe, it won’t appear forever?”

“…”

As if his words of her were correct, Ishtal’s expression his wrinkled.

“…It’s honestly unexpected that you’re so cautious… The impression Evelyn gave you is… You were more frivolous and immature young boy acting thoughtlessly.”

“I don’t know when you’re talking about the enemy.”

Looking at her never-to-be-backed Eustes, Ishtal is silent, looking at her with her cold eyes and then opening her mouth.

“What lies inside the ruins is the true body of the being who is trying to rule this world from the other side. Some call him ‘the father of all things’, while others call him ‘Adam’.”

“──Father of all things…!”

The assassins who were agitated by her story she seemed to have heard the name somewhere.

“I haven’t told Cleon and you guys so far… My purpose is to ‘destroy Adam’. And only the Crystal of Perfection can open the entrance to the ruins where Adam exists. At that point, Cleon and The purpose is to match…”

“Cleon…”

Eustes secretly glanced at Cleon, then looked at Ishtal again.

“But Adam is not something that can be easily destroyed. At least for now. I still need to prepare more… Even if I receive a crystal from you, I don’t intend to use it right away. Maybe, I might ask this man for help. But… All of that is the story of when Cleon survived.”

Ishtal spoke to Eustes as if to decide now.

“If you pass the decision, Cleon will survive. And you can help his purpose to some extent. But… If you don’t pass the decision, both you and Cleon will end up dying. And one day, Adam will bring us to this continent. A great disaster will come… What will you do? Hero Eustes.”

Eustes listened to the story up to that point and fell into deep thought with his eyes closed.

Obviously, Ishtal did not tell everything her to herself.

What she really wants is the story of ‘after she knocked out Adam’.

…However, even if Adam is neglected or Ishtal is left alone, disaster will occur.

Then, what can stop them-

When Eustes came to mind, the most likely one was, of course, Cleon.

Perhaps, it may have been an anticipation mixed with her own selfishness.

Even so, too.

Eustes did not want Cleon to die.

“…Okay. Let’s exchange crystals and antidotes.”

“Eustes!”

When Merca looks at Eustes in disbelief, he turns to Merca and talks.

“Sorry, but I can’t let Cleon die. I’ll take responsibility. But- Ishtal. I still can’t trust you. So, make a pact to exchange crystals and antidotes.”

“Of course I was thinking of that. Come on, shall we proceed with the contract?”

The next moment, Ishtal snapped her fingers, and her parchment she appeared as a bluish fire flared up in the air.

Then, a pen with red ink writes the names of Ishtar and Eustes on the parchment, confirming the contents of the contract.

“Wait, wait. Ishtal. … The crystal is in Eustes’ body in her? So, you mean to take the crystal out of Eustes’ body in her? Then, what will happen to her?”

As the story progresses abruptly, Merca raises her voice as if concerned about Eustes.

Eustes himself, come to think of it, nodded his head as if he hadn’t confirmed that part.

“…No way, you won’t lose your life, right?”

Merka, if that’s the case, even if Eustes allows it, she glares as if she won’t allow it.

“…Okay. It’s about a deal, so I’ll have to tell you about that too.”

However, Ishtal answered Merca’s gaze by brushing her hair on her.

“It’s not like losing your life. …However, that perfect crystal is the realization of your potential, Eustes. Losing this means losing your current power-magic. You’re going back to yourself.”

“…Losing strength is not a problem. It can be supplemented with training and skill.”

“It’s a great attitude.”

Ishtal speaks with a mocking smile somewhere.

“Is that over?”

“No way. …Now you are stabilized in that form. Your body must have already forgotten its original form, and only your mind preserves both male and female. If the curse has progressed to that point, what will you do? It’s impossible to return your form to its original state even with this… The only possibility is to use the Perfection Crystal.”

“——Please don’t say it back. I don’t have time.”

When Eustes presses on her words her, Ishtal puts her chin on her chin and lets out a laugh in anticipation of seeing her funny.

“It was meant to be easy to understand… To put it simply… If you lose this crystal of perfection, you will have to live with it for the rest of your life. You can’t go back to being a man, Eustes Woodnocker.”

Ishtal floated in her head.

Obviously, Eustes’ reaction after this would be interesting.

She’s been proud to say that she’s handing over her decision.

What expression will she wear when she knows that she will never be able to return to her male form.

Should I despair, be sad, or, would I regret it?

Either way, as a demon who finds sweetness in human negative emotions, it was never ending.

That’s why, in order not to miss the change in Eustes’ mouth or expression, I had to concentrate my mind.

Eustes slowly opened his mouth to answer.

“I see… Got it. There’s no problem with that much.”

“—Ha?”

The answer was so clean and pure that Ishtal suddenly felt bitter water welling up in her mouth.

“…Even if I can’t return to being a man, it doesn’t matter. …As long as I can save Cleon and leave behind hope. I- even if I live as a woman for the rest of my life. I don’t care.”

“…”

At her answer her, not only Ishtal, but even Merca, who was next to her, looked at Eustes as if a little surprised.

“…Haha, disgusting.”

The only thing Ishtal could do for Eusthes was to swear at her as if she could n’t admit her defeated heart her.