Chapter 662 – Crime and Punishment

000

The regenerative power of a pure-blooded vampire – or should I say life force – is greater than one can imagine, even if the upper body and lower body are separated by Cleon’s magic sword and become like a film sensitized by the divine light shining from all directions.

Her life did not end, and her body continued to maintain vital activity.

As for that life – you can’t help but express pure fear, astonishment, and praise for its strength as a species.

It’s just that the direction in which that power is used is wrong.

“Ilenu, is there any way to restrain a neutralized vampire?”

“It’s not like it’s not there, but… You’re not going to kill me?”

Illenu looks surprised at Cleon’s words.

However, as if she was not the only one who was surprised, Baylin also looked up at Cleon with an astonished expression on her face.

“What? Are you trying to play with me- hmm!?”

When Galatea gets stuck in his mouth as he tries to continue speaking, Cleon touches his mouth just enough to keep it from being torn open.

“Are you in a position to express your opinion? There are so many things I need to answer for. Where are the dark giants now… And what is your true purpose? “I understand the general situation, but you are probably the only ones who know the full story.”

In response to Cleon’s words, Baylin couldn’t say anything, perhaps because there was a knife stuck in her mouth or because she had nothing to say.

Looking at Cleon like that, Illenu took out a silver rope from her bag as if she knew that was the reason.

＂A rope for capture made of silver thread of ‘blah blah blah’.”

＂… Blah blah blah?＂

“… It’s not actually that name, I just forgot it.”

When Cleon looked at Ilenu in confusion, she blushed and turned her head as if she was a little embarrassed.

Then Cleon took the rope from her and tied it to her body as she lay on the ground.

The lower body, which was already motionless, was left alone, and only the upper body, where the heart and head were, was tied.

With that alone, Berlin, weakened by the sacred power of silver, was unable to move properly.

Then, Cleon also saw that Berlin’s strength had weakened and pulled the sword out of his mouth.

In the process, I got a slight cut inside my mouth, but it shouldn’t be any problem.

[Dirty~!]

When Galatea lets out something like a scream, Cleon steps on Baylin’s stomach and looks down at her while apologizing to her.

＂Ugh… This is… A rope made of ‘Benedict’s silver thread’… A sealing magic tool that prevents the regeneration of its kind and seals its power…!”

＂…＂

Rather, when Veilin put the name of the rope into her mouth while disassembling it, Cleon looked back at Illenu once again and his expression became a little cold.

Or rather, why do you know better… Same thought to Berlin

＂No… Well. Why?”

Rather, despite Cleon’s reaction, Illenu said that she had not done anything wrong, but she could not make eye contact with him.

Then, Cleon sighed and asked Berlin a question.

“First. Your sister… Where is Pamela?”

＂…＂

When Bayerlin gives no answer to Cleon’s question, Cleon narrows her eyes and pulls on the rope that was binding him.

Then, the sacred power contained in the rope tightens his vampire body, causing intense pain.

＂Keuuuuu!＂

Cleon continued to speak as he raised his voice, enduring the force of the rope that felt as if his entire body was on fire.

“Berlin… Even if you don’t say it out loud right now, there is a wizard among my colleagues who freely uses magic to read people’s memories. Moreover, since Lillim is also there, you can hear about the neck’s weakness even from her mouth.”

When the heel of Cleon’s boot presses down on Bayerlin’s stomach and threatens him, Baylin opens her mouth as if there is nothing she can do.

“Pamela… Is in the subspace prison I brought with her. Originally, that guy Otis entrusted me to bring you.”

＂Subspace prison?＂

“Okay. It’s a magic tool that temporarily traps you in a separate dimension, like a gap in another dimension. You can use the cube-shaped magic tool I put in my arms as an entrance and exit.”

When he told her where he had hidden Pamela, Cleon nodded and searched Galatea’s arms, and found the hidden cube-shaped magic tool.

And if you pick it up, click it, and turn the top—

“For a moment! If we take her out of the place where her barrier is spread-“

Berlin is embarrassed and tries to stop Cleon, and Cleon ignores his words and continues to operate the magic tool.

Then, the gap in space widens and Pamela appears before Cleon’s eyes, as if she had fallen from somewhere.

＂Aaaaah…!＂

The moment she let out a short scream, Pamela looked up as she felt her body being enveloped, and Cleon was there.

Had Cleon not quickly stretched out his arms to catch her, she might have hit the ground with her butt first.

＂Huh, Cleon? Why…? Oh, right! Please listen, Cleon. A little while ago, my younger brother!”

Pamela, who was raising her voice like that, noticed something strange about her and looked around her.

Cleon and Illenu standing in a stained-glass scene with dazzling light pouring down.

Berlin, lying on the ground for the last time. His younger brother.

Looking at the way her upper and lower body were separated, Pamela was covering her mouth.

However, she wasn’t the only one who was surprised.

Baylin, too, looked at her with her surprised face, able to talk and move without any problems within this barrier.

“Uh, why… I can’t move, but Pamela…?”

“This barrier is a magic that only works on ‘malicious’ people who covet other people’s souls. Unlike you, it is natural that it will not work for Pamela, who retains her original goodness.”

When Illenu explained that to Berlin, Cleon also nodded.

＂Berlin… In the end, as I said before, Cleon and… ＂

＂Story?＂

However, although she was surprised to see that appearance at first, somehow, she seemed to be satisfied with what had become of that appearance.

＂…＂

And looking at Pamela like that, she avoided her gaze without saying anything.

There was nothing left for the siblings to say to each other, and they may have expected this ending to some extent.

“Pamela. … I might end up doing something harsh to him from now on. There is information that I have to get from him somehow.”

＂… Yes.＂

At Cleon’s words, Pamela nodded her head as if she understood.

Ilenu spoke, looking at her with a bit of disbelief at her surprisingly docile attitude.

“The harsh things Cleon is talking about might be difficult for a 13-year-old to imagine, right? … I’m not particularly taking that guy’s side – no, I’m not taking your younger brother’s side, but I thought you would definitely rebel if you were who you were up until now.”

“… I talked to Berlin. The reason my father and mother died. And, what happened to him after that? He went down a completely wrong path, and I think he should be punished for it.”

＂… I guess so.＂

Pamela may have heard from him all the evil he had done.

After hearing all of that, he judged for himself that even if he were his brother, his sins could not be forgiven, and he could not ask for forgiveness.

Illenu and Cleon thought that they might have decided that way.

However, Pamela speaks in a slightly different way from what those two people think.

“Instead, it is not just Berlin that should be punished.”

＂What are you talking about!?＂

Beirlin raised her voice in surprise.

Likewise, when Cleon turns to her at Pamela’s sudden remark, she cautiously asks Cleon to lower her so that he can stand on her ground.

That appearance gives off the aura of a noble woman who is mature and well-behaved to a degree that does not match the mind of a 13-year-old.

And she spoke like this with her hand on her chest.

“I, as a blood relative of the clan leader, must take responsibility for the crimes committed by members of the clan against humans.”

＂…!＂

When Beirlin heard those words, she was even more shocked and speechless.

“He became like that… He gained the power of a titan and ended up hurting a lot of people. … If only I had been by his side – comforted him even just a little bit as he mourned the loss of his father and mother. If only we could say that what we should have is anger toward injustice, not hatred toward humans.”

Pamela had her sad face, her face truly pitying the changed figure of her own land-bound brother.

And, I was talking about her regrets while looking at her face.

“Obviously, Berlin is not the Berlin of conquest, but my younger brother, a stepping stone between humans and vampires, and a worthy head of the clan. She could have become Baylin.”

＂… But that-＂

Cleon stopped while trying to cover Pamela’s words.

Even listening to her story just now, I could clearly see that she was a person who cared about such things and would not shirk responsibility.

In fact, even after she learns that her own parents were killed by humans, she does not express her anger towards the human race.

We just generalize them and do not extend the hatred to the entire race.

＂…＂

If the other person is a vampire, no matter what strange story she has lived.

In the end, even Illenu, who showed no sympathy since she was a demon that sucked human blood, looked at Pamela with an uncertain expression.

Of course, the one who felt the most messed up here right now would have been Berlin, who had to lie down on the ground and watch the whole scene.

＂Damn… Damn…! Why did this happen…! I will defeat the captain, prove my strength… And, together with my sister, start a new history for the clan…!”

When Beirlin clenched her fists while muttering like that, she still couldn’t completely let go of her lingering feelings about the goal she had in mind.

Cleon looks at Baylin for a moment, then turns his gaze to Pamela and speaks.

“… If that’s your rule. I’ll follow that rule. Pamela.”

＂… Thank you, Cleon.＂

Although it was a bit strange to express gratitude to someone who had punished him.

“Berlin is lying there now. An artificial life form created based on the person who died once during the war between the empire and the kingdom. In other words, it is a type of homunculus.”

＂…!＂

At Cleon’s words, Pamela looked back at Baylin, saying that even she herself did not know that.

“… It’s like that, after all. I did something to see that the black giant that I had heard was dead had reappeared unharmed.”

Ilenu, who had heard this for the first time here, also understood, but nodded as if she was still in doubt.

“In other words, he is not originally a member of your clan. Because the real members of your clan are already dead and scattered to ashes. What remains there is only his echo.”

“But- even if that’s the case. I think of him as my younger brother.”

Even after hearing all of Cleon’s explanations, Pamela says that she will still think of Berlin as Berlin herself.

As if he didn’t know how she felt, Cleon nodded and spoke to her.

＂In order to kill the original vampire, the same vampire needs to suck her blood and absorb part of her soul. ＂

＂…! Yes, I know.”

In addition, if the heart is pierced and the wound becomes permanently incurable for any other reason, the vampire will die.

The most certain method of killing without worrying about resurrection would be blood sucking by a vampire.

Pamela was surprised that Cleon knew that fact, but she couldn’t think of the reason why he said it.

“So. I want you to drink his blood and end his life. The end of ‘Conquest of Berlin’.”

＂Cleon…! Are you serious!? “

At Cleon’s sudden words, Illenu raised her voice as if she couldn’t believe it.

I didn’t know he would do that. It would be correct to say.

Ilenu seemed to think that it was no different from telling her older sister to kill her own younger brother who had committed a crime.

“Okay. I’m serious. It is clear that whatever the conquered Berlin is, it must disappear. So…”

“That’s not what I said! Are you asking Pamela to kill her own brother? How do I remember!? “I heard there is information I need to get!”

＂…＂

Cleon remained silent and showed no reaction to Illenu’s passion.

But Pamela also closed her eyes for a moment while looking at Cleon.

She nods, opens her eyes, and approaches her brother, who is lying on the ground, bound.

As Pamela took a deep breath and opened her mouth slightly, sharp fangs were visible.

＂Sister…＂

The people around her couldn’t tell what kind of emotion she was conveying when she called her sister that way.

I just thought he was someone completely different from the one who was emitting light while fighting Cleon just a moment ago.

It wasn’t strange for her to think that way.

Even while listening to the infinitely weak voice, Pamela’s will did not weaken.

Looking at Pamela like that, Ilenuga finally couldn’t bear it anymore and opened her mouth.

“No, wait! No matter how evil she is, it makes no sense to let her younger brother die at the hands of her older sister! I’d rather-!”

＂Ilenu.＂

Cleon then stopped her by holding her shoulder.

“What is it, Illenu?” Do you know what you are doing! Cleon…!”

I couldn’t understand why they were doing this.

Even after learning that he was the reincarnation of Cain – the Demon Sword Emperor, Cleon was even more shocked because he thought he was a completely different being from Cain.

Perhaps, Cleon is not that different from Cain.

Even as he thought that, he stood still in place, unable to easily remove Cleon’s hand.

Pamela’s teeth got stuck in Berlin’s neck.

Pamela didn’t even say goodbye to her brother.

His blood flowing through his fangs was transferred to the outside of his body.

And there. The conquered Berlin faced death once again.

001

When the huge, sacred barrier that surrounded the surroundings breaks and disappears.

Once again, the sun shines down on the place where the group was.

Before that, Cleon moved Pamela with Illenu and moved them inside Kanon’s shelter, where the ceiling collapsed.

If you wait for a while in a shady place where the sun doesn’t reach.

＂Ugh…＂

With the voice saying, he came to his senses.

＂What on earth… What happened… ＂

As soon as he woke up, Beirlin clutched his head with his hands, amazed that he was still alive.

He looked down at his hands, amazed that the sensation of his hands touching his hair was different from before.

Then, there is a hand that is so small that it cannot be compared to the hand you had before.

＂W-what is this!＂

When Berlin tried to raise his body while making a high-pitched scream-like voice, Cleon stood up as if to block him.

In front of it, a small mirror was shown.

There – 50 years ago.

The way you look when you fall asleep with your father and mother and wake up in front of Cain-

There was an image of Berlin returning as a young boy.

＂Why… Why am I like this? The power of the giant has also disappeared…”

“That’s because Pamela drained all that blood from her body.”

When Cleon explains it like that, Berlin looks up at Cleon as if he is dumbfounded.

And, if you look around her a little bit to see where Pamela is.

There, Pamela, who seemed to have grown slightly, really slightly, was hiding behind Cleon with an apologetic expression.

However, Ilenu was seen fuming as if she was angry.

“Why… The captain ordered me to be killed.”

“Okay. I ordered to kill ‘Conquering Berlin’. I never asked you to kill the ‘Berlin Oracle’.”

＂…!?＂

Berlin tries to get up from his seat as if he can’t believe what Cleon said, but Cleon pushes him down again and speaks.

“I just need the information you have about the dark giants. For the sins you committed during your lifetime, you must have already paid for them when you fell at the hands of Lesia and met her death. So, it would have been better for me to take away your power.”

At Cleon’s words, Berlin’s face had to change into a pout.

For Berlin, who returned to his boy form, even such emotional expressions became those of a clumsy boy.

“Besides… Pamela barely. I got to meet her own family. She said she regrets not being by your side – but she said it was you who left her.”

＂…＂

As Cleon said that, he straightened his bent knees and stood up.

＂If you knew. Atone by her side. For the girl who tried to save you. “I will wait a little longer to hear your story about the Black Giant.”

With those words, Cleon turned around, and Beirlin wondered what she should call him to stop him, but in the end, she couldn’t put any words into her mouth.

The only thing that desperately came to mind in her mind, as if she had been crushed by her mess, was that it was as if time had gone back in her mind – and that, compared to Pamela’s changed appearance, she was able to touch the kindness of the woman who had not changed at all.

And – Cleon truly feels in his bones that he is a different being from Cain.

It is not a difference in power, but a difference in beliefs between the two.

＇I am…＇

The moment when Beirlin opened her mouth, thinking about something.

＂What is this!!!!＂

When a high-pitched scream suddenly rang out, all the people gathered there turned to look in that direction.

Aine and Draine were moved outside for a while to prevent them from getting involved in the fight, and brought back here as soon as the battle was over.

The reason she screamed as soon as she woke up was because of the area her eyes were focused on.

That’s right, the open ceiling.

“Abba, abba, ababa baba!!”

And, unable to accept the sudden reality, he snapped and collapsed.

Cleon, who watched her in silence for a moment, loses his senses and runs to her with foam in his mouth.

“Now, wait a minute! Canon!? Wake up!”

＂… What is it really… ＂

Berlin too, looking at such a scene, maybe-

No, let’s stop talking about it anymore.

For the honor of all of them.

All she could do was sigh and think about what to do next.