Chapter 746 – To the Wall

000

“Okay, this is it…”

As Cleon said that, he looked down at Dacapo, who was on his back, and secured her body with a cloth so that she would not fall even when she was unconscious.

Originally, it would have been better to carry her on her shoulder, but she had injured the internal organs of her abdomen, so having her stomach pressed against her own shoulder and compressing her internal organs would have made her worse at best. There was a high possibility that the closed wound would open again.

“Da Capo, are you okay?”

Looking at the girl-Shitaka who looked up at her as she said that with her anxious voice and expression, Cleon nodded her head.

“Are you okay. Because Amelia is preventing her wounds from getting any worse. Right now, this space is so heavily covered with dark magic that the performance of recovery magic is dropping. So, if we move to the outside of her barrier and treat her, she will be completely cured.”

When Cleon answered like that, Amelia and Lilim looked at each other, then nodded her head, and then she approached Cleon from Lilim’s side and spoke.

“Actually, I have something to tell you about that.”

＂Huh?＂

When Lilim moved her hand as if she was going to whisper, saying that it was better for her children not to hear, Cleon lowered her body and placed his ear at the level of Lilim’s mouth.

Then, what Lilim conveyed to Cleon was about the stigma engraved on Dacapo’s body, indicating that she was a sacrifice to the devils.

Although she succeeded in countersummoning the demons Castor and Pollux, the stigma still remained on her neck.

When Cleon took a quick look at the scarf she had wrapped around her neck, he saw that there was definitely an ugly brand engraved on it.

＂… Is this…＂

And, with that stigma, she cannot escape outside the barrier.

If she is not taken outside of her barrier, her wounds will not be able to be healed, and she will be in pain for helping her other demons steal her children and reverse-summon her twin demons. There was a high possibility that he would be tortured and then killed.

As Cleon, she did not want the person who had helped her escape the crisis – her only remaining compatriot – to lose her life like this.

“Okay. Maybe Lila knows a way to lift her stigma. If you get close to the barrier, she can talk to you beyond the barrier, so let’s move there.”

Amelia nods her head at Cleon’s idea, but Lilim silences her for a moment, then she speaks to him again in a whisper.

＂If you engrave the imprint of domination on her body, you can overlay the brand with it and remove it. ＂

When Cleon heard those words, he made eye contact with Lilim, and then shook her head from side to side.

“No, Lilim. What she means is that she has lost her mind and her actions must be done. … Moreover, she is injured, and if the wound worsens during her actions, her life could be in danger due to her role.”

Likewise, Cleon’s answer, which only she could hear, was a straightforward statement, so Lilim kept her mouth shut for a moment and then took a step back as if she understood.

“Then… Let’s move. I wish everyone was still waiting where I was taken…”

001

On the way from the place where Cleon joined to the border of the barrier, what awaited them was not another dangerous demon beast, nor were they demons who had chased after the twin demons to avenge them.

It was a barrage of questions directed at Cleon from the children, including Shtaka.

As a member of a clan of dark demons and an adventurer who possesses both a holy sword and a demonic sword, he must have naturally seemed like a strange person to children.

In addition, the position of adventurer was looked upon with envy by boys who did not know freedom, as it was no different from being locked up.

On the contrary, the girls blushed when they looked at Cleon, seeing him rescue Dacapo and seeing her kindness to Shitaka.

“Hey, can we really go outside the barrier?”

When one of the boys asked that, Cleon nodded her head and answered the boy.

“Of course. Amelia and Lilim – Since the two of them came in through the barrier, they have to be able to go the other way, right? My colleagues will help you, don’t worry.”

At Cleon’s words, the children said, Wow! And they cheered.

When I heard that I was moving to a new base with Da Capo, I honestly didn’t think the landscape would change that much even if I moved, but I never thought I would be able to leave this desolate space.

“B-but… Is it okay…? Me, us. Outside, the cursed children… Aren’t they called the same thing…?”

Among the girls, a girl with brown skin and red hair similar to Ishtal, who was taller than the others, asked Cleon anxiously, and Cleon flinched and shook her head. 〉

＂Who on earth would say something like that…＂

Cleon frowned as he heard this for the first time, but Shtaka spoke while carefully raising her hand.

“Actually, I once went with my sister to see if we could go to the kingdom instead of the eastern country. There is no barrier there, so I thought I could walk out…”

Probably, that was before the brand was engraved on Da Capo’s neck.

Perhaps she, too, was trying to make one last struggle before she was never able to escape on her own.

＂… But there…＂

“The kingdom’s soldiers were standing guard… They pointed their spears at us and said we could never come out. We haven’t done anything wrong, but they look at us and say they are cursed children who have sinned…”

＂Such, go…＂

Cleon was left speechless by the children’s words, and when he compared the situation of the kingdom’s soldiers on the front lines with that of the children, it was not that he could not understand the feelings of both sides.

It was quite possible that some of the kingdom’s soldiers had directly experienced the damage to the war 30 years ago.

That’s what it means. I don’t know if there are old soldiers who served in the army themselves.

Even so, the story of someone growing up in an area devastated by the empire after the war and becoming a soldier to feed his family was not uncommon even in the current kingdom.

To them, all people of the empire – or those connected to the empire – are the cause of their suffering in life and the object of unforgivable hatred.

Even if that is not the case – one of the reasons would be that they cannot be brought into the kingdom’s territory solely at their own discretion.

That emotional valley – and unless the judgment of the upper echelons of the kingdom changed, the kingdom’s front stretched between the former imperial territory and the kingdom would prevent anything from flowing from the empire to the kingdom.

“Are you okay. You are absolutely not like cursed children, and even if it is not in the kingdom but in the Eastern country, there will definitely be a place where you can live safely.”

The children looked a little relieved at Cleon’s words, but Amelia’s expression, who was listening to the story, was still dark.

Of course, the reason was that we learned that the remaining conflict between the kingdom and the empire was also binding the fate of the children left behind in the already fallen empire.

However, in her current situation, all that is possible for her is to save people as little as possible for her own personal good.

Since she didn’t know that, Amelia kept a list in her mind of things that needed to change in her kingdom.

“But if these children go outside the empire, quite a few ethnologists will be surprised.”

When Lilim said that to her Cleon, Cleon turned to her and gave her a look as if she was wondering what she meant.

“Including Shitaka, a member of the dark demon clan, other children also carry on the blood of ethnic minorities who are no longer seen outside the territory of the empire.”

When Lilim finished speaking like that, the children looked at each other and started muttering.

And then, the girl from the Vulcan race asked a question once again.

＂Well, are we really different from other people…?＂

＂No, it’s not like that…＂

Cleon glared at Lilim for saying something pointless, but Lilim sighed and gave her additional explanation.

“Not being ‘ordinary’ is not something to be pessimistic about, but rather, it would be better to appreciate your own lineage. Because there are many cases where ordinary people are born with talents that make their hands stick out from their necks.”

＂Ordinary…?＂

When Lilim’s choice of words seems difficult and the children look like they don’t understand, Amelia explains with her wry smile.

＂Well, so- even certain things that are difficult for ordinary people to do, you might be able to do them easily.＂

“Well… What Lilim wants to say is that she values ​​her own individuality. Right? “

“… What. I guess you could say that too.”

I don’t know if it was disingenuous or a bad way of speaking, but when Lilim said that, the children looked at each other once again.

Although each of them seemed to have felt something, they kept their mouths shut after that.

In the meantime, Shitaka clung to Cleon and continued talking while looking at the condition of Dacapo hanging on Cleon’s back or the magic sword hanging on Cleon’s waist.

Things like what is the name of Cleon’s demon sword, at what age did the demon sword appear, and at what age was it awakened?

Since she was of the same dark demon clan, she seemed to be interested in her demon sword.

＂Let me tell you one thing… Just because you are a member of the Black Demon clan does not mean that everyone will awaken the Demon Sword.＂

＂… !?＂

At Cleon’s words, she blinked her eyes as if she was shocked.

“Well, that’s impossible!? I thought the magic sword would automatically pop out at a certain age!?”

＂Well, there are differences from person to person… Usually, dark demon clans with an aptitude for the magic sword often only embody the form of the magic sword when they are young. I, too, because Galatea appeared at a slightly younger age than you.”

In response to Cleon’s words, Shitaka points to Dacapo and speaks.

“But Miss Da Capo… The magic sword appeared just last year.”

“You said there are differences from person to person, right? She may be a little late, but she showed up properly… So it will take some time for her to awaken.”

Cleon says so and speaks to Shitaka.

“You don’t have to worry so much. Even if you don’t have a magic sword, there are so many things you can do. Shitaka, what do you want to be?”

＂I…＂

Shitaka looked like she was thinking for a moment, and then she smiled and answered.

“I want to become a chef. If you become a chef, you’ll definitely be able to cook a lot of delicious food, right? And, you can make as much delicious food for your younger siblings as you want.”

“That’s cool… You’re a chef.”

Before the tragedy in the Valley of the Dragon occurred, he lived in the village and remembering how he originally wanted to become a sculptor, Cleon smiled slightly.

“I’m sure I can learn about cooking too.”

“Really? Lol! Then, when I become a chef, I will invite Cleon as my third guest!”

＂The first is Da Capo, the second is the younger brothers.＂

Looking at Shitaka, who nodded at Cleon’s words, Cleon also nodded as if the ranking was understandable.

“Ah! Over there!”

At that time, Shitaka raised her hand and pointed to one side, and the space blocked by the translucent membrane was finally clearly visible.

It was clear that it was a barrier located on the border with the empire leading to the Eastern countries.

When Shitaka ran towards her barrier excitedly, she put her face there and looked across.

＂There is someone!＂

“If there are red-haired and green-haired sisters, they are my colleagues. How about it?”

Shtaka narrows her eyes at Cleon’s question, and then she answers Cleon.

“Oh, there is! And the older sister who is orange… And has puppy ears growing on her head!”

＂It looks like everyone is gathered together, Lila. And call me.”

When Cleon said that, Shitaka nodded her head and placed her mouth on her barrier, calling Laila’s name.

However, when no answer came back, was the sound passing through the barrier small? And when Cleon arrives and approaches the barrier – there.

The soldiers of the eastern country and Laila talking about something could be seen even beyond the barrier.

＂… What, what’s going on? ＂

It is difficult to properly hear why the government forces of the eastern country are here and what they are talking about with Laila.

Hoping she would notice this, Cleon tried to use her magic once again.

002

Laila and her companions tensed and prepared for battle at the sound of horses’ hooves approaching from afar.

He had no intention of staying out of the way until Lilim and Amelia, who had gone to rescue Cleon, returned.

And finally, upon realizing that they were not the kingdom’s army but people from the eastern country, and that some of them were the eastern country’s official army, Laila let out a sigh of relief and relaxed her fighting stance.

“What, it’s not the kingdom’s army.”

“Everything, I’m glad. But what does the government army of an eastern country do?”

＂… I guess it was discovered that I had drilled a hole in the barrier…?＂

No matter how much we thought about it, the sting was only that bad, so the group fell silent for a moment.

And what finally came with the approaching government troops was an elderly man getting off his horse with his staff in his hand.

“You guys, what are you doing here?”

When he asked that question, Lila looked behind her for a moment, and then she looked back at her crystal that had sealed Remilia.

“Don’t worry. Because I was about to return after exorcising the devil. … Who are you anyway? From what I can see, he doesn’t seem like the person who manages this area…”

In response to Lila saying that, the man responds while placing his cane on the ground.

“… I am a surveyor who measures the land area around here. The government soldiers in the back are my bodyguards who came with me at my request. A dangerous monster was discovered around here.”

＂… Dangerous monster?＂

At his words, Laila can only tilt her head because she had never found anything on her way here.

“Okay. It is a dangerous monster that moves at the same speed as a horse while raising dust. I came all the way here with the government soldiers to do something about that guy. Didn’t he see it?”

In response to the man asking that question, Laila and the others remaining outside looked at each other for a moment and shook their heads.

However, it must be said that it was Lila who noticed the identity of what he saw and remembered it in his head.

＇… It’s us!”

In the end, we have to resolve the misunderstanding, but what should we do?

Without even noticing the presence of the returning group and the newly added children, they confronted the elderly man.