The abused merchant’s daughter – 87 | Sousaku – 創作

Chapter 2, Episode 41: What I’ve Decided

"Haa haa."

Claire ran away from the mansion and into the forest.

She didn't remember what happened after that.
Alberto left Claire and went somewhere.

Viola was attacked by Sasha and the others, and had also turned pale blue.
She had seen that appearance before. The ghouls that were mentioned in the scriptures.

One of Loteccia's guards killed the knights brought by Alberto, who had been turned into ghouls, but they were regenerated and bit Loteccia's guards, turning one of them pale.
Seeing this, the other guards who were unharmed fled as fast as they could.

Sasha and the others chased after the guards who were running away while groaning.
But for some reason, Claire wasn't attacked. Could it be related to the forbidden spell that was sealed?

(Anyway, if things continue like this, the townspeople will be attacked by ghouls and turn into monsters.
I have to get to the city before the people running away from Sasha and the others, and tell them that they will turn into ghouls if they are attacked!! ）
It would be a lie to say that she didn't care about Alberto. But she couldn't just leave things as they were. Claire ran as fast as she could, but she couldn't catch up with the soldier's feet, so if this continued, the ghouls would reach the city.

If people in the city who were unaware of the situation were attacked, ghouls would multiply and spread throughout the city like rolling snowballs.

(I have to tell the city knights that ghouls have appeared!! ）

Running desperately, she couldn't make it in time, just as the city lights came into view.
Then―― There were several guards and some city residents who happened to be passing by.

"Run away!!! If you get bitten, you'll turn into a ghoul!!! "

The moment Claire screamed.
Screams from people in the city who saw the ghouls echoed, and city guards challenged them in battle.
But just as the guard was about to be bitten by the ghoul that kept regenerating no matter how many times it was cut,

Boom!!!!

A thick branch that had grown long crushed the ghoul.

(Eh……)

Claire looked up at the sky in astonishment, and there she saw it…… a girl with flowing golden hair. Although she was wearing a veil, it fluttered in the wind, revealing a little of her face.
And Claire recognized that face. Although her hair color was different, it was definitely her……

"Riese!!! "

Claire screamed.

■■■

I have to help!! I have to help!!!

If this continues, the ghouls will attack the citizens and turn them all into ghouls!!!
When we arrived at the ghouls' location, they were already just outside the city.

I don't know why, but Claire was with the ghouls.

I have to defeat the ghouls quickly, or Claire will be attacked!!!!

I stretched out my vines and beat the ghoul that had arrived in the city until it was completely mushy. Otherwise, it will just restore itself.

Farne-sama and Cyril said so.
Unlike Eldia's protection, ghouls have limited regenerative abilities.
That's why you have to really mess them up so they can't be restored!
So I have to completely mess every part of them up.

Zashu zashu zashu!!!

Please, please, please.
Die! Break!
Go away!

Don't attack the citizens!
Don't attack Claire either!

Farne-sama was saved because his soul was separated thanks to the protection of Eldia-sama, but Claire and the others cannot be saved because they do not have Eldia-sama's protection.

When I had destroyed a few ghouls that broke through the city gates.

"M-Monster……"

I turned around at the sound of someone's voice.
There…… people with a pitch-black auras were staring at me with frightened eyes.
Everyone was really frightened and looked at me with fearful eyes.

……Why? Why? Why?

I am trying my best. I am trying my best to prevent everyone from becoming ghouls.
So why are you looking at me like that?
Why did your aura turn black and why are you scared of me? Am I scary? Will you hate me?

"Riese……? "

I heard a voice and looked there……Claire was also turning a little darker.
She's afraid of me. I remembered Cyril's words.

『You're a little twisted. Returning to the human world will be difficult, won't it? Are you still going back? 』

Ah, that's right. I think differently from other people.
What's good for me isn't necessarily good for everyone else.
That's why Farne-sama tried to teach me so much by reading books, and that's why he tried to erase my memories, because he didn't want me to feel sadness like I do now.
It makes me feel very sad when people look at me with their piercing black eyes.

Even though I tried to help everyone.
Everyone is just afraid of me.

What should I do? Because I have a strange way of thinking.
That's why I'm not good. Everyone else is not wrong.

I thought I was mentally prepared, but...

But. I feel sad. I don't want to. Don't. Don't all look at me like that. I'm not a bad girl.
I'm everyone's ally, right? Why are they black?
Everyone turned blue when I defeated the scorpion, so why are they all black now?

I don't understand. I don't understand. I don't understand.

Then and now. What's the difference? As expected, humans are unpredictable. I'm scared because I don't understand.

"Ah……"

When I reached out my hand, the people in the street immediately got ready to run away.
It's not a ghoul at the end of that gaze, it's me. Everyone is afraid of me.

"Riese!!! "

I stopped moving, and just as I was about to be attacked by a regenerated ghoul, Farne-sama on Libelle carried me away.

"Farne-sama! "

『What are you doing just standing there? !
There are still two left that you failed to kill!!
Don't stop fighting!!! 』

Cyril, who was fighting other ghouls, shouted.
Yes. I can't stop my hands.
No matter how sad or painful it is. Because I'm a saint. A saint who protects Farne-sama.
I don't want to lose Farne-sama again like I did earlier.

『Are you okay, Riese? Are you okay? 』

Libelle called out to me while carrying Farne-sama and me on her back.

"Are you alright? Are you hurt somewhere? "

Farne-sama also hugged me tightly.

"I'm not hurt. But you know, my chest feels tight. Claire hates me."

When Farne-sama and Libelle looked at Claire after I said that, Claire shrank back.
Her face showed that she was scared of me. Seeing her like that, I felt sad again.
Tears started flowing and wouldn't stop.
No, no, I mustn't cry. Because that's what Mom said.
If I cry, happiness will run away. If I smile, something good will happen.
That's why I hold back my tears and force a smile.
Libelle moved a little further into the forest, and Claire disappeared from view.

Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't cry.

Bad children get scolded.
I have to put the lid on. Put all those unpleasant feelings away. Squeeze it tightly and everyone will forget.

"……It's okay to cry. Riese. You don't have to force yourself to smile even when you're feeling down."

When I smiled, Farne-sama hugged me. The warmth of Farne-sama is so comforting.

Is it okay? Is it okay? Is it okay to cry?

When I looked up at Farne-sama, he smiled gently at me.
Tears suddenly started flowing and wouldn't stop.

"Farne-sama, Farne-sama, Farne-sama!!! "

I called out to Farne-sama as loud as I could and hugged him tightly.
I feel sad and miserable, and my chest feels tight.
I don't know what to do myself.
I don't understand what's going on, so I just cling to Farne-sama.

"You did your best, Riese.
You were trying to help the others, weren't you?
Nothing wrong with you."

He spoke gently and comfortingly to me and stroked me.
Yes. I'm fine because Farne-sama is here. I don't care if everyone hates me.
When Farne-sama and the others tried to erase my memory, I was the one who chose this path.
Farne-sama is very smart, so he knew this would happen.
My way of thinking is strange.
That's why they tried to erase my memories, because returning to the human world would make me sad.

But I was the one who refused.

So even if I'm sad, even if I'm really sad. I have to accept it.
There are all kinds of people in the world, and everyone has different likes and dislikes.
I know. The world looks beautiful and kind, but it's actually cruel.
It's beautiful and fun just to watch from afar. Everyone seems kind, but...
They are cruel at their core.
They deceive others with a friendly face.
I can't be fooled. In order to protect them, I have to be even more cruel.
I want to protect Farne-sama.
I don't mind being disliked if it means protecting what is important to me.
As long as Farne-sama is here, I'll be fine.

I feel secure when I'm held.

Yes. I swore when I killed the people who attacked Farne-sama.
Farne-sama cannot kill people. But I'm okay.
So I will kill. Sometimes you have to kill to protect something.

Those who have already become ghouls cannot be saved; they must be destroyed.

Even if people are afraid, someone has to do it.
Even if other people dislike me or are afraid of me.
Riese has Farne-sama.
Cyril too. Libelle too. Dai, Remu, and Koron too.

Everyone from the temple, too. I just want the people I love to love me back!

I don't want to lose Farne-sama like I did before.

I won't hesitate. Just like Mom said, always smile and stick to your beliefs.

I turned my gaze to Cyril and the ghouls who were fighting hard.
I have to hurry and support Cyril.
Cyril has put a barrier around Farne-sama and the temple, so she is not as powerful as usual.
I'll work harder to make up for it.
I won't hesitate. Looking ahead. I will do what others cannot.
To be disliked by everyone.
I am not afraid. I've made up my mind.
I'm definitely different from other people. I'm weirder than other people.

But—because I'm weird, I think there are things only I can do.

I have to fulfill my mission as a 『saint』.
Because that's my job.
For some reason, my body feels light and energized.
The mysterious feeling of Kardiana-sama's power flowing through my whole body.
Ah, yes, it's similar to when Kardiana-sama descended upon my body.
But it's a little different. This power is definitely mine. Right now, I feel like I can do anything.
When I snapped my fingers, the ghoul vanished in an instant.