5. To Kill or Not to Kill
"The Abyss… monster?"
I furrowed my brows even tighter, slightly tilting my head as I asked in return.
"You came from the Abyss, right? From those black mire."
"…Yes." I never thought to deny it; there's no need for lies here, too easily seen through.
"Am I… a monster…?"
Then I felt it was a very foolish question. My previous appearance, actions, and the way humans treated me, they all kept telling me, in their perception, I am a despicable and terrifying monster.
Thinking this, I suddenly felt a bit sad.
The swordsman seemed to notice my low spirits, a flash of surprise crossing his face.
"Do you think you're not a monster?"
"I… don't know… woke up… just… like this…" What I actually wanted to express was far more than this, but the pronunciation of human language was exceptionally difficult for me, I simply couldn't speak it smoothly.
Full of words I wanted to say, full of questions I wanted to clear up, yet I didn't know how to express them. I could understand everything, but just couldn't speak.
"Then what do you think you are? An angel sent by the Goddess of Abundance?"
The swordsman's face bore a rather mocking smile.
Although I didn't know who the Goddess of Abundance he spoke of was, it didn't prevent me from hearing the sarcasm in his voice.
I'm definitely not an angel, but I also don't think I'm a demon.
"Why… kill me…"
"Why kill you? That's a good question." The swordsman plucked a blade of grass and put it in his mouth, "Do you know what interesting thing would happen if we continue to be alone in this… this little dark room you've created?"
"…What do you… want to… do…"
I wrapped the cloak around myself a bit tighter, warily watching him.
Why is this person so boring? And to think I initially thought he was an upright person.
Seeing my action, the swordsman first showed a rather puzzled expression, then immediately as if understanding something, he laughed dryly.
"Where did your mind go? I mean, from now on we're going to start serious business, be serious. I didn't come here to chat with you. Whatever I ask next, you answer, got it?"
"Uh…" I felt my face start to heat up again, embarrassed.
The swordsman didn't pay any more attention to my reaction, extending a finger.
"First question, where do you all come from, what exactly is your purpose in this world?"
????
I was completely baffled.
Where do I come from? From Earth. What's my purpose? Does trying to earn money to go back home and get married count?
Do you think I fancy coming to this broken world? Do you think I wanted to become a monster? I woke up like this, I'm also very frustrated, okay?
"I… don't know… I just… was born… don't… understand…"
"Considering you might still be unfamiliar with human language, I'll give you another chance, answer the first question first. Where do you all come from, what's your purpose. Don't rush, take your time, speak clearly, I have all the time in the world."
…………
What do you want me to say… I don't even understand what you're asking. What do you mean by 'us'? Does it mean there are many others like me? Also transmigrated? I really don't know!
"I… really… don't know… ah!"
"Boom"—!
The swordsman's body burst forth with astonishing lightning, a flash of light and he was in front of me, his long sword already at my neck.
"Speak. Don't try to fool me, with your current state, it would be easy for me to kill you."
I looked at his indifferent eyes with a bit of panic, unconsciously swallowing.
I can't provide the information he wants, no, this can't go on, I'll really die. I don't dare to bet again whether I can be revived or not, I need to find a way to escape.
This man in front of me, he seems like he could be reasoned with, but in fact, his stance is firm and unshakable. Even though I now appear no different from a human, even a weak and helpless girl, in his eyes, I'm probably still that horrifying monster.
We're not the same kind, don't expect him to have any empathy for me. It's laughable that I just now had the thought to show weakness to him, hoping he would spare me.
"I…"
I was panic-stricken, my unreliable heart pounding incessantly. It's embarrassing to admit, but I felt an urge to pee.
What should I do? The knights must be waiting outside, along with that troublesome old man. The swordsman was right; in my current state, it would be very easy for him to kill me. He wouldn't need to coordinate an attack like before; he could do it alone.
"Really… don't know… I… woke up… you all… attack…"
"So you're saying it's our fault?"
The swordsman's mouth twisted into a smirk that seemed both mocking and sinister, and he was growing impatient.
"Not… that. I… don't want… to hurt…"
Don't panic, stay calm. Remember the sensation from before, try to release the black smoke again…
"You say you don't want to hurt us? Do you realize how many of our church knights you slaughtered today?" As he spoke, the swordsman's eyes narrowed, his gaze filled with a chilling intent to kill.
I shuddered in fear.
"You… hurt… me…"
The words I managed to utter were so timid they carried no conviction.
"It seems we have nothing left to discuss." The swordsman's cold smile sent shivers down my spine. "Do you think you're innocent? How laughable. You're just a monster that crawled out of the Abyss, a being that brings disaster to the world, and now you want to share your grievances with me? I must be really bored to have wasted so much time talking to you."
"…"
I didn't know what to say to him anymore, just stubbornly met his gaze.
I clenched my fists.
"Honestly, I don't really want to kill you just like that. Of all the monsters that have emerged from the Abyss, you're the only one capable of normal communication. If I were to take you back now, the church folks would be overjoyed. They have many ways to torture you, methods you can't even imagine, until they pry out everything they want to know from you. I'm giving you one last chance now. Tell me everything you know, and die without pain, or I'll send you to the church's dungeons, to fall into their hands, unable to live or die as you wish. You're smart, so I'll only count to three. You decide."
The look in the swordsman's eyes told me he would do as he said.
But what could I say? How?
"Three."
"Wait… I… am… from… another… country… companions…"
I hadn't managed to reconnect with the black smoke, and in my desperation to say something to buy time, the more anxious I became, the more I stumbled over my words, not even understanding what I was saying.
"Two."
The swordsman, with an indifferent expression, began the countdown to my death.
"Uh…"
Black smoke, please! Hurry!
"One."
He raised his longsword, the light of lightning flickering once more, ready to strike down, and then my head would have to move out.
"It's not… that! I just… I just… want… to… live!"
I stared at him defiantly, my eyes beginning to well up, blurring his face. I tilted my head back, blinking hard, not wanting the tears to fall.
God, if you truly exist, please hear my plea.
If you've given me a second chance at life, then please don't let me die again so senselessly.
I want to say goodbye to my former cowardly self, to face everything bravely, not to run away.
Let me live on strongly, properly, in this monstrous body.
…………
Carlos hesitated.
He looked at the monster that had closed its eyes, clenched its fists, seemingly prepared for death, its body trembling slightly, whether from the lightning or fear.
The battle had not lasted long. He had been lurking in the shadows from the moment the fight began, waiting for the chance to deliver a fatal blow to the monster. Archbishop Ansel had secured the opportunity for him, and he had succeeded. After delivering those two strikes, he thought the monster, which was gradually turning to ash, would surely die, but it suddenly transformed into the appearance of a human girl.
Carlos had been observing its emotional changes from the beginning, trying to detect any trace that was not human. But now, he truly felt as if he were about to kill a defenseless, fragile girl.
He was a pontifical knight of the Holy Church, a hero who slayed the Abyss, and with this one, he would have killed thirteen monsters. But he had never hesitated like he did today.
This special Abyssal Monster was different from the previous irrational beasts that followed their instincts to devour everything. It possessed considerable intelligence and emotion; it was afraid, could feel sorrow, shed tears, and even… contemplate right and wrong.
Carlos didn't know if killing it now would be a good thing for the future.
It might just be the key to unlocking all the mysteries.
He observed the Abyssal Monster again, now in the guise of a human girl, seemingly fifteen or sixteen years old.
Innocent, delicate, beautiful, with a stubborn defiance.
He had to admit, if she were truly human, she would undoubtedly be the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.
He felt a headache coming on.
To swing the sword, or not to swing.
That is the question.
Comments
Post a Comment