After saving the carriage from the bandit attack, Izayoi and Yuuka left the rest of the clean-up to Lilith and the others and returned to Telmus first. Fortunately, the ones on the carriage were Lilith and a familiar merchant, so they gladly took over the clean-up when Yuuka’s condition was explained.
As they parted, Lilith was deeply worried, but Yuuka, not having the energy to respond, just nodded weakly.
Upon returning to Telmus, the two reported the completion of their mission to the guild and went straight back to the inn.
Alone in the room, Izayoi faced Yuuka again.
"Yuuka, you've never killed a person, have you?"
He asked for confirmation once more. Yuuka, only slightly shuddering her shoulders, did not attempt to answer, but her attitude spoke volumes.
――Yuuka had never killed a person.
To be honest, it was unexpected. Izayoi had thought that she must have encountered life-and-death situations before coming to him and crossed that line long ago.
But reality was different.
The time since Yuuka was summoned to this world is unknown, but she had never killed anyone. In this world, that could be a significant hurdle.
In this world, life is quite cheap. Losing lives in battles with monsters, diseases, and famines is a common occurrence. Not to mention, people also lose their lives to other humans, like the bandits earlier.
Death could come anytime, anywhere. It is a brutal world incomparable to the one they came from. Not being prepared to kill when the time comes is utterly fatal.
The bandit earlier was a good example.
The man who attacked Yuuka had a solid intent to kill, regardless of the reason. Yuuka had no such intent, just hostility. Hence, she was surprised by the man's ambush, hesitated, and couldn’t cope.
On the other hand, Lilith didn’t hesitate or doubt when it came to killing. Understandably so; if an adventurer hesitates for even a moment, they’d be the ones killed.
In a way, it's about becoming accustomed and understanding the common sense of this world.
――Kill or be killed.
That’s the common sense in this world.
Yuuka, not understanding this, would have to carry the handicap of not killing in all future battles. Considering the enemy’s life or death during a fight is too great a burden.
So Izayoi lectured Yuuka. Even if she came to hate him, he had to make her realize this now. Otherwise, something irreversible might happen. He couldn’t compromise on this.
Izayoi advised Yuuka.
About the cheapness of life in this world.
About the common sense of this world.
About the resolve to kill.
In return, what came from Yuuka was a voice mixed with sobs.
"Why… why would you say something like that…"
Tears welled up in her eyes as Yuuka grasped at Izayoi's collar.
"What does it mean that life is cheap? What is the value of life? You might be right, life might be cheaper in this world compared to our original world, but—"
But, she continued.
"Just because the world has changed doesn’t mean I have to change!"
The words, spat out as if she were coughing up blood, sent a shock through Izayoi. Ignoring his reaction, Yuuka continued passionately.
"Killing monsters was painful too. At first, I would throw up uncontrollably. But as I kept fighting, that feeling faded. I began to accept it as inevitable. That must be what you call ‘getting used to it’. But I was afraid of that. I was afraid of becoming someone who could easily kill living beings!"
Tears finally overflowed, and she began to sob. Still, Yuuka continued to pour out her emotions unrestrainedly.
"I think I’ve already changed. But even so, I didn’t want to kill people. I thought I shouldn’t get used to that; I shouldn’t cross that line. If I did, I would truly stop being myself. I would no longer be Kogure Yuuka. —That’s the last thing I want!!"
Yuuka’s plea, almost a cry from the heart, struck Izayoi’s ears. It resonated as if blaming and accusing him.
Perhaps Izayoi had touched something he shouldn’t have. He had tried to make Yuuka cross a line she never wanted to. It was terrible. Upon reflection, he had been urging a child, Yuuka, to commit murder. He hadn’t considered the impact it would have on her heart, and he had been tormenting her soul under the guise of doing it for her sake.
Breaking down once-formed ethics could lead to the breakdown of one’s personality.
He felt utterly pathetic.
And incredibly pained.
Yuuka — Kogure Yuuka had said she didn’t want to change. In contrast, Izayoi was the complete opposite. Over the long time since being summoned to this world, he had forgotten his former self and changed irreversibly. He had become completely tainted.
It might be impossible to consider his current and former self as the same person. The only thing unchanged was his appearance; inside, he was almost a different person. He had no aversion to taking life anymore.
To such Izayoi, Yuuka’s words were almost like a weapon. It felt like a complete denial of his entire being.
But still…
"――I'm sorry."
He gently placed his hand on the head of Yuuka, who was sobbing with her face covered by her hands.
"I didn’t consider your feelings. I'm sorry for saying selfish things."
Suppressing his emotions, he spoke words of apology. His voice was chillingly flat and cold.
Noticing this, Yuuka, holding back sobs, slowly lifted her face. Her tear-swollen eyes met his, and Yuuka Yuka realized. She had completely negated the existence of Izayoi with her words. She had mercilessly gouged at his heart.
And she became afraid. In his eyes, which had excluded all emotions.
"I-Izayoi, I…"
"...It's okay, don’t worry about it. I’m going to cool my head a bit."
Interrupting Yuka, who tried to speak in a trembling voice, Izayoi left the room.
"Ah… Wait…"
The hand Yuka reached out vainly cut through the air.
***
Izayoi aimlessly wandered the streets, gazing absentmindedly at the sky where the madder red was gradually being invaded by navy blue from the east. With no particular intentions and no mood to drink, he was familiar with every nook and cranny of the city, but found no amusement.
His figure resembled a child who had lost his way home, swept away by the crowd, waiting for his mother to come pick him up. Although, he was hundreds of years too old for a child.
With a slight self-mocking smile, Izayoi changed his path to a narrow alley, pretending to be natural. He proceeded without hesitation through the alley that was dim regardless of day or night and stopped after a while.
"Stop hiding and come out."
His quiet mutter echoed in the alley. Then, several shadows appeared to block his way, three in front and two behind. It was obvious from their stature and posture that all were women, although their faces were hidden by the deep hoods in the darkness.
"What do you want?"
Izayoi inquired, but he had a good idea. It was probably related to Lilith. Otherwise, he had no memory of being surrounded by five women.
As he waited for their response with a sigh, one of the three women in front stepped forward.
"Allow me to be blunt. Could you please stop parasitizing Miss Lilith? It’s a nuisance to her."
Her tone was polite and showed a certain level of education, but there was a palpable disdain for Izayoi in her words.
Izayoi, not well-versed in adventurer matters, could not tell, but she was probably of noble or knightly origin. Enamored and infatuated with Lilith, an A-rank adventurer, she had come forward to eliminate Izayoi, whom she saw as a pest clinging to Lilith.
He was well aware that Lilith had fans, but he hadn’t expected them to be this shortsighted. It reminded him of a similar experience during his Demon Lord days. Back then, fanatical followers and fools blinded by power had offered their daughters or themselves to be his queen, attempting to eliminate his close female associates, Irum and Rem. Luckily, thanks to Irum's wit, Rem's magic, and their crossing of Izayoi’s line, they were promptly defeated.
He couldn’t understand their actions or words back then, and he found it equally incomprehensible now with the women before him. With a sigh, he looked up at the sky where the stars were beginning to show.
"...What a hassle."
Izayoi's mutter echoed through the dark alley.