TEOCH 79

—What did you say?!

—That’s absurd, do you even hear yourself…?!

The harpies’ faces contorted in bewilderment. The four sisters, excluding Charon, stood with their mouths agape as if dumbfounded.

The short-tempered Lethe and Hezel looked as if they wanted to rip my mouth apart right then and there. Scathach and Irene, who were of a milder disposition, didn’t express their anger quite so overtly, but even they were looking at me with considerable hostility in their eyes.

I had expected this kind of reaction anyway. Ignoring the pounding of my heart from anxiety, I took a slow, deep breath and continued speaking.

“As Rehas said earlier, we don’t want to fight you. We collected the amplifiers and controllers not to fight you, but simply to survive. So if you would just let us go, we have no intention of causing any more trouble in this area.”

As I said that, I glanced at Charon out of the corner of my eye. Even though he knew better than anyone that my words were a lie, he was just smiling brightly with not a hint of displeasure. Thanks to Charon’s reaction, I felt a little more at ease.

Maybe it’s possible. I don’t know what on earth he’s thinking, but if he had no intention of letting us go from the start, he wouldn’t have just stood there listening to this.

Of course, I couldn’t be completely relieved. Charon didn’t show any hostility towards us, but that didn’t mean he was completely on our side either. Above all, there were still four more harpies to persuade.

—Aren’t you ashamed of yourself, spouting such nonsensical drivel? Do you really think we wouldn’t see through the sophistry you’re spewing just to escape the immediate crisis?!

As Scathach, who had been watching the situation from behind, shot at me sharply, the other harpies also began to denounce us, thoroughly enraged. They accused us of making excuses now when we had been collecting magic tools to kill them from the start, and called it cowardly to say we didn’t want to fight now when I had tried to attack Charon earlier. They were all predictable accusations, but at the same time, ones that were not easy to refute.

—In the first place, what do you all plan to do in the next area? You’re just going to kill weak monsters and cause a ruckus there just like you did here, aren’t you?

—I heard you all killed the Queen Spider in the last area! What on earth did you do to that poor monster!

—If you’re human, you should just stay quietly in the human world. Isn’t it too much to just invade the demon world and stir up trouble? What on earth are you doing this for?!

Damian’s upper body was half blown away by that poor monster, so who is being too much?! I tried to find a way out while soothing my churning stomach. To be honest, I wasn’t confident in this kind of negotiation. To me, monsters were targets of battle, not negotiation, and I was more used to crossing swords with them once more than exchanging words.

Don’t tell me I’ll have to keep doing these kinds of negotiations in the second playthrough? If so, this is a really disadvantageous situation for me. Forcing me to only fight for 30,000 playthroughs and now demanding negotiations, isn’t this too cowardly!

Maybe it would be easier to just pretend to negotiate and then slowly approach and launch a preemptive strike. It was around the time I was thinking that.

“We did not come here to stir up trouble. All we want is to take my partner, who was kidnapped to this other world, back to our original world.”

Tristan, who had been behind me until just a moment ago, was now standing in front of me, facing the harpies. The harpies cast their gazes on the human standing before them with slightly displeased expressions, but Tristan stood with his back straight and looked at them without a hint of being intimidated.

—…Your partner?

“Yes. The reason we came to this world is because the king of the demon world kidnapped my partner in the first place. There were conflicts with monsters in the process, but those were righteous duels, not our one-sided slaughter. We simply wielded our swords to survive.”

—You certainly have a way with words. Do you really believe we’ll be fooled by such talk?

“If you truly don’t believe it, why don’t you think about it for yourselves? The Queen Spider, whom you called a poor being, was a guardian who ruled an entire area with countless spiders under her command. Was she so insignificant as to be defeated by just five humans like us?”

—…!

The harpies, seemingly at a loss for words, shook their heads with sour expressions. Taking that opportunity, Tristan looked at me and gave a light smile. I smiled back at him, inwardly relieved.

Is it true that there’s always a way out, even when the sky is falling? And then, Charon, who had been watching from behind, smiled broadly and opened his mouth.

—Yes, your words are certainly correct. It would be absurd to pour out criticism simply for the reason of having killed an opponent.

—Unnie!

—But isn’t there some truth to what that human says? I don’t think the Queen Spider was so weak that she couldn’t even defeat a mere five humans. In that case, it means those humans fought a life-or-death battle against monsters far stronger than themselves and won. If so, isn’t that brave rather than cowardly?

Charon said so, keeping his eyes on Tristan. I hope he isn’t just buttering him up like this to backstab him again. I had that ominous feeling, but there was nothing I could do for now. I could only try to interpret Charon’s words in a positive light.

I cautiously exchanged glances with Tristan. Tristan seemed to have a similar thought and nodded quietly, appealing to Charon with a much more desperate voice than before.

“Of course, we do not wish to fight you. We don’t have the ability to, either.”

—Hmm, is that so?

“You surely have the heart to pity those weaker than yourselves, don’t you? If so, look at us. We can’t even fight monsters properly without parasites, and we can’t withstand a single one of your attacks without those magic tools. Please, will you not show mercy to us in this state?”

—That’s an interesting thing to say. What do we gain from showing you mercy?

“You’ll be able to quickly get rid of the burdensome baggage loitering in your area. Am I not right?”

While Charon laughed as if he found it amusing, the other harpies exchanged glances with sour expressions. It was probably thanks to Tristan’s appeal having some effect. If Tristan succeeds in persuading all the harpies in this situation, we will not only be able to save our lives now but also move on to the next area without fighting them. If it just works out like that…

—It is certainly a tempting story. If you all just leave this area, we will no longer have any reason to pay you any mind.

“Yes, I ask this of you. We won’t cause any more trouble, so please send us to the next area. Not only do we not want to fight you… I do not wish for this person to suffer by fighting you.”

My heart felt like it stopped for a moment at Tristan’s gaze, which was suddenly directed at me, but Tristan himself paid it no mind and looked at Charon. Charon observed me with a rather strange expression before smiling quietly, and Tristan looked at him with eyes full of anticipation.

—Well, I think I understand, for the most part. I too do not wish for my sisters to waste their energy bickering with you all…

“In that case, can you let us go?”

—It’s not impossible. After all, sending outsiders to the next area is at our discretion. As long as you all don’t cause any more trouble in this area.

At that one phrase from Charon, the companions’ expressions brightened all at once. Was this method the right solution after all? Although we would take a loss in terms of skills and level-ups since we couldn’t kill them, we could make up for that by hunting diligently in the early part of the next area. And if we can avoid fights like this in the next area as well, we wouldn’t have to be so obsessed with skills or levels…!

—Please wait, Charon unnie.

However.

—Irene? What is it?

—I don’t understand why you are doing this, unnie. Are you really going to let those humans go to the next area?!

While Charon hesitated for a brief moment, the silver-haired harpy stood, blocking the way between us and him. The color drained a little from Tristan’s face.

—Hmm.

Charon leisurely swept back his hair. His expression was still serene, but his gaze was a little more subdued than before. It seemed he was not at all pleased with his younger brother blocking his way like this.

Irene paused for a moment, waiting for Charon’s answer. As she had her back to us, I couldn’t see her expression, but judging by her faintly trembling shoulders, she seemed a little frightened.

Well, that would be natural. Considering the hierarchical relationship among the harpies, it would take considerable courage for Irene, the weakest, to defy Charon, the eldest.

But in other words, it meant that her resolve was that strong. It could be an expression of her will not to forgive us, even to the point of going against her eldest brother’s will. Dammit, things are about to get complicated…

—You mean you don’t like it, Irene?

—It’s not a matter of liking it or not. Such an absurd thing is… unacceptable.

—Why? Will you not tell me the reason?

—Once those humans are gone, what are you going to explain to the other monsters about the islands that have been collapsing until now? You don’t know why the islands collapsed, and there’s no clear evidence that the islands didn’t collapse because of the humans, but are you planning to say that you sent them to the next area anyway because the humans pleaded?

—How many times do I have to tell you, Irene? Those humans do not have the ability to collapse the islands.

—Do you think the monsters who lost their homes will understand such an explanation? I can’t even understand it myself right now? And not having the ability is a different story from not having the responsibility. Even if those humans didn’t intentionally collapse the islands, it’s possible that the very existence of those humans destabilized the islands’ magic power. If so, then wasn’t the collapse of the islands ultimately the responsibility of those humans?

—That might not be the case.

—But as of now, that’s the most likely possibility. Or, can you present evidence that it wasn’t the humans’ doing? For what reason on earth do you trust those humans’ words so much?!

Charon slowly tilted his head. He fell silent, unable to answer Irene’s question immediately, and he briefly cast a glance at me. I could easily understand why he was having trouble.

It’s not that he can’t answer because he has no evidence. Why would he have no evidence? The very years he spent fighting me while repeating a life of over a hundred years would be the evidence.

‘Don’t say it.’

I met his gaze, hoping he would understand. Don’t say it, they won’t believe you anyway. Even if they believe it, they won’t understand, and even if they understand the situation with their heads, they won’t be able to empathize with the pain. Instead, it will only add to the confusion. Even though Charon was an enemy, I didn’t particularly want to see him suffer for the same reason I did.

Fortunately, Charon smiled quietly, as if he understood the meaning of my gaze. Irene, who did not understand the meaning of that smile, continued to speak in an anxious voice.

—Fine. Even if you think evidence doesn’t matter, unnie, I don’t care. You are a wise person, so I’m sure you will be able to placate the monsters well even without these humans. It is also true that once these humans are gone, the trouble will be gone too. However…

—However?

—Please think about it. If we send these humans to the next area, what about us, and what will happen to the next area? If the entire area collapses there as it did here, who will take responsibility for that?

—…

—Yes, I won’t say anything about those humans killing the monsters that attacked them or killing the Queen Spider. It might have been a natural act for survival. However, if there is a risk that the mere existence of those humans will bring chaos to other areas, we must stop that. What are you going to do if the guardian of the next area holds us responsible?!

“Wait a minute, what guarantee is there that chaos will arise in the next area just because we go…!”

—Do not interrupt the conversation rudely, human! Do you have any idea how many monsters died because of the island’s collapse?! I don’t know if it was intentional or not, but even if it wasn’t intentional, the lives of the monsters who were needlessly sacrificed because of you are not light!

Rikiel shut his mouth with a sour face. This is troublesome. Although she’s harping on the island’s collapse, it seems Irene doesn’t really care whether we collapsed the island or not from the beginning. She’s just concerned with how they should conduct themselves as ‘guardians.’

‘Dammit, this makes persuasion itself difficult…!’

No matter how desperately we wring out our logic, they won’t accept it unless we present evidence that our existence is beneficial to them.

Furthermore, to make matters worse, the other harpies already seemed to emotionally agree with Irene’s words. No matter how high Charon’s rank was, he couldn’t unilaterally push through an opinion that all four harpies opposed.

I waited for Charon’s answer with an anxious heart. The smile had already completely vanished from his face. It seemed he too was contemplating how to respond to Irene’s protest. After a moment of silence, he opened his mouth.

—So, you’re saying we have to be mindful of what others think?

—Pardon?

—That’s the gist of what you’re saying, isn’t it? We can’t let them go because we shouldn’t offend the monsters, and we can’t let them go because it would be troublesome if other guardians held us responsible. The guardians of this area are clearly us, so why do we have to worry about such things? Wasn’t opening the gate to other areas our unique authority?

—Unnie, what kind of nonsense is that?!

Irene’s voice was colored with dismay. But for us, it was hard to be purely happy about it. It was because she seemed less persuaded by Charon’s words and more like she found it hard to understand why Charon was speaking that way. Irene whirled around and glared at me and my companions as if to devour us.

—May I ask just one thing?

—You’re going to ask anyway, even if I say no.

—Yes, I am going to ask. What on earth are those humans that you’re acting like this?

—I don’t understand the meaning of that question.

—Right now, you are putting the humans before the other monsters. Normally, unnie, you would have considered the monsters we must rule and the other guardians who are our comrades first. Am I wrong?

—Are you saying I don’t care about them?

—Isn’t that the truth? Unnie, you’ve become strange recently. You’re not like you used to be!

—Irene, stop it! What is this disrespectful behavior?!

The flustered other sisters hurriedly intervened to stop Irene. She finally backed down due to her sisters’ desperate restraint, but Irene’s shoulders were still trembling faintly. Charon looked at Irene quietly. An unconcealable bitterness was etched on his face.

I felt strange. It felt like I knew how Charon was feeling right now, what it was like to hide a truth that wouldn’t be understood even if told. Even if I were in his situation, I wouldn’t have been able to tell the truth. I’d rather be hated, it doesn’t matter. Being treated as a strange person is less painful than not having the truth acknowledged. So, I have no choice but to just keep my mouth shut.

‘Really, it can’t be helped.’

For his sake, it might have a higher chance of success for me to reveal everything and ask for cooperation, but unfortunately, I was not in a position to help him right now. My gaze lingered on Tristan for a moment before I snapped back to my senses at someone’s presence. While Hezel and Scathach were trying to mediate between the two, the second eldest, Lethe, had approached us. I sighed and said to her.

“It seems you all haven’t reached a consensus among yourselves either.”

—Yes, things have turned out this way. We’ve shown you an unsightly display. It’s embarrassing.

“That doesn’t matter to me… So, what are you going to do?”

—For now, we will sort out our opinions among ourselves and then come back. To be honest, I’d like to just kill you all and finish the job, but I can’t defy my brother’s words, no matter what.

Lethe glanced at Charon and Irene and gritted her teeth. It seemed she too had a lot on her mind and wanted to sort out her thoughts.

In any case, it was a relief that we didn’t have to fight right now. The companions’ conditions weren’t very good, and the sun was starting to set, so if we fought now, it would be absolutely disadvantageous for us.

Lethe, who had approached her sisters, conveyed some message through telepathy that we couldn’t hear, and her sisters, after looking at her for a moment, nodded with displeased expressions. The other harpies, excluding Charon, surrounded Irene as if to guard her and flew high into the sky. I hesitated for a moment before speaking to Charon with difficulty.

“Thank you, Charon.”

—Huh? For what?

“You helped us in the end, didn’t you? It couldn’t have been easy for you either.”

—You think I helped you all? I was just worried about my monsters and the Queen Spider. Killing you is, in effect, the same as killing them over and over again. It would be better to send you away quickly to protect them.

“…”

—Don’t fight with the other monsters on this island and stay quiet. If you all cause any unnecessary trouble, even I won’t be able to overlook it.

After finishing those words, Charon flew away towards the other side of the sky without hesitation, and we watched his back disappear beyond the sunset for a long time.

What a relief. Things didn’t go smoothly, but at least we saved our lives, and even if we end up fighting them, we’ve been given time to recover our condition. Of course, it’s a bit of a painful loss to have had our quest items taken away… Damian, who was staring blankly at the sky, muttered.

“That person named Charon, even though he talks like that, did he end up taking our side in the end?”

“But in the end, we lost everything we had gathered because of him.”

“Even without Charon’s intervention, the magic tools would have been taken away, Sir Rikiel. For now, let’s think about how to deal with them without things like the amplifier or the jewel. It would be best if they let us go safely, but…”

The companions nodded with bitter expressions. I cast a camp-building magic spell over the entire clearing, and in the meantime, Rehas and Rikiel worked together to set up a temporary tent in the clearing. Tristan, who was preparing dinner with Damian, looked up at the sky and let out a sigh.

“I hope things work out well…”

“I’m sure Mr. Charon will help us, Your Majesty. Please don’t worry too much.”

“That would be a relief, Damian. But… it’s unclear why he’s helping us, and above all, there are parts of his words that are difficult to understand.”

“Pardon? What do you mean?”

“Why is killing us connected to killing the Queen Spiders and monsters over and over again?”

I almost dropped the sword I was holding. I tried my best to maintain a serene expression and observed Tristan’s face. He had a slightly puzzled look on his face, but fortunately, he didn’t seem to have noticed anything.

Dammit. That guy, spouting unnecessary things in front of Tristan. What if he gives us hope like this and then ends up being persuaded by Irene’s words and attacks us? The pity I had felt for Charon, which had taken root in a corner of my heart until just a moment ago, completely vanished, and I let out a dry cough for no reason.

“I’m not sure about that far, Your Majesty. But let’s hope for the best. At least it doesn’t seem like he has any ill will towards us.”

As I forced out the words that were nothing more than a hopeful wish, my companions managed a forced smile and nodded. Right. There’s no point in inflating my anxiety with bad imaginations. For now, I have no choice but to trust Charon and wait until a conclusion is reached. So, for now…

For now, let’s rest and recover our condition somehow. With that thought, I sat down next to the campfire where dinner was almost ready. An unbearable hunger washed over me.