Chapter 14
THEY WERE SPEAKING with a girl they’d found inside a cabin deep in the forest which they’d discovered by tailing the seller of the monster-repelling amulets.
With Mira’s efforts appealing to the girl having paid off, she had now opened up to Mira and her companions and promised to tell them everything she knew.
The girl’s name was Etoto.
When Mira asked her about the monster-repelling amulets, Etoto answered that one day, a kindly man had brought the materials and taught her how to make the amulets.
Indeed, the girl wasn’t only selling the amulets, but making them as well.
They then asked Etoto how she created the amulets, and she explained it to them in detail.
First, she took the materials she received, those being sacred crystals, black fragments which were used to drive away monsters, and the cloths with a magic inscription which brought out the power of both of the previously mentioned materials.
Then, just like she’d been instructed, Etoto embedded the black fragment within the crystal before wrapping it in the cloth and, finally, casting a spell upon it.
Everything considered, I’d have to say the kindly man she spoke of was most definitely a dark demon. What’s more, the crystal she mentioned is most likely amrute. By “black fragment,” she’s got to be referring to the fragments of the sword.
Whoever it’d been had said the amrute was sacred crystal and had lied that the fragment of the Monster-Ruling God’s sword drove away monsters. But the most notable things were the cloths with the magic inscriptions. Those could’ve only been crafted personally by a demon.
But jeez, she said it like it was no big deal, but how in the world did she embed the fragments into the amrute?
The amrute crystal couldn’t naturally be found in their world, and so to return it to its original liquid state, they’d had to bring it all the way to Valhalla.
And yet, Etoto had worked on it right where they now stood.
When she checked with the Spirit King about this, she learned that this was very much something that shouldn’t have been possible to do by human hands.
Indeed, even Mira had only been able to return the amrute to its original liquid state because she could use the power of the Spirit King.
“Etoto. The crystal you’ve been working with is called amrute. It’s a substance that’s not naturally occurring here. That means it isn’t something you should be able to find here, much less something a human should be able to craft with,” Mira said.
Having been pressed on this point, Etoto’s eyes suddenly opened wide. It seemed as if she had indeed picked up what Mira was insinuating.
Her expression didn’t seem to indicate that she was in any way surprised that she’d received such materials.
Rather, the look on her face was one of surprise mixed with unease, as if Mira had picked up on something that she’d rather have kept a secret.
“I thought something must be up. If possible, could you tell me a little more?” Mira asked.
The girl was most definitely hiding some sort of secret. Having judged as much from the look on Etoto’s face, Mira put on a friendly smile.
Based on the girl’s reaction, Mira had no doubt that, whatever kind of secret she had, it was a source of considerable bitterness.
It was also conceivable that this secret had to do with why the demons were using her. Therefore, Mira didn’t push the girl any further and simply looked at her solemnly.
Perhaps it reminded the girl of her early memories, as she squeaked, “Um, well…” before dropping her head and falling silent. And yet, her eyes, which were trained on Mira, were filled with fear.
Still smiling gently, Mira waited for the girl to make her decision. It required courage to open up about a secret, especially when it was a painful one.
And so, Mira simply watched over Etoto as she gathered the courage to speak.
Several moments then passed, during which nobody said a word. Neither pushing nor hurrying Etoto, everyone stood in silence.
Etoto glanced furtively at Mira and her companions time and time again, with apprehension in her eyes.
Having just about lost count of how many times she’d done this, Etoto finally looked up. She then drew her mouth tight as if having made up her mind and slowly grabbed ahold of her hood before pulling it down.
The hair that came tumbling out was black as the night sea and disheveled in such a way that it looked like she rarely took care of it.
What’s more, now that they had a clear look at her features, they got the impression that she was on the slim side.
But the most noticeable of her features was her head. Growing forth from it were a pair of horns which, though quite small, were the same kind demons had.
“Yes, that explains it…” Barbatos said, speaking first.
Judging from her appearance as well as her behavior, he’d known from the very beginning what the girl was, as well as the nature of the situation.
Unconsciously…or rather, perhaps unable to hold himself back any longer, Barbatos walked over to Etoto.
Then, surprised by his sudden approach, Etoto shuddered in fright. At the very next moment, she squeaked, “Ah…” as she looked at him.
This was because Barbatos had an even more impressive pair of horns atop his head.
These very horns were proof one was a demon. And while Barbatos usually hid them because they could occasionally cause trouble, he now showed them for the world to see.
Looking up, Etoto stared at Barbatos, who’d made his way just in front of her. Fascination as well as surprise passed over the girl’s face, and it seemed she was feeling quite a complicated mix of emotions.
Standing before her, Barbotos slowly squatted down and gently grasped the trembling girl’s hand.
“You must’ve been through a lot. I don’t think anything I say will be of much comfort to you, but you’ve done a very good job. A terrific job. But I… We are here now, so you don’t need to worry. You’re safe now,” Barbatos told her, a profoundly sympathetic look in his eyes.
Looking closer, Wallenstein was also gazing at her with an expression of deep compassion in his eyes.
Judging from how the two were behaving, it seemed that they’d seen situations like Etoto’s somewhere else before. And so, seeing her seemed to have brought back painful memories.
“Thank you for choosing to continue living,” Barbatos whispered, sounding as if he was both regretting and trying to repent for what he’d done in the past. And yet, also giving the impression that he’d discovered a small glimmer of hope, Barbatos gently hugged Etoto.
Etoto stood with her eyes blinking in surprise, as if completely thrown off by the sudden embrace. However, perhaps some of what Barbatos was feeling managed to reach her, or maybe she could recognize how warm he was being. Or perhaps, most likely of all, she’d realized that the emotion she was being showered in was kindness.
Etoto’s face began quivering. And then, clutching Barbatos, she cried, as if she were finally letting loose everything she’d felt up until that moment.
A half demon. That was Etoto’s true nature.
She was a child born as something between human and demon, and she generally looked just like a normal human. However, traits particular to demons would occasionally appear on her body.
These included parts of her skin turning black, or her growing sharp nails or fangs.
Of these, her horns proved to be the biggest problem. They were the most notable feature, and what’s more, demon’s horns were such a classic trait of demons that they immediately gave away that she was a half demon.
Demons brought devastation upon humans. This was something that’d been commonly believed to be true for a very long time.
Therefore, it was difficult to even imagine how the poor girl must’ve been treated.
And so, Barbatos gently consoled her, while Wallenstein looked on sympathetically. Marchosias also seemed to pick up on the situation. Though he’d figured it out a bit late, he said, “I see. Yes, I see now,” his voice thick with emotion.
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