“You’ve made two wrong assumptions,” he said. “First, Emilia may have influence among my superiors, but it’s not enough to simply dictate what I do.”
In addition to being one of the best blacksmiths of the day, Emilia belonged to a shadowy organization known as the Neighbors of Fear. Her role within that organization was to keep an eye on Leon and report his behavior to church authorities, as well as deliver his missions to him. Her power beyond that was quite lacking.
“She might be able to negotiate me some easier jobs, but that’s about it.”
“H-huh? I thought you lied about that…”
“It was a lie, yes. That doesn’t mean she couldn’t do it.”
Emilia was such a genius that people said she was living centuries ahead of everyone else. Given her importance, it wouldn’t be impossible for her to vouch on Leon’s behalf.
“Th-then she can—!”
“That brings us to your second wrong assumption. The truth is, Emilia initially offered to do precisely that. I refused.”
“…What?”
Alice had assumed it was Emilia’s doing, giving Leon terrible jobs just to torment him. She was mistaken.
“Emilia is not my enemy. In fact, she’s the only one on my side.”
Alice was finally starting to see the truth. Leon watched her furrow her brow for a moment, and then ask another question.
“So you asked for that awful job?”
“That’s correct.”
“But why? Why would you do something like that?! Are you trying to get yourself killed?!”
“Because our interests were aligned. The church got their value out of me, while I was able to hone myself against a powerful foe.”
That was all Leon was good for now. Killing monsters.
“In the goblin lair, you told me I was strong… In terms of my ability to dish out violence, that’s certainly true. My prosthetics see to that. But in terms of my mental strength, I still have a long way to go.”
Leon stood still and stared at his palm. Now, even in the depths of the most perilous dungeon, his fingers didn’t tremble. That proved just how far he had come.
“I’m far from perfect,” he said. “Sometimes I get into a fight and I don’t know how it’ll end. It…”
It scared him. He needed more courage. He needed to forge his weak heart into something no monster could daunt, just like those two had. Otherwise…
“…I can never keep my promise to him.”
Alice didn’t know what he meant by that. She couldn’t even imagine. But she did know one thing for sure: Leon Crossheart was on the path to self-destruction, and he walked it gladly.
The church, the people, the world. Even if all their hate went away, it couldn’t save him now. Because the one person who truly hated Leon—who wanted to see him die more than anyone else—was himself.
“If you want to keep me alive, then you’re welcome to try. But unless you can change my mind, it’s a fool’s errand.”
Leon knew that would never happen. He had given up all hope of it long ago.
“…I won’t let you die,” Alice reiterated, a determined frown on her pretty features. “I swear on my life.”
Leon sighed, dismissing the feelings growing within his heart.
His promise was ironclad. He could never break it for her. Never.
Once more, a silence fell between them. An awkward silence that felt like knives sticking into Leon’s skin.
Alice, meanwhile, decided to change tactics. Rather than focus on a vague, unknowable future, she had chosen to align herself to the task at hand. This was evidenced by the next question to come out of her mouth.
“Do you think this job is possible?” she asked.
The Village of the Kin-Eaters was a writhing hub of Class Three monsters. Was it even feasible to just waltz right in and slay the Orc Queen that led them?
“A front-on assault will almost certainly fail,” Leon answered. “We’ll have to use stealth. If we can get close enough to the target without being seen, we can win. If we’re spotted…”
Then there would be nothing to do but pray for a swift death.
“There’s no glory if we succeed. And if we fail, only a miserable end awaits you. Do you still want to come along?”
“Yes.”
Alice didn’t hesitate. Yet there was unease in her eyes.
She clearly wants to run, but something inside her is stronger than the fear. I should order her back to town…but I doubt she’d listen.
…As long as I don’t screw up, she’ll be fine. In fact, her being there should make good motivation to get the job done properly.
The power of the heart made people stronger. Rheinhardt had once said as much. Leon was a monster, but he had a human heart. Surely Alice’s presence would be a positive influence overall.
With that on Leon’s mind, they soon arrived at the entrance to their destination.
“Stay low as we proceed. Don’t make a sound. If you have to speak, do so quietly. Understand?”
“Yes, Master.”
Crouching down, Leon advanced, his ears searching. The buildings were all close together, so there was no shortage of hiding spots. Plus, there was something else contributing to the pair’s stealth.
Namely, the sounds of combat.
“Heeereeeeetiiiiiccc!”
“Deeeeemooooooon!”
Werewolves. The canine creatures were feuding with the orcs, the two sides turning each other into puddles of rotting meat.
Leon stole a look at Alice. She looked a little perturbed by what she was seeing. Luckily, with all the noise the monsters were making, Leon could safely explain without fear of being heard.
“Monsters usually avoid harming each other, but the ones living here are exceptions. Like all monsters, they’re governed by the emotions and traumas they experienced in life. In the case of these, that’s a deep enmity.”
Before it became home to monstrosities, the settlement here was known as Oracle Village. It was an ordinary little hamlet, with nothing much to say about it, until its secret came to light.
“Oracle Village was made up of worshipers of a pagan faith. The church doesn’t recognize pagans as humans, so they can be sentenced to death without trial.”
When the church discovered the heresy, they sent a squadron of temple knights to the village, but as soon as the purge began, a cloak of white darkness descended over the settlement. The villagers were transformed into unsightly pigs, while the knights became savage wolves.
In all likelihood, they didn’t even realize. They didn’t notice themselves turning into monsters; all they felt was hatred for each other. That was what drove them on, even after losing their humanity.
“…But they never had it to begin with. It wasn’t the mist that turned these people into monsters.”
They tore at each other’s flesh, gnawed at each other’s bones. Devoured each other. The cycle of violence would continue on forever. They were beyond salvation now.
“…Let’s move on.”
Alongside his apprentice, Leon advanced toward the center of the village. Slowly, carefully, hidden amid the buildings. As Leon had predicted, it was a fairly simple matter to approach the Orc Queen’s lair, the Nursery of Filth, undetected.