Chapter 117
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For now — before becoming a complete trophy — one must not stop thinking, no matter how painful it may be.
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Eris Gladius discreetly glances at the two of them inside the tent.
Both Mika and Angelica appear to be sleeping soundly, worn out from fatigue (whether physical or mental).
The three of them have dispatched many low-level enemies to get this far. Moreover, the battle with the boss has left a significant scar on their psyche. So it’s not surprising that they are exhausted.
On the other hand, while Eris feels strong fatigue, her eyes remain oddly alert. Of course, her headaches persist throughout this dungeon exploration, even increasing in frequency. But more than that, something deep within her heart commands her to continue thinking, to not stop thinking, urging her not to compromise.
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Even so, Eris is greatly surprised.
She’s astonished that Saint Mika, who was saved by the Holy Knight, sincerely expressed words of gratitude. Although it’s natural to thank someone who helped you, this fact is still utterly astounding.
This is because the aforementioned Holy Knight, whom they’ve reunited with after a long time, is supposedly a good-for-nothing scoundrel. According to the Hero, the true identity of the Holy Knight is someone who squanders all the rewards from dungeon exploration on wine and women, and shamelessly comes back time and time again to beg for money — a completely hopeless good-for-nothing.
Eris had barely met the Holy Knight in question, so she knew next to nothing about him.
However, whenever the Hero confidently badmouthed him as usual, strangely enough, Eris would strongly believe that the Holy Knight was indeed such a person, a low-life who could only hold back the Hero’s party.
In fact, this was true not only for Eris but also for Saint Mika and Angelica.
Whenever the Hero started badmouthing by saying, 「That Holy Knight Yamada…」, it served as a cue. Agreeing with the Hero’s abusive language, nodding, as if a switch had been flipped, the two of them would also use harsh words to criticize the Holy Knight who had left the party.
When they insulted the Holy Knight, the Hero would always break into a satisfied grin. Then, as if to complete the routine, he would admonish them, 「Now, now, young ladies shouldn’t use such language. Look, it’s ruining your pretty faces.」
For these reasons, it was no exaggeration to say that for Eris, Saint Mika sincerely thanking the Holy Knight, whom she supposedly hated like poison, was an earth-shattering event.
But now she understands.
Perhaps, just perhaps, it might be the case.
For Eris, whatever the Hero says becomes the truth. Even the slightest jest, if the Hero claims it to be true, starts to feel like the truth. Of course, the two beside Eris now must be feeling something similar.
The closer the Hero is, the more a strange feeling arises that they should affirm everything about him. And the more he speaks, no matter what it is, the more it seems like the truth.
For example, if he points at a horse and claims, 「This is a deer,」 then for the three of them, including Eris, it becomes a deer.
For instance, if he points at the white pieces in Reversi and insists, 「These are black,」 then no matter how you look at it, they become black for them.
That’s how impossible things become possible in the Hero’s party, for the Hero, and for the three of them.
If that’s the case, then perhaps the true Holy Knight…
Of course, all of this might just be Eris’s delusion.
As she thinks this far, Eris shivers slightly, feeling a sense of insecurity stemming from her lack of confidence in her own sanity, and even more so from the imagination that she might already be possessed by madness.
The magical device’s light flickers and goes out.
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In the darkness, Eris lies down next to the two.
They form the shape of the Chinese character for 「river」 (川).
Eris encourages herself that it’s fine even if it’s just a delusion.
It’s been a while since the three of them left the Hero’s side.
Although she can’t say for certain that it’s because of this, Saint Mika and Angelica seem different from when they were active in the Hero’s party — more precisely, they seem more human now.
Of course, the same can be said about herself.
When they were in the Hero’s party, all the actions of the three were for the Hero’s sake. The three always entrusted all decisions to the Hero.
And they carried out all of the Hero’s instructions, no matter how impossible they seemed, believing that his orders were noble missions to save the world. Eris and the other two had been moving to fulfill these tasks.
So, wouldn’t it be fine to continue as before? — When this thought briefly crossed her mind, the Holy Sword emitted an exceptionally strong light.
Coinciding with the light, the two sleeping figures grimaced in pain.
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Come to think of it, Eris ponders.
When did the Holy Sword start to glow dully?
By the time they explored that accursed nightmare, the Time Dungeon, she had already lost the ability to use the Holy Sword.
Then when?
Was it when they suffered defeat against Orphelia Verite of the Seventh Blue?
Now that she thinks about it.
Eris suddenly remembers that moment.
Why had she forgotten such an important thing until now?
───That thing lying there is not your Master.
Orphelia had definitely said, pointing at the Hero.
If, if — this is a ridiculous story that anyone would laugh off — but if by some one-in-a-million, no, one-in-a-billion chance this were true, then who on earth is the Hero?
More than that question —
Then what happened to my Master?
— This must be one of the most terrifying questions in existence.
『Stop it already』
『You don’t need to think about anything』
『It’s all useless anyway, everything』
Eris thinks she hears someone’s voice.
Simultaneously, she’s struck by the most intense headache she’s ever experienced. The Holy Sword emits its brightest light yet, illuminating the inside of the tent where the magical device’s light had gone out, almost blinding them.
And then,
「Hello—」 a voice calls out to the three of them from outside the tent.
It’s the voice of the Holy Knight, Ashley Noble, whom they encountered when they went to the sealed shrine to retrieve the Sword of Affirmation, following the Hero’s instructions.
Eris naturally shifts into a battle stance, but
「We’ve rested enough. I think we should head to the lower floor now. What will you do?」
The Holy Knight’s inquiry is in a soft tone, devoid of hostility.
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