―41― Hey, Hurry Up
Ever since obtaining <Save & Reset>, I feel like the value of my own life has plummeted.
I no longer think much about dying.
After all, I can just start over again if I die.
In the beginning, I remember feeling on the brink of madness from the pain and mental anguish of dying repeatedly, but now, I'm handling it better than back then.
It might be an overstatement to say I'm completely fine, but I'm gradually getting used to dying.
I even find myself horrified by how I've adapted to it.
So, how do I feel about killing others?
"Hey, there's a human over there."
I've come to a certain place with the Puppet Core.
In front of me is a sealed Agaha.
"Hmm, but she's sealed by a powerful barrier. Even if I wanted to eat her, I can't touch her."
"No, I can easily break the barrier."
I've been able to break barriers with just a touch so far, and this time should likely be fine too.
"I see. In that case, please go ahead."
Upon being told so, I head toward the sealed Agaha.
...Is this really okay?
I've thought about a lot of things on my way here.
Which one should I sacrifice, Yudith the vampire or Agaha?
Yudith the vampire is a dangerous entity. She's killed me multiple times. So, I'm not particularly thrilled about her being free in this situation.
But I do have good memories with her. So, I hesitate.
On the other hand, what about Agaha?
Honestly, I only have unpleasant memories with her.
However, the number of times she's killed me is much fewer compared to Yudith the vampire.
I believed she'd be safe as long as the seal wasn't broken. But whenever I come into contact with Yudith the vampire, for some reason, Agaha appears as a separated ghost and tries to kill me.
Although I don't intend to come into contact with Yudith the vampire anymore, there's still a chance of danger from her. Nonetheless, Agaha's situation hasn't really changed.
Yes, that's why feeding Agaha to the Puppet Core here is necessary to eliminate potential future risks and to escape this dungeon. It's something I have to do.
So, what I'm attempting is not wrong.
"Why are you just standing there?"
I realize I've been standing still. My feet won't move.
"Ha... ha... ha..."
I notice that my breathing is heavy. Since a while ago, my heart has been pounding strangely.
"Hmm... ugh..."
I vomit right then and there.
I continue vomiting until everything inside my stomach is gone.
"Hurry up."
The Puppet Core urges me.
But I can't even stand up.
Why did I suddenly start feeling so nauseous?
Is someone attacking me? No, that's not it. Agaha hasn't done anything.
It's just that overwhelming guilt is crushing me.
Is killing someone really such a mentally agonizing act?
I'm starting to despise myself for thinking it's okay to sacrifice Agaha. What kind of terrible person does that make me?
It's not like I'm denying the act of killing itself.
After all, I've vowed revenge against the villagers, and to some extent, I do hate them enough to want them dead.
But I can't feel the same way about Agaha.
Sure, she's caused me various troubles.
Yet, killing her would likely be justifiable from an objective standpoint.
However... killing her because she's inconvenient feels terrible.
"I'm sorry... I can't do it. I can't bring myself to kill her..."
I murmur in a feeble voice.
Maybe it's pathetic. But my body simply won't move as I want it to.
So, forget it.
Puppet Core, if you don't like it, just kill me.
"Oh well, I guess there's no helping it."
Suddenly, I hear a resigned voice from the Puppet Core.
It doesn't sound like a voice that would come from the Puppet Core. It astonishes me.
"I'm giving up on eating this one. Isn't that fine?"
"...You're not going to eat me?"
"What's that? Do you want me to eat you or something?"
"...No, it's not that."
While saying that, I manage to stand up.
"But you want to become human, don't you?"
"That's true, but..."
"To become human, don't you have to eat humans?"
"But that's impossible!"
"Oh, I see..."
"In that case, you should find another way!"
I'm surprised by the Puppet Core's response.
I can't fathom what kind of misunderstanding it has...
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