There has always been hopelessness in this world.
A woman in distress was never heard by God.
However, when she prayed to all the saints, none of them wanted to listen to her. They all believed she was blaspheming against those gods, and perhaps that's why they refused to help her.
But, she just wanted a miracle to get revenge on the man who ruined her life.
Perhaps it was because 'wishing evil' is not the job of a respected and benevolent god; whose job is to distribute what each person is entitled to.
She was never a bad human.
But she would have liked to make him pay.
So, one night, she clasped her hands together and said: "Lady Moon, you wise and beautiful one, you know what has happened to me, and I would like...you to make him pay for what he did to me, make him suffer, make him cry…make that wicked, womanizing wizard be cursed for life for his actions."
And so it was that the only goddess willing to listen to her, granted her prayer.
And the next day, the hunt for the wizards took place.
Witches and wizards were always competing with each other, but after centuries of tense enmity, it finally came to an end, and they decided to get rid of the wizards.
Wise and intelligent magicians managed to escape, and later bequeath all their knowledge of magic to others, thus forming what are now known as 'sects'. Using what magicians learned to kill demons, and no longer just killing witches or exorcising spirits.
But in the case of witches…
They expanded; women who had been just as harassed as that woman had joined them, going from apprentices to true witches.
However, they remained hidden in the Anarxie forest, far from prying eyes, determined to end all evil in this world. Wherever it may be found, they would destroy it.
They were the vigilantes, they lived in the shadows and with spells they not only eliminated demons, they eliminated all those people who shouldn't be alive.
It's not something to be proud of, but if no one does anything to stop those people, death was the only solution.
And it was there, like that woman, that she joined the witches.
Vulpecula, the faithful believer in the moon.
And in the future, the head of Clan Vulpecula.
***
"Jeon."
"What?"
Ever since I told Anser my real name, he hasn't stopped repeating it since we we left Ryuka's house.
I was too naive to think he would forget...
"Be careful."
And he kept telling me to be careful.
"Why do you say that? I'm always careful, especially when you're hurt... I'm twice as careful."
I saw Anser frown slightly in his sleep; something was bothering him, and then he said: "Don't you remember?"
"What exactly?"
"…Do you know why you fainted?"
Perhaps he's referring to when I first woke up in Ryuka's cabin. Honestly, I'd never fainted before, but no matter how hard I try to remember... I only remember Anser with injured ribs. And then...everything is blurry.
"No."
Anser let out a long sigh, and then continued speaking.
"You became a demon…" I stopped to look at him, confused. How did this happen? I looked at my wrist, and noticed that the bracelet…had a few scratches. "But before that could happen, I tried to cut the mana regulator, but you cut your neck instead of letting me remove it first."
"…" Strange. "Huh?"
Even if I were that crazy, I would never do something like that. Much less, there was no explanation for my sudden transformation into a demon.
Did I have to be so desperate to commit suicide?
I would never do that.
I don't see it as ethical.
"I never did that; if I had, I would remember it. I have memories of all my deaths, but I don't remember that one."
And I'm not lying, usually when I wake up from a death, I tend to see a small number, the 'death counter', that's what I call it.
With all the deaths I've had because of helping Gene and Liam train, plus all the assassination attempts I've survived, I only have 108 deaths. I know I said I doubted I'd reach 100 deaths, but...with everything that's going on, I didn't notice how easy it was to die.
But maybe there won't be more than 200 deaths from now on. I hope so.
Since Raum was sealed in my heart, he no longer warns me of my deaths, so perhaps because there are so many that I no longer register them well, but even so, I keep count.
If what Anser says is true, it means I have died 109 times.
And maybe by the time I get out of here, I'll have reached 120 deaths...
"…Just be careful. Please."
I sighed. It's nice that he cares, but I doubt I'll die!
At least definitely.
"I'll do it. Now, we should find a way out to locate Frederick and the others. We shouldn't stay here much longer."
We resumed our journey until we reached a tunnel, similar to the tunnel we entered.
"Perhaps we can return that way."
Anser nodded, going in first, and I soon followed behind him.
The smell of blood intensified; perhaps we took the wrong path...
"Anser, I don't think this is the path we should take..." I grabbed him by the back of his coat, but even so, Anser kept walking. "Anser?" Why isn't he stopping? "Anser!"
I ran to his side, and noticed his gaze fixed straight ahead.
I think I was wrong.
Soon, we reached the other side.
A giant demon, perhaps the size of a skyscraper, stood in the center of the place, its giant foot covering the tunnel to reach the other side and all around it…there were bodies of the men who had been with us.
Although, now there were only torn, bloody clothes on the floor.
Anser turned to look at me, then pointed to a stone.
Behind that stone, Frederick was hidden, and covered in blood.
I covered my mouth, and then we both went towards him.
"Is he dead?" I murmured, taking his head and moving it from right to left.
"Hopefully."
Soon, Frederick's eyes opened, taking my wrist and pulling it away from his head.
"…Do you want to see me dead, Anser, you idiot?" He said, then he released my wrist and threw his broken steel arm aside. "I was the one who thought you two were dead."
Anser and I looked at each other, then we both sighed.
If he knew we almost died.
But even so, he seems to have had it worse.
"What happened to you? What are you doing here?" I asked, and then Frederick answered:
"When you disappeared, we went to look for you, but we were here when we were surrounded by demons. As soon as we defeated them, they united into one, and created that thing..." He pointed to the giant demon behind him. "It was too much for us, so it was inevitable that we would be defeated…"
Wow, in the end, he was the only one left alive?
"Shit…"
350 men lost, and all of them from Joakim Hans...
Perhaps Joakim was right to only initially want to give us 150. Even so, why did Randy want the amount increased? I don't understand...
But even so, it's not time to look for culprits.
"Let's go out here, maybe on the lower level we can find some demon with constellation magic…" I said, taking Frederick's hand to help him up, then putting his arm around my shoulders and helping him walk.
Anser followed behind us, silent as always.
Perhaps if we go back to where ■■■■■ was she could—wait, who am I talking about? Ah, I forgot...
Whatever it takes, the first thing is to get Frederick out of here.
***
"What's that?" A little girl asked her mother, who was cooking while holding her belly. "What's in your belly, mom?"
And then the woman turned to look at her, her white, curly hair falling like waterfalls of snow. And with a smile, she said: "Your little sister."
The girl smiled, then placed her hand on her mother's belly, and upon feeling a kick, she removed her hand, offended.
"She hit me!"
The woman smiled, then stroked the girl's white hair.
"She's just saying hello, honey."
The little girl sighed, then smiled anyway.
"Annoying your mother again, Ellie?" The girl hid behind her mother when she saw a woman enter the room. "She's pregnant, you shouldn't bother her so much, she needs peace too."
Ellie pouted, then clung to her mom's dress.
"When I have my first daughter, I'll let her cling to me as much as she wants, hmph!"
The woman sighed, then looked at the pregnant woman; Vulpecula.
"Grandma, are you really not going to say anything to Ellie? You already have enough to deal with just your pregnancy—"
"That's fine, Eleanor. Ellie is my daughter, and just like all of you, I want her to be happy."
Yes, that was Vulpecula, the head of the Vulpecula Clan, and the only woman who gets pregnant by the moon. When she became independent from the witches, she formed her clan based on the love she had for the moon, from which only immortal women like herself were born. She taught them everything she knew, thus creating the magic 'Vulpecula', having her own grimoires.
It's common for a baby to be a great-aunt to any member of the sect; they were all family, anyway.
They all possessed magic, a village called La vie en Rose, built on old ruins. No one was allowed to enter, not even the ruler of Anarxie, except for one man; Renato, leader of The Sect of Eternal Life.
"Mother!" An albino woman, like all the others, but dressed in armor, entered; "Mr. Renato is coming to visit, he wants to give you his best wishes."
Vulpecula smiled, as did Ellie, and both of them went out the door.
All the women made way for Renato. They all held lamps, illuminating his path in the still night.
But, for the first time, Renato didn't come alone; a boy with long blond hair accompanied him, who kept his eyes closed and a smile on his face, besides a smiling woman, who greeted each of the girls cheerfully.
"Mrs. Vulpecula, I am sorry to come suddenly without sending you a letter beforehand…" Then, he made a reference in front of her. "This time I came with my two closest disciples, Layla J. Everest and Randy Bornman. However, this will be the first and last time you see him, as he will soon be forming his own sect."
The word 'sect' echoed everywhere.
Vulpecula calmed the atmosphere by raising a hand, and then smiled at Renato. "Hm, I see..." Then, slowly, she approached them. Vulpecula was taller than Randy or Layla, almost reaching Renato's 190 centimeters. "I see purity in him, it's strange, considering that all the sect leaders are...corrupt."
Randy smiled at her, then spoke; "I have the guidance of Mr. Renato, so that's why I will maintain this purity."
Vulpecula smiled, then invited Renato to come in.
Ellie watched them enter, then looked at Layla and Randy, then hid behind one of her sisters. For some reason, she was afraid of…
"So, you wanted to visit me during my pregnancy..."
Renato helped her sit down in a chair, and then he sat down opposite her.
"Yes. I hadn't heard from you, and when I found out you were pregnant... I came right away! Will it be a girl too?"
Vulpecula sighed, while rubbing her belly. "Why do you always ask the same question when you come to see a pregnant woman in my clan? None of us can have a son. Only daughters."
Renato laughed, then pulled out a grimoire. "How can you be so sure?" He said, handing her the grimoire. "Just because the odds are low doesn't mean they're zero."
Vulpecula frowned slightly, then put the grimoire aside.
"If that were to happen, the moon would be angry."
"Why?" Renato asked, curious. "She's the one who got you pregnant, she should love any of her children, shouldn't she?"
Vulpecula remained silent.
That would be the theory, but…
"Lower your voice, she'll hear you."
Renato remained silent, then snapped his fingers. Around them, a small shield appeared, keeping everything around them inside, so they could talk more privately.
And soon, Vulpecula looked at him, and spoke: "In our worship rituals before I became pregnant, the moon murmured something."
Renato listened attentively; he knew that in the moon worship rituals she used to listen to them, but she never spoke.
"She said that the day a son was born, she would come after us."
"Do you mean she'll kill all of you?"
And slowly, Vulpecula nodded.
The revelation frightened Renato…
"Renato, you can see the future, tell me, which of my daughters will have a son?" Her tone was urgent, anxious.
Renato looked at her, and hesitantly asked: "What will you do if I tell you? What are you planning...?"
The more he asked, the more insecure he felt around her.
She took a while to answer, and then she said: "I will do what is necessary, so that the moon does not get angry."
That made him fear Vulpecula even more. She loved her daughters, but her love for the moon was greater than theirs.
And if keeping the moon's love means...making one of her daughters disappear...Vulpecula would surely do it.
"I will make the vision," He said, without options, and then closed his eyes. "However, remember that I am not always right."
It was a lie, he was always right, and Vulpecula knew it.
"…" He thought for a moment, unsure of what to say, and then opened his eyes. "...Eleanor."
Vulpecula opened her eyes, surprised, then returned to a serious expression.
"Thank you for telling me," Then the shield dissipated, Vulpecula's tone of voice changing to its usual gentle one. "That's all?"
Renato nodded.
Soon, he stood up, bowed, and left the room.
As he left, he could see Randy and Layla talking to the girls, some of whom were braiding Randy's hair.
Except one.
It was Ellie, the youngest daughter.
"You're Ellie, right?" Renato crouched down beside her, Ellie turned to look at him, and smiled at him. "Do you still remember me?"
The girl smiled, nodded, and then hugged him.
"Yeah! I still remember when you came to see me two years ago!"
Renato returned the hug, keeping her closer to him than he should have. "Ellie...when you grow up, would you like to have many daughters like your mother?"
Ellie smiled, cheerful. "Yes! I want to love them all equally! And you will be their uncle, Mr. Renato!"
Renato smiled, and then a tear fell from one of his eyes.
"…" He lied. He just killed an innocent person. "What a relief..."
Eleanor will never get pregnant.
Because she would die at the hands of Vulpecula.
However...
Ellie would be the one to give birth to a son.
And the moon would fulfill her prediction.
***
The sun was rising through the window.
It was the second day they were caring for Layla.
Gene and Liam were preparing potions, so they could serve Gene and help her stop the curse as much as possible.
And during their stay in the Sect of Wisdom, they couldn't see Mandeleine, who was supposed to help them, anywhere.
"This gives me a bad feeling... I've felt a very tense atmosphere since yesterday..." Liam murmured, as he bottled his potions.
Renato, Layla's pet and her vice leader, sang, almost desperate to get out of his cage.
"I'm so sorry Renato, but we don't want the curse to pass on to you..." Liam said, giving him more seeds, but Renato ignored them. "Please eat, Layla will be fine, be patient…"
Gene sighed, then opened his grimoire to the same old page...
Her spells worked, yes. But the curse seemed to consume absolutely all the magic within Layla's body, including the magic that Gene infused into her.
It was a strange curse, one that stole her vitality, but also her magic...
Such a powerful curse made Gene think it wasn't from this world.
How could a curse like that exist?
They didn't know, and yet, they simply hoped their cure would be the right one, otherwise...
They could not bear the loss of one of the five major sects.
Now with only four leaders alive.
"Liam, let's get started. Before the curse corrupts her limbs."
Liam nodded, and quickly ran towards Gene.
Even ignoring Renato's chants, who kept wanting to fly towards a specific door. Because he could see—
_
"Where are we going?" Frederick asked, looking from side to side.
I turned to look at him as we walked through a tunnel to the lower level.
"We will try to find something that will help you heal your wounds," And also with the faith of finding the demon we seek... "So don't distrust us."
Frederick snorted, as he looked at Anser, who was kicking a stone as he walked. I know, despite everything, he's still sad about Sherly's passing, even so...
He dared to accompany me, not only him, but also Frederick, who must feel the same.
Damn, I need to do a lot to properly repay them for their help...without them, maybe I'd already be a demon, or in the belly of some demon.
"What's that?" Frederick pointed his finger, and following him, in front of us stood an old traditional Japanese house; however, it was wrecked. There was more rubble around it, so I assumed it was a village.
"There might be bandages there…" I said, and then went there.
No matter how I want to think about it, why were there more things from my world in this place?
I don't understand...