Chapter 255

As I dragged my butcher hammer in triumph, Yakumo was being restrained by the mummy guy.

Including Abigail, Natsuki and Rudra. The human side were all bound with bandages. They’re wrapped around her boobs and digging into her crotch, what a naughty sight. I approved it, mummy boy.

『Kak-ka Sorry, but this is not a contest. If I may borrow a phrase from you, there is no such thing as unfair in life and death battle.』

Is he trying to get back at me for hitting him with asphalt that time? Is he a type who holds a grudge?

『Well, I guess it can’t be helped. It’s war.』

In this situation, one needs to respond calmly and maturely.

But secretly, I’m so frustrated. My guts are boiling. I just saved you, you coward!

『Well, this is not necessarily bad for you either.』

『What you mean is?』

『I mean – for finding this little guy and capturing him. For guiding us to let a raiding force into this fortress. For destroying the gate and contributing to Elysium’s victory. Also, the defeat of Despot, the latest golem of the subhuman race. All of these accomplishments are taken into consideration for your freedom.』

『aha』

Are you talking about that now?

『Especially, this little boy Yakumo is quite a big deal–』

Papameyan snapped his fingers.

Abigail and the others who had been suspended in mid-air immediately slammed down and fell on their butts. Everyone who had been wrapped in bandages was released.

『When it comes to the possibility of having the key to destroy the subhuman world, its value is nothing compared to the crime of destroying half of Faymbaum, or a single Titania.』

Papameyan picked Yakumo up, who had been freed with one arm.

Yakumo then was lifted up by the masked man but remained unmoved. He was holding Diamond and remained still....*silence*....In terms of sheer inner strength, even I might lose to him.

I look around.

Arshella and the others are looking at me with a natural look on their faces.

Well, It doesn’t matter what happens to Yakumo and Natsuki. Even if they get along with each other a little, they are still subhuman to them, and subhumans are food. The girls obviously made a genuine effort to regain my favor without any unnecessary ill intentions. That must be the position of the four girls.

But I have a feeling that Ferris is the only one watching the proceedings closely, as if trying to figure out my reaction.

“Gevaudan, don’t let him take Yakumo-kun.”

Abigail still stands her ground.

“Jibotan....what’s going to happen to Yakumo?”

Natsuki is looking at me with a look of impatience in her eyes as if she is clinging to me.

『We will destroy the gate and leave now. We will withdraw and be replaced by those coming behind us. You may remain here and run amok as much as you like. Any complaints?』

My throat gurgled.

— Hmmm, are you really?

If this buys Titania’s safety, I’d say it’s a small price to pay. It’s a much brighter future than being on the run forever, with no end in sight. But is it really that worth it?

Theoretically, yes.

It’s not like this is going to kill Yakumo.

They are going to use him as a weapon so they surely will take good care of him. Natsuki should be taken along with him too. They can live together over there. There are a lot of nice people among the aliens too. I heard that there are areas where subhumans live. If they live there, they won’t be lonely. They don’t seem to be overly discriminating in terms of race, so if they accept you, you may find it easier to live there than on Earth.

But, no doubt they will be kept in custody until they die.....

Or they might get into a silly fight over his brain.

Natsuki is a cute girl, so she might be forced to do things or toyed with a little. But that is a necessary expense. It is hard for an orphaned child to survive. I have made all kinds of sacrifices myself trying to survive. As long as you endure it, you won’t be killed.

I felt my heart beat erratically in my chest.

–I was robbed of the right to life or death, and no matter what they did to me, I had to put up with it and do only what they told me. Such days of slavery await them.

I don’t want money. I don’t need to live a wealthy life, I want to live a quiet lifeI’d rather be poor, but free...

—I do understand her thought.

Regardless of how much it is for the sake to survive, no one wants to be beaten up, to be quiet and surrender their body, to have a chain around their neck, as well as whatever others want them to do.

I’m pretty experienced in that, after all. —-

“.... Gevaudan.....”

Abigail calls me in a muffled whisper.

Our eyes met.

“....Remember....Shigeaki?....”

“....Eh, what? What do you mean, Abby?”

Natsuki looked at her in confusion.

Actually, I didn’t know what she meant either.

–Shigeaki? Why is the name of a long-dead murderer extra doing here?

Dead....?

.....

........ Oh, I see.

As expected of Abigail.

I nodded once and turned to Papameyan.

『Papameyan』

『So you decided? Well, I didn’t really give you a choice.』

With one arm around Yakumo, he wouldn’t let go.

『Even though I’m a butcher now, I still keep my promise』

『What a coincidence, I am also strictly bound by a contract.』

『I have already promised Yakumo that I will give him his freedom.』

『Hm?』

『So I reject your offer. I’ve been treated like a dog since I was born, and even after I died. I know full well that living in chains is much worse than dying.』

I continued, changing back to my physical vocal cord.

“—- Diamond”

I put my thoughts into it, and Diamond in Yakumo’s arms moved.

_.

–Psst.

A small fang sank into Yakumo’s neck.

His body jumped.

『Wha-what the!』

Papameyan immediately realized Diamond’s real identity, but it was too late. Diamond easily avoided Papameyan’s outstretched arm, his webs extended, carried by the wind and onto my shoulder.

Immediately, Yakumo started foaming.

Cyanosis took over his face and his lips turned purple. His fingertips became rigid and his arms drooped slackly. All at once, the life drained from his sharp eyes.

“–Ya, Yakumo!?”

Natsuki’s screams rang out. She moved forward, flustered, but was stopped by Arshella’s spear.

Watching her reaction that showed no concern for her own life, Papameyan clicked his tongue.

『Damn you, did you just —-Ferris!! 』

『Yes!』

Papameyan tosses Yakumo and Ferris catch him.

Immediately she casts a recovery spell, but it doesn’t work.

For a while, everyone in the place was watching to see how it would turn out, and then the soft light in Ferris’s hand went out.

Ferris looked up and saw me.

She seemed to realize that there was no point. In Ferris’s arms, Yakumo stayed wide-eyed and like a wax doll.

Ferris looked at Papameyan without saying a word,

A heavy silence takes place....Then Natsuki shook Arshella off, rushed in and snatched Yakumo from Ferris’s hand.

“No....no....no....”

Natsuki touches Yakumo’s body all over with her trembling hands.

Seeing her, Papameyan opens his mouth.

『–That’s quite cruel, don’t you think?』

Are there reasons why they can’t demand resurrection magic from Ferris? I am not familiar with the workings of alien mystery magic.

Papameyan continues talking accusingly.

『We had proceeded peacefully because we thought he was your acquaintance. But it turns out that you’d rather kill him than give him to us. As expected of a former subhuman soldier. You still have that ruthless side in you, abandoning many soldiers as decoys in order to win, correct?』

『The feeling is mutual. I don’t want you to take Yakumo away.』historical

『We lose the boy, which means that the contract was null. Now I finally have no choice but to take your head.』

『That’s what I wanted from the start.』

『Destroy the gate, Tarshepite.』

The bandaged man attached countless bandages to the gate after being told.

The next moment, a violent blast ripped through the gate.

A rumbling explosion occurred, and in the smoke, the heavy gate of the 88 slowly collapsed with an earth-shattering sound.

It was that moment when the iron wall that had blocked the alien invasion for decades finally collapsed.

But beyond it, the wall of flesh I put up awaited.

This 88 is now my slaughterhouse. No one is allowed to enter or exit.

『Release the wards, Gevaudan』

Papameyan pointed his sword at me.

『Oh, that wall. It has already been beyond my control. Wait until the immune cells finished cleansing this place and undergo apoptosis. Which means you’ll have no way out of here unless you die. —- By the way, you killed them with that shield, didn’t you?』

I snapped my fingers, and out of nowhere, the flesh monsters rushed in. They were feeding on 88’s soldiers and growing in size.

–I can’t control the behavior of the immune cells precisely, but I can assign priority targets for them to attack using .

Thus, I can function much like their command center.

For example, anyone who is in contact with my blood – or, with the blood of my immune cells, which can be said to be my spawn – will be marked. Anyone who inadvertently damages an immune cell will be targeted non-stop.

『Tsk—-』

As if sensing such a scenario, Papameian took one look at the bloodstained stuck to the shield and took a big jump.

『.... Chario, Once you recovered, rally the scattered Faymbaum men in the fort. Blitzkrieg(flash war) has failed. Proceed to plan B.』

As she was told, the feathered female knight put the horn hanging from her waist on her mouth and blow.

An ancient tone echoed through the dome of flesh.

『I won’t let you go.』

『Do you think I’m running away? Next time we meet, I won’t hold back—-』

With such words, Papameyan shattered the telepathy magic stone in his hand.

In a flash, the Highland Zephyr disappeared.

“Yakumo!! –Ya-Yakumooo!!”

When the wind calmed, the sobbing voice of Natsuki became clear.

“—-Jibotan!! why!?”

Natsuki looked at me, holding Yakumo.

Not anger, not hostility, but merely sorrowful eyes that staring at me.

“....Why ....!!”

For a moment I think it’s best if I don’t speak to her.

Instead, Abigail taps her on the shoulder.

“Natsuki..”

“Don’t touch me!! I know you told him to do it!!”

She shook off her hand.

“You thought that if Yakumo died, it would solve all the problems didn’t you!!?”

“Listen to me..”

“It’s all your fault!!”

She glared at Ferris and the others.

“All this happened because you took Yakumo—- I hate you all !! get away from me !!”

The hysterically crying Natsuki looks like she’s about to attack them at any moment.