Scoruas’ words were impressed in Hermie’s consciousness.

“They are suffering.”

“Those people..are suffering..”

Emotions, like thick mud, flowed into Hermie’s defenseless heart.

“It’s your fault.”

“It’s..my..fault..”

The whispers of demons lead human hearts astray. That effect was boosted by the collar, its influence stronger than normal.

“Did you think that you could have saved someone by becoming a Holy Woman? You, who can only watch these people suffer before you, without doing anything? Did you seriously think you could do something?”

“I, I did..I wanted..to be useful to..some..one..”

“Yet you can’t do anything, can you. Manipulated, kidnapped, just waiting to be helped. I wonder how many sacrificed themselves to rescue you.”

“Ah..”

After each of Scoruas’ words, Hermie’s heart cried in despair.

There are people who were hurt, who suffered, to save her.

Hermie knew well that it was the truth, so she couldn’t deny Scoruas’ words.

“Look, they are angry at you.”

The screams were caused by the despair born from their unescapable situation, but Hermie, under the influence of the collar and Scoruas’ whispers, heard them as voices of resentment and insults towards herself.

“I didn’t.. I didn’t, mean to..”

“You did not realize it yourself? Oh milady Holy Woman, I must bow before you.”

Acting like he could not believe what he just heard, Scoruas put his hand on his forehead in an exaggerated gesture.

Hermie felt that even those movements were blaming her.

“St..stop.”

“What are you saying. They are dying for you, you know? Seeing them off is your duty, is it not?”

“No, that’s not true, I did not wish for any of this!”

“Regardless of what you wish or don’t wish, all people involved with you end up suffering..or am I wrong?”

“Gh..”

Hermie could not say anything to Scoruas’ words.

She tried with all her might to string the words together, but they dissolved into mist before taking shape.

“To bring temporary solace in order to cause suffering around you. That’s the kind of existence you are.”

“Ah..aaah..”

Hermie’s sight trembled.

Because of the collar and the miasma’s effects, her thoughts broke and scattered into thousands of pieces, while her guilt towards the people before her and the disgust towards her own self grew larger and larger.

The feelings lying deep within Hermie’s heart grew stronger, along with her despair.

“Oh my, looks like it was more effective than I thought. What a splendid result.”

Hermie fell to her knees, whimpering. She didn’t see Scoruas anymore, looking down at her. Crushed by self loathing and despair, her heart sank into darkness.

“......”

Hermie had been corrupted by Scoruas’ malice, to the point that she was incapable of any reaction, but Wilhelm simply stood there, without moving an inch.

As before, no clear consciousness inhabited his eyes. His utter lack of any sign of life could have made him pass for an extremely intricate doll.

Gradually, the human sacrifices’ screams vanished; even if he had been ordered to guard Hermie, Wilhelm was just standing in place, motionless.