It's a certainty. This has to be a sure win.

Siel. That was the name of the protagonist's companion I remembered from a spoiler post I read before getting absorbed into this world.

As far as I recall, she was supposedly a young half-elf abandoned by her own kind.

Wait... Elf?

My thoughts drifted to her race as I scrutinized the area around Siel's ears.

Indeed, though obscured by her hair, they were slightly more pointed than a human's. Her skin was also remarkably fair.

Her black hair didn't quite fit the elven image, but then again, she was a half-elf. It made sense when considering the mix of traits from another race.

"...?"

Perhaps finding my blatant staring somewhat odd, Siel gave me a peculiar look.

Feeling a bit awkward, I quickly averted my eyes and pretended nothing happened.

Maybe it was because of her personality, she didn't seem inclined to question my behavior. Without much thought, she simply turned her head back and continued on towards the mining area.

Nonetheless, this confirmed she was indeed the Siel from the spoilers.

I racked my brain to recall the details of the spoilers I had read.

Siel's story was... something about elves exiling her due to some bizarre superstition, labeling her as an ominous child.

Ominous, her?

I couldn't help but doubt the intelligence of these elves.

She looked merely beautiful? Seemingly vacant and innocuous, nothing about her appeared malevolent.

What kind of peculiar superstition could drive a community, even to the extent of abandoning a child?

I couldn't wrap my head around it, but that wasn't the pressing matter at hand.

Having come this far, my course of action was clear.

An opportunity had practically fallen into my lap; there was no way I could let it slip by.

Somehow, I had to make this girl my ally. That was the immediate priority, even more urgent than escaping.

'I need to become friends with her quickly...'

Just as I was entertaining this thought, my mind suddenly hit a wall.

Come to think of it... how does one become friends with a young girl?

My mind went blank in an instant.

In a way, it was to be expected.

Being too knowledgeable about befriending young girls would be odd, to say the least. It would be more than strange; it would be criminal.

Even the memories of how I made friends back in elementary school were fuzzy.

Ideas like offering candy to foster friendship seemed not only unimaginative but downright pathetic.

'...This is driving me insane.'

A sigh escaped me naturally.

To make matters worse, her aloof demeanor seemed to leave no room for approach.

But what choice did I have? Contemplating how to secure this girl's cooperation was far better than pondering how to escape on my own, as I had been before.

Whether it turns out to be a success or a failure, I had no choice but to give it a try.

*****

I was wrong. This child isn't human; she's a block of wood, a block of wood!

Over these two weeks, I've done everything imaginable that could build affection.

Shared food with her, taught her various things, protected her when others picked on her.

I've really done everything possible.

Yet, there's been no change in the outcome.

Usually, after all these efforts, one would expect a greeting when meeting, or naturally spending time together, right?

But this kid is just the same as when we first met. The reason we're together now is because I approached her, not the other way around.

And the problems don't stop there.

"Eat faster, or you won't even make it halfway through before mealtime ends!"

Despite my nagging, Siel continues to nibble on her bread like a rabbit, with a vacant look on her face.

It's become so routine for me to scold her like this that it's now a part of my daily life.

In other words, I've unilaterally become attached to this little brat.

I know it's idiotic, but it couldn't be helped.

The kids here are like they're raising dozens of snakes inside. They're more cunning and dark-hearted than most adults I've met.

But Siel is the opposite.

She's too transparent. Void of any thoughts.

Left alone, she'd be whipped and have her food stolen.

What's even more frustrating is that she just takes it without fighting back.

It's like I've ended up looking after her out of some sense of raising a pet, feeling like she'd die if I didn't.

'Is she really an elf?'

Judging from the fact that her senses are a bit strange and her reactions are a bit inhuman; she's definitely an elf without a doubt.

But it doesn't make sense for even a forsaken half-elf to be this weak, to only be taken advantage of.

Considering the status of elves in the previous story, she should at least have the ability to sneak away from here.

So why on earth does she stick around?

"......"

While I was lost in thought about this incomprehensible girl, Siel, for once, looked my way.

Having been at this for a while, I feel like I'm starting to get a grasp of this creature's language.

This must be the reaction when it wants to ask something.

"Is there something you want to say?"

"Aren't you eating?"

Hearing that, I glanced back at my own tray.

Indeed, there's still one piece of bread left.

It was only the food I had desperately tried to preserve during the early days of possession.

But now... I just can't bring myself to eat it.

Is this the curse of knowledge?

I wish I could just be like the other kids, eating around the moldy parts.

Why did I have to pick up that trivial fact from the internet that mold is like a flag planted by bacteria after they've completely conquered the food?

And it's not just about hygiene; it's tasteless. No, it's beyond tasteless—it's like torture for the tongue.

"...You eat it. I'm not really in the mood today."

So, once again, I offered the bread to Siel.

I don't want to be picky about food to the point of risking death. But I wasn't feeling hungry yet.

Probably thanks to the robustness of this healthy body.

I could probably go without eating for about a week.

'Besides, I've saved up some stuff, so if I get hungry, I can just eat that.'

It's better to just give it to Siel here.

As for gaining affection... well, I've given up on that a long time ago. But still, feeding her feels like feeding a pet. It's somehow satisfying just to watch.

After handing the bread to Siel, I planned to spend the remaining mealtime thinking about future plans.

Or so I thought.

"...? What are you doing?"

But the sensation of the bread I offered to Siel didn't leave my hand. She seemed to have no intention of taking the bread I gave her.

Our eyes met once again. And unusually, Siel was the one to ask a question this time.

"Why?"

Under normal circumstances, I might have lectured this elf on the importance of providing more detail when speaking or explaining the context to make her questions understandable.

But strangely, I felt overwhelmed by the atmosphere emanating from her.

"Why are you doing this for me?"

Her tone was neither accusing nor scolding.

Just pure curiosity. An emotion that conveyed she couldn't comprehend my actions at all.

"Was there something wrong with the bread you ate earlier? Take this quickly; my arm's getting tired."

That was my response to Siel. However, her reply was once again something I couldn't fathom.

"You should be the one eating this."

On the surface, her words made sense.

It's the idea that she felt guilty for always receiving and insisted that I should eat instead.

But her expression was utterly baffling.

Throughout these two weeks. Not even when she was whipped, nor when other kids stole her food and left her hungry, had she looked as sorrowful as she did now.

"You haven't eaten anything for days."

...It was then I finally understood her reaction.

Well, I had been relying on my abilities and choosing not to eat. But how must that have appeared to her?

And thinking about it, there's more that adds up.

Being an elf, she might not be susceptible to mana addiction, but since I'm completely immune, it made more sense for me to take on the mining work, even covering her share.

Since I don't feel much pain due to my abilities and heal quickly, I've also taken the whippings in her place.

With that in mind, it makes a bit more sense.

It's somewhat gratifying to realize she hasn't entirely overlooked my efforts. It's comforting to know that the attachment isn't one-sided.

But then...

Something about this feels off.

'Is this really something to be so sad about?'

If you're grateful, why not just say 'thank you'?

"Why?"

Siel asks, and even though her question is again truncated, I understand the intent behind it.

This left me pondering.

Why did I help her?

Because she is the protagonist in the game, so she must be strong.

Because I wanted her to be my ally and help me in return.

Because the more I watched her, the more I felt she would wither away if left alone, so I wanted to take care of her.

Because, somehow, I've grown attached to her.

There are too many reasons. But how do I explain all that?

-Ding, Ding!

As I was mulling over this, the bell rang.

It's a signal to gather.

Considering there's still time left for the meal, this sudden call likely means some fool has broken the rules and is about to be publicly executed.

Regardless, I need to hurry to the assembly area.

So, I ended up voicing the first answer that came to mind.

"Just, because it's you."

Why?

At that time, I wondered why did Siel make such a strange face?

There was absolutely no way for me to know.

==Chapter 3: Just Because It's You (3)==

Siel's oldest memory was of the village chief and her mother arguing.

- Stop being so stubborn. That child... should never have been born.

Whenever that happened, her mother always said,

- Still, she's my child. She's not something that shouldn't exist.

But Siel did not agree with that.

The fact that she remembered this conversation, which took place before she was even born, was proof of that.

So, she knew.

She knew that she truly was a being that should not have been born.

A creature almost cursed into existence by demons, forcibly conceived by her parents.

She was more aware of this than anyone else.

Yet, she was born anyway.

And soon enough, it was proven that the village chief's concerns were not unfounded.

The black hair and pale skin that everyone in the village spoke of ominously.

Not just her, but even her mother began to be ostracized by the elves of the village.

[ Aen't you annoyed by those who torment your parents like that? ]

If she turned her head just slightly, a black wolf beside her would be ranting about this.

The girl did not know that it was a remnant of a fallen Demon King, nor what it intended to use her for.

But she knew well enough that she was a detested being for something so dreadful to cling to her.

[ It's not too late. I'll take care of those bothersome creatures for you. ]

The ominous black wolf whispered so.

According to what the wolf told her, she was the most valuable sacrifice in the world to it.

An elf who wields magic, a being unique in this world.

[ Make a pact with me ]

It said.

[ Offer a part of your soul, and in return, I'll grant you power. ]

And if not just a part but her entire soul is offered... it claimed it could accomplish anything, short of the absurd like raising the dead.

However, the girl, as always, ignored the wolf. The reason was simple.

She thought it wrong to cause her already ostracized mother further harm.

If someone caught her speaking to thin air, the calls for their expulsion would only grow louder.

"I'm sorry. We simply cannot accept that child. Please, leave this place as soon as possible."

But unfortunately, such efforts were in vain.

The words delivered by the chief on his return visit stirred unrest in her mother's eyes.

It was, perhaps, inevitable.

Elves cannot survive outside their forest.

The farther they stray from the World Tree, the weaker they become, gradually losing their strength until death ensues.

This was essentially a death sentence for her.

"Kill me."

So Siel spoke without hesitation, seeing it as the right thing.

But why? Her mother, sadder than ever, wept and embraced her.

Such a sorrowful sight made Siel vow never to utter those words again.

And so, Siel left that place with her mother.

With each passing day, her mother grew weaker.

There were many who sought to capture a lone elf, and hiding became increasingly difficult as time went on.

"How fortunate. It's a relief..."

Yet, her mother always said that.

It was fortunate that Siel didn't lose her strength, even far from the forest, that she could continue to live on.

Siel couldn't comprehend those words.

Being alive even far from the forest meant she was closer to being a monster than an elf.

So, Siel tried to convince her mother again.

She insisted she had no feelings. She formed no attachments. She was merely a curse, a life that should never have existed.

She urged her mother to leave her and return to their homeland.

Yet, even after hearing such words, her mother, with a sad smile, said it didn't matter. That she loved her.

It was incomprehensible. It made no sense. Siel repeated this, trying to convince her mother.

But her mother only responded with words Siel couldn't understand.

She said Siel wasn't devoid of emotions. That one day she would love someone and understand what it means to love.

After speaking, her mother left their hiding place to gather food.

Despite seeming on the verge of collapse, she reassured Siel, who wanted to accompany her, insisting she stay behind.

And then... she didn't return.

Only then did Siel feel relieved.

Finally, her mother had abandoned her. Now, everything was as it should be.

With that thought, Siel walked the streets and soon discovered something.

Eyes and a heart.

An elf's body, stripped of all valuable parts, lay discarded like trash on the ground.

She could hear the wolf's laughter.

[ Hahahahahahahahaha ]

Her head spun.

For some reason, her eyes burned and ached.

Her heart felt as if it was being torn apart, and screams involuntarily burst from her lips.

[ Give me your entire soul. Then, I will consume this hateful world. ]

That voice was all she could hear.

The faces of humans, grinning as they held her mother's eyeball, their dreadful and disgusting smiles, were all she could see.

And so, the girl numbly reached out to the wolf...

- I love you, Siel.

She remembered her mother's face saying those words.

And she thought:

Not once did she ever respond to those repeated declarations of love.

She had never once returned the love she had always received.

Because she didn't understand what it meant to love, Siel had yet to tell her mother she loved her.

So,

"Not yet."

It wasn't time to end everything yet. That thought occurred to her.

So, Siel simply buried her mother and moved on.

*****

Three years have passed since she began her journey.

By human standards, she is now of an age that could be considered an adult.

Yet, she still couldn't grasp the concept of love.

The world she saw with her own eyes was too filthy.

Parents kill their children.

Because they can't afford to raise them.

People kill each other.

To take something from them.

Everywhere she went was vile.

Love was nowhere to be found.

So, it was beyond her comprehension.

Only the voice of the wolf grew louder.

[ Stop thinking about it. ]

It said.

[ You don't have emotions anyway, so it's all a waste. If you hate something, just destroy it. ]

Walking in a daze, listening to such words, Siel felt someone approaching from behind.

But Siel did nothing.

She was simply captured, thrown into a cage, and dragged to an unnamed magic stone mine.

Unknown people carve a magic spell on her neck. They spewed threatening words and threw her into a strange new world.

But such things were of no consequence to her.

The voice in her ear grew louder.

Certainly, because the wolf's thoughts were not much different from her own.

It was impossible for her to understand love.

Then, there's nothing left to do but give up.

To fulfill that postponed contract and ask to destroy this endlessly hateful and ugly world.

It was at that moment she had such thoughts that she felt a strange sensation. Siel turned her head to look at whatever had bumped into her.

"Sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going because I was lost in thought."

An apology.

The apology felt oddly out of place, and she stared blankly at the boy.

It wasn't her first time in a mine like this.

So, she knew.

She knew the state of the children here.

Everyone was trampling over others in a desperate attempt to survive.

Was he apologizing and pretending to be friendly to steal something from her?

But it didn't feel like he had any ulterior motives.

"Why are you standing here? Did you lose your way? If that's the case, follow me. We need to hurry or we'll get beaten"

This statement, too, held no pretense.

It was simply out of concern for her.

She could feel the worry for her in his eyes.

Why, though?

In a situation where their life was at risk, in a situation where they couldn't survive without taking from others, in a situation where they had to trample over anyone to live.

Why is he worried about her, someone he just met?

Why is he caring about someone else in a situation where he can barely look after himself?

Why is he sincerely offering help with such words to someone he just met?

"What's your name?"

The boy asked her that.

"Siel."

Why did she answer him? She didn't know.

She just wanted to respond.

Just like before, she felt it wasn't time to end everything.

That was her first encounter with this peculiar boy.

*****

Something felt off.

As soon as I rushed to the gathering spot, I had this premonition.

"Today, we shall punish the fool who dared to dream of escaping."

Sure, the words themselves were ordinary.

Someone attempting escape and being made an example of as punishment is somewhat expected.

What was strange were the reactions of some of the children.

Their unsettling smirks as they looked at me.

Could this be my imagination?

Just a figment of paranoia?

I rapidly questioned myself in my mind.

What's the likelihood I've made quite a few enemies here?

It exists.

More than plenty. Just roughly counting the faces of those who view me unfavorably easily surpasses dozens.

The probability that these kids are smarter than expected?

That's high, too.

The ones who aren't smart are all dead.

So, the final question.

When someone who harbors animosity towards me falsely reports that I've plotted an escape, what's the chance the overseers will verify the truth?

None.

They'd likely find it too bothersome to discern guilt from innocence.

They'd probably just kill me as an example without wasting time.

With the conclusion drawn, there was no need for further deliberation.

I immediately looked behind me.

As expected, a few guards armored in protective gear were stealthily approaching me.

I quickly opened the trait selection window.

I had already identified the traits that could help me escape this situation.

So, dodging those coming at me, I was about to run and activate the trait when...

"...Huh?"

My head is spinning.

I desperately clung to consciousness, trying to figure out what was causing this anomaly.

And then I saw it.

A glowing light around my neck.

"Damn it."

Is this some kind of slave collar?

It was clearly imbued with some sort of magic.

This is absurdly excessive.

An element not even present in the original work.

Moreover, as someone who possessed this body already marked with such a thing, it was information I could never have known.

To die because of such an absurd thing?

All that preparation, all that effort, just to come to nothing?

Am I really going to die here like this?

I bit my tongue in an attempt to maintain consciousness. But the pain is almost imperceptible.

Sleep overtakes me. An unavoidable slumber.

My vision slowly blurs.

And the last thing that flickers before my eyes...

"...Siel?"

The Siel I had spent two weeks with,

Yet, she had a face I had never seen before.

==Chapter 4: Just Because It's You (4)==

It was strange.

No matter how Siel looked at it, she couldn't understand.

The boy was definitely out of place.

From what she had observed, he was never foolish.

In every action, he exhibited an intelligence that seemed out of place for his age. He could immediately detect when someone was scheming and was quick to catch on.

However, what was strange was his way of dealing with things.

The norm was if someone attacked you first, you killed them before they got you.

That was how the world she had wandered for the last three years worked.

But the boy, he would always resort to uncomfortable means like threats or intimidation, never attempting to kill his opponents first.

So, she asked him.

- It would be easy for you to plan their demise. Why don't you seek any revenge?

To which the boy responded as if she were the one who was strange.

- What are you talking about?

- Why on earth would I kill those kids?

- No, I mean, they are indeed annoying, but they're still kids. Plus, if they weren't in this place, they wouldn't have turned out this way, right?

The more they talked, the more she realized how odd this man was.

As if he came from a completely different world.

Because they're children, they should naturally be protected.

To her, children were livestock.

Property owned by their parents.

If there wasn't enough money to raise them, they'd be buried in the ground as soon as they were born, or if there was a bit of leeway, they'd be raised to be put to work, or if circumstances worsened, they'd be sold for a fair price.

At least, that's how the world she knew worked.

But when she shared such thoughts, the boy was horrified and utterly disgusted.

- It's fundamental for parents to love their children.

He said, blaming the current state of the world on its sheer madness.

Hearing this, the girl felt she was beginning to grasp the essence of this man.

He was an impossible dreamer.

A dreamer with such a soft mentality, one wonders how he has survived in this harsh world.

To survive in this harsh world, one must distrust, be wary of, and betray everyone.

Yet, this man truly believed.

In a world where everyone is treated equally.

A world where parents can love their children.

A world where they don't have to kill each other to live.

He insisted such an absurd world must come to be.

That it was only right, and it was the natural order of things.

'Was he a child of a noble family?'

That was the only conclusion she could come to.

Such naivety could only come from a child who grew up sheltered, unaware of the ways of the world.

Probably a noble's son, caught up in some mishap and ended up here.

'Surely, he'll face reality soon enough.'

She was convinced his ideals would crumble one day.

And yet...

The boy never changed.

She watched in a daze as the boy was whipped in her place.

The fragile human body.

The pain must be unimaginable for her.

But the boy's expression remained unchanged.

She knew why.

She had seen something similar before.

- It's okay, Siel. Really. Mommy is really okay, so don't worry and go to sleep.

Pretending to be strong, telling her not to worry, that it's all okay.

"I'm fine. It doesn't hurt because of my constitution."

Despite being beaten to a pulp, the boy said so.

Surely, he was hurt because of her.

So, it was only right for him to hate and resent her.

It was logical to keep a distance.

Yet, why did the boy continue to stick by her?

She couldn't understand.

Every action of his was incomprehensible.

"Why are you doing this for me?"

"If you don't want to eat, then don't."

Why couldn't he just walk past a starving child, instead secretly sharing his rations?

"Keep this to yourself if you have any conscience. My rations are limited as it is. I already have enough enemies, being marked as a fool would be the end of it.

And... this is the last time I'm helping you out. Find your own way to survive and eat."

Why does he wear a guilt-ridden expression as he says such things?

After saving someone with his own food, why does he look as if he's done something wrong?

Too soft.

Far too soft.

With such a mindset, there's no way to survive.

A world of equality, human rights, a world where children can live carefree as children. In this world, dreaming of such things is futile; they can never be achieved.

Yet, the boy remains unchanged.

In these two weeks, nothing has changed.

"...Eat this. I'm not feeling hungry today."

Again today, the boy says this as he hands her a piece of bread.

She couldn't hold back any longer.

She simply couldn't understand this boy.

She couldn't understand herself for being unable to take her eyes off this foolishly kind boy, who was dreaming an impossible dream.

"Why?"

So, the question slips out.

"Why are you doing this for me?"

The girl is no fool.

She knows.

She knows the boy hasn't touched food for days, always giving his share to her or the other kids.

Always taking the whip in her place, always helping her out.

Always appearing to help her whenever she's in danger.

She knows it all.

"Was there something wrong with the bread you ate earlier? Take this quickly; my arm's getting tired."

The boy feigns ignorance with his response.

"You should be the one eating this. You haven't eaten anything in days."

She couldn't stand his reaction.

It upset her.

Of course, it's not right.

She doesn't deserve such treatment.

It was the same with her mother.

Her mother wasn't supposed to die because of a monster like her.

So.

"Why?"

She just couldn't accept it.

The reason he's doing this for her. The reason he cares so much about her.

She looks at the boy again.

With an awkward face, he scratches his neck, thinks for a bit, then speaks.

"Just, because it's you."

Why does that phrase bother her so much?

*****

The girl slowly moved her feet.

The surroundings were noisy. However, with a slight manipulation of magical energy, understanding the situation around her was a simple task.

And then, Siel saw it.

The fate that the boy had met.

It was as expected. The boy was far too kind.

He should have killed everyone who stood in his way. He shouldn't have shown any kindness.

That outcome had already been decided long ago.

The boy, having lost consciousness, was being dragged to the platform for execution. The girl, who had been staring blankly at this scene...

"Are you there?"

For the first time, she initiated a conversation with the wolf.

Why? She herself couldn't comprehend her actions.

It wasn't logical. All she had to do was run away here.

She had escaped from such places before. She had learned all the magic to conceal her presence from her mother.

So why was she doing this?

Because of that boy?

That was strange. They had only known each other for two weeks.

She didn't even know the boy's name.

Moreover, if he harbored such dreams, truly a dreamer wishing to make this already doomed world a better place,

He wouldn't survive long even if he were to be saved here.

But why.

"I'll make a contract."

Was her lips moving on their own?

Why can't she take her eyes off him? Why does he concern her so much?

'Ah...'

It was then that the girl finally understood what love was.

- Just, because it's you.

Just like the simple words the boy had said.

She believed that her mother shouldn't love her. She believed that she shouldn't love her mother.

Because she was an abomination. A life that should never have been born.

But it's different.

Love isn't like that.

When someone loves someone, no reason is needed.

When someone loves someone, no qualifications are needed.

You simply cherish them because you want to. You cherish them simply because they are precious.

She doesn't want him to die.

So,

[I've certainly received half of your soul.]

She loves him.

She wants to protect him, no matter what sacrifices are made.

"Swallow it up, wolf."

A sinister black shadow casts over the world.

What once was human morphs into mere flesh.

Walking serenely through that place drenched in blood and flesh, the girl advances.

To save the one she loves.

"...Siel?"

The boy she holds in her arms looks at her.

He must be incredibly bewildered.

And rightfully so.

The overseers have all been devoured by the shadows without a trace.

The children are all plunged into panic, scrambling to escape.

"How did you... No, more importantly... Why?"

The boy asked.

Why she helped him.

Siel pauses, lost in thought.

Although she considers herself selfish, it's actually because she adores him, who is kinder than anyone.

Because she too has become curious about the ideal world he speaks of.

Because he taught her what love is.

Siel didn't know how to express all those feelings in just a few words.

So, with a faint smile, Siel simply said,

"Just, because it's you."

==Chapter 5: The Black Fang (1)==

"...So, what did you say?"

I began to seriously worry if my ears had finally given up on me.

It seemed almost natural, considering the circumstances.

The girl before me was confidently spouting what could only be described as utter nonsense.

"I sacrificed half of my soul."

My head started to spin.

Yes, I had somewhat anticipated this. After all, I had woken up to complete chaos around me, not to mention the strange black flickering I saw.

I had guessed that in a rush to save me, she must have made a pact with a demon or some dark being.

But to have given up half her soul...

"What did you make a pact with?"

"I don't know."

It seems she didn't even read the contract before stamping it with her seal.

It felt like hearing a friend had taken out a loan from a third-tier financial institution.

No, this was beyond that—it was like resorting to illegal usury.

The price of half a soul is that malign.

Sacrifice even a bit more, and upon death, the soul would belong to a demon—the highest price one could possibly pay.

This is a loss no matter what you do.

Unless the other party was some king of demons, this was definitely a fool's pact.

"What were you thinking..."

My tirade was cut short as I realized I wasn't in a position to be angry with her.

Think about it.

What if you heard a friend had dabbled in illegal loans?

You'd start with 'Are you out of your mind?' and go on from there, berating them to come to their senses.

But what if it was for your own cancer treatment?

And what if, thanks to that, you managed to survive?

No decent human being could criticize that.

In the end, all I could do was leave her with a warning not to misuse the power she received and express my gratitude.

"Thank you, regardless."

At my words, Siel nodded her head.

Her expression hardly changed, but having spent some time with her, I could tell she was smiling.

"...Ah."

As always, Siel was lost in thought when she suddenly made such an odd sound.

"What's going on?"

"Name."

Perhaps it was because I had become somewhat proficient in Siel's way of speaking, but I understood what she was getting at.

And I couldn't help but be shocked.

Come to think of it... she doesn't even know my name.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized she was someone I couldn't leave alone.

I mean, who in the world sells half their soul to save someone whose name they don't even know?

"Ian. I don't have a last name."

I made up a name on the spot and told her.

It was a nickname I had used in a previous game.

"Ian."

"...Why?"

"Just."

"You're so frivolous."

In the midst of such a trivial, yet somehow comforting conversation, we continued to search for a passage.

During this, an important realization came to mind.

Now that I think about it, what was my real name again?

When I tried to view my name or abilities last time, the status window claimed that the function was locked because the tutorial hadn't been cleared.

But now, could it be possible?

If this mine was my first tutorial, then I had already cleared it.

With that thought, I opened the status window.

And then,

<line x1="12" x2="12" y1="8" y2="12"></line> <line x1="12" x2="12.01" y1="16" y2="16"></line> This Feature is available after completing the tutorial.

The familiar message I saw last time.

But there was an odd notification above it.

Defeat the Demon of Ash■■■■■ (■/1)

The text was strangely corrupted.

Is there a bug in the status window too?

While I was perplexed, the odd notification disappeared shortly after.

Instead, a large red message popped up.

Inflection point detected. Fate path is being recalculated.

What the heck is that?

I was overwhelmed with the desire to send a 5700-character complaint to customer service right then.

It seemed they were content with giving the same response, as if to say, 'Deal with it.'

It was just as useless as last time.

'...Well, I didn't have high expectations anyway.'

I quickly dismissed the unhelpful status window from my view.

As soon as I did, I felt a peculiar sensation on my cheek. Turning my head, I found Siel poking my cheek.

"If you have something to say, just say it."

"I wanted to do this."

"...Alright."

I had given up on trying to understand this girl's state of mind.

I had no choice but to adjust.

After all, she had given up half her soul for me. Surely, I could manage this one thing.

"Look over there."

With those words, Siel extended her finger straight out.

There was a large door in that direction.

But what was strange was...

"Why is that locked?"

If that was the exit, it should definitely be open. While I was laid up due to the aftereffects of a sleep spell, the others must have already escaped.

It's not like it's a door with an automatic lock that could just lock itself...

'Wait a minute... could it be...?'

These guys. Did they lock us in here on purpose?

What kind of bastards would do that?

And why go to the trouble of locking the door behind them?

'Ah.'

Well, I suppose I'd be scared too if someone summoned a demon or something.

To me, this creature might just seem like a slightly dim-witted child, but to the others, it would appear as a deranged dark sorcerer.

They locked us in here, scared we might follow them.

That's incredibly petty.

"What... should we pick the lock or something?"

"No."

As she said that, Siel picked up a stone from the ground with a vacant look on her face and swung it full force.

-Bang!

And the stone instantly shattered against something like a barrier.

It seems getting too close without a key would result in that.

"This is driving me crazy."

Are we really going to starve to death here because of this absurd situation?

There must be a spare key somewhere, but it seems like someone took all of them.

There was none when I searched the storeroom earlier either.

It was at that moment, as I was pondering.

"Take this."

A young boy's voice suddenly came from behind.

I quickly turned around to see his face.

"It's for that bread back then."

It was the boy who was starving on the floor last time.

But if anything had changed, it was that this time I was on the receiving end.

He placed the key in my hand.

It was a strange feeling.

When I was betrayed by them and nearly died, I blamed myself for my foolishness.

I thought I had wasted my kindness, that I should have lived more coldly, adapting to the fantasy world I was in.

Yet, here I am, alive because of it.

Alive thanks to the little boy who didn't forget my help and waited here to repay his debt, and the friends I made in this place.

-Creak.

The door slowly opened.

What lies ahead is a world unknown even to me.

Is it years into the future from the original story, or perhaps years in the past?

What has changed, and how?

There's no way to know anything for sure.

But when has it ever been any different?

In the end, the conclusion is always the same.

I have no choice but to face it head-on.

I took my first step towards the unfamiliar world.

*****

In the abandoned mine, devoid of life, a visitor arrived.

"Such a tragedy."

To the naked eye, the scene appeared ordinary, with nothing out of place. However, the man saw something different.

A dreadful aura lingered, unaffected by time, exuding a repulsiveness that could almost make one nauseous.

"It's the same energy as the one who killed the elder."

The man, a commander of the Empire's knights, frowned as he spoke.

But his realization was not about the exploitation of children as disposable labor in the mines.

This was a venture tacitly approved by the Empire.

He had known about it for a long time.

And yet, he had not acted. There was no reason to.

After all, the citizens were not the true rulers of the Empire.

The real masters were a handful of high-ranking nobles and the royal family, people like the elder who ran this place.

Therefore, what needed to be protected, and to whom the Empire's sword owed its loyalty, was not something as trivial as its citizens.

Whether the vermin of the slums died or how their offspring met their end was of no concern to him.

If these lowly lives, destined to die a lowly death doing lowly work, could contribute to the Empire's progress in this manner...

'It should be considered an honor and grace.'

It was a grace beyond their station.

The man truly believed this.

"The more I see, the more shocking it becomes."

The knight commander muttered as he ventured deeper.

He had anticipated that this would be no ordinary affair.

The elder, who had been resting in his mansion, was suddenly swallowed by a dark shadow.

All the artifacts and security spells of the mansion had been rendered useless.

The culprit was someone of considerable skill.

Perhaps a high-level demon had been summoned. Following the trail of this energy, the man swallowed hard and touched the ground.

"...Is this the place?"

An area where the corruption of the dark energy seemed weaker.

Near chairs that looked like where the children might have eaten.

Here, he could read the memories imprinted on the land.

If things went well, he could uncover everything from the identity to the motives of the perpetrator.

The magic power the knight commander poured into the ground resonated with the land, taking shape and reenacting the events that had transpired there.

-This is strange.

-What's strange?

The forms were unstable, but discernible to some extent. A boy and a girl were in conversation.

- You're the one saying it.

- ...I mean, how many times do I have to tell you to make sense when you speak? It's hard to understand.

- You seem like you're from a different world.

- Huh?

- People should all be equal. Parents should love their children. You talk about these things as if they're obvious.

- Well, I suppose it might seem that way to you.

- Do you want to change the world like that?

- Why? You want to help?

- ...I don't know.

At that moment, upon hearing these words, the knight commander's face contorted.

There seemed to be no connection between this past and the culprit. However, it appeared he had caught a traitor.

Such things should be nipped in the bud.

Thus, the knight commander quickly stabilized the flow of mana.

'Just a bit more... a little more... and the face would be revealed.'

'That filthy rat.'

To find and kill the child who dared to defy those of noble blood...

[ What right do you have to pry into my love? ]

A strange voice suddenly echoed in his ears.

His head spun.

The world went dark in an instant.

A scream escaped his lips, yet for some reason, he couldn't hear anything.

Misunderstanding, irrationality, indistinguishable.

The man simply stared blankly at the wolf before him.

[ Well, I suppose I should do some work for what I've received. ]

In an instant, 'it' shed the wolf's disguise.

The man saw it and laughed.

Laughing as he coughed up blood,

Laughing as he slit his own belly,

Laughing as he pulled out what was inside him,

Laughing as he drove a knife into his own head,

And twisted it.

With a smile happier than anyone else in the world.

Thus, the knight commander of the Empire died.

Leaving behind a mangled corpse, marked only by the shadow-like bite marks of a wolf.

It was the moment the name 'The Black Fang,' an organization set to overturn everything in the Empire, was etched into history for the first time.

==Chapter 6: The Black Fang (2)==

I felt my mouth grow heavy of its own accord, which, when I think about it, is only natural.

When you hear that a friend's stock investment has dropped by about 10%, that's almost good news.

If you're close, you'd be busy teasing them, spinning them around in all sorts of ways for fun.

But what if you saw the news that the stock your friend had invested all their savings in was delisted?

Especially if you knew that friend had gone into debt to invest in that stock.

Could you even bring yourself to tell them that news?

"...Are you okay?"

I had just left the mine when I saw Siel collapse suddenly.

Lying on the ground, drained of strength, Siel shook her head from side to side.

I had seen this before in previous works.

It happens when the power given by a contracted spirit or demon is used excessively.

But the critical point is, she had only used her power once.

Though the manager wasn't a weak opponent... he wasn't world-class like the Imperial Knights. And yet, she had paid the price of half her soul.

The answer this fact presented was clear.

This poor girl had been severely tricked in her contract.

To have given up half her soul for such meager power.

What kind of petty and insignificant creature had she contracted with?

It was enough to make me depressed.

'Besides, if it weren't for me, she might have contracted with someone much better.'

Of course, Siel, having taken the role of the protagonist's companion, a key position in the game, couldn't possibly be weak.

She wouldn't have contracted with some vile demon.

She probably would have soared to great heights with a contract with beings like the Spirit Kings.

I debated whether to tell Siel or not and came to a conclusion.

Sometimes, ignorance is bliss.

Let's bury this story.

Telling her would only upset her for no reason.

After all, it's not like regretting the contract can undo it.

"Can you walk?"

At my words, Siel tried to stand up by pushing off the floor, but then she collapsed with a faint sound.

Had I not caught her, she would have surely hit her head hard on the ground.

I helped Siel up and sat her back down on the nearby stairs.

What should I do now? That was the moment I was deep in thought.

"...So you've stopped talking altogether now."

Siel had gone beyond being sparing with words to expressing herself solely through gestures.

Sitting and waiting, she extended her arms forward in a gesture.

Even when she spoke briefly, I understood everything, so she's pushing the limits.

I had no choice but to comply with her gesture that blatantly demanded to be carried.

There's a peculiar tickling on my back.

I can feel her breath.

The sensation of her hair touching my neck with each step is strangely stirring.

And then... the place where my hands hold her becomes a concern.

Where to hold without appearing perverted is a serious consideration, and the mere act of deliberating such possibilities already brands one a pervert, which is an inescapable dilemma.

I tried my best to divert my attention from the sensations under my hands.

Fortunately, it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.

Soon enough, sceneries worthy of diverting my mind appeared before me.

It was as if I was walking through the streets of the medieval era.

The night sky gradually darkened.

There are no concrete buildings or street lamps here.

That's why the stars shine brighter.

However, if there's one thing that disrupts that sparkle, it's this:

'That place has definitely developed more.'

In the distance, the city sparkles more than the stars.

A world completely different in genre from this place.

The magic trains that appear in the prequel, the magic engineering machines that have begun to be supplied, are all products available only in that capital.

All of the empire's advancements are grotesquely concentrated in the capital.

All technology, all facilities, are the exclusive domain of a privileged few.

...In the prequel, since the protagonist was of noble birth, I wasn't aware of this. But seeing it now, there's a limit to how absurd things can get.

I mean, one side is medieval fantasy, and the other is steampunk? How does that even make sense?

What on earth is going on with this crazy empire?

As I sighed at these thoughts, I felt an odd sensation.

From somewhere near my head, I felt a soft, caressing sensation...

"...What are you doing?"

It was such an abnormal act that I couldn't help but ask in astonishment.

However, Siel's response was calm.

"I was stroking your hair."

"...Why?"

"You sighed."

"What does that have to do with stroking my hair?"

Was it her way of offering comfort because I seemed troubled?

"My mom used to do it like this."

Suddenly her speech becomes fluent only at such times. It was somewhat odd, but I couldn't really say anything against it.

"Do you dislike it?"

Siel suddenly asked this question, making my head spin.

"It's not that I dislike it..."

"Do you like it, then?"

If I had to choose, it would be the latter, but...

...Saying I like it here would make me sound like a total creep.

I desperately searched my brain for a topic to change the subject.

"If you have the energy to say weird stuff, help me look for the guild instead."

Fortunately, it wasn't a difficult task.

We really did need to find the guild.

Whether this era was before or after the original story, the guild would definitely exist.

There's no better place to gather information.

'We need to find the others, too.'

I had successfully recruited Siel as a companion.

...Though it was my fault she might have messed up her skill tree, let's consider it a success for now.

Still, Siel alone wasn't enough.

We would undoubtedly need more power to face the upcoming crises, no matter how much we gathered.

'...The empire was definitely engulfed in flames in the trailer.'

This is the problem with being possessed into a game without having played it.

Thankfully, the spoiler post had given me bits of information, but it's too scant.

Not knowing exactly why the world ends, but not wanting to die, I have to find a way to prevent the apocalypse.

There's a limit to how hopeless a situation can be.

Naturally, a sigh escaped me.

And then,

"...I really didn't do it on purpose."

I was stroked again.

"I get it."

"I really didn't do it on purpose!"

"Why do you keep repeating the same thing?"

"..."

I eventually chose to keep silent.

Is she good at talking, or not? I can't tell if she's teasing me or if I'm just being sensitive.

"Ian."

"I didn't sigh just so you would stroke my hair!"

"Not that, look over there."

I turned my gaze to where Siel was pointing with her finger.

Soon, a sign with a familiar sword and shield came into view.

It was that familiar Adventurers' Guild.

*****

"It's noisy."

"Well, that's to be expected. This place also serves as a tavern, after all."

I respond to Siel, who's still being carried.

Indeed, this place is just as I remembered it from the prequel.

A place where people from various backgrounds, from various races, and various types of people gather together.

I felt a slight sense of relief.

After all, this was one of the few safe zones within the game.

As if to authenticate the gloomy world, all manner of horrific events transpire outside.

Like when approaching a crying child to receive a quest, only for the child to suddenly turn and attempt to stab you in the throat.

Or when killing what seems like a deranged child, only to later discover that the child was under the control of a dark magician.

Choosing to apologize when the grieving parents of the child approach, lamenting the loss of their offspring, leads to an ironic twist.

-How foolish.

Turns out, those 'parents' were the dark magicians in disguise, using their child as a puppet.

A player who is caught off guard will either die or end up being used as the dark magician's next puppet, a twisted bad ending.

Such vile and mind-boggling incidents are thankfully absent here.

An unspoken agreement exists in this place; no one is allowed to harm another.

Breaking this rule would mean making enemies of the entire guild.

It's in this way that peace is maintained.

"There should be something here."

Navigating through the crowd, I checked the bulletin board plastered with various notices.

Well, even though it's a guild, given its location in a slum, it's not exactly well-organized.

"...?"

As I searched for my objective, something peculiar caught my eye.

'The Black Fang? Was there such a group in the original story?'

Upon closer examination, the notice revealed something significant.

They had killed a knight commander and taken down a noble who was exploiting children in an unauthorized factory.

It seems to be an emerging revolutionary organization opposing the empire.

'Well, it doesn't seem to have much to do with me.'

A substantial bounty for simply identifying a member of the organization, not to mention the promise of granting whatever one desires for capturing one alive, is quite tempting.

But this is surely overreaching.

A knight commander is a formidable foe, only to be faced in the very endgame. How on earth am I supposed to capture a crazed monster who has killed such a person?

"Stay still for a moment, Siel. It's hard to carry you like this."

In any case, this story has nothing to do with me.

Therefore, I turned my attention away and continued to scan through the list of requests... and soon found it.

My second target.

The location where my next companion awaits recruitment.

==Chapter 7: The Black Fang (3)==

Exhausted and with the night growing late, Siel and I ended up spending the night at an inn attached to the guild.

Fortunately, I was able to cover the cost with the money I had stolen... well, let's just say 'rightfully' acquired as my salary.

It seemed like everyone at the mining site had been too busy trying to escape.

After rummaging through the warehouse, I found quite a few valuable items. Selling them to the guild meant we wouldn't have to worry about food and shelter for a few days.

So there I was, no longer lying on the hard, filthy dirt floor of a mine, but surrendering my body to the marvel of civilization called bed.

A soft, comfortable bed was a luxury I hadn't experienced in a long time... but I couldn't sleep a wink.

"This is driving me crazy, really."

It was to be expected.

I mean, there was another person next to me. And not just any person, but a girl.

How could I possibly fall asleep in such a situation?

Right now, I felt an urge to bash my head for yesterday's decision.

- We have enough money, so let's get two rooms...

- Why?

- ...Well, because there are two of us, so two rooms.

- If we get just one room, we'll save half the money.

- But that's... well, yes, but...

- Do you hate being with me?

- No, it's not that... It's just, you know, awkward.

- Am I making you uncomfortable?

- It's not about that... It's just, we're of different genders. It's... you know.

- If we sleep together, what do you think will happen?

- ...Let's just get one room and drop it, please.

I should have insisted on two rooms no matter what.

'Looks like it's going to be an all-nighter.'

There is no coffee, but thanks to my healthy body, staying up all night shouldn't be too much of a problem.

It's somewhat ironic, really.

The reason I find myself pulling an all-nighter is, ironically, due to the excessively versatile effects of my 'healthy body' trait.

It's not like I'm being cured of one ailment only to be afflicted by another.

'It seems I really need to be more careful when choosing traits.'

That was the inevitable conclusion.

Now that the game has become reality, the effects of traits have changed significantly.

A worthless trait that couldn't even block a sleep spell has freed me from a terminal condition and, as a bonus, completely transformed my quality of life.

...Well, there is the minor issue of being too healthy with nowhere to really apply it, but that's beside the point.

Having personally experienced the game's text manifesting into reality, I must consider this when choosing traits.

I found myself pondering over the list of legendary-grade traits that I hadn't chosen last time.

Part of me thought I should save it for later.

I figured it might be a good idea to obtain a tailor-made trait to solve a problem when faced with an insurmountable threat.

But then, remembering what happened last time I held off, it seems wiser to choose one now.

After much deliberation, the trait I selected was:

◈ Emperor Might (Legendary)◈

The might of an emperor imbues your soul. You become immune to all mental attacks.

Simple in effect.

Yet, undoubtedly crucial.

My first character, which I didn't equip with mental resistance, ended up being controlled by demons, leading to a bad ending.

Many bosses and formidable enemies in this game are capable of driving people mad, making mental resistance indispensable.

Moreover, there has always been something suspicious about this trait from the previous game.

The nature of 'Emperor Might' has never been described in the game, nor has the existence of an emperor ever been mentioned. I'm certain of this after combing through all the text in the previous game.

Yet, this ability to be immune to all mental attacks even worked against the game's final boss, the Demon King.

Before, I just brushed it off as 'it's just a game,' but now...

If I think about it differently, the existence of this 'Emperor Might' suggests there is 'something' that stands above even the Demon King in the hierarchy.

It implies the presence of a being superior to the strongest entity in the world.

By choosing this, I could imbue my soul with the might of such an entity.

While I can't precisely predict what effects this will have or what it might entail, it's clear that no other trait in the legendary category held as much potential.

My deliberation was brief. I promptly selected Emperor Might.

And then...

'...What exactly has changed?'

I felt like I'd been duped. I couldn't discern any noticeable difference.

'...Not like I can test it out, either.'

It's not as if I could just casually stroll into a demon-infested area to see if I'm immune to mind control spells or not.

Even if I ended up dissatisfied with the effect, it's not like I could ask for a refund at this point.

Eventually, I stopped dwelling on the trait and looked around.

Because it was an inn attached to a guild, I was able to go inside even though it wasn't the guild's operating hours yet.

Having made my choice of trait, I approached the bulletin board again to check on the quest I had seen the day before.

A quest paper shimmering with a golden border. It bore the same design as the one involving the capture of the mysterious organization known as the Black Fang.

The implication was clear. Both this quest and the other were directly issued by the empire.

📌

Hunt the Barbarian Tribes

For every barbarian head brought back from the hidden tribes, a reward of 5 gold per head will be given. Details on how to distinguish the barbarians and their characteristics are provided below...

Terms like 'hunt' and 'barbarians' might make it seem as though it's about collecting the heads of primitive people.

However, one must always read between the lines with quests issued by the empire.

'Barbarians' are those who have refused to submit to the empire's rule.

To these people, treating anyone who opposes them as animals is just par for the course.

Therefore, it's reasonable to conclude that this quest is the Empire's way of instructing the adventurers' guild to exterminate a minority tribe that refuses to follow its rule.

'It's clear now.'

These are the very tribes I've read about in spoiler post.

A girl branded with bizarre accusations of being a natural-born killer or something of the sort by fanatical cultists.

Lien.

She is the second companion I need to gather, currently captured by them.

And I know their location.

Because I saw the location of the mountain where they were hiding in the spoiler post.

A smile naturally forms on my lips.

Is this the privilege of being the possessor?

"Has something good happened?"

Suddenly, a voice comes from behind. Turning around, I see a familiar face.

Siel was looking at me, yawning.

Has it gotten so late already? I can see the morning sun rising through the window.

But now...

'How do I explain this?'

I find myself in a bit of a predicament. I can't just start talking about original works or spoilers.

It's only natural.

Shouting 'This world is all fake! You're all just NPCs in a game!' would only get me labeled as a lunatic.

After a moment's thought, I found a suitable excuse.

"It's because of this."

I point to the quest related to the Black Fang.

Everyone knows the Empire is corrupt.

Saying I laughed out of sheer delight upon reading about those who gave the Empire a taste of its own medicine would seem natural.

"Do you like it?"

While I was pondering, Siel unusually initiated the conversation with her thoughts.

It's rare for her to do this. Well, she was trapped in that mining site too.

Her resentment towards the Empire must be quite strong.

Having played through the original work myself, I'm well aware of how detestable the Empire can be, so I indulged in a bit of Empire-bashing, lost in nostalgia.

"Anyway. Our next destination is decided."

Having skillfully navigated through the potential crisis, I smoothly transition to the main topic.

Since we'll be moving together from now on.

It was challenging to find a reason to head to the mountain without mentioning the original work knowledge.

Fortunately, I found a quest that could serve as a plausible excuse.

The task was to gather a rare poison plant that only grows in that mountain.

With that explanation, I managed to convince Siel of our destination.

However,

"I can't go with you."

She refused.

My mind went blank for a moment.

Why? Could it be because of what happened yesterday?

That would be incredibly unfair. It's not like I'm some kind of pervert.

In the first place, the real issue was Siel's bizarre sleeping habit. Naturally, when someone clings to you like a body pillow, certain natural reactions are...

'Ah.'

I banished the lewd thoughts from my mind.

Right, she had overexerted herself and collapsed less than a day ago.

It made sense she couldn't go to a dangerous place.

"Once I'm a bit better and my tasks are done, I'll join you."

Siel said, observing my face with a blank expression.

But what tasks?

Curiosity got the better of me, and I asked her. However, her reply was even more unexpected.

"I have to tell my mom I love her before I go."

"Suddenly? Why visit your hometown now?"

"It's not my hometown; I'm visiting her grave."

"...I see."

That confirmed it.

There must be something wrong with me.

Maybe I should just keep quiet for a while.

I offered Siel some words of encouragement and started preparing for the long journey ahead.

...Though it feels like something is going wrong right from the start.

It must be an illusion.

It has to be.

*****

Left alone, Siel falls into a deep reverie, her thoughts drifting.

She recalls the words she had heard.

Undoubtedly, those words concerning the Black Fang must have been about her and Ian.

Somehow, without their knowing, an organization had formed around them.

Siel was bewildered, but Ian's reaction was different.

Ian spoke excitedly about the necessity of this organization and the reasons why they must overturn the empire.

Siel remembered a conversation they once shared.

- Do you really want to change the world like that?

- Why? Want to help?

- I'm not sure.

Now, Siel felt she could answer a question she had deferred for so long.

Because she now understood what love was.

She would help.

If it meant seeing him happy like this.

If it meant seeing him smile like this.

If it were for his happiness.

She could do anything.

Because that's her 'love.'