Chapter 38

38. Conversation (2)

"Hello."

Oliver said as he opened the door and entered.

Joanna, the holy knight bound to the bed, did not respond to Oliver at all when she saw him.

But it didn't matter. He could see the anger, frustration, and questions in her eyes.

Oliver brought a stool and sat beside her. Then he greeted her again.

"......Hello."

"......Do I look good to you?"

Creak. She lifted her chained arm to show him.

"I'm sorry. I know it might seem a bit much, but the others feel more at ease this way...... Are you very uncomfortable?"

"No, not really. If I really wanted to, I could break free anytime."

"Well, as a knight, you probably could. However, if you do, the black magic I've prepared in advance will activate, and you might get hurt. Not just you, but your comrades as well."

Joanna seemed to recognize this fact, as she glanced at the minion and then made a bitter expression.

She wanted to move, but was worried about her comrades, so she couldn't.

Even the repeated suggestions to surrender and the quite gentle nature of the person were part of it.

That's why he was curious. How could such a person fight, how could they be brave in the face of death, how could they emit such a beautiful light......

He had so many questions.

"First, let me introduce myself properly. My name is Oliver. Nice to meet you."

Oliver introduced himself as kindly as he had practiced, extending his hand. However, all he received was a cold stare.

"What are you up to?"

"......I just want to have a conversation."

"Conversation......? I don't know what you're up to, but if you're trying to get information from me or play some trick, it won't work. I won't be fooled, and I won't break under any torture."

Her tone was sharp. Her words were sincere. For some reason, she was very wary of Oliver.

"I'm not really trying to get information."

"How can I believe you?"

"Well...... Is it because I'm a black magician that you're so wary?"

"Yes, is there any other reason?"

"Out of genuine curiosity, is there something wrong with being a black magician?"

Joanna, who had been avoiding Oliver's gaze, frowned and met his eyes. She looked very displeased.

"Are you treating me like an idiot? Are you mocking me?"

"No. I'm not treating you like an idiot or mocking you. I just want to have a conversation."

"......"

Joanna glared at Oliver silently, as if trying to gauge his intentions.

After a while, she slowly spoke.

"Don't you know that you're manufacturing harmful drugs that plunge people into the depths of illness?"

"Oh...... You mean Philget?"

"Yes. Don't you know how many people have been harmed by the drugs you've manufactured?"

"I don't really know...... I haven't been practicing black magic for very long."

"Don't lie!"

"It's not a lie. It doesn't matter if you don't believe me...... But from what I understand, Philget isn't that harmful. It's about as bad as cigarettes...... It's even used as medicine, they say."

"Even if that's true, drugs are drugs, and you take people's emotions to make them, don't you?"

"Not exactly. We only buy from those who are willing, and we pay them for it."

"Is it right to lure the poor with money and take their emotions?"

At that moment, Oliver remembered a woman who had lost all her maternal love, and thus herself and her child.

"Well...... No, I don't think so. When we take too much, it ruins them. It's a sad thing."

"Exactly."

"That's why I'm trying to set a limit on how much emotion we extract. They say it's fine up to a certain amount. Like donating blood."

Joanna's face was filled with anger and disgust.

"We can't communicate."

"Is that so? I'm sorry. Still, I'm glad we can have a conversation...... By the way, if black magicians stopped making drugs, would you stop hating them?"

"Are you really asking?"

"Ah, yes...... I'm curious why you hate black magicians."

"I hate black magicians because they harm people without hesitation for their own desires and worship evil demons. They are evil in their very existence."

"Hmm...... But aren't there black magicians who aren't like that?"

"Maybe if there were flying pigs."

"......Is that a metaphor for it not existing? I don't quite understand."

"Yes, that's right. They absolutely don't exist. Why? Are you saying they do?"

Oliver thought for a moment.

"No, I don't worship demons, but I do kill people when necessary."

"Hah!"

Joanna sneered, as if saying, "I knew it."

"But isn't everyone like that?"

"Excuse me?"

"Wouldn't you kill someone if you needed to?"

"......That's a ridiculous argument."

"Oh, I'm sorry if that upset you. But the orphanage director, the mine supervisor, the innkeeper, the black magician, the magician, the master...... They all tried to kill me when they needed to."

"......"

"I thought it was fine. If I needed to, I could kill people...... That's why I killed the innkeeper, Tom, the miners, the magician, and the master. Is that wrong?"

"Of course it's wrong! What do you think life is?"

"But, didn't you kill the miners too?"

At that moment, Joanna's heart skipped a beat, as if a sore spot had been touched.

"That was...... I had no choice. They were criminals who cooperated with black magicians and refused the final offer of surrender, which was a command of God's mercy. It was a necessary measure."

"Oh......"

Oliver nodded, as if saying, "I see."

"Sorry, but who decided it was necessary?"

"......?"

"Did God say so?"

"Are you blaspheming now?!"

"No, I really don't know...... But from what I understand, God is an equal being who looks for black magicians and miners alike, so I don't think He would do that."

"How dare you say such things?! Are you mocking the will of the Paternus Church, which protects humanity from black magicians and demons? All the countries agree with this!"

"......In other words, God didn't specifically permit it, and didn't see it, right?"

Joanna's beautiful face was distorted with anger, but she couldn't say anything.

She seemed very shaken, as if someone had brought up a question she had been harboring.

"......Is your goal to undermine my beliefs with your wicked tongue?"

"No, no...... Not at all. I like you as you are."

Joanna frowned and looked at Oliver again.

Oliver, unable to articulate his thoughts, explained in a jumbled manner.

"Ah, I don't know how to explain this, but...... I like you, the knight. You're beautiful."

"How dare you say such dirty things......"

"Excuse me? I don't know what upset you, but I'm sorry. I just find your emotions beautiful and fascinating......"

"......?"

"Why did you become a holy knight?"

"......What are you trying to ask?"

"Well, you know, I've been watching you from a distance since you started fighting the miners. You don't like fighting, so how do you manage to fight so much?"

"......"

"When you fight, everyone is filled with the joy of victory, a sense of superiority, and a desire to destroy, but you only had a belief like a blank canvas. You were sad when you defeated the miners."

"......"

"I'm curious about the reason. Why do you fight?"

"......I fight not because I enjoy it, but because it's my duty. I don't take pleasure in harming others, but I do it because someone has to."

"Is that so? Is that why you can be so calm in the face of death?"

At that, Joanna was visibly shaken.

When Oliver had extracted her emotions, leaving only one eye and mouth, the rest of her face had been consumed by darkness.

"......What was that?"

"Excuse me?"

"The darkness that covered the sewers. Although this is my first official mission, I've never heard of such a thing."

"I don't really know either."

"......"

"I really don't. It was the first time I extracted my own emotions, so I don't know much. I'm sorry if it upset you. Please calm down."

"I don't know why I'm having this conversation with you."

"I want to understand the beautiful light."

"The beautiful light?"

"Yes, specifically the beautiful emotions. When people die, they emit a brilliant light. I've seen it three times, and you're the only one who survived...... So, what were you thinking at the end?"

Oliver sat up straight and listened, looking like a child.

Joanna looked at Oliver for a long time before asking a question in return.

"Before I answer, let me ask you a question. Why are you so curious about this?"

"......Because it's beautiful?"

His voice sounded uncertain.

Upon reflection, it was obvious. He had learned black magic and sought beautiful emotions without a specific reason.

That was the goal itself.

"Are you saying you went to all this trouble just because it's beautiful?"

"Yes...... Is that wrong?"

At that moment, Joanna's anger and disgust towards Oliver subsided, and she looked at him with a new perspective. It was pity.

"You...... are broken."

"Broken?"

"Yes. Think about it. How many times have you been sad or angry?"

Oliver thought about it seriously.

Sad or angry.

When he was falsely accused and beaten by the orphanage director? No.

When he was sold to the mine? No.

When the children he worked with in the mine were beaten? No.

When the supervisor spat on his face and called him an orphan? No.

When he almost died at the inn? No.

When he was slapped by a senior disciple? No.

When Andrew tried to kill him? No.

When the master tried to kill him to offer him as a sacrifice? No.

"Hmm...... Not many. Ah! I was a bit sad when I couldn't extract the beautiful light and it just disappeared. I was also sad when I saw a woman who had lost her maternal love."

"That's not sadness, but regret. Like a child who can't have the toy they want."

"Ah...... Is that so?"

At those words, Oliver crossed his arms and thought. Was it really like that?

Then, Joanna spoke again.

"You are broken. You can't feel proper emotions. That's why you pursue black magic and beautiful emotions."

"Is that so?"

"At least, that's how I see it. I'll help you."

"Oh...... How?"

"Stop what you're doing, ask for forgiveness, and pay for your sins."

"......And then?"

"Instead of staying in this darkness, come out into the world. Meet people and learn how to live as a human."

"How to live as a human?"

"Get up early, work diligently, make friends and neighbors, laugh together, and grieve together. I'll help you."

Oliver could tell that Joanna was sincere.

She genuinely pitied Oliver and wanted to help him.

She was indeed a kind woman. He had never seen anyone with such a beautiful and warm emotion.

"......It's quite an interesting story. Really. But it's difficult."

"Why?"

"Under normal circumstances, I might have tried it, but I have a promise to keep and a debt to pay. I think I should fulfill that first."

"......Do you think keeping us here will solve the problem?"

"No, but I think a negotiation will happen soon, so it should be fine."

"Negotiation?"

"Sorry...... I wasn't supposed to say that. Please forget it."

Oliver stood up. Joanna tried to stand up in excitement, but the chains on her hands creaked and stopped her.

"Damn......!"

Just as he was about to leave, Oliver turned and looked at Joanna.

"Knight Joanna...... Thank you for today's conversation. I feel like I've learned a little about what I need. Thank you very much."

"Hey......!"

Joanna tried to say something, but Oliver didn't listen and left.

He had gotten what he wanted.

A week later, Joanna was released.