Chapter 22

"I'm sorry for calling you in such a manner. I really wanted to talk to you when Ralph wasn't around."

"That's fine, it's no problem."

The Holy Maiden said this with a troubled smile. It seemed that what the man named Melvin had said was true. However, it was natural to be suspicious, given that I had almost been killed upon our first encounter.

I was worried that leaving home without a word would cause concern, but she said it was fine because she had made a substitute for me. As expected, she was the country's top mage.

She offered me the same chair as last time, and I sat across from her. Melvin also sat down a little distance away from me.

"Let's get straight to the point, shall we?"

"Yes."

"I think Rizette's soul is similar to that of a Holy Maiden."

"…What?"

My soul is similar to that of a Holy Maiden. I almost spilled the tea that had just been served, taken aback by the sudden and unbelievable news.

"Although it is covered by the dark magic of a monster, I can see through the thin gaps that your soul is the same color as ours."

"My soul…?"

"Does anything come to mind? Like having some kind of power?"

"…Ah."

At that moment, I suddenly remembered that in my first and second lives, I had been able to use what seemed to be healing magic. When I told her this, she seemed to understand.

It seems that Holy Maidens are not just one person. Beverly, the current Holy Maiden, is just the most powerful one known in the country, but there are others like me who are not recognized or aware of their abilities.

"Sure enough. The weakening and eventual loss of your power were likely due to the influence of the monster. From here on, I will proceed with the assumption that Rizette's soul is that of a Holy Maiden."

"…Yes."

"I investigated the events 547 years ago, as Ralph mentioned, and there was a record of the Demon King's defeat. Although the hero's party was wiped out, it was also written that they had fought to the death."

The hero's party being wiped out… It must have been a very strong and troublesome opponent. Just thinking about it is terrifying.

"…I actually think that the wounded Demon King attacked the Rizette of that time."

And the Holy Maiden said this clearly. At the edge of my vision, I saw Melvin's bright red eyes widen.

I also held my breath, waiting for her next words.

"Do you know the difference between a monster and a Demon King?"

"N-no."

"It's whether they have special abilities. This Demon King had the ability to manipulate time, which is why the heroes struggled and were eventually wiped out."

The ability to manipulate time. My heart made an unpleasant thud.

"Also, the souls of Holy Maidens are the most powerful source of energy for monsters. They are the greatest delicacy."

"…No way."

"The wounded Demon King might have used his ability to repeatedly reincarnate you as a source of sustenance until he recovered. The damage inflicted by the hero's party was severe, so it wouldn't be strange if he needed to do this to recover."

This is just a hypothesis I came up with, the Holy Maiden said, but to me, it felt like the truth.

"I don't know why he fixated on Rizette, but perhaps your soul was that special. And reincarnating a human is not that difficult."

She continued, seeing me at a loss for words.

"Do you know why I am so heavily protected?"

There were always many knights around her, both last time and this time.

I had thought it was because of her position as the Holy Maiden, but apparently, it was different. I shook my head.

"I'm almost twenty years old. Humans are said to have the most radiant souls at the age of twenty. It's the perfect time for monsters to eat."

"……"

"Rizette was likely targeted at that timing every time. The Demon King might have been lying dormant and eating you repeatedly, waiting for complete recovery. This is the hypothesis I came up with. What do you think?"

Her story seemed to make sense. In fact, it was hard to think of any other explanation.

All I could do was whisper, "I have that feeling," in a barely audible voice.

"That's a terrible story. It's like being raised as livestock."

"Melvin, stop it."

The Holy Maiden glared at Melvin as if to reprimand him, but he was probably right.

To the monster, I was no different from livestock. I was fattened up until the best time to be eaten, and when the time came, I would be consumed as a matter of course. I was nothing more than food.

Still, I didn't want to believe that I had been repeatedly reborn and suffered so much for such a reason. What had my life been all about?

"Moreover, it has been 500 years, and he has already eaten you three times. It wouldn't be strange for him to revive soon. Once he revives, he will have no further use for Rizette, and you won't be reincarnated again."

– I must have been deluding myself. Of course, I didn't want to be eaten by the monster again, but deep down, I had a feeling that if this time didn't work, there would be a next time.

"…This might be the last chance."

That's why I almost cried when she said those words.

"If that Demon King fully revives, even Ralph and I might not be safe. He could be even more powerful than before."

"Right, the ability to manipulate time is crazy. It's dangerous."

"We have to stop him at all costs."

The Holy Maiden and Melvin seemed to have a strong sense of crisis. She sighed deeply and looked up.

"When will he appear?"

"On the night of my birthday."

"Right. Since we know he will come in advance, I think we can gather all the Holy Maidens and mages in the country and set up a sealing barrier in two months."

However, the Holy Maiden continued.

"Rizette will have to serve as bait to lure him, and there will be no guarantee of your safety."

I had a feeling this would be the case while listening to her. That's why she wanted to talk without Ralph.

Of course, I don't want to die. I don't want to die at all. But if my life can prevent many more sacrifices, it's worth it. Besides, I understand the terror of that monster better than anyone.

It is undoubtedly something that should not be released into the world.

"But will Ralph allow it?"

"From the way he acts, he won't allow it."

They were right; Ralph would never allow it.

The thought of betraying him, who had promised to protect me, made my chest ache. Still,

"I ask you to proceed with this method. Please keep it from Ralph. In return, can you prepare a place where I can hide until my birthday?"

"Of course, that's no problem…"

"Thank you. I will leave Ralph and spend the time until my birthday there. I also find it painful to stay with him in this deceitful situation."

"…I understand. We will do everything we can to protect you, and if the hypothesis is wrong and just a higher-level monster appears, we will immediately break the barrier and defeat it."

"Yes."

Eventually, the Holy Maiden lowered her long lashes and said, "I'm sorry." But it wasn't her fault. If it really was a Demon King-level monster, then my life would be a small price to pay. Anyone would make the same choice.

I bit my lip tightly, trying hard not to cry. I would cry when I was alone.

– That's how I decided to leave the Marquis's house and Ralph's side a week later.

Soon, the yandere tag will start to work.