Chapter 44

Seeing Flamm's stunned reaction, Nect covered his mouth and chuckled, his shoulders shaking with laughter.

"Since I told you in response to your request, I wanted to talk a bit more, but that reaction... I guess I can't help it."

"Sure, but can you tell me the reason? Necromancy, aren't they part of the same church!?"

"Comrades... comrades, huh... Ha, indeed, from the outside, it might look that way. From the way you put it, you must know about the other one, right?"

"Chimera, right?"

"Exactly. Children, Necromancy, Chimera. Why the church would set up three research teams, can't you figure it out if you think about it a little?"

"That... it might be a backup in case of failure."

Or perhaps to cooperate—no, Nect said he wanted to "crush" Necromancy.

In other words, they are not comrades.

"Competition?"

When Flamm said this, Nect nodded, folding his arms.

Encouraging each other to improve, aiming for greater heights, and ultimately, only one of the three would be adopted.

Adopted... what exactly are they trying to adopt?

The human-demon war thirty years ago, and the dispatch of the hero.

They have always coveted the territory of the demons.

For that purpose, the fighting force—perhaps as a weapon, to operate the Origin Core, Flamm thought.

"This is a very personal feeling, but Mother and the Chimera team think the same."

"About what?"

"Necromancy is an eyesore, you know."

Nect tilted his head and looked at Flamm.

His face showed no expression, and his voice had almost no intonation.

They must hate Necromancy that much.

"In short, it's a difference in direction. We and Chimera, well, we don't get along, but in terms of seeking power, our goals align. But Necromancy is different; their goal is to revive the dead. 'I want to make people happy,' that kind of nauseating, beautiful talk is how they continue their research! It's the same as mocking Origin!"

His words grew heated.

If it were truly just research to revive the dead, Flamm would have no reason to stop it.

"For now, Dafiz's research is going smoothly."

"Dafiz?"

"The leader of Necromancy, a nice-looking guy with glasses, the type I hate the most! He has succeeded in reviving the dead, suppressing the influence of Origin, and even in making children."

"Then...?"

"Then it's fine, do you really think so?"

Nect's lips curved into a faint smile, and he stared at Flamm with wide eyes.

She knew, and he was aware of it too.

That's why Flamm bit her lip, as if she had swallowed a bitter pill.

"For now. The reason I said it that way, you understand, right?"

"...I don't think the Origin Core can be controlled that easily."

"Right, exactly. There's no way human intelligence can surpass the will of Origin! Besides, it's even questionable whether the revived dead are truly in the same state as when they were alive. Yet, Necromancy is praised by the cardinals. If the revival of the dead becomes possible, faith and money will flow in. You understand, right? We and Chimera find it an eyesore."

Nect spat out his hatred.

In other words, Flamm and his goals align.

To expose the truth and ruin the research of Necromancy.

As a result, Gadio and Eterna will return, and the Children's position within the church will improve.

No one loses; it's an ideal deal.

"But, if that's the case, why not do it with your own power?"

"It's easy to destroy, but we belong to the same church, so we can't. That's why we need to use another method."

"That's where I come in."

Flamm said this bluntly.

She didn't like the feeling of being used.

"Exactly. You are special. Just being near you makes the core in my chest stir, I lose my mind, and my personality is taken over!"

He clenched his fist over his chest and said this with an excited expression.

His face distorted.

Not metaphorically, but literally, it collapsed like marble patterns.

A vortex of flesh and a human face, wavering in between.

"Ha... in other words..."

After taking a deep breath, his face returned to normal.

In stark contrast to before, he continued in a calm tone.

"Those who host a core cannot remain calm near you. Your presence stirs emotions like love."

"Your analogy is creepy."

"Hehe, sorry, sorry, I got carried away and said something weird. But it's true, and that's the weapon to destroy the fiction of Necromancy."

Nect wasn't telling Flamm to attack the research facility.

Just—

"Going there is enough, just being there is enough, that's enough to fulfill your role."

"Even if I agree, what's in it for me?"

"I'll tell you the location of the research facility."

It was an incredibly tempting offer.

She had intended to investigate on her own.

However, even if she asked Leach, based on their last conversation, he didn't have much information about the research itself.

The Pope and cardinals knew more than Flamm, but asking him wouldn't necessarily reveal Eterna's location.

If she had to do it the hard way, who knows when she would find the research facility.

Moreover, Flamm was the only one who could fight the church.

If Milkit or Ink were targeted in the meantime, it would be difficult to protect them.

"I don't think it's a bad proposal for both of us."

Nect smiled smugly.

It irked her to act according to his plans, but letting Dafiz do as he pleased was also unacceptable.

She had to choose between the lesser of two evils.

"...Tell me the location of the research facility."

"Sure thing."

Nect smiled like a boy his age and told Flamm the location of the research facility.

However, despite obtaining valuable information, her mood didn't improve.

A bitter taste spread in her chest.

Nect disappeared after saying his piece.

Left alone in the quiet alley, Flamm sighed deeply and retraced her steps.

◇◇◇

Flamm returned much earlier than expected.

Milkit, who greeted her at the door, looked at her master with a puzzled and unhappy expression.

"Is something wrong?"

"I found out where Eterna and Gadio are."

She said this casually.

"Really, so soon!? That's amazing, Master!"

Milkit jumped and cheered lightly.

"It's not that amazing..."

Usually, she would be happy, but this time, she couldn't be genuinely pleased.

Flamm slumped her shoulders.

Despite knowing where the two were, she felt so down.

The mystery deepened as she trudged into the living room, and Milkit tilted her head, saying, "Hmm?"

"Welcome back, Flamm. You're early."

"Back... I had an unexpected encounter."

Flamm replied to Ink in a low tone.

She slumped into a chair, face down on the table.

"Hehe, did you meet someone really unpleasant?"

"Yeah, I met Nect."

"Eh...!?"

"Nect, one of the Spiral Children. Why all of a sudden!?"

Ink, of course, and Milkit, who had just entered the room, were both shocked.

"I don't know, but it seems the research teams within the church don't get along. Have you heard anything about that, Ink?"

"I wasn't included in those conversations."

Ink pouted.

That's why she made the reckless decision to escape.

"I see, if Ink doesn't know, I won't be able to find out the details. Anyway, he said he would tell me the location of the research facility if I agreed to help him crush Necromancy."

"So, did you agree, Master?"

Milkit sat next to Flamm and asked.

"I thought about it, but I had no choice. I don't like acting according to the church's plans, but I'm worried about Eterna and Gadio."

"But there's a possibility it's a trap, isn't there...?"

"I don't think so. Nect tends to get emotional. He probably overreacted when he heard about the hero being invited to the research facility."

Having lived with Nect for a long time, Ink's words were convincing.

"Either way, Flamm is going, right?"

"Since I agreed, yes. While I'm gone, what should we do with Milkit and Ink—"

At that moment, Milkit grabbed the hem of Flamm's clothes.

She pursed her lips and looked at her master with a sad expression.

Flamm gently stroked her head, as if to say, "I understand without you saying it."

"I plan to take Milkit with me, but what about Ink? Eterna left enough medicine, so if we ask Leach, I think we can ensure her safety."

There's no need to put Ink in danger.

Ideally, she should be in a safe place in the capital, but—her relationship with Eterna isn't that shallow.

"If I say I want to go, will you take me? I might be a burden, but having me there could make it easier to bring Eterna back... maybe."

She was aware of being a burden.

So she spoke hesitantly, fidgeting and in a small voice.

"Nect said it's not that dangerous. The village of Sheol itself is a research facility, but it looks like an ordinary farming village from the outside. Unlike the Children or Chimera, they don't seek powerful abilities, so there's no immediate danger of being attacked."

"Then... can I go?"

"However, I can't guarantee your safety. I don't want to see Ink, who has just been saved, get hurt."

"I understand. If it comes to it, I'll do my best to escape."

It wouldn't be that simple.

First, they should meet up with Eterna and entrust Ink to her, along with the persuasion to bring her back.

Then, meet Gadio and talk—what to do after that.

Nect said that just being there would cause Necromancy to collapse, but the specifics would only be clear once they arrived.

Would they go berserk like the Ogres?

Or would something even more horrific happen?

With these growing concerns, Flamm and the others prepared and headed to the carriage stop.

◇◇◇

Around the capital, countless villages are scattered to support its vast population.

Each village has a population of around a thousand, but collectively, they far outnumber the capital.

In the middle of a peaceful countryside, the kingdom's main road stretches.

Flamm, Milkit, and Ink were jolted in the back of a carriage as they made their way to Sheol.

There were still many other carriages passing by.

"Actually, I haven't been out of the capital much."

Milkit, sitting on Flamm's left, said.

Ink was on her right.

"So, are these kinds of views fresh for you?"

"Yes, I'm imagining what Master's hometown might look like while looking at them."

Indeed, compared to the capital, it was a quiet, rural landscape.

However, Flamm smiled wryly and shook her head.

"Our place is even more remote, so I think you'd be surprised if you saw it."

"More remote than here?"

"Yes, it's surrounded by dense forests, and if there are any grasslands, they're untouched by human hands, with tall grass and thick trees. It's not the kind of scenery you'd think, 'How beautiful.'"

"But that makes it interesting."

"I don't think it would be interesting to see... but if we go, maybe someday."

The wheels rolled, and the wind rustled through the green fields.

The sounds and scenery were so peaceful and relaxed that they almost made her indulge in a leisurely conversation, despite heading to a research facility.

The distance from the capital to Sheol was quite close.

They arrived in the vicinity after about three hours and got off the carriage in the shade of a nearby tree.

They couldn't just ride into the village.

From there, it was about a twenty-minute walk, and the village came into view.

In the center stood a church that seemed unusually grand for a farming village.

If you didn't know, you might think it was just a place with many devout believers.

But Flamm, who knew the truth, was certain.

That church must be the core of the research facility.

First, they observed Sheol from a distance.

The village was surrounded by a fence, with two church knights at the north and south entrances.

Several suspicious-looking threads hung from the fence.

They were probably enchanted to detect intruders.

They could force their way in by jumping over, but that would leave Milkit and Ink behind.

Carriages carrying food came and went, and the knights didn't seem to stop them.

They might be church personnel, but the village was disguised as an ordinary farming village, so they wouldn't take actions that would arouse suspicion.

In that case... perhaps a normal person could enter from the front without any problems.

However, to expect that—Flamm, with a slave's mark on her cheek, several epic equipment tattoos on her arm, and a lightly dressed girl with her face wrapped in bandages, along with a blind girl with sewn-shut eyes—was too much to ask.

While Flamm was deep in thought in the bushes, Milkit exclaimed, "Ah!"

"What's wrong, Milkit?"

"Gadio..."

Following her gaze, Flamm saw Gadio with a calm expression, walking arm in arm with a young woman.

That must be Tia, Flamm realized immediately.

If only she could let him know of their presence—just then, Ink shifted slightly.

The nearby trees rustled.

Gadio's gaze suddenly turned toward Flamm and her companions.

He stopped, said something to Tia, and walked over to them alone.

"Someone's footsteps are getting closer... Could it be because of me?"

"Maybe, but it's thanks to you."

They moved to a place completely out of sight of the knights.

Gadio approached them, careful not to be seen by the knights.

"You didn't come to chase us, did you?"

"Of course not. I'd be angry if you went to the church's facility without a word, even if it's Gadio."

"...I'm sorry."

When he apologized so sincerely, Flamm felt a bit guilty.

Since his motives were clear, she couldn't bring herself to blame him further.

"But how did you find out about the facility in Sheol? It's only been half a day since we left the capital."

"That... well, a lot happened. But Gadio, you seem unusually relaxed. Is the research to revive the dead really okay?"

"For now, yes. The one I was walking with just now is my wife, Tia, from our last conversation. Except for her heart being an Origin Core, she is no different from when she was alive. And—