Chapter 34

34. The Jester, the Hero, and the Parrot (16)

It was Rodelin.

Her clothes were torn in several places, and her stockings looked like they should be taken off.

I took out a coat from the subspace and handed it to her.

"…Thank you."

The coat was large enough to cover Rodelin's thighs.

She fastened all the buttons on the coat.

"I've already treated your injuries. The exit is over there."

"Hehe, are you alright?"

"It was nothing compared to the real erosion. It seems likely that it was a prototype, as you said. There was also a place that looked like a laboratory."

I nodded in agreement.

Rodelin, who had been staring at me, spoke.

"Zero, can you come with me over there for a moment? I have something to discuss."

The emotion in her eyes was peculiar.

Could it be a confession?

I am an attractive man, but that would be a bit troublesome.

Rodelin led me to where the demon's fragment lay.

Hmm, it's neatly split in half.

Not only the fragment, but the ground was also split in half.

'Is this the Sky Splitting technique? It's worthy of being called the Lucid family's best technique.'

If the [Sky Splitting] skill appears during the potential gamble, it would be powerful enough to not need any other attack skills until the final boss.

According to the information window, Rodelin's family sword technique is C-rank.

If a C-rank [Sky Splitting] can achieve this level, an S-rank would be unimaginable.

'I didn't expect the Sky Splitting technique to be used here, which is supposed to be unlocked after Episode 5.'

"Quite a powerful technique. Why didn't you use it from the beginning?"

"Because I couldn't control it. It's a technique I learned by observation, and I didn't have permission to use it."

Rodelin's arms and legs were trembling slightly.

It must be a technique with a heavy burden.

'I almost forgot.'

I approached the demon's fragment and extended my hand.

The hidden piece I obtained from the transparent slime. I needed it to use [Feast].

The skills the demon's fragment possessed were [Spatial Domination], [Erosion], [Nether Magic], and [Corrosion].

Fortunately, they were all useful skills.

What skill will I obtain this time?

'Not bad.'

A skill that boosts stats and increases the efficiency and power of other skills.

Although it's F-rank, the area it can control is small, and its efficiency isn't great.

It was a skill that wasn't bad for me, who can see the future.

As I smiled contentedly,

Swish.

A blue blade touched my neck.

It was Rodelin's sword. I naturally raised my hands above my head.

"What are you doing now?"

"…What do you mean?"

"Didn't you do something to the demon's corpse just now? I saw it. The black fragment entering your body."

Or was it the unique effect when taking a skill from a demon?

Of course, now wasn't the time to argue about that.

"Hehe, it's a secret."

"Don't think you can get away with it. You've been suspicious from the start."

"What do you mean?"

"Like how you quickly solved the demon's test, and how naturally you conversed with it. It was as if you already knew it."

The conversation I had with the demon's fragment before the battle.

That's what she's talking about.

"Hehe, you know it was to extract information, right?"

"…You used the term 'that person.' That means you know someone in common."

"What does 'prototype of erosion' mean? It means someone created it artificially. I just used the term 'that person' for it."

"Hmm. You seemed quite close. The way you instantly provided a strategy and the process of luring me in. You…"

Rodelin's eyes glinted coldly.

"Who are you really?"

Rodelin's gaze and aura were quite firm.

'Is this why she called me here?'

It wasn't a confession. I felt a mix of disappointment and relief.

I was in danger of losing my head, but I wasn't tense.

Persuading Rodelin… no,

'Fooling her isn't that difficult.'

To persuade Rodelin, logic is important, but emotional persuasion is more crucial.

She's a character who is strong on the outside but weak on the inside.

"…Hehe, Senior. Do you remember when we first met?"

"I remember."

People watching me as if I were an animal, like visitors at a zoo.

Rodelin must have seen that clearly.

"Not everyone is like you. With this kind of appearance, you inevitably go through many things."

"…"

"Showing familiarity with the demon is one of those things. I pretended to be close to make you let your guard down."

"Ha! It sounds like you've met many demons in your life?"

"Yes, that's true. Many demons have tried to seduce me. To kill those trash humans who discriminate based on appearance!"

Rodelin flinched.

Partly because of my outburst, but also because meeting and conversing with demons is a reason for execution.

By confessing to meeting demons, Rodelin now holds my life in her hands.

If it were someone else, they might have rejoiced, but Rodelin is the opposite.

It must be burdensome. She might want to get rid of me immediately.

"That's why I could easily understand the demon's language and solve its tricks. I could also devise a strategy to defeat the demon."

"I can't believe it. Those who have survived multiple encounters with demons have all…"

They brought chaos to the continent by being swayed by demons.

Perhaps recalling that fact, Rodelin's sword tightened.

Demons are not easily met beings.

They are entities that exploit the gaps in human hearts.

Frequently encountering demons means a high probability of falling to their seduction.

But,

"Who informed that they wanted to investigate the demon's traces?"

"…You."

"Who extracted information from the demon's fragment and cooperated in killing it?"

"…You."

"Who provided the opportunity by taking all the attacks at the last moment?"

"…You."

"Yet you still suspect me? Just because the demon showed me familiarity?"

I took a big step forward.

Blood from my neck flowed down the sword.

Rodelin shivered and took a step back.

"Disliking demons isn't just you. It's…"

I feel the same, Rodelin.

"…"

Though silent, Rodelin must have heard it that way.

Given her weak heart, she was likely convinced.

The moment she took a step back, it was over.

Click.

A clean sheathing of the sword.

It was as good as declaring her defeat.

"Anyway, what I did just now was part of the investigation. The demon's corpse is very helpful."

"…A good-sounding excuse."

My favorability must have dropped, but I don't care.

Being a suspicious guy and the vice student council president, our relationship is just right.

Rodelin, looking as if her mind was in turmoil, brushed her hair.

"…I can't make a judgment right now. I'll put the decision on hold for a while."

"That's quite an honor."

"Don't be sarcastic. And stop lying about meeting demons multiple times. If someone else heard it, you would have been arrested immediately."

Is she pretending not to have heard it?

Rodelin took out a potion and dabbed it on a handkerchief, then applied it to my neck.

"Remember that I'm always watching."

Despite her words, her eyes were filled with regret.

My favorability dropped, but not by much.

'To make my activities easier, I need to reduce her interest in me.'

What kind of accident (?) should I cause to lower her favorability?

Just thinking about it makes my heart race.

While seriously contemplating whether I should 'reject' her,

"Zero! Come over here! The parrot is acting strange!"

Luna's urgent call came from a distance.

When I ran over, I found that Luna wasn't the only one who had woken up.

Raymond was also circling around the parrot, unsure of what to do.

"Zero! Come quickly! The parrot… the parrot!"

"Luna, calm down. And who are you talking about as 'parrot'…?"

"The parrot! My friend!!"

Luna shouted.

She had already given it a nickname. 'Parrot' for a parrot.

Her naming sense is terrible.

"Try to do something! The parrot is in pain!"

Perhaps they had built a bond already. Tears streamed down her face.

I carefully examined the parrot's condition.

But there was nothing I could do.

'It's already been treated.'

I touched my neck.

The wound Rodelin had inflicted on my neck.

It was cut deeply enough to bleed, but it had healed cleanly.

She must have used a potion better than a high-grade one.

Given Rodelin's character, she likely used the same on the parrot.

So, the parrot's poor condition isn't due to a simple injury.

Aging, stress from physical impact, and the sense of exhaustion from achieving the goal of revenge.

All these factors are combined.

Or,

'This is the role given to the parrot.'

This was the most likely scenario.

A developer's manipulation to end the story emotionally.

"Friend… friend…"

The parrot struggled to speak.

But I didn't answer.

Luna pushed me aside and said,

"Right, Parrot! Sob… I'm here!"

"…"

The parrot sharply turned its head in the opposite direction.

Even in a situation close to death, it refused to recognize Luna as a friend.

It's a spirit that deserves a monument.

"Parrot!!"

Of course, there was no way for Luna.

She hugged the parrot and rubbed her face, crying.

I'm worried she might hasten its death.

"Luna, calm down. You'll cause a bigger problem."

"My friend is about to die! How can I calm down!"

"…Parrot doesn't seem to think so."

"What?"

Luna widened her eyes and stared at the parrot.

As if asking if it was real.

"…"

The parrot feigned pain and avoided her gaze.

Then Luna muttered,

"I can't. I have to ask directly."

"…Directly? Who are you going to ask?"

"Even if I have to meet Hades, I'll ask."

The god of death?

It would be difficult to meet, but to ask, 'Did the parrot consider me a friend?'

She's really out of her mind.

"…What will you do if you meet him?"

"Ask him to bring Parrot back to life. If he refuses, I'll cut off his head."

Ah, I see.

So you can bring Parrot back to life?

Are you saying that in your right mind?

"The parrot must consider me a friend! It's my guardian! It sacrificed itself for me!"

No, the parrot protected me, not you.

What's going on in your head?

"You have to let go when it's time. That's how you grow up…"

"I don't want to! I'll go! I'll bring my friend Parrot back!"

She really means it. Does she feel the same?

The parrot urgently called out,

"Friend! Friend!"

"Sniff… Parrot!"

The parrot declared Luna as a friend.

Is it just my imagination that it sounds like a plea to let it go?

'…Did I make a dangerous friend?'

Her reaction when I called Raymond her best friend, and now this.

Luna's obsession with 'friends' is terrifying.

"My friend… can't be in pain…"

Luna, hugging the parrot tightly, sniffled.

Seeing this, Rodelin also sniffled.

Her eyes were red, as if she was trying to hold back tears.

"Well, it's a beautiful friendship."

…Is that so?

At this point, I must be the strange one.

"Keh!"

The parrot spat out black blood.