Chapter 61: The Third Place (3)

"I suddenly had this thought. The thought that I might end up killing someone someday."

"Hmm~ What's with the heavy contemplation? It's quite admirable of you."

Luna stroked my head.

For a kid, you're quite good at pretending to be an adult.

Well, in terms of killing experience, Luna is indeed more of an adult.

"Don't worry. It's not as big a deal as you think. If you kill someone, there must be a good reason."

"What if it's not personal?"

"Hmm... That would be a bit difficult. It goes against my principles. But, do you have someone you want to kill?"

Not that I want to kill someone, but I have someone I must kill.

From Luna's perspective, it's the same thing.

"Hehe, are you disappointed?"

"Huh? What? You really have no reason? I don't want to have a friend who's a serial killer."

"It's not that bad. But I think the situation will come to that."

"...What the hell are you talking about?"

Luna grumbled.

But there was no choice.

I have to kill because I accepted a quest.

—I can't say that, can I?

"By the way, I did make a contract with a demon."

"What! Then it's only natural to kill you! Why didn't you say that earlier!"

Luna smacked my head.

Ouch, I just remembered too.

And...

'From Luna's perspective, it's natural, but from mine, it's not.'

In this world, demons are bound by many restrictions.

It's easy to understand if you think of them being tied with numerous chains when they cross over from the Demon World.

If they come over tied with chains, they're easy prey for humans, so no demon would willingly cross over.

However, there are three cases where they ignore this.

First, a contract.

The 'Demon's Contract' provided by the demon lists the conditions both parties agree to.

The demon must fulfill the human's conditions, and the human must fulfill the demon's conditions.

If the terms of the contract are not met, the party in breach receives a penalty, which is often death.

But this is the method humans most often choose.

Second, possession.

A human lends their body to a demon.

Depending on the possessed human's abilities, the demon can use up to 50% of its power.

While the 'mind' is generally the human's, few humans can resist the demon's mind.

They gradually get consumed by the demon.

That's why almost no one chooses possession.

Third, summoning.

A ritual to summon a demon fully by offering a living being as a sacrifice.

Since the demon can use the same power it has in the Demon World, this ritual must be stopped at all costs from the human side.

Of course, it's not easy.

To summon a mid-level demon, you need to offer at least a large village, and humans won't just stand by.

A large magic circle, various materials, and a human as a sacrifice.

Because it requires such stringent conditions, even black mages rarely perform this ritual.

'Why am I explaining this all of a sudden?'

Because a contract or possession is impossible without the mage's consent.

The contract requires a signature, and possession requires mutual agreement.

In other words, it's not a problem to execute someone who has made a contract with a demon or has been possessed.

'That's why Luna reacts like this.'

Killing someone who has a connection with a demon is a natural thing in this world.

The problem is, it's not a natural thing for me, who came from Earth.

'Mr. Leang only made a contract with a demon.'

He's gradually being consumed by the demon's mischief, but he's still human in both body and mind.

For me, who has never killed before, it's not an easy task.

Luna sighed in relief and said,

"When you face such a situation, the most important thing is not to hesitate."

"Hesitate?"

"Yes, hesitation can cost the life of someone precious to you."

Luna's eyes became resolute.

"If you find yourself in a situation where you must kill each other, don't hesitate. Kill to protect the person next to you."

I see.

It's not about killing to survive, but about killing to protect my comrades.

Thinking about it this way, my heart felt a bit better.

"Hehe, Miss Luna, thank you. It helped."

"I told you, I'm the god of counseling! Though, I'd prefer if you came to me for relationship advice next time."

Luna laughed heartily.

A friend who not only trusts and relies on me but also helps me.

Luna must feel good about it.

"And you always have me by your side, right? I can do it for you."

"Excuse me?"

"I'll do the killing for you. Just tell me who. The one who made a contract with a demon."

Offering to kill for me.

Is she in her right mind?

When she showed me her palm with five fingers, I saw it.

Luna's expression, as if she was about to cry.

So I had to ask.

"...Why are you doing this?"

Because I know the Lester family's secret?

Because I said our targets for revenge are similar?

Or just because I'm pitiful?

Surprisingly, Luna's answer was much simpler.

"Because you're my friend."

"..."

"If a friend is in trouble, it's only natural to help. You would do the same, right?"

No, it's not natural at all.

Killing for a friend, offering to do something difficult for them.

It's not a natural thing at all.

So, I shrugged in response.

"Well, I'll think about it."

"What! Here, you should say, 'Hehe, of course!' to sound cool."

Luna laughed brightly.

Seeing her, I made a resolve.

'I won't pass this on to Luna.'

I'll do it myself and overcome it.

Even if such situations arise frequently in the future.

'Because you're my friend.'

I won't burden my friend, Luna.

'How could you treat such a kind person like an animal?'

Maybe the animal is on my side.

As I was having another epiphany, I heard Luna mutter.

"...So that's why."

"Huh?"

"Not that, but you were wandering outside last night, right? You were thinking about this, weren't you? Well, it is a heavy thing to think about."

There were two things wrong with what Luna said.

First, I wasn't thinking about killing, but replaying my conversation with Charon.

Second, it was not night but early morning.

"Hehe, that's right. Walking is the best way to refresh your mind..."

Wait.

Something was off.

"...But how did you know, Miss Luna?"

"Huh? Of course I know. Because you're my friend."

Luna smiled widely, as if it was no big deal.

Seeing that, I got goosebumps.

'No, even friends can't know that!'

Are you some kind of extraterrestrial being?

Do you have a tentacle connected to share emotions?

"Zero."

"Yes, yes?"

"Because you're my friend, it's only natural, right?"

"Haha... Yes, yes."

But despite my words, my feet were moving backward on their own.

Luna slowly approached me.

"Wow, you're thinking a lot again. I'll pray for you to have a good night's sleep tonight."

As she passed by, Luna whispered,

"We'll have fun together tomorrow."

With that, Luna left.

Or did she?

Is she hiding nearby, watching me?

"..."

Maybe Mr. Leang's problem

was a very trivial one.

* * *

"Zero, I'm giving you one demerit."

Leang pushed up his glasses after giving the demerit.

What is this? A celebratory gesture for success?

"Me too!"

"...Disrupting the class. I'll give one demerit to Luna as well."

Luna smiled after receiving the demerit.

Seeing that, I was speechless.

No, Luna, don't share this! Stop it, stop it!

"Let's end today's class here. See you."

Thud, thud.

As Leang left the classroom, sighs of relief echoed everywhere.

"Phew. Thank goodness. Most of us avoided demerits today."

"No, it means we don't need demerits anymore. They've been maxed out for a long time."

"At least it's a relief that Yuridia avoided it today..."

From the conversation, it's clear that Leang's demerit bombing continued today.

Receiving demerits when others try to avoid them.

Our Luna is really something.

"What are we going to do today?"

...She's a stalker.

"What? Why the long face? Upset about the demerit? I got one too, so what's the big deal."

"Hehe, don't do that next time."

"Why? Don't you think it feels a bit better to share the demerit with someone?"

No, that's just getting two demerits.

Our Luna can't even do simple addition?

"Anyway, why does that teacher always give you demerits?"

"Still don't know why?"

"Oh, I get it!"

Oh, finally figured it out?

The Teron faction bribed him?

"Racial discrimination! Right?"

No!! And racial discrimination?!

I'm human, human!

'You notice when I'm upset, but why are you so clueless in these situations?'

Don't tell me you only look at me? Is that it?

I can't let this go on. I'll end up becoming a hermaphrodite with Luna.

I need to stay away from her today.

I slightly bent my waist and hugged my stomach.

"Miss Luna, I suddenly have a stomachache."

"Do you need to go to the bathroom? Let's go quickly."

...Why 'let's go quickly'?

Don't you usually say 'go quickly and come back'?

"Cough! I, I might die! I think the bread I ate this morning was bad."

"What? Get on my back! Let's go to the infirmary quickly!"

"No, no need! I think some medicine will be enough."

I slammed my head on the desk.

Now, Luna will rush to the infirmary, worried about me.

'Did she go?'

That was a mistake.

Turning my head, I met Luna's gaze, who was staring at me.

Not 'now she's looking at me'...

'What? Why didn't you go?'

Lying on the desk, Luna stood up and whispered in my ear.

"Stay here."

Huh? If I have a stomachache, I can at least go to the bathroom...

"If you need to go, just do it there. If you stand up from there..."

Swallow.

"You'll die."

Luna left the classroom with a menacing warning.

I had no choice but to become one with the chair.

Because she really looked like she would kill me.

'Become one with the chair.'

The realm of oneness with objects.

Am I the chair, and the chair is me?

Maybe I am the chair?

As I was having another epiphany,

"The seat is empty."

A low but powerful voice.

And a shadow enveloped me.

I knew who the owner of this voice was without looking.

"Can I sit here?"

The leader of the Teron faction and the successor of the Buren Dukedom.

Teron de Buren.

He descended before me.