Chapter 34

"Sorry... Mineko doesn't really trust humans..."

The white cat who was taking care of her defended Mineko's earlier actions. I told her not to worry and observed Mineko, who was lying down.

Her coughing was subsiding, but her breathing was still rough, and her complexion was poor. It was clear that her illness had progressed significantly.

"Hey, if I told you that there might be a way to cure this illness... what would you do?"

"Wh-What!?"

When I asked this, the white cat turned around with an incredible expression and lunged at me.

"Can you really do that!? Please, please save Mineko!"

She grabbed my clothes and pleaded, a face very different from the brave beast warrior who had fought me earlier. Now, it was the face of a pure girl who was worried about her family... I had seen this exact same expression once before.

"Please, Yuki-kun!! Help!!"

"――――――Yeah, I'll save her..."

The image of my childhood friend, who had once relied on me for help, overlapped perfectly with the current white cat. I patted her head to reassure her and stood by Mineko's pillow.

I slid my hand over her flawless forehead and began to search for the source of the disease that was consuming her body.

"Light, reveal the evil presence――――――'Light Analysis'"

I cast a spell that primarily investigates health conditions, using incantation when possible, as it generally has better effects.

(......Huh?)

I tried to trace the source of the disease by channeling light into the flow of magic and blood in her body, but I couldn't see anything. In fact, a black mist-like substance seemed to be invading her entire body, and I couldn't see the root of the problem at all.

(This feeling... damn, really?)

What was consuming Mineko wasn't a simple disease. It was something much darker and more terrifying... something like Fuyuma's――――――

"――――――'Curse Magic'"

"Wait, wait! That's...?"

"What's this 'Curse Magic'?"

'Curse Magic'――――――a unique magic used by Fuyuma, which is not something a hero should possess. By simply touching the target, it can bestow a 'curse' created by the user. The types of curses vary widely, from ones that restrict movement to those that erode the body like a disease.

Due to its versatility, it requires a large amount of magic power, making continuous use impossible. However, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks.

Once a curse is cast, there's almost no way to remove it. It might be possible if dozens of light magic specialists gathered and continuously cast purification spells, but...

"That bastard... he gave the medicine but he's the cause of the disease... Shironeko, can you show me Mineko's medicine?"

"Here it is..."

The vial she handed me contained several black grains. When I took them out and smelled them, they had the same smell as the medicine I often used when I was in Japan.

"――――――It's just the same as Seiro丸!!"

I threw the vial out the window. It flew out and shattered the glass as it disappeared from sight.

"Wait... is that okay!? That's Mineko's medicine..."

"That's just a medicine for the disease! It has no effect on the 'curse'!"

Curses are dangerous, especially Fuyuma's curse, which must never be received. Once you receive it, your body becomes immobilized and can be ravaged at will.

Levi also fell silent when she heard the word 'curse.' She doesn't seem to fully understand what a curse is, but she can tell from my reaction how dangerous it is.

"Such... Why did I follow that person all this time...?"

"..."

I have no words to comfort Shironeko.

She realized that her actions, which she thought were for the best, were meaningless. She didn't need to receive the medicine, and even if she had, Mineko wouldn't have been saved...

Shironeko placed her hands on the bed where Mineko was lying, on the verge of tears. I couldn't bear to see her like that and turned back to Mineko.

"Can... can she be cured...?"

Shironeko, with tears in her eyes, looked at me with a pleading gaze.

I patted her head again and gave her a reassuring smile.

"Yeah, leave it to me."

I released her head and placed my hand in the air.

"――――――'Great Eater'"

Suddenly, the space was torn open.

A hole in the air released a sinister magic power, filling the room.

"Ugh..."

Levi and Shironeko collapsed on the spot, affected by the magic power.

This intense magic power would be too much for them to handle. If we were outside, the magic power would have dispersed, but unfortunately, it tends to linger indoors.

The sinister magic power filled the room, worsening their conditions. I needed to end this quickly to avoid putting them in danger.

"Come out."

A sword handle suddenly emerged from the hole in the air. I grabbed it and pulled it out, and the magic power stored inside was drawn into the sword, forming the blade.

The stored magic power took shape, forming a shallow-curved blade. Black magic power swirled around it, covering the entire sword.

This was not evil but a simple 'desire' to consume everything, the appetite of the holy sword 'Great Eater' (officially known as 'Hunger's Fang').

Those unaccustomed to such raw desire would recognize it as something abnormal and unconsciously reject it.

Levi and Shironeko were exactly like that, their bodies unconsciously wanting to move away from the sword.

Ideally, I would want them to get used to this desire, but even Levi, who has seen it several times, is in this state, so I'll put that on hold for now.

"It's time to... eat."

I plunged 'Great Eater' deep into Mineko's body. There was no sensation of piercing flesh; the sword easily entered her body.

Shironeko's eyes widened as she looked at me, but I continued to consume the curse.

As Mineko's curse weakened, 'Great Eater's' belly swelled. The mouth spread throughout her body, consuming everything.

'Great Eater'... officially known as 'Hunger's Fang,' as the name suggests, eats anything.

From inorganic to organic, from gases to liquids, magic power, mental energy... even life itself...

(I can't seem to like it, no matter what.)

Watching my holy sword crush the strong curse, I can't help but think.

It's too unreasonable. This thing, which consumes everything in its path, is a mass of unreasonableness.

Whether it's justice or evil, it consumes everything. Do I, a hero who was supposedly summoned, have the right to use this thing...?

――――――But I'll use it.

Not using something that can be used is foolish, a waste of a treasure.

Being a hero is a load of crap.

Humanitarianism? I don't care.

"――――――You have the unreasonableness to push through your will, why not use it? Be more free with it!"

"......I never thought I'd remember those words from the person who cast this curse..."

The face of that man, who had a similar unreasonableness to mine, came to mind.

He had a smile that even 'Great Eater' couldn't consume. To give him a taste of his own medicine, I cut through the curse from the top of her head to her toes, leaving nothing behind――――――

◇ ◇ ◇

"Amazing... I feel so light..."

"Feeling better?"

"Much better. I feel a surge of energy throughout my body!"

A few minutes later, with the curse completely consumed, Mineko's body stopped weakening. I gave her a recovery potion to restore her lost stamina, and she was able to get up and walk around without much difficulty.

"That's great... Mineko... really... sniff..."

"Hey, don't cry so much, big sister!"

The rejuvenated Mineko started to comfort the crying Shironeko, patting her head.

It's hard not to point out that they look like the sister and the younger sister are reversed, but I guess I shouldn't.

"Good job."

"Thanks..."

Levi stood beside me, offering words of encouragement.

She subtly took my hand and added her magic power to mine, which had been reduced by half.

The warm magic power flowed in, and the slight fatigue I felt disappeared.

――――――This time, by letting 'Great Eater' consume the curse, its belly was filled to about 60%. This indicates that the curse was strong and deeply rooted.

I was able to replenish the remaining part with half of my magic power, which was a big help, but I might need to reconsider my strategy against curses.

'Great Eater'... 'Hunger's Fang' has a drawback of not stopping until it's full, and once it's full, it loses its effect.

Of course, it's full, so it can't take in anything more.

Considering this weakness, it can only consume curses of this scale twice.

It will become hungry again in just a few minutes, but if we were in the middle of a battle, there would be no time for that.

If there were a way to avoid curses, that would solve the problem... but it's not that easy.

"――――――Well, no need to think about complicated things now... Shironeko, you don't need to follow that Fuyuma guy anymore, right? You won't attack us anymore, will you?"

"Yes... sniff... Thank you so much..."

Shironeko, crying, thanked me, and Mineko patted her back, saying "There, there."

This way, they can live together happily again. I hope they won't be used by strange people again...

In any case, we can head to the Beast King. Since I'm a bit tired, let's start tomorrow―――――

"――――――It's frustrating, isn't it, when the air becomes so calm after a problem is solved..."

"!! Big sister, watch out!!"

"Eh?"

In the corner of my vision... for a moment, the shape of something flying appeared.

There were several black objects. They attacked Shironeko and Mineko completely unawares.

Even Levi and I couldn't react in time to this fatal surprise.

Still, I reflexively swung my arm, deflecting a few of the objects. They collided with each other, producing a metallic sound.

My attention was drawn to the remaining objects that I had missed.

From a blind spot for Shironeko, and barely visible to Mineko, they were there.

Mineko pushed Shironeko's body away. The objects that were heading towards them...

――――――pierced deep into Mineko's chest

"――――――!! Get out!!"

I shouted instinctively. I was caught off guard and was somewhat shaken.

I jumped out the window from where the black objects had come, to prevent a second wave.

Fortunately, there was no second wave.

It was still far from noon, and the sun, which had not yet reached its peak, shone on the ground.

"Hey... you're the one who threw those dangerous things, right?"

"That's correct. Ah, I couldn't finish off Shironeko... I need to get rid of the useless ones quickly..."

A woman in a black robe answered. Her hair, which was as black as the night, was tied back, and she had dog ears on her head. Her mouth was covered with a black cloth, making it impossible to see her face.

"You are the one our master loves