Chapter 48

Today, I have posted two chapters. Please read Chapter 46 first.

"Phew... Is it over?"

"It seems so..."

Ruga, who had lost his head, no longer moved.

Since the source of the 'Curse Infection' had been eliminated, the damage would not spread any further. Everyone should be able to move soon.

It would be best to purify the area with light magic, but I'll tell Regulus about that later.

"How could it end up like this for Mr. Ruga... What happened?"

"This guy... was used. By that extremely wicked guy—"

"Hey, isn't 'extremely wicked' a bit harsh?"

"!?"

Without thinking.

Yes, reflexively.

I moved Minako behind me, shielding her.

This thing must not get close.

The owner of this voice must not get close.

"Is this child so important to you? Hey—Setsu."

"...It's been a while, bastard."

Before I knew it, he was standing there.

Standing on top of Ruga's corpse.

With gray hair, red eyes, and skin pale to the point of being eerie.

Unlike the skin of demons, his skin gave off a sense of wrongness.

He wore the same black robes as the others, but his hood was off, and his face was clearly visible.

A face that, if called a girl, one might believe it.

It was undeniable proof that this was him, an irrefutable reality.

"Why are you here...! Fuyuma!!"

"Oh, don't shout like that? It's been a few years since we last met."

That man, Kamitsuki Fuyuma, stood there, just as he had five years ago.

"Even so, my body isn't actually here. The intense desire to embrace me that I feel from you, Setsu, is amazing... But sorry? The real reunion will be a bit later. Try to hold on until then?"

"Damn you, you bastard!"

Without thinking, I swung Kuromaru.

It should have cut him in half, but the blade passed through his body without any resistance.

"That's because I'm not a physical entity. I'm just projecting my thought form using this corpse as a coordinate."

"Tch... You're just toying with me."

"It's one of my ways of showing affection to you."

As always, he said things that made my hair stand on end.

He always wore an elusive smile while looking at me with a pure, intense gaze, without a hint of hesitation.

That hasn't changed in five years.

"This voice...! It's the same as the one who cursed me!"

"Hello, hello, it's been a while, Minako. You and your sister betrayed us so thoroughly. I even thought about letting you join us, despite being beastmen."

"Lie...! You caused us so much pain!"

"It's your fault for not changing your rebellious eyes. I didn't want to be too rough, you know? And I said I'd set you free if you continued to cooperate with me."

It's a lie.

I confirmed that Fuyuma glanced diagonally upward for a moment.

This is his habit when he lies.

Only because I fought him to the death do I know this, his one clear trait.

"Well, it's fine. If you're going to side with Setsu, I'll just dispose of you. Only I am allowed to be close to Setsu. Sorry, Setsu... I'll get rid of that female cat soon and be by your side."

"!?"

"Shut up, who's going to let you?"

I hugged Minako, who was behind me, as if to protect her.

I can't let anyone, Minako, Shironeko, Roa, or anyone else, be eliminated.

They are all important to me now.

"S-Setsu...?"

"......I'm envious... Envious, yes, envious, Minako. Why? Setsu, why don't you hug me? You could treat me more carefully, couldn't you? I can serve you better than any woman. I'll take care of all your daily needs if you want. I'll even take care of you at night if you want! Still no good? Is it this body? Gender doesn't matter!! As long as there's love, anything is fine! Come to me, Setsu. I'll make you happy. I'll destroy all the demons and beastmen who deceive you... Let's live together, just the two of us, in a quiet place where no one will come—"

"You're the problem, you yandere bastard."

I interrupted Fuyuma's words and thrust Kuromaru with one hand.

My body refused to hear any more.

"If you lay a hand on my comrades again, I'll kill you with my own hands. I've killed you once, so killing you again won't make much of a difference."

I don't know how he came back to life, but if I failed to kill him before, I need to do it properly this time.

Once I took on the life of Kamitsuki Fuyuma, it's my duty to see it through to the end.

"Until now, I've been struggling just to bear your life, but if you're alive, it's a different story. I'll take on your life again... I'll take on your life again."

"......You still don't understand, do you? Fine, if that's what you want... Let's do it. I'm in the demon continent right now. As you know, we're in the middle of a war. Come quickly if you're coming? My subordinates will join soon."

His subordinates are probably the black-robed ones.

I know their strength well.

That's why I want to go as soon as possible, without wasting time on him.

"I know. I'll come quickly, so wait for me."

"Hehehe... Yes, I'll be waiting. This time, I'll make sure to get you."

With those words, Fuyuma's figure began to fade.

Until he completely disappeared, he wore a smug smile.

As always, he looked so relaxed... What an infuriating guy.

"S-Setsu... um..."

"Hm? Oh, sorry."

"N-no..."

I had forgotten that I was hugging Minako.

When I let her go, she blushed and started fanning herself with her hands.

Her appearance was somewhat endearing, and my anger subsided, making me feel calmer.

"Thanks, Minako. You helped me stay calm."

"T-thank you... I was a bit happy..."

Hmm... Her blushing, downcast face was quite alluring.

I can't let Fuyuma take her.

I can't give her, or anyone else, to him.

"Are you both okay!?"

"We're fine?"

"Roa and Shironeko... Are you guys okay?"

The two who came down from the stands looked a bit pale but seemed to be able to move normally.

"I'm much better now. Still, what just happened..."

"That was Fuyuma."

"Figures..."

Roa's face turned to one of hatred.

He knows the terror of that man.

It's understandable that his body is shaking a bit.

"That was... the same voice that gave me orders."

"Y-yeah... It seems so, sister."

These two must have their own thoughts.

They've been threatened and used so much.

"---This is a serious situation."

"Regulus... Are you okay?"

"I was able to move quite a while ago, so I'm fine. I heard everything he said."

He's walking calmly, as expected.

I'll cast light magic on everyone to completely purify the curse.

"Ruga... If I hadn't proposed this battle..."

"No---It would have happened anyway."

Once cursed, it's not easy to escape Fuyuma.

He would have been manipulated without warning, changed into this form, and used.

By falling in love with Roa, he became the perfect pawn for Fuyuma.

Using love, that's the cruel part of him.

"I'll take care of his burial. As for you guys..."

"We're going to the demon continent. Right away."

We'll go and stop him.

And we'll end this war quickly.

"Understood. If that's the case, I'll prepare the teleportation magic circle. It shouldn't take long, but please wait a bit."

"Understood."

If we can teleport, it will be much faster than crossing the sea.

We should be able to get there before the black-robed ones start causing trouble.

Still, there are many things to worry about.

Hibiki, who should be participating in the war, Levi, who went to the battlefield ahead of us, and Desastre, who should be the first target.

Please be safe.

(They must already be on their way...)

There are people who can ease these worries.

If my guess—my hope—is correct, they are already heading to the demon continent.

"Please... all three of you."

---

The next chapter is the final chapter of Chapter 2.