Chapter 48
Name: Filanzer (Yuurai)
Race: Dark Lich Princess
Gender: Female
Age: 5 months
Level: 3
Combat Power: 345,000
Magical Energy: 2,520,000
Skills: Dark Magic Lv.×××, Darkness Resistance, Wisdom, Undying, Dialogue with the Evil God
Titles: Dark Witch, Demon King, Monster of the Divine Realm, Evil God's Beloved
After finishing the Dialogue with the Evil God, when Yuurai awoke, about ten days had passed since that battle.
Her status had changed, and her appearance had as well. Her body, which had looked around twelve years old, had now grown to look about fourteen. She had gotten a bit taller, and the swell of her chest had become more noticeable.
"It's nice that my appearance is maturing, but the danger level just keeps going up. I just want to live peacefully, but all I do is scare everyone."
In the third-floor corridor of the lord's castle. Yuurai muttered while gazing at the snowy townscape through the window. It was around five in the evening, and the evening sunlight was weak.
When Yuurai let out a small sigh, Claire gently took her hand from her right side.
"Being scary is probably just right. No one will try to lay a hand on you. These past ten days have been peaceful too."
"I hope that peace continues. That way, I won't have to kill anyone either."
Will this peace continue on, or are there still many enemies left?
(At the very least, they still have their trump card, the Blessed Child. I doubt they think they've been completely defeated. But we're from the same homeland—maybe we can understand each other if we talk?)
As Yuurai wished that things wouldn't turn into needless conflict, Lipia leaned into her from the left and spoke.
"......Hey, Yuurai, do you regret killing so many people?"
"Not really. When I was in my corrupted state, I didn't feel any guilt at all. What about you two? Do you feel bad that so many people had to die for you to come back to life?"
Claire answered first.
"It's not like I don't feel anything. But I think the real cause was the ones who attacked you without reason. If they hadn't done anything, there wouldn't have been any victims."
Then Lipia answered too.
"......I guess I feel the same. I do feel sorry for the people who died, but honestly, I had no reason to be killed in the first place. We weren't in the wrong—the other side just made victims on their own."
"......Yeah, that's true. But...... Lipia, are you still feeling guilty? You don't have to, you know? I'm the one who decided to kill ten thousand people to bring you back, and I'm the one who actually did it. You're not responsible."
"Yeah......"
(Maybe I'm starting to come to terms with it little by little... I did it all, so they really don't need to worry...)
As for Aquell, the holy swordsman who had been turned into an Undead, he was still holed up in his room, depressed. It seemed the other three party members were doing their best to comfort him, but it looked like it would still be a while before he recovered.
Since Claire and Lipia had been in similar states at first, Yuurai figured Aquell would calm down eventually too.
She also thought that it might be a bit troublesome if Aquell started obsessing over her in the future, but if it came to that, she could just use Mental Manipulation to deal with it—she wasn't too worried.
"Well, what's done is done. More importantly, I'm starting to feel like I want to rebuild this town. The snowy scenery is beautiful, but it still feels lonely like this. I want to find a way to bring in more people."
"If that's what you want, I'll help."
"Me too!"
"Thanks, both of you. So, Lipia. How about having the Eyeless Tribe live here, for starters?"
"Is that okay? We're demi-humans, you know?"
"I'm Undead, remember? I want this town to be a place where being demi-human isn't a problem."
"......I see. I don't think the whole village will come, but I think some will be interested. Also, can I reach out to other demi-humans too, not just the Eyeless Tribe?"
"Yeah, go ahead. Well, the upper limit is probably around twenty thousand people though."
"We won't get that many all at once, so it's fine."
"Right."
"But... Yuurai, maybe you don't know, but demi-human appearances can be pretty unusual from a human perspective. We look fairly human, but some are more beast-like or insect-like. Are you really okay with that?"
"I don't really mind. But rather than appearances, I'd like to avoid cultural clashes. It'd be nice if we could gather races that are compatible."
"You've got such a big heart, Yuurai! I'll think about it!"
"Mm. I'm counting on you."
Imagining the town as it would be during its restoration, Yuurai felt her heart dance with excitement.
This was a town taken from those who were originally meant to live here, so maybe it wasn't right to just rebuild it however she pleased.
But mourning alone wouldn't create a future.
"Let's build a good town from here on. And anyone who tries to get in the way... I guess I'll just have to kill them."
Wishing for a peaceful, tranquil, and happy future, Yuurai gave a faint smile.