Chapter 82
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Yuurai picked up the helmet, along with Claire's head inside it. When she took it out, Claire had her eyes closed with a peaceful expression.
From the presence of magic, she knew Claire wasn't dead yet, but at a glance, she looked like she was, which startled Yuurai.
"......If I attach the head to the body and pour in magic, it should heal, right?"
Yuurai crouched beside Claire's body lying on the ground, attached the head to it, and poured in magic. The wounds healed quickly, and Claire's body began to move.
"Claire, are you okay? Is your neck properly connected? Can you move your body?"
"......I think I'm okay."
"Good. Next, let's reattach your arm."
Since Lipia had picked up the arm, Yuurai took it from her and attached it to Claire's body. That, too, healed smoothly.
"......I know Claire is an Undead, so minor injuries aren't a problem, but I still can't help but worry."
"Sorry. I didn't intend to lose, but......"
"For someone who says that, it didn't really look like you intended to win either."
"......That's not true."
"I see. Well, as long as you're okay, that's all that matters."
"......Just so you know,"
"Yeah?"
"Emma tried to kill me...... but I don't want you to lay a hand on her."
"Come on now...... I wouldn't retaliate without reason. You two fought and accepted the outcome yourselves, so I'm not angry."
"I see. That's good."
Yuurai took Claire's hand and helped her stand. Claire lightly moved her neck and arm, and seemed to be in no discomfort.
"......Claire."
The one who called her name was Saint Emeralda. She had already finished treating Emma and hesitantly approached Claire.
"......Emeralda. Um...... sorry. I can't be with you all anymore......"
"That is...... yeah. I understand. But, can I ask one thing? Even after becoming an Undead, are you still Claire?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"I heard that Claire was forced to fight as an ally by the Demon King's power. But...... you're with the Demon King of your own will, aren't you......?"
"That's right. I'm with Yuurai by my own will. At first, it just happened that way, but now, being by Yuurai's side is where I belong."
"I see...... I'm glad that Claire's heart is still alive...... But...... I don't know how to feel about you becoming the Demon King's ally......"
"If Emeralda came with us, you'd understand that Yuurai isn't simply evil. But......"
Emeralda shook her head.
"......I can't go with you."
"Yeah. That's for the best. Emeralda, stay by Emma's side."
"Yeah. I'll always be with Emma, so she can smile like she used to again......"
Claire and Emeralda nodded to each other.
There seemed to be a deep bond between them that Yuurai couldn't understand.
Then, Emeralda looked toward Gilka.
"......What's eating away at her is the Judgment Light used by the Armed Angel. It doesn't just erase impure beings like Undead, but also forces sinners into slumber for as long as the weight of their sin. Those who've committed grave sins like murder won't wake for years."
Emeralda explained on her own, and then turned to face Yuurai.
Her golden eyes stared straight at Yuurai.
"......If it's me, I can also erase the holy bindings clinging to her."
"Oh, nice. I'd like you to do that right away, but those eyes of yours don't look like they're just here to serve me, huh?"
Emeralda nodded.
"No matter what happens from now on, I want you to promise not to hurt or kill Emma. With your overwhelming power, you should be able to drive her away without harming her."
"That depends on what Emma does to me. If she hurts my comrades using underhanded methods, I don't know what I might do to her."
"You mean, like if she deliberately targeted the Eyeless Tribe girl next to you just because she looks weak, that would be unacceptable?"
"Exactly."
"Don't worry. Emma wouldn't do something that cowardly."
"Alright. Then I won't hurt or kill Emma from now on. I promise."
"Thank you. ......I won't let Emma do anything you'd see as cowardly. So, keep your promise."
"......You won't let her do anything I'd see as cowardly? Why emphasize that part?"
Emeralda only gave a lonely smile and didn't answer, turning toward Gilka. Then, she held her glowing hands over Gilka.
Yuurai watched the process with Spirit Sight, and indeed, the unpleasant light clinging to Gilka disappeared.
"I'll heal the wounds too."
The quality of the light Emeralda emitted changed. Then, Gilka's body rapidly regenerated. Not only did the burn marks completely heal, but even her lost eyes, hair, and body hair were restored.
"Wow...... As expected of the Saint's healing magic. What a power."
"......For normal humans, it's the ultimate healing power. But for someone like you, an Undead, it becomes poison."
"I see. So that means I still need Lipia."
Gilka didn't wake immediately, but Yuurai could tell she was going to be fine.
"Thank you, Saint. You saved us."
"......Keep your promise."
"Yeah. Got it. By the way, you're so focused on Emma, but aren't you worried about yourself?"
"I'm fine. Emma is more important than me."
"Hmm...... You really are a Saint inside too. If your position allowed it, I'd want to make you my ally."
Yuurai said that casually, but suddenly Claire and Lipia spoke in cold tones.
"Yuurai, do you like people like her......?"
"Are you saying you want to get close to the Saint while ignoring us...?"
"......You two, calm down. There's no deep meaning to what I said. I'm not trying to start a special relationship or anything. Uh, anyway! Emma, you can move now too!"
Yuurai released the Marionette Magic and set Emma free.
Emma didn't attack, and instead returned her sword to its sheath.
"......Claire. Even in ways I didn't expect, the atmosphere has really changed."
"......You're imagining it."
"I see. Well, fine. As a Holy Knight, I will eventually kill you and erase you from this world."
"......I'll accept that anytime. But next time, I won't lose."
Emma let out a deep sigh. Her clouded expression revealed the anguish of having to kill a friend.
But her expression suddenly changed, and she gave a self-deprecating smile.
"......Well then. My sword couldn't reach the Demon King, but I knew that already. Still...... it was enough to buy time."
"......Buy time?"
Yuurai tilted her head.
"Your real battle starts now. Demon King, I wonder if you can make it out of this town alive?"
Suddenly, the entire town began to emit an unpleasant light.