◆ ◆ ◆
'Humans are creatures with no value in living. Lend me your power, Philly, so that we may eradicate these vermin from the world.'
—Ah… This dream of the past again…
In my early childhood, my mother and I lived quietly together in a forest a short distance from town, a place where people rarely ventured.
Everyone looked at us with fear.
My mother had repeatedly warned me never to go near the town.
But after losing her at a young age, I wanted to fill the emptiness in my heart, so I broke her rule and went into town anyway.
What awaited me there was a storm of insults and abuse from the townspeople.
"Stay away from us, you demon! Are you trying to make us do whatever you want!?"
"N-no…! I'm not a demon. I just… I just want to get along with everyone…!"
"Who would believe that!? Your grandmother and mother were the same, weren't they!? You're obviously no different!"
"That's not true! If Grandma and Mom were really controlling the townspeople, then why is everyone still showing hostility toward us? Doesn't that mean they weren't being controlled!?"
"Guh…! Shut up, shut up!"
"Hey, don't talk to her anymore! You'll get controlled!"
I desperately tried to tell them I was harmless, but the townspeople refused to listen.
"…Why…? I'm human too… I'm not a demon…"
No one listened to my lament. No one offered any comfort for my sadness.
◆
Some time after that incident—
The townspeople came to my house armed with weapons.
"You demon! How dare you… how dare you do that to the mayor!"
The moment they burst into my house, one of the men shouted and struck me.
I later learned that the mayor had been killed by someone the day before they came.
They had convinced themselves that I was the culprit and stormed in.
It was an utterly unreasonable reason.
At the time, without understanding what was happening, I was beaten and kicked one-sidedly by them.
I really thought I was going to die that day.
At the same time, I thought this:
—Aren't you people the real demons?
They resort to violence based solely on their own assumptions and never doubt that they are right.
The majority simply follow the ringleader, possessing only the shallowest of wills—nothing more than beasts who barely deserve to be called human.
Both the humans who manipulate those beasts for their own convenience and the will-less beasts themselves are equally vermin, just as the voice that regularly speaks to me says.
After barely surviving that ordeal, I wandered to many different places.
I saw and heard all kinds of things.
The conclusion I reached was that humans are creatures beyond saving—including myself.
That is why I answered the call.
To bring about the extinction of humanity.
◇
I must have dozed off while gazing at the streets of the Kyokuto region from a room in the Asagiri household, warmed by the gentle breeze coming through the window.
The sound of approaching footsteps brought my consciousness back.
"Lady Philly! This is terrible!"
When I turned toward the voice, a girl in shrine maiden robes was rushing toward me, her wet-feather-black hair swaying as she wore a desperate expression.
Her name was Nagisa Asagiri.
Despite being only fifteen, she had become the head of the family currently ruling the Kyokuto region.
In addition, she held the position of the Fifth Seat in the Cyclamen Church and had been given the title "Necromancer" by Belia.
"What are you panicking about? I assume you received contact from the Rakshasa?"
We had arranged to teleport to another location in Tsutrail at the same time Stieg and the others teleported there.
Nagisa's role was to relay communication between Stieg and us.
It was about time for him to contact her, so I thought that was why she had come to me, but her attitude seemed off for that.
"W-well… perhaps we should postpone the attack on Tsutrail!"
"…That again? This is already decided. Your personal feelings won't change anything."
"This time it has nothing to do with my feelings! It's true that I oppose attacking Tsutrail, but… that's not what I mean…"
"You're being repetitive. Speak plainly and quickly."
"The presence of Lord Rakshasa has vanished!"
I doubted my ears at Nagisa's words.
"…What did you say?"
"I-it's not a lie! Even now, I can still sense the presence of Lord Incinerator and Lord Thunder Emperor. But Lord Rakshasa's presence is nowhere to be found!"
"You're not trying to deceive me, are you?"
I asked while using my special ability, Recognition Alteration.
Any words spoken in this state would be free of lies or falsehoods.
"I-I'm not deceiving you! If I'm found out, the people entrusted to me by my sister… will be killed! I could never do something so terrifying!"
"You mean 'seized,' not 'entrusted,' don't you?"
"U-uuu… I never intended…"
Nagisa hung her head dejectedly at my words.
…I may have teased her a little too much.
Even so, this girl is still strangely resistant to Recognition Alteration.
Is it because of her special ability or her bloodline?
Either way, while I can prevent her from lying, completely crushing her will is difficult. I need to keep that in mind.
"Very well. By the way, how long has it been since Lord Rakshasa's presence disappeared?"
"Um… about an hour."
"Understood. Thank you for reporting it promptly."
"U-um! I reported it right away! So please don't harm the people! I beg you!"
Nagisa bowed deeply and pleaded earnestly.
Even though everything will eventually perish, why is this girl so desperately trying to protect them?
I cannot understand it.
Even if she protects them at such cost, those being protected will simply take it for granted and never feel any gratitude.
Why go so far for such hopeless creatures…?
"…Yes. I understand."
When I clearly stated that I would not harm the people of the Kyokuto region, Nagisa placed a hand on her chest and breathed a sigh of relief.
I headed toward Belia to pass on the information I had just received.
◇
"Belia, may I have a moment?"
I called out to Belia, who was gazing at the fully bloomed cherry blossoms.
"Philly. Has contact finally come from the Rakshasa?"
"It's an emergency. The Necromancer reported that the presence of the Rakshasa has vanished."
Belia's eyes widened.
"That guy is a magical lifeform. Someone capable of erasing his existence… Don't tell me…"
"Yes. It's most natural to assume that Orun Dura has regained his power. It's also possible that Fuuka Shinonome did it, but based on the Rakshasa's last report, the two of them appear to be acting together now. In any case, Orun is most likely involved."
Belia did not deny my opinion and clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"Regaining his power right before we attack Tsutrail—the timing couldn't be worse. We were so close to breaking his heart. How did he regain his power in the first place?"
"I don't know that much. But there's no point dwelling on what's already happened. I suggest we assume Orun has regained his power and take the next steps accordingly."
"…You're right."
Thanks to years of slowly eroding Belia's perception with Recognition Alteration, he accepted my words without any suspicion.
He is already my pawn.
All that remains is to make him reveal the location of the Phoenix Shrine, which could be called the core of this world, but he has stubbornly refused to disclose that.
However, in this situation, he might finally talk.
"Time is of the essence. We must act immediately."
"I know!"
I used Recognition Alteration again to strongly impress upon him how urgent the situation was, but hesitation still lingered in his expression.
That was probably because I was present.
But I needed to know where the Phoenix Shrine was.
I could not back down here.
"…I am your loyal servant. I think it's a virtue that you remain so vigilant even toward me. But won't you trust me? I sealed Orun's memories for your sake, caused the civil war in the Kyokuto region and offered it to you. I have also acted as your hands and feet to move the world in many other ways. Is that still not enough?"
(…Ah, the thought of having to flatter such a pathetic man makes me want to vomit. But I know this is necessary. I am your loyal servant… For your sake, I would even drink muddy water. As long as it leads to the extinction of humanity.)
Careful not to let my true feelings show, I looked straight at Belia and appealed to his emotions.
"…Yes, you're right. Very well. I'll trust you. Keep this strictly between us."
After a long silence, Belia finally yielded.
"Yes, of course. Thank you for trusting me."
I suppressed the emotions welling up inside me so they would not show in my voice as I spoke.