Reader’S Regeneration Life [EN]: Chapter 81

81―――――

Homeward

‘What’s with the atmosphere?

It’s seriously strange, isn’t it?’

Sion thought, glancing at Rishikeeda and Lucia, who had been giving him odd looks since earlier.

It seemed like they wanted to say something, or maybe they were just staring, but it was making him quite self-conscious.

‘What on earth is wrong with them?’

He wanted to ask, but an instinct told him not to, stopping him.

So, Sion decided to ask later and simply enjoyed the gentle breeze.

As they headed towards the Frontier Count territory, the estates of nobles and large cities gradually decreased, replaced by small to medium-sized towns and rural nobles who would be utterly astonished to see a scion [a descendant or heir] of the Klausen Frontier Count.

In this situation, entering cities or castles would only invite trouble, so Sion suggested that it would be better to camp out, even if it was a bit more difficult.

‘Young Lord,

Even so, wouldn’t it be too dangerous, considering there might be another attack like last time?’

A reasonable objection was raised.

The knights, not wanting to see their young master in danger again, suggested staying in a city or a noble’s castle, but Sion shook his head.

‘From here on out, everyone is a commoner busy trying to make a living.

The nobles are mostly barons busy feeding their own people in their small territories.

You all know better than anyone what kind of commotion would ensue if we entered such a place, right?’

‘That is true, but….’

‘Besides, Klausen is less than three days away now.

I’ve fought and rolled around with soldiers on the battlefield; can’t I endure a few days in a carriage?

And there’s a higher chance of suspicious individuals hiding in such places.

If you truly intend to protect me, a space where friend and foe are not confused is much more convenient.’

Despite Sion’s words, the knights still looked unconvinced.

They, as ‘warriors,’ were more accustomed to sleeping in makeshift hammocks in tents or on saddles than in cozy beds, but their young master was different.

He was to become the rightful heir to lead Klausen, and therefore, they didn’t want him to suffer any hardships if possible.

‘I understand your concerns, but I won’t take any more opinions.

Let’s just stay in the carriage for the remaining three days.

Even if it’s more uncomfortable than a room’s bed, as you say, it won’t kill me, right?’

Having said that, the knights didn’t try to dissuade Sion any further.

In fact, the soldiers, knights, and even the head of the Klausen Frontier Count spent far more time in tents and on saddles than in the castle due to border affairs.

Thanks to Sion, Nudia had been showing unprecedented docility and silence lately, but there was no telling when the horrors of war might strike again.

When that time came, comfort could become a dagger that led one astray from the path of life.

Grumble, grumble―.

While taking a break, Sion sat on the steps leading up to the carriage, enjoying the breeze, when he heard a cat’s purring next to him.

After watching the scene for a moment, Sion opened his mouth.

“Feeling good?”

“Purr… What, what?”

“I asked if you’re feeling good.”

“W, what are you talking about!

I was about to die from being cooped up!

And it smelled only of humans, which made it even worse!

Kyaang!”

“…”

How could she tell such a half-hearted lie so well?

The cat had been sleeping on his lap just a moment ago.

‘Should I scratch you again?

Hiss!’ Winnie threatened, revealing her claws, and Sion raised his hand as if to calm her down.

His forearm still stung a little from the scratches she had inflicted when he had secretly touched her paw earlier.

Sion calmed Winnie down and then showed her his arm as if to say, ‘Look at this.’

“This hurt quite a bit.

Hey?

Is this how you treat your benefactor?”

“…Hmph!

W, who told you to touch me without permission?”

She turned her head away with a flick!

It was a cat pretending to be innocent, as if saying, ‘I’m not guilty!’

Sion deliberately muttered, ‘It hurts so much,’ and rubbed his arm.

Winnie perked up her ears and stole glances at the wound on Sion’s arm.

After a while, Winnie finally opened her mouth in a much softer voice, though still with her head turned away.

“…D, does it hurt a lot?”

As expected of a cat, she was pretending not to care but was concerned after all.

Sion chuckled inwardly and answered with a feigned frown.

“Not too much, but it does hurt.”

“Ugh….”

“Beastkins, especially you Myo-eun [cat-like beastkin], aren’t you a race that attacks enemies with your sharp claws as well as your teeth?

If you had scratched a little harder, my arm might have been cut off.”

“N, no!

I didn’t scratch that hard!

Nyaang!

Why would I cut off my benefactor’s arm!

Nyaaang!”

Winnie shook her arms wildly, as if to say it was absolutely not true.

Thanks to this, the gazes of the knights and soldiers who had been resting quietly turned towards them, and Winnie realized her mistake, then shut her mouth with a ‘Kkyuung!’

She glared at Sion.

“What?

Why are you glaring all of a sudden?

Aren’t you the one who’s guilty?”

“Hmph!

No!

Come to think of it, you’re the guilty one for touching me without permission!”

Nyaang!

Winnie turned her head away again with a flick!

Sion was dumbfounded, but since the Myo-eun race’s characteristics followed cats, and they were usually aloof about everything, Sion decided to let it go quietly.

“Hmph!

Kyaang!

Nyang!”

“…”

What is it, really?

Why does she keep hmphing and flicking her tail?

Sion couldn’t figure out what this cat wanted.

The only temptation that grew stronger was the urge to secretly stroke the back of her head, when Lilith, who had been watching Sion and Winnie, approached them.

“Sion.

Can we talk for a moment?”

Lilith whispered, lest the surrounding knights or soldiers hear.

Sion nodded and stood up, and Winnie glanced at them.

Her ears were constantly perked up, so she must have already heard Lilith’s conversation.

Winnie quietly stared at Sion’s retreating figure as he followed Lilith further away.

“Did you have something to say?”

Lilith looked around and then waved her hand slightly.

Then, a thin barrier made of mana surrounded the two, creating a kind of wall that prevented most sounds from escaping.

“I’m a bit late because of the slave market thing.

But I’ve been thinking about why the Celestials are targeting you.”

“Ah.”

Come to think of it, he had forgotten about that part.

The fact that the one who attacked him was none other than the Celestials.

It would be easier if it were radical fairies, but the fact that the Celestials, full of those mastermind characters, had moved directly meant it was no ordinary matter.

“You may or may not believe me….”

“I believe you.

Of course, I do.

If it’s Lilith-nim’s words, then.”

“…Thank you.

Anyway, I’ve thought about various possibilities, and the first three that come to mind are.”

“If you would elaborate on the three possibilities?”

At Sion’s question, Lilith opened her mouth, holding up one finger.

“First.

That you’ve done something bad enough to warrant punishment from the Celestials [divine beings]?

Like cursing the Celestials in ways that can’t even be mentioned, or harming countless of those who revere them.”

“You probably think there’s no possibility of that, right?”

“…That’s true.

You’re not the type to do that.

You’re cunning and skilled at scheming, but not to the point of being completely depraved.”

Are you praising me, or are you being sarcastic?

Sion wanted to ask Lilith that, but he decided to focus on her next words, as Lilith’s atmosphere was so serious that he would argue about that part later.

“Second.

Someone prayed fervently.

To kill Sion.”

“…Aren’t the Celestials not contract killers?”

“That’s true, but I’ve heard that very rarely, they sometimes kill someone exactly as they hear in the prayer.

It’s not certain, but it’s a common rumor among the demons.”

Those Celestials were all mentally ill.

Even the demons knew that much, so how could humans and other races who revered the Celestials still believe that they were good and righteous?

“I’ve given these two reasons, but don’t you feel like there are some absurd parts to them?”

“That’s right.”

“Then, now for the last reason.

Honestly, I think this reason is the most likely?

But if you humans hear this reason, you’ll probably foam at the mouth and curse me for sure….”

“I trust the demoness who says she’ll save me more than the Celestials who say they’ll kill me.”

“…Thank you.

Then, I’ll explain.”

After taking a moment to gather her breath, Lilith stared intently at Sion and opened her mouth.

“Have you ever heard of the Seven Trumpets?”

The moment he heard those words, Sion almost replied, ‘Ah, you mean the Celestials’ insane plan to burn the world to ashes and turn it into dust?

Sounds like a Mission Impossible kind of nonsense.’

In the setting, the humans of the continent knew that term like this.

“…It’s a legend that the Celestials will come to the world once again to create a righteous and pure world.”

“Yes.

Probably you humans, and almost all other races, know it that way.

Even most of us demons understand it that way.”

“You seem like you want to say that’s not the case, Lilith-nim.”

“That’s why I don’t like men who are quick-witted?”

Lilith let out a short laugh and continued.

“I don’t know exactly, but I vaguely feel that’s not the whole story.

A Celestial who used to follow me around because he liked me once boasted about it.

He said that something very interesting would happen the moment the Seven Trumpets sound.”

“…”

“They say they’ll create a righteous and pure world, but the world has already become so corrupt and tainted that it’s almost impossible to change it.

This is just my personal opinion.

If they judge it that way, then the Celestials will proceed with the next step.

If they can’t change it, they’ll just erase everything cleanly and draw anew on top of it.”

Sharp.

Is this what they call a woman’s intuition?

Most of the races on the continent believed in the Celestials until they turned their spears against them.

Sion already knew the truth, but he maintained an expression and voice that showed he didn’t understand at all.

“What does that have to do with the Celestials trying to kill me?”

“The premise is that the world must be in a state of extreme chaos for the Celestials to come out of the sanctuary in earnest.

In other words, they might use any means to cause chaos.”

“…That is, assassinating me?”

“You’re a hero, right?

Wouldn’t it cause a stir if that hero suddenly exploded on the way home?”

Lilith finished her explanation calmly, but Sion didn’t miss the fact that she was slightly angry.

As a demon, she was being antagonized by all the races on the continent, including humans, and even though she knew the true nature of the Celestials to some extent, no one would believe her.

In the midst of all that, those guys were targeting Sion himself, so she must have felt frustrated and angry.

“Sion, you, or rather, almost all humans, are quick to judge demons as evil and Celestials as good.

So, I thought you might get angry after hearing my words.”

“As I said, I don’t think of the ‘good’ who say they’ll kill me as good.”

“…Don’t you think I might be lying?”

“Pardon?”

“That I’m not a Celestial, but I’m just trying to frame the Celestials because I want you to be closer to me, a demon.

It’s a perfectly plausible story.”

Unfortunately, Sion already knew the true nature of the Celestial thug group.

So, Lilith’s worries were nothing more than unfounded fears, but there was no way she could know that.

Sion thought for a moment and then gently pulled Lilith’s waist.

“Eh?”

“Then, I’ll just have to be fooled.”

“W, what?”

“I’m saying that if Lilith-nim tries to deceive me, I’ll let myself be deceived.

That wouldn’t be so bad.”

Since he knew that she wasn’t deceiving him, Sion could say such cheesy things without any hesitation.

Thanks to that, it was Lilith who stared blankly with an ‘Uh, uh?’ and then blushed bright red.

“Y, you idiot, what are you really saying?

G, get away from me?”

“Yes, I’ll get away.”

Sion immediately took his hand away and stepped back slightly.

Looking at him, Lilith grumbled, ‘Really, I can’t let my guard down for a single moment!’

“Ah, anyway, I’ve dealt with those Celestial bastards for sure, so don’t worry.

I can stop other guys if they come, but the number of those who can leave the sanctuary is extremely limited, so they probably won’t be lurking around you for a while.”

“Tch, that’s a shame.”

“What is?”

“I wanted to be in a position to be saved in your arms, Lilith-nim.”

“…Eee!

You, you’re really doing this on purpose, aren’t you?

Do you want to get hit again?

Aaang?”

Listening to Lilith’s screams, Sion thought about the Celestials.

After all, the reason he was doing all sorts of things now was to survive the Celestials’ absurd meddling with the world.

But in the midst of all that, those guys openly struck first.

‘Those bastards.

There’s such a thing as minimal courtesy.

Shouldn’t they come to negotiate or at least make a deal with the condition that I don’t act up too much?

They try to eliminate me right away because things don’t go their way?’

He didn’t say anything about wanting to kill him.

Wanting to kill someone you don’t like is the same for humans and other races.

Sion had no intention of saying anything about that part.

However, the reason why he felt so terrible right now was that there was not a single proposal to ‘deal’ before striking first.

‘The Celestials should act like gentlemen.

This won’t do.

Alright, it’s war.

You sons of bitches.’