Heroes and Machine Girls Looking at Profiles

66 – Is it judgment or atonement?

“Cough…Cough…!!”

“Sister, are you okay?”

“Uh…Uhh…It’s okay. I guess I got some dust in my throat…”

Saint Ciella answers weakly.

There was no life in that voice at all.

Not long ago, when I stopped by her Grand Library of the Zodiac, I briefly encountered her.

Even then, she somehow looked quite gaunt.

But, it still wasn’t to this extent.

Her once shiny silver hair had become dull and dull, to the point where it looked like it was gray, and her skin was as if it had been damaged from not taking care of it for a long time.

Her once beautiful eyes were devoid of any life, and her lips were dry and swollen, making her look like someone who had suffered greatly for a long time.

A few times, I wondered if this was actually Ciella Frost.

Where on earth did Frey look at this woman and guess that she was Ciel La Frost?

To that extent, her condition was miserable.

“Huh?”

Was she looking at her too closely?

She noticed me from her side.

She must have known that she was looking in my direction, and her children around her also looked in my direction.

As if her children were wary of me, Ciella hid behind her and only stuck her head out to look at me.

Siella smiled weakly and said.

“Are you also one of the people incarcerated here?”

“Ah… Something like that.”

I lied without knowing, but it didn’t matter.

I don’t plan on staying in the camp for that long anyway.

“It looks like it hurts a lot.”

“Huh? Ah…Do you see it that way?”

“Okay, why don’t you at least take good care of yourself? It’s because the priest can’t even take care of his own body.”

At my words, Ciella smiled bitterly.

A priest can cure simple illnesses with divine power, but he cannot cure illnesses in his own body.

Did you say that the mechanism for treating illness is different from treating wounds?

Anyway, if there are no other priests around, self-management as a priest is essential.

During her warrior party days, Ciella also took good care of her health.

Is this something she has been doing since her days at church?

“…I guess this is all punishment from the goddess.”

“You’re talking as if you’re a criminal.”

“……”

At my words, she said nothing, she just closed her eyes and looked down at her floor.

She stayed like that for a moment, then spoke in a very low voice as if muttering.

“…A mortal sinner. Very naughty.”

This is a voice that I could barely hear with the warrior’s excellent hearing.

Probably, the children next to her didn’t hear either.

“Do you want to pay for your sins?”

“If it’s a crime that can be punished, then yes.”

She said that as she looked into space.

“…I may have to live with this sin and be punished for the rest of my life.”

Siella muttered like that.

After briefly looking at her gaunt face, I stood up.

There was no reason to be here anymore.

“…Excuse me.”

“Yes, may the goddess bless you.”

She left her behind and escaped her camp.

Ortlinde, who had been secretly following me from behind, approached me and said.

“…Are you okay like this?”

“Anyway, I had no intention of taking revenge with my own hands from the beginning.”

She looked back toward her camp for a moment.

A large-scale shelter filled with not only the remnants of the defeated soldiers but also refugees.

Some demons came in and were seen distributing meals.

In the distance, Ciella could be seen taking her children to collect their food rations.

“…How to atone and live, let’s wait and see.”

A foolish woman who could not overcome her greed, was unable to maintain her faith, and repeatedly made foolish choices while being swayed by those around her.

It doesn’t matter if she wants to live quietly while atoning to the end.

But, if not…

“Master!!”

After I left the camp and walked a little, a voice I had heard hit my ears and something ran towards me at full speed.

This one is charging at incredible speed with her blue hair fluttering.

“Huh!!”

Kwaang!!

After receiving that destructive charge, she looked at Zeke Rune in her arms.

What was so good about it was that it had a bright smile on its face.

“Master! You are the master!! I knew it!! You are the real master!!”

“Uh…Let’s calm down? Huh?”

“Sniff!! Master’s scent!! Sniff…!!”

No, really stop.

It’s getting more and more dangerous.

Among her sisters, Zeke Rune is the youngest in appearance, but she still looks like she is in her mid-teens.

I think the sight of her clinging to me like a child, hugging me with her legs, and sniffing the man’s scent seems a bit creepy.

“…Zikrune, get off.”

“Heeing.”

Her Ortrinde, who was less than her, took her away.

Zeke Rune, who fell down with a slightly regretful expression, raised her hand and shouted.

“Oh, that’s right! Master! As you ordered, I fought the new hero!”

“…Is it strong?”

“Um…About the level of Rossweisse in hand-to-hand combat?”

…Rosweisse is a Valkyrie who specializes in magic.

Of course, hand-to-hand combat is not his specialty, but he is still strong enough to knock down most top-tier mercenaries with his fists.

In other words, his skill level is beyond that of top-class warriors.

“Well, he was still weak so I beat him up a lot!”

“……”

It would be difficult if I died.

You have to get at least some information and then kill him.

“…Zikrune, how was the new hero?”

“Umm…Doll?”

“What?”

According to Zikrune’s explanation, it is like this.

The new hero’s name is Kenji.

Well, judging by his name, I guess he is from Earth and is from that country.

However, he failed to demonstrate proper combat ability.

He is just in a state of disarray, recklessly distributing his power to the surroundings.

That, too, is not of his own will.

He was only able to swing his sword like a puppet being controlled by a thread.

This is why, no matter how powerful he is, he is no match for Zikrune.

So, Zikrune could not feel any joy while fighting him.

As if he were working on it, he just damaged the whole body and sent it back.

After that, the hero did not come out, so Zikrune could only watch the battle from afar…

“But today, there was information that the hero was seen in the enemy camp!”

“Really?”

“Yes! I heard Mr. Frey and Mr. Roselia talking! There was also a story about seeing the crown prince on the battlefield!”

Indeed.

Still, he is a warrior, and his healing ability seems to be amazing.

It looks like the information about the new hero is not completely false.

If that guy is really a hero, he will probably come out stronger than before.

Then it might be a little difficult with all the power we have here.

“Master! Shall I go again?”

As if reading my thoughts, Zikrune stepped forward.

Well, Zikrune can come forward, but… I have finally arrived this time.

I also want to check the new hero with my own eyes, no… With my sword.

“No, I’m going out.”

“The owner himself?”

“I will follow.”

Zikrune looks slightly surprised, and Ortrinde steps forward and says he will follow.

“No, let me fight alone.”

“But…”

“…I don’t plan on losing. Do you think I’ll lose to a newcomer who just came here?”

Still, Ortlinde looks at him with concern.

Thank you for your concern, but Ortrinde’s appearance stands out.

There is a possibility that the crown prince who reveals the woman may recognize Ortrinde.

Anyway, it might be better for me to step up and fight.

“Hero.”

At that time, I turned around at the sound of a voice.

Judith, who guided us, was standing there.

…They were still together.

Without even realizing it, I was impressed by his skill in hiding his presence, which made even the hero momentarily mistaken.

“Fray has arrived.”

Just as she said, the Four Heavenly Kings Frey appeared.

Judging by the fact that he was slightly sweating, it seemed like he ran in a hurry.

“Huh…Uhuh…It’s been a long time.”

“Ah…Yeah, should I take a breath first?”

“Thank you…Thank you for your consideration…hehehe…Zikrune…Suddenly ran away…”

…I was chasing that.

It’s not that Frey doesn’t have fighting ability, but considering the physical difference between him and Zikrune, it can’t be helped.

After catching his breath a little, Frey cleared his throat once and handed me a note.

“Before you go to battle, I have something to give you.”

“Huh? To me?”

Frey nods.

She continued speaking.

“…The gift from the Demon King that I gave you before. I think the Demon King forgot to explain its contents…”

“Oh, that’s it.”

A gem whose purpose was completely unknown.

It seems like I didn’t just send it and forgot to add an explanation.

From noble mtl dot com

“This is a note that the Demon King sent, albeit belatedly. The Demon King…I never thought he would give something like that to the hero…”

A note received from Frey who says so.

When I opened it and read it, I couldn’t help but laugh.

The devil also gave me all sorts of strange things.

However, it seemed like it would be of great help in this situation.

“Is the hero really okay?”

“Yes, your physical condition has fully recovered.”

At Ola’s words, Prince Freud nodded his head.

He is truly a warrior, with a monster-like recovery.

The story I heard from Anyes seemed to be true.

“……”

Actually, Anies was following the crown prince with a nervous expression.

I wanted to avoid going to the battlefield as much as possible, but the crown prince forced me to follow, so I had no choice but to follow.

I was resentful of Alessa, who avoided going out to lift the crown prince’s curse.

“Hero! Are you ready?”

At Iola’s words, the hero Kenji stood up.

Indeed, the condition of Kenji, the hero who had been transported in complete disrepair not long ago, seemed to be in good condition.

The crown prince intended to watch.

What kind of fight does the hero Kenji fight?

With only the reports coming in all the time, there was no way to deal with the complaints of the surrounding nobles.

But, it seemed okay.

The warrior wearing shining armor and carrying the holy sword Reinforce at his waist looks majestic.

A soldier ran towards the prince who was slightly relieved.

“Your Majesty! There has been movement in the Demon King’s army!”

“Have they started the attack?”

“Oh…No…That…That…”

A soldier who cries out.

After a while, the soldier started speaking again.

“The Demon King’s army made a move, but… That was…”

“That?”

“That’s…There’s only one person.”

Hearing the soldier’s words, the Crown Prince, Princess Anies who followed him, and even Iola ran to the place where the enemy camp was visible.

And then, what caught their eyes.

It was a black knight clad in black armor that looked eerie and ominous just by looking at it.