— Philan Bargal Lanca’s POV —
I place my hand on the door of my daughter’s room, from which growls can be heard.
How many days has it been since I last heard Fismili’s lovely voice? Why did things turn out like this? Ah, poor Fismili.
「Philan-sama」
When I look at the priest, he bows his head slightly.
「Where is that man’s daughter?」
I paid double the usual reward to the usual group this time. Therefore, failure is absolutely not permitted.
「They should be arriving soon」
「Will my daughter really return to normal?」
「If we transfer the curse returned to Lady Fismili to Rina, who received the curse, she will surely return to her original self」
「Is that true? If you are lying, I will not forgive you」
If he is lying, I will kill him.
「It is true. However, there is a slight concern」
「What?」
Concern?
When I glare at the priest, he looks back at me with a slightly troubled expression.
「Since she is young, she might not be able to withstand the entire curse」
「What did you say?」
What does that mean? At first, he certainly said that two sacrifices were needed. But then he said one would be fine!
「When I investigated again in detail, it seems that if they are young, their vessel is small and the curse overflows. Therefore, if it fails with Rina, it seems necessary to immediately bring the other cursed target, Agus. I apologize」
I feel irritation toward the priest, who bows deeply.
「If that is the case, you should have brought both of them from the beginning! You could just line them up when transferring the curse!」
「That is not allowed」
「Why!」
「It was written that if there are two sacrifices when moving the curse, it will fail」
「Ah, geez」
To distract my irritation, I punch the wall of my daughter’s room with my fist.
「Gyaaaaaaah」
「Eek」
Hearing the beast-like growl coming from inside the room, I unintentionally let out a scream.
「I am sorry, Fismili. It was noisy. Please wait just a little longer」
Leaving my daughter’s room on the second floor, I head toward the entrance on the first floor.
「They said they would execute it at night, so that man’s daughter should be coming soon」
My cute, cute daughter Fismili. The marriage partner chosen by Father was bad, and my daughter suffered terribly. When I noticed this and warned them, they forced a divorce on my daughter. Moreover, they said it was my daughter’s fault!
Embezzled the family money? Found a lover and offered money to them?
「Ridiculous」
What is wrong with using the family money freely? Since her husband does not satisfy my daughter, she founds a lover. It is natural to give money for that lover and for my daughter. It is all the fault of the husband and his family who could not satisfy Fismili!
「He might have had money as a merchant, but how can they let her marry a commoner…」
When I learned that Fismili’s marriage partner was a commoner, I protested to Father many times. Despite that, they were forced to marry.
「Commoners…」
Yes, commoners just need to follow our instructions. That man Rigus is the same. Since Fismili said she would keep him company, he should have just obeyed. But instead, he is married? He loves his wife? Such things do not matter, yet he neglected Fismili.
「Once Fismili returns to normal, I will hurt the remaining daughter in front of that man’s eyes. I will teach him thoroughly until he kneels before Fismili. Showing what happens if you defy us, the special existences」
「Mother」
Turning around at my son’s voice, I see him with a slightly disappointed expression.
「What is wrong?」
「I came looking for you because you did not come for breakfast」
「Oh, I am sorry. I have caused trouble for you, who are busy with the duties of the head of the house」
Rizga, who inherited the position of head of the Viscount Bargal house from Father. He has a slightly weak side, but that is what makes him cute.
「How is Fismili’s condition?」
Rizga looks up at the second floor where Fismili’s room is.
「Poor thing, she has been suffering constantly」
「Is that so」
Rizga lowers his face sadly.
「But it is fine. In a little while, Fismili will return to normal」
「About that… Is it really true that she will be saved if we transfer the returned curse to the one who cast it?」
Rizga looks at the priest suspiciously.
「It is true. Please believe me」
The priest hurriedly appeals to Rizga. At this sight, Rizga furrows his brow deeply.
「What is wrong?」
Come to think of it, Rizga had been suspicious of the priest from the beginning. He said he had never heard of anyone who had a curse returned to them being saved. But the priest said that was because everyone hides it, fearing serious consequences if the Church finds out they cast curses. I thought that was true too.
「No, it is nothing. Mother, let us have breakfast」
「That is right」
Knock knock knock.
Hearing the sound of knocking on the front door, I think the target has arrived and unintentionally smile.
「Yes」
I turn my feet toward the door to open it.
Thud.
「Eh?」
The door breaks in front of my eyes, and people with swords push into the house.
「Who are you!」
Startled by Rizga’s shout, I also glare at those who broke into the house.
「Do you know that this is Viscount Bargal’s residence?」
Come to think of it, what happened to the knights of Viscount Bargal who were guarding outside? Why was there no voice, not even a sound?
「Nice to meet you. Head of the Viscount Bargal house, Rizga Bargal Lanca. And the wife of the former head, Philan Bargal Lanca. You have become sinners because you went against the teachings of the Goddess」
From among those who broke in, a man with very cold eyes glares at Rizga and me.
「Sinners?」
Rizga’s voice is trembling.
「Yes. Cursing someone is a crime, and harboring those who cast curses is also a crime. Also, threatening the cursed ones is a crime, and not reporting to the Church that a curse was performed is also a crime. Therefore, you are now sinners」
My whole body starts to tremble at the man who smiles faintly. But I will not admit that we are sinners!
「We are nobles. We are existences permitted to do whatever we want to commoners!」
That is right, my daughter is a noble. The one she cursed is a commoner. Therefore, it is permitted.
「To the Goddess, nobles and commoners are the same. And it has been decided that anyone who uses curses, regardless of their status, will be eliminated. Even if it is royalty」
When the man’s gaze shifts smoothly to the side, I feel a chill. A fear incomparable to before.
Thud.
When I turn my gaze to the sound of something falling, I see the priest sitting on the floor, shaking his whole body.
「Despite being a priest, to go against the teachings of the Goddess, you have done well」
At the man’s quiet voice, I feel a pain as if my heart is being squeezed.
「No, um, I was forced. Um, I was told that if I did not help, terrible things would happen to the people of this village. I am sorry」
Eh?
When I look at the priest with a surprised expression, he is prostrating himself before the man.
「Forced?」
「Yes. That is correct」
The pale-faced priest nods desperately toward the man.
「That is no—」
Just as I start to say it is wrong, the man laughs, 「Kukuku」.
「There were two women in the house where you lived. With bruises all over their bodies, and kept in a cage. You, who do such things, are worried about the people of this village? Who would believe such a lie?」
The man approaches the priest.
「Eek」
When the priest lets out a small scream, the man kicks him down while laughing.
Thud.
「…」
I hold my breath, looking at the priest who crashed into the wall and curled up to protect his stomach.
「Bishop Arteto. That is our job」
Bishop?
「I am sorry. The trash in front of my eyes was an eyesore. I could not help it」
「Your true nature is showing」
「It is fine. Here, there are only those who know me well and sinners whose death penalty has been decided」
Death penalty?
「Gyaaaaaaah」
「Ah, it seems the monster who used the curse is upstairs」
「No. That child is my daughter. My daughter」
I look at the Bishop while trembling.
「Once someone curses another, they are no longer treated as human from that moment. That is already a monster. And those who use curses, and those who have curses returned to them, will equally change in appearance. Does it not already look like a monster?」
「She will return! The priest said so! He said if we transfer the curse to the one who cast it, she will return to normal!」
At my shout, the man and those around him look at me with pitying gazes.
「You were deceived by that priest. Humans who become monsters due to curses cannot return to normal. This is absolute」
Eh, deceived?
When I look at the priest, he quickly averts his gaze.
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