When we came to the Viscount Bargal residence, where the one who cursed me and onii-chan lives, we saw guard knights dressed like adventurers trying to force the gate open and enter.
「Is it okay to force our way in?」
Onii-chan calls out from the carriage window to Rudok, who is guarding us.
「This time, since it is already known that they used a curse, there is no problem. If it were just a state where they might have used it, I do not think they would force their way in like this, but what do you think?」
When Rudok looks at Fogas, who is nearby, Fogas notices his gaze and nods.
「To swiftly secure those who have used curses. That is the duty of the Church, so when it is known that they have used it, we proceed forcibly」
Even if they proceed forcibly, is it permitted for those who used curses? It seems that using curses is considered such a heavy crime in this world.
「Gyaaaaaaah」
「「Eh」」
Hearing something like a beast’s growl, onii-chan and I look at each other.
「What was that cry just now?」
Onii-chan tilts his head looking at the Viscount Bargal residence.
「I do not know. But it sounded like a painful cry, didn’t it?」
『I will go check. Wait here』
Yuu, who was beside onii-chan and me, flew toward the Viscount Bargal residence. After glancing at him, I look at Rudok.
Huh? Rudok has an indescribable expression. Did something happen?
「What is wrong?」
Onii-chan also noticed and looks at Rudok with concern.
「No, that voice…」
「Probably, it is the voice of someone who used a curse」
When Rudok says it with difficulty, Fogas explains instead.
「Eh. That was a human voice?」
Onii-chan raises a surprised voice, and I nod as well.
『I found them! There was something strange!』
Yuu flies to my side in a panic. And while flying around the carriage in circles with that momentum, he starts talking.
『It looked like a person, but it was growling like a beast, and its skin was strange. Especially its eyes were all black and scary!』
「Those who use curses are abandoned by the Goddess whether they succeed or fail, and their appearance changes and their speech is taken away」
「Is that so? Even if they succeed?」
At Fogas’s explanation, onii-chan tilts his head.
「Yes」
『Because its speech was taken away, it was growling 「Uu-uu」 like a beast and occasionally screaming. Moreover, although it was chained, it rampaged around, so it was noisy with clanking sounds. Anyway, it was an unusual appearance and really scary. Hii, I might dream about it』
Yuu comes to my side and rubs his arm.
Was it that scary? Or rather, since I cannot sleep, I do not have dreams.
『Huh? The Bishop entered the room. I will go check!』
Was it not scary? Even so, you are going to look?
Watching Yuu fly away with great interest, onii-chan looks at me.
「Rina. What is wrong?」
「Nothing. I just thought it was scary」
「It is okay. The Bishop is here, and there are this many guard knights, so you will not be attacked anymore」
Rudok said this to reassure us, so I smiled and nodded.
『Gyaa～～』
Eeh～.
I look at Yuu, who returns screaming. Even though he is a ghost, his complexion looks bad.
What on earth did he see?
『Head chopped off! Rolling around… It was scary～, huh?』
Head chopped off? Head… Ah, ah, I see. That explains why he ran away screaming like Yuu.
『Rina. When the neck is cut, does it not bleed a lot?』
It should bleed a lot.
『I wonder why? There was no blood at all』
Eh, no blood even though the neck was cut? Could it be that those abandoned by the Goddess become monsters? But even monsters bleed, right?
『I am curious. But the head was rolling. But I am curious! I will go check again after all』
Is this what they call 「curiosity killed the cat」? Looking at Yuu leaving, I let out a small sigh.
What will he see next time he runs away?
「Are you okay?」
「Ah. Yes」
Oh no. I was distracted by Yuu’s story and ignored Fogas and the others. Could it be that they asked me something?
「Rina is just a little tired, right?」
Onii-chan smiles and pats my head.
Hmm? Tired?
「To be involved in such things despite being so young」
At Fogas’s words, Rudok nods.
「You will be able to return to your daily life in just a little while」
I do not really understand, but for now, I will just smile and nod.
「Ah, they came out」
Following Rudok’s gaze, I see Bishop Arteto coming out of the building.
「The window is glowing」
When I look at the window onii-chan points to, white light is indeed leaking from it.
「That is the light of purification. The one who cast the curse has been secured, and purification magic is being cast on the room where that person was and its surroundings」
Hearing Fogas’s explanation, onii-chan looks at the glowing window with great interest.
「Since they purified it, it means 『It is safe now』, right?」
Rudok looks at onii-chan and me with a relieved expression.
「I see. It is really over, Rina」
Onii-chan smiles happily and looks at me.
「Yes. It is over, onii-chan」
Is Yuu not returning because he is watching the purification? When he returns, he will probably make a fuss again.
『Rina～』
Whoa, he is here. Huh? Did Bishop Arteto just glare at me?
「Rina, what is wrong with Bishop Arteto?」
Onii-chan looks in the direction of my gaze with concern.
「It is fine. It seems it was just my imagination」
Since his gaze shifted away immediately, it was probably a mistake. I do not remember doing anything that would make him glare at me.
『Rina. The guard knights are amazing. When they emitted a faint light from their hands, the whole room sparkled with white light』
That is purification.
『I was curious, so I tried entering the sparkling room』
Eh, you entered?
I look at Yuu in a panic.
『That was no good. It seems I am incompatible with it. The moment I entered the room, my body became heavy with a thud, so I was surprised』
I look at Yuu’s whole body, but there is no particular change from before.
『Rina, you should be careful too. That light is beautiful, but it is dangerous』
Is that not because Yuu is a ghost? Ah, could it affect me, who he possesses? Yes, as Yuu said, it might be dangerous, so I will try not to get close.
「It seems something happened」
Rudok speaks in a slightly tense voice, so I follow his gaze.
「It is true, the guard knights have started moving all at once」
Onii-chan mutters, looking at the guard knights scattering in all directions.
「I will go ask what happened」
When Fogas says this to Rudok, he calls out to a nearby guard knight. After a while, Fogas returns with a solemn expression.
「It seems Bishop Arteto sensed someone’s presence and is searching for that person」
「Since they are searching, it was probably not a good presence」
Fogas nods looking at Rudok.
「Is there still something?」
Onii-chan looks around.
「It is okay. Everyone is here with us」
When I hold onii-chan’s hand, he grips it slightly tightly.
『I will go search too』
Yuu flies toward where the guard knights are. Yuu, who returned a few minutes later, shakes his head looking at me.
『There was no one. I looked all around from the sky, but there was no one escaping either』
Was it just Bishop Arteto’s imagination? I silently convey 「Thank you」 to Yuu without making a sound, and he smiles and nods.
「Let go! Where do you intend to take me? Who do you think I am!」
Hearing a noisy woman’s voice from the direction of the building, I turn my gaze and see the woman who had threatened us. Behind her, there is also the pale-faced priest.
「Who is that?」
Onii-chan points to a stout man walking behind the two of them.
「Who could it be?」
I have not seen him before, but he looks very similar to the woman in front.
「That is the current head of the Viscount Bargal house, Rizga Bargal Lanca. His father had problems, but the children were no good either」
Rudok looks at the three of them with a disappointed expression.
「Ah, those guys are!」
When the woman notices onii-chan and me, she glares at us with a fierce expression.
「What a scary face. That is right. Agus-kun, Rina-chan. Let us smile brightly and wave to them」
「「Eh?」」
Onii-chan and I look at Rudok with surprised expressions.
「It is revenge. Come on」
While laughing, Rudok waves to the noisy woman. Onii-chan and I also look at each other, nod, and wave with smiles to the woman.
「Damn it, remember this! When I come back, I will kill you!」
The guard knight, who was forcing the woman to walk, wraps cloth around her mouth with a disappointed expression and drags her away while sighing.
「It is fine. They will never return to this village again」
After watching the woman off, Fogas smiles at us.
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