Dark Fantasy: Super Coward Mode

Everyone was stunned by Asti’s sudden behavior, but once I heard the reason behind it, it all made sense.

“If I had stopped it just a bit earlier….”

In short, she knew the remaining cultists were around, but she had been late because she wanted to make sure no Children of the Interrogator were around before proceeding.

Because if Asti had been carrying out the plan and another child had interfered, it would have immediately caused problems.

“So you were also in the place where the cultists….”

“….”

Maybe it was a reminder of that moment; Asti’s expression twisted even more, resembling that of a sinner being judged.

From this, I could gather two pieces of information.

First, Asti had resisted the Interrogator to some extent, unlike the other kids. If she hadn’t, she would have tried to kill me from the start, but she always gave me a chance to escape or block.

Crucially, during the battle with the dragon slayer, she even asked me not to hate her.

Second, this child seemed to show signs of urgency, as if being chased by something, like it was about to end at any moment.

I had a bad feeling, but knowing in advance was better than facing something unprepared.

“Asti.”

“… Yes.”

“Show me.”

“…!”

I only said a verb, but did she predict what I was trying to say? Asti’s face turned to one of horror.

“You have it too, that symbol, like the other kids.”

“How….”

Otherwise, there would be no reason for Asti to be moving urgently right now.

Having still been under the Interrogator, she would surely start to feel something was off about her actions.

At that point, disappearing from here would be easy for her.

Did I hit the nail on the head?

Asti simply lowered her head without a word.

But now, did she think there was no escape?

Asti stood up and carefully lifted her skirt.

As her skirt began to reveal her thighs…

“…”

It appeared.

The mark that child had frantically tried to hide from being interrogated.

So it was there, and she must have thought it was fine if I wasn’t around.

I felt sad.

What kind of greed would drive someone to torment children like this just to possess something?

And were they leading them to take their own lives as well?

“Asti.”

“…”

“You’ve worked hard fighting alone.”

I gently ruffled Asti’s hair.

Maybe she felt that was too much.

I noticed something dripping down her chin.

I didn’t bring it up.

I merely hoped my actions would bring her some comfort.

#

“I’ll follow too.”

“What?”

Once Asti calmed down, she looked up at me with a determined expression.

She meant she would go when the Interrogator said he would come.

“You probably didn’t know, but I was small like that child you carry around.”

“… What?”

At first, I couldn’t understand Asti’s words, but then it clicked; I could deduce a few things.

Especially when we went to wipe out the cultists, didn’t that kid show the ability to control the Outcast Gods?

I thought it was some ability of theirs, but it turned out she was a growth form of the Outcast God.

“If I absorb the powers of other Outsiders, I’ll be able to become human. I don’t know the principle behind it, but my mother’s power is related to ‘pain’; she can deal with almost anything masterfully. Unlike the other children, she projected free will more onto me.”

This gave me bad news about the Interrogator’s abilities being really tricky and also the reason why Asti could resist her.

So was that why she took Bell’s bones and put them in the Outcast Gods’ chamber?

What might have come out if she hadn’t stopped it?

“… Why could you only be like that?”

“My mother absorbs ‘pain,’ but in the end, what was most important to her was ‘interesting things.’ She probably wanted to see how her child with free will would act.”

In the end, it was all for pure amusement.

So was the Interrogator’s title one that enjoyed torturing while searching for joy?

Somehow, it felt even more chilling.

“Back to the main point, after defying her once, she would probably get rid of me immediately. But even then, I won’t have a single regret. I’ll be able to clear my mistakes.”

… No matter how much of an Outcast God she may be, Asti would still be in a childlike state.

I just saw it, after all.

When we went to the market, her eyes sparkled just like a child who came along with her parents.

The anger towards the Interrogator for burdening such a child with such a heavy load grew even stronger.

“Asti.”

“Yes?”

“When this is over, let’s go to the market together again.”

“… Master, as I just said…”

“No, we’re going. We have to go.”

Asti looked at me in astonishment at my resolute action.

With a distant smile, I said to her.

“This is my first and last order. You will go with me to the market.”

“… Master.”

Asti bit her lips tightly and nodded.

“I will carry out the command, Master.”

“… Thank you, Asti.”

I patted Asti’s head once again, seeing her looking so earnestly.

For some reason, I felt an unfounded confidence that I could achieve what seemed impossible.

So I would definitely defeat the Interrogator.

#

The Interrogator said she would give us 14 days, but she didn’t just leave us alone.

She triggered massacres using her children repeatedly, resulting in numerous fallen knights.

Even till the end, you could feel a strong will to gather strength, as the documents concerning the bodies stated they were still butchered.

Because of this, my perception of the Outsiders slightly changed.

Not all of them are merely goodwill-loving beings with stories.

That’s why.

I decided I wouldn’t try to persuade the Interrogator verbally; I would boldly strike him down instead.

I had to become strong for that.

“Focus more! If you keep this up, you won’t realize Meditatio!”

“….”

The White Mask, unable to relax in the current situation, pushed me even harder.

But I never wavered.

I endured all those harsh trainings.

Every part of my body was bruised; there wasn’t a single day without swelling or pain in my joints.

Yet, after suffering so much and eating the chef’s cooking, I could recover in an instant.

“What are you doing, idiot! I told you there was a sequence!”

“B-but! Doing such an embarrassing thing…!”

Was it because I envied how the cook took care of me last time? The Elite Outsiders took turns trying to take care of me.

Of course, I didn’t dislike it.

After all, they were incredibly beautiful friends, the only ones I could truly open up to.

“Ugh, it feels good, but… it’s so strangely embarrassing.”

I wasn’t sure what I was even saying.

Still, knowing I could feel someone’s warmth as I fell asleep made my heart much more at ease, allowing me to have a good night’s sleep.

The Dragon Slayer let me lie down on her lap like the cook.

Feeling very embarrassed, I couldn’t help but feel oddly touched by the somehow realistic smile.

It meant she was caring for me.

Bell curled up like a puppy and let me lean on her side.

… Sure, it felt a bit like I was giving up being human, but with pleasant ‘panting’ sounds, I told myself that it was all for the good; it wasn’t bad.

However, the one who surprised me the most was definitely the Gardener.

“…?”

“What are you doing? I said you should rest.”

She was stretching her arms out toward me while looking the other way.

How should I put this?

Since the Gardener was slightly smaller than the other Outsiders, I worried that if it went on like this, it would feel like a heavy pillow.

“… If you don’t like it, just say so.”

I had no choice but to surrender to the Gardener’s action as she began to withdraw her arms.

To be honest, I felt like if I tried to sleep on my own, I would only have nightmares.

If I had nightmares, my sleep would turn worse, and my quality of sleep would definitely drop.

… I say this in advance; it’s definitely not a matter of desire or anything.

It’s all just for efficiency; it can’t be helped.

And since these friends wanted to do it, well, okay.

I approached the Gardener and enveloped her in my arms, then lay down.

But of course, the Gardener had everything planned.

Somehow, the cloak she was wearing felt fluffier, and the ground transformed into a comfortable nest.

“Oh.”

“… Don’t think of anything else, just go to sleep.”

As per the Gardener’s words, I closed my eyes, and a sudden wave of fatigue hit me.

The softness of the ground.

The Gardener, whom I was holding, felt warm, soft, and snug.

Just like that, I could obtain the best sleeping arrangement.

“… Fool.”

Hearing the Gardener’s voice mixed with a soft chuckle, I was able to wrap up that day.

#

After 14 days.

I dedicated every single day without wasting even a moment to my growth.

As a result.

“Oh.”

Like the White Mask had done, I could unleash small but certain sword strikes.

“Truly, there’s no monster like you. I’ve never seen anyone absorb and come back perfectly the next day as you’re doing.”

“Haha, thank you.”

The White Mask gave me a thumbs up.

I wasn’t sure if it was all thanks to the Outsiders, though.

No matter what, it seemed I finally succeeded.

“So I’ll head off now.”

“Yeah.”

I told the knights I would fight alone and they didn’t need to come.

It was likely the Outcast Gods that had been hiding to destroy Rondan would scatter everywhere.

To prevent that, it would be best if all the knights were deployed.

The Hunter would surely help, unable to bear it any longer.

“Master.”

So from here, it was my fight alongside Asti.

Because she was her mother.

I would defeat that damned Outsider to protect Rondan.

“Let’s go, Asti.”

“Yes.”

And this would become a tale of a knight’s success.

---