Turncoats are the crowning glory of war.
In conflicts between nations, this takes the form of inducement.
Quolia had long been a peaceful nation with no involvement in warfare, yet the records documented such acts, and they were in fact observed even in minor skirmishes.
The specific motives varied from case to case, but the one thing that could be said was that the target had to possess enough value to warrant being turned.
Kree brushed aside the desire to know the truth behind those words, yet firmly rejected the proposal.
"I decline."
"Hmm-wha!? Why's that?"
"There is no why about it. I accepted your proposal once before, but that was only because it was peaceful in nature. This time, there is clearly an intent to do harm to our nation. And even setting that aside — why on earth would you think we would bow to a creature of darkness?"
"But if you don't, he won't come back to life! If Imreis would just surrender to the darkness and flash me a double peace sign, I was prepared to ask the great god to revive him and everything..."
"—!! S-Stop that. To think you'd resort to such words to deceive people. Death cannot be undone. That is precisely why one must constantly examine oneself and live without regrets. And besides... this is all your fault!"
Without being told, Kree understood exactly what Vittorio was referring to.
That was precisely why she was enraged. How far would he go in mocking people? Would he even exploit the wish of an innocent girl for his own schemes?
"This isn't my fault, you know? It's actually the fault of that Holy Knight retainer who went and did something unnecessary. He was supposed to come back safely. But his vision clouded over, and he ended up paying the price for his arrogance. Having to pay with your life for a companion's blunder — being a Holy Knight really is a thankless profession, isn't it~? I sympathize!"
"Guh!"
It was strange. The Senior Holy Knight Verdel, as Kree knew him, was a calm and collected man who would never throw himself into reckless conflict.
He was admittedly lax when it came to the teachings of the Holy Faith, but that very flexibility had produced results beyond his orders on investigation missions.
He could immediately decide on thorough retreat at the first sign of danger, and his situational judgment was second to none. For such a man to simply vanish was puzzling, but if what Vittorio had said earlier was true, it made sense.
However, that also meant the faint hope Kree had been harboring was crushed.
A representative of the Great Cursed Realm, which served as the base of operations there, speaking about the fate of someone who had gone missing during the investigation. There was nothing more hopeless and definitive than that...
And so — yes, precisely because of that —
"Um, um, what are you talking about?"
She was the one person Kree had not wanted to hear it.
Kree hesitated. How could she gloss over this? How could she fabricate a lie to get through this situation?
"Pitiful little diary girl. Your father — he's dead, you know?"
But contrary to Kree's wishes, Vittorio blurted it out with an utterly nonchalant air.
"...Eh?"
"That's — that's a joke! You mustn't listen, Nerim!"
She screamed. But her words were hollow, ringing out as though they were worthless.
"It's not a joke and you know that better than anyone, Inquisitor Imreis! Holy Knight Verdel clashed with our forces during his investigation of the Great Cursed Realm. He lost his life in the process. No contact, no sign — that means he's dead, doesn't it!?"
The jester cackled gleefully, from the bottom of his heart.
Unable to find words to refute him, Nerim, tears spilling from her eyes, stepped bravely from behind Kree's back.
"But, but! I — I met my father! He told me he was busy and that we should meet again! We even talked properly!"
"Ah, that was a fake. Specifically, a counterfeit imitation crafted by my god. How tragic — you had a tearful reunion with a fake person!"
"That's... that's a lie... No way..."
"You don't have to believe me, but that won't bring back the dead, will it? My god probably won't be imitating that Holy Knight ever again either. Though even if he did, it'd just be a counterfeit with the same memories, so there's nothing to be done about it!"
From those large eyes, tears spilled over in a steady stream.
Kree did not notice that her own vision was blurring as she watched the trembling girl.
Ah — so this is how much suffering a creature of darkness can inflict.
Without scorching flames, without wicked curses, without vicious claws or weapons — with mere words alone, could they wound the soul this deeply?
There was no longer any will to fight between the two of them. ...Because they had already realized, too late, that they had reached a point where nothing could be done.
Before he — before Vittorio could do anything, everything had ended long, long ago.
It had only just become clear.
"But... but if you do good things, good things are sure to happen..."
The Diary Saintess's heart crumbled. The one and only thing.
The memories of her father that she had clung to in order to establish her sense of self, and the pure, innocent wish that had let her face a painful and cruel reality.
— If you do good things, good results will surely follow.
The words of hope her father had given her...
"Has anything good actually happened so far?"
In that instant, everything turned to ashes.
"That's... that's not..."
"There, there, don't cry so much. Why not offer that sorrow to the god as well? After all, that's your ability, isn't it? You could even offer your father's memories and solve everything in one go!"
"Enough! Your — your words reek of rot. Speak no more. I was wrong after all. I never imagined that yielding to the honeyed words of a demonic being would lead to such a horrifying outcome. I will cut you down here and end everything."
Rage consumed Kree's entire being.
Her sword was far away, but that hardly mattered.
The dark, violent desire to carve up the man before her was churning inside her, driving out the sacred heart and composure she had once possessed.
"No, I will speak on. And put your hand down! For I have come to present the sole proposal that will resolve this tragedy!"
What utter nonsense. She could not fathom that the man before her actually believed she would listen after enduring such an insult.
But none of that mattered. There was only one thing she needed to do...
Namely, strike the man before her to the ground, seize the opening, and use the Holy Knight's sword to silence that repugnant mouth forever.
But then...
(—!!)
Her body wouldn't move.
As if compelled by some incomprehensible ability to listen, Kree's body remained silent, going against her raging will.
"That proposal! My proposal! You shall join our faction! Well now, naturally, I do feel sympathy for the little one's situation over there, and I'd like to help if at all possible. But honestly, isn't this just horrifying? There's no blood, no tears, nothing — it's repulsive!"
— Move. Move. Move.
She told herself again and again. She screamed it again and again. But her body was useless, and she couldn't even form words.
"So! I shall provide complete salvation! Hooray, it's a happy ending!"
She had to stop listening.
If she kept listening, her heart would waver.
If she kept listening, she might actually accept the proposal.
The honeyed words were becoming a sure poison, eating away at Kree.
"A creature of darkness feeling sympathy for a human? Nonsense! Because — a creature of darkness is permitted to do absolutely anything! Which means, extending mercy to a righteous and hostile saintess is also perfectly allowed! Unlike you lot, who are bound tight by justice!"
"Even so, we will not submit to you! No matter how many words you speak, not a single one will reach us! To follow the tongue of a creature of darkness is to march straight down the path to ruin. I understand that now. I have been made to understand."
"Hmm~. The teachings of the sacred god, is it? How devout of you, when your god can do nothing..."
Her breath came in ragged gasps.
She had summoned every last drop of strength to shout that, and now she was completely spent.
But perhaps Kree's resistance had been unexpected, because Vittorio wrinkled his nose with a deeply bored expression.
It seemed that this time, she had managed to avoid the demon's temptation...
Relief washed over Kree.
"Oh well, I suppose. This time, I'll be slinking home with my tail between my legs. It's almost dinnertime, after all."
He was leaving again?
She had no energy left to pursue him. But the fact that he had chosen to withdraw here and now was a blessing.
Was Vittorio perhaps not very skilled when it came to combat?
Such a speculation crossed Kree's mind, but she shifted her feelings, recognizing that now was not the time to dwell on it.
She watched Vittorio's back as he walked lightly toward the door.
Right now, she simply wanted to escape this agonizing situation with every fiber of her being.
"Ah, that's right! One last thing, Inquisitor Imreis. Do you truly understand why the temptations of a creature of darkness are said to be so terrifying?"
"..."
As he opened the door with his hand, preparing to exit —
Vittorio posed a strange question.
Kree offered no verbal response, but even she could not fully grasp his intent.
The temptations of darkness were terrifying because ruin awaited. That was the way of the world, and the teaching of the god. The universal law of all things — so what could he possibly be trying to convey by reiterating that?
"Every word of it is the truth."
"...?"
She was perplexed, unable to grasp the meaning behind those brief words.
But when the words that followed came, Kree was filled with a fierce regret that she should not have listened.
"Everlasting beauty, a beauty to topple cities, boundless intellect, unmatched power — and reunion with someone who has died. Every reward that darkness has offered throughout all of history is the genuine article. Of course, there are no fraudulent traps involved. The everlasting beauty will not decay. The city-toppling beauty will continue to smile, and wisdom and power will only grow. And the one who is revived will not crumble to ash. That, precisely, is why the temptations of a creature of darkness are so powerfully captivating."
The jester's temptation continued.
It was sweet beyond measure, and endlessly intriguing.
"You believe that by following my words, ruin awaits you. That there must be some trap, and that you will rot away in eternal suffering and regret."
That was correct. She had been taught as much, and she had believed as much.
And now, she prayed with all her heart that it would remain so.
"Nothing of the sort, I assure you~! What awaits the one who bowed her head to my god is eternal happiness and peace. Reunion with the one you lost, tranquil days with those you hold dear. And three meals a day, a nap, and no overtime. The story concludes with a happily-ever-after, naturally. That — that is what our god, Ira=Takuto, grants to you."
The temptation of darkness closed around Kree, and around Ritrain.
"I am looking so forward to~ your choice!"
And then silence fell.
All that remained was a coldness so deep it felt as if one might freeze, and dark, dark thoughts of despair.
And two wretched girls, streaming tears without end.
Before long, without a word from either, they embraced each other and wept softly, as if soothing one another.