285 - - choice of sacrifice

Priestess of the Beast.

So they say, the woman chosen by the relic, the sin-eating beast, is called.

As the name "sin-eater" suggests, this living relic feeds on human sins.

Or, more precisely, it seems that it is the human emotions toward the sins that it feeds on.

Because of this strange nature, the sin-eating beasts prefer human sensations and emotions above all else.

But it is difficult for them to taste them more deeply with their huge bodies.

Therefore, the hungry beasts need a human being to provide them.

Women who possess the fundamental trait of strong enough to be able to lay themselves on a being that possesses the power of God.

Those women who possess this quality are given the Thunder Ring of Heavenly Majesty to help them.

This sensory-enhancing sacramental tool is designed to correspond with the same tool, the sin-eating beast, so that the senses become more deeply connected if they are favored by the beast.

However, the sacrificial ring is completely embedded in the neck as a proof of being chosen, at the cost of not being able to share the senses with other humans.

This is the reason why Kikiriri called the Thunder Ring of Ten'ei a collar of bad taste, in two ways.

Through the Thunder Ring, the beast and the priestess become inseparable.

The role of the relic beast is to sit on top of the great miasma pit and prevent the miasma from leaking out.

The chosen women's mission is to be a wedge to distract the beast from its boredom and keep it in this place.

Therefore, the priestesses of the beast are not allowed to leave the relic's side even for a moment.

Since the time when the great miasma was sealed, Cocolara has been accompanying the sin-eating beast in the depths of the darkness.

She will be allowed to leave only when the great maelstrom of the abandoned underground prison is sealed.

For this to happen, a new priestess must share her senses with this beast and carry her gifted portion to it.

The next priestess is sacrificed and waits patiently in the depths of the earth for another sealing of the noxious pit.

"It's a disgusting story, isn't it?"

Kikiriri mutters something to Zazam, who quietly raises his face from its prone position.

The purple eyes were not filled with anger or shame.

It was the look of an old man who was tired of everything.

If we only listen to the story, we can agree with Kikiriri's words.

Especially the twins, who had been brought here as candidates for the priestess position.

And now that Mu is also a candidate, Thor is no stranger to this.

However, the choices of Dadaan, Zazam, and the others cannot be measured only by the scale of emotion.

They were able to create a place where thousands of people can live in safety with only the sacrifice of one beloved wife.

The process leading up to that decision must have been filled with anguish and conflict that cannot be measured by anyone else.

It is wrong for Toll and others who enjoy a peaceful life in this border town to condemn it so easily.

Even so, Thor could not stop his jaw from tightening, even though he knew that.

A finger gently reaches out and intertwines with Thor's hand.

When he looked down, he saw Sora looking up at him with eyes that seemed to be enduring something.

After a long pause, the girl asks Thor in a whisper.

"Thor, ...... can't you do something?"

" cannot interfere with memories or the mind. All I can do is to rejuvenate your body at best..."

Thirty years.

Thor's face turns away from me as if he had been shot by the sudden interruption.

The old man, who was the head of the temple, continued his words without hesitation.

"You want me to live even longer by making me young again. You want him to suffer more and more.

"Uncle, you are speaking too much."

Zazam shook his head repeatedly when Dadaan stopped him.

The bald-headed old man exhaled a long breath and turned his sharp eyes on Thor.

"This is the hero you wanted, Thor."

"............ Master."

"This is a dangerous place and we cannot stay long. So, what do you say, gentlemen?"

Thor and Thora hold each other's hands tightly in response to the inevitable question.

Moe, who had caught their gaze, released his voice innocently with a puzzled look on his face.

"Are you hungry, Auntie Coco?　I'll share a little of Moo's snack with you."

With these words, the child holds up the apple jam pie in his arms, looking happy.

At that moment, the package was slightly unwrapped, and the sweet and sour smell spread to the bottom of the empty earth.

The old woman lifts her eyelids at Moe's call, and the scent makes her get up and move her head around.

Then she let out a nostalgic sound.

Oh, that's a nice smell. It's summer apples. When did you... ......"

Coco's eyes, which she turned toward her husband, had a much stronger light in them than before.

The woman with the purple eyes looked gently into Dadaan's face, and then her gaze shifted to Thor and the others.

Her eyes, filled with intelligence, seemed to immediately understand the situation through the powerful that she possessed.

In the purple eyes of the old woman, emotions come and go one after another.

Intense surprise and joy, followed by hesitation.

Finally, the last expression was a strong anger mixed with resignation.

"............What are you thinking, Dadan? You can't. Not that little boy. I can't allow you to do that."

"You've come to your senses, Coco. I see summer apples are your favorite. I see you're still a glutton.

"I'm sorry, honey. But I've had enough.

"...... I somehow knew you would say that."

Dadaan broke off and turned his head to the side.

"So why don't we stop now, Uncle?"

There was Zazam, who had been holding Moe in his arms for some time.

The temple head shook his head silently.

In his hand was a ring that emitted light as if it blinked.