163 and walk together.

"You have to remove the seeds from this vegetable after peeling it. Otherwise, it will taste bitter when cooked.

I learned a lot of things about human society from Laceia, and in between, she taught me how to cook.

At that time, for me, it was more rewarding to learn about cooking, where I could experience the changes, than to learn about human society, which I could not see.

I improved on the points pointed out and served the meal. After that, we had a classroom lecture where we learned many things.

We learned about the history of the world, the Yugra religion, the lives of the people, knights, and adventurers.

"Maybe you should become an adventurer, Ecdysium. You might want to be an adventurer. I'm not a knightly man, but I don't think I could handle such an uptight position.

I'm a revenant. I'm not gonna be anything else.

Being an avenger is not a job, you know.　Do you really think you can walk across the land without a job?

...... is fine.

If you attack every single person you see, you'll be treated as a lunatic. Humans have learned how to protect each other, even if their individual strength is weak. Or can you say that you're as strong as you can be?　If your parents, Beguragud, had that kind of power, they wouldn't be in a place like this forever, right?　That's why I'm thinking of invading the world where humans live, just like the Demon Lord.

Leixia's ability was not that high. Even so, she had the ability and guts to be the leader of a platoon.

She was brought here because she came into contact with a group of demons when she was exploring the Quama demon world.

Some of them were senior demons under her father's direct control, and judging the situation to be unfavorable, Lacia took the bait to help her friends escape.

There were no other people who were killed or captured, so the decoy must have worked correctly.

I'll give it a pass. I would have liked to have defeated the demons, but I'm not very talented with a sword. But there are some very talented kids out there, you know.　She's hard-headed, but I'm sure she'll be leading the Holy Order in the near future!

"How can you talk so happily? How can you talk so happily when there is almost no hope for you to make it out alive?

Given my father's character, if he learns all he can from Laceia, she'll be destroyed. I know it, and I'm sure Laceia knows it too.

"Well. All I can do is give you the knowledge and prolong your end a little longer. But that's okay. I fought to the death back then and I lost. So I'm as good as dead. This is the last thing I can do in this time. Don't you think that's pretty lucky?

"The knowledge you've given me will only help me kill people. Is that so?

What about it?　You may become more dangerous with the knowledge. But you could also change. It may be risky, but I don't think it's a bad bet.

I don't get it.

I don't think it's going to happen overnight. I don't expect it to happen overnight, but maybe I can change you. And if I can't, maybe someone else can change you in the future. If I can give you that chance, then it's worth it.

I still don't get it.

Lacia was trying to change me. But at that time I wasn't going to listen to her words seriously.

I thought the words of a trapped, weak person might just be a way to save myself.

"You're not pretty. But you'd better learn to cook!　I'm not happy that today's meal will be our last.

I'm following your instructions. You still have a problem with that?

I'd like to have some more meat.　Oh, I don't mean rats.　Something bigger!

Bigger beasts don't live around the witch world. Our food is only gathered by the demons that roam outside the demon world. The only food we have are rabbits.

Rabbits are ...... delicious, but they're a little hard for me to love because I like pretty things. ......

I'll never understand the sensibility of loving a beast.

You were raised by a wild demon, you're not a beast.

Don't be like that.

One day, I looked in the pantry and saw some meat.

There were several large pieces of meat, already stripped of their hair and skin, and placed haphazardly.

It was not surprising to see meat that had been processed to some extent.

This was because demons have a habit of attacking animals to enjoy the sound they make.

That is why there have been many cases of missing parts of the animal's flesh in the past. However, judging from the thoroughness of this case, the demon who captured the beast must have been very careful.

But it saved us a lot of trouble. I'm sure he won't complain about this.

Wash, cut, and cook the meat. The meat is washed, cut, and cooked, first on high and then on low, repeating in my mind the steps that Lacia taught me.

Season the meat with the spices that Raythea likes. Don't forget to taste and make sure you don't make a mistake.

"Okay, it doesn't taste so bad.

I put the finished dish in a bowl. I remembered that Lacia had recently started complaining about the presentation of the food, so I balanced it out a bit.

It's the best I've done so far. Thinking that this would make Leysia a little quieter, I brought the food to her.

"Laceia, it's time to eat. --?

There was no one at the place where she was being held. All that was left was a huge puddle of blood on the ground. And the chain that was supposed to hold her was lying on the blood, intact.

At first I thought she might have escaped. It's not impossible to break free of the chains if you cut off her arm.

I've learned a lot from Laceia. And I was starting to feel like I was learning less and less.

When she realized her end was near, she took the gamble to escape before my father deemed her unnecessary.

I didn't let her go, but I might have to take some of the blame for that.

I put down my food and was about to search when I felt a presence behind me.

"What's up, Exoik? What's going on?

It was my father, the great demon Beguragud. I was slightly surprised by this.

I was slightly surprised at that, because it was so new for my father, who usually didn't move from his throne, to come all the way to this place.

"No, I mean, that person seems to have escaped, so I wanted to go after him. ......

That person?　That's not possible.

But the fact is...

That person has already been disposed of. Right in front of me.

"What?

My father, Vegragudo, looks at me dumbfounded and laughs.

"You've learned enough about humans. You've learned enough about humans to know that they'll be ready to flee this place before too long, so we've decided to dispose of them a little early.

"Oh, really?

I was relieved. Then there was nothing to worry about. But then, there was something that lingered in my mind.

Father Vegragudo took a look around and found the food I had made.

"What, you're using it right away?

"Using...?

"The meat. I thought I'd give you a treat once in a while. Fresh meat from this morning. Wasn't bad, was it?　It's growing nicely for you to be eating it where you did.

It took me a while to understand the meaning of those words. But my brain wasn't so bad that I could refuse to understand.

I remembered clearly the touch of the meat, the feeling of carving it, and its taste.

Human beings are living beings, just like any other animal. But still, my body and my mind avoided it.

I held my mouth, crouched there, and vomited.

"A man is not only a body. The mind grows strong and big too. The mind grows strong and big, but it also wavers. How do you feel, Exoik? How painful is it to be tortured only by your mind?　Let me know what you think.

...... Why are you doing this, ......?

Why?　I have subjected you to many pains and trials to make you stronger. This is just one of them. You're human, and therefore weak at heart. The death of the one person who took care of you for a short time is enough to make you like this.

This was the purpose of my father from the beginning. As I became physically stronger, he wanted to give me mental torment to encourage me to grow further.

"Humans have developed a way to hunt down their enemies without harming their bodies. Humans are very interesting. The number of ways we can hurt each other is beyond my grasp. It is only by trying these things that we can understand their power. This is the kind of attack you'll be facing in the future, Exoik. Be careful.

I didn't see my father's face at that moment. But he was probably laughing.

I don't know what came first, my further development or the satisfaction of my curiosity, but I have no way of knowing now.

Later, I found the rest of Lacia in a jar in the pantry and vomited again.

When a demon dies, its body turns to dust. But I learned how ugly and fearsome a human becomes after death.

I buried all the contents of my body, and in front of a mountain of dirt that could not be called a grave, I made up my mind to be strong.

"Since then I've been eating meat.

Since then, I have avoided eating meat. Since then I've avoided eating meat because it brings back vivid memories of that time and I can't taste it. The only saving grace is that my father never used the blame much. It would have been difficult for him to survive if he could not eat.

I finished telling her the whole story and looked at Ao's face. Her expression is ...... apparently angry.

Did I say something that offended you? No, when you think about it, Ao hasn't eaten yet.

If I talk about this, Ao's meal may become tasteless again.

You. ......

I'm sorry. I didn't want to talk about this before dinner. Can you eat that?

I can't eat that!　Oh, God!　I'll throw it at Jestiff later.

While saying this, Ao cools the basket with magic. I'll throw it at Jestaff later.

I've shared my inability to eat meat with my compatriots, but it took me a while to tell them.

It's important!

No, it's just that ...... I didn't expect the Demon Lord to cook me a meal. ......

Even the purple one cooks for that guy!

I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one who has a problem with this.

Ecdysium Sarph, crawl on the ground!

Oh, no!

It seems I've once again offended him. Ao doesn't even want to look at me. It's not going to be easy.

I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.

"...... That's because my heart was still weak. My father, Beguragud, made me strong by inflicting pain on me. I couldn't live without the belief that he was the only absolute and the only way to believe. ......

That's why Lakra's easy destruction of my father was so upsetting to me. I couldn't even get a real sense of what was going on, everything I had done so far was worthless, and I felt lost.

I felt like I was going to lose my weak heart, even that, and I tried to refuse it. .......

...... It was fine then, but even now you are still loyal to Vegragudo.

It is true that what my father did is not something I would condone today. But I know that I am the person I am today because of them. To completely deny and forget them is just an escape from reality.

So ....... But it's a pity about that knight, too. If I had been able to convince you that you didn't know your way around, you would have had a chance to escape.

You're right.

There's a distinct difference between my compatriot and Laceia, who was trying to correct me.

For Laceia, it was an end. For her, it was a means. I've rejected the ends and embraced the means.

If you ask me about the sincerity of my intentions, there is no doubt that Leysia had more feelings for me than I did for her. But there was a difference in the attraction I felt between the Leyshia who directed my wish and the compatriot who invited me to make it.

If she had assumed that I would run away, and had taken it as a means to warn me, she might have been able to use me better.

Laceia couldn't have had the malice to use me. That's why she's dead. But I have to admit she was a fine holy knight.

My encounter with Lacia was definitely one of the factors that shaped me into the person I am today.

You can tell me a lot more about yourself, Exduk.

There's a lot to tell about you, ......, but my past has been pretty much the same .......

You have something to say!　You know, like why you started using chains!

That's easy. The first time I was in the Devil's lair, I was always crying and screaming, and I could have run away at any moment. That's why I was always in chains. The chains were the only thing that kept me awake and asleep. The only way to kill time or to do anything was to use the chains. The chain on my arm was the only thing that belonged to me.

Do you have anything more cheerful to say?

Brighter? ...... The demons didn't like it when I lit up. When I read, I tried to do it outside during the day.

You know what would make me feel better?

It's a feel-good story. ...... Now, I'm happy about my own growth, but something feels different.

It's a good thing that you're not the only one who has a problem with this.

...... Now that I think about it, Lacia was a woman, too. So that's how it works.

I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's a good idea.

I'm sure you'll be able to tell me more about it.

I don't know about you, but I don't think I've had a good life. How can you say that to me?

I know. But we've both had bad lives, and we're going to be together forever. If we look for something together, even if we're not good at finding it, we'll find it.

"...... Really, this guy is ......!

"Mmm, did I offend you?　I'm sorry.

Don't apologize for something you don't know the reason for!　Come on, let's go!

He doesn't look at me, but Ao reaches out his hand to me. I take her hand.

Yeah, I'm not alone now. I have compatriots who understand me. I have friends who recognize me.

And there's Ao who wants to live with me.

I've learned a lot from Laceia. But I haven't been able to make the most of it. I will experience more things from now on so that I don't neglect her feelings that I once didn't receive.

By the way, I can't get up unless you give me permission to get up.

...... Let's go!

No, I can't get up. ...... Wait a minute, if you keep pulling, it's going to drag and hurt. Wait, are you listening to me?　Hey--

After this, we were dragged for about an hour.

The first thing I had to do was not to offend Ao. Fortunately, she's a patient person who doesn't want to abandon me, even though I've offended her many times.

But I really don't know what I should say to her to make her happy. I'm at a loss.