Chapter 50: Scarlets' Research 4 (4)

The strange thing was that there was not a scratch on the man who seemed to have been subjected to such an atrocity.

"He said to himself. That there are. Strange things in this world."

The presumed perpetrator, a woman, began to speak on her own accord.

"The flesh and blood that regenerates over the wounds when healed with potions and healing magic. Where does it all come from? It is obvious. That it is more than the human body can store. In terms of nutrition, energy and mass. How very interesting. ......So much so that it cannot be helped. To hold such scientific consideration for these magic products."

The smile on the woman's face disappeared in her plain voice. There was only a blank expression on her face, like ice or metal impersonating as a human. But the graphicness of her story and the sourness with which she told it would make even the most seasoned adventurer feel emotional.

In other words, this woman had repeatedly cut and healed, cut and healed, this person until there was a carpet of flesh and blood all over the floor.

"What are you?"

The adventurers were at a loss for words. Gerald was the first to recover his sanity and speak up.

He asked curly while pointing the dragon fang sword, his beloved weapon, at her.

"I am greatly impressed. Finally you speak. …...But do you require an answer to that question?"

"In other words, you're the boss of the monsters that have taken up residence in these ruins and the Trees of Darkness!?"

Cedric repositioned himself to the front while holding his dragon scale shield. His left arm was behind his back, grasping the handle of his hatchet, which he uses with one hand.

"......My reply. You can take it as such. The reason why monsters run rampant in the Trees of Darkness, the reason why I am here, the reason why I protect this place."

"Why did you do this to the mage? If you just want to protect the ruins, then there is no reason to do so!"

Ninon shouted, grasping the cross hanging above her chest. It was a reminder to restrain herself and to prepare a prayer to the gods.

As she readied herself to use her holy magic, the woman-like something replied.

"The answer to that is varied. 30% was to make him scream in order to lure you in. 30% to punish him for arriving here using illegal means. 30% was to kill time while waiting for you all to arrive. The remaining 10% was to take out my pent up anger for failing to fulfil my duties for so long. There was a lot of resentment, exasperation and frustration…...perhaps I do possess such emotions."

"Just to be clear, is there any room for negotiation? If your job is to guard this place, then we can negotiate and you can make us leave..."

To show that he did not desire a fight, he raised his opened palms in the air. Still, he was still in a position where he could pull out his dragon fang daggers in less than breath’s time.

He would be able to get into a fighting stance the moment negotiations break down.

The woman dismissed the option of negotiation

"The task I was given. Defend the inner ruins and remove any intruders. The moment you entered, your deaths were assured."

"......"

"I shall add on. I wish to complete my objectives. I wish to defeat intruders. I wish to bring victory to my master. I wish to receive praise and to be useful! For these to be achieved, I need targets! My reason for existence is to defeat my targets! And you are the targets!"

As she spoke, her voice went out of tune and her face became contorted and the corner of her eyes and mouth were lifted.

Unable to smile and unable to cry, she had waited vacantly, madly, while repeating such thoughts in her mind.

As if it were the only thing she knew. As if it were the only thing she was born with.

"Are you an ancient guardian, beholden to the wishes of your deceased master?"

That's how Gerald interpreted the unusual situation.

A deserted temple in the depths of the Trees of Darkness, where no one ever visits. A pathetic girl who waited day after day for a change that would never happen, neither fulfilling her role nor being relieved of it. For her, even the arrival of an intruder, which should have been bad news, was heaven. And so, with mad glee, she tried to greet the adventurers as if they were the ones she was in love with.

That's what he felt from the maniac in front of him. And so did the others as they secretly communicate with one another.

"How sorrowful… It might be most compassionate to send her to the afterlife right now."

"O God, please guide this lost soul..."

"She isn’t lost...whatever! Doesn’t change what we have to do!"

Along with their resolution, they transferred their vitality to the dragon armaments. They were using their ace in the sleeve right off the bat. This was probably a decisive battle and the most challenging hurdle in the quest. Then there was no need to hold back. They were going all out right from the start.

"I am Cedric, the Crimson Wall. From the Scarlet Shield."

"I am Ninon, the Scarlet Nun. Likewise, from the Scarlet Shield."

"Same here. I am Gotsch, the Dancing Ape."

"And I am the leader, Gerald. Gerald Layson, the Red Lion."

In the face of their declaration of war, the woman calmed herself.

She became calm as a winter lake. It was the calm before the storm.

The final guardian of the ruins, the woman started violently spewing magic from her body. They may very well transform into surging waves and strike them in the next moment.

"Registered. Guest accounts for four. Though there are no access rights nor do I expect continued usage in the future."

"Introduce yourself, woman. That's the etiquette of those who fight for life and death."

The red-haired swordsman urged her on, and her golden eyes lit up ever more intensely.

Then, quietly, she opened her mouth.

"Introducing myself...My name is Fem, Opus 05. Let us begin. The second practical battle evaluation test…!"