CH 385

Ahri doesn’t even look like the same person that was panicking before.

She’s sitting down and looking back, but feels very cool-headed. I could even say there’s a feeling of vigor surrounding her.

“Ah… Maybe I should give up. I think it would be hard to actually keep it.”

I say without thinking as I fold the black curse cloth. Of course, the purifying light is still inside.

Then I move my hands and rub both parts of the cloth.

I feel like I hear a sort of silent scream coming from the gaps in the black curse cloth.

“It should be about done…”

I open the cloth again, and the purifying light melts like it’s coming undone, before vanishing into the air.

At least I got rid of it safely, but it’s too bad. I would’ve liked to study it.

Ahri is probably picking up on my regret, as her smile intensifies.

I put the black curse cloth away, clear my throat, and speak to her.

“What should we do about the Weakest Seventh Seat?”

“Are you asking if we should go back and finish him?”

That’s a natural question, considering humanity in general sees demons as enemies. I cross my arms and think.

Ah.. Considering Ahri’s origins, does she subconsciously feel even more enmity than other people towards demons?

I stifle these crazy ideas that pop into my mind, and tell her how I’m feeling uncertain.

“I think your stance towards demons is natural, but I don’t feel right about keeping both.”

After putting away the black curse cloth, I take out the bone knife and the arm of the Weakest Seventh Seat and show both to Ahri.

“Ahh…”

Ahri responds with a big sigh for some reason.

“Are you upset about having both items despite making a deal to exchange one for the other?”

I decide to follow this voice inside my head. The one that tells me I shouldn’t say the wrong thing right now.

Instead, I just silently look at Ahri while showing her the two things.

“You are weirdly honest. It’s a demon we are talking about. Plus, we don’t even know if he’s alive. You know it’s almost guaranteed the monsters around the Weakest Seventh Seat are going to attack us the moment they see us, right?”

Ahri sounds negative, but she brought down her tone of voice. It turns out my hunch to stay quiet was absolutely right for once. I feel relieved on the inside, but figure I should say something already.

“I understand that.”

“Good grief…”

Ahri turns away.

I start feeling this might work, and then she turns to me again and asks a question.

“Surely you already have an idea in mind. What are you planning to do?”

“Yes, I do have an idea. Seilook, can you land?”

“Gyururu.”

Seilook does as I ask, and soon after we land, I test out my idea.