Chapter 57. Campbell (2)
"Raguel, are you ready to die?"
Silence fell over the study.
For a long while, no one said a word.
Raguel was the first to break the silence.
"...An explanation. I need an explanation."
A troubled look crossed Mapheltan's face. Instead of answering, he looked at Ilea.
"Ilea, didn’t you give him a general idea?"
Ilea replied in a flat tone.
"I stopped myself. If Mapheltan's plan is what I suspect it to be, then I thought it was sothing you should explain to the young master yourself."
The reason why Raguel was being taken into the Abyss, what it ant to say he’d get his eyesight back, and the real aning behind asking if he was ready to die—Ilea couldn’t bring herself to tell Raguel these things.
Because there was only one answer to all the questions:
—Mapheltan wanted Raguel to abandon his humanity.
It was a topic that had to be discussed between the two of them.
Mapheltan swallowed dryly. He had been hoping, deep down, that Ilea would have persuaded Raguel in advance.
He had tried to push the burden onto her without her noticing.
That plan had failed completely.
Ilea was firr than expected. Though she usually indulged Mapheltan's whims, this ti it must have crossed a line for her.
'I have no idea what her standards are.'
Clicking his tongue, Mapheltan approached Raguel.
For now, figuring out Ilea’s thoughts could wait. Convincing Raguel ca first.
Mapheltan placed a hand on Raguel's shoulder.
"Before I explain, let ask you one thing."
The question ca with a tense air.
Raguel swallowed hard.
"P-please go ahead."
"Do you trust ?"
Raguel's expression showed confusion.
"Trust you? What do you an..."
"I an, do you believe that I would never make you unhappy? That I'm not a being filled with blind malice. Do you believe that?"
It was such a sudden question that Raguel didn’t know how to respond.
He scratched his head and answered awkwardly.
"I-it's a bit hard to answer when you ask like that."
"Don’t feel pressured. Just say what you truly think."
Mapheltan’s voice was calm and heavy.
It felt like Raguel had to give a serious answer.
Raguel paused and began sorting through his thoughts on Mapheltan.
Mapheltan and Yohan. Though they seed like monstrous demons, at tis they displayed deeply human qualities.
Anyone who had watched them closely would agree.
Raguel was no different.
Who had reached out to him when he was living a hellish life? What had given him even a sliver of hope to live on?
It was all thanks to Mapheltan.
Of course, Mapheltan's kindness always carried hidden motives, but none of those sches had ever sprung from pure malice.
At least, not until now.
Even if he was a dual-natured being, Mapheltan was no demon consud by evil.
With a solemn expression, Raguel spoke.
"I trust you, Mapheltan. I have to. If I denied you, there would be nothing left in my life."
Without Mapheltan, Raguel's life was just darkness.
He had no choice but to believe.
Mapheltan spoke.
"I understand what you're saying. So let give you this promise. You will never be betrayed for that trust. If you want, I’ll even make a contract with my life as collateral."
Whatever he was about to say, it was serious enough to bring up a contract with a demon.
Unease showed on Raguel’s face.
"There’s no need for contracts. Just get to the point. What is it you want from , Mapheltan?"
Mapheltan answered calmly.
"I want you to give up being human. In the Abyss, I want you to abandon Raguel the human and be reborn as sothing else."
If he agreed, Raguel would gain a new body. Naturally, his sight would return as well.
Raguel swallowed dryly.
"Are you telling to beco a demon?"
Mapheltan shook his head.
"You will be reborn as a more fundantal being."
"A fundantal being..."
Ilea cut in.
"An ancient forgotten race. Like —a witch."
In this world, aside from humans and demons, there were thirteen other races. Only witches remained among them.
The other twelve had all gone extinct.
Mapheltan intended to revive them all, as a contingency for the end tis.
Raguel would be the cornerstone of that plan.
He repeated Ilea’s words to himself.
"An ancient race, like a witch."
Mapheltan nodded.
"Will you beco one of them?"
Raguel’s face twisted with conflicting emotions.
Even for soone who had little attachnt to human life, abandoning one’s identity was no easy matter.
A long silence followed.
Only after quite so ti did Raguel finally speak.
"...I suppose it’s sothing you truly need, Mapheltan."
"But I won’t force you. I will respect whatever choice you make."
He ant it. Sowhere out there, a replacent for Raguel surely existed.
Raguel moved his lips, hesitating for a while before slowly lifting his head.
With blind eyes, he stared straight at Mapheltan.
"I’ll do it. Because I trust you."
His quiet voice held firm resolve.
Mapheltan smiled faintly.
"That trust will be rewarded. We’ll discuss the details further in the Abyss."
***
Dawn began to break. The light rising from the hills erased the illusions of the night.
It was ti to awaken from worries and return to reality.
The dark single room gradually turned blue with light.
Knight Campbell sat cross-legged. He hadn’t slept a wink through the long night, yet his expression was sharper than ever, filled with firm determination.
'...Yes. I will atone.'
He stared at the small brazier before him. Inside the hot coals, a dagger was heating.
When the steel blade turned glowing red, he retrieved it without hesitation.
Without a mont’s doubt, he brought the searing blade to his face.
Sizzle.
White smoke rose. The sll of burning flesh filled the air. Suppressed groans escaped his lips.
The searing pain struck his skin like a hamr.
"Guh... haaah..."
It was agonizing, but Campbell didn’t stop. He pressed harder, digging into his flesh.
His face was once again covered in burn scars. His skin returned to its original ruined state.
"This... this is right. This is what it should be."
Last night, Campbell had been healed by a mysterious being. He had received a reward for repentance.
But to Campbell, it made no sense.
He had only ever blad himself. He had never truly atoned. He drowned in guilt and drank to escape it, never once finding the courage to confess his sins.
He was not worthy of any reward.
Only after seeking forgiveness from the Third Prince, whatever judgnt awaited—be it punishnt or grace—could he accept it.
That was the conclusion he had reached after a night of soul-searching.
Groaning, Campbell dropped the dagger.
Bits of skin clung to the blade.
His face burned like it was on fire.
Without even tending to the wound, he donned his visor.
When the steel touched his scorched skin, a fresh wave of pain surged.
"Guh... urgh..."
Despite the agony, Campbell prepared himself to leave.
It was ti to seek the Third Prince.
As soon as he flung the door open, a familiar face stood before him.
"So, you've co to your senses? Awake and ready to go even before being called. I'm impressed."
It was Myra. He clapped lightly in amazent.
"...Brother."
"But what’s that burning sll? Don’t tell you grilled at by yourself or sothing."
Campbell hesitated briefly, then lifted his visor.
Myra's face contorted in shock.
"You, you bastard!"
His skin had been completely seared, making his appearance more grotesque than before.
"Brother, how does it look? Doesn’t it suit soone like perfectly?"
"You’ve finally gone mad!"
"If not for last night, you’d be right. But I’m not mad. In fact, I’ve never been more clear-headed."
Myra couldn’t follow what was happening.
"What nonsense are you spouting?!"
"You won’t understand. Just think of it as your foolish junior finding his duty as a knight. I’ll be off now."
As Campbell tried to leave, Myra blocked his way.
"Where do you think you’re going like that?! You’re not taking another step without explaining!"
Campbell’s face turned calm.
"I’m going to see the Third Prince."
"What?!"
"You know why. Now step aside."
Myra imdiately drew his sword.
"Are you trying to betray your lord?!"
Campbell snorted.
"I am not the Count's dog. I am a sword and shield of the royal family."
"Now you want to pretend to be a noble knight? After being stained so deeply?!"
"Think what you want. I’ve made my decision. I’ll wash off this filth however I can."
His eyes burned with determination.
There was no stopping him.
"If that’s truly your will..."
Myra pointed his blade at Campbell.
Campbell’s expression turned icy.
"Are you sure, brother? If you try to stop , you better be ready to die."
Myra hesitated.
Campbell was a knight who wielded aura. He was a level above Myra.
Between knights, even a single level difference ant an overwhelming gap in strength. The outco of their fight was already decided.
Unable to strike, Myra bit his lip and spoke.
"Your house, your father, your brothers—they may all be slaughtered."
They were Campbell’s greatest chain.
Four years ago, he had raided the Third Prince’s palace for the sake of his family.
Campbell replied.
"If they are knights, they should pay the price for their disloyalty."
The Laura Family served the royal household. They had turned their blades on their lord, forgetting their oath. They had to bear the consequences.
"...You would abandon your house?"
"I am no longer Laura. Don’t lump together with them."
Leaving only those words behind, Campbell exited the village chief's house. Ignoring the shouting behind him, he stopped briefly outside.
His gaze turned to the visor in his hand.
After a short mont of thought, he tossed it aside.
He would wear no more masks.
He was ready to bear all responsibility openly.
He gently touched his scar.
'...Mapheltan.'
If he succeeded in atonent, that unknown being would erase his scars again with a re gesture.
For a god like Mapheltan, such miracles were nothing.
Campbell started to make the sign of the cross but stopped.
He didn’t know how one was supposed to worship Mapheltan yet.
After a mont of thought, he raised both arms high above his head.
Cheers.
Then he scratched his head and began walking.
The Incubus on his shoulder giggled quietly.
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