The Revenge of the Soul Eater

I don’t even know how it really works.
However, the simple fact is that I was able to raise Lunamaria’s level.
If so, I should be able to raise Lady Claudia’s level as well.
I believe that if her level goes up, her resistance against the curse will go up too」

 

  「…That’s your way to help my little sister, huh? What if I tell you that I can’t entrust her to you on such an uncertain basis of yours?」

 

  「I think it’s reasonable that you wouldn’t be able to entrust your dear family member to someone you just met recently.
I will just go back to Ishka if that is the case.
I never intended to stay in the royal capital for long in the first place」

 

  I responded like that and lowered my head.

 

  Since I lowered my head, I couldn’t see what kind of expression Astrid had on her face at that time.

  Then, instead of the daughter, the father opened his mouth next,

 

  「Raise your head, Sora」

 

  「Sir」

 

  「I’m shocked…really shocked.
Honestly, I couldn’t believe everything you just said.
However, I have met a lot of people as a duke.
I can at least tell that you are not trying to dupe me with your words.
An indigo wyvern would not be attached to someone like that」

 

  Duke Dragunaut chuckled after his last sentence.

 

  He was like this as well when he pryingly asked me about Clau Soras.
It looks like when it comes to an indigo wyvern, this duke’s tone and attitude changes.

 

  Or maybe it’s because he noticed that I went a step further for them, so he’s taking a step further for me as well.

 

  The next words out of the duke confirmed my guess.

 

  「Therefore, let me first thank you for revealing your secret for my daughter.
If someone else finds out that you possess the ability to raise someone’s level, you will probably never be able to live a peaceful life again.
On top of knowing that danger, you acted for Claudia who you have no relation to.
I’m truly thankful for your kindness」

 

  「…It’s my pleasure」

 

  「It’s just that I don’t know why you are going so far for us.
You said this just a moment ago yourself as well, but we just met recently, right? Why are you doing this for us?」

 

  If I was a mere adventurer, he could make sense of this as I’m just trying to get some connection to the duke’s family.

 

  However, he doesn’t think that the person who tamed the indigo wyvern, defeated two types of king-class monsters, and was honored at the royal palace after saving Ishka, would reveal their secrets after all that to get close to the duke, he said.

 

  Meanwhile, I just answered him straightforwardly without needing to think about it.

 

  「Your grace did me a favor in the incident regarding Suzume.
Also, I know this is imprudent of me, but I was deeply impressed with your grace, Lady Astrid, and Lady Claudia as people.
Above all, if I have a way to help with the curse, it’s natural that I’d want to help as a human being when I see a girl younger than me cry out as the curse ate away at her」

 

  Like Suzume, Claudia is about 12 or 13 years old.
That’s the age when I was exiled from the island.

 

  A child that old is suffering and gasping for air without doing anything wrong.

  I don’t need to give a reason for wanting to help her or need a reason to help her.

  But if I have to give one…

 

  “I will devour everything, that’s all”

 

  Once upon a time, I had that strong thought in a place that was neither a dream nor reality.

 

  All I could do when I could neither fight nor protect was to eat.

  

  So, can’t I just eat a curse or two?

 

  Can’t I eat the injustice that was making such a girl cry and scream?

 

  “That’s…infuriating”

 

  That is why I’m going to help her.
If necessary, I’ll use my slaves or anything else.

  In the first place, slaves are meant to be used in situations like this…However, not only was Lunamaria not angry, the fact that she was happy to help me was a huge surprise.

 

  In any case, I had made up my mind to help Claudia.

  

  I didn’t say this to them just now because it’ll complicate things, but if Astrid and her father rejected my proposal, I intended to sneak in Claudia’s room at night to ask her if she wants my help or not. 

 

  It may seem like I don’t need to ask the Duke and Astrid for their permission to begin with if I had planned to do that in the first place, but truthfully speaking, I have a reason for wanting to strengthen my ties with the duke…or more specifically, with the Kingdom of Canaria. 

 

  It’s for that reason as well that I want to do things as perfectly as I can.
That’s why I’m standing before the Duke and Astrid.

 

  After Duke Dragunaut and Astrid heard my words and saw my attitude, they stared at me in thought.

  Then, the duke’s mouth opened slowly.