Chapter 130 – Monster and Man
The city of Ramsteris was reached in a few days by carriage.
They left the carriage at the Merchants Guild by the entrance, and then went to get a room at an inn. After that, they headed to the biggest church in the city.
The god had told them to visit casually, so it would be rude not to.
Still, were there no nuns or priests here?
If a god appeared in front of them now, it would surely cause quite a scene. Menew wondered about it as he opened the door.
“…Seker?”
He called out, and then Seker manifested on the altar of the high-ceilinged room. However, there was also someone else with him this time.
It was not Horus, it was a goddess.
When Menew and the others walked forward and saw her, they were struck by her beauty. Even Ralph.
She had long raven black hair and there were blue pigments around her eyes. The hem of her ornate white dress pooled on the floor and spread out like a great flower in bloom.
“Hello, Mr. Menew. This is Bastet. The Alcatse are watchers that she sent to this world. And since she had a report today, she came with me.”
“I always enjoy watching you all. Hello. My name is Bastet. It’s nice to meet you. Please sit down so that we can talk.”
Bastet and Seker took out chairs from somewhere, and they all sat down. Just like last time, there was a mountain of sweets in front of them. It did seem like it was being used as bait.
Still, Menew picked up a macaron gratefully as he turned to face Bastet.
“So Alcatse are not monsters?”
“They are monsters, but they are also my familiars. Of course, this is not widely known. It cannot be known. After all, they are meant to watch…while maintaining the right distance.”
So that was why they would scratch you if you got too close to them.
“The scarabs in this world are useful to people. However, the Alcatse have no such role. It is not for humans that they exist…but to be my eyes. With that said…many Alcatse in a certain area are being killed. It started a few weeks ago.”
Ralph had been about to reach for more food, but he paused and swallowed.
“Is that…because of what happened in El Dorado?”
“You are quick to catch on, young man. Yes. As you already know, Apep is in El Dorado, and is doing something that he does not want us to see. I cannot say if it is good or bad. Now let me ask you. Have you noticed anything while traveling?”
Menew and the others looked at each other. The seeds of war. The spread of illegal potions. And the Wind Clan.
After seeing that the others were thinking about the same thing, Menew opened his mouth.
“First, someone is trying to start a war. And illegal potions are being used towards that end. And all of this is related to an underground society known as the Wind Clan.”
Bastet thought about Menew’s answer for some time. Her long nails tapped against her chin a few times, and then she let out a sigh.
“How troublesome… Apep is acting more quickly than I thought. Thankfully, the war was stopped, but who knows when it will start again…”
“What happens then?”
“They can get a great quantity of samples, which will be used to improve the illegal potions. If they are killing the watchers, perhaps it is because they have reached the stage of using them.”
“Using them…?”
Totto asked fearfully.
Bastet and Seker looked at each other.
“A method of flying…they may be able to fly in the sky now.”
“And the Sky Tree is in the sky.”
“Is that what Apep was aiming to do from the beginning…?”
“Yes. He must have been refining the potion.”
Mofusen drank his tea and muttered.
“I did not see anyone like that on the battlefield. Most just had small body enhancements.”
“Indeed. I also didn’t see anyone who was mutated among the people who I treated.”
“The magic potion would rebuild your bodily structure. Mr. Menew’s healing magic would not help that. So it is likely that it was not used.”
“No…”
Ralph suddenly said as if remembering.
“Perhaps the war was just a cover. Menew, do you remember when we fought those slave merchants?”
“…Do you mean they are experimenting with monsters?”
“Yes. And with monsters that were summoned by a Summoner. That way, they can acquire as many specimens as they please. As long as the Summoner is skilled.”
Now that he thought about it, the monster Summoner they had encountered with Ellie had been unusually strong.
“That’s it. They changed the experiment method. And so they escaped detection.”
“But why go through the trouble? They worked so boldly up until now… The illegal potions are circulating quite far.”
Menew asked. Bastet opened her mouth and then closed it. After thinking for a moment, she turned to Seker.
“Mr. Menew. Your body was formed from elements using the genetic information I brought into this world twenty-three years ago.”
“I know. You already told me that.”
“Apep has the same body as you.”
“…Yes, I know.”
“In other words, you and Apep have bodies that are closer to spirits or monsters than humans.”
Menew felt as if he had been punched in the face.
(What? So I’m not a human then?)
But he swallowed back those words.
Indeed, he had the status of a monster. Especially the magic. He knew that it was ridiculous.
Still, he had lived and grown as a human. He had worked hard thinking so. But…he wasn’t a human?
“Please don’t misunderstand me, you are human. It is just that through his experiments, Apep learned that such a body was more suited to him. That is all.”
“I’m sorry, Seker… It’s hard to accept. After all…Apep and I are born from the same genes and elements.”
“…Still, you are human. Now, that’s enough talk for today. The priest will return soon.”
“I’m sorry, Menew. I did not wish to confuse you. You should live your life as you please.”
The two gods said before disappearing.
Menew covered his face with his hands and remained still. Ralph put a hand on his shoulder, and then Menew flinched.
“…Sorry. You should all go on ahead.”
His legs were shaking. He did not feel like he could stand up.
No one had any words for him, and so they left the church silently.
It was because he thought that he was human, that he wanted to live and grow in this world.
Suddenly, he could see Kazuya Yamamoto again.
‘You are a monster no matter what.’
He had hurt himself until he looked like a monster. All without thinking.
‘What will change? You are a monster who draws. That’s fine. You can still draw anyway.’
Kazuya Yamamoto was right.
If he could draw, then what did it matter?
‘Besides, it’s not like you have tentacles for arms. Your body does not look like mine. You have a good human body.’
Yes, he was shaped like a human.
But he was not human. He was no different from the evil god of chaos.
Menew felt his body grow cold.
“Can I help you with anything? Mr. Menew.”
He had not noticed that someone had entered the room. But it was a familiar voice.
Menew hesitantly raised his head.
“Sister…”
With a shaking voice, he called her. Even though she should not be there.