Looking closely, it was true.
Tears were dripping steadily from Ragner’s eyes as he swung his sword.
He must have been deeply overcome with emotion….
“Whoa… that’s incredible.”
Was he letting out all the guilt he had buried deep in his heart, crossing swords with his old friend as if they had returned to the past?
“Huh? The old hag is crying too. Ehehe! Even the old one is crying like a child!”
This time, Brownie pointed at Ruadis and teased.
How can a fairy be that wicked?
“All right, I can’t just leave this alone! I need to go tease them right now! You crybabies!”
Brownie, thoroughly excited, zipped out of the office.
And a moment later…….
Through the screen, I could see the dirt potato sobbing more pitifully than anyone else.
Apparently, there was an atmosphere at the scene that didn’t carry through the screen.
In that case, I should absolutely not go until things had completely settled down.
I was also on the tearful side, so I would clearly be swept up in that atmosphere.
I didn’t want to cry in front of others.
‘But this is quite….’
My eyes kept being drawn to Ragner’s wretchedly weeping figure.
Thump, thump.
My heart pounding pleasantly.
What is this? Am I into men who cry?
* * *
Only after confirming the battle had ended did I belatedly go up to the first floor to check the situation.
“Waaah, what an incredible friendship! You turned out to be a decent guy after all! From now on, you’re not Dead Fish Eyes—you’re just Dead Fish!”
Everyone had more or less returned to their usual selves, but only Brownie was still lost in deep emotion.
It had hated Ragner so much until now, and now it was patting his shoulder and acting friendly.
“Did everything work out?”
“Thank you, Choi. Thanks to you, I was able to exchange final farewells with Sabira.”
Oh. Now he’s calling her Sabira, not “the monster.”
It seemed he had fully accepted that the Dullahan before him was his friend.
Following Ragner, Ruadis also expressed her gratitude to me.
“It was a truly special opportunity. Though we couldn’t speak to each other, we were able to share our hearts through our swords.”
Huh? They didn’t talk? They really resolved everything just by crossing swords?
Is that possible? Is there something only adventurers know that I don’t!?
Come to think of it, the only human here who could talk with monsters was me.
And instead of mediating the conversation, I had been happily monitoring from my office…….
“Huff…! Should I… um… deliver anything you want to say now…?”
I looked at the Dullahan. She opened her mouth as if she had been waiting.
“I was wrong. The reason my heart ached so much just before my breath stopped… was because I couldn’t confirm that my friend was truly safe.”
I immediately relayed those words to the two.
“So your memories have completely returned?”
“Everything, from crossing swords.”
So it was possible even without a head.
It was endlessly fascinating, and at the same time, I felt something strange.
If she had truly recovered all her memories, then now, rather than a monster, shouldn’t she be seen as simply Sabira with a different appearance?
Then Ragner spoke in a grave voice.
“I grew stronger after losing you, so that I would never lose anyone by my side again.”
“…That’s what he says.”
“Yes, you grew strong in my place. Thank you for not forgetting me. And for fulfilling my dream.”
“…That’s what she says.”
Ruadis also cut in with a determined expression.
“I’m going to strengthen the training. I will no longer let my students lose their lives in vain.”
“…That’s what she said.”
I had been diligently interpreting the conversation between the two species when I paused.
Wait…. Isn’t this quite a useful talent?
Is there a way to make money as a professional monster interpreter?
“Now I can send you off with a clear heart.”
“My student, you must have been so lonely all this time. You worked hard.”
I had briefly fallen into unrelated thoughts, but those meaningful words snapped me back to attention.
Uh oh…. Wait a moment. This isn’t right.
We shouldn’t be moving past warmth into preparing for an eternal farewell.
Why are you trying to send her off!? Weren’t things going well just a moment ago!
“Th, the head… are you really going to burn it?”
I approached Ragner and Ruadis and carefully whispered.
“Though she has regained Sabira’s sense of self, the fact remains that she has become a monster. Sabira wouldn’t want to live like this either.”
“Yes, she can no longer even speak with humans. She was a child who dreamed of becoming a great adventurer—shouldn’t we protect her honor?”
No, why are you two deciding that on your own!
“Then… what about Sabira’s opinion?”
Even so, Sabira had fully recovered all her memories. If she died now, it would truly be dying a second time.
“Hm?”
Both looked at me with puzzled expressions.
Their reaction seemed to say, “Why would you even ask that?” As if they believed Sabira would also want to depart this way.
As I stood there dumbfounded with my mouth open, the dirt doll suddenly thrust itself forward.
“What are you doing? If the matter is settled, we need to make the contract now! You, Dullahan! Can you start work tomorrow?”
Brownie, unable to read the mood, had brought up the sensitive issue!
“Huff…!”
“…What? Work?”
“You, don’t tell me….”
The two humans’ narrowed eyes stabbed into the chest of the scheming dungeon manager.
Why can you two understand the fairy but not the monster….
“Well, you see….”
I first relayed to Sabira what the two were thinking.
The gazes the two were shooting at me made the back of my head sting.
“What? I’m completely happy with this body! It doesn’t hurt, and I’m strong! I’m thinking living a second life isn’t so bad. And I want to stay by our Boksil’s side! Haven’t you seen the feelings I left behind?”
Why is this Dullahan so obsessed with me?
She suddenly wrapped her thick armored arm around my shoulder as if pulling me into a hug, and I thought my whole body would be crushed.
‘In the end, I have to do the traffic control myself….’
“Phew…. There’s something I need to tell you both. Brownie, could you bring that thing from the safe zone?”
First, after sending away Brownie, who might do something unexpected again, I carefully opened my mouth.
“Actually, Sabira is thinking that living a new life as a Dullahan isn’t so bad….”
“What!?”
“So I was thinking, perhaps our dungeon could… protect Sabira.”
“You mean to hire Sabira here?”
Ignoring the two’s astonishment, I went on to explain to Sabira what kind of relationship these two had with the dungeon.
Ragner had promised to look the other way even though he knew I was on the Demon King’s team, and Ruadis was personally training the monsters.
And in the future, this dungeon would also be used as a practical training ground for beginner adventurers.
“That’s amazing! Is that Boksil’s idea? Master is surprisingly old-fashioned, so she’d never come up with a proposal like that.”
The one who first proposed training the monsters was your master, though….
“I want to do it too! Isn’t it a pretty good opportunity? I, who died in the demon realm, can help juniors not die in the demon realm.”
I relayed those words to the two exactly as they were.
“She doesn’t seem to have any particular desire to die, so is it really all right to send her off on our own?”
“…….”
“More than anything, if Sabira stays here… you could come visit her sometimes. Rather than visiting a grave… I think this might be much better.”
The truth was, if the two warriors of unknown level truly decided to give Sabira rest, there was no way I could stop them.
Ragner was far stronger than Sabira and had been going easy on her throughout the fight.
If Ruadis joined in as well, could even a level 40 Dullahan hold out?
“If Sabira also joins when Instructor Ruadis trains our employees….”
Ruadis pressed a hand to her forehead and let out a deep sigh.
“You really are…. Being with you makes me feel like I get tangled up in all sorts of strange things.”
“Master, what is the right thing to do?”
“Enough. Didn’t you hear that Sabira wants this? She says she wants to live—how could I cut short my own student’s life with my own hands?”
My heart pounded with relief.
Phew! What a relief.
Then now I just needed Ragner to make up his mind.
While he was unable to continue speaking for a moment, Sabira suddenly spoke up.
“My dear friend Ragner. My skills are far inferior to yours.”
So Sabira had also felt that Ragner had been going easy on her.
“…That’s what she says.”
“I miss the days when we competed as equals. So won’t you give me a chance to build my skills again and face you properly? Doesn’t it sound fun just imagining it?”
“…That’s what she says.”
Shouldn’t I be getting paid an hourly interpretation fee like the fire fairy at this rate?
“Ha, you really have always been….”
Ragner laughed in disbelief.
“Is your life boring these days? I felt ennui in your sword. Right now, you look like someone who’s lost the meaning of living. Where did the you who sparkled so brightly as a child disappear to?”
“Pardon? Really? Ah, Sabira just said….”
I relayed it to Ragner, a little flustered.
But he didn’t answer right away.
“I’ll be the reason you pick up your sword again. Just wait a little. I’ll catch up to your skills in no time.”
There was not a hint of hesitation in Sabira’s voice.
“Oh, come to think of it, I’m a monster now, right? If I get stronger here, wouldn’t that be pretty dangerous? What if I end up becoming a Demon King?”
I inwardly shook my head at that cheeky remark.
Good thing I sent Brownie away.
If it had heard Sabira’s words, it would have surely thrown a fit, asking if she thought Demon Kings were a joke….
“Hey! How many monsters do you think you are!? A being whose demonic energy has barely settled dares to covet the Demon King’s seat!?”
Yes. Just like that.
Anyway, I relayed Sabira’s words to Ragner exactly as they were.
Once again, he didn’t answer.
He simply smirked, his face looking far more at ease than before.
