The Ruined Ending made by a Baby

 

 

 

 

After leaving a message for Lyat and Martin to have dinner together, Shekina returned to her room and, for the first time in a while, felt a headache and clutched her forehead.

 

– The elders want to stay in the human realm.

 

– They’ll do anything to remain attached here.

 

Shekina reflected on Muller’s words.

 

“They want to keep staying in the human realm? The demons?”

 

Shekina let out a dry laugh.

 

“They’re crazy. They’re definitely plotting something.”

 

So what exactly is this scheme?

 

What is it that makes them so desperate to stay in the human realm?

 

Shekina sat on the edge of a chair and pondered deeply.

 

But no clear answer came to her. Why?

 

‘Because it’s something beyond common sense!’

 

Shekina patted her chest in frustration before suddenly standing up.

 

“Hey, system!”

 

She shouted loudly.

 

“Bring me that thing I ignored last time—the Pope’s—whatever that is called!”

 

She was referring to the reward she’d planned to check out later but had left for the system to handle, the ‘Evidence of the Pope’s Suspicious Trace.’

 

Ring!

 

[SYSTEM]

 

Anyway, how rude… Don’t you know how to speak nicely?

 

“Just hand it over, quickly.”

 

The system didn’t even respond. Instead, it just dropped something with a soft plop.

 

Shekina hurriedly pulled out the familiar bundle of papers she’d seen before and began to scan the contents with wide eyes.

 

Most of the content on the paper was nonsense. However, there was useful information—details that, if exposed, would deal a huge blow to the Papal Palace.

 

It was about…

 

“These people are really insane.”

 

It was about how the orphans who had entered the Central Temple were ‘used.’

 

<Children with blonde hair and blue eyes are deemed the most suitable.>

 

Suitable for what? The answer written down was only one thing.

 

<They are experimenting to find the most effective method for transferring a soul into a new body.>

 

“Ha, haha…”

 

Shekina let out an incredulous laugh.

 

In short, to summarize:

 

1. Lucifer has currently transplanted his soul into the old Pope’s body.

 

2. For some unknown reason, he wants to switch to a new body.

 

3. To do that, he has been using children as experimental subjects.

 

Conclusion: He intends to transplant his soul into a child with blonde hair and blue eyes.

 

“So that’s why he’s been hovering around Dehan like that?”

 

Because Dehan is the hero Lucifer personally selected, the protagonist of this scenario.

 

“Wow… What should I do?”

 

At this rate, Dehan would definitely have been sacrificed by Lucifer. Shekina had a strong premonition that this was something she hadn’t witnessed in the game—what would happen after Dehan exterminated the demons.

 

In other words, what Dehan really needs to do to save his own life is not to fight the demons, but to kill Lucifer.

 

On top of that, Lucart also needed to act quickly. If they didn’t, Lucifer might regain even more of his power.

 

“But how do I tell them this?”

 

How could she explain how she knew such information? It would be suspicious.

 

Why? How can I trust you, Shekina? I don’t know anything about this.

 

What if they say that? I wouldn’t have any explanation to offer.

 

“Haa… Life is tough, really.”

 

Shekina took a deep breath and started thinking. She had to find a way out of this, no matter what.

 

At that moment:

 

“What’s a 3-year-old kid got to complain about in life?”

 

A sudden but familiar voice came from behind. Without being surprised, Shekina turned her head towards the direction of the voice.

 

“Don’t you know how to knock? And what’s with entering through the window instead of the door? Are you a thief or something?”

 

“Because it’s cool.”

 

“Oh my.”

 

The uninvited guest, Nisha, chuckled as she entered the room and stared at the paper Shekina was holding.

 

“What, what? Why are you staring? I’m not going to show you.”

 

“I don’t need you to show me. I can see it through the spirits, you know?”

 

“Ugh, I hate spirit magicians.”

 

Shekina grumbled as she crumpled the paper and shoved it into her clothes.

 

But from the look on Nisha’s face, she had probably already seen everything.

 

Seriously, this is why you should never keep spirit manipulators nearby. They can’t keep any secrets.

 

“I won’t ask how you found that information. You don’t seem like you’re willing to explain it anyway.”

 

“You’re really bold to admit you peeked at someone else’s stuff.”

 

“Oh please, we’re not strangers. We’re family.”

 

“Wow… That gave me chills. Gross.”

 

Nisha ignored Shekina’s shuddering expression and spoke again.

 

“So, what are you going to do with that? Tell the Demon King?”

 

“You want me to tell the boss? Then he’d start interrogating me. How did I know? Can he trust me? Wouldn’t it be better for me to die instead?”

 

“…Has the Demon King actually said that to you?”

 

“Yeah, a lot.”

 

“……….”

 

Nisha frowned and narrowed her eyes. But Shekina, oblivious to Nisha’s discomfort, sighed and collapsed into the chair.

 

“I don’t know either. I have to tell him somehow, but if I do, he’ll start questioning me again. It’s really frustrating.”

 

It felt like she had gained a bit of trust after the recent temple explosion incident, but just a little. If she acted suspiciously again, she could be under suspicion once more. Shekina, who had no clue about Lucart’s guilt, was thinking this.

 

So, instead of informing others, should she handle it herself?

 

At that moment…

 

“Do you want me to help?”

 

“Huh?”

 

Nisha said something unexpected.

 

Shekina widened her eyes in surprise. She didn’t expect Nisha to say such a thing.

 

“We can use the spirits. They float even if they fall into water, you know?”

 

“Huh, what?”

 

“Why don’t we spread the word in the capital? That way, everyone will naturally find out.”

 

It made sense.

 

Once the rumors started circulating among people, Calvin—the information broker—would be the first to know, and naturally, Lucart would hear about it too. It was a good plan.

 

But… why was Nisha offering to do this?

 

“You…”

 

Shekina gave Nisha a suspicious look.

 

“Why are you helping me?”

 

Nisha shrugged at Shekina’s suspicion.

 

“I told you.”

 

Then she tapped Shekina on the forehead lightly.

 

“Because we’re family.”

 

What the hell? Gross.

 

Shekina tried to express her disgust again, but Nisha spoke quicker.

 

“Of course, you’ll owe me for this. A hairpin won’t be enough this time.”

 

Of course, ugh.

 

Shekina started thinking about another dungeon with relics, not noticing the hardened expression on Nisha’s face.

 

***

 

The carriage rattled and shook violently as it moved along the unpaved road. No matter how much magic surrounded it, the slight jolts couldn’t be completely avoided.

 

So, the people inside the carriage—Arthur, Yuriel, Dehan, Pardes, and Merdes—couldn’t help but sway back and forth as the carriage shook violently. However, their expressions were more serious than ever.

 

It was all because of,

 

“Engagement…! Are you crazy? Seriously?”

 

“They’ve lost their minds. Oh, come on! This is so infuriating!”

 

This anger stemmed from the conversation that took place between Shekina and the prince. Although no one explicitly said, ‘Let’s get engaged,’ the circumstances strongly indicated that an engagement was likely, leaving them no choice but to be angry.

 

On top of that, Shekina had nonchalantly mentioned her willingness to go along with the engagement, which further fueled their rage.

 

“When we get back, I’m going to give Shekina a real scolding. Who would’ve thought she’d still have such thoughts after I scolded her just recently?”

 

“Yeah! This time, I’m going to be angry with her too!”

 

The twins shouted, clenching their fists tightly.

 

“Arthur, aren’t you mad? Are you okay?”

 

They shouted at the oldest among them, Arthur.

 

Arthur relaxed his stiff face a little and shrugged his shoulders.

 

“If it weren’t for the Count’s orders, I would’ve blown up the imperial family by now. I’m probably the angriest one here, so everyone, keep quiet.”

 

Well, that was likely true… but even so, the twins didn’t seem satisfied.

 

At that moment:

 

“Um, um…”

 

Yuriel, who had been silent until now, cautiously raised his hand.

 

“Even if we go back, the imperial family won’t just let us leave…”

 

“I know that, but what can we do? Once we return to the North, we’ll figure something out.”

 

“N-no… that’s not what I meant…”

 

Yuriel swallowed nervously before continuing.

 

“I-I don’t think they’ll let us leave… So, I kind of… did something…”

 

He clasped his hands together tightly and lowered his head. Slowly, he continued speaking.

 

“I-I told the people who lived near the Papal Palace… that if they go to the imperial family… they could get help… Specifically, I said Her Majesty the Empress would help them…”

 

“…What?”

 

“They’re probably in chaos by now…”

 

In other words, he had used the people to completely mess with the imperial family.

 

Realizing this, everyone in the carriage had their mouths agape.

 

“Wow, and you look like such a nice person.”

 

“You really pulled this off.”

 

“That’s not it…!”

 

Yuriel’s face flushed bright red at the twins’ murmurs. In contrast, a bright smile appeared on Arthur’s face.

 

“Yuriel.”

 

Arthur grinned and grabbed Yuriel’s hand.

 

“Welcome to our side.”

 

But…

 

Was this really okay? Could he really be welcomed like this…?

 

Yuriel’s eyes wavered with uncertainty.