BBYW Vol. 4 Chapter 59 (WN)
Chapter 59 – Spoils of War
The evil deity Nyarlathotep crumbled and turned into ashes.
The sword I held in my right hand stopped pulsating, announcing the demise of its fated enemy.
“…it’s over.”
I removed the sword from Nefertina’s chest.
Freed from the parasite, the young girl’s body slipped and fell from the throne.
I held her in my arms before she touched the ground and looked at the wound.
I did my best to avoid piercing her heart and lungs, but even so blood flowed copiously from the wound caused by Siegfried.
“Good thing I have my healing item. It shouldn’t be a problem to heal a wound like this.”
I touched the silver bracelet on my arm, then held a hand over Nefertina’s chest.
Just like I shared its power with the soldiers on the battlefield, I tried healing her chest wound.
“Hmm? What is this…”
However, before I could activate Herakles, Nefertina’s wound closed up.
It was as if the flow of time reversed before my eyes: I couldn’t help but stare in surprise.
“…I see…you stepped into the realm of immortality already.”
Thinking about it, it was probably obvious.
Nefertina was born in this kingdom hundreds of years ago. There was no way she could have survived until now.
She too had been cursed with an immortal body by the evil deity.
Just like my mother, Grace, and Captain Drake.
“Well I’ll be…what should I do with this girl?”
I ended up saving her, but I certainly had not meant to, nor did I have any reason to.
On the contrary, Nefertina was the one responsible for the summoning of the “Terror Armies”. Even if she had been manipulated by the evil deity, too many people had died for her to simply go unpunished.
“Hmm…this is a real dilemma.”
I caressed Nefertina’s black hair, then poked her cheeks.
Despite the physical contact, however, she did not react at all. She did not even blink, as if the magic tool had already sucked her dry.
“It’s like her soul left her body. I would enjoy it more if she reacted, at least a little…hm?”
Hades, the Magic Tool around her neck, shattered into pieces. After being constantly used for centuries, it had probably reached its limits.
I looked at the pieces of the golden necklace and the red gemstone at its center, then let out a deep sigh.
“Did you…want to save her? You wanted to set her free?”
Thinking about it, the illusions created by the Magic Tool probably meant to reveal the presence of the evil deity and protect Nefertina herself.
Some Magic Tools seemed to possess a sort of will, like Siegfried did. The will contained in the necklace might have tried to save the girl somehow.
“…alright then, for your sake, I won’t just throw the girl to the wolves. I’ll take care of her, at least for a while.”
No promises about what happens next, though — so I added, then put Nefertina’s body over my shoulder.
I had nothing else to do in the shrine: except collect the treasures in the room, maybe.
“I might as well have House Sphinx take care of it. I can’t be bothered to carry all of this by myself, anyway.”
If I sold all of the fortune amassed in the room, I could definitely earn enough money to surpass the national budget of the Lamperouge Kingdom.
If, for instance, I was to receive half of it, the remaining half would be more than enough to restore the damage inflicted by the invasion of the undead.
The lost lives would not come back, but it was at least possible to provide aid to the families of the bereaved, rebuild towns and villages and repair forts.
“Even less reason to stick around, then. I have my prize here…not that it’s appealing much.”
Nefertina’s body was just like a doll: I couldn’t feel the slightest response or resistance as I carried it.
“The spoils of this war are a load of treasure and a frigid girl, huh. I’m not sure if it’s worth all of the time and effort I’ve had to spend…”
The threat of the “Terror Armies” was gone forever, though, as well as one of the evil deities, mankind’s worst enemy. That was surely a worthwhile result.
I chuckled to myself and stepped out of the shrine.
Because of the destruction of Hades, all mummies disappeared from the “Undead Capital”: all that remained was dry winds blowing through the empty streets.
I grimaced because of the sand flying in my eyes and looked up.
A clear blue sky extended in all directions, with streaks of white clouds.
“…even an old tree can decorate a mountain, as they say. With the city this empty, I almost miss those dried up mummies.”
Even without its population, the “Undead Capital” was still worthy of its name.
I let out the slight feeling of melancholy with a sigh, shaking my head slowly.