Published at 20th of January 2021 06:54:27 AM
Chapter 343
Decision Time 1
Author’s comments: Sophia’s point of view
「Ahh . What an awful waking scene . 」
The light of the sun is shining so brightly through the windows that it is detestable . I would not normally mind, but in my current state the sunlight feels hateful somehow . With the effects of my True Ancestor title sunlight should have no effect on me, yet I am still a vampire, so perhaps I just don’t particularly like sunlight . Until now, it has not been something that particularly bothered me, so perhaps the mental effects are large .
「Ojou-sama, have you awoken?」
From outside the room, I heard Merazofis’s voice from the direction of the door . I guess this means that Merazofis woke earlier than I did . Of course I am not sleeping in late, it’s just that Merazofis is an early riser . That I can already hear a background noise and sense many people being awake… is surely just my imagination .
「I am awake . I shall go after getting prepared, so please go ahead of me . 」
「Certainly . Everyone else is already present, so please hurry . 」
I’ll prepare in five minutes… no, three minutes!
「I hope I didn’t keep you waiting . 」
「Yeah . It’s an executive privilege . 」
When I breezily arrived at the large room where everyone was gathered, the first thing out of Kyouykun’s mouth was a bunch of sarcasm . Upon looking at Kyouykun in irritation, I decided to swallow the complaints that I was about to utter . This was because Kyouykun was uncharacteristically tense .
「What happened?」
「Yesterday, after everyone collapsed, there was an enemy attack . 」
「Eh!?」
No way! Was I totally sleeping like a log!?
「I just about managed to repulse them, but they got away without any being defeated . 」
「Hmm-mm . 」
I was about to say that it was pathetic of him to let them escape, but somehow I managed to swallow those words . I know just how strong Kyouykun is . So given that Kyouykun failed to capture them, that surely means that the opponents were also quite strong . Actually, given how tense Kyouykun is, perhaps it was quite a dangerous situation . Besides, since I had collapsed and was useless, it would be barking up the wrong tree to blame Kyouykun here wouldn’t it . Or rather, perhaps it would be better to view it as him protecting us…
「……I wish to express my appreciation just in case . Thank you . 」
After I said that, Kyouykun’s eyes blinked in surprise .
「Hey, what’s with that response?」
「Well, to think you would actually thank someone, Sophisan . Maybe this is a harbinger of something terrible happening today . 」
「Just what do you take me for?」
「Haha . 」
When I scowled at him a bit, Kyouykun laughed it off . Well, whatever . In consideration for his actions while I couldn’t move I shall let it go .
Now then, on looking around the place again…… is this a wake perhaps? Despite the fact that almost all the reincarnators are gathered, not a single person is speaking . It’s oddly silent . Well, it’s not like I don’t understand how they feel .
「Sophisan, you seem to be dealing with it okay . 」
「Indeed . It’s likely that Heresy Nullity is somewhat effective . 」
In order to suppress the negative side effects of my Envy skill, together with Kyouykun I raised the Heresy Resistance skill level, and obtained Heresy Nullity . It’s surely thanks to it that I am less affected than other people . Affected by Taboo, that is .
「Still though, to think that Taboo would be handed out to all of humanity . Whoever god is they sure did something bold . 」
The reason why I collapsed yesterday is because Taboo was forcibly installed . Whether it’s Faint Nullity or Sense of Pain Nullity, it pierced all resistances and caused a headache such that I lost consciousness . When I woke up I was on a bed .
「Ah, that’s right . Who carried me to bed?」
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「Nn . 」
Kyouykun pointed his finger at someone – a girl wearing maid clothes who was continuously working to bring out plates . If I remember correctly, she’s called Ael and one of Ariel-san’s family, right?
「She carried the girls . I carried the boys . 」
「I see . I better thank her later then . 」
Incidentally, I wonder what she’s carrying on those plates? When I looked out of curiosity, it was breakfast . Plates full of breakfast were being lined up on the tables, in front of the reincarnators who were hanging their heads .
「She did make breakfast as well?」
「Nope . Ariel-san did . 」
「Huh?」
Ariel-san did? But, isn’t Ariel-san in bad shape right now?
「Hey hey . It’s time for a delicious breakfast . 」
That same Ariel-san then arrived with a plate in hand .
「While I’m sure you’re feeling depressed about various things, humans need to eat to live . So why don’t we dig in?」
In response to Ariel-san’s words, the reincarnators raised their heads . Then, Ariel-san came to where we were, and took a seat at the same table . Without a moment’s delay, Ael brought over breakfast for Kyouykun and I .
「「Thank you . 」」
Urk . I unintentionally said that together with Kyouykun . Ael silently bowed her head, then went outside .
「Ael is on guard while we’re eating . 」
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「Yeah . There’s no reason why there wouldn’t be another attack is there . 」
「Exactly . 」
I agree .
「Okay . Everyone has a serving, right? Then – itadakimasu . 」
Ariel-san gives the address prior to eating . The reincarnators gave a sporadic “itadakimasu” as well, and a number of them began to eat . There’s a number of people who’ve not begun to move yet, but I’m sure they’ll start sooner or later . I ignore them and begin to eat .
「Ah, it’s good . 」
「I made it just from what was available, so it’s hard to say that the quality is particularly good though . Outside being what it is and all . 」
Outside a lot has been burnt down after all . In other words, it means that the ingredients used to make this breakfast just barely escaped the war huh . Or else, perhaps it came from the military rations that we brought? Either way, it would be hard to say that it’s good quality stuff . The reason why it’s quite delicious even so, is perhaps due to Ariel-san’s advanced cooking skills . That being said, there would be limits to the remaining food, so it seems we better leave here sooner rather than later .
「With regards to the future, what are we going to do?」
When I tried asking her that, Ariel-san put on a difficult expression while going into deep thought .
「Frankly, I can’t read how things are going to develop from now on . I guess you could say that I don’t know which direction to go in to be honest . 」
Goodness, to think that this situation is unforeseen to such an extent . Well, I guess there’s no way that this would be within expectations from the start .
「For now, I’m having Merazofis-kun and Felminchan make preparations . 」
Ahh . So that’s why they’re not here . At any rate……
「With regards to Taboo, can anything be done about it? It’s so gloomy that I can’t stand it . 」
Every time your mind wanders onto what I guess you could call the Taboo menu, from there comes a thought constantly saying “Atone” . It’s depressing to think that this is going to continue forever .
「There’s nothing . I’ve had to deal with it the whole time as well . 」
「Sigh……」
I expected it, but I couldn’t help breathing a sigh .
「However, if the System goes away, Taboo as well as all skills should go away . 」
「That’s it!」
We’re planning to destroy the System anyway, so then we can be freed from this gloom! This means we have another reason to destroy the System then .
「……It’s too advantageous for us . 」
「Eh?」
Ariel-san’s brow is furrowed while she ponders it . Certainly, by looking at the contents of Taboo, it is possible to understand in a consistent way that Ariel-san is trying to save the Goddess . Then, if knowledge spreads that destroying the System means the harassment from Taboo will go away, surely the number of people cooperating with us will increase . Even with Heresy Nullity and the suppression of Taboo’s influence I get from it, I still find it to be gloomy and all . Surely for anyone without Heresy Nullity it should be much more unpleasant . If you could be released from that suffering, then you wouldn’t be bothered about how it looks to others . Thinking about it that way, having Taboo installed on all of humanity is favourable to us .
「You have some kind of concern?」
Before I could ask that myself, Kyouykun asked Ariel-san .
「As far as I am aware, the god who is the High Rank Administrator is not someone who would favour either side . Despite that, the situation is in our favour for now . 」
「……So, you think that something unfavourable will happen to us later?」
「I don’t know . But, when Taboo was distributed, it said World Quest, sequence 1 . In other words, there’s at least two . 」
Come to think of it, that’s true . In short, after this something will happen .
『World Quest, sequence 2』
Oh my . Is this a case of speaking of the devil I wonder . Now then, I wonder what will pop out next .