Since obtaining "Save & Reset," I've felt that the value of my own life has plummeted.
I no longer have any particular feelings about dying.
After all, I can just start over even if I die.
I remember in the beginning, each death was maddening due to the pain and mental anguish, but now, I'm more accustomed to it than I was at that time.
I can't say I'm completely at ease, though.
Slowly but surely, I'm getting used to dying, and that thought itself terrifies me.
So, how do I feel about killing others?
"Look, there's a human over there."
I had brought the puppeteer with me to a certain place.
Before me, Agetha, who had been sealed, was present.
"Well, even if I wanted to eat, I can't touch her because she's sealed in a powerful barrier."
"No, I can easily break the barrier."
Until now, I've been able to easily break barriers with just a touch, and it should be fine this time as well.
"I see. In that case, please go ahead."
Upon being told so, I headed towards Agetha, who had been sealed.
…Is this really okay?
I had contemplated various things on my way here.
Which of them should I sacrifice, the vampire Judite or Agetha?
Judite is a dangerous entity. I've been killed by her multiple times. So, I can't say I desire the current situation with her running rampant.
However, I do have some good memories with her. So, I can't help but hesitate.
On the other hand, what about Agetha?
Honestly, I have nothing but bad memories with Agetha.
However, the number of times I've been killed by her is much less compared to Judite.
I thought she was safe as long as I didn't release her seal, but for some reason, when I came into contact with Judite, her spirit separated from her body and appeared before me as a vengeful spirit, trying to kill me.
While I have no intention of coming into contact with Judite anymore, and the likelihood of being attacked in the same way may be low, she still remains a dangerous entity.
Yes, that's why feeding Agetha to the puppeteer here is to eliminate potential future threats and is absolutely necessary to escape this dungeon.
So, what I'm trying to do is not wrong.
"Why are you standing still since a while ago?"
I realized it after being told that my feet weren't moving.
"Hah… hah… hah…"
I noticed my breathing was labored. My heart rate was abnormal from a while ago.
"Mmm… Ugh…"
I vomited right there.
I continued to vomit until everything in my stomach was gone.
"Hey, hurry up."
The puppeteer urged impatiently.
But I couldn't even stand up.
Why am I feeling so sick like this?
Am I under attack by someone? No, that's not it. Agetha hasn't done anything.
It's just that I feel like I'm being crushed by guilt.
Is the act of killing someone accompanied by such intense mental anguish?
I'm starting to despise myself for thinking that it's okay to sacrifice Agetha. What kind of person am I?
I'm not denying the act of killing in itself.
After all, I've sworn revenge on the villagers, and I hate them enough to want to kill them.
But I can't hold the same feelings for Agetha.
Sure, she has caused me various troubles.
So, objectively, it might be permissible to kill her.
But… she told me she liked me.
It's still despicable to kill someone who has said that, just because it's inconvenient.
"Sorry… I can't do it. I can't bring myself to kill her."
I muttered softly.
I might be considered pathetic, but I just couldn't get my body to move as I wanted.
So, it's fine.
Puppeteer, if you don't like it, just go ahead and kill me.
"Ah, well, there's no helping it."
Suddenly, I heard a resigned voice from the puppeteer.
It didn't sound like a voice that would come from the puppeteer, and I was surprised.
"I'll give up on eating this child. Is that okay?"
"…You're not going to eat me?"
"What's that? You want me to eat you or something?"
"…No, that's not what I meant."
While saying that, I stood up.
"But you want to become human, right?"
"That's true, but!"
"To become human, you have to eat a human, right?"
"But it's impossible!"
"Oh, I see…"
"In that case, you should find another way!"
I was surprised by the puppeteer's response.
I couldn't understand what kind of confusion led to this.