I, Who Came From the Abyss, Will Save Humanity Again Today - Volume 1 Chapter 26

Chapter 26: Sylgaria’s Girl (Last Part)

 

***

 

On the bumpy village road, the girl who had washed away the blood from her body, wearing an elegant light white dress, walked side by side with the unreliable swordsman, talking.

 

“So, I slept for… 4 days?!”

 

I stared at Carlos with wide eyes.

 

“Mmhmm, pretty impressive.”

 

The bearded swordsman shrugged.

 

“I was… recovering my strength…”

 

“How are your injuries?”

 

“…Much better.”

 

“Oh, recovering so quickly? That’s impressive.”

 

The casual praise that came out so easily seemed insincere, and I didn’t feel like talking to him.

 

“Don’t you need to use the bathroom?”

 

“…None of… your business.”

 

I gave him an annoyed glance, what an improper fellow. In this era, who would ask such questions to a girl, but this guy just casually and habitually asked it anyway.

 

“During the time you were unconscious, your grandmother and that little boy called Barry came to see you. But that white dragon was guarding you so closely, they didn’t dare approach. Say, do you want to go see them first?”

 

“…I’m afraid.”

 

“Why are you afraid?”

 

“I don’t know.”

 

“…Hey, Little Syl. What are your plans for the future?”

 

“Haven’t thought about it.”

 

“The Holy Church has revoked the execution order on you, but you’ll need to come with me to Forsel soon… that’s the Church headquarters in the Sylgaria region, the Pope wants to meet you. Is that a problem?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Carlos frowned upon hearing this.

 

“What’s your problem? What I said earlier wasn’t just talk, the Pope will bestow upon you the glory and medals you deserve.”

 

“It’s a trap.”

 

“…Are you stupid? If we still wanted to kill you, do you think you’d be standing here talking to me right now? You would’ve died a hundred times already.”

 

“Dabai, protect me.”

 

“That dragon alone can’t stop the Church. Let me tell you, this opportunity took me a lot of effort to get for you, you must go, there’s no room for discussion.”

 

“I won’t.”

 

“You stupid woman… fine, considering you were just born not long ago. Let me be clear with you, the glory bestowed by the Pope personally is the highest medal in this world. At that time, just say what you want, money, or handsome men, what don’t you get? They’ll even give you a large manor with hundreds of servants, tsk tsk, the outside world is wonderful, you just need to enjoy it, you’ll have horse carriages taking you wherever you go daily, this is princess-level treatment. How about it, if you’re interested we can leave tomorrow?”

 

“No way.”

 

“…Then what do you want? Continue being a village girl here?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Damn, such an unsophisticated woman…”

 

Seeing Carlos looking so exasperated, I felt very happy.

 

How could I just let someone who bullied me have their way?

 

If you want me to go east, I’ll definitely go west.

 

As I was feeling somewhat smug thinking about this, suddenly I heard someone calling my name.

 

“…Little Syl?”

 

Carlos and I turned to look, Grandma Claire walked over tremblingly.

 

“…Grandma.”

 

I lowered my head, somewhat afraid to look into her eyes.

 

“It really is Little Syl, grandma thought her eyes were playing tricks, dressed so beautifully… when did you wake up?”

 

“Just now.”

 

“Come here, let grandma take a look.” Grandma Claire touched my arm, examining me from head to toe, “Does it still hurt?”

 

“It doesn’t hurt anymore.”

 

I slowly shook my head.

 

“Barry told me everything that happened, with injuries that severe, how could it not hurt…”

 

“I’m not in pain. Grandma, I’m glad you’re okay.”

 

“Silly girl, grandma was still in the church in town at that time, how could anything happen… It’s all my fault, if I had brought Father Merlin back earlier, perhaps we could have helped Little Syl… and Elia wouldn’t have…”

 

The words grandma spoke slapped me awake from my dream.

 

Elia…

 

That was something I had deliberately avoided remembering since the moment I regained consciousness.

 

If possible, I would be willing to pay any price to exchange for her life back.

 

I really, really, really wanted to see that thin but cheerful girl again.

 

“It’s not your fault, grandma.”

 

I sniffled, trying hard to hold back the tears in my eyes.

 

“It’s not your fault, it’s mine… It was me, I didn’t protect… it was me, I didn’t notice, she just, ran in front of, me like that… I just, wanted to, save Allen again… really, didn’t see, sob… it’s all my fault. It’s all my fault, I was careless, didn’t see her… sob… I didn’t, see her sob, I could have, saved her… why, did she come back, looking for me… sob… why, did she run, in front of me… sob… Allen, also died… sob sob…”

 

Finally the tears came out, couldn’t hold them back.

 

I kept trying to wipe them away with both hands while speaking brokenly.

 

My heart was filled with endless regret.

 

“Silly girl, don’t cry. You saved Barry, saved so many people in the village, that’s already very impressive, you are grandma’s pride…”

 

“Can I still… sob… call you, grandma?”

 

“What kind of question is that! I will always be your grandma.”

 

Grandma Claire gently hugged me.

 

I rested my head on her thin shoulder, smelling the comforting scent from her body.

 

“Thank you, grandma.”

 

Carlos beside us tilted his head up towards the sky.

 

Not a cloud in sight, just pure blue.

 

“Grandma, I want to, see her.”

 

…………

 

In the field not far outside the village.

 

The cemetery was just finished two days ago, and those lying here were all villagers who perished in this disaster.

 

Most of the deceased had no bodies, only simple stone blocks were erected, or crude crosses made from two broken wooden boards, with epitaphs carved on them serving as tombstones.

 

This at least gave the souls of the dead a place to rest, and left something for their descendants to remember them by.

 

I stood quietly in front of a stone monument, with Grandma Claire and Barry beside me.

 

Two crooked lines of text were carved on the stone.

 

“My name is Elia, a kind and brave girl”.

 

It looked like it was done by Barry’s hand, because not only was it carved very messily, but I also found spelling mistakes in the short two sentences.

 

“Barry, it’s carved so ugly.”

 

“…” Barry didn’t speak, just smiled slightly at me.

 

In just a few days, the once somewhat childish little boy seemed to have grown up a lot in an instant.

 

The nearby stone monument belonged to Allen, that calm and collected man who was Elia’s fiance.

 

“Elia, Little Syl has come to see you. Now you can rest assured, look, she’s completely fine.”

 

Grandma Claire clasped her hands together in front of the tombstone, appearing to be praying, but speaking words that made one’s eyes sting.

 

So I learned from her.

 

I don’t know if this way can convey what I want to say to you, but…

 

Elia, I’m sorry.

 

A good girl like you should have had a happy life. The future was still long, there were so many wonderful things that hadn’t happened yet, you were… you were about to get married, have one more person who loves you, and later would have given birth to another person you would love most.

 

But those damn monsters destroyed everything.

 

Elia, do you know, I am also that kind of monster.

 

I also… once destroyed countless families like this. Perhaps among them, there were kind and brave people like you.

 

I don’t know if this counts as punishment for me, making me lose you as a sister.

 

I actually don’t know what to say to you… oh right, the hymn, I practiced for so long, let me sing it for you now?

 

May you be well in heaven.

 

Carlos sat without ceremony on a mound of earth not far away, lost in thought as he gazed at the girl’s silhouette.

 

He vaguely felt that this time he had made a quite correct decision. This decision might affect the future direction of all humanity, even the entire world.

 

Your Holiness, perhaps, changes are coming soon. He thought.

 

Soon after, the girl’s ethereal singing voice echoed through the cemetery.

 

“When the bride enters the wedding hall.

 

The groom looks up gazing lovingly.

 

She is such a shy maiden.

 

Let us place the hands of bride and groom together.

 

The priest and family pray, passing on the beautiful wishes in their hearts.

 

In this sacred hall, they express their love.

 

Lead her before God with love and pride.

 

God bless, God bless.

 

God bless, God bless.”

 

…………

 

The night was deep, the crescent moon like brocade, the sky dome studded with countless stars.

 

The rural night scene was completely silent, the moonlit village road empty of people, only the shadows of houses and trees could be seen. The peaceful stream meandered through dense tree shadows, coated with a layer of silver by the clear moonlight.

 

I sat quietly with Carlos by the stream, looking at the faintly lit lanterns in the distance, listening to the gentle whispers of water flowing over pebbles.

 

“…I suddenly feel that, just staying here like this, isn’t bad actually. Having nothing means nothing to fight for.”

 

Carlos murmured.

 

“Ruining the mood.”

 

I gave him a glance, taking off my shoes and immersing my calves in the water.

 

I like this cool sensation.

 

“Still the same question from earlier, what are your plans?”

 

“…The monster said I’m one of them.” I answered irrelevantly, looking somewhat lost at the clear stream, “Ca… pigeon, tell me, what am I?”

 

“It’s Carlos.” Carlos laughed irritably, “I’m not good at preaching, but I have some thoughts to tell you. First, I believe what determines who you are shouldn’t be ‘what you are’, but ‘what you do’. I’m not someone who looks at appearances, I like to peel open problems and look at what’s inside. Yes, maybe you are their kind, but so what? Among humans, there are those who appear dignified but are ugly and vile scoundrels. Compared to these people, I actually find the Abyss fellows more lovable. So, the key point isn’t what you are, but what you want to do… So Little Syl, what do you want to do?”

 

Carlos’s voice wasn’t loud, but there was an inexplicable power in it. Some things entangled in the heart were instantly shattered.

 

The dark clouds dispersed, suddenly enlightened.

 

“I want to, kill monsters.”

 

“Then you’re not one of them.”

 

“What should I, do.”

 

Carlos smiled.

 

He lightly flicked off the weeds stuck to his clothes, walked over and extended his palm to me.

 

“How does the proposal of becoming a Pontifical Knight sound to you?”

 

…………

 

AN: End of Volume 1.

 

What I want to say in this volume is very simple, extremely simple. It’s about why a monster hated by humans would become a Pontifical Knight, and even become a human hero.

 

Although it’s called Volume 1, this is actually just a prologue. It’s probably equivalent to content in other works that would be summed up in a few sentences or at most one or two chapters, like the “I swear I won’t let this kind of thing happen again” type of cause, but I used nearly 80,000 words.

 

The death plot is usually unpopular in light novels. So I didn’t write Elia as some beautiful woman, or a character who has some ambiguous relationship with the protagonist. This is because the meaning of this character’s appearance lies in her death.

 

You could say there’s no ambiguity, no romance in this volume. Because the protagonist just came to this world, and with such a monster identity, she’s completely confused herself, how could she develop feelings or ambiguity with anyone? It wouldn’t be appropriate, right?

 

So among all the characters appearing in this prologue volume, except for Carlos, and the earliest Knight Commander and robed old man, the others aren’t important.

 

Who are the important characters? They are the heroes mentioned by Leyn and Barry, these are the people who will truly develop emotional connections with the protagonist.

 

For this volume, I give myself 50 points, there are too many inadequacies.

 

The next volume is where the real story of this book begins, I hope I can write it brilliantly. There won’t be similar plots that might make people feel powerless and uncomfortable like this anymore, to be honest I don’t like writing such plots either, it’s better to be exciting when it should be exciting.

 

As for whether this book is yuri or marriage… it’s neither.

 

If I have to say, it’s like being the mascot of the Pontifical Knights… that kind of feeling?

 

That woman… who has countless heroes standing behind her.

 

That’s all.