Chapter 93 The True Aim
Gray, who was treated more like being under house arrest than confinement, was crouching in the corner of the assigned room, hugging his knees.
It was late at night, and almost all the evacuees had fallen silent in sleep.
Even so, Gray couldn't sleep and kept replaying the words Yumie had said in his mind over and over again.
──It's only natural not to be able to prepare for death.
──It's only natural not to have the courage to live alone! That's why, please don't leave such a heavy decision to someone else!!
"Leaving it to someone else, huh..."
He had no awareness of that at all, but being pointed out, he could see it might be true.
No, in his life so far, have he ever made any decisions on his own will?
When he was with the Neithardt family, he lived like a shadow, just afraid of dying, faithfully doing what he was told.
Even after moving to the Empire, while saying he didn't want to cross a line, he continued to cooperate with everything else, and before he knew it, he had come this far.
This time, nothing major happened without him doing anything, but if things had gone wrong, the beastmen could have suffered significant damage.
He kept flowing along, making excuses that this was the only way, because of his own actions.
"Hey, what a terrible sight this is"
Suddenly hearing a voice that shouldn't have been audible made Gray's shoulders jump.
When he looked up, there stood Coras, the leader of the Golden Fox clan, with an unbothered expression.
"Why are you here...!?"
"Hahaha, what are you talking about? This is my hometown, it's like a garden. With my ability to hide, there is no place I can't get in."
'I'm the only one in Golden Fox who can come and go as freely as I do,' Coras says proudly.
If it were discovered that he was here, he would be met with hatred that could not be compared to Gray's. What on earth was he doing here?
He speaks to Gray, who is growing increasingly wary, with a gentle expression.
"Still, that's a terrible story. To think someone like you, who was just used by that man, would be imprisoned in a place like this. It seems beastmen have no human hearts."
"...I knew you were plotting something, but I kept quiet all this time... it's only natural."
"You say that, but that girl... was it Yumie? I think her claims are quite irresponsible too."
Gray's brow twitched slightly.
Whether he knew it or not, Coras continued to speak.
"It's cruel to ask you for your own will when you're in a position where you can get away with anything, while she clearly doesn't understand the fear of not knowing what will happen if she defies it."
"Please stop. It's not like that at all."
Gray firmly denied Coras's words.
In the eyes of the boy who lifted his face, there was a solid light of "will" that hadn't been there until now.
"That girl has worried about me more than anyone I've ever met and has genuinely been angry for me. I don't want it denied by someone like you."
Gray has only been involved with Yumie for a really short period.
Even so, the praises and grateful smiles directed at her, as well as her scolding and encouraging expressions, are all burned into his memory.
It's the heartfelt feelings that no one has ever directed at him in his life.
When that was denied, Gray was surprisingly aware of a clear feeling of "anger."
"If you keep talking, I'll make a big fuss and call for someone. I'm grateful to you... for giving me the opportunity to meet that girl. If you leave right now, I'll let you off the hook just this once."
His newly inspired will is as ephemeral as a candle, and he feel as though it will go out if he blows on it a little.
Even so, Gray showed clear signs of growth that he had never shown before──
"Hehe, ha... hahahaha!!"
Coras laughed heartily.
Gray was surprised at his sudden transformation, and Coras yelled out that he couldn't help but find it funny.
"Good, really good!! I had heard rumors, but I never thought that in such a short time, one person could have such an impact. It's truly amazing, beyond my expectations!!"
"What... are you saying...?"
"Of course it's obvious, right? My biggest goal right now... I'm so happy to confirm that Yumie Granbell's "power" far exceeds my expectations."
"Wha...!?"
Up until now, Coras hadn't told a single lie.
It's not wrong to think that Thea's existence will be useful for Caide's research.
The story that the Emerald Cat clan's ability could be worth more than the Blue Wolf clan's isn't a lie either, and it's true that he initially came to this country aiming for that.
However, for him to deceive Caide and 'intentionally plant a transmitter in a place where he could be easily discovered by the Emerald Cat clan', all of it was just for this moment.
In just a few months since debuting socially, he managed to infiltrate the core of the Ortria Kingdom, and right now he's making a solid presence as an irregular amidst the Divine Beast Euphemia.
It was all to measure Yumie's value and keep her in his grasp.
"Her existence, depending on how it's used, could turn the power balance of this continent upside down; it's already starting to happen. If I can obtain that, having the "world" wouldn't be just a dream."
"You mean... the goal was to abduct that girl... Yumie!?"
"Yeah, that's right. I clearly set that as my goal after coming to this country and seeing her in person... In that sense, I'm grateful to you as well, Gray. You did an excellent job as a test stone for her power. As a token of my gratitude, would you like me to let you out of here? You and Yumie Granbell can both be treated as my subordinates and I'll treat you kindly."
"Don't mess with me...!!"
The will that had begun to sprout within Gray ignites a more intense feeling of anger.
This, combined with the self-deprecating aspect that originally existed within him, leads him to easily cross the line in judgment.
"I won't let you do that... You're going to die here with me!!"
He crushes the tablet hidden deep in his tooth, which wouldn't be found by a light body check.
It is a mass of monster factors adjusted for the magical armor used by Caide's subordinates.
In case of emergency, it was prepared to be a pawn under Caide's orders, a powerful drug that temporarily enhances physical ability and magical power beyond their limits.
"Guh... AAAAAHH!!"
Due to the immediate effects, purple patterns emerge all over Gray's body as he leaps at Coras with beast-like agility and monstrous strength.
The sturdy walls of the building, set up to keep him confined, are destroyed like paper by his smashing fists.
As a consequence, his already weak fists, raised to their limits, become soaked in blood, but he raises his head as if he doesn't care about that.
Toward Coras, who easily dodges the recent blow and wears a creepy grin.
"Hahahaha! I can't believe you would use it of your own volition without any hesitation. I'm really surprised. But is it okay?"
"...?"
"With that appearance and power, you'll have no excuse for the beastmen who doubt you."
At almost the same time as Coras spoke, the beastman warriors and the knights of the Belmont family, who had heard the commotion, gathered.
Seeing the prisoner who had turned into a monster, they immediately drew their swords, and Gray hurriedly explained himself.
"Please wait!! I'll accept any punishment later, but right now you need this guy...!!"
"This guy? What are you talking about?"
"Wha...?"
When he turned around, Coras was already nowhere to be seen.
The fact that he went out of his way to talk about targeting Yumie was likely not just to gauge his feelings for her, but also to provoke her into becoming bait.
And it's obvious what Coras is after during this commotion.
"Stop saying things that don't make sense and surrender quietly! Otherwise, I'll cut you down right here!!"
Despite the warning, everyone gathered is filled with a killing intent to execute Gray on the spot.
It's no wonder, Gray thinks to himself.
If the situation were reversed, Gray would have done the same.
However, there's no time to leisurely explain the situation now.
"...I'm sorry!!"
"Wha, he got away!!"
"Chase him!! Don't let him escape!!"
Using his other fist to smash the ground and kick up dust, Gray attempts to flee.
As he leaves, he calls out a warning, at least trying to say something.
"Yumie's in danger! Right now, just this once... please let me go!!"
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