Stigma Effect

Baraha, who was trying to cut the monster’s head, frowned at the monster’s strange behavior.

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The monster put Yuriel down, and stepped out in front of her as if to protect her.

Upon closer inspection, Yuriel’s body did not show any wounds from the monster’s claws or teeth.
The blood buried in the monster wasn’t the blood that Yuriel shed.

As he lowered his sword and approached, the monster faltered and retreated behind.

Even in the prophecy, there was no mention of Yuriel being attacked by monsters.
This incident was all caused by man.
Baraha hardened his expression and thought calmly.

He remembered that there was an unknown phrase that the saint was getting closer to the monster.

As Baraha lowered his sword and approached, the monster stepped back and watched Baraha’s actions carefully.

As if it was judging whether he was doing any harm to Yuriel.

“Is that a monster?”

“That, that….”

 

He heard a voice of one of the Princess’s knights to the shopkeeper.
Although it looked close to a wolf and didn’t show its teeth, the vicious energy it gave off was no different from that of a monster.

However, the behavior of the monster was surely strange.
Monsters were hostile to people.
Even the monsters that the Princess had gathered and nurtured did not follow human instructions without a leash and tools to inflict pain.

The monsters communicate with each other and give and receive help even if they take the form of a different species.
It was a phenomenon that only appeared when it was of the same monster.

A monster helps only when the other side wass a monster.

The knight who witnessed the scene raised his voice to the shopkeeper.

“Didn’t I ask if it’s a monster!”

“Th, that’s right.
It is a monster.”

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Trading the monsters’ core was legal, but selling live monsters was illegal.
In the Princess’ case, she evaded responsibility with the excuse of finding a way to weaken the monsters, but it was impossible to make such an excuse in slavery.

The shopkeeper, who found the Princess’s crest on the knight’s clothes without the robe, bowed his head and added words.

In a low voice, he spoke desperately into the ear of the Princess’ knight.

“It, it was a monster that would be an offering to the Princess.
Other than that, there are really no other monsters.”

It was a fact that most people who had delivered goods to the Imperial Palace knew that the Princess liked unique things, especially unique monsters.

The shopkeeper shook off his thoughts about the monsters in the basement.
The knights who heard his claim, exchanged glances.

Meanwhile, Baraha, who had taken Yuriel, was raising his body.
Even though he was full of desire to wipe out all the people who made Yuriel to this extent, it was surprising to him that he felt that he had to take care of Yuriel first.

‘Once I confirm that Yuriel is receiving treatment, we should return immediately.
For now, let’s go back and receive treatment.’

“I need urgent treatment.
The others don’t have to follow me and lock the door so no one can get out of here…”

Baraha, who opened the door to head to the Temple, saw the crowds outside the door and closed the door.

And he looked at the monster who was following him closely.
The monster that was moving following Yuriel held by Baraha was waving its tail in dissatisfaction.

Even if a wolf appeared in that noisy place, it would be a mess, but it wasn’t a wolf, it was a monster.

After checking the crowd, Baraha ordered the shopkeeper.

“Bring the car to the front of the store.
There is something in the luggage compartment so you can’t see the inside.”

It seems that the monster will keep following them.
When Yuriel wakes up, she might look for the monster, so he was planning to take this one to the Temple as well.

Even thinking about Yuriel aside, taking this monster to the Temple was the priority.
A monster that showed new habits.

It was well worth observing.

“You, you are not planning on taking the monster with you too, knight?”

“The sale of monsters is illegal.
Do you have any complaints about the Temple confiscating illegal sales?”

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Baraha murmured as he turned his shadowed eyes to the shopkeeper.
The eyes, which were as if they were not normal, gave off a more gloomy atmosphere than usual.

The shopkeeper, who had built up senses for people who had a lot of money, people who had a lot of time, and people who lacked character, quickly shook his head.

His eyes were released as if he had taken some medicine.
If he deals with such a person the wrong way, big troubles would arise.
There have been many instances where a person who was ignorant of a person like that had his head blown away in the blink of an eye.

The shopkeeper thought that his life was too precious to be blown away by just one monster, and ran outside.
He kept the four-wheeler close to the door and installed a screen so that passers-by couldn’t see who was riding.

It took him a while to do the work that the subordinates were in charge of.
After finishing the preparations, the shopkeeper returned to the store and sighed at the unfolding scenery.

All the emergency exits from the store were blocked, and subordinates who seemed to have been pulled out from hiding were sitting in chains.

It was fortunate to have a manually operated car waiting instead of an automatic car.
They needed someone to drive, so he had good reason to leave the store.

The shopkeeper turned away from his subordinates and spoke to Baraha.

“Knight, I have prepared the car.
I will take you to the Temple.”

The resentful gazes of those who knelt and gagged on their knees turned to the shopkeeper.
But he didn’t care at all.

They had such a relationship.
Even if the caretaker was the one sitting there, no one will try to rescue him.
Without any remorse, he ignored their pathetic gaze.

Of all things, they touched the Temple people, so this was the end.

The shopkeeper held the door in front of Baraha and weighed the value of several items in the car.
After dropping Baraha to the Temple, it was enough to finance his escape.

After the commotion had subsided, he would go to the bank and leave the Imperial Capital in search of the money he has been secretly stealing, and he would be safe.

“Come on, get on.”

The shopkeeper rolled his head and urged Baraha.
While the shopkeeper was away, Baraha got into the car after watching the monster with the muzzle and leash climbed into the luggage compartment by itself.

As he sat holding her in his arms, he removed the screen and spoke to the shopkeeper sitting in the driver’s seat.

“Let’s go.”

It was a slow and weak voice, unlike when the shopkeeper first heard it.
It looked like Baraha was busy looking at the woman.

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After the shopkeeper dropped them off at the Temple, he was sure he would get out of here safely.

It was a brief conviction that ended before even leaving the Temple.

＊＊＊

Yuriel woke up to the sensation of someone touching her forehead.
It was a familiar touch and energy.

Even before she opened her eyes, she knew that Raphlet was touching her, but it was difficult to open them as she intended.

Yuriel struggled hard and finally succeeded in opening her eyes.

Raphlet can be seen through her hazy vision.

A foolish smile leaked out when she realized that she was in a safe place, next to Raphlet.

The fear that she might never see Raphlet’s face again felt like a lie.

After fainting, it was not in Yuriel’s interest how she got out of it.
The last thing she saw was the one-sided hunting scene of the monster, so she wondered if someone saved her after that.

“Lord, hmmm, Lord Raphlet.”

A hoarse voice came out.
Yuriel cleared her throat and placed her cheek in Raphlet’s hand, who was on her side and touching her face.

Raphlet, looked up from below, looked angry.
The hand that touched her face was tender, but there was no warmth in his face.

However, it was a simple task for Yuriel to read emotions from a face that others would think there was no expression on.

Looking at Raphlet’s face mixed with anger, worry and confusion, Yuriel pondered whether she should be the first to say she’s okay or if she should ask Raphlet if he’s okay.

While Yuriel was contemplating, Raphlet spoke first.

“How are you?”

“My head hurts and my body throbs….
It doesn’t hurt too much.”

As if to prove those words, Yuriel got up.

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Yuriel got up and looked around.
When she said it was familiar, it was Raphlet’s room, not the infirmary.
Instead of work papers, his desk was littered with bandages, medicine, and treatment tools.

Yuriel, who looked around the room, looked at Raphlet and asked.

“Are you okay, Master?”

“… What’s wrong with me?”

“When I heard that the Master was hurt, I almost passed out.
Master is suffering too, right?”

Raphlet’s eyes twitched slightly.

 

“I am fine.
It hurts a little, but I’m healthy and I’ll get better soon.”

Yuriel said, reaching out to Raphlet’s head, who was sitting next to him.

“You look tired, did you sleep well? Meal? How long have I been sleeping? Did you just keep nursing me until I got up?”

Touching Raphlet’s messy hair, Yuriel poured out questions one after another.

Raphlet, who had hardened his expression, let out a long sigh.

Yuriel, brought to the infirmary, was exposed to the public eye.
The alchemists who ran from the Alchemy Tower and the high priests who rarely showed up came to see Yuriel.

Even after all the people who were in slavery were dealt with, the news that the monster had saved Yuriel was spreading all over the place.

He had to tell her that….

“Your face is half sunken, Lord Raphlet.”

Yuriel, who grabbed Raphlet’s cheek, pushed him without giving him a chance to speak out.