The Second Son of The Marquis Runs Away from Home ~ Lacking Talent, He Abandons Everything and Becomes an Adventurer ~ - 44

**Episode 44: Stained Hands**

The girl, who had woken up, sat up groggily and looked around. She specifically looked at the food I had made.

“…I’m hungry.”

—

Through the campfire, the girl devours the stew, which is made with dried meat and seasoned with salt and pepper, quickly emptying the pot. The stew that had been full is now almost gone, and the bottom of the pot is starting to show.

(I made extra for tomorrow morning…)

I had prepared more than usual, considering she would wake up, but her appetite was beyond what I had anticipated. After finishing the pot, the girl took a deep breath.

“…You eat a lot.”

“I hadn’t eaten anything since the transformation, so thank you for the meal.”

“Transformation?”

“It’s a method of transforming by channeling the power of a great weapon. I’ve been using it since I acquired Sabifuri.”

“…May I ask for more details?”

The girl nodded at my question and began to share her story in bits.

“My father was a sorcerer. I was picked up by him, and when I was about ten, he taught me how to seal Sabifuri.”

“Sealed?”

“My father defeated the previous wielder of Sabifuri in exchange for his magic power and one of his arms. After that, he attempted to seal Sabifuri in a sacred place and pacify and purify the souls residing in it.”

“Your father seems to have been quite skilled… But from the situation, it seems that the seal was broken?”

At my question, the girl pursed her lips but soon gathered her resolve and continued.

“When I was training with my father, I heard an unpleasant sound along with the breaking of the seal. When we went to check the shrine where we had sealed it, a black shadow emerged from Sabifuri and covered me.”

“…”

“When I realized it, I was holding Sabifuri… and I had pierced my father.”

Tears ran down the girl’s cheeks, her guilt for killing her father with her own hands manifesting in her tears.

“My father said before he died that the seal was broken because someone had opened the Gate of Yomi… and that it wasn’t my fault… That’s what he said before he died, and I was consumed by Sabifuri.”

The girl sobbed, and I found no words to offer. I could only pat her back as she bowed her head.

“…Hey.”

After she had finished crying, the girl looked at me with her red, swollen eyes.

“Do you know who opened the Gate of Yomi?”

“…Yes.”

The girl stood up and took Sabifuri in her hands. Holding the massive blade, she stared at it and said one thing.

“Return the souls to Sabifuri.”

“…Are you sure about this?”

The girl silently nodded in affirmation. I returned the absorbed souls to Sabifuri, and the turbulent power in the blade was restored.

“I have lost, so I will do as you say.”

But, she added, looking up at me.

“I want to defeat the one who opened the Gate of Yomi. If I can do that, I’ll destroy everything that stands in my way. I’m willing to give up everything I have… so.”

Before the girl could finish speaking, I placed my hand on her head and looked her in the eyes as I spoke.

“I promise… so, lend me your strength.”

The girl nodded at my words.

“By the way, I didn’t ask for your name. I’m Berg.”

“I’m Setsura. My father said I’m about eighteen.”

“…We’re the same age.”

In any case, it seems I’ve managed to make the demon… Setsura an ally.