The Outer God Needs Warmth-Chapter 229: Song of the Betrayed (9)

"Really? The leg that was amputated healed cleanly..."

While Morris and his parents were checking Morris’s body, I went outside with Beatrice.

The awkward tension between Beatrice and Morris suggested that their relationship wasn’t all that great.

"Beatrice, would you like to make a contract?"

I pointed at Beatrice’s body. Though covered by baggy clothes, the scars were clearly not ordinary.

There were even scars on her face.

For a scar that couldn’t be removed, it seemed she had given up something truly important.

"Would I change like that?"

"Like that."

"Unless you’re on the brink of death, your skin won’t turn blue."

"On the brink of death."

Beatrice echoed my words, then slowly sank into a sense of dread. She realized the meaning of what I had said.

"Does that mean Morris was on the brink of death?"

"At least, as far as I know, yes. Anyone who made a contract when death was near had their skin turn blue."

Minor injuries like losing arms or legs were fine.

But for those dying from a deadly disease or curse, where blocking the bleeding wouldn’t stop death...

Those people’s skin turned blue.

It was like a mark of someone who defied death.

As for me, if I come back to life, I think it's a good thing.

Perhaps bringing back someone who has just died might also be possible, because even in the body of the deceased, a faint light remains for a while.

I believe if you recite the contract, you could form one.

But bringing someone back from the brink of death is entirely different from reviving a dead person.

So, when I see a dead person, I just steal their warmth.

Ah, of course, I don’t revive the dead for the sake of being worshipped. It’s a bit uncomfortable.

Honestly, if someone insisted on it, I’d kill them without a second thought.

But if it’s for warmth, I’m willing to wear the mask of a god.

However, healing the injured is far less dangerous than reviving the dead. More people will start studying me. While some are already doing it, there are many existing techniques to regrow lost limbs or cure deadly diseases.

Technologies that are different from the ones we think we know.

And the second part...

I need to explain that a revival must happen while warmth, or more precisely, light remains. But as I think about it, I realize that people of this era won’t easily accept it.

If it were in the worlds of Kunlun or Daegon, I wouldn’t hesitate.

Why?

Because there are techniques that can revive people there. In fact, Daegon can revive even creatures that have been dead for a long time.

But in this case, there are two types.

One: The body is revived, but the soul is new. Strictly speaking, it’s not entirely new according to Daegon’s memories, but there’s some complicated rule about it. It’s practically new, though, and the body isn’t strong enough to support the soul, so it dies soon after. It’s not true resurrection; it’s a temporary revival with a deadline.

Two: The body and the soul are revived. However, if the soul is already living in another incarnation, the current life is sacrificed.

To explain simply, you resurrect the past life by offering the present life as a sacrifice. Of course, even then, the soul that enters the revived body is flawed, and without proper adjustments, it’s easy to die again.

So, in terms of technology...

I personally have an aversion to bringing the dead back to life. I just take their warmth.

Returning to the story, I looked at Beatrice, who was pondering a contract with me.

Appearance is a very important factor for women.

If she stayed with Morris, who had grown younger during harvest, it would be hard to endure for long. And perhaps, they might separate over something like an affair.

It's something that happens often in human relationships.

People often leave their scarred partners to find someone more beautiful.

I don’t know exactly how she feels about it!

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So, I say this.

"Think it over slowly. It’s not like your life is hanging by a thread like Morris's, right? The contract is easy."

Beatrice looked down at me with an uneasy expression.

In the meantime, Morris was introducing his daughter to his parents. When Victoria awkwardly greeted them, only then did the two of them respond.

"No, the contract isn’t that easy."

"Why so sudden?"

Beatrice asked, confused.

So I pointed toward the room.

"Victoria thought I should be in that room, so she left a message for me to stay well. She hurriedly followed, but I need to go back to the capital now."

Yes. Just like I left without a word earlier, I’m going back now.

Since I said I wouldn’t return, she followed, but that’s that.

If she wants to part ways with me, that’s what should happen.

"She said that?"

"Didn’t you hear anything from the letter?"

At my question, Beatrice slightly shook her head, her long blonde hair moving in the process. Actually, it wasn’t the length of the hair, but rather, she was hiding the fact that she had no hair.

If you are reading ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

Digging into Morris’s memory, I found that while fleeing, she was caught by a cruel person who yanked her hair out.

So, there were holes in her scalp. She had been pulled so hard that hair couldn’t grow back in some places.

She was hiding it with her hairstyle.

"Is that so?"

"But Bell, did you know that Morris was in this situation?"

That’s when Beatrice pointed out an important part. Yes, their relationship had soured, and yet, she had forcefully come down here.

She was asking if it was because of Morris.

"Isn’t it strange to not know after sending such a letter?"

At my question, Beatrice went silent.

Yes. I knew.

Back when she was still at the Wind-Up Knight School. During this spring and summer, the tone of the letters had been far more emotional. There were mentions of wanting to see him and complaints about not being able to meet Morris.

Mother and daughter had a good relationship.

Additionally, short letters from Morris were often included, but there was nothing like that in the recent letters.

"I see you knew."

Victoria was lamenting the dismal letters she had sent, realizing how messed up it had been.

Well, that’s not important.

I approached Beatrice and quickly lifted her long skirt, as if I were a mischievous neighborhood kid.

No, in a world of faded memories, wouldn’t even the youngest get caught?

Anyway.

"It’s bad."

"If you’re going to do something like this, let me know."

She revealed a long scar that had torn open but had healed. It had even been magically stitched together, and it had formed a new wound.

It was quite a severe injury, but well, she was alive, so that’s what matters. I let go of her skirt.

Now, the urgent matters here are almost over.

Should I go back to the capital?

No.

There’s something I need to do.

Since she left me without a word, I’ll do as I please too.

"Beatrice."

"What?"

"From now on, don’t collapse from what I’m about to tell you inside."

At my words, Beatrice stiffened.

She stared at me for a long time before shifting her gaze to the door.

"Did a lot happen to Victoria? Enough to tear you apart?"

"My relationship with her is nothing compared to everything she’s been through."

Of course, I’m not going to talk about the massacre, but shouldn’t Beatrice at least know what Victoria has gone through?

I grabbed Beatrice’s arm.

And I pulled her inside the room.

"Hello."

Saying that, I entered while speaking in a non-human tone. Of course, I briefly let go of Beatrice’s hand as I entered.

But since the people inside had already seen Beatrice’s face, they wouldn’t back down easily. Heh. This body is still small.

"Bell..."

Victoria looked at me with a very awkward expression. I immediately raised my hand and pointed at her.

"The name Victoria gave me is Bell. Humanity. What are your names?"

"You... who are you?"

Morris’s father, Gain, stammered as he asked.

"I’m an old monster. And you are Morris Bet, Beatrice Bet, and their daughter, Victoria Bet."

I intentionally pointed at each person, saying their names and relationships. Would they understand what I want?

"I am Gain Bet, and this is my wife, Rebecca Bet. First—"

Gain stepped forward and bowed his head in front of me.

"Thank you for saving my son."

Strictly speaking, I didn’t save him; I threw him into the worst possible conclusion.

So I clearly denied it.

"No. I only gave myself. I’ll be leaving soon, so I’d like you to forget about this. There’s something I need to tell you here."

I subtly hid the bad parts, then looked at Victoria. Victoria couldn’t meet my gaze, her expression uncertain.

She must think I ran away.

But that won’t work.

Anyway.

I approached Victoria and covered her mouth.

"Mmm!"

"It’s time to tell you everything that happened to Victoria since this summer break. If you’re good adults, shouldn’t you handle the child’s misfortune?"

When I provoked them a little, the people inside stared at me seriously.

Well, that’s right.

Not all adults are bad.

I slowly began to recount everything that happened between Victoria and me since this summer, starting with meeting Daegon’s vanguard, fighting the witch Maleficent, and traveling to Vern City because of the returned letter.

At that point, Morris and Beatrice turned pale.

Victoria’s rage almost caused her to kill everyone in Vern City. And the fact that she could have done it.

Then, when she returned to the Academy, chaos spread in the capital due to politics. Because of that, citizens living in the capital went on a rampage, killing the teachers and students of the Wind-Up Knight School.

And she personally assembled the bodies at the scene.

At that point, Victoria used water to restrain my arm that had been covering her mouth.

"Bell."

And in a sharp voice, she stopped me from speaking.