Episode 72 – Source of Infection Past

Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16816927863045760906/episodes/16817330648777894871

The next morning, I go to church school.

Every country town has a church.

Many children were attending the church school, which is attached to a school and offers free education.

“If a lot of people come to the church, it will look suspicious. …… I’ll go alone.”

I had my friends wait outside and I went into the church amongst the other kids.

Incidentally, Hina, Shabazo, and Pomple are playing in the other plaza.

In the entrance hall of the church school, I was welcomed by an adult woman dressed in a nun’s habit.

She has a very beautiful face and gives the impression of a kind lady.

Is this Sister Ruka?

She made eye contact with me and smiled.

“Ara, who are you?”

“My name is Seti,……, is there a Atum-san here?”

“Atum sensei? Yes, he is there.”

Ruka kindly informs him of my sudden visit.

Is it because it is a remote country town that she is not very cautious?

The man she showed me was surrounded by children.

–Atum.

A man of early age with long black hair mixed with gray, slender and tall, but with a strong body.

His appearance is almost identical to the image that Riel san had foreseen.

Fifteen years ago, he was clad in armor, but now he wears the same clothes as an ordinary person.

He carries a two-handed sword at his waist, as he teaches sword lessons to children.

Atum is called “sensei” (teacher) by many of the children and is adored by them.

Atum himself was smiling as he responded to the children.

It was a sight that made me smile, even though I had mixed feelings because I could see that he loved children.

My eyes meet with Atum’s.

Immediately, Atum’s eyes widen and he turns away from the children to stare at me.

His face turns pale and his entire body stiffens, shaking slightly.

It was as if he had encountered an unexpected monster.

Did this guy recognize me?

Does he realize that he is actually the source of the Mors infection?

If he is aware of it, it might be easier to talk about it.

I would be able to handle it.

But what do I do?

I can’t settle this in front of the sisters and the children.

Should I walk away and move on to assassination?

“…… S-Seto?”

Atum called out to me, his lips trembling.

Seto? Who is it?

“…… No. My name is Seti.”

“I-I see. …… I’m sorry. You look familiar to me. …… that’s why I thought you’d come to see me.”

“Familiar? Who was it?”

“………….”

I asked, but Atum kept his mouth shut and refused to answer.

I have no idea, but I feel that the atmosphere around me has become heavy with awkwardness.

What did I do?

Sister Ruka started clapping her hands as the children looked at me and Atum curiously.

“Then everyone! Please make your way to your classrooms as classes are about to begin. Atum-sensei, please take care of our guests. I’m sure you have a lot to talk about.”

“…… yes. Sister.”

Ruka leads the children away, turns around and shows us one eye closed.

It was a very nice touch, but I don’t know what she meant by that.

We were alone in the hall.

Atum is still staring at me. There are so many openings.

Now would be a great time for a kill. ……

“Seto…… No, Seti kun. Would you like a cup of tea?”

“…… yes. By all means.”

I was led to the guest room by Atum.

For some reason, we were enjoying tea facing each other over the table.

Through the window, I could see the view of a forested square, where children were playing.

The children were originally Atum’s students in charge of swordsmanship training, but now that I had arrived, they seemed to be treating it as a practical training session.

“I’m sorry for taking up so much of your time.”

I apologize in advance.

“No, it’s fine. …… I’m glad you came to see me, Seto”

“I’m not, I’m Seti.”

“I see… I guess you still hold a grudge against your father. You think it would be fine for you to kill.”

Dad? What are you talking about?

I don’t care if you get killed…well, that’s what I came here with.

“Atum san, you seem to be misunderstanding something, but I’m Seti. I’m not your son. I think the reason we look alike is because we’re all from the Far East.”

“What are you doing here then……? Why did you come to ask for me?”

“Well, it’s …….”

I can’t say “I’m here to kill you because you are the main body of Mors”.

According to Kale’s information, it is certain that he was unconscious.

If I am going to dispose of him, I need to make sure he doesn’t suffer… If it’s that, would it be safe to use drugs?

While I was talking, Atum shook his head.

“It’s okay, I’ve already …… left you all alone after being forced to flee my country and losing your mother. …… I’m so glad you survived. …… ugh.”

Atum’s voice trembled with tears as he held his mouth.

I am completely treated as Seto, his son.

Judging by the way he speaks, it seems like there’s something wrong with him…but maybe they were separated?

I might as well ask him as if I am his son.

In any case, I can’t kill Atum at this stage.

I don’t know if it’s necessary, but I’ll figure out how to settle this once I get to know him.

“Atum, I’m sorry, …… I have very few memories of my childhood. I was in an orphanage as a child and after being involved in the war, someone picked me up and raised me. I now run a mobile restaurant called Lunch Wagon. I came to ask you because I was traveling with my …… friends and heard from a customer that there was someone who looked a lot like me, so I thought I might be able to help you.”

I tell 80% truth and 20% falsehood to guide the flow of the conversation.

This is another psychological warfare technique Mors taught me.

“I see…. The kingdom of Casablanca has been destroyed. ……If I had been there, I could have saved you at least. ……I’m sorry.”

“The Kingdom of Casablanca? You mean you left me as a young child in an orphanage in that kingdom?”

　When I asked him, Atum nodded without hesitation.

“I was once a warlord of the Japanese Empire,……16 years ago, but I was banished and drifted to the Grand Line continent with you, a baby.”

What?!

No, wait,……, it’s only in the case that I am “Seto”.

First of all, I have to hear the whole story.

Atum begins to tell his story in an unaffected manner.

Sixteen years ago, Atum, a warlord in the service of the Japanese nation and a renowned sword saint, received a request from a close advisor to eliminate a member of the royal family.

Atum, who valued righteousness and had a strong sense of loyalty, naturally refused, but his wife and his then 3-year-old son, Seto, were taken hostage and he was forced to obey the order.

Atum, however, disobeyed the order and instead went to their hideout, where he beheaded and destroyed those who were plotting rebellion.

In the process, his wife is killed as a hostage, but he is able to save and protect his son Seto.

However, the mastermind who requested his help falsely claims that Atum is plotting rebellion, and Atum is forced to flee his country.

He drifted to the Grand Line continent, left Seto in an orphanage in the Casablanca Kingdom, and fled on his own.　

Since then, he has drifted to Belhelm in the Kingdom of Kruseim.

In this remote country town, it would not be so easy for assassins to come, and they would be easily recognized as strangers.

“Seto. At the time, I was not confident that I could escape with you in a strange land. ……The kingdom of Casablanca was also your mother’s hometown. That’s why I left you there alone. I thought I was keeping you safe, but …… I’m really sorry.”

“…No. I have heard about the assassination of the royal family in the Kingdom of Japan from a customer. Nine years ago, it was carried out and the emperor changed hands.”

“Oh, yes. After all, I was framed by that emperor.”

“I see. ……”

So, the close advisor who asked Atum to assassinate the royal family is now the emperor. ……

Atum refused and put all the blame on him because he took care of all the perpetrators at that time. Something like that.

Seven years later, the current emperor contacted the Dark Nine Dragons and asked Master Io to assassinate the royal family. …… That makes sense.

But the crucial part doesn’t add up.

“Atum-san,……, before coming to the Grand Line continent, didn’t you enter the demon cave on the Eurus continent?”

“Hmm? I don’t know if it was a cave or not, but I’m sure I spent a year or so with you in various places on the continent of Euros as we fled. Some of the places we went to were unexplored caves that no one would go to when using them as cover. …… What about it?”

“No, do you remember picking up a ‘sword’ or anything like that?”　

“No, I don’t.”

You don’t know anything about the “Magic Sword Ansalar”?

Or maybe that part of his memory has been tampered with by Mors.

If I am the same person as Seto, then I was 3 years old then and I am 18 years old now …….

The fact that I have no memory of those days suggests that my memory may have been erased by Mors as well.

If it was not a coincidence that Mors saved me when the kingdom of Casablanca was destroyed in the war, and if it was calculated, then …….

–It was all a set-up from the beginning.

The reason why Mors wants my body more than necessary is that Atum, the “source of infection,” is my father.

Maybe it’s because it’s easier for him to take over his ……

It’s as if the pieces that have been falling apart are being filled in.

It is still a matter of speculation,…… but if it is true–.