Book Eater

Chapter 369: Choice and Responsibility (2)

Lust’s sincere voice was dripping with sweetness. It was too shallow to shake Theo’s composure, but the temptation accompanying Lust’s power could also capture a transcendent. She looked like Sylvia, but Lust was so different from Sylvia. The hand gestures she made using the long white fingers and the eyes that curved like crescent moons when smiling... The whisper that rose in volume and then suddenly dropped sounded eerie.

“Theodore Miller.”

Theo hated the way Lust called out his name. “What?”

“Before discussing the terms, is there anything you want to hear from me? I will answer any questions honestly if I can.”

“... I see. Then I won’t hesitate.” Theo took a breath and pointed at her. “Why her? Why did you take Sylvia Adruncus?”

That was it. It was the question he couldn’t solve, and the reason he had been caught by Lust. If he knew what Sylvia was worth to Lust, he wouldn’t have allowed her to act alone.

Lust giggled, “She was worth using for two reasons.”

Throw frowned. “Worth using?”

“Oh, I’m not talking about the usefulness of a magician. The magic system of the West Continent might be decently usable, but it is still outdated compared to the magic of old times. The efficiency might be a bit lower, but changing shamans would have served just as well.”

Theo ground his teeth, and his blue eyes sharpened. Other people might not understand, but he knew. It wasn’t an analogy. She meant it literally. Live human sacrifices were also a component of shamanistic techniques, and not just limited to black magic. He didn’t know how many victims there were, but it should’ve played a major role in reducing the shaman population of the East Continent. If he measured it in simple magic power, Lust might’ve collected enough to be equivalent to a few dragons.

If she turned all that power into defense... I won’t be able to break through the defenses of Geongun Castle with my power.

Theo was thinking rapidly when Lust asked, “Do you know what my power is?”

He focused on her again. “Reincarnation through birth, right?”

Lust nodded. “That’s right. The child will be better than the parents, and this cycle will repeat infinitely until the end. That is the purpose of my existence and the work I have been doing since the beginning of the Age of Mythology. At that time, I used the name Thetis, not Lust.”

Thetis?

Theo hesitated; he had heard that name somewhere before.

Then Lust touched her chest. Sylvia’s bosom, which had grown after five years, was being caressed by Lust’s hands. Heat burned in Theo for two different reasons.

He growled, “Don’t play games.”

Lust smiled mischievously. “Don’t I look good? What is so bad about being loyal to a reproductive need? Won’t it be better to touch them once?”

Theo realized he was being provoked and didn’t reply. He wouldn’t show any answer to the same harassment. Unsurprisingly, Lust grew bored at his dull response and soon stopped.

She started talking again, “Where did I leave off? Yes, the past. As the ultimate mother, I can measure the potential of any womb. What type of genetic factors are better suited and what qualities can be inherited? Well, I can make a comprehensive evaluation.”

Theo’s brows furrowed. “So?”

“What was it you asked? Why did I take Sylvia Adruncus?” Lust licked her lips and stroked her belly. “This Sylvia is an excellent product.”

“Lust!”

Killing intent blasted out of Theo’s body. If a normal person was within a few meters of him, their brain would accept death and their heart would stop. The killing intent he was emitting right now was terrible.

“Ahaha, I’m scared. Actually, it isn’t scary at all!” Lust waved her hands as she spoke. Sylvia’s body was instinctively terrified but couldn’t overwhelm Lust’s control. “If it is this womb, yes. Seven hundred and eighty two years of development that led to a mutation in the constitution that is loved by mana. It is a characteristic that can be expressed in an unconnected lineage and carried on to the third generation. She isn’t lacking to be the mother of the ‘last child’ to be born in this material world.”

“Don’t think I will just be watching!”

“Ahahaha! Why else do you think I came to negotiate? Listen to a person’s words to the end.”

Theo’s fingers tightened as he let out a low growl, “Talk.”

Lust swept a hand through her hair and pointed at him as she proposed, “It’s simple. I had a bit of interest in you the last time I saw you, but now you’re a transcendent, an existence beyond causality. I think the result will be quite interesting if I conceive with your ‘seed’.”

“... What?”

“I don’t mean to give birth to your child. The idea is to use it as a material. The possibilities of this world ended due to that son of a bitch Sloth. But it might be possible if your lineage is mixed in. It might be possible after a few centuries to reach the perfect...” Lust uttered confusing words.

Then Theo realized the conversation was entering a realm he was unfamiliar with. However, Lust’s offer wasn’t a joke. She mixed in a few threats as she urged him to make a choice, “Now, make your choice. Will you offer me your seed or throw this child away? Those are your choices.”

“... Then I will ask you three things,” In order to make a decision, he asked, “What if I give up Sylvia and destroy her body here? Won’t you lose both of what can be used in exchange for this ridiculous story?”

“Ah, don’t worry about it,” Lust whispered as an innocent smile crossed Sylvia’s face. “I have prepared a few methods to recover this body. If you don’t believe it, you can try it. But at that point, the negotiations will be over. You will never see this child again.”

“Next. If I have a direct relationship with you, I won’t be able to escape your binding power even if I am a transcendent. Is this a power that you can control?”

Lust shook her head. “That is why I came in this body. In the early stages, the terminal can collect genetic factors, but it can’t control the mind. Besides, this kid is a friend of yours, so there shouldn’t be any problem.”

“... Hah.” Why would there not be a problem? Theo wanted to lose his cool, but he somehow kept on talking. “... Finally. What guarantee do I have that you will completely free Sylvia?”

“The principle of the Seven Sins is that we don’t interfere with each other’s work. But sometimes there is a feature that can enforce a relationship before we sometimes cooperate. Isn’t that right, Gluttony?”

Gluttony responded.

- The Pledge of Sin. It has been a while.

Theo glanced at his left hand. “What is that?”

- A conditional command added to the core system of the Seven Sins. Even if we unlock the seventh seal, we can’t break this promise or bypass it. Even so, I never thought it would be mentioned. Lust is serious.

Gluttony was certain. Even if Theo didn’t trust Lust, the grimoire couldn’t break this promise. So, if Theo agreed to this contract, Lust couldn’t injure Sylvia through any means. He could enforce the line, ‘Return Sylvia Adruncus to the West Continent’, but Sylvia’s condition was a matter of concern.

Whatever I choose, I will lose something.

What if he gave his seed to save Sylvia and the result was the unstoppable heavenly demon? Was Sylvia’s life more valuable than the many lives in this world? On the other hand, what if he abandoned Sylvia? The lack of Theo’s seed wouldn’t interfere with Lust’s plan. If he forsook Sylvia for an uncertain future, could Theodore Miller justify her sacrifice?

After a few moments of contemplation, he opened his eyes.

“Your answer?”

To Lust who whispered as if she knew everything, he gave his response.

***

It was a shower.

Swaaah.

The weather was clear and sunny, but water was pouring out of the empty air. The dried ground drank greedily, and the flower buds held their heads stiffly. The water bouncing off the tiles sounded like music, accompanied by the distant rumble of thunder.

“Um...”

Sylvia Adruncus, who had been forced to the bottom of her consciousness, slowly returned to reality. On the floor of an unknown person’s house, thin silvery eyebrows trembled. She stared up at the ceiling with hazy eyes before opening them as if something had struck her.

“T-Theo!” She screamed.

A voice came back immediately, “What is it?”

“Ah...!” Sylvia reflexively turned in that direction. At first, she was relieved, but then she fell into deep despair. She might’ve lost control of her physical body, but she was well aware of what the grimoire that occupied it had done. It wasn’t enough that she couldn’t protect herself, she had also given Theo trouble. Sylvia would’ve preferred if he had rejected the dumb suggestion and just killed her.

Dduk.

Tears flowed before she could thank him or apologize. “... Uh, sob, soob!”

Why was she always like this? She had been called a genius since she was a child, yet she couldn’t stop holding onto his ankles. Sylvia didn’t say a word and just cried. There was no shame in crying aloud as she buried her face in her knees. She wanted to stand next to him. For five years, she had been suppressing her heart. She had turned away as he got increasingly closer to Veronica, hoping to one day become a person who was essential to Theo.

“I… sob, why? Always, like this, soob...!”

However, despite being a master, she had pushed him onto a cliff. She felt filled with overwhelming regret. This wasn’t good enough. She could never fight next to him like Veronica. As always, Sylvia Adruncus was a burden clinging to old ties. Her eyes became increasingly dim as she became lost in her self-deprecation. Sylvia had no friends and her only family was gone. She leaned against Theo but realized that she was a nuisance even to him.

I... Why... am I alive?

Die…

Theo couldn’t touch her, but there were many ways to kill herself. Before Theo was in any more danger, she could break her Circles and die in a way where she couldn’t be saved. A woman like her could only help him like this―

“Sylvia.”

At that moment, warm arms wrapped themselves around her damp body.

“I was really worried.”

There weren’t any words of reproach; he was just worried. Theo dragged her onto his knees and hugged her. Sylvia was aware of it as soon as she noticed the situation. No, she couldn’t not know.

Ah, I really―

She was a shameless woman.

“... Theo.”

The guilt cutting at her bones and even the determination to kill herself had scattered with a single hug. In Theo’s arms, Sylvia melted like a piece of ice in summer. If he wanted it, whatever. She knew everything she had to do. Although she didn’t have experience, she would do her best.

“Sylvia.”

If she hesitated, her chance would be taken away.

“Can I hold you?”

Sylvia held her breath. Her joy, all the years she had been waiting for this moment, pressed down on her conscience. Even if it was only one time... She just wanted to forget everything. Instead of answering with words, she opened her arms and pulled Theo to her. It was an awkward temptation. He smiled at the stiff gesture and followed where Sylvia led.

As she closed her eyes and her lips waited for a kiss, Theo slowly moved his hands. It was time to take responsibility for their own choices.