I Was the Scout for the Hero’s Party

“So, is that all?”

“…As far as I know… that’s the best I can do…”

Depal, who had obediently and sincerely answered my questions, nodded with tears welling in her eyes.

To summarize what Depal told me:

First, the order to attack the supply unit came not from Argyle, but from the Demon King and his staff.

This confirms that the communication line between Argyle and the Demon King’s main force has not yet been cut.

Second, there are still some Romphalia Raid Squad members remaining in Argyle’s 7th Legion. They are a unit focused on speed, composed of hobgoblins riding lycanthropes and hellhounds.

Perhaps the four lycanthropes that Roymen faced at the entrance to the forest were also part of Depal’s raid squad.

She brought Living Armor this time because she thought sturdier monsters would be more suitable for ambushing the Hero’s party.

Third, and most importantly, was the question of whether Argyle is creating another artificial human.

“So, you really don’t know about that?”

“I… really don’t know! Even I don’t know everything that my Creator does!”

Despite bringing out Roymen’s flail and spiked whip several times, Depal’s answer remained consistent.

…If she says she doesn’t know, what can I do?

As I fell into quiet contemplation after hearing her answer, Depal cautiously glanced at me and asked.

“But… you—I mean, you left the Hero’s party, didn’t you? Why are you asking about such things…”

“Oh… that?”

Come to think of it, Depal was right.

Having left the Hero’s party, whether Argyle creates another artificial human or not is hardly my concern.

Yet I asked anyway, just because…

“I just asked out of curiosity, that’s all?”

Hearing my answer, Depal briefly looked dumbfounded before asking back in an incredulous tone.

“……What?”

“What, why… can’t I just ask out of curiosity? Honestly, the artificial humans directly created by Argyle are either incredibly handsome or incredibly beautiful, so how could I contain my curiosity about whether he’s making more?”

“All this time… for such a trivial reason, you subjected me to this threat and humiliation…”

To be honest, it wasn’t just out of pure curiosity.

For one thing, neither Argyle nor the Demon King are on friendly terms with me, and Argyle was originally someone I wanted to kill.

Wouldn’t it be foolish to stay idle in a situation where I could extract information about the enemy?

From the moment we captured Depal, we didn’t know what Argyle might do to us.

However, I didn’t bother to explain these reasons to Depal.

It seems Depal held out until the end, thinking I was trying to use the information to do something to Argyle.

“Well… I was wondering why you refused to answer so stubbornly. Thought it might be a pride thing or something.”

“…Krrgh… damn you…”

“Well then. Let’s stop this conversation here.”

“Who are you to decide when to end this! Because of you, I’ve shown so much disgrace…”

Ignoring Depal’s whining, I turned my gaze toward the campfire.

“Now all that’s left is… you, Depal.”

“…What does that mean?”

“What do you think it means? I’m saying your fate still hasn’t been decided.”

Still keeping my gaze on the campfire, I drew the dagger from my thigh and gripped it in my right hand.

“H-hey… I did everything you asked…”

“Hmm… but the information wasn’t particularly important to me, you know.”

“That’s unfair…!”

To be honest, when we first captured her, I had planned to extract information from Depal and then take her to Quiln to hand over to the lord.

That was the original purpose, and leaving her be would only endanger my life. Besides, it didn’t seem likely that Depal would turn away from Argyle and join our party.

But… well.

Is that really the case?

Objectively speaking, Depal, whom Argyle had supposedly created with all his might, was quite beautiful.

Let’s think about what would happen if we tied her up and handed her over to the lord.

A clean beheading would be a relatively merciful fate.

If they decided to keep her alive, what would become of Depal?

I’ve never heard rumors of the lord being lecherous, but I don’t think he would just leave such a pretty prisoner alone.

…No matter how I think about it, I can only see a future where she’d be used as a concubine or sex slave before dying miserably.

Even giving her the benefit of the doubt, wouldn’t she at best become a servant cleaning manure in the stables?

Although what happens to Depal—whether she becomes food or gets violated—isn’t really my concern, still, that seems a bit…

“…Senior.”

At that moment, Robin, who had been lying next to Lady Alexis in the tent watching us, quietly approached my side.

“Oh, what is it?”

“Do we… really have to kill her?”

“…Well. If we capture her and hand her over, you know what will happen, right?”

Wouldn’t it be better to just kill her rather than hand her over as a prisoner?

Despite understanding my intention, Robin’s eyes looked somehow sorrowful.

Perhaps seeing Depal’s situation of being abandoned by Argyle reminded him of his past memories.

“…Things are different now than when we were in the Rangers, Robin.”

“I know, Senior. But…”

“Enough. I understand.”

I turned my gaze away from Robin and met Depal’s eyes.

“Sigh… Depal.”

“Are you… going to kill me?”

“I’ll give you a choice.”

I sat down heavily in front of Depal, who looked confused despite hearing my words.

“If I hand you over to the lord like this, you probably won’t fare well. Even if you’re lucky enough to keep your life… honestly, I don’t know what will happen. But the end probably won’t be good.”

“…”

“…I want to respect your wishes. I don’t have any personal grudge against you, and I simply received a request to kill or capture you.”

Hearing my words, Depal momentarily mumbled something toward me before dropping her head.

“I believe you understand what I’m saying.”

Chirr chirr chirr

The sound of insects echoing peacefully in the night air broke through the heavy atmosphere.

“Did the Creator… abandon me?”

“…Well. Considering how much time has passed and he hasn’t shown up… it doesn’t seem like Argyle is trying to save you.”

“…Emotions are indeed something I should not have had.”

Saying this, Depal raised her head and met my gaze.

“It’s because I’m… a failure… that’s why.”

With moistened eyes and a trembling voice.

“…Depal.”

“Because I’m a failure… because I couldn’t fill his vessel…!”

A failure, she says.

You are a failure, Austin. Get lost. Don’t even think about setting foot in the Rangers again.

“…A failure, huh.”

I can’t help but laugh bitterly.

“I gave everything to him… I fulfilled my duty with my life…!!”

I want to live as a human, Captain. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life killing things like a machine, without a shred of emotion.

…I don’t know who put such ideas in your head. Was it Lambert? Robin? No, all those who were with you harbored useless thoughts, so you must have been the cause.

Because wanting to see the world was a lie.

Failure. A word that once pointed at me.

And now… a word that this sinful woman bears.

Because I know how heavy that word is.

“…I don’t think so, Depal.”

I extended my hand to her.

“…I’m not even human… I’m an ugly being that resembles humans.”

“So what if you are?”

What is this feeling, I wonder?

This feeling… I’ve felt it before.

Was it when Robin said he would leave the Rangers?

“Depal. Do you think you’re not human? Not at all.”

Depal told me that ’emotions are something one shouldn’t have.’

If that’s the case, I’ll shatter that thought.

“Emotions and intellect are exclusive to humans, Depal. If you don’t understand that yet…”

Depal just stared up at me with wide eyes, her mouth hanging open.

“Just accept it. No one thinks of you as a non-human being. You are a human too, and you deserve to have emotions.”

The one who creates humans and then orders them to act as monsters, not humans, is not a creator at all.

It was Argyle who implanted emotions in the first place.

By now, he’s probably pleased with himself, thinking he used and discarded a failure quite efficiently.

Perhaps from the moment he detected a fragment of emotion in Depal, he was already thinking about creating the next doll.

He deserves to be torn apart.

Depal must have kept such feelings deeply buried and silently carried on with her duties.

Because she had nothing else besides Argyle.

But if even that place is gone now. If her home to return to has disappeared.

“You’ve been through a lot, Depal.”

I will gladly give you a new home.

The rope, touched by the sharp blade of my dagger, fell helplessly with a thud—like the knots in Depal’s heart falling away one by one.

“…I originally intended to kill you, you know. But you were a human being all along.”

With the ropes undone, Depal, who suddenly found herself free, looked at me with a dazed expression.

“W-what is this…”

“You were screaming to be untied earlier, but now that you’re free, you can’t do anything.”

For such a Depal, one sentence was enough.

“From now on, live your life as you damn well please, Depal.”

Show Argyle, make him eat his words.

“That’s all there is to it.”

Hearing my words, Depal threw her arms around me and began to sob loudly.