Paradigm Parasite

TL note: Can you guys help me reach 10 contracts this month? You can read up to 40 chapters ahead of the schedule with 2 chapters per update if you're in Contract(Membership)

The next morning, they were ready to attack the remaining north and east, but Shrigala, who had been sent to scout the area, reported that both were empty.

They suspected the possibility of a trap, so I instructed them to investigate, but the villages were completely empty.

Not a single person was there.

Apparently, they had fled in the night.

There must have been quite a few of them left, but I was surprised that they chose to run away with that many people.

To be honest, I thought they would either surrender or attack in desperation.

And there was one strange report.

For some reason, a dead High Elf was left in the northern village.

No external injuries.

We thought she might have killed herself with poison or something, but there seems to be no sign of that.

After instructing them to bring the body back for later examination, I sit down in a futilely luxurious chair.

I am currently in Rikhard's house - or is it more of a castle? and it is a room that used to be used as an audience chamber.

In short, I sat on a throne.

It's quite comfortable, but I don't want to sit like this for a long time because my shoulders might get stiff.

I'm the general, so I'm told to sit and wait, and that's why I'm waiting like this.

I look around.

It was a spacious room with nothing in particular except for the throne.

Except for Savage coasting in the corner and Trust standing like a shadow on the other side, there is no sign of anyone.

...Busy.

I've just finished taking care of the people who need repairs a while ago, so I have nothing to do.

I don't know why, I've been doing my own thing up until now, so I'm not used to having other people do things for me.

In the end, the control of the remaining villages has been completed, so now it is post-war processing.

It is difficult to maintain this village with only the remaining elves, so we need to do something here too.

I don't know about that, as I intend to leave that to Fatima.

The only thing I have made sure of is that all Grigori related goods and buildings are destroyed.

That's about the only thing I interfered with.

After sitting in a daze for a while, I heard multiple footsteps, and Shrigala and the others came in carrying a dead body.

"Thanks for your help."

They roughly set the corpse down.

I kick and roll the nearest thing to hand and turn it on its back.

It's definitely a High Elf.

Their expressions are frozen in astonishment.

Hmm?

I examine the body, but there's no noticeable trauma.

It doesn't look like poison, it really looks like it died suddenly.

I examine the brain, but no particular information has escaped, perhaps because too much time has passed.

Scrutinise the whole body just to be sure.

...... Hmm?

What's going on?

No matter how much I check, I can't find anything abnormal.

The cause of death is completely unknown.

"Is this all the bodies?"

"Gau."

"I see. Is this all the High Elves?"

Shrigala shakes his head.

"What?"

"Gau gau."

"The numbers don't add up?"

Nod.

"Any specifics?"

"Gau-gau."

"Children? Yeah, only no children."

There are apparently no child High Elves, although there are about a dozen or so.

I can see Mr Brosdan in my mind's eye.

For a moment, I thought about leaving him alone, but I don't .......

"Are you looking for them?"

"Gau."

Nodding.

They have formed a unit to pursue, but it seems they haven't found him.

It's only a matter of time before Shrigala's sniffing around.

"If you find them, kill them all. The bodies will be used to check the numbers, so collect as many as you can and bring them back to me."

"Gau."

"Go."

The Shrigaras each nodded and left the room.

It was stingy at the last minute, but let's just say it generally went well.

The rest of the stuff is all taken care of.

The hassle here has been taken care of.

Now it's me.

I don't know what to do.

Now that there's nothing left to do here, there's no reason to stay.

Let's continue our journey again.

The question is where to go.

If you think about it honestly, it would be better to go back to the Royal Capital, but dropping the Elven Village has given us more options.

Beyond the forest.

It seems that there is the former home of the elves - the realm where the beastmen live.

It's a melting pot of various races, where taking by force is the right thing to do, and the elves were driven out of their home by that rule.

It's an interesting place and I'd like to see it if I can.

...I guess I shouldn't have wondered.

--I understand what you are saying. So you are saying that you will leave the matter of the Elven Village to me?

--Ah.

After I had finished everything I had to do, I finally talked to Fatima about the results and what would happen afterwards.

-But then, who were these Grigori and what were they?

--Perhaps an angel or something.

-...an angel...?

I have to judge that by looking at those wings and rings.

They must be of a high rank.

Well, as long as there are demons, it's not surprising that they're here.

-It doesn't matter. What matters is that the High Elves are dead for some reason and the child is missing.

As long as the relevant goods and equipment have been dealt with, I don't think there is a problem...

--I'm sure I heard that when you checked, there were no souls?

--Yes, but what about it?

--In my opinion, it is probably due to the fact that the Grigori's influence was removed by the destruction of the temple and other facilities.

--What do you mean by that?

--I am guessing from what I have heard, but I think that the High Elves had somehow entrusted their souls to Grigori.

...entrusting their souls..., right.

I agree with you on that.

I interpreted it as more of a pawn than a deposit.

--What is the basis for this?

I'd urge her to continue as she was, to answer the question.

-It is that Grigori-related memories could not be retrieved. This is also probably true, but wasn't the Grigori-related information stored in the soul, not in the brain?

After all, that would be the case, wouldn't it?

Hearing it again makes my own theory more convincing.

--...... Continue.

--Yes. Grigori hold the soul and store their information there. Given this as a premise, wouldn't the soul and the body be connected via Grigori and censor information etc.?

Yes. That would explain the death of the guy I manipulated.

They must have interfered.

-As for those who died suddenly, the destruction of the temple may have caused the influence of Grigori to disappear and the connection between the soul and the body to be severed.

Ah, that the signal was interrupted and out of range, so the body stopped working.

Interesting opinion. It makes sense, but there's one hole.

--It makes sense, but how do you explain the disappearance of the child?

-...It hurts when you hit that point, but maybe the child wasn't affected by the Grigori?

--No, the High Elves changed the elves in the first place ...... No, I see. Is the child second generation?

The child is a born High Elf.

Has Grigori's hand not been involved?

Then it doesn't seem like I'm missing the point.

--Maybe you're right.

Then maybe we don't have to kill the child.

...but it's a bit of a guess, so should we get rid of it?

Yup. No change in orders.

Taking that information into account, I'm almost certain about Grigori's purpose.

There's no doubt why he wanted me.

Incarnation.

In short, he wanted to come out on our side in perfect condition.

Did they breed as a receptacle for themselves rather than ...... creating high elves?

This is also probably true, but did they intend to remould them into a species that would be suitable for them generation after generation?

Well, from the looks of it, they had a long way to go.

Then I showed up.

Certainly, I would be able to remould them, skipping several generations of time.

If you think about it that way, it's no wonder he's so obsessed.

I can also read Rikkhard's thoughts.

If they're going to be on the receiving end, they're probably promising to give their children to them, for their children's children's children.

It was a chance to pay off that unpaid debt.

It would motivate them.

If I had been caught, I would have had to bear their debt all on my own.

Ha-ha-ha. Elves are shit.

Yeah. Looks like we were right to kill them all.

--That's an interesting opinion. I've learned a lot from you.

--I'm glad I could be of help. And now, Mr. Rothfeldt, as for the future, by all means...

--I'm going to look beyond the forest.

I was a bit lost, but we've come this far.

Let's go and see what lies ahead.

Fortunately, we have the means to cross the forest.

--What?

For some reason, Fatima raises a confused voice.

--It's beyond the forest. It seems there's some sort of beastman-inhabited territory. I'm going to take a peek.

--Um... um, is there something you don't like about the response?

A response?

What's she talking about?

Hmm.

Uh-- no? I had a pleasant stay at the villa. I didn't have any complaints, you know?

It would have been better if you weren't around.

--Are you leaving on your own?

--Yeah.

--When do you plan to return to ..................?

--Undecided. I'll return after I've had a look around. I was halfway through my research in Royal Capital, too.

--I understand.

-I'll be out as soon as I've cleaned up and prepared this place. And how's that club monster and basket hand you sent in for repair? Are they going to be fixed?

-The basket hand seems to be able to be fixed, but that weapon? are all important parts have been obliterated across the board, so there's no way to repair them.

So you can't fix it because you don't know the structure?

If this is the case, I should have shown it to you once.

--I understand what you're saying. Then tell Bedziff to find a suitable weapon for me. And as for the remains of the club monster, I want you to send them to a place in the Royal Capital. There you can either repair it or order a replacement weapon. Pay him the price.

-Of course. Then I will arrange it that way.

--Thank you.

Saying this, I hang up the 'communication'.

I let out a small breath and sit deep in my throne.

The policy has been decided, so let's move.