"Eremita you say?"
Yes, that was the name I chose for myself.
"It seems because of that parasite you are able to regenerate much quickly - for now I think you only need rest."
Ah yes, that thing.
I remember one time I tried jumping off cliffs over and over again, only to be picked up back again by the flower inside me.
"Tch, and I thought we would get a huge amount of cash in."
"Please don't say that, Scubb. Perhaps it's precisely the reason she was quite hostile towards us!"
I was trying to throw my life away, to finally kick the bucket, yet that heightened survival instinct just wouldn't let me even be claimed by those bastards.
"Hmm... It seems the parasite is pretty much infused with her body. Kinda like those fish tongue louses."
"Eek!"
"So that essentially means she's a lost cause. She's basically alive, but... Well..."
Indeed, those bastards from Meredithean have said so themselves
~
"We assure you, miss: we just need this sample to potentially save the thousands! So please let us extract that parasite from your body"
~
"She does retain her consciousness from what we've seen: and currently she isn't lashing out at us - so human or not: she's still a person and not a trace like Daemons are."
"... Why are you so keen about me?" I ask finally and the raven-haired woman answers
"Because you're still human to me."
What a grossly naive woman.
--
"How are we feeling, Carmine?"
"Well, certainly better than before. For one I don't feel like something big is weighing me down."
"Yes, I can feel your parasite starting to behave itself lately, and the bleeding has been lessened."
"You're not even a doctor." I grumble and the raven-haired woman frowns
"I'm aware. And I'm not sure if I'm making your condition better or worse in the long run. However, has anyone even tried to help you? Has anyone not just... Give up on you? To make your life better?"
"... There was... One time. But it was at the start... Back when I was truly human. But obviously they couldn't help me. They didn't even know what was happening to me. So I left."
"...
If that's the case, then?..."
"Imagine living in a place where you have an unexplainable urge to kill. Imagine what we're once your loving and caring community now looking like a prey waiting to be maimed. It was tortuous. I couldn't just bring myself to it. If I'm going to be a monster, then let me be as far away from my people as possible."
"..."
"... Perhaps I'm soft-hearted as well."
"I suppose I'm just looking for a purpose. To keep on living. And if I don't find it... I don't know... I genuinely don't know."
The raven-haired woman begins to tear up and I get up to calm her down. It is a private moment between us, so there's no outside pressure.
Still, given her talk about righteousness and purposes, I have to ask...
"... Why are you looking for the purpose?"
...
It is a miracle that this person even exists. With circumstances like these... To still remain hopeful is... Absurd.
Perhaps that hope is a way of enacting revenge upon the world that wronged her.
And if she can prove that cruel place wrong, perhaps finally she can truly be happy.
"Guess I'm glad that at least you seem to truly care about me, then. Not being terrified of my appearance to this day."
"Well, I was pretty terrifying myself, so I understand."
--
"This... Will be your new home."
"Are you sure? You don't need my assistance or anything? Do you really think it'll be safer for me this way?"
"... The people here at least won't try to sell you out. I've made sure of it."
"Is this truly the end of our journey together? I think we could have achieved much more."
"... I'm sorry. I just... Want at least some of you to make it out alive. Some of you to live fulfilling lives."
"Then why are you still keeping Aden and Émile? They're still children. I at least can weather a fatal strike or two."
"With you... It's not about your power... It's about your humanity. I want you to be human once more."
"Tch. You're being way too sentimental for someone who carries herself like a lady of war."
"But Eremita... Since we're both alone, let me tell you the truth - I'm hurting. People just keep throwing away their lives for me and... I can't bear to witness it, no matter how much the history repeats itself."
"... Then think of it this way - the reason why they sacrifice themselves for you is because they're grateful for you. In this world, it is easy to give up hope and succumb to it; but you carry on the flame of it all. And this, for them it would be a shame if you died."
"..."
"... You're faltering, huh?"
"..."
"Don't. If it'll make you feel any better, I'll try to blend in with humans once more. I won't be going anywhere. Just promise me you won't give up on yourself. Ever."
"..."
"Besides, even civilians care about you. You might be seen as a villain... But to them and to us - you're a hero."
"... Thanks for the kind words."
"Oh, and if you need something, don't hesitate to write to me - my adversary."
"The hell that nickname came from?"
"Well, since I was rather hostile to you in the beginning, and right until the end I was seen as a villain among you... Might as well proud myself as such."
"... Heh, you're truly a bug."