The Saint of the Labyrinth Is Adored by Monsters~ Though I Was Exiled and Left to Die in the Forest of Abyss, I Offered Prayers to God and Before I Knew It, It Became a Sanctuary – Chapter 6

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟔: 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭

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My first night in Abyss Forest.

I find myself deep in the forest, in a barren wilderness known as the Old Paradise.

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There stood a lonely church.

Inside the church, there were facilities suitable for living.

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It seemed to serve as an orphanage as well, with toilets, a kitchen, and a place to sleep.

I lie down on the bed alone, lost in thought.

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. . . . . .I think about what lies ahead.

Mr. Chatura and Mrs. Kumako told me that I should become the Holy Demon King.

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I remember what he taught me about this forest.

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Currently, this Abyss Forest is on the verge of death. The power of the Holy Demon King is waning, the forest’s blessings are diminishing, and the rampaging monsters are attacking people. If this continues, extinction is inevitable. Hence, a new Holy Demon King is needed.

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Holy Demon King Ellison-sama.

A human who once lived in this land, granting mercy and holy power to the forest’s monsters and people – a noble figure, it seems.

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The Holy Demon King, in other words, the lord of the forest.

. . . . . .Can I fulfill such a significant role?

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I roll over on the bed.

. . . . . .After all.

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I stare at my hand and think.

Is it right to use this holy power for the monsters?

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I am in a position to borrow power from God.

I thought that this power was for helping those who are injured or weak, back when I was in the Grand Temple in the capital.

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But. . . . . .

I used the holy power on a monster.

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Monsters are considered enemies of humanity.

Monsters, demons, and the demon king have long been in conflict with humans.

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Wouldn’t using God’s power on such beings be an act against God’s will?

. . . . . .I don’t know.

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God won’t answer such trivial human inquiries.

How many humans does he think there are?

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God doesn’t bother answering every tiny human question.

If he answered one person, he would have to answer everyone.

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. . . . . .But, I wanted to ask God.

Can I use the power I have for the monsters?

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Growl~

At that moment, my stomach growled loudly.

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Ah, how embarrassing. . . . . .

I haven’t eaten anything since morning.

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Shall I cook something?

I get up and head to the corner of the room where a bag is.

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Inside are preserved food and medicines I received from acquaintances when I was expelled from the capital.

The people of the capital are all truly kind-hearted.

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When they found out I was being exiled, they were angry and even provided for me like this.

I’m grateful.

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I must thank the God who bestowed such good fortune upon me.

I take the ingredients and head to the kitchen.

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It’s a pretty nice kitchen.

Wow, there’s even a magic stove and cooking tools.

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『OBig Sister?』

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Suddenly, Kumakichi-kun peeks in through the kitchen window.

Good evening.

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『Good evening! What are you doing, Big Sister?』

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I got a little hungry, so I thought I’d cook something.

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『Ah, where’s the forest’s leader? Isn’t he cooking for you?』

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The leader has gone out with Mrs. Kumako.

Besides, he’s not my servant or anything.

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Since I’m hungry, I should cook for myself.

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『Hmm. I’ll help you cook, me!』

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Oh, are you sure?

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『Yeah! Besides, I’m hungry too!』

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I see, then I’ll ask for your help.

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『Okay!』

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I go outside the church and head to the forest with Kumakichi-kun.

What we need first is water.

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We have meat and vegetables that were given to us.

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『Big Sister, what are you going to make?』

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Stew, huh?

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『Stew? What’s that?』

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The forest folk have never eaten it, have they?

Well, it’s delicious.

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『We must make and eat it quickly!』

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Fufufu, indeed.

So, with me riding on Kumakichi-kun’s back, we walked through the wasteland of the old paradise.

But there’s not a single blade of grass growing in the wasteland, and of course, no river.

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『There’s water in the Abyss Forest.』

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So, we leave the wasteland and head to the forest.

. . . . . .Didn’t we have to go through Mr. Tree King’s mouth to get to the forest?

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Not understanding the geography of the old paradise and the Abyss Forest is a problem.

As we proceed through the forest, we eventually arrive at a small stream.

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『OBig Sister, there’s a monster.』

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! Really?

Small water spheres are trembling near the water’s edge.

『It’s a slime.』

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Oh.

Slime.

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I wonder what’s wrong, it doesn’t move an inch from that spot.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

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Kumakichi-kun and Mr. Chatura had hearts.

Slime must have a heart too.

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To the fallen, immobile slime. . . . . .

I’ve decided.

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『O! OBig Sister!』

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I get off Kumakichi-kun’s back and touch the slime.

What’s wrong? You.

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『I’m hungry. . . . . .』

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My ability activates, and I understand the monster’s words.

I see, slimes get hungry too.

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. . . . . .I still can’t distinguish between monsters and people.

I can’t ignore a hungry child.

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. . . . . .God.

Please forgive me, I can’t leave a weakened monster alone.

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Want to eat?

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『! I want to eat!』

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Alright, then come.

I’m going to cook now.

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『I’m coming!』

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So I decided to help the slime.

Slime-chan sucks up the lake water and stores it in its body.

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Riding on Kumakichi-kun’s back, we return to the church.

In the kitchen, I get water from Slime-chan.

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I fill the pot with water, add chopped vegetables, dried meat, and a little milk.

The dish is ready in no time.

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Since I’ve always cooked meals for charity events, I’m really good at stews and braised dishes.

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『Big Sister, this smells amazing! So delicious!』

『Amazing!』

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I take the pot outside the church.

Kumakichi-kun sits down with a plop, looking adorable.

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I place the pot on the ground. . . . . .

How should they eat it?

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I poured it into a dish, but Kumakichi-kun can’t use a spoon.

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『Hurry up!』

『Hurry up!』

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For now, I put it on the ground.

Kumakichi-kun starts to eat it like a dog, licking it up.

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How is it?

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『It’s,』

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It’s?

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『Sooooooooooooooooooo delicious!』

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Kumakichi-kun roars.

Oh, good, the pot didn’t fall.

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『Amazing! I’ve never eaten anything this delicious before! So good!』

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Tears streaming down, Kumakichi-kun laps up the stew.

I’m glad they think it’s delicious.

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『Tasty! This is tasty!』

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Slime-chan also touches its mouth? to the dish, drinks a gulp, and then says,

Delicious. . . . . .

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I’m taken aback.

. . . . . .That’s right, that’s it.

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A heart that finds stew delicious. . . . . .There’s no difference between monsters and humans.

Yes, that’s it.

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Human or monster, it doesn’t matter.

Both have hearts, beloved neighbors, aren’t they?

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God gives us, neighbors, mercy.

I think the monsters with hearts will also welcome us as neighbors.

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. . . . . .No, that’s not it.

I don’t need to seek permission from God.

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I’ve decided that.

Monsters aren’t evil, as ordinary people say.

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They aren’t heartless, frightening beings.

Humans and monsters both eat the same stew and have hearts that think it’s delicious. . . . . .They are the same beings.

“Excellent, Kyrie-sama.”

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. . . . . .Huh?

When I turned around, Mrs. Kumako and Mr. Chatura were standing there.

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Mr. Chatura, he’s tearing up.

Mrs. Kumako’s eyes were moist, too.

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『That you would think of us in such a way. . . . . .』

“Indeed, you are worthy of being the Holy Demon King!”

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Er, er, uh.

Maybe. . . . . .they overheard?

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“Yes. I have heard your noble thoughts.”

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I, I was heard.

W, Wow. . . . . .so embarrassing. . . . . .

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Being heard in your inner voice is really embarrassing. . . . . .

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『That’s not true. You’re admirable, you are』

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Mrs. Kumako is smiling.

Mr. Chatura is nodding deeply.

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. . . . . .That’s right, they’ve already heard.

I’ve made up my mind.

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Mr. Chatura. I’ll do it. The Holy Demon King.

I want to use God’s power for people and the monsters living in this forest.

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“As you wish, Your Highness. I will work myself to the bone to be of use to you.”

『I’ll help Kyrie too!』『Me too!』『Me too!』

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Everyone. . . . . .

Thank you for helping a little girl like me.

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Yes, if everyone is going to help me, I feel I can do my best.

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『What’s that, the very delicious-looking thing!』

『You don’t know, Mom? It’s stew!』『Stew.』

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Mrs. Kumako and Mr. Chatura’s stomachs rumble.

That’s right, everyone must be hungry.

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Now, let’s eat the meal.

I pour the stew into the plates and hand them to Mrs. Kumako and the others. . . . . .

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『What’s this! Such incredibly delicious food, it’s my first time!』

“. . . . . .! This is wonderful. It’s filled with divine energy.”

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Divine energy?

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“No, now I’ll enjoy this heavenly dish.”

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T, That’s an exaggeration 

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『No, it’s heavenly!』『Heavenly』『Ah, it’s the best』

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S, Stop, you’re making me blush.

Ahaha, everyone is laughing.

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Eating delicious food, laughing together.

Seeing this scene, not only me, but other people will surely understand that monsters are not something to be afraid of.

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Having been expelled from the temple, I didn’t know what to do.

But here, I’ve found new encounters and goals.

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I want to create a place where humans and monsters laugh together.

I’ll become the Holy Demon King for that.

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. . . . . .Surely, this meeting too, must be the will of God.

Now I’m just thankful to God, who has granted me this warm miracle.