There are such people.

Those captivated by extravagant beliefs, making rational thinking impossible. Or those who excessively believe in superstitions, losing their ease and confusing reality with ideals. And people who insist on maintaining outdated customs, imposing irrationality and accepting sacrifice.

They suffered the consequences, each sticking to their stubbornness and coercion.

Sharti didn’t have the courage to confront such an abnormal group.

Nor did she want to.

“I’m just a doctor.”

Sharti was a doctor who saved lives, extending a helping hand and holding the hands of those in need.

So, naturally, her arbitrary actions this time went too far. If an outsider like her touched and took away a village’s food, the sin was heavy.

Understood.

In the name of helping the patients, she caused harm to others.

“There might have been a better way.”

If she had set aside prejudices, revealed the diagnosis to the village chief instead of Ashu, and calmly presented the cause and solution to the disease, perhaps through sufficient discussion, a more moderate approach could have been derived.

However, Sharti couldn’t do that, and as a result, the blame, resentment, threats, and anger she received were things she had to bear.

“…It’s okay.”

It’s okay. It’s okay.

Surprisingly, Sharti was okay.

Sharti lifted her gaze, looking at the broad back that filled her field of vision.

“If it’s too hard to endure, bite my hand. My hand is tougher than yours.”

It was already the second time that Ren had shown symptoms of seizures in front of her.

And this time, too, he embraced her symptoms without revealing her illness.

“I won’t die. It’s okay. You’re safe. I’m here. Sharti, my master. Look at me.”

In the midst of hallucinations and illusions so severe that she could lose her mind, Ren’s voice was like a spell.

A magical incantation holding her together to prevent her from losing her mind.

“Even in the midst of my insanity, he takes care to ensure that my robe and hood don’t come off.”

Under the protection of Ren, which could not be expressed adequately by the term “reliable,” Sharti felt a sense of relief.

It was the same now.

In a situation where her face would have turned pale, trembling uncontrollably under normal circumstances, Sharti felt courage in the presence of Ren, who was defending and opposing for her sake.

“So what if I become a witch?”

After all, didn’t she throw herself in front of the Newton Empire army five years ago, becoming an absurd sacrifice?

Even if she were to become the ‘Arisvian Princess,’ famous for her beauty, death was inevitable.

So, becoming a sinister and cruel witch wouldn’t be that bad.

“If accepting death meekly is fate, then resisting and wanting to live is what?”

Lowering the hand that was stroking her neck, Sharti raised her head firmly.

In her eerie voice, scratching like metal, everyone in the hall fell silent.

“Is watching their pain and doing nothing to defy their fate?”

Sharti took a step forward.
Sharti didn’t notice, but now she was unusually reckless and impulsive, solely influenced by Ren’s presence.

“Wh-what a dreadful…”

For a moment, a voice muttering “real witch” towards her with a pale face reached her ears.

When Sharti hesitated unknowingly, Ren immediately grabbed her hand.

“Don’t stop, Shaa.”

In a low murmur, Sharti tightly held Ren’s hand and then let go.

Sharti took two more steps, pressing on Ren’s back.

Left behind, Ren clenched his fists, suppressing the impulse to embrace Sharti’s shoulders and walk together.

“Don’t turn such a cowardly fate into a convenient excuse.”

Many gazes, too many eyes, were filled with contempt.

However, Sharti didn’t care. She was rather willing.

Look, in any case, didn’t she shut their mouths?

“…Don’t cross the line.”

Ashu’s grandfather issued the final warning.

Sharti swallowed her heart that seemed about to jump out.

“I asked to be saved.”

“…!”

“I called for help. I said I didn’t want to die, and he grabbed me.”

The eerie and terrifying voice continued without caring.

Sharti tightened the grip on her neck.

“For those present here, it won’t be audible. They are forcing death with ears blocked and eyes shut.”

Finally, Sharti walked up to the white-haired old man.

It was a distance she could reach if she stretched out her hand.

“Pleading in pain, they reached out to me, and I grabbed those hands.”

Sharti turned her head and scanned the village leaders in succession.

“From now on, I won’t let them, and all of you, die.”

“….”

“If you want to die according to your fate, I won’t stop you. No one can interfere in someone else’s death. But I will definitely save those who ask for help. As a doctor.”

Thanks to the continuous conversations with Ren, her voice became clearer and louder.

Although it was still a grotesque frog-like croaking sound, Sharti didn’t show the usual aversion to the act of producing sound.