It was a sudden question. I answered by putting on a hard expression.
“……. Devils are the enemies of humans. They are beings that destroy humans. ……That’s what I was told.”
It’s what I learned at the research facility. That was planted deep into me.
Master smiled lightly.
“You’re right. The Heaven—from the Churches perspective the Devils are enemy forces. However, that doesn’t mean that is everything.”
“……So, are the Devils on the human’s side……?”
Master didn’t shake his side vertically or horizontally to my question. Instead, he simply smiled.
“For Devils, humans are an existence that need to exist. Devils had continued to exist since ancient times by receiving a price for the pact. Give and Take. It’s the fundamental theory of Devils. Well, there are Devils that do deceive humans, however there are humans that make a profit by deceiving Devils as well. So they’re doing the same to each other.”
“I know that. It’s just that I was told that Devils are an evil existence that prey on people's weaknesses.”
“Evil……I see.”
Master narrowed his eyes at the word evil.
“……Actual evil is directed at those who are more worthless. ……Though you probably wouldn’t understand what I’m saying right now.”
“?”
That was something I couldn’t understand back then.
Master caught a single fish and asked me another question.
“Then, boy. Do you think Devils are beings that destroy humans? For example, do you think Rias-hime and I are beings that would destroy humans?”
—Rias Gremory.
Rias Gremory had been coming to this mountain at times to see how I was doing ever since I was brought here. It seemed like she was worried about me and since I doubted her actions back then, I avoided seeing her as much as I could.
No, I had started to feel it deep inside me.
—That, the crimson hair girl isn’t a bad Devil.
Her smile that was directed at me and the girl with beast ears……didn’t have the slightest feeling of evil intention and ulterior motive.
“…………I don’t know.”
That was the best answer I could give.
Master smiled lightly again. It seemed like he was enjoying how a child was thinking hard.
“Please think by looking at many things. At least you were given the choice to do so. Did you know how wonderful that is? Imagine just how many of those there are in this world that don't even receive the chance to think……”
I could now understand what master said back then. However, back then I could only find it suspicious—.
After that, master taught me many ways to “have fun”. Not only did he teach me fishing, but he also taught me how to cook, how to make handicrafts, how to play card games, how to spin a top, and how to sing a song.
He even taught me how to write Japanese symbols from the basics.
Yes, master shaped the person I am right now by teaching me gently—.
It was always under the sunshine when he taught me about certain things.
It was a weird and valuable time for me despite being a Devil.
“……Okay.”
There was something I did once every few days.
It was to make the graves for my comrades at the open field within the mountains. I was also able to make one today.
I made swords delicately where each one of them had a different shape using my ability. I stabbed those swords into the earth and made a bump.
……I didn’t make a grave with a cross. There was no way I would.
I didn’t carve their names either. I could tell which one of the graves is which even without carving their names. That was because I could remember the face of the particular comrade when I was standing in front of their grave.
It would be complete if I make about ten more swords. ……The reason why I said “about” was because I was hesitant on whether to make my grave or not.
I died as a human. However, I was a Devil. I was still hesitant on whether it was necessary to make a grave for me who died as a human.