After leaving Ageha, I headed back to the dungeon hideout to get some rest.
I stepped inside after making sure the Vampire Eudite wasn't using the place.
『Master, what’s the plan?』
As I sat down, Puppeteer spoke up.
"Let me think..."
I gave a tired nod, my mind drifting. I was drained. The exhaustion was so deep that even the simple act of thinking felt like a chore.
"First, we have to find a way out of this dungeon. And then, I need to figure out how to make you human."
『Oh? You’re actually going to put some thought into making me human?』
"Of course I am."
To be honest, I had no idea what whim was stopping Puppeteer from trying to eat me.
However, there was no denying that the current situation was in my favor. To keep Puppeteer from changing its mind, I had to keep showing it that I was committed to its goal.
"Do you know of any way to become human other than eating people?"
『Hmm, not really, no.』
"I see..."
I wished I had some kind of clue to go on.
I tried to piece it together. I’d been jerked around by the Parasitic Sword: Puppeteer for a long time now. I hoped there was a hint buried somewhere in all that...
"Hey, Puppeteer. You’ve parasitized plenty of people before me, right?"
『Yeah, that’s right.』
"Can you tell me what that was like for you?"
『Sure, I don't mind.』
With a metaphorical shrug, Puppeteer agreed.
『I can move the human I’m possessing more or less however I want—』
The story Puppeteer told me was identical to what I had experienced when it possessed me in a different timeline. The reason I had made it explain everything again was because there was one specific thing I wanted to confirm.
"In other words, every time you slay a monster, you grow larger, and your Degree of Encroachment on the host increases."
『Yeah, exactly.』
"Is it impossible to interpret that as you getting closer to being human the more monsters you kill?"
In that other timeline, I remembered that every time I killed a monster while possessed, Puppeteer grew larger until I was eventually swallowed by it. I had wondered if that growth meant it was slowly becoming human.
『Nah, impossible.』
"Why are you so sure?"
I felt a flash of frustration at its flat rejection. Here I was, trying my best to think of a solution for its sake.
『The more monsters I kill, I’m not getting closer to being human. I’m just getting big enough to swallow a human whole.』
It muttered the words with a touch of self-deprecation.
Now that it mentioned it, that made sense. When I was being parasitized, the more I killed, the larger it grew until it consumed me; it wasn't as if the sword itself was becoming more human.
Even now, while I’m the one in control, giving it the Skill Points I earn from monsters only makes it grow from a tachi into a greatsword. At Level 3, it transforms into that massive monster, the <Brutal Predator>.
In both cases, it was just getting bigger. It wasn't becoming human.
"In that case, maybe I'll just feed you the villagers."
『The villagers? What are you talking about?』
Since it asked, I decided to explain.
I told it how the villagers had persecuted me for my silver hair. I told it how they had murdered the person I loved, framed me for the crime, and then exiled me to this dungeon.
『Hmm. You’ve had it rough, Master.』
"You could say that. I want revenge so badly I could kill them all myself. So, if it's them, you can eat your fill."
『I see. In that case, I’ll take you up on your kind offer and eat those villagers.』
"Yeah. Thanks."
『But first, we have to get out of this dungeon.』
"...Right."
After we finished talking, I went to sleep to prepare for tomorrow. I felt like it was the first time I'd truly slept in ages.
The next day, I left the hideout.
I set my sights on the Boss Room at the deepest part of the dungeon. Having defeated the Golden Living Armor, I had ground enough levels to be ready. It was time to find the boss and get out of here.
"My, my. I noticed the Parasitic Sword: Puppeteer was missing from its usual spot. I wonder, what exactly is the situation here?"
I had just passed the area where I'd slain the Mid-boss Gryphon when I saw her.
The Vampire Eudite herself was standing in my path.