Perhaps feeling a sense of relief upon seeing Gitan fall, the believers, who had been holding their breath in terror, began to murmur to one another.
"That monster... is he dead? He stopped moving..."
"But that voice just now—wasn't that the Pope?"
"No, that’s impossible. Still, who is that boy? I feel like I've seen him somewhere before..."
Mm, if I stay here any longer, I’m going to stand out. It’s probably for the best if I disappear quickly.
"Oops, I have to take this guy with me, too."
That was the whole reason I purified him, after all.
I grabbed the unconscious Gitan by the scruff of his neck, activated the Spatial Transfer Spell Formula, and vanished from the spot.
The destination I reached via spatial transfer was the Lord of Lodesto's Manor.
"Whoa! Master Lloyd! Y-You’re back again already!?"
Galilea, who let out a startled cry when he saw me, was stark naked. He must have just gotten out of the bath, as steam was wafting warmly off his skin.
"Hey, Galilea. It’s been a day."
"Seriously, you always show up so suddenly... With that look on him, is this guy another one of Lamia’s friends? I'm gonna go get dressed, so just wait a second, alright?"
Since it was the second time I’d dropped in like this, he didn't seem nearly as shocked. I watched Galilea hurry off to change and then turned my attention to waking Gitan up.
"Wake up, Gitan."
"Ugh... Where... am I? What in the world was I... Gah!"
Gitan scrambled to his feet in a panic, then immediately dropped to his knees before me.
"I-I am so terribly sorry! I have done something truly horrific...!"
He performed a deep kowtow, and as if that weren't enough, he ground his forehead against the floor repeatedly.
"To synthesize humans and monsters is a deed that defies even the gods! Furthermore, to use that power to modify myself, take children hostage, and even attempt to destroy the city... Oh, what terrifying things I was about to do! Master Lloyd, thank you for stopping my rampage. Thank you, truly, truly...!"
Gitan bowed his head, tears streaming down his face as his shoulders trembled.
Yeah, it looked like the purification had successfully made him reform.
"Gitan, it appears you have repented."
"H-Hahaha, Lord Jiriel! To have shown such insolence even to you...!"
"Do not bow to me. Bow to my master, Master Lloyd."
"Why the hell are you acting so high and mighty...?"
Grimo interjected at Jiriel's words. I just waved my hand dismissively at the bowing Gitan.
"Ah, if you're reflecting on it, then it's fine. Besides, we can't really talk like that, so please look up."
"H-Hahaha!"
When I told him that, Gitan slowly raised his face with a look of trepidation. His body was still that of a monster, but his expression looked as if a demonic possession had been lifted from his soul.
"Master Lloyd, sorry to keep you waiting. I brought Lamia along, too."
"H-Hello..."
Galilea returned, now fully dressed, with Lamia by his side. Upon seeing her, Gitan’s face instantly turned pale.
"Y-You’re the one from back then! I’m sorry! I’ve done something irreversible! I don't even know what to say...!"
"Eh? Um, what’s going on?"
Lamia looked bewildered as Gitan apologized through his tears.
"This guy is Gitan. He’s the one who turned you into that form. He seems to be sorry about it now, though."
"I am truly, truly sorry... I don't know how I can ever atone for what I've done to you..."
After thinking for a moment while Gitan remained bowed, Lamia spoke to him gently.
"Um, Gitan-san. Please, raise your face."
"A-Ah..."
As Gitan looked up, she gave him a kind smile.
"It’s true that ending up with a body like this is very unfortunate. And of course, I feel some resentment toward you. But being angry won't solve anything. So... if you really want to atone for your sins, won't you help me return to my original body? It might be difficult for me alone, but I think if you're here, I can surely go back to the way I was."
"But..."
Gitan's face clouded over. Of course, it wouldn't be easy. Lamia's body was like two different liquids mixed together in a single vessel. If one tried to peel them apart by force, it would undoubtedly cause a fatal collapse. It was nearly impossible to separate them cleanly.
However, the possibility wasn't zero.
For any effect created by a spell formula, there is always a way to undo it. This is because spell formulas are the rules of the world. Just as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, or the tide ebbs and flows, or life eventually ends—the rules possess neither good nor evil; they simply exist. No matter how entangled they may be, if one carefully unravels them one by one, they should eventually be able to return to their original state.
Theoretically, at least. I spoke to the hesitating Gitan.
"Look, Gitan, no matter how much you apologize with words, it won't save Lamia. In that case, you have to show your remorse through your actions. Only after you mobilize all your knowledge, use your research results without reservation, and return Lamia's body to normal, can you finally say you've atoned for your sins, right?"
"...Yes, it is exactly as you say."
"Then devote yourself to Lamia's sake. That is your path to atonement."
Gitan clenched his fist tightly. Tears welled in his eyes, but his expression was now one of a man with a mission.
"...Lamia-san, even if I have to throw away everything I have, I will return you to normal. I might keep you waiting for a long time. However, I swear I will make you human again! Can you bear with me until then?"
"Yes! I'll do my best, too! Let's get our original bodies back together!"
"Oh... to give such kind words to someone like me... Thank you. Thank you...!"
Gitan and Lamia took each other's hands.
Good, with this, the research on monsters would progress. I didn't have any intention of synthesizing a monster's body into my own, but something interesting might come out of the process of turning it into a spell formula. Plus, Gitan himself could produce rare materials infinitely. With those materials, I could finally start producing the magic tools I hadn't been able to touch until now.
Hehehe, it looked like my magical research was going to make some serious progress again.
"As expected of Master Lloyd, that's some masterly skill. I’m not one to talk, but to take both Lamia and Gitan into his service without hesitating at all, even though they're practically monsters... He’s quite a broad-minded person. It’s because he’s like this that people want to follow him. This humble Galilea will continue to serve you with all my heart!"
"Among those who reform through purification, there are some who take their own lives out of sheer regret. Therefore, by giving him a path of atonement, Master Lloyd is giving Gitan a purpose to live. To think not only of forgiving him with words but also of what comes next... Master Lloyd is truly wonderful."
"A spell formula that forcibly synthesizes living beings, huh? If used well, one could even overcome death and obtain eternal life. He’s making sure to take proper countermeasures after that time he let his guard down and almost died. Not bad, Lloyd. Gehehe."
The three of them were muttering something or other to themselves, but that was a common occurrence, so I didn't see much need to pay them any mind.
In any case, the matter was settled.