Chapter 71: Demon Race (1)
I cald my startled heart.
‘For a mont, I almost drew my sword.’
Although he showed the aura of a Demon Beast, he was still a child. If I revealed killing intent, he would only be frightened instead. To hear his story, I had to remain composed.
‘Besides, he helped . He doesn’t look particularly strong either, so it should be fine to watch for now.’
I glanced at Kazan. Likewise, Kazan did not take any action. He had also decided to listen a bit more.
We shared the sa judgnt as veteran rcenaries who had gone through countless battles.
Feigning calmness, I asked Requilith,
“Is that power you use what you call magical energy?”
“The Demon God, granted it. If you’re of the Demon Race, everyone can use it.”
“What exactly is this ‘Demon Race’ you speak of?”
“What do you an, what is it?”
Requilith tilted his head.
“Humans, Elves, Dwarves. We’re all living beings like you. We Demon Race are no different from you.”
The words ‘that’s different’ rose to my throat. Barely swallowing them, I slowly spoke,
“The power you wield is called the power of Demon Beasts here. And Demon Beasts are the enemies of mankind. Do you understand?”
“Different.”
“What is different?”
“The Demon Race, has intelligence. We’re different from Demon Beasts that lack reason. And we live like normal people. We don’t absorb life force to beco stronger. Even if we absorb life force, we don’t grow stronger.”
There certainly seed to be differences between the Demon Race and Demon Beasts. However, that was only Requilith’s perspective.
In this world, Demon Beasts were already objects of fear. No matter what Requilith said, that perception would not change.
At that mont—
“Ughhh….”
The Holy Knight regained consciousness. Slowly lifting his body, he looked around and spoke,
“Where… is this…?”
“You’ve awakened? I apologize for asking this so soon after you regained consciousness, but I have a few questions.”
Kazan addressed the Holy Knight.
“What is your na?”
“Hendrick… No, this isn’t the ti for this. I am a Holy Knight of the Holy Kingdom. The Saintess—where is the Saintess?!”
With a confused face, Hendrick searched for the Saintess. Soon, he spotted the entrance of the labyrinth and spoke in a trembling voice,
“Don’t tell … the Saintess has already gone inside?”
“That is correct. So please cooperate—”
“No!!”
Hendrick shouted abruptly. Kazan, whose words were cut off, frowned.
“Calm yourself.”
“Calm down? How can I calm down?! The Saintess is in danger! We must chase after her imdiately! Those who use such wicked tricks will harm her!”
I t Kazan’s gaze.
‘He’s not in a state where we can reason with him.’
‘It can’t be helped. We’ve already heard the situation—let’s calm him down.’
Thud—!
Kazan struck the back of Hendrick’s head hard. With a choking sound, Hendrick’s body collapsed.
It was an ergency. Even if we got scolded later, we had to save ti.
‘He should’ve just listened properly from the start.’
For soone brought by the Saintess, he seed poorly trained. It was almost a waste to call him a knight.
“I’m back.”
At that mont, Garan returned with the guild’s rcenaries.
“They’ll guard the labyrinth entrance in our place. Any of the Holy Knights regain consciousness?”
“We roughly heard the situation. The Holy Knight couldn’t co to his senses, so we knocked him out again.”
The rcenaries flinched. A Holy Knight of the Holy Kingdom—famous for their pride—was knocked unconscious again? Were they not afraid of retaliation?
If it were an ordinary rcenary, they might laugh it off. But their opponent was from the Black Dragon rcenary Corps. There was no way to ignore it.
And Garan did not take issue with it. Rather, he praised Kazan.
“Well done. Those impersonating Holy Knights have entered the labyrinth. Their disguises were quite skilled. No need to entertain the nonsense of soone in panic. I’ll hear the rest on the way. Let’s move quickly to where the Saintess is.”
The mont he finished speaking, Garan descended into the labyrinth entrance. His movent down the stairs was swift—almost like he was falling.
Kazan and Rhuin followed behind him.
Before following them, I spoke to Rahan,
“Co with Retina and Ryan. This situation is serious. We’ll go ahead.”
“Okay.”
“Requilith.”
At my call, Requilith tilted his head. With a blunt expression, I grabbed the back of his neck and said,
“I might have more questions along the way, so you’re coming with .”
“No, wai—”
Thaat—!!
Before he could respond, I moved.
It was clearly different from before. It ant my Body Movent Technique had deepened.
Whoooosh—!!
My body shot forward as if falling. It was similar to Garan’s movent. Unless one had exceptional footwork, they might mistake for him.
Thaat—!!
With each step, I advanced ten strides. The sight was as fierce as a waterfall cascading down a cliff.
While moving like a beam of light, I suddenly stopped.
Clang—! Clang—!!
From beyond the wall, the sound of blades colliding rang out. When I placed my hand on it, I could feel continuous vibrations.
Boom—! Boom—!
I could sense waves of internal energy. Just from feeling a fragnt of that power, I knew a terrifying battle was taking place.
‘I need to hurry.’
Paat—!!
My figure vanished once more.
---
Boom—! Boom—!!
Inside the narrow labyrinth,
A chillingly powerful internal energy shook the air.
Wooooong—!!
“What are you doing, Hendrick!!”
One of the Holy Knights shouted as he blocked that energy.
“Co to your senses! Do you not know who you are pointing your sword at?!”
Step—
At those words, the Holy Knight called Hendrick stopped.
Soon, his body trembled as he burst into laughter.
“Kek, kekeke! You fool. Do you still think I am Hendrick? My na is not Hendrick. Do not address with the na of a re human.”
“What are you—”
“I’ll speak with him.”
At that mont, Sibelte spoke from behind the Holy Knight.
Her pure white nun’s robe was stained with dirt and blood, showing traces of a fierce battle.
Her disheveled hair looked as if soone had grabbed and pulled it.
Yet her eyes were deeply sunken—eerily calm.
Anyone who didn’t know she was the Saintess would have been frightened.
“Hendrick, if you are not Hendrick, then who are you?”
“…I didn’t expect the Saintess to be a fool as well. Humans truly are ignorant.”
At that mont, a black aura flickered across Hendrick’s face.
“…!!”
Feeling that aura, Sibelte exclaid,
“A Demon Beast!!”
“Do not compare to such beasts. I am one who has received a mission from the Great Blood of Night. Bingpleru.”
Before they knew it, Bingpleru’s face had completely changed. A pale complexion devoid of blood. Sharp fangs visible whenever his lips curled.
His inverted eyes—where the whites and blacks were reversed—made it clear he was not human.
Sibelte thought with tension,
‘I’ve heard of this. The Demon King from five hundred years ago had inverted eyes.’
Then… was this creature a subordinate of the Demon King?
“Saintess, the Great Bloodline desires your heart. Your heart, imbued with Solar’s blessing, will aid in His growth. Accept your death quietly.”
Those words confird Sibelte’s suspicions.
Her eyes sank coldly.
‘Demon Beast… no, he said Great Blood of Night?’
She could roughly guess his goal. It was said that the hearts of saints contained extraordinary divine power.
Even consuming a fragnt of such a heart would not only cure illnesses but greatly extend one’s lifespan.
‘And for those who train in swordsmanship or magic, it helps elevate their realm.’
It was similar to mana herbs—except incomparably more powerful.
‘Don’t tell … this labyrinth was also their doing?’
If so, it was disastrous. Unlike her, who had just entered, they would be familiar with the labyrinth’s terrain. Even if she fled, she would likely be caught quickly.
Perhaps because this was her first ti experiencing such a situation since becoming the Saintess—
Sibelte found it hard to remain calm.
For the first ti, the fear of death crept over her. Her fingertips trembled slightly.
Seeing that tremble,
Bingpleru smiled unpleasantly.
“If you do not resist, I will send you off without pain. I swear it upon my na.”
Sibelte’s lips trembled.
She hesitated.
Should she struggle to the end and die in agony? Or accept it and face a painless death?
Either way, death was the sa. The only question was what kind of death was right for a Saintess.
She chose the forr.
Kwaaaaaa—!!
Holy power surged from her entire body. Even if she couldn’t wield swordsmanship or magic, there was still much she could do.
“Even if I die at your hands, I will never give up. That is the will of the Holy Kingdom’s Saintess.”
“….”
Bingpleru’s face hardened. He felt her sincere resolve.
“So that is your choice.”
“Protect the Saintess!!”
At the desperate cry, the Holy Knights gathered around her. Of the more than thirty they once had, not even half remained.
With just five people, they had overwheld such numbers.
“Pathetic.”
Bingpleru spoke,
“I heard the Empire only grants the title of knight to exceptional individuals. Seeing you, I understand why.”
At that mont—
Kwaaaaaa—!!
A terrifying killing intent erupted from his entire body. It made one’s hair stand on end and forced dry swallowing.
“Know your place. You who are called knights, yet cannot even reach the feet of a true knight.”
It was overwhelming.
The Holy Knights trembled. It was instinctive.
Their bodies were submitting just from sensing the killing intent. Only their lifelong ntal discipline allowed them to endure.
Otherwise, they would have already foad at the mouth and collapsed.
As Bingpleru took a step forward—
Boom—! Boom—! Boom—!!
A massive crashing sound echoed from sowhere.
“…?”
The vibrations were intense—like a giant whale rampaging on land.
More importantly, the intensity was growing stronger.
‘No… it’s getting closer…’
Boom—!!
At that mont, the labyrinth wall burst open. Debris scattered across the ground, and dust rose.
Within the dust, a figure appeared.
‘No… two?’
Looking closer, one arm held the shape of a small person. The size suggested a child…
It was hard to tell clearly until the dust settled.
“Did you know, Demon Race?”
Whoosh—!!
A man stepped out of the dust as he spoke. The white breath escaping his mouth looked as if a ghost was devouring souls.
“It seems I’m bad at finding my way. Sothing I only just realized.”
Even amidst the scene of corpses scattered everywhere, his voice remained calm.
“So I thought—can I really find my way through this complicated labyrinth? Can I reach the destination I want?”
“…What nonsense are you—”
Slash—!!
Before Bingpleru could finish, a chilling sound cut through the air.
“Aaaagh!!”
Bingpleru scread in pain.
“My arm! You dare—!!”
His right arm had been severed.
Soone had cut him faster than the eye could follow.
“You bastard—!!”
With bloodshot eyes, Bingpleru glared at the man.
eting his gaze, I spoke,
“Don’t interrupt. Demon Race. Anyway, I thought—if I’m human, I can just move in a straight line. Doesn’t that sound efficient?”
“What are you saying?! You dare cut the arm of Bingpleru—!”
“I’m not finished.”
The Saintess could not fully hear my words.
She could only stare blankly at .
She had prepared for death—determined to uphold her faith as the Saintess of the Holy Kingdom until the very end.
Yet salvation arrived, rendering that resolve aningless.
Tears flowed.
Even she didn’t know why.
Was it relief at surviving? Or emotion at soone coming to help?
Perhaps both.
Moreover, Bingpleru was soone all the Holy Knights here feared.
And I had severed his arm in a single strike.
Hope—that they could win—naturally rose within her.
Sibelte could not stop her tears.
“Do not worry, Saintess. Breaking through the walls made it quick to find you.”
I t her eyes.
Her reflection appeared in my indifferent gaze.
“Let’s finish our conversation after I cut them all down.”
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