Demonas

The Devil In The Cage (6)

The aura filled dagger lightly pierced the wall and stuck there.

Soon after, a couple of groans could be heard.

Altair said, frowning.

“You’re clumsy. Are you saying those are the skills of those who are supposed to risk their lives to protect the Chernobog family?”

“…I’m terribly ashamed.”

Someone replied in a low voice, swallowing his saliva. The owner of the low-pitched voice was the Leader of Nameless, Soren Roses.

He was also an accomplished swordsman but was not able to overcome the vindictive swordmaster’s onslaught of attacks.

“I won’t comment much on today’s mistake. However, you are to double the intensity of your training so that you do not get caught in action.”

Altair spoke bluntly, before sliding off the bed.

Slowly tiptoeing out of the bedroom.

“Respect.”

The leader stifled a moan as he pulled out the dagger stuck in his thigh.

Punishment for reporting to the owner of the house.

Earlier, he had known of the aftereffects and had not wanted to tell him everything.

[ She resembled his mother, making him very curious. ]

When he finished making a partial report, the owner of the house blurted out without even glancing at him.

[ A few days ago, for the first time, Altair had blurted out the name of Estarrot. I do not know how she found out about his existence. In any case, the illegitimate child had aroused her curiosity. As a result, there was now a ridiculous lesson on swordsmanship… That’s what I’ve seen, is it any different from yours? ]

[ … ]

Immediately, the spy caught onto what the owner was hinting at.

The owner was aware of the true purpose of his daughter who had visited the Count in the first place. This was his last chance to do his duty and tell the truth.

He gave a deep bow.

[ I’m sorry. I will correct the report. After that battle, the lady wanted to meet Ahin Estarrot… ]

The face of the owner who was intently listening to the backstory without a word was so scary.

He shivered in the darkness.

Of course, he had worked with various employers before taking root in Chernobog, but this was the first time he was put in such a difficult position.

If you were to report anything, he would notice it as if he were a ghost. So if he were to report the truth, even the lady who throws and aura filled dagger would…

Soren Roses, for the first time since stepping into this field of work, seriously considered retiring.

***

That night, Altair stayed up all night in her father’s study.

Before going to bed, her father seemed to have softened up a little bit. Although the conflict between them was still left unresolved.

[ Either way, it doesn’t change the fact that he’s the child of the enemy’s family. ]

That was what father had said, and she did not know what he was so worried about.

However, her trust for Ahin still held firm. After all, she had experienced a meeting with Ahin once.

‘If I were given the chance, I would repeat what happened in the past.’

Then, she paused. As if something had suddenly dawned on her.

Come to think of it, she had seen many unique things when she visited Ahin.

Not to mention the speed and physical ability of his aura, so powerful it seed to transcend the human race. However, unlike her last life, she felt as if she had the power to stimulate the fear of those weaker than her instead of the ability to fascinate.

‘…First things first, I will have to find out more about this demon.’

Just in case, she had searched the entire study but not a single book that was related to black magic, let alone demons, was found.

After all, the empire dismissed such content as fraudulent and had cracked down hard on it. The Chernobog family was also hostile towards pagan, so this was no surprise.

‘I believe the confiscated books collected from private sectors have been placed in a compartment of the Imperial Library.’

She struggled to remember the exact location based on her memory of seizing and confiscating on Imperial Order.

Moreover, the Imperial Library is so large that it was impossible to simply pinpoint the exact compartment in which the books were stored by memory alone.

‘I’ll visit the Imperial Palace tomorrow and stop by the library.’

As she was contemplating how to enter the forbidden area without being noticed by librarians or other visitors, she saw a light shining obliquely over the spine of the book that she was turning over.

Looking up, she could see that dawn was fast approaching as the sun’s rays slowly filled the room from the large window as she made her way back into her father’s bedroom before finally falling asleep.

Information Gathering (1)

Altair had a dream.

She stood alone in a desolate battlefield, with corpses that were pipes so high they formed mountains on the ground where blood puddles were stagnant.

Is it over now?

When she thought of that, she heaved a long sigh of relief as she could hear the faint sounds of magic telegrams from frantic onlookers.

…Devil contractors!

…Necromancer! Under your feet, watch your steps?

At the same time, someone’s hand grasped at her boots, the sound of the mountain if bodies being scattered seemed to resonate loudly.

After all, this was a living hell.

The deceased, be it enemies or allies, rose from all sides ferociously.

She is unable to remember the hundreds of thousands that she had killed, but a friendly soldier that she had fought alongside with rose as well.

No, if it’s clear here, then the capital must be straight ahead.

No matter how many times the sun and moon rise and fall, the fight is not over.

She had already exhausted all her energy to the point where her core is about to break.

Standing on the high ground without focusless eyes, she suddenly heard someone’s urgent cry.

[ …I’m screwed! We are under fire with black magic! ]

She turned around and started running.

However, with the tremendous shock wave that was about to come, she ran for a while before rolling onto the ground.

And then dark.

…

…

[ …Your excellency, open your eyes. ]

[ …Internal injuries are too severe. ]

Someone’s arms.

[ You guys, protect the body. I will stop the necromancers. ]

This voice, Ahin?

[ But there are several lines of Gehen’s regulars blocking them. ]

[ …I’ll take care of it, now, risk your life and transfer her to the rear. ]

Terror, fear, nervousness. It was a cry filled with such explicit feelings.

He’s not acting like his usual self, is he really alright?

[ …Here we go again!]

B-bang-

Another distant sound of artillery fire is heard.

It is said that when hit with those, the flame does not go out and instead continues to burn raw flesh. If it continues like this, maybe there will be no one who will ever return home from here.

Am I able to see them again? I miss my mother and father.

At that moment,

Flash-

A flash broke out as consciousness was quickly cut off.

…

…

“Huek…!”

It was still dark in the room.

She opened her eyes quickly, breathless as she scanned the room looking for Rowan like a frightened child.

“Ah… Father!”

Rowan, who felt his daughter digging into his arms, woke up and tried to stroke the back of her neck. Altair raised her upper body with surprised eyes as she realised how she was wet with sweat.

“What’s going on, Altair? Did you have a nightmare?”

Her face looked pale and she was twitching all over her body.

Slowly, he put his palm on her forehead and said in a stiff expression.

“You’re having a fever. I’m going out to call for a doctor right now.”

She grabbed hold of his sleeves and shook her head desperately before he could ring the bedside bell.

“Stay where you are…”

His eyes widened in surprise before he quickly smiled affectionately and hugged her small shoulders tightly.

“Yes, I will. Whatever you want…”

Hearing a warm voice, Altair dug deeper into his arms like a young wild beast.

‘My father, whom I have met even beyond death. I will not let him die again. I will not let that terrible war happen again.’

Holding her heart that was madly fluttering, she repeats that one thought over and over again. Shuddering at the thought of him being gone.

‘Ahin. What had happened to Ahin.’

***

In retrospect, it was a war that could have never been won.

There was no land to stand on as heavy rain poured down whilst artillery fire was launched by black wizards, now overflowing with mana as a result of their contracts with the demons.

Even if the enemy is knocked down repeatedly, they will be revived. Even those that were once allied forces will return to the enemy’s side.

When she had lost consciousness amid the mess, she had opened her eyes to find herself lying in the wounded officer’s clinic in the rear on a sheet with bandage all over her body.

Pushing herself upwards after regaining her sense, she felt a sharp pain in her abdomen.

Swallowing a groan, she asked urgently.

[ What happened to Count Estarrot? Is he alive? ]

The old congressman who was measuring her pulse paused, looking troubled.

[ Your Excellency. Is it not forbidden to mention such things in the Imperial Camp…? ]

With her eyes wide open, she took the congressman’s counterattack.

[ Are you insulting the soldiers who fought for the Empire? ]

Frightened, he gasped,

[ No, it’s not like that…! ]

[ Then how can you say something like that? Are you provoking or teasing me? ]

[ It- It’s… Not too long ago, an imperial order was declared. They will burn the demon on the stake, so they will not forgive you if you were to mention anything before the date of execution…! ]

[ What a ridiculous play with words. ]

Is the emperor crazy?

To burn, that was the prize he received for dedicating everything for the Empire.

She was furious.

Even though she had suffered a serious injury that made it difficult for her to walk, she still pushed onwards to find out more about the emperor.

After falling to her knees on the cold marble floor with her clenched fists on the ground, she opened her mouth and spoke in a determined tone.

[ Ahin Estarrot. If you do not restore his honour, I, Altair Chernobog, will no longer battle again. ]

[ Duchess. I’ll pretend I did not hear a single word, so you’d better go back. ]

Quietly, she kept her head up without a single word.

The emperor then continued with a tired expression.

[ I forbade anyone from commenting on his wrongdoings. Even you are of no exception. ]

[ How can you persecute a soldier who sacrificed himself for the sake of his people? ]

Her firm tone was unwavering.

Silence.

The emperor, who was looking down at her with an arrogant expression, mumbled with his eyes narrowed.

[ …Yes. That’s what I meant and intend to do. ]

He gestured to the knights who were lined up in a voice lacking in emotion.

[ Royal Guards! ]

[ Yes! ]

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[ Lock that witch up in prison. She must have been misguided by the demon. ]

[…Your Majesty.]

Altair looked back at the knights of the Royal Guard who were tightly clenching their spears.

Forced to rise from her kneeling position and dragged out of the room, she did not rebel and just thought blankly.

I was. Abandoned.