Demon Slayer (2)
The streets were a swirling chaos of sleet.
The flames that had once engulfed the buildings were now subdued, leaving the area around the town hall a mire of demon blood and flesh.
Dalen watched the scene from inside the hall, tipping back a rough wooden cup. The bitter taste lingered on his tongue before sliding down his throat.
It was a potent liquor, once a specialty of this village, now impossible to produce.
“After our patrol, we found forty-four survivors in the village. The injured have been treated with potions and holy power, and the evil magic around the hall has been sufficiently purified. We should be safe for the night.”
Lucia spoke from across the table, sipping honey water.
It was she who had led the order of paladins to this remote village.
Upon receiving reports of suspicious activity on the outskirts, Charina had immediately requested reinforcements from the paladins.
“Smart move, and the timing was perfect.”
With the demon army gathering beyond the Frost Highlands, it was impossible to pull back the troops focused on the northern front.
Charina, understanding the situation, had set aside her pride and donated a portion of the national treasury to the paladins.
“Charina’s treasures, tax exemptions for the paladin branch, and freedom for military operations. Please rid this country of its vile cultists.”
Her plea accompanied the donation. The paladins, earnest in their demon-slaying mission, could hardly refuse.
Coincidentally, some of the paladin forces were already in the northern city alliance, hunting demon worshippers, and they moved north as soon as they received the order.
“By morning, about eighty percent of the village buildings will likely be burned down. It’s late, and the fires haven’t completely died out, so we’ll let everyone rest tonight. In the morning, we’ll gather what we can and evacuate.”
“You’ve done well. Without you, we would have been in serious trouble.”
Lucia gave a weary smile at Dalen’s words.
It had been a grueling schedule. The operation in the northern city alliance had lasted weeks, and just as it was wrapping up, they had embarked on this expedition to Charina.
The relentless travel and battles, followed by late-night searches and rescues.
Even for paladins empowered by holy tattoos, exhaustion was inevitable.
Yet, without a word of complaint, they cared for the villagers, a testament to their unwavering dedication.
“No, if you hadn’t been here, there wouldn’t have been any survivors by the time we arrived. We hurried, but we were still a step too late.”
“Still, the villagers will feel safer under the protection of the paladins than with some unknown mercenary. I’m not much for nursing people, anyway.”
Dalen raised his cup, and Lucia chuckled, shaking her head at his gesture of downing the liquor.
After wishing him a peaceful night, she left the meeting room, leaving only two people behind.
Craig, a special operations agent drafting a report for the higher-ups, and Dalen, who had set aside his cup and was now drinking straight from the bottle.
“Phew, it’s been a day that tests one’s sanity.”
Craig set down his quill and rubbed his temples. Dalen glanced at his report while taking a swig from the bottle.
It summarized Lucia’s earlier briefing, with the agent’s insights and praise for Charina’s wise decisions.
”······.”
Even when he had watched Penny, the sewer cleaner, Dalen had felt that public service wasn’t for him, stability be damned.
“But it’s also a day I’ll never forget. I’ve seen both a dragon slayer and now a demon slayer with my own eyes.”
“A demon slayer?”
Dalen paused, tilting his head.
Lucia had indeed taken down a demon in the lower streets last time, but it wasn’t enough to earn the title of demon slayer.
Especially not for an intelligence agent to casually use such a moniker.
Noticing Dalen’s surprise, the agent asked, “Haven’t you heard of Lucia Castachild, the sharpest white sword of the war god, the demon slayer?”
“No, I haven’t.”
Not just a demon slayer, but with all those titles attached. It wasn’t unusual for a hero of Lucia’s caliber to have many names, but it seemed a bit sudden.
What kind of feats must she have accomplished…?
“In the recent weeks, Inquisitor Lucia Castachild has been credited with the most significant achievements in the paladins’ campaign against cultists. Verified reports say she’s slain over five demons.”
“···Five demons?”
Dalen’s hand froze mid-swig. Craig nodded at his stunned expression.
“I couldn’t believe it either, so I cross-checked the data multiple times. It’s astonishing that so many demons and dark wizards were hiding on this continent, and even more so that she found and defeated them in such a short time.”
“It’s truly remarkable. Very much so.”
Dalen himself hadn’t slain five demons.
Of course, dragons could be considered demons in a broad sense, and among the powerful foes he had defeated, some were comparable to demons.
Still, taking down five demons in just a few weeks was a rare feat in the long history of the paladins.
Finding hidden dark wizards and demons was a high-level challenge in itself.
Even Dalen, with his knowledge from hundreds of cycles, found it inefficient to track down dark wizards who constantly changed their bases.
“The paladins wouldn’t have any special tricks… Could she have already developed that ability?”
Lucia’s title as a demon slayer wasn’t just because she defeated many demons.
Demons were rare encounters, even for renowned mercenaries.
Though demon activity had increased as the world descended into chaos, the central continent still maintained relative order.
The fact that she had so swiftly uncovered and defeated hidden demons and dark wizards suggested her talents had blossomed years ahead of time.
“If she’s developed that ability, she must have also established her domain.”
Perhaps she had gained some insight during the battles in the western district.
He had sensed a subtle change in her aura, but Lucia’s growth had repeatedly exceeded his expectations.
“First Felber and Siena, and now Lucia.”
Possibilities that might have been buried were blooming, and abilities that should have been reclaimed years later were being mastered far earlier.
It wasn’t just the dark gods’ movements and the end times that were accelerating.
As if there were a precise scale measuring the world, the forces and heroes opposing the apocalypse were also rapidly advancing.
Creak.
Sinking deep into the hard wooden chair, Dalen gazed out at the blizzard raging outside the window.
As the pen scratched across the paper, he remained lost in thought.
The next day.
The villagers rose at dawn to sift through the charred ruins.
With only about forty survivors, rebuilding the village was impossible.
After salvaging what they could from the ashes, the villagers set out on a long journey to safety with Craig.
“Stick to the main roads, and if you come across another village, avoid it. Not all villages that have sided with the rebels have been identified, so for your safety, avoid contact with other villages until you reach Baltinograd.”
“···I’m sorry to ask, but is it possible for the paladins to escort us?”
“I wish we could, for my peace of mind as well. But there are other innocent victims like you in other villages.”
Though the villagers were disappointed, none blamed the paladins who had shielded them for a night.
Meanwhile, Craig, perhaps feeling the burden of protecting over forty people alone, made the same request to Dalen.
“I have a mission to complete. If the higher-ups ask about my whereabouts, tell them I’m searching for a weapon to fight the demons beyond the Frost Highlands.”
“I understand. May you be a guiding light for Charina.”
After seeing off the refugees and paladins, Dalen and his companions resumed their journey to their original destination.
The same destination, the same path. The only difference was the addition of one more companion.
“···So why are you tagging along? Weren’t you the commander of those paladins?”
At Dalen’s question, Lucia shrugged.
“Aren’t you heading to the World’s Teeth Mountains?”
“That’s right.”
“Land ruled by high orcs, teeming with powerful monsters. My special status as an inquisitor grants me command, but my mission is to eradicate powerful evils, including hidden demons, across the continent.”
“···And?”
“Following you, Dalen, always leads to at least a high-level demon or a witch of similar caliber. It’s always been that way, so I’m hoping for the same this time.”
”······.”
Wherever you go, demons or something else always pop up, and things get unusually complicated. So this time, you’re following me for your mission, huh?
Despite the charming smile she wore, her response left an unsettling feeling lingering in the air.
“Master, could it be that your true nature is like a doll that brings misfortune…?”
“Silence.”
“Ugh! Agh!”
The demon from the pocket dimension tried to continue, but was swiftly silenced by a fluid motion from the hand tucked inside her robe.
“The closer you get to the truth, the more careful you must be with your words. Speaking the truth isn’t always the answer, is it, you who have lost your memories?”
“Do you have to join in too?”
“What did I say?”
Even Dalen hadn’t anticipated that the ancient dragon in his mind would step in to console the demon, who was now metaphorically flattened.
“Hahaha! When you’re with this one, there’s never a dull moment! Endless waves of adversaries, a life of unceasing battles! Isn’t that the true path of a hero?”
“I’m glad to be with you, Mother.”
“Mother? I don’t think I’ve heard your name yet…”
“Akasha… or rather, Pukka.”
“Oh my.”
Caught between the dwarf’s hearty laughter and the boy’s unexpected declaration of a hidden lineage, Dalen felt a familiar throb in his temples.
“A paladin, a demon, a dragon, a dwarf, and now a mercenary. Quite the ensemble.”
Beyond the mental landscape, atop a snowy cliff, the ancient dragon chuckled with apparent amusement.
Dalen rubbed his temples and quickened his pace. This journey was shaping up to be anything but smooth.
The group continued eastward, passing through three more villages of varying sizes.
Fortunately, while some places felt bleak, none showed signs of the unrest they had encountered before.
“As we get closer to the border, the influence of the Ironblood Army grows stronger.”
Most of the forces were concentrated on the northern front, but that didn’t mean the other borders were left unguarded.
The World’s Teeth Mountains, known for the warlike high orcs, were a greater concern than the southern city-states or the western guild alliance.
Encounters with patrols became more frequent, and a week after leaving the burned village, the group finally reached the foothills of the World’s Teeth Mountains.