Episode 294: Sita (3)
As Sita and Iota stepped through the dimensional portal, they found themselves in a vast cavern.
Sita began to walk along the cavern’s path, but Iota quickly grabbed her hand.
“Sita! Where do you think you’re going? I need an explanation from you!”
“Explanation? What explanation?”
“Mother ordered us to capture or kill Demian Haxen on sight! But you just let him go! If Mother finds out, she’ll unleash a terrifying punishment!”
Sita shook off Iota’s hand and replied, “Then go ahead and tell her.”
“What?”
“Whether you tell her or not, it doesn’t matter to me.”
“Are you planning to rely on Mother’s mercy? Even she won’t overlook this…”
“Judge as you will. If you understand, stop getting in my way. I need to go back and review the battle with Demian Haxen.”
Sita resumed her walk through the cavern, leaving Iota staring silently at her retreating figure.
”…Damn it, unlike the others, you know I wouldn’t report you.”
Iota sighed deeply, his expression troubled.
“Sita, why are you so obsessed with that guy? You’ve never shown that kind of interest in me…”
Gritting his teeth unconsciously, Iota muttered, “Demian Haxen, this is all your fault. You’re the one shaking Sita.”
He touched the side of his face, recalling the pain from the day Demian had struck him.
”…Demian Haxen, I’ll make sure to kill you.”
With a voice full of malice, Iota disappeared into the darkness.
If Demian had to choose the most useful power from his past life, he would unhesitatingly pick the power of Arrogance.
The power of Arrogance allowed him to manipulate space, enabling him to deflect enemy attacks or leap great distances.
In his past life, Demian used this power to travel across the continent.
Of course, it wasn’t by his own will. Back then, Demian was a slave to Dorgo.
Whenever Dorgo needed to travel, he would command Demian to use his power.
“Of all the powers to awaken, it had to be the most difficult one.”
Demian couldn’t rejoice at the awakening of Arrogance. Its usage was too complex.
“You can’t use it without a deep understanding of spatial coordinates.”
In his past life, Demian only activated the power of Arrogance after Dorgo had prepared everything. Thus, he had no idea how to use it now.
“I’ll need to practice for a while.”
Demian examined the magic circle. Fortunately, the demonic energy no longer backfired from it.
Still, to be safe, Demian destroyed the magic circle and climbed out of the pit.
“Demian! I was worried about you!”
Bantadi rushed over immediately. Demian glanced around to check on the elves.
Thankfully, the elves were lying on the ground, looking much more at ease.
“What happened to the dark wizards and dark knights guarding the fortress?”
“They all fled! They must have been terrified after witnessing your battle with the demon lords!”
“We should have captured and killed them all. What a missed opportunity.”
Demian remarked with a hint of regret. Suddenly, Bantadi raised his sword to his own neck.
“What are you doing?”
“I failed to anticipate your intentions and let them escape! I must atone with my life!”
“Stop being dramatic and go rescue the elves imprisoned in the cells.”
“Oh… to forgive someone as worthless as me, you truly are noble and magnanimous, Demian!”
“Shut up and get moving.”
Bantadi hurried off with his subordinates toward the prison.
Demian watched him go with a look of disgust.
“Next time, I’ll use the power of Lust and have them kill themselves immediately.”
As Demian resolved this, he heard a strained voice.
“Huff… huff…”
One of the elves struggled to stand. It was the elf woman who had pleaded with him to save her companions.
“You look exhausted. Why not rest a bit longer?”
“Rest… can come after death…”
Demian tilted his head at her words, which sounded vaguely familiar.
“But first… there’s something I must do.”
The elf woman forced herself to stand, placing a fist over her heart and kneeling on one knee.
“Thank you… for saving us and our kin.”
“Are you finally ready to consider me an ally?”
Demian asked with a wry smile, but the elf woman shook her head.
“No, not entirely.”
”…Are you joking with me?”
“I can’t fully trust you. But… I do believe you’re an enemy of Pandemonium.”
Demian had attacked Pandemonium’s fortress and even challenged their four great demon lords.
The elves had no choice but to trust him, given the circumstances.
“Demian Haxen, I wish to invite you to Elfheim. My great-grandmother would welcome you.”
”…Great-grandmother?”
Demian was momentarily taken aback.
A great-grandmother would mean the grandmother of one’s grandmother. Even for elves, it seemed improbable for her to still be alive.
“You doubt me. But once you hear her name, you’ll understand.”
“Who is it that you’re being so secretive about?”
“You humans call her Milene.”
Demian was stunned.
Milene of the Dreaming Flame.
A member of the Salvation Order and a hero of the past.
Demian had encountered Milene’s apparition at the harbor and learned how to reach Elfheim.
“Wait, you’re saying you’re Milene’s great-granddaughter…?”
As far as Demian knew, there was only one descendant of Milene at this time.
“What’s your name?”
“You’re asking a bit late. I’m Cynthia.”
The name Cynthia left Demian speechless.
There was only one elf named Cynthia, who was Milene’s great-granddaughter.
The queen of Elfheim, who fought against Dorgo until the bitter end in his past life.
She stood before him now.
Cynthia was the first spirit mage in Elfheim’s history to contract with two spirit kings.
The power of a single spirit king could easily surpass a natural disaster.
Cynthia could summon two such spirit kings. Her strength was beyond question.
When Dorgo invaded Elfheim, she was the greatest obstacle.
The undead Dorgo had prepared were all destroyed by the spirit kings. The dark wizards and knights couldn’t perform effectively.
“Demian! Kill her! Kill that wretched woman!”
As the battle dragged on, the damage increased, and so did Dorgo’s hatred.
After a long fight, Demian managed to extinguish the spirit kings and subdue Cynthia.
“I won’t let her die easily!”
Dorgo ordered Demian to sever all of Cynthia’s limbs.
Then, in front of all the elves, he had her heart ripped out, killing her.
The elf queen died a gruesome death, coughing up blood.
”…You’re Cynthia?”
Demian looked at her skeptically.
In truth, Demian didn’t know Cynthia’s face. In his past life, she had been severely burned.
But the Cynthia he knew could have easily taken down a fortress like this.
Yet, this elf woman didn’t exude that kind of power.
“You find it hard to believe. I understand, given how remarkable my great-grandmother was.”
Cynthia interpreted Demian’s doubt differently.
“You don’t have to believe me right now. Once we reach Elfheim, all will be clear.”
“Fair enough. Lead the way.”
Though he didn’t show it, Demian was in a hurry.
He had many questions for Milene. He needed to meet the Empire’s greatest swordsman and protect the elves from Pandemonium. Above all, he had to kill Dorgo.
“I’d like to, but… there’s a problem.”
“A problem?”
Demian was puzzled.
As Milene’s great-granddaughter, she should be able to bring him to Elfheim. What problem could there be?
When they moved together, Demian understood the issue Cynthia had mentioned.
“Kill them! There are elves inside!”
“Where’s the ogre undead? Have it ram the gates!”
The royal palace of Elfheim was under siege by an undead army.
The undead army from Pandemonium was massive.
Tens of thousands of undead surrounded the royal castle.
Demian turned to Cynthia. She avoided his gaze.
“Is that the problem you mentioned?”
”…Yes. To enter Elfheim, we must break through Pandemonium’s army.”
Only then did Demian realize why Cynthia had tried to rescue the elves alone.
Elfheim was too preoccupied with defending against Pandemonium’s invasion to send reinforcements.
“Why were you, Milene’s descendant, here instead of at the palace?”
“That’s… a long story for another time.”
Demian gave Cynthia a disapproving look. It was absurd, but not a story for now.
“It’s a bit of a hassle, but… not a big problem.”
“Is there a way to bypass that army and enter Elfheim?”
“Bypass? What are you talking about?”
Damian pointed toward the main gate, silhouetted against the dawn.
“I’m an invited guest. I should enter through the front gate with dignity.”
Cynthia shifted her gaze to the main gate. To reach it, they would have to cut through a field teeming with an army of undead.
“You’re not serious… are you?” Cynthia asked, her face stiff with disbelief. Instead of answering her, Damian turned to Bantadi and issued a command.
“Bantadi, you and your men will protect the elves and follow me.”
“Yes, even if it costs us our lives, we will protect them!”
“Good, make sure you do. Your lives are expendable, but the elves’ are not.”
“Oh… Lord Damian has entrusted us with this task…! We must fulfill this command at all costs…”
Ignoring Bantadi’s fervor, Damian charged headlong into the horde of undead.