Demon, Invasion (2)

There was no moonlight, let alone starlight, within the dark red curtain.

In that place where there was no light except for the campfire they had lit at the campsite, only Yona’s face was deathly pale.

Decide. What will you do? If you intend to test my patience, it would be better to stop.

Flicking its forked tongue, Berbaria looked Yona over.

Her dull white hair was a mess, not properly arranged, and her golden eyes were shaking, filled with confusion.

Although she had holy power, it was not enough to even dare to confront the current Berbaria.

Just an ordinary human without a doubt, and a half-wit clergy healer at that.

“Yona…!”

A voice cracked with strain.

Yona looked up at the sky at that voice.

Kairoc, who seemed to have lost consciousness, was hanging limply, tightly bound by Berbaria’s neck.

On the opposite side, Alec was bound in the same way — but his condition was quite dire.

His face had turned blue from difficulty breathing, and blood was trickling from his ears.

Yona’s hand repeatedly clenched and unclenched as she looked up at this sight.

With Alec in that state, she needed to heal him.

But because of Berbaria thrusting its face in front of her, Yona couldn’t move, like a mouse before a snake.

“Don’t, do it…! You’re a clergy, a clergy…! Don’t submit to, that demon… I’m, we’re fine… Gah!”

Alec coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Another of Berbaria’s faces approached and looked over his face.

Clergy, a clergy, you say. What nonsense. You insignificant thing.

“Alec, Alec—!”

Yona called out Alec’s name at the top of her lungs.

She had bitten her lip so hard that blood burst and trickled down.

“Why, why are you doing this to me…! Why are you doing this, why!”

Yona shouted at Berbaria.

She couldn’t understand why it was doing this; if it had just pounced and killed her, she could have died thinking she had just unluckily encountered a demon and met an untimely death.

But she couldn’t understand why it was spouting nonsense about accepting it and whatnot.

You are useful, human. There is a reason I must keep you alive.

Berbaria’s face circled around Yona.

“U-useful? A reason to keep me alive… What, what is it?”

You don’t need to know. You don’t need to know, and I have no reason to tell you. You just need to accept me, like that thing on your right arm.

‘Right arm…?’

She had thought there might be something about the tattoo on her right arm.

But since there had never been any problems because of this tattoo, it’s true that she had come to pay less attention to it over time.

“Yonaaaa! Don’t do it…! Don’t…! Ugh…”

Alec couldn’t finish his words and coughed up blood again.

Yona couldn’t take her eyes off it as it dripped onto the ground.

Kairoc had already lost consciousness.

Perhaps he was already dead.

Alec was on the verge of the same fate.

“…If, if I accept you… What will happen?”

More curse marks will be engraved on you. At least, it won’t be detrimental to you. It could be a method to kill you and take over your body, but know this as my final mercy.

‘For a demon to talk about mercy, what nonsense…’

“Yonaaaa!”

Alec’s shout echoed like a scream.

“Aaaaaaaah!”

It wasn’t a scream.

At Alec’s shout, Yona’s gaze unwittingly turned to Alec.

Th-this guy…?!

Berbaria’s surprised voice.

At the end of that voice, creaking sounds began to be heard little by little from Berbaria’s neck that was tightly binding Alec.

Alec’s muscles were swelling as if about to burst.

Alec, who was already tall and large-built, his firm muscles swelled and his face turned dark red.

“Yona, Yona, Yonaaaa———!!!”

As Alec cried out Yona’s name like a scream and put strength into his whole body, the creaking sound from Berbaria’s neck intensified.

And proportionally, Berbaria also turned its gaze from looking at Yona to Alec.

You struggle quite well, you—!

“You filthy vermin, talking as you please!”

As Alec let out a roar, Berbaria, enraged, finally swung its tail towards Alec.

As that tail rushed towards Alec with a fierce sound of air being cut, Yona screamed.

“Aleeeeeec!”

Kwaaaang!

A sound as if shaking the earth’s axis.

Along with that sound, a flash of light burst forth.

When Yona barely opened her eyes amidst the bright flash that seemed to envelop the whole world—

At that moment, Alec was standing in front of Yona, grasping his hammer and holding his shield in front.

“…I’ll explain later, Yona.”

Holy power was billowing from the hammer.

That materialized holy power surged like waves, and holy power was also rising from the shield Alec was holding.

“Here I go, demon. Are you prepared to die?”

How trivial!

The tail flew in once again.

The tail flying towards Alec was blocked by his shield, and while blocking the tail, Alec kicked off the ground and rushed at Berbaria.

“The Celestial God said that you are worthless in this world.”

The hammer soared high, cleaving the sky.

The solid hammer head swung down towards Berbaria, trailing a golden shadow following Alec’s hand, and each time, Berbaria was busy rolling in all directions to avoid it.

“Be the shield of this world that blocks evil things.”

The square shield, firmly wrapped in holy power, struck Berbaria’s head.

The hammer slammed down on the head that had turned away, and each time, one head shattered.

“A-Alec…?”

What on earth was happening?

Yona was blankly watching Alec like this.

It was clearly the Alec she knew, but his current appearance was so alien.

She had known him for years, but this was a sight she had never seen before.

Doesn’t he look just like a holy knight?

“The Celestial God sees you as extremely evil, so He commands you to disappear.”

Alec’s shield struck Berbaria’s central head.

And when Berbaria’s body staggered and was exposed, he mercilessly struck it with his hammer.

With a ringing sound, Berbaria’s body vibrated greatly.

You, I’m tired of playing with you now!

As soon as it said that, Berbaria’s appearance began to change.

Just as the heads of Berbaria, already half-broken and damaged, seemed to be returning to their original state, suddenly those heads became those of snakes.

Berbaria, which had instantly become a snake with nine heads, glared at Alec while constantly flicking its tongues.

You were quite something for a human, holy knight. However, your mistake is that you are alone.

Each time, venom dripped from the snake’s mouth.

Alec gripped his shield again.

With nine heads spitting venom like that, Alec might be fine, but—

Yona trembling behind him.

And, the curse already constricting his entire body.

The terrible curse that gnawed at his flesh every moment.

Now die. It would be better for you to die, holy knight.

The venom bubbling and foaming at Berbaria’s mouth.

The moment that venom turned into a breath attack and covered everything, Alec planted his shield in the ground and embraced Yona.

At the same time, the holy power from his shield and hammer slowly faded away.

The scene after the poison breath swept through was horrific.

The shield had mostly melted, making it hard to even find its shape, and Alec, who had embraced Yona, was in a sorry state with his armor melted.

Only Yona, only Yona remained unharmed in his embrace.

“Alec, Alec!”

Yona shook Alec and called out his name.

But there was no response, and rather, due to Yona’s shaking, Alec, who had been embracing her, slumped to the side.

You resisted quite well, but humans are inevitably limited. Now I must surely stamp out the sprout.

Berbaria’s snake head approached, flicking its tongue.

At the sight that looked like it would pounce on Alec at any moment, Yona quickly stood in front of Alec with her arms spread.

“D-don’t be ridiculous.”

Move aside, vessel.

“Vessel my ass, don’t be ridiculous, you snake bastard!”

Oh my.

Berbaria’s snake head changed back into a human one.

With Alec fallen, Yona alone couldn’t confront it.

That’s why there was no need to maintain its true form.

“If you lay even a finger on Alec, I won’t let you off!”

How amusing, vessel. Do you think I would be scared if you say you won’t let me off?

“I didn’t say I wouldn’t let you off, you fucking snake bastard.”

Yona’s eyes flashed fiercely.

She quickly pulled up her nun’s habit and drew out the hunting knife strapped to her left thigh.

That gift from Alec.

The one she had thought about learning combat skills with.

Yona drew it out and held that knife to her own throat.

“I said I wouldn’t let myself off. Listen to people properly till the end.”

Oh…?

Calling her a vessel, telling her to accept it.

Considering all these things, Yona thought this snake couldn’t harm her.

Even that poison breath just now, it must have been because it was certain Alec would protect her, and even now, watching her after Alec had fallen, must be part of that.

That’s why Yona had thrown a gamble, so to speak.

“…If I tell you to leave, you won’t listen, right?”

Of course not. Now that there’s no one to stop me, I could forcibly take your body.

“…I’ll give it to you. I’ll give you my body. Save Alec. Save Kairoc too. Just my body, you only need my body, right?”

Why should I do that? As I said, now that there’s no one to stop me, I can forcibly—

“You snake-headed bastard! I told you, I told you!”

Yona shouted.

She was so angry that she couldn’t understand why it couldn’t comprehend when she was saying this much.

“I, I can stop you! Do you think I can’t slit my throat with this knife!? You’ll take me forcibly!? You fucking bastard, I’d rather slit my own throat! Don’t you understand that I’m saying I’ll give myself to you willingly if you save the others?! If you don’t like that, I’ll kill myself!”

…Hmm.

In the end, she’s just a human.

Even if that human called Alec was strong, if Berbaria hadn’t been careless, he wasn’t strong enough to cause a real problem.

I understand. I’ll do as you say.

Yona blankly looked down at her left hand.

Black things filled from her shoulder to her wrist.

Although it’s said to be densely engraved, the difference from her right arm is that it’s a picture of a snake coiled around rather than letters, so it really looks like a tattoo.

Along with the snake’s words saying she had thought well, a burning pain surged up from her left arm, and Yona fainted in that state without even being able to scream.

And when she woke up, the campfire had consumed all its firewood and was slowly dying out.

After pushing more firewood into the campfire like that and looking around, there were Kairoc and Alec.

Kairoc was also breathing, and so was Alec.

Even after Yona healed them, they didn’t regain consciousness.

Such things happen sometimes.

It’s not uncommon for people to remain unconscious for a while even after receiving healing.

After healing all of Kairoc’s wounds, Yona healed all of Alec’s wounds and then squatted down next to him.

And as she looked at her left hand like this, some unknown strange emotion welled up.

It said it would dwell in her, but there’s nothing else changing.

Having some pictures drawn on her body shouldn’t be a big problem.

Anyway, the left arm of the nun’s habit covers everything, so if she just wears gloves, it won’t be noticeable.

Yes, that’s how it will be.

But for some reason, Yona felt like her vision was blurring.

Thinking it must be because the campfire smoke was too acrid,

Even so, she sat quietly in that place.

By Alec’s side, quietly.

When Alec opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Yona.

The emotions he felt when he saw Yona looking down at him with a devastated face were guilt, relief, doubt, and worry.

Alec sat up abruptly and grabbed Yona’s shoulders.

“Yona, you…!”

“I’m fine. I’m perfectly fine.”

Before he could finish speaking, Yona’s answer came as if she had been waiting for it.

But Alec could already tell.

Alec could tell that something had happened to Yona.

Because Yona was avoiding his gaze.

The sight of Yona avoiding his gaze while her shoulders were held by him.

It was the first time he had seen Yona like this, but even so, Alec could tell.

“…Don’t hide it, Yona. Tell me what happened.”

“You’re the one hiding… No, really, nothing happened. I think I’ve even become a bit cooler.”

Yona smiled.

While doing so, she fumbled with the side buttons of her nun’s habit and then thrust out her left arm from inside.

“Hey, baldy. Look at this, don’t you think I’ve become a bit cooler?”

Seeing the left arm thrust out like that, Alec couldn’t continue speaking.

The snake pattern tattoo densely filling from her shoulder to her wrist.

Now not only her right arm, but her left arm was also covered in tattoos.

Not letters, but a tattoo of a snake coiled around her entire arm.

“You, you… This is…”

“It’s cool, right? It’s cool…”

Yona’s voice was trembling.

“Baldy… Tell me it’s cool…”

Alec didn’t say anything.

Instead, he quietly opened his arms.

“Tell me… it’s cool…!”

Yona rushed into Alec’s arms.

Yona, full of warmth, buried her face in his chest and cried bitter tears like a beast howling.

Alec silently embraced Yona, who was sobbing without sound, her shoulders shaking.

Holding her in his arms like that, Alec patted her back without saying anything.

Yona cried like that for a long time.

“Are you done crying?”

“Sniff. Yeah.”

Alec wiped Yona’s nose, which was sniffling, with his sleeve.

Yona, who had cried in Alec’s arms for a long time, looked quite relieved.

“…Well, I think it’s time we discuss what to do from now on.”

Kairoc had also woken up at some point.

Morning had already dawned, and it was time to depart.

But whether they should go to their destination, the mage community, or return to the church territory to report about this demon.

A discussion about this matter was needed.

“I’m against returning to the church territory, Yona.”

Yona and Alec also nodded slightly at Kairoc’s words.

If they return to the church territory, they certainly won’t be welcomed.

Rather, there’s a higher possibility that they might suggest cutting off Yona’s head, saying this is an opportunity now that a demon is dwelling in her body.

“Then should we go to the community?”

“That would be better. If we go to the community, we could contact the Regent separately, so that would be better in many ways. Besides, Yona, if you really were a man as you say and somehow return to being a man at the community, those tattoos and the demon might be resolved too, who knows.”

Kairoc’s words seemed plausible at first glance.

But things are unlikely to work out so conveniently.

However, there aren’t any other options either.

“Is your body really alright? A demon dwelling in you is no small matter.”

At Alec’s worried voice, Yona nodded, forcing a smile.

In reality, her body felt perfectly fine.

Nothing else had changed, and even though a demon was said to be dwelling in her, she didn’t hear the demon’s voice in her head or anything.

“…Let’s go to the community. We’ve already come this far. If we return to the church territory, they’ll probably hang me as a heretic, so let’s just go to the community and try contacting the Regent there.”

Yona decided, and Alec and Kairoc agreed.

Now all that’s left is cleaning up.

They need to clean up the place where they stayed and set out.

Yona was about to stand up to help with the cleanup when she felt someone grab her hand and turned around.

Alec was looking up at her while sitting down.

“Yona.”

“Yeah?”

“…I’m on your side, no matter what happens. Even if you were to become not human, I alone will be on your side.”

Yona’s lips moved as if trying to say something in response.

Trust that felt heavier than anything.

Alec’s unlimited trust towards her.

How could she convey even half of her gratitude for that by chattering with her short tongue?

Yona ended up not saying anything in response.

She just smiled at Alec.

“…Let’s talk later, baldy. Okay? Since you’re on my side, let’s agree not to hide anything from each other.”

Alec finally thought that things had gotten serious.