The Assassination War (8)

Freugne had admirably assimilated Edan’s hit-and-run tactics.

Ducking around corners, attacking and fleeing repeatedly, the Demons struggled to approach her initially, seemingly enabling her prolonged evasion.

-Pazick, paziziziick!-

“You two, over there.”

“Yes.”

“Fall back and take the right fork at the last intersection we passed. That should allow flanking their rear. Unless you’d prefer meandering aimlessly until annihilation.”

“N-No sir! We’ll proceed as instructed.”

Yet even Demons inevitably adapted through repeated exposure.

After cycling through the hellish loop of Freugne’s capture, electrocution, escape, pursuit, and recapture roughly three times, they formulated a rough strategy.

Truthfully, Freugne’s deteriorating condition from depleting mana and stamina during her flight contributed significantly. But ultimately, their ingenious realization – bisecting her path to envelop her from both sides – proved the decisive factor.

That a contingent had gotten lost and encountered Sithe outside, resulting in their utter decimation, became an increasingly irrelevant footnote.

An anticlimactic conclusion, considering their resolve, yet inevitable against sheer numerical superiority backed by physical might where their skills fell short.

The Demons refrained from immediately eliminating Freugne, at least for now.

She retained temporary utility until their objectives within this city were accomplished.

Initially probing her memories, the pressing timeline precluded further action.

By now, the commotion had undoubtedly alerted the police, city guards, or other responders whose imminent arrival would only undermine their position by prolonging the standoff.

Depositing the unconscious Freugne before Edan, she regained consciousness at that very moment.

Her bleary gaze rapidly appraised the unfolded events before murmuring a familiar name upon recognizing me:

“…Auntie.”

What expression had I worn?

Horror? Rage?

Considering my temperament, disappointment seemed unlikely, yet neither would I have been pleased.

But reality could not be evaded.

And as I raised my head, the expression Edan’s face unexpectedly bore was:

‘Why such a countenance?’

Contorted by profound guilt.

---

The gunfire had ceased, the Demons’ charging war cries abruptly stilled.

As Sithe tentatively released the severed Demon craniums she had clutched, their dull thuds upon hitting the floor ushered in an eerie silence.

The huddled, trembling operatives alternated their gazes between Freugne and myself.

While unlikely capable of rational deductions beyond ‘He still dotes upon her as his daughter,’ their quizzical stares hinted at an instinctive realization that more transpired beneath the surface.

Freugne’s outward unscathed state implied lingering intentions.

And in dealings between non-humans, extending offers necessitated anticipating reciprocation, even among Demons.

I addressed their apparent leader:

“What do you want?”

“Your life, and this girl’s life.”

“You presumed acquiring both was feasible? You call that a negotiation?”

“Of course not. Otherwise this hostage situation would have been unnecessary. Naturally, a trade is intended.”

The Demon responded fluently in Glasgowair.

“If you die, we could spare the girl.”

“And if I refuse?”

“Then she perishes too. Since I cannot survive departing this place regardless, what reason do I have to comply?”

“Allow me a counter-proposal: guarantee the lives of you and your comrades until the war’s conclusion in exchange for your surrender.”

“If such facile persuasion sufficed, we would never have infiltrated Londinium to begin with.”

I was well aware that acquiescing to such threats typically resulted in complete failure to salvage anything.

Did not films consistently depict law enforcement repeatedly capitulating to terrorist demands, one by one?

“Perhaps not you personally, but do all your compatriots share that conviction?”

“Undoubtedly.”

A lie. What sentient being genuinely desired death, human or Demon?

Several Demons did exchange furtive, skeptical glances, betraying their innermost doubts despite outward bravado.

“How much longer must we persist? Night will fall at this rate.”

“Hold a moment longer. I am deliberating.”

“Enough. I’ll just slit her throat now–”

“No, wait! I’m about to respond!”

Time favored our position, yet could not resolve everything indefinitely.

With snipers positioned, eliminating that Demon leader seemed feasible, but failing to instantly incapacitate him endangered Freugne.

They were deranged fanatics who would unhesitatingly slit Freugne’s throat on a whim.

And against madmen, unconventional tactics became necessities.

‘Forgive me, Freugne.’

I silently apologized to her.

For unavoidable recourse had presented itself.

---

Her life, or Edan’s life.

They had made no attempt to conceal their dual aspirations, risking forfeiting both should they overreach.

Freugne deduced why the Demon disguised as a youth had spared her life.

Edan momentarily fell silent, his trembling eyes belying the steadiness of his outstretched, gun-wielding arm.

Then, as if reaching a resolution, he whispered something to the approaching Sithe.

“…Eh? That would… But I can’t–”

Her murmurs remained indistinct, but Sithe’s recoiling reaction prompted repeated inquiries until Edan’s final utterance, accompanied by a nod towards me.

“What treachery unfolds here?”

“What else beyond a simultaneous assault could it be?”

“But she can employ electrokinesis, can she not? Her strike rate vastly outpaces conventional magic despite relinquishing her weapon.”

“True, I’m aware. But then this human would also become engulfed. And prior to that inevitability, I can sever her throat.”

The Demon eyed Edan as he spoke.

“And he would never risk such peril, surely.”

Even for Demons thoroughly versed in Freugne’s behavioral patterns, this choice proved unforeseeable.

-Pazick!-

“Hm?”

“Such insane depra–!”

For who, barring a human like Edan, would anticipate inclusive area-of-effect attacks against the very individual he sought to safeguard? Even he likely would not have contemplated such recourses under ordinary circumstances.

‘Why?!’

Was she not his cherished daughter? Had he lacked such attachments, abandoning her demise while annihilating the rest would have proven the simpler option instead of this protracted standoff.

The Demon leader had even begun wondering if Edan harbored resentment towards Freugne, seizing this opportunity to dispose of her alongside the other Demons.

Their unanticipated maneuver momentarily slowed their response.

But the Demons rapidly regained their senses, instinctively repositioning the blade barely withdrawn from Freugne’s throat to resume its deadly trajectory.

‘No, he has not forsaken her after all.’

Amid the chaos, some consideration for Freugne’s welfare had manifested – the electrical discharge only induced paralysis at human-tolerable levels.

-Pising!-

-Tang!-

And the blade descending towards her neck was deflected by a swiftly incoming projectile.

Edan charged forth, firearm in hand, while Sithe initiated electrocution against the surrounding Demons.

If the greatest agony humans could experience derived from searing burns, Demons proved equally susceptible.

The previously emboldened Demons shrieked as if witnessing horrors, frantically dashing about while batting the flames from their clothing and hair.

‘Such futility, courting annihilation without any gains.’

Amid the chaos, the Demon leader managed to rapidly reassess the situation.

‘If death is inevitable, at least I’ll claim another casualty!’

Blades had never been essential necessities – merely visually imposing accessories offering marginal ergonomic benefits over manually crushing a human’s throat.

“You’re coming with me…!”

“What?”

Through tear-blurred, dust-obscured vision, that Demon clenched something in his fist.

The gripped throat felt significantly thicker and sturdier than anticipated from a youthful female.

“Wait a minute.”

-Crunch-

“Huh?”

By the time he registered Freugne shoving him aside before being caught from behind by Sithe,

Edan, having drawn near, had already channeled his mana – the Demon leader’s neck snapping with a curt epitaph as the paralysis struck.

Staring dumbfoundedly at his own hand, the Demon uttered a final senseless shriek.

As his body collapsed lifelessly, the venue once more lapsed into an unsettling silence.