Chapter 167: Division (7)

“Waaaaaahhh!”

The demon’s blood spurted like a fountain. The warm, fishy scent covered his face, then quickly chilled and tightened his skin. Wiping it off his face with a glove sent shards of red ice flying in all directions. Olrand’s sword pierced the belly of the demon blocking the front.

“Kkuuaaah!”

As the demon let out a war cry, it grabbed the sword, and Olrand, unable to pull his body back in time, struggled with a panicked look on his face.

“Olrando!”

Along with Fabian’s voice, a flash of light burst. The demon’s head flew off, and the hand holding the blade lost its grip. Olrand pulled out his sword and charged forward. There was no time for thanks. Drak-Sai faced the two approaching him and snorted.

Demons were scattering their formations from all sides to kill them. Fabian swung his dagger, severing the tendons of a charging demon. Olrand beheaded the body that was tilting forward. The large demon’s body split in two, spilling gore.

Olrando charged forward, crossing the flood of blood that kept pouring out. His clothes, soaked in blood, instantly froze, then burst forth with red ice shards following his vigorous movements. It was as if red banners waved along the path the two took.

“Everyone! Ignore those two and charge!”

Drak-Sai picked up a rock and shouted. The demons nodded at his words and charged with all their might, while the beastmen moved away from Olrand and Fabian, attacking the flanks.

The two were surprised to see the demons suddenly clearing a path for them, but seeing Drak-Sai gesturing with a smile, they understood his intention.

“Do you want to kill me?”

There was no answer. Olrand simply charged towards Drak-Sai at an even faster speed. Drak-Sai admired the reckless and destructive movements, but judged them insufficient to defeat him.

“Die!”

A rock the size of a boar’s head flew towards Olrand like a cannonball. Snowflakes spun and spun following the airflow generated by the rock as it moved forward, and Olrand fell into the illusion that a pitch-black dot was instantly engulfing him.

Then, Fabian’s body moved like lightning. He angled his dagger just right, deflecting the rock Drak-Sai threw with perfect precision. The rock, aimed at Olrand’s head, struck the back of the demon formation, turning eight demons into hamburger patty.

“Kkuaaahhhk!”

“Kkuuaaahhhk!”

The demons screamed as they gathered their mangled limbs and spilled innards. Drak-Sai scowled, and Olrand charged without slowing down.

“Die!”

His sword flew, aiming for Drak-Sai’s neck. But the movement was far too slow. Seeing the obvious opening, Drak-Sai struck the blade with his prosthetic arm. The sword lost its momentum and was knocked away, Olrand’s wrist snapping.

Olrando gritted his teeth, frowning, and Drak-Sai felt goosebumps rise all over his body.

“You bastard!”

The moment he reflexively turned, Fabian’s sword deeply slashed Drak-Sai’s side. Fabian clicked his tongue and spun in mid-air, Drak-Sai’s foot aiming for the falling Fabian.

“Kkuhk!”

The demon’s heavy kick sent Fabian flying like a bullet. He swept the snow away with his body, rolled several times on the ground, then quickly got up to assess the situation. The moment he stood up, an axe-wielding demon rushed towards him, screaming.

“Waaaaaahhh!”

And before Fabian could even draw his dagger to counter, an axe flew and split the demon’s head in two. The head, severed front to back, dangled loosely in the winter wind. The demon fell forward in its charging pose, and Fabian took a deep breath as he plunged his dagger into another demon’s chest.

“Haa…!”

Olrando staggered to his feet. Drak-Sai frowned, looking at the blood flowing from his side. He charged forward and shouted.

“Don’t get cocky just yet! I am Drak-Sai! King of all Imps! And the one destined to become the greatest Demon King!”

Both Olrand and Fabian took deep breaths. Demons kept interfering with them, and Drak-Sai was a formidable opponent. Olrand felt like his wrist was broken. Fabian felt like he had a cracked rib. But neither of them mentioned their injuries.

Fabian pressed his side, pretending nothing was wrong, and Olrand picked up his sword as if he were left-handed.

Then, the two charged forward simultaneously.

“Uwaaaaaaahhh!”

A roar erupted.

***

A roar erupted.

The widespread cheers and embers felt like celebratory gunfire for a funeral. Fabian, lying on the ground, faced the sky. He had no sensation in his body. His innards might have been crushed, as every breath carried the smell of blood.

He didn’t even have the strength to turn his head.

Fabian just kept staring at the sky.

Occasionally, red trails streaked across his vision. And there was the deep blue sky.

Beside him lay Olrand, face down on the ground. Olrand blinked, looking at Fabian. The stars were shining, but they had accomplished nothing. In the final moments of his life, Fabian’s existence would fade away, painted over with recklessness.

Indeed, he thought, it had been far too reckless a plan.

Drak-Sai, slumped on the ground, gnashed his teeth as he looked at Fabian and Olrand. His body was covered in wounds from their persistent attacks whenever he showed an opening. Blood trickled down even when he sat still, and strenuous movements were difficult.

“Please wait a moment, Drak-Sai-nim. A mage will be here soon to treat you.”

“Kuh… Quite strong opponents. What’s the situation on the battlefield?”

“We’re collapsing rapidly. With their commanders dead, they won’t hold out much longer. What should we do with these two?”

“Once this area is cleared, finish them off and bury them.”

Fabian blinked. The reality of his impending death didn’t sink in. He held a dagger in his hand, his heart was beating, but he couldn’t comprehend how all that would soon become meaningless.

In the end, why had he come here?

[I want to become a star.]

He had said that. His eyes were watching the setting sun. A deep blue filled the border between the sky blue and the navy blue sky like silk. Like scattered glittering jewels, the stars, with the sun behind them, shone towards us then. Fabian had said that while looking at the stars through the window.

[For love and justice.]

Evan, who had met Fabian then, had said that. Evan, who had wanted a cool name, said something cheesy to Fabian with his cool name.

“So, Sophia…!”

Olrando’s voice could be heard. He widened his eyes, trying desperately to get up. But a demon guarding him pressed down on his body and said,

“Stay put! You two will be executed as an example!”

Fabian looked at him and shook his head. Stay still. Bow your head obediently, so you might live a little longer.

And he fiddled with his dagger.

Why did I want to become a star?

Why did I want to be a star, not the moon?

Olrando shouted.

“No…! Not like this…! No!”

The demon struck Olrand’s body again. Even while being trampled, Olrand kept trying to get up. Fabian thought.

Why did I want to become a star?

For what?

“Uwaaaaaaahhh!”

Olrando let out a monstrous roar as he pushed himself up. The demon pinning him was flung away, and Olrand drew his weapon. His whole body was bruised, but his fighting spirit was vivid. Drak-Sai said, still seated,

“You cannot defeat me. Warrior. Isn’t that assassin, stronger than you, lying down too? Lie back down. You’ve already proven you’re a fine warrior! Don’t rush your short life any further! You cannot defeat me!”

Olrando gripped his sword. His broken arm trembled. He shouted,

“The North is our land!”

Olrando ran, sword in hand. He leaped with all his might, swinging his sword as if to slice Drak-Sai’s body. Fabian knew what would happen the next moment. Drak-Sai’s fist crushed Olrand’s face.

Olrando, sent flying into the air, rolled back next to Fabian. Fabian met Olrand’s eyes. His eyes were asking: Why did you do something so reckless?

We’ve lost now.

And Olrand shook his head. He coughed up blood and shouted,

“There’s no one else…! But us……!”

I wanted to become a star. I wanted to be like a star that helps the bright moon, even if people didn’t notice.

“The ones who can save those people……! It’s only us…! There’s no one else……!”

And here, there was the moon. The moon was setting. The moonlight, which would never shine again after this moment ended, illuminated him clearly.

Fabian couldn’t help but laugh. All these years, the star he had been searching for was something like this, not the cause of being a hero, but a pure desire to protect and help others. Just the wish to follow such a moon.

He wanted to do good.

He wanted to be a good person.

That’s why he had become the hero’s shadow and accumulated evil deeds. He had wandered for so long, unable to find a simple concept that could be expressed in one sentence.

Fabian pushed himself up. Strangely, his body felt light. He felt like he could do anything.

Drak-Sai glared at him with eyes full of killing intent. He too got to his feet, dispatching the surrounding demons. They had already gauged each other’s abilities; there would be no holding back now. Drak-Sai shouted.

“You tenacious bastard. What are you fighting for? I’ve staked the glory and future of the Imps. What have you staked to come here?”

Fabian readjusted his grip on the dagger. Why had he come here? There were many reasons.

He was disappointed in the hero, and hated himself for following such a hero. He had seen people suffer, and knew this was the northern front line. Because the North was his home. Because if he didn’t defeat them now, there would be no next time. Because if he defeated the demons here, Wolf, under attack in the capital, might get even a moment’s respite.

But there wasn’t time to list the reasons.

So Fabian said this:

“For love and justice.”

Drak-Sai laughed.

“A noble reason. But I cannot die either. The future of the Imps rests on my shoulders. To enslave all humans and let the Imps rule the world! That is my dream!”

Fabian laughed even louder.

One demon and one human. The two clashed.