Intermezzo (8)

* * *

,Haa… I still feel it wriggling.,

Several hours after having a glass tube stuck in my ass. My memories and soul weren’t damaged, but that goddamn sensation remained, stabbing my body like needles.

Still, the humiliation of becoming a mere blob of jelly didn’t feel long, at least subjectively. I was just pathetically wriggling, consumed by a strange sensation that couldn’t even be called pleasure. It couldn’t be helped, as the vessel was too pathetic to contain all those memories and sensations.

Jelly. Damn it.

,This time, um. Haa… I enjoyed it, but to be honest, I don’t want to do it again.,

Looking to the side, I see Shuriel in a state of reflection. He commented that ,this time, was a very blasphemous act, separate from my sexual preferences. Him, me, and this entire situation.

,Ahem… I’m sorry. I momentarily went berserk.,

,You’re well aware, aren’t you.,

Could there be a more miserable situation than this? I liked that one thing very much, but compared to the physical violence where I could gauge my lifespan in real-time, there were many regrets.

Honestly, I don’t even remember what I went through. It must have been that shocking and bizarre… an experience.

,Well, it was fun. Kind of refreshing.,

Still, I’m satisfied. It was fun. If the standard of that fun is how terrible, miserable, and humiliating it is, then I can say it was fun.

• Taktak.

I dust off my filthy clothes. I check the time, which is way past late, and sigh heavily.

,Isn’t something going to happen while we’re doing this?,

,It’s still okay. I’m getting real-time reports.,

,How’s the Northwest? I heard the atmosphere is very chaotic.,

I brought up another topic to divert from this terrible one. All regions are mobilizing troops in preparation for the upcoming Holy War.

,The North generally supports the Holy War, but the lords in the West are strongly opposed. They have nothing to gain from the Holy War. They would have revolted if it weren’t for the Holy See’s support.,

,Support?,

,The Holy See has stationed two priests and a company of Holy Knights in the West. They must believe we’ll reliably control the Northern front.,

The North and the Holy See know how monstrous I am. And there’s no need to explain the power that Shuriel, Pawin, and Prukaise draw out against Demons.

,And… if the Legion of the Dead invades the Silbehrin Great Forest, the Elven Knights will draw their swords. They can’t move carelessly.,

The Great Forest located in the far west of the Empire. If the Legion of the Dead chooses to hit and run, they will inevitably invade the forest.

However, it’s questionable whether the Elves will cooperate in the humans’ fight. What they want is not the extermination of Demons, but the protection of the World Tree.

,Will the Elves get involved in the humans’ fight?,

Just as I expressed my doubt to Shuriel.

,Yes. They will definitely come.,

• Chwarak.

Aileen, who opened a portal in the air, jumps in. Aileen, who stuck a glass tube in my ass and disappeared somewhere, reappears with a plate full of cookies in one hand.

,Aileen?,

,Want a cookie?,

The smell of freshly baked cookies stings my nose. Aileen munches on a cookie and says.

,Humans are now friends with the Elves, you know. For about fifty years or so.,

,…Is it because we took care of the twin Demons back then?,

,That too, but Mom and Dad are the only humans who received a gift from World Tree Ajumma, you know.,

Aileen shrugs.

,Apart from that… World Tree Ajumma is giving the Elf Unnies and Oppas strange orders, but I don’t know what her intentions are. There’s no way to know either.,

,How do you know that?,

,I go to play whenever I’m bored. If I pluck the heads off the Demonic creatures lurking nearby and bring them, they give me meat pie. It’s super delicious. Hehe.,

Shuriel makes a face that says, ,How can she go that far?, but after seeing the portal Aileen popped out of, he quickly agrees.

,Oh, right.,

Aileen smiles brightly and starts to unravel her story when the Elf story comes up.

,Do you know that Ranya Unnie became an adventurer?,

Ranya.

The silver-haired Elf who accompanied us when we took down the twin Demons. A unique Elf who speaks in short, clipped sentences.

,Adventurer? Is an Elf even allowed to do that?,

,Ajumma told her to do it. She’s satisfied because she can see a lot of new things.,

,Adventurer… brings back old memories.,

Being dissected by a Demon, having my arm cut off, getting injected with drugs right before death………

Hmm.

I lived quite a fulfilling life.

,More than that.,

I slyly open my eyes and stare at Aileen. There was a part in the story that couldn’t be glossed over.

,You go to play often?,

,Ah, that’s….,

,I’m not going to scold you. Education here is meaningless anyway. It’s better to roam freely.,

I dissuade Aileen, who is flinching, and bring up another story.

,I will support whatever you do. However…,

,Ah, is that what it is.,

Aileen nods before I even finish speaking. Then she smiles slightly and says.

,Are you worried I’ll follow you to the Demon Realm?,

,No. More than that.,

,Aha, you mean don’t be wielded as a weapon.,

You must be free to do whatever you want. I nod and say.

,The thing I regret most in my life is getting involved in the power struggles of the nobles.,

,Hmm… I understand.,

Aileen nods obediently. Then she answers more readily than I thought.

,Okay. I won’t follow you. But… if my friends are in danger, or if there are villains swarming in front of me……,

,Then you have to thoroughly crush whatever the opponent is.,

,That’s good enough for me. Hehe.,

Aileen smiles. And she will always live as a good child.

……Probably.

* * *

,I don’t know why we have to gather.,

A huge cave with not a single ray of light. There isn’t even a hole for the wind to enter, and only a desolate silence hangs in the air. A voice that sounds like it’s scraping the floor echoes.

,If you don’t know, then shut up. Do you think we gathered here to call someone like you?,

,Trying to create an unnecessary atmosphere. Just say the word if you want your horns broken.,

,I’ve heard you’re stupid, but I didn’t know you were this thick-headed. There’s a war right around the corner, and you’re going to show off your strength? Are you retarded or something?,

A fierce Mana emanates every time they speak.

Words full of necromancy, blasphemy, and curses fill the cave, and the aura of death emanating from their bodies accumulates, creating a terrible poison.

,Well~ I kind of agree with that thick-headed guy. How about you two fight instead? You always end up just arguing anyway. We should at least have something to watch, right?,

A girl with multiple spider-like eyes blinks. Just by looking at her appearance, it’s impossible to think of her as human. There were also those who looked ordinary, but―― they had something that the ,human, race didn’t.

,Huh? You want your horns broken too?,

――Horns.

,Is it time to feed my babies~? I don’t know if my babies can eat Demon horns~?,

Horns clearly visible on their heads.

Some had sharp horns, some had curved horns, some had blunt horns. If not on their heads, then on their necks, backs, and even their entire bodies. They had horns of various shapes……

,Haa… If only Artania was here at times like this.,

Demons.

They were Demons.

,Artania? Speaking of which, has anyone heard from that bitch? Feel free to speak up if you know anything.,

,A crazy bitch who took an inferior Imp as her partner?,

,Could she have been subjugated? Gaolise, who used to come every time, isn’t around either…,

The reason they gathered here was because of the recent large-scale Demon hunt. Even though they reject even their own kind, they had to gather information to survive.

However, it’s hard to expect a proper discussion. Demons are thoroughly individualistic and value power and desire. It’s unimaginable for Demons to join forces.

Survival of the fittest and worship of the strong. Conversations are also conducted with a thorough logic of power. In other words, those with a voice here are Demons with top-tier power. The other Demons were either reluctantly dragged along or came to gather information.

,Hmm~ Could she have been subjugated after Plüton died?,

The spider-eyed girl says. She’s asking if she was subjugated because of the information extracted from Plüton.

The news that the shameful and humiliating execution record was displayed in Cherenel Square in the North was impossible not to know. Plüton. Several Demons were hunted down with the information that bitch spilled before she died. The number of Demons gathered at the general assembly has also noticeably decreased.

,No. That’s not it. I guarantee it.,

At that time, the rowdy Demon who was instigating the fight said.

,She’s not the type to have information squeezed out of her, and she’s not the type to be taken down that easily. And the news itself… it’s been cut off long before that.,

Artania, the Demon of Sloth… any Demon who likes to fight would know her. She was a Demon with amazing destructive power. She was someone you’d want to fight at least once.

But the palace in the swamp where she resided has long been destroyed, and Artania’s traces have long disappeared. There were no traces of Holy Knights having been there either. If the Holy See had come to subjugate her, that disgusting divine power would have remained.

,Hoo, are you finally spitting out some helpful information? I thought you were a useless thick-head, but I take it back.,

,This bitch, I’ve been holding back! Do you really want to die? Come at me if you’re so confident!,

• Kung.

At that moment, a sturdy sound that echoed throughout the entire cave was heard. The Demons, who seemed like they were about to fight, held their breath at the sound. Soon, a dirty and disgusting voice that seemed like it would rot your ears echoed in their heads.

,Silence.,

It was just one word, but it contained such strong Mana that even the other Demons broke out in a cold sweat.

,You worm-like creatures who are just living comfortably under Barpeuphgos-nim’s arrangement don’t know your place and are crawling up here.,

The average Demons lose consciousness on the spot. Even those who manage to endure are stiff and unable to move.

,…Shit. It’s the first time I’ve heard that guy speak.,

To be able to keep your eyes open like this against that guy means you’re strong. The Demon muttered, sweating profusely.

Even though the right to speak is divided by the logic of power, not all strong people actively participate in discussions. If you have the right to speak, you also have the right to remain silent.

Yes. ,That guy, whom all the Demons have no choice but to lower their eyes to, was like that.

,What did I say? I said it’s retarded to act like you when there’s a war right around the corner. You thick-headed bitch.,

,This shi――,

The Demon, who was quite serious about expressing her opinion, was furious that she was being ignored, and she immediately drew up her Mana――

• Kwajik.

,――Ah?,

Her outstretched hand was shattered.

,Ah, heuk――!?,

The Demon whose right hand was shattered crumpled her face and knelt down.

,Yes. You look better like that.,

,Keuheup… I’m, I’m sorry…,

The Demon lowered her eyes and apologized. Since he likes her like this, she will have to stay in that position until the meeting is over.

,…I apologize on behalf of that stupid bitch’s rudeness. Amon-nim.,

The Demon who had been giving her grief bowed his head with a serious face. It was a bonus that he smirked invisibly.

,I accept the apology.,

The Demon called Amon said, shining his empty, maggot-filled eyes.

,War… war is coming… war is coming across the golden branch and the fur hide… to our land… their war is coming… also, the magic of those who gather in groups is directed at us… this is not our war…,

As Amon muttered, the spider-eyed girl said with a surprised face.

,Oh my… we’re fucked…,