This Is It (1)
This is it. No matter how much you pray, the gods never answer. The priests of the Holy Kingdom are just lying through their teeth. But demons are different. They always respond. Whatever you want, they bring it right to you.
That's why so many people gladly become traitors. As long as their own lives are guaranteed. As long as their desires are fulfilled. They grab the demon's hand instead of another human's. They don't think about others. Why should they?
“This way.”
A pitch-black night with thick clouds covering even the moonlight. Five contractors hurried along. Ever since the demons were driven back, the surveillance had grown suffocating.
Originally, everyone should have been busy fighting demons. But after pushing them out, there was suddenly surplus manpower. Now they were all hunting for insiders.
Already, countless contractors had been dragged away and executed. The long war against demons had left too deep a mark. They could detect demonic energy with mana. Knights. Mages. Priests. Everyone had to be careful. There were even specialists who hunted nothing but demons.
“Is this route really safe?”
“Of course. We've used this path more than ten times already.”
But there were those who had slipped even that tight net. Very cleverly. Like rats in the sewers. It felt wrong for a noble like me to be crawling on all fours, but whether it was for the future or just to survive, the five contractors diligently made their way to the meeting point.
They deliberately circled around several times, split up and regrouped, then slipped through a secret entrance no one could find. Feeling their way through the pitch darkness without even a spark of flame, they kept checking to make sure no one was following.
“Hoo… Here it is.”
The place they finally reached was an abandoned underground shelter. It had originally been built as an underground tomb.
In the early days of the demon war, it had been used as a shelter. The dead and the living had shared the same space. After the demons were repelled, it was naturally sealed off. Now it was a place whose very existence had been forgotten.
The location once chosen to hide from demons had now been carefully selected to meet them. It was truly ironic.
“You've come.”
There, beings that looked human but weren't stood waiting. On the surface they seemed human. But a closer look revealed the differences. Pale skin. Sharp fangs. Hidden horns.
“We greet the great ones.”
What humans called demons. To the contractors, they were gods. At the sight of them, the demons' lips split into wide grins.
“You're late, children. I was starting to wonder if you'd had a change of heart.”
“How could we? It's just that the surveillance has gotten so tight lately…”
“You managed to slip through quite well.”
“We acted more devout than anyone else to avoid raising suspicion.”
To meet demons, they pretended to be faithful believers. At those words, the demons burst into laughter. It was an unpleasant sound like scraping metal. The kind that felt like it was wounding the soul.
For a moment, fear reared its head. But they quickly suppressed it. It was already too late. What could they do now?
“Now then, humans. You must have something to give us, yes?”
At the demon's whisper, the contractors handed something over. Personal information on those who had distinguished themselves in the war. Especially detailed notes about their families. Who their closest relatives were. Where they lived.
“Is this accurate?”
“We've checked it multiple times.”
“Good. Very good.”
Though they had lost in direct combat, the demons had no intention of giving up. If the front didn't work, they could strike from the sides and rear. Humans who wouldn't waver at their temptation? Take their families hostage and they'd surrender on their own.
Unexpectedly, the humans' resistance had been formidable. It stung their pride, but they had to admit defeat. Still, it wasn't the end. They could simply start over. If the problem was humans resisting fiercely from the front, couldn't they just collapse them from behind?
Humans were that kind of creature. A race that easily betrayed others. The demons simply helped them follow that instinct.
“We also have information on the newly opened Continental Academy.”
“That place is difficult. The Holy Kingdom's people are there.”
“Even if it's hard inside the academy, it's more than possible from the outside.”
There was no rule that said they had to shake things up from within. Shaking it from outside would cause the same tremors.
“If trouble erupts outside, the internal security forces will definitely come out. If you strike during that opening, it should make your work much easier.”
The contractors' suggestion made the demons laugh.
“Good. We'll keep it in mind. Anyway, what you've given us today is quite useful.”
“We should head to these humans' families right away.”
“Demand their betrayal. If they refuse, kill them all.”
Even though they had put their fellow humans in danger, the contractors felt no pangs of conscience. Their eyes only gleamed with greed.
“Um… Then when will you fulfill your promise…?”
“Of course we'll fulfill it. Let's see. You wanted a woman. You two wanted money. And the rest wanted high positions, right? Don't worry. Whatever you desire will come true.”
“Unlike your god who doesn't even answer, we listen and make an effort to grant your wishes.”
“That's right. We all believe in the great ones.”
Though they had been pushed back by the alliance for now, someday they would claim everything. When that time came, they would stand above those foolish slaves and enjoy the sweet opportunity of having switched sides early.
“Once again, we thank the twelve great beings gathered here.”
What should they offer next to satisfy them? The contractors were thinking exactly that when—
“Twelve?”
One of the demons spoke as if the number made no sense.
“Twelve? Human, can't you even count properly?”
“What do you mean…?”
“There are eleven of us here. The rest of our underlings are perfectly guarding the surrounding area.”
“What? No. There are clearly twelve great ones here right now…”
The contractors thought the demons were joking. After all, they had always shown a casual attitude toward humans. The demons thought the contractors were simply stupid. If they were smart, they wouldn't have fallen for their whispers in the first place. So both sides simply believed the other was wrong, until—
Wait a moment.
Huh?
Both groups arrived at the same hypothesis at the same time. If the demons weren't joking, and if the humans had counted correctly, then there were twelve beings where there should have been eleven. In that case, who exactly was the extra one?
The twelfth presence.
Who is it?
“Lord Cain.”
A young woman's voice came from behind the demons.
“I've confirmed everything.”
“…”
“…”
The Special Task Force members were tense with anticipation. Piles of demon corpses lay before them.
“Tsk.”
One man clicked his tongue in disappointment.
“No word yet.”
He muttered dryly, almost bored. He hadn't used any weapons. He'd beaten them to death with his bare hands. And not content with that, he'd torn half of them apart.
Wasn't a demon's body supposed to be as tough as high-grade steel?
What the hell is he…? Does this even make sense…?
The Special Task Force was an elite unit specialized in fighting demons. They weren't superior to knights in every aspect, but when it came to anti-demon combat, they matched knights in strength. And yet even they were shaking their heads.
Nearly a hundred demons had been scattered throughout the area. Though they were lower demons, their power was greater. They were experts in stealth and ambush. Facing them was no easy task. Even knights would have found it quite difficult.
“Has there been any word from Yuris yet?”
Those demons. Cain had simply massacred them. His eyes had already locked onto the demons with perfect accuracy. His hands had already crushed their hearts. It was beyond overwhelming. It was terrifying.
“Well…”
“Ah.”
Found them. A smile spread across Cain's lips. The Special Task Force members also sensed the mana wave. They approached to guide him.
“Lord Cain. We'll lead the way right awa—”
“No need.”
“Pardon?”
“Too slow.”
He raised his right hand and clenched it into a fist. Then he swung it down toward the ground with all his might.
BOOOOOOM—!
The exact spot where Cain stood collapsed. RUMBLE—!
A man who couldn't even tolerate others following him. A man for whom half a step was enough to reach a demon. The demons hiding deep underground. One punch was all it took to reach them.
RUMBLE RUMBLE…!!
“Cough, cough!”
“Wh-what the hell?! What's happening?!”
The voices of the Special Task Force members could no longer be heard. Instead, other human voices rang out. And a very familiar stench filled the air.
“Found you.”
As the dust settled, the demons recoiled in horror. The monster they never wanted to see even in their nightmares. The human they thought could never come here.
“D-D-Demon Slayer!!”
“God's Right Hand?! How is he here?!”
This was impossible. They'd spread their subordinates all around. The moment anyone detected anything strange, they were supposed to trigger the warning magic even if it killed them!
“Yeah. Nice to see you too.”
CRUNCH—!
The demon's head exploded with a wet pop. Horrifyingly, it hadn't even taken a direct punch. It had only been grazed. Most of it had been nothing more than the shockwave. Yet the demon's tough body couldn't withstand it.
“Kill him! Kill hiiiim!!”
“This is a narrow space! He can't move freely! We can take him if we work together!”
It was too late to run. And they couldn't escape anyway. There was only one option. They had to bring down the monster.
“Thanks, kids.”
At the demons' screams, Cain smiled brightly. He'd been worried they might try to run. The fact that they wanted to fight made him so grateful he could cry. In that spirit, he decided not to use his sword. He wanted to savor this joy a little more clearly.
“Yuris.”
“Yes, Lord Cain.”
“Don't interfere. They're all mine.”
It would be nice if there was a high demon here too. Then he might have yielded one middle demon. Tsk. Clicking his tongue, Cain set his sword aside.
“He's dropped his weapon!”
“This is our chance! Kill him! Kyaahhh!!”
THUD—!
A hole opened in the chest of the demon that charged first. The demons wore expressions of utter disbelief. They knew their bodies were tough, but how could a single gesture do that?
“Next.”
As expected. As expected, demons really were the best in the world. Humans were too weak. It felt awkward using his strength on them. He was right-handed, yet he had to use his left. Even when he used his right, he had to hold back. It had been driving him crazy. He'd wondered if this was even living.
THUD—!
One uppercut crushed a demon's jaw. Its head vanished entirely, unable to withstand the blow.
“No!!”
One contractor screamed in despair. His god, the one who would fulfill his desires, had just been turned into a corpse by some commoner!
“Aaaaaagh!!”
The contractor who charged exploded with a bang. Unlike the demons who at least left some remains, the human body vanished completely.
“Yuris.”
“Yes, Lord Cain.”
“You take care of the contractors. There should be plenty to extract from them, right?”
If I handle them, nothing will be left. At his calm tone, Yuris bowed her head. Then she moved to block the contractors trying to flee.
“Don't resist. If you do, I'll at least treat you like rats instead of worse.”
SPLAT—!
In the meantime, Cain drove the demons into a corner. Another demon whose neck was caught in his grip burst apart.
“Block the path with fire!”
“We'll blind him!”
“Poison! If we can just poison him!!”
Blue flames. Black ash. Green poisonous mist. They used every means at their disposal to resist. If their opponent had been a knight, it might have worked. But the one who had appeared was the Demon Slayer.
SMACK—!
He split the flames in two with his bare hands. HISS—! He burned away the poison in his body with mana.
“Let's kill them slowly. Slowly.”
Even in the ash, the monster didn't lose sight of them. The mace swung. Demons were crushed. Beings that had swallowed countless human screams. But this time, they were the ones screaming.
“W-wait! Cain! There's no need for this! Instead of this, let's be more helpful to each—”
SQUELCH—!
It was sliced in half from head to groin. Why waste time listening to a corpse's story? Cain, who had been looking for the next demon, let out a small sigh.
He'd killed them all. There was nothing left.
“Yuris. Any demons left?”
“None.”
Tsk. What a shame. Cain rummaged through the corpses, hoping one might still be breathing. But he'd already finished the confirmation kills. No demon could possibly be alive.
“Oh?”
Amid the bodies, he found something. Papers filled with information about someone's family. They had handed humans' fatal weaknesses over to the demons.
“This crosses the line.”
As Cain approached, the captured contractors recoiled in terror. That wasn't a person. It was something worse than a demon.
“Cain! W-wait! Just listen to me! Please hear me out!”
Yuris frowned as she approached, but Cain stopped her with a gesture.
“I had no choice! My mother was so sick! That's why I had to accept the contract! I just wanted to tell her I loved her once she got better! Please, please have mercy!”
Yuris's face twisted even more. Just moments ago he'd said he'd joined the demons for money?
“I see. Then go say hello to your mother.”
Goodbye.
CRUNCH—!
“Alright. Next one who wants to whine about their tragic circumstances.”
No one opened their mouth at Cain's suggestion.
“We'll take care of the rest.”
Yuris subdued the remaining contractors. The Special Task Force members arrived and took them into custody.
“Clean up roughly and let's move, Yuris.”
“Do you have somewhere to go?”
“It's about time I head to the academy.”
Since quite a few support forces had come here, an academy attack was practically a given at times like this.
“This is it.”
The stench of demons was calling out to Cain.