Inviting the Empire's Mad Dog
Dreaming is free. A birthday. Once a year, without fail, it arrives for everyone—the day of their birth. Even commoners mark the occasion. Nobles would never let it pass unnoticed.
The stronger the bloodline, the higher the house, the deeper the meaning a birthday carries. And so it is only natural to prepare a more extravagant, more spectacular celebration.
But today, the party at the ducal estate was planned to be very small indeed.
“Mmm…”
Kiara stood before the mirror, turning her body this way and that. Each time she moved, the black dress swayed beautifully. And each time, the maids standing beside her flinched in perfect unison.
‘What is this? Why is she acting so strange?’
‘Did she drink?’
‘No… she seemed perfectly normal earlier.’
In truth, birthdays had never been joyful days for Kiara. They had been quiet moments shared only with her mother. The Duke had arranged a few celebrations after that, but none of them had brought her any happiness.
They felt like mockery of the modest but warm times she once knew. As though someone were sneering, You and your mother never had anything like this, did you?
Yet that same Kiara was smiling on her birthday for the first time since her mother’s death. She smiled as if she were so full of anticipation she could barely contain it.
“You may all leave now.”
“Ah, yes! My lady!”
She didn’t scold them. She didn’t even sound irritated. Were the heavens about to flip upside down tomorrow? Just what had caused this change of heart?
Once the maids had slipped from the room and begun whispering where she couldn’t hear—
“…It looks good.”
Kiara smiled, thinking of the single person she had invited herself.
Though it was her birthday, most of the guests belonged to the Duke. They weren’t here to celebrate her; they had come to curry favor with her father. Knowing that, she had told him many times that she didn’t want a party at all. But this time was different. It was her birthday. She had invited her guest. And not even a noble—a commoner.
She could already picture the Duke’s face.
‘It’ll be a disaster. “You invited a commoner to the party?”’
Still, he wouldn’t be able to throw the man out. The Duke—her father—was that kind of person. Guilt toward his daughter. Fear of Cain. The watchful eyes of the other guests. He could neither abandon nor relinquish any of them.
So he would play the part of the generous duke and greet the guest warmly. Because the man who valued his image in others’ eyes above all else would choose to act magnanimous.
Unlike Cain, who cared for nothing. A walking storm.
“I wonder if he’s on his way…”
She wore almost none of the cumbersome jewelry, only the accessories her mother had once favored. Quietly, she waited for the one person she had invited with her own hand.
“He’d better not be late…”
She had invited him to torment her father—or so she claimed. But if that were truly the only reason, she wouldn’t be waiting with her heart in her throat.
The nightmare that always repeated itself had not come to her today. Instead, Cain’s back had filled the entire dream.
“When is he going to—!”
Waiting for someone. Smiling to herself as she thought of him. Then suddenly scolding herself—Are you insane?
Everything was a first. These strange new feelings. And because they were new, Kiara waited for Cain even more eagerly.
The nobles gathered in the garden chattered among themselves, conversation blooming like flowers. This was the Marcello Ducal House—the most exalted noble family in the empire. Yet for a party hosted by a ducal house, the number of guests was surprisingly small.
“Few guests again this year.”
“Is that surprising? She may be called a duke’s daughter, but she’s half lowborn.”
“The fact that he’s even holding this much of a celebration is entirely thanks to His Grace’s benevolence.”
Everyone agreed. After all, every last one of them was connected to the Duke. From Kiara’s perspective it was utterly humiliating, but she showed nothing. In the end they had only gathered under the pretense of celebrating her birthday. In reality they simply wanted to leave a strong impression on the Duke.
Look at them. They offered the actual star of the day a single greeting before swarming to the Duke’s side the moment they finished saying “congratulations.”
‘Fine. I never wanted your congratulations anyway.’
She hadn’t hoped for them. Hadn’t even expected them. It was too familiar. Not wanting to be hurt anymore, she struck first and drove them away.
Still, if the birthday girl could wish for one thing—
She wanted to land a proper blow on these excited fools.
And the very next moment, Kiara’s birthday wish was granted.
“…”
“…”
The garden, which had been buzzing with noise, fell deathly silent. It was as if a massive predator had stepped into a field of herbivores. The insects in the grass, the wind blowing across the lawn—everything seemed to hold its breath.
Thud. Thud.
A man appeared at the garden entrance. He looked like a free-spirited mercenary, yet also like a disciplined soldier. One could almost smell iron and the metallic tang of blood on the air. With every step he took, the nobles’ expressions grew stiffer.
The man who had been decapitating countless imperial nobles only days ago. A mere commoner—how high did he think he could climb?
Just as discomfort began to spread across their faces—
“Cain!”
The star of the day, Kiara, walked toward him with a smile. Her steps were quicker than her usual demeanor allowed. Had she not been wearing a dress, she might have run.
When she reached him, she smiled and spoke in a playful tone.
“You’re late. Did you know that?”
“I arrived right on time.”
The empire’s greatest noble house. The daughter of Duke Marcello—Kiara. A nobody. A commoner as common as roadside pebbles—Cain.
At the bizarre pairing, the nobles clicked their tongues or sneered behind their fans. If not for the fact that she was a duke’s daughter. If not for the demon war. They were people who should never have amounted to anything.
Then, as though they had rehearsed it, every gaze turned toward Duke Marcello.
No one considered Kiara the true host of this party. They believed only the Duke pulled the strings. So they were asking him—as master of the house—to deal with the uninvited guest. They wouldn’t demand the man be thrown out, but at least issue a warning to the fool who didn’t know his place.
Whether he felt their stares or not, Duke Marcello set down his glass and moved forward. But the scene they hoped for did not unfold.
“Cain. So you received an invitation from my daughter.”
“That is correct.”
“…Enjoy yourself in moderation before you leave.”
As expected of a duke, he knew how to read the room before protecting his pride. Sensing something dangerous in Cain, he yielded. This was the man who had struck a margrave of his own empire and a foreign prince. Provoking him would bring no benefit.
Watching it all, Kiara giggled and patted Cain on the back.
“Did you see? My oh-so-great father got scared. It’s hilarious. Ahaha! Really. So birthdays can actually be this much fun.”
“Happy birthday, my lady.”
“Thank you. That single phrase from you lands harder than dozens from the rest of them.”
“I should have prepared a birthday gift, but circumstances prevented me. I apologize.”
A birthday gift? Kiara blinked, then giggled again. She poked Cain’s chest with a pale finger.
“You’ve already given me the perfect gift. So don’t apologize.”
The one person I invited myself. The fact that you came is enough.
And did you see? The look on my father’s face. The way you properly slapped every one of those nobles.
Cain gave a quiet nod at her answer.
“Ah. Still, if it bothers you that I didn’t bring anything—”
Kiara spun once around him.
“Smile for me.”
“You want me to smile?”
“Yes. Like last time.”
What a strange villainess. When Cain smiled, Kiara shook her head. Not that one. That smile from before. I want to see that one.
But she never got the smile she wanted. Unfortunately, there were no demons here capable of drawing laughter from Cain.
“Tsk. As expected, you don’t smile easily, do you?”
Fine. There would surely be another chance later.
Having given up cleanly, Kiara instead studied Cain’s attire. It was far neater than she had expected. She hadn’t realized a suit would suit him so well. It looked better than the gaudy nobles who lived for their accessories.
If he fixed that expressionless face and added a touch of makeup, he would be strikingly handsome.
“Cain. Have you never thought about dressing up?”
Cain answered with brutal honesty.
“My lady.”
“Yes?”
“Have you lost your mind?”
“Wow.”
Of course. Just like the mad dog—straight for the throat. Even though he had called her crazy, she felt no anger. Instead she was delighted. It was strange. She knew her own personality was a mess, yet she couldn’t understand why seeing Cain made her want to smile.
“So this is where you were.”
Kiara’s face hardened the instant she heard the voice. One of the Duke’s noble guests approached, pretending familiarity.
“Happy birthday, my lady.”
“…Thank you.”
“And beside you is the famous Cain. Demon Slayer. Executioner. I hear you’ve been quite busy again lately?”
Was he trying to mock them? Kiara’s eyes sharpened.
“My lady. If it wouldn’t be rude, may I ask Cain a question?”
“…Cain?”
At Kiara’s glance, Cain looked at the noble with complete indifference.
“Thank you, my lady. Then… Cain. You killed quite a number of nobles this time.”
“They were traitors. They had gone over to the demons. Trash.”
“Indeed. Before you killed them, did any other thoughts cross your mind?”
“Thoughts?”
“Or did you feel nothing at all?”
A mere commoner. A monster who had slaughtered so many nobles. Even if those nobles had been fools who chose the wrong path, it was fundamentally wrong for a commoner to kill nobles. Therefore, at the very least, he should have felt guilt or pity. As they bled out, they should have at least been allowed to apologize before dying.
“There was one thing I felt.”
“What was it?”
“They swung their swords pretty well.”
“…?”
“Their necks came off real clean.”
“…”
“That’s about it.”
I see. As expected, this bastard was nothing more than a beast that deserved death.
The noble picked up a wine glass and offered it to Cain.
“I hear you’re the only one the young lady invited? In that spirit, let us celebrate. To the birthday of Lady Kiara Marcello.”
Clink—
The noble drank first after the toast.
Cain stared down at the glass in his hand. Those few seconds felt like an eternity to the noble.
And then the noble’s wait turned into pure joy.
Cain emptied the glass without leaving a single drop.
“Enjoy the rest of the party, Cain.”
Because it would be the last one you ever enjoy.
The noble quickly retreated from the pair.
And after waiting a short while, the moment he had longed for finally arrived.
Thump—!
The mad dog had finally collapsed.
“…”
“…”
The nobles waited anxiously for someone—for news. It had to arrive soon. The moment it was confirmed, they would pin everything on the demons. Before suspicion could fall on them, they would redirect all attention elsewhere.
“It’s here!”
“Oh!”
The man who appeared was one of the nobles who had attended the Marcello party. With an excited face he hurried to the round table and explained what he had witnessed.
“It’s done.”
“Really? The bastard is truly dead?”
“Yes. I watched him drink the poisoned wine and collapse with my own eyes before I left.”
“Finally! The mad dog is finally dead!!”
It was a deadly toxin extracted from demon blood. No human could withstand it. Even knights who had surpassed human limits collapsed before this poison. It was a terrifying substance that destroyed not only the body but magic power itself.
“Then shall we move on to the next phase?”
“Of course. First we spread the rumor that the demons did it and shift all focus there. After that we pressure the second prince, who has lost his sword, and express concern about the oppressive atmosphere toward the nobility…”
Thump—
Until they realized something had gone terribly wrong.
“At the same time we move against the third prince. Wait—did anyone else hear a strange noise just now?”
“What noise…?”
Thump—!
It did not take long.
BOOOOM!!
With an explosive roar, the wall of the room where the nobles had gathered blew apart. The sight was so unreal that no one could move.
Soon a figure stepped through the cloud of dust.
“You— you…! How?! How are you still alive?!”
The noble who had run here with a joyful face screamed in horror. He had clearly seen the man drink the poisoned wine. He had seen him collapse. It was demon blood—the poison that destroyed both body and magic power. A human could not survive it. It should have been impossible for a human…!
“In the place I came from, there was a saying. Do you remember how many pieces of bread you’ve eaten in your life?”
Of course not. Who counts bread while eating it?
Cain lightly dusted off his right hand and continued in a calm voice.
“I’m the same. I can’t remember.”
How many demon innards he had chewed up and swallowed so far.