Who's the Demon Here?
Shiiik!
A bundle of tentacles shot toward Caric, surging in like dozens of snakes striking at once — and some of them even slithered cleverly for the blind spots in his vision.
Caric had absolutely no intention of dodging.
"Wow, such an aggressive approach."
He reached his hand out toward the writhing mass instead.
"That's my style."
His enormous hand snapped out and seized a whole fistful of tentacles in one fluid motion.
Crunch-squelch.
It sounded like fruit being crushed in a press inside his grip.
Sssss!
And the Radiance layered over his hand went further, searing the demon's flesh on contact.
"Kyaeeek!"
The demon's main body flailed its arms in agony, shrieking. Meanwhile, the tentacles that had been sneaking around for Caric's blind side were thrown back by the Radiance as well.
The demon hastily shuffled its priorities. It flung the few royal guard knights it had been tangling with clear across the room, then gathered its tentacle mass together and whipped them down like one massive flail.
Caric simply leaned back in place, swaying this way and that, and let the blows whistle past him.
"Nice, nice. I like the enthusiasm. I'm not the push-and-pull type myself."
Caric clenched his fist tight.
"Let's have a look at your face, shall we?"
Still gripping the tentacles, he yanked his arm back with everything he had.
"Kyaaaak!"
He pulled so hard that several of the tentacles tore clean out of the main body. The demon was dragged feet-first across the floor until it hung right in front of Caric, forced down onto its knees in a strangely demure posture.
Caric's response was anything but gentle.
"Huh, now that I get a closer look…"
He swung his arm down.
The demon's head slammed into his raised knee.
THWACK!
"Ugly!"
Caric grabbed a tentacle and ripped it out of the demon's body as casually as pulling weeds.
FWOOSH!
"This one too!"
He started grabbing and tearing out tentacles at random, left and right.
"And that one!"
Black blood, thick as ink, sprayed everywhere. The Radiance hissed and evaporated it on contact, and the revolting black smoke mingled with the golden light, blotting out Caric's view — but his hands showed no thought of stopping.
"Every single one of them is ugly!"
He went on furiously seizing and ripping out tentacles like a man digging up the earth itself.
Fwoosh! Fwack!
Black blood spattered around Caric, and torn tentacles went flying through the air. The demon could no longer even think of moving its remaining tentacles to attack him. It simply bubbled and squirmed, sprouting new ones — purely to survive. And those new tentacles were torn out by Caric almost the instant they emerged, flopping wetly onto the floor.
The cycle repeated itself several times per second — the result of Caric's superhuman speed locked in grotesque harmony with the demon's regeneration. It was a horrifying sight if you found it horrifying, a bizarre one if you found it bizarre. The ministers recoiled in dread even as they stared blankly at the grotesque, violent spectacle, utterly unable to grasp what it was they were witnessing.
"That alone won't be enough!"
Someone shouted then.
"It will regenerate endlessly! Find the core! It must be somewhere in the body—"
"Absolutely not!"
Caric bellowed, resolute.
"A delicate soul like me—"
He tore out another tentacle and hurled it aside.
"—can't do gore-flick stuff like cutting people open and rummaging around in their guts!"
"Wh-what in the—?!"
It was not a thing for the man currently shredding the demon limb from limb to say.
The ministers gave up on trying to understand Caric. They should have known from the moment Crowell's corpse hit the floor: this was violence and absurdity wearing the shape of a man.
"Just what… is he? Some kind of monster in human form… how could someone like that exist in the Empire…"
One of the ministers murmured, dazed. They could no longer tell who was the demon and who was the monster.
Even amid their stunned horror, the sickening sounds of tearing did not stop. But slowly, the nature of the tentacle-pulling began to change. The demon's regeneration was running dry, while Caric's hands only moved faster. At last, among the few strands that remained, he found one that — strangely — wouldn't come out in a single pull.
"What's this, then."
Caric's hand squeezed the tentacle hard.
"K-kyaaaeeek!"
The demon's reaction was somehow different from before. Caric's intuition clicked. So this was the core, or whatever it was. Or a tentacle connected to it, anyway.
"Demon. Do you want to live?"
Caric said in a low voice — so quiet no one else could have heard it.
A flicker of hope lit within the demon.
"K-kyeek."
"Is that so. Understood."
Caric nodded.
"Then die."
FWOOSH!
He ripped out the thick tentacle he'd been gripping, without mercy and without hesitation. The demon died without even managing a scream. Its fallen body convulsed once on the floor as black blood drained out in long, trailing streams. A hollow, meaningless end. Somehow, to the ministers, the demon looked almost pitiable.
Caric, of course, couldn't have cared less about any of that. He was looking down at the royal scepter — well, the royal whatever-it-was — he'd just extracted. At the tip of the enormous tentacle hung something like a black heart, pulsing with a strange rhythm and radiating a distinctly unpleasant aura — enough to make the ministers, who had been hiding and were now creeping back out now that things seemed over, stumble in their steps.
Even so, Annette came straight to Caric's side without a moment's hesitation.
"Caric, is it all over? Are you hurt anywhere?"
"My feelings are bruised."
"You're perfectly fine, then."
Even as she said it, she gave him a thorough head-to-toe inspection before nodding, satisfied. Then her gaze fixed itself on the black heart.
"That thing — I think it should be wrapped in Radiance, to be safe. What do you think?"
"Good idea."
Annette poured out her Radiance and enveloped the demon's heart, and Caric shoved the whole thing into the subspace pocket the intelligence bureau chief had given him. It was his first time using it, but somehow his hands found the motion without a hitch. In the meantime, the tentacles littering the floor scattered into ash. Cleaning up just got a whole lot easier, he thought, and raised his head.
The council chamber was a disaster zone. The floor was a web of cracks, many of the pillars were broken, and everyone was caked head to toe in dust. The only person in pristine condition was the Emperor, sheltered behind the royal guard captain. The two who'd been talking happened to glance over at Caric with oddly pointed looks, and Caric twisted his head away, deflecting their gazes entirely.
That silver armor bastard was fine, then.
Meanwhile, the ministers who'd been cowering behind the pillars under the royal knights' protection shuffled cautiously back out. All they'd done was hide, yet they looked like they'd been through hell, their haggard faces genuinely pitiful to see.
This, clearly, was a moment that called for a positive mindset.
"You people are lucky."
Caric opened his mouth on their behalf, gladly.
"I don't know much about history, but there can't have been many council sessions like this one in imperial history. A truly intense, heart-pounding ministerial meeting, I'd say."
Saying it out loud, he realized it was actually true. He had just provided them with a once-in-a-lifetime experience. He rubbed the bridge of his nose and went on.
"And if you're feeling disappointed that it's over, don't be. There'll be plenty more activities like this going forward. I'd appreciate it if you'd keep watching over us with loving eyes."
Questioning stares rained down on him from every side of the room.
Annette stepped forward and took control of the situation.
"To resume what we were saying before we were so rudely interrupted by these unfortunate events—"
She glanced at the First Prince.
"—regarding the claim that Count Crowell attempted to assassinate me of his own accord, without his lord's orders…"
Annette broke into a perfectly aristocratic smile.
"…I believe it."
It was a completely unexpected turn. The ministers blinked. Not a single thing in this entire session had gone the way anyone expected.
"R-really?"
At last the honest Minister of Agriculture couldn't contain his curiosity and asked.
"Of course."
At Annette's answer, the Minister of Agriculture's eyes darted toward Caric.
"B-but earlier, that, uh, your escort said something rather different…"
"Hahaha! That was all an act."
Caric declared heartily.
"I believe in the First Prince too. What kind of son of a bitch wouldn't? A man who's the Empire's First Prince, teaming up with a cultist? Please."
He looked up at the First Prince with a grin.
"It was an undercover investigation, see. The demon could've had a sudden seizure, right? I got close naturally because I was worried the First Prince might get hurt or taken hostage."
"How… admirable."
The First Prince said, his face expressionless.
"How very kind of you."
"Nothing to thank me for! You're a victim here too, aren't you? Finding out your right-hand man was a disgusting cultist. Must have been a huge shock."
"I'm sure it will be."
Annette picked up the thread seamlessly.
"My dear brother is a righteous man who has rooted out countless black mages, traitors, and corruption. And now cultists are appearing out of nowhere. I imagine you must be terribly worried."
Her voice dropped, going cold.
"And besides the Count, there are still traitors at large. The rats who meddled with the botched teleportation, for instance."
Annette looked up at the Emperor.
"Therefore, Your Majesty, I ask that you appoint me as Special Inspector and allow me to uncover the truth of these events."
She gestured toward Caric.
"As it happens, I also have an exceptionally talented external consultant at my disposal."
"Special Inspector and an external consultant."
The corner of the Emperor's mouth drew into a long, thin smile. So the princess would take the official title, and any messy problems would be handled by the 'external consultant.' It was barely disguised sleight of hand — but clever. And to think she'd maneuvered the Special Inspector position out of this situation like this. She'd earned the right to be confident, even if he couldn't tell how much of it had been planned all along.
"Very well. With cultists appearing, no less — the very woman they tried to assassinate conducting the investigation. She's imperial family, so her credentials are more than sufficient. I have no reason to refuse."
The Emperor addressed the assembled ministers.
"I shall also grant her existing office several discretionary powers and immunity provisions. Though it would be too much to expect Her Highness to handle everything alone."
He cast a curious little smile at the First Prince.
"You will assist her in assembling the inspectorate. I trust that's what you want as well?"
Needless to say, the First Prince had no way to refuse here. Swallowing the humiliation like a professional, he answered in a clear, composed voice.
"…Of course. I will gladly cooperate in rooting out the traitors who tarnished the Crown's authority, and the cultists lurking in our midst."
"The headquarters of the inspectorate will be decided after consultation and reported to me in due course."
With his instructions given, the Emperor turned toward Annette.
"Also, to Camellia Palace, Her Highness's residence, I have already sent gifts in commendation of you both. The matter of the Minister of the Interior from earlier has not been reflected, mind you…"
His gaze shifted to Caric.
"The axe retrieved from the imperial armory is included as well. It should suit your tastes. Take good care of Her Highness for me, external consultant Caric."
"Leave it to me."
Caric grinned, baring his teeth.
"I'll show you what barbarian-style inspection looks like."
The Emperor burst out laughing.
"Yes, I look forward to it. You must both be exhausted — go on and take your leave."
"We are deeply grateful for your grace, Your Majesty."
Annette gathered her skirts and sank into an elegant curtsy.
"We shall take our leave, then."
She turned first, and Caric gave the Emperor one stiff, businesslike nod before following her. As the two of them headed for the chamber doors, the ministers still milling about in the entrance flinched in alarm.
"Ah-hem."
Slyly avoiding their eyes, they backpedaled out of the way, parting like a tide until a perfectly straight path had formed. Caric and Annette, declining no favors, strode right down it without a hint of hesitation — like a crown prince making his exit from court.
But Caric's attention was elsewhere entirely.
Finally. I've got myself a sweet new imperial-issue axe.
Should I name it something like 'Wisdom' or 'Order'?