Chapter 136: A Cracked Dam (1)
Chapter 136: A Cracked Dam (1)
The earth shook and dust rose into the air.
It wasn't as if eating one small body like this would fill their bellies, but whatever made them so eager, a number of large demonic beasts—not many, but huge in size—came charging this way with glee.
If there was one stroke of luck, it was that they seemed to know they couldn't share 'me' among themselves, so they sprinted as if competing, which left a bit of distance between the one leading the charge and the ones behind it.
Standing still and watching their approach, 'I' grinned.
'That's enough.'
The one running at the front now probably didn't know. That it might end up hunted by its prey instead.
'I' had a certain talent for this kind of theater. Especially when the opponents were simple-minded like that, leading the play according to the script was a piece of cake.
If I sacrificed one to reveal the twist, the other fools chasing after me would hesitate in shock. A gap of that size was time enough for 'me' to sow terror.
'They called them failed experiments that couldn't become demon-race... but I really do like how simple and stupid they are.'
The dagger in my hand spun. My thumb folded and unfolded repeatedly as if stroking the hilt, and 'I' slowly lowered my stance—
——The moment the lead monster reached my nose, I kicked off the ground and shot forward.
In the eyes of those beasts, it probably looked like I vanished for an instant.
Because I forced a speed my body couldn't endure, I heard something snap in my leg with a crack. Ignoring it, I swung my arm while airborne and drove the dagger into the creature's nape. I had to push a little too hard to pierce the tough hide, but it was fine.
Ignoring the strain spreading through my entire arm, I dropped my weight as if hanging on and carved a long gash downward.
"Kraaaaaaah!"
"Guess it's because you're so big. I stabbed a vital spot and you're still full of vigor."
Well, whose fault was it for taking 'me' lightly?
Before I fell, I stabbed the dagger in my other hand back into the wound to anchor myself and clung on.
Judging by the location and size of the wound, it looked like it would die if left alone, but 'my' objective wasn't simply 'killing' this one. I had to factor in the ones coming up behind it.
"Attacking the eyes really does have the best visual effect, doesn't it?"
Thunk.
I'd done it to humans before, so there was no way I'd hesitate against a demonic beast. I raised my arm, which refused to take strength properly, jammed the dagger into the creature's eye, and twisted.
"Kraaaaaaaah!!"
"Does it hurt?"
I kindly stuck my face in front of its remaining eye and smiled innocently.
The fist-sized eyeball trembled. The scream that had exploded with 'rage' upon being attacked by its prey began to take on the quality of 'fear.'
The other demonic beasts, who had been charging in panting, faltered at the unexpected scene unfolding before them. Glancing at them, 'I' raised the dagger as if putting on a show and began roughly hacking at the remaining eye too.
Then I paused.
"......Oh, so your claws had poison."
The creature's thrashing front paw had raked my side.
I looked at the wound turning purple, then looked at the beast. Even though it had lost its eyes, it seemed to have a rough sense of how things were going, radiating a smug, serves-you-right attitude.
......A creature about to die, throwing a tantrum.
I glanced back to confirm the demonic beasts starting to approach again, then shoved the dagger in my hand all the way deep into its eye, and leaped off.
And with no time to waste, 'I' immediately pulled out a fresh, clean dagger, carved out the flesh on my side, threw it on the ground, and crushed it underfoot.
Splat.
The flesh mashed beneath my feet made a sickening sound.
"I did consider tossing it to you lot, but I didn't want to create unnecessary variables."
What if they ate it, decided it was delicious, and lost their minds over it? That would be a problem.
Only then, as if its stubborn life had finally run out, the mangled demonic beast collapsed with a thud. The ones that had been following behind had stopped a long time ago.
'I' smiled brightly at them and spoke.
"What's wrong? Aren't you coming?"
I had butchered one of their kin, and when it seemed like it had barely managed to inject some poison, I carved out my own flesh before it could even spread through my body... and on top of that, I smiled broadly without a care, as if I wasn't even aware of the blood gushing from my side.
No matter the species, everyone recognizes a madman when they see one.
The demonic beasts began to retreat hesitantly.
* * *
I had another dream. It seemed like I'd been having strange dreams often lately.......
I frowned as I stabbed a dagger deep into the neck of a small demonic beast about the size of a rabbit.
'The content....'
I couldn't remember the content.
'So in the dream, I....'
I couldn't remember.
I definitely couldn't recall the content, but given how unpleasant I felt after waking, it was surely nothing good.
'Ah, I'm craving my medicine....'
Against the backdrop of a night with a pretty moon, dressed in comfortable everyday clothes with my face refreshingly uncovered for once... I let out a deep sigh as I took out swarms of small demonic beasts.
As if considering the wrecked state of my body, the Emperor had ordered me to hunt minor monsters a week later.
Well, I was glad they weren't large, ferocious, terrifying monsters, but.......
'The small monsters are too numerous, and they're so good at running away...!'
I irritably flung a dagger at one fleeing creature. It pierced right through its torso and the thing toppled straight over.
They weren't threatening. If you compared them to wildlife in the human world, they were literally rabbit- or rat-level monsters. It was just that they also tried to tear off and eat living flesh, which made them problematic if their numbers grew too large.
'Hmm... let's just call them dangerous.'
Their numbers hadn't yet swelled to a threatening degree, but given the wartime situation, the Emperor had judged it better to eliminate such variables in advance.
Whether it was the Demon King or the Emperor, they both pretended to care about my body, but in the end, they just used me every which way. Did all rulers become like that?
"Anyway, I think I've just about cleaned things up......."
Rustle.
"......I shouldn't have said anything."
The moment I spoke, remnants showed up?
I gripped the dagger in my hand and stared at the thicket where the sound had come from. As if realizing it had been caught, the undergrowth flinched and swayed, then something burst out and charged straight at me at full speed.
"Demon-nim!"
"!?"
I barely stopped the dagger I had reflexively swung.
A familiar-looking demon-race with leaves stuck to his head came rushing at me, calling out a familiar title in a familiar voice. My brain short-circuited for a moment.
Was I currently... carrying out a mission as 'Demon'?
"......Ben?"
"Yes, Demon-nim! I, Ben, barely managed to escape the Demon Castle and tracked you down to treat you!"
What in the world...!
I tripped over my own feet in confusion. My hand reflexively reached out to steady myself, but it only managed to press against Ben's shoulder area, failing to provide any further effect.
'No, you usually support me, catch me, and lift me up so easily, so what's this supposed to be now?'
That's right. I had just fallen on top of Ben.
One hand pressing down firmly on Ben's shoulder, the other hand holding the dagger placed on the ground next to Ben's head—no, I'd stabbed the dagger into the ground.
No matter how you looked at this, it was attempted murder, at minimum a death threat...?
Worried Ben would misunderstand, I hurriedly tried to pull the dagger back and explain, but Ben, rolling his eyes to check the blade next to his head, hastily opened his mouth first.
"I'm sorry! I received a signal that Demon-nim had been injured and rushed over in haste... Did I perhaps interrupt you?"
"Huh...?"
"I knew it. I'm sorry...!"
No, that's not... I clearly made that a question, didn't I? Why are you.......
I opened my mouth to explain, but again Ben was faster to speak.
"Still...!"
"......?"
"I'm truly relieved that you're safe."
"......Ha."
What was I supposed to do with this personal physician and his insane work ethic?
He smiled brightly, as if genuinely relieved. I couldn't bring myself to get angry at that, so I slowly withdrew the dagger.
'Not that I had any intention of getting angry in the first place.'
The snake scales covering part of his face served as a constant reminder that he was demon-race—how could I dare get angry at him? Being familiar with him and being bold enough to get angry were two entirely different things.
Still, faced with his unexpected concern, my expression, which had stiffened from accumulated fatigue I hadn't even fully realized, relaxed. Ben, who had been gauging my reaction, noticed this keenly and didn't miss the opening to press a question.
"Are you alright, body-wise? The signal aside, even looking directly, there don't seem to be many uninjured places."
"......I'm fine."
"That's a lie, so I won't believe you."
First Rien, now him too... If you're going to do that, then why ask?
"Judging by your movements, the muscles in your arms and legs seem to be a problem too... Ah, your side! Is your side alright?! The signal was coming in like crazy!"
"It's fin...."
"I don't believe you!"
Then don't ask!
"Excuse me, but I'll lift your clothes for a moment."
"Don't excuse yourself, just don't."
"May I undo the bandages?"
"No."
"Yes, I'll undo them."
This little...?
His hand slipped inside my clothes, fumbling for the knot in the bandages. It was cold! Maybe because he was demon-race, his hands were cold too. It gave me goosebumps.
No matter how much I verbally refused, it seemed like he wouldn't listen at all, so I hurriedly shook off his hand, got up, and stepped back.
"I'm really fine. I've finished treatment, and my body is more or less...."
"Lord Marquis?"
"!"
An unfamiliar voice.
I whipped my head around to check where the voice had come from. A man in Empire army uniform was alternating his gaze between me and Ben, weapon in hand.
Ah.......
'Fuck.'
I'd messed up. Like when carrying out the Demon King's orders, I should have conducted this mission in secret.
Honestly, when performing a light order from the Emperor within the Empire's camp, there was no reason to keep it secret. The Emperor hadn't called it a covert mission, and the task itself was really nothing, incredibly trivial.
So I had moved openly. As a result, about three knights from the barracks had followed along as guides, saying they couldn't let the Lord Marquis go alone.
'I barely managed to shake Dan off from following.......'
More knights had originally tried to come, but since the Emperor's reason for moving me was to minimize troop waste, I had read his intent and compromised at around three.
'Your Majesty, I did my best.......'
Honestly I'd wanted to bring more... but this was the best I could do.
Even though the small numbers meant we had to split up the area to handle the demonic beasts. Still, at least I didn't go alone, heh heh... no, not that!
I never expected a problem like this to arise.
'What do I do about that man?'
Kill him? If I explained the situation, the Emperor would understand. But.......
I looked at the Empire knight with troubled eyes, then quietly pressed my forehead. My head was starting to ache, and I could feel my stress levels spiking sharply.
"Cough."
Oh, nice timing. The fact that blood came from my mouth when my head hurt was a bit absurd, but this wasn't the time.
"De...!"
"Go."
First, I threw my dagger past Ben's face to shut him up before he could call out 'Demon.'
It was a small voice, almost a mutter, but since he was demon-race, he'd have heard me clearly. Even if he hadn't, he wasn't the sort to lack perception, so he'd roughly grasp my intent from the action.
Sure enough, Ben quietly got up, turned his back, and swiftly fled the scene. The knight saw it and tried to chase after him....
"Cough, cough! *Cough, hack!* *Kheh-heck, kek!*"
"L-Lord Marquis!"
Did they think I'd never choked on my own blood before?
I deliberately let the blood in my mouth spill down my windpipe and spectacularly spat out blood-laced coughs, and the knight gave up on Ben and rushed to my side.
Yes... I'm sick, so abandon chasing that bastard and let's go back quickly. And Ben, you never come again.
* * *
'A demon-race... toward Lord Marquis Hart.......'
The knight, who had been anxiously hovering around Deon Hart as he coughed up blood-laced hacking sounds as if he were near death, gritted his teeth and recalled the scene from moments before.
The demon-race on the ground, barely managing to prop up its upper body, and the Lord Marquis standing boldly before it, dagger in hand.
Grasping the situation wasn't difficult. Taking advantage of the Lord Marquis being distracted hunting demonic beasts alone, a demon-race had launched an ambush.
'Nevertheless, the Lord Marquis would have won.'
The result was the scene he had witnessed.