Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Demon Realm # 7
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"Ugh... Ack."
With both my body and mind completely wrecked, I had no choice but to crawl along the floor toward the library. Life was just too damn harsh; I couldn't take it anymore.
Even though I'd gotten somewhat used to it lately and stopped thinking about Earth much, right now, I desperately missed that old life of mine.
If I could just go back, I'd reenlist ten times over.
"..."
But I couldn't go back. I'd fucked up from the start. I'd already died and fallen here—what was there to go back to?
That thought made me so depressed I felt like puking. Who could understand the heart of someone whose original body had shattered to pieces and dropped into the Demon Realm?
"Olio. Gambasarehigho."
—Squish... Squish...
It was when I'd finally crawled up the stairs like a maggot and reached the library floor.
"Huh? That's weird?"
A calm voice came from the side.
"Who's there? I thought I was the only one looking for the library?"
"Ah."
There she was—the demon girl from earlier who had burst out laughing at the sight of me—now a girl who looked about the same age, tilting her head while hugging a pitch-black book to her chest, staring at me.
The girl had long, jet-black hair cascading down... She wore a fancy black dress. She didn't look fierce at all; if anything, she was cute and pretty. But I already knew better.
Demon girls like her just came close to mock me.
"And why the hell are you crawling around over there...? Wait, are you that brother? The one participating in the Descent Ritual this time?"
Why did everyone know everything?
These bastards didn't even have smartphones—where the hell did they get their hot gossip from? If there was some community like that, tell me so I could lurk and ask what the Descent Festival was about.
"Ah, yeah. That's me."
I braced my mentality, wondering what kind of ridicule I'd get this time.
—Swoosh.
"Hm?"
The girl set the large book she was holding down on the floor and squatted right in front of me.
"Poor thing... You'll die for sure."
She looked down at me with eyes like she was pitying a stray puppy.
"That's why you're crawling around? You know you're doomed, so you're despairing?"
Sharp one.
It really made me sad.
Sad enough for emotions to well up.
"Sniff... Sob!"
"Huh? Are you crying, brother?"
"Hic!"
"Oh no, what do I do? Wait, hold on. Don't cry, brother."
I let out a little sob, and the girl reacted like she genuinely felt sorry for me, reaching out to pat my head.
"Waaah!!!"
I immediately burst into tears!!!
"Eek!"
And I shouted!
With a tear-streaked, desperate face!
"S-Sister? Won't you help this poor brother?!"
"Wha?!"
A panicked expression.
But I could see pity sparking in her eyes!
"Please! Please help me!"
—Whoosh!
I lunged forward, grabbing her ankle and wailing pathetically!
"Kyaa! Wh-What are you doing?! Hold on! Speak properly! Help with what?!"
She reacted to my plea for help? It was definite! She was showing me sympathy! And she looked young! If she was young, her heart might be soft! I was like that when I was a kid!
That was my target!
"Hic...! H-Help me... Please save me, sob!"
"I-I mean, what exactly do you need help with...? This is tricky..."
Even as I clung to her ankle and cried, she just stood up without kicking my hand away or anything... Her tone wasn't even firm!
This was working!
"Waaah!!!"
So I wailed even louder!
Like a damn baby!
"Okay! I'll help, so stop crying, brother. Goodness. What am I supposed to do with this..."
Yes!
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The library was quiet since no one really used it. Even the librarians were formless familiars that didn't make a sound. You might hear the occasional flap of wings or slithering, but that hardly counted as noise.
"My name is Kartiya. Kartiya Bellacru."
The girl who brought me to her "designated seat" sat me down and introduced herself.
"What's your name, brother?"
"I'm Qlus... Qlus Bellacru."
"Stop crying and say it properly."
I wiped my tears and nodded.
"Done crying?"
"Yes, all done."
I looked straight ahead with clear vision.
It was a very well-behaved, beautiful girl. I was certain now. This girl would grow up to have beauty that could stop hearts... just like the Duchess.
But she wouldn't compare.
Unlike the heartless demon who drove her child into the pits of death, this girl named Kartiya right in front of me had extended a hand to me.
She had a human heart.
"..."
And right now.
I'd shamelessly clung to this girl with a human heart, bawling and throwing a tantrum until she agreed to help. How pathetic. I was so ashamed of myself. A proud son of Korea, a sergeant who'd honorably discharged from the army, begging for help from a kid way younger than me?
But there was no choice.
To survive.
I could lick someone's shoe like a dog. That's the courage I had now. The courage to lick a shoe! Who without courage could do that? I was braver than anyone! I'd bravely push through!
"Good. Looks like you're ready to talk. So, Qlus brother? First question: why'd you come up to the library floor?"
"Ah. Well."
Anyway, she'd agreed to help, but Kartiya looked seriously strong. Her horns were in a pretty shape, and the aura she gave off was no joke. From what I could tell, the more power she inherited from the Duchess, the closer her appearance got to hers.
"You crawled all the way up here."
"That's... Kartiya. Can I call you Kartiya?"
"Sure."
"Kartiya. You know my situation, right?"
"That you're participating in the Descent Ritual? Yeah, I know. The rumors have been flying for a while. The lower bloodline in the palace were scared they might get picked, but it was you, Qlus brother."
She knew well.
"You do look weak. Good lineage, though—maybe something went wrong in your birth?"
"You even know that?"
"Roughly. But not the details. Only Mother Duchess would know that. Anyway. Why the library?"
"See, I don't know a thing about the Descent Festival or whatever."
"What?"
I gave a simple rundown of my background.
I didn't know if it was my head or what, but I had almost no demonic power, and my language acquisition was so defective I couldn't even learn to speak properly, so I'd lived on the outskirts. Because of that, I lacked even the basic knowledge every demon should have. Then the Duchess summoned me and sentenced me to the end of my life—no, my demon life.
"Th-That's so sad..."
Kartiya covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes tearing up as she listened. She seemed to genuinely pity me.
"Isn't it sad?"
"To go through something like that... Mother Duchess is merciless about stuff like that... She's kind to us, but that's it. She sees us as tools."
Kartiya looked a little sad as she said that.
She was at that age where she wanted her mom's love.
"Disposable whenever, replaceable anytime... Sigh. Anyway, if you'd grown up normally, brother, you might've lived in the palace with me. It's so pitiful that you're a failure. Really sad..."
I was such a pitiful existence that I couldn't even argue back.
That was me.
"Yeah, that's the situation. So I know nothing, and no one's telling me anything."
"No one's telling you?"
"That's why I came to the library to look for that kind of info. Gotta learn something to boost my survival odds."
"So you came to the library for information?"
"Yeah."
I nodded, and suddenly Kartiya.
"Hmm, definitely."
Said it in a tone like she was smug. Or pleased.
"No place beats the library for finding info! Most other demons don't get that! You know your stuff, brother!"
She said that.
"You like books too, right? Huh? Huh?"
"Uh... kinda? Not really an expert."
"Great!"
What was this? Did she have a reading hobby? Well, her vibe screamed it, and that huge magic book she'd been carrying. She was into books.
Seemed like having her hobby affirmed made her happy.
Kids were kids, after all. Born a cruel demon, but still young enough to have some innocence left. Unbelievably cute.
"Then I'll help you, brother! This library has some pretty tough books! Hard to pick! You need Kartiya's help!"
"Wha...?!"
Whoa!
Whoa!
Woooow!
"Th-Thank you!!! Kartiya!!! So grateful!!! You're my lifesaver!!!"
"Lifesa—nah, not quite. More importantly, Qlus brother. How's this spot?"
"This spot?"
"Here! My designated seat!"
Kartiya spun around, arms outstretched like she was showing off the area.
Come to think of it, she'd called it her designated seat.
The place I was sitting was a space between the library's massive bookshelves. But it wasn't just empty space.
—Plop.
Like building with blocks.
Thick books stacked up to form walls, even a roof made of books. It felt just like the secret forts I'd make as a kid. Decorated with parchment and scrolls, with lighting inside that made it cozy.
"A house made of books? Feels like a secret hideout—super snug."
"Right?! I made it all from books I've read!"
"You read all these?"
"Yup!"
Kartiya answered with sparkling eyes, clearly thrilled.
A kid with insane reading volume.
"Wow. You really love reading, Kartiya."
"Love it!"
A pure smile.
"So ask me anything!"
This kid was seriously nice!!!!!!!!
Tears were about to burst out!!!!!