Chapter 91
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: A Good Story
A good story.
Mom died. Mother passed away. My dear mother departed this world.
No matter how I phrased it, the meaning stayed the same.
That fact made tears well up in my eyes.
*
Watching Zeke Frain's back as he hurried away, Enoch floated a small magic circle above his hand.
'It might work.'
The meeting or whatever it was had ended sooner than expected, but he'd still pieced together the rough outline. If things went as planned, Zeke Frain would be able to speak with Idalian.
"Why am I going this far? Sheesh."
Grumbling to himself, Enoch suddenly whipped his head around. Tsukiyo did the same.
The two locked eyes, then tilted their heads in unison.
"Choco, you felt that too?"
"Yeah. Not some amateur, that's for sure... but what could it be?"
"Right? I mean."
A savage aura had brushed past, sure, but hey, people get the urge to cut loose sometimes. Hunting them down over it would be the weird part.
Letting out a small yawn, Enoch started trudging off.
"Guess I'll head in and rest..."
KABOOOM────────!!!
A streak of crimson energy slammed in from somewhere, blasting the upper spire of the lord's castle to rubble.
Smack. Enoch shut his yawning mouth and blinked.
"Guess it was something after all."
The aura felt seriously off. Enoch launched himself into the air, and his eyes locked onto a woman.
"Insolent bitch. You dare lay a hand on this place?"
Tap. She lightly tapped the ground with the heel of her stiletto, and crimson lines etched across the air.
"Aaaagh─!"
"Attack! Hurry!"
Limbs scattered like harvested grains. From the sticky sea of blood, the woman's gaze turned to Enoch.
"Oh? A handsome guy."
She flashed a smile, her hand waving gently. At the same instant, Enoch tapped the air like knocking.
Thud!
"Ghk!"
The woman was shoved back, eyes bulging. Blood trickled from her mouth. Staring at Enoch with trembling eyes, she let out a hollow laugh.
"...What the hell. What kind of monster is that..."
Not a pretty boy after all—a freak? Yekaterina hurriedly popped a recovery pill into her mouth.
"Huuuh...!"
Crimson energy exploded from her body like a geyser. And with it came something ominous and sticky.
"Hm?"
Enoch raised one eyebrow. A familiar vibe—demonic qi. And specifically, succubus qi.
[Lilith! I offer half my remaining lifespan! Grant me the darkness of that soul!]
The woman's energy erupted again. Enoch squinted, then glanced aside.
KABOOOM─!
A man was clashing with Tsukiyo. The marquis, who'd rushed over, joined in for a 2-on-1. But the man showed no signs of being overwhelmed.
"Eeeek...! Why the hell is everyone these days immune to illusions?!"
Pissed off, Tsukiyo bared her claws and charged. But close-quarters combat wasn't her specialty. Things could get dicey like this.
"Eri, let's wrap this up quick."
[Yes, Daddy.]
In that split-second opening, the woman lunged. She rocketed toward the airborne Enoch and clapped her hands.
Clap!
Space warped, firing crimson threads at random. Enoch sidestepped effortlessly, then unleashed the power surging inside him.
Fwoooosh──────
A ring of five colors shimmered behind Enoch's back. Fox ears sprouted atop his head, and his hips now sported six tails—increased from before.
Kreeeen!
His divine eyes scanned the woman. No mistake—it was succubus qi, with strange currents swirling around her.
[Oh dear.]
But he was immune. Ignoring it, he formed a spear in his grip.
The insight Enoch gained upon reaching grandmaster was Convergence. The woman's warped space got trapped in his single spear, and he slammed it down toward her shocked face.
Ruuuumble──────────!
Purple light flashed. Once the blinding glare faded, Enoch clicked his tongue at the scene.
[What a pain.]
The man who'd been fighting Tsukiyo and the marquis had moved to block her.
What the hell was this all about? He'd just wanted some rest.
"Who are you? I never heard of a powerhouse like this in Demisto."
[That's what I want to know. What the fuck is this?]
Maintaining his true form, Enoch spun the rings in his eyes. His divine eyes pierced the man. But the man sensed something off and blocked the gaze with some trick.
[Oh.]
"Hoh..."
While Enoch and the man stared each other down, Tsukiyo and the marquis ran up.
"Daddy! That's the guy! Tugwi!"
At her words, the marquis frowned.
"...Tugwi. Why is the head of Haken Wert here?"
[Whatever. Doesn't matter.]
Enoch gathered lightning in his palm. By the principle of Convergence, the surrounding space got sucked into his hand.
[The best strategy is annihilation. Just kill 'em all.]
"No interest in talking it out?"
Tugwi stepped forward.
"Now I remember. Sword Hou's disciple. Didn't hear you were this strong—looks like my intel was off."
[Talk?]
Enoch scratched his chin. The marquis muttered low instead.
"Blood reeks all the way here, and you wanna talk..."
"Ah, sorry about that. Yekaterina's been on edge lately."
Tugwi pointed at Yekaterina. She glared at Enoch warily.
Hadn't that woman already offered half her life? Poor thing...
Enoch gave Yekaterina a pitying look, and she scowled. But she said nothing.
The standoff shifted: Yekaterina glaring at Enoch, the marquis talking with Tugwi.
"Why'd you come to Demisto in the first place?"
"Our branch here got smashed, so we did."
"Isn't that on you for setting up shop without permission?"
"Land's meant to be taken and retaken. Just a game of hide-and-seek for those claiming ownership. Land never really belongs to anyone to begin with."
The marquis fell silent, then met Tugwi's eyes. No emotion showed in his hollow gaze.
"So, what do you want?"
"Demisto."
"You're insane. Think I'll just hand it over?"
"Of course not. Wasn't asking you anyway."
Tugwi turned to Enoch like he was asking for lunch recommendations.
"What about you? Step aside, and we won't chase you."
[Oh.]
Enoch scratched his chin. Normally, he'd mull it over, but this was Demisto, sort of.
He glanced aside. Knowing she'd be in the way, Zeke Frain watched anxiously from a distance.
[Can't do that.]
"Too bad."
[Eh, it's iffy.]
Enoch grinned and patted his chest.
[You look like you've got plenty worth stealing.]
Eri's maw poked out from Enoch's chest. It yawned wide, unleashing a blinding bolt of lightning.
[Eri Breath!]
──────────────!!!
The breath pierced to the heavens, punching a black hole in the sky. Enoch nodded, pleased.
[Impressive progress.]
[Thank you, Daddy!]
[Time for another tail soon.]
That'd make seven, including the recent one. The forest lord had nine tails, so maybe gumiho was the final evolution? That'd make a seven-tailed fox a solid powerhouse.
Crackle-crackle.
Tugwi emerged from the narrow, laser-straight trench. One arm slightly singed, but otherwise fine.
His expression hardened, realizing the fight would be tougher than thought.
But that lasted only a moment. A grin split his blank face, wild enough to tear.
"Heh... Fine by me. No need to hold back anymore."
Sword Hou who? That was tomorrow's problem. Just enjoy the fight now.
"No."
Then Yekaterina stepped up. She knew it too. Not even a grandmaster yet, she was useless here.
"Branch Lord, you know it. Even you can't handle three."
She wasn't blind. Against amateur grandmasters, maybe—but these three? Even the Branch Lord would struggle.
And he couldn't boost his power with a devil contract like her.
"Annoying."
Yekaterina grabbed Tugwi's hand, scowling. He stared at her in surprise.
"You..."
"What're you staring at?"
Irritated, she kissed the back of his hand.
"Win this, Moji."
Yekaterina's body crumbled to ash and vanished. The power she'd gained by offering her life to the devil flowed into Tugwi.
Tugwi stared at his hand blankly, then clenched it into a fist.
"...Foolish woman."
His red eyes fixed on the trio. Crimson bubbles boiled over his body, soon engulfing him entirely. Battle spirit horns sprouted from his temples.
Watching, Tsukiyo smirked.
"Pulling a melodrama, huh? Pathetic, Da... Daddy?"
Enoch clapped with misty eyes.
[...She was actually a good person?]
Flustered, Tsukiyo looked to the marquis.
"...Even villains have pure hearts."
The marquis's eyes welled up, like he'd thought of Idalian.
"What kinda circus is this...?"
Another voice reached the dazed Tsukiyo's ears.
[Sob sob... What a good story.]
Tsukiyo whipped around in shock. A hazy female figure filled her vision.
[What's wrong, cutie pie?]
Trembling, Tsukiyo stuttered.
"G-G-G..."
[Ghost?]
"G-Ghoooost!!]
Tsukiyo leaped back.