Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Tongue, Teeth, and Jaw (1)
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"Stay in the village, Duncan."
"Eek?!"
It hit him like a bolt from the blue. Duncan froze in shock. Kadim gulped down whatever was in his hand and added an explanation.
"If you go into the forest, you'll surely fall under the demon's sway. If you don't want to die by my hand, stay here and wait obediently."
As the surprise faded, a mix of relief at not having to see the demon and anxiety at being left alone washed over him. Duncan wore a confused expression as he asked,
"B-but earlier, didn't you tell that woman to head back into the forest? Are you saying that you and noble ladies are fine, but only I'll fall to the demon?"
The barbarian wiped the blood from his mouth and nodded. That was exactly it. No doubt about it.
Though his pride stung a bit, he couldn't defy the order. Duncan let out a long sigh and looked around for a place to rest. Kadim handed him a weapon to protect himself with.
"Take this. I'll lend it to you just for tonight."
"N-no, sir! This dagger is..."
"Its hellfire blade will be too conspicuous, so only use it in emergencies. Once dawn breaks and the fog lifts, you can enter the forest then."
Duncan nodded vigorously, as if his neck might snap, and took the Hellfire Dagger. The gloom vanished from his face, replaced by a beaming grin.
Kadim let out a short, dry chuckle and headed into the forest alone.
The faint lights and noises of the village faded into the distance behind him. The dense foliage formed a black canopy, blocking the moonlight and starlight. Yet the barbarian's senses keenly perceived the forest around him. His dilated pupils and heightened tactile senses missed not even the slightest movement of the grass.
But even that soon reached its limit.
The woman's words had been true. He'd barely taken a few dozen steps before the fog, thick with darkness, enveloped him. The scenery flipped in an instant, as if he'd crossed an invisible boundary. It wasn't just obscuring his vision—it disrupted his sense of smell, hearing, and touch as well.
It was the demonic qi the demon had spread.
'......'
Even the few feet ahead grew blurry. A pungent stench assaulted his nose, like rotten cosmetics crudely mixed with perfume. Faint screams and sobs echoed in his ears like hallucinations. To avoid suffocating under the flood of sensations, he had no choice but to dull his hyper-aware senses.
Yet Kadim merely twisted the corner of his mouth, as if this was all for the best.
Judging by the range and intensity of the demonic qi, it was clearly a demon of considerable caliber. This time, he'd truly found worthy prey. And he had a way to navigate the demonic qi without losing his path and track down the demon.
'So here you were.'
A procession of countless maggots stretched out in a line. The hornless ones scattered aimlessly, but the horned ones jabbed at each other viciously, crawling in unison toward one direction. Like lemmings blindly heading for the sea.
The hornless ones were surely females, and the horned ones males.
Kadim pondered as he followed the maggots' trail.
The reason only male maggots crawled somewhere, the reason the villagers out hunting and the scouting party had vanished, the reason the woman hadn't fallen to the demon and could return, the reason he couldn't bring Duncan into this forest... All of it boiled down to one cause.
The demon rampant in this forest was that type.
The 'Enthrallment Demon,' the kind that stirred lust and base desires to beguile the mind.
Any being ensnared by it craved only the demon's attention and favor, offering extreme sacrifice and devotion until, the moment their value was spent, they were discarded like broken toys.
It had the limitation of only captivating the opposite sex, but once it built a following, it was trickier to exterminate than even 'Possession Demons.' Not only was its main body not frail, but its enthralled minions would perform unimaginable acts to protect it.
However, for all its straightforward power, the strategy to defeat it was equally simple. Kadim knew exactly how to kill an Enthrallment Demon.
'Just don't fall to the demon and sever its lifeline.'
When the demon died, its minions' enthrallment would naturally break.
But a simple strategy didn't always mean an easy path.
To cut off the demon's lifeline, he first had to deal with the slaves of lust lurking beyond the fog.
- Kkrrk... ...Zzzt.
- ...Zzzt, zzzzt...
Amid the pitch-black haze, muffled cries and sticky presences stirred. Even for a seasoned warrior, pinpointing the enemy's identity, direction, and distance in such conditions was nearly impossible.
Not for Kadim. He reignited his dulled senses. The enemies were undoubtedly massive thorned maggots. He twisted his upper body, tensed his biceps to build power, and hurled the salmon dead-on in their direction.
Splaaaatteraaaack, spluuurt - crunch!
- ...Zeee!
- Zzzt, zzzt...
- Zzzzt, zzzzt...
As one breathed its last, the others quickened their movements. Speeds unbelievable for mere bugs. Kadim seized the returning salmon's pull while flinging the Hellfire Dagger into the fog.
Hwooo - whuuuum, kwarrrrk, craaack!
Squeee - spluuurt, fwooooosh!!
- Zeeeeeeee... zee... zee...
The axe pulverized a tree trunk and ground the bugs' heads, while the dagger traced a crimson arc, incinerating their bodies. The moment the axe's haft settled into his grip, Kadim hurled it again and charged toward where he'd thrown the dagger.
- Krzzzzz...
Craaack - crunch!
- Chiiiiiik!
Mid-stride, he slashed at one rearing up and flailing its thoracic legs. Mosquito's blade sliced through the soft jaw, swallowing sticky fluids. Not particularly tasty, it seemed—the sword shuddered lightly as if shaking off a bad aftertaste.
- Kkrrrrk, zzzt!
- Zzzzz, kkrrrrrk!
No sooner had he reclaimed the dagger than the thorned maggots fully encircled him. Kadim calmly prepared to counter.
He dodged venom spewing from the front one's maw and threw the axe. He smashed his fist into the skull of one creeping up behind, caving it in until the compound eye shattered and fishy fluids burst out. He shoved aside the twitching, convulsing body and impaled another maggot, splitting it with his blade.
Craaunch - !
- Chiiik!
Hwooo - whuuuum, splaaaatteraaaack!
He reclaimed the axe and threw it again. Grabbed one by the scruff and hoisted it up. Spun in a circle to shake off the surrounding foes, then slammed it into a tree with centrifugal force. Its segments shattered, and mashed guts erupted from the hook-like maw like vomit. The spines embedded in its back disrupted the others too.
Venom, fluids, entrails, and screams filled the chaos. Bugs flailing their thoracic legs in agony before dying.
- Chiiiiiik!
- Chiiik, chiiik!
Dying shrieks echoed into the fog. Crushed, sliced, and mangled corpses piled up in moments. It was plain as day that these oversized thorned maggots were no match for the barbarian warrior.
Around then, new presences stirred from between the branches above. Kadim timed it perfectly and hurled the salmon upward.
Splaaaatteraaaack - !
The falling foe narrowly dodged the axe blade and thrust its attack downward. Kadim evaded by a hair and swung Mosquito in retaliation.
Klaaang!
Unexpectedly, instead of rending flesh, metal clashed. Kadim narrowed his eyes and scanned the enemy.
Iron shield etched with tree patterns, full plate armor encasing the body. Dull, vacant eyes dangling from the helmet slit. The arm not holding the shield was replaced by an insectile thoracic leg covered in chitin.
Definitely one of the missing scouts.
"Pro, protect Lady Mesetis, Me-Mesetis Lady..."
It flailed insect legs while babbling nonsense, but its essence was human. Innocently ensnared by the demon's sorcery. Killing the demon would surely free it.
Yet Kadim didn't hesitate to slaughter.
Splaaaatteraaaack, kwaaaang!
"Gaaaaaaaah!!"
The returning salmon pierced the iron plating, mashing the soldier's sternum and heart into pulp.
Leaving these alive could create unforeseen variables in the fight with the demon. No need to kill those who didn't need killing, but no reason to spare those charging to kill him either.
Never leave future troubles behind. Kadim's principle remained ironclad. Even the slightest lapse could become a noose around his neck later. Mercy for enemies could wait until after he'd split their skulls.
"Lady Mesetis!!"
"Pro, protect Lady Mesetis!!"
"Gaaaaaaaah!!!"
To the demon-possessed soldiers, Kadim gladly bestowed blood and death in equal measure.
Somewhere in the forest, a clearing ringed by ancient tree trunks as pillars.
Pinkish glowing orbs floated like fireflies, illuminating the pre-dawn gloom. Unlike the fog-choked elsewhere, visibility was clear here. But the unique stench—like perfume mixed with filth—was thicker and more toxic than anywhere.
At the center stood a massive stump. Twisted vines and bugs formed armrests, a parasitic tree the backrest, resembling a throne for the forest's lord.
A woman akin to a radiant spring day lounged there.
Her pale pink hair cascaded like waves of petals. Beneath delicate lashes, deep eyes gleamed dreamily. A smooth nose led to plump crimson lips, contrasting her clear skin's healthy glow.
She wore faded platinum silk like a robe. Though unkempt, on her curvaceous form, it looked like a tailor's masterpiece dress. The hem draped long past the stump, and the men at her feet gulped hungrily, yearning to grasp even that.
She propped her elbow on the armrest, leaning languidly. Countless bugs crushed beneath, yet others crawled toward her heedless. Before her knelt rows of minions craving only her attention and favor.
With a light nod, she beckoned one to rise.
The chosen was once a Goltaran centurion. He stood with joy several times greater than any promotion. Thorned maggots wriggled, other monsters' eyes gleamed with envy, soldiers ground their teeth—countless jealous glares stabbed his back.
The woman asked the man in a seductive tone,
"What do you desire?"
"...Pardon?"
"You must want something from me. Say it."
"......"
After fumbling like a bashful boy, the centurion confessed he wanted to kiss the back of her hand. She covered her mouth, bursting into clear laughter, then curved her lips into a sly crescent smile.
"Very well, I permit it."
"R-really?"
"But in exchange, cut off your right arm and give it to me. Not a difficult request, is it?"
The centurion grinned ear-to-ear and nodded.
"Yes, gladly."
He drew the dagger from his belt and immediately plunged it deep into his shoulder.
Stab! Squish, squish -
Along with severing tough muscle bundles, bright red blood gushed forth. He managed muscle and tendons somehow, but lacked strength for bone and joint. Like hammering a chisel, he jammed the dagger upright in his shoulder and pounded the hilt with rocks—thunk, thunk, thunk. When the joint shredded, he twisted with a crunch, and the arm finally came free.
"Here, Lady Mesetis..."
He offered the barely severed arm. Despite pain that could fell him any second, his face shone with ecstatic anticipation.
But the woman looked displeased. She glanced over the arm and tossed it casually to the ground.
"I'm disappointed. Not much muscle, thin bones—it's worthless. Can't keep my promise with this."
The centurion's eyes trembled violently. He slammed his forehead into a rock, bowing low.
"Forgive my disappointment, Lady Mesetis! B-but I still have my left arm! Please, grant me the chance to offer that too..."
"No need. If the right's this pathetic, the left's no better. Return to your place? I need to give others a chance too."
"......"
The centurion staggered back to his spot. Other minions snickered mockingly. Thorned maggots gnawed the discarded arm with hook-like maws.
Similar scenes continued.
She summoned minions, demanding limbs. They obeyed gladly. Those offering good ones earned their wish. Failures lost limbs for nothing. Amid rising blood reek, her single words sent minions between heaven and hell.
As limbs piled beside the stump, a fluttering butterfly alighted by her ear.
The butterfly whispered unintelligible words. Her refined brow furrowed slightly.
"...All the ones I sent out are dead?"
- ....
"Hmm, easy enough to replace... but something's off. They weren't few in number... Did other demons invade?"
- ....
"...Not demons, but a single human male? How hasn't he fallen to me yet?"
- ....
"Sigh... Must be a boy with strong willpower... Does he have good arms and legs, then?"
- ....
Hearing the butterfly's reply, she smiled slyly. She parted the silk at her bosom languidly and murmured,
"My dears, I've found something I really want."
The minions' eyes burned with resolve, as if they'd pluck the sun for her.
As she propped her chin, two horns hidden at her temples fully revealed themselves.