Demon King (3)
My first night in Istius was uncomfortable. Sleeping on stone floors always does this to you, huh. I wish I could get used to it a little.
Adelaide sat beside me. Her eyes were bloodshot. Had she not slept? Or couldn't she?
“Sleep well, Adel?”
“……Yes.”
“Yes? Good girl. You're so pretty.”
“……Isn't that what you wanted?”
“Yeah. But it's still awkward. I wish you'd make it more natural.”
I stretched and glanced around. For a big city, even early morning brought distant clamor from afar.
Or maybe the NPCs were just that diligent.
“I'm hungry.”
“……There's leftover porridge from earlier—”
“That's not breakfast material. I want something proper.”
“We have no money.”
“So?”
“…….”
“Kidding. Should we beg like yesterday?”
“……It's called charity.”
“Same difference.”
Adelaide furrowed her brow slightly but said no more.
Good girl. She'd been keeping her mouth shut more lately. I roughly swept up my hair and stood.
“Let's just sightsee. Food later.”
“……Understood.”
As we walked, I scanned the city. Istius had way more to see than I'd felt last night. Markets bustling with trade, quest posters plastered on walls. Even the patrolling soldiers in armor looked decent.
“Oh, those apples? They look a bit different.”
“……In this region, they're called carmine.”
“Carmine? Sounds fancy. How do they taste?”
“……No idea. Never tried one.”
“Come on, how can you know nothing about that?”
“……I'm a knight, not a foodie.”
“Knights don't eat apples?”
“Carmine.”
“Same thing, right?”
“No.”
We bickered on as we passed. I had money from the corpses, but no urge to spend it.
“Lots of soldiers around.”
“……As I said, Istius is the front line. Bound to have heavy troops.”
“How many?”
“Hundreds to thousands garrisoned at all times. Plus a knight order branch here.”
“Hmm, interesting.”
“Not interesting…… Don't do anything reckless.”
“I know, I know. Don't worry. Still sightseeing, for now.”
For now.
That one word made Adelaide turn her face slightly. Her eyes flicked to me, uneasy.
“What're you looking at?”
“……Nothing.”
“Really? Just wanted to stare, huh.”
“……As if.”
“Yeah, I know. Joke.”
We walked more. Leaving the main streets, alleys narrowed. The bustling glamour faded; backstreets oozed gloom.
A scene I'd seen a hundred times. In games, here—alleys like this always felt the same.
“This place sucks. Let's head back—”
“Why? It's fun.”
“What's fun about it?”
“The vibe…… Feels familiar.”
“……Familiar sounds scarier.”
Adelaide followed, eyes scanning. Her ingrained wariness. Even mana-less, a Swordmaster's senses stayed sharp.
And sure enough, her instincts were right.
“Hey, ladies.”
Shadows emerged at the alley's end. Three burly men, ugly mugs, swords at their belts. For mere thug NPCs, they were armed decently.
“This alley's got a toll, y'know? Pretty faces, nice bodies…… We can take other payment.”
The leader grinned as he approached.
My heart fluttered. Top of the lines I'd always wanted to hear.
Couldn't in the first village—protagonist got in the way. Second town…… Small city, saint worship kept these NPCs away.
“Adel.”
“……What.”
“Hear the NPCs?”
“……Yes.”
“What should we do?”
“……Turn back.”
“Turn back? Lame.”
Footsteps behind too. Two more blocked the exit.
Total five.
“Come nice when we ask nice.”
“Nice?”
“Yeah, miss. Just follow, won't hurt ya—”
“Follow and you buy dinner?”
I quipped smiling; they burst laughing.
“Kuhahaha……! Ballsy one.”
“Play a bit then sell her?”
“I'm in. No marks though. Lowers the price.”
“Hear that, Adel? Just a little fun.”
“……Master.”
Adelaide whispered low from behind.
“Dangerous. Back-alley gangs—”
“So?”
“Please, no commotion—”
“Too late for that?”
A man grabbed my arm. Skin on skin.
Ah.
Gross.
“Let go?”
“What? Haha, feisty. I like—”
Before he finished, shadow sliced his arm. Clean below the elbow. White bone gleamed in the stump.
“GAAAAAAAAH—!!”
He collapsed screaming. The other four froze. Blood pooled; severed wrist rolled.
Then they drew blades.
“Wh-what the……!”
“M-mage!”
“Told ya not to touch.”
Shadow split one's thigh vertical. Shredded another's shoulder. The last two turned to flee—ankles severed, faces met pavement.
“KAAAH—!!!”
“Agh, AAH, my arm……!”
“Ugh, UAAAA……!!!”
NPCs writhed, blood-soaked, some banging foreheads begging.
“Mercy…… Take all the money……!”
I looked down at them.
Predictable. Same lines. Excluding protagonist and Adelaide, always: mercy, anything, hate me, etc.
“Disappointing.”
“Hah, haa……! P-please……”
“Got nothing new? Same shit every time, boring.”
“M-mer—”
Shadow coiled one's throat. Snap. Neck broke; dead.
“UAAAAA—!!”
“No, no no—!!”
Screams. More screams.
Didn't take long for the rest. Leader I spared longer, but bled out on his own.
Boring. Looks differ, deaths same. Proof they're NPCs, right?
Alley of carnage. I smirked at blood on my hands.
“Boring for you too, Adel?”
I turned.
Adelaide pressed against the wall, frozen. Sweat trailed her jaw—terror-struck.
Thought she was massacre-proof. Guess not yet.
Bloody hand stroked her cheek, then gripped her collar.
“Ugh……!”
“Adel, Adel…… Our pretty Adelaide.”
“……M-master.”
“Beg for mercy like them. Go on?”
“…….”
“Why? Can't?”
“……Won't.”
Adelaide stared straight. Trembling transmitted through my hand, but those black eyes glared venom.
No begging. No kneeling. Unlike NPCs vomiting pleas.
“……Kill me then.”
“Haha…….”
“Bark if you want. But not that……”
No mercy plea. Her last line in the sand.
I tightened on her collar—
“Haha.”
Then released.
Laughter bubbled. Felt good. Rare sensation.
“Yeah, that's the look.”
I swept her bangs. Blue strands revealed pale forehead.
“You're a little different after all.”
“…….”
“Other NPCs all same. Mercy, anything…… Hate you…… Nearly died of boredom.”
“……Is that praise?”
“If not?”
“…….”
“Means our Adel's special. Good thing, right?”
Adelaide dropped her gaze. Lips moved at bloodstain on her collar, then stilled.
“Staying'll draw trouble. No cleanup, so let's go.”
“……Where.”
“That temple earlier. There.”
“……Why?”
“Don't wanna pray? Your praying yesterday was fun.”
“First…… Wash up. Suspicious if seen.”
“Hmm? Worried for me? Touching, Adel.”
I patted her cheek lightly twice.
She glanced at the sprawled corpses. No closed eyes, no prayers.
I liked that. A lot.