The Hero's Party (4)
Thwack!
Thud!
Crash!
I put snap into my wrist and broke the rhythm of the blows with deliberate force. The water-soaked scabbard slapped wetly against the demon's flesh and stuck; the metal fittings tore free chunks of swollen meat, and blood welled up in their wake. The demon lay sprawled on the ground, sniffling and begging for his life.
"P-please spare me…! I-I'll do anything…!"
"Finally, we're speaking the same language."
I smiled with genuine pleasure at the sight of Bloody Veles, covered in blood, suddenly so eager to talk. I shook the scabbard once against the ground, then dunked it deep in the stream to rinse the blood away. The stink of rotting moss clung to the leather, but it was still better than the reek of blood.
"Listen carefully, demon. From this moment on, you're coming with me to the village. At the entrance, you will challenge the Hero. Understood?"
"Th-that… that would kill me…"
Bloody Veles. The demon infamous for taking human captives and slicing them, little by little, into paper-thin strips of jerky. And now that same creature was afraid of dying. I found the whole thing almost too ridiculous to believe. I picked up a sword that had fallen nearby and smashed it against a rock. The blade crumpled at a weird angle until it looked more like a saw than a sword.
Still holding that ruined edge, I seized Veles's hand and began to saw the broken steel across his flesh the way a man might draw a bow across a violin. His waterlogged, durability-free meat simply mashed and tore wherever I dragged the blade.
"Gyaaaaaah! Aaaaaah! I-I'll go! Please spare me! Aaaaaah!"
"I already know a little blood loss won't kill you. Refuse to do as I say and I'll keep you company right here until morning."
"I'm going! I said I'm going! Aaaaaaaaah!"
Only after that enthusiastic promise of cooperation did I toss the sword aside again. Besides Bloody Veles, three more demons were still alive in the area—ones I had deliberately left breathing after breaking only one limb each, because I still had use for them. They had blue skin and looked half-starved, as if they ate only once a day.
I pointed at them with the scabbard.
"You three follow me. Clear?"
"Y-yes, sir!"
Having watched with their own eyes exactly what had happened to Bloody Veles, the demons answered in voices that were suddenly obedient and loyal. Satisfied, I rose. The sun had not yet risen, but we needed to move quickly.
I grabbed Veles by the hair, hauled him upright, and kicked him hard in the backside.
"Move! We're short on time! Stall and I'll start the beating all over again from the beginning!"
"Hic…! Sob…! Y-yes, sir…!"
Tears streaming, the demon began to stumble down the mountain. I herded the three trembling survivors along a different path and started down as well.
"Demon! A demon's appeared!"
From early morning the village was in an uproar. In the lodging near the gate, the Hero scratched his head and pushed himself upright. Lena, who had already been prowling the streets at that hour, grabbed a soldier who was running around shouting and demanded an explanation.
"What? What's going on?"
"A demon came down! That one! Bloody Veles! The terrifying bastard himself came down the mountain!"
"What?"
Lena scratched her head and started walking toward the village entrance. The Hero, who had thrown on his gear the moment he heard a demon had appeared, could not understand why the creature would leave the mountain path at all. Hadn't he been ordered to cut the supply line? Shouldn't he still be blocking the trail?
Ashuria seemed to share the exact same doubt.
"He's suspicious, Hero. He may be hatching some strange scheme. We should be careful."
"Got it, Ashuria. Where are Mille and the old man?"
"Mille is already up and getting ready. As for the porter, we can wake him later, can't we? If a fight breaks out at the gate, a civilian is better off staying in the lodging. The situation is urgent—let's deal with the demon first and tell him afterward."
"That makes sense."
"Hero! I'm ready too!"
The moment Mille appeared with her bow, the Hero's party formed up for battle. Mille climbed the watchtower. Lena vaulted the fence, took a wide detour around the gate, and settled into position behind the enemy. The Hero and Ashuria blocked the entrance itself and waited for the approach.
"Heh-heh-heh-heh…! Heh-heh…!"
The demon's laughter sounded more like sobbing, and every time he drew nearer the stench of blood thickened. The Hero frowned.
"How many people has he killed already for the blood-smell to be this strong? What a disgusting creature."
"Opportunities like this don't come often. Let's capture him alive if we can and hand him over to the unit."
"I'm nervous. This is the first time I've fought a named subordinate of the Demon King's army. I wonder how strong he is…"
Ashuria gently patted the Hero's shoulder and smiled.
"It's all right. Commanders who get posted to backwaters like this are only mid-rank monsters at best. Think of him as a clever ogre."
"Thanks, Ashuria. For the encouragement."
The Hero took her hand as he spoke. Ashuria looked down at the hand that held hers so tightly, her eyes rough with emotion, and smiled in pure rapture.
"You may lean on me even more, if you wish."
"Here he comes!"
Mille's voice shattered the heated atmosphere. Both the Hero and Ashuria snapped back to readiness and settled into stance.
"Heh-heh-heh-hic…! Heuuugh…!"
The weeping grew louder, and the silhouette in the shadows finally resolved into a clear shape. The Hero shouted before the demon could open his mouth.
"Are you Bloody Veles?"
"I am…! Ugh…! Heh-heh-hic…!"
The moment his form became visible, every tense person present lost the power of speech. His face was swollen like a beehive from the beating; one arm hung in shredded tatters from sword cuts. Blood streamed freely down his entire body, and he was so badly injured that flies had already begun to gather on him.
"…He really is bloody, just like the name. Is he undead?"
"P-please spare me…! It hurts so much…!"
Veles shook his head, stretched a hand toward the Hero, and begged. There was not a scrap of fighting spirit left in him; even the Hero was so flustered he could only look to Ashuria. She answered in a cold, flat tone.
"Hero. Demons like that specialize in disguising their true nature and deceiving others. Do not fall for his trick."
"I-I'm telling the truth…! Please treat me…! I-I'm so cold and it hurts…! I won't do bad things anymore…! Hic…!"
Veles dropped to his knees and began to plead. The Hero stared at him with an awkward expression. Ashuria shot a glance toward Lena waiting in the trees behind, then sank to her own knees on the ground. She offered Veles a gentle, merciful smile and beckoned him closer.
"If you insist that much, I suppose we have no choice. I'll bandage you. You must have been in terrible pain."
Veles's eyes went round; even he could hardly believe the words that had just left his own mouth.
"I-I'm…! A demon…! A-are you really…! Going to treat me?"
"Of course. Come now. Let's get you treated."
Tears spilled down Veles's cheeks. The instant he took one bright, smiling step forward, Mille shouted to the Hero.
"Hero! Suspicious people on the left!"
"The left?"
The Hero's head turned. In that same heartbeat Ashuria's eyes sharpened; she gave a tiny nod. Lena appeared behind Veles like a bolt of lightning and drove her dagger into his side.
"Guh…! Uuugh!"
Veles reeled from the shock of the blade. Mille's arrow found the hand he was flailing through the air and punched clean through it. With a sharp whistle of air the hand burst like a rubber balloon; Veles howled in agony.
"Waaaaaaaaah! Wh-why…! Whyyyy…!"
"Shut your insolent mouth! Trying to ambush the Hero the moment he looked away! I knew a demon could never be trusted! Take this! Light of Judgment!"
Ashuria formed a V with her fingers and thrust her hand forward. Holy power gathered at the tips; she drove them straight into Veles's eyes.
"Guoooooooooh!"
His eyes burned black. He collapsed. Lena bound his arms and legs tightly. The Hero could only look around in bewilderment. Ashuria slipped into his arms and whispered.
"Hero. That wicked demon just tried to attack you. To exploit our goodwill like that—what a cunning creature."
The Hero started, stared at her, then pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Th-that…! If it hadn't been for you, Ashuria, it would have been a disaster."
"Hero! Hero! I helped too!"
Mille came running and squeezed herself between them, hugging just as hard. The Hero wrapped an arm around her as well and showed his gratitude.
"Thank you, Ashuria."
Ashuria grinned and whispered against him.
"Yes, Hero. You must never trust demons like that. You should trust only us. Lean on me. Hero."
Mille beamed and hugged him tighter.
"That's right, Hero. Lean on us. Everything's better when you're with us."
Lena silently finished tying the ropes. Veles could only mutter through bloody tears.
"Aaaah…! You vicious bastards…! T-to deceive me…!"
"Says the pervert who tortures people to death."
Lena ignored the scream and rolled him over with her foot. The guards who caught the tumbling demon could only stare with half-believing eyes at the creature that had rolled right up to their outpost. Lena scratched her head and muttered to herself.
"The old man'll be happy. Looks like we can stay another day at least."
Then she hummed a little tune and walked back toward the lodging.