A Creature Merely Born and Abandoned
Late evening, near the fountain bench. I was planted here, waiting for Silvia. No appointment, of course. I'd always run into her if I hung around this spot at this hour, so I just waited.
Tap tap tap. I spotted a familiar little shadow darting into the dark alley through the gloom. No massive backpack on her back like usual, but the sky-blue hair catching the faint moonlight was plenty to ID her.
“Sil…!”
“Uncle Jax!”
“Ah… Saintess. You're here again today.”
Her excited voice made me clamp my mouth shut before I could call out. First time seeing her chat so cheerfully with someone who wasn't me—curiosity piqued. The only others I'd caught her talking to were the Pope, the marquis, and Alicia.
“Was it Giselle? How's that little tyke doing?”
“Thanks to you, Saintess, she's fit as a fiddle. She'd scream she's a whole year older if she heard you call her a kid, though.”
“Pfft. Still looks like a kid to me?”
She could even toss around dumb jokes like that. No wonder she insisted on sticking around this place. The slums. Where the weakest folks huddled. Silvia wasn't staying at the temple just because they believed in her—she wanted to protect the people who believed in her.
Guess that means scrapping the plan to drag her off by force.
I might be torn between Demon King and human identities, but I hadn't lost my humanity enough to trample that kid's noble resolve. Regrettable, but taking Silvia to demon lands? Full revision needed.
“When's the Saintess coming? She is coming, right?”
If not for that voice from somewhere. Distant, but channeling mana into my ears made it crystal clear, like it was right next to me.
“Jax, was it? He swore she trusts him like iron, said he'd drag her right here.”
“Heh. Easy to handle those beggar types. Slip 'em a few coins, and they ditch their benefactor.”
“Benefactor? These guys can barely afford scraps—where's the loyalty? Money talks, they sell out the Saintess or whatever.”
“True. He came whining first about her sneaking to the slums every night. Pope was pissed yesterday over it.”
“Beat her again?”
“Obviously. Pope thinks he's hiding it, but everyone knows he's been abusing her for two years—open secret among us knights and priests.”
Grind. My teeth ground on instinct.
Pope abusing Silvia? I'd seen how he treated her at the temple earlier—no shock there. Knights gossiping about her? After what I'd witnessed with Lai and Alicia, par for the course.
But “What was it? No sick folks left in the slums, her visits are a hassle now—make her stop?”
“Classic use-and-discard. Trash.”
The rage boiled up. The people Silvia wanted to protect, the ones she trusted most—they'd betrayed her. She'd endured hell to look after them, and they sold her out for pocket change. Disillusionment with humanity hit hard.
Still watching Silvia and Jax, I leaped high onto a rooftop and bolted toward the voices. Felt like my body moved on autopilot, like in the booze warehouse, but no time to dwell. My head was full of one thing: make sure Silvia didn't get hurt.
Playing the villain? Fine by me. Not used to it, really, but if villainy shielded her pure heart, I'd do it a thousand times over. Hit the target spot thinking that.
Below: two guys in black uniforms, white cloaks embroidered with golden crosses. Holy knights from the temple, per the chatter.
Thud! No hesitation—I dropped right on them.
“Saintess, remember the first time you snuck out of the temple?”
“Of course! Uncle Jax was gonna scold me.”
Silvia's voice echoed nearby now. Didn't want to show the kid violence, rushed for nothing—too late. Old me would've frozen, but midair with no turning back, and villain mode locked in? No pause.
“Told you a kid like you wandering late could end bad, right?”
“Yeah, I remem—”
BOOM!
Dove from the roof, slamming my left foot into one guy's face. Used his head as a springboard to knee the other in the mug. Locked eyes with Silvia mid-motion.
Landed, faced her wide sky-blue eyes, clueless on what just went down.
“Silvia. Come with me. No choice.”
Tonight, I, Demon King Cluster Versilver, was kidnapping the Saintess.
***
The gruesome scene froze Silvia's mind. Demon King said something approaching, but sound vanished.
“H-Hiiik! G-Get closer and I, I'll kill her!”
Jax beside her looped an arm around her neck, yanked a dagger from his pocket. Pressed it naturally to her throat.
The cold blade snapped her back.
“U-Uncle Jax?”
“S-Stay still.”
Gripping tight to not drop it, the blade nicked her pale neck. Her white saintess robes bloomed red.
“D-Don't come closer! W-Wanna see this bitch d-die?”
Two crushed skulls, blood-soaked alley. Demon King in the middle, prime suspect. First time seeing Jax feral, Silvia panicked—but the scene explained it.
Step step.
Despite Jax's threats, Demon King advanced. Silvia watched, then spoke. No point persuading that look—switched to a plea. Worried for trembling Jax, wanted him out of there at least.
“Cluster Uncle, Uncle Jax did nothing wron—”
Thud.
“Uncle Jax?”
He dropped to his knees mid-sentence.
“Sp-Spare me, m'lord. I-I'm sorry.”
“Y-Yeah! Uncle Jax did nothing wrong, get up! Right, Cluster Uncle? You know he didn't do anything?”
“J-Just spare me, I'll do anythin'. Truly sorry. Th-This is all the money I got.”
On knees, Jax crawled to Demon King.
Clink clink.
Two gold coins hit the ground—from Jax's pocket.
Silvia knew: Jax had no such cash. So where'd it come from? Why grovel?
His words flashed: Thanks to you, Saintess, no more sick, and we can earn money now.
Earning money. Temple knight corpses in uniform. Little knowledge, but sharp—Silvia pieced it.
Legs buckled; she staggered to the wall, slumped.
Jax bolted past her.
“Ah… Aah…”
Tears flowed, memories surged.
Sold for 1 gold as sacrifice. Parents grinning with coin, ignoring her in the cage-cart.
Altar moment. Poison vial to lips, golden sigils in air.
Appointed Saintess.
Pope's beatings: bloody nose, broken teeth.
She'd wanted to flee Hollidral forever. Could if she tried. But couldn't leave. These alley folk believed in her, needed her. Pitied them without her care. Joy in being wanted.
Stared at the two gold coins.
“I see… I'm… abandoned again…”
Reason to live like this? Dragged by unwanted fate? No one wants me—reason to live?
“Merely a creature born and left behind.”
Song lyric surfaced. Defined her lot.
“Kid like you spouting chuunibyou crap?”
Plop. Warmth on her head.
“No need to live dragged by unwanted fate, right?”
Warm hand's owner bent, eye level.
“Silvia. You have a story you want, too.”
“A story… I want…”
Warmth lifted, offered hand.
“Come with me. I'll help you write it.”
Eyes met, hand grasped, smile. In Demon King's warmth, Silvia,
“I don't have any story I want. Ehehhe.”
just laughed.