Chapter 22
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Where the Heart Leads
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“Do you know why?”
“Probably those whose shameful memories are under attack. Not just unfulfilled dreams or hopes, but antisocial, immoral crimes. Or maybe their dirty little secrets getting exposed.”
“Exactly. Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is...”
“Follow your heart. Don't torment yourself with regrets later.”
“Hahaha!”
How old is this guy to laugh like that?
I figured I'd get used to it if I didn't look at his face, but that youthful male voice cackling away was starting to grate on me.
Not that it was actually bothering me or anything.
It was just like watching an idol singer with zero acting chops deliver a melodramatic performance... On second thought, yeah, it is unpleasant.
“Regret, huh.”
“Regret and lingering attachments are seeds that lead straight to heart demons. Even without a dream demon dropping by, they'll leave scars.”
Cough. Hack. Ptooey!
Requiya hacked up phlegm like some old geezer with tuberculosis.
“This is advice sworn on a demon's honor, so you can trust it.”
Cough. Kweeeh!Ptui!
Should I trust a guy who hawks loogies while invoking his honor?
Demon's honor just makes it less trustworthy.
“I won't leave any.”
I abruptly veered left in a valley where the ridgeline tapered off, abandoning my eastward path.
“Guess I'll at least watch from afar.”
“I'll follow.”
Terrified as I was, my steps grew lighter and quicker. Must be because I was finally following my heart.
We looked like a pair of merchants, humped under massive backpacks and prodding the ground with sturdy walking sticks.
Even if the knights spotted us, no one would suspect our true identities.
“Better stash the cloak in the backpack.”
“Hahaha, wise choice.”
Luke's sole remaining possession.
The deep blue mantle was embroidered with a girl in a pure white mini-dress.
Not your everyday cloak, that was for sure.
It could draw suspicion just because of the cloak.
I started to fold it away but paused to admire the girl for a moment.
A girl with dozens of white wings on her back, eyes closed in prayer, hands clasped together. Oh, beautiful sister—
She was barefoot, her ankles shyly crossed.
No matter what, I have to protect this.
Protect it no matter what!
And the promise with Silver Star.
I stuffed the cloak into the pack and shouldered it again.
“Let's go.”
Let's go!
“I'll follow.”
We settled on a high cliff overlooking the waterfall.
Rumble-rumble-roar!
Thundering crash!
The plummeting torrent sounded like it could shatter the world, deafening my ears. Mist blurred my vision.
But with Blue Eye's aid and focused senses, I observed the scene without issue.
“The Holy Knight is masterful at concealing his power.”
I'd learned to hide my strength the hard way—in Luke's very body, no less.
He'd stressed it as a vital survival skill.
Hiding my power... and hiding Silver Star too...
Hidden! Go find Silver Star!
The aftermath had only deepened the chill permeating my body.
Like resting my chin on an ice block while breathing.
Requiya really has zero presence.
Turning at the unfair thought, I saw Requiya shrug.
“I have no aura to speak of. Demon talent. The bracelet actually made me seem more ordinary, but it exposed me too.”
Yeah, you're special.
One phrase—“demon talent”—explains it all. Demons are so damn convenient.
We kept our eyes glued to the waterfall and lake even as we chatted.
“Can you hear what the Red Dragon Knights are saying?”
I shook my head at Requiya's question.
The roar was too loud, and they were too far for voices to carry.
With my power restrained, I couldn't extend my senses further.
“That one's the guardian sacred beast, huh.”
I nodded at Requiya's words, gazing worriedly at Delma.
Wounds marred Delma's body here and there. Glossy crimson fluid coated its black hide.
At Delma's feet, the baby hippo flailed its mouth open and shut, squealing something like peep! peep!.
“What do you make of the situation?”
“The baby's a mutant. Looks like the hippos fought over it.”
Requiya knew the Eaar continent better than I did. A proper analysis was coming.
Until now, my lack of knowledge had held me back, but my insight rivaled anyone's.
I visualized the scene the moment Requiya spoke.
“Pack leaders are usually male. Same for hippos, probably. No idea why a female's guarding the sanctuary, but Delma wasn't the boss.”
Yet Delma had birthed a mutant.
The calf was silvery-white, unlike the others' black.
Did Luke bless the fetus in her womb or something? He mentioned channeling the Saintess's light divine power.
White energy flowing from Luke's hand into Delma's belly.
Couldn't be a coincidence.
Aha! Scene reconstruction!
Blue Eye sharpened, blurry images replaying.
Replaying the past of this space?
Protector's weak—can't go too far back!
Delma had fought to shield the calf from the males' assaults, taking wounds in the process.
Avoiding trampling the baby limited her movements, leaving her bitten and rammed.
Figures. They're attacking to drive the mutant out of the territory.
Delma couldn't counterattack aggressively either.
Not with the Red Dragon Knights lurking, waiting for an escape chance.
The knights signaled distant comrades by the lakeshore.
What a mess.
Delma stood alone in the heart of it, holding firm in isolation.
“She looks in danger. Those knights outside have some serious momentum too.”
“I need to help.”
“What's your plan? They're strong.”
“It's a hippo I'm connected to. There's one way I can assist.”
“Then count me in.”
“Obviously. There's something only you can do.”
I planned to borrow one of Requiya's abilities.
On the move, I'd heard demons had plenty of strategically useful talents.
Demons really were top-tier allies and aides.
“Can you brainwash the ones waiting by the waterfall? Make 'em charge between Delma and the other hippos.”
No need for more explanation.
If one ran, the others would follow, distracting the attacking hippos' attention.
I'd snatch the baby in the chaos.
Sure, I'd have to gesture with Delma in that brief window, but...
Requiya looked distinctly unenthused.
“Uh, that's tricky. If they were careless or excited, maybe, but they're hyper-focused right now. Plus, they're higher rank than me—success odds low even if careless. And too far away.”
Useless bastard.
“Succubi can't even cast dream curses if the target's mental barriers hold.”
All demons are incompetent.
The sun was setting.
No time to linger. I had to survive, which meant descending the mountain first.
Ideally, I'd take charge of everything, but that's a privilege for the elite few.
Live or die.
Eat or starve.
Do or endure.
Those in control choose; the powerless get choices forced on them.
Sorry I couldn't help, Delma.
No other ideas surfaced.
I'd decided to retreat and was rising when—
“Huh—?”
Requiya yelped.
I was stunned too.
The knights clashing spears inside the waterfall suddenly bolted out en masse.
Yeah, you're getting forced into a choice too.
One obvious reason for their move came to mind.
To avoid running into the incoming Holy Knights.
I wanted to watch longer, but something scarier than them was hunting my heart.
“We're done here. Let's go.”
“Yes...”
Requiya rose reluctantly, eyes fixed on the waterfall.
That's when it happened.
“Nice one! Mars!”
The lakeside knights were relatively close; their shouts reached the cliff.
“Hahaha! Run, Mars!”
“You're doing great!”
The lead escapee attempting to break out was named Mars, apparently.
Glaring at him, I couldn't help but grimace.
Tucked under that knight's arm was the baby hippo.
You son of a bitch...
Was it for his comrades trailing behind? Or just because it's a rare creature?
I wanted to believe the former.
Drawing the mother's focus so no one else became bait.
Noble sacrifice, but that's your problem.
These were the guys who'd tried to kill me, and my heart leaned toward Delma and her calf.
People move where their hearts pull them.
Unspeakable curses swirled in my mouth.
If the hippos join me, I'm safe for now. Snag the baby, return it to Delma, and bolt before the Holy Knights arrive.
Decision made, I sprinted off.
But someone beat me to it.
“You demon bastards!”
I stared speechless at Requiya's back as he charged ahead.
A demon who'd lost wife, kids, daughter-in-law, and grandkids to humans.
Requiya understood Delma's anguish best right now.
Thundering rush!
Earth-shaking pursuit!
Delma furiously chased the knights.
But she couldn't catch them.
A full-tilt Hellite hippo outran wild horses.
Yet these knights, free of sealing orbs and wielding mana, moved like gales.
And Delma was exhausted and wounded.
Red oil surged from her body with every stride.
Those disloyal pricks.
The other hippos ignored the knights fleeing the territory, merely watching from the water with eyes and nostrils above the surface.
Requiya skidded to a halt and bellowed like a lion.
“You filthier-than-demons bastards!”
The lakeside knights glanced up at the cliff.
No urge to curse him for drawing aggro needlessly. Impulsive, sure, but I got his feelings.
“Good job, Requiya.”
I patted the demon's shoulder once, maintaining speed.
Power surged to my legs.
Blue Eye's authority blazed azure.
Time-frozen sensation was familiar now.
Trapped like the rest, but my thoughts raced faster than theirs.
I kicked off the cliff with all my might, soaring.
Arms flung wide to balance midair.
Ah, Philip, ah, I can fly~.
What the—
Ah, ding-ding-ding-ding debut in France~.
Left leg extended back limp, right knee bent.
The eyes in the vanguard knight's helm—Mars, clutching the calf—widened in shock.
Take this! Sound Attack!
Is it nuts, for real?
Singing an attack makes it sound skill?!
Time resumed its pace.
SMACK!
“Guhk—!”
Kinetic clash of full-speed opposites.
Opposing momentum, plus body weight and backpack load—my knee nailed Mars's nose dead-on.
Shhhhrrrr—!
Splash.
Mars skidded across the snowy ground before plunging into the lake.
Hippos waiting in the water swam toward him.