Every living creature that existed on this land possessed a life force called ‘Ether’. Dark Magic was a powerful force that contaminated and altered that ether, and any living being with ether was greatly affected by this Dark Magic.
Furthermore, since Dark Magic was especially potent in the Void, Deus, who had spent a long time in the Void, was in a state where both his body and mind were seriously affected by Dark Magic.
‘Since I purified such a large amount of Dark Magic all at once, it’s no wonder I’m in bad shape.’
Deus frowned as he pressed his hand against the forehead of the soundly sleeping Ash. Even though Ash’s weak body normally always ran a slight fever, now he was burning up incomparably worse than before. The answer Ash had given to his question about why he wanted to summon the Primordial Evil came to mind.
<I’m terminally ill. And my condition is getting progressively worse. The doctor said I wouldn’t even live a full year.>
In truth, supernatural abilities weren’t powers that could be used infinitely. There were constitutions like his own or Kiss’s that didn’t wear down one’s life force no matter how much they were used, but those were very rare cases.
Normally, life force was consumed as much as one used their abilities, and it was common for life force to be consumed so greatly that it threatened one’s life. Strength entered Deus’s hands as he held Ash.
“So it’s a case where lifespan is consumed as much as the ability is used.”
Ash’s narrow chest rose and fell rapidly. His breathing was much shallower than usual. It seemed his body had been greatly strained from suddenly using his ability so much. Deus, who had been sighing, ground his teeth with a crunch.
If I’d known this would happen, I should have tortured him more before killing him. He couldn’t shake the thought that he’d let Narikeh die too easily. Deus quietly swallowed his anger inside and lifted Ash into his arms.
If he were alone it would be one thing, but climbing up through that high hole while carrying Ash on his back was dangerous in many ways. He had no choice but to either find an exit from inside here or wait until the investigation team sent by the Imperial Family arrived.
Just as he was lost in thought, Ash, who had been lying still in his arms, stirred. His face, wrinkled in apparent distress, was already drenched in cold sweat. Deus, who had hesitated, tightly embraced Ash as he burrowed into his arms.
“Ugh…”
“I know, it’s hard. Just hang in there a little longer. Your husband is right here.”
In a situation where the Guardians had begun appearing throughout the Empire, perhaps Ash was the only being who could save those poisoned by Dark Magic. But even so, it didn’t matter.
Now that he’d realized that the more that power was used, the more Ash’s life force decreased, Deus intended to hide Ash’s purification ability by any means necessary. He didn’t care if hundreds—no, thousands—died because of that choice. Because in the first place, if Ash didn’t exist, there was no reason to maintain this world either.
“E-excuse me…”
At the thin voice coming from behind him, Deus slowly turned his head. Narsheh, who he didn’t know when she’d appeared, was trembling as she looked at him. Deus, who had been quietly staring at her face that was the spitting image of Narikeh’s, opened his mouth in a dry voice.
“If you want revenge, can’t you do it later? My wife isn’t in good condition right now.”
“N-no. It’s not that. I’m… worried about him…”
“Worried? Who are you to worry about anyone?”
At Deus’s atmosphere that had turned vicious in an instant, Narsheh flinched. With both hands clasped together, Narsheh, who had been forcibly suppressing the fear rising within her, hesitantly opened her mouth.
“I-I’ve been collecting the corpses of the women who fell here all this time. No one told me to, but I felt like I should…”
“…”
“So I know the way out of here. And since he helped me when I was injured too, I-I want to help as well.”
Unlike her frightened face, worry was evident in her voice. Deus, who had been looking at the anxious Narsheh indifferently, nodded his head.
Narsheh’s expression brightened considerably as she turned and took the lead. Suspicion filled the face of Deus as he obediently followed behind her.
‘If she shows even the slightest suspicious sign, I’ll kill her immediately.’
Deus’s hands supporting Ash trembled finely. The name of this emotion, which he had never experienced even once when subjugating monsters alone, was certainly anxiety.
Ash was different from him. He got hurt and sick too easily. Even just knowing he’d been captured by Narikeh had felt like his blood was drying up, and now that he’d finally gotten him back, he was burning with fever as if his breath might stop at any moment. Deus, who had easily manipulated and used any situation until now, was simply bewildered by Ash who wouldn’t move according to his intentions.
What on earth was he thinking, kissing Narikeh there? If he had been just a little late, Narikeh would surely have pointed to Ash as the cause of his worsening condition. Then this time, he really might have lost his life. He couldn’t understand what Ash trusted to act so bravely.
‘And I can’t just crush him either…’
If it were up to his temperament, he’d want to lock him up so he couldn’t even go outside, but if he did that, Ash would cry and throw a tantrum again, so he couldn’t do that either.
Deus, who had been looking at the soundly sleeping Ash, lightly pinched his small nostrils as if punishing him. As soon as he saw the face squirming in apparent distress as his airway was blocked, his irritated feelings melted away gently. Narsheh’s eyes widened as she unconsciously turned her head at Ash’s groaning.
“E-excuse me…”
“Don’t worry about this side and keep walking.”
“No, that’s not it… You’re, you’re bleeding…”
Narsheh pointed at the floor. It was because bloodstains were trailing long along the path Deus had walked.
Belatedly recalling the injury he’d received in the battle with Narikeh and checking the wound briefly, Deus clicked his tongue. Since the organs rather than skin tissue had been damaged, it seemed it would take some time to fully regenerate. Looking at Narsheh who had frozen in shock, Deus said as if annoyed.
“If you noticed, hurry up and walk. Because it hurts like hell.”
* * *
Fortunately, following Narsheh’s guidance, Deus was able to return to the village safely. However, the village’s scenery was different from its previously peaceful state.
The Ant Tribe, having lost their leader in an instant, was in a state of great confusion. It was because the control pheromones that had been dominating their minds under Narikeh had all drained out at once. Narsheh, who had been watching the Ant Tribe moving busily here and there, quietly added.
“I’m sorry. As you can see, the village is in chaos right now, so we don’t have the luxury of providing you with good lodging. All we have are the cabins where the villagers live…”
“Anywhere is fine. As long as it’s warm and has a door that locks properly.”
The passages connected to the ant tunnels were complicated. Even if it was an investigation team dispatched by the Imperial Family, it would clearly take quite a while for them to arrive. That’s why he first wanted to lay Ash down in a warm room and let him rest.
At Deus’s answer, Narsheh, who had been nodding, stopped in front of a shabby民家.
“Pariya, are you inside by any chance?”
When Narsheh knocked on the door and called out, the tightly closed door opened with a ‘clunk’. After explaining the situation to the woman who came out from inside, Narsheh let out a sigh of relief and said.
“She says it’s fine to stay in an empty cabin for about one night. However, she’s asking if it’s okay that there are many young children in the house…”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Deus, who had finished answering indifferently, crossed the threshold. Upon entering the house, just as the woman had said, children with eyes full of curiosity were swarming everywhere.
At the children’s behavior of pulling at his sleeves as if Ash hanging limply was fascinating, Deus made a ‘tsk’ sound. Startled by that sound, the children all scattered and hid elsewhere. Pariya, who had been talking with Narsheh, approached with an awkward voice and said.
“I’m sorry to keep you waiting. Please come this way.”
“…”
“What about meals? Should I prepare something?”
“No, just bring bandages and a wet cloth. Even better if you have herbs that can bring down a fever.”
Pariya nodded and took the lead. Following her guidance into the cabin, Deus looked around. Compared to the bedroom he’d been staying in before, both the sanitary conditions and the bed were utterly shabby, but still, he liked the warmth heating the room. After laying Ash down on the bed, he took off the top he’d been wearing. The severely gaping wound above his side came into view.
‘What a shame. If Ash were fine, I would have forced him to stick his hand in here.’
Deus smacked his lips regretfully. Actually, a wound of this degree wasn’t common. It was because he always killed his opponent before receiving any injury.
That’s why the emotion Deus felt while looking at his own wound wasn’t pain but regret. He wanted to force Ash’s hand into the gap of this wide-open wound and have him knead his organs.
It would feel incredibly good if he could forcibly coax Ash, who would faint saying it was disgusting, into kneading his organs like a cock. Ash, who hadn’t noticed the sinister gaze fixed on him, stirred. Deus’s ominous gaze soon fixed on the white nape of his neck glistening with sweat.
Knock knock.
Just as he was thoroughly teasing Ash in his mind, someone knocked on the door from outside.
