‘They’re even controlling a demon.’
Van’s face grew serious.
“Wh-what do we do? Sir Knight?”
“…I’ll open a path, so escape with Master.”
“What? No way!”
“Master.”
Van looked at Rowy and shook his head firmly. Rowy, who was about to retort, closed his mouth upon seeing Van’s serious expression.
“Escape first. Then I’ll—”
“Haha, how funny. Who said they’d let you go?”
The man interjected with a laugh. In the meantime, the demon had come almost within arm’s reach.
“That bastard knows where the Holy Sword is. Catch him first!”
“Eek!”
The pointed-out guide shrieked and ran away. Van was startled and tried to grab the guide, but the guide was faster. …No, the demon was faster. An invisible force shot out in an instant and dragged the guide back with a swoosh.
“Aaaah! Please save me!”
The guide desperately reached out his hand. Rowy extended his hand toward the guide, but…
“It’s too late.”
Van shook his head. The guide, who had been clawing at the ground in meaningless resistance, had already reached right in front of the demon. The demon reached out its hand toward the guide.
“No, no! Hurk.”
The guide, who had been struggling to escape, lost consciousness and collapsed the moment the demon’s hand touched him.
“……”
Silence fell over the scene that had unfolded in an instant.
“…Is he dead?”
“No way! We have work for him to do.”
At Rowy’s question, the man interjected and spoke.
“Now, let’s stand him up and have him fetch the Holy Sword.”
The demon moved once more. When it exhaled toward the collapsed person, black smoke flowed out and seeped into the guide. And at that moment, the body of the fallen guide was forcibly raised by an unknown power. Then he began walking forward with creaking steps. As if moving his joints for the first time, he moved forward while bending in bizarre directions and returning—it was grotesque. It looked like he was being forcibly dragged along, threaded through invisible strings.
“What? What’s happening? Why is he like that? What did you do?”
Rowy exclaimed in agitation. Please just stay still… Van muttered, now almost giving up.
“Oh, it’s our big guy’s simple little trick!”
“What did you do?”
“If you’re curious, would you like to experience it yourself?”
“Don’t talk to that bastard. It’s dangerous.”
Van hid Rowy behind him and glared at the man.
“Oh my, the knight is scary. Well, we just need to take the Holy Sword. Now.”
When the man signaled once more, the guide’s speed increased abnormally. However, as if it were a side effect, blood began streaming from the guide’s eyes, nose, and mouth. Seeing this, Van’s expression hardened stiffly. …The situation wasn’t good.
‘I’m not sure if I can handle it barehanded.’
The demon’s power was stronger than expected. Van furrowed his brow. Demon hunting requires more preparation than one might think. A priest’s protective prayer, holy relics for purification and sealing, and the Holy Sword along with those who’ve been baptized. Facing a demon unprepared like this was the situation he most wanted to avoid. Especially when there was someone to protect… Van’s worries deepened.
“…Take the Holy Sword and let us go.”
Van made a decision. Though it bothered him to give the Holy Sword to a demon, this was the only way to protect Rowy.
‘I can search for the Holy Sword again later, but….’
He felt he absolutely couldn’t bear Rowy getting hurt. Van gritted his teeth. And then,
“No.”
The objection came from Rowy once again. Van clutched his dizzy head.
“No, Master! Right now, blood is pouring out! He collapsed! Didn’t you see? I’m telling you it’s dangerous!”
Van pointed at the bloodstains on the ground where the guide had passed, making a fuss. But Rowy just turned his head away sharply.
“Hah….”
It was maddening enough to make him want to bite someone. Van sighed heavily in frustration. At their conversation, which wasn’t funny at all, the man showed interest again.
“My lord sure is curious about many things?”
“Hm? How did you do it? Why is that person like that?”
“Please, I’ll explain it to you later. Let’s go for now. Yes?”
Van pleaded. Of course, Rowy didn’t even pretend to listen.
“It’s not mana…. What is this? I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere before….”
Rowy’s eyes gazing at the demon were hazy. Rowy was already completely entranced by the demon. If Van hadn’t been holding him, he would have immediately run over to touch it directly with his hands and made a fuss.
‘What is he trusting to be so fearless?’
Van held onto Rowy even tighter with a pale expression.
“He’s already back!”
Just then, the guide returned with the Holy Sword. The man received the sword from the guide, who was dripping blood. The cloth was removed, revealing a black blade.
“It’s definitely a Holy Sword!”
Van’s eyes lit up for a moment.
A Holy Sword. It had been a while since he’d seen a Holy Sword. If he rushed in now and snatched the sword… Van alone could definitely do it. However,
“But that sword is mine. I bought it.”
“Master!”
Because of this troublemaker who wouldn’t listen! Van shrieked and called out to Rowy.
“Oh, my lord. I’m sorry about this. But we really need this. You can buy another sword, can’t you? You’re a rich person.”
“I’m saying I want that one though?”
“Oh dear, what should we do. I’m not giving it to you.”
At those words, Rowy’s expression crumpled fiercely.
“You’re really annoying.”
“Please just stay still….”
“Let me go!”
Ugh, why is this so difficult, really. Van, whose face had aged ten years in an instant, pulled Rowy back again. In the meantime, the man who had passed the Holy Sword to someone else looked back at Rowy and Van again. Cold sweat streamed down Van’s back—he had thought they would naturally let them go now that they had the Holy Sword.
“Now then… it’s your turn.”
“You have the Holy Sword, so isn’t that enough?”
“Don’t worry, we won’t kill you. We’re just going to erase your memories a bit. When you wake up from a good sleep, it’ll all be over.”
Though your brain might be damaged a bit. The man laughed with a giggle and snapped his fingers once more. Simultaneously, black smoke began flowing from the demon. As if what had attacked the guide earlier was just a joke, thick and ominous smoke rushed toward Rowy in an instant.
“Master!”
Van urgently blocked the smoke with his body and swung his sword. It was an instinctive movement. However… the sword that wasn’t a Holy Sword merely slashed through empty air. The surroundings instantly became hazy.
‘Damn. I should have seized the Holy Sword first….’
Van panicked at the power that his force couldn’t handle. With someone to protect behind him, barehanded, what, how should he… How could he protect this person…. Even though he knew well that demonic power digs into weakened minds, Van couldn’t maintain his composure. When he thought Rowy might be in danger, his mind went blank. And the demon didn’t miss this. In an instant, his vision shook.
“…Van?”
Rowy called out to Van worriedly. Van bit down hard on his own tongue.
“Phew, finally! I was scared because the knight wouldn’t fall!”
The man giggled again. Van swayed greatly once more. His focus wouldn’t adjust properly.
“Are you okay?”
“Master, are you al…right….”
“Sit down first!”
The startled Rowy grabbed Van’s arm and supported him.
“It’s dangerous….”
“Be careful.”
Rowy floundered as he sat down Van, who couldn’t control his body. His arms trembled from how heavy he was.
“Are you okay? What did you do. You!”
Rowy snapped irritably at the man. Even while staggering from holding up a body twice his size, his voice was fierce. The man watching this tilted his head.
“Why is my lord perfectly fine?”
At first, the knight had blocked it, but the demon’s power had already filled the space to the point where that was meaningless. The man expressed doubt at Rowy, who was still moving perfectly fine and even getting irritated. At those words, Rowy, who had been tending to Van, turned to look at the man.
“Well, that’s because I….”
Rowy opened his mouth. Van lifted his barely moving eyes to look at Rowy.
“……! ……!”
Rowy continued saying something, but to Van, whose ears had already been consumed by the demon’s power, those words couldn’t be heard. …However, it must have been something that would stimulate them. The man gesticulating excitedly, and the demon slowly approaching. Van moved his body, drained of all strength, and embraced Rowy once more.
“Rowy, Master….”
Van called out to Rowy, engulfed in fear. He had never known that having someone’s safety threatened could be such a terrifying thing. Van had lived his entire life fighting demons at the risk of his life and experiencing countless sacrifices, but he had believed those sacrifices too were God’s will.
‘But if I lose even this person to them….’
Then nothing would remain for me again. Van couldn’t even control his strength properly and grabbed Rowy’s hand as if he would crush it. Rowy firmly grasped that desperately reaching hand and whispered in Van’s ear.
“It’s okay.”
Mysteriously, Rowy’s voice reached Van clearly even though his ears had already gone deaf. …Even the sound of something clinking in Rowy’s hand could be heard.
“I promised to buy it for you. That sword.”
Magic stones tumbled from Rowy’s tightly clenched fist. The stones that had lost their mana all shattered the moment they touched the ground.
“It’s okay.”
Rowy removed Van’s hand. It was a hand as light as a feather, as always. But somehow Van couldn’t stop him. And then, the world turned upside down.
