Chapter 119

Chapter 119
The Star That Pierces Truth (4)

—

The monstrosity sat motionless in the gloom.

Clad in a dark mantle, a set of horns emerged from the shadow of the hood pulled low over its brow. Within its grasp was a scepter crowned by an actual human skull that emitted jagged sobs of pain, as if life refused to leave its mangled form.

“Grheee, grhek…….”

* …….

Those of demonic descent were sly beings possessed of keen intuition.

And this particular entity was exceptionally sharp.

A short time ago, the fiends serving under the collective leadership had been consumed by a wave of insanity. They had stormed through territories they typically shunned, even consuming the entirety of Soltana to establish it as their fortress.

There was a logical catalyst for this. A high demon had manifested for the first time in an age—and not merely any high demon, but Pebilatus, a foundational myth from the pits of the abyss, the sovereign of vitality and putrefaction.

No entity in the underworld surpassed Pebilatus in raw power, yet none carried the same weight of historical glory. The arrival of a high demon who had ascended from the status of a common maggot to the threshold of hell’s throne, combined with his decree to transform the eastern lands into a hellish wasteland, was sufficient to ignite the blood of every lesser horror.

Yet, amidst the fervor, this demon maintained his composure.

Humanity was not comprised of fools. They might stumble under standard sieges, but if a boundary was crossed, they would produce a preposterous solution. That truth had been solidified three centuries prior, when the supreme archdemon descended upon the mortal realm. This demon understood that reality intimately because he had suffered a first-hand demise during that era.

Consequently, while he moved among the hysterical legions, he purposefully declined to accept the benediction of Pebilatus. Instead, he quietly accumulated agony and hopelessness while mapping out escape routes. His plan was to vanish the moment that “preposterous solution” arrived at the gates of Soltana.

Roughly two months passed in this manner.

As expected, the demon’s foresight proved accurate.

Or more specifically…… he had underestimated just how early the threat would arrive.

When he witnessed the high-ranking members of the Magic Tower and their combat sorcerers infiltrating Soltana, he concluded the countermeasure had surfaced and retreated immediately. Ultimately, Pebilatus was vanquished and the frenzy ceased—leaving the demon certain that his caution had been justified.

During the period of unrest, he had reaped a significant harvest of torment and misery. He stood on the very edge of evolution. Drifting without a fixed path, he happened upon a settlement called Quirn, isolated it from the world, and utilized the suffering generated there to finally attain the rank of “greater demon” he had craved so intensely.

Interlopers had attempted to interfere. Almost immediately after his transformation, a sorcerer arrived to hunt him, viewing the demon as nothing more than a prestigious prize.

‘The wait was fruitful. Two horns at last. If I simply slay you and present your remains to the Magic Tower…….’

In response, the demon tore the sorcerer’s head from his shoulders—pulling the spinal column along with it—and constructed a staff.

“Grhe, heee…….”

* Silence your wailing, pest. Be still before I extract your tongue.

“…….”

A greater demon was a being of total realization. Even a master mage specialized in the eradication of demons was no longer a viable threat to him.

The demon sensed he had reached a level of power far beyond his previous self. He also discovered that the despair of a practitioner of magic was far more potent than that of a commoner. He had intended to depart following his ascension, but the idea of remaining to transform every visiting mage into a sentient trophy seemed appealing.

Suddenly, he detected a jarring inconsistency.

* Ngh……?!

The protective seal he had meticulously woven around Quirn was obliterated in a heartbeat.

Woooong—!

With frantic speed, he sketched a sensory array and triggered a divination spell. Through it, he stared at a countenance that was not entirely unfamiliar.

* No, that individual is……!?

The mad warrior who had fought alongside the mystic who trapped him in a spiritual cage and left him to rot three hundred years ago……

……or a figure who bore a terrifying resemblance to him—an unidentified outlander.

* …….

Mortals did not survive for three centuries. Not without divine intervention, a demonic contract, or the longevity of elves…… It was likely a distant scion or a similar echo of the past.

Regardless, his sharpened demonic senses and cunning screamed at him to avoid an encounter with that man at any cost and flee.

However…… there were conflicting impulses at play.

Demons who had recently sprouted new horns were prone to surges of violent pride. Having just dismantled a high mage without effort, the prospect of retreating in fear from a mere tribesman was a bitter pill for a newly elevated greater demon to swallow.

He wrestled with the decision for a long time, his talons tightening around the mage’s skull.

“Grhehehek, grhehehek…….”

* …….

Finally, the demon broadcasted instructions to his thralls.

* Entice the outlander who broke the seal to this location. Ensure he does not wander elsewhere…….
* Kigik, kiiik…….
* Kueeeek!

The ghastly wails of the subordinates vibrated through the dark in obedience to their master’s will.

The demon squinted the many eyes scattered across his visage and revealed a calculated grin.

Confined within the seal, the village elder possessed no knowledge of the demon’s den or its exact coordinates.

It mattered little. The monsters surfaced periodically like markers to show the path. And to Kadim, the demon’s foul energy radiated like a flare in the night.

Duncan was included in this pursuit. It wasn’t because Kadim viewed leaving him behind as a hazard. He had simply recognized that the chances to provide the trader with actual battle training were becoming rare.

“Pass me the pack and unsheathe your blade. The corruption isn’t overwhelming yet, but take shallow breaths regardless. If the density increases, I’ll signal a retreat—until then, stay close.”

“Hoo…… Y-yes, master…….”

Naturally, once this trek concluded, the probability of encountering demons or monsters would plummet…… But neither Kadim nor Duncan voiced this. Both steeled themselves as if the journey—and the cycle of hunting horrors—would continue indefinitely.

The trail of corruption terminated at a cavern with a gaping, obsidian entrance.

Duncan recoiled, his frame shivering. The sight brought back memories of the goblin den where he had first encountered a demon. He had accrued significant experience and power since that day, but the deep-seated dread did not vanish easily.

Kadim, by way of contrast, moved forward with the same clinical indifference he had shown then. Motivated by the sight, Duncan pushed aside his anxiety and followed into the earth.

The tunnel delved deep into the mountain. Glow-stones were embedded in the ceiling, preventing complete darkness. This allowed even Duncan—whose vision was poor compared to Kadim’s—to see ahead with ease. The absence of a need for torches allowed them to proceed without making themselves targets. A benefit.

The pressure from the bandages on his ribs eased slightly. Following instructions to breathe lightly, Duncan remarked,

“A stroke of luck, master. I feared we’d need fire in the dark…… But this illumination is ideal—we might bypass the minions and reach the demon without being noticed.”

“I doubt it. Certain creatures do not require light to see, including those that are transparent to human sight.”

“Eh? Such monsters exist?”

“They do. Observe this one.”

Kwajik—!

* Jjiik!

A tiny burst of ichor erupted within Kadim’s palm. It appeared as though he had crushed nothing but air.

“Hup!”

But Duncan’s earlier briefing allowed him to understand: the warrior had identified and annihilated a concealed monster.

Kadim nonchalantly wiped the blood from his hand onto his attire. Then he unsheathed his hellfire daggers in both hands and let out a low growl.

Hwarak—!

“‘Pixies.’ Irritating pests. You can’t perceive them anyway, so don’t strain yourself trying. But once the heat radiates, even they will lose their target—so draw your hellfire dagger and mirror my strikes.”

“W-what?! But how can I strike something I can’t see?”

“Do not fret. There are at least a…….”

Hwararak, hwararak—!

“……hundred or more swarming us. You’ll find a target regardless of where you swing.”

* Kiiik! Kiiik!
* Kkigik!

A cloud of translucent predators collided with a wall of scarlet heat.

As bewilderment washed over the trader’s face, the remaining pixies launched a coordinated strike on the duo.

* Giiik! Giiiik!
* Gigik, gigigi!
* Kkigigik!

Guttural screams filled the tunnel as Kadim shifted his grip on the blades. The range was shorter, but the thrusting motions allowed for greater speed and more effective fire dispersal. His movements created a vortex of embers in the gloom.

“Hup, hah, hup!”

Hwarak—!

Duncan pulled his hellfire dagger and slashed frantically. His rhythm was broken by his labored breathing, but he managed to ignite small flickers of flame around his position. Even as pixie talons left red marks on his skin, he continued to swing without hesitation.

In the middle of the struggle, a thought occurred regarding Kadim’s explanation. If the fire hides us, then why……?

The answer came quickly and violently.

* Kiiik!! Kiiiiik!
* Kiiiiik! Kkigik!

“……Huh?”

Once the flames had fully saturated the pixie swarm, they ceased their assault on the pair. Instead, they began to shriek and mutilate one another in a blind rage.

Observing this, Kadim put away his weapons and signaled casually.

“Keep moving. Put your blade away and stay low to stay under the smoke.”

“Cough, cough! W-what happened, master? Why did they stop hunting us and start killing each other……?”

“Those gnats track targets through heat. Saturated in fire like that, they can’t even distinguish their own kin. By the time we return, they’ll have slaughtered one another.”

With that brief clarification, Kadim continued. Duncan watched his back with a gaze full of reverence and wonder.

Further monsters, magical snares, and seals obstructed the path forward. Kadim neutralized them systematically, offering instruction to Duncan as they progressed.

* Kueeek!

“Shadow lizard. You encountered these on the Golden Highway. Their perception improves in total darkness, so approach without sound and strike.”

Guuuuung…….

“Demonic traps typically fail when confronted by sacred items or relics. Pierce the ritual script with a hellfire dagger to neutralize most. However, some are designed to detonate upon being broken, so evasion is often the smarter play.”

Kwa—ang!

“Magical seals crumble under sufficient physical pressure. If you are ever trapped like those villagers, simply burst through using a moderate amount of force.”

“…….”

Not every piece of advice was immediately applicable, but it was knowledge that gold could not purchase. Experience passed down from a combatant who had personally ended thousands of demonic lives…… Duncan memorized every detail like an apprentice hunter serving under a grandmaster.

Following the trail of obvious traps and minions, they eventually arrived at the heart of the cavern.

The air was heavy with magic here. Kadim considered ordering Duncan to wait. But although the trader looked drained, he showed no signs of falling under a demonic influence.

“Are you alright, Duncan? Can you sustain this?”

“Y-yes! Hoo, a little lightheaded…… But I can manage, master!”

Kadim tilted his head slightly.

He wasn’t lying—he appeared genuinely stable. It was possible that sharing his blood earlier had enhanced Duncan’s internal resistance to corruption…….

“……Then I will go deal with the demon. Take cover behind that formation. You hold the bag again. If the dizziness gets worse, make your way back to the surface.”

“Yes, master! Understood! Please be careful!”

Kadim took hold of his gear and moved into the final chamber alone.

A seal blocked the path to the inner sanctum. This one showed signs of high-level craftsmanship—the magic was so concentrated it had a viscous, shimmering quality. Even a skilled paladin would have found it difficult to penetrate.

Naturally, it was irrelevant to Kadim.

Bbanjjak—!

――――――――― Kwarung, kwagwagwagwang—!!!

Bolts of lightning slammed down with devastating power, shattering the seal like fragile glass. Kadim walked through the debris without a second glance.

The room was draped in shadow. His cold eyes cut through the magic-heavy air, surveying the environment. The ceiling was high and the area was wide enough for combat…… No obvious mechanisms or hidden triggers were present. Beneath a large stone to his right, he located one of his objectives.

The remains of a high mage in crimson vestments.

“…….”

However, only the torso and limbs remained—the head and vertebrae were missing.

Kadim’s brow twitched slightly.

It wasn’t just the mage’s head that was gone. The demon itself was missing—there was no sign of its presence. He had initially anticipated an ambush from the shadows, but that wasn’t the case. There was no trace of bloodlust, and even the lingering magical aura was slowly dissipating.

It was a rare occurrence, but not unprecedented. In his previous life, he had witnessed such pragmatism from truly calculated, predatory demons. Finding a hastily etched teleportation circle in the far corner confirmed his theory.

“Tch, damn it…….”

Kadim clicked his tongue in annoyance. The reality was clear.

This mysterious greater demon…… had abandoned its territory in absolute terror.