Chapter 92
Taesan looked at the unconscious girl and belatedly realized something.
“Your world was also destroyed by a Demon King, wasn’t it?”
The ghost had mentioned that their world fell to a Demon King, leading them to enter the labyrinth to save their own world. The ghost confirmed this calmly.
“We were fighting against the demonkind from the start, unlike Veseta. In the end, after endless battles, we were defeated.” “So, you don’t harbor any hatred towards the Demon God?”
“Not at all.” Taesan was slightly surprised by the ghost’s matter-of-fact tone.
“Not at all?”
“Of course not. Why would there be any?” “Demonkind are enemies to humans, aren’t they?”
“Hmm?” The ghost seemed perplexed. After a moment of thought, it muttered as if realizing something.
“Now that I think about it, your world only had humans. Hmm. Is that a perspective too? Interesting.” The ghost began to explain.
“It’s simple. Imagine if spirits appeared in your world, claiming that humans had driven us to extinction, and I wanted to take revenge on you all. What would you think?” “So that’s how it is.”
Taesan grasped what the ghost was trying to say.
“So demonkind are just another race.”
“Exactly like humans. There are many of them, each with diverse traits. There are worlds where demonkind and humans live together in harmony and others where they’re in opposition. We were in opposition. While I may hold a grudge against the Demon King who caused our downfall, I don’t particularly resent the Demon God or anyone else.” “But why are they called ‘demonkind’?”
“Because they originated from the Demon God.” As they talked, Taesan realized something.
Demonkind are like humans, a race numbering in the thousands, all originating from the Demon God.
“So how powerful is the Demon God?”
“I’m not sure about individual power, but in terms of status, the Demon God is immensely powerful. Once you reach that level, it’s difficult for us to even comprehend.” The notion was too vast to accurately gauge. Taesan then wondered about another point.
“Is Lucifer weaker than this god named Hamon?”
“Definitely not.” The ghost spoke with certainty.
“I’ve never heard of this god before, but you mentioned a god born from the earth, right? If it were just a god of light, it might have been significant, but the preface ‘born from the earth’ implies it’s not that strong. Even though it’s far stronger than us, it doesn’t reach the status of a Demon God.” “Then why does it just watch and do nothing?”
If the Demon God was so powerful, it could just crush the opposition. The ghost trailed off.
“Well… there’s a part I can guess.” “What is it?”
“This world belongs to Hamon.” Taesan thought of a term.
“Indigenous god?”
“Something like that. A god becomes infinitely stronger within its own domain. Even for a Demon God, it’s hard to suppress a god in its own territory. That gives you a rough idea.” “Hmm…”
While they were discussing, the girl groaned. Slowly, she opened her eyes.
“Awake?”
“!”
Startled upon making eye contact with Taesan, the girl sprang up. Fumbling, she grabbed her sword and adopted a defensive stance.
“Who are you?”
“Don’t worry. I’m not after any bounty.”
The girl’s pupils wavered. Taesan leaned against a tree.
“Would ‘on your side’ make sense to you?”
“…”
The girl belatedly surveyed her surroundings. The hunters who had captured her lay dead around.
With a puzzled look in her eyes, the girl looked at Taesan. He met her gaze, organizing his thoughts.
“Now, then.”
Lucifer had instructed Taesan not to reveal that he was acting on the Demon God’s orders to protect her and to conceal his identity.
Thus, Taesan had to deduce information to persuade the girl. Feeling the hassle, Taesan spoke up.
“Princess of the demonkind, what’s your name?”
“Anetsha. And you?”
“Kang Taesan. If we’re talking roles, I’m your guard.”
“Guard?”
Anetsha still looked bewildered. Taesan began to recount a story he had prepared.
“A few years ago, a demon came to me. He was on the brink of death.”
According to the bounty hunters, the ecology of demonkind wasn’t vastly different from humans. They had ranks and treasures.
And most were said to be dead, implying some could still be alive.
The princess had been on the run alone for eight years.
That was the angle to work.
“He brought me treasures and asked me to ensure your safety. Considering the value of the gems, I accepted.”
Anetsha’s pupils shook.
She asked with a trembling voice, “Who was he?”
“I don’t know. He died right after entrusting me with the task.”
Despite the casual nature of his words, Anetsha’s expression twisted. Perhaps thinking of someone, the thought of their death pained her. Taesan continued.
“You were quite elusive. It was hard to find you. I even considered giving up… But now that I’ve found you, I’ve got to earn my keep. I’ll protect you.”
Her eyes, which had been filled with sorrow, settled. She looked at Taesan with a flicker of light in her gaze.
Taesan smirked at the light.
“Do I look like I’d lie? To you? For what purpose?”
Her eyes wavered.
The bounty hunters that had pursued her were strong. If they coordinated, they could challenge even a master swordsman.
But Taesan had killed them all. Regardless of how, their positions indicated they hadn’t been dealt with separately.
This meant he must at least be capable of wielding Aura or be a high-level mage.
And with that level of skill, he wouldn’t need to cling to her bounty.
“It seems you’ve accepted it.”
“Yes.”
Anetsha nodded, and suddenly, her legs gave way.
“Ah…”
Exhaustion overwhelmed her. For a week while being chased by hunters, she hadn’t slept more than two hours.
“Rest for now. We can talk later.”
Her eyes slowly closed.
Taesan brought the sleeping girl into a cave.
“Should’ve brought a blanket or something.”
He hadn’t expected to be tasked with such caretaking. He gathered large leaves to make a makeshift bed and laid her down.
He looked around to see if anyone was approaching, but didn’t sense anyone.
Two hours later, Anetsha woke up.
“…”
She struggled to get up. Her body still craved sleep, but her mind forced her awake.
Anetsha gave a wry smile.
She hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in eight years, except once, six years ago, when she almost got caught because she fell asleep like she was knocked out.
She stumbled outside.
Taesan, sitting idly, noticed her and asked.
“Why awake so soon? Rest more.”
Anetsha stared blankly at Taesan.
‘It wasn’t a dream…’
The mercenary left by her deceased kin for her sake.
‘Can I rely on him?’
She quickly shook her head at the thought that crossed her mind.
‘No.’
“Go back.”
Anetsha’s voice was cold.
“You shouldn’t stay by my side.”
She clenched her eyes shut.
She still remembered her joyful eighth birthday party. Even though they couldn’t reach the Demon God and were in a tough situation, everyone gathered to celebrate, and the Demon King himself appeared.
All the smiles and affection directed at her.
All of it twisted and torn apart.
The fortress was destroyed in an assault, those smiling faces were obliterated. The party, supposed to be festive and joyful, turned into a bloodbath as knights invaded.
And many sacrificed their lives with a smile to let her escape.
She didn’t want to see that again.
If someone had to die, she preferred it to be just her.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that.”
Taesan stoked the fire as he spoke.
“I came here for you.”
“My presence is dangerous. Even if you’re strong, you will die.”
She looked sorrowful as she spoke.
Taesan chuckled lightly.
“Dangerous?”
“Not just the bounty hunters are after me. Those with a reputation are too.”
Taesan tilted his head.
“Like him?”
“Who?”
As Anetsha reflexively looked in the direction Taesan gestured, the bushes parted.
“There you are, Princess. I’ve been looking for you.”
A middle-aged man with a mouse mustache grinned as he appeared. Anetsha gasped and gripped her sword.
“Gallant…!”
“The honor of knowing my name, Princess, I’m flattered.”
Gallant smirked with a sneer as his eyes gleamed.
“I heard you might be around here, but to actually find you…”
He briefly observed Anetsha’s condition and sneered.
“The state of our beautiful princess is quite dire. To what lengths are you willing to go just to survive?”
“You swore loyalty to my father once…!”
Anetsha gritted her teeth. During the peaceful coexistence of humans and demonkind, Gallant had sworn loyalty to the Demon King and served as his knight.
But as the Demon God vanished and chaos ensued, Gallant quickly went into hiding. Since the times weren’t so relaxed as to chase after a single knight, Gallant managed to escape without issues.
“It’s all in the past. Thinking back, it was a horrifying experience. To swear loyalty to such creatures! I wish I could erase those memories. Truly.”
Gallant frowned.
As the silence due to the Demon God’s absence grew, Gallant fled. He thought he had escaped cleanly, but the powerful already knew of his allegiance to the Demon King. Unable to secure a proper position because of it, he was in a difficult state.
“So, Princess, you must surrender peacefully.”
But now that would end. If he could capture the last surviving princess of the demonkind and bring her in, he would be properly rewarded.
Driven by greed, Gallant saw Anetsha bite her lip.
Talent and morality don’t always correlate. Gallant was notorious but also a powerful being.
Able to wield Aura, surpassing even elite swordsmen, there weren’t many who could claim superiority over him.
Anetsha hadn’t heard the name Taesan before. Although he was powerful, he wasn’t well-known enough to reach her ears.
“…Run.”
She blocked Taesan’s way. Gallant, noticing Taesan belatedly, smirked.
“So there are still those who worship the dead lineage.”
Mistaking Taesan as a bodyguard who had been following Anetsha, Gallant decided to kill Taesan first. Then, he believed, a broken Anetsha would easily succumb to him.
Gallant charged immediately, fast. Anetsha hastily moved her sword, but Gallant easily dodged and aimed his sword at Taesan.
Clang!
Instead of flesh, the sound of metal clashing rang out. Gallant’s pupils widened.
Taesan nonchalantly moved his fist.
Thud!
Gallant quickly retreated. Taesan found it interesting.
“You’re not dead?”
Nor had he sustained significant injuries.
“Not bad.”
He showed all movements – clenching his fist, lifting his arm, swinging – yet Gallant still managed decently.
Gallant massaged his sore cheek.
It was fast. Had he not reacted reflexively, his face would have flown off. Such power was in that fist.
Gallant’s face twisted.
“You nameless barbarian!”
Gallant’s sword gleamed blue. Anetsha gasped.
Aura Blade.
Despair hovered over Anetsha’s face. Learning Aura marked a swordsman’s departure from the ordinary, bestowing power unattainable by the average.
Taesan’s face lit up.
“What’s that?”
Not despair, but curiosity shone in his eyes.