Chapter 17
Demonic EnergyDemonic Energy
Rael walked silently through the quiet streets, shrouded in the darkness of the night. He had entrusted Bennet’s body to a beggar for disposal. Wild dogs beyond the wall of Sector 5 could devour anything, a gruesome fact he had learned from living on the streets.
“No matter how much I think about it, something’s off…”
Step, step.
The cool night breeze ruffled Rael’s hair as he pondered. Amidst his conversation with Reina after dealing with Bennet, he realized he had missed something crucial.
‘Why did he say he’d die if he failed, if he was supposedly working alone?’
In his final moments, Bennet had burned his own life force to unleash his curse, and his parting words nagged at Rael’s mind.
[“I’ll die if I fail anyway... I’ll take you down with me!”]
Saying he’d die if he failed implied he was carrying out orders from someone and would be punished for failure, contradicting his claim of working alone.
To quell his unease, Rael decided to dig deeper. Ensuring thorough clean-up was essential, regardless of the task.
‘Hopefully, word hasn't spread yet that I’ve been fired from the Guard Captain position...’
He headed to the central guard station, where lights still burned brightly despite the late hour. Approaching the guards at the station’s entrance, he greeted them.
“Long time no see, James.”
“Oh! Captain Rael, sir!”
“Yes. Who's on duty tonight?”
“Captain Kuran is on duty.”
Lucky. Kuran was on duty, someone he had a good rapport with. If it were anyone else, he might have needed to use force to gain entry, but Kuran would be more understanding.
“I’m just popping in quickly, so don’t record my visit. Got it?”
“Yes, sir! Understood!”
Medieval fantasy security was indeed lax. Rael made his way to the duty office, familiar with the place.
Creak-!
Opening the door, he found the First Guard Captain, Kuran, diligently working on paperwork in a perfectly straight posture. Despite his directional struggles, Kuran’s devotion to the empire remained unwavering.
“Long time no see, Kuran.”
“Rael? What brings you here?”
“Kuran, would you invest an hour in your beloved junior?”
Rael entered the duty office nonchalantly, aiming to use the magic tool available only to the duty officer.
“I’m on duty. Can’t you see?”
“I’ve done duty shifts too, you know? There’s nothing much to do at this hour.”
“Nothing to do? You must remain alert to respond to any incident at any time.”
“...”
How is that different from having nothing to do?
Rael sighed and sat beside Kuran.
“Could you check if this is counterfeit?”
He placed the identification badge and the church token he had found on Bennet’s body on the table.
“Where did you get this?”
“It belonged to a criminal I dealt with.”
“Rael, the protocol is to bring captured criminals to the central guard station.”
Rael stared at Kuran. Despite his obsession with following regulations, there was a way to persuade him—appealing to his emotions.
“Sigh. Kuran, this guy had visited our orphanage. He’s suspected of being a pedophile. I took him down on the spot, but there might be more incriminating stuff at his place.”
“...”
First Guard Captain Kuran fell into contemplation upon hearing Rael’s words.
‘If it’s Rael, then...’
Kuran held Rael in high regard. Despite being demoted to the notorious special guard unit, Rael never despaired. He continued to support the orphanage where he grew up and took the initiative in maintaining public safety. Rael’s actions set an example for guards across the empire, not just the common guard.
‘Just this once should be fine.’
Imperial law prohibited inspecting an imperial citizen's identification for personal reasons, but he could make an exception this time.
Kuran nodded after a brief pause.
“Alright. Since it’s your request, I’ll fetch the magic tool. But in case of an emergency, the situation takes priority.”
“Thanks, Kuran.”
Kuran retrieved the magic tool from the back of the duty office. This tool was reserved for on-duty personnel to check identification badges. Inserting the badge into the tool, a red light emerged.
“The identification badge is counterfeit. The person died ten years ago.”
“Of course, it is.”
Bennet wouldn’t carry his real ID around, no matter how dumb he was.
But then, the magic tool emitted a blue light.
“Rael, the church token is genuine. It even lists his residence.”
“Really? Gotta love the church. Never failing with their trust.”
Rael clenched his fist with a grin. Those idiots handed out church tokens without proper investigation.
“I need the address from that token.”
“No matter how much of a criminal he is, I can’t just give out an imperial citizen’s information... But for a special guard member, some information sharing is necessary for immediate response.”
“Yeah, thanks, but... why are you looking at me like that?”
Kuran’s gaze resembled a father’s proud look at his grown child.
“Always stay the way you are, Rael.”
“...Uh, sure. Take care. I’m leaving.”
Feeling a bit odd, Rael nonetheless left with Bennet’s address easily obtained.
*
In the slums, deeper than the orphanage in Sector 4, Rael grimaced at the stench assaulting his nose. His decision to wear a mask proved wise; it helped lessen the smell.
“This place... makes Reina’s home seem luxurious.”
The address Kuran provided led to a dilapidated house, more like a pile of rubble than a proper residence.
Creak-!
Rael cautiously pushed open the slightly ajar door and surveyed the interior. Seeing no one, he stepped inside carefully.
Crackle-!
Suddenly, he stepped back as a defensive curse triggered, coating the house.
Any ordinary person would have had their insides twisted by the curse upon entry.
“Damn it. That scared me.”
The curse buzzed menacingly, enveloping the door. Ignoring it, Rael proceeded inside.
“The house is a wreck.”
Trash littered the place, likely a temporary hideout. Among the junk, he spotted some familiar branches—the World Tree branches Bennet had obtained from the black market.
“He embezzled academy funds, huh... How much did he spend?”
Rael pocketed the four branches. He had no idea how much they were worth, but they were a good find.
‘I’ll sell them to Reina at the black market price.’
Feeling sorry for her didn’t mean giving them away for free. Monetary transactions should be clear-cut.
Satisfied, Rael continued his search. He had another reason for rummaging through Bennet’s house: Bennet’s final words.
He needed to check for any remaining threats.
“What’s this?”
On a table, he noticed a suspicious magic circle with an emblem he recognized—the mark of the demons.
Why was a demon’s insignia, supposed to be sealed in forbidden Alheim after the Great War, here?
“Was Bennet connected to the demons?”
Sighing at the unwanted revelation, Rael’s mood soured.
“...Demonic energy is said to consume souls.”
Rael touched the magic circle. The demonic energy dissipated like steam upon contact.
Rael clenched and unclenched his fist, memorizing the sensation.
“So that’s what it feels like? The demonic energy from the demon king and this feels different.”
Humans struggled against demons due to their demonic energy, which consumed souls and drained life force upon contact. Ordinary humans writhed in agony upon touching it.
But Rael was different.
Demonic energy dissipated like smoke when it touched him.
‘The feel of demons... I’ve memorized it.’
A new sensation, something he hadn’t encountered before, akin to his first experience with magic.
“...!”
Suddenly, Rael’s senses caught something.
Slash-!
In a swift motion, he drew his sword and slashed at the ceiling, slicing through a strange creature. The bat-like being with a cyclopean eye fell to the floor.
“...A demon?”
The creature’s giant eye met Rael’s gaze, bobbing up and down as if trying to capture his image.
“Damn it.”
Crunch-!
Rael instinctively crushed the eye underfoot. It shattered easily, indicating it was likely a familiar, not a full demon. The eye’s purpose was to relay its observations to its master.
Tap-!
Rael patted his face, feeling relieved by the rough fabric of his cheap mask.
“...Whew, good thing I wore the mask.”
Even if a demon couldn’t harm him in the imperial capital, it was best not to expose his face unnecessarily.
‘At least I know the orphanage isn’t threatened by demons.’
There were still ten years until the demons invaded the empire. Killing the familiar wasn’t a big deal; weak familiars often died to blind attacks. In the original story, the protagonist killed many demon minions without the demons reacting.
Bennet was likely just one of many disposable pawns for the demons.
Shaking off his discomfort, Rael left Bennet’s house.
*
In the forbidden Alheim of the empire, a domain filled with demonic energy, a being of malevolence and chaos stirred.
“...Hmm.”
The demon Maledraks, sitting on an obsidian throne, sighed in annoyance. His twisted horns and large wings wrapped around his body.
As his wings spread, countless eyes covering his form became visible. Two of them shed bloody tears.
A human had been attached to them.
“He was killed by a human despite using demonic energy?”
Recently, more humans had infiltrated Alheim. Maledraks had tested some by infusing them with demonic energy, but none produced satisfactory results.
‘Humans are still weak.’
If he died despite wielding demonic energy, he was trash anyway.
However, the disappearance of demonic energy from the magic circle was concerning. Though the amount was minuscule, it had not returned to him.
‘Was it purified? No, it feels more like it was absorbed...’
Maledraks pondered the unprecedented phenomenon.
Slither-!
A lower demon emerged from the shadows as Maledraks contemplated.
Bowing respectfully, the demon spoke.
“Lord Maledraks... We have located the flow of ghostly energy.”
“Ghostly energy? Something even my eyes couldn’t find?”
“Yes. In the capital of the Karmen Empire. The flow there has changed.”
“The Karmen Empire...”
Maledraks finally rose from his throne. There was no time to worry about minor matters now. It was time to discuss the grand plan.
“Hear me, demons of Alheim. In the name of Maledraks.”
His numerous eyes glowed ominously, echoing the tormented cries of cursed souls as a sinister shadow spread across Alheim.
As one of Alheim’s demon lords, Maledraks declared to his kin.
“Find the Ghost King hidden by the empire.”
The being who would bring back the glory of the demons.
The monster that transformed human malevolence into ghostly energy and demonic power.
The Ghost King Yacha.
She must be found before anyone else.
***
Clink, clink.
The sun in this medieval fantasy world was scorching hot, seemingly three times hotter than in his previous life. People who wanted a tan back then would have been satisfied here, where skin darkened regardless of intention.
Munch, munch.
‘Staying here means I won't have to worry about getting a tan.’
Rael ended his idle thoughts, enjoying the cool basement air. Before him sat the Ghost King, wide-eyed and eating chocolate.
Seeing a little girl with horns bound by dozens of chains was always an odd sight.
“Here, I bought every kind they had, so take your pick.”
Rael tossed chocolates to the Ghost King, who was tied up. He had bought a variety, just in case.
“...What is this? Interesting taste.”
“Hey! That’s the wrapper!”
“I didn’t know there was such colorful paper. No wonder it tasted odd.”
Ptoo.
The half-chewed wrapper burst into black flames from the Ghost King’s mouth.
“...”
Damn, that’s terrifying.
The way she acted was just like the kids at the orphanage, but the results were far scarier.
“What’s this?”
“That’s mint chocolate, a mix of chocolate and herbs...”
“Oh, it’s quite good. Bring only this next time.”
“Ugh...”
Rael swallowed his frustration. Of all things, she liked that.
Next time, he’d bring pineapple pizza. Let’s see who wins.
Munch, munch.
The Ghost King focused on her chocolate, oblivious to his thoughts. Her behavior was strikingly similar to the kids at the orphanage, only...
“...”
The difference was the Ghost King emanated ghostly energy instead of cuteness and could potentially destroy the empire.
“Sigh...”
Rael’s mind grew more complicated, likely due to the ghostly and demonic energy from the Ghost King.
‘Is this the right thing to do?’
Was it really appropriate to bring chocolate to the Ghost King, said to be born of human malevolence? Should he have pretended not to hear her, like everyone else?
‘No, they should have told me from the start. I thought everyone was talking to her. Bastards...’
He should have realized when Reina freaked out, saying there was no way he saw the Ghost King’s face on the first day. His life was already tangled.
“Why do you look troubled? You seem to be deep in thought.”
“...It’s nothing.”
“Thanks to you, my boredom has lessened. If you have concerns, I can counsel you. I know humans well.”
“Sure, I’ll let you know if I have any.”
Humans adapt. He had grown used to speaking casually to the Ghost King, enduring her energy. The scariest part was that he was starting to enjoy these conversations.
‘Whatever, it’ll work out.’
Positively, he was the first to witness the Ghost King’s changes. He could flee if she showed signs of rampaging.
“Continue the story from last time, about the ghost in your hometown.”
The Ghost King’s soft voice broke his thoughts. Having finished her chocolate, she sat properly, staring at him.
“Let’s see, another ghost story...”
“Anything will do.”
“Oh, I remember. This one’s really scary. They say if you walk alone at night, a woman in a red mask will approach you...”
Rael focused on the story, watching the Ghost King’s eyes sparkle. She loved his ghost stories, for reasons he didn’t understand. At least he was glad he had read many as a child.
[Tranalator's Note: Guys! I'm very happy today so I did a massrelease to share it with you. Thank you for reading at our site and join discord and hangout with us.
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