- Volume 4, Chapter 17, 92. Bekweseta, the Demon God’s Little Lamb (2) Looking at the fainted girl, Taesan belatedly realized.
“You said your world was destroyed by a Demon King, too, right?”
The Ghost had said that his world was destroyed after being defeated by the Demon King, and that he had entered the Labyrinth to save it. The Ghost calmly affirmed.
[Unlike Bekweseta, our world was one that fought against the demons from the very beginning. After an endless battle, we were ultimately defeated.]
“Then do you feel no hatred toward the Demon God?”
[I don't?]
Taesan was slightly surprised by the calm, matter-of-fact voice.
“You don't?”
[Of course not. Why would you think I do?]
“Aren't demons the enemies of humans?”
[Hmm?]
The Ghost was baffled. After a moment of thought, it muttered as if it had realized something.
[Come to think of it, your world only has humans. Hmm. Is that a perspective one can have? How curious.]
The Ghost began to explain.
[It's simple. If a spirit appeared in your world and said, 'You humans made us extinct, so I will have my revenge on you,' how do you think you would respond?]
“Is that what this is.”
Taesan understood what the Ghost was trying to say.
“So demons are just a race.”
[They're just like humans. There are many of them, and they have diverse characteristics. There are worlds where they live alongside the Demon King, and worlds where they oppose him. Ours was the latter. I have anger toward the individual Demon King who destroyed our world, but not particularly toward the Demon God or the others.]
“But why are they called demons?”
[Because it's true they originated from the being known as the Demon God.]
As they were talking, Taesan came to a realization. The demons were a race similar in number to humans. And all of them originated from the Demon God.
“Then, on what level is the Demon God?”
[I don't know about his individual strength, but his rank itself is boundlessly high, so he must be quite strong. In the first place, when you get to that level, it's hard for us to even properly comprehend.]
It was a feeling of something so strong that it couldn't be properly estimated. Taesan realized something strange.
“Is Lucifer weaker than the god named Harmon?”
[That's absolutely not the case.]
The Ghost said in a firm tone.
[I've never heard of this god either, but they said he's the god of light born from the earth, right? If he were simply the god of light, he would be quite formidable, but the description 'born from the earth' is attached to the front. That means he's not that strong. Still, he's much stronger than us, but he doesn't reach the rank of the Demon God.]
“Then why is he just standing by and watching?”
If he was that strong, he could just crush them himself. The Ghost's voice trailed off.
[Well… there is something I can guess.]
“What is it?”
[This world is Harmon's domain.]
Taesan recalled a word.
“A native god?”
[Similar. A god becomes infinitely strong within their own domain. Even for a Demon God, it's difficult to suppress a god within their domain. So you can roughly guess what's going on.]
“Ugh.”
In the middle of their conversation, the girl let out a groan. She slowly opened her eyes.
“You awake?”
“……!”
The girl, whose eyes met Taesan's, shot up in surprise. She fumbled for her sword and took a guarded stance.
“……Who are you.”
“Don't worry. I have no intention of going after your bounty.”
The girl's pupils wavered. Taesan leaned his back against a tree.
“Would you understand if I said I'm on your side?”
The girl belatedly surveyed her surroundings. The bounty hunters who had captured her were lying scattered about as corpses. The girl looked at Taesan with bewildered eyes.
Taesan met her gaze and organized his thoughts.
‘Alright. In that case.’
Lilith had told Taesan not to say that he came under the Demon God's orders and that his purpose was to protect her, to hide his identity. In the end, Taesan had to infer information to persuade the girl. Feeling annoyed, Taesan opened his mouth.
“Princess of the demons. What's your name?”
“……It's Anetsha. Who are you?”
“Kang Taesan. In terms of roles, I guess I'm your bodyguard?”
“Bodyguard?”
Anetsha still looked bewildered. Taesan began to spit out the story he had prepared in advance.
“A few years ago, a demon came to see me. He was on the verge of death.”
If what the bounty hunter said was true, the lives of demons were not much different from humans. They had positions and classes, and they had treasures. And he said most of them had died.
In other words, some could still be alive. The Princess had been hunted alone for eight years. He could aim for that part.
“He brought me gold and jewels and asked me to protect you. It was a reasonable amount of treasure, so I accepted.”
Anetsha's pupils shook. She asked in a trembling voice.
“Who… was he?”
“I don't know either. He died right after giving me the request.”
At his casual words, Anetsha's face contorted. She was probably thinking of someone and suffering at the thought of his death.
Taesan continued.
“You were good at running away. It was hard to find you. I felt sorry for my client and even thought about giving up… but now that I’ve found you, I have to earn my pay. I'll protect you.”
Her pained eyes calmed down. She looked at Taesan with wavering eyes. Reading the light within them, Taesan let out a small laugh.
“Do you think I would lie? To you? For what?”
The girl's pupils trembled. The bounty hunters who pursued her were strong. They were men who could face even first-class swordsmen if they attacked together.
But Taesan had killed them all. She didn't know how, but seeing the positions of the dead, it wasn't as if he had dealt with them one by one. That meant he could at least wield Aura, or he was a high-level Mage.
And at that level, there was no need for him to care about her bounty.
“Looks like you’ve accepted.”
“Yes.”
Anetsha nodded.
In that moment, her legs gave way.
“Ah…”
Sleepiness overwhelmed her. She hadn't slept for even two hours in a week while being chased by the hunters.
“Just sleep for now. Let’s talk later.”
Her eyes slowly closed. Taesan took the sleeping girl to a cave.
“Should I have brought a blanket or something?”
He never thought he would receive a caretaking quest like this. He roughly plucked some large leaves to make a bed and laid her down. He looked around to see if anyone was coming, but he didn't feel any presence.
Two hours later, Anetsha opened her eyes. She staggered as she got up. Her body still demanded sleep, but her mind forcibly woke her.
Anetsha gave a bitter smile. In eight years, there was only one day she had slept peacefully. Six years ago, she had fainted from exhaustion and slept, nearly getting killed, and ever since then, she had only been able to take short naps.
She stumbled outside. Taesan, who was sitting idly, saw her and asked.
“You should rest more. Why are you already awake?”
Anetsha stared blankly at Taesan.
‘It wasn't… a dream.’
A mercenary left for her by her dead kin.
‘Can I… rely on him.’
At the sudden thought, she hurriedly shook her head.
‘No.’ “Go back.”
Anetsha said coldly.
“You can’t stay by my side.”
She squeezed her eyes shut. She still remembered. Her joyous eighth birthday party.
Even in the difficult situation where they couldn't contact their god, everyone gathered to celebrate, and the Demon King himself made an appearance. The countless smiles and feelings of affection directed at her. All of it was distorted.
In the shelling that destroyed the castle, those who were smiling were crushed and disappeared. The party that should have been splendid and joyful instantly turned into a bloodbath at the hands of the invading knights. And there were so many who had smilingly thrown away their lives to help her escape.
She didn't want to see such a thing again. It was enough if she alone died.
“Sorry, but I can’t do that.”
Taesan said, poking at the bonfire.
“I came here for you, you see.”
“It's dangerous by my side. I know you're strong, but you'll die.”
She opened her mouth with a pitiful expression.
Taesan scoffed.
“Dangerous?”
“It's not just bounty hunters who are after me. Famous people are chasing me too.”
Taesan jerked his chin.
“Like that guy?”
“Yes?”
Anetsha instinctively looked in the direction Taesan had indicated. There was nothing there. Just as she was about to ask what he meant, the bushes parted.
“Well now, Princess. So you were here.”
A middle-aged man with a rat-like mustache reveals himself with a sneer. Anetsha is startled and grabs her sword.
“Garant…”
“For the noble Princess to know my name, this is an honor.”
Garant says with a mocking tone, his eyes glinting.
“I heard you were in this area, but I didn't think it was actually true….”
After briefly examining Anetsha's wretched state, Garant gave a foul smile.
“The state of our beautiful Princess is quite something. Do you wish to survive so wretchedly?”
“And to think you once pledged loyalty to my father…!”
Anetsha gritted her teeth. Back when humans and demons lived in peace, Garant had pledged loyalty to the Demon King and served as one of his knights. But when the Demon God disappeared and chaos ensued, Garant had quickly hidden himself.
It wasn't a time when they had the luxury to chase after a single knight, so Garant was able to escape without issue.
“That's all in the past. Thinking about it now, it was a truly terrible experience. To pledge loyalty to a demon! I want to erase the memory. I truly do.”
Garant's face scrunched up. As soon as chaos erupted from the Demon God's silence, Garant had fled. He thought he had gotten away clean, but those in power all knew he had sworn loyalty to the Demon King.
Because of that, he hadn't been able to secure a proper position.
“So, you'll have to let me capture you obediently, Princess.”
But that was about to end. If he captured the last remaining demon princess and brought her in, they would give him the treatment he deserved. Seeing Garant's greed, Anetsha bit her lip.
Skill and character are not proportional. Garant was a man of much gossip, but he was also a strong being. A man who could use Aura, surpassing first-class swordsmen.
There weren't many who could claim superiority over him. Anetsha had never heard the name Taesan. It meant that while he might be strong, he wasn't at a level that would have reached her ears.
“……Run.”
She stood in front of Taesan. Garant, who had just noticed Taesan, raised the corner of his mouth.
“They say the bloodline is all but dead, but it seems there are still some who worship it.”
Mistaking Taesan for a bodyguard who had followed Anetsha until now, Garant made a decision. He would kill Taesan first. He thought that a broken-willed Anetsha would then obediently submit to him.
The moment he decided, Garant moved. He sprinted at high speed. Anetsha hurriedly moved her sword, but Garant lightly dodged and thrust his sword toward Taesan.
Clang!
It wasn't the sensation of flesh being pierced, but the sound of swords clashing that rang out. Garant's pupils widened. Taesan indifferently moved his fist.
Thwack!
“Keuk!”
Garant hastily retreated. Taesan's eyes showed a flicker of interest.
“He didn't die?”
Not only that, he wasn't even seriously injured.
“Not bad.”
Even though he had shown the entire process of clenching his fist, raising his arm, and moving, it was still a decent move. Garant caressed his stinging cheek. It was fast.
If he hadn't reacted instinctively, his face would have been blown off. His fist held that much power. Garant's face contorted.
“A nameless savage dare!”
A blue light emanated from Garant's sword. Anetsha was horrified.
Aura Blade.
Despair washed over Anetsha's face. The moment one learned Aura, they gained power on a completely different level from an ordinary swordsman. A light shone on Taesan's face.
“What’s that?”
It wasn't the light of despair, but of interest. Leveling up through battle