Chapter 125: Artina

The demon’s mouth was firmly shut.

He only shrieked and refused to give any information. Later, he even laughed as he provoked Ropenheim.

“Hahaha! Keep trying. My mouth will never open.”

“Then die.”

Seeing Ropenheim, consumed by rage, raise his sword, I stepped forward.

“Wait a moment.”

I reached out to the demon and used Divine Power. Immediately, the demon’s flesh began to burn. Unlike when Ropenheim was torturing him, his eyes rolled back, and he gasped for breath.

“Gahhh!”

“If you keep your mouth shut, you’ll be obliterated.”

At my words, the demon trembled and opened his mouth.

“What… what do you want to know… Aaaagh!”

I stepped aside slightly and handed the interrogation over to Ropenheim.

“What year is it according to the Continental Calendar?”

“I don’t know! Aaaagh! I don’t know! I told you, I don’t know! I don’t keep track of human time!”

“Is Artina alive?”

“…Yes.”

“Where is she?”

“She’s in the kingdom’s capital.”

“Has the kingdom not fallen yet?”

“No. It has fallen. The kingdom is already in the Demon King’s grasp. It’s only a matter of time before that bitch is caught.”

Listening to the flow of the conversation, it didn’t seem like it would be much help. I scorched the demon using Divine Power. I purified the demonic energy and obliterated his existence. The demon burned black and vanished into ash.

“Let’s head to the kingdom for now.”

“I’m sorry. I got too emotional.”

“It’s all right.”

Artina was someone Ropenheim cherished like a daughter. It was understandable why he was so angry. After Ropenheim took a deep breath and calmed his emotions, he walked toward the hut.

“I’ll go see if there’s anything useful first.”

“Yes.”

While Ropenheim was at the hut, I checked my physical condition. After killing the demon, a very subtle change had occurred. The restrictions placed on my body had loosened just a bit.

‘Influence.’

Although the change was minimal since the demon I killed wasn’t that strong, I realized that killing demons exerted Influence on this world.

If I killed higher-ranked demons, the restrictions would likely decrease faster. If necessary, I could recover my strength by hunting demons.

Creeeak!

Ropenheim, who had entered the hut, came out with cloaks.

“It would be best to wear these for now.”

The clothes Ropenheim and I were wearing looked suspicious to anyone. I wrapped the cloak around myself to hide my clothes and face.

CLEAN

After dealing with the contamination using cleaning magic, I started walking.

“Where do you plan to go first?”

“The nearest place is the capital. I’m thinking of heading there; what do you think?”

“That sounds good.”

Since walking or running would take too long, I used Fly Magic.

“Just show me the direction.”

“It’s this way.”

I flew quickly in the direction Ropenheim pointed. I scanned the surroundings as we moved. Everything was generally contaminated with demonic energy, and some areas had even completed their Corruption.

‘…Demons.’

I quickly dealt with the demons I saw every now and then using Holy Magic. After traveling for a while, increasing my Influence along the way, the capital of the Lopes Kingdom that Ropenheim had mentioned gradually appeared.

It was an impressive place with a massive river flowing through the capital. The royal palace floated above the center of the river, with stairs on the east and west sides leading to it. And unlike other places, the concentration of demonic energy was low.

“It looks fine from here.”

“They probably left it uncontaminated on purpose because they need prey. Demons are beings that enjoy human despair and suffering.”

“Let’s head inside and check the atmosphere first.”

I deactivated the Fly Magic at a suitable distance and walked slowly toward the city walls. There was a fairly long line in front of the city gate. The soldiers guarding the gate inspected everyone one by one before letting them inside. I stood at the very end and waited for my turn.

“Do you have a plan?”

“Yes.”

Because there was Perception Magic cast on the outer walls, I couldn’t hide my appearance or sneak in using Stealth. So, I planned to act like a Warlock who used demonic energy. If that trick didn’t work, I’d have to use force.

“Next!”

As the line gradually shortened, my turn for inspection drew near. I converted my Mana into demonic energy. I waited for my turn while faintly emitting demonic energy. As the person in front of me went inside, a soldier beckoned.

“Next!”

I walked up to them. Sensing the demonic energy, the soldiers flinched and whispered quietly, “Are you a Warlock?”

“Don’t be a nuisance and make way.”

I infused a bit of Dragon Fear to instill terror, and the soldiers looked at each other before nodding slightly.

“You may ent—”

Boom!

The sound of an explosion erupted from inside the walls. Flames surged, and thick black smoke billowed into the air as the Mages on the walls fell to the ground.

“Aaaagh!”

“It’s the rebels! Close the gate and deal with the traitors!”

Seeing the gate closing, I ran with Ropenheim.

“We’ll catch those people, so guard the gate!”

“Yes!”

We fooled the soldiers and made our way inside. Houses made of wood and brick lined every alley.

Those who appeared to be commoners all retreated into their homes to hide, while soldiers, Knights, and Mages appeared from somewhere and searched the area.

Boom!

Boom!

Two consecutive explosions occurred.

The moment their gaze shifted to one side, figures in White Cloaks appeared and began to fight.

They didn’t kill all the soldiers; they only picked out and killed those who emitted demonic energy, while merely knocking out the rest.

Then, one of the White Cloaks looked in my direction. Demonic energy was still leaking from my body.

“I’ll deal with that one and follow.”

Along with a voice like fine silk, the cloaked woman kicked off the ground. She approached at an incredible speed and drew the sword at her waist.

Clang!

It was Ropenheim who blocked that sword.

A contest of strength ensued. Ropenheim threw off his cloak while still blocking the White Cloak’s sword.

“…Uncle?”

“Artina.”

“Is it really you, Uncle?”

“Yes.”

The two of them stared at each other for a long time before Artina’s gaze turned toward me. I also took off my cloak and raised my hand.

“Good to see you. It’s been a while.”

“…You.”

“That’s right. Back then at the Martial Arts Tournament…”

Pushing away Ropenheim’s sword, Artina’s blade flew toward my throat. I used Barrier Magic to block the attack. She then formed an Aura Blade and slashed through the Barrier Magic. She thrust her sword with movements that were nearly divine.

“What did you do to Uncle!”

Was it because of the Manahole?

“I treated him.”

“What?”

“I said I treated his Manahole.”

“Don’t lie. Treating a Manahole is impossible!”

Artina swung her sword even more fiercely. I exhaled a light sigh and dodged her blade. She already had a high level of Understanding of swordsmanship. Because she had become one with nature to awaken Nature Magic, her Understanding of swordsmanship modeled after nature had reached its peak.

I didn’t know exactly how strong Artina was, but if I put my mind to it, she wouldn’t be able to touch even a hair on my body.

“You shouldn’t have time to waste like this.”

“…”

“Don’t you see your comrades over there are in danger?”

Artina’s concentration wavered for a moment. While she was distracted by my words and checking on her comrades behind her, I reached out and put her to sleep. I threw her over my shoulder.

“Let’s move to another location first.”

“That would be best.”

Knights emitting a menacing aura were approaching. I reached out toward the city gate and used explosion magic to blow away the thick wooden walls.

Boom!

Dust and black smoke billowed out, obscuring the surrounding vision. In the meantime, I used Teleport to leave the capital.

“Artina, stay safe.”

Not long after Ropenheim left, the demons invaded. They brought everything down in an instant. Border cities fell into their hands, and tens of thousands of people lost their lives.

As soon as Artina heard the news, she volunteered for the Knight Order. She left the Academy and fought the demons on the front lines.

But the signs of defeat were too strong. The front lines gradually began to be pushed back, and Knights started deserting the order.

Some even joined hands with the demons and sold out the kingdom’s information.

There was no way to win.

‘…Is this the end?’

Artina clenched her fists and shook her head.

‘Do not give up. For surrender is the act demons love most.’

Those were the words Uncle Ropenheim had told her.

The advice not to give up until the very moment of death. Artina gritted her teeth and fought the demons even harder.

Even when the family she was born into was destroyed and the Academy filled with her old memories collapsed, she never gave up.

She gathered those with the conviction to resist until the final moment and prepared a counterattack. As a start, she moved to kill the demons residing in the kingdom.

‘…Uncle.’

The Ropenheim she had met there. It was good to see his face looking much more at peace than before. But she could sense Mana from his body.

Knowing that his Manahole had been destroyed, she realized someone was using Uncle Ropenheim to play some sort of trick.

The man she had met ten years ago at the Martial Arts Tournament. He must have…

“…Gah!”

Her two eyes snapped open to see two men: Ropenheim and a young man. They were sitting around a campfire roasting meat. Fat dripped from the meat, and the savory smell of burning fat wafted through the air.

The succulent, high-quality meat stirred Artina’s appetite, as she hadn’t had a proper meal in a long time.

Gulp.

Artina swallowed unconsciously and tried to move her hand to cover her mouth, but her hands wouldn’t move, bound by something.

She lowered her head to check her condition; her upper body was wrapped tightly in a cloak. She raised her head again and looked at the young man.

“What are you doing?”

“Are you going to stay still? If so, I’ll untie you.”

“Untie this right now.”

“Promise me you won’t be loud. Then I’ll give you some meat too.”

“…”

Artina glared at him and checked the man’s condition. The demonic energy she had felt earlier was gone.

“The demonic energy I emitted earlier was something I created on purpose to get inside the city walls.”

As soon as the man finished speaking, the demonic energy could be felt, but it vanished immediately. It was the skill of someone who could manipulate demonic energy at will.

Conversely, this time he produced a pure white light that felt warm.

“…Divine Power?”

“Do you believe me now?”

Demons could never produce Divine Power. To them, Divine Power was Poison. That was why the first thing they did when invading the kingdom was to kill the Saintess and destroy all the temples.

“…I believe you.”

Sliiiide.

The cloak wrapped around her upper body loosened. She was now able to move freely.

“Give me that.”

The young man handed something to Ropenheim.

Ropenheim brought over the golden-brown roasted meat. As he got closer, the smell became even more intense.

“You’ve worked hard. I have so much I want to say, but for now, eat this.”

Before handing over the meat, he handed her a bottle containing a liquid.

“Is it poison?”

“It’s a recovery potion.”

Ropenheim drank half of it himself before handing it to Artina.

Artina drank the liquid in a state of partial resignation. Even if these two were fakes, she had no way to escape anyway.

Gulp.

She felt boundless energy from the liquid flowing down her throat.

Fatigue had built up heavily because she hadn’t been able to get proper rest while fighting for a long time, but that Fatigue was washed away in an instant.

Even the parts where she had been wounded and the injuries had festered returned to smooth skin.

“…This is.”

“Eat first. We can talk about the details after you’ve eaten.”

“…Yes.”