Thud!
The monster’s head hit the ground. The heavy impact shook Jimin.
The monster’s body, now empty without its head, stopped briefly before thudding down as well.
Its head lay sprawled on the earth, separated from its body, and that dull mass didn’t even twitch, as if it were dead.
‘It’s dead.’
Yujin immediately deduced that the monster’s vital activity had ceased.
Just as expected, the Chimera’s head controlled its regenerative ability, and once severed from the body, no further regeneration was possible.
“Was it… us?”
Pokseol asked cautiously.
Anyone with battlefield experience would be wary at this moment; sometimes, those thought dead might stir again.
“Yes, we killed the monster.”
That dry statement alone was enough.
“Hmm…”
Pokseol took a deep breath, then lifted his head toward the sky and pounded his chest.
The lion-man, filling his lungs with air, finally let out a roar.
“Uwaaaaargh!”
‘Noisy.’
Although Jimin had already covered his ears with both hands, the lion-man’s voice, mixed with the blood of a beastman, was like thunder.
The roar echoed far enough to reach even the people in the castle.
“The enemy captain! We got him!”
It wasn’t about boasting, but a proclamation that they had finally eliminated the dreadful threat.
Among those gathered, no one was unaware of the meaning behind those words.
Wowma…!
The deafening cheers followed.
The soldiers gathered below the castle walls shouted with joy, as did those on the battlements who had been watching the battle’s progress.
Pokseol! Pokseol! Pokseol!
Among the crowd, only Pokseol’s name was being shouted.
For those living here, Pokseol was almost a local hero, a figure known more widely than any mere mercenary.
“Does it matter?”
To the immortal, praise held no meaning.
Either way, they had to enter the demon realm eventually.
Rather than attracting excessive attention, he just wanted to get some rest.
“Haha!”
“Greetings!”
But Pokseol didn’t leave it at that.
He grabbed Jimin roughly by the scruff of the neck and lifted him forcibly, making him ride piggyback.
“What the—?”
Jimin tried to get down, but if he jumped now, he might twist his ankle.
More importantly, the lion-man’s hands held onto his legs tightly, so jumping was impossible.
Pokseol looked up with a face full of laughter and confidence.
“We’re comrades who fought together!”
Hearing that made Jimin cringe.
“Comrades, my foot…”
Looking for romance on the battlefield? This guy was definitely a knight. Or maybe Jimin had just been thoroughly worn down.
Pokseol chuckled heartily.
“Once you’ve got someone’s back in battle, you’re comrades!”
“Okay, okay, just put me down…”
He was no child, and being piggybacked was embarrassing.
“Let’s march like victorious generals!”
In the end, Pokseol’s stubbornness didn’t waver.
He entered the castle carrying Jimin on his back.
Passing through the second gate, people gathered on both sides and shouted,
“Long live Pokseol, the brave!”
“Long live Yujin, the glorious!”
“Yujin! Yujin! Yujin!”
Everyone raised their hands and welcomed the group.
Jimin’s name was also being called out, probably by Emilia and the others.
‘A victory parade, huh.’
It had been a long time since he’d been welcomed like this.
A century ago, after beheading the Demon King and returning to humanity’s lands, tales of Yian and their group had spread widely.
‘That’s why the king invited us to the capital back then.’
At that time, the whole capital gathered to greet them.
They said their adventure was a personal grudge against the demons, but even unintentionally, being so widely celebrated felt good.
Thinking back on it, a slight smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
What would Yian and the others say if they saw this?
Since the Chimera was one of the monsters they caught in dungeons, the locals were probably making too big a fuss.
‘Now, it’s just me.’
That thought brought a bittersweet feeling.
Someday, this moment would become just a fleeting story.
How a brave knight killed the monster that threatened the castle.
“Sir!”
“Hmm?”
From the crowd, a familiar voice called out.
It was Emilia, leading the children.
She waved her hand conspicuously.
“Here! Over here!”
“Oh! Are these the students you brought?”
Pokseol, seeing her, headed in that direction.
Since many people were still gathered, all eyes followed his path.
“Alright, put him down now.”
“Agreed.”
Pokseol gladly complied.
He thought the victory parade was enough.
The moment his feet touched the ground again, Emilia rushed over.
“Are you okay!?”
Her worry was more for his injury than the victory.
After all, he had lured the monsters alone, blocked them off, and even fought the leader.
Her concern was appreciated, but Jimin wanted to avoid drawing unnecessary attention and hid his hand.
“I’m fine.”
“Not fine at all!”
Emilia didn’t accept that and reached out.
Sure enough, she grabbed his injured left arm.
She’d seen him block the Chimera’s beam with that very hand earlier.
“When the Chimera fired its beam, you blocked it with your hand, right? There’s no way you’re not hurt…”
As Emilia rolled up the sleeve on his left arm, her face went pale, eyes wide with horror at what she saw.
“Oh my… how did this happen?”
“What!? Your arm…”
Pokseol finally noticed the state of his left arm and tensed up.
“This is why I didn’t want anyone to see it.”
The gauntlet-wearing arm was rotting.
Black spots spread, eating into the flesh.
His left arm was a mess, riddled with holes from decay.
“You got hit directly by that Chimera’s beam, didn’t you!?”
Pokseol nodded in response.
It was exactly the symptom of using the cursed gauntlet.
But since the power of the gauntlet was known, there was no secret to keep.
“Silvia!”
“I’m coming!”
At Emilia’s call, a silver-haired nun hurried over.
She was the only healer in their group.
Though a Holy Mage, this kind of injury would be hard to heal.
“Because it’s a curse.”
The gauntlet was armor only the living could not wear.
The armor of the cursed knights was only for the dead.
Due to its connection to death, a living wearer’s flesh would rot away.
Just putting it on could be fatal.
“It’s a cursed power that only a death knight like me can use.”
Silvia tried healing magic, but the warm light was useless on the blackened arm.
It only warmed the surface of the skin.
“Healing magic!”
Emilia was shocked.
“This is a curse, isn’t it!?”
Only then did Silvia realize the cause of the injury, her pupils shaking.
The curse blocked Holy Mage healing.
This was a strong curse that normally eroded the victim’s life force.
“If we don’t remove the curse…!”
Silvia’s eyes were desperate, but Jimin raised his right hand to silence her and asked Pokseol,
“Could you provide a room?”
“Now?”
“There’s a method to treat this kind of injury, but…”
He smiled faintly.
It wasn’t something they wanted others to see.
Pokseol raised his eyebrows, understanding the meaning.
“Oh, then I’ll prepare a room.”
“Thank you.”
He answered and looked at Emilia.
The method to treat the arm was simple but difficult to perform with only one hand.
“It’s related to the immortal’s power.”
Emilia noticed his glance and silently agreed with her eyes.
With the situation like this, the victory celebration ended quickly.
Because of the injury, Jimin had to part with the children again.
“This room will be yours.”
“Thank you.”
The room provided was Maol’s staff office.
Originally a private room for the commander, it was empty now.
“If you need anything, call me.”
Pokseol left, and Jimin was alone.
[Cut the arm off?]
Illu spoke silently.
They shared thoughts often, so naturally, he knew what Jimin was thinking.
“There’s no other choice.”
Looking at the rotting arm, the decay was creeping toward the elbow.
The spread of rot should have been faster, but it slowed thanks to the immortal’s regeneration and the curse’s decomposition working against each other.
Knock knock.
“Hmm?”
Jimin looked toward the window.
Emilia was there.
She must have come in using flying magic, considering they were on the third floor.
“Help!”
She seemed more urgent than before.
“Alright, alright.”
Opening the window, Emilia came in.
After closing it behind her, she gave a worried look.
Even knowing Jimin was immortal, she was concerned about the injury.
“We know each other well enough—why so gloomy?”
Her reproach earned a reply.
“Pain is pain.”
“It’s about time.”
He’d experienced this kind of pain before, and there was a way to treat it.
He pointed to his left arm.
“Now, cut off this arm.”
“… What?”
Emilia froze at his command.
He couldn’t be asking her to amputate, could he?
But that was exactly why he called her.
“You’re a mage, right? Use severance magic and cut it cleanly.”
“R-really?”
Emilia kept asking, making Jimin frown.
“While you’re stalling, it’s still hurting.”
Only then did she snap out of it.
Though reluctant, she had to do it.
Swallowing nervously, Emilia raised her staff.
“Abducere.”
The instant she cast the spell, Jimin screamed in agony.
Soon, a bloody lump that was once his arm lay on the floor.
In truth, the fluid was closer to blackened ichor than blood.
“Ugh… aaah…”
The girl, horrified at the severed arm and blood, was scolded.
“Emilia!”
“Y-Yes!”
Taking the opportunity, Jimin gave her some advice.
“There will be many battles where you’ll bleed!
It might even be your blood!”
Entering the demon realm meant being prepared to bleed.
The monsters they faced today were only a preview of what awaited inside.
“If you don’t want to die—or see your comrades die—get used to it!”
Emilia’s eyes glistened with tears, but there was no time to comfort a crying child now.
Pointing to the severed arm and blood, Jimin said,
“Clean the blood thoroughly and burn the arm.”
If the rot lingered, this room would become unusable.
That’s also why he hadn’t tried to recover the throwing knives strapped to the arm.
“Hurry!”
At his urging, Emilia cast the spell.
Soon, the rotten blood on the floor disappeared cleanly.
The severed arm, wrapped in torn clothing, turned to ash.
One by one…
She gathered the ashes and dropped them out the window.
Once burned, the curse’s influence was purified.
Only Emilia knew what had happened here.
“N-now what?”
She looked at the now-empty stump of the left arm.
Since the arm had been cut off below the shoulder, he couldn’t just walk around like this.
“Wait.”
Slowly, bone and flesh began to sprout from the cut end.
“Woah!”
“Hey! Don’t throw up!”
Jimin stopped Emilia, who was about to vomit.
“This is really the start of the demon realm now.”
Silvia spoke as they faced the great forest ahead.
Just like yesterday’s victory celebration felt unreal, everyone was tense facing the forest.
“Yes… the real adventure begins now…”
Emilia agreed with Silvia.
But rather than feeling tense about entering the demon realm, she only remembered the scene of Yujin’s arm regenerating yesterday.
“Emilia? Feeling okay?”
Silvia noticed the look on her face.
“Did you eat something bad yesterday? I feel a bit queasy too.”
“You just eat too much meat.”
“Why only me?”
Rian made a comment but got scolded by Silvia.
“Hehe…”
The conversation made Jimin smile a little.
But the gruesome image from yesterday wouldn’t leave his mind.
Bones, muscles, flesh growing like clay.
‘More than that…’
How was Yujin so calm despite that terrible pain?
Yesterday, he cut off the cursed arm, but the regenerated one still bore the bandage.
“Probably to hide his power.”
It made sense.
Even those who knew his secret wouldn’t easily mention it.
If others found out about his power, it’d be awkward.
“Is everyone ready?”
Yujin asked, carrying his bag with his right arm.
“Yes!”
Everyone responded, their packs settled on their backs.
From now on, they would march long distances and camp outdoors.
So, they organized their gear for easy travel.
“Alright.”
Yujin nodded at their responses and turned toward the great forest.
“Let’s go.”
Into the demon realm.