“Son of a…!”
“Showing that he communicates with Spirits…”
The torn-apart carcass of the demon rotted in an instant. The stench of blood and decay spread a terrible odor. The blue blood and rotten flesh mixed together, turning the ground into a cesspool. The Count’s boots were stained with filth.
“I told him to come to the lake.”
But the Count kneeled. He didn’t care about the mud staining his pants. He seemed unable to bear the nauseating smell. He covered his face with trembling hands. The blue blood spewed by the demon gradually spread across his face like paint. I couldn’t dare to console him.
“I’m sorry.”
The Count looked at me with hollow eyes, then his expression turned to one of sorrow, then quickly twisted into one of anger, and finally, as if enduring pain, he clawed at his own face. Eventually, he couldn’t bear it any longer and let out a scream. It was a desperate and sorrowful cry.
He had killed the demon himself.
He didn’t blame Karant for fighting the demon.
During the Great War, the Count had already suffered many wounds from demons, so he knew how to deal with them. But the feeling of loss was never something one could get used to.
Losing a loved one? It’s something everyone experiences several times in their life. But losing a child, not to an accident but to a vile creature like a demon? How lonely and painful must that have been?
Even I, a veteran soldier in my past life, felt a pang of heartache when I saw Karant lying dead at the lonely bottom of the lake.
I couldn’t even begin to imagine the Count’s agony.
* * *
Time passed.
The Count stopped screaming and stood up.
The pain hadn’t gone away. The grief hadn’t subsided.
He just swallowed his anguish and asked me a question.
He was a strong man.
“Can the Moon’s Child distinguish demons?”
The Count asked.
“You knew Karant was a demon from the beginning. How? Even I, his father, who lived with him his whole life, didn’t know, so how did you recognize a demon with such certainty?”
“It’s the power of the Spirit.”
“Spirit?”
“I wasn’t certain he was a demon from the beginning. I threw bait, and when he was left alone at the lake, he revealed his true nature as a demon. It’s all thanks to Spirit’s help.”
I gave plausible reasons, but unfortunately, lies were the best option.
“I apologize for deceiving you, Count. Rather than informing many people to distinguish impostors, it’s better for me to act alone….”
“Enough. I know. So don’t apologize.”
The Count had experienced firsthand the terror of ‘impostors’ that occurred decades ago.
He understood it intellectually.
But understanding, acknowledging, and accepting such a thing was not the issue.
I guided the Count to the lake. And carefully showed him Karant’s body hidden by the riverside. As soon as the Count saw Karant’s body, he rushed forward. Even slipping in the mud, he quickly got up and ran towards Karant, keeping his gaze solely on him. With trembling hands, the Count slapped Karant’s cheeks.
The dead cannot be found by demons. Knowing this, as soon as the Count saw Karant’s intact body, he began to sob like a child. He hugged Karant and cried out.
“If only you had stayed by my side, Father would have nothing to wish for. Karant, I’m sorry. It’s because of me, Karant, Karant.”
Those left behind are tormented by guilt.
The Count’s demeanor was a familiar sight to me, one I had seen countless times in past lives. It’s because of me, it’s because of me. Damn it.
“Count Schwarzen. Karant was a Spirit User.”
“What?”
“There was a Spirit living in Lake Terrin. Perhaps, until now, it was Spirit who sealed the demon in the lake. The reason Karant’s body remained intact and asleep in the depths of the lake for months without being consumed by the demon was because the Spirit was protecting Karant. It’s not because the Spirit are compassionate beings. They are natural entities, and they believe that death is just a part of the natural order. But communicating with a Spirit User, exchanging emotions, that’s different. Surely, the reason why the wizard of the lake protected Karant was for such reasons. Karant wasn’t devoured by the demon. Just as the Spirit preserved his body for a long time, he bravely fought against the demon with deep sacrifice and courage. The reason why the unleashed demon couldn’t wreak havoc until now was because it was greatly weakened and needed time to recover its strength.”
It was then. Along with the splashing sounds in the lake, a water storm arose. It was a phenomenon caused by Dalbi’s mischief. The Count looked at the water storm with astonished eyes, shedding tears.
“It’s not a meager comfort. Karant was undoubtedly destined to be a great Spirit User. A splendid Spirit User possessing the waters of the lake, fitting for his blue eyes.”
While holding his son’s hand for a while, the Count spoke to me in a tired voice.
“You resemble Count Rainberg greatly in your kindness.”
The Count’s sincerity.
“But unlike him, you’re terribly cruel.”
There was no excuse.
“Thank you.”
The Terrin Lake, illuminating the stars and moonlight, sparkled unnecessarily brightly.
Damn it.
—
Returning to the castle but unable to sleep easily.
I sat quietly, assuming the posture of meditation, accepting the flow of nature.
The wind blows from within.
And cold water droplets tickle the cheeks.
It has changed.
After meditation, I definitely felt better than before.
“My performance has improved.”
Dalbi’s blue tail fur trembled slightly.
—
Not even three days had passed since sending the sealed letter, and Father arrived at Schwarzen Castle. The Duke of Rainberg’s visit was conducted secretly. None at Schwarzen Castle, except the Count, were aware, and neither the imperial court nor the Church were informed of this matter. Only I, the Count, and Father knew.
Karant’s death would be known later. Poor Karant, he couldn’t even have a proper funeral. The Count had to bear the grief alone. It felt miserable not to even honor the deceased’s spirit.
A meeting regarding the ‘impostors’ took place in the Count’s parlor.
The recent Karant incident was like a released demon. It was different from the situation during the Great War several decades ago. However, the fact that such an incident occurred itself was problematic. It was thought that there were no more demons in the Kunkan Empire. The existence of demons yet to be understood, the possibility of demons remaining after the Great War, the need to prepare for contingencies from now on. The Count’s voice grew louder during this incident. His sorrow soon turned into hatred and anger toward the demons.
As the meeting progressed, I learned an astonishing fact. Lately, Father had been very busy. Except for the trip to Temple of Artemis and the birthday party, he had rarely been at Quilz Castle. He entrusted official duties to his attendants and frequently left somewhere. It turned out he was investigating rumors about the ‘Disguisers’ or importors.
Father concluded that perhaps the impostors might be within the empire.
I wasn’t surprised. Melissa had said so. The rumors were ‘widespread’. She had even encountered a demon disguised as a slave trader. Impostors were likely active not only in the Kynakhan Empire but also in other kingdoms and across the sea to other continents. However, unlike during the Great War, there were no conspicuous movements.
The fiercely burning Count Schwarzen put strong pressure on Father, who was investigating rumors about impostors. Unlike during the Great War, there was an agreement that they should uproot them before impostors could act.
Count Schwarzen supported Father, and Father said he would soon prepare the ‘position’. The most important thing in the plan was the Spirit User. It was widely known that Spirit Users were like poison to demons. Moreover, if one was a Spirit User, it would be solid evidence of not being an ‘impostor’. Spirit User could also easily distinguish impostors.
No one knew how far impostors had infiltrated the empire. Father’s argument was this.
Gathering Disguisers as quietly as possible and executing them simultaneously.
And the most important key to this plan.
Was me.
When I left the Count’s room after the meeting, I glanced at the shelf for a moment.
The three decorated stones were missing.
—
The carriage didn’t bear the Rainberg crest.
Father had a stern expression all the way back to Quilz Castle.
The Count said I had discerned demons with the help of Spirit User.
He couldn’t not know. Father was the empire’s strongest Spirit User. He would have realized it was a lie that I detected demons with Spirit User’s power? But Father didn’t say anything to me.
Father looked at me with a complex gaze.
It seemed as if he was looking at me with admiration and happiness.
I vaguely anticipated his complex feelings. When we arrived at Quilz Territory and switched to Rainberg’s carriage, I whispered to Father as I did during the birthday party.
“I won’t disappoint you.”
Father ruffled my hair.
—
“For days we haven’t fought, so today I will fight with three.”
The duel with Ranista began. To forget the pain of the experiences in Schteram, it was much better to move around than to lie quietly in bed.
“Who are the ‘dead’ today?”
“Hah! Baek Seo-Saeng, Mae Nan-Geom, and Sok Hwa-gwi. When I fell into the lonely Gu poison in Magyo and fought hundreds of demons…”
“You don’t need to tell me the details.”
Ranista chuckled.
“There must be a taste in losing.”
He laid out a long sword, two short daggers, and a sickle on the ground. They seemed to be the weapons used by the martial artists he would imitate today. I shrugged and said to Ranista,
“I’ve been thinking, isn’t this for real?”
“Hmm.”
“Why did I insist? Just because I learned martial arts doesn’t mean I have to use only my body.”
I looked at Dalbi.
“It has to be practical.”
I felt it when I fought the demon.
I had to throw everything into it.
Not just martial arts.
I needed to gain more, stronger power,
and be able to wield that power skillfully.
In the early morning, before the sun rose, the sky began to brighten.
Ranista stirred. His gaze might fall from the sky.
“Is that Baek Seo-saeng now, or something? How can he do that?”
Just before Dalbi’s dropped moon fragment hit the sword, Ranista laughed.
“Hahaha!”
Clang!
Finally, the meteorite fell.
Since Ranista became the leader of the knights, a magic was cast on the moon fragment. Even if it was broken and messed up, it would return to its original state over time. However, a deep pit was formed where the meteorite fell, and the moon fragment was not restored.
Clack, clack!
From the thick dust rising, Ranista emerged from the pit.
His body was dirty with dust, but there were no wounds. I felt a strange thrill watching Ranista cough.
“It seems so.”
Ranista’s eyes changed.
I suddenly wondered if I had made a mistake.
His eyes were too shiny. Why are they shining like that? It’s like looking into the eyes of a curious little boy filled with interest. I’d rather have the eyes of a lion who scolds and beats me.
“I’ll have to skip a few steps.”
Ranista raised his sword.
“Oh! That’s not your original power!”
“Don’t be cocky.”
I’ve seen it a few times. The skilled knights of Rainburg dealt with something called ‘Aura,’ and I’ve seen the mysterious energy that clings to their swords.
Ranista’s sword began to show the Aura too. It definitely wasn’t his original power. What he showed in the deserted village wasn’t just the extent of the Aura on his sword, but the gigantic red dragon’s energy that filled the surroundings.
However, using Aura was different from mimicking a martial artist before.
“This is bad.”
“He’s Hwasa’s Baek Seo-Saeng swordmaster. He’s not just a lower-level warrior; he used to eat the sword of the martial arts world.”
The difficulty level suddenly changed.
But I didn’t run away, I transformed Lamelstar into a weapon.
A little more, a little more.
If I didn’t push it to the limit, I wouldn’t get the power I wanted.
* * *
My fingers are numb, but well, Wooshas will fix them, won’t she?
“Are you prepared?”
Ranista asked.
“Why do you want to become stronger?”
“Is it really necessary to have such conversations when I’m about to die?”
I don’t feel comfortable with Ranista, who makes me talk even though I’m about to die.
“Aren’t I asking something that healers do?”
Afraid my finger might fall off, I couldn’t even raise my middle finger.
“…For everything.”
I replied instead. Anyway, it’s better to go along with him since he considers me his disciple.
“Hmm?”
I roughly answered, but it was sincere.
Rainberg’s family, hospitality, killing demons, Ranista, Melissa, Ushas, past lives, comrades, family, survival, resistance, freedom, will.
Everything requires strength.
The need for strength was desperate even in my past life.
In the end, I gave up and faced a pathetic death where I couldn’t even remember how I died.
If I hadn’t given up.
“For everything….”
Ranista suddenly started preaching.
“Disciple, a man with many desires faces two different results.”
Well.
“One is a man who dies miserably without gaining anything.”
His voice was full of confidence. Let’s see where he goes with this.
“The other becomes a man who conquers everything. Like me. Hahaha!”
I raised my middle finger with difficulty. Oh no, it fell off.
