novelraw Chapter 24 : Chapter 24
Chapter 24 : Chapter 24
Chapter 24. Alvarez (1)
Iris, who was well-versed in the Goddess Cult and ancient history, was able to identify who Primus was in an instant.
The first creature created by the Goddess.
The distant ancestor of humanity and the demon tribe.
Wasn't he a primeval figure who existed only in myths? Iris couldn't quite understand what this was all about.
It was absurd enough that a figure she had only seen in history books was still alive, but to say that he was the true mastermind.
‘He’s real? Then what are we supposed to believe?’ But she had no time to be flustered.
Because Number 1 had uttered these words.
"It seems he will make his move soon. If Primus begins to move, the world as we know it may end. What he wants is not creation, but destruction."
As Iris hesitated, Number 1 added the following words.
"There is no time to think. We don't have much time left."
She clutched her confused head and looked out the window.
The figures of Rude and Noemi, moving far away, seemed distant.
‘What on earth can I do? Primus. He's practically a divine being, isn't he?’
Iris slowly evened her breathing and clenched her fists.
Her mind was in turmoil, but her eyes were growing firmer.
‘Still, I have to do it. Now that I’ve become the master of the Unseen Ones, this is my business too.’
Iris thought that perhaps this was fate.
***
Inside a certain cave located deep in the demon territory.
A demon, who exuded an extraordinary aura at a glance, was panting heavily.
His body was covered in deep wounds.
The demon cried out as if wailing.
"Kuhk. What in the world is your identity!"
Then, the opponent who had subdued him in an instant opened his mouth.
"W-what did you say?"
Regardless.
The opponent calmly continued to say only what he had to say.
When his story ended, the demon's expression changed 180 degrees.
His previous ferocious momentum was gone, and he had turned into an innocent lamb.
"I-if what you say is true……."
"There are no lies in my words."
The demon bowed his head with a trembling face and said.
"I understand, my lord. From now on, I promise to follow only your words. Come to think of it, there were more than one or two things I found difficult to understand, like why the Goddess would persecute us, her own creations, and favor only humans."
"It's good that you understand quickly."
"It can't be helped. You are our ancestor, aren't you?"
The opponent slowly nodded his head.
"In the end, this is all because of my mother's neglect. Even after creating us, she is only pouring her strength into useless things."
"Are you referring to the Children of God?"
"That's right. One of those is enough with me. How about it, Nox? Won't you complete the great work with me?"
Nox's heart pounded.
To go beyond annihilating humanity and kill the Goddess.
Is that possible? No, with this person, it might be possible.
Because he was the first person the Goddess had created.
Nox bowed his head and said.
"I am but your faithful servant, my lord."
"Huhu. How cute. You will surely do well."
"Just trust in me, my lord. I will definitely show you the results you desire."
"The word 'lord' is grating to my ears."
"Then?"
The opponent thought for a moment and then said this.
"From now on, call me Father."
"Ooh!"
Nox felt his throat choke with emotion.
The ancestor of all demons and humanity, and the first child of God.
How could he not be moved when Primus told him to call him Father?
Nox slammed his head hard on the ground and shouted loudly.
"May glory be on all the paths you walk, Father!"
Nox was the final boss of the original version.
In other words, he was the character who appeared as the leader of the new demon tribe and the Demon King, but he bowed his head repeatedly to his opponent without any shame.
A story different from the original version began to unfold in earnest.
***
Anonymous tried to persuade me several times.
But I was firm.
"Apart from training, real combat is also important. And luckily, this area is rich with spaces for that."
"The demon territory is dangerous. So much so that even I don't want to set foot in there if possible."
"I don't mean to go deep inside. I'm thinking of going only to the entrance area."
"Even though you'll only be able to meet low-level demons?"
I nodded with a resolute face.
"What Adel needs now is real combat experience. The low-level demons will be good experience points."
"Hooo. Just because they're low-level demons doesn't mean they're fledglings."
"I know that better than anyone."
Anonymous frowned and continued.
"I cannot go there with you. My contract with Arus forbids it."
"I understand. Adel and I will go alone."
"Adel aside, your own life could be in danger. And you still want to go? How arrogant."
Anonymous exploited my weakness.
She said she didn't know why I was trying to undertake such an adventure when I had my power sealed by the Demon King and couldn't even defeat an ordinary person.
"That's why it's all the more necessary. Since I can't use my power, Adel needs to become stronger."
Anonymous glared at me with a fierce face.
"Are you saying my training alone is not enough?"
"That's right. What Adel needs now is the ability to cut down the demon in front of her."
If a master who has only trained in a safe place his whole life and a soldier who has accumulated real combat experience in dangerous places for a short period of time fight one-on-one, who would win?
Obviously, the latter.
‘Real combat and training are different. More importantly, Adel has never killed a single demon before.’
Killing a living creature is a more difficult problem than one might think.
This is even more so if it's a demon that looks 99% similar to a human.
They have pointed ears like elves and sharp teeth, but other than that, they are no different from humans.
Of course, they are much stronger and have higher magical power, but it's hard to ignore the visible factors.
In the end, Anonymous also threw up her hands and declared her surrender.
"You're as stubborn as Arus. Hooo, really, humans……. Is it a racial instinct to constantly try to choose the perilous path?"
Though she said that, her eyes were full of worry.
I felt a strange sense of dissonance.
‘She looks like a ten-year-old kid, but her gaze is so deep. She has a strange charm.’
This must be why Anticus has quite a few fans.
What was the name of her fan cafe again? Noona, I'm dying?
It's not my taste, but it probably means there are many users who enjoy this kind of immoral feeling.
Of course, that's a problem outside my purview.
Anyway, now that Anonymous' permission was granted, it was time for Adel and me to cross the Elburz Mountains.
But an unexpected obstacle appeared.
"No, where do you think you're going? Are you crazy?"
Alvarez, one of the only two knights in Rarc Village along with Adel, stood his ground,
saying he would never allow it.
What's with this guy?
I didn't understand why a non-existent NPC was suddenly getting all worked up.
***
Alvarez was dumbfounded.
No, he was flabbergasted.
To say he was going to the demon territory with Adel.
Of course, the demon territory was not a nation in the conventional sense, so going in or out would not escalate into a diplomatic issue.
However,
‘It’s no different from going into the jaws of death. I can never allow it.’
No matter that there was no Demon King at present, and that the one who defeated that Demon King was Frank himself, this was a very dangerous act.
Weren't even dozens of veterans barely a match for a single low-level demon?
If he hadn't asked where she was going when Adel said she would take a few days off, he would have unknowingly let this happen.
It was about thirty minutes ago.
Adel, unlike her usual self, hesitantly and quietly called him.
"Is there something you'd like to say?"
"Uh-huh. I'm planning to take a few days off, so please watch over this place well in my stead."
It wasn't even Thanksgiving, so a sudden vacation?
Come to think of it, since returning to Rarc Village, neither he nor Adel had taken a proper rest.
Alvarez was about to say there was no problem but then asked casually.
"Is there somewhere you need to go?"
"Ah, well……."
When she gave a bitter smile and hesitated, Alvarez pushed a little harder.
"I am the second-in-command here and your adjutant. I believe it is right for you to at least tell me where you are going."
Adel opened her mouth with a troubled face.
"I have somewhere to go with my father for a little while."
"The two of you with the Baron?"
"Yes."
"And where is that?"
"Umm. Please keep this a secret if possible. It's a place that would be troublesome if it became known."
Going to a place that would be troublesome if it became known, with just Frank?
Alvarez, seized by jealousy, gritted his teeth inwardly and pressed her.
"Where on earth is it that you're being like this?"
"The demon territory. Please keep it quiet."
"Pardon?"
Alvarez couldn't close his mouth.
The demon territory wasn't the name of the neighbor's dog. And she was saying she was going there with just Frank.
Moreover, Count Bruno, who had joined hands with him, would soon come to capture Frank, so he couldn't let Frank escape like this.
Thus, Alvarez went straight to Frank's house, and that was right now.
He forgot that the man before him was the former hero who had defeated the Demon King and a baron of much higher status than himself, and raised his voice.
"What is the reason for going to the demon territory?"
Frank glared at him with an insolent face.
"Is there a reason I should tell you that?"
"I am a knight of this village! I'm the same as an agent of the kingdom."
He and Adel were not the baron's subordinates.
They were official bureaucrats belonging to the kingdom's knight order.
If the baron showed behavior that would harm the kingdom, they had not only the duty to report it to the kingdom but also the right to arrest him.
Did his gamble work?
Frank exchanged some words with Adel with a troubled face.
Then he said this.
"It can't be helped. In that case, you should come with us."
"Pardon? What do you mean?"
"See for yourself with your own two eyes whether Adel and I are doing something harmful to the kingdom and judge for yourself. But you'd better be prepared. That place is teeming with demons. Can you handle it?"
A normal Alvarez would have retorted in anger, asking why he should accept such a ridiculous proposal.But the opponent was his rival in love and Frank, who had made Adel's life difficult.
There was no room for rational thought.
"Ugh. Are you ignoring me?"
"I have never ignored you. I just asked if you could handle it."
"Of course I can handle it! I, too, am an official knight of the kingdom, just like Adel! I will show you my strength!"
Frank shrugged, saying he understood.
It felt as if he was ignoring him, as if he wouldn't care if he died.
Alvarez repeated to himself countless times.
‘I will definitely make you remember my existence, Frank. I am no longer the crybaby Alvarez of the past.’
Alvarez clenched his fists and followed the two.
Of course, it wasn't just for emotional reasons.
He was genuinely worried about Adel's safety and needed to keep an eye on Frank.
But why was it? Even the high peaks of the Elburz Mountains in the distance seemed to be taunting him, asking if he could handle it.