Chapter 11: The Demon’s Temptation (2)

 

“What do you think you’re doing? How dare you break into someone’s home uninvited!”

 

Sophia glared, her voice sharp as a blade.

 

Caught red-handed in her act, her reaction was more intense than I’d anticipated.

 

“I admit it. You’re right; I did something rude. But shouldn’t you speak accurately?”

 

I pushed my sword closer, correcting her words.

 

“This isn’t someone’s home. It’s a den—a demon’s lair!”

 

“A demon’s lair…? What are you talking about? Wait, could it be… Sir Kayron?”

 

“Oh, you recognize me?”

 

Even with my face hidden, Sophia identified me by my voice.

 

“Of course. Who in Cresnig wouldn’t know the captain of the Black Iron Knights? Especially me—I’ve heard plenty about you from Benedict.”

 

“I’ll take that as a compliment. But…”

 

…You’re a demon, aren’t you?

 

Receiving praise from a demon… what an experience.

 

Sophia’s tone shifted abruptly, becoming calm and gentle. Her earlier sharp glare and cutting words vanished as though they’d never existed.

 

“Sir Kayron, regardless, let’s calm down for a moment. I think there’s been a misunderstanding. Take a look.”

 

Sophia stepped aside, pointing at Benedict sprawled out on the floor.

 

He was sound asleep, snoring softly, with traces of a dark liquid smeared around his mouth—likely forced down his throat.

 

Sophia gazed at him tenderly, her expression overflowing with warmth.

 

“I just wanted to let someone who trains tirelessly every day get some proper rest. Even if it meant using… unconventional methods.”

 

Her face darkened with worry, and her clear eyes glimmered with sincerity.

 

“It’s been so long since I’ve seen Benedict look so peaceful. Don’t you think he looks like a child, Sir Kayron? Isn’t he just adorable?”

 

“So…”

 

I lowered my sword slightly and asked,

 

“What were you planning to do after putting Benedict to sleep?”

 

“T-that’s…”

 

Sophia’s cheeks flushed bright red.

 

“I can’t tell you that. It’s too… embarrassing.”

 

She looked like a woman deeply in love—except for one thing.

 

The unsettling yellow aura emanating from her body.

 

“I can see why Benedict fell for you. Everything you do is charming, perfectly befitting the title of ‘angel.’ But…”

 

I raised my sword again, pointing it directly at her.

 

“…too perfect. So much so that it’s unnatural. And here’s the catch: demons can never become angels.”

 

Honestly, Sophia’s flawless act sent chills down my spine.

 

If not for my special sight, capable of revealing hidden demons, I might have been fooled.

 

But here she was, surrounded by that ominous yellow glow, clear as day to me.

 

“Why…?”

 

Sensing that I wasn’t going to let her go, Sophia began retreating.

 

“Why are you doing this to us? Please, Sir Kayron, come to your senses. I don’t know what’s driven you to madness, but I genuinely love Benedict!”

 

“So you’re going to deny it until the end? Oh, and what did you just say? Us?”

 

The audacity of a demon to group herself with Benedict as “us” was beyond revolting.

 

Which left only one answer.

 

I lunged at Sophia without hesitation.

 

“Show your true form, just like that wretched Razen!”

 

Though her words of love wavered my reason for a moment, my instincts screamed that she was a demon.

 

Thud.

 

The tip of my sword plunged into her stomach, piercing through her back with a chilling sound.

 

But…

 

Sophia didn’t even scream.

 

The angelic smile she had worn moments ago vanished, replaced by a horrifying grin that split her mouth from ear to ear.

 

“Fufu… If you’d just left us alone, Benedict could have died happily. Aren’t you supposed to be his friend, Kayron?”

 

“I am his friend. That’s why I came here to get rid of you, you demon.”

 

“How cruel. What will Benedict think when he wakes up and learns the woman he loved was a demon? Do you think his mind will survive it?”

 

“That won’t happen. Because I’ll destroy you before he wakes.”

 

I yanked my sword from her body and swung it toward her face.

 

“Oh my…”

 

Even as her face was slashed deeply, Sophia didn’t flinch.

 

“Hoho, Kayron, what a pity. What will Benedict do when he sees his precious love’s beautiful face ruined?”

 

The sword pierced Sophia’s stomach, and blood spurted out from her wounds and face like a fountain. Yet, she continued to smile as if nothing had happened.

 

“What… How are you still standing?”

 

“Sorry, but you can’t kill me with ordinary methods.”

 

As she spoke, an unpleasant yellow spore bubbled up around her wounds. The spores clung together, morphing into flesh and grotesquely sealing the injuries.

 

The angelic smile was gone. What remained was a horrifyingly distorted and monstrous appearance.

 

“This is… disgusting. Absolutely revolting.”

 

“Just one question, Kayron. How did you know I was a demon?”

 

“How could I not? That sickly yellow aura of yours gives you away.”

 

“So, you can see that!”

 

Sophia’s eyes widened as she lunged at me.

 

Her movements were sluggish, but each swing of her arms carried immense power, smashing parts of the house as they missed.

 

“I heard Razen fell to you recently. I was wondering how you exposed him, and now I know the answer!”

 

“Congratulations. But so what? You’ll still die here, Sophia.”

 

Dodging her slow attacks, I countered by inflicting shallow wounds all over her body. Despite this, Sophia remained unfazed, relentlessly attacking.

 

“Unlike Razen, that pathetic servant of the Miserable Crow God, I’m different. I serve the Great Plague Toad God.”

 

“No matter how ‘different’ you are, you’re still a demon—and demons all meet the same end!”

 

Knowing I needed a decisive blow, I charged at Sophia and struck multiple times with my sword.

 

But again, though I inflicted several deep wounds, they healed almost instantly.

 

“So, you regenerate minor injuries completely, huh? Let’s see how you handle this…!”

 

I channeled mana into my sword, making it glow a brilliant blue. With a powerful swing, the blade sliced cleanly through Sophia’s body.

 

“Kyahhhh!”

 

For the first time, Sophia let out a scream.

 

It was a significant strike, but the real challenge lay ahead.

 

I hadn’t brought my larger sword, opting instead for a smaller, more practical one. While it could wound Sophia, it wasn’t powerful enough to deliver a decisive blow.

 

As I cut deeper, the yellow fluid from her body splattered onto my blade, causing it to sizzle and corrode as if dipped in a potent acid.

 

“Damn it. If only I’d brought a better sword…”

 

Any ordinary demon would’ve been slain by now, but Sophia was on another level.

 

Even the deep wound inflicted by my mana-enhanced strike was starting to heal.

 

“Is that all you’ve got, Kayron? Your strikes were full of spirit, but they only tickled me in the end.”

 

Sophia smiled smugly, clearly pleased with herself.

 

“Don’t feel too disappointed, though. It’s only natural you can’t defeat me. You’re just a lowly human, and I’m a servant of the Great Toad God. What can you do with that half-broken sword of yours?”

 

Her condescending laughter made me want to sever her arrogant head right then and there.

 

What I needed was a better sword.

 

A much better sword.

 

‘…Wait, what’s that?’

 

My eyes landed on the perfect weapon.

 

“Don’t even think about it!”

 

Sophia noticed where my gaze had fallen and lunged toward me. But her sluggish movements couldn’t match my speed.

 

I dove toward the unconscious Benedict, rolled to the side, and narrowly avoided Sophia’s crushing blow, which shattered the ground where Benedict had been lying.

 

With some distance gained, I drew the sword Benedict always carried—a blade custom-made for the vice-captain.

 

It wasn’t as familiar in my hands as my own weapon, but it was far superior in quality.

 

“Ah, now this… this feels great.”

 

“Urgh…!”

 

The tables turned in an instant. I stood smiling confidently with the new sword, while Sophia’s already disfigured face twisted further in frustration.

 

“Now, why don’t you tell me? Who’s insignificant now, oh mighty demon?”

 

Infusing the sword with mana, I watched as it glowed with a radiant blue light.

 

This blade was perfect—ready to deliver judgment to the demon who had ensnared Benedict.

 

Sophia’s end was near.

--- The End OF The Chapter --

 

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