Chapter 6: Sometimes, a Demon is Better (3)

 

“Kayron, Kayron!”

 

Avelin nudged me insistently.

 

“What are you doing? Commander Balthazar is calling you.”

 

“Ah…”

 

That’s right. Commander Balthazar was calling for me.

 

The one cloaked in an aura of deep purple, far darker than the demon I had just dealt with.

 

“Avelin, don’t push him too hard. It seems Kayron is still in shock.”

 

“No, I’m fine.”

 

“Are you sure, Kayron?”

 

Commander Balthazar called me with his usual gentle tone.

 

Under normal circumstances, I’d have been moved by every word.

 

But not now.

 

“…Yes. I’m fine.”

 

“Then give me your report. Please explain as thoroughly as possible. I’ve only heard about it from the soldiers and don’t fully understand what happened.”

 

I explained how Razen, the commander of the 13th squad, transformed into a demon and set the surroundings ablaze, and how Avelin and I quickly subdued him before the fire could spread further.

 

“Razen turned into a demon and unleashed violet flames? It sounds terrifying just from your description, yet judging by your appearances, it seems the fight wasn’t particularly intense.”

 

“You’re correct. Thanks to Avelin’s assistance, it didn’t take long to handle the demon.”

 

“What…?”

 

Commander Balthazar’s eyes widened.

 

“Did I hear that correctly?”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“The two of you fought together?”

 

“Yes. It was an urgent situation, and there was no other choice.”

 

“Ha-haha…”

 

Commander Balthazar chuckled with satisfaction.

 

“Defeating a demon in the middle of the camp is good news, but I’m even more pleased about something else. It’s delightful. Two of the strongest forces in our Order working together… marvelous.”

 

Commander Balthazar nodded repeatedly.

 

“This makes me very happy. My smile just won’t fade.”

 

“….”

 

Even though I said I was fine, I hadn’t truly shaken off my confusion.

 

Why? How?

 

The Order’s leader and moral anchor, cloaked in a demon’s aura.

 

The reason the Order continued to thrive and grow stronger in the past timeline was due to Commander Balthazar’s exceptional leadership.

 

But why…?

 

The fact that Razen had intentionally failed his missions made sense once I realized he was a demon. However, sensing demonic energy from Commander Balthazar only plunged me deeper into confusion.

 

“Regardless, good work. This could have been a disaster with the camp almost consumed by flames, but thanks to your quick actions, the crisis was averted.”

 

Commander Balthazar gently held my hands with both of his.

 

Then, he grasped Avelin’s hands as well.

 

“I only did what was necessary, Commander Balthazar.”

 

Avelin and Commander Balthazar exchanged soft smiles as they shook hands, but…

 

The hand that shook Commander Balthazar’s felt like it had been scorched by the violet flames that erupted from Razen’s mouth.

 

“Let’s head to the scene immediately.”

 

“What? You’ll go there yourself, Commander?”

 

“It’s too dangerous. As you know, the flames of demons won’t extinguish until their magic is entirely depleted. You can inspect it after the situation has settled…”

 

“Haha, do you think I’m unaware of the dangers of demonic flames?”

 

“It’s not that, but…”

 

“This incident happened in the very heart of our Order’s camp. I must see it with my own eyes. A true leader doesn’t just issue commands from a chair.”

 

This was why.

 

Despite being the highest-ranking commander, he didn’t stay behind his soldiers. Instead, he led from the front, becoming a shield for others.

 

That’s why we respected him—me, the Black Iron Brigade, and every knight in the Order.

 

And that’s why I was conflicted. Deeply so.

 

My instincts screamed to cut him down immediately, yet my mind desperately resisted.

 

Killing Razen was an undeniable gain for the Order, but Commander Balthazar…

 

“Let’s go. I’ll guide you.”

 

For now, I decided to wait.

 

Perhaps it was more accurate to say I had no other choice.

 

Walking slightly ahead of Commander Balthazar, Avelin glanced at me with a worried expression.

 

“Are you really okay, Kayron?”

 

“I told you, I’m fine. Look, I’m walking perfectly well.”

 

“Are you seriously going to keep lying? You don’t look fine at all.”

 

“It’s more stressful when you keep staring at me like that.”

 

“What? Do you even know what your face looks like right now? You might not, but it’s torture for me to keep looking at it! Is there no mirror here? Ah…!”

 

Avelin suddenly drew her sword and thrust it in front of me.

 

“W-what are you doing? That’s dangerous!”

 

“What does it look like? Use the blade as a mirror and take a look at your face! Don’t worry—I won’t stab you. If I wanted to kill you, I’d have done it already.”

 

She pushed the blade so close to my face that I instinctively leaned back to avoid it.

 

“Pfft… Hahaha…”

 

Commander Balthazar couldn’t help but burst into laughter at the scene.

 

“So it’s true that the two of you fought together to defeat the demon? From what I’ve heard, it sounds real, but looking at you now, I still find it hard to believe.”

 

“I can’t believe it either, but it’s true. Though honestly, I wouldn’t have taken much longer even without Avelin’s help.”

 

“What did you just say? Kayron, if it weren’t for me, you’d still be flailing around trying to handle Razen!”

 

“Enough, enough. I’ve seen more than enough to understand how close the two of you are.”

 

As Avelin and I continued bickering, we arrived at the location where we had fought Razen.

 

“Thank you both. Thanks to you, I didn’t have a moment of boredom on the way here.”

 

Before the flames could spread further, soldiers had hurriedly dismantled the surrounding tents, leaving the burnt area smaller than I had feared. Most of the flames had died out, likely because the magic fueling them had been depleted, but traces of violet embers lingered here and there.

 

“Hmm, this must be the spot.”

 

Commander Balthazar walked over to where the embers were most concentrated. He stopped at the place where Razen’s body had burned to ash after his head was severed.

 

Kneeling, Commander Balthazar picked up a metallic insignia from the ground. It was the identification tag of our Order, enchanted to resist damage from most forces.

 

“Commander of the 13th squad, Razen Meunière This confirms it was him. Tsk, tsk…”

 

Commander Balthazar clicked his tongue and rose with a grim expression.

 

“I’d hoped until the end that it wasn’t true, but… Razen really was… no, he truly became a demon.”

 

His voice carried such natural sorrow that I couldn’t tell if he genuinely hadn’t known or if he was acting so convincingly that I couldn’t tell the difference.

 

“From now on, I’ll give the official order.”

 

“Yes, sir!”

 

“Yes, sir!”

 

Commander Balthazar tucked Razen’s insignia into his coat and spoke with authority.

 

“Razen is to be considered missing.”

 

“What? What do you mean…?”

 

“Razen wasn’t a demon. He went missing while carrying out a secret mission under my orders. That’s what you are to believe.”

 

“Commander…?”

 

Like me, Avelin’s voice carried confusion, but Commander Balthazar’s tone was resolute.

 

“And do not speak of Razen or his condition to anyone. Understood?”

 

“…”

 

“Answer me.”

 

Though he demanded a response, I hesitated. For once, I couldn’t answer so easily.

 

“Why… should we?”

 

“Are you refusing my order?”

 

“No, I will follow it. But explain why. If Razen was a demon, it means there could be more demons among us. Why order us to keep quiet about this?”

 

“Hah… Very well. You deserve an explanation.”

 

Commander Balthazar sighed deeply, his face full of regret.

 

“I know how critical this information is. But morale takes precedence. For now, we have no choice.”

 

He wasn’t wrong.

 

If the members of our Order knew a demon was among us, no one would trust anyone else. Every comrade they ate, slept, and fought beside would become a source of suspicion.

 

The moment trust crumbled, so would the Order.

 

“I trust you understand my decision. I’ll look for a better solution soon. But tell me—how did Razen reveal his true nature? There must have been a reason.”

 

“Well…”

 

“Avelin.”

 

Before she could answer, Commander Balthazar turned his gaze squarely at me.

 

“Speak. What exactly happened?”

 

His eyes and voice demanded the truth, and yet, his tone was as gentle as ever.

 

But beneath the calm exterior, my instincts screamed.

 

The violet aura swirling around him—my very being shrieked at its presence, urging me to act.

--- The End OF The Chapter --

 

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