"Not closing the door?"
Evertt asked Zaire as he stepped through the doorway.
Seeing that Zaire didn't reply, he continued walking.
"So this is where they're hiding the demonic creatures? In this… large hallway?"
"Just keep walking straight. It seems to be a long path."
"Alright then…"
They both walked in silence for about a minute.
"You can talk if you want. I'll tell you when to stop," Zaire said quietly, sighing slightly.
Even without seeing his expression, he could tell Evertt was feeling something close to anxiousness.
Why was he anxious? Because people had assumed he was dead? Or was it because he was technically the "demigod of time" now? But evertt was a demigod too, wasn't he?
"Ah, is that so? Alright then, I won't hold back."
Hold back what? Zaire tilted his head slightly.
"So far, what's your opinion of the hero and his friends?"
"You already know about that?"
Zaire's eyebrows rose slightly, though his expression stayed calm, not that Evertt could see it unless he turned around.
"She shared the prophecy with us too. All we knew was that he had black hair and a mark on his back. Even so, we mainly picked him up because he was quite skilled."
Evertt turned his head slightly to glance at Zaire.
Sighing, Zaire walked faster until he caught up, grasping Evertt's hand. His eyes glowed faintly.
"I don't have much of an impression of the hero himself or really, any of his friends. He's decent with a sword and seems friendly enough, but that's about it. The only commendable thing is that he can kill without remorse."
"That kid? Kill without remorse? Haha, you sure?"
"…?" Zaire tilted his head again, his eyes meeting Evertt's, silently telling him to continue.
"The only people that kid can kill without remorse are those he considers scum. Anything else, and the most he'll do is cut off their limbs. Not a bad trait though, since he's supposed to be a hero, right?"
"Depends on what he considers scum… like people who've contracted with demons? Oh right,I have a question."
"Ask away."
Evertt stretched his limbs slightly, waiting.
"Are there necromancers around again?"
"…How did you-"
"The group has a kid who's been in contact with the divinity of death. You didn't expect me not to notice those eyes and that white hair, did you?"
"Don't call him a kid,he's older than you."
"Is that the issue here?"
Sighing, Evertt buried his head in his hands. He'd forgotten how sharp Zaire's eyes were.
During the Calamity, all necromancers had been wiped out. They were people who made contracts with demons, wielding a fragment of divinity of death through the pact. Those who'd come into contact with it, willingly or not, were discriminated against, including victims.
Twenty years ago, it was widely believed that anyone touched by the divinity of death would become a necromancer, that they would change as a person, such as their personality, appearance changing.
Of course, it isn't true that anyone who has been affected by the divinity of death would become a necromancer as they'd have to seek it out willingly without a care for anyone else.
What was true, however, was that such contact made a person's appearance and personality . Someone cheerful and bright could turn detached and calculating, or even lose their mind entirely. It depended on the person and how much they were exposed to.
The appearance changes usually resulted in the person would growing white hair and have much more mana than normal people. It is theorized that their hair turned white due to the divinity of death. Anyway, there are 2 endings to such people
If their will was strong, they could remain sane, keeping their personality mostly intact. But if their will was weak… well, it would be kinder and safer for everyone,to put them to rest.
"I thought you'd assume it was hair dye or something. People dye their hair all sorts of colors these days, even white. Really, how good are your eyes?"
"Better than average. Don't worry, I won't pry. He's not the hero, after all."
"You really only want to get close to Elijah, huh…"
Zaire and Evertt continued chatting for a while. Mostly, Evertt trying pry information out of Zaire, but most of his questions went unanswered. Eventually, he switched to more casual topics,like Elijah and his group.
"That kid, Azreal, really likes flowers. I'm not sure why, but he's always giving them to Elijah and the others."
By this point, it seemed Evertt had forgotten they were technically in enemy territory.
Then, he felt Zaire's grip slip from his hand.
?
Looking at him, Evertt saw Zaire raise a finger to his lips.
'we're here huh?'
Evertt unsheathed his sword as Zaire stepped forward.
Zaire glanced back, tilting his head as if he was signalling with his head to go in front and beat the men up
'he never changes huh…'
Pushing the thought aside, Evertt crept forward and peeked past the corner.
Three men stood in silence, swords at their sides. Two were chatting, the third leaning against the wall.
In the next instant, Evertt lunged forward with blinding speed.
He struck the first two at the backs of their heads, knocking them out instantly, then leaped toward the third.
The man reached for his sword,but before he could draw it, Evertt's blade pinned his hand to the wall.
"AH!"
"Unless you're interested in becoming a corpse, I suggest you answer my questions honestly."
***
"Say, do you think Mr. Farreal will kill us for disobeying his orders?" Kevin asked Saoirse.
"Is that really what you should be asking after suggesting we jump out the window?"
"Haha, who knows."
The two stood outside one of the hotel's windows.
Suppressing a chuckle, Saoirse prepared to jump.
Kevin, meanwhile, glanced toward the bodies slumped against the wall inside. All of them had been knocked out after a brief round of questioning. None of them had any useful information except that their contact was supposedly in the knights' quarters.
"Kevin!"
His thoughts snapped back as he heard Elijah's voice. Looking down, he spotted the four. Azreal, Elijah, Saoirse, and Serena, waiting below.
"Are you going to jump or not?"
Elijah called, holding out his arms to catch him.
With a smirk, Kevin hopped out of the window.