Chapter 41 — Seeking Fortune, Avoiding Doom (Part I)
Three Thousand Years Before the Mythical-Era
Central Continent — Korithi Region
Even after getting off the carriage and walking along the narrow mountain path, Serie and Aivis were still bickering about "the mediocre and magic."
"Talent and lifespan aren't everything. Among the Goddess's apostles, countless are mediocre at best, but that doesn't stop them from being skilled magic users."
"Heh… A bunch of meat-eating idiots waving the Goddess's name around as cover. Comparing them to real magic is an insult."
The argument escalated step by step—
Until Elias, walking ahead, cut in coldly:
"—That's enough."
Without looking back, he raised his eyes toward the end of the mountain path.
"You two. This pointless debate… I fail to see any benefit other than wasting your lives."
"In fact, you've gotten so distracted you've dulled your senses."
"Have neither of you noticed the strong stench of blood ahead?"
"...!"
The pair instantly snapped back to reality.
Serie held her breath, spreading her mana perception toward the end of the road—
"A village…"
"It looks like it was attacked by monsters."
"The death stench is so overwhelming it's drowning out the living…"
The moment she finished, the three moved at once.
Aivis sprinted along the winding path.
Serie cut straight through the forest for the fastest route.
Elias launched himself skyward.
All headed toward the source of the carnage.
When they regrouped at the village center—
They realized the devastation was far worse than expected.
Broken limbs.
Piles of corpses.
Blood drenched the earth, the walls, the trees—
Everything was stained in crimson.
Streams of blood gathered on the ground, forming dark, sickening pools.
Serie's expression twisted.
"To think demons dare cause such carnage this close to the city… Did they not hear about my little massacre near the outskirts?"
Elias gave a dry, cold laugh.
"Serie. Seeking fortune and avoiding danger—that is human instinct."
"But once demons begin killing, their eyes turn red from blood. They lose that reasoning entirely."
"Is that so…"
Serie grinned sharply.
"Then I simply haven't killed enough demons. If I eliminate 99% of them, the remaining 1% will naturally develop a habit of avoiding danger."
Aivis shivered at her words, sneaking a cautious look toward the golden-haired elf.
"Um… Serie. Sometimes… you're scarier than the demons."
Meanwhile, Elias crouched down, staring at a pool of blood.
Under their watchful eyes, he dipped a finger into it—
and raised it toward his mouth.
Aivis's face went pale.
"W-wait—Elias?!"
"You're not actually going to—"
Serie smiled gently, hiding her hands behind her back as she gathered magic.
"Heh. Didn't you say you quit human flesh? Or is it that—
in front of such a beautiful scene—
a demon like you finally can't pretend anymore?"
Elias lifted his eyes casually, expression blank, and brought his bloody fingertip toward his nose.
He sniffed lightly.
"The blood is fresh. Death occurred within fifteen minutes."
"If we search now, we may still find survivors."
Standing up, he spread his hands innocently, sighing in exasperation.
"Honestly…"
"You two are ruthless."
"We've traveled together for years, yet you still suspect I drink blood or eat humans. Truly… it hurts my feelings."
Serie's killing intent didn't fade—
if anything, it grew sharper.
"Hurts your feelings, huh…"
"You may not eat humans, but that annoying fake-human expression you make—
makes me want to punch you every time.
You know that, right?"
Elias scratched his head with a wry grin.
"Alright, alright, don't get salty~ I was just trying to lighten the mood. Serie, put away your mana already."
Serie exhaled deeply, refocusing her senses.
This time she expanded her mana perception to cover every inch of the mountain—
"…Found them. There's a shelter cave near the village. Survivors should be inside."
"Wait—"
"Outside that cave… something dark is approaching. Fast!"
Before the words fully left her lips—
Serie vanished like a gust of wind, leaving behind a golden afterimage.
Elias clicked his tongue.
"Tsk. Looks like the shorty's serious. If I try to steal her spotlight now, she'll take my head off in the crossfire…"
"Elias," Aivis said, brows knitting.
"It sounds absurd, but… sometimes I feel Serie acts more like a demon than you do. And you… strangely more like a human."
"Heh… is that so?"
Elias looked toward the cave.
"I sometimes imagine—if Serie had been born as a demon, she'd have become the Demon King with laughable ease."
"Please no…"
Aivis's lips twitched like a dying fish.
"Just imagining Serie sitting on the Demon King's throne makes me feel like humanity's extinction is at the door."
"She'd definitely mutter something like, 'If only I could slaughter 99% of humans…'"
"Well, odd temper aside… thankfully she stands on the side of justice."
"The side of justice, huh…"
Elias smiled faintly and walked toward the cave's direction.
For Serie…
such labels were never simple.
---
Inside the Cave
In the suffocating darkness, a dozen small children huddled together, covering their mouths to stifle their sobs.
A slightly older figure stood in front of them—
a silver-haired girl, short hair matted with blood, her fiery red eyes trembling.
"No… The adults are all dead… killed by demons. As the eldest… I must protect the younger ones…"
Suddenly, a long, distorted shadow stretched across the cave wall—
sharp and thin—
like a knife cutting through the light in her eyes.
"…So they've found us after all."
"Even so… I…"
The silver-haired girl grabbed a wooden stick, face pale as ash, and stepped toward the cave entrance.
When she finally saw the blood-soaked scythe in the demon's hand, she planted her feet firmly.
She gripped the stick with both hands like a knight's blade held before her chest.
Then she shouted with everything she had:
"D–Damn demon! As long as I live… I won't let you take a single step inside!"
From the darkness, the demon twisted its neck, amused at the trembling silhouette before him.
"Heh…"
"So the only ones left… are children."
"But tell me, little human…"
"While you're barking big words like that…"
"Have you not noticed… that the hands holding your 'weapon' are shaking?"
The silver-haired girl didn't answer.
She didn't retreat.
She simply raised her stick higher—
and let out a fierce, desperate cry.
—CRACK!
The moment the scythe pierced flesh—
The entire cave fell silent.