Chapter 100: Demons "Here, take this."
"What is it?"
As we were heading back to the center, I handed Rio the Bracelet of Weathering inside a transparent bag. He narrowed his eyes in confusion.
"It's a Bracelet of Weathering."
"Huh?"
"I said it's a Bracelet of Weathering. Don't make me repeat myself."
"No, I mean... Weathering... Is this really a Bracelet of Weathering...?"
I don't know why he was so surprised.
Rio stared blankly at the bracelet in his hand, making his already unfortunate face look even worse. Since Akito's team was sharing the car with us this time, everyone's eyes were glued to the bracelet.
"Is it really the Bracelet of Weathering?"
Even Masayoshi leaned in, pushing up his glasses in shock.
The Bracelet of Weathering was a decent item, but it was only around Level 60. It wasn't exactly world-shaking.
"How much does a Bracelet of Weathering go for these days?"
"Wait, let me check... 80 million G..."
"80 million?!"
They began whispering among themselves, clearly stunned.
I suppose that makes sense. In the game, Akito could practically find these in trash cans, but in this reality, magical tools were rare and always in short supply. Rio gripped the bracelet with both hands as if he were afraid of dropping it, then looked up at me.
"Why are you giving this to me...?"
"You're good with earth magic. Isn't that a good item for earth mages?"
"Well... yes, it is... but still, something this expensive..."
"What's the point of letting a magical tool rot in storage? It's better off with someone who can actually use it. I'm not a big fan of earth magic anyway."
Rio continued to stare at me blankly, as if my casual attitude was incomprehensible.
This wasn't exactly an investment... it was more of an experiment.
The game never went into detail, but what if Rio's talent simply lacked the environment to flourish? God Sayoshi was at least versatile in everything except combat, making him worth his salt, but Rio couldn't even manage half of that.
The Comedy Duo was never meant to get their licenses in the first place. Their personalities were far removed from hard work, and they lacked any real desire to improve their skills, so they were always treated as mere gag characters. To be honest, I hadn't paid them much mind either.
But in the end, they had obtained their temporary licenses and followed me here.
Was it the force of the scenario? A stroke of bad luck? Whatever it was, if there was some unseen power trying to weave this gag trio together, I figured I might as well raise them properly. It might have just been a series of coincidences, but now that we were entering the main story in earnest, I had to be prepared.
The Samurai, who shared the same earth attribute, watched Rio with an envious expression.
"I'll ask Rebecca-san for one too."
"Ah, Akito-dono, it's not like that..."
"No, it's fine. Kurumi needs to get stronger so she can protect Shiori, too."
Akito immediately read the Samurai's mind and flashed a handsome smile.
Hey, don't buy too much from Rebecca. That 30% discount you're getting is coming straight out of my wallet.
Besides, doesn't the Samurai have her own money? Or hands to work with? I hate to ruin the heartwarming atmosphere, but you call yourself a samurai and yet you're so quick to accept a handout without a shred of pride?
There was one other person besides the Samurai looking at Rio with envy.
Lilia.
Her shimmering purple eyes were incredibly cute. With her looking at me like that, how could I not look after her? I don't have a lolita complex, but as a gentleman, I couldn't just ignore it.
"Ta-da~ I've got something for you too."
I pulled out a ring that looked like a plastic toy and held it out to Lilia. Even if it looked like a toy, it was a legitimate magical tool.
"Uncle Yeon-woo is giving it to you, so you should say thank you, right?"
As Lilia hesitated, Akito spoke with a smile.
And what do you mean, 'Uncle'? It's 'Oppa,' you jerk. We only met a few days ago, and he's already acting like her father.
At Akito's words, Lilia hesitated before cautiously reaching out her hand.
Wait.
Instead of taking the ring with her small fingers, she held her hand out for me to put it on. It was as if I were sliding on a wedding ring.
"Pedo..."
"I didn't think you were that kind of person..."
Shiori and Masayoshi criticized me in low voices. What did I even do wrong? Lilia was the one who held her hand out; I was just standing there. It was so unfair.
Still, Lilia looked adorable as she stared with sparkling eyes at the ring, which had resized itself to fit her tiny finger perfectly.
Whatever. As long as the cutie is happy, that's all that matters.
Masayoshi's grumbling about not getting anything was annoying, but we made it back inside the Barrier without any further issues and disbanded. As Akito walked away, Lilia poked her head out from behind his back and waved at me.
Aww, what a cutie. Make sure to help Akito out a lot.
So, the next big event is the Demon Hunt, then.
A demon, hearing that Lilia has emerged from the barrier, sneaks into the Central City to find her, only to be caught by agents, leading to a massive brawl. This marks the beginning of the demons' active movement, and since some of them are radicals, they start killing humans indiscriminately.
Caught between the demons who have no qualms about killing and the innocent Lilia, Akito falls into a deep, philosophical dilemma...
...Well, as philosophical as an eroge can get, anyway.
In the end, Akito just uses his 'Protagonist Beam' to force a peaceful resolution. I'll leave the agonizing and the philosophy to Akito; I should focus on making practical preparations.
Veronica, having infiltrated human society, leaned against a wall and watched the peaceful street.
As a demon, she had recently received intel from Randall that Lilia had been released from her barrier. That barrier was something even the demons couldn't lay a finger on—how on earth had it been broken?
It was hard to believe, but once she confirmed the barrier was gone, she knew the information was accurate.
Daihara Akito, the man who had Lilia.
Is he the one who will bring new hope... A human, and not one of us?
There was a legend passed down in the demon world. Some demons worshipped it, while others dismissed it as a nonsensical fairy tale.
'The one who breaks the barrier is the guide of hope who will save the dying world.'
Veronica was of the mind that it was a hollow legend.
A mere barrier... granted, it was a barrier no one else could break, but she didn't believe that simply breaking it would solve the Whitening Phenomenon. It was an incurable, rare disease that foretold death for even the strongest demon nobles or royalty the moment they contracted it.
The reason Lilia had been trapped in that barrier was that she had contracted the Whitening and was simply waiting for the day she would die. Her father, unable to bear the loss of his young daughter, had exhausted most of his clan's power to freeze Lilia's time. The powerful barrier itself was constructed based on theories regarding the Whitening Phenomenon.
Designed to be released only when science or magic could finally solve the Whitening, the barrier contained the desperate prayers of a father who loved his daughter. The barrier, which held all the knowledge he had gathered, was a device meant to assist the one who would eventually solve the phenomenon, and it possessed the ability to absorb all surrounding power.
Demons lived long lives, but five hundred years had already passed, and none who lived back then remained. However, with the existence of the barrier that annihilated everything it touched and the records of the then-unrivaled clan head, it was difficult to dismiss it as a mere legend.
And since the Whitening Phenomenon has worsened, people are clinging to legends.
Things still seemed fine in the human realm, but for the demons, the Whitening had intensified, and many had already perished. Fifty years ago, only one or two would succumb a year, but now, hundreds were dying from it. At this rate, the demons would face natural extinction even if the humans did nothing.
Recalling the bleak future, Veronica shook her head. Now was the time to focus on the mission.
Other demons were already stationed along the streets where people passed by. Though they feigned ignorance of one another, the demons recognized their own and waited in their respective positions for Lilia and Akito.
Not just Lilia, but Akito had now become a person of great importance to the demon world. They didn't intend to do anything to Akito yet. This was essentially the heart of the human world; even for a demon, causing a scene here meant risking one's life. Especially with the loathsome 12 Zodiacs nearby, Veronica had to be even more cautious.
"Could we have a word with you?"
Veronica tensed as four people suddenly approached her. They wore uniforms identifying them as government officials, complete with red epaulettes. It was the hallmark of the units that specialized in dealing with demons.
The fact that she hadn't noticed them until they were right in front of her meant their skills were formidable. Had they approached her knowing what she was? Or was it just a random inspection? It wasn't uncommon for such units to patrol the city.
Veronica's mind raced as she weighed her options.
"Yes, how can I help you?"
Since she couldn't afford to ruin the mission, Veronica smiled, betting on the slim chance they didn't know. These were the hateful people who slaughtered her kind, but humans praised and respected them. Adopting the respectful attitude of a human, Veronica offered a kind smile.
"Sorry to take up your time. It's regarding a recent incident—"
The mage didn't seem to have noticed her true nature. He might have been acting, but he was as polite as if he were dealing with an ordinary citizen, showing no hint of suspicion.
Veronica responded with the hope that she might slip away, but the problem lay with the other demons. The demons nearby had also recognized the uniforms and red epaulettes. Seeing them surround Veronica from a distance, they made a rash move to intervene.
The mage, who had been standing a step back without much interest in Veronica, immediately noticed the suspicious movement of the other demons. A wand slid from his sleeve and into his hand.
Boom!
However, Veronica struck first. Hit by a surprise attack, the mages were all blown back.
"Retreat!"
Realizing she couldn't pierce four mana barriers with a single strike, Veronica shouted and quickly fled. The demons who had approached to help her also turned and began to scatter. The mages, emerging from the collapsed wall, called for reinforcements and gave chase.
This is the worst. Dammit, why were they so hasty!
Veronica cursed the demons who had tried to help her as she sprinted through the alleys. She appreciated the sentiment, but they had ignored the priority of the mission.
As the mages pursued the scattered demons, the streets turned into a chaotic mess of explosions and noise. Some demons, surrounded by mages rushing in from all sides, gave up on escaping and went on a rampage, while others, like Veronica, fled until the very end.
Veronica's face hardened as she saw a comrade in the distance holding a human woman hostage to buy time. Going to save them now would be a suicide mission.
As Veronica hesitated, someone approached her. Black hair and an extraordinary mana signature.
Daihara Akito...
Lilia was nowhere to be seen. That was only natural, given the commotion.
"I have no intention of fighting you! If you release the hostage and surrender, I will guarantee your safety to the best of my ability!"
What on earth was he saying?
Veronica had never heard a human say such a thing. Humans always drew their weapons the moment they realized they were facing a demon, attacking without listening to a word.
"Don't make me laugh! You loathsome human, spewing nonsense!"
Akito continued to try and persuade her comrade. Whether he was trying to save the human hostage or truly wanted to talk to a demon was unclear, but Veronica stared at him blankly, struck by an attitude so different from any human she had ever met.
But there was no time to stand around.
Sensing a mana reaction, Veronica immediately twisted her body. A streak of light slammed into the spot where she had just been standing.
A girl holding a katana. And other girls following behind her.
"Akito-dono is kind, so he tries to persuade demons, but I will not show mercy."
"I understand my brother's heart, but... I will also give this my all."
In an instant, magic surged from all directions. Between the fierce assault of the girl with the katana and another girl throwing heavy punches while scattering lightning, Veronica—who was confident in her own skills—found herself completely overwhelmed.
Their teamwork was so seamless that there were no openings. Veronica, forced to take hit after hit, saw her mana barrier shatter, and her shoulder was slashed by the katana.
"Ugh...!"
"I will offer you the chance to surrender, but personally, I hope you don't."
Veronica looked at the black-haired girl who spoke while providing covering fire with magic. Her face was pale, but her gaze shifted, and she raised her hands in resignation.
"Get back!"
A magical tool dropped from Veronica's slowly rising hand, and the area exploded. While the girls were caught off guard by a suicide attack they hadn't expected from someone whose mana barrier was already broken, Veronica vanished onto the roof of a nearby building.
"Cough... huff... gasp..."
Even if the fire was designed not to harm a demon, she still had to endure the full impact of the explosion. Veronica coughed up blood. Her body was a wreck, but she was lucky to have escaped after being surrounded by such powerful mages. She just had to wait here until things quieted down...
"Ugh, seriously. He's still doing that 'you're the bad guy' speech over there. That guy... does he even really intend to persuade them?"
Veronica looked up in shock at the voice coming from right beside her.
A human man. Even to a demon's eyes, he was handsome. The moment she saw a human, Veronica flinched and took a defensive stance.
However, the man just glanced at her and let out a short laugh.
"I'm not going to eat you, so don't worry. This is expensive, so use it well."
Veronica didn't trust him and remained on guard, but the man gave a small chuckle, placed a recovery potion in front of her, and vanished.
A man who helped her without a single word of explanation.
Unable to comprehend the situation, Veronica sat there blankly for a long time after he had gone.
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