"Then the contract is complete."
Kael knelt respectfully. Each realm rejects denizens of other realms. As a result Kael, who is from the Demon Realm, is rejected by the Middle Realm, or the realm of humans. If he, a denizen from another realm, tries to stay in the human realm without doing anything, then he will be in a situation similar to a fish out of water. What can prevent this situation is the proof of contract with a denizen of the human realm. Only through a contract can a demon freely move in the human realm.
Yulia extended her right hand, the one that bore the proof, toward Kael. She slightly lowered her eyes while perfectly angling her hand. The appearance of her being both calm and prim reminded Kael of a cat that was "allowing" the owner to play with it. Softly grabbing the extended hand, Kael kissed the tattoo.
"Following the old law, I arrived, and present you the contract of loyalty:
First, I will always follow your order,
Second, I will not harm you unless it is an order,
Third, unless it is in a situation where the first and second law is applied, I shall protect myself."
After Kael recited the Three Demon Laws, the contract finally concluded. The circle that caged him disappeared, and the tattoo on top of Yulia's hand also disappeared from sight. Unless an order that used 'soul' was mouthed, it will not appear on her hand again.
Standing up, Kael tapped his sword sheath with his fingers.
"Now, let's set up some basic plan. You said that bullets don't work on those bugs, right? How many are there? It's not something to brag about, but don't expect me to take them all out."
Although he said it like that, he didn't expect anything big. Thinking something like, 'What can a kid do?' He had to think of everything himself after hearing the basic information.
"I won't expect anything, for I have planned everything."
Saying that, Yulia held up the backpack that was in the corner of the room.
"Pristine, get the layout for this castle."
"Okay."
Saying that, the backpack opened by itself and a map came out of it.
"Ha? Talking backpack?"
"I will apologize if I scared you. Knowing that it wasn't time for me to open my mouth, I was keeping quiet. My name is Pristine."
"Are you something like an artifact from the time of the war?"
"That's right."
Kael stared at the backpack with interest. Even though it looks like a typical backpack, for it to be an artifact with a history of five millennia before year A. A., at the time when Heavenly Beings and demons held hands just once, to create artifacts made from technology and magic.
"Are you seven thousand years old?"
"Please don't treat me like an old man. Call me Pristine. Being handed down through the royalty of Nesland's possession, I am working only as Yulia's backpack now."
"Sure, then. Also, call me Kael. You have a rough master."
"Well, I do have my work cut out for me."
Yulia puffed her cheeks while staring at Kael and Pristine who were talking by themselves. Then, she squeezed between them, map wide open.
"Save the pleasantries for later. For now, escaping is a more dire concern."
"Ah, that's right."
"This here is where we are. And this is the place where the statue that hides the switch for the secret escape mechanism is located. The shortest path that leads to this room is like this."
Collecting Kael's attention, Yulia drew the path along the map.
"But there are a few problems with this path. First is that on the way there, there exists a corridor where it is perfect for us to get trapped from both front and back, and this big room where we can easily get surrounded by number of them. Added to that, predicting the line of sight for these monsters, the path that I chose is like this."
She drew the path that was slightly different.
"How is this? I will welcome any change for the plan that I created without understanding your skill."
Yulia's hand that pushed back her hair was full of confidence, showing that there shouldn't be any problem, but her clear eyes were restless, worrying about the possible fault in the plan.
"No… let's go with this."
Taken by surprise, Kael memorized the path.
"This kid… is good."
Her beauty and air of nobility can be explained with her heritage, and her dignity and refined manner can be explained with her body remembering the daily habit, but her eye for geography was quite suitable.
"Well, it's understandable. After all, she was able to reproduce the ritual that's only left in the record at such a young age."
"Speaking more of the enemy, every one of the monsters are bugs that are as tall as humans. The bugs consist of two types: the first is a hybrid of a mantis and a grasshopper, that attacks at close range; the second is a hybrid of a centipede and a hedgehog, that shoots poisonous stingers. However, both types have shells that can deflect bullets."
"Okay, strange bugs. And what are their numbers?"
"It can be predicted that there are about 300 of them."
"300... so it's the end if we are surrounded. How fast are they?"
"The mantis-types are fast. At its top speed, it was about 30 to 40 km/h? I cannot be sure because it was observed through eyes only. And the centipede-types can spray the poisonous stingers, but they are very slow."
Yulia disclosed the detailed briefing unfit for her age. Her beautiful silver eyes that were filled with fears must have captured them while running for her life.
"Let's just say that they move at 40 km/h. Well, there's no point in worrying about that. Let's just move, and do something about them when they come out."
Just like that, he raised up Yulia and held her in his left arm.
"Ah!"
Yulia started to struggle with her limbs in the air, like a puppy that was being showered with cold water. But after noticing what she was doing, she stopped and took on an air of dignity again.
"Hold on tight."
"To hold a queen's waist, how rude."
Yulia pouted ever so slightly.
"Is it time to complain about something like that?"
Kael laughed through his nose. Although it did have a nice feeling, despite being a child's waist.
"For I also understand the situation, I will allow it. But ever since a moment ago, you have been using an improper tone to address the queen. Can you not be more dignified?"
"Hah? It's not like I'm a Knight who was taught manners to serve the King. Don't ask for the impossible. Being well mannered while finishing the contract is enough."
"You are a 5th-class demon, so you should be taught some amount of manner. You are dissatisfactory in so many aspects. But as I am generous, I shall overlook it."
Leaning her cheek on her hand, Yulia smiled generously. Although she could've used the command to change his behavior, she must have thought that doing such a thing was a waste, and didn't complain about it anymore. Kael also accepted the complaint with broad-mindedness.
"Sure sure, for this servant is sorry, just hold on tight."
"Now then. I shall command you!"
Yulia made it so that the tattoo revealed itself again. Although a demon retains their existence in the human realm using the medium in the form of this realm's denizen, that's all that it does. The soul is the price, and at the same time, the connection that will allow magic to appear between realms. Only by using the soul while commanding the demon, can the demon use its true power, the power it had in its own realm.
At that moment, Kael blocked Yulia's mouth.
"Oop."
"You don't need to command me like that. If it's something like this, I will just do it willingly."
Yulia stared at Kael questioningly after Kael let go of her mouth.
"You say that you will fight without being commanded? But like that…"
"I won't be able to use magic, but my base is that of a warrior. There won't be much difference."
Tilting her head left and right, Yulia stared at Kael as though she was inspecting him. Her silver eyes blinked multiple times, not being able to hide her question. Smiling as though making fun of something, Kael held her firmly.
"Well, let's just say that fake item is free. I will be moving fast now."
Yulia stopped the question from coming out of her mouth and held his body tightly, and Kael opened the secret door and ran outside.
* * *
The first thing that came into view was two bugs that were bigger than him. They had enormous, scythe-like front legs, and strong jaws that could break a man's neck instantly, and seemingly tough armor. The corpse of Yulia's subordinate was sprawled out on the ground, limbs scattered, and half-eaten by these things.
Flinching, Yulia held Kael tighter. Although not even a small scream came out of her mouth, her grip strengthened, and her trembling could be felt through the clothing's fabric.
Although he noticed it, Kael ignored it and ran forward after unsheathing his sword.
The scythes attacked him from both sides. Choosing not to avoid them, Kael ran deeper within and slashed at the joint. Although the armor could deflect bullets, Kael mercilessly slashed at the places that were vulnerable, and not protected as well by the armor.
Green blood splattered, and the bug that lost its forearm stood up, dumbfounded. Taking advantage of that short moment, the sword lashed out yet again, slashing an area on the bug's neck. Although the neck was covered with the bulletproof armor, the upper slash perfectly pierced the area between the armor. The small weaknesses, that a frontal assault with guns couldn't reach, were being mercilessly attacked.
Watching the death of its comrade, the other mantis-type slashed with its scythe arm, vengeance evident in its multi-faceted eyes. But Kael, seemingly noticing it, charges at the other bug in the same manner as the first. It was a complete repeat of the first takedown: forearms were cut, neck was pierced, and Kael dodged the green blood that spurted out. Not letting a single drop reach Yulia's body, Kael dodged and resumed running.
Although there was no wind blowing inside, Kael's movement was so fast that it was beginning to create a current akin to wind in his wake.
In front of Kael, running ruthlessly now, came a group of three bugs, blocking his path. Maybe they had heard of their comrade's death. This time, they attacked all at once.
Kael didn't slow down at all, or even falter. Slightly twisting his body, he thrust his sword into their synchronized attack and raised it,, causing the bugs' bodies to entangle. Then, with his speed, pierced one bug's neck. Although the other enraged bugs leapt to attack, Kael took back a step to disrupt their timing and assumed a stance.
For a brief moment, thunder and lightning erupted from below. The storm was actually an afterimage of Kael's sword, a manifestation of the energy given off from his immense speed, giving the impression of real thunder and lightning.
Kael started running again, followed by the sound of three bodies collapsing. A flabbergasted Yulia stared up at him, the man who was slaughtering the bugs that had mutilated her personal army so easily.
Although he said himself that the sword is an antique in this age compared to guns, and it was true if the comparison were made from a normal point of view.
But is it the truth?
Kael's body moved like the wind, and the moments when he stopped to fight were like a tornado tearing through a forest. His movements between attacks were fluid, almost like water, and the moments when he attacks the enemy's weakest points, his speed and accuracy were like that of lightning.
These were movements made for real fighting, not for show.
His movements consisted only of blocking the opponent's attack and countering with his own. But why did it seem so beautiful?
The centipede-type bugs came out to block his path. Kael stopped for a moment. Yulia, who was only staring at his performance, pressed down on his shoulder and opened her mouth to warn him.
"Be alert. Those things--"
Before she could finish giving her warning, the centipedes rolled up and shot poison stingers in a wide sniping pattern that couldn't be avoided.
In that moment, Kael spun Yulia behind him and slashed away at the stingers. It may have been inevitable that the young Queen saw an immovable mountain, from the sight of Kael blocking the poison stingers while holding his ground.
After deflecting them all away, Kael grabbed Yulia again and ran. Before the bugs could shoot another salvo of stingers, he slashed, repeatedly: downward, left to right, diagonally, in every direction. After his series of attacks, the scene was chaotic, countless pieces of minced centipede raining down.
"The poison.... are you okay?"
Yulia looked at Kael while touching his arm cautiously. Her lips lost their smile and her eyes, eyes that once held a beautiful light, were now filled with worry.
No matter how fast his sword was, there was no way he could have deflected away all of the stingers that were shot at him. If he could, then there was no way a sword could ever lose to a gun, at least when it was in Kael's hands. She was also able to spot poison stings here and there. Kael smiled and patted the worried Yulia's head.
"Don't worry. Because I am a demon, I'm immune to normal poisons. Although killing all 300 is hard, I won't fall before reaching the goal."
"I thank you for protecting me."
"Thank me after we escape."
Embracing Yulia again, Kael ran on.
'Tch, it's not good. This poison's strong."
The talk of immunity was not a lie. But the mysterious giant bug's poison exceeded that of a normal poison. If Yulia got hit by it, she would have died within a matter of seconds. Even Kael, demon that he is, felt dizzy.
Not showing it, he clicked his tongue mentally. This was a battle against time: if they all came at him at once, then it would be impossible for him to do anything. It was a good thing that the bugs were spread out throughout the wide castle.
"There's no time. Change in plan."
Breaking the window, he jumped outside. Nine bugs that were waiting outside leapt at him, all at once.
Four centipedes shot their poison stingers, and five mantises lunged, scythes in the air.
"Ah."
Before Yulia could ask what he was going to do, Kael was already in front of a mantis. He pierced the area below its jaw to scatter its brain, and used its corpse to block the stingers. As if saying that they will not forgive him, the other four mantises attacked him with their scythes, but Kael jumped above their reach.
Jumping again using the raised scythes with grasshopper-like agility, he jumped over them while kicking one in the head. While the bugs had a hard time regaining their balance, Kael rushed at the centipedes that were readying their stingers again.
What followed was an explosively endless barrage. One was decapitated while Kael spun along with the sword, and another's head was sliced open. The joint between the armor was cut off without a second's thought, and all four centipedes were taken care of.
While being chased by the remaining four mantises, Kael ran on with Yulia hanging on him to reach the statue that she mentioned. Taking advantage of the moment that Kael stopped, the bugs attacked him, but it was all useless. While dodging them like flowing water, he attacked them with lightning fast movements to kill them off, one by one.
"Now, we're here. Activate the thing you were talking about."
Kael finally let down Yulia.
"I shall, then."
Jumping down like a rabbit, Yulia pressed the name tag area under the statue here and there. When she did that, the garden in front of them opened and revealed an expensive looking black car. The windows were tinted, so much so that they were more like mirrors, and the frame was tough.
As though she just remembered, Yulia told Pristine.
"Pristine, keep one of each of those bugs within you."
"Ek, those grotesque things…"
"We need the sample for the experiment. I command you."
As if to say that she was never scared of those bugs, Yulia bravely commanded Pristine.
"Fine then."
After mumbling that, Pristine shook, and like what happens with a vacuum cleaner, one of each type of bug was sucked into it. The size of the bugs, much too large for a normal backpack, entered just like that.
"So, the inside must be wide. Why couldn't you just swallow the bug army?"
Pristine answered Kael.
"It can't be helped, because they might come out after ripping me up."
"Is that so? Well, it can't be helped. And by the way, is this thing the emergency device you were talking about?"
Yulia proudly nodded when Kael pointed at the car that fully appeared from within the ground.
"That is correct. This is Thunder Bird, the car made from the country's finest technology. 300 kilometers per hour is of no problem. Now, Kael. Drive."
Flicking her forefinger, Yulia selfishly ordered.
"No, wait… that's impossible."
"How is that so?"
Yulia's eyes opened wide, and her pupils followed after it. Her eyes were filled with question marks, like a kitten that witnessed something mysterious.
"I've never even been in a car before, much less driven one. That thing is only used by Heavenly Beings and humans. It doesn't exist in my realm."
"If it is a knight from the past, horse riding, and if you are a knight from this present, then it is driving. Is this not common education?"
"It can't be helped. From the beginning, wasn't it human technology made from the Worldstone that demons hate? There's no way I would learn something like that."
The only thing given through the contract is the language and basic knowledge of the day's society; specific skills don't come along with it.
"Kuuh."
Finally understanding her mistake in her plan, Yulia creased her expression.
"What are you going to do? If we spend too long because of this, we will get surrounded."
While they were discussing the situation, bugs could already be seen in the distance.
Lifting her forefinger to her lips and lowering her head, Yulia was contemplating. Then, she raised her head and flung her hair back and made a big smile.
"Huu, it cannot be helped, then. Get in the car, for I will drive instead."
Saying that, Yulia hopped in the driver's seat. Pushing back the seat that was meant to be used, she simply stood behind the wheel. The car's ceiling was high enough that she didn't have to crouch forward. Strongly holding on the steering wheel, she breathed in and out a few times.
"Why didn't you do that from the beginning?"
Not noticing the fact that an 8 year old kid is driving because of his lack of experience, Kael entered from the opposite site. Then, he noticed that something was weird.
The way she had a hard time reaching for the acceleration pedal didn't seem natural at all. More so than that, the hand that was holding onto the handle was shaking and the long hair that was laid upon the chair was twitching.
Although it was his first time riding in a car, Kael immediately knew that the car was not supposed to be used this way.
"Hey… are you okay?"
"I have witnessed the driver's performance a few times already. For I at least understand the concept, it will be fine."
Making a smiling expression of confidence comparable to her trembling body, Yulia inserted the key and turned it, then put it in gear. Afterward, she tightly closed her mouth and stepped on the pedal with the short leg she had.
"Saying that you saw it a few times, then that means that you also don't have any experien-"
Next thing he knew, the car rapidly raised its speed and started to move. The speedometer's needle danced and the number accelerated.
30… 50… 100… 150, 200, 250, 300.
It can be said that the way the car accelerated could categorize this car as a monster car, but it also brought an intense rumbling from the engine.
"Uwaaaahk!?"
A scream escaped from Kael's mouth as he witnessed the scenery change rapidly. Although the car was rapidly approaching a closed gate, Yulia showed no signs of slowing. Scratch that : she raised the speed instead.
350.
The speedometer's needle moved into the red zone.
Crrrrraaaash!
With a deafening sound, the steel door was broken through. The gate's lock was broken and the doors flew, but the car didn't stop at all and continued on.
Except for the slight dent on the bumper, there was no damage to the car at all. But because of the impact, Kael's head was dizzy and his eardrums hurt because of the loud noise.
The steering wheel, not being handled properly, shook. The car moved here and there, and just before the car crashed into a pole, Yulia desperately threw the wheel opposite way. With a sudden change in direction, the car spun and moved onto a different road.
While the car moved around restlessly, it pulverized the decorative median that was meant to separate each side of the road. Although broken pieces of scenery rained down upon the car, the bulletproof windows held on, with only slight chips here and there.
But that is only talk of how it looked from the outside.
Inside, Kael was having the worst time, trying to suppress his stomach from turning itself inside out.
'Death.''If this goes on, I will die.''Definitely, I will die along with this car.'It may have been his first time in a car, he knew that this brat's driving was not normal at all.
"Go slower… slower!"
"Do not be too loud. What if we are caught because we slowed down?"
Not listening at all, Yulia twisted the wheel again. Her hair flew this way and that way. Not knowing how much her small hands held, the angles that she moved the wheel at were truly barbaric. Following the road that took a slight curve, the car moved 90 degrees. Sometimes it moved up the road, and other times it came down. The car's rampage continued.
"Uuuk…"
Kael forced back the stomach acid that was coming up. There is no way he will ever puke in front of a child.
Maybe having a hard time pressing down on the pedal, Yulia shook while raising her leg, but mercilessly stepped on the pedal while leaning forward. The car slowed down because it was turning around, then sped up again crazily. As the car moved rather roughly, Yulia's body followed like a small boat in stormy waters. Even through all that, she held on to the wheel. Kael was shaking while holding on to the side of the car.
The car's immense speed finally let up when the castle couldn't be seen anymore. Only then did the car find itself in a peaceful atmosphere.
"Huaaaaaaa."
Kael exhaled instinctively.
"I'm alive."
"Like you have said, we are alive. Thanks to you, we were able to escape safely."
"…Although something scarier than the bugs came out in the end…"
"I have only witnessed the skill from the backseat, this was the first time driving myself. Do not complain because of a bit of clumsiness."
Pouting slightly, Yulia ballooned her cheeks. Twisting her eyesight by 15 degrees caused her hair to shimmer. That slightly peeved expression further increased her inner grace.
"Small? Small…? Did you say small!?"
Kael's hand shook considerably. Instead of taking care of this peeved queen, it seemed as though he would hit her any time.
"Although it may have been my first time in a car, I still know that this exceeds the boundary of 'small'!"
"Puu."
Ignoring Kael's silent roar, Yulia laughter leaked out. At that moment, her appearance was not that of the graceful queen, but a very innocent child.
"You defeated the monster bugs without having much trouble, but are scared of cars. 'Tis funny."
"No… I believe that I'm not the only one who would be scared of your driving."
"Nevertheless, it seems like we escaped safely. If there is no other problem brewing, then we would reach the palace safely. I thank you."
Saying that, Yulia stopped her childish smile and gave a soft expression. Although it was a graceful smile, because it was a child's smile, it was that of a princess's smile. Because of that, Kael was slightly disappointed.
'Even so, this expression must be more of a usual one. Her expression from a moment ago must be a very rare one. Let's just be happy with witnessing that.'"Well no, it wasn't much of a big deal."
"It was. You were able to pierce through the wall of monster bugs that my army was powerless to do anything against. You may have said that the sword is a lost cause in this age, but in my eyes, it was beautiful and strong. Especially, the moment when you jumped using the monsters as a springboard was most breathtaking."
She praised him with a beautiful smile with her tone lowered a bit. Although the moment when she said breathtaking, her eyes shone bright and strongly, like that of a child's.
"That's the illusion that you got because the bugs were a special case. If your army had stronger guns, then it would have been better for you."
As if to say that swords will always be swords, Kael shook his hand.
"I might be useful in infiltration maybe, but on a real battlefield, it has no meaning at all. Let's say that your subordinates get a machinegun each and they shoot at me. Someone like me will become a beehive in an instant. Maybe a higher ranking demon's magic will be able to block it, but when it comes to someone like me, nothing can be done at all."
"Maybe so, but the one who rescued the distressed me is none other than yourself. That is the sole fact that matters. So be more proud, for you will be awarded when we get to the palace."
"Well, I don't need something like an award."
Kael raised and dropped his shoulders. Although he was called into an annoying job while he was having a good time sleeping, it was rewarding because he was able to protect this kid's smile.
'Exercise here and there isn't that bad.'It's better than that expression turning into that of fear and pain without the body, right? It seems like we are out of danger, after all.
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