My Demons

Chapter 40

Grania, Arnal, and Luke possessed the strength of seasoned mercenaries, and Luke appeared as vibrant and healthy as any young man would claim to be. Despite carrying rather heavy bags, they all moved with surprising agility, a testament to their excellent physical condition.

In the company of the newfound companions, Ellen carried only a small backpack in addition to her sling bag. Her load consisted mainly of bandages, hemostatic agents, ointments, various antidotes, and lightweight medicines, which didnt burden her much.

However, as the search extended, their initially light steps grew heavier. Shoulders slumped, eyes cast downward, and reactions to occasional noises dulled gradually.

Conversely, my senses seemed to sharpen. Leading the way and examining the map demanded that I remain vigilant, even for my fatigued comrades.

Thanks to these heightened senses, I detected peculiar signs amidst the echoes of footsteps.

Hold on, I gestured to my puzzled companions to remain silent. I closed my eyes and listened intently.

After a while, a distant, indistinct murmur reached my ears, prompting me to press them against the wall to amplify the sound.

Damn it what the -.

Shut up it hits

Though I caught a few words, the exact context of their conversation remained elusive.

Estimating the direction of the voices, I turned back to my companions.

Its people. Theres more than just two.

People? Other mercenaries?

Arnal mumbled, and I directed the question to Grania.

Are there any other mercenaries hired by the lord, apart from us?

As far as I know, no.

None at all?

Correct. It makes sense. We were hired because they expected you to cooperate. When the manpower is limited, they wouldnt hire high-ranking mercenaries.

Luke, thoughtfully stroking his neatly trimmed chin, chimed in.

They seemed to have taken control of the sewer entrances this morning. I doubt theyd send soldiers down here.

As Luke trailed off, I pressed my ear against the wall again, attempting to catch any trace of the unidentified presence.

However, the voices seemed to have ceased, leaving only the sound of louder footsteps, indicating they were passing close by.

Looks like theyre heading west.

West? But there

I handed Grania the blueprint while still trying to listen. Grania, who appeared perplexed, cautiously unfolded the blueprint and squinted at it.

From the 4th floor to the 3rd, there are three staircases one in the northwest has collapsed, leaving only one in the south and one in the northeast.

You mean theyre not going upstairs.

Thats correct.

Lets follow them.

At my hushed suggestion, my companions faces tensed momentarily.

Perhaps they recognized that unknown humans posed a greater threat than cockroaches, zombies, or ratmen. However, I pretended not to notice their expressions and pressed on.

This is our third time venturing into the sewers, but its the first encounter with other people. We need to find out whats happening, I asserted.

Could they be vagabonds? Ive heard rumors of criminals from the village hiding underground, Arnal suggested, sounding thoughtful.

While Arnals idea appeared plausible, I shook my head firmly. Even if they were vagabonds, theyd likely stick to the 2nd or 3rd floor. Coming down to the 4th floor doesnt make sense. Its not easy to survive in the ratmens territory. The footsteps were growing fainter, urging us to hasten our pace.

Lets keep moving. We have some guesses about who they might be.

***

Annoying, muttered a man donning a red hood and a short cloak over his shoulder. The followers glanced around, unsure if he was speaking to someone or just muttering to himself.

Feels like living a damn dogs life, he continued, his voice too loud for self-talk and too quiet for conversation.

Tobald gestured with a soft hushing sound, and four bandits, led by the bald man, cautiously moved towards the source of the sound.

Reaching the corner, the bandits waited in silence for the approaching individual.

The footsteps sounded leisurely, frustratingly slow. The bald man counted the number of approaching figures and concluded there were three of them.

Shh.

Tobald signaled two nearby subordinates to join the bald mans side.

Now, six bandits lurked at the corner, ready to confront the newcomers when they turned the corner.

Suddenly, a loud sound erupted from behind them.

Bang, thud!

Ugh!

One of the two bandits standing near Tobald collapsed, groaning in pain. An arrow had pierced his chest without their notice.

Startled, Tobald turned back and angrily shouted, Damn it, behind!

As he roared, a fireball flew in from behind. It hit the ground near Tobalds feet, sparking loudly and igniting a large flame.

Whoosh!

What the hell, what is this!

Watch out! Hold your positions!

To the bandits eyes, what appeared to be a fireball was, in fact, a firebomb. The red flames revealed a menacing silhouette within the darkness.

Uh, ahh! What is that!

The bandit who first spotted the figure let out a terrified scream at its bizarre appearance.

The silhouette, brandishing a sword and shield, dashed forward with incredible speed, its body close to the ground. Its inhuman movements and elongated bloodshot eyes were eerie, but what truly puzzled everyone was its attire.

The figure wore an iron helmet but lacked any chest armor. Despite having armguards and shin guards, it was barefoot. Strangest of all, the figures sword seemed to smolder a dark red hue, as if it had absorbed blood.

Suddenly, the rising flames caused Tobalds vision to blur, a mix of green light and red fire dancing before his eyes.

While a bewildered Tobald blinked several times, the creature charged forward like a wild animal, swiftly beheading the bandit standing next to Tobald.

Thud!

Darn it, you!

Regaining his composure, Tobald swung his sword at the peculiar assailant.

The creature, however, deftly parried Tobalds attack with its shield and leapt back.

Whoosh!

Anticipating another strike, another arrow flew toward Tobald.

As a skilled executive in a large bandit gang, Tobald reacted quickly, twisting his shoulder to dodge the arrow flying from the darkness. But

Stab!

In that moment, he was stabbed in the side.

Seizing the opportunity, the creature with beast-like movements attacked during Tobalds vulnerable moment.

Damn it, you bastard-

Feeling a dreadful pain in his side, Tobald cursed under his breath.

He swung his sword desperately, but the attacker once again parried his strike with its shield and retaliated with its own sword.

The Falchion of Ryantus, or rather, the Unseen Sword of Lions Tooth, which bore the blood of the Blood Knight, emitted an ominous glow, and

Crunch.

Fast-Foot Tobald, his head split, helplessly rolled on the ground.