126 – A Fleeting Settling (2)

Whether Jeriem truly was my ancestor remains uncertain. But the crucial thing was that Salbira believed it so. I think I understand now why she even performed a burnt offering for me.

[“You mean… Master, you loved Jeriem?”]

[“Only today did I come to realize it. Seeing you two care for each other, I gained certainty. Ah, I had fallen for that man.”]

Salbira offered a wry smile, continuing.

[“Disciple, perhaps today shall be my last. Before I am defiled by the demon, would you, just once more, listen to this teacher’s tale?”]

I nodded.

In the deep of night, the confession of a sinful demon began. Salbira, with a calm yet weighty voice, unravelled events of the past.

[“I was strong from birth. Since I was young, I did not hesitate to kill and devour humans and weaker demons. As time flowed, my infamy reached the Demon King’s ears. After battling and losing to him, I ended up serving under the Demon King.”]

[“I heard that demons determine their ranks based on the logic of power.”]

[“Yes, the survival of the fittest was the zeitgeist of the demon race.”]

Demons are strong, and humans are weak.

Therefore, it is a natural law that demons trample upon humans, beastfolk, elves, and the rest, reigning supreme. Salbira believed that debating good and evil was a pointless endeavor.

[“That belief was shattered because of Jeriem, because of him.”]

[“How did you two meet?”]

[“I was captured.”]

For a moment, I was at a loss for words.

[“I became a prisoner after the Demon King died.”]

[“Then, escape…?”]

[“I tried to escape, but failed every time. Jeriem and I fought one-on-one, and just as I lost to the Demon King, I was defeated by Jeriem. I was disabused of the notion that humans are inherently weak.”]

I combined Salbira’s words with the information I already possessed.

When the Demon King had just perished, Jeriem was consolidating various rebel factions, growing his forces. It was a particularly busy time.

[“As a prisoner, I was locked in a place like a basement. But the treatment wasn’t harsh. Every day, Jeriem would visit and strike up conversation with me. I didn’t feel the slightest hostility in his words.”]

[“That must have seemed strange.”]

[“Of course, I was wary at first. He would praise me and strive to be as unoffensive as possible. He was being cautious. Isn’t that strange? The strong being cautious of the weak…”]

[“So, what happened then?”]

[“Over the course of several years, he slowly persuaded me. Every night, without missing a single one, he would come at midnight, bringing delicious things, reading books, drawing pictures, and sometimes sharing his thoughts.”]

Salvira looked up at the sky. Before she knew it, she wore an expression soft and round, like a girl in love.

[“He was a man who did not discriminate between demons and humans. Quite the silver tongue he had too. Even when arguments arose, he was always the one to apologize first.”]

Jeriem seemed to be an extraordinary man, even by today’s standards. After all, he’d proclaimed freedom and equality for all in an age where absolute monarchy was the norm.

[“We spent so many years together.”]

Salvira murmured.

[“After founding Hazkaile, our relationship ended when he offered himself as a burnt offering at such a young age. Do you know what he prayed for as he sacrificed himself?”]

[“Yes.”]

*May the age come when mages can coexist with everyone on the world’s stage.*

*If now is not the time, then I beseech the future, and take my life first so that day can be hastened as much as possible.*

[“…or so I heard.”]

[“Almost correct, but one thing is missing.”]

[“What was added?”]

[“Demonkind.”]

[“Demonkind?”]

[“*May the age come when demonkind and mages can coexist with everyone.*”]

It’s absurd.

Yet, it felt plausible.

The reason Jeriem is revered as the founder of the Magic Kingdom is his progressive ideology. He abolished the class system when he founded the Magic Kingdom hundreds of years ago. He also prohibited all forms of discrimination based on race, s*xuality, religion, origin, education level, and so on.

Of course, the latter was not properly observed, but at least the distinction between noble and commoner disappeared. Talented individuals could be appointed regardless of class, and the Laron Academy was established at that time. The Magic Kingdom developed faster than the Holy Kingdom in the same era, making the Holy Order gnaw at their fingernails.

Jeriem was such a man, so it wasn’t impossible for him to embrace demonkind.

[“He always spoke of such things, but I never believed it. I thought that saying he would embrace demonkind was just a palliative measure to appease our remnants. I expected him to stab us in the back someday. But the moment he abandoned his wife and children and offered himself… I could no longer doubt his sincerity.”]

Despite having everything.

Despite being able to become king.

Jeriem did not. He abandoned everything and sacrificed his life as a sacrifice to create the Covenant of Magic. He leaped into the fiery furnace for the sake of the future that would one day come.

That was why he was praised by the people even though he made a burnt offering. Even though the Holy Kingdom still doesn’t acknowledge it.

[“Jeriem released me right before the burnt offering. I watched his death and left immediately. Afterwards, I joined the remnants of the Demon King’s army and settled on this island.”]

The secret of the uninhabited island was now fully revealed.

Everything was concluded.

And now, I knew why Salvira wanted to help us.

It could only be said that we were incredibly lucky.

[“Having prevented the world from falling into chaos, now… it is time to bid farewell.”]

[“Master.”]

[“Here, take this. It is the blueprint for the magic circle that will dismantle the barrier surrounding this place. Your skills are more than adequate, but I offer it to you to ease your burden.”]

Salbira stroked my head, then waved her hand dismissively.

[“Now, I will summon a demon, so be gone and keep your distance.”]

[“That cannot be! Surely, there must be another way.”]

[“There is not. Cease your searching and spare me your pity. Though I have aided you, it is but a meager kindness compared to the number I have slain and tortured.”]

Her words left me speechless.

Salbira continued.

[“I know not what awaits, but I wish not to display a grotesque visage. If fate dictates I must meet my end, grant me at least the dignity to uphold my pride as a demon, like Bepisha did until her last breath. That is your master’s sole request.”]

I protested countless times, but Salbira’s stern rebuke forced me to turn away.

*

Left alone, Salbira composed herself, taking a deep breath.

[“Hoo.”]

It has been a long time since she had opened up to someone her true feelings.

A sense of relief washed over her.

Now, she had no regrets, even in the face of death.

Salbira gazed down at her legs. Her spider-like lower body was unbearably hideous. To venture outside in this form would mean certain death.

A desire for atonement stirred within her, but she refused to die at the hands of the fanatical Holy Order. That would be a pointless demise, not repentance. It would only serve to further strain relations between the Holy Kingdom and the Magic Kingdom.

[“Jeriem, I shall atone in my own way.”]

For the sake of world peace, the existence of the demons must remain hidden.

Erich, who sought to reveal the truth, would never condone this method, but Salbira knew that some truths were better left untold.

In any case, the demon’s price must be paid.

[“Demon of Purgatory, come now and claim your due.”]

A sharp sensation, like an electric shock, reverberated down her spine.

The demon reached out for Salbira’s soul.

It intended to claim her very essence.

Salbira calmly prepared to embrace death. She would maintain her pride as a demon and pay the price for her past sins. She would die honorably.

However.

The demon hesitated, refraining from claiming Salbira’s breath.

[“…Why, aren’t you taking it?”]

[-The principal has already been paid.]

[“What?”]

The devil made a sound of incomprehension.

[-A very long time ago, a certain human prepaid it. His life’s value and the price you owe are exactly equal, so there’s no need to pay.]

A click of the tongue from the devil.

[-But the interest must be paid separately.]

The interest referred to the mana lost as Erich and the female soldiers’ lifespans came and went, and the price the devil waited because Salbira asked for a reprieve.

Of course.

It wouldn’t go smoothly.

[“Take it. Whatever corresponds to the interest, be it lifespan or whatever, I’ll hand it over.”]

As the head of Arachne, I would maintain my pride until the very end.

I was making that resolve when the devil murmured.

[-Then, I will take a part of your body.]

Crack!

The next moment, Salbira’s eight legs snapped like dry straw.

*

“Where have you been?”

I returned to the barracks to find the female soldiers awake. It was morning. I had been talking with Salbira and hadn’t noticed the dawn breaking.

Tiria grumbled. It’s dangerous to wander around alone at night, did I forget this was a deserted island even if the monsters are gone, she didn’t know how worried they were when I disappeared this morning…

I apologized to the questioning female soldiers and told them what had happened with Salbira.

It was during that.

[“Bim-bbi, bim-bbi!”]

A small spider appeared and hopped around in front of us.

[“What’s the matter?”]

[“Bim-bbi-bbi-bbi-bbi!”]

Something felt ominous.

aaagh—!!

A scream that seemed to tear through the forest was heard.

“What was that just now?”

“Isn’t that the Spider Woman’s voice?”

“Sounds like big trouble!”

“What are you all waiting for? Move, quickly!”

We dragged our bodies, still heavy with exhaustion, after Bbibbi. Running on an empty stomach from morning made me feel nauseous enough to die.

“Ah…”

The blood was everywhere. The open space where Salbira and I had talked was soaked in crimson. Trails of violet blood spread out like pathways.

If it were a human, they’d have bled out and died for sure.

“[Bbibbi!]”

Following the trail further, I couldn’t believe my eyes.

Rachel scrunched up her face, Liyo shivered and turned away. Tiria covered her mouth, muttering.

“What… what on earth happened here?”

“The devil took his due.”

Adora answered instead of me. She explained it as plainly as it was visible.

“…Everything below her thighs is gone.”