“Could it perhaps be some kind of illusion?”
Aisia cautiously placed her hand on the floor and carefully detected for any traces of mana.
A faint, yet strangely unpleasant and cold presence was detected.
It felt as though the malevolence of someone lingered there.
“Did that demon hide here?” she murmured to herself.
Adolf approached one of the walls and ran his hand along its surface.
The wall was coarse and weathered, however, upon closer inspection, a certain section appeared to be relatively less worn out.
“There might be a hidden passage here. Let’s try pushing together.”
A few soldiers pushed against the wall at once, but it didn’t budge at all.
Then Aisia unfolded a magic circle and attempted a delicate vibration magic to check if there were any cracks in the wall or if the internal structure was different.
At that moment, a small vibration returned as if in response, and suddenly there was a feeling of nothingness as though the echo had been swallowed up.
“It seems there are no empty parts inside,” Aisia concluded, to which Adolf slightly nodded.
“There’s also the possibility that the demon created an illusion and hid within the wall.”
The soldiers regretfully couldn’t find any additional clues.
However, everyone could feel it.
There was an odd sense that something was present here.
It was as if the entire premise had been infiltrated by some unseen entity.
The next morning, the search continued.
Adolf and Aisia decided to proceed deeper into the ruins.
They instructed the soldiers in advance and prepared what they needed for a long exploration—lamps, dry rations, and more.
In case any danger materialized, they arranged to call for immediate support using signals.
Meanwhile, a subtle tension spread among the soldiers.
Everyone was on edge, especially since any noise during the night would immediately have them armed and rushing outside.
Due to their heightened awareness, small and large monsters couldn’t easily approach.
Then, Aisia discovered the way leading underground to the ancient temple.
Huge ancient stairs lay broken and abandoned, with the central part seemingly on the verge of collapse.
A putrid smell mingled with a stagnant wind hung in the air.
“This seems most likely. If the demon is hiding, it would have chosen this wide-open space over a narrow passageway,” Adolf said after inspecting the surroundings.
He sent a few knights ahead and slowly descended the shaky, cracked staircase.
“Be careful!” the officer warned the knights.
“If too many of us go down at once, it might collapse. Proceed in groups of ten or less!”
As the small advance team reached underground, a breathtaking sight greeted them under the bright lamps.
A space much wider than one could imagine, resembling a vast underground “plaza”, unfolded before them with remnants of old altars in various places.
The ceiling was carved in a dome-like half-circle, as if reaching toward the sky.
As soon as they stepped in, Aisia felt an inexplicable chill.
The dark red traces she’d sensed yesterday spread over a wider area here, growing fungus-like and forming grotesque shapes.
“Hmm, the atmosphere here feels quite unsettling,” Adolf said while gripping his sword cautiously.
“Everyone, be on guard. Don’t scatter.”
The soldiers carefully dispersed while observing their surroundings, with some heading to investigate the altars.
Suddenly, an urgent voice came from one of the knights.
“There’s something… someone moving!”
At this, everyone increased their alertness.
Beyond the sparkling lamp light, a peculiar shape wriggling in the darkness became visible.
At first, it was hard to tell if it was beast or man.
But as it moved closer, its silhouette became clearer.
It had a humanoid form but its skin was stained dark, with thin horn-like protrusions sticking out from its back.
Most noticeably, its eyes glowed with an ominous red hue.
Aisia immediately realized this was the “demon they had been searching for yesterday.”
“Looks like you’ve been looking for me,” it said in a low, cold voice with a strange accent.
It was confirmed.
“Why… are you here?”
Aisia’s voice trembled as she asked, but the demon responded with a mocking smile.
“This place is very important to us. The artifact of restoration… something we absolutely need, is resting here. We’ve merely been watching while you so rudely tread here.”
Adolf frowned.
“Restoration? Are you planning some sort of scheme?”
The demon tilted its head as if mocking him.
“Scheme? Humans like you always fall apart even with the smallest provocations. We simply enjoy watching.”
The demon’s unpleasant laughter echoed through the ruins.
“Let’s see how much longer you’ll tear each other apart, how much you’ll crumble under your own suspicions.”
Provoked by these cunning words, the soldiers displayed angry expressions.
However, they couldn’t rush recklessly.
Through legends and documents, they already knew that demons wielded powers far greater than ordinary monsters.
The demon then directed its red gaze toward Aisia.
“And you, princess, I believe. Didn’t I mention last night? The man you trust, Adolf Kareha, isn’t he the war maniac you detested the most?”
“General Kareha is not the person you’re describing. I know that!” Aisia clenched her fists tightly.
She wasn’t weak enough to be swayed by such provocation again.
Yet, the demon, believing it held the advantage, continued to provoke her.
“Hmph… What a laughable claim. Over the past few years, surely you’ve heard enough about Adolf Kareha.”
At these words, Aisia furrowed her brows. The army led by the man mentioned by the demon was notorious for its atrocities—mocking executions as festivals, humbling female knights, and other disgraceful acts devoid of honor.
While Aisia hesitated for a moment,
At that moment, Adolf could no longer bear it, and he drew his sword.
The soldiers also armed themselves in unison.
“Shut your mouth,” Adolf growled.
“If you think you can continue playing with the princess, I’ll cut you down at once.”
The demon wasn’t intimidated at all.
On the contrary, its lips curled even further.
It seemed to enjoy the hostility.
“Alright, let’s see what you can do.”
As soon as it finished speaking, an eerie dark magic shot out from the demon’s fingertips.
The crimson patterns scattered across the floor writhed in unison, beginning to encircle the soldiers.
Some soldiers screamed as they felt their legs abruptly bound by what felt like dark, claw-like hands.
“Magic users, create a protective barrier! Knights, quickly re-form your positions!”
Adolf gave rapid orders.
Aisia, too, cast her magic circle, trying to counteract the demon’s dark magic.
“The hatred and malice you are holding onto… you will writhe in it forever within this darkness!” the demon’s voice echoed through the underground space.
While the chaos unfolded, black chains-like forms surged from the ground, restricting the soldiers’ movements.
Amidst all this chaos, Adolf instinctively understood that the demon had to be subdued.
As he rushed forward, his sword gleaming like lightning, the dark chains were violently repelled.
The demon keenly tracked Adolf’s movements.
‘The human who took countless lives through war. The man known for ruthless strategies and merciless sacrifices.’
The demon’s red eyes flashed as they summoned images.
Illusions reminiscent of past battles began swirling through the air.
Aisia gasped, witnessing a horrifying scene, unable to catch her breath.
There she saw the annihilation of the Liberian Empire’s knights, burning villages, and Adolf leading the charge, ordering his soldiers to advance.
Each of these scenes felt like they were scraping at her wounds.
“This is all just an illusion, don’t let the falsehoods deceive you!”
Adolf shouted, but the demon’s illusions had already spread across the entire underground plaza.
However, among these visions, Aisia felt the pain most intensely.
Her past war trauma resurfaced, her heart raced, and her breathing quickened.
This must be what the demon was waiting for.
“This… this is a trick! He was just fighting to survive.”
But her lips grew stiff, her voice unable to clearly express her thoughts.
While she momentarily faltered, the demon switched to a more aggressive stance.
The solidified power of darkness swept through the underground space, causing fragments of stone to fall everywhere.
“Aisia! Snap out of it!”
Adolf shouted, warning her not to fall into the trap, all the while raising his sword towards the demon.
clang!
As their powers clashed, the metallic sound reverberated.
It seemed the demon had just thrown a punch, but somehow it matched blades even with Adolf.
Upon closer inspection, a thin, dark protective barrier formed around the demon’s arm.
“Hmph, you’re quite something for a mere human.”
The demon mockingly muttered and aimed for Adolf’s side with a quick swing of its hand.
Adolf barely deflected it with his sword but lost his balance and was pushed back.
While Adolf regained his footing, the demon glanced at Aisia.
“If I can throw her into confusion again, I could end it all while you’re distracted.”
The demon bluntly exposed its cunning intent.
“Are you mocking us?”
Adolf’s officer hurled a spear quickly.
The demon detected its trajectory too late but managed to twist its body just enough to avoid injury.
“Indeed, it’s not as easy alone.”
The demon sighed, then snapped its fingers and greedily absorbed the dark shadows on the ground.
It dashed toward the wall with fierce speed, leaped over a stone pillar, and disappeared into the darkness.
