CHAPTER 22: BEAUTY IS A BEAST BUT STILL A BEAUTY
Back in the Village
Jin hovered over the crater IK was in, her face showing the disdain she had held for him from the beginning. Her fiery butterfly wings began to slowly fade. The night felt endless, and she could hear the ruckus deep in the forest where she was sure Tor still was.
She also heard two distinct footsteps approaching the village. Since the crater IK had dug wasn't far from the open gates, she was sure they would reach her in less than a minute.
She began descending slowly into the crater. Her wings were disappearing, but the sight was breathtaking. She landed with one foot on IK's face and the other on the ground, scorching it.
"Ah, I'm so tired. I used too much mana on scum. Since it seems there are people here to save you, and I promised someone I'd never use this unless I'm dying… but those guys seem strong. And she won't forgive me if I die. You should know she's super scary."
She sounded like she was convincing herself.
IK suddenly began screaming. His body wouldn't move. All his bones were broken, and the pain was truly excruciating. His mouth could barely move beneath Jin's scorching foot.
"Oh? You're still alive?" Jin said in disgust. "Even scum can be saints, I guess."
By then, the two approaching elders had reached the mouth of the crater. They stood atop it, looking down. Jin glanced up at them.
"Esteemed mage, we believe that would be enough," one of the elders said cautiously. He had no idea where such a young girl had come from, but judging by the damage she'd inflicted on IK, it was clear the adults who brought her here were monsters. They also hoped to retrieve IK quickly, as they could feel natural mana converging elsewhere in the village, likely where the senior elder was battling the escaped blood beast.
"No. You two look very dangerous," Jin replied with a giggle. "What if I hand him over and you're still not satisfied? What would I do then? I'm here alone, so I can't trust strange men. Especially lecherous old geezers like you."
One of the elders jumped into the crater.
Lightning flashed.
Roy appeared, meeting the elder midair. His sword sparked with lightning as it swung toward the elder's head. The elder repelled it, a boom echoing as he was hurled back to the spot he jumped from, sliding toward the gate.
Roy landed near the crater's edge.
"Why do you interfere?" the other elder demanded. "Are you this girl's parent?"
Roy laughed. "If I had kids, I could only pray they'd be like her. But listen carefully. If you touch her, everyone involved today will die. And the future won't look great for your clans either."
He stretched out his sword, pointing it at the elder's face in silent invitation.
"Such insolence. You'll die first," the elder said, bursting forward. He slashed at Roy, the weight of gale behind the strike sending Roy flying upward. At the peak of his rise, the second elder appeared behind him and slashed.
Just before it connected, Roy threw his sword. It pinned into the gate.
He turned into lightning, reappeared at the sword, kicked off the gate, and in an instant appeared before the first elder, striking again.
"That won't work anymore," the elder said, parrying upward and kicking Roy back toward the gate.
As this unfolded, Jin knew Roy would die if she didn't act. The villagers would either be killed for the cover-up or die when Tor took revenge. Ana and Taka would be caught in it too. That bothered her. Ana was related to the princess who knew where that scary woman was.
Tor couldn't remember her. He was always searching. May had said that once the Great Elder gave permission to leave, they could find her. Tor forgot. Jin did too.
No. She still couldn't remember her face.
Jin coated her fingers with spatial mana and plunged them into IK's abdomen. He screamed as if enduring the worst torture imaginable. The elders were too distracted to stop her.
She withdrew her hand, holding a fist-sized golden mana core.
So he really was a saint.
"Time to use that woman's magic, I guess," she said softly.
"Devourer."
Red flames engulfed the mana core. Jin absorbed it. The moment it activated, it took on a life of its own. Spatial fluctuations rippled across the village. Her mana core was full, yet the devourer wouldn't stop. Excess mana spilled outward as spatial distortion.
"Nark, stop playing and finish her before she causes trouble," the second elder warned, feeling the pressure.
"No," Nark replied calmly. "Let's make a deal. Help me capture her, and you can take all the glory."
His gaze lingered on Jin.
"She's a beast," he said, smiling. "But still a beauty. And beauties can be tamed."