I had been thinking about the past lately—more than I normally did.
I reflected on my actions, imagining how things might have turned out.
Now.
Let's not let them repeat.
-SKRAAAA—
Before the demonbeast could come close, it was cut down cleanly. Not by me, obviously. I'm weak as hell now. All that demonbeast slaying was for nothing.
Hunter Theron was escorting me. I told the guild about the unusual demonbeast at Mara's place, so they sent him to investigate. Though I had no proof, the church still vouched for me. Angela must have helped with this.
It is known that there is an unusual rise in demonbeast activity. Why is that? The answer lies in the Red Zone.
Demonbeasts are born from, and sustained by, negative emotions—especially fear and hatred. They hunt other lifeforms not out of hunger for flesh, but because they feed on the terror of impending death. Even the fearless are not spared, for demonbeasts still kill out of an inborn hatred toward all lifeforms.
The Red Zone is an area saturated with demonic energy emitted by demonbeasts. As demonbeast activity rises, the Red Zone expands—and shrinks as it wanes. So when that activity spikes suddenly, it can only mean one thing.
An unusual demonbeast has appeared. There are many reasons for one to appear, but Corruption is mainly the reason.
Under the right conditions, prolonged exposure to negative emotions allows demonic energy to corrupt a human, twisting their mind into madness.
So here we were, at Mara's house.
Theron knocked on the door calmly.
The door slowly opened.
"H-hello, who are you?"
"I'm Theron, a hunter from the Pathfinder Guild. I'm here to conduct a demonbeast inspection."
"D-demonbeast!? W-why?"
"I've received information that a demonbeast may be residing here. Please make way and cooperate with the search."
"...B-but—"
Theron brushed past Mara. She lowered her gaze, fingers fidgeting. It was clear why.
He scanned the house, looking for traces of demonbeast. Soon enough, he stood in front of her mother's room. He tried to open it.
It was locked.
-BAM!
Theron kicked the door down with ease. What awaited inside was a grotesque scene.
Blood and flesh sprayed across the entire room. Dismembered body parts scattered around. In the room's darkest corner, her mother was curled in on herself, mumbling something incomprehensible.
She still looked like a human at the very least, save for her deranged behavior, that is.
"...What is happening?"
I asked Theron nervously.
"Stay back."
He responded flatly.
In one smooth motion, his sword was drawn. Then the air itself seemed to shift.
"!"
The blade darkened beneath a restrained crimson sheen, not radiant but dense, as if the edge itself had been sharpened with his intent. A quiet weight settled around it, making the air feel heavier.
The mumbling stopped abruptly. Slowly, the woman turned her head, twisting to an impossible degree.
I thought she was intimidated by his blade.
But she stared past Theron—straight at Mara.
"...Mara"
"...Mom."
It was hard to read Mara's expression. Was it fear—or something else?
But her mother's fury was unmistakable. Her face contorted wildly. Veins bulged along her skin. Her arms and legs lengthened, darkening to black.
"...Is that?"
"Corruption."
-MaAraa!!
-Shhk!
A clean cut. The demonbeast lunged forward. The crimson blade split it in two. All of this happened in a flash.
Aura. I had seen it before. Heard of it before. The undead had used it. Eirlys had told me about it. And now, witnessing how easily he took down the demonbeast, I realize...
This was what 'strong' truly meant.
Theron sheathed his sword and walked outside. I stood here alone with Mara.
"..."
"..."
The feeling was complicated.
"...Are you alright?"
"..."
What used to be her mother lay on the floor. Cut in half.
"...Now that things have come to this, what about coming to the Church? They will treat you well there."
"..."
I was saying what I wanted to say. I had no idea what she wanted.
So we stood there for a while.
Until Mara finally said something.
"...I'll go."
I could hear the uncertainty in her voice.
"They will give you proper care. That much I'll make sure."
I reached out my hand to her. She took it hesitantly.
Responsibility, I'm still unfamiliar with it. But I hope I could do something for her. Giving her the home she needed.
In the end, she was a victim as well—even if she had helped her 'mother'.
With this, countless deaths are prevented, and the only life lost is her father's.
It wasn't until later, when Mara confided in me, that I learned her father may have been the cause of it all.
***
It was crazy how much of a difference I made just by saving Angela.
By not wasting time being detained and wandering about, I managed to prevent the demonbeast outbreak altogether. Saving countless innocent lives.
But the most important change was in my own life.
"Angela, are you heading to the hospital?"
"Yes, are you doing alright, Cain?"
It had been great. I was living like an outcast before. Not interacting at all, doing nothing but killing demonbeast.
Now that I know more people and have more to do, the days feel far less empty. This was all thanks to Angela. Man, knowing someone with lots of connections like her made all the difference.
"Everyone's so nice here. It's been really great."
"I'm glad to hear that. What about you? Where are you heading?"
"Oh, just a friend of mine."
There is a certain mage I'd like to meet again.
***
"Why should I?"
"Huh?"
Eirlys rejected my offer immediately.
"Why should I form a party with a nobody like you? And stop acting like we're close. It is honestly creepy."
"Ah, right. Sorry about that."
Yeah… maybe I was being creepy. Waiting around for a specific commission, asking to form a party the moment we met, and talking like I already knew her — that's pretty weird.
"Please reconsider it. Actually, I'm a Chosen One, too. I'll definitely be of help."
"So? I couldn't care less. Find somebody else to help you."
Why? What was it that initially drew her interest in me? What should I do now?
...Why am I so desperate to work with her?
Eirlys stood and began walking away. I reached out and called after her.
"Eirlys..."
"Hm, find someone else to tag along with your little hero game—"
"The third Law of Motion states that for every action in nature, there is an equal and opposite reaction."
"..."
Eirlys looked quite bewildered—the most I had ever seen her.
"That said, why not think twice about my offer? I might be more helpful than you think."
Words that didn't even make sense to me. It was pathetic of me to be this clingy, but I couldn't help it.
If it wasn't for her, I would have given up long ago. I wanted to do something for her.
Without turning around, she spoke.
"...Was that a threat?"
"No. I'm just trying to catch your interest."
Eirlys said nothing more, so I continued.
"One week. I'll convince you to work with me. I won't ask for anything."
More than anything, Eirlys is the only person I could rely on. Knowledgeable and strong. What could I have done without her?
Deaths are not pleasant, so I still have a lot to thank her.
Finally, Eirlys looked at me. Her ever-expressionless face put me at ease.
"Then, I suppose it wouldn't be so bad."
She closed the distance, looking straight at me.
"No complaints later, alright?"
"...Not sure about that."
Oh well, whatever, at least I got her to work with me. Actually, it would be more correct to say work for her.
I hope we can get together well, in this life too.