Cloaked in darkness, Aiven's party weaved through the dense forest.
His [Night Vision] kept him alert with his [FarSight] and [Detection] giving him a better view of their surroundings than anyone else. He could still lead his party even in the dead of the night.
Aiven's job had always been to steer away from any danger he might have detected. His combat was already lacking but because of circumstances, he was now worse (thanks to that Yuusha). Delica was closing behind him, followed by Simos who was conveniently carrying Maou-chan.
They were running away and as of now, it would be a disadvantage to put Maou-chan at the back. But with Simos as the main offense of their group, they have no choice. Simos shouldered the bulk of his blind spot. And with Delica and Maou-chan in a full line of his sight, Simos could keep track of Delica who was still new to her state, and also the little lady who was currently in his arms in a bridal carry.
With this formation, Aiven could focus without worrying about anything. He could actually go faster but he couldn't with his party's situation. But even without his other companion's burdens, Aiven could still boast about his speed.
----------------------------------------
Their destination was a clearing at the end of a waterfall at the farthest east of the forest. It took them two whole hours of continuous running when they finally got at the location.
When they've arrived, a lamppost can be seen proudly in the middle of the clearing.
He called it a lamppost but it was actually a deflection used by beginners as a safe point since it creates a twenty radius non-aggro area, one of the five safe points in the Milodas Forest. It was blessed by the spirit and glows with a soft greenish hue, converting mana from nature, it was rather a useful and self-sustaining device. Really, it definitely had an atmosphere of a beginners' grounds. But not all hunting grounds have these though.
However, they didn't stop and went ahead going behind the waterfall where they finally rest with a cavern they have discovered two sunsets ago.
The place was a bit humid but it served its purpose. Loots of different kinds can be seen in the corner and the remnants of last eve's fire were still fresh with a few layers of ashes. Cooking utensils were strewn on the floor and some comfortable clothes were folded neatly with some camping bags. Whenever they left for a hunt, they emptied their inventories to this place so they could maximize space from their inventory bracelet.
Simos, placed Maou-chan gently near the campsite and started lighting the fire. They waited for Delica to explain what happened to her, but it’s probably a sensitive topic for the siblings that no one breached the conversation. He also has a lot of explaining to do.
Gugh, where to start? Still, his focus was on the little lady. The little girl had been glancing at every corner of the cave, delighted at the change of colors in the fires, and was slowly inching towards to pile of loots. She seemed to like it's the first time she ever got outside the real world.
"Master, you interested in this?" Delica said while holding a horn. The little girl smiled happily and the older girl guided her to the dropped items.
Is that a garmwolf's fang?
He almost can't recognize the four-inch incision that Maou-chan was playing with. He could still see blood and bits of gums while a breeze softly swayed her ebony strands of hair. Dark black hair, not the ashen color of demons.
You'll never imagine the shock they had when the girl transformed back to the ragged child they first saw before Lady Yuusha used [Dispell]. His [Analyze Skill] seemed to be in error. The Yuusha didn't use [Dispell], but a six-tier higher of its form, [Unseal].
But it seemed the Yuusha's [Unseal] spell effect was temporary. It only allowing a rift at the demon lord's seal for a small period of time. It’s either that or the seal was just that powerful. It was actually in their advantage. Dragging a little girl while in the run with peculiar hair color and a pair of jet black wings larger than her petite body would be impossible. But still, to think just a leakage of Maou-chan's power was enough for her to raise an undead lich. Just how monstrous is this girl in her true form?
Going back to his muddled memories, he can't also recognize Maou-chan's chants.
He had been gathering knowledge about different magics since young, partly to research the language, mostly because he had an unhealthy obsession to know all about mana, so the oversight was hanging heavily on his mind. Not to mention the accursed [Enchantment], the Lady had used to lure them into a dream-like stupor and became like puppets, subservient to her words.
Just thinking of how he was duped by that hero made his blood boil.
In the future, he swore to level his analyze skills more. As of now, his [Magic Analysis], [Mana Detect], [Artifact Analysis] and [Identify Skill] were all expert-tier advanced levels. But since they were all subclass of Analysis and Detection Skills, it all rounded up to having only two skills in his arsenal that went beyond beginners level.
"Okay, everyone. Let's settle here for two hours and let us commence the party's evaluation."
Simos going back to his leader mode sat in crossed-leg in front of the fire. When everyone was seated at the campsite, he clapped his hands and continued. "Same, same. Stats eval, level gained, skills gained then loot scavenged. We could go to the planning completing the quest afterward and other issues." His voice hardened at the mention of 'issues' but he still continued, "But before that let's welcome the new member of our party."
"Eeeep!"
If in doubt, go with the routine. Nice thinking Simos.
"Go ahead, Master. Introduce yourself." Delica said the epitome of a loyal servant. She's really into her character. Or is it the effect of Maou-chan resurrecting her? Master-servant relationship?
"Haaaahh, eh. Um, right. P-please to meet you all! I was born recently, so please guide me from now on! A-and, please call me Maou-chan. It is the name given to me by Yuu-neechan."
Everyone clapped and welcomed Maou-chan warmly. She's such a well-mannered girl. "Um, and I want to grow up just like Yuu-neechan!"
"A-and save the world! From Humans!"
Aiven ignored her last statement.
"Great Lady Maou-chan! My name is Simos, renounced house, I would be one of your guardians from now on. You can call me Simos. Now on to the evaluation. Stats. My Strength gained by 2, willpower 15; my fighting spirit also raised to bloodlust then bloodthirst. No level gained. No loots. Evaluation, hm, for my sister, a lot. You, Aiven, the way you attacked the Yuusha is a bit off. You got into her blind side, stealth is great, but that is based on her sight alone, you should have felt that battle aura, its 12 stones thick! Just getting into that aura would already give you away. Melee is not an option. We should have regrouped and--"
"Flee."
"Anyway, that is all."
"Name's Aiven, house Gallinthe." He nodded towards Maou-chan who also beamed and answered his bow, "Stats. St4, will 2...Skills. FSight, Detect, Bloodthirst, First Aid has raised...Map updated...Class, tailor. The craft requires a toolkit. No weapons. No craft. No levels. No loots."
Without a beginner sewing tool kit, he can't train, without proper training he can't use his crafting skills, and in this situation, he had no time or desire to do so. Useless.
"My turn then. Master, you can call this body Delica. I'll serve you until my very last existence. So for my status. My elements changed, Dark +50, Holy -100%, Fire -50%, Strenght -20%, Mana +200%. Of course, I was reborn to a new class, Incomplete Lich. I have also gained Undead Grimoire but not enough mana to use 98% of the spells kept on it. And some of the lower-level necromancer spells can't be used due to discord on miasma inside my phylactery. I also retained all my learned spells. Also unaffected except for my inability to use holy or light, which is already at its bare minimum so my fighting prowess is not hindered. My fire magic had lessened but if I used it with hell's fire it neutralizes and the same level is achieved. And I reset my level. And also no loots."
He already expected this. The jump from a high tier undead posed a problem for her body to keep up. Not to mention her soul was shattered. But he didn't think it was this bad.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
It would have been easier if they showed each other's stats but even for how long he has known them, not once did he saw their full status window. It was actually forbidden to show status to any person except for family and lovers. It’s the information of your soul linked by mana to your flesh in a physical embodiment. It was the most private of private. That's why they only share through these meetings whatever they need to share. They do trust each other with their lives but the status was still a bit personal, it's the same as baring your soul.
Aiven passed a scripture to her and pen. Then as per usual, she started jotting down the new skills she could use, conditions need to be met, cooldown time, and a thorough description of its weaknesses. She'll probably have to demonstrate later each one in front of her companions. When finished, the two boys took turn to read the scripture and the moment they have memorized the contents, Simos burned the parchment. Not satisfied, Aiven used wind spell to scatter and rend the fibers into pieces.
"Hm, so that concluded our evaluation. On to issues."
Hah, this would take long. Aiven started taking out the skinned rabbits from his inventory and started cleaning it. If they are going to rest, better be it while their belly is full.
"Let's start with the same order. For me, I have no issue that won't be answered by you two so I'll pass. Go Aiven, we're waiting."
The knife Aiven was holding immediately became as dull as rust when he unconsciously released mana through it. He still needs time to mentally prepare!
But he does owe them that much. He put down the knife, the sheen went back to its place and Aiven looked longingly at its sharpness. He started organizing his statement.
"I'm an otherworlder," he said, not even shortening his speech.
"Well, that explains everything. Now, Delica, what is it with Father?"
"H-hey! I'm not...finish yet!"
"No need to elaborate. It was pretty obvious you came from the same place as Lady Yuusha." Delica nodded. "It just fits. We've already guessed as much."
"How did you--?"
"Well, you are weird," Delica agreed.
"That's not--"
"You are amazingly, otherworldly, weird. Do you remember when you literally drank holy water in our class?" she pushed the topic, not even letting him cut in the conversation.
Remembering what she was talking about, Aiven frowned.
The incidence had nothing to do with him being an otherworlder, in fact, he had done it to know if ingesting the substance would have better effects than dousing it to your body.
Sadly, no, it failed. Still, his digestion did get better. But using holy water for his bowel movements was quite expensive so he stopped.
"Or when you tried water magic to reverse your blood flow or something and almost died?" Simos added, smirking ruefully.
That one, Aiven did almost got right, he just can't imagine the circulatory system properly, though if he did succeed he would have surely died.
"There was also something in the infirmary."
"Ah yes, that takes me back," the girl explained to the demon lord, who was listening to them intently, "you see, maester, Aiven here, went to the office with the insides of his fingers skinned then asked the cleric for healing."
"And just before the spell finished, Aiven clamped his fingers! The skins merged together he looked like a lobster! Hahahaha."
"What's worse, he took a blade, cut his fingers free, and asked for another healing while smiling like he just won in a tournament! What a weird fellow."
Aiven slumped at his seat, wide-eyed that they had connected all of his breakthrough experiments and simply lumped it off as him being 'weird'.
Well, at least he was sure that healing magic was speeding of regenerative properties of the body and not the manipulation of body tissues. The cleric, however, got nightmares afterward of a devil cutting itself up and asking for to be healed again and again and again. According to rumor, the man resigned.
"Oh, those were fun times!"
"Yeah, so Aiven it’s alright. We get it. You're different. At least you finally told us." Delica patted him on his head. He was older but somehow he doesn't mind. "I am more of a monster and yet you also accepted me. So cheer up!"
"There is one more...thing."
The siblings looked in puzzlement. And then Aiven opened his mouth.
"Whoa, t-that looks..."
"I've only seen that kind of tongue with lizardmen."
"I'm human."
"Hn got it. No wonder you don't talk too much!" He didn't correct Delica on the reason why he hardly has spoken anything and just clamped his mouth shut. Not that it matters anyway.
"It's better if you don't let other people see it except us."
He had no plans to. But it does feel good that he was not hiding anything anymore. It was really the only good thing he got from the night's adventure.
But even if he could speak, he still had to limit his words. At most he could speak thousands of words and still having enough to last for the day without sucking his mana dry. Before it was less than a hundred. Using an unknown leveled world system magic on a daily basis was exhausting. His first spoken word almost halved his mana pool.
Having mana reserves was really reassuring.
"Since Aiven is already speaking up to us, I'll also...stop hiding anything," Delica announced. Maou-chan was comfortably napping on her lap and she went and brush the girl's hair. She suddenly became serious. He had noticed this before but the two have been acting differently since Delica became a Lich.
Every opportunity, they would make light of things, shoving everything into a forced smile and downcasted laughs. He knew it was a defense mechanism on their part for not being able to face the truth.
They waited for her to continue, "I, I have been helping Father with the family business, Simos." The blonde made a murderous expression but Delica brushed it off and continued with resolve.
The Sila-ir house was a known slaver in the City of Cessine, one of the City Fortress of their kingdom. It was their city. And it was their house.
Selling flesh, slaughter, pleasure, torture.
It was a legitimate business nonetheless. The House of Sila-ir flaunts its hygienic and unblemished practices unparalleled by any slave dealers.
"Delica, what have you done?" Simos whispered silently through his teeth.
There are different kinds of rage. The rage that blinds. The rage that binds. And a quiet rage that simmers beneath the skin. The last one is the one that lasts. And it depends on Delica's next words whether Simos could ever forgive his sister as he went into a turbulent calm.
Aiven also hated slavery, but it was because of his world view. Simos? Simos was different.
"I handled the corpses. I was stationed at the 2nd gate which d-disposes the remnants of each transaction. When Father heard my wish to become a necromancer, he gave me my own quarters and offered me the opportunity to deal with the arts."
"You should have said 'no'."
"How could I? It was Father! And he finally looked at me! I-I was useful I guess."
"How is it there?"
She didn't answer. "I couldn't leave them. I at least want to give them a human appearance before they could be sent to their resting place."
"Naive."
"How should you know!? You've been opposing Father since forever."
"Tell me, dear sister, how can you be sure those people you painstakingly pieced together to be human again was not sent back to that pig house!"
"Father won't--"
"Of course he will! He did that to Mother!"
F***. This was going into the point where he was grateful he doesn't talk and no one was expecting him to. Simos already told him the story. And he got sick to his core.
Dying because of childbirth, Simos' mother hasn't given birth to him when she collapsed and passed away. The nursemaid at that time told the story of how crude men went to the mansion and the body was sold. Fresh has always had high demands. The woman was the 37th wife. Collateral from debts left unpaid. When they cut open her belly, a wailing scream came.
Finding it a novelty, a child born of a dead, Simos lived and took the name of the house.
Nothing sort of a miracle, a miracle that may either bring fame or infamy, and he grew up to be a splendid investment. But Delica doesn't know that. She doesn't know.
Simos tried to calm himself and asked softly, "Did he killed you?"
"No, it was, there was a curse in one of the girls they have brought. It was painless."
"And then here you are, being useful again to Father. How long have you been spying on us?"
She flinched at the sharp insult. He should have just cut her there and then, she would prefer it that way. "A solstice ago."
"It's not her fault." Aiven interfered. His voice rang out. He went between the siblings and blocked Simos view of Delica. Simos is angry. And with no one to vent it to it would only get worse.
"You are an outsider here Aiven. Stand down."
"No," And raised the dulled knife. It wasn't that better than the sheathed dagger he treasured, but it was enough.
"Why? You know nothing."
"I know."
"Then why are you not shutting up!" Good, be furious. Work through those emotions. Simos was not thinking clearly. Aiven had to direct that away from Delica before something irreversible happens.
"Your sister died."
Simos didn't answer.
"Because of you."
"I'll. Burn. You." he seethed in anger and equipped his halberd, the limited space was closed within a second. Delica carried the sleeping girl away from the campsite drenched in panic.
Their laughter moments ago seems like a dream, and Aiven followed his movement fluidly as he stepped back dodging the powerful swing of the double-edged sword. His attention was focus on Simos. His friend's anger was just a directionless emotion and didn't take to heart the boy's threat.
Then a split of hesitation. The sword was able to slash through Aiven's pale hand, and his wrist was cut clean. The knife landed behind him and it stuck solid on the ground, it's hilt noticeable missing.
When Simos saw his friend's blood splayed over him, he was already back from his trance but the third slash was inevitable. The momentum, packed with mana, wasn't able to slow down and within seconds, Aiven's neck was no more.
Aiven is...
The body was not moving, laying on the floor. He just saw his sister died, and now he...just killed his friend.
The young boy's mind was clouded with so many unnecessary things that he didn't notice that he already failed on his step, Simos was falling but he doesn't care. He just doesn't f**cking care.
For that moment, the Aiven's body blurred. Simos widened his eyes as the body suddenly disappeared and on its place was the missing hilt of the kitchen knife.
An illusion? Simos thought, tensing his muscles as he tried to stop his fall and to make sense of things.
Then on the corner of his eye, he saw that his face was falling on the lodged blade of the knife.
The rough metal that supposed to be fastened on the handle, shone with jagged edges. And it was pointed exactly on his eye. There was no reinforced skin to deflect the damage.
It would crush his eyeball, go through his brain and he would die. He was sure of it. He accepted it. But something grabbed hold of his hair, jolting his head up and breaking his fall.
He could feel the other end of the blade trickling the under the flesh of his chin. "I might not be able to wield weapons but accidents do happen, Simos." A black-haired, dark-eyed boy said behind his ear.