Judal, a village near the border between the Demon King's domain and Runalian Kingdom. It was a village with just 96 people living in it. It has 4 gates, the west gate, north gate, east gate, and south gate. The south gate is the most guarded gate, because it leads to the Demon King's domain, and it was where Norman stationed.
"Hoahm.... Man, its really boring here, there's almost no one came from here and the demons never attacked. Why does it have to be guarded? Cant they destruct the gate and build a wall?"(???)
"Hey, it still need to be guarded even if the demons never invade us. This gate is the nearest from the Alden village, our main trading route for minerals. We aren't near any mountains here, its just a meadow everywhere and forest 600m from the south gate."(???)
"Well, you could say that because you've adventured far away from this villange, Norman. People like me that never go out venturing from this village just have a boring routines."(???)
"Hey, i stopped becoming an adventurer at Rank-D because im not strong enough to become Rank-C. Its pretty hard to become an adventurer cause an unknown danger is waiting ahead of us, you shouldn't say being an adventurer is as easy as planting crops, Kelrof."(Norman)
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. I just want to escape from this boring routines."(Kelrof)
Beside me is my childhood friend, Kelrof that wanted to venture out from this village so much. Well, i cant really blame him. Being a gate guard here is just boring. I retired from becoming adventurer because of my age and im not strong enough. My age is 49 and i haven't marry yet. I was too busy doing request from the guild. I doesn't even have a party. I was doing the request by myself so that i could get more profit. But because we need the minerals from Alden, we cant close the gate because this is the safest and fastest route from Alden to here. If they go to other gate there will be monsters hiding everywhere and there's a chance for C-Rank to appear. Alden is the nearest village to the Demon King's domain, but it has some C-Rank and even a B-Rank adventurer, so it is safe. Hmm? The gate is opened and a man that looks in hurry is coming out from inside of thhe village to us.
"The village chief is calling for you guys! There is an urgent meeting inside the village chief's house!"(Messenger)
"Alright, Kalrof, Joe, and Norman come with me, the rest of you guys keep guarding!"(Rahl)
Alright, the head guard choosen us. I wonder whats the urgent meeting about, its been 14 years since the last urgent meeting when a lesser demon is seen.
When we arrived at the village chief's house and enter it, what we see is a really serious face from the chief. And he is Kalrof's father, Herman, 86 years old. He is well known for his seriousness in his duty as a chief. We sit on a chair faced to the chief.
"May i ask you the last report of the south gate?"(Herman)
"Yes, sir. There is no problem seen, everything is normal."(Rahl)
Herman put an even more serious face. Looks like something big has happened. He took the telepathy device that connects from here to Alden. It can record talks and has a really wide range.
"We lost contact to Alden, however, there is a last words from the chief right before we lost the contact. Hear it yourself."(Herman)
"Pzzzt... Demo- Zzzzt."
"Demo? What is a Demo?"(Kalrof)
This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.
"You stupid son, he isnt done talking yet and the connection is lost."(Herman)
"Maybe... Demons?!"(Joe)
"Yes, thats what i guess, we need to be careful and guard the south gate at any cost. We're lucky because Alden is quite far away from here."(Herman)
Boom!!
All of us look out from the window of the house. What we see is... The village is burning, corpse everywhere. I tried to see more carefully and see something. Its a-
"DEMONS! Kelrof, Norman, escort the people to a safe place! The others fight along with me!"(Rahl)
We all get out of the house and I quickly evacuated the people that still surviving, I hear the sound of explosion, swords clashing, and screams. I wish i could've save them all but the village is on the brink of destruction. When all the survivors i could save get out of the village, I found Kelrof was the fighting the demons that was chasing the villagers. I leap and stab my sword right at the eyes of the demon. Kelrof quickly cut its neck, and its head fall down.
"Hey, what do you want if the next momment is our death?"(Kelrof)
"Well i want to rest peacefully, at least. You?"(Norman)
"I want to become a frickin' angel and massacre all those demons and send them back to hell."(Kelrof)
"HA! You are still joking in this momment, well you've never changed."(Norman)
Clang!
Another demon strike me and I block its claw with my sword. I down and Kelrof make us of the crouching me as a jump stone and slashed at the demon. Kelrof and I had became a friend since childhood, and as time goes, we know what each other is thinking.
Groaarrr!!
The demon raged in agony and sent a fire magic to us. We that dont have magical protections doesnt have hope against it. Looks like this is our dying momment. Looks like my hope to peacefully die isnt going to happen.
Swoosh!
A fierce wind sweep the fire magic and sent the demon flying. And then, the demon got its death instantly after the wind cuts it up. A tall man with red hair and two horns that was guarded by many demons came to us. The momment we see him, we know who she is. Talorc, the demon king.
"I see that you guys got some skills, so im giving you an offer"(Talorc)
"We will not receive any offer given by a demon, especially from you!"(Norman)
"I thought about recuiting you to be my personal guard and give you power, but, okay, GO DIE!"(Talorc)
Slash!
We dodged but Kalrof's right wrist is cutten and his blood is now flooding out of his arm. Fortunately i only got a cut on my shoulder that doesnt give a fatal wound. Kalrof eyes moved to me, and mine is looking at him. And we nodded. We arent a crybaby, we know sacrifice is needed to gain victory even if its not a certain victory. And we know what each other plans are.
"Hyaahh!!"(Kalrof)
Kalrof charged at the demon king with sowrd in his left hand and breakthrough the guarding demons and quickly move his sword to stab the demon king. At the same time whil he distract i went sneaking in the burning inn and go to the second floor. However, before the sword could even stab him. Kalrof has his head fall down first, and his body is following. My anger is boiling inside me. However i cannot let my wrath take over and wasted his sacrifice. I turn my wrath into my power. I concentrate, letting it bigger, and turn them into power. My unique skill [Honor]. Let me has no fear, and turn my emotions for fighting in honor.
"YOU!!!"(Norman)
I jumped off the window and aim my sword to stab his head.
Crash!
I stabbed his head. I can now die in honor for my friend.
Boom!
An explosion magic is cast into me and throw me a few meters away. So... this is my death huh? Just at my last momment, the scene i see is breaking my honor.
"Ha... HAHAHAHAHAHA!! YOU FOOL! I AM NOT A NORMAL DEMON! YOU CANT KILL ME UNLESS MY HEART IS CRUSHED AND MY HEAD IS CUTTED! Now then... After you give me this much pain, ill reward you with even a greater pain."(Talroc)
He unsheathed a dagger, no, it was just a dagger handle. And he stab me with it. There is nothing, but i can feel.. PAIN!!
"ARGHHHH!!!!"(Norman)
"Hmmm.... Ill give you another gift before your death. This dagger is called [Soul Eater], like the name, it eats your soul. So, you will feel an even greater pain than death because you are not dead yet, even so your soul is not there. Dont struggle, its useless your soul is already drained by 98 percent, oh its 99 percent now, let me count it for you. 99,6% 99,7% 99,8% 99,9% one hundre-"(Talorc)
Before he could even finish the counting, i cant see anything. The pain is gone, and looks like i survived just right before my soul is comepletely gone. But, theres only black here. Is this afterlife, well its fine even if i died. I already escort 32 people that still alive. However i wasnt happy. I couldnt rage because of my death, or cry. It feels... empty. Is this what happens if my souls almost comepletely gone?
However there was a light...
"Welcome."(???)
And a soft and kind voice...