-Fei’s PoV-

The day had gone out and dark violet filled the heaven. Celestial bodies glittered far above my grasp, glowing in various sizes and colors. While the cool breezes phased through the dark forest, I tied the reins of three strong-legged horses to a single tree near a small water canal.

“This is no job befitting a prince like me…”

I breathed out. This would be a pain to get used to. I haven't been camping outside for several years and I've lost almost ALL of my abilities as a living weapon. That meant the skills I've stolen, the talents that made me the way I was until the latest incident, and the experiences I obtained by reaping dead souls had all been freed from me.

I have, by all means, become a normal human if not an artificial magical creature shaped like one.

"But at what cost?" I stared at the horses, glanced at the stump on my left shoulder and the swaying empty sleeve, and returned to default.

The horses were bought from a reliable merchant. They had the energy and speed necessary to help us reach the kingdom in less than a month, but that didn't guarantee a safe travel even by using the long route. There would be dangers, and we might encounter adversaries who can take on low-rank demons with ease.

"Luna isn't going to forgive my betrayal," I mumbled, "My ancestors and my siblings... Even my servants will all turn against me for this treason I've committed."

Lagnaris and Vagnalos. The two were a set that must not be separated. They were the sword and shield of the kingdom, the symbols of might, history, and unbreakable promise which painted the rise of Raumia's 'sacred' glory. For all this time, for the past thousands years... This has not changed. It couldn't have changed.

"And yet here I am," I raised a hand and brushed the mane of the steed I rode on, "the first singularity, born after countless sacrifices are made."

How funny. I've never once craved for freedom. The world wasn't so kind it would give me everything that I wanted. Not without taking away something precious to me first.

"...This won't do, huh?" I shook my head and closed that thought off. "I guess everything isn't working like what I wanted after all."

Get a grip damn it. I wouldn't trade the girl I love with the entirety of that rotten kingdom. I wouldn't allow half of my life be stolen away from me! I will never give up on Charlotte!!

"And what will you do to those people you saved before?"

When that sudden question arrived, I stiffened and whirled around, meeting the cold green gaze of a boy with red hair. I scowled.

"What are you implying?" I asked.

"Feh. Nothing. Nothing really important anyway." The brat replied.

The red-haired boy, Leonhardt paced to the canal. He squatted, dipping his hands and cupped a handful amount of water. Those that spilled made ripples on the water surface while the insolent boy washed his face.

"Just so you know," suddenly he said, "I'm still against this decision. It's suicidal, completely dumb for a mere altruistic purpose, and it has nothing to do with what that girl wants."

"...Then why are you here?"

Isn't that obvious, the boy two-and-a-half heads shorter than me stood up, facing my glare with indifference. The pale moon above shone upon the canal and the darkness was fended away even if only for a little. Surrounded by such environment, I heard something crack. My hand moved to the hilt of the sword I bought but it stopped once I found out the source of noise.

With a blink I witnessed a ripple appearing. The boy before me emitted mana that I couldn't identify, and with it, his appearance too changed. Twin horns grew out from the sides of his head, strong, sharp and firm. A black tail swayed out into my sight from behind the boy's back and his eyes grew narrower, revealing two snake-like pupils.

"You...!" I backed a step, gritting my teeth and unsheathing the iron sword.

And yet the words I tried to yell out died in my throat once a mocking snort appeared.

"Only now you're scared huh?" The Demon lolled his head. "Looks like you never knew the value of your own life until you realized you're not a soulless monster. How typical."

As if ignoring my presence and the drawn blade, the being looked up to the sky before turning away, returning to the camp.

"What..." I caught myself from making a slip up. "What are you planning? Why would you be by her side to this extent?"

A demon. The boy who Charlotte introduced as her younger brother was actually the nemesis of humans. Despite having the suspicions, to let them be confirmed was still unnerving me. Why could he be so audacious? How could a Demon step so far into Raumia's territory without being detected by the barriers?

...Unless...

"You're not a pure-blooded Demon," I uttered, perplexed. "So you have a human blood in you?"

Leonhardt snorted, but he didn't deny nor accept my words. He simply let it be, keeping his secrets to himself while leaving my sight. Still… that made some sense. Raumia was an impregnable fortress with its multi-layered defensive walls and magical barriers, the last and the outermost one installed with a detection magic set to identify any kind of demon and their special traits which included their Demonic Marks and spells.

I remembered it having an impressive range by veiling even the air above Raumia too so that the kingdom could always be warned and prepared a countermeasure against the enemy.

But while mulling by myself, Leonhardt gave a side of his cheek and glared at me.

"I'm not my father," the boy said. "I don't abandon my own family, nor will I try to kill them. I'm not like you."

With a sneer his figure melded with the shadows. But then I heard something else and distances away, an explosion burst out to the sky.

“What…?” I blanched at the scattered debris.

Following after it was a series of objects that looked lifelike. They were creatures… monsters that often stalked the night! But they were all shredded in midair and fell as corpses.

“Ah… Looks like she’s still at it.” Leonhardt’s words notified me, and something clicked in my mind.

“Charlotte is there!?” I gasped. “Why!?”

The half-demon merely gave a sidelong glance. He once again scoffed, shaking his head and waltzed off to the campsite.

See it for yourself and think why, he said. Those seven words irritated me beyond measure but I powered my aura down my feet and jumped over the canal, rushing ahead. The darkness shrouded my vision as if I was inside a lightless tunnel, and the grasses rioted below me. Leaves and fallen branches stomped and I touched a tree, making a turn to reach the place that girl was at—

“Blade Arts – Chain Waltz.”

Silver flashed. A blade streaked through a score of four-legged beasts, slicing through them in extreme ease. Those monsters were called Night Gazers, a blood-sucking species specializing in ambush and wicked trickery. Their fangs were rotten, poisonous without cure and each of their claws was almost as long as a human arm.

But a single sword ran through them, killing the B-Rank monsters by the dozens. My eyes glimpsed blonde veil trailing and a quiet sigh entered my hearing. The slaughterer manifested under the moonlight, full of graces in her white dress and dull iron armors yet her strikes were tremendously frightening.

“Come,” the girl said, her emerald gaze scanning the clearing made through the felling of many trees. “I know you lots are there. No use hiding, you bastards.”

B-Bastards…? I almost forgot that on top of Charlotte’s tomboyish side, her tongue could be the most violent thing when you’re in an argument with her. To be honest, I almost missed that viciousness of hers but—an angry roar responded a giant beast charged into the clearing.

It squashed flat any Night Gazer on its path. Four armored limbs, thick and strong like stone pillars entered my sight while a jagged carapace covered the entire body of the beast. A head stuck out, long and scaled, the head giving resemblance to a snakehead… What?! A Tartarga!? Why would such thing be here and rampaging!?

Furthermore, there are three of them! Judging by the mosses sticking on their shells, the completeness of their carapace and the condition of their scales, I could ascertain the general approximation of their ages. What I found didn’t relieve me at all. Instead, blood drained off my face. Those things were several hundred years old!! They could stand at the lower tier of A-Rank monster!!

“Charlotte!!” I yelled, entering the fray by slashing my way straight to her.

But I heard a whisper, quiet and flat that chills ran down my spine.

“Radiata, Load the Fourth Sword System.”

I stepped forward and I heard the wind crying. My legs halted and then I saw silver flashes with golden afterglows. I blinked and the girl I tried to assist vanished from my sight, reappearing right behind the sprinting Tartargas.

Like branches of lightning, her sword lashed out at the joints of the four-legged monster. Despite the tough scales that could deflect even enchanted iron sword, Charlotte’s Relixia Arma chipped them all and pierced through them.

Blood sprayed, one of the tortoise-like beast screeched to a halt. With their legs pulverized like that, they couldn’t hope to move, much less turning around. The girl completely disabled an A-Rank monster with a simple application of sword technique…!? How did she—

“Change System. Load the Sixteenth Sword System.”

I blinked once again and shadow loomed upon me. I turned around, meeting the red glare of a Night Gazer sinking down its long sharp claws. I drew and swung my sword in retaliation—but my foe’s ambush failed to reach me.

“Gha!? Agha…!” With a sword piercing through its mouth, the B-Rank monster lurched and spat out blood.

Between us, a veil of golden blocked half of my view.

“Load Successful.” Then came a string of cold, emotionless words.

Her hand flicked and the glowing Relixia Arma split the Night Gazer in halves. I grunted in surprise, shielding myself with my sleeve at the sprays of blood while the gore landed with dull thuds.

“Reload the Fourth Sword System.”

And then Charlotte was gone once again. Pursuing several bestial walls, I spun for a hundred and eighty degrees—only to find that the battle was over before I could make sense of everything.

The Tartargas were immobilized, their leg muscles pummeled if not sliced through. The Night Gazers all lied on the ground as mutilated corpses, none could be identified from each other and not even their Stigmas—the valuable monster crystals were spared.

But as my gaze traveled, I found a girl looking up to the sky, standing atop a corpse of the shelled monster. Her golden hair was tainted with red, dirt and mud latching on her boots, legs and clothes. Sweats dribbled down her cheeks as she wheezed roughly, while I realized that her complexion had gone entirely pale and she fell to the right side.

“Charlotte—!?“

I stepped back, missing a swing of sword that could have cut me diagonally at the torso. My grey gaze met narrow emerald. The girl was safe and sound, yet she was pointing her blade at me, her ally.  I didn’t understand why but soon I realized something writhed in her eyes. Light… There was… a different light layered below another light.

Stolen novel; please report.

It was strange. I could even detect the obscene amount of mana radiating from Charlotte’s body. This amount of mana she exuded, and the seemingly faint trace of aura meshing in it… It’s abnormal.

“Charlotte…?” I called out to her.

There was silence.

And then it was broken as the girl blinked, the windows of her soul restored back to normal. Even so, her blade remained still at pressing the sharp tip to my throat, and our gazes interlocked.

“H-Huh…?” Charlotte exasperated. “Fei…? What are you… What are you doing here?”

…It seems there are so much things that must be addressed.

----------------------------------------

The campsite was close to the horses so that ease of movement could be granted. There was no way knowing what kind of perils waiting for us so it made sense to stick close to our sole method of transportation. As I stumbled near the campfire, I did not see the figure or even the shadow of the Half-Demon. Taking a glance to one of the three small tents, I confirmed that he had gone to sleep.

At least I think he is.

“How irresponsible,” I breathed out, sitting down near the fire. “If there’s nobody on the lookout, then bandits will have easier time robbing us.”

“W-well, Leon’s still a kid and he went all out for the first time in a while. He must have been exhausted, so let’s keep the volume down, okay?”

And his sister was way too carefree. Seriously, do I need to point out that both of you have long gone past your childhood period? While words were about to roll off my tongue, I realized that the girl – Charlotte was actually someone who was aware of her previous life, and I clamped my jaws together.

She had long past her developmental period. At the very least, her mind was. But when I tried to remind myself of her daily antics… Could it be that her past self lived in a completely different environment? It would explain how off her view of the world was, especially if said environment where she had once lived in was at a much kinder, safer era.

An era where the act of reaping life was considered as abhorrent… Could such a time even exist despite the ever-changing nature of people’s malice?

“…Errm… Fei?”

Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and rubbed my temples with one hand. The other moved and pointed to a tent.

“You should wash off the bloodstains and change your clothes. After that, we will talk, Charlotte.”

“U-uhh… Fine…”

Stop whining. It was you who started this all so the least you could do was be responsible of your own actions. Honestly, I wondered how and why this girl could stay so carefree. Wasn’t she actually twice older than me? I felt like the roles of the adult and the child were reversed…

“Uwah! Co-Cold!!” Charlotte’s voice rang out from the direction of the canal. “Ugh… And the blood seeped through the fabric. So I have no choice but to take a bath too? Urgh…Damn it. Stupid monsters and their habits of gushing blood everywhere like a broken fountain…”

Now she blamed it on something that held no relation to the matter. What? How childish could she be? I never thought that she would… Sigh. Let’s just wait. What should I do to spend the time, though?

…The thought concluded with me staring at the sky once again. Though darkness still embraced the land, my full attention was inadvertently drawn by the beauty and lusters of the heaven. Then, as splashes of water entered my hearing some distances away, the wind blew through blades of grasses and branches full with leaves; the Mother Nature sang, and my lips twitched upward as I drowned myself in tranquil silence.

It wasn’t until Charlotte returned that I let myself drunk with the splendor of the world. My eyes rolled to a side, catching sight of her state of attire and I hummed a tune as I tried to form words out of my tongue.

“Feeling like an ordinary village girl tonight?” I asked, peering at the simple tunic tied with a leather belt.

The girl puffed her cheeks. “Shut up. We don’t have the luxury to buy expensive items. Also, I’d rather be born a humble peasant rather than dance as a snobbish noble.”

Hmph. That certainly suited you well. But there was one thing I needed to rectify.

“Your charms are too much for a mere peasant, Charlotte. Your hair and eyes stand out more than sore thumbs.” I remarked. “Also, no humble peasant would not bow down to nobles.”

“Guh… It’s not like I asked to be born like this…” Charlotte stepped back. “Besides, this world is weird! It doesn’t have blond people, like, at all! Normally, this kind of world is infested with various races, right!? How come the minority is the one with western ethnicity?!”

“Huh?” I quirked an eyebrow at the strange discovery. “I don’t really get your point, but well… You’re the only person with pure blond hair and emerald eyes around here. You’re probably the single person that possess such feature.”

“And that’s bad!” She shouted.

“Why? Isn’t that good for you?” I tilted my head. “I heard Heroes and irregular existences that don’t fit with standard rules prefer being treated as some extraordinarily unique presences.”

That’s not the point, Charlotte screamed with rage boiling so hot that she stomped the ground twice. I waved a hand dismissively and pointed at one of the tents.

“You’re going to wake the brat up, Princess.” I said, “Would you like him to know of what you’re doing behind our backs too?”

And so the girl’s frustration smothered down. She even blushed, probably out of embarrassment due to not following her own words. But she fumed for a while, forcing me to convince her to just grit her teeth and hold herself to a higher ground. I also suggested sitting wherever she liked, obviously, but she chose to sit across me, making the bonfire as the wall between us.

“So…” Charlotte started after a giving out a huff. “What do you want to know? For your information, what I did wasn’t suicidal at all.”

I gave her a flat look. A dozen seconds passed. Charlotte looked away.

“Fine, maybe a little,” the girl confessed. “I was emulating some sword styles that may be useful in various situations. Radiata is limiting the amount of Soul Essence I can use so it’s not as reckless as you might think.”

“Don’t you realize that anything tagged with ‘reducing your own lifespan’ counts as reckless?”

“Shut up. It’s the only way I can fight toe-to-toe with the likes of you, Fei.”

Bah. That still couldn’t count as a good reason. I was an immortal with a body constitution that could be replaced at any moment. The thing I risked for was entirely different in scales compared to…

“…No, I guess that no longer matters now,” I murmured under my breaths, heaving a deep sigh. “Why are you so eager to reach the level I fight on? You know that with time, you can reach a peak higher than I will ever be on.”

And it was the truth. Sure the girl had a long way to go but her sword skills were top-notch. I doubted many could defeat her in the Academy and most likely after her education ended, she would be strong enough to match famous lesser demons.

That is saying something considering who and what I am, and I’m sure Charlotte understood that as well. Yet she kept on pressuring herself as if…

“…Are you… troubled about something?” I asked. “Is there some danger beside my siblings and the rebels? Something that can stand on equal footing with Vagnalos, for example…?”

The girl before me didn’t say anything at first. Yet I saw her lips twisting into a thin line and her eyes sent a downcast gaze. Charlotte nodded at the end of it.

“…I feel like nothing good ever happened around me,” she answered. “Don’t you think there have been so much odd incidents ever since I am around, Fei? That bitch of a Demon Countess, our encounter with Takeru, upheaval at the Raumia, the Spring Incident, another encounter with another Demon General, my subsequent inheritance of my title… and then this all.”

Isn’t it all connected somehow to me, the girl finished with a question and a mocking laughter. Even so, she looked somber. As if that wasn’t enough, Charlotte hugged her knees, slowly burying her expression away from my sight.

Seeing this side of her hurt. It was as if something wrenched my heart open and let it bleed out. I didn’t know watching someone that I knew and loved depressed would be this painful, but… what should I do? What should I say at this point? Do I even have the right to comfort her, or even berate her…?

…

……Well, isn’t it obvious?

“You really are a fool.” I stated out loud, clear enough to let my words travel to her ears and yet to no one else.

At that instance, Charlotte instantly looked up, her eyes round and wide like a prey spotted by her hunter. Her surprise was further enhanced by her gaping mouth and I smiled… or rather, grinned.

“What else could you be? Are you saying that everything is your fault? Are you implying that had you been stronger, all of this wouldn’t have happened?” I paused. “Are you trying to say that had you not existed, none of this could have been prevented?”

I took a deep breath in.

“Don’t be stupid!”

I stood up and glared down. Taking the brunt of my anger, Charlotte froze if not cowered. The night invited darkness, and the atmosphere emphasized my outburst just by existing.

As the flame flickered between us, I proceeded on doing what I believed was the best course of action in the moment.

“No matter what happens, that’s not something someone like you should say. Enough with lowering yourself as if you’re a harbinger of misfortune, Charlotte.”

“B-but isn’t it—“

“Who do you think you are to decide people’s fates like that?” I cut in. “You’re not a god and neither are you a prophesized hero burdened with the world’s fate, Charlotte. Just because you are around doesn’t mean you are responsible for everything that has happened.”

I pressed a hand on my chest, distorting a condescending smirk, one that should be directed more to myself than to anyone else. I would have liked to call myself out for saying all this nonsense.

I was never the person one could call a hero. I didn’t want to be one nor did I ever want to. I was simply moved by my obligation and respect to those that taught me the preciousness of life.

I am a hypocrite, a liar. Compared to the girl reflected in my eyes, I should have been the one who believed myself as the culprit responsible for all this chaos.

But that doesn’t matter now. What could I possibly bring by blaming myself? All it ever did was putting me to a halt, unmoving and at a loss. Didn’t I say it before? I’ve had enough of all this stupidity, so…

“…I… I know that…”

Oh?

“But you don’t look like you get it.” I pointed out. “You’re a terrible liar, Charlotte.”

The girl scowled yet she refused to make a comeback. A bit disappointing, but that was fine. I understood that even with this silence as my only clue.

“You’re doubting yourself.”

“…Shut up.”

“And you must be thinking I’m a know-it-all.”

“Fei… Shut. Up.”

“Oh, you also think that you’re doing this all for my sake and the red brat so me talking down to you is like spitting on your hard work, right?”

“Fei…!”

“Ah, yes. I also remembered that you’re doing this because you don’t want die too. Isn’t that contradictory—“

A banshee-like scream exploded into my ears as my back hit the ground. The flame blazed, some woods scattering that left motes of red up into the air before vanishing. I didn’t close my eyes.

“Shut up…! Shut the hell up!!”

A fist flew and struck my cheek. Another struck my left. Fiery pain coursed into my bones, rattling me with a vision that slowly became redder than blood. My head throbbed, and I tasted iron in my mouth.

It hurts. Both for my body and my heart. It hurts so much I want to tear up.

But I ignored the pain, resisted the boiling blood and urge for violence. I chose to do… nothing. There’s no reason for me to act at all, because…

“…What’s wrong?” I asked, my voice remaining even. “Why don’t you say it?”

I’ve already done what could be considered as unforgivable. At this point, it should be easy for someone like her to say that word. That hateful word I wouldn’t, didn’t, or even wanted to hear.

But she didn’t. I felt my cheeks wet with both blood and tears and I focused my bleary eyes at the person mounting my chest, her golden wheat hair brushing over my abdomen as my ringing ears listened to a series of whimpers.

“I… hate… you…”

…ah. So she can say it. Excellent. But I could tell she was straining herself, and now she burst out in tears, clenching my clothes with gripping force. To put it simply, she’s a real mess right now.

“Why…?” Then the girl asked. “Why did you make me say that…?! Why!?”

I felt her weight on my body. It was hard to breathe. Still I shrugged and smiled, though it made me slip a trail of blood from the corner of my mouth.

“You need it, right?” I replied, heaving. “You’re frustrated. All along, you’ve been upset. About your liability, and all the crazy things that have happened for the last six years. You just can’t like your situation, and you’re stressed due to them all, right?”

The girl’s eyes widened, and I sighed helplessly. I deduced as much. Why was my worst fear always proven true? But, well…

“I’m here, you know?” I reached out and touched her cheek. “You have friends, family, and even a knight to serve your every whim. Is it so hard for you to ask for help?”

Ah, she’s quivering. I could feel the coldness lingering on my hand, seeping deep into my conscience. I hate how weak she looked like right now. Sadness never suited someone like Charlotte.

Even so, I couldn’t help but to treasure this weakness of hers.

Even so, I couldn’t help but to adore her fragile heart.

Even so, I couldn’t help but to pull her in and placed my lips on hers.

“Mmm…!?” Charlotte muttered, pulling herself but unable to force much strength to defy me.

After the bath earlier, I could feel her slightly cold skin. Traces of warmth still exist, yet they were overshadowed by the chilly air surrounding the night. Even so, once her soft breasts pressed against mine, my heart pulsed and overlapped with hers. The distance between us now was more than enough to smolder both of us with intense warmth.

“Mm…! Sto…p…! Fei, you—mph!?”

Warmth spread from our interlocking lips. Charlotte’s eyes glazed, tears pooling and light shimmered within the beautiful emerald gems. I pulled back to take a breath and stared long at her flushed cheeks.

I muttered, “You’re beautiful.”

Charlotte squeaked. I smirked. And I greedily consumed her lips again, ravishing them, relishing the moment like a hungry beast. No matter what she intended to do, I held her close to me, our bodies pressing against each other.

Until I earned myself my just reward, that is.

“Y-You… You! You beast…!!” The girl shouted, reeling back and covered her mouth with her sleeve. “Y-you even used your t-tongue!!”

“Ah, excuse me. I was a bit hungry but you tasted like honey.” I licked my lips. “Thanks for the meal, by the way.”

The blush Charlotte had deepened for several shades and reached to the tips of her ears. Cute.

“It’s not so bad, right?” I closed an eye. “So have you calmed down yet?”

“How could I be calm—“

I raised an eyebrow. Charlotte stilled, grinding her teeth and groaning in frustration. I didn’t mess her knuckles unclenching so I gave her a knowing look and Charlotte planted a hand on her face.

“...Argh… I hate you, Fei…”

Heh. That doesn’t sound convincing enough when you looked away like that. Plus…

“You do love me, right?” I asked with a grin.

“…Shut up, you natural gigolo.” Charlotte replied with a glare.

I shrugged. No use arguing about something that didn’t make sense to me. Still, I rolled my tongue in my mouth and tasted some iron.

“Ah, looks like my regeneration rate is slowing down.” I commented.

“Huh?” Charlotte blinked. “Wait, you can heal yourself even without Lagnaris?”

Well, yeah. Healing magic is strictly confined under the Church of Gods’ teachings but others have their own ways to achieve the same result.

“My body is specifically built to pierce through unending wars,” I shrugged. “But without the core weapon linked to me, entropy will catch up to me.”

“…So you’re no longer immortal.” The girl deduced.

“Not really, no. I can still live forever if I take care of myself and replace parts of my body with fresher ones.”

 Oh, maybe I shouldn’t have said… Ah, now she’s scowling. I waited for the punishment to come but it never arrived. Looking closely, Charlotte mounted off me and walked to her tent.

“Forget it,” she said. “Why can’t anyone around me be normal?”

I slowly sat up and snorted.

“Oh, please. Normal is exaggerated,” I said, “Besides, you’re even more abnormal than me, Princess.”

Charlotte hissed. Hah. Still, this was far enough. I think I've done a good job, thus all I needed to know was...

"So, what's your answer?" I asked. "Are you still going to continue like this, or do you want to ask for help?"

I stared at her retreating back. I watched as her golden wheat hair vanished into the tent...

But that was after I heard her voice one last time for tonight.

"I'll think about it."