Curtain of Darkness

Belial had two objectives in coming to the Duchy of Forys.

One as Belial, and one as Wallace Hope.

“Hmm……”

However, he could understand the first objective without even reaching his destination.

The Ryan Barony was a place for cultivating half-demons. Their method was to fill the hearts of kidnapped children with despair and darkness before turning them into half-demons.

The more they hated the world, the more obediently they would throw human society into chaos without needing any orders.

There couldn’t be a better breeding ground than this.

But from what was visible alone, the outcome was obvious.

The Ryan Barony mansion had collapsed, and the jar of solitude they were creating inside had shattered.

The baroness had crawled to Belial’s feet with her body torn to shreds, and Belial personally acknowledged her efforts by granting her peace.

Now only the task as Wallace Hope remained.

“How dare you come here……”

“Don’t be so petty. We’ve known each other for fifty years, haven’t we? I saw your territory on my way here – quite impressive.”

“Those words carry extra weight coming from someone who’s been eyeing my territory.”

“Kekeke.”

Wallace Hope visited Edge Forys’s mansion.

It wasn’t an official procedure. Edge Forys would be justified in throwing out such an uninvited guest.

After all, he had barged in without any prior notice.

“What brings you here?”

“Come now, we’re both getting old – why so stingy? Would it hurt to offer me some tea?”

“Ah, I see. Now I understand. You came to test my patience.”

Edge Forys immediately swung his staff, launching magic at Wallace Hope.

As colorful spells rained down on Wallace Hope.

Wallace Hope dealt with them without moving from his spot.

His shadow moved as if alive, blocking Edge Forys’s magic.

A power that was neither magic nor aura.

Such abilities actually existed and were scattered throughout the world.

That’s why the world had temporarily labeled them as unique abilities.

‘Linea Spirin, was it?’

The power possessed by that count’s daughter who had dismembered the baroness was similar.

Unique abilities are something no one else can replicate.

Of course, while the abilities vary greatly and aren’t broadly applicable…

‘That makes them convenient to disguise.’

No one could question if he claimed Belial’s authority was a unique ability. Who could prove otherwise if no demonic energy was detected?

Meanwhile, Edge Forys’s magic continued.

He seemed furious to his core seeing Wallace Hope casually blocking everything.

“……Damn unique abilities! The world couldn’t be more unfair!”

“Hahaha!”

Wallace Hope laughed as if greatly amused. Though human, he was someone who could stand against him.

Of course, direct combat was excluded.

Edge Forys’s value came from his political standing and power.

“That’s enough.”

“Tch……”

Only then did Edge Forys withdraw the magic he had been unleashing.

He knew it was a meaningless war of attrition unless he unleashed lethal grand magic.

He was just displeased about the uninvited intrusion into his domain.

“Well then, speak.”

“Our era is coming to an end.”

No. While that might be true for Wallace Hope, for Belial, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was approaching.

“It’s time to entrust things to the next generation. Don’t you think so?”

Edge Forys remained silent.

He thought the same. That’s why he was gradually passing on his succession to his son.

But he didn’t want to agree with Wallace Hope’s words.

Wallace Hope inwardly sneered at such obviously transparent behavior.

“We both have troublemakers in our families. You and I both. Isn’t that right?”

“If you’re planning to speak carelessly about my granddaughter, I promise you this – I’ll pour all my power, authority, and money into crushing House Hope.”

“What chilling words. Don’t worry. I’ve only brought a proposal that would benefit us both. A marriage between my family’s youngest and yours.”

Despite how preciously he cherished his granddaughter, Edge Forys didn’t immediately refuse.

No, he couldn’t.

Though he had shown anger, Wallace Hope’s words weren’t wrong.

Edge Forys had secured his succession with his son, but what came after was the problem.

Though she was a daughter, as long as she shared the same blood, family strife was inevitable. If that happened, could the youngest and most fragile Siris Forys endure it?

No, she absolutely couldn’t.

That’s why she needed to be sent away from home eventually.

And she needed to be provided with excellent backing that no one would dare touch.

“As you know, our family’s eldest is quite hopeless.”

“……”

House Hope’s situation was the opposite. It was already an open secret among nobles that the youngest was better than the eldest, who was no different from a thug.

Wallace Hope seemed to have decided to empower his youngest.

“Your bloodline, of all things.”

Edge Forys muttered with undisguised contempt.

But even so, Wallace Hope didn’t lose his smile.

He knew.

“Think about it rationally.”

That ultimately Edge Forys would have no choice but to accept this marriage proposal.

*     *     *

Around the time we were driven from the mansion.

I saw Wallace Hope entering the Forys family mansion. What could he be plotting?

Though I wanted to investigate, trying to deceive Wallace Hope’s eyes would be…

No matter how I thought about it, it would be dangerous.

“First, let’s get our belongings.”

We need to leave this territory as quickly as possible. After some time passes, the assassin Wallace Hope has stationed will make their move. We need to leave before them to complete our preparations.

Though I’m curious about the conversation between Wallace Hope and Edge Forys, that’s something I can investigate later through Shade.

No, since this involves two dukes moving openly, they probably won’t be able to keep it hidden long anyway.

Seeing him move so openly suggests Wallace Hope was acting as a duke rather than a demon.

“I’m still not satisfied! I haven’t seen that bastard’s true power yet!”

When Linea nodded and entered the inn, the one who protested vehemently was, unsurprisingly, Titan.

He seems to regret his interrupted fight with Allen Wise, the hunter’s guild master who tried to stop him at the Ryan Barony mansion.

He must have been looking forward to a rematch.

“Listen well, Titan. Allen Wise is far stronger than you imagine. At least, that’s how I see it.”

“Then all the more reason!”

“Do you want to end such a precious opportunity rolling around on the ground like a dog?”

Though Allen Wise might look like an ordinary middle manager struggling with problems from above and below, he’s an expert beyond imagination.

To begin with, unlike the Ryan Barony, House Wise is a long-established knight family.

Moreover, they’re a count family – what does it mean for such a family to have made their name as knights?

Why do you think Burke chose to become a hunter among all possible paths?

He attached himself to someone incomparably stronger than his father.

Yes, it was both a twisted act of rebellion and the safest option.

“He’s the hunter’s guild master. And though he’s shown some unfortunate behavior recently, the weight of that position is by no means light. He’s someone who must constantly prove his qualification.”

“…Keep talking.”

“You must have challenged Allen Wise to a duel while I was in the underground prison, right?”

“That’s right.”

“And the result?”

“He refused. Made excuses about being busy with work. So I was waiting until he’d run out of excuses.”

Titan isn’t a fool.

He may not be able to read and lack common sense, but he can think.

That must have been the best solution he could come up with after thinking it through.

It’s not a bad method for someone who knows nothing. It would certainly work.

A royal prince continuously waiting for a duel.

Just watching that sight would make Allen Wise uncomfortable.

Eventually, he’d think ‘it might be better to just fight him.’

That must have been what he was aiming for.

But…

“That method takes too much time. Did you leave your country just to duel Allen Wise?”

“……”

“Remember what I said earlier? That it’s a position requiring constant proof of qualification?”

“Yes.”

“That means there are stages he can’t avoid even if he wants to.”

Does it end just by becoming guild master once? Any guild master must periodically prove they’re worthy of the position.

How?

“By challenges from other hunters aiming for the master’s position.”

Through actual combat.

“Hmm……”

“It’s a stage he can’t avoid even if he wants to. That’s why we need to leave here now, to prepare for that stage.”

Only then did Titan’s mood improve.

He’s truly troublesome to handle. But this incident has made it possible to draw him to other lands.

“That stage will be held in Coinur, the Empire’s capital. Exactly one year from now. Are you going to waste time until then?”

“No, that’s impossible.”

“Then you’ll need to build up strength that even Allen Wise can’t underestimate, right?”

“I’ll admit it. Lost. I’ll let your cunning tongue lead me again.”

“What’s so cunning about helping?”

This brat can’t say anything nice even when being helped. I wonder if he knows I’m dedicating part of my plans for his sake? I’ll make him pay dearly for this.

I’ll definitely push him to the frontlines in the final battle with Belial.

“Then go get your things from the inn. Do you even have anything to pack?”

“I have a rose plant.”

“What refined taste you have.”

“I think so too.”

It doesn’t suit you at all.

What’s the point of talking with an idiot who can’t even understand sarcasm.

Just as the argument with Titan ended and he finally crawled into the inn.

“Ahaha, looks like you managed to convince Titan somehow.”

“You have surprisingly little luggage?”

“Well… I was planning to buy what I needed after settling down.”

“Settling down, huh.”

What could be your reason for setting out on this journey without any hesitation when you were planning to settle in the Duchy of Forys?

It’s frustrating that I can’t ask this directly.

Even if I did, she could simply deny it.

I’m the only one who remembers how she lived here.

“This is……”

I remember the moment Linea Spirin took her own life. No, saying it was the moment of her suicide isn’t quite accurate.

I was the first to discover her body, and by then her flesh had already grown cold.

She who butchered bandits and settled in a place where people knew about it. She who could have left anytime but stayed.

“Perhaps I made a mistake.”

Linea Spirin likely yearned for bonds with others.

The reason she couldn’t leave this place despite people’s contempt.

What kept her in the Duchy of Forys when she could have packed up and traveled again at any moment.

“Maybe I shouldn’t have interfered.”

“About what?”

“The bandit thing.”

After all, I existed as a friend who accepted her even after seeing her brutal side.

“Perhaps there might have been a better way.”

I killed her.

Because I existed as someone who understood her, she tried to endure.

She couldn’t endure and hanged herself.

How ironic.

If I hadn’t interfered in the fight with the bandits, perhaps at this moment of departure, I could have felt a deeper bond with her.

If we had set out traveling together after acknowledging her hidden side, perhaps we could have built more trust in each other.

What I did might not have been the best choice, but merely the second best.

“But I’m grateful? Because it seems like it’ll be fun. Hehe.”

“I see……”

This is something only I know.

Linea Spirin will have to continuously act like a normal girl in front of me. Knowing this fact makes me think this way.

But perhaps she’s right. What I considered the second-best option might have been the best for her.

“I hope this becomes an enjoyable journey.”

*     *     *

Linea Spirin’s world was dyed red. With claw marks, knife marks. Stained with red dots and lines.

Living in such a horrific world was nothing but torment for her.

How could it not be horrific?

Possessing a power that prevents her from seeing people as people.

The ability she possessed continuously tormented her mind.

She sees lines for dismembering people.

Doesn’t that mean she sees people merely as meat?

To counter such doubts, Linea Spirin became a good girl.

Kind to everyone, gentle in approaching others, never getting angry, trying to understand others…

Such a seemingly painted good girl.

‘Oh…?’

That’s why it was sudden.

A young man with snow-white hair and golden eyes who still showed traces of youth.

Though he seemed somewhat trained, he looked still weak compared to the guard knights in her family.

-Excuse me…

-Is there a problem?

-Ah, well, you see.

She had called out to him unconsciously.

Though she had planned to quietly huddle in the shadows to avoid people’s notice, she ended up speaking to him first.

-If you’re thinking of taking the carriage, you probably shouldn’t…

It was a mistake. She shouldn’t have said that. Wouldn’t this reveal that she had been watching?

It would be disastrous if he created distance thinking she was suspicious.

-Th-there’s a scary person making a fuss about riding the carriage. That’s why the old man is insisting the operation starts in three days… I thought things might get complicated if you went there now…

Linea rambled excuses that weren’t really excuses to the young man.

But it was a significant matter.

No red traces were visible on the young man before her.

So she couldn’t let him slip away.

For that purpose, she could pretend to be a good girl as much as needed.

She could sacrifice many things.

‘Yes, only Lost.’

Only he, who seemed protected by some incomprehensible great power.

The only… person among the meat in this red-lined and dotted slaughterhouse.