5 Volume 1: Chapter 5- Three More Mishaps Part 1

"Aku dihukum?" Ren berteriak protes.

"Ya kamu, kamu meninggalkan aku sendirian di pasar karena Great Ones tahu berapa lama dan bukannya nongkrong di kota!" Aijasil mengajukan klaim yang valid. Secara teknis, Ren tidak mematuhi perintahnya sehingga pantas untuk dihukum.

Aijasil memberi Ren sabit tajam yang tampak berbahaya. Tingginya sekitar dua meter, dengan bilah yang sama besar. Itu mengejutkan ringan, hampir seolah-olah kayu pegangannya berongga, sementara sebagian besar beratnya terkonsentrasi pada bilahnya. Tentu saja sabit ini tampak agak tua dan berkarat.

"Hukumanmu adalah menebang dan membunuh ular Jilan yang kau temukan di ladang panen," kata Aijasil dengan tegas.

"Jilan Snakes?" Tanya Ren agak bingung.

"Bos, mereka adalah iblis Ular tentang ukuranmu dengan dua ekor dan taring yang tajam. Aku mendengar ada beberapa dengan tiga ekor dan dua kepala …"

"Cukup informasi! Orin! Bagaimana mungkin aku bisa menyingkirkan monster-monster itu?" Ren merasa bahwa konfrontasi langsung dengan makhluk-makhluk itu berarti kematian.

"Membunuh mereka itu mudah! Mereka memiliki tubuh yang sangat kurus, sekitar setebal sebatang pohon! Kamu dapat dengan mudah menebangnya dengan sabit itu, di sini akan kutunjukkan padamu!"

"Orin, ini adalah hukuman Ren, aku melarangmu membantunya," kata Aijasil dengan suara serius.

Orin mundur. "Maaf, Bos, aku tidak bisa membantu. Harap berhati-hati terhadap taringnya, racunnya bukan lelucon."

"Ya, terima kasih atas kata kepercayaannya," jawab Ren sinis. Pada dasarnya dia harus mengurus seluruh bagian lapangan mulai dari satu sungai yang berakhir di dekat jembatan. Itu adalah area yang panjangnya setidaknya setengah mil. Butuh satu tim setan seminggu untuk membajak semua ular dan dia harus melakukannya sendiri. Dia diberi tahu bahwa masa percobaannya akan berakhir begitu dia selesai bekerja di lapangan.

Ren meraih sabit. Dia mencengkeramnya di tangan kirinya kemudian mengangkatnya di atas kepalanya. "SIAL!" dia menjerit frustrasinya sementara Aijasil membuat senyum puas.

Dihadapkan dengan tugas yang agak bodoh dan mengancam kehidupan di depannya, Ren hanya bisa menebak apa niat Tuan Korgan. Meminta Ren untuk menebang ladang besar yang penuh dengan ular? Tidak bercanda! Dalam hati Ren bertanya-tanya apakah Tuan Korgan ingin menyingkirkannya.

Pada kenyataannya, Korgan memiliki niat sebaliknya. Dia terkesan dengan Ren mampu merekrut prajurit yang kuat untuk klan Tengu, jadi dia berpikir bahwa membuat Ren menguatkan tubuhnya dengan alasan hukuman adalah ide bagus.

Ren mengangkat sabit dan mengayunkannya dengan keras. Sabit itu memiliki ukuran bilah kaki Ren, sehingga dengan setiap ayunan ia berhasil memotong satu meter jalan di depannya. Dia terus memotong dan memotong. Selama dia terus memotong ladang tanpa menemui ular Jilan, dia seharusnya baik-baik saja. Sangat menyenangkan bahwa panen di ladang sangat tinggi, sehingga saat memasuki ladang, tanaman mencapai lebih tinggi dari ketinggian Ren. Dia harus memotong jalan untuk dirinya sendiri untuk berjalan.

Ren melanjutkan gerakan yang sama selama sekitar setengah jam. Sama seperti dia berpikir bahwa pembicaraan tentang Jilan Snakes hanya mitos, sabitnya berhasil memenggal kepalanya. Sebuah kepala jatuh ke bawah. Itu mendarat di dekat kaki Ren menyebabkan Ren melompat mundur karena terkejut. Kepala tampak seperti milik ular biasa, hanya sepuluh kali lebih besar. Itu berbaring di sana dengan mulut terbuka dengan empat taring terlihat jelas di dekat lidah bercabang tiga. Kepala hampir sebesar kepala iblis rata-rata, jadi tubuh itu pasti … Ren melihat mayat di belakang kepala yang terpenggal.

Tubuhnya besar. Dengan sisik putih dan bintik-bintik hitam. Tingginya kira-kira sama dengan Ren dan memiliki dua ekor. Tubuh itu sendiri tampaknya tidak kehilangan nyawanya sepenuhnya; itu menggeliat dan meronta-ronta di mana-mana. Itu terus melakukannya selama beberapa menit sebelum akhirnya jatuh. Ren tidak berani mendekatinya sampai benar-benar berhenti bergerak. Kepala di sisi lain tetap diam setelah dipotong, dengan hanya indikasi kematian terus-menerus mata dan lidahnya secara bertahap kehilangan gerak.

Jilan Snake sudah mati. Diam-diam Ren berharap itu adalah satu-satunya Jilan Snake yang akan ia temui.

Sedihnya, itu adalah angan-angan.

Suara desis terdengar. Kemudian dua kepala meluncurkan diri untuk menyerang Ren. Satu kepala berwarna biru dan yang lainnya berwarna merah. Keduanya membuka mulut mereka penuh taring tajam, siap untuk menyerang.

Ren nyaris tidak berhasil mengayunkan sabitnya dan berhasil membuat kepala biru itu parah. Kepala merah mendekatinya. Itu tidak menyerah bahkan setelah kehilangan salah satu kepalanya. Dia bisa melihat bahwa leher yang terpenggal itu tergantung dari tubuh yang sama dengan leher milik yang berkepala merah. Seekor ular Jilan berkepala dua. Jika ular berkepala satu tidak cukup menakutkan, dia hanya harus bertemu ular berkepala dua! Ren mengutuk kemalangannya karena telah memberinya satu kejutan yang tidak menyenangkan.

Ren merasakan ketakutan yang kuat di dalam hatinya. Namun rasa takut itu tidak menghentikannya. Dia tahu jika dia tidak mengayunkan sabit dia akan dimakan oleh ular raksasa ini.

Kepala merah menjerit kesakitan setelah kehilangan kepala biru, tetapi tetap memilih untuk menyerang Ren. Ren memejamkan mata dan mengayunkan sabit secepat mungkin.

Ketika dia membuka matanya, dia melihat bahwa dia sukses dan tubuhnya hanya bersandar di kakinya, berdarah …

"Aaaah!" Ren menjerit; leher ular yang terputus menyentuh kakinya. Celananya basah oleh darah. Dia melihat tubuh yang masih merayap mengancam, tetapi tidak bisa menggigitnya tanpa kepalanya.

Pada saat ini, Ren menyadari bahwa dia menjalani mimpi buruknya. Ular raksasa. Mengapa? Mengapa? Apakah Tuan Korgan memiliki selera humor yang buruk?

"Terkutuklah!" Teriak Ren. Tidak diragukan bahwa setiap pelayan di rumah tangga Tengu mendengarnya, tetapi mereka kemungkinan besar menertawakan nasibnya yang sial.

Dia terus memotong dan memotong. Tingkat di mana dia terus bertemu ular terus meningkat. Menjadi sangat buruk sampai-sampai dia menghadapi setidaknya sepuluh ular Jilan. Mereka semua merayap ke arahnya.

Menjerit seperti orang gila, dia terus mengayunkan sabitnya.

Seperti potongan salju raksasa yang sangat besar, kepala ular jatuh ke tanah dengan suara daging yang mengenai tanah. Kepala masih menggerakkan rahang mereka.

Begitu banyak ular, begitu banyak jenis … Tiga ekor, tiga berkepala, beberapa bahkan memiliki satu tangan yang terikat! Mereka datang dalam begitu banyak warna, beberapa bahkan memiliki sisik berwarna ganda.

"Mati! Mati! Mati! Mati! Mati!" Ren praktis kehilangan itu. Setiap kali dia mengayunkan sabit dia terus berteriak 'Mati', nalurinya untuk bertahan hidup mengambil alih. Dia mengamuk seperti seorang psikopat dengan tujuan tunggal menebang semua ular sebelum mereka berhasil memakannya.

Dia takut pada ular Jilan, itu sudah jelas. Namun, dia jauh lebih takut dimakan. Prioritas bertahan hidup jauh melebihi prioritas untuk dilumpuhkan dengan rasa takut. Ketika dia terus memotongnya menjadi potongan-potongan dengan ayunan besar, imajinasi Ren terbukti terlalu banyak untuk ditangani. Setidaknya ada seratus ular Jilan yang menghuni ladang, tetapi dalam benak Ren ada beberapa ribu dari mereka, semua merangkak ke arahnya tanpa ada niat untuk berhenti.

Dia tidak bisa lagi mempercayai matanya untuk melihat ular karena darah dari tubuh mereka akhirnya menebasnya ke mana-mana, termasuk wajahnya, mencegahnya melihat ular Jilan dengan jelas.

Tidak ingin tertangkap basah, Ren terus mengayunkan sabit ke arah suara yang bisa didengarnya. Orang mungkin mengatakan dia akan mengamuk buta, secara harfiah.

Sementara itu, di sisi lain lapangan, iblis tertentu dikejar oleh anggota keluarga Kas. Nama iblis ini adalah Akjan Tang. Saat ini iblis ini berusaha melarikan diri dari para pengejarnya dengan bersembunyi di dalam ladang.

"Aku harus tetap hidup," pikir itu tetap ada di kepalanya. "Aku harus bertahan cukup lama untuk ikut dalam Seleksi!" Motivasinya satu-satunya saat ini adalah untuk bertahan cukup lama untuk berpartisipasi dalam Seleksi, dan jika dia cukup beruntung dia akan memiliki kesempatan untuk menjadi pengguna kekuatan Raja Iblis.

Akjan tidak berusaha mencari kekuasaan untuk alasan egois, tidak persis. Dia tidak punya banyak pilihan. Keluarganya, klan Tang, hampir hancur total. Anggota yang ditangkap diperbudak, dan orang-orang yang berhasil melarikan diri dari tempat-tempat seperti itu selalu dalam bahaya besar ditangkap kembali. Klan Tang dulunya adalah salah satu keluarga besar sebelum keluarga yang memegang kekuasaan menganggap mereka terlalu berbahaya. Di bawah tuduhan pengkhianatan dan serangan simultan, kekuatan yang menahan keluarga telah membunuh pejuang kuat klan Tang, sementara memperbudak yang lemah. Apa yang menunggu para penyintas adalah keberadaan seperti neraka di bawah jempol pemegang kekuasaan.

Sebagai seorang budak, Akjan melihat kekejaman yang tak terhitung jumlahnya dilakukan terhadap rakyatnya. Dia sendiri tidak terhindar dari pelecehan itu, membawa bekas luka di punggungnya sebagai pengingat rasa sakit yang ditimpakan padanya dan orang-orangnya. Dia bergidik memikirkan akan dibawa kembali dan disiksa. Suara penderitaan masih menghantuinya di malam hari. Dia sendiri telah berhasil melarikan diri dari klan Kas, yang telah menaklukkannya, dua bulan sebelumnya. Sejak saat itu mereka mengirim pembunuh untuk merawatnya. Dan sekarang sepertinya mereka berhasil menyusulnya. "Aku tidak bisa kembali, tidak seperti ini!"

Tanpa kekuatan tidak ada yang bisa dilakukan. Inilah sebabnya dia harus ikut serta dalam Seleksi. Ini akan memberi kesempatan bagi rakyatnya untuk mendapatkan kembali kebebasan mereka dan membalas dendam kepada keluarga yang memperbudak mereka. Akjan memiliki kebencian yang cukup kuat untuk keluarga Kas, salah satu penghasut kejatuhan Tang.

Lima langkah kaki yang berbeda. Lima Iblis datang mengejarnya. Salah satu langkah kaki terdengar agak berbeda. Dia bisa merasakan dia agak kuat. Dia harus menjadi pemimpin mereka. Tanpa kesalahan, tanda tangan energi ini, itu dia! Ketakutannya telah menguasai hatinya. Iblis yang dia takuti di atas segalanya akan mengejarnya.

Itu pasti Jar Kas!

Ketakutannya dikonfirmasi ketika Jar Kas melanjutkan untuk menukik dari atas dan melemparkan panah perak padanya. Panah berhasil mendarat di kaki kanan dan bahu kanan Akjan. Tepat sebelum dia bisa memasuki lapangan untuk kehilangan mereka, dia dipukul dan sepersekian detik kemudian salah satu bawahan Jar Kas menebasnya secara diagonal melalui bagian depannya dengan pedang tajam.

Dengan rasa sakit yang tajam menjalari tubuhnya dia tidak bisa lagi berdiri. Dia jatuh telentang tanpa bernapas. Rasa takut bercampur dengan rasa sakit telah melumpuhkan tubuhnya. Dia gemetar ketakutan karena apa yang akan terjadi padanya dan bagaimana dia tidak bisa menyelamatkan siapa pun.

Jar Kas adalah putra sulung dari keluarga leluhur Kas, keluarga iblis Sabre Tooth. Dia memiliki banyak fitur kucing, terutama bulu merah dan kuningnya yang menutupi tubuhnya yang berotot. Penampilannya hanya bisa digambarkan dalam satu kata yang menakutkan. Jari-jarinya berakhir dengan cakar tajam yang kelihatannya bisa digunakan untuk menusuk musuh daripada memegang barang. Dia mengenakan sepatu bot yang memiliki tiga cakar yang menonjol untuk setiap kaki. Tubuh Jar Kas ditutupi dengan tonjolan seperti tanduk yang berbentuk seperti pedang kecil seperti gigi. Wajahnya ditutupi dengan tanduk kecil yang mengarah ke atas yang membuatnya tampak seperti luka bakar samping yang terbuat dari tanduk. Adapun tanduk di dahinya, ia memiliki jumlah tiga tanduk yang tidak biasa. Masing-masing menunjuk ke arah yang berbeda, kanan, atas dan kiri. Wajahnya cukup manusiawi jika bukan karena senyumnya dipenuhi gigi tajam yang tajam. Rambut merah panjang hanya mengintensifkan binatang itu seperti aura yang diproyeksikannya. Dikombinasikan dengan ekor runcing yang panjang, dia tampak agak mengancam. Terlatih sejak kecil, ia telah mencapai peringkat kekuatan Iron, salah satu peringkat tertinggi yang mungkin dicapai untuk setan. Dia sangat kuat.

Bawahannya juga tidak jauh di belakang. Mereka kemungkinan besar setidaknya peringkat Batu atau lebih tinggi.

Akjan sendiri adalah pangkat Brass, jadi dia biasanya bisa memasang setidaknya beberapa perlawanan, tetapi dalam kondisinya saat ini itu tidak mungkin.

Dia berdarah dari dada, kaki, dan bahunya. Rasa sakitnya melumpuhkan, tetapi dia mencoba memaksa dirinya untuk berdiri.

"Berlutut, iblis rendahan!" salah satu bawahan Jar Kas menendang punggung Akjan membuatnya tidak bisa berdiri. Dia berlutut, nyaris tidak bisa menstabilkan dirinya dengan berpegangan pada tanah dengan tangannya.

Kemudian, Jar Kas secara pribadi mendekatinya. Dia meraih dagunya dengan tangan kiri dan membuatnya menghadapinya. "Well, well, well, apa yang kamu tahu? Sepertinya hari-hari persembunyianmu sudah berakhir. Benar kan?" Dia memberi isyarat kepada bawahannya.

Mereka semua tertawa terbahak-bahak. Salah satu dari mereka berkata, "Guru, sayang sekali kita harus membawanya hidup-hidup!"

"Jangan khawatir, ayah berkata untuk membawanya hidup-hidup, tidak terluka." Jar Kas tersenyum jahat. Bawahannya memahami gagasan itu. Pandangan intrik muncul di mata mereka. Selama mereka membiarkannya hidup, mereka bisa melakukan apa pun yang mereka inginkan padanya.

Jar Kas memerintahkan dua bawahannya untuk menahan Akjan. Dia berjuang, tetapi itu sia-sia, mereka berdua mengalahkannya dalam hal kekuatan. Dia, pria mimpi buruknya, akan menyiksanya.

Jar Kas mengambil pedang dari pinggangnya dan menghadap ke Akjan sambil menghadap ke lapangan dengan punggungnya. "Aku ingin tahu apakah kamu masih akan menjadi setan setelah aku memotong tandukmu?" Dia tersenyum agak sadis. Dia sepenuhnya berniat untuk melakukan ini padanya untuk menghilangkan kekuatan yang tersisa dan mempermalukannya untuk selamanya. Begitu iblis kehilangan tanduknya, iblis kehilangan kemampuan dan statusnya. Itu dianggap sebagai hukuman pamungkas. Yang paling memalukan. Banyak setan lebih memilih mati daripada hidup tanpa tanduk mereka. Niatnya jelas – untuk mematahkan semangatnya.

Jar Kas mengangkat pedangnya ke udara.

Akjan berteriak, "TIDAK!"

"MATI!"

Suara daging logam yang mencolok bergema di seluruh lapangan.

Setan jatuh setelah dipukul.

Darah tumpah ke mana-mana.

Akjan menyaksikan dengan heran bagaimana Jar Kas, yang mencoba memotong tanduknya, jatuh menghadap ke depan ke tanah. Suara yang berteriak 'MATI!' bukan dari Jar Kas, tetapi dari belakangnya. Seseorang menebangnya, tetapi siapa yang bisa melakukannya?

Seolah menjawab pertanyaannya, seorang pemuda muncul dari ladang. Sebelum dia sepenuhnya keluar dari sana, dia disembunyikan oleh rumput tinggi. Sekarang dia ada di sana untuk dilihat semua mata.

Pria itu tampak berdarah positif. Dia mengenakan apa yang tersisa dari kemeja, celana panjang dan sepatu bot. Kemejanya hilang lengan kanannya, terlihat seperti robek di beberapa titik. Dia memegang sabit tajam di lengan kanannya. Namun hal yang paling terlihat adalah kenyataan bahwa ia tertutupi darah dari ujung kepala sampai ujung kaki. Sabitnya berlumuran darah segar. Wajahnya tidak bisa sepenuhnya dilihat.

Penampilannya mengingatkan bawahan Jar Kas tentang makhluk itu dari mimpi buruk mereka. Dengan setiap langkah ia mengambil ke arah mereka teror yang mereka rasakan di dalam hati mereka meningkat. Seolah-olah kematiannya sendiri telah turun ke bumi dan berharap untuk menebas mereka semua.

Dari penampilannya, mereka percaya bahwa dia sendiri yang mati suri. Dia ada di sana untuk membunuh mereka semua. Terlepas dari kekuatan mereka, bawahan Jar Kas takut mati lebih dari apa pun. Memiliki gambar monstrositas merah dengan sabit terlalu banyak untuk diambil.

"AKU AKAN MEMOTONG SETIAP SNAK TUNGGAL!" teriak monster merah itu. "KE BICARA UKURAN BITE!"

Keempat bawahan secara naluriah berpikir bahwa ia menyebut mereka sebagai ular. Ketika dia mengangkat sabit di atas kepalanya, mereka kehilangan ketenangan. Dia akan membunuh mereka semua. Dia sudah membunuh tuan mereka, dan sekarang dia akan menuai mereka semua! Perbedaan kekuatan itu terlalu jelas, mereka tidak akan bertahan!

Tidak dapat menerima kematian mereka yang akan datang, bawahan lari untuk hidup mereka sambil meninggalkan Akjan di tanah.

Dia mencoba yang terbaik untuk melihat penyelamatnya. Apa yang dilihatnya mengejutkannya. Dia menyeka darah dari mata dan wajahnya. Wajah bening pemuda itu mulai terlihat. Dia bukan monster. Dia adalah manusia. Tidak, tidak mungkin ada manusia di wilayah ini. Lalu siapa dia? Kenapa dia menyelamatkannya? Matanya mulai menutup tanpa sadar, dia kehilangan terlalu banyak darah, dan kesadarannya hilang. Hal terakhir yang dilihatnya sebelum pingsan adalah wajah pemuda tampan yang bersinar dengan percaya diri.

Setidaknya itulah yang dia pikir dia lihat. Kenyataannya dia tertawa gelisah tentang kenyataan bahwa dia harus memotong lebih dari ratusan ular Jilan tanpa berhenti. Dan sekarang ketika dia pikir dia akhirnya selesai, dia melihat punggung yang besar. Dia berpikir bahwa ada ular Jilan yang tersisa, itulah sebabnya dia berteriak 'DIE' ketika dia memukulnya. Ketika dia memukul tubuh, darah akhirnya memercik di wajahnya. Dia bisa mendengar gerakan lain, jadi dia menyiapkan sabitnya untuk menyerang sambil meneriakkan tangisannya.

Ketika dia akhirnya menghapus darah dari wajahnya, dia melihat dua tubuh terbaring di tanah.

"Oh tidak, apa yang telah kulakukan?" Ren menjerit dalam benaknya. Dua tubuh terbaring di tanah; tidak diragukan lagi dia adalah penyebabnya. 'Bagaimana bisa aku akhirnya membunuh dua orang? Itu tidak disengaja, saya bisa menjelaskan … '

Suara nafas berat yang diikuti dengan menggigil datang dari tubuh dengan rambut putih. Tubuh lain yang kelihatannya milik kucing raksasa yang tertutup paku berbaring tak bergerak. Setidaknya salah satu dari mereka masih hidup, syukurlah!

Ren mendekati iblis berambut putih itu. Ren menganggap iblis itu laki-laki karena pakaiannya yang terdiri dari celana, kemeja, dan jubah, semuanya putih keabu-abuan tanpa pola atau dekorasi. Tidak seperti Aijasyl, yang gaun pelayannya memperjelas jenis kelaminnya, Akjan mengenakan pakaian yang ia curi dari setan-setan penghuni di daerah itu. Ren tidak tahu ini jadi dia menganggap dia laki-laki. Darah bocor dari tubuh iblis berambut putih. Kepala panah yang patah tertancap di kaki dan bahu kanan, belum lagi tebasan raksasa di area dada.

Ren bertanya-tanya bagaimana bisa orang ini masih bernafas. Ren melepaskan kepala panah dan merobek bagian-bagian dari bajunya sendiri untuk membuat beberapa perban untuk iblis berambut putih.

"Sungguh menyebalkan, sekarang aku harus meminta jubah dan kemeja baru, tetapi agar adil Jilan Snakes menghancurkan hampir semua pakaian yang aku kenakan." Dia terus membalut perban ke tubuh iblis yang terluka itu. Setan putih sepertinya tidak menyadari ketika dia tidur dengan ketidaknyamanan ringan yang muncul di wajahnya ketika Ren mencoba untuk mengenakan perban. 'Bukan metode sanitasi yang paling baik, tetapi harus dilakukan untuk saat ini', pikir Ren, dia tidak punya banyak pilihan atau iblis ini akan binasa dalam waktu singkat!

Setan putih berbaring tengkurap, jadi Ren harus membalikkannya. Apa yang dilihatnya mengejutkannya.

Armor disembunyikan di bawah pakaian. Warnanya metalik, hampir seperti perak, tetapi warnanya lebih kelabu. Itu menutupi area dada bagian atas. Tanda pedang telah membuat tanda di baju besi sambil meninggalkan iblis yang sebagian besar tidak terluka. Tentu saja tanda pedang terlihat di bawah area dada yang tidak tertutup oleh baju zirah, tetapi sepertinya sudah mulai beregenerasi karena tidak berdarah, hanya terlihat seperti tanda tebasan.

Agar tidak mengambil risiko tanda tebasan terbuka, Ren menggunakan pakaian yang ia sobek dari iblis putih sebagai perban untuk tubuh. Dia meluangkan waktu untuk mengikatnya dengan benar di seluruh tubuh.

Sementara dia melakukan ini Ren memperhatikan bahwa iblis putih memiliki beberapa fitur menarik. Sebagai permulaan, semua rambut di kepalanya benar-benar putih, dipotong pendek. Wajahnya, menurut Ren, agak tampan, yang diakui Ren agak cemburu. Juga, semua tubuh iblis putih tertutupi bintik-bintik gelap pada tubuh yang benar-benar putih. Dia memiliki dua tanduk yang terlihat agak tidak biasa karena tidak terlihat alami; mereka lebih menyerupai kristal putih tajam daripada apa pun yang organik. Namun, itu bukan bagian yang paling aneh. Sementara dia membalutnya, sesuatu yang lembut menyentuh area perutnya. Ren hampir khawatir bahwa ular Jilan lain menyelinap ke arahnya, tetapi kemudian dia menyadari bahwa itu adalah ekor. Ekor putih berbulu yang berasal dari iblis yang dia perlakukan. Ekor itu tampaknya memiliki pikiran sendiri. Sementara Ren memiliki kontak tubuh dengan iblis putih, ekornya dengan marah menggosok dirinya sendiri. "Ini terlalu aneh!" Ren berseru. Siapa yang mengira dia akan berakhir dalam situasi seperti ini! Ini agak tidak biasa.

Sekarang setelah selesai membalut pasien, Ren berdiri dan menatap kedua iblis yang ada di depannya. Setan kucing besar itu sudah mati; tidak ada yang bisa dilakukan tentang dia sekarang.

Kemudian, dia melirik iblis putih yang ekornya berputar-putar hampir seolah-olah sedang mencari teman.

"Aku sudah melihat setan yang memiliki ekor, itu tidak biasa, bukan tidak biasa," Ren berusaha meyakinkan dirinya sendiri tetapi tidak berhasil. Tidak peduli seberapa banyak dia mengabaikannya, itu terlihat terlalu lucu, membuatnya tertawa.

Setelah selesai berpikir bagaimana ekornya menyerupai belut berbulu, Ren akan pergi. Tetapi melihat ke belakang, dengan dua tubuh terbaring di sana, satu mati, dan yang lainnya nyaris tidak dapat bertahan hidup, dia tidak bisa memaksa dirinya untuk meninggalkan iblis putih.

Jadi, dia melanjutkan untuk mengangkat iblis putih dan meletakkannya di punggungnya. Setan putih sedikit lebih tinggi daripada Ren, jadi dia kesulitan menyesuaikannya di punggungnya sebelum dia melakukannya dengan benar. Dia menggunakan kedua tangan sebagai stabilisator sambil memegangi pegangan sabit di belakangnya untuk mencegah iblis putih jatuh.

Setan putih tanpa sadar memegangi punggungnya. Ren berpikir bahwa dalam situasi lain memiliki seorang pria yang duduk di punggungmu akan sangat aneh.

"Aku pikir aku akan membawanya ke rumah tangga Karatengu sampai dia pulih," pikir Ren, ketika dia berjalan kembali dari ladang, membawa setan yang terluka di punggungnya. 'Aku hanya akan diam tentang mayat yang tergeletak di ladang, kutukan! Aku seharusnya menguburkannya sebelum aku pergi! ' Seru Ren, menyadari kesalahannya.

"Yah, setidaknya kamu masih hidup," kata Ren kepada temannya yang tidak sadarkan diri. Sementara Ren menggendongnya kepala iblis putih hampir tampak mengangguk setuju. Anehnya, dia agak ringan; Ren terkejut menemukan bahwa meskipun sedikit lebih tinggi, iblis putih itu ternyata ringan. Sebenarnya Akjan sangat kurus karena memiliki makanan terbatas saat dalam pelarian.

Tiga matahari terbenam, satu demi satu. Cakrawala tampak oranye kehijauan yang luar biasa sebelum akhirnya menjadi langit merah. Itu adalah kejadian biasa di Kizilalem, karena fakta bahwa di dunia ini ada tiga matahari dan tiga bulan, cahaya pagi dan matahari terbenam sangat berbeda.

Ren terus berjalan sementara iblis di punggungnya tidur. Dia berjalan hampir tiga perempat jalan ketika dia melihat gerakan di punggungnya.

Akjan merasa seperti sedang berjalan, tetapi kakinya tidak menyentuh tanah. "Aneh, apa aku melayang?" dia bisa dengan jelas melihat tanah, tetapi kakinya tidak menyentuhnya. Hal terakhir yang diingatnya adalah Jar Kas mencoba memotong tanduknya dan seseorang datang dengan sabit. 'Tidak mungkin …' Dia ragu-ragu menyentuh dahinya dengan tangan kirinya. Tanduknya masih ada di sana. Dia menghela nafas lega.

Ketika dia melihat di depannya, dia menyadari bahwa dia ada di punggung seseorang, bersandar padanya dengan dadanya. Rambut hitam, bertelanjang dada, dan ketika dia menoleh ke belakang dia melihat sabit yang digunakan sebagai bantal ganti untuknya saat dia menggendongnya.

Apakah dia menangkapnya? Apakah dia akan membunuhnya? Atau lebih buruk, membawanya kembali ke keluarga Kas? Ini tidak mungkin terjadi! Saya tidak akan kembali ke sana!

"Biarkan aku pergi!" Akjan berteriak dari belakang Ren.

"Oh, kamu akhirnya bangun; aku mulai khawatir kamu mungkin keluar untuk selamanya," jawab Ren dengan sikap ceria.

"Di mana kamu membawaku? Aku tidak akan membiarkanmu memperbudakku!" Akjan berusaha melepaskan diri dari punggung Ren, tetapi dia terlalu lemah, jadi dia akhirnya jatuh terlentang. Dia menyadari bahwa dia tidak berdaya; cedera yang dideritanya pada tubuhnya agak serius. Panah telah mengenai lokasi di tubuhnya yang bertanggung jawab untuk membangun dan menyerap energi, belum lagi tebasan yang merusak perut bagian bawahnya. Jika bukan karena zirahnya, dia akan mati sekarang.

"Enslave kamu? Apakah aku benar-benar seperti tipe yang melakukan itu?" Tanya Ren, agak bingung. "Aku hanya membawamu ke rumah tangga sampai kamu sembuh; begitu kamu sembuh kamu bebas pergi."

Akjan memperhatikan perban di tubuh, kaki, dan bahunya. "Dia berusaha membantuku," pikirnya yang mengejutkannya. Tidak ada setan sebelumnya di luar anggota klannya yang pernah baik padanya, mereka semua berusaha menaklukkannya. Dia jelas berbeda dari mereka, entah bagaimana.

Kebaikan yang mengejutkan dari orang ini membuat Akjan menganggapnya sebagai sejenis makhluk aneh yang mampu berbuat baik. Namun, dia agak curiga dengan orang ini; tidak ada yang melakukan apa pun tanpa motif gelap.

Namun, dia jelas-jelas tidak bermaksud jahat padanya. Dia bahkan mengatakan bahwa dia bebas untuk pergi setelah dia pulih, apa niatnya? Jika dia ingin membunuhnya, dia bisa melakukannya ketika dia tidak sadar. Sebagai gantinya, dia memilih untuk merawat luka-lukanya dan membawanya ke suatu tempat untuk memulihkan diri. Dia tidak yakin apakah dia ingin memperbudak dan menyiksanya seperti keluarga Kas, dari nada suaranya dia tidak tampak seperti tipe. untuk melakukan hal seperti itu.

"Mengapa kau melakukan ini?" dia bertanya dengan hati-hati, ingin dia mengungkapkan niatnya yang sebenarnya. Dia tidak bisa dengan jujur ​​percaya bahwa iblis mana pun akan melakukan apa pun tanpa motif tersembunyi. Pengalaman masa lalunya dengan klan Kas membuatnya terlalu sadar akan kekejaman yang bisa ditimbulkan setan satu sama lain.

"Yah, itu salahku kamu yang pertama-tama terluka dan aku juga tidak bisa meninggalkan sesama iblis saat dia terluka, kan?" Ren berusaha memastikan iblis putih tidak marah padanya karena hampir membunuhnya dengan sabit. Ren menganggap itu salahnya bahwa iblis putih terluka sementara iblis bertanduk besar itu mati. Pada kenyataannya dia hanya menyebabkan kematian yang terakhir, sementara dia tidak sengaja menyelamatkan yang sebelumnya.

"Salahmu?" Akjan bertanya dengan nada bingung.

"Ya, kamu teman, yang memiliki bulu merah dan kuning dan tiga tanduk, aku mungkin secara tidak sengaja membunuhnya dan melukaimu, maaf" Ren berusaha yang terbaik untuk tidak terdengar tidak sensitif, tetapi ucapannya terdengar terlalu blak-blakan, yang dia refleksikan ke dirinya sebagai 'Oh, saya bisa mengatakannya dengan lebih baik!'

Bulu merah dan kuning dan tiga tanduk? Tidak mungkin! Jar Kas sudah mati? Akjan dikejutkan oleh realisasinya. Dia sekarang bisa mengingat dengan jelas penuai darah dengan sabit yang keluar dari ladang berumput sementara Jar Kas terbaring mati di sana setelah diserang.

"Itu … Itu kamu ?!" Dia bertanya dengan nada ragu-ragu yang luar biasa.

"Ya, permintaan maafku yang tulus," kata Ren dengan acuh tak acuh.

"Dia menyelamatkanku," Akjan berpikir dalam hatinya. Penuai berdarah itu adalah dia. Orang yang dengan berani datang menyelamatkannya, ketika dia pikir semua harapan hilang, adalah dia. Dan sekarang dia berbaring telentang.

Dengan kesadaran ini, Akjan memerah dalam, membuat benar-benar terlihat dari kulit putih mutiara.

"Jangan khawatir tentang dia, dia adalah musuhku," kata Akjan sambil mencoba menahan rasa malunya dibawa di belakang penyelamatnya.

"Ah, begitu ya? Kalau begitu, aku punya sedikit penjelasan." Diam-diam Ren khawatir tentang apa yang akan ia sampaikan kepada Aijasyl dan Tuan Korgan tentang mayat iblis yang berbaring di perbatasan lapangan. Sekarang dia punya alasan untuk tidak menceritakannya.

Mengetahui bahwa dia menyelamatkannya, Akjan tidak bisa membantu dengan erat ke punggungnya.

"Terima kasih," bisiknya.

"Oke," kata Ren sambil merasa sedikit aneh. Dia tidak tahu hubungan apa yang dimiliki iblis mati dengan pria ini, tapi itu jelas tidak baik. Juga, fakta bahwa dia memiliki seorang pria yang dengan penuh gairah berpegangan di punggungnya membuat situasi semakin aneh.

Ren mencoba meredakan suasana aneh yang ia rasakan dengan memulai obrolan.

"Namaku Ren. Ren Tengu. Siapa milikmu?"

Akjan ragu-ragu sejenak sebelum menjawab. Seorang Tengu, itu berarti dia adalah pelayan rumah tangga Karatengu. Akjan tidak tahu banyak tentang keluarga Karatengu selain fakta bahwa keluarga itu terus menurun karena kurangnya penerus.

"Akjan. Akjan Tang" saat ini dia merasa akan aman untuk memberi tahu dia nama aslinya. Keluarga Karatengu adalah satu dari sedikit keluarga yang tidak menyerang keluarga Tang dan karenanya tidak bertanggung jawab atas ketidakadilan yang dilakukan terhadap keluarga Tang. Dia memiliki pendapat netral tentang keluarga sebagai rumah tangga yang tidak akan ikut campur karena kekurangan daya. Siapa yang mengira pelayan rumah tangga itu, dari semua setan di Kalkan, akan datang menyelamatkannya. Dia tidak mengharapkan pergantian peristiwa ini.

"Nama yang aneh untuk cowok." Ren menjawab.

Mulut Akjan ternganga kaget. "Apakah dia pikir aku laki-laki?" dia memilih untuk tetap mempertahankan sandiwara itu. Jika orang lain berpikir dia laki-laki, mereka kemungkinan kecil akan mencoba menyerangnya.

"Memang," katanya sambil meringis. Penyelamatnya berpikir dia adalah laki-laki. Dia menangis di benaknya. Dia merasa agak pahit di hatinya tentang fakta itu.

"Yah, sebutkan saja, kenapa kamu dan iblis mati itu ada di tempat pertama? Lagipula, ini adalah wilayah Karatengu"

"Dia mengejarku, aku berusaha menghindari mereka, dan seperti yang kau lihat tidak berhasil," kata Akjan dengan nada agak sedih.

"Lalu jika tidak terlalu repot untuk bertanya, mengapa dia, menunggu mereka? Ada lebih banyak setan di sana? Aku pikir itu hanya kalian berdua?" Ren berseru dengan malu-malu.

"Yang lain melarikan diri setelah melihatmu, kau tampak agak menakutkan," Akjan mengakui.

"Yah, setidaknya mereka tidak berusaha membunuhku." Ren berkata dengan seringai konyol. Pengalamannya sebelumnya dengan setan-setan lain di luar wilayah Karatengu hampir berakhir dengan dia terbunuh. Sekarang dia hanya bisa merasa beruntung bahwa dia masih hidup.

Akjan agak bingung bagaimana dia bisa mengatakan hal seperti itu dengan senyum di wajahnya. Dia benar-benar aneh.

"Kembali ke pertanyaanku, apakah mereka memiliki dendam terhadapmu atau sesuatu?" Ren bertanya.

"Ren, apakah kamu pernah mendengar tentang keluarga Tang?" Akjan bertanya setelah jeda singkat. Dia jelas ragu untuk berbicara, namun dia ingin mengatakannya, setidaknya kepada seseorang yang mau mendengarkannya.

"Aku belum, tapi aku tidak begitu tahu, untuk benar-benar jujur," Ren mengakui dengan mengangkat bahu.

Akjan menggenggam erat punggung Ren. Dia berada pada posisi terlemahnya, secara emosional dan fisik, jadi dia membutuhkan sesuatu atau lebih tepatnya seseorang untuk bersandar.

"Ada alasannya, kau tahu, untuk ini," katanya dengan nada sedih. Ren bisa merasakan bahwa iblis yang duduk di punggungnya menangis karena napas pendek terengah-engah dan bergetar. Dia tidak berniat untuk membuat pria itu menangis, ini terlalu canggung.

"Kamu tahu, kamu tidak perlu memberitahuku jika kamu tidak mau, kan?"

Akjan, sepertinya tidak mendengar apa yang dia katakan, katakan sambil menangis. "Tang … klan … keluargaku … mereka … diperbudak … oleh keluarga Penguasa," katanya bagian terakhir dengan banyak kebencian dan kebencian. Tidak ada yang bisa menggambarkan emosinya terhadap keluarga Penguasa yang menghancurkan klannya selain kebencian murni.

Ren mendapat ide sederhana tentang situasi Akjan. Tampaknya klan bertarung satu sama lain dan pemenang selalu membersihkan yang kuat sambil memperbudak anggota yang lemah dari klan yang kalah. Rupanya itulah nasib klan Tang.

"Diperbudak? Jangan bilang mereka memperbudakmu juga?" Ren bertanya.

"Ya," kata Akjan dengan anggukan sedih. Itulah kebenaran menyedihkan dari situasinya.

"Jadi, iblis-iblis lain berasal dari rumah tangga yang ingin menangkapmu kembali?" Ren bertanya. Dia merasionalisasi segalanya tanpa terlalu emosional tentang hal itu, tetapi dia mengerti bahwa Akjan kesakitan, baik fisik dan emosional.

"That is the case, unfortunately. They found me out far sooner than I expected." Akjan was feeling more and more depressed in her heart. After all, now they will be hunting for her more intensely now that Jar Kas has been killed. None will protect her; she has nowhere left to hide, and nowhere left to go.

"Where are you going to go?" Ren bertanya.

"I don't know, I just have to last long enough for the Selection" Akjan gave a half-hearted reply.

"Selection?" Ren asked in a rather confused tone. Invisible question mark seemed to appear on top of his head. Akjan looked at his puzzled expression with a look of disbelief of her own.

"Selection of the new Demon King, don't tell me you have not heard of it?" Akjan was rather surprised that he knew so little of this world, almost as if he is not a demon. The thought made her extend her left arm towards Ren's forehead and feel for horns.

No horns, just a smooth forehead. She was alarmed.

"Are you…"

"Not a human" Ren gave a sharp reply. Experience with Orin has taught him not to appear like a human to a demon or it might end fatally.

"But you don't have horns and…"

"I am a late bloomer, ok?" Ren said in an exasperated voice.

"Yes, I believe you" Akjan replied with a smile on her face.

"Believing someone you just met, aren't you the unusual one, Akjan?" Ren said with a chuckle.

"If I am unusual, then what does it make you?" Akjan replied.

Both of them laughed. Indeed, it seems they had a lot of similarities, Akjan noted. What a strange big world it is, to meet someone like him.

As they talked, Ren kept walking, and by the end of the conversation they were already at the gates of the Karatengu mansion.

"Ren, you're back!" Aijasyl approached them from inside the house.

"Boss, you're safe!" Orin ran towards Ren at full speed while carrying stacks of hay in each of his four hands, apparently he was tasked with taking care of livestock.

Both of them approached Ren. They didn't realize from the distance, but as they came closer they realized he was carrying someone on his back.

"Hey guys!"

"Ren, who is this?" Aijasyl asked. Her tone was more professional than what she usually used around him.

"Someone who needs help, if it is ok? This guy is injured." Ren mumbled in an unusually humble tone. He was afraid to get Aijasyl, his so called mentor (despite being close to his age), angry at him.

"Master Korgan's policy is to help any demon in need as long it does not jeopardize the safety of the household" Aijasyl gave a surprising reply.

"Thank you very much" Ren and Akjan said simultaneously. Aijasyl was somewhat unsettled about the fact that both had the same expression of blank face as they said that. Was she imagining it, or are they alike in some manners?

"So how were the Jilan snakes?" Orin nonchalantly asked.

Ren's face contorted in an expression of pure fear as he turned his head to his side to look at Orin's face. Orin was rather shocked to see Ren look so scared. His eyes for a moment seemed dead while opening as wide as they could.

"Jilan snakes, so many of them, everywhere…" Ren gulped. He was shaking while drifting off to his nightmare realm. So many Jilan snakes, entire world made of giant Jilan snakes, his mind could only capture the horror made possible by his overreacting imagination.

"Boss, maybe we should drop the topic" Orin said out of consideration to Ren who seemed to be somewhat traumatized by the experience. At a mere mention of Jilan snakes, he was trembling uncontrollably with a sad expression of pure horror on his face.

"Yeah" Ren said hesitantly. "Besides, can I get a room ready, I do have a patient on my back" He mentioned Akjan who seemed very injured, but otherwise seemed a little too comfortable on Ren's back.

"Follow me" Aijasyl beckoned. Ren just followed.

There indeed was a spare room with a bed. Ren put Akjan down.

Aijasyl brought ointments, bandages, and medicine. She took off the emergency bandages from Akjan's body. When looking at them, she sighed. "Ren, are these by any chance your clothes?"

"He he, sorry" Ren apologized.

"Well, I did expect you to have your clothes damaged after a scuffle with Jilan snakes" Aijasyl noted, but she did hope in vain that he would treat his clothing that had the proud emblem of Tengu with more respect. "At least you made a good use of them" She cleaned Akjan's wounds. The skin was smooth, almost like it belonged to a…

… woman.

Ren told her that the patient's name was Akjan Tang. A pretty name for a lady Aijasyl remarked. She took off the old bandages, cleaned the wounds, applied ointment, and put on new bandages on Akjan. Then she gave Akjan special medicine.

Afterwards, Ren and Akjan were chatting among each other to their hearts content. Aijasyl sighed. Previously, Ren referred to Akjan as a male, but doesn't he realize the truth? Is he really that ignorant? But, considering how clueless he is about everything, which probably is the case.

Aijasyl thought to herself. Is he pretending to be clueless, or is it really his nature. Master Korgan said to watch out for him. She interpreted it as if she sees anything suspicious about him that might harm the Tengu clan, she must eliminate him. It didn't help that his appearance was exactly that of a human being, even though the tests have confirmed otherwise. Aijasyl couldn't shake off the feeling of hatred in her heart towards him. Even when she pretended to talk nicely to him, she couldn't help but feel that she is near a human being. Her natural enemy. The ones who have taken away everything from her.

When she blinked an image of her past burned into her memory resurfaced.

Herself, at a young age, running from human beings who have raided her village. They were likely allies of the Pishak Priests. They attacked out of nowhere; everyone was caught by surprise and was unable to defend themselves. Many demons were massacred, each one was stabbed and had their hearts torn out, literally. She remembered the moment her parents tried to protect her, they were overwhelmed by sheer number of humans who proceeded to hold them down while their leader proceeded to butcher them. Before being captured, her parents managed to hide her from human's sight. She hid herself behind one of the pillars of the building and was forced to watch how everyone she knew, her relatives, parents, siblings, friends, and fellow demons were brutally executed one by one. After harvesting organs of demons, human beings retreated. Once she went out of her hiding space she saw a scene that she could never forget.

Mutilated corpses lay everywhere. Ground covered in so much blood that one could think the world could be painted in it. Bodies that once held life in them now have become lifeless, severed from reality.

Bodies of her parents; her demon father and human mother. Her older siblings. All of their bodies ripped open, some missing their eyes.

Once her mind comprehended what she saw, she could only scream.

Aijasyl opened her eyes. Ren was fooling around with the patient while Orin was cheering him on. 'They sure seem to be having fun' Aijasyl thought.

She felt out of place. She could only feel malice for someone who resembled human being so much, 'How can those two feel at ease with him?'

For the last month, since Ren's arrival, Aijasyl tried her best to see him as a fellow demon, instead of a human being he so eerily resembles. She even grew to care for his safety. But during this day, the anniversary of her family's death, she could not overlook his human-like appearance that reminded her so much of the ones she dreaded.

Before her emotions took hold of her, she rushed out of the room into the courtyard. This place in the courtyard was made specifically for training. Right now she needed to relieve her anger.

Gigantic boulders burst out of the ground standing like walls between Aijasyl and the other end. This place was designed as break in entrance. The one who wants to enter has to break through the boulder walls in order to go forward.

With her intense anger, Aijasyl summoned black flame with a shout "Kara Ot!"

The flame encircled her fingers and shifted along her hand like a gauntlet. This was a special flame that had mass not just reacting air, so it had weight and was tangible. It was also hard to control, in a sense it was concentrated black flame. Due to being hard to control she could only make a flame that covered her forearm. Yet, that was enough.

Her calm expression was replaced by an expression of pure malice. She charged ahead at the boulder walls, slamming black flame gauntlet on her right hand upon them. The boulder walls were immediately cracked and shattered upon impact.

She screamed away her frustration while imaging the boulder walls as Pishak Priests. With each broken boulder wall she felt as if she was killing one of them. She destroyed thirteen boulder walls, now there was only one left.

Her right hand was bleeding from many impacts with boulder walls, but she didn't care. She wanted relief that she couldn't get for her anger that she wasn't able to get ever since Ren has shown up.

She ran towards the last boulder wall. Suddenly, the image of Pishak Priests was replaced by image of Ren smiling.

The condensed black flame gauntlet around Aijasyl's right hand suddenly lost its density and evaporated while her hand lost its will to kill. Instead of punching the boulder wall she ended up just tapping it.

'Why can't I crush it while thinking of him? Mengapa? Mengapa? Why?' Tears started streaming from her face. She touched her face; face unlike any other demons, a human-like face, the face she began secretly to hate. Her family has been killed because the head of the family, her father fell in love with a human, and human beings thought to purge them for it. Because of her half-human heritage every single demon spited her or attempted to kill her. She spent a while running for her life, not knowing what awaited her. Until she was finally accepted into the Tengu household by Master Korgan. He told her "As long as there a drop of demon blood in your veins you shall be protected in my territory." He gave her a shelter, a place she could call home.

Now a human face has invaded her sanctuary.

Why couldn't she hate him, she could not understand. She should feel no sympathy for him; she should want to give him what humanity gave her people, a painful death. Yet, in the end she could not muster true hate while thinking of his face.

On this day, the anniversary of their deaths, all the suppressed emotions came crashing down. She leaned with her forehead against the boulder wall while crying. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

When she turned around she saw Ren silently watching her with an expression of disbelief mixed in with tinge of fear.

"Aijasyl, I…"

She put her hands to her face and ran off without giving him a chance to finish. She ran into the mansion and slammed the door behind her.

"What's with her?" Ren mumbled.

"Funny you should ask" a voice behind him said.

Ren jumped up in place. The voice surprised him.

"Master Korgan!" he made a little bow with his head.

"No need for formalities kiddo." An elderly demon missing right arm said in a calm tone.

"Anyways, why is she acting like this? Could it be she is angry at me for bringing in an injured demon?" Ren asked puzzled.

"Jumping straight to the point, huh, very well then" Master Korgan sighed. "Be at ease, her current state is not your fault, at least not directly"

"Maksud kamu apa?" Ren was now even more confused with how the flow of conversation went.

"Today is the anniversary of her family's death. The day they were killed by human beings. This is the hardest day for the poor child" Master Korgan said with a tinge of grief in his voice.

"What does it have to do with me?" Ren bertanya.

"Your appearance. Your human-like appearance reminds her of the human-kind that massacred her loved ones" When he saw Ren's horrified expression, Master Korgan used a slightly gentler tone. "None blames you for your appearance, you are obviously a demon, and you have not chosen to look this way. But for those who have lost their loved ones because of humans, a human face is the last thing they want to see."

"I see." Ren sadly replied.

"Not many demons are pure in blood these days, some have human-like features, heck even some demonic features resemble human beings, some more than others" he nodded at Ren. "Don't blame yourself, after all hatred for self only makes everything worse. But I do suggest for you to leave her be for the time being."

"Understood" Ren half-heartedly replied.

"Humans and demons are more alike than they realize, both have the capacity to love. But their actions against each other have corrupted the love into bitter hatred." Master Korgan closed his eyes. "It started from bitter hatred, for so long it continued until the current time. And now it has gone so bad that human beings have become agents of our extermination. Sometimes I wonder if world could be at peace if there were more people like Aijasyl's parents"

"World would be nicer wouldn't it?" Ren asked cautiously.

"Indeed. But to tell you the truth humanity has done enough damage to us. At this point there no longer is a meaning in taking vengeance, after everything is lost. Only emptiness." Master Korgan's expression took on a look of profound insight. "That is the reason why this household's priority is to protect and nurture any demon, regardless of their blood ties. To fill their emptiness with happiness, that is something I want them to have before I am gone."

Ren felt like old man exuded an air of a man who has little reason left to live, as though he no longer cared about himself and was lost in a desert of desolation.

"I truly hope one day she lets go of the hatred she has in her heart and truly comes to love" Master Korgan said expressing his truest thoughts.

"Yeah, that would be nice" Ren replied.

"That is the reason I had her supervise you and not one of the other eight Tengu clan members" Korgan said. "I thought that exposure to a human-like demon would ease the flame of hatred in her heart, but it seems to have backfired."

"I understand. I will not bother her anymore" Ren had a rather sad expression on his face.

"Don't be so sudden. I feel like there is going to be time when she shall need your assistance" Korgan said, not knowing how true his words would turn out to be.

"I see. Then, if she ever needs my help, I will be there for her! That I promise!" Ren said with his thumb pointing up.

Korgan's face flashed a quick smile. "Excellent. Nothing makes me happier than demons caring for one another." He turned around and said while facing Ren with his back. "For the time being, you might want to check up on your injured friend."

"About that, master. Can he stay with us permanently? He has nowhere else to go" Ren pleaded. "His family has been enslaved and assassins are hunting for him. I know this is too troublesome to ask…"

"That is fine. She can stay if she wants to."

"Really, thank you so much!" Ren was happy for a moment, but then his expression of happiness was replaced with expression of shock. "Wait, did you say she?"

"You haven't noticed? My, my, my, you truly are as clueless as Aijasyl said" Master Korgan chuckled. "She can stay if she wants to. This household exists to protect any demon that joins it, so be at ease, she is now under my protection."

"Thank you master!" Ren said with a beaming smile.

"You did a great job saving a fellow demon, Ren, I am proud of your action" Korgan said with serious expression. "But could you tell me, how exactly you encountered her when I specifically requested you to cut down Jilan Snakes…"

He stopped his speech when he saw the effect of saying 'Jilan snakes' did to Ren. He no longer was standing. On the ground, with his eyes spinning, he was mumbling "Jilan snakes, so many of them, get away from me!"

"I might have traumatized him with this assignment" Master Korgan reflected. Another well intentioned action backfired. He could only bitterly smile from shame. His face and horns were hot from embarrassment.

"On second thought, the fact that you helped a demon is all that matters" Master Korgan said while trying to help Ren snap out of his nightmare.

After a few second Ren stood back up, still shaking from imaginary Jilan snakes within his mind, but now facing reality with relief. No Jilan snakes here, no Jilan snakes here, thanks Great Ones!

"Then I must go for now" Ren said. He bowed to Master Korgan and left the courtyard. He entered the household. Feeling rather disgustingly dirty, he proceeded to go to the bath building. Afterwards he asked one of the Tengu clan maids to give him a spare uniform for his own was destroyed. Of course he did this while wearing nothing but underwear, leading her to scream and mistake him for a pervert. Now with a new set of clothing and a vivid hand shaped slap mark on his cheek, he proceeded to enter to the room Akjan was in.

She was already asleep. Now that he knew that he was a she, Ren felt rather embarrassed. He carried a girl demon on his back, almost as if one of his romantic fantasies came to life!

Akjan looked like she was having a good dream. Apparently the effect of the medicine kicked in making her fall asleep. Her entire body was covered in bandages.

She didn't sleep without movement either. She flipped over making her back face Ren and the sheets stopped covering her. Ren tried to recover her with sheets, but while he was doing so, he caught a glimpse of Akjan's back.

There were three scars, three vertical scars extending almost full length of her back. They were not fresh, but old, but he cringed upon seeing them. She has seen pain in her past, Ren concluded, pain that has left scars that will never fade away.

"How can they be so cruel to each other even though they are all demons?" Ren unknowingly whispered his thoughts out loud.

"Not many sympathize with demons outside of their clans, boss" a beetle demon answered calmly.

"Orin!" Ren almost shouted. He did not notice Orin get near him before he was right next to him and answering his questions. "What is up with you and Master Korgan, are you two practicing for a Sneak up on Ren festival?"

"I believe there is no such a thing, but if you would like I can try to arrange it" Orin chuckled. His sense of humor made Ren feel rather uneasy about state of his heart; whether he will get a heart attack soon from shock.

After a minute's pause Ren began the conversation.

"She has been tortured"

"Indeed. The wounds can tell quiet a story." Orin replied solemnly.

"It is just too cruel. I understand hatred of humans, but to turn upon their own kind…"

"Hatred is blind, therefore it can be directed at anybody, no matter whether they are a human or not" Orin replied while trying to suppress his urge to run out of the room as fast as he can. What he said was the exact thing he did upon mistaking Ren for a human. Orin just hoped Ren did not make such a connection.

"Very true" Ren had to admit.

To tell the truth, by having such a conversation, Orin's respect for Ren just became deeper. He praised him as his boss because he offered him a position when everyone else abandoned him. Furthermore, Orin even tried to kill him, which should have served as a deterrent, but instead Ren chose to forgive him. Orin did not care that Ren looked like a human at this point. Human or not, Ren was already accepted as the leader within Orin's heart. Now seeing how truly generous and kind Ren is to a fellow demon despite her being an outsider, Orin felt that he made the right choice in becoming Ren's subordinate.

Still, Orin still questioned Ren's judgment, considering the idealists are usually are the deceitful ones. Of course Orin refused to believe Ren was deceiving him, but he had to just make sure.

"Why do you care so much for another demon, an outsider, enough to bring her into your own house?" Orin asked. If Ren said something like 'Because it's the right thing to do' Orin would immediately feel suspicion in Ren's integrity. He just hoped that would not be the case.

"I don't know. I just couldn't leave her to die there. Call me a fool if you want to, but I just couldn't. That's all there is to it." Ren said without hiding any of his emotions.

Orin looked at him with astounded gaze. All four of his spiky arms were trembling from shock.

'So that's how it is' Orin thought, with all doubts in his mind erased in an instant. 'He didn't have any ulterior motive; he was just following his instincts.' All the more reason to follow this type of leader, someone who would do something like this without a second thought.

"Sorry for ever doubting you, boss" Orin replied after a slight pause.

Ren gave him a weirded out look of not understanding, shrugged his shoulders, and chuckled.

"I see" Ren said while chuckling. Truth is he had no idea.

Orin, seemingly understanding Ren's intention, smiled and grinned. 'It seems Ren already knew I doubted him, but he still kept someone like me around.' Orin felt grateful for Ren's strange generosity, an unusual trait for a demon to possess.

Seeing how inappropriate it is for him to keep being in the same room as the patient, Orin stood up to leave.

"Well then, boss, I will go back to my duties" Orin said still smiling.

"I suppose I need to get back to work as well …" Ren tried to stand up but a hand holding on to the sleeve of his robe didn't seem to want to let him go.

Akjan's arm unconsciously held on to him rather tightly, preventing any way of escaping other than getting half naked. The lady Shaula Tengu already screamed and called him a pervert, along with a slap to his face, based on that he could expect a similar reaction from any female household members if he appeared under dressed.

Orin, understanding Ren's dilemma said in a soothing voice. "It might be ok for you to stay with her just this once; I will tell others you are watching over the patient"

"Wait, Orin!" Ren tried to get his sleeve out of Akjan's unconscious grip, but instead she ended up catching him by his hand. Now he was really trapped.

"Worry not, it will be over quickly" Orin referred to how a person would eventually wake up. Of course, phrasing it like that has given Ren an ambiguous meaning of the words.

Orin left the room.

Ren sat near the bed on his knees, with his right arm still trapped by Akjan's grip. He wasn't sure if it was his rather bad case of bad luck had any influence on the situation. He just hoped that Akjan was not one of those demons that become a cannibalistic monster while sleeping. He heard from Tengu household members that there are some nocturnal demons whose innate powers awaken only when they are sleeping, and in some cases they go on an eating rampage, not caring who ends up in their stomach, a human or a demon. By the time they wake up, they have no recollection of what they have done or who they have eaten.

"Ehm, Akjan, I know you're sleeping, but could you please…" Ren tried to smooth talk his way out of the unusually strong grip holding on to his hand to no avail.

Just as he was about to consider waking her up, Akjan's sleepy voice mumbled. "Please, not you too, please, don't leave me here…"

'Is she talking to me, could she be awake' Ren thought. 'Or maybe she is having a nightmare.'

"Please, don't go, Mother, Father, Akjai, Akjin, I don't want to be left alone!" Akjan was still asleep, but she held on tight to Ren's arm as if she was holding on for her life. She was currently in the middle of a nightmare. She was bound in chains to a wall, while her parents and siblings were dragged away. She remembered the exact moment when she last saw them. They had chains attached to collars on their necks by which they were dragged without being able to resist with their hands cuffed and their legs bound. In her dream or rather a nightmare she was seeing that exact moment all over again. Distance between her and her family kept increasing until they were out of the horizon, then they were gone, vanished without a trace. Akjan, in her dream, was left standing, desperately extending her hand, hoping to reach them. Then laughter filled her dreams, which were definitely the distinct laughter of members of Kas clan, a howling noise that reminded one of wild predator's roar mixed in with gurgling noise. In a sense it was a cold laughter that was freezing everything around her in her dream. The source of the laughter just kept getting closer. There was no escaping it, the cold air, the fangs that neared her, everything was over. Akjan closed her eyes within her dream.

Then suddenly, as if something touched her forehead, she felt a warm feeling on her forehead that reminded her of feelings she has long forgotten- comfort and safety.

At that moment Ren actually chose to put the palm of his left hand upon Akjan's forehead in order to calm her down. She was throwing a fit before, apparently with a nightmare, so Ren resorted to trying to calm her down. Amazingly, his touch seemed to comfort her, as though it was making her feel safer.

Ren came close to her long pointy ear and whispered. "Everything will be ok, I promise you."

Unbeknownst to Ren, his voice transmitted itself within Akjan's dream. The warm voice echoed like a pleasant melody in a world filled with parasitic laughter. The warmness spread, destroying the coldness and the images of Kas clan.

The chains that bound her within her dream were broken as if shattered by the strength of the kind voice. The dark world lit up with light once more.

She stood up within her dream, and then she ran towards the first thing she saw- a tree, and then gave it a large hug.

In reality, in her sleep, Akjan was hugging Ren's entire arm. Ren found himself even more trapped when she tugged him towards her, essentially turning him into a hug pillow. Because of his below average strength, even for a demon as Aijasyl had so kindly remarked, Ren was unable to resist Akjan's pull on his arm. He wondered 'Even though she is gravely injured, she is at least twice as strong as me; I wonder how strong she would be at full strength.'

'What an awkward position I am in' Ren pondered, wondering how exactly he ended up lying in the same bed with Akjan who was so desperately holding on to his arm. When he tried to move himself, Ren noticed that Akjan was shivering, and he guessed it was from fear. Ren deduced that she has nothing to help her feel safe, so she must be clinging on so tight because she wants to feel at least a little safe. 'I can't get out of her grip, I might as well spend the night, at least until she wakes up.' For a reason unknown to himself, Ren started sweating profusely, either from realization that he is technically sharing a bed with a female demon or from embarrassment, or maybe both.

Meanwhile, Kas family was thrown into disarray. Not only did the clan members fail to get back the escaped slave, but the firstborn son, Jar Kas have been murdered. His servants brought his body back claiming it was Red Reaper, incarnation of death, was responsible for Jar Kas's death and disappearance of the slave.

"Don't be ridiculous!" Screamed the patriarch of the Kas family, Kar Kas, who bore a striking resemblance to his dead son, albeit with a far larger stomach. His rage knew no bounds. Not only the family name was tarnished for not being able to keep their slaves in check, but the main heir of the family has been killed.

Jar Kas was supposed to participate in Election; with his abilities the chances of him taking the position of Demon King were extremely high. Now, all that hope was blown into pieces.

Kar Kas absolutely refused to believe that it was a spirit of nature responsible for his son's demise. He grabbed one of the demons that went with Jar Kas by the throat and lifted him up in the air. "Don't you dare lie to me, who did this to you? Who? I said who?" He said each word while shaking the demon by his throat.

"Father, please calm down!" Nar Kas, the second son, tried his best to keep his father from killing his servant. He managed to get his father to drop the servant to the floor. Servant was clutching his throat; apparently he was very close to choking. Nar Kas patted his father on the back, trying to console him.

In truth, Nar Kas had mixed feelings about this event. While Jar Kas was his sibling, they in truth were half siblings, thus were pitted against each other their entire youth. Of course by the virtue of the order of his birth and his talent, Jar Kas had obtained the position of the heir and was on his way to becoming the future Demon King if he won in the Election. Kar Kas always favored the firstborn, thereby mostly disregarding his other children, from which Nar Kas has accumulated a strong envy towards Jar Kas. Not to mention that every fight with Jar Kas ended with Nar Kas getting beaten half to death, always realizing how outmatched he was. Nar Kas always thought that he was fated to always be second best compared to his brother, never having the chance to shine. However, this fortunate day has proven it otherwise.

For now he had to play the role of grieving brother, which is why he will fake concern even though he has none towards his brother's death. Truth be told, Nar Kas felt somewhat grateful for whoever managed to kill Jar Kas, for that someone has removed a large thorn on his side.

"Father, I understand your grief, I feel the same, but for now we must focus on what exactly happened" Nar Kas tried to reason with Kar Kas, who was now just a weeping pile of snot, who was losing control of his emotions.

Kar Kas nodded, unable to speak further; he buried his head in his handkerchief.

"Now then" Nar Kas addressed Jar Kas's former subordinates. "Where did this happen?"

"The northern field beyond the river, just near the entrance to the field. We chased the Tang clan slave until that location."

"Was capturing her such a hard task? Was she the one who killed my brother?" Nar Kas asked in a serious tone.

"No! We got her! We captured her; she was too weak to do anything against us…"

"So then what happened" Nar Kas was beginning to lose patience with this servant.

"A fiend. Covered in blood from head to toe, carrying a scythe with a blade as sharp as wind. He killed Jar Kas with one swipe! I swear that is the truth!" the servant was cowering in fear; Nar Kas has the same fearsome temperament as his older brother.

"Why didn't you attack and kill him?"

"The difference between our strengths was too obvious, he effortlessly took down our strongest and it seemed like he was going to go after us as well" the servant was shaking from imagining that scene. "Then he declared that he was going to chop all of us into bite sized pieces! We didn't have a choice! We ran before he could kill us all!"

"I see. What about the slave?" Nar Kas asked calmly.

"When we went back to retrieve master's body, the slave and the fiend were already gone."

"Is that so, is this all you have to report?"

"Indeed it is, young master."

"Then, farewell. Guards take them away!" Nar Kas was already ready for action. His personal guards forcibly took Jar Kas's servants.

"Wait! What will happen to us?" one of the servants asked after guards grabbed him.

"Execution, of course. Kas family doesn't need subordinates who can't even protect the heir!"

The guards took away the struggling servants to their cells. Tomorrow, the execution awaited them.

Nar Kas turned towards his father.

"The territory they mentioned belongs to Karatengu family. I believe that they are in decline, however there are still subordinates of the family."

"Do you believe that it was one of Tengu members who killed Jar Kas and stole the slave?" Kar Kas asked. He was rather impressed with his second son's intelligence and ability to quickly assess the situation. Not to mention now he would need to train Nar Kas instead of his brother to succeed him.

"I am certain. Yet, there is one more thing that worries me"

"Apa itu?"

"If there is a Tengu clan member this strong, then it must mean Karatengu family is up to something, we must be cautious of them" Nar Kas warned. Someone strong enough to kill his elder brother appeared. He appears to be a Tengu clan member. Nar Kas realized that he must watch out for a potentially powerful enemy who can easily kill him.

In truth his enemy was anything but powerful. In fact, he managed to kill Jar Kas purely by accident; striking his weak spot with a very sharp weapon.

Currently, the said enemy was sleeping in a bed with white haired demon clutching on to his arm for comfort and safety.

In an awkward situation, unable to get out of Akjan's strong grip, he ended up sleeping next to her.

Although he spent at least half an hour before falling asleep looking up at the ceiling, trying to distract himself from the one sleeping right next to him, he finally managed to dive head first into the land of dreams.

Within his dream he saw many shifting sights, many floating cities, flying roosters, twisting grounds, and then finally a gate-like archway made of trees.

There he saw a strange sight- two boys playing together, and at closer inspection, both boys had the same appearance except for clothes. The boys were hunting wild geese. The seemingly elder one shot an arrow which managed to pierce the wing of one wild goose, making it fall down. The younger one on the other hand was unsuccessful and ended up somehow cutting open the skin on his palm by accidently scratching himself with the tip of the arrow.

The scene that followed was the unclear image of their parents. Ren could see their outlines and hear their voices, but he could not see their faces. Their voices were warm.

There stood the younger brother, getting his hand bandaged.

The next second, Ren found himself standing in the place of the younger brother while his parents were taking care of his wound. Their soothing voices made Ren feel as if he finally arrived home.

The peaceful sight only lasted a few moments. It was abruptly cracked, and then it shattered, like a piece of glass into countless pieces.

The warm scene was replaced by cold scenery of a gigantic waterfall connected to a high ground.

He was running towards his father who was being stabbed by a human knight in white armor.

Then, he somehow found himself shot by many arrows.

He was falling. As if the flight down took an unprecedented amount of time.

Ren found himself choking under water. Unable to breath. As if everything in the world was going away…

Then, there was a light. He was being dragged to the surface, by a net.

He was leaving behind the depth of darkness, pulled up onto the surface…

Ren opened his eyes. 'What a strange dream.'

The window of the room showed the morning light, it was already time to wake up.

Ren turned his head to the right and saw a familiar white haired demon's sleeping face next to his own. 'Right! I forgot I was sleeping next to her!' A horrifying realization hit Ren, who had assumed that the events from the night before were just one of his fantasies within his dreams.

Now he was finally facing rather strangely stimulating reality. It would be his dreams come true if it wasn't for the circumstances and the fact that this was reality.

He would need to sneak away before she wakes up.

Just as he was about to turn his body and get out of bed, Akjan's eyes opened and stared at his own.

Then, the realization hit her. Her white cheeks suddenly turned to most noticeable shade of pink and strangely, so did her crystal-like horns. She just realized Ren was sleeping next to her.

"AAAAAH!" a scream resounded within entire Karatengu mansion.

From the sound of the noise, Ren stumbled and fell from the bed with his upper body, while his legs were still touching the tip of the bed.

"Wait! I can explain!" Ren was trying to defend himself while Akjan was throwing pillows at him. Surprisingly there were many of them on the bed, at least dozen.

"Explain what?! The fact that you sneaked into the bed while I was sleeping or Great Ones know what you could have done while I was unconscious?!" Akjan was being unusually hysterical.

"I swear I didn't do anything!" Ren was trying to defend himself while Akjan climbed on top of him and hitting him with the pillow. She was using the pillow as some sort of a club in a strangely effective manner.

"A male demon sneaking into bed with…" Akjan stopped. She almost admitted to being a female demon. From her impression, Ren thought of her as a male demon, and she wanted to keep up the charade in order to mask her identity and show no weakness. She calmed down just for a second, and then her furious expression was replaced by an expression of calm hesitation.

"You … didn't… do… anything… weird… to me …did ya?" Her speech pattern was breaking off. She left the Kas clan under impression that she was a male, but Ren, he shouldn't have discovered her gender. Not like this! It would be just tragic if her secret was exposed just like this.

"Of course not" Ren said with the most sincere expression he could muster under these circumstances. A girl demon sitting on top of his chest while blushing uncontrollably is a rather stimulating, making it hard not to be aroused. He could see she was rather underdressed. Bandages covered her chest area and a torn pair of pants covered her bottom, but her hands and legs were rather exposed. He found it somewhat alluring.