Volume 10, Chapter 9 – The Sudden Sacrificer

“Halt! No entry beyond this point!”

Half a month after Yisi’s group entered the Empire’s territory, as they traveled the official road to the coastal city of Wilfred, a squad of soldiers blocked the carriage’s path.

Refina, who was driving the carriage, first observed her surroundings. The road was blocked by mountains on both sides, and in an open area a short distance away, troops were stationed under the Imperial flag. Judging from the quality of their equipment and their uniform movements, these soldiers were not bandits disguised to swindle travelers out of their money.

Slightly troubled, Refina pulled the reins and stopped the carriage.

“Excuse me, has something happened up ahead? When we stayed in the last city, the people there said this was the only road to Wilfred, and everyone usually takes this route.”

Refina’s complete lack of hostility caused the soldiers’ tense expressions to relax. Although the Empire had long since issued a decree of racial equality, the Blood Clan, who could not see the sun, were still a rare sight in the Empire. In addition, the Blood Clan would uncontrollably enter a blood-frenzy when lacking blood, so most Imperials still held the prejudice that ‘the Blood Clan are ferocious monsters’.

“We have orders from above. Anyone who wants to pass this way must have the people in their carriage get out for inspection. Those who pass the inspection can stay here temporarily. When enough travelers heading to Wilfred have gathered, we will dispatch troops to escort you there. For safety, your carriage must be left in our custody. After you reach Wilfred City, you can retrieve your belongings from the city administrator at any time with the voucher issued by the army.”

The soldier’s long-winded explanation stunned Refina for a moment. Then, as if she understood, Refina reached into her clothes, preparing to take out gold coins as usual. Although these soldiers weren’t bandits, that didn’t stop them from collecting money from travelers. In fact, this was the common situation on the Alexia Continent; Refina had seen it many times.

However, in the soldiers’ eyes, Refina’s movement was a signal that she was drawing a weapon. Almost simultaneously, the five soldiers blocking the carriage raised their weapons, their spearheads aimed directly at Refina.

“Don’t move!”

“Throw out your weapon!”

“Refina, what’s wrong?” Edith poked her head out of the carriage. When she saw the human soldiers pointing their weapons at Refina, her eyes narrowed dangerously. “Mere humans—”

“Pepe, wait.” Yisi, who had also noticed the abnormality, stepped out of the carriage one step ahead of Edith. “Refina, what happened?”

While observing the soldiers’ movements, Refina carefully withdrew her right hand from her clothes. “Master… Miss Yisi, it seems we have to leave the carriage here.”

“Leave the carriage here? Why?”

Perhaps judging from Yisi’s exquisite clothing that Yisi was not an assassin, the soldier took the initiative to explain. “Demons have been appearing frequently in the Empire recently. His Majesty is on her way to Wilfred City to annihilate them. For His Majesty’s safety, Lord General Carl has ordered that no carriages are allowed on any road near Wilfred. Our army will be responsible for the safety of travelers. If you are unwilling to hand over your carriage, you had best return the way you came.”

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So that’s how it is.

Yisi nodded thoughtfully. Her group had been in Imperial territory for half a month, and it was just as the soldier said: demons appeared frequently. A week ago, she herself had seen a demon, but the demon that appeared then was too weak and was suppressed by the Imperial garrison before she even had to act. At the time, she had even marveled at how quickly the Imperial garrison mobilized.

Of course, the frequent appearance of demons and her having to hand over the carriage were two different matters. If they were to set out with the Imperial army, her group would have to walk the rest of the way on foot. Not to mention Tina was also in the carriage. If any soldier recognized Tina’s identity, things would definitely become very bad.

It’s better to find an empty place and use teleportation magic.

Yisi shook her head, resigned. “Alright, I just remembered I left something at the inn. Refina, let’s go ba—Hmm?”

Before she could finish, Yisi felt a tug on the corner of her clothes. Turning her head, she saw it was Tina, wearing her white bonnet. The latter frowned and pointed to a male traveler about thirty meters away. Like Yisi, this traveler had also been stopped by the soldiers. But unlike Yisi, this man refused to cooperate and was arguing loudly and emotionally. Even from a distance, Yisi could hear the man’s curses.

“Tina? What’s wrong?”

“He has the smell of a demon on him.”

“A demon?” Tina’s serious expression didn’t look like she was joking. Yisi couldn’t help but glance at the [Omniscient Map]. The man’s race was displayed as ‘Human’, and there was nothing abnormal in his status bar. “But he’s human, you know?”

“And he’s speaking the Norta Imperial language very clearly.”

Compared to Yisi and Refina’s casualness, the soldiers blocking Yisi’s carriage were clearly more vigilant. One walked two steps to Tina, who had poked her head out, and asked with a serious expression. “Who did you say smells like a demon?”

“That man over there.”

“Got it.” His tone instantly became sharp. The lead soldier waved to the others. “Seize him and check all his belongings!”

“”Yes!””

And at that very moment, the man in the distance, who had been arguing with the soldiers and trying to get through the checkpoint, finally lost his patience. He tore open his clothes, a cruel smile appearing on his face. “Foolish Adonis, I will make you pay the price for your betrayal! One day, Lord Styx will lead us to freedom again!”

After his loud declaration, the man suddenly pulled out a grey, ominous-looking short blade. Just as Yisi thought the man would rush at the soldiers with the blade like a moth to a flame, he suddenly plunged the grey blade into his own heart.

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Yisi quickly reached out and covered Tina’s eyes, who was behind her. Even if you’re dissatisfied with Adonis’s rule, this form of protest won’t gain the support of the people. It’s just like a terrorist.

However, just as Yisi thought the man had committed suicide, and the soldiers were moving forward to deal with the body, the man on the ground suddenly began to change. His flesh rapidly melted into a pool of black slime. Immediately after, the black liquid, as if alive, rose from the ground and formed into one corporeal thing after another—dozens of bull-headed demons, nearly three stories tall, with black horns and gnarled muscles, appeared before the soldiers.

AAAAAAAA—

“Demons! It’s demons! Prepare for battle!”

“S-save me! Ahhhhhh!!!”

A soldier who was too slow to escape was grabbed by the legs by a demon. Like tossing a broken sack, the demon easily flung the soldier away. The other demons, seeing how weak the human soldiers were, let out mocking sounds while excitedly beating their chests. They roared and charged toward the most crowded area. All but three, which headed for Yisi’s carriage, rushed toward the army camp.

So that man wasn’t committing suicide, but offering a sacrifice? But for an ordinary person with no strength to be able to exchange himself for eleven demons, all over level 30, is just too insane.

“That’s it! That goat-headed demon used the same method to summon the fallen angels! Yisi, there’s something wrong with that dagger!” Tina shouted, preparing to jump out of the carriage, but Yisi pressed down on her bonnet and pushed her back inside. “Tina’s power hasn’t recovered. If Styx finds out and assassinates you when I’m not looking, it’ll be terrible. Stay in the carriage for now.”

“But the dagger—”

“It’s just a few demons. You don’t need to worry.”

“Your Ladyship, please evacuate immediately! Leave the rest of the fight to us!”

Huh?

Yisi looked at the five Imperial soldiers, who, despite the tension on their faces, had not abandoned her group and fled. She had thought they would have run off long ago under the excuse of ‘notifying their superior’. She hadn’t expected that even with demons charging straight at the carriage, they had no intention of abandoning civilians.

The quality of Imperial soldiers is much better than that of the Hels Kingdom’s. While thinking this, Yisi shook her head with a wry smile. “No, we are not ordinary civilians with no way to fight back. You should go and regroup with your unit.”

“How can we let civilians face demons! If His Majesty finds out, it will be the shame of our lives!”

“Onee-sama already told you to move. You really don’t know how to take a hint. Mary, Tiffany, we’ll take the two on the left. Edith, the last one is yours.”

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“Got it~”

“□□——[Defense Bestowal].”

While the soldiers were still trying to say something, Camilla, Mary, and Tiffany, already armed, leaped from the carriage, drawing the two demons away.

“Hmph. I should have been the one to take on two.” Although she complained, Edith did not disrupt Camilla’s arrangement, grabbing Gungnir, leaping into the air, spreading her red wings, and, in a smooth, almost gliding motion, closing in on the remaining demon.

“My Lord, please leave the task of guarding the carriage to me.”

“Mhm, I’m counting on you, Laxy.”

These demons were only level 30. For her companions, who were equipped with trigger-type magic items, they weren’t particularly difficult opponents. Even if ten of them attacked at once, as long as her companions used magic potions, they could slowly wear them down.

No… I take back what I just thought.

While Yisi was assessing the battle, the remaining black slime hatched new demons. Unlike the first batch of large, strength-oriented bull-warriors, the new demons were a bee-type, winged monster, completely pitch-black. The [Omniscient Map] feedback indicated this monster possessed two spells: [Poison Needle Volley] and [Disturbance Mist].

“A type I haven’t seen before.”

After the bee-type monsters joined the battle, Camilla’s group of three, who had been pushing back the two demons with the coordination of their tank and mage, were quickly put at a disadvantage. This monster, called the ‘Black Ink Bee’, would spray a large amount of black mist like a squid, disrupting their vision, while the [Poison Needle Volley] attacked from extremely tricky angles, forcing them onto the defensive.

With a chance to breathe, the large demons regrouped and began swinging their fists wildly in the mist. Although the large demons were more often hitting the Black Ink Bees hidden in the mist than Camilla’s group, the number of bees was so great that even when they were swept away, the mist did not weaken at all. Therefore, Camilla’s group of three was still forced to stand back-to-back in a circle to guard against attacks from different angles.

“Miss Camilla, what should we do?”

“Wind.” Tiffany’s emotionless voice sounded from the mist.

“Ah, we can use wind to blow the mist away!”

“Buy me time.”

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“Yes!” Mary replied to Camilla’s order with great vigor.

As for Edith, on the other side, she was also struggling due to the Black Ink Bees. The night vision of the Blood Clan was useless in this situation. Although Edith’s keen senses allowed her to judge the large demon’s direction from the sound, the poison needles shot by the bees were a nuisance. To avoid being stung by needles from all directions, Edith was also forced to activate her trigger-type magic items, abandoning her offense to go on the defensive.

Maybe I should equip my companions with magic items that can dispel mist and illusions?

Pondering this, Yisi reached out toward the black mist that was gradually closing in on her and made a light grasping motion. With a ‘puff’ sound, the black mist was crushed by Yisi. In return, her palm was stained as black as if she had just touched charcoal.

This is so dirty.

She shook her hand, using [Cleanse] magic to remove the black mist. Standing on the carriage’s driver’s seat, Yisi looked toward the military camp. Compared to Camilla’s group, the Imperial army’s response to the sudden demon attack was even weaker. The front-line soldiers, once caught in the black mist, were forced into a passive state, only able to fight while retreating. They used the ranged attacks of archers and mages to gradually chip away at the demons’ HP. But the large demons’ advance was far faster than the humans’. In just a short while, they had wrecked the camp and caught up to the retreating archers and mages.

Even several hundred Imperial soldiers can’t do anything against eight demons and a swarm of bees? At this rate, it was only a matter of time before the entire Imperial army was wiped out. I should help them a little.

Using the excuse “the camp is in trouble,” Yisi sent the five soldiers guarding the carriage away. She quietly condensed fingernail-sized [Ice Spike]. Although the Black Ink Bees moved quickly and were covered by the mist, making it difficult for the soldiers and Camilla’s group to hit them, it was no problem for her to hit the ones that occasionally flew outside the mist. Summoning nearly a hundred [Ice Spike]at once, Yisi began to take aim.

The next moment, nearly a hundred Ice Spikes shot out with the speed of a machine gun. Almost every cone chased down a Black Ink Bee, crushing it precisely. In just two volleys, most of the bees near the camp were gone. Immediately after, Camilla also completed her wind spell. She blew the black mist away with a strong gust, then used the [Wings of Molten Fire] she had used before against the undead. She conjured giant butterflies of flame, which, carrying a temperature high enough to scorch any living creature, turned all the Black Ink Bees to ash.

“Wind… Yes! Use wind magic, quickly!” Seeing Camilla’s effective response, the Imperial commander hastily ordered his mages to use wind to disperse the mist. Although the wind summoned by the Imperial mages was clearly weaker than Camilla’s, it was no problem to blow the mist away. As long as the mist was gone, the Imperial soldiers could barely regain their footing. Of course, the eight strength-type demons remained a difficult foe.

Laxy bowed her head to petition. “My Lord, please allow me to help the humans entangled by the demons.”

“Mhm, permission granted.”

“Thank you very much.” Drawing her rapier, Laxy immediately joined the battlefield.

With Laxy making a move, the battle will be over soon. Yisi glanced in Edith’s direction. Compared to Camilla’s strategy of using wind, Pepe’s response was simpler and more brutal. Perhaps being forced onto the defensive had infuriated Pepe. Pepe directly scattered the blood from her storage magic into the air and then used [Blood Burst] to detonate the blood-mist, instantly blasting all the Black Ink Bees hidden in the fog to death. Then, she threw Gungnir with all her might. It easily pierced the large demon’s arms, which it had crossed in a defensive posture, and the spear tip accurately penetrated its eyeball, killing it in one blow.

That should be the end of it.

Quietly leaving the carriage, Yisi picked up the grey short blade that had fallen to the ground, unnoticed by anyone, and stored it in her storage.