The Heavenly Demon Is Just Stuck In My Head

I left the village and headed east.

There wasn’t much to think about—the road stretched straight ahead.

Later, once I was closer to the central lands, I’d need to check the map again. But for now, so far to the west, there was no need.

As I walked, I naturally drew up my Inner Qi.

I guided it along the Path of the Wind.

“I can’t afford to stop cultivating, not for a moment.”

Perhaps I was addicted.

At least with Floating Step, even while using it my Qi circulated freely, so I could continue training as I moved.

Each time my Qi completed a cycle through the Path of the Wind, I felt myself drawing closer to the wind— or perhaps the wind drawing closer to me.

My steps grew lighter, a ghostly wail-like whistle brushing my ears.

I longed to practice Night Sky Star Moon Art as well, but the circumstances weren’t right.

I wanted to stabilize my realm of Starlight quickly and step into Moonlight, but plunging too deep in meditation now would be reckless.

Still, if only someone stood guard, watching over me—

[That’s called “acting as Dharma Protector.”]

If only someone would stand Dharma Protector for me…

Wishful thinking.

I’d already wasted an extra day in that town… what was it again?

[It’s Akenaten, you idiot.]

Right. Akenaten.

That delay meant it was about time.

Rumors would have spread, and pursuers for the dagger would soon appear.

Two days had passed since I killed the Baron.

The news would be traveling fast.

So, for now, I had to settle with training only Floating Step, while keeping half my attention on ambushes.

It still consumed Qi, but nowhere near as much as Night Sky Moon Art, so I could afford to use it freely.

Besides, training Floating Step would pay off in real combat as well.

I walked the forest road, wind shrieking like the cries of the dead, my steps as light as feathers—

Ssshhk!

A whisper of steel cutting air came from the right.

I’d been wary, so I tilted my head back instantly.

A dagger flashed past my nose.

My hand snapped up, catching its hilt midair, and I spun, hurling it back toward where it came from.

Thud!

A muffled groan answered from the bushes.

I glanced at my hand, nodding in satisfaction.

“Mm. Not bad.”

My body was adapting, growing sharper through constant fighting.

The talent of the Heavenly Demon was truly frightening.

“Still… maybe I should’ve flowed a bit of Qi into the dagger before throwing it. That way it would’ve killed cleanly.”

I reflected aloud as I moved toward the bushes.

There, a man stumbled out, blood pouring from his shoulder, sword raised in his other hand.

“Die!”

The blade curved for my neck.

I only bent my knees, letting it sweep over me, then straightened, driving my knee up into his jaw.

Crack!

“Guhh—!”

He collapsed, unconscious.

“Mm. So it begins.”

I muttered, then drove his own sword into his throat to finish it.

Thrust.

“Try living a better life next time, fool.”

After a brief blessing, I continued on.

It wasn’t long before another man blocked the road, an ugly brute with a bandit’s face.

We stopped a few paces apart.

He sneered after sizing me up.

“Red eyes, black hair, nasty face. No doubt about it.”

“…Oi.”

Nasty face? Judging by appearances, were they?

Before I could protest, two more appeared from the brush.

All of them ugly.

“Hand over the dagger,” the leader ordered. “Do that, and we’ll spare your life.”

I didn’t bother listening further.

Qi surged down my legs along the Path of the Wind, and I shot rightward.

The wind roared in my ears.

I crashed into one man, fist slamming his throat.

Crack!

As he gagged, I tore his sword away and hurled it, charged with Qi, at another.

Shhhk!

He tried to deflect it, but the force overwhelmed him, and the blade buried deep in his chest.

Thunk!

Steel jutted out his back.

“Wh-what…!”

The leader froze.

But I was already upon him.

“You shouldn’t look away.”

My kick slammed into his leg.

Snap!

Muscle tore.

As he staggered, I slit his throat with his own blade.

Slash!

“Ugh.”

I leaned aside to avoid the spray, then tossed the cheap sword into the forest.

Weak men. Weak blades.

Even before I’d fallen from that cliff, I could have handled men like these.

“Still not good enough.”

I should’ve shattered bone, not just torn muscle.

With that reflection, I dragged the corpses aside.

The last one was still clutching his neck, wheezing.

“Sp-spare—”

Crack!

My kick silenced him forever.

I dragged him off the road as well.

“That’ll do.”

No time for funerals. Just clearing the path was enough.

And this was only the beginning.

Shhhk!

“…How many now?”

I flicked blood from my blade.

The moment I’d left the walls, petty thieves started swarming.

One or two at first, then more, and tougher.

Something was wrong.

Sure, word might’ve spread, but this many? Lurking the moment I stepped out, appearing one after another, each group slightly stronger—like someone had arranged them in advance?

“…”

It reeked of design.

Someone was orchestrating this.

Slowly draining me.

“…Could it be?”

A suspicion crossed my mind.

“No… impossible.”

I shook my head.

“She should be rattling the bars of her cell by now.”

Still. Even if not her, there was a mastermind at play. Someone pulling strings.

I stroked my chin, thinking.

Their plan was clear.

Lure greedy fools with promises, send them at me in waves.

Wear me down, wound me, then swoop in to finish me off and take the dagger.

If that was their game, then I’d play along.

I began feigning fatigue.

Each ambush, I moved slower. Sloppier.

“Haa… haa…”

I forced my shoulders to heave with ragged breaths.

“This makes… how many now? Damn… it’s wearing me down…”

I wiped nonexistent sweat from my brow, staggering onward.

“There’s no winning against sheer numbers. One bad wound and I’m finished…”

Not long after, six men lay in ambush, three per side.

“Haa… haa…”

Pretending not to notice, I stepped into their trap.

“Now!”

“Hyah!”

“Die!”

Six spears thrust toward me at once.

I could’ve slipped through easily, but I chose to leap late.

One spear grazed my shoulder, drawing blood.

“Kh!”

Scowling, I swung a blade-arc of Qi into the right bushes.

“Gyaaah!”

Blood sprayed.

I rushed in, finishing the job, then dove left.

Along the way, I smeared extra blood on myself, looking worse off.

“He’s in the brush!”

“Kill him!”

“Aaagh!”

Minutes later, I crawled out, blood streaming from my shoulder.

“Damn… careless. To think I’d make such a mistake…”

I collapsed on the road, arms spread, eyes shut.

Meanwhile, I sharpened my senses, scanning the surroundings.

Master. How’s my act? Convincing?

[Hmm. Might fool an idiot.]

“…Tch.”

Maybe too forced.

Just as I thought to rise, a tree branch swayed above the roadside.

I pressed flat to the dirt again.

Was I spotted?

Whoever it was, cautious. Watching.

I smeared more blood, clutched my mouth, and coughed violently.

“Khak! Khak!”

Then I let my arm fall limp, palm up toward the sky.

“Ugh…”

The blood on my hand was bright red, dripping freely.

I collapsed as though strength had left my body.

With eyes barely slitted open, I kept watch.

Then—the treetop where the stalker perched shivered.

It’s coming!

I shut my eyes again and spread my senses outward. Not wide, but dense—tight as a net.

Whoosh!

A figure dropped like a falling star.

The dagger in their hand gleamed as it plunged straight for my throat.

My eyes snapped open.

I rolled sideways, narrowly avoiding the strike.

Thunk!

The blade buried itself in the dirt.

Rolling, I seized their wrist.

“Ah!”

A startled cry slipped out.

Too late.

“Got you.”

I slammed their arm against the ground.

Crash!

“Urgh!”

I mounted their chest in one smooth motion, pinning both arms down.

And when I saw the face—

“…What?”

A familiar one.

“You? What are you doing here?”

Shushruta glared up at me, panting with rage.

I stared at her in disbelief.

“I’m sure I had you locked up.”

She scoffed.

“Hmph. You think some shabby prison could hold me?”

So that was it.

She had broken out, spread rumors, and sent wave after wave of thugs at me in calculated order.

“…Should I kill you or not?”

“Don’t.”

“Why not?”

Her eyes darted nervously.

“B-because… I can read the cipher engraved on Ophosis’s dagger.”

“There’s a cipher?”

“Yes. Without knowing the location of Ophosis’s tomb and the method of entry, the dagger is useless.”

“Then read it. Right now.”

I pulled out Ophosis’s Dagger and held it to her face.

She glanced at it, then turned away.

“…I can’t. Not right now.”

“Too bad.”

I raised the dagger to strike.

“W-wait!”

“What.”

“I said not now! Later—I just need time to gather information. There’s nothing I can’t find out. It will only take a little while.”

“…”

“…”

I met her eyes, then raised the dagger high.

“Hyah!”

“Eek!”

She flinched, eyes squeezing shut.

I relaxed, lowering my arm.

I’d never planned to kill her. Just wanted to rattle her a bit after the trouble she caused me.

“Hey, Shushruta.”

“…What.”

She peeked at me with one eye.

“Honestly, I don’t care about Ophosis’s legacy.”

“Lies. Then why kill Hans and steal the dagger?”

“I didn’t. Hans gave it to me.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“…Lies.”

“Believe what you want.”

“Then why kill the Baron?”

“Because he was trash. He tried to kill me, too.”

“You killed a noble for that alone?”

“My choice. I’ve always done whatever the hell I want. Got a problem with that?”

I brandished the dagger again. She shrank, mumbling,

“…No.”

“Anyway, I’ll keep the dagger for now, then leave this kingdom. Find me then. I’ll hand it over.”

“Lies.”

“If I were lying, why would I spare you right now?”

“…Maybe because I’m pretty?”

“…Should I kill you after all?”

I got off her.

The moment I released her, she scrambled back.

“Got it? Stop pestering me and get lost before I change my mind. Next time, I won’t hold back.”

She glared like a cat with its fur bristled.

“Let me ask one thing.”

“What.”

“Why didn’t you kill me?”

“Because I didn’t feel like it.”

“…That’s it?”

“Ungrateful much? Even sparing you’s a problem now?”

I grumbled, standing.

“Shut up and disappear. Come find me in a month.”

She paused, thoughtful, then looked at me strangely. For a moment, something flickered in her eyes.

“That won’t do.”

“…What?”

“You could die any time, hunted by those who covet the dagger. Especially now, after killing a Baron.”

“Not going to happen.”

“No matter how strong you are, you can’t last alone. How will you sleep? Even if you do, you won’t really rest.”

“I’ll manage.”

“Remember what I proposed? To hunt down the Red-Eyed Devil together?”

“No.”

“The situation’s changed, but the idea stands. We combine your strength with my cunning, fend off the greedy scavengers, and find Ophosis’s tomb to claim the legacy.”

“What nonsense is this?”

“Half each. Except the ninth sword—you can have that. I don’t care for it.”

“I told you. I don’t care either.”

“Don’t lie. No swordsman alive could resist that blade.”

“You’re looking at one.”

Ignoring me, she pressed on with fiery determination.

“With your strength and my strategy, we can overcome anything.”

“Are you even listening?”

She smirked, folding her arms arrogantly.

“From this moment on, I’ll accompany you. Be honored.”

“I don’t need you.”

“Let’s work well together, Ashuban.”

“…Maybe I should just kill you.”

“You’d kill your comrade?”

“Get lost already.”

“No.”

“Damn it.”

She wouldn’t give up, so I wrapped myself in wind and sprinted away.

“Ashuban! Wait! Take me with you!”

Her voice chased after me.

“For the last time, get lost!”

In the royal palace.

The King, a graying man upon the throne, chuckled.

“So, Baron Barankia is dead?”

The minister before him bowed.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Barankia… That was in the far west, wasn’t it? Near the Mist Cliffs, bordering Maia?”

“Correct.”

“And the culprit?”

“They say a devil of black magic. Black hair, eyes red as blood. They call him the Red-Eyed Devil.”

“Still no name?”

“…We beg your pardon.”

The King tapped his lips against the throne’s armrest.

“A devil, hmm? Not a name bestowed lightly. Elinor, do you know?”

The minister replied respectfully.

“What do you mean, Sire?”

“Names people give carry power. They call someone what suits them best.”

“Indeed.”

“Yes. Almost eerily so.”

The King’s smile widened.

“A man called Devil. What amusement in my twilight years. We’ll send the royal knights.”

“Yes, and…”

“Speak.”

“He holds Ophosis’s Dagger.”

The King froze.

“…Ophosis’s Dagger?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Are you certain?”

“It is said Baron Barankia sought it and died for it.”

The King covered his face with his palm.

“Heh… hehehe…”

A dark laugh seeped between his fingers.

“Heh… hahahaha! Hahahah!”

Through the gaps, his eyes gleamed wickedly.

“This won’t do. A commoner daring to kill a noble? Outrageous. If we let this pass, the kingdom’s order itself will unravel.”

“You are wise, Sire.”

The courtiers bowed low.

“Sir Selkoff.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The knight beside the throne stepped forward, each word of his reply steaming white.

“Bring me his head yourself.”

The man with icy-blue hair knelt on one knee.

“With pleasure.”

The King chuckled again, eyes bright with malice.

“Before you leave, there will be a fine show.”

He gazed out the window, where the sunset bled crimson across the sky.

“Devil… the Chill comes for you.”

(End of Chapter)