Evan D. Sherden, Punishment. (2)

While on one hand, Selune was busy finishing Allan off, on the other, the whole city was thrown into chaos.

Despite being heavily guarded by strong soldiers, a Dungeon backflow occurred, and monsters from the dungeon flooded the vicinity. At the forefront was a group of high-level Demons who belonged to a higher rank of the Demon tribe. Based on the Dungeon Explorers’ standards, at least 60 levels of the Dungeon must be cleared by one to be capable of dealing with these horrible monsters!

[Let’s go.]

[What a lovely environment. We can rampage as we wish.]

The Demons giggled and laughed as they literally swept away the slums outside the city.

[Let’s play around for a while before we get to the target.]

[Kill all the living, all the humans.]

[Harvest the fresh souls of those who live.]

[More magic, more blood!]

The commotion quickly spread. The guards were dealt with swiftly, and the Ironwall Knights—who were quick to respond in emergencies—were delayed for some reason.

The sight was ripe with mutilated body parts of those caught unaware. Those who took out their weapons late were obliterated by monsters continually rising from the Dungeon, from the sky, and beyond the walls.

“What the hell…!”

“Stop it! If you don’t stop it, it’s all over!”

“I think they are working with Demons……!”

“What the hell’s happening!?”

It didn’t take long before blood and despair pervaded the city. The reason wasn’t the lack of manpower to deal with the situation, but Marquis Soline D. Sherden’s absence was felt when there was no one to control the city and command the defense.

“Everyone, hold up your weapons! You idiots, if you don’t pay attention, you’ll die!

“The sky!”

“Oh, my God, why is the wall smashed open?”

“What about the knights who are defending Lord Eric?”

As if the Dungeon backflow wasn’t enough, the Demon tribe had struck at the same time. It wasn’t just any other Demon. It was a Shabelka, one of the Four Heavenly Kings under the Demon King’s reign, the highest Demon of the Demon race!

[Waaah… It’s open.]

[Destroy everything. In his name, pour destruction and despair upon this city! Take out 3333 each!]

The Shabelka’s demonic forces used the gate that was connected to the dungeon cities and raided the Marquis’ house!

“It’s an attack!”

“Argh! Argh!”

“Argh!”

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!”

“Lord Eric is in danger! Hurry up, everyone!”

Amidst all the chaos, all the knights staying at the nearby Knights’ quarters had to gather before they were sent inside the compound so they could have order and command over the situation.

The first to arrive and stop the Shabelka was Mikhail D. Aerock.

[Oh, here’s someone who has some presence.]

“Wizards, hurry up and close the gate! The Knights are the first to secure the safety of Lord Eric and his wife!”

Mikhail raised his voice and instructed his subordinates but did not dare to go to check Eric’s safety on his own.

He understood that if he didn’t stop the Shabelka here, everything would be over at that moment.

“Where did this monster…?”

[You don’t know yet, do you? I didn’t trespass indecently, pal.]

The Shabelka smiled wickedly, twisting his long-grown fingernails to create a flow of magma in the air.

[They can’t open the gate unless both parties agreed. In other words, there was someone who invited us. Who could it be? You’ll find out when you think about it.]

“…No way.”

The coordinates of the gate had deteriorated. It was not something that could be done so simply. Only someone who is closely associated with the Marquis and is frequently involved in state affairs could know the secret. Mikhail’s expression stiffened.

“There’s a traitor inside.”

[Not just one or two. She’s going to be the killer,…I mean!]

The Shabelka quickly stopped himself from speaking and attacked Mikhail by swinging his nails. Mikhail clenched his teeth and raised his sword against the Shabelka.

If he was the past Mikhail who had never entered the Dungeon, it might have been instant death. But he is different now.

He had attacked the Dungeon with Leo’s companions, garnered skills by repeating countless bloody battles with heroes, and, most of all, faced death again and again when he was constantly training with Evan!

[Huh, this is different from what they told me. I’m going to need backup.]

“Who said you could do that?”

Realizing that he couldn’t overwhelm the Knights’ head by himself, the Shabelka sighed and tried to call for support.

But just before that, the gate, which had been connected to an unknown location, was destroyed by a mighty blow. It would cost a lot of money to recover, but this wasn’t the right time to think about such things.

“How are you, Sir Mikhail?”

“Shine?”

[Huh?]

The young man appeared by destroying the gate in one fell swoop, wearing a black butler’s uniform, dark-skinned, wielding two black and red daggers. Of course, it was Shine. His calm, gleaming black eyes were stuck on the Shabelka.

“…I understand. The Shabelka is one of the strongest beings in the world, one of the Four Heavenly Kings under the Demon King. Master Evan once told me about them. Its deadliest weakness is between its fingernails. It has great aptitude in magic and physical battle, so wizards find it hard to stand their ground against it.”

[What?]

“It’s the Master.”

As soon as he saw him, the Shabelka shuddered at Shine, who somehow knew his weaknesses. His weaknesses were a well-guarded secret that no one knew. Even the Demon King didn’t know, so how did Shine?

[……!]

“Shine, what about the other places?”

“We’ve been in great haste, but a lot have died. Raihan is luring a lot of enemies toward him and reducing the damage.…”

“What about Lord Eric?”

“He’s alive.”

Shine kept his silence after that and pulled a blood-colored aura over the daggers. The Shabelka was speechless.

He couldn’t believe that he knew how to use an aura at such a young age! It was the scariest weapon to the Demons! Even the Four Heavenly Kings couldn’t defend themselves against it. Perhaps…!

“It’s a little complicated.… and then we’ll have to talk about it after we get rid of him.”

“All right. As long as he’s alive.”

Mikhail also drew out his aura. The Shabelka began to sweat out of fear at the sight of the two aura-wielding men before him, clearly wanting to kill him.

‘If I had known that there were two men adept in handling aura, I would never have come out so confidently…!’

[It’s going to be a long night….]

“Sorry to disappoint, but we don’t plan to make it long.”

Mikhail rushed from the front, breaking away from the nail attack that contained dozens of roots.

At the same time, Shine disappeared from the scene and made a surprise attack on the Shabelka. Their clash rocked the whole house.

The bedroom of Eric D. Sherden, the Marquis’ deputy, was only a few meters away from the clash.

Eric opened his eyes to the feeling of cold metal piercing his flesh. The first thing he encountered was the face of his wife, Milia D. Sherden, who looked down at him and was shedding tears.

“I’m sorry, honey. I’m so sorry…”

Milia sobbed and pulled out the dagger she had inserted into his heart. Red blood gushed out and soaked her face.

“My younger sibling…a curse…going to die the moment I say it…the Demon…”

“…Ha. I thought I’d done a thorough job of background checks before I got married.”

Eric muttered in a bitter voice, crying and vomiting blood.

Evan was right. The Demon tribe would leave no stone unturned in its treachery. A moment of carelessness and weakness, and you’d lose your life. But this time, the one taking his life was the one with whom Eric had promised to share the rest of it with.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Honey…”

“I just want to ask you one question. Was your love true?”

“You were my only love, and I’ll follow you as soon as I see my sibling is released of the curse. I love you, Eric…”

Milia sobbed as she buried her face in Eric’s bloody chest. Eric glanced at her; then his eyes wandered into the distant view of the window, then he looked around the room.

It was noisy everywhere. Screaming and shouting were coming from all sides. Eric looked at the table, thinking about why he couldn’t get up in such a noisy atmosphere, and he saw the tea in the teacup he had left last night.

Yes, last night, Eric drank the tea that Milia had made for him. Somehow, he still felt a little sluggish, so it must have been her. Eric should’ve listened to his brother when he recommended him to train himself for poison tolerance.

“I see… I understand, Milia.”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. My love…”

“No.”

Eric reached out his hand. Milia’s soft blond hair smoothed over her smooth neck.

“You don’t have to be sorry, Milia.”

“Eric…”

“I don’t love you anymore.”

“Huh…?”

He grabbed his wife by the neck and twisted it. The poor woman lost her life.

It was at that moment that the blood that was gushing from Eric’s heart began to slow down.

“Whoa.”

The torn heart was restored to its original condition, and the injured muscles, bones, and flesh were regenerating, as if time was being reversed.

Thump, thump, and the heart beat faster than usual, supplying blood to the whole body at an alarming rate. The poison left in the body disappeared completely, and his body’s condition was restored.

At that moment…pop! With the sound of glass breaking, Eric’s bracelet shattered. Eric sighed afterwards.

“I’m still alive, thanks to Evan.”

An exchange of life. Evan had gifted Eric this artifact because he could not find any use for it.

It held off damage that led to death for a moment, and if the wearer succeeded in killing an opponent who tried to kill them, it took away the life of the other person and healed the wearer.

He already had Miraseul’s necklace, so Evan gave this to Eric.

It was like Evan was always trying desperately for others, especially for his family, when he muttered that he had to survive every day.

Of course, when he gave this gift to Eric, Evan was thinking, ‘He won’t be strong enough to beat the opponent who tries to kill him,’ but it would be better if he did not know that.

“Lord Eric!”

“My Lord, are you okay…my Lord?

“Lord Eric!”

Shine, who ran into Eric’s bedroom, froze cold when he saw Eric, whose chest was bloody, and Milia lying on the floor with her neck twisted. He understood what had happened instantly.

“Don’t talk about what you’ve seen here. Milia died trying to protect me from the invaders. There was no trace of her body left.”

With the words, Eric set fire to Milia’s body, and it soon completely disappeared.

He removed her existence just like that and looked up. A sigh came out of his mouth.

“…Do you understand?

“Oh, got it!”

“All right.”

Eric spoke in a calm voice and stood up. There seemed to be no time to change clothes. He rushed to take only his weapon, the staff.

“God damn… We have wasted a lot of time already. Hurry up. Shine, please turn towards the gate. You may already feel it, but a strong enemy is coming. Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine.”

“Is it really okay… Okay, I got it. Please join Raihan as soon as possible!”

“Okay.”

Shine, who was looking at Eric with a worried look, nodded and disappeared. His speed was admirable.

“My Lord, we are…”

“We rescued the people in the house and joined Raihan afterwards. Help him get rid of the enemy inside the mansion as soon as possible and get out. Even at this moment, people are suffering.”

“Yes!”

“Okay, sir!”

Eric quickly gave instructions to the gathering of knights and ran with them. Screams coming from all over the place were getting louder and louder; the deafening cries of beloved ones everywhere.

There was no time for him to cry just yet.

He who carried the sorrow of the people had to be able to put his grief behind him.

‘Ha… Damn it.’

He just murmured to himself with a sigh, and tears seemed ready to burst out at any moment.

‘They said your first love never comes true.’

[Press b F} to pay respects. Jeez…]