Chapter 23: The Descent Into Shadows

The restoration of the barrier is gradually reaching its final stages.

We expect that today’s work should bring it to completion. However, there was a reason why we left today’s location until the very end.

Until now, the restoration sites have all been within the city, patrolled by guards. Even if security was lacking, a basic level of order was maintained.

Today’s location, however, is different.

Although Pelches, the city where the academy is located, is generally a secure place—perhaps one of the safest cities on the continent, only comparable to the capital of the empire—there are exceptions even within Pelches.

On the outskirts of the city lies the slums. While situated outside the city walls, the barrier still encompasses the slums. Rather than forcibly eliminating the slums and driving its inhabitants into the city, it was deemed sufficient to isolate them outside the city walls.

Thus, we decided to start moving a bit earlier than usual today. Though Presia is naturally a night owl, it’s better to work in daylight, even if her condition is not at its peak.

After finishing all my classes and having an early dinner, I parted ways with my friends and headed to the laboratory.

Today, unlike before, I wore a real sword at my waist.

When I woke Presia, who was as usual sleeping on the lab sofa, she rubbed her eyes and got up.

Together, we walked past the city’s main gate, and soon the slums came into view.

At the entrance to the slums, I saw an unexpected face.

“Hm? You are… I mean, what brings the two of you here?”

The guard who had detained me a few days ago due to a misunderstanding with Presia was standing at the entrance.

“You could say it’s an extension of the restoration work from a few days ago.”

“…Inside the slums?”

“Yes, and this time, I’ve made sure to bring my student ID.”

“There’s no need for that… I already know.”

As I reached for my ID in my bag, he told me it wasn’t necessary, so I stopped, as it was just a formality.

“Well then, take care.”

“Pfft… Though there shouldn’t be anyone here who could pose a threat to you two… please stay safe.”

Leaving the guard behind, I took Presia’s hand, leading her into the slums.

Just a few steps in, and an unpleasant smell hit our noses. The streets were filthy, with garbage strewn about.

Eyes peered at us from buildings on the verge of collapse, from the dark alleys, and from various corners. I could feel their guarded stares, wary of the sudden appearance of outsiders.

However, there was no reason to provoke them simply because their gazes were unpleasant. After all, I avoided it because it was filthy, not because I was afraid.

Perhaps because of the foul smell or the dirty looks, Presia wrinkled her nose, clearly not wanting to linger. This time, instead of me holding her hand, she held mine and led us toward the outskirts.

The restoration work proceeded without any particular issues.

But her pace was slower than usual, likely because her condition wasn’t ideal under the midday sun.

“Two magic stones…”

Following Presia’s request, I took out two magic stones and handed them to her, keeping watch as she worked.

Now and then, a few eyes glistened with desire for the stones, but with a slight draw of my sword to reveal its gleaming edge, no one dared approach.

“There’s a complete hole here…?”

During the restoration, Presia, surprised, muttered in a barely noticeable tone. It was a subtle change, but after spending so much time with her, I could tell she was genuinely taken aback.

“It seems the previous person in charge just passed by this area.”

As I did when restoring the barrier around the tavern district, I took off my backpack and pulled out a handful of magic stones. The condition here was worse than the last area, and since Presia wasn’t in her best shape, it looked like it would take quite some time.

“We might not finish this before sunset…”

Trusting me, Presia immediately began the restoration work.

But as soon as Presia used her magic to start the restoration, the atmosphere around us shifted dramatically. The previously unsettling stares and the tense atmosphere became thick with malicious intent.

One by one, men from the slums began approaching us.

I drew my sword, pointed it toward them, and spoke.

“I’d recommend not coming any closer if you don’t want to die.”

However, the approaching men seemed oblivious to the sword aimed at them and continued advancing toward me without hesitation.

Finally, the first man entered my range.

Though I spoke of killing, I couldn’t truly swing my sword with deadly intent against civilians. In the end, I sheathed my sword again and swung it as a club instead.

Thud!

The man hit in a vulnerable spot collapsed backward, seemingly unconscious, but the others paid no attention and continued entering my range.

One, two, three, four…

Starting with the first man, an unconscious pile of bodies began forming around me, as if the entire slum population was gathering, surrounding us.

Yet despite the number of people and the blood-boiling animosity…

There was not a single curse or murmur.

They approached us silently, almost like puppets with no will of their own.

By now, unconscious people were piled up in front of me. Even though they were slum residents, their recklessness seemed suspicious, but that wasn’t something to think about now.

The seventeenth person approached, entering my range, and I swung my sword.

But for the first time, I hesitated.

The one who entered my range was a boy.

A young boy, likely no older than five. And in that boy, I couldn’t help but see myself from my own abduction.

A boy destined for the shadows, even if he didn’t want it.

For a moment, I saw my past self in him.

In that brief hesitation, a man standing farthest back, who had been still while everyone else approached, suddenly lunged at me.

In the blink of an eye, the man from the farthest distance was now the closest.

If I hadn’t been distracted by the boy, I might have at least been able to react. But that brief hesitation led to a dangerous injury.

Slash!

Though I turned as much as possible, I couldn’t avoid exposing my side.

Luckily, I quickly withdrew my sword and blocked the follow-up attack, creating some distance between us.

A pain like my flesh being torn away. The attacker’s sharp claws dug into my side, and red blood began trickling down from my wound.

“Heh… I only came here because of orders from above, but it seems I’ll be able to reap some unexpected rewards.”

“You… what are you?”

The man in front of me was no ordinary opponent. Only a high-tier monster could have inflicted a wound like this on me. But instinctively, I knew he was not a mere monster.

Though it was our first encounter, the suffocating bloodlust radiating from him, the fear that surged even as I tried to suppress it, and his arrogant gaze made his identity all too clear.

With a confident tone, he spread his arms wide.

“I am Valikan of Arrogance. Consider it an honor to face me today.”

A demon. And not one of the low-ranking demons without a name or title.

Even a low-ranking demon would be dangerous, but the one before me was at least mid-level or higher. And on top of that, he had already taken the initiative and put me at a disadvantage.

“A demon, huh… what makes you so confident about coming to Pelches?”

Pelches, especially the academy, is home to some of the continent’s most skilled individuals. Even a demon would be risking suicide without an army.

“Heh… indeed, Pelches is a troublesome place for us, as you said, woman. But fortunately for us, you created a new entrance.”

“A mutt that crawled in through a hole, huh.”

He must have been referring to the gap in the barrier that Presia was currently restoring.

“By chance, the gap appeared in a highly advantageous location for us. We intended to slowly corrode it, but… we’ve been discovered.”

Despite his words, his expression remained calm and composed.

“And a woman in decent condition and a mage like you? That’s quite a catch, don’t you think?”

Behind me, Presia seemed too focused on the barrier restoration spell to notice what was happening on this side. If she could join the fight, we might have a chance, but it looked like she still needed more time.

“Hey! What’s going on over there? Why are you all gathered?! Disperse immediately!”

While I was debating what to do, a familiar voice echoed from the distance.

It was the guard who had almost detained me a few days ago, now stationed at the slum entrance. It seemed he couldn’t ignore the commotion inside and had come to investigate.

“What’s this? Why haven’t you left yet? Hey, you… huh!?”

Pushing through the men standing blankly around, the guard caught sight of the heap of unconscious men on the ground and, mistaking them for corpses, recoiled in horror.

“Well, I don’t have any use for trash like him anyway.”

“Run!”

Valikan turned to look at the guard, but his hand moved a few beats faster than the guard could react to my shout.

“Gah…!”

With ease, Valikan’s hand pierced through the guard’s armor and into his stomach. He shook his hand as if disgusted by filth, then slowly walked back toward me.

“Well, I don’t see any need to continue this conversation. Why not come willingly? If you surrender without resistance, I’ll generously grant you the Demon Lord’s favor and allow you to serve as a succubus.”

Blood was now streaming freely from the wound in my side, and my vision was starting to blur.

Although I wanted to stall for time until Presia could join me, time was not on my side.

“You’re good at barking… just like the mutt you are!”

I charged toward Valikan the moment I finished speaking.

Before I lost consciousness, before I could no longer lift my sword, I had to resist with all my might. If I could just manage to injure him, even slightly, there was a chance Presia could finish the fight once she regained her focus.

A white aura began to flicker on my sword. However, perhaps due to the blood loss, my concentration faltered, and the aura wavered, unstable.

The unsteady aura traced a path as I swung my sword at Valikan.

Clang!

But Valikan effortlessly blocked the attack with just a raise of his hand. If I had been in better condition, perhaps I could have at least broken one of his claws, but in my current state, it was impossible.

Still, there was no time for disappointment; the only thing to do was to swing again.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

I swung my sword relentlessly, undeterred by his defenses. I kicked, headbutted, and struck with my elbow, trying anything I could think of.

But the more I moved, the slower my attacks became, and Valikan deflected them with ease, almost playfully.

“Hmph… I prefer obedient puppies to wild cats, you know.”

True to his moniker of “Arrogance,” Valikan’s toying demeanor filled me with despair. But I did not allow myself to feel hopeless.

It was certain I would die here. And if I were captured instead of killed, the consequences would undoubtedly be far worse.

So, even if it cost me my life, I had to protect Presia.

But my strength was almost completely drained. I had no choice but to summon every ounce of my remaining energy for one final move.

A blazing white aura erupted from my sword, brighter and fiercer than ever before. They say moments before death, people achieve enlightenment—perhaps this was one of those moments.

If only I had possessed this strength earlier, the situation might have been different. Yet, I was still grateful to unleash it, even now.

*Whoosh!*

The sound was not of a sharp blade slicing through the air, but of a massive club swinging.

Even Valikan seemed to sense the unusual power radiating from my sword, but his reaction came too late to retreat.

*Slice!*

The sword that couldn’t even cut his claws before now severed his wrist.

“Argh! You wretched woman!”

*Thud!*

Enraged by his severed hand, Valikan struck me with his other hand, sending me flying. My body, drained of energy and unprotected, took the full brunt of the blow.

As my consciousness began to fade, I looked at Valikan clutching his severed wrist and then at Presia, who met my gaze. Finally, I felt a faint sense of relief.