Demon Extermination.
That’s what Radakel said.
As the soft morning light seeped through the curtains, I stirred awake in my bed. I swung my legs over the side and stood, stretching before pulling back the heavy fabric that shielded my room from the dawn. The sunlight flooded in, bathing the room in a warm, golden glow.
From my window, I gazed out over the capital of the Empire of Light. The city was already alive with activity, the streets filled with the hustle and bustle of nobles going about their morning routines. These wealthy aristocrats, wrapped in their finery and importance, shared a common fear and hatred: the Demons.
This fear had not waned over the years. The first group of Heroes, summoned a hundred years ago, had failed to vanquish the Demon King. The second group, called upon seventy years ago, had met the same fate. Despite these failures, the hope of the populace remained unbroken. They fervently believed that this third group of Heroes would succeed where the others had not.
However, I couldn’t help but question this optimism. According to Khione, the previous Heroes were more powerful than our current group. The excitement of the Emperor and the Knights seemed overblown, based more on hope than fact. Emperor Philip, after all, hadn’t even been born when the last Heroes made their attempt. The same was true for most of the current population.
Among the few who had any real connection to the past Heroes were Jason, Aiden, Sienna, Aisha, and Gwen. As for me, Khione considered my abilities to be extraordinary, likening me to the very first Heroes. While this was meant to be a compliment, I wasn’t sure how to feel about it.
Should I be pleased with this comparison? I wasn’t certain.
I had no intention of becoming a mere pawn for the Empire of Light or, more specifically, the Divine Knights. Their singular goal was the extermination of the Demons, driven by a desire to elevate their nation to the pinnacle of power. They were prepared to go to any lengths to achieve this, and I often wondered if their motives were more selfish than altruistic.
Yes, the Demon King was undoubtedly a villain, a being of pure malevolence. The books I had read and Khione’s accounts painted a clear picture of his evil nature. He had slaughtered innocents and sought to conquer the continent for his own gain. His strength was immense, rivaling that of the Gods.
The Gods, though, were undeniably arrogant. They didn’t even consider the Demon King a significant enough threat to warrant their intervention. I couldn’t entirely blame them; they seemed preoccupied with other, more perilous dangers elsewhere. Yet, Khione appeared to be the only one genuinely concerned about the Demon King’s menace.
She had initially tried to defeat him using the warriors of this world, the Divine Knights, but countless of them had died in battle over the centuries. Her frustration grew as she watched their futile efforts. So, 150 years ago, she took a different approach and summoned the first group of Heroes.
According to her, they nearly succeeded in killing the Demon King, but for reasons even she didn’t fully understand, they ultimately failed.
The second group of Heroes fared even worse. Having almost been defeated by the first group, the Demon King was now wary. He wasn’t foolish enough to give the new Heroes time to grow stronger. Instead, he devised numerous schemes and assassination attempts to eliminate them before they could become a real threat. He weakened them mentally and physically, and in the end, he succeeded in killing them.
If they had had a few more years, perhaps they would have triumphed, but their progress was cut short by the cunning Demon King.
It has been only a little more than a month since we were summoned, but this also means that the Demon King is likely already aware of our presence. I won’t lie—I can’t shake the uneasiness that gnaws at me. Khione warned us to stay vigilant, as the Demon King could strike at any moment.
I had confidence in my abilities, provided he didn’t send a high-ranked Demon my way. But what about the others? They hadn’t faced a Demon before. I had seen a few in the forest, but they seemed harmless, merely hiding and foraging for fruits and vegetables. It puzzled me—what were they doing so far from their homeland?
Radakel also spoke of demon extermination, specifically mentioning a village within the Empire. This mission might be the perfect opportunity to assess their true strength and capabilities.
Still, that Radakel wasn’t one to joke around.
Not long after he replaced Oscar, he announced a demon-killing expedition. His intent was clear: he wanted to drill into our minds that Demons were evil beings deserving of death.
I wasn’t so convinced.
Every race had its share of good and evil, just like humans. It was debatable who was more sinister—the Divine Knights or the Demons.
As I dressed, I secured the armor I had specifically requested. It was made of lightweight leather, allowing for greater mobility. I was taking every precaution, just in case a strong Demon appeared.
With Radakel around, I had even fewer reasons to display my full strength. If he discovered how powerful I truly was, he would quickly connect the dots and suspect me of Oscar’s death. Yet, I couldn’t hold back if my life or the lives of those I cared about were in jeopardy.
As I checked my sword, I sensed her presence and called out, “What are you doing here, Khione?”
Khione was bound to me through the Forbidden Seal, so I could always feel her presence. She materialized in a soft white glow behind me.
“I won’t be around for the next few days,” she said.
“Why?” I asked, turning to face her.
“A war is brewing in the Achaeans continent,” she replied.
“Achaeans?” I echoed, trying to recall where I’d heard that name before.
“Yes, a Princess of Sparta has been abducted by a Trojan Prince. The main Gods of Olympus are called up, and I am among them,” she explained.
A princess kidnapped? A Trojan Prince? The setting seemed eerily familiar, almost like a story I’d heard long ago.
“Just a few days?” I asked, needing to clarify how long she would be absent.
“Yes,” she confirmed with a nod.
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