Chapter 31:
The Demon Lord Shouldn’t Be At This Much Of A Disadvantage!!: What do you mean the descendants of the Heroes are overpowered due to nepotism?
The castle was almost obnoxiously large, practically an entire city in and of itself, with multiple floors and winding corridors between large, opulent spaces. Getting from one point to another could take hours, assuming one didn’t take a wrong turn… or there was a veritable army of knights and guards blocking all the most direct routes to the dungeons.
For hours, Inessa struggled to evade and incapacitate her pursuers, unable to take a break to catch her breath and relying on her inherent, albeit weak, regeneration to mitigate the damage she sustained. With the direct path to Lylia heavily patrolled and her untrustworthy mental map of the castle’s layout, she was doubling back, hitting dead ends, and realizing she was going in the wrong direction constantly. While this postponed her rescue of the blonde, it also, unintentionally, made her more difficult to pursue.
Was it a right after the next left, or two more lefts, then down the stairs and a right? She struggled the think, needing to dedicate most of her mental energy to looking for ambushes and traps. Every lapse of focus was typically punished by getting hit with more poisoned weapons to keep her debilitated. I need to get to Lia fast! At any moment, they could just–
“Inessa?! What happened?” She heard a young boy’s voice call out to her as she ran past a doorway. Turning to look back, she saw Liamion come running out of the room, his face had paled in horror as he looked at the state she was in. “You are wounded! You need–”
“Stay back, Prince Liamion!” She said sharply, holding up a hand before he got too close. He shouldn’t be anywhere near any areas I’m around. The guards would… unless… Damnit! I knew I should have gone down another floor back then.
“Inessa? What is going on? Mother said you would be leaving the castle today.” The young prince said, hesitant to approach now. “Who hurt you? I will see to it that they are punished appropriately!”
“This is… This is just a misunderstanding, Prince Liamion. Just go back to what you were doing.” Hating that she had to suspect him, even if she had gotten turned around, Inessa backed away from him and shook her head. “I’m sorry, but I have to go get Lia.”
“Do… Could you not become my wife?” He asked before she could turn and run off. “If you became my wife, I could protect you! Nobody would hurt you, a-and you would be a princess. You could stay in the castle. I’ll get you pretty dresses and the best food in the world! So… do you truly have to go?”
Looking at the boy fighting back his tears, Inessa allowed her face and posture to soften slightly. “That sounds like a wonderful life, Liam… but not the life for me. I’m sorry, but I’ll be leaving with Lia today, and I doubt we will ever see each other again.” She said, tightening her fists as she saw her gentle rejection still wounded his heart. “I’m sorry. I do love you, but not in the same way you love me. Either of us would be happy if I married–!?”
As she tried to elaborate, an arrow flew past Liamion from further down the way she came, striking her in the shoulder. “I have found her! Over here! Protect the prince at all costs!” A pursuer called out, readying another shot.
“Goodbye, Liam.” Before the next shot could be fired, her battle alertness returning, Inessa darted down the hall towards a veranda that overlooked some part of the castle which would allow her to get her bearings.
Behind her, she heard Liamion frauntly attempting to order the knights chasing her to stand down, but their orders came from above his station.
*****
The rest of her time fighting through the castle to rescue Lylia became more of a blur of violence and bloodshed the more exhausted and desperate she became. Her words couldn’t get the knights to stand aside or prevent her assailants from attacking her, but force certainly did. And the more effort she had to dedicate to just remaining conscious, the less she could dedicate to measuring her attacks.
As Inessa cracked open her eyes, the pain of her injuries gone and the one she fought so hard to save leaning over her, the flashes of what she did and who she cut down faded from her mind. But the blood, the blood remained, vivid and brilliant and almost beautiful. “L-Lia?” She asked, sinking into the softest thing she had slept on since being summoned to Facide.
“Good morning, sleepyhead. How do you feel?” Lylia asked, helping her sit up.
“Much better than I remember, what happened–!?” As the grogginess of her slumber receded and her mind began working at full, uninhibited capacity once more, she noticed not just the familiar environment they were in, but that the hair that hung in front of her eyes was now stark white. Looking down at her body, through the holes in the plain, bloodstained clothes she still had on, the flesh underneath was a light, ashen grey.
Before her friend, or the tall, dark-armored figure sitting a short distance away, could say anything, she looked at the information that was constantly displayed to her, but so easy to overlook.
Laimessa [Advanced] | Race: Monster | Sub Race: Vampire | Level: 10
Hit Points: 237/237 | Mana: 50/50 | Stamina: 34/34
“I’ve been Corrupted?!”
*****
Lylia quickly filled Inessa in on what had happened after she fell unconscious, and the circumstances that led to her pushing for Geist to turn her into a Corrupted to save her. Despite not a lot of time passing, there was a lot for the now ivory-haired girl to process.
She was tearing up and sobbing quietly after hearing about what Varney had done for her, clutching the Mana Crystal he left behind tightly in her hand. “Oh, Varney… You silly little guy. Thank you. Thank you so very much.” She said between sobs, hugging her legs into her chest as Lylia rubbed her back and Geist looked on, unsure what to do.
“You were right, Essa. About him, about Geist… about a lot of things.” Lylia said comfortingly. “Just because they were Corrupted didn’t make them evil.”
Wiping her tears and pulling the blonde into a hug, Inessa took a deep breath to calm down. As much as she wanted to grieve her pet, there were still other things to be done. “Heh. I told you I’m an excellent judge of character.” She said, forcing the light-hearted energy she typically conducted herself with, and smiling. “Besides, Varney’s not completely gone!” She added, pointing to the slightly extended, pointy fangs her top incisors became after her transformation.
“How did you end up as a monster instead of a lesser demon? This flies in the face of everything we know about Corruption.” The blonde asked, humoring her friend to change the topic. “Plants and animals become monsters, humans become demons. I know you eat as much as a horse, but you were human, weren’t you?”
“Careful, Lia. You’re looking like a yummy snack yourself.” Inessa teased back, baring her fangs playfully.
Folding her arms under her prominent bosom, she squeezed them together slightly, holding them up. “Thirsty?”
The two laughed at the ridiculousness of the other, while Geist sat to the side silently, not sure when or how to join the conversation. “I-It’s probably because Varney’s fangs were on her when she was Corrupted.” He said finally, trying to remind them that he was there. “That, or because she tamed him, there was a connection? Or maybe it was a miracle brought about by how much he wanted to stay with you.”
His discomfort at interjecting himself into their playful teasing was about as subtle as dropping a stone into a tranquil lake, the two girls looked at each other and silently agreed to play along.
“Right, thanks to you too, Geisty~” The ashen-skinned girl said with a big, tooth and fang grin. “It won’t be for long, but I hope you’ll take care of me.”
“Well, I am the Demon Monarch. Like it or not, you’re my problem now.” He said, shrugging.
“Aww, don’t be like that~” She teased, jumping up and wrapping her arms around him. “As grateful as I am that you saved me, it won’t last too long.”
Suffering the lack of personal boundaries that his first, sentient charge seemed to have, Geist allowed her to crawl over him and sighed. “And why would you say that?”
“Well, once the kingdom summons a new Champion, they’ll come and kill us, won’t they?” She said plainly. “As much as I’d like to go and pay back the queen and the Council for trying to off Lia and me, it won’t be long before someone new is summoned. And as long as Lia’s alive…”
“My Divine Artifacts will not function for anyone else…” The blonde said, finishing her sentence. “Honestly, after what I did, I’m surprised these still worked for me. But Essa’s right. Geist can resurrect, but we’ll be hunted down relentlessly.” Slipping the divinely crafted shoes off her feet, Lylia tossed them onto the completely out of space, luxury mattress and fell back onto it to look at the sky.
“Damn it… If only I could find that first Divine Seal, I could open a rift to that plane Chrysaor evacuated all the other Corrupted to and send you two through it.” Geist lamented, frustrated that he couldn’t see a way to protect the two women.
“Evacuate?” Inessa asked, not having a clue what he was talking about.
“Divine Seals?” Lylia likewise asked, having heard him mention the term before but still not knowing what they were.
“Hmm? Oh, uh, I saw Chrysaor’s memories, and what Champion Leopollis and his party prevented wasn’t him sending Corrupted to go terrorize a new world, but a parallel dimension where they could live peacefully.” Geist explained as succinctly as one with thousands of years' worth of memories could. “The Saint of the party, Anthory, used a golden orb to seal away his ability to travel between dimensions, which stranded the Corrupted on the other side. Though I’m sure that the Corrupted who escaped to the other dimension are experiencing an insignificant amount of DMC, the same way Facide’s magic has declined.”
Both women tried to keep up with the new information they were hearing, though Inessa gave up partway through, so it was Lylia who asked the obvious question. “What do you mean? Is Chrysaor’s Curse not the source of magic declining over the millennia?”
“I don’t blame you for thinking so, but no. Chrysaor wasn’t casting a curse; he had foreseen the consequences of the Champion’s shortsighted actions.” Geist replied confidently. “After seeing Varney pass, I finally get it. Facade’s magic drought isn’t from a curse. It’s from a lack of natural resources to convert DMC back into what you might call ‘Uncorrupted’ magic. Namely: all the Corrupted who fled to the other dimension.”
“How does that make any sense? Corruption comes from… or, rather…” About to slip back into the sensibilities of what she had been taught all her life, Lylia remembered her epiphany from earlier: that Corrupted come from Corruption and feed on it.
“Oh! Oh, oh, oh! Is this like plants turning CO₂ back into oxygen?” Inessa asked, clinging to a concept she was familiar with. “Oh~! And Geisty, and all the other Demon Monarchs, are like a giant mass of Corruption, so the Uncorrupted magic in the world…”
“...comes mainly from killing them!” Thanks to having it simplified for her, Lylia was able to see the logic in it all. “That’s why the Demon Monarchs are always so strong. Why they always drop a Mana Crystal. Why concentrating all the Dark Magic Corruption here accelerated your resurrections!”
“Exactly. I have no idea how Chrysaor planned to remedy that on the other side. I only have his memories, not his thoughts, but he seemed to be aware of this natural cycle of magic.” Geist confirmed. “But, have either of you seen these Divine Seals? By my count, a total of eighteen of them were used to weaken me as much as I am.”
“I was just in the Royal Treasury, and I didn’t see anything like that,” Inessa said, looking to Lylia.
“I only learned of the term ‘Divine Seal’ from Geist himself. There are no records of such holy relics that I am aware of.” She said, at as much of a loss as they were, looking at the high heels on the mattress next to her. “But… We might be able to buy some time to find them!” Her eyes lighting up as an idea came to her, she tossed the holy shoes to the armored living shadow. “We give the people of Facide what they want. Geist, do you have a way to destroy the Divine Artifacts? If you are able to, and we hurry…”
“We can swipe the others in the Capital before they are given to the new Champion!” Inessa exclaimed, tackling the blonde with a hug. “Lia, you’re a genius!”
“I know.” Taking the compliment, Lylia looked to Geist again. “Assuming they can be destroyed.”
Looking at the paired relics, Geist did still feel the familiar tingly sensation from them, as if they or his body were reacting to each other. “I mean, I know I said that, but these were crafted by your Goddess herself, right?” Not underestimating the Herculean task they spoke of as if it were running an errand, Geist cast Research on the heels regardless. “Why would I be able to…” As he began to try and rein in their expectations, however, his spell revealed a revelation that would have made his jaw hit the floor, if he had one.
[Item]
Boots: Footsteps of the Divine (Divine Seal) [Divine]
[Additional Information]
“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me…” He said in disbelief, not quite whisper-quiet, as he looked at Lylia and held the footwear up. “You’ve been beating me with my own power?!”
*****
While the path to the main banquet hall of the castle needed to be adjusted so guests could avoid the mess the now former Champion left in her wake, the festivities themselves were a marvel to behold. Lavish buffets of the most luxurious and fashionable foods lined the walls. The best bards and musicians in the land had been gathered to entertain the high-status attendees. No expense was spared to ensure all the guests would be in the highest of spirits for when the new Champion was summoned. Though nobody dared to mention how the Champion’s set of Divine Artifacts on display was missing one piece, the shield.
However, as the shield wasn’t technically a Divine Artifact, simply a Legendary-ranked relic passed down through the ages, its omission didn’t change the fact that all nine of the true Divine Artifacts were still there.
Everyone in attendance looked to be making the most of the grand celebration, from Minister Oscar Lovaniston Sr.’s eldest daughter, who had been attending such events for decades now, to General Victoria Quentellia’s youngest child, who was trying his best to not shame his mother or family’s name. Even the former, former Champion, Iskacles Quentellia, was deep into his drink and chasing as many skirts as he could, in search of yet another wife.
Everyone, except for the young, second prince, who attended at his mother’s insistence, though he would rather be anywhere but. I hope Iessa got away alright. It does not seem to be the case that she had been caught or felled in her escape. He thought, swirling a golden goblet half-filled with slightly fermented fruit juice.
“My, Liamion. Why are you making such a dour expression?” His mother asked, approaching and standing behind him, setting her hands on his shoulders. “Remember, you must present a strong, confident smile at all times. Look at how many eyes are upon you.” She motioned to the larger room and all the noble daughters whispering and glancing in his direction, but Liamion didn’t look.
“I am simply… I am sure Inessa would have loved to see all of this food.” He admitted, unable to bring himself to break his mother’s grip. “I cannot believe she is gone…”
“With the Champion’s shield, the Saintess’ heels, and that deranged, maniacal Impure woman, no less.” Kathritrina scoffed dismissively. “It would appear the new Champion’s first task will be to track them down and reclaim what has been taken.”
“There have been no reports of anything unusual from the Badlands, either, so We can trust that Victoria was capable of eliminating the Demon Monarch.” The king added, joining his wife and son. “With that ease of mind, more resources can be dedicated to tracking the fugitives down.”
“I-If Inessa is found… Could we capture her and have her sentenced to serve me?” Liamion asked, looking for any way to not only save the beautiful brunette but also be reunited with her.
“Absolutely not!” His mother said sharply, tightening her grip on his shoulders. “A criminal such as her should be–?!” As the queen tried to impress upon her son that there would be no compromise given to the former Champion, a violent tremor rocked the castle to its very foundation, startling all the banquet’s attendees.
“What in Lini’s name was that?!” The king asked as knights quickly formed a perimeter around him, the queen, and the prince.
However, before he could receive an answer, a heavy, invisible, physical force weighed imposingly on every person in the banquet hall. Most guests fell to their knees, some weaker, collapsed entirely, and the most vulnerable present were unable to remain conscious, falling like a marionette with its strings cut. With the oppressive pressure came an instinctual dread so acute and fundamental, all who remained conscious knew exactly where the thing causing their minds to scream at them to run was.
From the large staircase at the far end of the banquet hall, where the royal family themselves had joined the festivities, the hollow, but heavy sounds of metal on stone rang out and echoed through the hall.
“My apologies for interrupting your celebration and arriving unannounced.” A deep voice said, soft and courteous, yet foreboding and maddening, carrying through the vaulted, vacuous space as if he were speaking directly into each person’s ear. “I wish not to harm any of you here. I have merely come to collect what has been taken from me. Return it, and I shall depart.”
For those able to raise and turn their heads, descending the majestic, marble staircase partway was a figure of living, utter darkness wrapped in sleek armor of obsidian. This being, the antithesis of all that was Pure, was flanked by two winged women in strange clothing, bearing the eyes of the Corrupted. With a wave of his hand, the armored figure reclined back into a grand throne that formed from the marble on which he stood. Supporting his head with his hand as he scanned the room and found the royal couple, he locked eyes with them.
“Bring to me the Divine Artifacts.”
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