108 - Day 10 2nd encounter(part 3)

"Multiple demons at 2 o'clock" (captain)

"Guargh!?!!" (Member)

"Take caution! They're not like the average beast! This is a real fight!" (Captain)

"[Instant aerial contraction]!" (Members)

"[Reinforce blade-tier 3] [Force up] [Amplify impact]" (Members)

"Barrier is deployed! Ready to execute next phase!" (Member)

With a smirk, the captain spoke up.

"Alright. Let's show them what humans can do." (captain)

Wielding spears with a layer of solidified darkness at the tip, multiple soldiers vanished in the blink of an eye. Reappearing 50 metres away, the demons were severed in half without being able to react. Blood dripped from the cut in their torsos before spurting everywhere, leaving a sea of crimson. [Instant aerial contraction], it went beyond the value of Agility and was always able to surprise the enemies. Except for 1.

"GUGHH!! HOW..." (Soldier)

"And why would I tell you?" (Demon captain)

"Capture formation. Activating secondary and tertiary catalyst fields. Primary catalyst field activates in 5. Soldiers keep distance. He may or may not have a future sight skill or an anti-skill." (Captain)

"Tch, [Fate avoidance]. " (Demon captain)

"Activating primary catalyst field. Permission to use auto weapon code H." (Soldier)

"Permission granted."(Captain)

Flashes of light fill the area, blinding anyone that didn't have resistance. The light was an effect of the magic being casted. The demon captain's mana signature was etched into the weapons to track and target. Missiles that deal a fixed percentage damage of 60% were launched from their holsters.

[Fate avoidance] was the ability to avoid death or certain endings. Casting it one time was simply not enough to fend off all 24 rockets. *pop pop pop* The same sound replayed itself 21 times before causing large explosions destructive enough to swallow the capital. Fortunately the explosions were contained in their catalyst fields. They were only able to apply this method of defence due to the existence of these mysterious catalysts provided by the Queen. This was after all, one of her personal squads that were deployed to defend the orphanage.

Every orphanage had a similar squad consisting of 1 captain and 30 others. Surprisingly, there were only 12 orphanages in the capital. With how well looked after the capital was, the flow of orphans have slowed down drastically. The department of housing and living conditions have stabilised to a normal level. Lilith was an incredibly rare case where her parents who were from outside the capital had been attacked. She was saved by an unknown adventurer and brought to the present state.

"We've cleaned up and finished on our side. Do you need back up? " (Captain of Queen's personal assault squad 4, Moonblade. Captain Glerins.)

"No need. You have 6 casualties right? Then you should tend to their funerals first. We've finished our job. The target was safe. Our helper has also arrived, but she only came to bring the target back to safety. Our plan won't move yet. This was just an unfortunate occurrence."( Voidwalker squad captain of the Queen's secret 13th squad, Black rose. Major Tredar)

" Don't make fun in such a morbid way. It was 3 casualties and 3 Injured. It's unfortunate, but we'll have to fill the vacancy with the supporting battalion members." (Captain Glerins)

"Right. We're done with the last one. Leave half your men here and go do your work. I'll deal with the mission." (Major Tredar)

"Thanks sir. Glory to the queen." (Captain Glerins)

"Glory to the queen." (Major Tredar)

***(Lilith)

Haa~haa~haa~. When will I be safe? Who is that silhouette in the distance? It looks so fami...liar... "F...ez? "

"Hoh? You mistook my beauty for the queen's? I feel honoured." (Cress)

"Run... It's not safe... Catherine is..."

"I know. We're safe now. The actual queen has sent people to deal with the scary monsters." (Cress)

"Tha... Thank you... Please help me get back..."

"Of course! Isn't that what friends are for?" (Cress)

****

"So she's finally back. The demons even attack after my visit... It seems there's a spy. No matter, they will lose regardless." (Fez)

"It seems that she hasn't awakened her memories and has gone rather...timid. A curse... That wasn't a curse right? The reason you couldn't remove it... Was because it wasn't a curse at it's fundamental level, you can't remove an anomaly if it was part of her natural state. If it was part of her natural state, it isn't an anomaly in the first place. If you removed it, it would be alteration and not curing at that point. "(Kurisu)

" You sure are a reliable secretary. "(Fez)

"... My loyalty lies with Emily. Do not mistake my cooperation as allegiance, [Witch]. Even if you are a natural law of this world, at your core you are still [evil] and would be purged if you take the wrong actions. "(Kurisu)

"You don't have to worry... I won't steal her from you. Afterall, Emily's happiness has the highest priority, above the governing of this kingdom and the lives on this continent. I'm sure she wants all the normal things back around her eventually, that's why I will allow you by her side and wait. My boundless love would endure an eternity for her return. 6 years was a happy miscalculation. Waiting for her memories to return is nothing compared to an eternity. Since it only took 6 years, she even saved my soul from solitude. Ah~ what bliss. "(Fez)

"... I see. Well do excuse me, I have matters to attend to. "(Kurisu)

" You are excused. "(Fez)

***

The sun had set, colouring the sky a golden brown. I resumed recovering my breath while Cress explained the circumstances to Anna. I gave her the gist of the encounter as she dragged my ragged body back to the orphanage. My vision had been blurring for quite a while, but it seemed that my fatigue has finally caught up to my adrenaline. Blacking out, I could hear faint voices calling out my name.

At the end, there was a particularly familiar voice. A crying voice, a throat sore with grief and sorrow. Did I cause this pain? Or was it someone else? I only knew that it was my duty, to make this person happy again. Again? More of that curse. It threatens to swallow my ego, plundering my sense of self and way of life. It was the reason why I won't ever yield to the curse, it will take away my present peaceful life.

Strange, why do I seek something so mundane... So boring, when I haven't made any exciting memories or achieve anything? It's as if...this was my long awaited rest. Yes... I don't ever want to go back to the old ways... I want to live my life like this. Simple and peaceful.

Feeling my drowsiness wear off, my eyelids lifted as I shook my limbs. What a strange dream... No matter, I should only live in the present. I feel a familiar gaze next to me, it was Cress.

"Feeling better?" (Cress)

".... Yeah."