Chapter 12 Darkness User, Aiden

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-Morning

“Good morning, Milady.” Sage greeted Zerha, letting out a yawn as she opened the door of her

room. “Sage? Don’t tell me you stayed here overnight?” Zerha asked in surprise as she noticed the dark circles under Sage’s eyes. He looked like a panda, she thought.

Sage was startled and said, “Ahem. Breakfast is ready Milady.” and he quickly walked downstairs. Foxy laughed as she exited the room. “He didn’t answer your question. He probably stayed outside the room all night.” Zerha sighed in disbelief.

Upon entering the dining area, they noticed that Ecanus was still not there. “Huh? Where’s Ecanus? Last night he said that he couldn’t wait for the morning to come so he could eat breakfast…” Foxy said.

“Don’t tell me Ecanus is still asleep? I’ll wake up that punk.” It was early in the morning, and

Garren was already pissed off.

After Garren left, someone entered the dining room. A tall male in his twenties with black colored hair and ash gray eyes, upon seeing him, the housekeepers and the landowner suddenly bowed their heads and greeted him. “Welcome back, Sir Aiden.” He merely looked at them and walks to his seat. As he sits down, he roams his eyes around when he notices that there are new guests in the renting guest house. Upon seeing Zerha and Sage, he was taken aback and scrutinized them.

Zerha gave him a questioning look when she notice that the male is looking at her. When Aiden noticed Sage staring at him intently, he acted like he didn't find them suspicious and began eating.

“Who is he?” Zerha whispered.

“I don’t know, Master. Maybe he’s another guest.” Foxy replied.

Upon eating, the slam of a door was heard. They all whipped their heads in the direction from which the sound came to see a furious Garren. He was dragging Ecanus downstairs, who was still snoring. “No matter what I did, this f*ck*ng a**hole didn’t wake up! So I need to drag him here!” Garren yelled as he entered the dining area.

“You need to calm down, Garren. You should just let him sleep more.” Zerha told him. I can't believe Ecanus didn't wake up even though Garren is dragging him! Zerha thought.

“I’m sorry, Master, but no. Hey, bastard, wake up!” Garren shook Ecanus, who did not wake up. But then the smell of the food suddenly invaded Ecanus’ nostrils, so he woke up abruptly, went to a vacant seat, and started to dig in, oblivious to Garren’s glare. “How could you ignore me?” Garren asked while gritting his teeth.

“Oh, Garren. What are you talking about?” Ecanus asked with a questioning look while chewing on his food. Wow!! Delicious!!

“You are an idiot!” Garren was about to hit Ecanus, though Foxy quickly held him back. “G-Garren, calm down,” Foxy said.

Ecanus gulp the food first and shouted at Garren.“What’s wrong with you, useless beast? Call me an idiot again, and I will wring your neck!”

“Go on. I know you are weak, so you can’t hurt me!”

“What? Bastard, I will kill you!” Ecanus stands up and was about to run to attack Garren but Zerha grabbed him by the collar on his back. “Both of you calm down!” Zerha shouted.

“Do you want me to kill them so that they will not cause any more trouble, Milady?” Sage suggested, wearing a cold expression.

Except for Aiden, all the people there are looking at Sage in fear. Aiden is getting ready if Sage will attack anyone.

Zerha gulps and speaks, “N-no, thanks, Sage." I have enough of Garren and Ecanus being aggressive, not you too Sage, Zerha thought pathetically. “If you guys don’t calm down, no food for the two of you!” Zerha shouted, and they both suddenly calmed down upon hearing her words, not because they were afraid of Zerha but because they were afraid of not being able to eat their meals. “Hmph!” Ecanus merely pouted, while Garren threw Ecanus a death glare. These two… Zerha sighed and continued eating.

What the hell is this situation? Aiden stared at Zerha and Sage in shock. Demons...Why are they here? To make matters worse, they are with humans! I need to get rid of these demons before they hurt anyone here. Aiden thought while looking at the companions of Zerha with a worried expression.

Upon eating, A male in his thirties suddenly rushed inside. “Ma’am! Ma’am!” the male shouted hurriedly while looking for someone.

“What’s wrong, Matteo?” the landowner asked. Matteo turns his head to the landowner and runs towards her. “Y-your daughter... Ellie...A demon kidnapped Ellie!” He said, holding back tears. Shock, worry, and panic suddenly crept into the landowner’s heart. “H-how could that happen? She’s just playing at home, right?”

“Yes, she was just playing inside the house. So I went outside to find some herbs for a bit. But while I’m picking some herbs, a demon suddenly flies in front of me carrying Ellie… I tried to follow him but I couldn’t. He fled so fast...”

“Tsk. Now demons have the nerve to enter the land of Haria?” Aiden spoke while looking indifferently at Zerha and Sage. Why is he keep looking at me like I'm his enemy?! Zerha thought, feeling chills as she notice Aiden staring at her.

“Sir Aiden, please save my daughter! I’m begging you!” The landowner began sobbing.

“Of course, I am a demon hunter, after all. Where did you last see the demon?” Aiden asked Matteo. “Behind our house. It’s not far from the forbidden forest.”

“Take me there. You two, come with me!” Aiden pointed at Zerha and Sage.

“Hey! Who are you to order my master? If you want to save that child, then go on. But don’t put my master in danger!” Garren shouted.

Master? Why is he calling the demon master? Oh right, maybe that demon brainwashed them. Aiden thought.

“Are you demon hunters? Please help Aiden to save my daughter. Please.” The landowner begs while sobbing.

Zerha couldn’t stand watching the landowner being so worried that a demon kidnapped her daughter. So without hesitation, she agreed to help out. “Okay, I’ll help look for your daughter.”

“What? But Master…” Garren suddenly felt worried. He thought, what if the demon hunter finds out that she’s a demon?

“It’s fine, Garren.”

“Then let us come with you, Master!” Garren said. “Yes,” Foxy agreed.

“I’ll do anything just to be of help to you, Milady,” Sage chimed in.

“Then let’s go and kill some f*ck*ng demons!” Ecanus shouted excitedly.

The five of them followed Matteo while he was comforting the landowner. “Here we are,” Matteo said, as they arrived at the back of a house near the entrance of the Kingdom's market, it is near the forbidden forest too since the front entrance of the market is near the entrance of the forbidden forest.

Aiden began observing the surroundings in search of clues. Aiden placed his palm on the ground and used his dark magic to locate the demon that had been in that area. The place suddenly became dark. When Aiden felt the same power as his own, he stood up.

The ability that Aiden had was similar to that of the demons, which is darkness. That’s why he could also locate demons---using his darkness ability. He was also a demon hunter that could tell whether someone was a demon or not even when they were wearing a disguise. “I already know where the demon is. Follow me.” He said.

“Whoa. He’s good! He just touches the ground, and then he suddenly knows where they are. Awesome!” Zerha remarked in awe.

“As a human, he uses dark magic?" Garren muttered.

“Let’s go! Why are you all still standing there?” Aiden shouted in irritation.

“Wait! Let me come with you.” The landowner said.

“Ma’am, no! It’s dangerous!” Matteo replied.

“He’s right. You should stay here and wait for us. We will save your daughter.” Zerha added.

Is that how she brainwashes a human? She will act like a kind person and she will wait until people trust her, and then she’ll attack when they let their guard down? Tsk. How disgusting. Aiden thought.

“Please save her,” she said while sobbing. Zerha merely nodded at her.

The four of them followed Aiden and entered the forbidden forest. The forbidden forest is vast, Aiden just hopes they can find the child before it gets dark.

While they are walking they found demons resting under a large tree. All of them quickly hid behind a nearby tree. “One, two, three… Ten demons.” Garren counted.

“Are they the demons who took the child?" Zerha asked. They looked around until their eyes landed on the girl, who was lying on the ground with her body entangled in vines. “She’s alive, right?” Zerha asked.

“Yes,” Aiden answered. Zerha sighed in relief.

You asked whether she’s alive or not and if she is alive you’ll be the one to eat her soul? Aiden thought.

“What are we waiting for? Let’s attack those f*ck*ng demons!” Ecanus was about to attack the demons when Aiden stopped him. “Wait. They are mid-level demons. Also, are you a demon hunter? This is the first time I’ve seen all of you. Which guild did you belong to?” Aiden asked.

“Oh...Um...Ahem! Yes, we are demon hunters!” Ecanus said avoiding Aiden's gaze. Aiden was doubting if he was telling the truth. He avoided my last question, Aiden thought and frowned.

If you’re gonna tell a lie, don’t make it obvious that you are lying! Garren thought glaring at Ecanus.

“Come on, we should save that kid before they kill her,” Zerha said.

“She’s right. Let’s go!” Ecanus rushed over to the demons and suddenly punched one of them. They were all taken aback by Ecanus’ move.

“That f*ck*ng weak angel!” Garren rushed to Ecanus and scolded him. The demons weren't expecting that there is another human. “You shouldn’t attack rashly, idiot! We should make a plan before we attack! But now it’s too late!” Garren shouted irritatingly.

A demon was about to attack Garren, but Garren notice it and quickly kicked him and got crushed onto the tree. The other demons started moving in on them. Without transforming into his original form, Garren used his fire ability on the demons, though since he was in his human form, his attacks were not that strong. Ecanus also used his light power to attack them.

A fire and light user? Though his fire is not that strong, his physical strength is remarkable! But the most surprising thing here is that light ability. Light users are very rare. Where did he come from? Aiden thought.

“Ecanus, behind you!” Zerha shouted while rushing towards them. There were two demons behind Ecanus. He didn’t notice them, because he was busy fighting the demon in front of him. The two demons were about to attack Ecanus, though Zerha quickly release sharp threads and wrap the two demons with them. The demons were caught off guard, they tried to get away from it though they only turn into shreds. The other demons were shocked by this, and so was Aiden. How can this be? I am very sure that she is a demon but why? Why is her ability not darkness? He thought in confusion.

“Milady! Master!”

Sage and Foxy rushed over to them when another demon attacked Zerha and crashed into a tree. The impact was so strong that she lost consciousness.

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