Chapter 11 - One of the worst mistakes of my life (1)

Running down the street to where Lev had pointed, Victor was headed towards the Northern gate going into the Casilda territory, from Ascleptius city. There was a person down by the gates, which were closed, the demons cornered them. Jumping down from the rooves, Victor made Ice arrows and killed them. [4]

"Are you alright?" Victor asked.

"Yes, thank you for your help, Sir." The person said.

"Of course, by the way, do you know anyone that goes by the name of Sapphire?" Victor questioned.

"That's me! I'm guessing that guy sent you here?"

"Yes he did, he sent me to ask for your help to defeat and search for these demons' leader" 

"Well if it's the person controlling and commanding these demons, then it is best if we hurry."

"Okay, then please follow me," Victor said, extending his hand to behind him.

***

As the demon captain swooped down toward me, I evaded just in time. He then clawed and punched at me numerous times, before releasing a fireball at me, which I shielded by spinning my spear in front of me.

'Damn, this body sure is strong and skilled, especially its memory.'

While fighting the demons earlier I realized that the Og. Lev mostly relied on muscle memory. Which made it easier for me to attack and defend myself, considering I was mostly trained in martial arts, grantsmanship, and swordsmanship from my military days. Which actually really comes in handy here.

"AGH! JUST STOP DOGGING YOU KŘÍŽENEC!" The demon Captain said. [1]

"Now why would I do that, I'd die, and I personally don't feel like passing on quite yet." I teased as I used the hilt of my spear and hit him in the gut with it.

'I don't feel like eliminating him just yet, plus I'm sure I'd cause some suspicion considering each demon has its own individual weak spot that's hard to find.'

In the novel, the captain's weak spot was his neck, and It'd be highly suspicious if I had hit that spot right away.

"Just shut up you rotten bastard!" He said charging toward me with one of his fists raised with a fireball and the other having its claws out.

"Wow, you're going to kill me without asking my name first? Talk about disrespecting a warrior's honor. Well in that case I guess I'll have to initiate it, My name is Lev, and you are?" I said, dogging and hitting him with my spear handle.

"Fine, I'll tell you my name, considering you'll die anyway!" he then made a spear out of fire and ran towards me, "My name is Melchom, Baron and Captain of the 5th legion of the demon army!" 

"That's a fitting name for someone like you!" I said while deflecting his attack with the head of my spear.

We then clashed spears a few more times, before backup finally arrived.

"M'Lord!" Victor yelled. He then shot a sword made of ice at Melchom, who unfortunately was able to dodge it. "Are you alright? We got here as fast as we could." Victor commented.

"Those were some good moves there young master!" Sapphire mused. 

"Thank you, and no need to worry I'm alright, I just have a few scratches," I assured while putting my hand over a cut on my left arm. Though I honestly have no idea how I got that, considering that during our fighting Melchom couldn't cut me like that at all.

"Hey don't ignore me!" Melchom yelled while throwing fireballs at us, which missed.

"HAH! Missed ya dork!" Sapphire said, unsheathing the halberd from their back and pointing it at melchom.

"Oh please, those were just warning shots!" Melchom said while grabbing the whip that was at his side and flicking it toward us.

Sapphire then surrounded her hand in lightning and caught the whip, then she started pulling it towards her. "Sorry, but stuff like that doesn't work on me!"

***

"You know you're rather stubborn," Oryn said. He was currently pressing his foot into someone's neck. "I mean come on, is that really all you had?"

"Hah! You're calling me stubborn, Speak for yourself. I'm not the one acting like an obedient dog!" The man said grabbing Oryn's foot and trying to push it off.

The man had dark red hair, he was Tan and was quite muscular, he had red eyes, and his sclera was the typical black of the demons. He had pointed ears, fangs, and sharp nails. He was around 6'7 and was wearing armor on his shoulders, knees, legs, hands, and elbows. He also used a great sword, but that was a couple of feet away from them, and ultimately out of reach.

"Oh please, at least I'm not stuck working for someone weaker than me. Huh, Vice-Captain Dax?" Oryn teased. He had quite a snarky smirk on his face, and it was clear that he was trying to provoke Dax.

"Sorry, but you're going to have to try harder than that if you want to provoke me. And I don't mind being a subordinate to someone weaker than me. As long as it is the will of my liege I will gladly carry out any order." He reassured. 

Dax was then able to throw Oryn's foot off of him. As Oryn stumbled back, he noticed that Dax had gotten hold of his sword again.

"You see, that's the problem with you demons. You blindly follow your king, not knowing what his true intentions are. But in the end, he too will turn his back towards you all."

"At least we don't let our pride get the better of us, nor do we betray our comrades as easily as you of the mortal world do."

Dax then sheathed his sword back into the sheath on his back, and Oryn put his hands in his pocket.

"You may think that way but it's not always the case, there are some who abandon their pride due to their own morals. Heh, perhaps my intuition about him is the reason I followed his order," Oryn lamented.

"Well, what does your intuition tell you about him?" Dax asked.

Oryn thought hard about it for a moment, but it then eventually came to him.

"It's telling me to trust and listen to him, but simultaneously to be cautious and wary of him…Maybe, just maybe, he might be able to change the ways of this world."

"Hm, I'll have to leave those thoughts to you, the captain needs assistance. Till we meet again, Great Cousin." Oryn then ran off in the direction of the sound of a battle.

***

"ARGH! Dax put me down!" Melchom screamed. He was currently being hanged over Dax's shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

"Sorry but it's time for us to go, His Majesty will get angry with us if we dottle on for too long," Dax announced.

"Fine…But put me down first!" Dax then put him down, "I'll be back you Chuligáni!"[2]

"Man, that guy sure was weird…" Sapphire commented.

"Uh huh" Me and Victor nodded.

"Hey! Are you guys alright?" Oryn yelled while running over to us.

"Ah, Duke-San. Were alright, theres just a few cuts and scratches here and there. But are you alright? You were fighting over there alone," I said. Even though i didn't know him that well, i felt worried about him.

"Don't worry I'm just fi- Ugh!" Oryn grunted as he then clutched his side. He then started to collapse to the ground but I caught him before he could hit the floor.

"Duke Oryn?! Hey, Oryn!"

***

A couple of days later the duke had woken up in the late morning.

…Creak..

"Your Grace, you're finally up!" i said coming into Oryn's room to check up on him.

"It seems so, good morning Young Master. May I ask, what happened to me?" Oryn asked.

I then sat down on a chair by his bed, "While we were fighting the demon captain, you were off alone fighting the vice-captain. And when the two left you came back and fainted while talking to me, so I took you back to the mansion and got a healer to look at you."

"Hm, and what did the healer say?"

"He said that due to the use of too much mana, you fainted though he said that there could be another reason," I explained to him.

"I see…I have another thing is ask, why did you stay here and do that for me?" Oryn asked.

"Well, why not? Plus I still have business apart from this with you, so I kinda had to. And my pride wouldn't let me just leave without you waking up first." I admitted.

"Oh my, what did I do to deserve to get to know such a handsome angel?" Oryn teased.

"Y-Your Grace! Please that's a little much, and it's also only because Victor insisted on it!" I stammered

"Ah, you know, you're really cute." Oryn smiled at me.

"I appreciate the compliment…Ah, look at the time! Lunch is about ready, I'm sure a maid will be here to help you out of bed soon!" I said getting up and storming off.

'Damn this guy may not look it, but her sure is a flirt. But I have to admit, he is at least handsome.'

A couple of minutes later, Oryn and i were sitting at the dining table, both of us at one end. Victor was behind me, acting as a guard, and Oryn's assistant was also standing behind him next to his guard.

Asher had Brown hair that was halfway down his neck, and he had dull green eyes, perhaps from stress and lack of sleep. He looked to be over 6'5 and was wearing a black suit with a red vest underneath.

"So about that business, you said you were staying here for, or perhaps that was an excuse to continue being here?" Oryn said while continuing to give me a flirtatious smile, and leaning on his chair with his head leaning on his hand.

"Originally the night I met you was one of my days off, and my Father had planned on me coming and delivering something to you the day after. But unfortunately due to, certain circumstances, I had to wait to give you the delivery." I testified.

"Is that so? Then could I please see what it was that your father wanted you to deliver to me?" 

"Of course, Victor could you please."

Victor then went and placed the box with the documents in front of the Duke, who then opened them with an amused look on his face. He then put his hand in front of his mouth and let out a chuckle.

"This is what your Father deemed so important that he had you personally deliver to me yourself? How amusing, alright you have my congratulations, Adopted son of Count Griffins." Oryn chuckled.

"Huh? Wait wait wait, that's what it was!?" I said.

"Well, there is another thing…Your father asked me to revoke my rights to our shared land so that he could give it to you. But, I'm not quite sure about that, considering that you are his successor," Oryn contemplated.

"I don't get why he would ask that either, considering he himself asked me to take over his duties. Plus, I doubt I could take care of all that land, if anything I'd be happy with you being the only one that owns it," I pointed out.

"Heh, that's very kind of you, but I'd be more comfortable with either the both of us owning it or you being the sole owner of that land. After all, I already have quite a bit of land, considering I have the land of this estate and the land I own in the capital," Oryn explained.

"Haaaaaa, if that is the case I'd rather have my younger siblings take over my father's land and I take the land that we currently have joint ownership over," I sighed.

'To me, it just sounds like he's trying to push everything onto me, what a dick.'

"I agree, that would probably be for the best, especially since they are his actual children, no offense of course."

"None taken, besides they practically begged me to take over their duties. Duke-san, if I may, what is the current predicament of Zyon City?" [3]

***

[1] Mongrel in Czech

[2] Hooligans in Czech

[3] The name of the shared land between the Casilda Dukedom and the Griffins county

[4] The Casilda and Griffins family's territories are right next to each other, they are only separated by a city.