Chapter 011: Enticement

The pair of demon & human soon walked out of an alleyway that was covered in a heavy heavy shadow that was far deeper black than the mid-day sun would allow for.

Despite coming from the eerily calm darkness; the man was far from calm.

"That damn mischievous menace!"

Throwing his gnarled, skull adorned, staff onto the floor with enough force to certainly catch everyone's attention since it sent dirt flying everywhere. Some complained as such strength wasn't exactly rare when it came to those with enhancement gifts. Although others hurried to make themselves vanish.

Neither caught the demonic hamster's attention as he continued to stamp his foot on the ground all the while gnashing his teeth together. That tooth grinding echoing over the various sounds that one had to expect when visiting a dubious settlement like the one they found themselves in. She took it better.

Compared to the angry demon; she just felt as if her previous confusion subsided only to be overall increased with more things to be confused about.

After a while the arch-prime managed to calm himself as he lifted his hand - commanding his stave to fly into his hand. Letting out a long sigh as his other hand proceeded to slowly massage his forehead. Trying to get rid of any stress lines that dealing with the (supposed) "Spirit Queen of the Abyss" caused.

"At least she actually provided a lot of the information I wanted…"

Mumbling to himself as he began to set about readjusting his clothing.

"So… Now we know that this country can essentially be called a shithole dictatorship that completely relies on the next generation being at least as strong as the last. One major famine or well placed rebellion may not instantly destroy it but will create irreparable cracks."

Although her attention was elsewhere, she was at least present enough to half understand what he was talking about, nodding her head in affirmation.

He fortunately didn't seem to take note of her distracted state as he started to walk back to their base.

"I do find it surprising that church and state are both about as powerful as one another yet have no signs of conflict between each other. Humans are naturally greedy so rarely can two pillars exist at the peak of society. Usually at least a third power is needed to help maintain a balance…"

Stroking his chin as he didn't seem to care about who was listening which let a few people around take advantage to listen in to the figure that clearly stood out.

It was hard not to when you had skulls as shoulder pads.

Plus his handsomeness did not exactly help keep attention away from him - nothing prevented a woman from having a strong gift either. A fact that was proven by Elizabeth who stood beside him. Such a thing made her wonder where the sexism prevalent in her family actually came from.

"There must be something uniting them and, if I had to guess, it would be the fact that the beast kin were naturally more powerful than the average gift user. While it's still a shitty mortal country that has loads of internal issues; it'll be more convenient to work there. So we'll move soon."

That finally broke Elizabeth out of her stupor.

"We are going to live with the beasts?"

She couldn't hide the slight disgust even behind her surprise & confusion from all that had been happening to her.

Afterall, she had learned all about the foul habits of the human-looking cannibalistic beasts due to living under that warmongering father. A moment later even she seemed to have realised her over the top disgust may have been misplaced. However, it was hard to unwrite several years of conditioning.

Half of her life had been spent learning everything her father wanted and only that.

Of course the wise demon noticed this.

His lips quirked up at the corners as he raised a brow; watching her with clear amusement as he studied just how she would cope with this problem.

"What makes it better than Graverstien?"

That caused him to nod.

"That country happens to give a lot less of a fuck when it comes to where someone comes from - it'll make it far easier to integrate ourself. We have 7 years to prepare for the Divine Demon's accession. This realm is progressing at double the rate of genesis where we come from."

"She really is the Divine Demon…?"

Ever since she summoned that (literally) cursed coffin she had been trying to rationalise the situation and specifically the fact that the scariest figure in legend was brought back by her. She had potentially become the very thing the church feared. The one who brought the end of the world upon them.

Even if she had seven years to "harden up" she was still the same scared little girl who couldn't comprehend why she was thrown away by her own flesh & blood.

Of course she knew about the rumours that she had received some low-tier gift so ended her own life due to disappointing her family. Additionally she was smart enough to realise it likely wasn't an accident. Still it didn't mean she wanted it all to burn to the ground under the brutish boot of a demon.

Sadly her opinion wasn't that important as the world didn't belong to her.

It belonged to her.

Once more she felt reality painfully throb as she commanded it to her whim - causing Elizabeth's vision to grow contorted like viewing through a fisheye lens.

Suddenly she found everyone appeared to be frozen where they stood as they suddenly scattered into petals of violet flames. Even the powerful archdemon, de facto vice-leader of demon realms strongest, was not immune to this strangely beautiful scene.Though that didn't make it any less spine-chilling.

Slowly her attention turned to look down the street as the houses that made the sides soon fell into an abyss of potent crimson fire. The sky above is equally demonic with chilling clouds. Both fire & clouds looked as if they came straight out of an asian portrait.

Those bright colours of petals, fire & clouds stood out even more in the faded colours of everything else.

Reminding her of the legends around demonic tribulation striking down demons who fail to live up to or exceed the expectations of their ruler.

A leader who looked down at the poor little human girl.

At the end of the street was a familiar extreme feminine figure of flames sat upon a monumental throne of skulls that appeared to have molten Hihiirokane poured over them in an uncaring fashion. These skulls clearly weren't all human - in fact most were not. All shapes and sizes with some closer to human.

Despite the base materials that demoness seemed to be resting in quite the lackadaisical manner; one legged propped over the arm while one clawed hand supported the flaming black mask/face.

Her other claw slowly scraped across the mythical metal that supposedly was rarer than mithril.

She had only seen the crimson material used in some ancient sword but even then the colour was far more subdued than what the demoness was sitting atop of.

Only one thought passed through her mind, at that moment.

Any doubts of that demon's identity had melted away under the intense tribulation flames that licked the side of the road they found themselves on.

"Believe the words of a spirit more than mine, criada?"

Immediately her fear reached new heights.

"I-"

"Yoi!"

She didn't even have a chance to reply yet that monstrous entity seemed more pleased at her distrustful nature than anything else. Those black flames occasionally flickering into a similar state as the markings that littered her more fleshy form. Showing a savagely grinning skull under the demonic mask.

"Mistrust good; stop backstabs."

To an extent she was happy the most powerful demon (even in the tales spread by the church she matched their god) didn't feel like crushing her little body between its claws.

"Too much problematic."

Even that bell-like voice couldn't hide the laziness that came from what was essentially speaking the bare minimum to get her point across. With Elizabeth hanging onto every word it didn't take long for her to figure out the meaning. That demoness was… Warning her?

Telling her to control her own trust to acceptable levels where it won't impede her yet will also keep her safe from potential backstabbers.

That raises another question.

"Why?"

Once again unconsciously letting that very same question slip past her lips that quickly grew taught as soon as she realised what she had done.

Doubting and questioning are very different things in her mind.

Not that the demoness seemed to care nor misunderstand.

"Amusement~."

She could literally hear the lips curling up at the announcement of her purpose - simply acting to help combat the boredom she no doubt experienced from spending so long in the coffin. Elizabeth could hardly say anything against it, either. If it wasn't for the demoness she'd be dead.

Although living due to the whims of another made her feel strange.

Bringing up an image inside her mind of a man who proudly exclaimed how great and perfect his noble house was yet didn't hesitate in throwing his family away when convenient. Not letting anyone within his home question a single choice he made. Even if it came down to what condiments they chose.

Her feelings were also noticed by the demon whose flaming eyes narrowed as that small crushable head turned to the ground. Taking note of her shaking silently in rage. Those demonic eyes curling up in even greater amusement even if the human girl was unable to actually see it.

If she even counted as human anymore.

"Not ungrateful."

That sudden announcement snapped Elizabeth away from the memories of that man.

"Niña, make a wish on apple of my design."