Chapter 12 – Demon (1)

The lord rubbed his palms together and summoned the butler.

A moment later, along with a knock, an elderly man entered the office.

“Did you call? My Lord.”

“Bring the armor placed in the warehouse. And the gold coins and jewels too.”

“If you mean the armor…”

The Lord of Roben glanced at Veloc. And then, he spoke in a loud voice as if to make sure he heard.

“I mean the full plate!”

Veloc’s eyes shined, and Adel gaped her mouth.

Full plate armor. Plate armor, where each thick iron plate was joined together like parts, was the ultimate edition of medieval armor and

was a treasure that simply deflected most spears, swords, and arrows.

As much as it required the iron blocks put in and the craftsman’s skill to refine it, its price was sky-high.

To put it in modern terms, it boasted the price of a luxury foreign car. To think he would give such armor.

The Lord of Roben must have liked Veloc extremely.

The butler was startled but soon quickly composed his expression. And then, he lingered in his place as if he had more to say.

“Understood. Ah, My Lord.”

“What is it?”

“Sir Gerst is alive. What shall we do?”

It was true that he had certainly committed a crime deserving of being torn to death. Nevertheless, it was also true that he had assisted the Lord of Roben for a long time.

It was not a matter to be carelessly handled by soldiers or servants.

“That sinner guy?! Cut off his neck immediately to feed the dogs… No, wait.”

The Lord of Roben, who was spitting curses, stroked his chin. Having worked his brain for a moment, he shined his eyes cruelly.

“Treat him well and lock him in prison. I shall interrogate him personally.”

“Understood.”

The butler bowed his head and left the office. Veloc saw through the lord’s hidden intention.

‘He intends to make an example of him.’

He was a vassal who dared aim for his master’s life. The families of the two knights would be ruined, and Gerst, locked in prison, would die a horrific and dishonorable death.

Through this, it would serve as a deep warning to other vassals as well.

‘Well, it’s none of my business.’

Thinking of leaving soon, Veloc turned his attention away. Having chatted with the lord and his daughter like that, Veloc and Adel returned to their room together.

It was to try on the armor bestowed by the lord.

Although chainmail and a surcoat were not bad as light armament, they were a bit lacking in terms of protection.

“Congratulations, Sir Veloc. No, you will be a lord now.”

Adel smiled brightly instead to hide her gloomy appearance. It was a good thing. If only he could accept the Lord of Roben’s daughter as his wife,

because Veloc would now become the successor of a lord ruling a territory. Yes, that was certainly the case.

‘Why am I feeling so sad?’

Even though it was her own heart, she didn’t know it well herself. Adel helped Veloc put on the armor in a restless mood.

The full plate armor bestowed by the lord was certainly a grand armor, but there was one problem. Namely, it was hard to put on and take off alone. The help of a squire was absolutely necessary.

In the room, excluding the two of them, only the sound of putting on the armor was heard.

He sharpened his hearing, but there seemed to be no other people outside besides them.

Veloc said indifferently.

“I plan to leave.”

“Pardon? What do you mean?”

Adel listened intently as if she had misheard.

“I’ve done all I could, and I’ve received what I should, so it means it’s time to go.”

What on earth was this? Astonishment filled Adel’s face.

Such a good opportunity had come. Why on earth?

No matter how grand a knight’s physical strength was, becoming a lord with land was by no means an easy task.

It required all sorts of hardships, envy and threats from existing vested interests, and heavenly luck.

Throwing that away?

As Adel stared at him with a surprised face, Veloc nodded silently.

She did not know. That the lifespan of this place, Roben, had less than a few months left.

Even now, outside the territory, the Lord of Bates and other surrounding lords would be sharpening their blades.

Of course, when he first heard the lord’s offer, he had also thought of this.

‘If I marry the lord’s daughter, my voice will carry more weight. If I prepare somehow, wouldn’t it be possible to stop it?’

Contemplating deeply, Veloc shook his head. Just because he married didn’t mean he would inherit the territory right away. At any rate, didn’t he have to wait for the Lord of Roben to die to receive it?

During that period, Veloc would keep rolling. Rather than that, it was better to use his knowledge of the future to seize another opportunity in a better place.

He got the armor and collected travel expenses. Since he saved the lives of the lord and his daughter, he had nothing on his conscience. No, come to think of it, Adel was a bit of a concern. Because she was so happy when they said they were settling down.

Although it was sad, if she said she wanted to remain here, he would let her…

“You’ve thought well… No, if that is Sir Veloc’s wish, I shall simply follow. How is it? Is it not uncomfortable to move?”

Adel’s voice tone rose subtly. Whether she had something good, she shrugged her shoulders.

‘I thought she would be sad? Strange.’

“Hmm.”

Veloc moved his body here and there. A metallic sound clattered.

Although it was a bit stuffy, it wasn’t to the extent of being unable to move. Rather, the center of gravity was better balanced than the chainmail he wore before.

It’s a masterpiece.

‘This is quite good.’

Veloc smiled warmly.

Even in this era, knights possessing full plate were not that common. Because it was filthy expensive.

Knights consumed money simply by existing. Maintenance of equipment, food expenses needed to feed squires and warhorses. And even stipends.

Some wicked knights did not give stipends under the reason that they were teaching combat skills to their squires. But Veloc was not such a vicious employer. Veloc smiled and spoke.

“Adel. What do you want to have?”

In the combat with the heretics this time and also on the previous battlefield, she had made outstanding efforts. Moreover, even a consistent loyalty.

If he didn’t look after such a subordinate, who on earth would he look after?

“Pardon? Sir Veloc. I am fine…”

She waved her hand. She was already receiving stipends to an excessive extent. Other knights traveled dragging several squires, but Veloc only brought Adel along.

Naturally, as much as she suffered, he gave her twice the salary of other people.

“Don’t say nonsense. Right. It would be better to just give you this pouch as a whole.”

Lightly ignoring Adel’s words, Veloc held out the entire jewel pouch that the Lord of Roben had given.

A glittering, colorful brilliance.

They were things worth easily more than dozens of gold coins.

“What… I cannot receive it. Absolutely!”

No knight would give such treatment to a squire. Adel shook her head vehemently. But Veloc, without moving, held the jewel pouch and thrust it to Adel.

“My arm is heavy.”

To Veloc, Adel was special. Not just because of their past connection.

While dropped into this vicious world, she was the only ally he could trust.

Such treatment was natural. Adel bit her lip.

“It is excessive.”

“Not at all.”

“Haa. If so, this is enough.”

Since her master did not bend his stubbornness, Adel chose a compromise.

Receiving the pouch, she pulled out one jewel from inside and returned the rest.

And then, she brought up the past past-recalcitrant event.

“Do you remember when there was a famine in the mountain valley village a few years ago?”

At her quiet words, Veloc’s eyes sank deeply.

The memory of three years ago came to mind. The circumstances of taking Adel as his squire.

The commoners of this era found it extremely hard to make a living.

Not necessarily due to disease, dying of hunger or being beaten to death was common, and

they would even sell the children they gave birth to after painful labor to others without a second thought for money.

“When I was almost sold as a slave to a passing merchant, Sir Veloc saved me.”

What hardships would a young girl with a decent face go through after being sold as a slave? It was obvious.

Serving angry drunkards, pouring alcohol, selling her body, and touching drugs to endure the pain. A miserable future would have awaited her.

But she was saved. By a young knight with black hair just like her own.

And she became the squire of an honorable knight. To her, that alone was more than enough reward.

Adel fidgeted with her hands as she spoke, perhaps out of embarrassment. And then she brushed her hair back slightly.

“It was from that time. That my life belongs to Sir Veloc, and that I shall follow only you.”

An unyielding gaze and a solemn tone. A deep loyalty welling up from inside her heart.

Veloc felt a corner of his heart warm up somehow.

And then, as if defeated, he let out a sigh. Veloc put the jewel pouch back into his chest.

“Setting up the mood like that is cheating, isn’t it? Tsk. Foolish fellow. Even when I try to give you something…”

Having finally bent her master’s stubbornness, Adel smiled softly.

“Just lead me as you do now. That is enough.”

Veloc scratched his head. And then he resolved that he must obtain another set of full plate armor.

“Now what’s left is when we run away. Let’s rest a bit tonight…”

While Veloc was drawing plans for a midnight flight,

“Aaaack!”

Veronica’s ear-splitting scream echoed.

Drip, drip.

As much as the dripping water droplets, the floor of the dungeon was filled with moisture.

Gerst was thrown onto the cold stone floor.

“Guh.”

When Gerst raised his head and glared at the jailers, the soldiers struck Gerst with their spear shafts along with curses.

“Fuck. Keep your eyes down. Does he still think he is a knight?”

“Just a filthy rebel. Ptui!”

A jailer spat thick saliva on Gerst’s face. To suffer such humiliation from mere soldiers.

Gerst’s face trembled violently. They had all been his subordinates.

But as soon as Gerst was imprisoned for high treason, they changed their attitude in an instant.

For a long while, they hovered around the dungeon, beating and mocking Gerst, who had now become a sinner.

“Well, stay alive well until you drop dead.”

The jailers giggled and relocated.

Creeeak.

The door connecting to the surface closed, and the dungeon without a speck of light welcomed Gerst.

“Uuuuuup!”

In his mouth was a gag to prevent suicide, and his body was tightly bound in chains.

No, even if he untied this, he couldn’t move. It was because his tendons had been severed by Veloc’s sword.

Despite being in a battered state, the light in Gerst’s eyes was alive.

Inside the fiercely shining pupils, only anger and hatred were full.

‘I’ll kill them. I’ll kill them!’

The tightly bound Gerst wriggled. And then, approaching the bars, he began to slam his head against them.

Once, twice, thrice.

Thud, thud, thud.

Although his forehead tore and his face became covered in blood, he did not care.

Because if he didn’t do even this, he felt like he would go mad right away.

The lord who abandoned him, the former subordinates who mocked him, and finally, that young knight guy!

‘If only it weren’t for those guys, I wouldn’t have ended up in this state.’

I curse you. I shall curse you!

Although it was all results born of his own deeds, Gerst paid no heed and cursed them.

Right at that moment.

[Indeed, it is pure malice.]

A voice reached Gerst’s ear.

A bizarre voice like scratching iron that could not be believed to belong to a human.

Pulling his forehead away, he was startled.

[Do you want to take revenge on the ones who made you like this?]

Looking now, the voice was humming in his head. But the fear was only temporary.

Revenge.

At that single word, Gerst’s rationality was paralyzed. He nodded his head like crazy.

“Mmph!”

He didn’t know where it came from, who it was, or what it did.

But this bizarre voice had the power to attract human minds.

When he nodded, the darkness in the cell moved smoothly and gathered among themselves.

[Greetings, human.]

Soon, the entity that had become surging smoke lightly crossed the iron bars and approached Gerst.

The intangible entity glanced at Gerst, and then hovered around.

[Oh. Now that I see, you were a knight. To think a truly honorable person is stuck in such an abyss.]

[Surely you received someone’s jealousy and envy. What a pitiful person. Tsk, tsk.]

[Aren’t the deeds you did not to the extent of being condemned? I hear more terrible things are overflowing outside.]

The intangible entity whispered only sweet words that Gerst wanted to hear.

The throbbing wounds, the shattered pride, and the fear of death.

Driven into a corner, Gerst acknowledged all those facts.

‘Yes, that’s right! I’m aggrieved. I want to get out of here! I want revenge! On the ones who made me like this!’

Reading that mind, the intangible entity shouted loudly.

[Revenge! Sweet like honey and hot like a whore.]

[I shall fulfill it.]

“Mmph!”

Gerst shined his eyes and looked up at the intangible entity. The smoke, no, the demon Baphomet, who read the glistening madness inside his eyes, smiled.

There was no vessel as useful as a human filled with malice and hatred. If he occupied the guy’s body, he would be able to take revenge for Ivlette.

[You just have to say one word. That you will contract with me.]

[Will you contract?]

Gerst contemplated for a moment. A gloomy space, a bizarre entity. And a single word, contract. It was terribly suspicious. But he soon chuckled.

What would he do staying still here other than hanging on the gallows?

Whether it was a rotten rope or whatever, he intended to grab it for now. Gerst said.

‘Of course.’

Baphomet smiled wide, as if his mouth was tearing.

Flash!

[The contract has been established.]

Rumble!

The bars shook, and the dungeon convulsed.

The sticky darkness that was spread on the floor surged in all directions. A dark red energy began to fill the cell.

In the darkness, Gerst stood suddenly. He moved his arm slightly.

Crack, crack!

The chains and the gag wrapping his body were easily broken.

Having found freedom, Gerst let out a loud beastly scream.

“Crraaaah!”

Muscles wriggled dynamically, and his heart beat fiercely. Above all, this mighty power flowing through his blood vessels.

What on earth was this? Yes. If only he had this… he would be able to tear apart all the humans outside.

Gerst, unable to control his inner strength, threw a punch at the iron bars.

Boom!

The solid iron split in an instant, gaping open.

“Hahahahaha.”

Gerst laughed with satisfaction and escaped the prison.

The time of revenge had arrived.

[Do you like the power?]

At Baphomet’s voice, Gerst kept nodding his head.

“Yes! You are my life’s savior. What do you want? I will give you my everything.”

Although it was a voice filled with sincerity, Baphomet smiled fishily.

This foolish human did not know. That there is pain worse than death in the world.

And that he had stepped foot into an eternity-like hellfire just now.

[No need to give. Since I have already received it.]

“What?”

[I shall make good use of your body. You foolish human.]

“Eh?”

Gerst’s thoughts cut off completely. He collapsed onto the floor like a puppet with cut strings.

The collapsed Gerst’s body heaved and shook violently.

Crack, crunch!

The sound of bone and flesh breaking kept echoing inside the prison.

A moment later.

Bleeeat!