Chapter 94 – Corruption (1)

Her vision shook here and there, and nausea welled up from deep within. It was the side effect of spatial teleportation, unfamiliar to ordinary people. The elf with pointed ears fell to the ground from a height of three meters in the air.

“Ugh…”

Dust of sand billowed as Isabel rolled on the ground. Soon, she wrapped her upper body in both arms and let out painful groans. Normally, she would have broken her fall to minimize the impact. But she couldn’t do that now. It was because of the blades embedded in her abdomen, thighs, and shoulders.

Despite frowning deeply at the pain striking her mind, she felt a sense of relief at having survived. Cara’s portal spell had succeeded.

“Pant, pant. I barely… survived. Is everyone safe?”

No answer came. Only the sound of the desolate wind tickled her ears, and grains of sand scraped the ground. Feeling a faint anxiety, Isabel pricked up her ears. Soon, she turned her head slightly and called out her companions’ names.

“Belloc? Adele? Cara? Answer me! Is everyone okay?!”

This time too, no answer came. Only the dry land filled her sapphire-like eyes.

A mountain of bright yellow sand, withered old trees, and a few rocks standing mutely. It seemed like she was the only living creature in this place.

What happened? Did everyone else fall to different places except for me? Or did they fall into a dimensional rift? Did their bodies shatter and die? Isabel’s pupils shook violently. At that moment, the Archdevil’s mana inside her body wriggled. It was to transform this frail body into a robust physical form.

“Aaargh!”

Isabel gasped for air and clutched her head. It felt like bugs were crawling all over her body. Aside from being stabbed by swords, it was extremely painful. However…

On the other hand, there was an intense pleasure. It was as if it was telling her not to reject this power but to accept it submissively. The sensation of becoming someone who wasn’t her. This was like… She could know instinctively. The moment she was eroded by this power, she would become a monster. That was equivalent to becoming a hideous devil that only followed desires, just like the ones they had hunted so far.

“No. I will absolutely never become like that.” Isabel shook her head violently and struggled to her feet. Soon, she began to walk through this desolate land, staggering.

“Cara! Belloc! Adele!”

Even without the boiling mana or the murderous weather, there were many things torturing her. Her entire body, embedded with daggers and arrows, burned as if she had suffered burns, and due to the blood flowing from her wounds, her bones felt freezing cold. Isabel spat out blood with a cough but continued to call her companions’ names.

To be precise, she thought of one person. If it was that monster-like knight, if it was that man with senses transcending an elf’s hearing, he would hear her voice and run to her. Isabel walked for a long time, harboring a vague hope. However, there was a limit to her stamina, and she soon slumped back onto the ground.

“Where on earth is everyone… leaving me behind…”

She clutched her throbbing abdomen and gasped. Soon, she looked at her hand and was startled.

“What on earth is this…”

Her palm was pitch-black, as if smeared with some filth. No, looking closely now, that black liquid was flowing from her wounds. Isabel’s face froze like stone. Because she knew what this was.

Demons and devils hate everything of all creation on earth. And instead of red blood, something else flows in their bodies. The token of corruption. Pitch-black… black blood. ‘So I am now…’ Isabel slapped her own cheek. It was because she wanted to deny this situation. However, the black blood left a dark trail on her face, only reminding her that the current situation was reality.

“No, no, no…”

“I am… a devil? I am becoming a devil? A monster that ruthlessly killed my kin… that only fills its stomach and desires by eating people?” Even while buried in the sand, Isabel shook her head violently. Then, as if she had made up her mind, she gritted her teeth and reached for her waist.

Along the trajectory of her arm, the earth scattered. A sharp dagger was pointed at her throat. She intended to take her own life rather than become a monster.

Isabel’s eyes grew vacant. She was reflecting on her life, looking back at the past.

Born into a hunter family from the Nas Jungle. Enlisting in the army to raise her social status, living a collective life that didn’t suit her, and obeying the orders of her superiors. A life spent enduring harsh training, killing people, and living like a puppet. Then… she met them. It was a very special experience. Why is it? At this moment when death is imminent, why does she think of the black-haired man?

The moment the dagger was about to move, a shadow fell. Several whispers were also heard. Because her physical condition was not normal, she couldn’t make them out properly. However, a faint hope dwelt in one side of her eyes. Isabel narrowed her eyes, trembled, and spoke.

“Be, Bel…oc? Is it Bell…oc?”

A voice was heard. Instead of a deep, thick voice, it was a beautiful, singing voice.

“Oh my. Goodness. What on earth is this? I didn’t expect to discover something like this on the way to raid the city… Look at this, girls. Isn’t it fascinating? This elf. Though a creature of the surface, she harbors underground mana inside her body. Besides, the purity seems quite high. Has she received some curse?”

“Do you intend to use her as research material?”

At the words of the robed woman standing behind her, the one at the very front nodded.

“Of course. If used well, she seems like she’ll become a fairly useful weapon. It’s been a while since I’m excited for the first time in a while. I must experiment right now. Let’s head back.”

“But, didn’t the Lord of the Magic Tower tell us to capture Lutanka right this moment?”

“That is correct, Lady Harmoa. If the Lord of the Magic Tower finds out you disobeyed orders, you will face severe punishment.”

Despite the dissuasions echoing around her, the woman called Harmoa was stubborn. She wrinkled the corners of her mouth slightly and approached Isabel. Then, stroking her face, she said.

“A city like that with nothing but an oasis can be destroyed at any time. But not this. This creature will die right now if we don’t take action. I cannot tolerate that. Do you understand?”

When she, a high witch of Schola, the cradle of witches, threatened them, the faces of the women behind her stiffened. Soon, they placed Isabel on the back of the manticore they had brought. The monster wearing the old man’s skin flew up into the sky, and Harmoa, on its back, embraced Isabel. Kissing the fainted elf’s forehead, she said.

“Look forward to it, woman who harbors strange mana. For I shall make you the strongest devil.”

#

The city of oasis. A stone chamber underground, not far from Lutanka. The witches’ temporary base was very busy. This was because under Harmoa’s command, a new experiment was about to begin. On one side of the laboratory, flasks bubbling with ominous green liquid, distillers, and various other tools were lined up. On the other side, blood-stained handcuffs, a bed, and iron cages piled high with corpses and skeletons were placed.

“Mmm. No matter when I smell it, the air here is refreshing.” The general manager of this place, Harmoa, laughed pleasantly and spoke.

“Strip her clothes and tie her there. First, let’s treat her, and since she mustn’t resist, let’s engrave the spell first. She is a precious test subject, so everyone handle her with care.”

The witches stripped the captured elf’s clothes. Soon, after roughly finishing the first aid by spraying potions, they began to engrave unknown rune characters on Isabel’s body. They were Slave’s Imprint, Soul Bind, Resentment Absorption, and Lifesteal respectively—all of them violent and terrible black magic.

Finally, when Harmoa pointed her staff and chanted a spell, Isabel’s body flinched. The process of recognizing her as the master was completed. Harmoa clapped her hands. Then, she gave the next command.

“Good. Shall we begin the experiment in earnest now? First, we must change her physical body. Cause the mana inside the test subject to run wild.”

“What should we use?”

“Use all the materials we have. Whether it is devil’s blood received from demons, a newborn baby’s fresh blood, or brain matter pulled from a virgin’s skull. Whatever it is.”

The witches forced Isabel’s mouth open and poured in terrible drugs.

“Mmmph!”

Her eyes flew open. She had regained consciousness due to the devil’s mana boiling inside her. Isabel resisted wildly, but only the chains made clanking sounds; she could do nothing. Harmoa stroked her face as if soothing a child. Then, with shining eyes, she spoke.

“Be good. Since it’s good for your body, you must consume all of it.”

“Nonsense… Cough!”

As soon as her words finished, the tattoos engraved on Isabel’s body emitted light. Soon, her clear eyes grew vacant. It was the power of the Slave’s Imprint. In that manner, the witches continued the bizarre ritual, spraying or feeding devil’s blood to the elf’s body.

How much time had passed? Isabel’s vacant, unfocused eyes regained their light. As soon as she regained consciousness, she shouted loudly.

“What on earth… are you doing to me! You disgusting bitches! Undo this right now!”

Despite the elf’s struggling, the robed witches were indifferent. No, rather, they smirked. Observing such reactions from the test subject was always enjoyable. Because it presented them with an intense sense of superiority. The leader of the crazed mages, Harmoa, clapped her hands. Then, with a chilling smile, she spoke.

“Now, beautiful elf lady. It is time to be reborn. Casting aside your frail body, you shall step forward as a true devil.”

“What? What does that…”

Harmoa pointed her staff and chanted a bizarre spell, and a sinister light burst out. Isabel, receiving it, screamed as if her throat would tear. It was a reaction so violent that the iron bed and handcuffs made screeching sounds.

“Aaargh!”

As much as her white feet struggled, and as much as her veins bulged, some change occurred. The scream of agony turned into a moan of euphoric pleasure. How much time had passed in that manner? Isabel’s chest thumped. Soon, with a cracking bone sound, her physical body began to transform.

Her sapphire-like pupils lost their light and became turbid like an abyss. Her peach-colored skin also became a pale gray, as if turned to wax. Finally, her golden hair flowed, and two bizarrely shaped horns shot up.

“Aaaaah…”

Watching the woman who had now cast off her elven shell and become a devil, Harmoa burst into laughter. She stopped chanting the spell, spun her staff, and said.

“What is this? Whose devil’s mana did you inherit? You seem to have become even prettier. I would believe it even if you were a succubus. Well… does it matter? Shall I try this next?”

The crazed mage let out a mad laugh and rummaged in her clothes, and the experiment continued. Over days and nights, and for weeks, the iron bed shook.

#

“What’s wrong? What are you looking at to look so serious?”

At Cara’s questioning voice, Belloc showed the golden hair he was holding and spoke his thoughts. Cara nodded with a serious expression. To draw such an inference solely from the hair color might be too big a leap. However, when gathering and thinking about all the circumstances, a fairly plausible scenario was drawn.

Since Isabel also fell in the desert, was kidnapped by the group called Schola, and this town seemed to have been raided by them not long ago. “Then… we can just verify it.” Cara spoke.

“Belloc. Give that hair to me.”

“The hair? Do you have a way?”

“Ah! You intend to use that.”

Adele, who was listening quietly, spoke as if she understood. “So. What is it?” Cara tapped her waist with a confident smile. The Archmage’s Grimoire rustled.

“Did you forget? The spell in this book you obtained for me. There is an extremely precious secret art. A tracking spell that shows where a person currently is, as long as you have their possession.”

Belloc nodded as if he finally understood. Come to think of it, he had received great help from that spell when finding the location of the first Archdevil. “Truly. Long live mages. The utility is top-tier too.”

Belloc and Adele looked at Cara with a trace of expectation. She carefully grasped the thread-like golden hair and tapped it with her staff. Soon, closing her eyes, she chanted some spell.

As much as the hair flashed, her brow furrowed. Although Belloc didn’t know, it was because various scenes were flashing through her head.

A quiet cavern. A blood-stained bed. A robed witch. Biological experiments. The last thing seen was the wall of a ruined city… Cara opened her eyes wide. Soon, she dry-heaved. Belloc patted her back and asked.

“Cara?”

“She is here.”

“What?”

Whether she still felt nauseous, Cara dry-heaved a few more times and raised her head. Her brown eyes shook here and there. Negative emotions such as confusion, anger, sadness, and regret were filled within them. Cara spoke.

“That hair. It is indeed Isabel’s. But…”

Cara trailed off for a moment. Soon, letting out a deep sigh, she muttered.

“She is no longer the elf lady we knew. It’s too late.”

“Too late? What do you mean by that!”

When the flustered Adele shouted, Belloc’s eyes sank deeply instead. He looked like a stone statue covered in skin. He spoke.

“Where is she right now?”

Cara snapped her head around. She looked toward the entrance of the inn and spoke.

“She is coming here.”