Leave a comment

Those who rule over names. Demons in the Upper Rank were given names. This was meant to serve as a warning to the enemy as well as show that the Demon was one to truly be feared.

It was believed that Demons, by nature, ought not to have given names. In truth, not even the top grades of the Demons of the Middle Rank, who were supposedly comparable to Upper Rank Demons, were given names.

To put it simply, having a name was highly coveted. Only the most superior civilization—the humans—who were endowed with knowledge by God were able to pronounce and bestow those names.

Since they would defile the names and the words themselves, Demons were not given names. Yet still, exceptions existed. Defiler of Pride and Wisdom {Est Titu Sectas}.

Its upper torso swayed, and its eight eyes wriggled frantically.

Seletina took a deep breath. Considering her previous experience, this was her second contact with it.

“Tsk…”

Her pulse quickened. Her mouth was as parched as a desert, and her palms, which were grasping the sword, were dripping with sweat.

Am I afraid?

Seletina clutched her treasured sword.

No. Fear is needed. One also needs a strong will to overcome that fear.

Seletina took another deep breath and then slowly expelled the air from her lungs. This brought her body back to life. Before a fight, Orthus would always perform this ritual.

Seletina continued to slowly expel the air. Slowly, sharply, endlessly. She expelled, and expelled, and continued to expel… until she finally stopped.

Seletina’s eyes burned with a fiery spirit. Then, as quick as a bullet, Seletina bolted forth. Swiftly, faster than the wind. Seletina shouted, as if to inspire herself. Caper and Melia could be seen saying something far away, but Seletina couldn’t hear them.

With both her hands on Elyutinias, Seletina roared. Then a silver flash emerged from above, hurtling towards the Defiler of Pride and Wisdom’s shoulder.

Just as it was about to make contact a strange sound was heard. It was a sound of swords colliding that had never before been heard during a battle between a human and a Demon.

Seletina’s treasured sword was being blocked by The Defiler of Pride and Wisdom’s left hand, which had morphed into a robust blade. Seletina’s sword could not continue.

Seletina had a bitter look on her face.

The Defiler of Pride and Wisdom’s eight eyes stared straight into Seletina’s face, and shortly after, its right arm took on a slimy appearance beginning to transform. And as a flash, a storm of death crept towards Seletina’s side.

That assault signaled impending doom.

Seletina managed to barely escape with her life by using her sword to slightly alter the right hand of the Defiler of Pride and Wisdom, which had transformed into a blade.

Her superhuman reflexes and sword prowess, which had been developed over time, were the sole things that allowed her to pull this off. But it didn’t erase the fact that Seletina was shaken by this assault.

The Defiler of Pride and Wisdom tilted its head in awe that Seletina was still alive.

“LISTEN!”

Seletina shouted, expelling her whole air, loudly enough for everyone in the hall to hear her.

“This one’s a Named Demon! If you want to live, leave quickly! I’ll deal with it!”

A Named Demon.

Shivers ran down the spines of every noble present. Panic struck the dance hall once more.

“Lady Seletina!”

Caper came running. Seletina didn’t even give him a second glance as she yelled at him.

“Don’t come! You’ll only hinder me! If you want to help me then please help the others evacuate and inform the knights!”

Seletina said while exchanging blows with the Defiler of Pride and Wisdom.

“But!”
“I’ll be fine! If you don’t want to hinder me, then go!”

Caper gulped. He didn’t know what to do. It was simply too upsetting to hear Seletina, his beloved master, speak those words.

“GO!”

Seletina shouted.

Regret, sadness and helplessness… Caper swallowed back on all these feelings, and turned around.

Seletina smiled slightly when she saw that.

Now Caper will live.

Seletina glared at the Defiler of Pride and Wisdom. And the woman standing next to her did the same.

“Mother?!”
“Seletina, you’re not intending on sacrificing yourself, are you?”
“……”
“Don’t be stupid!”

Melia said, taking out a small medicine bottle from her pocket.

“Defiler of Pride and Wisdom… An Upper Rank Grade 3 from what I recall.”
“Mother?”

Seletina felt a hand rest on her shoulder.

“Stand down.”

Melia said as she downed the medicine bottle.

“I won’t let you hurt my daughter. Your opponent is me.”

Melia’s eyes were filled with resolve as she stood guard over her child.