Restless, I shifted on the bed, trying to find a more comfortable spot before finally breaking the uneasy silence. "How much time has passed?" My words cut through the heavy stillness like a knife.
Alistair's response came out in a tense voice, his usual disdain replaced by a mix of respect and awe. "Just one day and a half." It was understandable; in their eyes, I had achieved something that even the war-saints would struggle to accmplish in group . The shift in their perception elevated my worth in their eyes, a recognition that wasn't lost on me. The air in the tent seemed to carry the weight of newfound respect.
And all it had cost me was an arm and a body riddled with scars. I couldn't help but hope that at least I would look good with them...
But my last memory was crawling through the green blood of monsters on the dungeon floor, and then everything went black.
I turned to ask, "Who was it that transported me out of the dungeon?"
The princess spoke up, her voice soft yet carrying authority. "It was Alistair who bravely fought his way through hordes of monsters to reach you and bring you back to camp on his back. It was quite a sight, I must say."
Surprised, I turned my gaze towards Alistair and expressed my gratitude, "I owe you a thank you then."
However, Alistair's head shook with gratitude and disbelief as he insisted, "You have my utmost thanks. You saved everyone who entered that hell." His voice trembled with emotion as he spoke, and his body swayed slightly in a gesture of deep respect and recognition of the perilous situation we had all faced together.
Despite his words of appreciation, there was still something that gnawed at my curiosity. "Did you manage to capture the body of the demon I faced?" I asked, my voice tight with tension that I couldn't fully contain.
With a nod from Victor, I received my answer. "Yes, we did. The demon you faced was Alzaroth, one of the twelve high demons serving the Demon King. Currently, his body is in our custody."
As Victor solemnly shared these details, he shifted uncomfortably before asking a question that held great weight. "Are you willing to share his power over soul projections? Every man who has faced him has perished, so it remains a mystery.''
Without hesitation, I accepted Victor's offer. "His power was to control light and darkness," I began explaining to the rest of the group. "He could cloak his attacks in impenetrable darkness and unleash blinding rays of light in close combat. He also possessed the ability to perceive movement within the darkness, though he couldn't discern between two objects in motion or detect stillness unless he dispelled the darkness."
The princess's ruby eyes sparked with curiosity as she fixed her gaze on me. "But how were you able to defeat him?" she inquired eagerly.
"It was largely due to him underestimating me," I admitted. "This gave me an opportunity to inflict substantial damage and lure him into a trap. If he had taken me seriously from the start, I doubt I would have come out victorious."
Victor's piercing gaze bore into me as he asked, his tone serious and questioning, "You've now earned the title of demon slayer. Do you understand the weight that carries?"
With a confident nod, I replied, "Yes, I understand completely. It means I will become a prime target for the demon race. No matter where I go, they will seek to bring me down, especially now that I have proven myself capable of killing one of their own kind,and a strong one at that . But it also means recognition and prestige for my achievement. My words will hold more weight and I will gain renown among both humans and demons."
I paused before adding, "In the future, if I prove myself worthy, I may even be bestowed with the rank of war-saint. For now, I stand as the youngest demon slayer in existence, a fact that will undoubtedly spread my fame even further."
Victor let out a resigned sigh and spoke with gratitude laced in his voice, "It seems you are well aware of the consequences that come with such a title." He then bowed respectfully to me before expressing his thanks. "Thank you for saving everyone's lives."
I couldn't help but think to myself that among those 'everyone' was also my own life. But there was no need to mention that.
With a tired smile, I replied, "I was happy to help, sir," before turning my attention to Victor. "What about the demon's body? What should we do with it?"
The princess chimed in, her eyes filled with curiosity as she addressed me, "As the one who killed the demon, the corpse belongs to you." She smiled warmly before asking, "Do you have any particular use for it?"
I thought for a moment before replying, "I only need the head. The rest of the body can be given to my father."
A groan escaped my lips as pain shot through my back, a reminder of the deep wound the demon had inflicted upon me. That damn creature...
They exchanged curious glances, their eyes flickering with a mix of confusion and concern. Alistair finally spoke up, voicing the question that weighed heavily on everyone's minds: "Why just the head?"
I couldn't resist smirking as I casually scratched my neck as I replied, "During our little dance, he boasted about using my skull as a cup. So, I figured if my head is only good for holding wine, his would make an excellent choice for a toilet. Of course, that was before I impaled and beheaded him. As for the body, you can give it to my father. It would make a fine decoration for the mansion."
Uncomfortable silence settled among us, and I couldn't help but notice uneasy glances being exchanged. Everyone except the Princess who let out a small chuckle, finding some dark humor in my response.
Though I hadn't intended for it to be funny, she had asked for an explanation and I gave her one. After all, I would gladly use that fucker's skull to hold my own piss.
Suddenly, it seemed that Father had grown tired of the conversation and decided it was time for me to rest. "We'll leave you be,you need to recover" he said gently, ushering everyone out of the tent.
I let out a heavy sigh and closed my eyes as they bid me goodbye. Slowly but surely, the tent emptied and I was left alone with my thoughts in the quiet aftermath of the chaotic events.
But my chance at rest was cut short as someone else wanted to speak with me. Baalkaroth's voice echoed in my mind,
''Hey mortal listen closely and don't make a ruckus..'' His tone serious and tense
Bloody hell, can't I catch a break?
Confused and wary, I questioned him,"What do you mean?"
And his response was something I never could have expected.
"You've developed a soul projection of your own..."