"Demon! Stay away from me!!!"
As the head priest yelled those words, the people's gazes changed, now carrying a look of utter hatred.
In this world, demons were known to be entities born from the negative emotions of humans. While some did take human form, others were meant to be food for the Hakiaas (Fallen Ones).
Additionally, this made them hated by humans, as they were deemed impure.
Rashin, who was from a time when demons were not hated, could only stare at the priest with a neutral expression.
"Demon? I'm pretty sure I'm human. You really love calling me names," he said calmly.
Eri, who was still on the ground, did not dare to raise her head. She could already picture the number of disappointed gazes on her at that moment.
Keeping her head down was her own way of hiding. And despite how she tried to draw herself away from the situation, Rashin's voice kept pulling her back.
The head priest suddenly pointed at Rashin again. "Demons have infiltrated the church! Foul creatures of the dark!"
Knights standing guard in the church began to draw their swords.
Some of the priestesses were ready to attack, and the audience stood on alert.
No matter what it was, as long as the head priest directed it, the people would follow.
"Again... I am not a demon," Rashin spoke.
"Shut up and die, demon!"
Someone from the crowd yelled.
And then another began, "How dare you walk into this church! Be gone with you!"
Before long, more and more people began throwing insults at Rashin.
Observing them, a pitiful expression played on Rashin's face...
'Are they in some kind of hypnosis? How do they believe a demon would walk into a church?' he thought to himself.
"Demons should be exterminated!" the head priest yelled, his fingers still pointed. "Both the demon and the one who summoned it!"
Eri clutched her staff closer, her tears dripping onto the floor before she raised her head.
Her first view truly broke her heart. The people she once called her friends now stared down at her as if she were some kind of monster.
In a place where she had grown up all her life, the ones she knew became predators toward her, and the man she had just met became her ray of light.
More and more knights began to show up, and it didn't take long for both Rashin and Eri to get surrounded.
Rashin was not planning to go down without a fight.
Back in his time, he was simply just a mere blacksmith, but due to the war with the Fallen Ones, he had needed to learn how to protect himself.
He had learned from multiple people who were retired adventurers. And with each teacher, he grew even stronger.
Strong enough for him to truly believe he could take on the guards surrounding him with just his fists.
From the look on the head priest's face, Rashin could tell he truly wanted them dead.
And while fighting was one thing, he had to figure out a way to get Eri out of there too.
"Is there a chance you'd be willing to let us go?" Rashin spoke out loud, both his hands raised.
"Letting a demon roam free in our kingdom is not how things work around here. As the head priest of the Vergino Kingdom, it's my obligation to exterminate you."
His motive was loud and clear.
A hidden devious smile played on his face.
He pointed even more firmly, allowing the guards to push forward with their weapons.
There was no other choice.
Baaam!
The first guard launched himself, spear directly aimed at Rashin's heart.
Rashin reacted quickly, taking a quick step back to avoid the fatal blow. The moment the guard was right in front of him, he slapped his fist against the back of the guard's head, watching him collapse to the ground.
Just then, another attack came from the side. This time, it was aimed at Eri.
'They are attacking her too?!' he was shocked.
He pulled off his clothes and immediately threw them at the soldier.
While the soldier was able to send the jacket flying to the side with his blade, this gave Rashin the opening to grab Eri's hand, fully set on sprinting away from the scene.
It was never supposed to be that easy.
Phwwwww!
An arrow from nowhere penetrated his heart before he could take a single step.
"Rashin?"
Eri could not believe her eyes. She watched as he struggled to stand on his feet, with the arrow still sticking out from his chest.
Blood dripped from his mouth.
"The demon is almost dead! Finish him off! It's sad to see our fellow priestess has been corrupted by him, but there is no choice—we must get rid of her too!"
The priest yelled, almost as if joyful about what was happening in the name of justice.
And just like always, everyone followed his every word. The guards rushed toward the two victims.
"E...ri..." Rashin managed to speak in his injured state. "You don't deserve to be killed here. I'm sorry if you feel offended, but your priest is an asshole... Run... It's not worth dying here."
His words sank into her.
He was dying, and yet his worry for her never wavered.
She took a second to look behind her, and the faces she met made her feel like she was a prisoner in her own home.
Her friends, even the man she had looked up to while growing up, had all turned on her.
Perhaps it was God's way of punishing her for lying.
Regardless, staying in the church was no longer an option.
She grabbed Rashin tightly and whispered...
"You owe me for not sending you back in time to die. I refuse to die too. I can't survive alone, so you're coming with me."
She raised her staff to the ceiling.
"Explosion."
Boom!
The entire church blew up, leaving nothing but a giant mushroom of fire scattering across the entire territory.
....
[A/N: Please don't forget to support this book anyway you can.]