Episode 12
The human lifespan, at most, stretches to a mere hundred years — and even then, only by a rare stroke of luck. Other races, however, far surpass such fragile limits.
To them, a century was so trivial it could be slept through without a second thought.
“What’s the point of living that long anyway?”
I couldn’t understand why Rehel was so obsessed with immortality. I’d played the game diligently, but the story had never revealed her reasons.
“Hmm… I don’t get it.”
Live briefly, but vividly — that’s my life motto.
Anyone who heard it might call me crazy for wanting an early death, but I never felt the need to defend it.
To this day, I’ve kept that goal. After all, what’s the point of living long if you can’t live well?
“……”
No amount of brooding would yield an answer. I walked to the window and gazed outside, where children were playing happily in the courtyard.
Rehel had taken in monsters — both adults and children — who had nowhere else to go but could aid her in her research. Because of that, the castle was always lively and full of noise.
“…Huh? What’s that?”
As I watched the children, a sudden commotion caught my eye.
Lian, who’d said he was heading to the training grounds, was now being dragged around by the children.
“Mr. Human Hero, are you good at running?”
“Let’s play sword fighting!”
“Let’s play hide-and-seek! You’re ‘it,’ Mr. Hero!”
Lian was clearly overwhelmed, yet the faint smile tugging at his lips showed he didn’t dislike it.
So, even a hero doesn’t hate all monsters.
“It seems yesterday’s little incident at the training ground made him quite popular with the children.”
The calm, low voice came from behind me.
When I turned, a middle-aged man with navy ears and a matching tail approached — Felix, the castle’s physician and my personal doctor.
“I see.”
I turned my gaze back to the window.
Lian looked awkward but was doing a good job keeping up with the children.
‘Don’t worry about it, I’ll handle it myself,’ he’d said.
Turns out I really didn’t need to worry.
“You seem to be in good spirits since the human hero arrived.”
“…Can’t deny that.”
He wasn’t wrong — I was in a good mood.
“I’ve heard you haven’t visited your laboratory much lately. I hope it isn’t a health concern.”
“Just needed a little air. Nothing more.”
“Then I’ll prepare a tonic to help you recover your strength.”
Felix had been Rehel’s doctor for years, always by her side through the side effects of countless experiments.
“Alright.”
Perhaps this was a good chance to recover a bit.
Even as I nodded in agreement, my eyes stayed fixed on Lian.
“Ugh…!”
Suddenly, the children who’d been running and laughing collapsed one by one, groaning in pain.
Startled, Lian caught one child in his arms and looked up at me.
“Rehel!”
So he had been avoiding looking this way on purpose. Guess he didn’t want me to see this.
“Felix. Go.”
“At once.”
Felix immediately moved to the children’s side.
“Lay them down gently. I’ll examine them.”
Lian laid the child down carefully.
The children — who had taken on human form — were now writhing in agony, their bodies shifting back toward their original monster forms.
…Something was very wrong.
Not just one or two — all of them had collapsed at once.
Their bodies flickered chaotically between forms, unable to hold shape.
And worse, their skin was turning a deep, eerie blue.
Poisoning — no doubt about it.
“This is…”
Felix poured a potion into one child’s mouth, but it had no effect.
“Lady Rehel, you should see this.”
I sighed and left the window, stepping outside. Even if I couldn’t fix it, I had to see for myself.
After examining the children up close, I muttered quietly,
“They’ve been poisoned… by holy power.”
In the game, when monsters were struck by a hero’s holy energy, their skin would change like this.
“Holy power?”
“Yes. You’ve slain many monsters — surely you’ve seen what happens when they’re exposed too long?”
Lian shook his head.
“I usually worked alone. I’ve never witnessed it firsthand.”
He wasn’t lying. And it made sense — Lian was a master swordsman, not a wielder of holy power.
“My antidote had no effect.”
“Naturally. They’ve been exposed for quite some time.”
The holy energy was spreading rapidly. At this rate, they wouldn’t last half a day.
For monsters, holy power was the deadliest poison of all — and for children, survival was nearly impossible.
“The children haven’t left the castle since you took them in, my lady. How could they have been exposed to holy power?”
That puzzled me too. The barriers around the castle should have prevented any outside interference.
“Isn’t there another way?”
“Hmm. If Felix’s antidote doesn’t work, there’s really only one…”
A thought struck me, and I fell silent.
There was a way — by flooding their bodies with magic far stronger than the holy energy inside them.
Without hesitation, I conjured an ice dagger and cut my palm open. Blood quickly stained my hand.
“What are you doing!?”
Lian grabbed my wrist, alarmed.
“You asked if there was another way — turns out, there is.”
“You mean…?”
Felix’s expression darkened.
“You intend to use your demonic power to burn out the holy energy, don’t you?”
I didn’t answer. My silence was answer enough.
I dismissed the dagger and knelt beside a dying child, letting a drop of blood fall into their mouth.
“Your power might purge the holy energy, but the children may not survive it.”
“They’ll die anyway. Better to give them a chance than none at all.”
Felix was right — my power could easily overwhelm them. But it was their only hope.
“…It’s working.”
The child’s skin began to return to normal, their face relaxing slightly.
Still half-transformed, but alive — for now.
“Give my blood to all the children.”
“Understood. I’ll take them to the annex.”
“I’ll help.”
Felix didn’t refuse Lian’s offer. Perhaps he’d grown to like him.
I watched them go, my eyes lingering on the fallen children.
Why had this happened — and why only to the young ones?
A bad feeling coiled in my gut.
“Lady Rehel.”
Terio approached, bowing slightly before speaking grimly:
“All the children in the annex have fallen ill — poisoned by holy power.”
And just then, the long-awaited system window appeared before me.
SYSTEM: Main Quest — Terrorize the Humans (0/1000)
❖ ❖ ❖
I sliced open my palm again, letting the blood drip into a glass. When the flow slowed, I reopened the wound — my rapid regeneration made it necessary.
Lian stood nearby, silently watching.
Why was he staring like that? He’d seemed agitated earlier too.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“…Doesn’t it hurt?”
“What?”
Ah, it had already healed again. I sliced deeper this time.
If I wanted to save all the children, I needed to fill the entire glass. It was only half full so far.
“You’re a demon lord — that doesn’t mean you don’t feel pain.”
“…Oh, that’s what you meant?”
I finally understood his strange expression. Cutting oneself without hesitation wasn’t something most could watch calmly.
But honestly, it only stung a little. My body, after so many experiments, barely felt pain anymore.
“It doesn’t hurt much. The kids are the ones suffering.”
Holy energy was devouring their minds and bodies alike.
His face tightened further. He probably didn’t realize how readable he was.
“Don’t blame yourself. This isn’t your fault.”
“……”
“I’ve got a pretty good idea who’s behind this.”
After all, why else would the system’s main quest suddenly tell me to instill fear in humans?
Because the one who did this — was human.
A dark laugh escaped me just as Terio returned from the annex.
“Good. The blood should be enough — take it.”
He took the glass and then handed me a small, button-like object.
“We found this in the annex. There’s a faint trace of holy power on it — likely dropped by the humans when they infiltrated. The children must have picked it up.”
I examined the button — and burst into laughter.
An emblem of wings — the mark of an adventurer.
At a glance, it might look like someone simply dropped it by mistake… but the intent was far too deliberate.
So, you were the one who sent me this little gift, huh?
Saint Ecia.
