Chapter 7
Hidden in the Foggy Town
(Part 3)
Let’s organize the information.
We came to the foggy town, ‘Miscal Town’, for a certain purpose.
Just as we were about to enter the town, my master stepped in and got caught in a teleportation magic trap, sending him somewhere inside the town.
We were planning to enter the town anyway, so entering itself isn’t the issue. The problems are why such a trap was set and where in the town he was sent.
My master is a strong person. I don’t think he’d be taken down easily, but if he was sent to a life-threatening place, I should rescue him quickly.
And yet, four troublesome people are standing in front of me, looking this way.
The demon-extermination specialist organization, ‘Exorcists’ – one of our natural enemies as demons.
It was the right choice to suppress my demonic power so as not to be noticed by the demons in the town.
If I had boldly spread my wings or something, they would have ambushed us while I was analyzing the magic circle.
The Exorcists are looking at us suspiciously. While tension hangs in the air between both parties, they don’t seem like they’ll attack immediately.
“Excuse me, can I have a moment?”
The tallest among them spoke to me.
When I replied ‘Yes’, the person approached me. They stopped about two meters away and continued speaking.
“Don’t be so tense. My name is Plume. I came here from a place called ‘Forest Lake’ for an investigation. I just want to ask a few questions.
Why are you here? This is a remote town with many demons, where Exorcists rarely come. Didn’t you know it’s a dangerous place?”
“My name is Dia. I came knowing the risks. The details of our purpose are well known by the person who was just teleported away by the magic circle.”
“So, the young man from earlier is also your companion?”
“Yes. To be precise, I am his companion. I am, so to speak, his assistant.”
The mutual probing continued for a while.
If I just lined up excuses and spoke entirely in lies, it would be troublesome if I got caught. I answered carefully, choosing my words. While we were talking, the remaining three kept watching from a distance. There was no gap to escape.
“To summarize, you are travelers who came from a distant town, aware of the danger, to search for something. The details of the search are known by your companion. Your arrival at this time is coincidental and you have no connection to Ozma whatsoever, is that correct?”
“Yes. In fact, we don’t even know this Ozma. What is Ozma?”
The Exorcists looked at each other, seeming to deliberate over whether to answer or not.
After a while, someone muttered, ‘I think it’s okay to tell them.’ The surroundings grew a bit restless, but the man who introduced himself as Plume also seemed convinced.
“Well then. It was our mistake to assume no one would come from outside. Since we’ve involved you, you are no longer unrelated, and in my homeland, information about Ozma isn’t particularly rare. In return, once you reunite with your companion, please leave ‘Miscal Town’ promptly.”
“He is a stubborn person, so I don’t know if it will work, but I will definitely talk to him about it.”
“Thank you. Now, about Ozma… Ozma is a powerful demon, over a thousand years old, who is the target of our team’s extermination mission.”
Hearing the age, I couldn’t help but flinch and shudder.
It’s odd for me, an ageless being, to say this, but demons who can live for a thousand years are truly rare, likely royal-class demons living deep in the demon world.
For such a strong and rare demon to purposely come to the human world is also surprising. And for this number of people to try to exterminate such a demon… even if humans have become stronger than a thousand years ago, it’s far too reckless.
“I say this with all due respect. Isn’t it reckless for four people to try to defeat a thousand-year-old demon?”
It’s not that I want to help these Exorcists. Frankly, it would be better if they were gone.
But a demon that has lived for a thousand years could easily cause significant damage to this dilapidated town. If these Exorcists provoke that Ozma and cause it to rampage, it could cause some harm to my master or his search.
However, Plume spread his hands and struck a pose as if to say ‘calm down’.
“Rest assured. Ozma is currently on the verge of death after a fierce battle with us. A few weeks ago, the dying Ozma fled to this town with someone’s help. Our job is just the final cleanup, so this number is more than sufficient.”
“I see… Then why the magic circle at the entrance? I can somewhat understand it’s to prevent Ozma from escaping, but…”
I don’t know the condition of the demon Ozma, but for such a long-lived, powerful demon, it wouldn’t be strange if it broke through the magic circle and escaped. Plume hesitated for a moment but, seemingly judging it better to tell, continued.
“…The town of ‘Forest Lake’ has a barrier that demons cannot pass through. If they try to force their way through, a danger signal is sent to the Exorcist headquarters. It didn’t react at all. It’s said that Ozma left the town with the help of a human from ‘Forest Lake’. That human is also a target for capture. And since the barrier didn’t react, we concluded that even Ozma in its current state cannot break through this magic circle.”
“Meaning?”
“It’s highly likely that Ozma is using a disguise.”
I see, so it discarded its demon body and is disguised as a human. In that case, it probably won’t regain the power to break through this magic circle anytime soon. But it seems Ozma was in a truly critical situation.
I’ve learned that these Exorcists are highly skilled. This isn’t a good situation for me either.
“For your safety, please wait here. I promise we will find and bring back your companion. May I ask the name of your companion?”
“Understood. I will wait at a distance. My companion’s name is Akatsuki. Please take care of him.”
With the matter settled, I was to be released.
Now, what to do? I can fly, so I could enter by flying over the magic circle from a distance. The fog is thick, making it easy to hide, but the same applies to them. Before the magic circle activated, we didn’t notice the Exorcists’ presence. They all seem good at concealing their presence.
If we accidentally run into each other in town, there would be no talking my way out of it.
“Hey, wait.”
Just as I was about to leave Plume’s presence, one of the Exorcists waiting in the back raised his voice.
The man on the far right stepped forward and removed the hood of his robe.
He was a male knight with an austere aura, his long red hair tied back.
His black eyes, narrowed with suspicion, stared at me intently. Looking directly at him, I sensed he possessed strong magical power. His demeanor and magical power were on a different level from Plume, whom I was just speaking with. He’s probably the leader of this team.
“You, you’re a demon, aren’t you?”
At the red-haired man’s words, not only I but also Plume widened our eyes.
Glancing sideways, I saw Plume had distanced himself from me as if on guard.
But I’m surprised. I should have been suppressing my magical power. I’ve visited many towns and countries, but this is the first time a human has seen through my true identity.
“Why do you think that?”
“Answer my question first.”
His atmosphere didn’t seem open to discussion. Even if I casually denied it, it didn’t seem like he’d let it go.
As I pondered how to respond, the red-haired man looked at Plume. Sensing something, Plume approached me and handed me a bottle about the size of a palm.
It contained a transparent liquid. I could tell it was imbued with strong demon-sealing power.
“…Is this holy water?”
“Oh, that’s unusual. Even people from ‘Forest Lake’ hardly know about this.”
The red-haired man grinned.
Damn, that was a slip of the tongue.
I had heard about holy water from my master. He said it’s powerful water that can dissolve a demon’s body and extinguish the magical power of their soul. I had no idea it was almost unknown in other towns and countries. But indeed, despite being so potent, I hadn’t heard of it in other towns.
“Holy water was originally sold directly to our Exorcist headquarters about twenty years ago by a man named Eric. I’ve never heard of its existence in other countries either. It’s a special liquid; successfully mass-producing and putting it to practical use is a recent development. I’m curious how you know about it, but first, please drink that.”
Whoever made such a thing is a nuisance.
The holy water I was just handed feels significantly less potent than what I heard from my master. It probably wouldn’t kill me, but I doubt I could swallow it naturally enough to fool all the humans here. If I am a demon, there should be some reaction, like my throat dissolving momentarily.
The gazes of all the Exorcists were upon me.
What to do? If I release my power, return to my true form, and resist, I could eliminate these four as well.
But if I go all out, it might provoke Ozma, who is said to be in the town, and if the town gets caught up, it could cause trouble for my master.
Moreover, if I use such immense power, my master, who has high magical perception, would notice even in this foggy town. He might rush over in a panic. If possible, I don’t want my master to see me killing humans. It’s better as a last resort.
“…I cannot drink it.”
“Why not? Just to be clear, for humans, it’s just bitter water.”
“Because I am a demon.”
If this doesn’t work, I decided to give up and release my power, taking a gamble.
The Exorcists other than the red-haired man stirred, immediately readying their weapons and forming a battle formation. I couldn’t help but be impressed by their coordinated, efficient movements.
I raised my hands, spreading my palms open to show I wasn’t resisting.
The Exorcists froze for a moment, unable to comprehend my actions. But they never let their guard down, remaining poised to attack at any moment.
In my heart, I was also prepared to snap my fingers at any time, while lightly waving a hand as if to say ‘I won’t do anything’.
“I am a weak demon… owned by the human who was teleported away earlier. If I drink the holy water, I won’t be able to fulfill my role. My master would be troubled. I don’t know about your homeland, but in the places I know, it’s forbidden to lay hands on someone else’s owned property without permission.”
“Don’t lie. I’ve never heard of a demon claiming to be a human’s possession.”
Well, I didn’t expect them to believe me so easily.
Even if it’s half a lie, that part is true.
“Admit honestly that you’re threatening the human and keeping him with you. Or is your companion also a demon?”
“My master is undoubtedly human. I, as a demon, can see the form of souls, so I’m certain. If you doubt it, let’s have my master drink this holy water.”
I lightly shook the bottle of holy water I received from Plume earlier.
“And you think we’ll let you go just like that?”
“Then, if my master is truly human, and you kill me, his possession, without permission, how will you compensate him? It may be odd for me to say this, but I am quite favored – enough to be allowed to follow behind him without restraints. A demon’s life, converted to money, is quite expensive, you know? And if it’s a favorite, the value is even higher.”
The Exorcists looked at me, seemingly unable to move.
They probably didn’t believe my words, but if by any chance it were true, dealing with the resulting trouble would be very difficult for them.
The trade of demon lives is a heinous act actually practiced in some human countries. I’ve heard it even becomes an international issue. It’s not a problem that a few Exorcists can handle by making a fuss.
Fundamentally, taking the life of someone’s possession isn’t an issue that can be resolved with apologies or money.
Furthermore, I made one more proposal.
“There is one more merit to not killing me now. As you probably know, demons can visually perceive the form of souls. You find it difficult to judge demons disguised wearing human skin, don’t you? But I, who can see souls, can see through disguises. I don’t know Ozma, so I can’t tell if it’s Ozma specifically, but if I can accompany you into town, I will point out all the disguised demons.”
They never let their guard down, but I could hear the Exorcists murmuring restlessly. They went so far as to set up a teleportation magic over the entire town just to capture disguised demons and their collaborators.
It was easy to imagine that they couldn’t quickly capture them while checking one by one whether they were human or demon.
The red-haired man glared at me with a face like he’d bitten into something sour. It seems I hit a nerve.
“I can’t fully trust a demon. And I assume you have no proof that you are the possession of the companion who was teleported into town earlier?”
After waiting a moment, what he finally uttered was those words.
“Proof… you say? It might be insufficient, but I have some.”
“Oh? Let’s see it then.”
“It’s embarrassing, but I have no choice…”
I began to remove the clothes I was wearing on the spot.
Seeing me move, the Exorcists tensed up, but since I was only taking off what I was currently wearing, they seemed perplexed.
I gently placed my luggage on the ground and let my coat fall with a rustle. Then I took off my turtleneck sweater along with the shirt I was wearing underneath.
The chilly wind bit into my skin. The Exorcists all looked astonished upon seeing my bare upper body. The red-haired man also twisted his expression in disgust.
Well, I can’t blame them. My bare skin vividly bears the marks of the actions my master performed on me last night.
My skin tone is paler than a human’s. The red marks from restraining devices on my neck and wrists, and the bruises scattered sporadically from below my neck all over my body, should be clearly visible.
If I relaxed my power control even a little, I could heal and erase these marks immediately, but I myself like these marks, so I’ve left them as they are. A visible, warped desire for exclusivity and domination that seems unbelievable for a human to harbor… maddeningly dear.
For me, having this obsession directed at me is a potent drug that fills my heart more than anything. So, unless something extreme happens or it heals naturally, I’ve decided to keep them.
When I stroked the mark near my collarbone with my fingertip, a faint, tingling pain remained.
Recalling last night, I couldn’t help but smile. Perhaps because they saw that expression, I thought I heard someone go “Ugh!” as if gagging.
“My master, despite how he looks, is quite passionate. He actively approaches me and teaches me, using my entire body, over and over again, who I belong to.”
Now that I think about it, last night was particularly intense. My master was so tired he fell asleep on the way.
Looking at the marks, I recall his ecstatic face as he called my name repeatedly, and my chest fills with happiness. Even though I have no intention of running away, my master seems to like seeing me chained up; during the act, I’m always restrained by magical chains. What happens afterwards depends on my master’s mood that day.
My master’s current demon-sealing power is quite strong; if I were fully restrained, I probably couldn’t break free unless I struggled in my true form.
Since I don’t run away, I’m never treated roughly, but he doesn’t stop me either, so he freely leaves marks as he pleases.
“What a disgusting bastard.”
“I’m the bottom, so it’s unavoidable. I didn’t want to show you, but isn’t this the only way to prove it?”
Since there was no more need to show them, I quickly put my clothes back on.
I continued, addressing them, who were unable to hide their discomfort.
“If necessary, I can provide the details. Let’s see, we can’t omit the topic of these restraints on my neck and wrists. He goes out of his way to magically create a fine collar for me. During the act, it always starts with me being restrained by the collar and chain first…”
“That’s enough!! Shut up, you pervert!!”
The red-haired man, who had been calm until now, raised his voice and cut me off. It seems even this man was shaken. Apparently, detailing our relationship had quite an effect.
I could feel the corners of my mouth rising as I spoke, recalling various memories myself.
“Are you satisfied? Killing me would only bring you disadvantages. If you take me along, you can keep an eye on me and instantly, reliably distinguish between demons and humans. For me, I get to meet my master and leave this town sooner. Not a bad deal, is it?”
The red-haired man seemed to be thinking hard.
After a while, he seemed to have made up his mind, clicking his tongue loudly with obvious displeasure.
“Fine. We’ll have you help us too.”
“Lord Scarlet! Are you sane!?”
Plume and the other Exorcists raised their voices one after another.
It seems the red-haired man’s name is Scarlet.
“I understand how you all feel. But this mission… the top priority is, and always will be, the extermination of Ozma. It is not to kill this perverted demon. Even on the verge of death, Ozma is not to be underestimated. To surely finish it off, we will use anything we can.”
After Scarlet said that, the other Exorcists fell silent.
It seemed the matter was settled.
“However, you will walk at the very front. If you make any suspicious moves or tell lies, I will immediately cut your head off from behind.”
“Understood. Thank you.”
“Let’s go, pervert demon.”
I bowed my head politely, but Scarlet just glared at me.
After that, I was made to lead the way through the town as instructed.
An Exorcist stood behind me, holding a knife, staring at me with vigilant eyes.
From Plume and Scarlet’s conversation, I learned his name is Chronoa. The knife is probably a demon-specific weapon imbued with demon-sealing power. If I make even a slightly strange move, I’ll likely be stabbed in the back before I can even turn around.
The other Exorcist seemed to be the only woman in this group. When I asked Plume about Ozma earlier, she was the one who said, ‘I think it’s okay to tell them.’ Her name seems to be Liza.
Furthermore, Plume and Scarlet followed from a slight distance behind.
Walking under surveillance is unsettling, but it seems I don’t need to worry about sneaking into town undetected.
Although reluctantly, just as the Exorcists’ top priority is exterminating Ozma, my top priority is confirming my master’s safety.
Master, please be safe.
◆—————————◆
“Lord Scarlet, was that really alright?”
Around the time the matter was settled and Dia started walking towards the town, Plume, who was at a distance, spoke to Scarlet. Plume understood that this outcome was a last resort, and considering all circumstances, he vaguely understood that this method was best for solving all problems.
But still, he couldn’t shake the possibility that the demon was lying.
“Plume, you failed to see through that pervert being a demon.”
“Y-yes. I’m ashamed… And I think Chronoa and Liza probably didn’t notice either.”
“I wasn’t completely sure either. It was closer to a hunch. If it weren’t for the holy water, I might have let it slip… Plume, what kind of demon do you think one is, whose true identity cannot be detected?”
Plume, not understanding the intent behind Scarlet’s question, stared blankly with his mouth open.
Then, placing a hand on his chin, he thought for a while.
“A demon disguised as a human, or a truly weak demon with no magical power, close to a human…?”
“Right. That would be over 99% of cases. But truly rarely, exceptions exist.”
“Exceptions?”
“Yes. If it were a disguise or a demon close to a human, as long as we stay vigilant and keep it in front of us, we could handle it immediately. But…”
Scarlet seemed to hesitate to speak. Please let this worst-case imagination be just paranoia.
“…We can only pray nothing happens.”
