Demonic System: Harem in Medieval World

12. Encouragement

“Bro, but I couldn’t get it. Why do you insist that death is your only way out of your problem?” asked Arwen when Devon finished his meal. “To be honest, you sounded like an edgy elf teenager to me.”

After gulping down a glass of water, Devon glared at the curious elf, expressing his discontent.

“What do you mean? Don’t act like you know about my pain!” rebuked Devon. He couldn’t accept to be lectured by a juvenile elf. Well, at least she looked like one to Devon’s eyes.

“No, no, exactly because I could sympathize with you, I could speak like this,” stated Arwen, trying to clear the misunderstanding. “You know, if I were you, I would not stop at burning their mansion. I would hunt their lives, even if I have to shake hands with the devils in order to do so.”

“Easy for you to say. I have literal demons inside me, but each and every one of them is so troublesome that it’s next to impossible to expect their cooperation!” objected Devon stubbornly.

“Have you tried talking with them? I mean, not just an empty conversation, but more like a discussion,” suggested Arwen. “Getting along has to begin somewhere, and in some cases, it’s just as simple as a greeting.”

Indeed, those accursed demons traded words with him, but always in insulting and abusive term. Devon could play that game but he didn’t enjoy it that much. Unconsciously he kept the conversation to a minimum, treating them more like a nuisance rather tha compatriots. Arwen’s advice was worth a try, thought Devon.

“Yeah, but still I feel guilty for what I did to the village and the residents,” sighed Devon somberly. “A dangerous power like I own shouldn’t be allowed to exist.”

“Exactly! Turn that guilt into a sense of responsibility! Own up your sins by controlling your power, Bro!” cheered Arwen. Francesca was amazed to see the positivity of the young elf which started to creep on Devon.

The mood changed in an instant. Words of motivation delivered by Arwen successfully brainwashed Devon. He was too ashamed to admit it though, so he couldn’t utter a word as a reply.

“Whoops, I’ve been away for too long. Better be back before the village geezers get suspicious!” Arwen stood up in a rush. “Stay strong, Bro! There must be a way around it! I’m sure of it!”

As she left, Devon felt the urge to lie down so bad. He still felt the aftermath from the incident in the village where his body was forcibly taken over by the demons. What a sudden twist of fate,just a few days ago, he was just a normal boy with a normal life, albeit his status as a slave. Closing his eyes, he hoped it was all just a bad dream.

“My father has been generous for allowing you to go to school, and this is how you repay his kindness?”

Devon wouldn’t be able to forget that annoying voice even if he wanted to. But how come he’s suddenly here, in the remote cave exactly in the middle of a forest unfamiliar to human?

Quickly Devon opened his eyes to confirm, no matter how irritated he would be to see the owner of that irksome voice.

And of course Gesta was standing arrogantly in front of him, accompanied by his lackeys. Weird, it’s not in the cave and Francesca wasn’t around. Devon found himself under the tree he used to spend his break time at school.

“Boss, are you speaking to a mute person?” joked the fat kid behind Gesta. “He didn’t utter a word even after he woke up. Want me to slap him so he can be fully awake?”

They bursted into laughter, leaving Devon dumbfounded. He was still processing what’s going on.

“Nope, this is how you wake up a mangy mongrel,” replied Gesta. A kick landed in Devon’s stomach, made him rolling on the meadow in pain.

“Why are you guys just looking? Need another example?” continued Gesta while swinging his right foot at Devon. This time, Devon’s head became the target of Gesta’s leather shoe.

The other bullies didn’t waste another second to join in the fun. They stomped the helpless Devon without any mercy with maniacal laughter. Gesta witnessed the event with a sinister smile. Devon should pay for going to the same school at him, thus making him associated by the slave boy. In order to make it clear that they weren’t affiliated to each other, hostility must be shown, or so he thought.

But Devon was no pushover. Amidst the flurry of the lackeys’ assault, he managed to stand up. The bullies were astonished and frozen on their place, losing their guts when they saw the fire burned in Devon’s eyes. But his target wasn’t them, it was Gesta.

Devon ran towards Gesta. His fist clenched, ready to collide with Gesta’s cheeky mug. Even in the face of apparent danger, Gesta retained his confident grin. Not even an ounce of fear was shown from his expression. But that thing should change anytime soon, with what Devon was about to do.

“DEVON!! NOOO!!”

When Devon came back to his senses, he was back in the cave. No Gesta and the others, only Francesca who growled in pain with her back pushing the cave’s wall.

“Francesca, what happened?” asked Devon while approaching Francesca quickly to check her condition. “Are you alright?”

“Apart from your bad sleeping habit, everything’s okay,” replied Francesca sarcastically. “I was worried since you were sleep-talking, more like sleep-screaming, though. Tried to wake you up, but a shockwave from your body sent me flying.”

“S-sorry, I didn’t mean to!” apologized Devon profusely. By reflex, he stepped back to avoid the risk of endangering Francesca’s live in succession.

“Nah, don’t be. This is the price I must pay for waking you up,” brushed Francesca off. “Of course you didn’t mean it, you were sleeping, remember?”

Despite Francesca’s light-hearted response, Devon couldn’t help but to feel guilty. He noticed one more time how dangerous he was to the persons around him. But then, Arwen’s advice echoed back in his mind, motivating him to move forward.

“Turn that guilt into a sense of responsibility!”