Demonic System: Harem in Medieval World

6. Noble Hunter

Devon kept dashing. His legs scratched by thorny bushes felt so painful. But he had no time to waste. He could still hear the noises of the henchmen who still didn’t give up to catch him.

“Looks like some of them escaped from the fire,” commented Asmodeus.

“Well thanks, Captain Obvious. My mission was to burn down the mansion, not grilling some bastards!” Devon replied back sarcastically.

“Calm down, boy. Although I am the embodiment of anger myself, but rage will do you no good in situation like this,” advised Satan.

“Dude, you’re getting out of character. You are supposed to be a demon!” shouted Devon.

That debate made Devon lost focus. He didn’t realize that in front of him, there was a man-made trap laid for wild animals. Heck, even if he focused, he still wouldn’t be able to see that. That forest was so dark, especially on a moonless night like this.

“Ouch!” Devon fell inside the hole. Luckily it wasn’t so deep and the ground was quite soft so his landing was cushioned by it. He just felt a little bit numb on his left arm, which landed first.

“See, that’s what I was talking about!” yelled Satan. “Serves you right for talking back to me!”

Devon stayed silent. His ears listened to the guards who drew closer. From their footsteps, Devon estimated they were around more than 11 people. He prepared for what’s coming. If worse became worst, he prepared himself to fight, albeit the handicap in numbers.

“Be quiet and stay still now! Seems like they don’t notice you’re here!” Belphegor calculated the situation quickly.

As Belphegor stated, the guards passed by the hole where Devon was stuck. Their sights were also misguided by the darkness. As they walked by him, Devon felt the fatigue that he forgot before. All of the pains also manifested inside his body.

“They are gone now, you might want to catch some rest. All of that running must be draining your strength,” suggested Belphegor again. The demons have already taken a liking to this boy.

“After Satan, now it’s you? What’s up with you demons acting buddy-buddy with a mortal like me?” shrugged Devon, still unable to trust the demons completely.

“Belphegor is right, Dev. Close your eyes for a bit and try to rest. Recover your energy, God knows when will you need it again,” Leviathan tried to talk Devon down.

“Demon talking about God, the end of world must be near!” Devon seemed upset. But he was also exhausted and sleepy. So, despite his distrust, he attempted to relax and before he knew it, he slept like a log.

“He’s still a brat, look how innocent his sleeping face is. Ahh, how I would love to corrupt him,” said Asmodeus. “After all that act of trying to look tough in front of us, now he’s sleeping so defenselessly.”

“Hold on, I hear another footsteps approaching this way,” warned Beelzebub.

“Yeah, you’re right. But I think it’s not the guards,” said Mammon.

Mammon was right. Those footsteps belonged to the hunter who made the trap which Devon fell in to, accompanied by his daughter, Francesca.

“Dad, our trap caught us something good finally. I hope it’s a deer, I’m dying to eat some meat!” said Francesca.

“Yes, me too, my dear,” replied the hunter while checking out the trap.

The hunter was so surprised that a human being was the one that his trap caught. “Seems like we still have to wait for that meat, dear. You don’t want us to become cannibal, right?” The hunter tried to tone down his daughter’s disappointment.

“Aww, that sucks! Another day without meat!” Francesca moaned. “Wait dad, you mean there’s someone down there?”

“Yep, and we’re gonna rescue him,” the hunter said that while going down inside the hole and lifted Devon up. Devon was so tired that he didn’t wake up from his slumber.

“Another mouth to feed, that’s great,” complained Francesca who had no choice but to follow his dad who carried Devon on his back. Two of them made their way to their hunting hut.

Upon their arrival at the hut, the hunter laid Devon on the bed and started to prepare something for Devon to eat when he would wake up. Francesca was also assisting his father, after she finished cleaning up Devon from all the dirts enveloping his body.

“Hey, wake up sleepy head! We told you to rest, not to die!” said Belpegor to Devon.

“Ugh, five more minutes..,” Devon replied lazily.

Francesca who heard Devon, approached him while bringing a cup of water.

“Here, drink it up,” Francesca handed that cup to Devon.

“Thanks,” Devon gulped that entire cup empty.

“Thirsty, aren’t we?” Francesca took a seat beside the bed. “Are you okay? Something hurts?”

“Nah, not that I can think of. Where is it anyway?” Devon looked around curiously.

“It’s our hunting hut,” replied the hunter who appeared before Devon. “The soup is on the making. My name is Baldur and this is my daughter, Francesca.”

“Nice to meet you guys, I’m Devon,” Devon introduced himself back.

“So tell us, how did you end up there?” asked the hunter.

“It’s a long story. I’ll try to keep it short. Some madmen murdered my entire family before my very eyes, and now they want me dead too,” replied Devon, trying to hold back his emotion. His tears started welling up but he didn’t want to show any of it.

“Are you for real? Damn, that’s harsh, you’re just a young boy, even younger than my Francesca,” said the hunter who felt sympathy to Devon. “Why would they want to do that?”

Before Devon had the chance to answer, the door to the hut was kicked open. It was the guards. How could they approaching without any noise?

“It’s showtime again, kiddo. Try to stay alive,” Belphegor’s voice echoed in Devon’s head.

This time, the guards were well-armed and didn’t waste any moment. They had a mission as well, to catch back Devon dead or alive. The unfair fight started between 3 civilians and a dozen of trained guards.

“This fight is not in your favour. Take my advice and leave this place!” Leviathan urged Devon to escape.

“I’m trying!” replied Devon fast. He didn’t realize that one of the guards were aiming for his head.

“Watch out!” The hunter yelled, blocking the arrow that was about to hit Devon’s head. That arrow pierced the hunter’s shoulder instead.

“DAD!” Francesca was devastated to see his father struck by the arrow. She tried to reach for him, but the hunter pushed her away from him.

“Francesca, leave this place at once together with him! I will hold all of these bastards here!” The hunter said heroically.

“But Dad, you’re wounded! There’s no way you could make it!” Francesca argued.

The hunter blocked the guards who attempted to bring him down. Despite all of the damages he suffered, he still stood strong, not allowing anyone of them to pass through him.

“Now is your chance! Grab the girl and run!” Asmodeus ordered Devon.

Devon at first refused to leave the hunter behind, but his logic saw that it’s impossible to win this fight. Immediately he grabbed Francesca’s hand and dragged her along with him, leaving the hunter who still attempted to block the guards.

“No, daddy!!” Francesca shouted histerically. Devon kept dragging Francesca away nevertheless.

“Let’s go, princess! You hear what your father says,” told Devon to Francesca.

“We helped you and this is how you repay us? Such gratitude!” yelled Francesca, who couldn’t break free from Devon’s clutches.

“You will thank me later,” said Belphegor while chanting some spell. Along with that, Francesca stopped resisting, making it easier for Devon to get her to escape. The two of them went further away from the hut, escaping the guards thanks to the sacrifice made by the hunter.