Demonic System: Harem in Medieval World

8. Help From Old Friend

“Don’t we have any better choice of path than this, Fran?” complained Devon. The thorns kept scratching his poor legs left and right. “I would die from blood loss before we reach our destination.”

“Stop crying, you big baby! We need to take this path thanks to a fugitive like you!” scolded Francesca while elegantly avoiding the obstacles along the way. “We’re almost there, and keep your voice down!”

Actually the rough path he was taking wasn’t the only thing that worried him. He had been feeling unwell since he left the cave. His head felt spinning like crazy and he could also feel his body slightly hotter than before. Devon brushed that off as just a simple fever.

“Well, at least those accursed demons finally stop their noisy rumbling. Ever since they possessed me, this is the only time their voice didn’t go chaos in my head,” mumbled Devon, trying to look at the bright side.

“Francesca! It’s been a while!” greeted a youth in front of the village. “Hey, where’s your father? It’s so unusual for you to come here all by yourself.”

Realizing Francesca’s sadness which about to erupt again, Devon quickly jumped in to explain in Francesca’s behalf.

“He died while covering for me and Francesca,” said Devon.

“Oh, and who are you?” asked Billard again, clearly upset at Devon who answered his question to Francesca.

“I’m Devon, a guy whom Francesca’s father rescued. Not once but twice, at the cost of his life,” explained Devon.

“I could understand if Sir Baldur protected Francesca, his own flesh and blood. But you? How come a random stranger like you deserved to live, when Sir Baldur must die?” accused Billard, cornering Devon with each of his statements.

Francesca, who began to be able to control her emotion back, calmed the situation down.

“Look, Billard. However absurd it may be, it was my father’s last will, so I would be glad if you could join us to respect his final wish,” requested Francesca.

Billard just scoffed heavily to express his discontent. Exactly at that time, the pain that had been dwelling in Devon’s chest couldn’t be contained anymore. The heat scattered to every inch of his body, forcing him to fall on the ground, rolling over in a futile attempt to ease the pain.

“AARRGGHH, IT HURTS!”

“Devon, what happened?” asked Francesca in panic. “Perhaps some of the thorns that scratched you had poison in it! Billard, is there any healer available around here?”

Though he couldn’t care less about what’s happening to Devon, but a plead from his crush wasn’t something he could ignore. So, with a mixed feeling, he took them to the nearest healer around.

“I already applied the first aid to him. But on the safe side, I also gave him a talisman to clear the negative energy enveloping him. The poor boy has been suffering all this time because of that. Hopefully my talisman will be able to ease him a bit,” explained the healer after he finished treating Devon. “How are you feeling now, my child?”

“A bit better, thanks,” answered Devon weakly.

“So suspicious! He must be the embodiment of bad luck! You should stay away from him too, Francesca!” advised Billard out of scorn towards Devon. No response from Francesca, which only increased Billard’s jealousy even further.

That solemn situation was rudely interrupted by the opened door. It was the guards who hunted Devon and Francesca!

“There you are!” yelled one of them while rushing inside. Unprepared, Devon couldn’t react in time.

“No!” shrieked Francesca who covered for Devon, costing her a slash wound on her left shoulder.

“You bastard!” cursed Devon out of anger. He pushed down that guard back to his group, and started to throw anything his hand could reach to them in a desperate attempt to fight back.

“Cough, cough!”

His random resistance turned out to be working in his favor. The reaction from the potions he threw made a nauseating smokescreen, more than enough to cover for their escape. Wasting no chance, Devon carried Francesca out to safety.

Meanwhile, Billard and the healer were detained by the guards, whether as witness or accomplice, it’s up to their response.

“Hey, what is your affiliation with those two persons?” said one of the guards to Billard after the smoke cleared up.

“That guy could kick a bucket for all I care, but the girl is innocent! I know her for a long time!” testified Billard.

“What a coincidence! We actually don’t care about the girl. We just want to arrest the guy,” said the guards captain.

“If you could cooperate with us, we will lay no finger on the lady, as long as we can keep that guy. How about it?” offered the captain.

“Sounds like a plan, Sir. I am a hunter, and this is my territory. He won’t get away far,” boasted Billard.

“Billard, please reconsider! You don’t want to get on that boy’s nerves. I can tell he’s hiding something sinister. Leave this matter to them, you keep yourselves out of this!” warned the healer.

“You worry too much, old man,” objected Billard as he led the guards out to hunt Devon and Francesca.

At the same time, Devon who didn’t have a lot of choices for a hiding place, decided to stop just before the outskirt of the village. Proceeding out would only spell more danger than benefit, and he needed to treat Francesca’s wound as soon as possible.

Turned out his decision was fatal. An arrow hit his back, fortunately it hit the talisman instead of his flesh.

“You devil incarnate! Stop where you are! You’ve been surrounded!” ordered Billard from afar. He didn’t lie when he told the guards he knew this area well, too well instead. Finding Devon in no time was a proof of that.

Devon ignored that ultimatum. His focus was somewhere else. As the talisman broke, he could feel the power surging from within his body, too massive for him to control. Before long, a black fog enveloping his body, dark clouds circling above him.

“MORTALS... HOW DARE YOU HARM OUR HOST”

That words echoed throughout the village. The guards felt something wrong and their instinct told them to run for their lives, but it was far too late. With a swing of his hand, all of the guards’ heads dropped to the ground, leaving only Billard.

“Stop! Monster!”

“SO WHAT IF WE ARE...?”

“I should’ve listened to that healer...” regretted Billard just before his body was beaten to a mushy pile of bloody flesh with a thwack of possessed Devon.

“NOT ENOUGH...”

Devon who went berserk turned his target to the remaining villagers. He zapped here and there, with his empty hands, he butchered the young and old alike. He didn’t discriminate, not even to the children, livestocks, or even women.

“MORE...”

Still not satisfied, he roared so loud seven horns grew out of his head. He charged at the houses, as if letting everyone know that not even being in the house would save them. Spewing fire occasionally, he successfully immolated the village to a fiery cemetery.

Francesca could only look in horror. She gawked helplessly when finally Devon noticed her being the only survivor.

All of that massacre seemed to take quite a heavy toll on Devon’s mortal body. He fell to the ground right in front of Francesca, losing consciousness in the process. Witnessing the flames consuming the village, Francesca really wanted to abandon Devon right there and then. But her strong sense of justice inherited by her father told her to stay, making sure that Devon would not wreak havoc anymore, like what he just did now.