From Rock Bottom to Hero-Chapter 24 - The Demon’s Message

I focus my mana into my dagger and attempt the attack from my battle against the demons. I swing my dagger toward the training dummy, and a wind blade flies forward. The blade slices the dummy cleanly in two.

"Finally!" I fall backward, supporting myself with my hands. This is the first time the wind blade has completely cut through the dummy. I've been training all afternoon.

I glance to my right, where Shiro is sparring against Father with a practice sword. Shiro is much stronger than when he fought against me back then. Has he been secretly training?

Even so, Shiro still doesn't stand a chance against our father. Every one of his strikes is parried. With a perfectly executed counter, Father knocks the sword from Shiro's hands.

"Again!" Shiro calls out desperately.

"That's enough" Father replies. "Take a break. We can train again later."

"But!" Shiro begins, but he is interrupted by a loud noise coming from the city.

Bells. But not just any bells. The alarm bells.

Without a word, father and Shiro grab their swords and we start running. Even though I could be faster, I don't activate my Windcloak yet. I've already drained a lot of my mana reserves and need to save them for the battle.

It doesn't take long before we reach the city. We rush through the streets. Everywhere, people are stepping out of their homes, curious. Are they insane? Why would they willingly put themselves in danger?

As we reach the main square, I take in the situation and then I see him.

A single demon stands at the city gate.

The guards have positioned themselves before him, swords drawn, bows at the ready.

"Not one step further!" One of the guards barks.

The demon slowly raises a hand. "Relax" He says in a deep, almost amused voice. "I'm only here to deliver some information."

None of the guards relax. No one moves. The tension is almost tangible.

"Why should we trust you, demon?" Another guard calls out.

The demon grins. "Because I came alone." He replies. "Do you really think that if I wanted to kill you, I'd have knocked first?"

An uneasy silence follows. Some villagers who had stepped too close retreat in fear.

"We should kill him on the spot!" A man in the crowd shouts, but his voice is filled more with fear than courage.

The demon's expression shifts slightly, as if offended by the suggestion. "A wise man wouldn't do that. If you attack me... well, this city will be reduced to rubble."

A heavy lump forms in my throat. The guards exchange uneasy glances. They don't want to fight. But they can't just ignore him either.

"You stay where you are! We'll fetch someone to hear your information."

"Of course. Whatever works best for you." The demon smirks and waits.

Then, Gareth, the guild master, steps onto the square. His gaze is hard, his steps resolute. The crowd parts as he approaches the demon.

"I will receive the information on behalf of the mayor. But we speak elsewhere." Gareth says coolly. "Not here."

The demon tilts his head slightly, but his mocking smile remains. "Elsewhere?" His gaze sweeps over the crowd, slowly, deliberately. "Why so shy? Don't you want the people to hear what I have to say?"

An uneasy murmur spreads through the crowd.

My heart pounds. Something about this demon feels familiar.

I stare at him. His posture, his way of speaking...

"Father..." My voice is barely a whisper. "It's him. The demon who escaped."

Father's eyes narrow, his fists clenching.

"Then say what you came to say." Gareth remains firm. "And then leave."

The demon snorts in amusement. Then he turns to the crowd and raises his voice so that even the farthest villagers can hear.

"I bring a message from my master." He pauses before continuing. "A boy named Sota..."

My stomach tightens.

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"...must surrender himself at the demon outpost, 19 kilometers southeast of Arvendale, within one week."

The air feels frozen.

"If he does not..." His smile widens.

"This village will pay the price."

A shockwave of panic surges through the crowd. Some let out frightened cries, others stumble backward, and children cling to their mothers.

I feel ice creeping through my veins. My name. The demon said my name.

I look at my father. His jaw is clenched, his gaze dark. Shiro is breathing heavily, the anger in his eyes unmistakable.

Gareth is the first to regain his composure. "Leave!" he hisses dangerously. "Your message has been delivered."

The demon turns and slowly walks away from the city.

I feel the weight of countless stares on me. Heavy. Accusing.

"He has to go!"

"He's the reason the demon came!"

"If he stays, we all die!"

It's not just fear in their voices. It's contempt. They don't see me as one of them. They see me as the source of the problem.

Some adventurers in the crowd exchange glances. Then, one of them steps forward. A tall man with a battleaxe strapped to his back, a well-known adventurer like my father.

"Are you all out of your damn minds?" His voice booms across the square. "Do you really think that if Sota leaves, the problem will be solved? Demons don't stop at a single sacrifice."

"And how would you know that?" An older villager scoffs.

Suddenly, Selmira steps out of the crowd. "Because we know how they think. If you believe they'll be satisfied with just handing over a child, then you're naive."

The adventurer with the battleaxe adds. "Diago has done so much for this city, and this is how you repay him? By offering his son to the demons?!"

Some villagers lower their heads, uncertain. Others shake theirs, still unconvinced.

I suddenly sense movement beside me. I turn slightly and see Shiro.

He says nothing. Just stands there, head lowered, fists clenched.

Shiro has always defended me. Always. Even when we were younger, he stood up for me whenever someone tried to pick on me.

But now... he looks angry. Jealous. He won't even look at me.

Then, suddenly, he glares at me with disgust. "Why are you staring at me?!"

Reflexively, I lower my gaze but say nothing.

What's going on? Does Shiro want me to surrender too?

I activate my Windcloak and sprint away in panic. I race through the streets until I finally hide in a dark, secluded alley.

"This is all my fault... I have to fix this! But how?!"