Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

"Damn it..." The distant lights of the campsite were illuminating the nearby field like gentle lighting. Kendrin, a member of the Sword Sheath of Pofendal, had hidden under the shadow of a tree, avoiding such lighting. With a woman, that is. He muttered self-deprecatingly. "Well, there's no way I'll be welcomed into the Lord's embrace when I die..." Kendrick's expression showed both deep self-loathing and chilling guilt coexisting. For having a secret nighttime meeting with a woman whose name he didn't even know? No. Kendrick was not the type to have such sincere and conservative thinking. Young men and women finding each other attractive. It was perfectly natural, so what was the problem? However. There were certainly exceptions to that as well. Kendrick had been trying his best not to take his eyes off the woman's face. When he briefly looked away, his gaze darted elsewhere. And thus he caught sight of it once again. The woman's clothing that symbolized her status as a priestess. 'How on earth did it come to this...?' Kendrick couldn't understand. No matter how passionate he was in this area, he wasn't the type to covet a believer. He thought. That it wasn't too late even now. Just as he was about to take his hands off the tree— "You don't need to worry about that." The priestess looked up at Kendrick with upturned eyes. "The god I serve isn't the Lord God. Even if you covet a god's priestess, the Lord God won't be angry." "...Damn it—" Yes. This atmosphere. These eyes. This voice. Kendrick realized anew. How on earth it had come to this. She was different from all the women Kendrick had met before. Neither the flower shop's young lady who was famous for her purity in the city, nor the noble lady that men couldn't resist, were like her. Kendrick recalled a story he had heard somewhere. 'They say that a woman with demonic charm is more dangerous than a beautiful woman...' If such demonic charm really existed, wouldn't the priestess before his eyes be the owner of that very charm? As he was thinking such thoughts, his body was moving on its own. Kendrick, having pushed the priestess against the tree, moved his other hand to caress the priestess's cheek. "Oh my." Then a perplexed smile appeared on the woman's face. Of course, it was only perplexed on the surface— There was unmistakable boldness and mischief showing through. She pushed away Kendrick's hand and said. "But to really try to touch me without hesitation like that. You have no respect for believers." "Damn it— what do you want me to do...!?" When he tried to distance himself, she pulled him in. When he tried to approach, she pushed him away. Kendrick froze, unable to do this or that. Even his skillful posture of naturally cornering the woman against the tree now seemed awkward. Kendrick, who was experienced with women, unwittingly found himself being shy. The priestess— The high-ranking Desire Demon, Akirin, formed a faint smile as she looked at Kendric. It was the kind of smile one might make while watching a foolish animal showing its belly— But right now Kendrick had no time to worry about such things. The high-ranking Desire Demon's demonic charm had completely captivated him. Yes. Demonic charm. What captivated that elite of the Sword Sheath was not some tangible ability or power. The charm that existence itself possessed - a power born from her very presence. The high-ranking Desire Demon Akirin was dominating the elite of the Sword Sheath through that alone. It was the pride and dignity befitting a Desire Demon who had reached the high rank. For a high-ranking Desire Demon to use power to charm a single human was like a knight using a sword to frighten a child. It was beyond excessive—it was shameful. Thus. The high-ranking Desire Demon was leisurely enjoying her own amusement in the middle of enemy territory. She raised her hand as if she would caress Kendrick's cheek. When Kendrick moved his face toward it, her hand withdrew as if nothing had happened. "Is there something you want from me?" "...!" Kendrick's body trembled with a start. The priestess's polite tone had somehow transformed into something like coaxing a puppy. "..." Kendrick also felt that blatant change, but he helplessly nodded his head. Kendrick's gaze desperately followed Akirin's hand. Those white, slender fingers hovering near his face. "What a coincidence. I also have something I want from you—" "Then...!!!" Akirin's finger was placed on Kendrick's lips. Kendrick's atmosphere, which had been excited as if about to leap up, immediately calmed down. He concentrated all his nerves on feeling the touch against his lips. "You know, I'm curious about that person." "That person...?" "Stone Heart, Delron." "...!" It's what they call 'Status', I suppose. The elite of the Sword Sheath, Kendrick. He was someone whose level was incomparable to ordinary adventurers, mercenaries, or even knights. However, the high-ranking Desire Demon had no intention of being satisfied with that level. Would she have crawled into this 'demonic realm', like the jaws of a beast, just to seduce a single elite of the Sword Sheath? This expedition was overflowing with such attractive prey that even made the high-ranking Desire Demon's heart race. 'Stone Heart Delron... Ares of the Dibrian house... the craftsman of the Steel Fire Guild...' These were the targets that Akirin's group was currently eyeing. Moderate risk with sufficient nutritional value. 'If things go well somehow, we might even be able to target those heroes or elves...' The high-ranking Desire Demon's eyes gleamed with anticipation. Akirin, who had been pushed against the tree, took a step closer to Kendrick. "Tell me about that person." Kendrick shook his head. "Why, why that person—" Kendrick's expression was colored with anxiety. Because he thought that the one she was interested in from the beginning was not him, but Delron. "Isn't that Delron the most impressive man among you?" If Akirin had called Delron 'the one with the highest position among you'— Kendrick wouldn't have been able to refute that. However. Akirin deliberately used an ambiguous expression. "Ah. I can tell what story you've been hearing. You've heard that story too? Stone Heart. But that— I've been watching that person closely for quite a long time, you know?" To the high-ranking Desire Demon, a man's pride was like a simple and childish toy, like a branch convenient to wave around. When Akirin acted like 'a woman who admires a man's reputation,' Kendrick, not to be outdone, boasted and showed off to his heart's content. He began to pick out and say only the things the other party would want to hear. "Really? I thought Stone Heart— that person was incredibly impressive?" "Impressive— that's right! I acknowledge that. But what I mean is— rumors are bound to be exaggerated in the end..." The sight of him belittling his superior to look good to a woman. Akirin merely smiled inwardly, finding that foolish man's appearance utterly ridiculous. "Oh my, really? Not as— not as serious a person as I heard?" "Come on~ Delron being serious? You'll change your mind when you hear this story." "Then was that Stone Heart's reputation actually fake?" "Huh!? No, fake? No matter what, that's—" "Right!? Please tell me it's not. I admired Stone Heart's reputation so much after hearing about him..." "...It's, it's not fake. It's not fake, but—" Akirin clicked her tongue inwardly. After doing this much, he should have completely fallen for it— Unlike his frivolous atmosphere, the man's loyalty and respect were very firm. Though the man might act foolishly, he ultimately never crossed that final line. 'Then—' Akirin caressed Kendrick's cheek. "Ah—" The high-ranking Desire Demon's demonic charm bound the target more directly. "Such a kind person. You're being considerate of me, aren't you?" "Considerate...?" "Stone Heart. You want to tell the truth about that person, but you're being mindful of me, who admires him, right?" "..." It was actually the opposite. However, Kendrick, his mind captivated by the touch on his cheek, could only nod his head. "To be honest, I'm disappointed." "Huh!? D-disappointed!?" "Yes. In Stone Heart. In that person." "Ah...!" Kendrick let out a sigh of relief. And felt bewildered at himself for doing so. 'She's badmouthing Delron, so why am I feeling relieved...?' As always, that touch on his cheek and the woman's scent reaching his nose interfered with his thinking. Now, it didn't matter anymore. "After hearing your story, he doesn't seem as impressive as I thought. Right?" "...Yeah—" "Thank you for telling me that. You're an honest person." What a good boy. The high-ranking Desire Demon added quietly. "Ah..." A foolish smile appeared on Kendrick's face. His eyes were clear. This was what differentiated it from Mental Interference. Kendrick had now completely fallen for the other party with his sound mind. Essential attraction. Essential subjugation. It was not something that could be destroyed by magical power like Mental Interference. "Hehe..." Now there was only one way for Kendrick to escape from her. For the high-ranking Desire Demon to completely absorb his existence through energy drain. Which meant death. Kendrick craved the woman to the point of death. In his mind, there was only that mysterious woman. If only Akirin commanded it, he would lure Delron and bring him before her at any time. The high-ranking Desire Demon was satisfied. She gained confidence like that. "Kendrick. May I ask one more thing?" "Anything..." By now, her children would be making slaves of the members of the Dibrian Knight Order and Steel Fire Guild. The flow was good. At this rate, the Sword Sheath of Pofendal, Dibrian Knight Order, and Steel Fire Guild would soon be in her grasp. So— "The Hero... it's about that Master of Advancement—" Let's ride this momentum and aim for the entire expedition. The high-ranking Desire Demon's demonic claws were trying to devour the entire expedition like stretching shadows. Akirin used the same method as before. Mentioning the Hero to provoke Kendrick's pride. "I heard a rumor that the Hero defeated a Magic Swordsman in Tormund and saved the city's people. Hearing that, I thought the Hero was a Hero like Stone Heart-" Akirin waited for the predetermined answer. Now the foolish man whose pride had been provoked would surely belittle the Hero without fail. "What kind of nonsense is that? A hero like Stone Heart?" Sure enough. Kendrick said with a serious expression. "That's rude to the Hero." "?" Strange. A reaction quite different from expectations. Akirin provoked him more directly than before. "Th-then-...! The Hero is a cool person like you!?" "Stop!!!" Finally, the man whose pride had been provoked shouted. Akirin made a satisfied smile where he couldn't see. Finally, she was getting the reaction she wanted. This time for sure, the man whose pride had been provoked would belittle others to monopolize her attention! "Ahing." "?" A disgusting laugh flowed from the man's mouth. She thought she might have misheard, but she hadn't. "To say he's cool like me... Ayy... that's something you can only say because you don't know him-..." The man twisted his body, acting like he was dying of joy. It was an intense reaction that hadn't been shown even to the high-ranking Desire Demon's touch. "Ah, Kendrick! I was wondering where you went—you were there!?" It was just then. A third party's voice was heard. It was a female member who was Kendrick's colleague as a member of the Sword Sheath. She saw Kendrick's back figure facing the tree from a distance and shouted. "What are you doing there!? Are you taking a piss or something!? Cut it out and come along!!!" "Kendrick." Akirin immediately intervened. "Surely, when you're alone with me right now— you're not planning to go somewhere else, are you?" "Of course not. That girl — interfering at a time like this..." Kendrick answered immediately. Akirin felt slightly relieved at the sight of him genuinely finding his colleague unpleasant. Because of that strange reaction just now, her confidence had momentarily dulled. It was needless worry. He was still captivated by her demonic charm. "Hey! I'm busy right now, so mind your own business!" Kendrin shouted irritably without even turning around. "The Hero is taming 'those swords' right now!!! Three at the same time!!!" "Wow~!!!" Kendric ran off like a child welcoming his father who brought home chicken. "..." The high-ranking Desire Demon's affectionate hand lingered in the empty air. *** "How annoying. I chose the wrong target." Akirin, who had barely regained her composure, spat out irritably. Kendrick. She found the reason why that elite of the Sword Sheath was able to shake off her demonic charm in his mental state. "He looked normal on the surface—" The significance of demonic charm lay in making the target completely submit while their mind was sound. That man who repeatedly shook off the demonic charm for unknown reasons and displayed strange behavior would only act as a variable even if kept under control. So, Akirin didn't care much about it. Moreover, by now her subordinates would have created other slaves throughout the campsite. "Soon..." To achieve her modest goals with the expedition, she needed to be able to accompany them even after this night ended. For that, it was convenient to secure a certain number of slaves within the expedition. Akirin summoned her subordinates to check the progress of the plan. Her will as a high-ranking Desire Demon became an instinctual pull that drew the Desire Demons to her. Soon, the Desire Demons scattered throughout the campsite— No, the priestesses would gather under this tree. Priestess Akirin calmly waited for them. *** "..." The high-ranking Desire Demon was feeling extreme displeasure. It had been quite a while since she summoned the priestesses. Enough time had passed for them all to gather and more. Yet, there was still only Akirin at the location. "Where are all these things and what are they doing?" Could something have gone wrong with the Desire Demons? —such worries didn't exist. Those Desire Demons were all beings that had been taken in and born under Akirin. Akirin could tell that her subordinates were safe. For instance. They were now prioritizing other matters while refusing Akirin's commands. —Come here. —Come here. —I said come here!!! The frustration and displeasure that Akirin felt grew stronger. Accordingly, the command summoning the Desire Demons also became stronger. By now, Akirin's command had become almost a sharp scream. A command that the listeners absolutely could not ignore! Should she call it thanks to that? Finally, a response came back from the Desire Demons. —Wow. Akirin's expression twisted violently. That damn "wow" again. When she came to her senses. She was heading toward the campsite at tremendous speed. As she got closer, she could feel it more clearly. The Desire Demons were now gathered in one place. Gathering as a group and rebelling as a group. Were they plotting some kind of conspiracy? "..." The high-ranking Desire Demon's expression was soaked with rage. Thus. That high-ranking Desire Demon headed toward the depths of the campsite. There, many people had already gathered. It seemed as if everyone from the campsite had gathered in one place. The high-ranking Desire Demon proceeded straight ahead without getting lost in that crowd. The presence of the Desire Demons was guiding her. "You—" Soon, Akirin discovered the Desire Demons gathered in one place. They were so absorbed in something that they didn't even notice their queen approaching. Akirin let out a bitter laugh with a coldly hardened expression. —Come here. She summoned the Desire Demons once more. She thought she'd watch how they would react to a call coming from right beside them. Would they pretend not to know? Or would they beg for forgiveness even if belatedly? Whatever it was, she had no intention of forgiving them. Akirin waited for their answer with her head held high. —Wow. "Uaahhh!!!" Akirin nervously grabbed her own head. She pushed through the Desire Demons and caught sight of the same thing they were looking at. The center of the crowd. There stood the Hero. There stood the Magic Swordsman. The two were one. Because he held a Sacred Sword and a Magic Sword in each hand. All kinds of power swirled around him as the center. The power of magic. The power of black magic. The power of divinity. "Uaahhh!!!!!" Then. The Hero shouted. Akirin, who had been briefly dazed, trembled with a start. She thought that what was bound to come had come. A limit had come to the Hero who was handling incomprehensible power. Now he— "One more!!!" An assistant waiting nearby handed the Hero one more Magic Sword. "Kuaahhh!!! One more!!!!!" Magic Swords were added one by one. As if training weights were being added. "...Wow." Akirin muttered with a dumbfounded expression.