Chapter 16. What a Windfall (3)
"Gah!"
The demonic creatures disguised as guards were gruesomely sliced apart. As their bodies hit the ground, their human-like skins transformed into monstrous forms.
But that wasn’t all.
The remaining demons were mercilessly dragged into living shadows that seemed to move on their own. The first to be taken were those approaching the Skeleton King, the shadows radiating fury as if offended by their audacity to target him.
In a way, they’d done the holy knights and Skeleton King a favor by eliminating enemies. Naturally, the demons were utterly bewildered—they’d recognized their opponent’s true nature.
“Gah! Why?! Attacking your own kind… Aaagh!”
The screaming demons were sucked into shadowy pits despite not being weaklings by any means. Watching this, the Skeleton King chuckled darkly—he’d recognized that shadow.
That’s the Shadow Lich.
The high-ranking demon he’d resurrected from a bishop’s totem not long ago. After being humiliated in the hierarchy and fleeing, had it been following him this whole time?
[Master told us to detect enemies, not well-wishers.]
Whisper’s response made the Skeleton King scoff. Indeed, he sensed no hostility from the Shadow Lich—quite the opposite:
[I’ll eliminate all who threaten that child!]
An ally…
[Keep your filthy hands off them!]
“Gah!”
Hmm, affection…?
[Don’t even look at them with those dirty eyes! I’ll pluck them out!]
Thud!
…An affection so intense it was problematic. Frankly, this level of obsession was terrifying.
The Skeleton King could only tilt his head in confusion. Why would a high-ranking demon act this way? Had his earlier discipline somehow sparked profound enlightenment?
So it was this bastard who eliminated those 88 missing demons.
Regardless, such a powerful high-ranking demon inexplicably protecting a human infant was convenient. Not that he complained.
But one problem remained…
“Young Master Relai…”
“How should we interpret this situation?”
The Esua knights stood frozen, swords in hand. Even these elite warriors, the empire’s foremost blades who rarely batted an eye at anything, found this scenario absurd. Their eyeballs darted left and right as sweat poured down their faces.
“Demons are protecting Young Master Isaac, but…”
The Skeleton King’s eyebrow twitched as if this were troublesome. Even so, demons guarding a human child crossed a line. Any sane person would suspect something…
“They’re not protecting him—they’re fighting among themselves. Trying to kill each other first.”
“Ah, so by eliminating rivals themselves, they’re effectively protecting Young Master Isaac?”
Idiots, the Skeleton King thought gratefully. Their stupidity was a blessing. Given the empire’s anti-demon decrees, having demons this deep in human territory was unprecedented.
The Knight Commander who’d blown off the bishop’s arm grew serious. “Demons don’t target specific humans. For a solitary Shadow Lich to pursue him like this… Young Master Isaac must be special.”
Yes! The Skeleton King perked up. Say I’m a saint candidate! This would elevate his status in the ducal house.
But his uncle crushed this hope. “Just an ordinary boy. A true saint candidate would radiate holy power like our Saintess.”
The Skeleton King twitched—he hadn’t yet mastered consciously accessing holy power, his magic-oriented mind struggling with sacred arts.
“Moreover,” his uncle added pointedly, “a male born in Esua couldn’t possibly possess power rivaling our Saintess.”
The Knight Commander froze at this loaded statement before redirecting furiously: “Then why would demons obey the Skeleton King’s orders to attack a powerless child? How depraved is that monster?”
The newly labeled “depraved” Skeleton King glared indignantly as his uncle one-upped: “Oh, he’s far more petty and wretched than you imagine.”
Memories flashed through his uncle’s mind—past children of Esua dying to “the Skeleton King’s curse.” He suddenly declared: “Don’t grow too attached. He won’t live long anyway.”
Before anyone could process this ominous pronouncement, blue sacred energy enveloped the area in a barrier as holy knights attacked. The enraged Shadow Lich fought back:
[Dogs of gods! How dare you imprison His Majesty!]
It broke free and charged toward the Skeleton King:
[My King! Let me save you from these filthy—]
The Skeleton King smiled beatifically—then flash!
The lich transformed into beef jerky mid-air, which he happily grabbed like a rattle while everyone gaped.
“High-level sealing magic?! Only archbishops can perform totemization!”
The stunned knights’ exclamations pleased him immensely—now they’d treat him like royalty!
As his uncle carried him away promising to teach him “how to curse that wretched Skeleton King,” our protagonist fumed internally:
Esua bastards… just you wait.
