138. Cecilia Saten's Revenge (2)
Thanks to Hare's excellent actions, we were able to slip inside the mansion without causing a commotion. Hiding behind a pillar, Luna whispered quietly into Hare's ear.
"Hare! How did you take down all those people at once? There wasn't even a loud noise!"
"I, I just... knocked them out when they came close..."
"Knocked them out? But why didn't I see those knights?"
"You'll get hurt if you know too much, Luna. Stay quiet... someone's coming from the other side..."
Following Hare's words, Luna shifted her gaze to the opposite side. We were hiding behind the pillar, but a knight holding a torch was walking down the corridor from the other direction.
*I'm also curious how Hare took them down, but...*
I'd have to ask that later. Right now, I needed to deal with the situation at hand.
"Wait here for a moment, you two."
I hid Estia and Saten behind the pillar and moved positions briefly. When someone approached nearby, our bodies might stick out and we'd be discovered. Since I was relatively large, I had to hide alone.
*That guy's scent is different too...*
It's been a while since I've smelled that terrible stench. On the surface, he looked like a knight patrolling the mansion's security, but the scent tormenting my nose revealed the stench of a Grimoire within him. Just as Minerva said, the Black Crow Knights seemed to have been transformed by the Demon King.
*That guy's route is... through the corridor to the dining room. Another one will pass through here again in 5 minutes.*
Even the mansion was quiet, so the slightest commotion would alert them to the incident. The difficulty was indeed high.
"Though not as much as annihilating a Demon King."
I generated mana with non-elemental properties in both my hands and feet.
"Never let go of anything."
The moment the mana fully permeated my hands, I kicked off the floor and attached my hands to the ceiling. The hands touching the ceiling felt like they'd never fall off. I attached my legs to the ceiling as well, allowing me to crawl across it. Like a frog on the ceiling—
"Puhup—! Mister looks totally like a cockroach! What is that!"
"Sh, shh Luna...! We'll get caught...! And calling mister a cockroach...! Even if his actions look like a cockroach, you shouldn't say that...!"
A cockroach, she says. That's harsh. And the situation got harsh too.
"Who's there—!!"
"Heok—"
This foolish Hero. What was she thinking, making noise during an infiltration? Luna covered her mouth in surprise. But it seemed too late, and the Grimoire guy was approaching the pillar where the Hero Party was hiding.
*I thought she'd grown, but has she been living too peacefully... that foolish girl...*
I couldn't even move to avoid making any sound. Hare glared at Luna, the source of the disaster, as if she'd really kill her.
*Will I get to see someone killed by a look alone?*
Saten also glared at Luna for interfering with her revenge. Estia just glared along because Saten and Hare were glaring. Luna drew her sword and whispered in a small voice filled with guilt.
"S-sorry... spare my life... stop glaring... I was wrong... I'll concentrate now..."
"I'll give you 10 seconds—!! If you don't come out, I'll consider you an intruder and sound the alarm—!! 10! 9!"
Thump— Thump—
The numbers counting down. The Hero Party's blood pressure seemed to cool and drop along with the atmosphere. As the Grimoire guy walked slowly toward the pillar where the Hero Party was hiding, when the count reached 2, I looked down directly below me.
*Can I call this fortunate?*
It was lucky that he didn't stay in place but walked toward the Hero Party. I kept my feet attached to the ceiling and reached down to grab the man's neck and lift him up. I heard an unpleasant 'kek kek—' sound, but more unpleasant was the stench emanating from the man. Just as I thought my nose might rot, the man's unpleasant sounds automatically stopped.
"Luna."
"Y-yes...!"
"Don't cause unnecessary commotion. Take this seriously."
Thwack—!
"Mmph—!!"
I flicked Luna's crown. Being on the ceiling made it effective for hitting the top of her head.
"...I'll praise you for covering your mouth. But never do this again. Understand?"
Nod— Nod—
Luna clutched her crown and nodded as if she absolutely understood. She finally seemed to concentrate, changing to eyes befitting a Hero. I walked quickly to move before the next patrol route.
"Someone will pass through here in 5 minutes, so we need to move fast. When someone comes, I'll signal from the ceiling, so follow my instructions."
"Yes!"
"Y-yes...!"
"...Okay."
Everyone answered except Estia. But I had no intention of provoking Estia by asking 'Why didn't you answer?' Estia was best when she stayed quiet.
"Then, since you understand, let's go."
After that initial noise, we headed toward the Head of Family's office where the Demon King would be. Or rather, the Head of Family's office where Saten's father was, but...
"...This garbage place will finally be the last."
Saten probably didn't think of him as her father. I burned the rest from my memory.
Head of Family Lennon's office. Lennon sat in a leather chair, waiting for someone to come. He knew today would be his last. No, he suspected it.
"Your words were nothing but nonsense. Demon King of Pride. You said if I made a contract, you'd definitely find that bitch. But in the end, she's the one who came."
—You've never trusted anyone, so you can't even trust my words. Stupid bastard...
The Demon King of Pride. Pride. He wanted to retch at his futile death.
—You're stupid and foolish. You're trash for doubting, let alone worshiping, a Demon King despite being human.
"How could I trust a Demon King in the first place? You're talking nonsense."
—Bullshit—!! Do you think I'd lie about something my life depends on—!!?
Pride poured out his rage unusually. Lennon, who was arrogant and made belittling others a daily habit, was a good host, but Pride was furious to discover that arrogance was just a shell with rotten contents.
—Maintaining dignity and class is impressive for a human. But you failed to know your place. If you'd followed my words and fled, you could have lived another year, but you gave that up because of your petty pride.
"That would be a lie too."
Lennon looked at the cigarette pack his son Lenen had left on the desk.
*'When the baby is born, quit smoking, honey. Our child needs to grow up healthy. It's even a daughter. Quit smoking, understand?'*
"Damn it..."
Why was he remembering that now? What was so special about a daughter? Why wasn't she by my side, and instead this strange trash is here? Lennon hid the cigarettes from view and spoke to the chattering Demon King.
"Today. Did you say I'd die?"
—I told you 7 times. You die today. Because you didn't listen to me, didn't strengthen security, couldn't find your stupid daughter, couldn't protect your wife. You die today.
"I see."
Lennon stood up from his chair. Was it because of his heightened senses from gaining the Demon King's power? He could hear sounds he normally wouldn't have noticed. The Hero Party was within arm's reach. They were nearby.
"If I die, will I be able to meet my wife again?"
—Since you joined hands with me, that's a dream you can never achieve. With your idiotic judgment, you'll be dragged to hell.
He'd never meet her again. Lennon looked at the large portrait hanging in the office and murmured.
"I see. Of course. Unlike me, she had a kind heart."
—Unlike her, your daughter has a filthy disposition.
"That's not wrong."
The portrait. Lennon placed his blood-stained hand on the portrait of his deceased wife.
"She might have been kind when she was born, taking after her personality. In the end, I might have created that personality."
—What good is kindness? The problem is her lowliness. In the end, everything is a matter of dignity and honor. Lennon.
"We don't speak the same language, but we understand each other."
Lennon removed his hand from his wife's portrait. He couldn't see her anymore and didn't want to stain the portrait with more blood. And because the time he'd waited for 2 years had arrived.
"You've come, Saten. The enemy who killed my wife."
Creak—
The door opened, and along with Saten's pale face, the Hero Party and their guardian revealed themselves. Seeing Lennon's appearance, they seemed at a loss for words, their expressions hardening.
"Why don't you answer, Saten? As much as I wanted to see you, you must have wanted to see me too?"
"..."
"If you won't answer, I'll have no choice but to give you 'punishment' like before."
Lennon returned to the desk, broke open a locked drawer, and pulled out a nostalgic item. Seeing that item, Saten's pupils shook violently.
"Your personality has changed a lot. You've developed unnecessary emotions. Is that emotion fear?"
"..."
"Answer."
Crack—
The nostalgic item. The whip struck the floor, and Saten reflexively opened her mouth.
"...Perhaps."
"I see, it's all because of that man. Guardian of the Hero Party. Pride says he wanted to see your face."
Lennon lifted the whip and walked back toward the center of the office. Beneath his feet was fresh red blood that hadn't dried, and pieces of flesh were scattered about. Soaked in blood, Lennon faced Saten.
"Saten. How does it feel to reunite with my son Lenen?"
"...D-disgusting. Both you and... those pieces of flesh..."
"I told you not to tremble when I speak. It diminishes your dignity."
You still don't understand honor, Saten.
"My wife's murderer. Devil."
"..."
"Y-you crazy bastard!! You're worse than the Demon King!!"
Unable to hold back, Estia pointed her finger at Lennon and shouted.
"Saten, I don't like you! But I hate your father more!! That's a psycho! He's insane!!"
"Saten, it seems you've made undignified friends in my absence. How unfortunate. Your death should be lonely."
Cold and frozen. In a place no one knows. Dying lonely with no one to mourn.
"Originally, you should have quietly gone to hell with me... That's truly regrettable."
"That person is total trash—!! Why would Saten go to hell! Mister! As the Hero, I can see! That person is crazy! Why would Saten go to hell!"
"I'll explain instead of the guardian."
Because Saten is a murderer. Because she killed my wife. Lennon gripped a sword in one hand and a whip in the other. Then he raised his head toward Saten and shouted.
"Die honorably, Saten. That is the dignity for you and your mother."
"...Mister."
Saten, facing the hatred-filled Lennon, spoke in a tearful voice. In a voice trembling with fear.
"Please... kill that person... Please kill him."
The mask of expressionlessness shattered, and only a young child remained. A young child crying sadly, facing past terrors and asking for help. Lee Jun-woo hid Saten behind him and murmured quietly.
"I was planning to do that even without you asking."
Toward Cecilia's Head of Family Lennon, Lee Jun-woo drew his sword.