As Lily and I walked toward the Lord's office, Lira and Lyra trailed behind, carrying the demon's body and head. Servants stopped in their tracks, shocked gasps filling the air as they saw the severed head swaying in Lira's grip. So even let out muffled shrieks of horror, whispers breaking out among them.
[So, Host, how was your first taste of battle against a demon?] Sol's voice chid in my mind, unexpectedly lighthearted.
'You're just showing up now? Where were you during the fight?' I responded, exasperated.
[I didn't want to disturb you, of course. Demons are deadly, and a single distraction could've been fatal. I'm not keen on seeing my host die so soon.]
'Alright, fair enough.'
[Now, really—how was it?]
'Thrilling,' I admitted. 'I felt completely in control.'
[That's easy to say when you're the one with the upper hand. Rember—your enemy won't always play along.]
'Duly noted. Now, where's my reward?'
[Ding! Mission Completed: Eliminate the Demon]
[Reward: New Feature Unlocked—Demon Hunter's Arsenal]
'Demon Hunter's Arsenal? Explain.'
[It's a workshop that specializes in forging and enhancing weapons and items for demon hunting. It also acts as a storage unit. You can summon stored items at will—perfect for surprise attacks. The arsenal contains a wide range of weapons and artifacts that are particularly lethal to demons, but you'll need Kill Points earned from slaying demons or their allies to unlock them.]
'And what makes these weapons superior to the usual ones?'
[Unlike normal weapons, these are immune to demonic corrosion and can deal up to double the damage to demon-kind. So of them are enchanted with unique traits too. They cut through demonic energy like a blade through silk. Think of it as holding a demon's worst nightmare in your hands.]
'Now that's what I call a reward.'
Lost in my conversation with Sol, I hadn't noticed we'd arrived at the Lord's office until the knights at the door stepped aside. Inside, my father, Duke Lucious, and my brother Adam were deep in conversation. They paused as the door swung open, their eyes narrowing as they caught sight of us.
"What brings you here, Arthur?" Lucious asked, his tone curt.
"Father, it's easier if I show you," I replied, motioning for the others to step forward.
Lily entered, followed closely by Lira and Lyra, who held up the demon's mutilated remains. My father's face turned dark as he took in the sight, his piercing gaze shifting back to .
His voice was low, dangerously calm. "What is the aning of this, Arthur?"
"It's as you see, Father. A demon."
"I can see that. But why was it here?"
"This demon infiltrated our estate, disguised as one of our servants," I explained. "While I was strolling in the palace, he attacked . Thanks to Lira and Lyra, we managed to kill it."
Lira and Lyra exchanged a quick glance, clearly having more to say, but a sharp look from Lily kept them silent.
As I recounted the events, omitting certain details, Lucious's expression grew graver.
"A demon so far inside the empire's borders, and right under my roof," Lucious roared, his eyes blazing with anger. "They dared to try and assassinate the heir of a duke! If it weren't for your awakening tomorrow, I'd already be at the border, hunting them down myself. It seems they've forgotten the might of the Ludwigs."
"Calm down, Father," I replied firmly, holding his gaze. "Now isn't the ti to act rashly. We need to assess the situation carefully. This demon might not have been acting alone."
My brother nodded in agreent. "Yes, Father. There's a strong chance more of them have infiltrated. They could be hiding among the staff or even disguised as citizens within the city."
Lucious took a deep breath, his fury simring down as he considered his son's words. After a tense mont, he straightened, his tone turning cold and resolute. "Very well," he commanded, his voice sharp. "We will conduct a thorough investigation of every single servant, guard, and maid in this estate. I want them all scrutinized—no stone left unturned."
"Should I request aid from the Holy Church?" Adam asked. "The Paladins would be able to detect demonic energy among the staff far faster than we could."
The suggestion caught off guard. "Why involve the Church? Can't we manage this ourselves?"
Father crossed his arms, looking at with the unyielding focus he reserved for matters of war. "Because the process would be slow and inefficient if we did it alone. The Paladins and priests are attuned to sensing demonic energy—they could uncover any hiding demons within hours."
"Will the Church agree to help us?"
Father's expression shifted to a slight, grim smile. "The Church has long sought an opportunity to have a Duke indebted to them. They'll comply willingly."
After a long silence, he fixed his gaze on . "Now, return to your quarters. Tomorrow is your Awakening, and I won't have anything interfering with it."
"Yes, Father," I replied, inclining my head.
He turned to Lira and Lyra. "You're to stay with him and ensure he doesn't leave his chambers alone."
The twins responded in unison, "Yes, my lord."
With that, we left, leaving the demon's body behind in the Lord's office.
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