Volume 2: Chapter 1 – Part 11Author: Geraint
Fuyumi, who had the appearance of a mature woman, stood tall, looking down at the charred body of her big brother with indifference. Her expression shifted into a cold glare before, without hesitation, she unleashed several swift slashes, reducing his body to remnants.
She turned away, intending to follow the direction the other demons had gone—until something strange caught her attention. She paused, scanning her surroundings with a sharp gaze.
Raising her sword, puzzled, she began striking the ground with powerful slashes.
"Divine Lance."
She raised her hand, forming a lance of light. Then she jumped high into the air and hurled it down with tremendous force.
BOOM!
The explosion engulfed the entire fortress, leaving behind a massive crater in its wake.
Landing amid the devastation, Fuyumi remained alert, searching for any sign of her opponent. Suddenly, blood burst from the ground and began to flow, surrounding her and forming a basin within the crater she had created.
Confused, she slashed wildly at her surroundings, but her blade struck nothing. Blood splattered everywhere, soaking her robe. As the pool deepened, her movements grew sluggish. Frustrated, she stabbed her katana into the ground, dispersing the blood around her in a shockwave.
Pulling her blade free, she noticed something emerging from a puddle of blood—it was Seir, naked and drenched in crimson. The large wound on his chest had healed, leaving only a scar behind.
Fuyumi prepared to strike again—until she saw the empty expression on her brother's face. He smiled at her, sinister and eerie, freezing her in place.
"Fuyumi, who did this to you?"
At her indifferent expression, fear crept into her eyes, and her body trembled.
Seir began walking toward her.
"Big brother is lonely... I was so worried... I missed you so much."
The surrounding blood began to emit a reddish fog, cloaking the area in a heavy, oppressive mist.
Fuyumi raised an invisible barrier to block the encroaching haze, but her visibility was already gone.
"Fuyumi..."
She saw his silhouette approach through the mist and immediately launched an attack—only for the figure to vanish like smoke.
Sensing danger, she spun and cut down another shadow behind her, but Seir rose again. This time, he grabbed her by the nape and cast a spell, rendering her unconscious.
"AAH!"
Fuyumi collapsed into his arms, and he gently cradled her. Her divine aura began to fade as her body shrank, returning to the form of a child.
Her eyes slowly fluttered open, and she looked up at him.
"Onii-chan?"
Seir's eyes widened. His dear little sister was speaking to him like her old self. He immediately pulled her into a warm embrace.
"Fuyumi! I'm so glad! You're okay!"
Tears welled in her eyes, and she began to cry like any normal child.
"Uuuuh. Waaaah! Onii-chan!"
Seir began to cry as well, overwhelmed with relief at finally finding his sister.
"I'm here now. Don't worry, Fuyumi. Your big brother won't leave you again."
"Uuuu..."
"But what happened, Fuyumi?" he asked gently. "How did the mind manipulation work on you? You should've been immune with the sacred relic's protection."
Fuyumi continued crying uncontrollably. Seir decided to wait until she calmed down. She didn't seem to understand what he was asking—after all, she was only three years old.
"Uuuuh..."
"Alright then... Where's Mom and Dad?"
"Ugh... Mama... Uh... Mama... Scary people took me away. They said... they'll bring me back to Mama if I become a good girl... I'm scared..."
"I see... I see..."
A dark fury ignited within Seir. A red aura erupted from his body as blood gushed out like a raging river.
Fuyumi saw the rage on his face and shrank back, turning pale with fear. Realizing this, Seir immediately took a deep breath, suppressing his wrath.
"My bad, Fuyumi... I shouldn't let this out around you."
Behind him, a torrent of blood coalesced. Corpses—both human and beastman, victims of the war—merged together to form a massive, eyeless undead hound with razor-sharp fangs and a grotesque body. It rose from the stream of blood with a terrifying aura.
"Don't look behind me."
He gently stopped her from turning her head.
"There's a scary monster back there."
"Hie!"
Fuyumi whimpered and buried her face in his chest.
"Anyway, can you tell me where those scary people are?"
She pointed in the direction she had come from—toward human territory.
"Hm? If I remember correctly... that path leads to... hmm, what was it again? I've forgotten."
Seir glanced at the undead hound and gave it a silent command with a tilt of his chin.
The creature immediately charged toward the direction Fuyumi had indicated.
"Let's go back now."
With a snap of his fingers, the blood mist vanished, and the pool of blood drained away, disappearing beneath his feet.
Seir walked back toward the camp, carrying Fuyumi in his arms.
(To be continued.)