Chapter 150 – Those Who Squirm in the Darkness

Repeated training—and then, the day before the seal’s release.

“Commander. Someone claiming to be an envoy from the cult has appeared.”

While we were waiting for the right moment to storm the temple, a knight rushed into the command post set up inside the temple and made that report.

I exchanged glances with my companions.

…An envoy, huh? And at this timing. They must know we’ve figured out their hand, and now they’re trying some kind of scheme.

“Tell me more.”

“It’s a single man. He’s not carrying any weapons. He says he wants to speak with the Demon Slayer. But… he seems somewhat vacant, not quite normal.”

“…What should we do? We could just refuse, saying there’s no room for negotiation. Or we could send someone else, claiming they’re the Demon Slayer…”

Mildred said that while looking at me. Since I’m the one being named, she probably wants my opinion.

Sending someone else only works if they don’t know who the Demon Slayer is. Worst case, they might already know, and if someone else goes, it could mean the negotiations break down.

“If they’re naming me, it means they won’t talk unless I go. I don’t know what this is about… but it might be worth hearing them out to gauge their intentions. We still have time before the assault.”

Either way, I’ll go after taking Mathius’s form.

“…Hmm. Even if it’s just one person, we should be extremely cautious about assassination.”

“That’s their specialty.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“Theodore-sama. Me too.”

Hearing that, Grace and Ashley spoke up, perhaps worried. Marlene also stared at my face with concern… but I smiled and shook my head.

“No. It’s better not to show our hand until the last moment. I’ll go alone, so everyone please wait here.”

As I said that and approached to release Grace’s seal, she gently hugged me.

“…Theo. Be careful.”

…Right. Once she’s released, it’ll be hard to interact like this. Ashley and Marlene also softly drew closer.

Warm body heat and heartbeat. A scent that tickled my nostrils. After holding each other for a while, I pulled away and released Grace from the Cursed Tool.

“If anything unexpected happens, I’ll prioritize moving to accompany you.”

Claudia said. I nodded toward her.

“In that case, shall Seraphina and I work together to listen in on the conversation?”

“Mm. I’ll leave it to you.”

At Sheila’s words, Seraphina smiled. Yeah, that should be fine. The other side might let something slip if they think I’m alone.

“Be careful, Theodore-kun.”

“Mm. Well then, I’ll be off for a bit.”

I returned Irmhild’s smile and headed for the temple exit.

When I stepped out into the square outside the temple, I saw the envoy surrounded by soldiers.

…He looked like an ordinary young man in ordinary clothes. But as reported, his eyes were somewhat vacant. It gave the impression that he was being controlled, somehow.

“…I have… a message for the Demon Slayer. I am… an envoy of the cult.”

He kept repeating those two phrases over and over: that he had a message for the Demon Slayer, and that he was an envoy of the cult. …I see, so he’s just a messenger.

“I’m the Demon Slayer.”

When I said that, the man looked up. His unfocused eyes gazed vaguely in my direction.

“A message… from Virginia-sama of the cult. Our master—the cult leader—will visit the Boundary City from the north gate and wait for the Demon Slayer until the door is opened. If the Demon Slayer does not come… starting from the north gate—many will die.”

A summons by name. And from the cult leader himself. It’s almost certainly meant to divide us or serve as a diversion… But who is this Virginia? The cult leader’s right-hand woman, perhaps?

“…Who is Virginia?”

“A beautiful… person. Ah, red—red eyes—”

Muttering ecstatically, the man collapsed. He seemed to have lost consciousness… but this isn’t very helpful.

If he was being controlled… the first thing that comes to mind is Alraune’s Kiss… but well.

“Shall we check his identity?”

A soldier asked. After thinking for a moment, I used Light Bind to restrain the fallen man and then nodded.

As the soldiers examined the man’s body, one of them seemed to have found something and let out a surprised exclamation.

“Over here…! Look at this wound!”

“This is… a vampire’s—”

The soldiers’ eyes widened. Two holes had been pierced in the man’s upper arm.

…So that’s it. That makes sense. Virginia is probably a vampire.

Vampires and a demon-worshipping cult. Thinking about it, they might be a fitting pair. Since human society is their enemy, it wouldn’t be strange for them to cooperate even knowing each other’s true natures.

For Virginia, joining the upper ranks of the Duoveris Cult would allow her to secure both a stable food supply and safety simultaneously. For the cult, infiltrating or hiding anywhere… well, if they have that kind of card, it should be easy.

It should be applicable not just in Termwills, but anywhere. By using vampirism to enslave people, they could hide in residences or anywhere without causing a commotion.

But to reveal such an important card now… it suggests they’re in a pretty desperate situation.

While sending messages via the Communication Device to various places, I returned to the others in the temple.

“So the opponent is a vampire?”

“…Seems like it.”

I nodded in response to Grace’s question.

“If we end up facing that individual, I will handle them.”

“But… will you be alright, Grace?”

I also have some concerns about Virginia. It could be detrimental to Grace’s position. Grace probably said she’d handle it herself precisely because she understands that…

“My wish is to remain by Theodore-sama’s side. That person is clearly my enemy.”

Perhaps because she’s a half-breed, she wants to clearly define where she stands.

Grace said it decisively, without hesitation or pretense, in a calm tone. …Mm. She doesn’t seem worried.

“What does the Ambassador plan to do?”

“…I think I’ll take them up on their invitation.”

If their goal is to divide us or create a diversion, I don’t mind playing along.

And I’ll adjust my response depending on whether the demon appears or not. I conveyed that to Mildred.

“If we can’t locate the main demon, then I’ll blast them away with magic without any discussion and head for the Labyrinth.”

“I quite like your straightforward way of thinking, Ambassador. May fortune favor you.”

Mildred laughed cheerfully.

“Please be careful too, Mildred-sama.”

“Oh? We have skilled adventurers here, as well as Auria-sama and Oswald-dono.”

She said with a fearless smile, as if to say the defense was perfect and we could leave it to her. After all, this is the place where we need to be most wary of enemy attacks, second only to the Royal Castle.

When we immediately headed to the north gate with everyone… the gatekeeper soldiers watched us curiously. It seemed nothing had happened yet.

“Has anything unusual occurred?”

“No… nothing in particular—”

Just as the soldier started to say that.

“The unusual events are about to begin.”

Along with that voice, a group dressed entirely in black emerged from a nearby house.

We faced each other from a short distance. The Duoveris Cult followers wore smiles on their lips. Among them… was one woman with different-colored red eyes.

Sickly pale skin… crimson eyes and lips that stood out in the night’s darkness. So this is her.

“You’re Virginia, right?”

“Quite astute. The Magical Power I glimpse from you… I can scarcely believe it, but it seems you are indeed the Demon Slayer.”

Virginia smiled, showing her sharp fangs. There didn’t seem to be… any demon-like being present.

I wrapped Ouroboros in Magical Power.

“Don’t be hasty. I thought I’d show you a little amusing diversion.”

Saying that, Virginia narrowed her eyes.

“Now, all of you—. Rejoice. Now is the time our master will grant us the power he promised.”

Along with those words, the followers shouted in jubilation. As if that were a signal, vast amounts of Miasma gushed from their respective Tattoos. This is—.

With creaking sounds, the followers’ bodies—transformed into monstrous forms. Even in such an abnormal situation, the followers raised voices of joy, as if casting off their humanity was their very wish.

“De, demons!?”

The gatekeepers cried out in panic.

“Kukuku… Even with our master’s secret techniques, we cannot go that far. Should we call them Half-Demons? And this isn’t the only place. We have comrades hidden throughout the city. They will move simultaneously.”

“…And during that time, the crucial cult leader will teleport deep into the Labyrinth and launch his invasion, I take it.”

“The Demon Slayer is here… but can the others stop the Half-Demons? Meanwhile, our master will head to the Spirit Hall and achieve his objective. Why don’t you and I enjoy an elegant soiree here?”

This reply… confirms the cult leader is the demon.

And Virginia… seems intent on handling everything from sabotage operations to diversions and stalling.

If we hadn’t shown up, they probably would have focused on destroying Termwills’ important facilities, assassinating key figures, and killing or injuring the city’s people, knights, and soldiers.

In that case, we should assume these guys will fight in a way that deliberately maximizes damage to the city.

“Sorry to disappoint. You won’t be able to stall us even for a moment.”

“Oh?”

In response to Virginia’s composed expression, Claudia stepped forward.

“What’s this, little girl? Are you offering your blood to me?”Little girl (・・)?” Me?”

Claudia laughed off Virginia’s words. Virginia seemed displeased by that reaction.

“…Virginia, was it? You people belong at the bottom of the Great Corruption Lake.”

Along with those words, a huge Magic Array spread from Claudia’s feet. The next instant, as Virginia’s eyes widened, a teleportation light swallowed all of us and them.