Chapter 41

  No point wondering if I did the right thing. In this situation, there’s no right choice. Every option’s a tragedy. Those kids were cut off from home forever. Just like me. Sure, they probably had some magic potential, but let’s not kid ourselves. With the experience penalty, they wouldn’t have lasted long. I couldn’t protect them. Hell, I don’t know if I can protect myself. The only thing… their final moments were somewhat peaceful. I’d like to think so. No one knows what awaits us after death. That instinctual fear’s baked into us from birth. What if, deep down, we know what’s coming? In my past life, I didn’t want to die either. Clearly, for good reason.

  That crystal asshole will probably come looking for me. So I’ve gotta get as far away as possible. But first, I need to hit one place. The healer camp… That’s where they were taking the kids. Sounds too damn creepy. Right now, someone’s probably suffering like I did. I’ve got to hurry. Every second I waste is years of unbearable pain. My strength’s not enough, but I’m fucking obligated to try something.

  I headed in the direction the succubus pointed, seizing every chance to boost my stats. I jumped packs of doggos and kitties without a second thought. My body was turning into a pincushion from their claw marks. But my agility kept climbing. When no monsters were around, I practiced disintegrating rocks of different sizes, honing my new ability. It juiced up my other stats too.

  -

  / Race --- Half-demon /

  / Level 73 /

  / Specialty --- Slave (experience 1%) /

  / Strength --- 41(+20) Endurance --- 56(+11) Agility --- 80(+18) Magic Power --- 109(+1) Mana --- 180(+23) /

  / Skills: /

  // Sensitivity – 312(+5) Concentration – 307(+5) Mana Control – 179(+5) Thinking – 148(+5) Endurance -- 110(+5) //

  / Element – Lightning /

  / Titles: Martyr, Demon Slayer /

  -

  It took me a hell of a long time to reach the place, and it nearly drove me insane. The healer camp… Now I get why. A few hundred meters from a dusty city stood a straight wall, about a kilometer long and three meters high. You’d think it was a defensive barrier, except for the chains and shackles dangling every five meters. Some still had human remains swinging. It’s like a gym. But instead of equipment—people. My insides froze. This empty wall’s screaming its pain at me. Wailing from endless suffering. My head spun. Why… Damn kids… Things were easier before I met you. I fucking hate kids. I can’t do this… I need to calm down. It’s fine… No one suffered. They had painkillers. You can buy painkillers without a prescription at any pharmacy. Shit… Gotta come up with something more believable.

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  Only two victims hung on the nearly bare wall. Faint sobs came from them. Across from them stood two demons. I rushed them without thinking. Silent as a plague. I saw one demon mutilating a poor boy’s body. Another hung nearby, already being worked on by a healer, unconscious. They were too caught up in their work to notice me. But as I got close, I stopped. I ducked behind a small boulder and waited. Because the torture was over, and it was time for healing. I know this routine all too well. Let these bastards finish their job.

  - Fuck, how many times have I told you to break the bones evenly? – One demon started.

  - I break ‘em fine! If you can’t heal ‘em, that’s your problem.

  - I can, but it takes more mana.

  - So what? You’re the healer. In a fight, no one’s gonna ask how evenly to break a bone.

  - You’re an idiot. If I burn that much mana on one, there’s no point training on two, got it? One’s enough.

  - You’re whining again. You’re pissing me off. Don’t wanna work? Tell the general.

  - That’s not the point. You probably don’t give a shit why we’re doing this. Just wanna break something. You don’t even know what mana is.

  - Oh, here we go… Mana this, mana that… If you’ve got something to say, spit it out. Say it all. Go on… “You’re a dumb brute with no magic, can’t even use mana. Compared to me, the great healer, you’re nothing.”

  - That’s not what I meant.

  - Sure, sure… I know your type… Think you’re hot shit ‘cause you were born a mage?

  - Stop, stop… If you’re so offended, I didn’t birth you. Go bitch to your mom.

  - What? I’m just sick of your attitude. You mages aren’t better than regular demons, but you talk so much shit it’s unbearable.

  - Yeah? Then maybe you heal him, huh? Go on, try.

  - That’s your job. Quit whining.

  - Of course it’s mine… ‘Cause I’m the only one here who can do it. Just like breaking a damn bone evenly! Wanna prove you’re worth something? Do what I ask!

  - See… You said it wasn’t what you meant… Fuck off, I’ll do it my way.

  - Ugh, fucking hell… Idiot, we’re in the same boat! We’ve got days to level me up, or we’re screwed. If I’m weaker than those shitty healers from the center, the general will kill us both.

  - Then shut up and heal.

  - Bitch… I asked for someone else. Noooo… Aler needs to level up… Poor guy’s deprived…

  - Fuck you.

  - This is such bullshit. How long can this go on? My whole damn life’s the same. All I do is train… Train… War’s coming, we gotta be ready… Look at these humans… I’d kill them all myself.

  (Yeah, fuck, you’re both pissing me off. Heal the kid already!)

  - Sure, you’d kill ‘em. Big slayer.

  - There… Please… Mana’s out. Gotta wait. Fucking great. Break time.

  - Bullshit, you’re not out, you just don’t wanna work.

  - What I want doesn’t matter, moron. Doesn’t refill my mana. So give the human a break. He’ll bleed out, and we’ll get such a beating you’ll never forget.

  - Pir and his elite will be here tomorrow. Wanna be one of them? Work. Don’t worry about humans. There’s fifty more in the city. Gars brought extra, just in case.

  - Damn… He went all out.

  - Yeah… Unlike some demons.

  - Shut the hell up already. Why’re they holding these meetings all of a sudden?

  - Inspection. Not many of you special types around. They’re picking the best. Call it a tournament. Pir’s taking the top healers.

  - Any other generals coming?

  - Maybe none. Someone killed Ksiron and a bunch of his demons in Dapaedi, so I don’t know.

  - That was in Dapaedi? Heard anything about Aiden?

  - Who’s that?

  - My buddy. We trained together once.

  - Nah. Don’t know anything.

  - Shame. Still, wonder who could’ve done that… cough… – A slit throat cut the healer off, but I caught the gist.

  - Who, who… Your mom’s uncle.