Nether Feast - Chapter 9

The queen escorted me to the throne room. The king’s body had already been removed with his scepter. There was no longer a procession of soldiers, but I sensed a couple squads at the entrance of the throne room likely acting as guards.

It was then I noticed Prince Wildist sitting as far back as he could on the throne. He was unable to lean back comfortably. It wasn’t that he was small in stature, but his father had been a small giant. The throne itself was made of dark stone with red cushions on the seat, back and arm rests. There was a golden goblet resting at the end of one armrest that Wildist was leaning away from. The last thing he seemed was comfortable.

“Is it appropriate that I call you Demon King Wildist?” I said from the base of the stairs leading up to the throne.

He affirmed it with a nod, though he didn’t look too sure. “Yes, Demon Lord. Would you prefer I come down to you?”

“Keep your seat, young king. Become a good one, and I will help you make your father proud. As for the supplies I promised you.”

I’d already gone through my collection of corpses and decided I’d leave many first, second, and third realm demons to them. I had an even larger supply of mid and high realm corpses of which I planned to drain of blood and dilute for my human family and friends.

Walking off to the side of the throne, I started piling up corpses until the mound nearly reached the ceiling. The most potent ones I sat aside. Not only would this feed them for months, but it should also allow their clan to undergo a huge transformation in power.

I heard the young king come to his feet as he looked upon the meat in astonishment. A scurrying of feet announced Princess Elusa coming out of her hiding place behind the throne’s platform.

Turning to the girl that wasn’t really a girl at all, but over forty years old despite her teenage appearance, I spied a hint of her internal turmoil in the way she looked at the mound. She shared her mother’s strong cheekbones and long face, but she was even more delicate in appearance and would easily pass for human if it weren’t for the horns.

As I headed back toward the queen, I stopped at the princess’s side. Even then she resisted the temptation to look my way.

I returned to the queen and addressed her. “Did you also want to see the outside world?”

She hesitated momentarily, but then shook her head. “My place is here. But thank you.”

“Then forgive me for going against your wishes, but once Clan Eorith’s dealings with the Netherplane are severed and things have stabilized here, I will ask you to accompany me for a time.”

“Of course,” she replied with a bow of her head.

Seeing her swallow the knot in her throat, I knew she was pleased.

“I will return in a few weeks.”

Without waiting for any official response, I began walking toward the exit. I hadn’t asked for any treasures from the main family, for I had taken their king’s head. The queen provided me with a stack of scrolls that would allow me to portal to the top floor of the tower directly, so I could return anytime I desired. I also had enough scrolls from my shopping trip the day before, so I could return to town right away, but I left on foot because I wanted time to think.

My bitter reaction to the queen’s question, and all that I’d done was something I hadn’t planned but it felt appropriate. I didn’t feel guilty for all the demon lives I’d taken in the Netherplane. I had done what I had to survive. However, the threat of genocide was something I knew was no longer an option. I’d already seen too much from this one family. Perhaps my doubt had begun a few days before when Demon Lord Kiafer offered to send me home. It had simply taken me this long to realize it.

There was another reason I’d decided to go through with helping them that I didn’t want to admit to the queen. Forget titles and unique traits. I was raised in the carnage of the killing fields. In that way, I was a product of the most brutal training grounds throughout the realms. I survived where the majority of demons failed. King Jerras was right. I was more of a demon than they were, and in a strange way, I felt more at home amongst this once banished clan than humans.

Chuckling to myself, I acknowledge the queen was right. I was lonely and was even willing to make a home amidst a clan of demons.

I turned my thoughts to the sister I’d never met. Once I returned to show the minister that I’d fulfilled my promise and left him with a few unexpected gifts, I could use a scroll and be there to greet her with little delay. I held no fear of Grayson Tower, but stepping out of that portal to be judged by this unknown sister made me anxious. I’d already decided I’d do anything for her.

How long had it been since I felt anxiety? It wasn’t something I’d ever shied away from in and I wouldn’t do it now. Realizing that my delay in returning might make that exactly what I was doing, I pulled out a scroll in the middle of the ninety sixth floor, opened a portal, and stepped through.

***

I arrived at the portal reception area in the middle of Grayson city. As I did, a number of people gave me peculiar looks, but I ignored them. I had a lot on my mind, and I had places to be.

“Adventurer Ailen,” a girl’s voice sounded.

I found a little curly headed blond woman at the entrance to the building waving at me. She had a white button up shirt beneath a black cloak with a matching skirt. Seeing she wore sturdy boots and black stockings made out of an abnormally tough looking material, I suspected her to be from the adventure guild.

“Yes,” I replied coming to a stop before her.

She swallowed uncomfortably before responding. “I’m here to bring you to Minister Leighton.”

“Thank you.”

She was quick to look away. “Come with me.”

Our trip through the city only took a few minutes. The Grayson Station was located in the middle of the city for just that purpose. It was very convenient. I was surprised to see the minister had left someone there to wait for me though. I hadn’t given him a time to expect my return, so the poor girl had probably been waiting for hours.

When we neared the adventurer’s hall, she took me to the side street with the storage room that seconded as a secret entrance to the minister’s office.

The blond girl leading me went straight to the door and inserted the key. Opening it, she glanced back, giving me a red-faced smile. She hurried through the portal after that, and I began to wonder if she was sweet on me. She was far too young for me to be interested, but I was flattered. It might be years before I dared to seriously consider anything resembling a relationship. It was nice to be admired for anything but the way you might taste.

We appeared in the minister’s office and found him at his desk going over a scroll. He glanced up to see the two of us and his brow cocked upward.

“Thank you for your help, Helen,” he said. “You can go.”

She hurried to leave, but not without giving me a final glance and a shy smile.

Scratching my cheek after she was gone, I shrugged. “I think she likes me.”

The minister palmed his forehead before massaging his temples. The response left me confused.

“Is something wrong?” I asked.

He chuckled and looked at me with a shake of his head. “You’re half naked.”

My eyes widened as I looked down. He was right. I hadn’t put my robe back on since removing it when I removed the demon king’s head. That meant—the demon queen, Helen, all those people on the street on my way here…

“Will everyone know?”

“Know what?” He replied. “That you have some unique Demon Lord physique that no human being has ever possessed? No. But I’d recommend putting on some clothes if you don’t want to be ogled by half the woman in Grayson. No one will connect it with your realm, but people will think you have some high-level physique which will drawl unwanted attention that you said you didn’t want. I’ll speak with Helen. She’ll keep this to herself.”

“I’ll be more mindful then.” Taking out another robe, I pulled it over my head and got dressed. This robe was a deep green in color and wouldn’t stand out.

“So did you have much success?”

I crossed the room in a few large strides and with a thought, I placed Demon King Jerras’s head on the empty end of his desk. “The tower master’s head as promised.”

As if not expecting me to succeed, he was still for a moment before slowly falling back into his chair. “After all these years. Thank you, Ailen.”

“It’s as things should be.”

“Is the tower cleared?”

“No. I’ve taken the Demon King’s clan for my own. They will never kidnap humans again, and in a few months, their connection to the Netherplane will be severed for good.”

He suddenly looked troubled. “You left them alive?”

“I did. They’re not—They aren’t like the demons of the Netherplane. They were banished here as a punishment by a demon lord and have been struggling for survival for centuries. What would you think about having sole trade rights with a demon clan that farms the highest levels of the tower of which human’s rarely reach?”

“And if you’re wrong?”

“Then I’ll kill their new king and try again. I’ve told them as much. I also plan on working out a treaty of sorts that will keeping them from attacking humans except in self-defense.”

He returned to massaging his temples and gave it some thought before responding. “Do you really think it’s possible? Isn’t this more likely just some deception. They’re demons after all.”

“Before I left yesterday, I would’ve agreed with you. But after what I’ve saw? I think we might have a rare opportunity here. Not only could we make the tower safer, but they could also become the first line of defense against other demons threatening our world. I was told that a mid-realm demon would come looking when tribute stopped flowing from the tower, and I believe them. If we can supply them with things they can’t live without, even things they could never get from the Netherplane, then I think they’ll be more than happy to set up a long-term trade agreement. They possess many things that adventurers might greatly desire, but they don’t possess a consistent food supply. If they go to the middle and lower floors they’d have to get into life and death battles just to secure something to eat. I’ve also been given scrolls to portal directly to the top floor, so if they break their word, I can return at a moment’s notice to take care of any issue.”

“If anyone else was asking me, I wouldn’t even consider it.”

“Thank you, Minister.”

“Yeah. Yeah,” he replied, and with a wave of his hand he sent the demon king’s head into his inventory. “I have something for you.”

“And I have a few surprises for you as well.”

“I’ll go first.”

Holding out both hands, a pair of short bracers appeared. “It was a little short notice, but I had a craftsman friend of mine make these for you. They were originally prisoner cuffs designed to limit a prisoner’s magic ability. In this case, they’ve been fitted with leather straps so you can remove them as you will. I doubt they’d hinder your casting if you really wanted to overpower them, but they should be great for hiding your aura, and even better, your status when people use identification magic on you. Try them on.”

My face lit up as I took them. They really did look like simple steel cuffs that might be used to secure a prisoner. They weren’t pretty. Placing the first one on my forearm, I confirmed that it was far too small for a real bracer. More like a wide bracelet. I didn’t even after to fasten the leather straps to feel the restraining magic take effect. He was right. If I really wanted to cast a spell, I could tear through the resistance without much effort. And casting low level spells shouldn’t be affected at all.

Once I had them both secure, I said, “How are they working?”

He cast a quick spell and gave his info screen a peek. He looked disappointed. “They work, but they’ve only lowered your perceived level to the third realm. Try this as well.”

He handed me a neckless that was little more than a thick silver chain and I fastened it around my neck.

“Better. I’m getting a reading of level 260… Take these.”

He then removed two silver rings with dark green opals. Sliding them on my index fingers for a decent fit, I gave him a hopeful look.

“Level 36,” he consoled. “It’s a little high if you want to take advantage of how young you look, but I don’t think there’s any getting past how exceptional you are no matter what you do.”

“Uh. Thank you.”

“I’ll put it down as your official level on your adventurer card. Hand it over for a second.”

After I did, he tinkered with in momentarily and handed it back.

“My turn,” I said, spinning around. “I think we need more room.”

“This way.”

He walked me out of his office through the actual door and led me down the hall. Opening a nondescript door, he led me into a half empty meeting room. There was a large table in the middle, which would work out just fine.

I didn’t have much planned for any of the treasures I’d gathered from the tower, so I just started unloading everything. I used the table for more delicate items like the monster root I’d retrieved for him. As for weapons and armor, I just leaned against the wall and started a few piles in the corners.

I’d only unloaded a quarter of it when I looked back and saw the minster leaning heavily against the wall.

“Minister Leighton, are you crying?” I said in jest.

“Heaven’s, son. You were only gone for a day…”

Crossing the room, I gave him a friendly cuff on the shoulder. “I’m going to need a few more rooms.”

When he almost jumped high enough to hit his head on the ceiling, I thought something might be wrong. He called Helen and she helped us sort through everything. I told the minister to grab anything he thought he might need to advance through the next couple realms. Helen was a young promising adventurer in her own right. Level 22 and only eighteen years old. I proceeded to shower her with an excessive number of resources to help her get to the first realm faster as well.

My thinking was that if the minister hired her then she’d probably shown promise. Spoiling her might make her a bit complacent at first, but it would also tie her closer to her employer. So helping her was helping him. I also admit that I was enjoying watching their reactions. Their excitement was contagious.

There was another reason. I had no intention of taking advantage of the girl, but I was shamelessly using the looks she gave m to help me work through my own feelings. What I’d told the queen was undoubtedly true. In many ways, I was naïve. I took the time to help sort through the difference between bodily attraction and loving affection. It was only attraction between me and this Helen.

Getting a handle on my emotions would help me in my future dealings with the far too beautiful Demon Queen. I didn’t believe she would try to deceive me outright, but she’d undoubtedly take advantage of any feelings I developed for the good of her people. She said as much.

I was sure about another thing. My nativity, or inexperience, was dangerous. Not in a life and death sense, but I already made a commitment with Demon Clan Eorith, and I had a feeling I’d be making many more such commitments in the days that followed. Such things were necessary if I wanted any connection to others.

Before I left to meet my sister the first time, I put together a care package with an anonymous note that read.

Many years ago, you generously helped me. Recently, I’ve come into considerable wealth, and, with great pleasure, I have the means of paying you back with interest. Please make good use of this small offering. Thank you.

The minister reassured me that my ex-fiancé Arusha and her husband had been active adventures for decades in their younger years. They’d been well respected so there should be no end to the possibilities of who this package might come from.

I took a portal to the neighboring city of Hasting. Following a map the minister lent me, I found the estate I was looking for in half an hour. There was a hedge around the property hiding the tall fence behind it. I didn’t dare to drop off my package at the front gate in fear it might be stolen, so I walked to the unguarded side of the property and jumped over.

Once on the other side of the fence, I saw how well Arusha had done for herself. There was a hedge maze and acres of garden that was well kept. Her home was a two-stories with large balconies and countless windows that opened it to natural light. I moved forward quietly and closely scrutinizing the property with my sixth sense, so I knew where everyone was. I was surprised to sense over thirty people in the home.

Pinpointing the strongest auras on the second floor, I snuck around to the back of the house and readied to leap up to the balcony to leave the package near what I assumed was Arusha’s room. As I readied to leap, I felt a small aura move toward the rear of the house quickly. I spotted a chestnut headed girl no older than five or six running past the downstairs window with a look of fierce determination. I immediately thought of Arusha.

The two of us had grown up together. It was a look I’d seen her make a thousand times. Not everyone liked spirited girls, and she was as spirited as they came, but she’d also rejected every suiter her parents had planned and insisted I was the only one she would marry. She hadn’t been this wealthy growing up, but some things defy wealth. Beautiful was one of them. She could’ve married just about anyone, but she chose me and shared my dream of becoming high-leveled adventures. At least, most of her dreams had come true.

“You. What are you doing here?” A voice battered me out of my thoughts.

A tingled ran up my spine as I realized I’d been found out. Reading to run, I felt the wind descending from the balcony above. Before I even looked, I knew who belonged to that voice and magic. It had matured, but I recognized the feel of her wind.

Arusha glided down wearing an elegant pink summer dress, with a white sweater covering her top. I watched her wavey chestnut hair catch in the wind, and her piercing glare. All my angst faded away as I beheld the woman who had been on my mind so often the last hundred years. She looked a little older, but not old. She had the beginning of wrinkles at the corner of her eyes, but that was all.

I had no idea how to respond. It would’ve been better if I never saw her again, but now that I was here, I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

“Answer me boy. Why are you snooping around?”

She didn’t recognize me? My youthful appearance was coming in handy after all. “I don’t mean to snoop. I was just passing through and…” I replied, trying to sound subdued.

Her glare lost a bit of its edge, but she certainly wasn’t through with me. “So you just casually climb over fences and were admiring the scenery when I caught you peering through the window?”

“It doesn’t sound good when you put it that way. Fences aren’t very common where I’m from, so...”

She choked down a laugh. “So you didn’t think twice of breaking and entering?”

Lifting my gaze, I looked into her eyes. “I assure you that I didn’t break anything. You have a beautiful home, and a beautiful family.”

Something about the look I gave her, or maybe the way I said it, made her pause. “You certainly don’t seem like the average troublemaker.” With a twirl of her finger, she cast a spell and I didn’t try to block it.

“Level 36 and so young. Okay, young man. Tell me. Why are you really here? Are you a pervert, or one of Enora’s would be courters?”

“I’m not a pervert.” When I was about to say more, I decided not to.

“One of my great granddaughter’s courters than. I can’t see your name because of your concealment talisman. So you best give it up.”

Great granddaughter… My real name wasn’t an option, so I quickly came up with something suitable. “Niam.” The moment I said it, I internally cringed. Niam was the name of one of the famous adventures we admired growing up.

“And your family name?”

I saw her shift her weight from one foot to the other. Normally, it wouldn’t have meant anything, but I spotted how uncomfortable she was when shifter her hips as if the motion vexed her.

“Are you injured?” I interrupted with concern swelling up from inside me.

“Trying to change the subject, are we?” Despite her words, she noticed that my distress was genuine, so her tone lightened. “It’s just an old injury from my adventurer days.”

I took a step forward as if meaning to examine her but stopped short. “That must’ve been quite the tale if some creature managed to injure a first realm mage.”

“Sly boy, but don’t think you can get me talking to get yourself out of trouble. Besides, it was in my early years of adventuring and it didn’t have a happy ending. My party, including my fiancé, was wiped before my eyes.”

“You were injured?” I replied without thinking. The memory seemed to have stolen her attention, so she didn’t notice my mistake. “If you wouldn’t mind, I have a rare talent for healing. May I?”

“You?” She said, giving me a second look. “You remind me of him actually.”

When her face widened in realization, my chest tightened. “You’re one of Serena’s aren’t you?”

At the mention of my sister’s name—who I still hadn’t even met—I just smiled awkwardly.

“It was her older brother Ailen that died that day. You look a lot like him…”

She smiled fondly as she reminisced, which made it difficult for me to breathe.

“So out with it, Niam. Why are you really here? I know Serena wouldn’t approve of you sneaking in over the fence. If you’re straight with me, I might even put in a good word with Enora for you.”

I steeled my resolve when I saw she was still carrying on. “I’ll tell you, but you must first let me examine your old injury.”

“You little snot,” she objected even as I strode forward and placed my hand on her back. She began to complain, but I’d already seen all that I needed to. A blade must have pierced her deep into her hip and damaged the cartilage which didn’t always heal well. It wasn’t the only damage to her body I found.

I didn’t give her a choice and proceeded to fill her with trace amounts of Mystical ranked Restore. My mana restraining items limited the amount of mana I could use, which made it even easier to hide what I was doing. A few seconds later, I removed my hand from her back. It was done.

“You little snot,” she repeated, but this time with a tone of delight. “That really is some talent you have there.”

“Thank you, Lady Arusha.” Enough time had passed that I’d finally come up with an explanation as to why I was there. “And to be honest with you, I wasn’t planning on sneaking in, but…” I went on to explain how someone in a heavy cloak approached me and told me they were an old business associate of you and your husband. He wanted me to give them a package. He said that they had once saved his life and he wanted to pay them back anonymously. It was then that I handed her the note that I had written, and the pouch filled with a large quantity of resources.

“I did examine the pouch just to make sure it was safe but didn’t touch its contents. Since the man wanted to stay anonymous, I had the thought of sneaking in and leaving it secretly, but now I realize it was a dumb idea. I think the man knew of Lady Serena’s relationship to you so he thought the package would be safe with me.”

She read the note carefully and tucked it away in her inventory. Then she examined the pouch and peaked into its independent space and all that it held. Seeing her hand come to her mouth and the glee at what she saw tore open my chest and left me gushing in blood-soaked bliss.

I quickly turned away so she couldn’t see the tears starting to form in my eyes. “I’ll be going now, Lady Arusha. I’ve already been gone too long.”

“And who do we have here?” A deep baritone sounded as the back door closed a second later.

I glanced back to see a stout man with a full, well-shaped beard. He had darker hair than Arusha but a lighter skin tone. I knew immediately it was her husband and a feral killing intent rose up inside of me that I quelched as fast as it came.

Bowing my head, I didn’t dare to look him in the eye. My first instinct was to remove him from the world and to take the woman I once loved for myself, but how could I kill the person who’d spent the last century taking care of her in my place?

“This is Niam,” Arusha said. “One of Serena’s brood. He’s come to us on a delivery quest and was caught trying to sneak away before we knew he had come.”

“Oh?”

She handed him the note first and only after he’d read it the pouch. “By the heavens…” he said with a start.

They began discussing who they thought might’ve sent it when I started to tiptoe backward with a mind to leave while their attention was elsewhere.

“And where do you think you’re going?” Arusha said, glancing at me from the corner of her eye. Seeing her mischievous smirk, I knew that she hadn’t lost track of me for a moment. She was probably ignoring me to see how I’d react. She was even shrewder now than when I had known her growing up.

“I’m afraid I need to leave—”

“Celebrate, you mean,” her husband said with a glint in his eye. “You’re about Enora’s age. How about a drink?”

“Duncan,” Arusha objected. “Don’t you dare.”

The man grin widened. “I’m sure Niam wouldn’t mind. He seems like a decent prospect. Already level 36…” He gave her a nudge with his elbow.

“And he has a rare talent for healing,” she added. “But you’re not going to get one of Serena’s great grandbabies drunk just so you can interrogate him.”

His frown looked well practiced. “Just enough to loosen him up so that he spills all his secrets,” he replied, giving me a wink as if he was trying to persuade her for my sake.

My chest seemed to drop into my stomach. Just a moment ago, I’d been contemplating murdering this man, but now… I knew then that I had to go.

“Forgive me for my intrusion. Lady Arusha. Master Duncan.” With a bow, I turned and ran. It didn’t matter what they called as I went. In a few moments, I was through their garden and had bounded over their fence.

The knot in my stomach seemed to be made of Mythical Rank Steel. There was so much joy, and yet an unquenchable sorrow that left my insides churning. Not caring who saw me, I removed my robe but left my level restraining gear on. Then, I started to run.

Looking for a solid surface, there was boulder at the edge of a side street that I leaped upon before launching myself into the afternoon sky. Passing through some thick bubbly clouds, I felt their dampness cover my skin before I started to descend. I was coming down a few kilometers outside of the city in an open field. I didn’t use mana to control my landing because of my restraints. As my feet touched down, I somersaulted forward, kicking up a patch of earth behind me. Then I began to walk.

I wasn’t going anywhere in particular. I kept walking for half an hour until I’d regained the right state of mind. I then did what I always did when I was faced with a problem. I scanned for the next target.

In this case, it was my sister, and the mission wasn’t a delivery quest, but one to meet her for the first time. At least I shouldn’t have vivid thoughts of killing her husband.

Then I got dressed and was pleased to see my boots had survived my leap out of the city with no obvious damage. I removed them and put on a different pair that were clean but made a note. I’d have to get another pair or two if they could survive such extreme movement. Putting my robe back on, I fished out the scroll for the portal that would take me to my sister and readied myself the best I could before summoning it.