Betrayed, I Met The Demon Lord

Chapter 79 - RUINA

[WARNING: Gore]

"Using your last two teleportation stones for something like this, Master Varlog?" Yilla remarked as Varlog reappeared in their room inside the guild. "And here I thought I was supposed to be the impulsive one," she added with a wry smile.

"Well," Varlog sighed, settling into the chair beside the bed, "after what we've uncovered, you didn't expect me to sit quietly, did you?" He leaned back, a subtle smile crossing his face.

"Ah... Marcilla is as arrogant as she was 16 years ago when she came with the rest of their party to face us. She actually thought those soundproof seals would work on demons of our caliber," Yilla sneered.

"Oh, give the humans a bit of credit, dear Yilla," he replied, gazing up at the ceiling with a relaxed expression. "Their short lives lead them to a narrow, yet overburdened perspective. One that often threatens to burst."

"... Sometimes," he continued, "they need someone else to see for them."

Yilla clutched her hands to her chest, worry flickering in her eyes. "I just hope... it's not too late for Van."

"Let us have faith, dear," Varlog said softly, his gaze steady and reassuring.

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21 years ago...

Nickelson yanked Van's arm, dragging him toward the first battalion's barracks.

"Listen up, folks!" he shouted, rousing everyone awake. Guards turned their attention to Nickelson as he pulled Van along, gripping him tightly by the arm.

"This here is the other summoned 'Hero'... We'll be in charge of his traini@$&^%!*(^&%(!*&^T$--!

'Oh, we're not doing this,' Van thought, cutting off the flashback. 'Not this time. I've had enough of this bullshit.'

He fixed a hard glare on Henry, the guard standing in front of him. "I'm not here to argue. It's obvious why you're here—you want to hurt me again. And you actually think nothing bad's going to happen to you," he growled, holding Henry's gaze.

"Just like back then." His voice faltered as he looked away for a moment, then softened to a murmur. "But honestly, I don't care why you're here. I'm... way too tired to give a damn."

Henry's eyes widened as he took in Van's response. The knights behind him jeered, amused by the exchange.

"Look at Meaty...! Henry, the kid's all grown up!"

"Yeah, I'm actually gettin' scared now..." one muttered with a smirk, shamelessly relieving himself in the corner of the room.

"Shut the hell up, you idiots! Calling him a 'boy'—you're making me sound like that type of person!" Henry barked, snapping his head around to glare at them.

'... I guess I still didn't get that nobility status Nickelson promised... Psche, of course I didn't.'

Van's voice cut through the laughter. "Just one thing before we start," he said, drawing Henry's attention back.

"Oh? Start this?" Henry chuckled. "So, you want a fight now, Meaty? Even retired, we're still A to B ranks by today's standards. We could..."

He reached out, flicking Van's forehead. Van didn't flinch, his gaze steely and unyielding.

"We could take you down with just a flick of our fingers... And if you're thinking of reporting us, don't bother. With your little whore-magnet friend gone, and your..." Henry chuckled darkly. "Your sloppy-seconds mommy practically giving me her blessing to have some fun with you..."