The sun was starting to dip when the knights began planning the hunt.
I sat a little ways off, sharpening the tip of my stick. And eavesdropping of course.
The ones that look like in charge gathered near the edge of the village, a map spread over a crate. I could hear bits of the conversation drifting over.
"No mages," one of the knights said firmly. "They don't work on those things."
Another nodded. "Last time, two spells fizzled right off its skin. We'll need steel, not sparks."
"They're resistant to magic?" I asked, stepping closer.
The closest knight looked at me like I'd been living under a rock. Which, in a way, I had.
"They don't bleed," he said. "Don't scream. And they don't burn. No one's sure why, but spells don't stick. So we're bringing blades. Traps. Torches just for light."
I didn't say anything.
But I knew.
These things didn't belong here. That's why the magic of this world slid off them like water on stone.
They weren't made for this world at all.
They were like me.
But worse.
---
The knights were getting ready to move out.
I stood near the back of the group, spear in hand, while they checked weapons and muttered about formation. Their faces were tense—no more jokes now. Just sharp glances and quiet grit.
I knew I wasn't going.
They didn't trust me yet. Maybe never would.
I didn't argue. Just stepped back, leaned on the stick I'd sharpened into a spear, and watched. It wasn't like I wanted to fight another Whispering Demon, but… part of me itched to go. Anything was better than sitting still.
Then I noticed the carriage door creak open.
Mina slipped out, whispered something, and Princess Lana -whatever her full name is,stepped down.
She looked over the group. Straightened her cloak.
And didn't follow them.
She was staying too.
One of the knights whispered to another, "She shouldn't stay near him—what if—"
Yeah. I heard it. Pretended I didn't.
The squad rode out a minute later. Dust in the air. Steel in the sun. No goodbyes.
Just gone.
I stayed in the square, sitting on the edge of an old cart. My hands rested on the spear, eyes watching the dirt road stretch into the trees.
I waited.
And waited.
Villagers mostly kept their distance. A few watched me, quickly looked away. Kids played, but stayed far. It wasn't fear exactly—it was that half-step between curiosity and caution. They weren't sure what I was.
Hell, I wasn't sure what I was anymore.
---
The sun started to dip.
Then came the noise.
Boots. Metal. Shouting.
The knights were back.
At first, I thought something went wrong—too many of them were hurt. One had his arm wrapped tight in bloodied cloth, another limped with a broken spear as a crutch.
Villagers froze.
Someone near me whispered, "They lost?"
Then a knight stepped forward and tossed something onto the dirt.
Thunk.
The thing rolled. Slid to a stop.
The head of the demon. Long snout. Too many teeth. Its skin looked like stone dipped in oil, still twitching. Like it wasn't fully dead.
The village went silent.
Then one of the knights grinned. "Told you we'd bring a souvenir."
That cracked it.
People started clapping. A woman cried and hugged her kid. Someone cheered.
The chief ran forward, bowing so hard I thought he'd break his back. "Thank you! Brave warriors—thank you!"
"I'll take beer as thanks," one knight muttered, slumping onto a bench.
The villagers brought drinks. At first, the knights refused. But then the princess stepped out again, gave a small nod.
That was all it took.
Firelight lit the center of the square. Tables were pulled out. Plates passed around. People laughed—real laughter this time.
Even the injured ones smiled.
I sat by myself, poking at some half-cooked meat.
No one invited me to join.
I didn't mind.
Across the flames, I saw her—the princess. Still in her clean clothes, still straight-backed, but with her eyes distant. She wasn't drinking either. She wasn't with her guards.
She wasn't with anyone.
Just… watching. Like me.
Both of us at the edge of the warmth.
Both pretending we were part of it.
I rested my head on hand, watching the villagers mingle with the knights. The noise felt distant, like I wasn't part of it. It was easier that way.
But then I saw him. A kid, no older than six, clutching his father's hand.
The man knelt down and pointed at one of the knights, explaining something. The kid's eyes were wide, soaking in every word, every detail. His father smiled as the boy asked a thousand questions, his small voice filled with wonder.
It made me pause.
I had memories like that—of my own father taking me to the zoo when I was that age. He'd show me the animals, tell me their names, let me ask him all the dumb questions I had. His face, that proud look when I'd ask the same thing for the third time, like I was learning something important. I never got that feeling anymore.
I looked away, rubbing my eyes, trying to push it out of my mind.
That was a lifetime ago.
I wasn't that kid anymore.
-----
The fire had burned low, just quiet red coals now.
I sat on the edge of the square, staring at the stars. Still awake. Still pretending I wasn't tired.
It felt wrong to sleep with so many people nearby. Too warm. Too safe.
Too human.
I heard soft footsteps behind me.
"You're always awake when everyone else is sleeping," she said.
I didn't turn. "I guess I got used to it. It feels weird now, sleeping near people."
It is the princess again. Did she sneak out again? What does she want from me now?
She stepped closer and sat a little distance away. Her dress barely rustled.
"That's… a strange habit."
"I've had stranger."
She went quiet for a bit.
Then asked, straight out, "Are you a good person?"
I blinked. "What?"
"Just answer."
"…I don't know. I try to be. But I've done things."
"Like what?"
I frowned at her, but she just waited.
"I've killed people."
There was no shock on her face. No recoil. Just a small nod.
"Were they trying to hurt you?"
"Yes."
Another pause.
"Do you want to hurt anyone here?"
"No."
She looked at me for a long second, eyes calm. Too calm.
Something about the way she asked—it wasn't normal. Not curious. Not scared.
More like… checking. Measuring.
I shifted. "Why are you asking me these things?"
"No reason," she said.
A beat passed.
She added, "I just like knowing the kind of people around me."
Right.
I didn't push it, but something told me she already knew my answers before I said them.
Still—I didn't lie.
Some part of me didn't want to.
She didn't leave.
Instead, she tilted her head slightly and asked more, "How many companions did you have… before all this?"
My chest tightened for half a second.
I thought about it.
About the empty lunch tables. The messages I never replied to. The group projects where I did the work alone because no one remembered I was there.
Then I shrugged. "A lot."
"Liar."
I blinked. "What?"
She looked just as surprised. "What?"
We stared at each other.
"…Was that a joke?" I asked, half-smiling.
She didn't answer. Just stood up and brushed off her skirt.
"I should go," she said, calm again. "We leave early tomorrow."
She turned before I could say anything else.
I watched her go.
My fake smile stayed frozen for a second too long.
"…Tch," I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck. "Guess that's one hell of a lie detector."
---
I woke up late.
So did everyone else.
The sun was already high, peeking through thin clouds. A few birds chirped somewhere in the distance—first time I'd heard any in a long, long time.
The village was quiet. Peaceful.
Most of the knights were still scattered around the square, asleep in armor or half-out of it, draped over crates and benches. A few were groaning awake, rubbing their heads like they'd forgotten alcohol was part of the night.
Guess monster-hunting and celebration don't mix well.
I sat up and stretched, wincing a little. My muscles weren't sore—just heavy. The kind of tired that clung to your bones after too many days on edge.
The fire pit was just ash now.
Some villagers were already moving, sweeping the square, carrying buckets of water, pretending the night hadn't happened.
I spotted Mina yawning near the well. She gave me a sleepy wave.
The princess hadn't come out yet.
Honestly, I didn't blame her. Everyone looked like they'd fought a war and then danced over its grave.
No rush. We'd leave when the squad could stand up without falling over.
And for once… I was okay with waiting.
---
By midday, the knights were mostly upright again.
Armor re-fastened. Swords sharpened. Horses fed. The air smelled like leftover stew and sweat and the quiet hum of "we should probably get moving."
The princess hadn't said much all morning. She stood near the carriage, arms folded, face calm—but I could tell her eyes were tracking everything.
Mina handed out water. A few of the younger knights were joking again.
It almost felt… normal.
Until the shouting started.
A scout came sprinting down the road, nearly tripping over his own feet.
"TO ARMS! PREPARE FOR BATTLE!"
Everyone froze.
"Whispering demons!" he yelled. "A whole pack—heading this way!"
The laughter died.
Swords scraped from sheaths. Armor clanked. Horses neighed.
I stood up slowly, dusting off my hands.
So much for a quiet afternoon.
---
One of them was already behind the scout.
It came crawling backwards, tall and crooked, skin like twisted shadows. No eyes. Just a wide, grinning mouth that stretched too far.
"Enhance yourselves—now!" one of the knights barked.
Light flared across their bodie. Weapons hummed faintly. The air grew heavy.
Then they charged.
The first knight struck clean across its side.
The blade cut—but not deep enough.
The thing barely flinched.
More piled on. Three, four, five at once, weapons slamming down. It shrieked, arms flailing—until someone finally drove a spear through its chest and it collapsed with a wet thud.
They barely killed one.
Then the forest shifted.
Dozens of them stepped out.
Crawling, lurching, walking wrong.
I looked around—every knight had gone pale. Their grips tightened, stances wavered.
They were terrified.
I could see it in their eyes.
They all knew the truth.
They were going to die.
---
"Wall! Form a wall!"
Mages at the rear raised their hands,glowing bright. The ground rumbled—earth splitting and rising into jagged barricades. A second wave followed—ice spreading in sharp, cold veins, forming a second layer behind the first.
It wasn't going to last.
The creatures were already slamming into it—screeching, crawling over each other like a tide of nightmares.
"Evacuate the villagers! Now!"
"Protect the Princess! Get her out of here!"
The square turned into chaos.
Mothers grabbed children. Elders stumbled. Knights shoved people toward the back gate, forming a loose wall of steel between them and the monsters.
---
I stood back.
Told myself this wasn't my fight. The last time I tried to help… people died anyway.
So I stayed at the edge, fists clenched, watching the knights hold the line.
Until the wall cracked.
A hole opened—then another.
Monsters poured through like water. Knights rushed to plug the gaps, swords flashing, voices hoarse from shouting.
Then I saw it.
One of them didn't go through the holes. It climbed. Spidery limbs digging into stone—up and over the wall.
And dropped behind.
Right where the villagers were.
I turned just in time to see it sprinting straight at a man and his child.
The same kid I'd seen earlier. Laughing. Innocent.
The father shoved the kid behind him. Arms wide. Terrified.
The thing was a second away. Claws raised.
My blood went white-hot.
I moved.
Didn't think. Didn't breathe.
One step—and I was there.
My fist met its face mid-lunge.
Boom.
It flew.
Hit the far wall with a sickening crunch.
Silence.
Then screams again—this time from relief, not fear. The father held his kid close, shaking.
I just stood there, hand still raised, breathing hard.
I didn't mean to get involved.
But watching them die?
No.
Not happening.
---
I felt it before I saw it.
All eyes were on me.
The knights. The villagers. Even the princess.
Their gazes clung to me like I was something else.
And then—
I felt the shift.
The monsters… they turned.
Like a pack of starving wolves catching a scent.
Their heads snapped in my direction.
And they jumped.
Over the knights. Over the barricades.
Straight at me.
Can they… sense strength?
That's what it felt like. The moment I acted—they turned. Like predators locking onto the alpha threat.
One lunged at me. I sidestepped and knocked it down with a stab to it's head.
But then a flash of gold burst beside me.
A blinding wave of light swept across the battlefield. Burning. Radiant. Beautiful.
It came from her—Lana.
The monsters screamed. Actually screamed.
The blast threw a few back, but not enough. The light hurt them.
One of the mages shouted, panicked, "No—Princess! Don't use light magic! They'll target you!"
Too late.
Every one of them turned to her.
Dozens of them.
They charged.
Knights rushed to defend her, blades swinging, spells flying. Lana stood her ground—fierce, commanding, nothing like how she'd looked around the fire.
But one slipped through.
It dashed past the wall of steel and flame, faster than the rest.
Right for her.
She started to turn—too slow.
I didn't think. Or had time to retrieve my spear.
One step.
Then another.
Then I was there.
I grabbed it by the neck. Its claws flailed, trying to tear at me.
I slammed it to the ground, spine-first. The earth cracked beneath it.
It shrieked.
Without hesitation, I shoved my hand into its gaping mouth.
The thing tried to bite down, but I ripped its jaw apart—bone cracking like dry twigs.
Its mouth split open far too wide.
Then—crack.
I crushed its skull between both hands.
The battlefield went quiet for a heartbeat.
---
I looked at her.
She was staring at me—wide-eyed, frozen.
Like I was the monster.
Her mouth opened slightly, but no words came out.
Was she breathing?
"You okay?" I asked, voice low.
No answer.
Just that same look. Like I'd torn open something she didn't want to see.
I let the silence hang for a moment… then scratched the back of my neck and muttered, "Right. I'll just… go get my spear."
I turned away from her and walked across the bloodstained field. The air was thick with smoke and ash, the lingering stench of those creatures still burning into the wind.
My spear was still where I left it—jammed deep in the skull of the first one I killed.
I yanked it free. Cleaned the tip on its hide.
As I walked back, I noticed something.
The battlefield had shifted.
The knights… were winning.
Swords cut cleaner. Formations held tighter. The monsters were still feral, still vicious—but their focus was fractured. Most of them were still lunging at the princess, drawn to her light like moths to a flame.
Which meant they weren't paying attention to the soldiers circling behind them.
Bad mistake.
Steel found flesh. Magic hit harder. The tide was turning.
All because their eyes weren't on the real threat anymore.
I glanced back at Lana.
She was still staring at me.
Yeah.