ALL NOVEL Chapter 435
After slashing the demon in the weightlessness of the air.
As soon as I confirmed my attack was aimed at it, my vision flipped and rotated dozens of times.
Soft snow began to pile up on the frozen ground.
—Myaaaang…!
Thanks to our Cotton Puff, despite rolling the ground flamboyantly, there was no major damage.
So right now, what’s important is that I’ve lost my steed.
‘Just like the way I remember it.’
The Gluttony Demon still fixated its gaze on me, revealing its deadly hunger. However, it didn’t leap at me immediately, as if it couldn’t resist everything that had already entered its mouth.
‘That disgusting beast of a Glutton…’
Instead, it opened its mouth wide, trying to swallow me whole.
Its jaw stretched impossibly wide, distorting its head. Inside its mouth, teeth as sharp as dwarf-forged swords emerged.
In an instant, it bit off half of my horse’s body.
Crack—!
Blood gushed from the dismembered horse, staining the pure white snow.
‘It meant to bite me like that, huh?’
Getting bitten once wouldn’t just cost an arm or a leg; accepting death humbly would be a much easier option.
Fortunately, it took some time before the Glutton fully engulfed one horse.
Taking advantage of that moment, Theia desperately galloped over.
“Head of the Family! This way!”
I grabbed Theia’s outstretched hand and quickly occupied the space behind her.
“That demon dares… Head of the Family, are you alright?”
“I’m not hurt. It seems the demon is rougher than we thought.”
“Rough? That’s an understatement. It’s even aimed at you first, the Head of the Family, who’s the farthest away. It devoured a horse in an instant. It’s gone completely insane. Is this how demons usually are?”
I responded, nocking an arrow to my bow.
“You saw it perfectly. And the problem is, it’s only going to get worse.”
“If it goes wild here, what are we supposed to do…?”
“This demon has been deemed strong enough to fight against dragons. Since I shot first to provoke it, it’s attacking me. It’s merely a greeting from it to keep me in check.”
No matter how much it had a voracious appetite, it wasn’t starved and emaciated like in the past; it was well-fed and in a state to maintain some judgment.
Thus, the Glutton was leaking blood at the Arael Fortress, where it could easily continue hunting the weak instead of wasting time tussling with us.
If it felt hindered any further on its path, far more threatening attacks would begin.
“So, we have to hold that demon down no matter what.”
That’s why we needed to hold the demon back even more.
“What do you think will happen if such a demon appears while Arael Fortress is busy hunting down a mountainous dragon?”
“…It would be a hellish scenario. There’s an expression where I was born: ‘In a fight between whales, the shrimp’s back gets broken.’”
“Exactly. Even focusing on just one dragon isn’t enough; adding in a demon would surely lead the fortress to collapse into ruin.”
Having checked my condition and finished preparing to shoot, I immediately stopped the idle chatter and spoke to Theia.
“Before that, there’s something I need to tell the captain.”
“What do you mean?”
“Even though the members have been firing arrows to catch its attention, its gaze hasn’t left me even once.”
“Ah.”
“If you don’t want to get eaten like that, you’ll have to do your utmost to avoid it.”
The demon’s entire malice is focused on me.
In my memory, the Glutton prioritized its nearest meal, so it was peculiar to see it obsessing over me now.
“Well, that’s good news. At least it’s more reassuring to lure it away with me and the captain directly than with other members.”
“You’re not wrong. As long as I don’t die, that is.”
With a small sigh and a battle cry, Theia steadied herself.
“Then I’ll drive the horse roughly from now on to avoid dying.”
“Exactly what I was hoping for.”
Fwoosh—!
With the sound of the bowstring, I released the arrow and hit the demon once more, beginning Theia’s dash.
Powerfully slamming against the ground, the steed, as if it had developed a long-standing bond with Theia, sprang forward without a single quiver, trusting each other.
Behind us, the demon began its chase.
“Head of the Family! That crazy demon is chasing us!”
Seeing Theia glance back, I noticed her terrified expression.
“No, and it’s faster than it looks! If this goes on, we might get caught!”
“Don’t look back, just keep running forward! The members are coming to help us!”
The demon charged across the fields, coming to devour us, or more accurately, me.
Finally, the members, unable to stand by any longer, began to engage the beast directly.
“Stop! It’s targeting the Head of the Family!”
“It’s dense with magic…! Those who can’t get close, throw spears or shoot crossbows, do whatever it takes!”
As sharp metal pieces struck its hide, the demon’s anger turned toward the members.
“AAAH…! S-save me─!”
“Damn it…! That bastard is eating people…!”
“Just ignore it and keep running! Protect the Head of the Family and the captain!”
Having instantly taken down one member, the demon continued its pursuit without slowing.
Firing my bow to block its path, I tried my best to protect our allies, but.
As expected of a demon, it was relentless. Like a tired predator savoring its prey, it tightened its grip on our throats.
A toy. That’s probably the level my assault brigade represents to the current Glutton. There’s no way we could survive against a demon capable of defeating a dragon without being considered less than that.
“Head of the Family, the horse’s stamina is running low…!”
“…Our members are in the same boat! When is our reinforcement coming!”
Even though I repeatedly called for the royal army, the special mission team, and Adelhaite, not a single presence appeared.
The situation was becoming increasingly desperate, and despite the cold weather, my hands were beginning to sweat.
We continued our game of tag, dragging the time along, and the Glutton seemed to have grown tired. It finally showed an impressive surge of speed and control over itself.
“Theia, the demon has changed direction! It’s coming from the side! Get ready to abandon the horse!”
“Damn it…! Give me the signal, and I’ll jump off!”
Additionally, seeing the demon rushing towards us with its mouth wide open sent shockwaves throughout me.
I stuck an arrow into its mouth and prepared to evade with Theia.
The moment I aimed my bow at its mouth, an unexpected event occurred.
‘That arrow…!’
An arrow infused with silver magic descended near us in an instant and scattered its magic.
The suffocating pressure of magic stimulating my survival instincts faded away.
Boom─!
Simultaneously, a fiery fireball struck its side, instantly heating its once-cold face.
—Myaaang!
Our playful spirit, Orna, who had been peeking from my embrace, floated in the air and cheered excitedly.
Finally, the long-awaited reinforcements broke through the storm.
However, even with such surprise attacks, the demon was undeterred and charged at us with its mouth wide open, determined to devour us.
“Theia, we’re going to abandon the horse and escape! Brace for impact!”
“If you hit my back, I’ll jump off with you then!”
While we were desperately trying to escape this situation, even with reinforcements arriving—
Whoosh─!
Beyond the sound of slicing air, something flew and pierced through.
Looking to the side, I saw the enormous jaw of the demon getting skewered by a spear, twisting its course.
“Theia, we need to get out of here quickly!”
“I’ll push myself to my last strength!”
Seizing the moment, I quickly took off, and a soldier and a knight joined us.
Coincidentally, that knight was someone I recognized.
“Looks like you’ve barely managed to hold out against such a monster with this small cavalry? Even the cavalry of our Marquis Family wouldn’t achieve such a feat.”
“You are—”
“Siabel, I still vividly remember you struggling to deliver that message. You’re now one of the kingdom’s top knights for sure. You look far more reliable than Siabel now.”
Her sharp, aloof features complemented her ashen hair and eyes, making her appear extremely haughty.
Though cool and slightly rough in her speech, she was.
“Baron Karpel. Thanks to you holding the line, Princess Shione could gather all forces to prepare for battle.”
A friend of Siabel and a spear-wielder from the north.
“It’s now the heavy cavalry of the Alenarr Marquis Family, seasoned in blizzards and winter, that will take over your role.”
It was Aria Alenarr.