The Survival of an Inferior

Rena was an abnormal monster in Lia's dictionary. She was convinced that no one could match up to Rena's talent until today. 

"Wait...that sword...you are Arsto?" Lia asks. 

I nod and smile. "I've heard great things about you, Miss Grande."

"Ah...those were relics of the past." She replies, her tone gradually softens. 

...

*PEWWW! BOOOOM!* 

A green beam shoots into the sky and explodes into crackles of green sparks. 

"That's the victory signal. We survived thanks to your help."

"Don't worry about it. Others helped too." I reply. 

"Ah right! You are tired, aren't you? Come, I will prepare a room for you." Lia leaps off and flies towards Pole Ridge. 

=======================================

Groups of people are sent out with carts, loading the bodies of enemies away. Fallen allies are carried back by hand for burying. Although they won, there were no jubilation cheers, only the chaos of war lingers. 

Lia approaches Aerin and provides some instructions before she continues back to the city. Aerin recognises me but pretends to be a stranger, Alure might have told him about my plead. 

I manage to exchange glances with Alure who raises her brows. 

At the end of this battle, we are greeted by the piercing rays of the sun on the horizon. The orange-yellow canvas in the sky marks the end of this tiring night. 

The lockdown was lifted and citizens returned to their homes and businesses, relieved about the victory. 

Lia brings me to a villa where she resides in the middle of Pole Ridge. "We have many rooms in this huge building. Mainly the family and workers stay here and there are still some vacancies."

"Why build such a big thing?" I asked despite knowing the answer. 

"Ah, I didn't...build it. It belonged to the previously corrupted city lord." Lia says.  

"Right."

Wait...Lia's family? 

When Lia pushes the front door open, a grand hall presents itself. With boasting opulent decor and stretching marble tactile, the gentle warm light exudes from the glowing chandelier hanging from the ornate ceiling. Two majestic spiral staircases grace the corners of the hall and at the far end stands a towering double door richly carved with intricate patterns.

Alone beside the door is a young short woman who looks similar to Lia. It's Lena, wearing a simple blue shoulder coat, t-shirt and pants. 

...

"Mother! Are you okay?" Lena says and walks up to Lia, her complexion filled with anxiety. 

"I'm okay...for now," Lia replies. "Oh yes, Arsto, I forgot. Let's stop by the church. The corruption is starting to be a headache." She points at the wound on her forehead."

...I can't go. To remove corruption, one just needs to be blessed using holy magic. Needless to say, demonic humans will have an opposite reaction. 

"It's alright. I wasn't hit." I say. 

...?

Lia stares at me. 

"...If you say so. Lena, please help escort this young man to a vacant room, thank you." 

Lia leaves the mansion, leaving an awkward tension between Lena and I. 

Lena lowers her head. "Nice to meet you...I'm Lena Grande."

"Likewise, I'm Arsto." 

Lena walks up the staircase and I follow her. Unlike her arrogant and outgoing demeanour when I first met her, a gloomy mask chains her. 

...

I wanted to ask what happened but I should avoid conversations. 

After stopping at a door, Lena politely bows and leaves. 

The room is rather clean and luxurious for a guest room. A majestic fireplace centred directly opposite a large bed, oozing a gentle glow with every crackling of the fire. 

A touch of the lavish bed sends a calm soft sensation across my body. 

I lie my fatigued self and let out a long sigh. 

"What are you doing outside the window?" I shout. 

The window beside the bed creaks open and Alure climbs in. "Pardon my intrusion." 

"There's a door for a reason." 

"I don't think you want people to know our association." 

...I shouldn't argue with a woman. 

"Anyways, what happened to not revealing your existence?" Alure asks as she tours around the room. 

I look away, slightly irritated. "Will I be here if all of you defended the city properly?"

"Ah..." Alure can't counter that. 

Well, this works in my favour as well so I'm not bothered, my plans only pushed forward. 

"Alure, did you gather what I requested?" 

Before we left the banquet a few days ago to ambush an illegal operation, I asked Alure to collect information on a few people in their rebellious association. 

"Yes. I found some suspicious things. In addition, one of them noticed me and stopped his activity ever since. How did you know about these individuals?" Alure asks. 

Because all of them are villains and traitors in the original game. 

"I've been investigating everyone and sensed something off."

"O-Oh? That's impressive." 

There are three people Alure tailed. The first is a fallen aristocrat, Faris, serving the Foreign Affairs department. He is a greedy man selling information about Pole Ridge. 

The second is Ophelia Francis, a moronic and incompetent woman who purely relies on her looks to survive. She is the first to betray Rena given the opportunity and join the enemy side. 

And the last is an ordinary worker, Jasto, a mere commoner who transports goods. However, he's the most dangerous out of the three. 

The information Alure gave assured me that everything was still somewhat going according to the original storyline of Elvis Arcane. I can take advantage of this. 

"I don't have a good feeling about this worker, Jasto. But I don't know what he did wrong."

"Don't worry. I will handle him myself." I reply. "What's happening to the girl that escorted me here? I heard her name is Lena."

Alure shrugs. "I don't know. She's been gloomy since I met her."

...

Did my "death" bother her that much?

"Alright, thanks for everything." I succumb to fatigue and drop on the bed. 

Alure smiles. "Good night, Arsto."

"Night."

She leaves the room from the window she came from. 

...

I raise my arm to rub my eyes to feel something rough on my fingers. 

???

Looking at it, I notice I have a cut on my index finger. 

?!!

"What?" 

Where did this come from? I felt nothing?!

Shit. So this is why Lia had a confused expression before she left...

Demonic humans are the mortal enemies of the Grande household. Most of them are extremely sensitive to demonic mana especially the matriarch Lia.

...

I tried pinching my skin but felt nothing. 

It's my pain resistance skill at play.

Fuck.