Chapter 11: A Close Call
To further convince the public of the demonic threat to Vikarn Port, they had released captive Fallen Demonspawn.
Perhaps, for this unknown high-ranking Knight, the ends justified the means. A few unfortunate, innocent lives were a small price to pay.
Xu Bai hid in a nearby corner, the monsters’ rampage not fazing her. She had seen such scenes far too many times.
“It should be about time for them to clean up this mess…”
After all, their goal had been achieved; there was no need for further chaos.
Besides, if she intervened in her current form, she would attract unwanted attention and trouble.
As Xu Bai thought this, she withdrew the hand she had placed on her short sword.
Just then, a child’s tearful voice cried out. A small figure darted out from the fleeing crowd, running against the current.
“Daddy!”
Xu Bai focused her gaze. It was a little girl, no older than eleven or twelve, clinging to a mangled civilian corpse near the monsters, crying out repeatedly,
“Daddy, what’s wrong… Daddy, wake up…”
The girl’s high-pitched cries attracted the monsters’ attention. They stopped their rampage and slowly turned towards her, their claws twitching.
“Danger!”
Xu Bai’s pupils constricted. Throwing caution to the wind, she drew her short sword and charged towards the little girl.
Once the monsters reacted, the City Guards, struggling to protect themselves, wouldn’t be able to save her.
The monsters looked at the little girl, their maws splitting open in what resembled a grin, their corrosive claws reaching out.
“Too late—”
Xu Bai watched in horror as the claws descended, but she was still too far away to intercept.
The surrounding City Guards couldn’t bear to watch. Some looked conflicted, but ultimately, their fear and helplessness won out, and they turned away.
At that critical moment, a flash of light, like lightning, streaked through the air, generating heat from friction, and struck the monsters.
“Roar!!”
Earsplitting roars echoed. The City Guards trembled, opening their eyes to see not the disemboweled little girl, but the monsters writhing in agony.
“…What happened?”
They stared in astonishment. The monsters’ claws had been severed in an instant, the scattered fragments embedded in the surrounding ground.
Another small figure now stood beside the little girl. Upon closer inspection, she appeared to be a young girl of similar age, unlikely to be responsible for the monsters’ sudden injuries.
It wasn’t Xu Bai’s doing either.
Xu Bai stood slightly in front of the little girl, sheathing her sword, but keeping her hand on the hilt, ready to intercept any counterattack.
But… who was it?
Xu Bai shifted her gaze towards the source of the flash of light, her expression changing slightly.
Had the Knights sent someone?
But the technique didn’t seem familiar…
“Three hundred and forty-five, three hundred and forty-six, three hundred and forty-seven…”
A low murmur echoed as a burly figure approached, a finely crafted crossbow hanging from his arm, gleaming menacingly.
As he drew closer, the wounds on the monsters’ claws began to fester rapidly, spreading throughout their bodies. Their roars became hoarse, then silent.
Soon, as the figure stood amidst the monsters, only puddles of smoking black ooze remained, corroding the ground.
“Three hundred and forty-eight. Hehehe…” The figure chuckled, a chilling sound. “Very good…”
Xu Bai narrowed her eyes, pulling the sobbing little girl to her feet and stepping back slightly.
The little girl wiped her tears and looked up at Xu Bai, but froze upon seeing her face, her gaze darting away.
“Who are you?”
A City Guard, summoning his courage, stepped forward and addressed the burly figure.
Xu Bai recognized him as the captain who had posted the wanted notices. Just moments ago, he had been rallying the people against the “demon” in Vikarn Port; now, his bravado seemed ironic.
Hearing the question, the figure raised his head slightly, his voice unexpectedly gentle.
“Me? My name is Salred. I was just passing by.”
Everyone present finally got a clear look at his face, and a chill ran down their spines. The City Guard captain, meeting his gaze, recoiled in terror.
“D-Demon!”
“Another demon?” Xu Bai’s heart sank as she looked at the figure who called himself Salred.
His face was mostly concealed by thick bandages, revealing only one sinister eye, devoid of white, entirely a strange azure blue, faint demonic runes spreading from the corners.
“No, not a demon…”
Seeing Salred’s appearance, Xu Bai inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
The little girl clung tightly to Xu Bai, her head down, her body stiff and trembling, whether from grief or fear, Xu Bai couldn’t tell.
“Don’t compare me to those filthy creatures.”
Salred’s voice deepened. He adjusted the bandages, covering his blue eye and revealing a normal human eye, his demeanor softening instantly.
The City Guards continued to tremble, their weapons still trained on him. One discreetly sent out an emergency signal.
Salred saw all of this, but he was unfazed. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and meticulously cleaned his crossbow, etching a few more runes into its intricate design.
Salred wasn’t a demon. He was—
“A Demon Hunter.” Xu Bai stared at Salred’s back, murmuring the words.
“Oh? Little girl, you know about Demon Hunters?”
Salred’s hearing seemed incredibly sharp. He turned around, a smile on his face, even pausing his cleaning.
Another silver bolt was now loaded into his crossbow, its tip gleaming dangerously.
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