Chapter 7: An Offer in the Forest

Clang. Clang.

The sound of clashing weapons echoed through the silent, shadowed depths of the forbidden forest. But it was not blade against blade. It was a sword clashing with fangs and claws.

Sirius’s body, now far larger than before, weaved lithely between the towering trees that reached ten meters high. His fangs and claws gleamed as they cleaved through the forest gloom, colliding with the sword of a knight before him.

“Damn it!” the knight shouted. “Amanda, Shaenne, hurry! I can’t hold him off much longer!”

“P-please hang on, Daniel. Shaenne and I are–”

Slash.

Before the girl in white robes could finish her words, Sirius’s claws had already torn through Daniel’s dragon armor. His blood burst wildly into the air, splattering like a grim painting drawn with a coarse brush.

Thud.

“Kyaa!”

Daniel was flung away by Sirius’s tail, crashing into the two girls behind him and ruining the spell they had been preparing.

“Ugh...” The girl named Amanda winced in pain. When she opened her eyes, she froze at the sight before her.

“Daniel!”

She saw clearly the three long gashes beneath Daniel’s shattered front armor. His exposed organs and ribs made the green-haired girl cover her mouth, struggling to hold back her nausea.

The mosaic of light that had shone upon her was suddenly eclipsed by a massive dark shadow. When Amanda turned around, Sirius was already standing behind her, saliva dripping from the jagged blade of his maw.

“Humans. I gave you a chance. There will be no mercy this time.”

Sirius opened his jaws wide. He devoured all three of them alive.

Their screams echoed briefly through the heart of the forest before vanishing entirely into eternal silence.

Sirius let out a long breath. His head tilted upward, gazing at the forest canopy laced with shafts of mosaic light.

So once again... I’ve killed humans, haven’t I?

Since the first time he devoured a church maiden named Maria, Sirius had been visited more and more often by groups of humans seeking his death. Day by day, they grew stronger. There was no choice but to fight and kill to survive.

Sometimes, he managed to drive them away, but more often than not they returned, bringing more comrades, stronger gear, and burning resolve, only to end up inside his maw.

The number of people he had swallowed was beyond counting.

It feels like... I’m getting further away from her. Can I really face her, covered in this much blood?

Sirius shook his head slightly, then stepped away from that place with unsteady strides.

His mind was filled with the girl who had always dwelled within his heart. Even though they had never met, he felt warmth and a deep longing whenever he thought of her.

Yet slowly, doubt and fear took root in his chest.

No matter how much I want to... do I even deserve to stand by her side?

As he walked on, the other monsters instinctively scattered from his path the moment they sensed his presence. They were afraid. Terrified of him, the one who had slaughtered more than half the forest’s monster population over the past few years.

Sirius could clearly smell their fear.

So now\... I can be called the king of this forest, can’t I? Well, not that I care.

Arriving at a mound of earth strewn with dry grass beneath an acacia tree, Sirius promptly lay down. Weariness settled over his body after the long battle.

With a full belly and a soft breeze brushing against his fur, his eyes slowly grew heavy. In the span of a breath, he drifted into slumber.

Sirius slept soundly, unaware that something had begun to approach.

Crack.

The sound of a snapping branch reached his ears.

Strange. His instincts screamed for him to awaken.

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Sirius opened his eyes. What was that?!

He sniffed the air, but found nothing suspicious within his territory. His senses sharpened again. The only thing he feared was humans, for they were the sole threat to him.

Yet he found no trace of human presence, no familiar scent. Instead, he picked up a new scent—similar to a monster, but clearly different.

Strange... what is this smell? It’s... far too pungent. Could it be... a new kind of monster?

“Hey, are you the one named Sirius?”

A shrill voice suddenly called out to him.

Sirius flinched. He leapt backward into a defensive stance.

“No need to be so tense, sweet wolf.” The girl waved her hand, a confident smile plastered on her face.

He squinted sharply, eyes narrowing at the girl who had evaded his senses and was now standing before him. “Who are you? No—what kind of creature are you?”

The short girl appeared human at first glance. Yet the pair of bat wings on her back erased any doubt. Her appearance was clearly unlike any human Sirius had ever encountered.

Her skin was pale. Her aura, ominous.

Two sharp fangs jutted from her mouth. Her eyes were the red of rubies.

Her hair, styled in twintails, was as white as her skin. In contrast, her Victorian gothic attire wrapped tightly around her body.

“My name is Valeria Van De Vaart. Fourth captain of the underworld army, serving the demon king. Oh, and I’m a demon from the vampire race.”

“Demon? Vampire? Demon king?” Sirius repeated her words, filled with curiosity.

He felt as though he knew those terms, though he couldn’t recall where he had heard them before. Perhaps in his previous life?

“Oh ho, so you don’t know what a demon is, huh? Even though you’re one of us.” Valeria placed her hands on her hips. “Well, then. Let this sweet big sister explain things to a clueless little demon like you.”

Valeria took a deep breath.

“We are the ones born from the shadows,” she said. “Some of us are born through reproduction, while others are created by the world’s darkest shadows, or sometimes by other demons.”

Sirius said nothing, quietly listening to Valeria’s explanation.

“Almost like monsters, except we possess intelligence akin to humans. That’s why monsters who gain intelligence through evolution can also be called demons.”

“So?” Sirius raised a brow. “What does that have to do with me?”

Valeria grinned widely. “Heh... haven’t you noticed how much humans and certain other races despise demons? Haven’t they been after your head for the past few years?”

Sirius fell silent, his brow twitching. No rebuttal left his lips.

“Heh, judging by that reaction, it seems I hit the mark.” Valeria’s sharp fangs glinted from her smile. “Just so you know, I came here to offer you a deal.”

“What do you want from me? And what would I get from you?”

A satisfied smile bloomed on Valeria’s lips. “All I want is for you to become part of the demon king’s army, which will rise in a few years to wage war against the races bathed in sunlight. Naturally, you’ll be rewarded with territory, honor, power, and maybe women.”

Sirius didn’t answer right away, staring at her in silence.

“Isn’t it an appealing offer? Don’t you also hate those who ruined your peaceful life in this forest?”

Sirius sighed. He wasn’t interested in her offer. True, he had struggled—

“I’m not interested in your offer, Lady Valeria. I prefer to live in peace and guard my own territory. I don’t want to get involved in troublesome things like war and conflict.”

“What?!” Valeria’s voice rose in pitch. “H-how can you refuse? Don’t you feel any hatred or grudge against the humans who’ve hunted you as if you were some mindless beast?”

Sirius shook his head slowly.

“I don’t know\... maybe not. Or rather, I simply don’t care. Whatever they do, I’m sure I can drive them back without much trouble.”

Valeria clenched her jaw. But soon she calmed herself, taking a deep breath. “Tch,” she muttered softly. “You’re really confident in your strength, aren’t you? But one day, you’ll be in trouble, because the hero and his party will rise to face the demon king, just as they have every few centuries. Are you sure you’ll be able to defeat him when that time comes?”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Do your best? To fight him? The hero is someone blessed and cherished by humans, you know. He’s on par with the demon king. Are you sure you can defeat him?”

Sirius stood motionless, but the sharp glint in his eyes exuded overwhelming confidence.

“I am absolutely sure.”

Valeria’s lips curled into a sharp arc. “You’re a fascinating one. Now I want you even more.” Her voice dropped, and her gaze turned colder.

The air around Valeria suddenly turned frigid. A suffocating darkness seemed to rise from her small frame.

Sirius growled again. He leapt several meters back and dropped into a battle stance. His instincts told him something dangerous was about to happen.

“Now then, show me that fragile confidence of yours, Sirius.”

The ground beneath Valeria’s feet was suddenly flooded with blood. The crimson splashes began to hover around her in tiny droplets.

[Blood Spear]

After chanting the spell, the droplets transformed into dozens of blood spears.

Valeria smirked, waving her hand slowly forward.

The spears shot toward Sirius at a speed invisible to the human eye.

No choice! I have to do this!

Sirius took a deep breath, then released it in a deafening blast of sound.

Roooaaar!

Sirius’s thunderous roar sent Valeria’s blood spears flying back toward her. But the spears turned back into liquid the moment they touched her body. She could not be harmed by her own weapon.

On the other hand, the vibrations from Sirius’s roar made Valeria’s ears ring painfully, drawing blood.

“Ugh... stop it! This is annoying!”

Sirius finally ceased his roar, his brow furrowed. “What?”

Valeria dusted off her gothic dress, now stained with dirt. “Listen. I admit you’re strong, little wolf. At the very least, you’d certainly give them trouble.”

“Them? You mean the hero?”

Valeria sighed. “No. You see, aside from me, other demon captains have probably heard the rumors about you. They’re greedy, selfish, and not nearly as kind to new demons as I am. I’m sure they’ll use force if you refuse to join. So be careful.”

“I understand.”

“Well, well. In the end, I return empty-handed. Still, I’m not complaining—you’re simply too intriguing.” Valeria glanced at Sirius with a sly grin. “Take care of yourself, sweet wolf. I hope we meet again someday.” Valeria waved her hand before vanishing within her magic circle.

Sirius smiled faintly.

Valeria’s brief presence gave him a little space to breathe. It had been a long time since he’d spoken with anyone. In this forest, there was only food or threat.

Is she... the woman from my memory?

Sirius’s smile suddenly faded. He shook his head slowly.

No. It’s not her. Somehow\... I just know.

Valeria had lightened the burden in Sirius’s heart a little. Yet he knew she could never fill the emptiness inside him.

His heart did not beat for her. That woman was not the one he was searching for.

I... miss you. Even if I don’t know where you are, or who you are.