Chapter 43

After the angel disappeared, Selena's voice immediately echoed.

"Don't move!!"

Selena quickly pointed her sword at Tika and Nate. The armored warriors also aimed their weapons, surrounding the two.

Tika and Nate lowered their weapons and raised their hands.

"Lord Alex, there might still be some cards left... here..."

Elysia looked at me with a serious gaze.

She was suggesting that I go somewhere and let her deal with those two.

She was probably being considerate, not wanting to show me the death of others because I was still a child.

"No, Elysia... there's no need for that. We've been fighting monsters together for a long time, haven't we?"

"I apologize... then..."

"No, don't act yet. There are things we need to ask them."

At my words, Tika and Nate tightly shut their mouths.

"I won't torture you. But... depending on your answers, Elysia and Selena will have to kill you."

Upon hearing this, Tika glared at me with a wary look.

"Before that, tell me... are you a demon?"

"..."

I don't even know that myself.

But the angel attacked me. That means it must have recognized me as a demon.

Selena said,

"Maybe it mistook you for a demon because of the dark emblem?"

"I've never heard of that... I've fought alongside angels a few times."

Tika took off the white gloves she was wearing.

Black, writhing letters and patterns were on the back of Tika's hand.

Nate, perhaps reading the room, also showed the back of his hand, which had the same dark emblem as Tika.

I've never heard of angels attacking those with the dark emblem.

If angels did that, the Holy Order would use them to kill those with the dark emblem.

In any case, I was seen as an enemy by the angel.

There's a possibility that the angel was special, but the likelihood of more angels attacking in the future is high.

In the midst of this, Tika said,

"If you are still in your right mind, before you kill someone important..."

Elysia was about to speak.

But I quickly said,

"I'm not a demon. I won't attack anyone."

"But the angel attacked you! And the magic you used was dark magic, right? ...If you're not a demon, what are you?"

"I don't know... but I'm acting on my own will. That's all there is to it."

At these words, Tika fell silent.

Instead, Nate muttered,

"Even if you become a demon, you can still act on your own will."

Tika looked at Nate and said,

I've never heard of such a thing either.

I asked Nate,

"What do you mean?"

"Demons can cry. My friend did. He cried after killing his friend."

"Nate..."

Tika also seemed to recall something and looked gloomy.

"Do you remember, Tika? Meari's last words."

"When I stabbed her in the chest with a knife... she said thank you."

Born in a convent and possessing the dark emblem...

She must have had a friend in the same situation in the past.

And that friend became a demon.

It's a bit different from being able to act, but it's possible that demons retain their emotions.

In the midst of this, Elysia, without relaxing her expression, shook her head.

"Ultimately, it doesn't matter who Lord Alex is. Lord Alex is very important to me and Selena. You tried to harm him. Even though he saved your lives..."

Selena nodded.

"Lord Alex. Lord Alex is still young... and very kind. But, letting them go alive..."

I nodded.

"Yes, I can't do that."

At my words, Tika and Nate knelt as if they had resigned themselves.

"We're prepared. We tried to kill a young child..."

"We might have been the demons."

To their confessions, Elysia gripped her sword tightly.

Elysia is also from the same convent.

She must have her own thoughts about them.

If you were raised in a temple or convent, the words of the priests are absolute. Demons are absolute evil.

Angels don't attack humans. Angels only attack demons. That's their world and their common sense.

I also recall my own past, before I was given a second chance.

I never doubted the common sense of my world. These two are also unable to doubt the rules of their world.

It might be too lenient... but my power can give them a second chance. I just need to make them my familiars.

If I think calmly, I can also use them to find the mastermind behind the assassination attempt. As I said before, I won't torture them.

I told them,

"You have two choices... either entrust your lives to me literally, or die here."

"Are you going to use us?"

I shook my head.

"The word 'use' is too gentle. You will have to dedicate your lives to me... if I command, you will die immediately. Familiars... no, subservient demons, understand?"

"A subservient demon that disobeys its master is killed instantly by the magic's effect..."

"That's right. Whether you want to live that way is up to you. So, I'll let you choose."

"We are..."

Tika said, and Nate murmured,

"Originally, we were just a lizard's tail. We might have been eliminated to keep us quiet even if we returned."

"I know... but we had no choice, right?"

"Yeah. So, I'm ready to die now."

Nate said with a look of no regrets.

"But... how do we know you'll keep your promise? Who can guarantee it!?"

At Tika's words, Nate fell silent.

I told them,

"Your concerns, unfortunately, don't matter to me... but what I can say for sure is that if you die, it's over."

With solemn faces, I continued,

"If... you entrust your lives to me, of course, I intend to reward your efforts. I can't give you freedom, but I'll do my best to fulfill your wishes. If it can be solved with money, I can probably manage it."

Tika looked at me, puzzled, and asked,

"What do you gain from this?"

"I do. I can find out about the mastermind behind you."

"Unfortunately... no, to be honest, we were only told that there were almost demonized dark emblem bearers here. We won't be able to provide the information you want."

"Still... you might be useful."

Useful... I know it sounds strange even to me.

Maybe because they have the same dark emblem.

I feel sympathy for them.

I don't want to kill them.

Tika and Nate looked at each other for a while.

Then, they nodded deeply.

Tika looked at me with a serious gaze.

"Lord Alex... I understand your feelings."

"If we are acceptable, please use us."

Nate said, bowing, and Tika also bowed deeply.

It seems my feelings were conveyed to them.

They must have thought it was okay to entrust their lives to me.

I couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.

"...Understood. Then, you two are my familiars."

As I said this, their bodies glowed.

There was no visible change, but they seemed to feel something.

They bowed to me again.

"Lord Alex... we will serve you with all our hearts."

And so, I gained human familiars.