Chapter 57

"This is the door, right?"

Descending the stairs at the back of the headquarters of the Torias Trading Company, a massive metal door soon came into view.

In front of it, a few guards, who seemed to be on watch, were slouching lazily. It was noon, yet they were drinking and gambling with dice.

Alicia asked from beside me, "There are about five guards... It's quite secure for just a warehouse. What should we do?"

"Killing them would cause various problems. Can we put them to sleep?"

"Yes. There is a holy magic to induce a deep sleep. Shall I?"

Alicia turned her hand toward the guards and emitted a light.

The guards fell over with a thud, all falling into a deep sleep.

"They won't wake up even if you slap their butts. I've tested it on the naughty kids at the monastery."

"Ah, thank you, Alicia."

*Deep Sleep*... a holy attribute magic that puts people into a deep sleep. It is originally used for healing.

In any case, the guards have been neutralized.

Now, the important door... There are many magical reactions on the other side. It's clear that someone is being held captive.

The door itself is locked with a magical device, but it seems easier to open than the one in the underground waterways of Arus.

"First, let's use *Teleport* to see what's inside—!?"

When we teleported with Alicia, many people were lying helplessly.

A stone warehouse. Torches were hung on the walls, and buckets and wooden boxes were scattered around.

The stench that permeated the air was indescribable... a putrid odor caused by various reasons.

Dozens of demons were lying in such a cramped space.

Some were slumped over, but others were so emaciated that it was hard to tell if they were alive or dead.

No, some were already...

Looking at them, all of their clothes were tattered, and some showed painful scars.

Perhaps some had been rebellious, as they were restrained with chains on the wall.

"We need to free them quickly..."

We can't show ourselves. They are not criminals, so there's no need to make them my followers.

So, I'll open the door and free them.

When the door opens, someone will definitely go outside.

If one escapes, the guards that Virtus has called should notice the situation.

The problem is Louis and Burius... With Virtus around, it would be difficult to cover it up.

"Alicia... please use holy magic on everyone. I'll open the door."

"As you wish..."

Alicia's face was dark.

Even with holy magic, some are beyond help. Alicia, being a demon herself, must have her own thoughts.

As the warehouse filled with brilliant light, I used the unlocking magic to open the door.

Noticing their bodies were recovering, some began to stir.

"My body feels light?"

"I can move..."

"My wounds are shallower!?"

As Alicia's magic healed everyone, a clinking sound echoed.

The sound of the lock being successfully opened.

"Hey... could it be... we can go outside!!"

A male demon quickly opened the door and said,

"The guards are sleeping!! Let's escape outside!! Alert the guards!!"

At the sound of the man's voice, the demons ran out and up the stairs.

Of course, some couldn't move... We'll leave them to the guards.

"Alright... let's go check upstairs."

"Yes."

We teleported to the first floor.

There, fleeing demons and astonished customers were in a commotion.

"What, what is this!?"

"Why are demons in such a place... and why are they all injured?"

Meanwhile, Louis and Burius were also stunned.

"Why are demons here, Burius?"

"Well, well... it's quite filthy, isn't it?"

Burius answered Louis and glared at Torias, who was standing still.

But Torias quickly spoke up.

"Customers, please calm down!! It seems a group of demon thieves has infiltrated our trading company!!"

However, the demons had nothing in their hands. No one would think they were thieves.

In the tense atmosphere, Torias chased after the fleeing demons.

"Hey, stop, thieves!!"

Outside, a demon clung to the guards.

"Please help us!! This man locked us in the basement... some have already died!!"

"We were assaulted all the time!! They only gave us moldy bread!!"

Most of the guards despised demons.

But seeing the demons' serious condition and the commotion around, they couldn't ignore it.

A guard captain questioned Torias.

"Is it true that the demons are making these claims?"

"Of course not!! That's impossible! They are thieves! They're just making up lies!"

Torias answered hurriedly, but his excuses were weak. No one looking at the demons would think they were thieves. The citizens watching began to speculate about human trafficking.

The captain said to Torias,

"There have been reports of demons going missing in this area. You are Torias, right? ...We will investigate the basement."

"Wait, wait, please."

Sweating, Torias trembled.

But then, a voice came from inside the trading company.

"Wait a moment."

"You... this is!"

The guards immediately knelt to the people who came out of the trading company.

It was Burius and Louis.

Burius said to the captain,

"Torias was planning to hand over those demons from the beginning. He has been troubled by theft every day. It's your fault for not enforcing the law properly... don't you think, Prince Louis?"

"Huh? Oh! Quickly, take those filthy demons away!! Don't interfere with my shopping!"

At Louis's words, the guards bowed.

"Yes, yes!"

The guards immediately tried to take the demons away.

Torias breathed a deep sigh of relief, looking genuinely relieved.

But then, a man appeared.

"Isn't that strange?"

"...What? You!?"

The guards turned to the voice, eyes wide.

Louis also exclaimed,

"V-Virtus, why are you here?"

Finally, Virtus spoke up.

I was worried he might be overlooked for a moment.

"I'm always outside the palace, you know? ...But more importantly, guard, is what that priest just said true?"

Burius paused for a moment before answering with a smile.

"...No. I just thought it might be."

Torias's face drained of color.

"Guard, shouldn't you investigate the basement?"

When Virtus said this, Louis interjected.

"Brother!! Are you siding with the demons!? This Torias is a fine man!"

"Guard, don't listen to the child's nonsense. This situation is clearly abnormal, isn't it?"

There is no rule that the fourth prince's word should be followed over the seventh prince's, but with many citizens witnessing this, an investigation is inevitable.

The captain nodded and led the guards into the trading company.

"I was on edge, but Virtus was waiting for the right moment to speak up..."

I muttered, and Alicia asked,

"Did you wait for those two to lie?"

"Yeah, something like that."

Virtus was likely waiting for Louis and Burius to speak, watching for any slip-ups.

Burius, as expected, was clever. He quickly abandoned Torias, sensing Virtus's intentions.

Louis, on the other hand, hadn't thought that far. He still looked puzzled at Virtus, who contradicted him. However, with Virtus being the holder of *All Gods*, Louis couldn't be too forceful.

"Surprising... I thought you'd show up in front of the demons and guards right away, more straightforwardly."

"Does Virtus also dislike those two?"

"Maybe, but I don't think that's all."

Virtus started healing the injured demons with magic.

Despite the citizens' hatred of demons, they praised Virtus for his compassion.

"Virtus might be aiming for the throne..."

By tarnishing Louis and Burius's reputations, it would be advantageous for Virtus to inherit the throne.

However, Virtus is known for being obsessed with money and women, making it unlikely.

In any case, Louis and Burius could only watch.

Torias was looking down, his legs trembling.

Then, a guard returned.

"Report, Captain! In the basement, there are many dead demons. Currently, over a dozen are still alive, but with severe injuries. There are restraints, suggesting kidnapping!"

"I see... immediately evacuate the survivors. Would you like to join the inspection, Lord Torias?"

The captain's voice went unanswered by Torias.

Then, Burius, looking up to the sky, suddenly said,

"How ugly... Oh, holy gods! Why do children of men do such things? – I see!"

Burius's eyes widened as he approached Torias and forcibly took his hand.

"Lord Burius?"

"I understand... I understand!! This man is a puppet of the devil! Everyone, behold!"

Burius tore off Torias's white glove and raised his hand high.

"That...!?"

"The mark of darkness!!"

Seeing the black mark on Torias's hand, the citizens began to murmur.

"Indeed, as the holy gods foretold, this man bears the mark of darkness!! That's why he can commit such sinful acts! You devil!"

Burius released Torias, who then slumped to the ground.

Falling but not getting up without a fight.

Burius likely knew from the beginning that Torias bore the mark of darkness. From the conversation I overheard, he might have been using this as leverage to demand money and goods.

Not only making the citizens believe that those with the mark of darkness are evil, but also...

Torias, who had been looking down, suddenly burst into laughter.

"Haha... hahaha... hahahahaha!! – A devil!? Yes, I am a devil!!"

The citizens, including Burius, stepped back at his behavior.

"For money, I sold my brother and his family!! Someone who was so kind to me... someone I've always admired, I sold them!! What else would you call this but the work of a devil!?"

Torias's eyes turned to the Enotia Trading Company.

"That person... he never spoke out about me, even when I was so cold to him... he never knew I sold him..."

Enotia and Torias were step-brothers...

Living with the same mark of darkness, they must have hidden it and lived together. They weren't business rivals but close enough to have their companies nearby.

And this is how it ended...

"Everyone, listen well!! Enotia and his family are not devils – the devil is me! A pitiful devil in human skin! That's me!!"

The words "devil" and "Torias" connected in my mind.

That's why the name Torias sounded familiar.

– Before the reset, Torias turned into a devil at the capital's temple and killed many priests and citizens. He was likely used by Burius then too.

Seeing Torias's body tremble unnervingly, I said to Alicia,

"– Alicia!"

"Yes!"

We immediately canceled *Invisibility* in a blind spot behind the crowd.

But Torias was already emitting a black mist.