Prologue – Demon Extermination
Saria Heartness stood still with her sword poised.
In the mountains of the Gazara region in the Rosen Republic, with a cliff behind her, she stared at the creature in front of her — a monster reminiscent of a giant spider, about five meters long — and her body stiffened.
(That’s… a demon…)
When Saria decided to exterminate demons, she thought she was prepared. No matter what kind of monster, no matter how terrifying, she would never retreat—so she believed. However, fear gripped her. For the first time, faced with a non-human presence, her mind and body were completely overwhelmed.
Her long chestnut hair tied back to her waist, almond-shaped eyes of a blue hue, a straight nose, and soft-looking lips — her perfectly arranged features seemed frozen, as if they were artificial. Clad in a riding outfit of white, jade, and red, with a chest not overly large but shapely and upright, a tight waist, and hips that traced graceful curves, her slender body trembled visibly. All color had drained from her face.
“Are you frightened, little one?”
A heavy voice pressed down. A voice that seemed to penetrate the depths of Saria’s heart…
The owner of the voice was the giant spider demon in front of her.
“You foolish one. You powerless one… Hehehe.”
The demon laughed, as if mocking Saria…
“Do you value your life?”
It spoke in a whisper.
“Do you not wish to die?”
Its words seemed to unearth the deepest recesses of her mind, trying to provoke a response.
“I… I wouldn’t…”
But she couldn’t admit it. Suppressing her fear, she answered the demon.
“Don’t lie. I can tell you’re afraid.”
But she was seen through.
“Your body is trembling. You can’t even move from that spot.”
“T-That’s…”
She couldn’t retort. The demon’s words were all true.
“There’s no need to be ashamed, weakling. After all, you’re just a mere human. Humans are no match for demons. Your instincts understand that. So… I shall give you a chance.”
“A chance?”
She tilted her head, sweating coldly.
“Hehehe… I mean to let you go.”
“Let me go? You mean… you’ll spare me?”
It was an unbelievable statement. A being known as demon, had no heart. A demon was the embodiment of darkness lurking in this world. It preyed on people and hunted lives. It continued to exist in this world, disregarding the lives and fears of others.
For demons, fear was the ultimate delicacy — there was no possibility of sparing anyone.
“That’s right,”
But the demon nodded easily.
“…Why?”
It was incomprehensible.
“It’s because there’s no amusement in taking the lives of the weak and the cowardly. It’s because their lives hold no value. So, I’ll let you go. It’s simple, isn’t it?”
It was a truly twisted answer, fitting for a demon. Nevertheless, one could understand it to some extent. If such a being as a demon existed, such things might happen.
(Will I be saved? Am I really going to be saved?)
Her heart felt somewhat lighter.
“Now, weak one, you may leave.”
The demon’s words were directed at her.
(Yes, I should leave. I should get out of here quickly—)
She should flee.
Since her opponent had said they would let her go, she should simply obey — her heart whispered to Saria.
Without opposing that feeling, she tried to obey. She attempted to loosen her grip on the sword in her hand.
(No, I can’t do it!!)
But Saria did not follow her heart.
She tightened her grip on the sword once more. She erased the color of fear that had been present in her blue eyes and cursed the gigantic spider fiercely.
“…What do you intend to do?”
The demon noticed her intention to stay.
“I don’t intend anything! Demon— I will slay you!! I came here for that purpose! I will become a knight!!”
The fear hadn’t disappeared. Honestly, it was terrifying. She still wanted to run away if she could.
However, a stronger determination supported Saria.
(Become a true knight. Be recognized by all the people! That’s why… I won’t run away!!)
＊
The Heartness family is a lineage of knights tasked with protecting the Kingdom of Rosen for generations. They took pride in dedicating their swords to the king and being ready to sacrifice their lives when necessary — or at least, that’s what they should have been.
However, reality was different.
Certainly, in the early days of the founding of the Kingdom of Rosen, they might have lived by the pride of knights. However, over the long years, that ideal became nothing more than a facade. The chosen nobility. Existing above the commoners without having to do anything — eventually, not just individuals of the Heartness family, but the nobility as a whole, drowned in such a status.
Nobles above, commoners below. Drowning in such a structure of the country, the nobles oppressed the masses. The result was a peasant rebellion. People showed defiance against the nobility en masse. The nobles were surprised and panicked. After all, the numbers overwhelmingly favored the commoners.
Of course, initially, the nobles tried to quell the rebellion. However, most of the soldiers they had to suppress the rebellion were commoners themselves. There was no way they could win. Realizing their own powerlessness, the noble families accepted the demands of the commoners. Still, some nobles desperately tried to resist and strengthen their noble power to protect their vested interests.
However, they couldn’t go against the tide of history, and eventually, the king relinquished his power, and the Kingdom of Rosen was reborn as the Rosen Republic. Thus, people became equal. There were no nobles, no commoners. A country where everyone was given equal opportunity was born.
However, where there is light, there is always shadow.
Saria was born in that shadow.
In the shadow of the Heartness family, who tried to oppress the commoners to protect their vested interests… A family that tried to suppress the birth of a new society. All members of the Heartness family were destined to be scorned by the people from birth.
“Not that family… they’re nobles…”
She had been subjected to disdainful glances since she was a child. Honestly, she couldn’t blame them. She thought it was inevitable that the Heartness family would fall. They had brought it upon themselves…
But—
“I’m sorry, Saria… because of the Heartness…”
Her mother’s feeble apology was unbearable.
“I’m sorry for causing you trouble.”
Her father bowing his head to her, a child, pained her heart. She wanted to tell them, “No!”
“I’m happy!!”
She wanted to convey that. That’s why she made the decision. To become a knight. The Heartness family was a lineage of knights. Knights redeemed their honor by gaining fame as knights. And become one. To become a recognized figure by everyone…
＊
(Father and mother are no longer here… but I vowed at their graves. I will become a splendid knight and show them!)
Both parents died young due to a pandemic — she must show her happy selfs to the two in heaven.
“I can’t run away!!”
Pointing the tip of her sword towards the demon.
A demon dwelling in the Gazara region. It’s said to be attacking neighboring villages. If she can defeat it, she might be able to join the Republic Knights. If that happens, everyone will surely acknowledge her. She can be happy.
“I will definitely defeat you!!”
Raising her voice to motivate herself.
At the same time, Saria kicked the ground.
“Haaaah!!”
Her spirit resounded around her.
“…Foolish.”
The demon uttered words of disdain.
“Know your place, human!!”
Along with that, a powerful storm force was unleashed from the giant spider’s body. Something like a black wave attacked Saria’s body.
“Uwaaaah!!”
Just that alone easily blew away her slender body. She was repeatedly slammed into the ground. Saria was pounded into the ground over and over again like a kicked ball.
“I’m… not done yet!!”
However, she quickly regained her footing. Her whole body hurt. Even so, she couldn’t give up. She stood up and ran again to close the distance with the demon.
“You’re persistent… then take this—”
Seeing this, the demon focused its muscular strength on its body.
(Is it snarling?)
It was clear that power was concentrated on the mouth-like part of the spider-like body.
“Shaaah!!”
In the next moment, the demon condensed its restrained power into threads and shot them towards Saria. It was obvious that it would be bad if she got entangled in the threads the spider emitted.
“Kuh!!”
She hastily dodged to the side.
“Ah! Idiot!!”
In an instant, a cute voice leaked from the demon’s mouth. It wasn’t as heavy and oppressive as the voice she had heard moments ago. It sounded like a girl’s voice.
“Huh?”
Saria was bewildered by what was happening. But she didn’t have time to think about the reason.
“Ah — damn it!!”
There, she realized. Because she dodged sideways, she had come to the edge of the cliff.
“Uuugh!”
She tried to regain her balance somehow. However, at that moment, the ground gave way. It had been raining heavily around here until today. Therefore, the ground seemed to have become weak. Of course, she couldn’t support her body.
(No way… father… mother… in a place like this…)
Her body began to fall towards the cliff below.
“Chii—”
The demon clicked its tongue at that moment. At the same time, the figure of the spider disappeared like an illusion. In its place appeared a girl dressed in a black gothic dress. Short silver hair, crimson eyes, and on her head were horns reminiscent of a goat.
(So beautiful)
For a moment, forgetting the situation, she stared. And Saria’s consciousness faded…
