Chapter 21

Chapter 21 – Into the Abyss (1)

Erin stood still, staring at the floor she had turned into a mess, making no attempt to clean it.

It felt as though someone were choking her. She could only gasp for breath as she brushed her trembling bangs back with an anger-shaken hand.

The Seventh Commander had been nothing more than a nuisance by comparison.

The position of First Commander was one that could not leave the Pope’s side unless a calamity occurred.

And yet, simply because she had become a demon god’s sacrifice, she was being sent out after a mere four days to exterminate low-level monsters. Even without stripping her of the title outright, this was effectively the same thing.

That this moment had come just because Gabriel had singled her out was unbearable. It was the worst possible outcome.

Unable to release her anger, she bit down hard on her lip. Should she go and demand an explanation, insist that this was wrong?

But even if she did, would anything change? More likely, she would only be seen as unreasonable.

In the end, all Erin could do was accept it.

They were probably sending her off thinking it was nothing more than a routine subjugation. But this was not a simple sweep. If anything, it was an opportunity.

Yes. She should think of it that way and accept it calmly.

She tried to soothe herself, yet her pride kept collapsing inward, driving her to the edge of madness.

She rubbed her face repeatedly with dry hands, trying to suppress the anger slowly boiling inside her. This sensitivity had to be because of the thirst scorching her throat.

That had to be it.

Erin tilted her head back. A sudden wave of emptiness washed over her, leaving her unable to think straight.

What had she been striving for all this time?

She had only ever chased enough strength to exact her revenge.

How had things ended up like this?

Was this punishment for becoming a holy knight despite not believing in God?

Erin stood there blankly for a moment, then shook her head to regain her composure.

Even if she returned as quickly as possible, anything involving a demon god would take at least a week.

She had to give Gabriel blood every two days. That meant she would have to leave for the South with him as early as tomorrow.

No, before that, it would take six hours for the large-scale warp to activate. She needed to inform her unit and prepare for deployment.

She drew in a slow breath, forcing herself to calm down, then carefully folded her misfortune and buried it deep in her chest.

Gabriel, whatever you want from me, I am not going to break so easily.

Erin stared hard into the empty air, then turned away. If things had already gone this wrong, there was no room for hesitation. The moment she faltered, she would fall even deeper into the abyss.

But even if she fell, she would not fall alone.

***

“An undead subjugation?” one of the knights asked, disbelief clear in his voice.

Erin had anticipated resistance. If anything, it made her all the more composed.

“Yes,” she replied evenly. “It is a direct order from His Holiness.”

At those words, a cold silence spread through the unit. Everyone already knew how much the Pope had shielded Erin until now.

Even without hearing it from the Pope himself, they understood. The First Knight Order, along with Erin, had been cast aside.

Watching those who could not hide their expressions, Erin let out a quiet sigh.

Skill aside, the First Knight Order was largely composed of second sons from high-ranking noble families. Men who lived and died by honor would never accept a situation like this easily.

“To the outside world, this will be announced as nothing more than the subjugation of low-level monsters,” Erin continued.

Her calm voice fell again into the silence, drawing every gaze to her.

“But if it is a calamity, that changes everything.”

Not even a breath was heard. Erin stood still, looking over her knights.

“A demon god known only through legend has reappeared, and I have already been offered as his sacrifice. And yet, a massive horde of undead has emerged in the South, where monsters do not normally appear, to the point that we must intervene directly.”

She paused, then smiled gently.

“Does that not strike you as strange?”

Since meeting Duke Ferr, she had never stepped down from her position. Having climbed to the highest seat, it was only natural that the only direction left was downward.

If she hit rock bottom, then she would gain the strength to rise again.

This was that bottom.

“I have heard something from the Silver Demon,” Erin went on. “If we find and destroy the heart of the Night Demon, not only this calamity but all monsters will disappear. That is what we are going to do.”

She was still the First Commander, a woman whose strength lagged behind no one.

“If you still have complaints, you may leave,” Erin said firmly. “I have no need for subordinates who will not follow my will.”

She fell silent for several seconds, letting the weight of her words sink in.

She could feel every eye on her.

“We depart in six hours. Assemble at the Grand Temple.”

With that, Erin turned and left without hesitation. Footsteps hurried after her from behind.

“Commander,” Ten called out.

“What is it?” Erin asked, stopping.

“…Are you all right?” Ten asked quietly.

For a split second, Erin nearly lost control of her expression.

Of course she was not all right. She had not known a single failure in eighteen years, which only made this humiliation more severe.

She wished Ten did not know that. It would have felt less miserable that way.

No matter how many times she told herself she was fine, her crushed pride continued to gnaw at her sanity.

“…There is a grand duke in the South,” Erin said after a pause. “Given his nature, he has likely already mobilized his forces to deal with the undead.”

If the emperor and the Pope were ready to discard her, then she would simply prepare to discard them in return.

The grand duke was a man with little hunger for power.

She had never met him personally, but the fact that so many nobles quietly supported him meant he was someone who handled matters flawlessly from the shadows.

If I return to the capital as a hero, I wonder what expression the emperor will wear.

Having organized her thoughts, Erin lightly patted Ten on the shoulder. Midnight was approaching. It would be better to give Gabriel blood before departing for the South.

“So prepare for deployment, Ten,” she said.

Leaving him with those words, Erin headed straight for Gabriel.

She reached the familiar prison door, now irritatingly familiar, and was about to step inside when she froze.

Just two days ago, this place had felt deeply wrong.

Now, walls had formed, transforming the underground prison into something resembling a clean, orderly home. Erin stared at the unfamiliar sight, unable to move forward.

Strangely, the moment the walls appeared, the place felt familiar, which only made it more unsettling.

It stirred a longing so strong she wanted to flee immediately.

No. This is wrong.

Her lips trembled as her body instinctively stepped back. She had never felt her entire being reject something this violently.

“Little one?” a voice called.

Gabriel appeared at the far end of the corridor. It was no great distance, only ten steps away.

And yet something felt wrong.

Why does it feel like I should be standing there?

It was as if her position and Gabriel’s had been reversed. As if he were the one who belonged here, calling out to her.

A strange sense of déjà vu tightened around her throat. It felt as though she had been here for a very long time, and that sensation tormented her.

Why were these thoughts surfacing now?

No, before that, his scent was driving her mad.

The sweet aroma tickling her nose intensified her thirst.

Her breath caught. Cold sweat streamed down her skin.

She tried to force a deep breath, but nausea surged instead, and she clamped a hand over her mouth. She wanted to tear into his throat right then and there.

She had to endure it. This was not something a person should do. How could she even think of biting someone’s neck?

Then another voice whispered inside her.

Would it not be easier to cut his throat? He is a demon god. You do not want human blood. One sip would be enough.

Yes. Even a single drop had been enough before to ease the hunger. One mouthful might free her from this agony.

She felt insane.

She could not understand why she was like this.

What she understood even less was Gabriel’s reaction.

Why was he approaching her with an expression even more frightened than hers?

“Erin,” Gabriel said softly.

Not the infuriating, ‘little one’, but her name.

She could not understand it. Why he was calling her by name now. Why he was not wearing that infuriating smile that always scraped at her nerves.