I knew the backstreets were eerie, but even more so at night. Now, there was no sound at all. Even those unidentifiable sounds ceased to exist.
There was only one reason why I was even here.
"Eirlys... Are we there yet?"
"This is the third time you asked this. Quit asking."
"..."
The silence was really unbearable. I started hallucinating sounds, reacting to nothing, and Eirlys grew more and more annoyed.
Maybe I could ask her something else?
"...I heard you are in the Guild. Are you a hunter?"
"Yes."
"Why did you become one?"
"Process of elimination."
"...?"
Eirlys stopped walking, now facing me directly.
"...I'm not a sellsword, nor am I interested in adventuring. Is that clear enough?"
"No, like... I mean, why are you working in the Guild as a hunter?"
"Because I have expenses to pay, of course."
That was much more straightforward than I expected. Rather, that should be expected.
"Over with the questions. We'll soon enter the Red Zone, so let me answer some of your questions preemptively."
"What?"
"Yes, the Red Zone is where miasma gather, becoming a nest for demonbeasts. Demonbeasts never leave the Red Zone, therefore accumulating miasma over time. Leave it like that, and the Red Zone will continue to expand."
"Wait, wait. Can you slow down a bit?"
"No, cleaning demonbeasts is an important task in managing the Red Zone. And today, we will head inside to do that."
"But I barely managed to survive a single demonbeast..."
I doubted that I could be of any use. Why am I even here?
"Cain, the one you encountered is not common. Most demonbeasts here are formless. They are more or less just pests."
"Formless?"
"Follow me."
We continued heading into the darkness.
Eirlys told me not to bring my lantern with me, as it would only attract demonbeasts.
Yet somehow, Eirlys seemed to know exactly when and where to turn.
The area here felt abandoned. Broken walls and windows made way for unusual passages. All kinds of unknowable objects and items littered everywhere...
Splat.
I stepped on something sticky...
Eirlys raised her hand to stop me, and as we stood still for a moment...
Slrk… sqush…
Wet, fleshy sounds echoed ahead.
"Get ready."
"O-okay."
With a flick, a radiating light appeared.
「1-star Layered Spell - Guiding Light」
Hrrk—?
Something was crouched over a human corpse, tearing flesh from bone.
At first glance, I mistook it for a wolf.
Then it moved.
Far too many limbs unfolded beneath its body, carrying it in a grotesque crawl. Its skin was bare, taut against its frame, as if it had been flayed alive.
「2-star Spell - Ground Shackle」
The ground below it contorted and buried its feet, chaining it down. It thrashed violently, but to no avail. Its shriek tore through the alleys and left my ears ringing.
Eirlys went on to silence it, conjuring a circle of searing red and yellow light.
"Flamma urens. Calor fervens. Necte."
「2-star Layered Spell - Blazing Fire」
A fiery flame overwhelmed the demonbeast, burning it to ashes.
-GRAAAHHH—!
-SKRREEEAAAGH!
-GRAA—GRAA—!
Frenzied roars surrounded us, raw and unrestrained. I tensed up my grip involuntarily.
Eirlys moved back right beside me.
"Also, you are the main force here. I'll support you."
"Wait, what? I thought I was the support—"
One by one, demonbeasts with twisted bodies appeared from the shadows. They groaned and rushed forward. However, compared to that demonbeast...
They were not that fast. Maybe a bit more dangerous than Hollows, but that was about it.
I drew a wide slash. Blood spurted everywhere. A demonbeast fell. Compared to Eirlys's magic, this was far less elegant and clean.
But the problem was their number.
-GRA—
「2-star Spell - Freezing Ray」
Even with Eirlys here, I doubted I could keep swinging my sword around for long.
We stood our ground, barely moving from our original position. I got careless a few times, getting a few scratches and bruises.
But thanks to Eirlys covering me, it stayed just that.
Meanwhile, Eirlys effortlessly avoided every lunge directed at her. Not a single scratch marked her clothes.
...I thought mages were supposed to stay in the back.
I kept on swinging. Blood and bits of flesh completely stained my clothes. At some point, my hands had become so slick with blood and sweat that I could barely feel my grip.
Demonbeast carcasses littered the alley, yet fresh growls echoed from deeper within the Red Zone.
...Crap, I'm tiring out a bit, but I think I could still—
Without warning, Eirlys grabbed my arm and started running. Our hurried footsteps echoed loudly.
"Wha—why are we running all of a sudden!?"
"No time to explain."
Dozens of footsteps echoed loudly. They were in hot pursuit.
Soon enough, a demonbeast blocked our way. Eirlys raised her wand...
But I dashed past her and cut it down first. Eirlys seemed surprised by what I did.
No time to think about it. I promptly took the lead. Steer clear of the noise. Take all shortcuts possible. Doors, windows, and fences were simply part of the route. This place is abandoned anyway.
Up and down. Leaping across stairways and makeshift bridges. I scaled walls and forced my way through sealed gates, carving paths through dead ends. Eirlys followed close behind, and I didn't think she'd lose me. Just a gut feeling.
I passed through houses and carried my momentum into the streets. I took down the few demonbeasts that caught up to us. Just like that, we maneuvered past the demonbeasts and escaped their territory.
-Khh—hah—khh—!
I bent over, gasping for air. The run had left me utterly exhausted, and yet Eirlys appeared to be perfectly fine.
Remembering that I brought some stamina potions, I quickly took them out and drank them, still panting heavily.
They tasted terrible, and I still felt the same. Did I get scammed?
"Potions don't take effect immediately. Think of them like tonics."
...Good to know, I suppose.
"Cain, you just arrived here not long ago, right?"
"Yeah?"
"Your spatial awareness is very good."
"...Thanks?"
Sitting down, I put my sword to my side.
"Anyway, why did we run anyway? I thought we were doing fine?"
"Just you, not me."
"Huh?"
I scanned her up and down. She looked exactly the same as before we started. What was she talking about?
Eirlys folded her arms.
"They are weak, yes. Those are just formless demonbeasts, and unlike the one you fought before, they don't have an 'identity' yet."
"So why did we run?"
"It's because of miasma."
"Are they harmful?"
"Yes. Prolonged exposure to it could result in a variety of psychological effects, including madness. In extreme cases, Corruption."
"What is Corruption?"
"That is when a human becomes a demonbeast."
I looked up at her in shock.
"So did we just..."
"No, demonbeasts can manifest naturally. Cleaning them, reducing the spread of miasma, and ultimately preventing Corruption. That's what a hunter is."
"I see..."
I was lost in thought, thinking about what she just said.
Even then, Eirlys still folded her arms, like she was still expecting more questions.
"So well..."
"Well?"
"Am I immune to miasma? From start to finish, I didn't feel anything at all."
"Oh? You figured it out."
"...Please continue."
"Miasma is odorless and colourless, so symptoms like dizziness are the only indication, or you can just estimate it based on your breathing rate and depth."
"Oh..."
"And yes, as a Chosen One, you are indeed immune to miasma."
I felt like she had some sort of superiority complex. Just a hunch, though.
"So, what do we do now? Is this it for tonight?"
"Obviously not. The night is still young."
Eirlys smirked at me.
"What, are you planning to give up again now?"
"Certainly not, not now of all time."
"Great. We will be doing this until dawn."
"...Okay, okay. Wait a bit. I need to take a breather."
"Sure."
I slumped down. Eirlys paced around, deep in thought. It seemed this was a peculiar habit of hers.
Curiosity got the better of me.
"What are you thinking about, Eirlys?"
"Hm? This is going better than I thought, so I'm adjusting my expectations accordingly."
"...I see."
This is going to be a long night.