Chapter 61 - Infiltration

A Demon had invaded Count Concillus's territory.

It seemed as though that fact would turn everything upside down, but they announced it as a false alarm and settled things down.

From now on, they had to move in secret.

"The place we are heading to will be destroyed in six hours."

"If it will be destroyed in six hours, it would be too late even if we move now."

They had spent all of yesterday preparing for the expedition.

They equipped themselves with gear that enhanced mobility, even if it was a bit of a strain, and prepared magic as well.

Even doing all that, the time it would take was a day.

However, the target of their operation would disappear as soon as the morning sun rose.

"How did you know that information?"

Concillus asked.

"I heard it from the demon that invaded this place. It was Sitri."

"If you mean Sitri, are you talking about the Great Demon Sitri?!"

The demon of lust and hallucinations.

She was the Great Demon that knights, who had to fight temptation and protect their chastity, needed to be most wary of.

"Demons are not a breed whose words can be trusted at all."

"It's fine. We can trust her. I've decided to make a deal with that demon."

"A deal with a demon...?"

Concillus could not understand what Ferda was saying.

When it came to the words 'deal with a demon', there was always only one sentence that existed.

Do not make a deal with a demon.

The atmosphere began to grow murky.

Not only had the Great Demon that knights hated the most come, but he had even made a deal with her.

"Do not doubt him, gentlemen."

Concillus warned as he lowered his voice.

"The swords and armor you are wearing were all made because of the Regent of Valdrova. Have you forgotten that?"

Order returned immediately.

Rather than them recalling Ferda's grace, it was thanks to Concillus's own charisma.

Concillus was just as suspicious.

But he could not hesitate because of that.

In the subdued atmosphere, Concillus asked.

"What are the details of the deal?"

"She said there is a demon locked inside the Demon research facility. In exchange for freeing that demon, she provided us with a method."

"If it is to the point that the Great Demon Sitri is demanding its release, it sounds like a dangerous demon..."

"She said it is one of her daughters. In exchange for freeing one of those countless demons, we gain a clue about the Demons."

"They say even a hedgehog cherishes its young. It seems even demons have affection."

"So it seems."

Ferda took out the scroll he was holding and placed it on the desk.

"I accepted the deal and received this scroll. It is our method of transportation."

Instead of looking at it himself, Concillus gestured to his exclusive mage.

The exclusive mage examined the scroll Ferda had shown and spoke.

"This is a Bending Bridge configured for a round trip for eight people. To be provided with such a high-level magic..."

"I am a layman, so could you explain it to me?"

"It is basically similar to the Teleport Door, which is one of the teleport magic spells, but the activation method is different. It is created by passing through a dimension. In other words, it is difficult to detect with ordinary detection magic."

"Then that means this magic itself passes through Hell."

"It passes through Hell, but the probability of being affected is extremely low, so you can rest assured."

Concillus could not rest assured at all.

Hell.

Inside it existed seven domains and the seven grand dukes who ruled over them.

This domain, permitted only to the dead, was a place you could never escape once you stepped foot in it.

"However, since it is a scroll given directly by a demon, we must closely examine it to see if there are any traps—."

"No. There are no anomalies in the magic itself."

Ferda cut him off firmly.

This mage, who was turning forty this year, was displeased with the young Regent.

"It would be best to look it over once more. The Count will be using it, and I have the years of experience that come from—."

"I also have no small amount of experience, so do not worry. There are no traps in this scroll. Let's stop this useless waste of time."

The mage's face overtly scrunched up.

He thought the eighteen-year-old greenhorn talking about years of experience was just cutting him off because he didn't want to get into a pointless argument.

However, Ferda had only stated the absolute truth.

Ferda put aside the pointless squabbling and pointed to a spot on the unfolded map.

"The place we will be teleported to is right here. She said it is inside a cave."

"It's close to the research facility. If we approach, it can be done within ten minutes, and we can seize it before they can even destroy the research facility."

The seasoned officer Concillus explained as he drew the overall big picture in his head.

"Since you said the total number of people who can enter is eight, two will be the defense team securing the Bending Bridge, and the remaining six can be split into two teams, each taking on one mission. I will select five knights and one mage."

"No, I will be taking Zed, so just select five."

"Understood."

He swept his gaze over the assembled knights and picked them out one by one.

"Hans, Marco, Cowin, Billy, Philip. You will be joining us."

"We accept your orders!"

The knights whose names were called placed a hand on their chests and accepted the orders.

They were men who knew that being able to go out to the battlefield and fight was an honorable moment.

Ferda stole a glance at Zed.

His fatigue had piled up from his escort duties.

His eyes drooped down like an old dog's.

"Sir Zed. Let us move."

"Eh."

He had no honor or anything of the sort.

He was only going because he had no choice.

If they tell you to do it, you have to do it.

* * *

Ten minutes before the operation began.

They gathered in the briefing room once again, firmly equipped with winter gear to prepare for the severe cold of the north.

Based on the selected personnel, Concillus explained the outline of the operation.

"The main missions of this operation are information seizure and rescue. We will be divided into three teams: Cowin and Philip will secure the entrance, the Regent, Marco, and I will handle information seizure, and Hans, Billy, and Sir Zed will handle the rescue."

"Understood."

"Are there any distinguishing features of the target we need to rescue?"

"I was told she is a demon with pink hair."

"Pink will definitely stand out. Ensure that you rescue the demon with horns and black eyes. Do you understand?"

"Yes!"

"Then we shall begin the final inspection!"

They did not forget to do an inspection even up to the very end.

The place they were entering now was enemy territory.

Enemy territory within enemy territory.

Even a slight mistake would ruin everything, so they firmly armed themselves with military discipline.

Zed, who had been listening to the conversation, scratched his greasy hair and quietly approached Ferda.

"Regent."

"What is it?"

"That place we're going into, it's an 8-person gate, isn't it? A place where eight people go and eight people return?"

"Right."

"Then isn't it obvious that we can't rescue that demon bitch?"

Since eight people were going in, the number who could come out was also eight.

To extract her safely, there had to be seven people, not eight.

"You don't need to worry about that. Demons are reverse-summoned to Hell when they die."

"Ah, then we just have to kill her on the spot?"

Hearing that, Ferda thought for a moment.

"No, do not kill her on the spot and bring her to me instead."

"Eh? Is there really a need to do that?"

It would be over if they just reverse-summoned her, so why go through that trouble?

Then Ferda answered like this.

"If we do that, it ends too easily."

And easy things always ended up with bad aftermaths.

At the very least, Ferda's own life had been like that.

* * *

Ten seconds before the operation began.

"Gate open!"

Following Concillus's order, the mage poured magic power into the scroll.

As the magic circle on the scroll absorbed the magic power, it emitted a pure white light.

A moment later, the empty space above the scroll began to waver.

The space, which rippled like a spring touched by a breeze, gradually unfolded and created a circular window that reflected another space.

They could see a dark cave, and beyond it, the sight of the outside world where a blizzard was raging.

Concillus, firmly equipped in a fur coat, opened his mouth.

"Deploy!"

The two-man defense team securing the entrance went inside first, and the rest followed suit.

Like the well-trained soldiers and knights they were, they secured the path in perfect order.

"The Bending Bridge's operating time is one hour. Within that time, we will scout the interior and attempt the rescue and information seizure."

"Yes!"

"Commence operation!"

The two teams, excluding the defense team, moved to carry out their respective tasks.

"Let's see each other alive."

"You're saying something unlucky."

"If you die, hyung, I'll take good care of my sister-in-law."

"Just try it. I'll dig out of my grave, come back, and chop your dick off."

The knights, with deep brotherhood, exchanged their farewells and scattered.

Since time was tight, they maintained a fast pace even in the blizzard.

Concillus was old, but he had not neglected his training as a knight.

But even for him, pushing through the northern blizzard was no easy task.

'How is the Regent faring?'

Ferda's body was that of a mage, not a knight.

He was frail enough to be considered among the weakest even for a mage.

Wondering if he might have already fallen behind, Concillus turned his head to look.

'He is following well.'

Surprisingly, there was no sign of the distance widening.

Concillus, who had been trying to walk with a bit of consideration for him, changed his mind.

"May we increase the speed?"

"Do so."

"Understood."

Concillus also moved quickly without needing to hold back, and Ferda, who was following behind, kept pace with him.

'The weather is like shit.'

Ferda inwardly disliked this situation.

It was already dark, and his vision was being blocked.

On top of wearing a heavy fur coat, it was snowing and he was facing a headwind.

Normally, Ferda would have been blown away by the wind and tumbled down a cliff.

However, the reason that didn't happen was because he had something supporting his body.

Shadow Hand.

Inside Ferda's coat, Shadow Hands were pressing against the ground, lifting the coat above his shoulders and reducing the burden on his body.

'It's a relief that the coat can cover my entire body.'

The power of shadows is proportional to darkness.

If the shadow was weak, it would be worse than Ferda's own physical strength, but if it was strong, it could match the strength of an ordinary soldier.

Moreover, in a dark space, he could bring out several Shadow Hands.

'Pressing against the ground with multiple hands does make me feel like I'm walking like a beast, though.'

It looked plausible enough from the outside, so it didn't matter.

"It is here."

As Concillus slightly swept away the snow, a faint light like a firefly was seeping through.

Faint laughter could be heard from inside.

Concillus drew the sword at his waist.

"I will pave the way."

"Understood."

Concillus skillfully slipped through the narrow gap.

A moment later, that laughter was abruptly cut off.

"What are you, keuhuk..."

"What's going on, suddenly keueok...!"

They all collapsed, letting out death throes before they could even finish speaking.

After that, the sound of a sword swinging was heard a couple more times, and the footsteps that had faded away returned.

"I have cleared the path. Please."

The place along the path Concillus had cleared was a corridor leading to an abandoned warehouse.

Traces of a one-sided slaughter remained in that corridor.

There had been no resistance.

The dead guards' weapons were all left hanging along with their coats.

There was no idiot who would push through a murderous blizzard to come here, and besides, there had never been a single break-in until now.

In vulgar terms, this place was a sweet gig.

Concillus checked the map he had obtained from the prior reconnaissance.

"Marco, you take the barracks. I will handle the administrative office and the patrol group."

"Understood."

"No."

Ferda suddenly interrupted, pointing to the barracks as he spoke.

"I will handle the barracks."

"Will you be alright? There are over sixty of them. If you make a mistake—."

"I am a mage."

That single sentence killed any voice of concern.

"As the Regent wills."

Marco and Concillus moved to clear out the administrative office and the patrol group, while Ferda moved to the barracks.

Ferda pulled out a single dagger he had tucked in his coat.

As soon as he opened the door to the barracks, what he heard was...

Zzzzz!

Snore!

Beast-like snoring sounds.

'It's been a while since I've heard this.'

It suddenly came to Ferda's mind.

The sounds he heard constantly when he lived under the mages.

He had lost sleep over those sounds many times, but he had not dared to complain.

Because it was far better than sleeping in a toilet that reeked of shit.

Ferda took a candle hanging on the wall and entered the barracks.

Ferda tilted the candle to inspect them one by one.

'They are all humans.'

Different faces and even different snores.

They all had their own individuality, but there was one thing they had in common.

'They follow the Demons.'

Demons were chaos that desired the destruction of the world.

The enemy of the world.

A breed that alienated even the alienated.

'Valdrova's enemies.'

Their traits could be summarized that simply.

And the fact that they were sleeping soundly, dead to the world like this, meant they were currently abandoned.

"Ah, shit... What is it? I'm off duty today, you bastard..."

"..."

"Aren't you going to put out the light? You fucking son of a bitch, when I open my eyes, you're... huh?"

The young man, opening his sleepy eyes, looked up at Ferda and asked.

"What are you? You're not a bastard I've seen around here, what are you do—eup...?"

The man's mouth was blocked.

Something black and formless tightly restrained him.

He tried to resist, but not even a groan came out.

Ferda looked down at him with indifferent eyes and spoke.

"Do not feel too wronged."

The well-sharpened dagger glinted in the light.

"You are merely paying the price for your choices."

Ferda slightly pursed his lips and brought them close to the candle.

It flickered dangerously even from his inhalation.

Just like their future.

Whoosh—.

* * *

"We have taken care of the entire patrol group."

"I have also finished clearing the administrative office. Now the only place left is the barracks..."

Just then, Ferda walked out from the darkness.

He walked over with a relaxed expression, his hands clasped behind his back.

"Did you take care of it?"

"Yes."

"Then it seems this entire vicinity has been cleared."

"Regent?"

"What is it?"

"There is blood on your face."

"Ah. Thank you."

Ferda calmly wiped it off with his black glove.

Concillus gave a briefing.

"We cleared the administrative office and subdued the entire patrol group. Excluding the barracks, there is no one left in the camp."

"What about the information?"

"What was in the administrative office was nothing more than personnel files on Servant-class members and meat shields. There were no signs of shredded information, so we should assume the data is over in the officers' quarters."

"How many minutes are left?"

"Forty minutes. We must finish clearing the rest within at least thirty minutes."

"We'll need to hurry."

Even if they obtained good information and successfully carried out the rescue, it would be useless if they couldn't return.

Leaving the swept-out area behind, they headed for the facility director's office.

The inside of the facility director's office was bustling with activity despite it being the middle of the night.

"Gather everything without leaving a single thing behind. Orders will be handed down soon."

"Yes!"

"Give that here! They've been curious about it recently, so I need to bring it."

The sight of them busily sorting through documents and items.

They were in the middle of gathering the necessary items before destroying the research facility.

The person bossing the underlings around was a female Dark Elf.

'A Dark Elf...'

Aside from their black skin, they were a race closer in traits to Elves than Demons.

Before the Dragon-Demon War, they had pledged loyalty to Godwin and tried to establish a new order.

Though they were not Demons, they possessed an evil nature that rivaled them.

'Was her name Linne?'

The general director of this research facility and its top researcher.

The general director of the Doppler Project.

'How should we ambush this place?'

He didn't even need to think too deeply about it.

All he had to do was take care of the mage first.

"Lightning Bolt."

ZAP!

It pierced through the mage's head.

The battle had begun.