05

- June 31, 2199, Hera.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of the city of Sajil', there was a young man named Horthall. He was of both human and demon descent. Just as humans despised demons, Horthall's fate was extremely bleak and dark in the human world. He was constantly ridiculed and hated by the city's inhabitants who didn't understand his true nature. They labeled him as the "demon's child" and considered him a threat to their lives.

Not only did he endure insults and scorn, but Horthall also suffered physical violence, such as having his claws pulled out, his ears cut, and his body burned. He endured this hellish existence for twelve years.

At the age of 17, he was bought by a noble family from the Agrasian Empire. His new owner was kind-hearted and treated Horthall as his own son.

Being purchased by the noble family allowed Horthall to start a new and better life. His benevolent master provided him with the care and protection he needed. The noble family offered him a proper place to live and the attention, love, and appreciation he had longed for.

His new master also helped Horthall explore and develop his potential and talents. In this more positive and supportive environment, Horthall could discover interests and abilities he might never have realized before. For instance, if he had demon blood, he might possess a strong affinity for Enial magic that he had never known. His master could assist him in honing this ability and guiding him on the right path.

- January 2, 2218, Hera. Nivje Estate, Duchy of Viason.

"Princess Viona, where are you?," I said while searching for Princess Viona.

"You win, I give up," I said, conceding defeat in my search for Princess Viona.

Princess Viona was the only child of the noble family who had bought me. She was a beautiful, gentle, and compassionate soul. Viona had a kind heart and often felt sympathy for my troubled past.

As I gave up searching for her, she suddenly emerged from behind the bushes in the Nivje Estate. Her beautiful black hair cascaded gracefully, and her golden eyes added to her charm.

"Horthall, why? You rarely give up so quickly," Viona asked.

I felt amazed by her presence and let out a sigh of relief. "Princess, forgive me. I was looking for you because your father wishes to speak with you. It seems he has something to discuss."

Viona nodded and gently took my hand. "Thank you. Let's go meet Father."

The two of us walked through the beautiful estate toward the small palace where Lord Vanthor resided.

Upon arriving in Lord Vanthor's chamber, I immediately knelt and offered my sincere respect. Lord Vanthor, a man with white hair and sharp eyes, looked at me as if examining me closely.

"My daughter, I called for you because there's something I want to discuss. After careful consideration, I would like to offer Horthall a better opportunity in his life," Lord Vanthor spoke with wisdom.

Viona looked at her father with surprise. "What do you mean, Father?"

"Horthall will b-" Before he could continue, the palace was suddenly attacked by a group of hooded figures led by a red-haired girl and a man in white attire.

"Oh, so the cursed descendant is here," said the red-haired girl.

"Who are you? Breaking into a lord's palace is a criminal act!" I said, preparing to use Enial magic.

"Oh, how scary... don't hurt us..." the girl sneered mockingly.

"Greetings to the last remaining descendant of the demon king. We are T.H.R.E.A.T, our task is to exterminate demons, but lately, demons have not ceased to attack, even though all of their king's descendants are dead. So we thought there was one descendant left," said the man.

Why? How do they know? Wasn't my background erased by Lord?

"You must be wondering how we know," said the girl, who then suddenly disappeared and reappeared before me, whispering with a sinister smile, "There is nothing I don't know in this world, especially about your tiny existence."

Upon hearing the girl's words, confusion and fear engulfed me. How could they possibly know about my background that had been erased? Was there someone who betrayed this secret?

My gaze remained fixed on the face of the man dressed in white standing behind her. There was something eerie and terrifying about their expressions. I felt trapped in this unexpected situation.

Lord Vanthor looked at them with a calm yet sharp demeanor. "Who are you really, and what is your purpose here?"

The red-haired girl laughed cynically. "Our goal is quite simple, Lord Vanthor. We want to destroy all traces of demon bloodlines, including Horthall here."

My heart raced. Were they really intending to kill me just because of the demon blood in me? I gathered my courage and asked, "Why do you hate demon bloodlines so much? I am also a human, just like you."

The man dressed in white smiled cynically. "You may look human, but demon blood flows in your veins. Demon bloodlines are a threat to the world. History has recorded the destruction caused by them. Our task is to protect the world by eliminating threats like you."

I felt hopeless. I had found a better life with this family, but now everything had changed. I looked towards Viona, who appeared shocked and scared. My heart shattered seeing that expression.

Lord Vanthor, with determination in his eyes, said, "You will not touch Horthall. He is a part of this family, and I will protect him with my life if necessary."

The red-haired girl blinked at the man in white. "What should we do, Kazuya? Should we confront Lord Vanthor and his son?"

A man named Kazegawa Kazuya smiled like a mad psychopath. "Why are you even asking? Of course, we'll kill them."

"You, a group of strangers, dare to attack a Lord's palace? You are playing with fire and seeking death," Lord Vanthor stated, revealing his dazzling and powerful Enial.

Then, Lord Vanthor snapped his fingers, and quickly, golden chains emerged from below, skillfully restraining the hooded group, restricting their movements.

Lord Vanthor walked forward with a firm stance. "You have made a grave mistake by disturbing the peace within this palace. I will not allow you to threaten the lives of my family and Horthall."

Meanwhile, Viona stood by my side, her eyes full of worry. I felt the urge to protect both of them. Even though I was a demon descendant, I also had the determination to fight this threat.

Hearing Lord Vanthor's words, the red-haired girl struggled to break free but to no avail. "So, these are the golden chains that can bind anyone," she said.

"Enough, don't think you can imprison us so easily!" Kazuya exclaimed, attempting to conjure a magic circle in his hand.

But before he could finish his spell, Lord Vanthor raised his hand to the sky and swung his Enial. Instantly, a golden light swept over the hooded group, binding them even more securely.

"The demon power you fear is the power that I have controlled and used to protect those I hold dear. You cannot match it," Lord Vanthor said confidently.

At that moment, I felt a burning spirit and determination within me. I would not let them harm the people I loved. I focused my mind and summoned the power of Enial within me.

In an instant, blue flames emerged around me, igniting and forming a protective shield around me. The power of Enial created a strong barrier, ready to defend myself and the people I cared about.

Kazuya looked at me with amazement, even a hint of admiration. "So, this demon descendant indeed possesses impressive power. It seems this fight will be interesting."

In an instant, the battle erupted within the palace. Lord Vanthor, Viona, and I worked together, creating a strong barricade against the relentless attackers. I felt more certain that I wasn't alone in this fight.

Time and again, the attackers tried to escape or launch a final attack, but they were always thwarted by the power we displayed. Lord Vanthor, with his wisdom and strength, led this battle exceptionally.

Finally, after a fierce resistance, the hooded group was defeated. They lay on the floor, helpless and defeated in their fight against us.

"You ignored the offer of peace and chose violence. Now, you must face the consequences," Lord Vanthor said firmly.

"Hmm, impressive. But playtime is over," the girl said, and suddenly, the atmosphere became tense.

In the tense silence, the red-haired girl raised her hand, and a series of black holes lined up to form a circle. I felt the terrifying power and immediately moved my blue flame Enial shield to protect myself and Viona.

The blue flame Enial shield managed to protect us from the black hole's attack. However, the girl's attack was so powerful that the blue flame shield started to weaken.

I felt panic and fear creeping in. I didn't know how long the shield would hold. I looked at Lord Vanthor, who was also struggling to withstand the black hole's attack with his Enial.

Lord Vanthor released an impressive counterattack, releasing a golden light that fiercely battled the black holes. However, the red-haired girl's attack was so strong that Lord Vanthor seemed to struggle to hold it off.

In that moment, I felt the spirit and courage within me grow stronger. I realized I couldn't give up and had to fight until the end. I gathered the remaining strength within me and focused the energy of my Enial on my palms.

"Ting!" A bell rang.

Suddenly, I realized I was trapped in a chain, and Lord Vanthor and Viona were powerless.

Then the girl approached me and whispered with a sinister smile, "Isn't it fun to fantasize on your own? Did you sleep well?"

In confusion and surprise, I realized it was all an illusion. I was trapped in a dream or illusion created by the red-haired girl. Now I understood that it was all a manipulation of the mind she had done.

"No, this can't be!" I cried out in despair, trying to fight her control.

The red-haired girl just chuckled while looking at me. "What were you thinking? You are so easily manipulated. This illusion is my special gift to you. Enjoy it."

I felt powerless before her. My mind felt bound, and I couldn't control my body. But as I tried to gather courage and resist, a voice echoed in my mind, "Don't give up! You have power within you; find your true strength!"

That voice reminded me of my determination before getting trapped in this illusion. I felt the spirit within me reignite, and I began to focus the energy of my Enial that remained within me.

With strong determination, I directed the energy to my hands and tried to free myself from the red-haired girl's control. Instantly, a dazzling blue light emanated from my hands, shattering the chains that bound me and setting me free.

"Ting!" The sound of the bell rang again, and it shifted my position with a chain.

"Surrender, Horthall. No one can defeat me," the girl said.

"I won't give up that easily," I replied confidently.

The red-haired girl furrowed her eyebrows, slightly surprised by my courage. "You dare to fight? You will regret it."

"I'm not afraid. I've found a family that loves and protects me. I'll fight anyone who tries to harm them," I stated firmly.

Kazuya, who had been watching the battle from afar, approached us. He looked at me with admiration. "You're truly intriguing, Horthall. I'm interested to see how you can resist her control."

"But it's futile, Horthall. Courage alone won't be enough to defeat us," Kazuya said as he placed his hand on my head, inflicting an incredible pain throughout my body.

As Kazuya inflicted immense pain on me, I felt profound physical weakness. However, my determination remained unwavering. I knew I had to fight and not give up.

With determination, I struggled to control the pain and sought a way to fight back. I focused the remaining Enial energy and attempted to direct it to my hand. Though it felt heavy and difficult, I couldn't giv-

"Well, I didn't mean to kill him," Kazuya said with a smoky finger.

"Yet you promised not to kill him. It's terrible to break your own promise," the girl said.

"What can I do? Besides, he can be revived. After all, he's half-demon. Some of your blood should be enough to bring him back," Kazuya replied.

"Fine, let's return to the headquarters," the girl said.

"What about them?" Kazuya asked.

"Leave them be. Our target is the Demon and those who threaten Hera's balance. They are weak humans who pose no threat, so let them be," the girl responded.

"Very well, as you wish," Kazuya said and disappeared, carrying Horthall's body with him.