Chapter 28: Esil of the Radiru Clan

Komachi looked down at her phone and checked her calendar. It's been nine days since her brother left for his trip to Hokkaido for his Hunter business. While Komachi hadn't asked too many questions about why he would be gone for so long, she also didn't want to know. Despite seeing his strength in person during the summer camp, she was still nervous with the idea of him going into the Gates and risking his life.

Komachi sighed and looked around the small coffee shop she was in. She had to put her brother off her mind and focus on the task at hand. She lifted her cup of coffee and took a sip. On her last visit, Komachi got Yui Yuigahama's contact information from Shouko, and Komachi finally got to meet Yuzuru. Shouko's younger sister. Using that information, she had worked up her resolve and messaged the pink-haired girl to see if she could meet her today. Yui quickly agreed.

"K-Komachi." Yui said as she stopped in front of the table where Komachi sat. Komachi jumped slightly and sat upright. She gave the older girl a shaky smile.

"Yuigahama. Ah, have a seat please." Komachi said and motioned to the chair in front of her.

Yui nodded and sat down. The two remained silent, neither knowing what to say. A waiter had even walked by and taken Yuigahamas's order once they had it written down. They left the two girls alone. Seeing as Komachi was the one who requested this meeting, she knew that she had to start. So, with a deep breath, the younger Hikigaya spoke.

"Yuigahama, I want to talk to you." Komachi said softly. "About what I said back during the summer camp… and about everything else." Yui frowned but nodded.

"Okay."

x x x

[ You have defeated a Demon Knight. ( x3 )]

[ +9000 EXP ]

I have been grinding away in the castle for a few days and reached floor eighty. During that time, all my shadows leveled considerably due to the abundance of demon enemies. It only made sense that they would farm plenty of experience points. Using the strategy to divide my shadows into teams was genius. They were able to clear floor after floor with quick efficiency. There was a trade-off of me missing out on some of the demon drops, but those didn't matter. I only had one demon drop in mind to receive. The Demon Monarchs purified blood.

As I progressed through each floor, the temperature had become even hotter. But that was quickly resolved once I equipped the ring of peerless adaptation. The raging fires around me had become more tolerable and less intrusive. But I had run into a problem during my time on floor eighty. The problem was that no matter where I looked, I couldn't find the next floor's permit even after an entire day of searching. I was beginning to grow annoyed and hasted my search.

It was then that I noticed Kuma's group being destroyed repeatedly. Whoever attacked Kuma had moved on to Sasori, Iris, Igris, and Tsu. Whatever attacked my shadows had to be quite skilled to take them down. But they were also not as strong, considering they had yet to go after the rest of my squad leaders. Then, I decided to find and stop the annoyances by staging a trap using Kuma's squad to draw out whoever it was that had been taking my shadows out.

I was intrigued when I saw a small squad of demon knights and what seemed to be a demon noble approach my shadows. They took down Kuma and his squad with quick efficiency. Unfortunately for them, I had decided to step in and take them out, which led me back to the present. A lone demon noble stood several feet away and looked at me worriedly. I had, after all, easily taken out their knights. So, it was understandable for them to be cautious of me.

The demon noble was equipped with slender gold and crimson armor. A waving red cloak on their back swayed behind them as they moved. On their head was a slim helmet with two horns on each side and a thin slit across its eyes. From behind their helmet flowed a red plume. A long, sharp sword glimmered in the light of the hellish landscape on the noble's hip.

"What's the matter? You chicken?" I asked as all the bodies of demon knights fell around me. I had rushed in and defeated them all in a burst of speed. The noble glared at me and drew their sword. With a dash, the noble blurred in front of me, jamming their sword in an attempt to each of my fatal areas with precision.

I weaved back and forth, completely avoiding their deadly strikes with ease. I began to grow bored with them and grabbed their left wrist. With a tight squeeze, the noble dropped their sword. I flipped their arm behind their back and swept them off their feet. The noble crashed and landed on the floor with my knee on their back. They groaned in pain as I raised the Atlantean dagger above their heads.

"WAIT! I SURRENDER!" The noble yelled in a high-pitched feminine voice. I stopped my dagger and held it a centimeter above the noble's neck. English? "Please! Spare my life!"

"Interesting. Weren't you trying to skewer me a few seconds ago? And now you're begging me to let you live." I said and lifted their trapped wrist higher up their back. The noble beneath me winced, and she turned her head towards me.

She took off her helmet with great difficulty and looked up at me with pleading red eyes. The woman had long, broader purple hair and pointed ears with golden earrings. Her complexion was a pale pink and healthy. Well, I wasn't expecting a cute demon girl under there.

"I-I've committed an unforgivable sin! But my family must protect this place, and we couldn't just stand by while our kind were hunted by those beasts- No, I mean… by those soldiers! I will forever be indebted to you if you spare me!" The girl said quickly from under me. I felt my eye twitch as she begged for her life. I feel wrong for having her pinned like this while she's begging me to spare her.

I stood up from her and walked a few steps away. The demon girl stood up and looked at me with wide, grateful eyes. "You do know I just took out your soldiers, right? Are you really asking me to spare you? I don't know about you, but I've seen plenty of movies where that doesn't end well."

"it is the night duty to protect their master. They would appreciate my safe return." The girl said with a shameless smile.

I squinted at her and shook my head. These types of girls exist here, too. Despite how pretty she is, she's pretty selfish. Then again, she is a demon. As I was looking up at the sky for patience. My danger sense went off. I danced under and around a dagger the shocked demon girl thrust forward. I grabbed her wrist once again and moved behind her. I wrapped an arm around her throat and raised her left arm above her head.

"That wasn't very nice. I was going to let you live, but now… now I'm just going to kill you." I said and watched as she turned to me with wide, scared eyes. From in front of us rose Kuma, my large ice bear shadow rose to his feet and roared. The girls screamed and began to wiggle in my hold. She turned to me with tears running down her cheeks and a large, pathetic expression.

"Please! Spare me! I'll give you whatever you want! Anything!" She yelled. I felt my eye twitch at her sad disposition and sighed. I looked at Kuma and saw him tilt his head in confusion, almost as if to ask if he could still kill the girl.

"An entry permit. I need them to proceed further through these floors. Do you have one, or can you get them for me?" I used ruler's hand and lifted the girl into the air in front of me. She floated around and looked down at me with a surprised expression.

"Ah, yes! My family guards them! If you safely return me to them, I will turn one over to you!" The girl said. If I get her to help me, I should be able to move from floor to floor quickly. "I know where all the permits for the higher floors are. I can show you if you guarantee my family's and my safety!"

I closed my eyes and brought her closer to me. I lifted a hand and held her right cheek. The girl's eyes widened, and her cheeks began to grow flush. I let out a large portion of my power, and everything around us grew heavier, and the rest of my shadow army rose behind me. The demon noble was stunned at my sheer power and began sweating.

"From here on out, you and I will work together. So… can I trust you?" I said lowly. The girl quickly nodded.

"Y-yes! You can trust me. I swear on my honor!" The girl said quickly. I nodded and let her face go. She floated slowly to the ground and rested on her knees. Her body was quaking as her hands gripped her thighs, and she looked up at me. Her face was red, and she seemed weak.

Crap, did I go too far? I'm not a bad guy! I swear! I turned away from her and looked toward the floor portal. "Good then. Once my business here is done, I'll leave you and your family alone. Since we're gonna work together, do you have a name?"

"I-I am Esil, eldest daughter of the Radir Clan." Esil said with a smile. I nodded and turned to her.

"Hachiman Hikigaya." I said. This is odd. I'm having an actual conversation with a monster. I was then reminded of my short talk with Barca. Is she the same?

"Hah... you must not be aware. You see, we hear voices in our heads all the time. These voices tell us to kill all the humans that come in our path. But in your presence, they remain silent."

"Esil. Do you… happen to hear voices that tell you to kill humans?" I asked. Esil looked confused and thought about what I said.

"Oh. No… but we do hear something else. It tells us to protect our home." Esil said as she looked over at the magic portal.

As a whole, humanity still doesn't understand why Gates and monsters exist. Much less how they occur. Monsters and magic beasts are different. From what I've learned so far, it's safe to assume magic beasts exist to kill humans while monsters exist to protect the instance dungeons. Barca even said I wasn't human. While my status as a player must have something to do with it, I still don't know what that would make me. Do I fall under a monster or magic beast?

"To protect your home… when did you start to hear this voice?" I asked.

"Ever since we woke up here." Esil said.

Woke up here? Then, this wasn't always their home? Then does that mean that every other monster and beast are from another world? They were plucked from their home and dropped into the dungeons to serve some greater purpose. But what could that purpose be? And just how is the System involved in this? "Then… where were you before?"

"We were in the demon world. Then, one day, we woke up here." Esil said as her orange eyes began to twitch. Something's not right.

"What were you doing in your world?" I asked and watched as Esil fell into some sort of trance.

"War. We were preparing for war." Esil said.

"A war. A war against who?" I asked. Esil began to to look as if she was having a headache. She squinted her eyes and shook her head.

"A terrifyingly powerful enemy. So powerful that we had to assemble the entire world's demons into one army. But-" Esil's words began to become incomprehensible. It was as if she was speaking an entirely different language. But at the same time, it was as if a pure, unidentifiable sound came out of her lips.

Is the System blocking her from speaking? Or is it a different force that's doing so? Whatever is going on, the System and whatever powerful enemy these demons were arming up to fight must be involved. Suddenly, Esil's eyes rolled up, and she collapsed. I dashed forward and caught her in my arms. She was now unconscious. Whatever was blocking her from speaking must have put her mind under great stress.

"Whoever this enemy is, they must hold some transcendental power to influence the world as they do. How scary." I said.

I then began to hear several footsteps stepped march from my right. I turned and saw several giant demons walking towards us. Their eyes narrowed, and their fangs bared.

x x x

"You… forgive me?"

Yui said in disbelief. The small cup of coffee she had ordered had gone cold. It was untouched due to her lengthy conversation with Komachi Hikigaya. It was about a particularly hard subject she wasn't sure how to tackle.

"I do." Komachi said with a nod. A solemn expression on her young face. "I thought about this for a long time. I guess… I forgave you when you were reading one of my brother's trashy books to him at the hospital. I just didn't want to accept it."

Komachi smiled as she stirred the small spoon in her empty cup. "I wanted to hate you. But I'm not exactly a hateful person. What I want to say is that maybe... we can start over. Can we be friends, Yui?"

Yui's eyes sparkled with unshed tears. A large smile grew on her face as she nodded. "Yes! I'd like that!"

Komachi nodded with a grin. She then raised her hands and stretched, almost as if she just unloaded a heavy weight from her body. "Great! It be a bit awkward if the sister of the guy you like didn't like you! Am I right?"

Yui's face exploded with an atomic blush, and she waved her hands wildly. "W-w-what are you talking about?! I don't like Hikki like that! I mean- I'm not saying I don't like him! I do! No, wait!"

Komachi giggled as she leaned on the table and watched Yui stammer around.

x x x

"Esil! Who the hell did you bring?!"

I squinted at the sight of a Dracula lookalike screaming his head off. This was Esil's father; he had a mustache and beard, and his long black hair reached his back. His shaking red eyes tried to bore holes into my skull while his purple, red, and yellow robes vibrated.

"Father, he's a guest…" Esil said from beside me. I couldn't help but let my eyes wander at the impressive sight of an actual throne room. Several castle guards stood at attention on both sides of me and Esil. I shifted on my feet as the impressive red carpet sat underneath.

"What kind of guest brings an army into the host's house?!" Esil's father yelled as he motioned to my shadow.

Oh? Not bad, old man. You've got some keen senses. Esil looked down at my shadows with a confused expression as her father questioned if she couldn't see them.

"How dare you bring soldiers into my house!"

"Father!"

In a split second, the throne room guards brandished their blades in my direction and stepped in close. I bummed as I laid a finger on the point of one of their swords and pushed it back slightly.

"Um, Esil's father? I promised your daughter I'll leave here peacefully once I get the entry permit." I said. I watched as he made a disgruntled face as he inspected me. Unlike with Esil, I had reigned in the majority of my power not to intimidate or provoke him. Play it cool, me.

"An entry permit? Is that your only condition?" Esil's father asked slowly and doubtfully.

As I was about to say yes, I remembered that Esil had offered to guide me through the remaining floors. I had better take her with me; it could make things faster. I motioned to Esil beside me.

"Yes, I'd also like to bring your daughter with me." I said. Esil squeaked, and her face began to flush slightly.

I watched as the king of this floor began to twitch in anger. His body began to tremble as he glared daggers into my body. I was then invited to have dinner with both the king and Esil. I ate happily since it's been a while since I'd had some freshly cooked food.

The king began to grill me with questions regarding his daughter. I did my best to quell his worries and promised him I fully intended to leave once my business was done and that I'd protect Esil with all my power. He looked at me with wide eyes, and Esil looked away from me in embarrassment. Once we were done with dinner, he had a servant give me the permit and some extra provisions.

The king had even offered me a room to rest in until we had to leave. I thanked him profoundly and accepted because I hadn't slept in a real bed in several days. I wasn't sure if I wasn't aware of demon etiquette or what, but he kept giving me surprised and annoyed looks.

When morning came, Esil and I had a nice breakfast. A part of me, my old lazy self, wanted to stay and continue living in the grand castle, but I knew I had to hurry up. Summer vacation was halfway over, and I had to hurry home. So, with all our stuff packed, Esil and I left the castle while her father bid us farewell.

Once on the next floor, we rode Kumas back while Esil guided him on where to go. As we traveled, Esil insisted on holding onto my chest. Something about 'Being afraid of being thrown off'. I didn't mind it. My friendship with Ann had the added effect that I was more open to physical touch. Once we arrived in front of another grandiose castle, Esil dug into her large backpack and pulled out what seemed to be a bottle of wine.

"What's that for? We drinking?" I asked. Esil shook her head and lifted it for me to grab. I accepted the bottle and inspected it. I scrunched my eyebrows and found that I couldn't read the label. It seems my linguistics skill is only suitable for spoken language. Not written.

"Ah, no. The Garsh clan favors this drink. My father has prepared items each clan likes for negotiations." Esil said with a smile.

"Okay then. I'll talk to them. You stay here just in case this goes south." I said and summoned Radahn beside her. He nodded his head and understood his assignment.

"What's he for?" Esil asked as she looked up at Radahns large body and swords. I stopped mid-step and looked back at her.

"He's here to protect you if this guy's army comes after you. I did say I'd protect you with everything I got. Don't worry; I'll be back in a second." I smiled and began making my way to the castle.

Completely missing Esil's blushing face as she covered her face. Radahn looked down at her with confusion; in the end, he shrugged and stood guard over his Liege's ward. They waited a few minutes and watched as the castle suddenly blew up and was enveloped in flames.

"Ah… I guess the negotiations have failed." Esil said with a sweat drop. Radahn nodded in agreement.

x x x

[ Igris has been promoted to Elite Knight rank. ]

[ Iris has been promoted to Elite Knight rank. ]

[ Kuma has been promoted to Knight rank. ]

[ Kori has been promoted to Elite Knight rank. ]

[ Shinai has been promoted to Elite Knight rank. ]

Thanks to Esil's help, traveling to each of the floor's magic circles was quick work. So, I was able to take down floor boss after floor boss without much pause. While I handled the bosses, my shadows were busy taking down the legions of enemies in my path. This allowed them to level up exponentially and reach new heights of power. Their level-ups altered their forms slightly and caused their energy to become more potent. I couldn't help but be proud of them. I now had several shadows in both S and A-Rank in terms of power.

After beating the eighty-ninth-floor boss, Esil and I decided to take a small break and have a quick lunch. We sat under a giant skull that once belonged to a massive dragon and ate under its shade. I was enjoying some fish and rice while Esil ate a box of her own. While our foods don't differentiate from one another too much, the meals cooked by the demons had a much more appealing taste. I wonder if they make ramen?

"Um, Sir Hikigaya." Esil said after swallowing some of her food. I paused in my eating and looked up at her. I had already told her she didn't have to call me 'Sir', but she was pretty set in her ways.

"What is it, Esil?" I said.

"Why… did you show my family mercy? It might've been easier to handle us like you did the other demon clans." Esil asked with a saddened expression. I hummed and thought about her question.

Why had I spared her and her family? Was it because they strongly resembled humans the most? Perhaps. But I knew why: it was because they took the time to stop and tap on me besides trying to kill me immediately. Then again, Esil did try to kill me at first. I suppose the answer isn't so simple. Perhaps I'll allow my mouth to take the lead on this one?

"I think it's because I like you, Esil. I'm glad we met." I said with a smile. Esil's face burned a bright red, and she looked down at her food thoughtfully.

"I… like you too." Esil whispered. I smiled and nodded at her in thanks.

After our lunch was over, we dived back into clearing the floors. The difficulty from there had only increased more and more. The floor bosses had become incredibly strong, and it had taken my extensive battle experience and skill to defeat them. Sometimes, I needed help from my shadows, but I wanted to challenge myself and avoided using them. After a few more days, Esil and I reached the last floor of the tower. Floor one hundred.

"Esil." I paused in front of the portal. "You can stop following me here. I can take care of the rest. I'm sure things in there will be more dangerous than anything we've seen."

"What?" Esil looked up at me in confusion and with a bit of betrayal. "Am I… am I useless to you now?!"

I sighed and patted her shoulder. "It's not that. You've been a great help so far. It's just that if things become too much for me to handle in there, I don't see a point in us both dying. So you should stay here where it's safe."

Esil looked down sadly, but her expression turned into sheer determination. I leaned back when she jumped into my personal space.

"No, I refuse! I'm going with you! I've been with you thus far, so I won't leave because things are getting tough." Esil said hotly. "After all. You and I… we-we like each other, so I want to go with you!"

I stood still for a few seconds but ultimately nodded. I smiled at her and patted the top of her head gently. "Alright then. Let's finish this."