Chapter 4 - A Test

Fear overwhelmed my body at the sight of it going berserk, swaying its blade-like arm anywhere to break free. 

What should I do? I'm certain these two are capable, but they're waiting for me to make a move.

"I'll kill it."

Well, the barbaric man has already volunteered.

Still, I can tell I haven't resolved my dilemma yet. Am I really considering it? After that traumatic encounter with a high-ranking demon, do I really think I'll be able to face this one? 

But something about that encounter makes me contemplate my circumstances and purpose. 

The way that demon speaks of Azrael gives me the idea that he might not be allied with them at all. 

And they know about our relationship. 

Now I can't simply rely on him for protection. 

I can't let them use me against him. 

"But what about the test-"

"I have several conditions." From my periphery, I noticed them turn to me. "Never call me on weekends and whenever I say no."

I've got no choice now, do I? I'm already under their radar, and I cannot get Azrael involved in this.  

I took careful steps forward while concentrating my energy into a sphere. 

Would they be able to help me grow as a fighter? 

Can I save more people if I join them? 

Can they help me be capable of protecting myself and him?

Those questions flashed through my mind like a transient slideshow. 

Upon materializing the spear, I held on to it tightly, advanced towards its swinging arms, and slashed it with controlled strength. 

Just a single strike was enough to sever it. However, it has become more aggressive— wailing loudly as it enhances its restricted movements. 

It's too fidgety for me to risk breaking its chains, so I ran underneath it and sliced its feet to limit its mobility should it completely get loose. 

The seal is fading away, but I still haven't figured out which should be his weak point. 

Unlike those human-shaped demons I've encountered more frequently, slicing them in half is enough to kill them. After that, the body disappears and leaves an organ-like core, which seems like its dormant form. I heard that hunters surrender them to the authorities for rewards. What happens afterwards is way beyond my knowledge. 

This demon has three faces on its body. I cannot risk cutting it anywhere and breaking the seal. 

No, there's another way. 

Realizing it, I concentrated some of my remaining energy on my foot to form a stepping platform. It disappeared quickly with a little force, but enough to suspend me in the air when I jumped on it. 

As I reached a sustainable height, I spun my body and pierced deep into its body. Its body is elongated and tall, so I positioned the spear to penetrate it like a barbecue. The blade shall be inside, and the longer the part that is inserted, the more effective the next trick will be. 

The body hasn't yet disappeared, which means all those efforts aren't pointless. Although the next step will surely render me unconscious. 

I backed off but maintained enough distance. I've never done this once, but the scroll I stole from my family's archive describes it so clearly that I could imagine how it works. . and that it really does. 

I closed my eyes and tried to picture the spear I left inside it. And in between my heavy breaths, I whispered: 

"Release." 

My vision has become blurry, but I could hear it shriek loudly, like a great deal of pain is being inflicted upon it. 

In just a matter of seconds, its body began to deform like it was melting away. As I briefly regained my eyesight, I caught a glimpse of its horrible fate. 

Why wouldn't it disappear right away? 

Or is it just my perception that makes it appear slower? 

I attempted to turn away, and just as I saw those two men running towards me, everything gradually turned black. 

***

"A blood art . . ."

"There's no way. Should we tell the heads?"

"Just one person. She doesn't seem to know about it as well." 

Too noisy. . .

It sounds like men talking. . .

But. . I don't know of any men besides Azrael?

"Who should we tell?" 

Who must it be?

Those two! 

As I overwhelmed the strength of my heavy eyelids, it revealed an unfamiliar ceiling to me. I recalled using that technique to slay that demon, and everything went black. 

Did I pass out? 

"Hey, it seems our new recruit has finally awoken! Go get that party popper, Jacob!" 

Still a little disoriented, I watched as the barbaric guy retrieved a cylindrical thing from his bag and handed it to the energetic guy. 

What's happening? 

How long had I been asleep? 

Were they watching me the whole time!?

I was internally panicking when a loud blast made me return to my senses. 

"Welcome, Miss Seraphine!" the two shouted with a distinct gap in their energy, while I stayed unmoved, colorful pieces of paper fell freely on my face. 

***

"So how did you two know my name?" I raised a brow at them, who were properly seated in front of me like obedient kids. 

It took me a little more annoyance to lift my upper body and take a seat. . and give the energetic guy a well-deserved slap on the face. 

"We looked into your wallet and saw it. Don't worry, we didn't look at anything else except for your full name, university, age, birthday, degree program, address, signature, and, hmm. . phone number."

My mouth widens further as he enumerates those details. What a moron! 

For heaven's sake, does he have a demon core substituted for his brain!? 

Despite my disbelief and spite, I kept my emotions under control. 

"And what else did you leave for my privacy, you bastard!" 

"Y-Your photo, haha. Everyone finds it embarrassing, right?" 

I brushed the top of my head in utter incredulity. 

Should I wish for him to turn into a demon so I could easily slay him without being punished by the law? 

"Ahem. So now that we get along. . ." 

Get along, he said!? Oh, the audacity this man has is way beyond my patience.

Can't he be any more ridiculous than this!?

". . . let me introduce to you, the top employees of The Venators. Here, the man who doesn't seem friendly is Jacob Cohen, he also works as a painter, by the way. And yours truly, Blaine Adkins. The law student thing I told you earlier was true." 

Do they expect me to be impressed by all those?

"Where am I?" I straightforwardly asked.

"In the Agency's infirmary. You fainted earlier, so we brought you here," Jacob vaguely replied. 

"Tell me everything about this Agency. You forced me to join you, and I believe I have the right to know." 

I crossed my arms and gave them a serious look. 

Blaine sighed. "Well, unlike any purging agencies, we dedicate our lives to one unique pursuit: to forecast their resurfacing. We predict their activities and salvage them, just like what you saw earlier. You know what they say; prevention is better than cure. But its only limitation is the lowest demon class, or class D, those zombie-like ones that lurk on dark alleys." 

Forecasting, so are they the ones responsible for those being reported publicly? I remember the university administrators suspending the classes once because a suspected resurfacing was expected near our campus. 

And it did happen. 

Just like a typical weather forecast, they also air warnings such as that. 

It's been two years since I arrived here, but I still cannot get used to how accustomed the people here are to those attacks. 

But come to think of it, if they have first-hand information on that . . .

"Then how did . . that happen to her?"

I felt how the atmosphere gloom. Was it really okay for me to ask that? I hope they won't think I'm putting the blame on them. 

"It was a miscalculation," Blaine answered. "We sent her there as she's the nearest one. Our data told us that it's only a single, class C demon. Corine was accustomed to single-targeted combat, and so we decided to dispatch her instead. However. . ." 

"She was ambushed," I added. 

Blaine nodded. "We never found a class C core, so we suspect it has the ability to split itself into smaller units."

Indeed, those demons I fought with her were similar to the ones I hunt in alleys; they have the shape of humans, are mindless, and die easily. 

The demon I spoke to had mentioned that he has a score to settle with her; did he plan to place her in an unfavorable battle? 

But should I tell them about it? 

This time, Jacob broke his silence. Corine, who was our ace in forecasting, resurfaces; it was a great loss for us." 

"An ace?"

"Listen, missy. This one is something the agency hides from everyone else, but since you were there during her final moments, we'll let you know. Corine's soul can visit the world down below as she wishes."

A chill ran down my spine. I dazed with twitching eyes even before Blaine finished speaking. 

How could that be possible? 

But then it came to me: was that demon's grudge against Corine because of that? 

Could it be that . . she was discovered?

"Before that incident, her anxiety had gotten worse, and she couldn't get a proper rest. Just a little surprise, and she'd petrify in place," Jacob said. 

Now I think I'm getting more certain about it. 

"We're sure it has something to do with her last visit, but she never told us anything." 

'A high-ranking demon was after her,' why can't I tell it? My testimony would definitely help them solve her case, but . . .

I mustn't; they'll surely interrogate me about how I survived that encounter. 

And all of these would guide them to him. 

I'm sorry, Corine. I cannot let them discover him — us. 

Blaine ran his hand through his hair and scratched his nape. "Now, we've gotten a hold of another unusual ability after her. I can't tell if it's a blessing or a curse."

Unusual? They meant mine, did they? 

Shoot. Now I'm starting to regret showing it off. 

How careless of you, Seraphine!

"That being said, we need you to meet someone." I put a halt on my internal conflicts at Blaine's motion. 

"Wait, I can't just follow you around anywhere, anytime. What time is it by the way?"

"Past ten."

Now I could sense the real trouble coming!

"Seriously!? I have to go now!"

***