Falling into Madness

"So what does the Demon King need of me?" I asked the bowing man.

"Sir, the King ordered me to tell you these words; the humans are gearing up for war, the Human capital is overflowing with soldiers, and they will be heading towards our borders in five days."

"And what does this has to do with me? Do you think that I will lend my aid or assistance to your cause?"

"N-No my Lord! This is exactly why I was sent here, The King wants you to lay low for the moment, heading there while they are preparing for war is suicide, though strong you are, my king said that you will not make it out alive if an entire army is against you."

Ah, reverse psychology… they actually do want me to help, but coming forward and saying it is too much of a favor to ask. Therefore, they want to make me do it with my own volition, by making me think that I do not need them to fear for my life, and by thinking that my strength had blinded me from the unfavorable odds.

"Don't worry, I won't be fighting any armies," I said, to which the man in front of me twitch his right eyebrow after receiving an unfavorable response.

Yet for the demon king, one that boasts with enormous power and has many working under her, a lot of the population was over level 100. While a good portion was above 200 to the late 300 and some were as strong as this man was and were all the way to the 400 level. Her military strength is to not be underestimated, so why is she asking me for help?

"Did the Council do anything to hamper the recruitment of the soldiers for the upcoming confrontation?" I asked

"How did you know that? And yes, they are purposefully stalling the preparations to defend the country, lowering the costs to recruit new soldiers, and putting a huge number of the already enrolled either in standby where they are wasting away or send them on to do various and dumb missions."

"What does the King have to say about this?" I asked

"The King lost control a long time ago, his only hope is the royal army, bound by oath to serve the King and follow him wherever he chooses; the king has taken up arms and went deeper into the dark forest, preparing to engage the humans in the clearing after the borders between the forest and the human kingdom"

Their aim is to weaken the king's position and make her look unreliable. Further increasing the power they can control and weakening the King's presence and influence… she had only one way to make sure this doesn't happen, she needed to take part in the war, and assure her people that she is still reliable…winning the war against the humans is her only chance to keep her influence and her people's trust.

"Well, I don't think this, changes anything. I have an agenda of my own and I need to fulfill my own tasks. Though your country is plagued with incompetent fools, it needs these difficulties to grow, if it cannot make its way through these circumstances, then it is not worth helping at all." I said as I walked away from the man, adding but few words before we part ways.

"In six days, the human kingdom shall know terror. Survive the war until then…"

Leaving the man out and walking inside the tree, I saw many faces I did not know, they all came to greet or thank me.

However, in between these faces, I saw something that was strange, their faces would twist and become malformed or mutated, but they did not seem to notice. The ground would shake and engulf people, while the walls would melt. My chains release themselves from my wrists, and lock me to the ground and then it began to suck me in as if it was quicksand.

"Are you alright my lord?" said a man who had his hand close to my shoulder as if he was going to shake me awake. Yet if he did, he will be cursed.

"DON'T TOUCH ME!" I roared in his face, while unconsciously releasing Aura of Imposing Pain. Everyone fell down from the severances of the pain I was feeling.

Gaining back my consciousness, I stopped the ability and looked at the frightened crowd.

"I-I am sorry…" I said and walked forward…

The black dragon's nightmare is getting more and more potent, I felt the signs at the beginning, but I never thought it would become this bad…

Hallucinations, doubts, and fear…not the fear of animosity, but the fear of hurting others, others that did nothing wrong…others that were only in my way.

I got all the way up and went to the girl's room. They should be up by now, and it is time for the queen to heal Haruka up, I don' want her to suffer from this…she, amongst all was the one that cared for me the most, the one that remembered me while I was in hell, and the one that always treated me as an equal…

Once up, and near the girl's room, I heard them speaking almost as if they were in glee. Girl talk?

I knocked on the door to the room, and it opened by a smiling Haruna, this cute smile however soon disappeared once she saw me.

"Oh, it's just you…what do you want"

…

I want to punch her in the face…No, calm down, that is the curse's doing…probably…

"Haruka, it should be time," I said to the girl inside, ignoring the shrimp at the door. This only served to make her pout but not enough for her to talk back to me.

"Time for what? Daiki." Replied Haruka.

"You should get that curse removed, I will be accompanying you, and I can't risk the queen doing anything behind my back…" I said

"Ah, alright then, well let's go, it started to itch a bit, and I would rather have it removed."

I walked away, headed towards the royal hall, and Haruka was following me. The two other girls remained in their room.

It took but few moments until we reached the queen. Once there, there was no reason for us to speak, our purpose and objective was clear.

"I have been waiting for you, Lord Daiki." Said the Queen.

Again with the lord thing…

"Well, you look in better shape. Queen, why not go over with this, I don't have time"

"So be it then," said the Queen then added

"My girl, remove that armor, and kneel before me."

Haruka did as she was told though a bit embarrassed she placed the armor near her, leaving her with but light underwears. She knelt down, hearing few words from the elf queen that said

"Oh tree of life, grant this mortal a relief from his fears. Give them respite from their cruel fate, their life forfeit, yet with your help, it shall not, their fate sealed yet with your assistance, unbound, grant this one mercy and reprieve, from the nightmares of one most foul, let this one be cleansed, and born anew by your will."

Roots began to grow from the wooden floor and covered Haruka bit by bit.

Though it looked dangerous, and Haruka clearly was hyperventilating for a bit, I sensed no evil or murderous intent coming from the queen.

The queen that had a fairer skin than what she had before began to grow older, and the blackness of Haruka's skin began to dim out.

A light show soon followed, with the roots covering Haruka glowing more and more until they unceremoniously faded.

The roots receded back to the ground as if they were never there. While the queen looked like a mummy.

"This should be enough." Said the queen in a weak voice.

I looked at Haruka who was now unconscious and inspected her.

Haruka Kusanagi

Level 460

(Slave, Bound to Daiki Genkaku)

Unconscious

Oh well, there is no debuff, so it seems that the queen kept her part of the bargain. This should be good enough for now.

"She should wake up in a day or two…this is all I can do with my current power," said the queen in a lethargic voice.

"Thank you for the assistance, Elf Queen. I will see you again in four days." I said as I headed out after carrying Haruka in my arms and putting her armor in my inventory.

"Please, a moment my Lord…"

"What is it?"

"My, my daughter, she spoke about you…and I fail to understand many things, so if you could please care to explain, I shall be most grateful"

"What things?" I asked

"The fact that you, as her owner, never laid a hand on her, saved her from a cruel fate, and even gave her food, cared for her and fulfilled her wish…These actions, they are not actions of a slave master, You showed kindness, not only to her but to the others, you even risked your well-being for them…why? Why would you go to such lengths for mere slaves? Not that I am not thankful for it, but it is most surprising to see."

A difficult question she asked…

"To be honest, I haven't the vaguest clue. These girls, they have done nothing wrong…and I could finally see it. I thought about it for a long time, my rage and wrath against the divine had driven me to hate them, even though they did nothing wrong"

"Then why did you enslave them?" asked the queen "Why not free them?"

"It is simple, I did so to protect them, they gain power by being under the slave contract. This power should be enough to protect them from most dangers out there, and it was proven true for some time now."

"Then tell me, Why did you ask for a fruit of the tree? Do you have someone that you want to bring back to life?"

Well, yeah, the fruit of life, I read about it, a fruit that can actually revive one that was dead by just pouring its content on his remains…

"That is not your business, if this is all you need then I shall be going, I humored you enough and I need my rest"

Truthfully, I was starting to hallucinate once again, though I know that nothing can harm me, I still find it hard to contain myself, I see demons emerging from walls and trying to attack me, disturbing my vision and mind at every given moment. This Curse is getting worse and worse…if only death could remove it, I would have tried a long time ago, but it seems that is bound to this body and can not be removed by simply dying.

I walked away carrying Haruka in my arms, she looked peaceful in her sleep…

The night was down, and the green lights coming from the moths and mold within the tree changed color to a faint blue.

The tree's insides looked like a starry night…a beautiful scenery indeed.

Yet sadly it was ruined by the sudden apparitions that are haunting me…I should probably take seclusion from others for the time being…staying near people might probably drive me to do something I will regret.

Once near the door, I pushed it open with my right foot. The girls who were inside looked startled for a moment, but after recognizing who it was they calmed down, yet that only lasted for a moment.

"Y-You perv! What have you done to Haruka?!" said Haruna with a face as red as a tomato.

Misaka, on the other hand, was turning her head away from me.

"This was the Queen's doing…"

Haruna squinted her eyes for a moment then added

"Even if it was…I wouldn't be surprised if you had taken advantage of the situation T-to put your hands all over her, You virgin!"

"Virgin?" I said while raising a brow

"Euh…you are not one?"

I didn't answer.

"N-no way, who in their right mind would…would…I cant say it…" said Haruna while reddening even further saying the last few words.

"You would be surprised if you knew," I said with a smirk and proceeded in placing Haruka on the bed.

"Get her some covers…I will be away for some time. Misaka, come with me…I need a word with you."

"O-okey…" meekly said the girl in question and stood up. I could even see her trembling a bit.

"Where are you taking her…" asked Haruna while standing between us.

"It's none of your concern," I said to the girl and left the room waiting for Misaka to follow.

Once she did I turned around to see a defeated person. Shoulders slouched and head looking down.

"You like these girls, don't you?" I asked

"Yes…" she replied

"Would you give your life for them?" I asked

Her trembling increased but her resolve did not waver when she answered

"Yes"

"Good," I said, "Then for the next few days, you are to protect them both, I can't do that at this time, my mental health is declining rapidly, you are the only one I can count on, you are stronger than Haruna, and Haruka is out cold."

"Why?" she said at tear point "Why are you giving me this task? What pushes you to trust me though I betrayed you that day?"

"What you did that day sure is cruel, I did die due to your inaction, but still…You were afraid and I know fear very well…so I understand, so atone by helping the girls protect them from anything…even from me" I said while the last few words were spoken in a muffled tone.

I walked away leaving her to her task and headed towards the exit.

I should probably get as far away from this place as I can…the less interaction with humans I have the less I am to hurt anyone.

Yet I will still need to come back here for the treatment…god damn it, this stupid curse is putting a great strain on my mind, and I can't think straight…

I left the tree and headed as far away as I could, using shadow stepping I walked away from the Elven kingdom.

"Banished one," said a voice in my head "Where are you headed?"

It is the dragon's voice.

"The curse is corrupting my mind, I need to be away from people for now," I said

"Wise decision, but the people you walk away from, are the only ones that will help cure you, so how are you going to remove that curse?"

"Good question and I already have an answer to that, just come find me in four days time, and take me to the queen."

"Will you prove to be difficult to handle by then?" asked the Dragon.

"Mostly yes, but I will make sure to make it easy for you…" I said and kept on moving forward.

I hope everything will turn out alright…but when was hope was ever reliable?