Aftermath

"System, end recording."

[Recording stopped.]

[Data Saved!]

[Mass of Demon Energy Detected!]

[Mass of Demon Energy Detected!]

"It seems I can absorb energy from other races as well." Desmond noted, realizing that all the notifications had vanished when he instructed the system to record the battle.

He gingerly touched the demon's lifeless form, and a prompt appeared on the screen.

[Does the host wish to absorb the energy? Y/N?]

"Yes."

[Commencing absorption... | Time remaining: 23 seconds]

Desmond observed the countdown on the screen and furrowed his brow. "This won't be easy. I'll be a sitting duck if I stay here attempting to absorb the energy."

In a moment of inspiration, he unsheathed his sword and severed one of the demon's fingers, placing it carefully in his pocket. "I hope this works... Please, let it work."

[Does the host wish to absorb the energy? Y/N?]

"Yes."

[Commencing absorption... | Time remaining: 23 seconds]

Yes!

Exhaling a sigh of relief, Desmond wiped the sweat from his brow. His plan had succeeded, as he discovered he could absorb the entirety of the energy from a single body part. He then cast a glance towards the remaining remains of the second demon's corpse and repeated the process.

After a few minutes of anticipation, the absorption process was complete.

[Energy absorption complete]

[Status updated!]

[-Status-

Name: Desmond

Gender: Male

Age: 3 years

Race: Human

Class: Swordsman

Occupation: None

Unique Energy: 5.6 → 5.83 → 6.19

Strength: 7.04

Agility: 0.44

Stamina: 0.20/1.63]

Desmond studied his updated status, his lips curling into a wide grin. "A fruitful harvest indeed. Perhaps I can slaughter more demons in the future." Greed flickered in his eyes, but then he remembered the harrowing brush with death.

"Let's wait a few years before reaping again." Desmond's gaze turned icy, his murderous intent palpable. He would never forgive anyone who harmed his family, even if it were a deity.

As Desmond made his way towards the outer city, a putrid stench assaulted his senses, emanating from his pocket. With a flinch of disgust, he swiftly discarded the fingers, covering his nose as he continued his walk. "Seems like I'll be needing a thorough shower," he muttered to himself.

...

On the outskirts of the North Kingdom's border, beneath the cover of darkness, two human figures concealed themselves behind dense foliage. From their vantage point, they kept a watchful eye on a village situated across the river.

Amidst the rustling of leaves and the distant roars of the night, they remained unperturbed, their eyes glowing with an eerie red hue.

*Squeak* Suddenly, a scraping sound reverberated from the bushes behind them. Their attention swiftly shifted, and they spotted a figure cautiously approaching through the undergrowth.

Exchanging a brief glance, one of them prepared to unleash a spell, while the other tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword.

A minuscule ice spike, no larger than a nail, materialized on the ground before the bush, poised to disrupt the enemy's movements. Suspended in mid-air, an ice spear hovered, ready to strike. The swordsman unsheathed his blade, primed for an attack.

Time ticked away, and at last, their vigil was rewarded. The once swaying bushes were trampled, revealing the intruder within.

*Creak* The intruder's foot unwittingly pressed down upon the tiny ice spike concealed beneath the undergrowth.

*Grunt* Pain shot through the newcomer as he looked down, realizing that he had stepped on an icy protrusion. Squatting to examine his injured foot, he suddenly felt a chilling sensation crawl up his spine. Raising his gaze, he found himself staring directly into the icy tip of the spear, aimed for his eyes.

"Please, cease your attack, Master!" he cried out with all his might, tightly shutting his eyes.

Those poised to strike against him halted their assault upon catching sight of his uniform. The individual before them wore the unmistakable attire of a soldier from the North Kingdom.

The soldier watched as the ice spear vanished into thin air, the sword being sheathed, and the nail in his shoe disappearing. It was clear that the danger had passed for now.

Before him emerged a man and a woman, stepping out from the shadows. The woman possessed an unparalleled beauty, while the man exuded a striking handsomeness. Together, they formed a perfect couple.

The soldier, momentarily lost in awe, snapped back to reality when he felt a slight pressure against his stomach. He realized the man had his sword pointed at him.

"I apologize for my impudence, but I bring important news from Master Noel," the soldier managed to say. He noticed the sword being sheathed and the tense atmosphere easing.

The woman, clearly impatient, spoke in a cold tone, "Speak."

The soldier, not daring to waste any more time, began to relay the message. "It pertains to your child. The rest of the information is in Master Noel's hands," he said, bowing his head, careful not to meet the woman's gaze.

Silence enveloped the forest, amplifying the soldier's nervousness. He could feel his palms sweating and his throat dry, the weight of fear pressing upon him.

Finally, breaking the silence, the man spoke. "Seems like this time it's a serious matter, my dear."

The woman pondered for a moment before nodding. "You, guard, keep a close watch on the village," she commanded, her cold gaze intensifying the soldier's unease. It felt as though her eyes could pierce straight into his very soul.

Without hesitation, the soldier responded, "Yes, Master!"

...

Inside a tent, Noel sat upon a chair, her brow furrowed as she read the letter in her hand. The contents detailed the activities of Desmond and Alice, providing her with crucial information.

Knowing that Bastian and Leona frequently traveled, Noel had assigned her special forces to assume disguises and join the Bastian family's guard. This task had been approved by both Bastian and Leona, allowing Noel to gather valuable insights.

After a few minutes, Bastian and Leona entered the tent, greeted by Noel's presence.

"Noel."

"Leona."

Noel immediately approached Leona, and the two embraced in a heartfelt hug. Bastian, witnessing this, could only offer an awkward smile, refraining from joining the embrace.

As they released their hug, Leona's expression turned serious. She wasted no time in asking, "Tell us, what has happened with Desmond and Alice?" Both Leona and Bastian wore concerned expressions, eager to learn every crucial detail.

"Noel," Bastian called out, taking note of her hesitation, "Please don't hold back. We need to know everything."

With a sigh, Noel gathered her thoughts and spoke, "Your son has taken a life." Her voice carried a mix of concern and apprehension as she directed her gaze towards Leona, fearing her reaction.

Upon hearing the words, Leona suddenly collapsed to the floor.

"Honey!" Bastian rushed to check on his wife, noticing her lips and body growing cold.

"Stay calm, my love. Take slow, deep breaths."

Noel, wanting to offer assistance, saw Bastian's hand gesturing to stop her. "Allow me to handle this," Bastian said, his tone slightly cold, without even looking at Noel.

After a few agonizing minutes, Leona managed to regain her composure. She looked up at Bastian, her voice trembling, "Remind me, how old is Desmond now?"

"Three years," Bastian replied, his own shock evident.

Leona gasped, her breath catching in her throat. Before she could say anything, Noel interjected, "In this particular case, your son is not entirely at fault."

Leona's heart felt a glimmer of relief. Rising to her feet, she turned to face Noel.

"Please, tell us what happened. Start from the beginning."

Noel nodded and proceeded to recount the events. As she spoke, Bastian couldn't help but interject with worry whenever Alice's name was mentioned. Leona, in turn, had to soothe him and bring him back to calmness.

Finally, Noel concluded, "Rest assured, the situation has been resolved, and both Desmond and Alice are safe."

Though Leona and Bastian still carried lingering concerns, Noel offered them a reassuring statement.

"Alright, I grant you both a week of leave from duty."

The couple froze, overwhelmed by Noel's unexpected generosity. They couldn't help but tightly embrace her.

"Thank you, Noel. Thank you," they expressed their gratitude.

In that moment, Leona noticed Bastian's peculiar behavior. With a mischievous smile, she pinched his side.

"What are you up to, honey?" she asked playfully.

"Hehe, just expressing my gratitude," Bastian replied, returning the smile.

"Dismissed!" Noel's firm command brought their attention back to their duties.

"Yes, yes," they responded, acknowledging the order.