Chapter 12: A devil in human's clothing

"MAMAA~!"

A certain Ticktocker

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(Mael's POV)

"Brother Mael, I want another fill!"

"Me too!"

Those were the voices of little chipmunks Ivan and Sona asking for another bowl of meat soup.

It had been another two years since I became a knight under the order of Gilles de Rais and I turned 17. I had taken two jobs. One was that I had taken the responsibility to run the church and the other was my real job to act like a knight. So it was not hard for me to gain some favors from Gilles.

There wasn't much worthwhile to mention except that France was getting more and more close to its destruction.

However, I had already made quite enough fortune to escape from the country and live elsewhere.

Ivan and Sona, the two kids that I had taken under my wings, were also part of my escape plan from this country since, after all, I was not an irresponsible person to abandon them in that doomed land.

All in all, I had everything in my hand in order to survive with my family.

The only problem was to convince Jeanne and her family.

"Hehe, sure." I chuckled and filled their bowls.

They then thanked me before returning to their tables.

'Man, I wonder how many children Jeanne and I would have…? I really want a baby girl…' I then started to fantasize about my future family with Jeanne.

"Hm? Is there something on my face?" It was black-haired girl Sona who asked after she noticed that I was staring at her.

"Oh, it's nothing." I smiled as I want a daughter like her but I know it would be impossible since I have silver hair while Jeanne is blond.

"Ah I see, you must be thinking of making me your bride? I am so happy~" Sona chuckled with rosy cheeks.

"Hey, Brother Mael, not fair. At least wait for her to grow!" And Ivan placed the final brick to this awkward conversation.

I smirked and tapped Sona's forehead.

"Ow!"

"You are 10 years too young to even think about getting married. Hurry up and go to Sister Lily for your writing lessons!"

I spoke a little louder before they shuddered and ran out of the kitchen while laughing happily.

I sighed with a helpless smile and prayed for these children to achieve their own happiness and love.

I then gave a speech to the followers before I collected some donations. French people were in a terrible state and there was hardly anyone who used to come to church as they had already lifted their faith from god since France was losing but there were still some old folks who had hope in their eyes.

I then handed over the money to Sister Lily, a nun I appointed in case I was absent and was about to go for some training when a squire came to me.

"Lord Gilles has asked for your summon."

'Hmm, why did he want to meet me? Are we going to war?' I thought as I have taken some detours off the city Chinon with Gilles where our useless soon be crowned prince was stationed to strategize plan how to tackle British forces but except disappointment, we didn't gain anything. And the worst part was that those idiot nobles didn't even give Gilles or me any chance to raise our voice.

I then changed my clothes before I went towards City Hall where Gilles lived.

I knocked on the door before I received permission to enter the room.

There I found Gilles de Rais sitting along with another person.

"Ah Mael, you have come? Come here and sit." Gilles smiled and offed a seat near him.

I bowed and then sat down.

"Mael, meet my close friend Francois Prelati. He is from Italy and also Cleric like you." Gilles then introduced me to the man, no, more like a boy sitting next to me.

He had shoulder-length straight silver hair and fair skin quite feasible for someone like an Italian priest. He also looked to be in his 20s same or if not a little older than me.

However, as soon as I see his eyes, I felt nausea as I felt something wrong with the person but thanks to Eliza's training I didn't show my stiffness on my face and greeted him like any young overly cautious knight would respond.

"Hello, Lord Francois Prelati. It is nice to meet a fellow priest. May God always keep you safe." I smiled and prayed for him.

I had my suspicion for him to be a demon that's why I prayed for him since demons feel immense headache or pain in the chest of they pray or someone prays for them. I wanted to confirm if that was the cause since I didn't want to have any relation with a demon or if possible, I wanted to kill him as soon as I can.

"You are too kind and please call me by my first name. I will call you Mael too. And yes, the god may keep safe in his embrace." He smiled and also prayed.

'Maybe I was wrong on my part….' I thought as it became clear that he was not a demon.

He then talked about his business with me.

Apparently, he was a priest and also an alchemist. Gilles befriended him not long ago and Francois was also helping him with baron's financial problems. He was also close to Charles VII and could make an appointment with the king.

All in all, he was a person who came like an angel and was helping Gilles managing his territory.

I know it was hard to swallow where such a kind person came out of nowhere and starts helping a poor baron but it didn't matter to me as I talked about the politics and current situation of France.

Even though I was not very strong or smart, I was close to Gilles as I was a priest and also giving advice from time to time. That's why Gilles wanted us to become friends as fellow clerics but for some reason, I didn't feel good being close to him.

Furthermore, I had my own fair share of troubles to deal with.

Anyway, I returned to the church where I also lived and spent the next week preparing to return to the village to meet my Jeanne.

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(3rd person's POV)

Francois Prelati was watching the scenery from his window until he sensed two presence and spoke, "Any news?"

He then turned around and two individuals came into his view.

One had dark black hair and brown eyes with the average height of a teen while the other had brown hair and brown eyes and was a little shorter than the other one.

They were none other than teens, Dick and Pike that Mael saw in chapter 6.

"Yes, it seems like France will soon be British's hands. They have already surrounded Orleans and will soon take the city down." It was the tallest teen named Dick who spoke.

"And it seems like not a single angel was able to detect us," Pike spoke.

"Good. You may return." Francois said turning around again to stare at the beautiful human scenery.

"A-apologies Young Master Francois Marbas but what about the oracle that we were tasked to find?" Dick asked with a trembling voice.

All of sudden, Francois' calm and relaxed face turned stiff as he turned around and shot deadly glares at Dick.

Dick turned pale as he felt immense killing intent coming from just Francois' gaze

"I know perfectly well that you are fucking useless idiots that are why I stopped you from finding the oracle!"

"W-we are sorry!!" Both of them apologized before excusing themselves from the room.

Francois sighed and then after a moment of silence, he opened his eyes and expanded a pair of bat wings from his back.

"Oh Mael, you have no idea what else demons of this generation can do besides avoiding god's curse. Sooner or later this world or rather this whole universe shall be under our rule." Francois smiled before leaving to another chamber to experiment with some humans.

He just ignored Mael as a weak human as he didn't expect Mael of any use besides make him feel despair and then eating his soul in the end.

However, unknown to François Marbas, the direct descendent of Marbas house, a big mistake he just overlooked that will make his whole race pay.

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I will try to end this part before chapter 25 to make MC enter supernatural arc.

Just throw all the stones on my face and help me write exciting content.

Lets set a goal: 1k for the end of this week.

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