Chapter 12
Chapter 12: Raising Souls
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In the conflict between the Kingdom of Tad and its neighboring country on the snowfield, the mage troops suffered heavy losses. However, Ash's exceptional performance led to his promotion from a small captain to a large captain.
Then came the second, third, fourth, and fifth times… The endless series of small and large conflicts continued intermittently for five years.
The continuous battles did not kill him. Instead, as a demon, he was tempered by the war, and unexpectedly, he rose to become a general of the Tad Kingdom.
Though the war was intermittent, Ash had already gathered 1,000 souls by the second year. He made his first wish, desiring to become the strongest, but it was not granted.
He wished for the magical power and combat ability of a demon king, but it wasn't enough. He also desired all the magical knowledge in the world, but again, the souls he had collected were insufficient to perform a miracle of that scale.
Frustrated, he realized that the system operated on a principle of equal exchange. Perhaps the price wasn't exactly equal, at least not to him.
With only 1,000 souls, his options were limited. So, he continued to gather more souls and eventually made a wish to gain complete knowledge of gravity magic.
For the next four years, Ash studied the gravity magic system granted by the miracle, refining his skills throughout the long war.
After three years of sweeping battlefields, he amassed thousands of souls, giving him another chance to perform a miracle.
This made him decide not to stay any longer in a kingdom that offered him little in terms of further knowledge. The endless war had lost its meaning to him.
...
"Life is so unpredictable…"
Standing on the snowfield where he had once lost a battle while supporting other fronts, Ash sighed as he looked at the frozen bloodstains beneath his feet in the familiar, yet distant, snowstorm.
Cathy, the woman who had survived the battle with him and now served as his adjutant and captain of the magic guard, turned her head curiously. She bore a hideous scar on her neck. "What are you talking about, Master Ash?"
"This time, their main force took a heavy hit. The borrowed troops from neighboring countries are mostly gone. They should behave themselves for a while."
"I think so too, but... are you ready to keep attacking?"
"No, I'm almost ready to leave. Cathy, it's about time for you to go home too."
"Eh? Master Ash, what are you saying…?"
"I'm leaving this place. But before that, I can help you secure a good amount of money. With it, you should be able to buy the big house you've always dreamed of in the capital, where your daughter and mother can live a comfortable life, right?"
"Wait, Master Ash? I don't quite understand…" Cathy was stunned by his sudden words, doubting what she had just heard.
Ash spoke more to himself than to her. "I plan to leave here. This war doesn't belong to you or me. But if you choose to stay, I won't stop you."
"…Won't they ask you to reconsider?"
"I've already submitted my resignation, and I would leave regardless of their response. Now… what about you?" He turned to look at the woman who had followed him for five years, unsure of what choice she would make.
Cathy was not a beneficiary of the war, but a victim of it. Both her father and husband had been forcibly conscripted, and no one knew where they had died.
When Cathy faced Ash's question, she remained silent for a long time, then smiled bitterly and shrugged. "You're planning to leave—how can I stay here?"
"Yeah?"
"…Are you planning to go north?"
"How do you know?"
"Because… you're a demon, right?"
"What? You figured it out?"
"I had a slight feeling but couldn't be certain. You still look like the same young man from the beginning. Some people in the kingdom are also suspicious of your true identity."
"I've heard a bit about that, which is why I have to leave now. Besides..." Ash, who didn't care much about it, smiled and looked at Cathy with a strange expression. "So, are you going to report me?"
"How could I possibly do that?" Cathy smiled bitterly and touched the wound on her neck. "If you hadn't knocked that cavalryman away, I wouldn't even have my head attached right now. And now I realize that demons aren't like the rumors say."
"No, don't think like that. I'm the only exception. If you see a demon, either run or kill them. That's my last piece of advice to you."
"So… everyone except you is dangerous?" Cathy asked, still a bit unsure.
"Of course. They're ruthless and cruel. Even demons need to be careful around each other. My situation is just… special."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
"…"
"…"
The conversation fell into an awkward silence. Neither of them was particularly skilled at keeping a conversation going.
After a long while, Cathy couldn't help but ask, "...you gave me all the money, what about you?"
"It's fine. I've kept enough for my journey."
"So… will we meet again?"
"...Honestly, that sounds like something a heroine in a story would say," Ash replied with a teasing smile, breaking the somber atmosphere. "But I like younger girls, you know? Wives and aunts are a little… If it's okay, can you ask your daughter to say that instead?"
Cathy couldn't help but laugh, shaking her head. "You've misunderstood… I just meant that, if there's ever a chance, I'd like to introduce my daughter and my mother to you. They've always wanted to thank you personally for looking after me."
"Let's not. The lifespan of humans and demons is quite different. There's no benefit in getting to know one more human."
"…But if demons are as dangerous as you say, wouldn't you be lonely?"
"I'm used to it. Aren't all demons like this?"
"But you're not an ordinary demon, right?"
"That's true, but… I'll get used to it."
He smiled, but there was a trace of melancholy in his expression. He didn't say anything more, and Cathy, sensing his mood, lowered her eyes with a sense of regret.
The silence between them lingered for a moment longer. Neither knew what else to say, and the weight of parting hung heavily in the air.
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