Two figures flashed through the night forest. Faster and swifter than the wind, they nimbly ran without hitting a tree or even touching a stray branch. One of them looked back. Her eyes emerald green and were shining under the moonlight. There were many red dots all around, closing in and chasing them. Torch.

"Sister, they're closing in."

The other figure clicked her tongue and bit her thumb. "How can they found us so fast?"

The first figure stopped and turned her body facing the fire. "Let me kill them."

The sister grabbed the first figure arm and stopped her before she could do anything. "Stop it Lyana! You've promised me!"

"But sister!"

"No buts! We came here not to make enemies."

"But they treat us as an enemy regardless!" Her teeth grinding against each other was audible to her sister. "We never did anything wrong! yet-yet they treat us like a monster, they blame us for a crime we never commit! Who is the true monster?!"

The sound of an arrow embedding itself on a nearby tree distract them from their heated argument. "There!" A man in a standard soldier armor shouted as soon as he saw them.

"Damn!" Lyana cursed herself for stopping their attempt at fleeing.

Fires erupted from her hand and formed a ball. It was small at first but rapidly expanded until it could swallow half of her body. She arched her body back preparing to throw it, but her sister grabbed her hand to stop her. "Lyana!" Her sister shouted. "Stop it."

"Fuck!" She threw the ball to the ground, causing the trees around her to catch fire. The blaze spread like crazy. In a matter of seconds, the fire became too big for their pursuer to pass through without hurting themselves.

Lyana and her sister vanished. Their tracks covered by the burning trees and smoke.

----

Theo walked through the forest during the night. Since no monster dares to attack him and since he didn't need that much sleep anyway, it was better for him to keep moving during the night. If his calculation was correct and he never took a wrong direction, capital should be around 10 hours of walking ahead of him.

The sky was clear that night with no cloud covering any significant part of it. The sea of stars was visible to Theo who walked under it. It always amazed him no matter how many times he saw it. But something was ruining the view for him. There was a smoke, a huge cloud of smoke rising in the distance.

"Forest fire?" he asked himself. Out of nowhere, two people appeared from the shadow of the forest and ran past him. One to his left and one to his right.They vanished into the shadow of the forest as abrupt as they appeared. He could still hear their movement and feel their presence, but they were gone from his vision.

Although he only saw them for a brief moment and didn't have the chance to get any detail of their appearance, he was sure that both were women. His instinct about things like that had never been wrong before. He dismissed them just as an adventurer in hurry, or a bandit. 'Wait.' He realized something. If they were bandit, then that mean that he was robbed just now. He hastily checked all his belonging. He sighed in relief, nothing was gone.

He kept on walking without thinking much about the passing shadow. Coincidentally, the source of the smoke was in the same direction as the capital.

----

Soldiers were running around with a bucket of water in their hand. From a single glance, Theo could see that their number exceeded 30. 50 was his highest estimates. They were all too busy putting out the forest fire using water from a nearby river, that barely anyone noticed Theo walking among their number. It was only after the fire was reduced to a manageable size that they realized there was an adventurer looking at them all along.

Their captain, evident from his better gear, approached Theo. His eyes wandered for a second to the plate that was hanging from Theo's neck before he opened his mouth. "Adventurer. You want a job?" He asked, straight to the point like any good soldier.

"The one who caused this fire?"

"Yes."

"Maybe, have to consider the pay first."

"20 gold coin."

"30" It was Adventurer's habit to haggle the price of a sudden job even before they knew what kind of job it was. But if someone approached an adventurer with a job, most of the time, it was exterminating monster. That's why they usually took the job without asking the detail first.

"25"

"27"

"Fine." The captain gave up.

"Details?"

"We talk while we walk. I don't want to waste time."

---

Theo walked beside the captain with the rest of the soldiers following behind them. They were heading to the direction Theo came from. While Theo didn't want to backtrack and hunt with other people, especially men, the pay was too good to pass. 27 gold was very high considering his chimera rank. "What is our target?"

"We don't know what they are actually, but I can tell you their appearance." The captain took a deep breath before continuing. "Our targets are two women. Not human, not a beast-kin, not lizard-kin. They have mostly the appearance of human women, but they have two horn coming from their temples. And a tail. "

"Hmm." Theo racked his mind for something that matches the captain's explanation. There was something on the back of his mind that fit with the captain description. He just couldn't get to it for some reason. "They could be a monster girl."

"Monster girl?"

"They are a subspecies of monster. They appear like a humanoid female, but some part of their body are that of monster. Although other than harpies and some aquatic monster girls, it is rare to see them this far south in Amaryn. Most of them live in the jungle of Girantine or the far land to the north." The captain didn't seem to understand what Theo said, but he was a smart man. He let professionals do what professionals do without asking too much.

"That is not a monster girl I tell ya!" A man in a hunter garb spoke. He was a local hunter who was employed by the captain to track their target. "They are demons. Two horn and sharp tail."

"Stop spouting that nonsense." The captain replied. "The Tesla line still stood without any problem to this second. If even a demon managed to get through, the whole country will be looking for it."

"I tell ya it's a demon. I saw it with me own eyes. I've seen them before during the great war, when both of you were still sucking on your mum's tits."

"Shut up old man. We pay you to track them, not to bleed our ears with your war story."

'Ah.' Theo got it what he was unable to reach before. Those two were indeed demons, but if he takes back his explanation, he would appear to be incompetent to the captain. Whatever, most demons were level 20, not a problem for him.

"If you are so short on time, why bother putting out the fire?" Theo asked.

"There's a village nearby. Quite a big village that depends on the forest for their living. Our job is to protect the people. If we chose to chase a future threat and ignore a present threat, then we have failed our job."

"Those...two. Let's just call them that since we don't really know what they are. You sure you can catch them slowly like this?"

"They are fast yes. But they are also easy to tire. That's why we can follow their trail for this long."

"You've been following their trail for long?"

"Three days and two nights. This is the closest we've ever get them."

"What is it that they did that made this much soldiers hunting them?" Theo questioned the guard reasoning.

Some monster, like a chimera, hydra, or the undead, were dangerous and have to be eliminated on sight. Monster girl, however, wasn't known to attack the populace unless threatened. But if the two are truly demons, that was another case entirely. Demon saw human as nothing more than play thing or livestock. Most of them wouldn't mind killing human for fun. There was of course exception, but most demons were like that.

"Five local villagers have been found dead, some live stocks were slaughtered, and some of the villagers' homes were robbed and plundered. And then this, burning of the forest that could cause a widespread destruction and loss."

Something was off. If the two were truly demon who think human as no more than play thing, there should have been more killing, raping, and plundering. Also, why did they bother burning the forest down instead of just killing their pursuer? "Are you sure that the two that we're chasing are the cause of it?"

"All the evidence and eyewitnesses pointed at the two figure we're chasing."

-------

After walking for a while and following the trail they got a glimpse of their target. It was the two women that ran past him before he met the soldiers.

"It's them!" One of the soldiers shouted. The soldiers quickened their pace, some even began to run. They drew their sword and bows. Those with bows aimed toward the sky and nocked their arrow. But before they could get close or even let loose of those arrows, their target began to move.

"Stupid. Why are you shouting?" Theo asked. "They didn't know about us yet until you shouted."

"It's your job adventurer." The captain said. Theo and the soldiers with sword began sprinting. Arrows whistled as it flew past above them. The leaf rustled and the wood knocked as the arrow hit them. Then, a scream. One of the arrows hit their target. It seemed that they weren't able to run fast enough.

The same place was then showered with a volley of arrows. Another scream erupted, followed by a cry.

-----

Lyana sat on the ground next to a tree. It was foolish. Most foolish indeed. resting when you were being chased by people that wanted to kill you for no reason was foolish, but not doing so was even more foolish.

Despite her best effort, her sister's hand became colder by the second. It was almost freezing. Even the thick blanket she made didn't help to slow it down. "Lyana." Her sister said. It was a trembling and small voice that made her heart sank each time she heard it.

"Shush. You have to rest. I handle it if things get ugly." Lyana tried to comfort her sister.

"Lyana!" Her voice regained its spirit. Even if only for a second. "Promise me, promise me Lyana!"

"Why sister, why? Why are you so protective of them? They-they did nothing good for us. They hate us. Why?"

She held Lana's cheek with her cold hand."You will understand one day." She smiled. "Promise me?"

"I-"

"It's them!" Their pursuer shouted. Sweat broke out from every pore on her body. Her mind went into an overdrive, but no solution came from a panicked head. She slapped her own cheek to calm herself down. She immediately helped her sister stood up. There was a pool of blood on the ground where her sister was sitting. "Shit."

Sweat broke out from every pore on her body. Her mind went into an overdrive, but no solution came from a panicked head. She slapped her own cheek to calm herself down. She immediately helped her sister stood up. There was a pool of blood on the ground where her sister was sitting. "Shit."

Lyana turned her body and cast a magical barrier between them and their pursuer. She was almost out of mana and she was not proficient at casting defensive spells, but It should be enough to stop some arrows.

"Lyana. Leave me."

"No!" She pulled her sister and they began limping. Her sister was heavier than she thought.

"I've promised mother and father that I'll protect you. Just leave me here. Survive. Survive until you reach Big sister." She tried to let go of her hand, but Lyana pulled her arm and held it ever tighter.

"No! You will be fine! We will tell Big sister together and sh- She - She'll make us our favorite soup. You-" What came next was swallowed by the scream of her sister.

The barrier already shattered behind them. She saw it on the edges of her vision, an arrow stuck on her sister's back. Her shaking hand was unable to hold both of them and they fell to the ground. Blood seeped out from her mouth when she opened them. "Lyana. Promise me."

"Shush! We'll talk about it later."

"Lyana!" Her sister pushed her body, flattening it to the ground.

Lyana groaned in pain as an arrow stuck her feet. The pain vanished the moment she opened her eyes.

An invisible rope choked her neck, tightening with each breath she took. Words flooded her minds and her heart, yet all were stuck in her throat.

Despite the million arrows on her back, a radiant smile appeared on her sister's face. Just like their mother's. Just like her in her last moment. "Lyana. will you promise me?"

Before Lyana could answer, the warm hand on her cheek fell to the ground. Lifeless.

No word came out from her mouth and no tear came out from her eyes. Just the invisible rope tightening on her neck and the shattering of her heart.

And the shattering of his heart. He opened his mouth, but no voice. He opened his eyes, but no vision. His skin numb and his ears deaf.

When his vision returned, it was not a woman crying over her sister's death. It was a boy. A boy crying over his father's death. Surrounded by withering white trees and forest ablaze. When his feeling returned it was not the cold air of autumn midnight or the cold steel of his prized sword. It was the coldness of his father's hand and the heat from the burning forest. What he heard was not the crying of a woman nor the shouting of soldiers. It was a voice of a dying man. A voice that haunted him, that shaped him, that guided his every decision in life.

"Promise me. Promise me."

Theo screamed. A scream of a madman who cursed his own minds, his own memories, and those who caused it all.

He swung his sword not at the demon, but at the hunter. The hunter's head rolled on the ground before he could understand what had happened. Before Theo himself could understand what he was doing.

The captain shouted, horrified by the turn of event, by the adventurer's betrayal. That was before his throat got cut open. Confusion and panic spread among the soldiers. Confusion and panic spread through Theo's mind. What the fuck was he doing?

"S-Stand down!" One of the soldiers pointed his crossbow at Theo.

All of the soldiers stood guard with their weapon unsheathed, with their bow and crossbow pointed at Theo. "He-hey. T-this is a mistake. I-I I was-... " Theo thought about an excuse but there wasn't anything would work. He couldn't weasel out from this situation by words alone.

"Stand down!" the soldiers shouted. Theo complied, he put down his sword on the ground and raised his arms above his head while slowly crouching down.

He fucked up, real bad. He got caught by his emotion that he didn't realize what was happening. But what done is done. He needed to fix things up and clean up his mistake, but giving himself up to the guard wasn't the way. If he let himself be caught, he will either be in jail for life or his head will roll. Both were not the outcome he wanted.

One of the soldiers slowly approached him to take his weapon. He got closer and closer and crouched down to pick Theo's sword from the ground.

Theo kicked the soldier, picked his sword, and slit the guard's throat.

Bolts and arrows were loosed. Theo grabbed the soldier's body and use it as a meat shield, but his body was small, and some of the arrow and bolts struck Theo.

Luckily, he was wearing a full plate armor that was enchanted to further strengthen it.

He sighed. This was not the outcome that he wanted. This was not what he had planned. But he has to see it through. After all, this wasn't the first time he silenced a group of people to clean up his mistake, and certainly, this won't be the last.

-----

Theo stood up amidst the mound of corpses. He struggled to get up, supporting his own body with Panes between his arm. His eyes bloodshot and his body soaked in blood that was not his.

36 soldiers lay dead. And one survivor was scrambling in panic, trying his hardest to get away from him. His leg's tendon was already cut by the mad adventurer, he couldn't stand anymore. But he must return to his family. After this, he will quit and retire. Enough being soldiers, farm life with his wife and three little sons was much safer.

But the mad adventurer caught him. "NOO! Please! PLEASE! SPARE ME! I won't tell anyone! Please!" He pleaded.

Theo sighed. "Calm down. Calm down. I will spare you if you tell me what I want to know. Okay?"

"Y-YES! I-I'll do anything!"

"Is anyone watching from afar?"

"N-no. Not as far as I know."

"Has anyone escape? The body count is 36 including the hunter."

"N-no. There's 37 of us including t-the hunter."

"Will anyone be missing or searching these dead guys?"

"N-no. A-a hunting mission like this will u-usually take a week if not more. Th-The last time we report is one day ago. W-We have no obligation t-to give a report for the next 5 days."

"Does anyone might know I kill these guys other than you?"

"N-No. And I-I-I swears I won't tell anyone. I swear!"

"Good. I will keep my word. I will not kill you." Theo walked away from the guard. The guard cried in relief as he walked away, but then, Theo crouched down and picked up a paper from one of his pouches. The fire burned in his hand and from the ashes a figure of flame appeared. It was a level ten fire elemental. "Kill him. And burn all the bodies, but be careful not to burn the forest." Theo gave a command to the fire elemental.

The fire elemental approached the unsuspecting surviving guard and killed him before he even realizes it coming. The fire elemental then burned all the bodies without burning the forest. This way, the corpse will not attract a group of beast and ghoul, which in turn will not attract adventurer and more soldiers to exterminate them. Those who are going to search for the missing soldiers will have a hard time searching them in the middle of nowhere like this.

The reason Theo told him not to burn the forest was because while it would make their death look more natural, it would also attract the attention of many people. And he didn't want anyone to know it. He could also bury their bodies, but it would take too much effort.

Theo looked over his shoulder where the female demon was still crying over her dead companion. Regret washed all over him, but why? He couldn't understand his own feeling. He had seen countless tragedies like hers. On some, he even took the aggressor role, but he never felt quite something like this.

He also couldn't understand why he attacked the hunter and the captain in the first place. Even if he wanted to help the girl, even if she was undoubtedly beautiful, it was too much of a risk. There was still too much variable he didn't yet know at that time. It was a blinding rage that he hadn't felt in a long time. Never since.....the death of his own father.

That was it. That was why he did that. What happened to her was an exact mirror to what happened to him six years prior. The burning forest. The dying body.....and the promise her companion uttered before she died. That was why he killed the hunter. In the spur of the moment, he blamed them for his father's death and the rage took him.

"Heh." He cursed his own sentimentality. Who would have thought? After six years and a lot of distraction, he still couldn't get over his father's death. And the emotion resurfaced at the worst time possible. But there was no point in thinking about it now. What done is done and he needed to adapt his plan accordingly. He stood up and approached the girl.

The safest course of action was to just kill the girl too and also burn their bodies. But his heart told him not to. He couldn't understand why. Maybe it was because he saw his younger self inside her.

His hand was about to touch the girl's shoulder when it stopped. Why did he stop, why did he hesitate? He wondered about it in his mind. He touched her shoulder after some consideration. "I'm sorry, but it's not safe here. We have to move. Before-"

"Get........Get away from me!" She turned. Her eyes were like glass, watery without any coming out.

His chest felt like a burning iron was piercing it. When he looked down, the girl's hand was glowing bright red with magic and was melting his chest armor.

"[Greater Combustion]" Great fire erupted from his chest. His body flew with an incredible speed before stopping abruptly after hitting a tree. His head jerked backward and hit the tree trunk. The force was enough to crack and fell the tree. His vision blurred as blood flowed down the back of his head.

The last thing he saw before blacking out was the girl killing his summoned elemental, then walking to him, with a fireball armed in her hand.