— [Demon Race] Rabusto Barbos

— Head doctor of a medical institution

"—The world that we, demons, currently live in is a world named simply hell. An appropriate word for a world were oceans consists of unending flame and the temperature is enough to boil our skin but fortunately, we survived. And because we survived, we adapted and so those the other creatures that occupies this world. Now such temperature is merely just a warm sensation on our skin. But even so, it does not change the fact that our ancestors were just savage beasts that followed only their instincts and nothing more.

But then one day, beings which they later claimed themselves as "Fallen Angels" fell to the surface of this world but somehow uninjured. Their wings black with two horns attached on their heads and a faint grey glow emanated from their bodies. At first, our ancestors attacked them but soon enough, these fallen angels managed to domesticate them until eventually, they, our ancestors, became intelligent.

The Fallen Angels left us after that, promising that they'll come back one day after they had won the war but they never returned. Not knowing what to do, our ancestors slowly returned to their former feral state. So even copulate with other creatures which spawned the existence of beasts which due to them, came the dreaded Half-Beasts but they came in a later date.

After hundreds of years, another being fell from the skies. It was confused and wary like a child greeting a stranger but later became the ruler of us all. The story is but lost. The being, the Ruler of Hell, the one who named it so, the regarded Demon Lord by all, the only being with the right to bear two horns, the only being from all the other beings that fell to this world that has a bright shining aura that surrounds her, claimed that her memories were stolen from her by God. The memories of her origin and how she came to be. Before she can even pass down her story."

The two seemed to be engrossed as a curious child listening to the stories of their grandparents to the tale I’d just told them.

These two are nomads so their clothes are but shabby and ragged, a dress code that was prohibited to be worn in a medical institution such as this but I’ve placed a blind eye to it.

The eldest of the two, spoke his thoughts.

“We never heard of such tale before. Where did you heard it?”

“The tale didn’t come from the mouths of people but instead written in scriptures that was passed down on certain families as a family heritage. The details of which are prohibited to be told to others other than a blood relative but the general idea could be. You two are lucky to have heard of this. Not many people know of this tale.”

“So doc, your family is one of those who possess a copy of those scriptures.”

“Naturally, yes. But I don’t have it. The eldest of our siblings has it.”

Currently, we are in my office. I had invited them over when they proposed that we talk more and served the two some tea. I’ve only met few individuals whom are interested history so this is a rare chance to tell legends that I’ve learned throughout the years that I’ve kept to myself.

“Tell me gentleman, what were your business to this poor town?”

“We travel town to town learning on how different their culture is there to the other towns. Eventually, we might move to the larger towns and kingdoms then to the heart of the middle continent where the Demon Lord resides. Essentially, we’re just mere wanderers that records the differences of culture in various areas. But since the fair for transport is really expensive, we sometimes spend a couple weeks in each town to work."

“What have you learned from here, then?”

“Well for one, this town lacks proper waste management.”

“That is true.”

I reached for the kettle and poured a red-amber coloured liquid into my cup. The sweet aroma of the tea lingers in the room like how the perfume the nobles use attach to their clothes and bodies.

I gazed at the two if they wanted a refill but they politely refused by lightly shaking their heads. I took a sip. The tea is still hot but not that hot to burn the insides of my mouth.

I focused my thoughts on the taste of the tea. It has a slightly peppery or better yet, a spicy taste. Even after the tea had fully went down into my gullet, the taste still lingers.

The two then follow suit and drank their tea.

The surroundings is silent except for the occasional noise outside but soon after, I could hear faint rapid footsteps which gradually grew louder as it got closer. Just then, the office door suddenly sprung up making a screeching sound as it did so.

The culprit for all the noise is one of the nurses. She had a panicked expression on her face and is breathing heavily. This looks urgent.

The two were surprised to the sudden arrival of the nurse but I remained composed.

“What’s the situation?”

“Dr Rabusto, when the one of our caretakers was delivering food for the two horned, he was attacked and killed! Now, the two horned has someone hostage and is requesting your presence!”

In a single breath, she said the report. After hearing it, cold sweat trifled down my neck.

“Why did you guys sent that two horned a meal?”

“Well since he said he was hungry so since we are maintaining our act, we delivered him some then the incident occurred.”

I gazed at the two and they both are confused as well.

How did this happen? I know that I had tranquilized him with enough dose to make anyone drop cold for days so how. I recalled in my mind on any signs to how one could be able to resist such a concentration of tranquilizer then I figure it out.

The answer is most likely not impossible but certainly is an extremely rare case. If one were to have had such resistance, they would have to be tranquilized for a large amount of times to be able to gain a certain level of resistance to it or maybe, in an extremely rare chance to happen, he must've had divine spirit possessed him.. Considering that he doesn't have any sort of mark that would suggest that he was injected by a syringe a large number of times, then as much as I want to doubt it, it would be the latter.

Evil spirits, which is the name that the Demon Lord had given them, generally possess pregnant females in order for their child to be born with two horns and a condition with it which the spirit always leaves after she gave birth. Generally, it's a lack of intelligence but it could be other ailments like lose of hearing, etc.

Evil spirits only possess those who had disrespected a divine being or those who had copulated to someone who did. The only divine being that we know of is the Demon Lord. But for some unknown reason that a two horned who'd been cursed by an evil spirit while also been given a blessing of some sort by a divine spirit which the Demon Lord had named personally as "God", I couldn't believe it. Only a few is possessed by it, as said in those scriptures and one is the Demon Lord himself which she claimed to give the possessed one a resistance to all sort of ailment as a side effect alongside the intended blessing.

I really don't think that such a thing were to be possible...

It’s a huge blunder but it isn’t something that couldn’t be fixed nor could be predicted.

Since the two horned proposed that he to see me, which meant that he wanted to make a deal and that deal would most likely lead to him letting the hostage go in exchange for him to be released from the hospital. Then if so, we would just need to trick him into letting the hostage go then quickly subduing him and sell him to the slave market immediately. Even if he were to be possessed by a divine spirit, he would be still be affected by curse for the evil spirit.

In the end, he's still a two horned with just a tough body. A low birth as they are known. I don't even think that he would even know how to use the blessing the divine spirit intended to give to him.

"Dr Rabusto, is everything alright?"

The youngest of the nomads had said to me.

Looks like I've unconsciously strolled in circles for a moment there.

“Then gentlemen, if we please.”

I said so, ignoring his question.

I gave the two a nod which they clearly understood the meaning of and followed me towards that low birth.

♦

Once we’ve entered the ER, the first thing that I noticed is a two horned demon wearing tattered formal attire with a tail coat, currently sitting on the body that he had killed a stain of crimson blood covered the stone floor and struggling to get free from his arms is the said hostage, a nurse which he’d put the tip of the surgical knife close to the her neck. Blood slowly trickled down from the cut that the knife had made.

The staff of the hospital is waiting outside, seemingly scared because if they were to intervene then another one of their colleagues will be killed.

Upon seeing me, his mouth twisted into a disgusting grin.

After seeing how wicked he is, I still need to be composed.

“Ah, Head Doctor! How good to see you. I think I still haven’t properly thanked you for healing my wounds.”

“Please do skip with the pleasantries. I’ve heard that you had requested my attendance?"

“That seems so.”

To summarize, what this two horned desires most at this moment is to get out of this place in exchange for the life of the hostage. I expect that he would be affected by the curse afflicted by the evil spirit, then that would mean that he would be less intellectual than an average demon. I'm hoping that it would be at least to the point that he won't suspect anything regarding this exchange.

If that were the case then this would be a breeze. It's likely the case since the blessing of the divine spirit shouldn't be able to nullify the curse.

After a short moment of silence, excluding the noise outside, the two horned spoke.

“What I ask for is a map of this continent and a peaceful escape. Not so hard to grant, right?”

“Of course it isn’t. Unfortunately, we do not own a map but—“

I turned my head towards the two nomads which, upon seeing my sudden gaze, looked perplexed at first but the eldest understood my intention quickly and took out a map and placed on my outstretched hand. Of course I’ll replace this map later.

After taking the map, I tossed it over to the side of the two horned.

Upon doing this, I hope that his suspicion of me betraying him will decrease.

“Easy and done, am I right? Haha.”

“Mm.”

“I presume that you will let me escape?”

“Of course. I’m a man of my word.”

Obviously this is a lie. If he let’s go of the hostage for a second, my staff will abruptly pounce at him and immobilize him. That’s what I advised to the nurse that sent us the report.

“If it’s you whom said it, then I believe you.”

He quickly grabbed the map using his right hand which also has where he’s grabbing the surgical knife. He doesn’t seem to be all too worried that his hostage might escape within his grasp. When I looked closer, I saw a wire hanger which he used to hand cuff the nurse. Resourceful.

“This map isn’t fake right”

“Don’t worry. It isn’t. These two are nomads with a map to be their only guide. Why would they carry a fake map when their lives somewhat depends on it?”

The only ones to ask that question are either a demon which cannot store long term memories or a demon whom have grew up without the knowledge of the outside world, hence being, never acquiring a map. I think it would be the former. Further implying that, yes, the curse did work on him.

While his eyes are focused on scanning the map, the eldest of the nomads whispered to my ear.

“So what’s your plan to let his guard off?”

“Don’t worry about that. There’s no need of a plan. I’m expecting that this two horned is as dumb as a rock. He will surely accept that we will let him free without any suspicion. Once he let go of the hostage, we’ll tackle him to the ground and subdue him.”

“Ah, gotcha.”

He then whispered what I told him to his friend.

There's also a possibility that the intended blessing of the divine spirit would take effect somehow but I hardly doubt that he knows how to do it.

“This place sure is vast…”

He said it with a voice so quiet that I only barely understood the meaning of.

So he really is ignorant to the world? His parents must have protected him to the point that he’s practically a prisoner of his own home.

As he folded the map four times and putting it in his pocket, he lets of a heavy sigh and closed his eyes as if he’s frustrated about something. Of course he will, he’s cornered anyway but I didn’t expect him to have noticed that. He might be slightly smarter than what I had assumed he was. I think that him having such a noble like outfit is a huge hint at that.

He probably just stolen it, anyway.

Later, he opened his eyes and looked at me with a mischievous gaze.

“Well then doc. Are you very knowledgeable?”

“I did master medicine. A pointless question I should say.”

I shrugged my shoulders as I said so.

“Right. Then I also assume that you know of minerals as well. Then do you know of flash powder?”

“Sadly I don’t.‒! That’s a dangerous name. What is—“

Before I could even finish my sentence, He throws a pouch which he then threw molten lava at it with his bare hands at that instant, a bright flash of light disturbed my vision like the sun suddenly appeared before me.

That flash of light took a few seconds to end more so to recover my sight. After I did, that sly two horned escaped.

I quickly looked towards the door and the even the others were dazzled by that flash.

How could this be…?

How could a mere two horned made something like that with nothing to work with!? Also, even if there was something to work with, then a mere two horned couldn’t possibly have thought of doing something with it!

Calm yourself. I think I underestimated him. He’s obviously isn’t an ordinary two horned.

So the curse of the evil spirit didn't work on him!?

Upon realizing that the two horned might have went towards the exit, I ordered my staff to look for him immediately. The two nomads also searched for him.

I just stood there, barely understanding the event that took place.

I looked forward and there, the nurse that he took hostage the caretaker he supposedly killed. I removed the towel still dripping with blood that’s covering her mouth and the twisted wire hanger used to hand cuff her. I looked at her eyes and though we are technically looking at each other, her eyes suggest otherwise like she’s looking through me, in a distant place.

After calming her down, I asked her,

“How did this happen?”

“W-when I heard a faint scream, I rushed to this room and then...”

She spoke in a low voice, her face looking as if all the colour of her face washed away. She felt her neck lightly.

Looks like he planned this. But, why did he? We treated him like a nobleman as to not raise any suspicions. We even used our finest equipment so he can trust as a bit. There must be something that made him resort to planning something like this. Something that told him that we were going to sell him off or at least, do something incredibly displeasing.

Form thinking back on it now, since he isn’t affected by the tranquilizer, he must have woken up just when we we’re talking about our plan to sell him off to the slave market. That hypothesis has a much higher percentage of happening so it must be that.

It was a blunder to talk about that topic right in front of the room. Well, I wouldn’t have anticipated that either since I confident that I had injected him with a high enough dose of tranquilizer for him to be right out cold for days. Tranquilizers aren’t cheap.

I think that we shouldn’t have left the surgical equipment too. Before I thought that it would be troublesome to bring it out again since we’ll be using it again anyway.

I let out a frustrated sigh. Everything didn’t go according to plan because I underestimated that two horned.

Upon realizing my sigh, the nurse looked at me. She looks somewhat stable now.

“Did he told you anything?”

Considering how he acted, he should have told this nurse something.

She thinks for a minute and spoke reservedly.

“H-he suddenly told me his name, Denis and said that he’s a toy of that bastard. I don’t know who that bastard is but he seems annoyed by when he said it.”

Bastard? Who’s that supposed to be? I think that may have been his former captor. I’m guessing that captor is a noble or someone who is rich from looking at what he wears. Sometimes, those who bought slaves dresses them up in a formal fashion implying that they can afford to spend large amount of money on their slaves. It’s basically a show of wealth to the commoners.

While I was discussing about other details about what had happened, which her answer is quite vague so I couldn’t piece them all together that much, I heard a groan coming from the apparent dead caretaker.

So he’s still isn’t dead!? Just then, a relief washed over me like a gust of an extremely rare cold breeze were to suddenly rush all over my body.

The nurse heard it to and hastily turned her head towards his supposedly dead colleague.

The corpse suddenly raised his torso and looked around the room with a confused look on his face.

“But how‒!?”

—Where the question that the nurse asked instinctively and also the question I ask myself but after scanning the room more thoroughly, I saw the syringe that I used to inject the two horned‒no‒Denis. He must have used it to the caretaker and made him appear dead my smearing blood stained cloth all over the place and on his neck.

Soon after, the others arrived saying that they couldn’t find him and had told the people about his appearance and if they did, it were to be sent to the hospital immediately.

The two nomads looks disappointed like a hunter that’ve lost his prey. I can understand their feelings.

But to what that two horned had done…

He surely made me looked at his kind with more respect now.

I unconsciously formed a smile on my face.

But I wonder, the object that he created called a flash powder.

How did he do it?