NoveLight ™
The middle-aged man called a few people over and began to pull the cart containing the girl’s cage.
Clunk— clunk—
Has the time come?
After several days of travel, it seemed the next schedule had been set.
The girl grasped her clothes with her weak hands. Although she had experienced this countless times, it was something she could never grow accustomed to.
As time passed, the cage she was in was moved to a high place, covered by a large cloth.
“Kill her!!”
“Long live the Empire! Long live our great Emperor!!”
“Kill the filthy demon girl!”
“That demon has eaten enough people to surpass several cities!”
“Ugh… what a terrible race.”
“With that red skin and those devious eyes.”
“Don’t mention it. Thankfully, she isn’t a mature body, so we can capture her.”
“Execute the demon that killed my son!”
Countless malice transmitted through the thick cloth. The raw, unfiltered malice seemed to squeeze her insides.
At last, when the cloth was lifted, brilliant sunlight illuminated the cage. The girl squinted her eyes at the sudden brightness. However, before her eyes could adjust, a barrage of insults from the crowd pierced through.
“Kill her immediately!”
“Demon!! Demon!”
“Execute the demon!”
“Long live the Empire!”
“Wow!”
Soon, the middle-aged man managing her began to whip the bars of the cage, drawing cheers from the crowd. The girl’s startled skin turned bright red. For a moment, the sight of the girl, akin to a demon, silenced the crowd.
As she began to adapt to the dazzling sunlight, stones and eggs began to fly toward her.
Thud— splat—
Blood began to flow from all over her body, and her skin shimmered with a red hue, close to fluorescent.
“She’s a real demon!”
“Ah!”
“A demon truly exists!!”
“Die, demon!!”
“Save my son!”
“The Empire has suffered immense losses to end this war with the demons.”
At that moment, the middle-aged man’s shout pierced her ears.
“Today, we’ll conclude here, as tomorrow we will hold the final ceremony!!”
The girl felt puzzled by the word “final.” This had never happened before.
Could she escape this hellish path? Her eyes trembled slightly.
However, after stepping down from the stage that resembled an execution platform, she grasped the meaning behind the middle-aged man’s sneering words.
“This dreadful performance is coming to an end. Tomorrow, you’ll perform your last act in the capital square before heading to the gallows.”
The girl’s mouth dropped open.
Was she happy to finally end over ten years of hellish torment? Or was she just regretful, wishing for more of this life?
She placed her hand on her chest and took a deep breath.
Yeah. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t prepared for death. For over ten years, she had lived as a source of anger, touring throughout the Empire. It wouldn’t be strange for it to end at any moment.
‘More than my life…’
She was only worried about the tribe she had protected all this time.
While she wanted to ask what would happen to her tribespeople if she were executed, the middle-aged man knew nothing.
It was a secret transaction between her and the Imperial knight, so she couldn’t ask him.
Fortunately, while she was trying to swallow her anxiety that night, a guest arrived. It was the Imperial knight with whom she had struck a deal regarding the safety of her and her tribespeople.
The middle-aged man bowed to the knight of the Empire.
“What brings you to such a humble place, Sir Knight…?”
The knight was clad in the Empire’s armor but had draped a red cloth over the Imperial emblem on his shoulder. This indicated that he was visiting for unofficial matters.
Still, the middle-aged man didn’t dare to utter a word. A knight was akin to a weapon of slaughter, licensed to kill by the Empire. Moreover, just being a knight granted him treatment akin to that of a minor noble.
For the ordinary middle-aged man, merely offending such a figure could mean a death sentence.
The knight, with beautiful blonde hair, fixed his blue eyes on the middle-aged man.
An expression devoid of emotion. A mechanical gaze forged by countless killings.
The middle-aged man swallowed hard and tried not to move a muscle.
“Don’t come here today. I have something to discuss with this demon girl.”
“Yes, yes. Of course. Then what time should I return tomorrow…?”
The knight swept his blue eyes over the middle-aged man.
At that, the middle-aged man jumped in surprise and quickly opened his mouth.
“Yes, yes. I’ll take the hint. I’m sorry.”
The middle-aged man hurriedly left as if fleeing.
Only then did the knight’s expression lose its chill.
“I’ve received reports that that guy often bullies you.”
“On the surface, it’s all a show.”
“Is that so?”
“…”
“Right, there are things you’re curious about.”
“…”
The girl was afraid of what words might come from the knight’s mouth. Fortunately, the words she feared did not come out.
“The tribespeople are safe. However, it was unavoidable that they had to scatter.”
“Is that… so?”
“...Yes.”
The girl felt a surge of emotions but held back her tears. It was not yet time for the knight’s words to end.
“I tried to pull you out separately, but that was impossible. And you will ascend to the gallows tomorrow.”
“…”
“I’m sorry. And thank you for your hard work.”
The girl slowly nodded.
Under the moonlight, the knight and the girl fell into silence, lost in their thoughts.
And in a corner, away from them.
Something glinted its eyes and stared at them.
Creeak—
Neither the knight nor the girl noticed it.
Morning arrived. Thanks to the knight’s ominous warning, the girl was able to spend her last night without being tormented.
She also wrote her final post in the community.
She didn’t want to say too much. Yet, it was her honest wish to at least say a brief farewell before leaving.
The girl slept soundly and, thanks to the knight’s consideration, was able to enjoy delicious food. The only regret was that she wouldn’t be able to see her family’s faces one last time before she left.
Still, she hadn’t hoped for anything like this.
“W-Why…!”
“Kill her! Kill her!”
“Execute the demon!!”
“Wow!”
“Kill her!”
As the murderous intent of thousands of the crowd poured onto her, a silhouette caught her eye.
“Mother?”
Despite being covered head to toe in a thick robe, how could she possibly forget?
The girl’s heart sank as she recognized her mother on the execution platform above.
Why is she here?
No, this can’t be!
As the crowd hurled stones and shouted insults, her mother was struggling to push her way through.
Even while being shoved by the crowd and falling, her gaze remained steady toward her daughter.
Why is my mother here…!
Her mother’s skin had never changed color except when her father passed away, due to the dilution of her bloodline. So if she was careful, she could live undetected as an imperial citizen.
However.
Her mother’s skin was red enough to be noticeable even here. Despite being wrapped in thick robes, it was clearly visible to the girl’s eyes.
‘You shouldn’t have come here! If you’re found out…!’
“Baby!! My daughter!”
Her mother called out with tears in her eyes and a strained voice.
“Baby! Mommy is here!”
“Damn, what’s going on?”
“Is she crazy?”
The crowd became irritable at the woman who was trying to squeeze through.
Thud—
Even if she got hit by an accidentally swung elbow, tripped over feet, or bumped into shoulders.
Her mother kept approaching her without stopping.
“We’ve missed you so much, haven’t we? Mommy is here for you!”
“Mom is… I’ll come over. Just wait a moment, my daughter.”
The girl met her mother’s gaze and realized. Her mother wasn’t losing her sanity in her rush. She understood that her mother’s warm yet determined eyes showed she had already prepared for death.
“You’ve been alone and lonely, haven’t you? I won’t leave you alone anymore. This mother… will come.”
Ah…!
The girl’s blurred vision became even murkier. It was hard to suppress her emotions.
As she listened to her mother’s voice, the girl shook her head. But her mother didn’t stop, despite her daughter’s action.
The thought that her mother would be discovered made the girl’s mind snap to attention. She hurriedly averted her gaze, searching for someone.
Just then, the Imperial knight with whom she had made a deal was looking at her with a serious expression. The girl bit her lip and sent a desperate look.
‘Please save my mother.’
Did her prayer reach him? The knight nodded gravely. In a flash, he darted toward her mother. The knight’s movement was like the wind, too quick for an ordinary person to notice. He swiftly approached the girl’s mother and struck her on the nape.
While the girl’s heart ached at the moment her mother’s consciousness faded, she felt relief at the thought that she could survive.
‘Thank you for the last farewell, Mother.’
It was at that moment a loud bang echoed through the crowd.
“Ah!”
“Ugh!”
In the center of the commotion stood two Imperial knights, swords drawn, facing off against each other.
“What is the meaning of this! Clay!”
“Haha. I believe that’s what I want to say to you, Captain.”
“Damn it, Clay!!!”
The knight called Captain had other knights surrounding him. The young knight with sharp eyes, named Clay, raised his lips into a grin as he pointed his sword.
“Why is the Captain enchanted by a ‘demon’? Surely, you know what it means to point your sword at us.”
“Demon… do you truly believe that?”
“Guh! Captain!!!”
The captain’s eyes bulged in anger.
“Already, all the other ‘demons’ have been exterminated. I guess the upper echelon is expecting today’s performance to be more thrilling than a mere execution.”
“What… does that mean?”
“Haha. Are you asking me that?”
“YOU…!”
The captain’s eyes turned red with fury. Clay smirked in front of the captain’s violent presence.
“Even if an enchanted knight like you is added to this play, it would only serve to liven up the atmosphere.”
At that moment, a knight had plunged a syringe into the back of the neck of the woman he had captured.
“Ugh!”
As the red liquid was injected, the woman who had been unconscious began to tremble and groan.
“What are you doing?!”
“Captain, it seems you’re not acting like yourself today. It’s not too late. Lower your sword and come over here. Let’s all eliminate this demon for the sake of the Empire’s peace!”
Clay extended his hand toward the captain with exaggerated expressions.
At the highest point of the execution platform, the clown doll crossed its arms and gazed down at the scene.
Cloaking.
A technology that artificially manipulates the refractive index of electromagnetic waves, rendering it invisible to the naked eye.
An antenna, nearly dozens of meters tall, floated above the clown’s head, pointing toward the sky.
Before the cloaked clown, messages appeared.
[Emergency code transmission in progress]
[Failed - Signal is unstable.]
[Emergency code transmission in progress]
[Failed - Signal is unstable.]
[Emergency code transmission in progress]
[Failed - Signal is unstable.]
…
[Request list]
…
[Emergency code transmission in progress]
[Failed - Signal is unstable.]
[Emergency code transmission in progress]
[Failed - Signal is unstable.]
[Emergency code transmission in progress]
[Failed - Signal is unstable.]
…
[Emergency code transmission completed]
[Verification in progress]
[Administrator approval completed.]
[Dimensional transmission system activated]
[Transmission item: Emperor’s exclusive enhancement suit prototype - Hydra (5-star)]
Partshoo—
The air above the execution platform began to rip apart.
TL NOTE: Please don't skimp on the stars for the translation - I'd really like to see how far Leon goes and how far we can increase the number of chapters. Thanks~!
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