Chapter 4 - Years as a Hybrid Demon

He had traces of death all over him and was panting, his smile was excessively bright as if he had nothing to do with death. 

Disgusting, thought she, but I killed those people a little bit ago.

“…I’m glad you are not hurt,” not exposing her thoughts, she put her hand over Saladin’s head.

“I like it when you are worried about me,” Saladin leaned his body against her and giggled.

Just like the color of the hottest fire should be, his white hair flowed cascaded heavily behind him. Just like the color of hell should be, his pitch black eyes expressed kindness towards her. However, all of them were covered in blood, the blood of the humans who were not alive anymore.

Phew.

Suppressing her mind that was boiling up with effort, she fixed her facial expression and pointed to the people who were kneeling down at a distance.

“Then, do you want to take care of them?”

Saladin’s eyes moved along Karina’s finger. Discovering the apostles soon, the tip of his lips rose and made an arc.

“Yes! Leave it to me!”

He stretched his chest proudly and walked past her. Karina indifferently looked down at him carelessly in a calm manner. Saladin, Saladin Apocalita. His body, which had not yet gone through the period of growth, was too small for a 16 year old, so he could not hide the demon’s traits. He cocked up his pointy ears that were sticking out. Saladin was a hybrid of Cerberus, often called the gatekeeper of hell,and a half-human and half-animal who could borrow the fire of hell. When Saladin was made, father rejoiced and held a celebration, though he was enraged afterward by the fact that Saladin’s power did not bloom. When Saladin’s mana core was about to be plucked out and recycled as a result, Karina stood on his side. He, who survived because of her, began following her around ever since.

However, in fact, Saladin could not have died there. When he was confirmed to be recycled and thrown into the black lava, he would have awakened his power and survived. Knowing the story already, she did not have to save him but chose to take his hand on purpose. It was because she needed to maintain a certain degree of friendship with him for the future.

Well, we’ve got closer than necessary for such a purpose.

Stroking the back of Hiron’s neck, she briefly clicked her tongue.

“This is it?” Saladin lowered himself to meet the eye level of the apostles, who were kneeling down, before speaking. 

“Yes. Th, that is it.”

“This is too few. Father won’t like it.”

“B, but it’s because there are not a lot of people in the northern area…!”

The male human could not finish his sentence as his head was directly cut off.

“Shoot. Should I have killed him after he finished talking?” Brushing off the blood that got on his hands, he tilted her head. “So, what were you saying? Is there anyone else who wants to make another excuse?”

The apostles, who now became six, sank their heads on their chests and trembled. Some of them even burst into tears. Phew, I told him to take care of it, and he really did. Dark spirit was flowing out of the dead apostle’s body. It was the power of the father. It would soar high in the air and flow back to the father. Karina sighed slowly and approached them.

“Hey, you can’t just kill him like that,” putting her hand on Saladin’s shoulder, Karina scolded. “You know your father has ordered to maintain seven apostles.”

“Oh… Right. I forgot.”

“Next time, think before killing someone. Now we’ve got an annoying situation.”

“Okay…” Saladin drooped his ears and answered. “I’m sorry”

He wilted only because he was scolded once. Wondering if her personality was like a dog because he was fused with one, Karina patted his hair to comfort him. Then she opened her mouth to the apostles who were still trembling.

“Gather 300 more believers.”

She saw their shoulders shake.

 “That way, we’ll be able to make lab subjects to protect you.”

A thousand human lives were needed to make one lab subject. It was not an unreasonable demand because what the apostles wanted was an unlimited expansion of the Apocalita.

“…Yes, Lady Karina,” after witnessing their comrade’s death, they said obediently, kneeling down. “We apologize for causing an inconvenience. We’ll take your order.”

“And,” Karina said as she took out a small pouch from her chest and threw it at them. “Offer your condolences to your friend.”

Clink.

Dozens of gold coins fell from the pouch and rolled on the ground. The apostles’ eyes widened and looked at the coins and Karina in turn.

“Th, thank you!”

They thanked her. “We will collect more believers for you!”

Alright, alright. She waved her hands towards them and they quickly rose up and bowed to her before leaving.

Ah, this is tiresome. She pressed her forehead and let out a lengthy sigh.

“Karina is too soft,” Saladin murmured. “You’re too nice. You don’t have to be.”

He pouted his lips. It seemed that he was displeased that Karina was looking after the apostles.

“Do you pity humans?”

He lifted his black pupils and looked at Karina. Because his eyes were extremely dark, Karina’s image was reflected intactly. Dark blue hair, pale skin like a dead body, green eyes, and the snake wrapping around her neck—it was an image of a monster.

“No,” Looking up at the murky sky, she responded.

If she really felt sorry for them, she would not have given them money and sent them peacefully. Instead, she would have killed them for eternal peace because the reality was more horrendous than hell. The reason that she did not do so was that she did not pity them.

“I pity us the most.”