Chapter 69: Demon vs. Demon.

Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Demon vs. Demon.

Chapter 69: Demon vs. Demon.

Clawdeth and Osborne, on the other hand, had troubled expressions on their faces.

’It’s not a surprise for werewolf-type demons to turn humans every once in a while.’

’But now that we know about the missing villagers... Does that mean that there’s been a werewolf secretly abducting them all this time?’

’Wait, if so, why would the McClains be trying to cover it up?’

’Unless they’re in cahoots with the werewolf.’

’To turn all those people though, it has to be an alpha... or at least it’s trying to become one.’

Unlike most demon types, Werewolves were social demons who grew stronger the larger their pack.

In a sense, it was one of the benefits of being a werewolf. The larger your pack, the stronger you become. Of course, there was a possibility of one of the wolves you created turning against you and becoming the alpha themselves.

It was the main reason this demon type was despised so much by every nation on the continent. Their ability to turn other races into theirs with but a single bite was an infectious disease no nation would hesitate to expunge.

’And yet...’ Osborne said, glancing at his hands before looking at the little girl.

’No one says anything against killing the victims of their endeavours. After all, it’s impossible to change one back after they’ve been turned....’

All of a sudden, the girl’s eyes began to open.

She looked like she didn’t know where she was, but the moment her gaze landed on Osborne’s partial demonic figure, she screamed and fled into Clawdeth’s arms.

’Until now, of course....’ Osborne let out a sigh.

"We can’t continue forward like this," Osborne said, looking at Vlaric.

"No! Why me?!"

"Because you’re the only useless one here. Bringing one worthless sack is manageable, but two is where I draw the line."

Vlaric wanted to refuse, but when he glanced at the little child next to Clawdeth, he realised he was right.

They’d just saved her life, as unbelievable as it sounded. Bringing her along would only be putting her in danger.

Osborne nodded, seeing that he agreed.

He turned to the girl, but she stiffened, burying her face deeper into Clawdeth’s chest.

Osborne frowned for a moment before looking at Vlaric.

"Before you leave, first try to pry as much information from her. We need every bit of help we can get if we want to put an end to this infestation," Osborne said.

Vlaric, who already understood, nodded.

Osborne stood aside, watching him coerce the young one.

’I didn’t know she had this side to her....’ Osborne secretly watched Clawdeth from the corner of his gaze.

She didn’t seem displeased with the little one seeking shelter in her. Unlike her usual tempered self.

---

"She’s a bit traumatised, but I did manage to get something out of her," Vlaric returned to Osborne and said, his expression dark.

Osborne said nothing, allowing him to go on.

"She says up till one day, she was kidnapped. When she came through, she found herself in a cell, which I can only assume is a dungeon."

"Not only that, but there were also several other kids like her."

’Kids?’ Osborne’s expression faltered.

"It seems we’ve been wrong all along," Vlaric said, his expression furious as he clenched his fists.

"They’ve not just been kidnapping random people, but kids. Damn those noble bastards!" He cursed out loud.

’So the McClains were kidnapping kids to turn into wolves... It’s safe to say that they really were working with the demons.’

Thinking about it from a different perspective, he realised that kids were more suitable in this case if they planned on making an army of demons.

A more mature alpha would find it easier to control children than mature adults.

He couldn’t even begin to imagine the torment she must have gone through. Not only her, but the other imprisoned children as well.

Clawdeth’s expression suddenly turned serious.

"We’ve got company. Lots of them," she said. "And they’re coming fast."

Vlaric stiffened. He didn’t need to think twice to know what she meant.

’Looks like they’ve finally noticed us.’ Osborne thought. ’Didn’t expect them to send their hunting dogs this quickly.’

The ground began to shake, the sounds of heavy paws hitting the ground growing heavier and heavier.

"What are we going to do?!" Vlaric shouted.

"What else? We fight," Osborne said.

He knew he had a good chance of escaping with Clawdeth, but he doubted the McClains would stand by and do nothing the moment he returned to the mansion.

’With Silvester there, they should be able to take care of themselves.’

’For now, we have to deal with this problem first.’ Osborne said to himself, his gaze hardening.

"Vlaric, you and the kid hide behind me!"

"What?!"

"Just shut up and do it!" He yelled.

He then looked at Clawdeth.

"I’ll leave them to you, but if anyone gets past you, don’t worry and just leave them to me."

Clawdeth nodded.

"And one more thing. Only injure them as much as possible. Don’t kill them. Once you’ve given them enough damage, send them my way," Osborne said.

Clawdeth’s expression turned troubled.

"You can’t be thinking of?!" She said with disbelief.

"It’s alright..." Osborne let out a sigh and said.

"But we aren’t even sure if it can be reversed yet! What if you—!"

"I’ve already made up my mind," Osborne said, his face hardening.

’There probably isn’t a way to undo this without destroying what caused it...’ Osborne thought helplessly, a bit frustrated.

’Since it’s already happened, I might as well make the most of it.’ He said, his expression solemn.

’Damnit! Is there really no other way?!’ Inwardly, Clawdeth felt worried.

After all, if he really couldn’t be turned back, who knew what the Marquess would do.

To her especially, for being present when it happened.

---

Eight werewolves of varying colours charged out of the forest, their gazes fierce and filled with bloodlust.

"Don’t even think about it!" Clawdeth jumped towards them.

With a savage kick, she sent the one in the lead flying back, its body smashing into another, knocking both off course.

"I told you not to kill them!" Osborne yelled.

"I know that!" Clawdeth yelled back before whipping her head forward.

Seeing two of their own sent flying, the remaining six didn’t slow down.

Clearly, these ones hadn’t been properly trained yet.

It was normal, since not just anyone could be turned into a wolf. Only a few could survive the process, while the majority usually succumbed to their venom and died.

’Tsk! These brainless things just won’t take a hint!’ Clawdeth, who was hoping to scare them with that display just now, was clearly pissed that her plan didn’t work.

Her face darkened even more when the two she sent to the back began healing from their injuries, getting back up.

She held her dagger, taking a battle stance.

Gleaming claws sought her flesh as three wolves pounced on her at the same time.

The nauseating stench from their maws assaulting her senses.

Nevertheless, Clawdeth’s gaze remained firm.

Her body moved like the wind as she struck forth, moving through their primitive attacks with ease while delivering clean strikes, severing limbs and inflicting deep cuts.

"Ahhh!!"

"They’re coming from the back!"

Her head turned around when she heard Vlaric and the child’s desperate shout.

She saw the two Werewolves she knocked down earlier charging at Osborne and the others from behind.

But one of the werewolves she was fighting instinctively used the opportunity to put a strike in.

Clawdeth, who was temporarily distracted, groaned.

While her aura strengthened her body, allowing her to remain in place.

Inch-deep claw wounds could be seen on her arms, which she crossed in front of herself at the last moment.

She was furious, but she knew if she stopped now, then they’d all charge at them at once.

’I can’t risk it.’ She clenched her teeth, her gaze hardening. While she hated it, she knew she had to kill all these werewolves in front of her if she wanted to save her lord.

"ARRRRRRR!!!!!!" But before she could, a shrill cry from one of the beasts stopped her in her tracks.

Even the other Werewolves couldn’t help but stop in their tracks.

One of the werewolves charging at Osborne let out a panicked howl as its body burst into flames.

Forcing it to retreat while trying to put it out.

The other one who saw its kin suffering became even more furious, pouncing at Osborne.

Ever since these wolves showed themselves, he felt his second heart racing, completely ecstatic. An urge to battle them rising within him.

If not because of his current level of will he’d grown up till now, he might’ve been completely overwhelmed.

His crimson eyes remained without fear even as the beast pounced on him.

Osborne finished his chant at that moment, firing another fireball at the creature.

The werewolf didn’t expect its target to use another one of those detrimental attacks.

While it hadn’t been a wolf for long, the fear towards flames was something etched deep within its very body.