Demons

It was already dark when the group managed to find a place to settle in. The clouds were thick and unforgiving as they blanketed the entire forest, preventing the light from the moon and the stars from shining through. The wind traveled across the sea of trees providing a slight breeze, but that gentle draft only brought along with it a sense of foreboding and chilliness for the adventurers.

Remembering the core earlier this afternoon, Akt was filled with unbridled interest. Thus, he asked Kark about it to which he replied, "So, you want to know about the 'Contamination'?"

Kark leaned against a tree trunk languidly, the campfire lighting his face. He eyed the white-haired porter who nodded his head slightly as he busied himself in setting up the tents for the group.

"Before that, can I ask you something?" Kark inquired. Admittedly, he was curious about this young porter. He wanted to get this out of the way before explaining things.

Not realizing the scanning eyes of his companion, Akt simply nodded once more.

"You… Did you come from some secluded village or a clan hidden somewhere in the continent?" Kark finally asked. The rest of the group present in the camp pricked their ears with interest.

"Huh? Why do you ask?"

"Well, it's because you seem to know so little for a Pseudo Knight-class," Kark explained. "Added to that fact that you seem to possess a body strong enough to allow you to display a strength beyond your realm made me curious about it. And finally, your white hair and golden eyes."

"My hair and eyes? Don't people with uncommon hair and eye colors also exists?"

"Of course. they do. While they may be considered as rare, those who have them still exist in this world. However, I'm pretty sure that a combination as striking as yours do not exist on this continent. At least, I have not heard someone so young having pure white hair and golden eyes."

Akt seemed surprised about this. It was now that it finally came to him just how odd he was— His appearance and his strength. While his apparent "talent" mentioned by others was not as rare in the grand scale of things. His appearance changed that whole premise. For all they know, he might be from a powerful clan secluded somewhere in the continent. His appearance was just that astonishing. It certainly made the group curious about it.

However, the truth was so much different from their assumption. He was just a person that was suddenly thrust into this strange world from a different one. In addition, his appearance was a result of a different power system— Mutation and Gene Manipulation— that was not present in this world. It was the byproduct of being a superhuman. At least, that was what he believed in.

Knowing that he could not tell that to the group, Akt could only disappoint them with his made-up answer. "No, it's nothing like that. I grew up in a rural village that did not have a lot of people. Heck, the only reason why I was able to cultivate was because a passing warrior taught me the ropes when he stayed for a couple of weeks."

Not satisfied, Kark leaned forward.

"What about your hair and eyes, then?"

Akt did not really have an apt explanation for that as he was also clueless about this. He answered, "I also don't know. I was an orphan, you see."

He did not lie this time. Even back on Earth, his appearance was much too different compared to other people. He did not know whether this was a trait he inherited or simply because he was a superhuman. But since the identity of his biological parents remained unknown, he could only say that he looked like this because superhumans looked noticeably different from normal humans.

Although curious, there was not much to go on from that information. Finally, the inquisitive Kark leaned back on the trunk as he sighed, "Not much point digging through that. Although I'm still curious if your parents really did come from a hidden clan…"

Akt's eyebrows twitched when he heard that.

'You still have not given up with the hidden clan thing?'

When the conversation reached a lull, Alia approached with bowls of soup in her hands. She put them on the ground near the two before smacking Kark on the head with a wooden spoon.

"Enough snooping about the kid! Tell him about the contamination already."

"Okay. Okay. I was just about to do it. And who does not have fantasies about mysterious clans and all that stuff anyway? I'm sure you also do," Kark held his head with an aggrieved expression.

"Humph. Don't lump me with you, weirdo."

Dalt guffawed after seeing such a scene.

"Weren't you also listening so intently earlier, Alia?"

Kark snapped his head in Alia's direction, his expression looked as if someone stole his lover.

"Then, why did you hit me?"

"I don't know what you are talking about."

Alia played dumb and turned her head away. However, while her face might not be visible, a blush could be seen in her ears. This made Dalt laugh even more loudly, warming the campsite a little.

Akt felt nostalgic seeing this. It had already been a long time since he had a conversation with people like this. He was reminded of the days when he would be joking around with the other kids in the orphanage as well as the days he spent bickering with Vera.

He may not know these people well, but he was lucky to have encountered their group on his first mission with other people. They treated him with respect despite being weaker and even took the time to explain things that he did not know clearly no matter how obvious. He was sure other parties would not have done the same.

"Alright. I'll start. Are you listening, Akt?"

"Ah. Yes."

Akt sat beside a tree and took his bowl of soup. He felt its warmth in his hands as he listened.

"Let me begin with a question," Kark said. "Do you know about demons?"

Akt was certainly familiar with the word "demon". On Earth, demons were fictional beings often associated with evil. More often than not, this supernatural being was depicted as a creature with a grotesque appearance and unsettling animal-like body parts. Things may vary from different sources but the one thing in common they had was that demons brought harm to humans— either by temptations or curses.

Akt was not sure if the demons Kark was talking about pertained to the same ones he had in his mind. However, he did not want to drag the conversation further so he simply nodded. He knew that he would find out by listening.

"According to the legends, the whole continent was once embroiled in a massive war. It was a war against the one race that stood at the apex of cultivation, the Demon race. Although few in numbers, it was said that demons were significantly stronger than the other races. And with that strength, they lorded over everyone in tyranny and evil. It was said that they were very cruel and sadistic, but no one dared to oppose their hegemony."

"That's interesting."

"For sure. We don't even know if this is even real, but it is a story many certainly believe in. Anyways, the majority of the other races such as the elves, the dwarves, the humans, and many others grew sick and tired of the Demon race's repression and brutality. And so, an alliance was formed."

Kark paused for a moment, taking a sip from his soup.

"In the end, the Alliance managed to get the Demon race out of the picture, reducing their population to a pitiful amount. However, the Alliance paid a huge price in order to do this. It was said that the population of the continent at that time plummeted to an all-time low. The other races dwindled in numbers and also weakened as a consequence. The only race that benefitted from that was our human race with our frightening reproduction rate."

"And where does the contamination come from all that?" Akt asked although he already had a hunch as to where this would fit in the story.

A voice different from Kark's answered.

"It is the demon race's trait."

Akt shifted his gaze to the side and saw Shadow returning to the camp from the forest after scouting the perimeter.

"Oh, good work!" Dalt said. "Were you able to find anything?"

"Nope, Captain. All clear."

"That's good to know. You should rest now."

"Alright, I'll take some soup. Don't mind if I do."

Having his explanation cut off, Kark complained, "Come on, don't ruin my storytelling. I was about to explain it too!"

Amused, Alia took over and continued, "Of course, many thought that it was impossible to rid the land of demons. And as seen from the records in the library in the city, things and even creatures contaminated with Demonic Mana appear from time to time, further confirming their existence. However, no one has yet to see a demon despite this. "

Kark looked on with a depressed expression and simply let her continue, giving up on telling it himself.

"Fine… Suit yourself."

Alia chuckled seeing him like that, considering it as a payback for her embarrassment earlier.

"Now, going back to the Contamination. You see, Contamination is a phenomenon that occurs when Demonic Mana corrodes living beings and non-living things. While we have not witnessed it personally, it is said that when an object is affected, it would either crumble into ashes or turn into a demonic item. On the other hand, a living creature would either rot and perish or simply be demonized."

"So that Green Bull…" Akt murmured.

"Yep. It showed signs of demonization, and it was confirmed when we saw the hints of black in its core." Dalt continued as he took the core out of a leather pouch.

"Wait, something is weird with this," Akt pointed out. "How come no one has yet to see a demon when this phenomenon happens from time to time? Isn't that a bit too strange?"

Seeing his chance, Kark interjected hurriedly. "Of course, it would certainly be strange. However, it is possible with a proxy."

"Proxy?"

"Yep, proxy. It is said that the reason why the demons were able to become so powerful in the first place is that their race is capable of granting someone a portion of their power in exchange for a price through a contract."

'So, it's similar with those tropes back on Earth.'

"But if no one has seen a demon for who knows how long, how could they establish a contract with someone?"

"About this, I also don't know the specifics," Kark admitted. "For all we know, some nutjob spellcasters probably did all the mumbo jumbo and managed to get in contact with one through a ritual or some shady shit like that."

'Spellcasters, huh.'

Akt reckoned that these people were probably connected with the Magic Tower that the gate guard told him about.

Akt put down the empty bowl on the ground and leaned on the bark of the tree. He decided to put all the things he had yet to know at the back of his mind and organize all the things that he had learned for the day. This world was fascinating; there was so much to learn. He would find time to find a place to learn all these things after this mission.