The Kingmaker System
Chapter 295 - 294. The Demon’s Game (4)

Chapter 295: 294. The Demon’s Game (4)

[Quest Complete; Expose the wrongdoings of the Temple of Denril.]

Rewards: Influence over the Denril and A Wise Familiar.]

I sat in my room watching the notifications and I sighed.

[Giver of Gifts congratulates you for completing the quest.]

[Defender of Divine Glory congratulates you for completing the quest.]

[Goddess of Wisdom congratulates you for completing the quest.]

"Can I have this reward later?" I asked, "Like, you know my situation now, I’ll check it once I’m done with the stuff here and return to Sestia. Will that be all right?"

[Goddess of Wisdom agrees with your request.]

"Thanks." I mumbled as I looked at the two marked spots on the map.

One was the Holy Place, second was the Holy Temple. I wondered where that bastard would show up next.

I wasn’t satisfied with what happened at the Temple but since the quest was done so, I only had one problem to deal with. The demon.

The demon was quite a tricky bastard, he had attacked and wiped out two villages from near the Holy Place, then he also dropped the Pope’s dead body with evil incantations publicly to create his terror among the people.

But then again, it wasn’t that bad because I managed to get my influence on the people and show them that a Dragon was by their side. That did safeguard the reputation of the Saintess and the Dragons but it would be useless if I lost to that demon.

I would have to do all I could to keep myself from getting possessed or killed. I had a lot of work, these people that I had saved and brought under my wings were my responsibility and not the burden that I could throw away to someone else. And if what the Patrons said was true and they couldn’t turn back the time then, after my death here everything that I had made would go to the ground eventually and the world would be destroyed.

I sighed deeply as I realised that and looked at the scales that were still on Ocean’s body. I looked at my arm with the shimmering blue scales and wondered if I would turn into a Dragon once my the synchronisation with the Dragon’s blood would be 100%.

Even so, since I had human blood and human birth so, I might get to keep my human body like the Lesser Dragons.

My Dragon’s blood sizzled as if offended by my comparison but I ignored it, it was even more alive since the time that I came across this demon. Maybe it was because of the opposing power clash, still it was strange as how my blood and heart were being so individualistic. The only thing that remained was them to start talking to me.

The dusk had settled, casting a warm, golden hue across the room as I walked in for dinner. The child was already seated, his small hands clutching a fork as he beamed at me, eager to share the stories he’d read that day.

Lyall, ever the dutiful caretaker, brought in the feast. The child’s eyes sparkled as he recounted the tales of bravery and magic he’d discovered in his book. His excitement was infectious, and I found myself smiling despite the weight of the day.

He would fit in perfectly with the other children, I thought. As the youngest, and as a Dragon no less, he’d be showered with love and praises.

I was about to take my first bite when hurried footsteps echoed up the stairs, growing louder as they approached the third floor.

Lyall stiffened, his instincts sharper than most. Without a word, he stepped out of the room, closing the door softly behind him.

"Is something the matter?" the child asked, his small voice tinged with worry.

"No, go ahead and eat," I assured him with a smile. He nodded hesitantly before taking a bite of his food, his innocence a stark contrast to the tension building outside.

Lyall returned moments later, his expression urgent. It was all the confirmation I needed—something had gone terribly wrong.

I stood, my chair scraping softly against the floor. The child glanced up at me, confusion flickering in his wide eyes. I reached down, ruffling his hair gently.

"Stay here with Lyall," I instructed, my voice calm but firm. Lyall opened his mouth to protest, but I brushed past him, stepping into the corridor.

At the top of the stairs, a frazzled man waited, his face pale and his hands trembling.

"What’s wrong?" I asked, my tone sharp enough to make him flinch.

"A-Another attack on the tribes," he stammered, his words tumbling over each other. "I-it’s far out, but our men there sent word through a messenger bird. The situation is dire, and... there are no knights to help."

"Where?" I demanded, my mind already racing.

"I-I don’t know exactly. The message didn’t say, only that it’s near the mountains. The tribes are isolated, and—"

I didn’t wait for him to finish. Turning on my heel, I rushed out of the inn, my wings unfurling as I took off into the sky. The cool night air stung against my skin as I ascended, my eyes fixed on the horizon.

The tribes were vulnerable—remote and without the protection of knights or nobles. They relied on themselves and the land, and now, they were under attack.

Pushing harder, I willed my wings to carry me faster. The scent of smoke and blood reached me long before the scene came into view. Flames licked at the night sky, their glow revealing the chaos below.

Cries of anguish and the clash of metal filled the air, mingling with guttural growls and shrill, inhuman screeches.

I descended swiftly, taking in the scene: men fighting desperately against shifters, their bodies oozing black mist.

With a flick of my wrist, I summoned multiple water slicers, sending them hurtling toward the beasts. The sharp, precise strikes cut through them, and the battlefield fell silent for a brief moment as the shifters crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

The men, stunned by the sudden turn of events, looked around in confusion.

But it wasn’t over.

The black mist began to spread, its tendrils snaking toward the fallen men. Corpses, both human and beast, twitched unnaturally, their movements jerky and wrong.

I grimaced, recognizing the demon’s handiwork.

Raising my hands, I began casting a large-scale purification spell. Water surged into the air, forming an enormous sphere that glimmered with purifying mana. With a sharp gesture, I sent it crashing down onto the battlefield.

The water swept across the land, extinguishing flames and dissolving the black mist. The oppressive atmosphere lifted, replaced by the cool, fresh scent of cleansed air.

The men looked at each other in disbelief, their weapons slack in their hands. Their eyes turned upward, finding me hovering above them.

I scanned the faces below, noting the presence of familiar ones—Poras among them. His tribe had been targeted, their boulder crest marking them as a target in this twisted game.

Our eyes met, his filled with a mix of gratitude and unease. I held his gaze for a moment before flapping my wings and turning away.

The battle was over, but this was far from finished.

That demon was playing a dangerous game, trying to lead me into its traps. But I wasn’t one to be led.

Not anymore.

I returned to the inn and found Lyall waiting for me.

"I’ve taken care of it," I told him, brushing past as I headed inside. "Did the child eat?"

"Yes," he replied, his tone calm yet watchful.

"Good," I said, briefly glancing toward the stairs.

"Shall I bring your food to your room?" he asked, already stepping toward the kitchen.

"No, just come with me," I said, motioning for him to follow. I ascended the stairs without another word, hearing his steady footsteps trailing behind me.

Once in my room, I walked to the table where the map was spread out. I picked up the feather pen, eyes narrowing as I marked the new location—a spot farther away but eerily aligned with the previous two attacks.

"First, the Holy Place," I murmured, tapping the first mark. "Then the Holy Temple, and now the tribes." My pen traced a faint line connecting the three points, the pattern becoming clear. I glanced at Lyall, who was already leaning over the map, his brow furrowed.

"Is he... headed out of Denril?" Lyall asked, his voice uncertain. "But that’s not the right way."

"No," I said, shaking my head. "He’s not leaving Denril. He’s heading to a specific place."

"Where?" Lyall pressed.

"A place where we couldn’t create a lot of disturbance," I muttered, my voice heavy with realization.

Lyall’s eyes stayed fixed on the map, his expression darkening. The faint glow of the communication device suddenly caught my attention, drawing both our gazes.

"Reina? Are you there?" Silas’s voice came through, with the hint of irritation.

"Yikes!" I muttered, running a hand through my hair.

I hadn’t contacted him for a while, and he might be worried.

"I’ll explain the rest of the plan in a while," I told Lyall. He bowed silently before leaving the room, and I picked up the communication device.