Chapter 35: The Voice of the Demon
My watch suddenly vibrated.
I looked down.
NEW MISSION
East District — Trolls are disappearing.
"Okay."
I smiled.
"Not bad for me."
Then another message appeared.
You will be having company.
I raised an eyebrow.
"Who?"
Marie and Tobisa.
"COOL!"
I immediately grabbed my katana.
The three of us were off.
We reached the East District about an hour later.
The place looked peaceful at first.
Too peaceful.
We began collecting information from the locals.
"So, when did the disappearances start?" Marie asked.
An old troll shook his head.
"About a week ago."
"Who does it take?"
"Only trolls."
Another person interrupted.
"It never took an elf."
"It always comes at night."
"Someone said the demon controls trolls with its voice."
Marie looked at me.
"Controls them?"
"Yeah," the troll continued.
"It calls them."
"They walk toward a coconut tree..."
"And then..."
He pointed toward the trees.
"They disappear."
Tobisa frowned.
"That's weird."
I tightened my grip on my katana.
"Definitely a demon."
We decided to wait until night.
To pass the time, the three of us sat inside an empty house and played UNO.
"Draw four!" Tobisa shouted.
"What?!"
I stared at my cards.
"You're cheating!"
"I'm not!"
Marie laughed.
"You two are terrible at this."
Hours passed.
Eventually, darkness covered the district.
We stopped playing.
It was time.
Marie and Tobisa climbed onto a nearby rooftop with their guns.
They would cover me from above.
I would be the bait.
I stood alone beneath a coconut tree.
My hand rested on the handle of my katana.
The streets were silent.
Too silent.
I waited.
And waited.
Then...
I heard something.
A voice.
Soft.
Calm.
Almost comforting.
"Come to me..."
I froze.
"Son."
My body suddenly moved on its own.
"Wait..."
I tried to stop.
I couldn't.
My legs carried me forward.
One step.
Then another.
I was walking directly toward the coconut tree.
"Tom!" Marie shouted from the rooftop.
"I can't stop!"
I tried grabbing my own arm.
Nothing worked.
The voice continued.
"Come to me, son..."
I was almost beneath the tree.
Then—
I saw them.
The falsh.
Of the Six yellow eyes.
Glowing in the darkness.
My blood ran cold.
The same eyes.
The same feeling.
The same terrifying presence.
I knew.
"...It's the demon."