Natasha's Point of View
As we walked toward our destination, Li-Xeng suddenly stopped me, looking anxious and frightened.
"I... I need to tell you something!"
"What is it? Don't tell me you're about to confess your love to me at a time like this."
I teased him, knowing full well he would never do something like that, especially not now.
"N-No! It's just... Natasha, I'm sorry, but if I tell you, do you promise you'll still come with me?"
"What do you mean? Just spit it out."
By then, I already suspected there was more behind the deal he had made with the demon. I was sure Douglas had his suspicions as well, but he trusted Li-Xeng too much to say anything and had simply decided to put his faith in him.
"The demon... he asked for an exchange. Isabella... for you."
A chill ran through my entire body. I stopped walking, overwhelmed by what I had just heard.
"W-What are you talking about? Me? But what use would I be to them? I'm much weaker than Isabella!"
It couldn't be true, yet I couldn't detect a trace of deceit in Li-Xeng's words. He was far too honest, and even if he tried to lie, I would know immediately. That was what frightened me the most.
"He said... you're the traitor."
"What? How is that even possible?"
My legs nearly gave out beneath me. This situation was even worse than I had imagined. How could I possibly be the traitor? My first thought was that Isabella had told them that, and they were demanding the exchange because of it.
"He was very clear about it."
"And you actually think I am? First of all, if I really were the traitor, why would they give up such an advantage? Wouldn't it make more sense to leave the traitor inside the group? Especially if the traitor supposedly killed one hero—they could kill more."
"But what if he knew everyone was already suspicious of you? Maybe they'd do this to protect you."
"Protect me? Do you really think I'm the traitor?"
"N-No! I'm just considering the possibility..."
"Even if that were true, wouldn't it make more sense for them to kill Isabella first and then tell us all this just to lure us into an ambush?"
"Yes... and honestly, I think that's the most likely scenario. That's why I decided to tell you. If you still want to turn back..."
Li-Xeng lowered his head, grinding his teeth. He looked angry with himself for telling me.
"Thank you for telling me. You're a genuinely honest person, Li-Xeng."
I smiled at him with sincere gratitude.
If it had been any other hero, I doubted they would have done the same.
Li-Xeng was the most honorable person in our group.
"It doesn't really change anything. If it's an ambush, we'll have to fight either way. And you're telling me there are eleven demons coming with Isabella, and none of them is the Duke? Then we'll just defeat them and rescue Isabella!"
I answered as optimistically as I could, though I honestly had no idea what awaited us.
"You're... not upset?"
Li-Xeng asked in disbelief, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Being upset wouldn't accomplish anything. Maybe I was a little disappointed, but I understand your position. You've all been together for a long time. I'm the newcomer, and I'm suspected of killing Raul. Of course you'd be suspicious of me. I probably would be too, especially after a demon called me the traitor."
Li-Xeng blushed, bowing his head gratefully.
"Thank you... for understanding."
He started walking again, trying to act as though nothing had happened, but I was nervous too, despite my efforts to hide it.
Why would that demon say something like that?
The only explanation I could think of was that it was a trap. He simply wanted to separate Douglas from the two of us.
"Wait... they're probably planning to attack Douglas while he's alone, aren't they?"
"If that's the case, then that's actually the best possible outcome."
Li-Xeng answered calmly, sounding much more relaxed now.
"Douglas would never lose to that demon."
The confidence in his voice eased my worries.
In short, the Duke demon would go after Douglas, while the others would ambush us using this story about an exchange.
Those bastards... they put my credibility on the line!
If Li-Xeng had decided to tell Douglas about all this, I don't know if I'd even be here right now.
"I didn't tell Douglas because he probably would've tried to stop us."
"And why shouldn't he?"
"Because I think you can defeat those lesser demons. That was our plan from the beginning, wasn't it? Douglas would handle the Duke, and we'd take care of the others."
"Haha. And you're going to back me up?"
"I-I'll do my best!"
Li-Xeng answered, blushing and growing flustered. I'd only said that because I wanted to see his reaction.
Even though he lacked confidence, Douglas trusted him, and I knew what he had accomplished before. If we're only facing Knight-class demons and one President-class demon, I think we can do this.
Or at least, that's what I had to tell myself to keep from losing my nerve.
But the moment we finally came face to face with those demons, I realized they weren't nearly as weak as we'd expected.
And there was something else as well...
Something that left Li-Xeng utterly stunned.
"It... It can't be... Isabella? Where's Isabella?"
Li-Xeng stared at the demons in disbelief.
The President-class demon—a humanoid with an elongated body and the grotesquely deformed head of a crocodile, its mouth packed with countless yellow teeth—grinned as its reptilian tongue slithered out between its jaws.
"I don't think there's any Isabella here... hehehehe. But if the redhead comes with us, we'll let your friend go."
Li-Xeng clenched his fists, still unable to believe what he was seeing.
"I sensed her. There's no way... Wait... her cloak?"
He suddenly realized something, and at the same moment, so did I.
Isabella possessed a cloak that granted her invisibility for several minutes.
Li-Xeng's tracking ability worked by detecting body heat and blood flow.
But if Isabella had used her cloak, she could have concealed herself from that kind of tracking.
"She's here... but invisible?"
I asked, breaking into a cold sweat.
"No... I don't think that's it. I definitely sensed her with them... but it wasn't actually her. They took... some part of her body..."
As he spoke those words, Li-Xeng turned deathly pale. I saw his hands trembling as he gripped his staff.
"Is she... dead?"
A crushing weight tightened around my chest.
Isabella... dead?
I couldn't believe it.
"They planned this from the very beginning... and I fell for it... I fell for it like an idiot!"
Li-Xeng dropped to his knees, slammed his fist into the ground, and burst into tears.
The situation had taken a terrible turn. We could still win if we fought...
But with Li-Xeng's confidence shattered...
I tried to gauge the strength of the demons before us. Individually they weren't particularly powerful, but if they all attacked me together, I wouldn't stand a chance.
The President-class demon, on the other hand, looked like it would be a serious challenge even in a one-on-one fight.
I'd agreed to come here because I believed I could handle it.
But seeing the reality now...
Running away suddenly seemed like the wiser choice.
Then again, were we even faster than these demons? With my sword and Li-Xeng's mobility, escaping wasn't an option.
I'd have to find a way to pull him together.
"So... are you coming with us to spare your friend? You look delicious. I certainly wouldn't complain."
The larger demon bared his disgusting teeth as he leered at me.
"Li-Xeng, don't give up! She could still be alive! They might have only mutilated part of her body to bring it with them, forcing her to use her cloak just to deceive you!"
Li-Xeng still looked defeated, but he slowly stood and pointed his staff at the demons.
"I dragged you into this... so it's my responsibility to protect you."
Despite his devastated expression and tear-filled eyes, the boy conjured a barrier in front of the demons the instant he realized the Knight-class demons were charging.
Two of them crashed into the transparent wall, while the others paused, watching for an opening.
"Then cover me!"
Truthfully, I had no idea what I was doing.
I'd fought before, but never against this many enemies.
Li-Xeng might be an exceptional cleric, but I was still afraid of getting hurt—and naturally, he'd be their primary target.
"I have to end this quickly!"
A surge of power rushed into my legs as Li-Xeng cast a speed enhancement on me.
Even while maintaining the barrier, he could still weave additional spells.
The moment the barrier shattered, I lunged at the nearest demon.
One clean slash across its waist split it cleanly in half.
It tried to block with its spear, but my strength overwhelmed it, slicing through the weapon as easily as its body.
Two more demons rushed toward me with their spears leveled, but Li-Xeng unleashed a wind spell that blasted their attacks aside.
The President-class demon still stood there, watching.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw three demons sprinting straight toward Li-Xeng.
I leapt backward, and while still airborne, I swung my sword in a wide arc, forcing two of them back.
The third reached Li-Xeng.
As it thrust its spear toward him, Li-Xeng reacted instantly, whipping his staff with astonishing precision.
The impact launched the demon several kilometers away, carving a deep trench across the earth as its body plowed through the ground.
He's strong. Li-Xeng is incredibly strong in battle.
I'd already known he wasn't limited to healing and protective magic.
He possessed offensive spells as well.
After all, he belonged to the strongest team.
"Tch... I guess I'm the one who's fallen behind."
I landed in front of another demon near Li-Xeng and slashed across its left shoulder.
At that very moment, another demon appeared out of nowhere and stabbed me in the back.
The pain vanished almost instantly as Li-Xeng healed the wound.
I ducked beneath another attack and activated my ability, reducing the weight of my twenty-one-kilogram sword to only two.
The effect would only last two minutes.
I'd intended to save it for the President, but eliminating the Knight-class demons first would make things much easier.
I severed one demon's neck.
Another attacked from behind.
I blocked with my forearm.
Its spear drove deep into the flesh.
Agonizing pain shot through my arm, but I kicked the demon away, wrenching the blade free.
Li-Xeng healed me again.
Then I saw a demon strike him from behind.
He tumbled several meters before casting a barrier spell that exploded outward, tearing the demon into countless pieces.
Chunks of flesh scattered across the battlefield.
At that exact moment, I saw the President-class demon charge straight toward him.
We've taken down four... seven left. But with that one charging...
I had to protect Li-Xeng.
No matter what.
As I rushed toward him, one of the Knight-class demons slammed into me shoulder-first, throwing me backward.
Another thrust its spear from behind, narrowly missing my neck.
Thanks to my heightened instincts, I dodged at the last possible instant.
I switched my sword to my other hand, reversed my grip, and drove the blade into the demon's stomach.
Pulling it free in one fluid motion, I swept the sword through the air, cleaving the second demon cleanly in half.
Five left... but Li-Xeng...
I saw him surrounded by a pale blue barrier while enduring a relentless barrage of rapid trident strikes from the President-class demon.
For just a moment, I became too focused on that battle.
I never noticed another Knight-class demon approaching from behind until its blade slashed across my waist.
I twisted away just enough to prevent the wound from becoming much deeper.
Spinning around in one swift motion, I delivered a straight slash that ripped open the demon's abdomen, forcing it backward.
Li-Xeng hadn't healed me this time.
He was being driven back by the President's relentless assault.
His barrier was on the verge of shattering.
He's powerful enough to keep Li-Xeng from launching a single counterattack.
I didn't want to resort to another trump card.
Still, I reached into my pocket and pulled out a Speed Pill Douglas had given me.
But at that very instant...
I realized the President was no longer standing in front of Li-Xeng.
Before I could react, his trident was already behind me.
Just before it pierced my skin, a layer of energy enveloped my body, preventing the weapon from penetrating.
The force still hurled me backward.
When I staggered to my feet...
I saw Li-Xeng impaled by two spears.
Two Knight-class demons had lifted the boy's body high into the air.