Inside the castle of the Sword Demon.
Asua paced angrily across the hall.
"Father, how did you manage to lose a sword duel?" she said. "Let's just kill that man and destroy the town."
Housen sat calmly on his throne.
"No, Asua."
"This is not about revenge."
"It is about pride."
His eyes narrowed.
"I will kill him… after I defeat him in a proper duel."
Chunini leaned against a pillar.
"What was his name again?"
"Hm," Housen replied. "I believe it was… Harals."
Asua smirked.
"Harals, huh."
Later that night
A demon guard patrolling the castle corridors suddenly collapsed.
When the other guards found him, his body had been moved into the corner.
"He's dead!" one of them shouted.
They quickly reported it.
Chunini arrived moments later.
"What happened here?"
"We found him like this," a demon guard said. "He seems to have been struck by powerful magic."
Chunini crouched beside the body.
"…Powerful magic?"
His eyes narrowed.
"Stay alert," he ordered. "Report anything unusual immediately."
The guards nodded and left.
The entire time—
Harals stood there silently, invisible.
"…Powerful magic, huh," he whispered.
"Seems like Friea's work."
As Chunini walked back toward his room, he frowned.
Who could have done that?
That attack didn't feel like demon magic.
He suddenly stopped.
"…Huh?"
Chunini slowly waved his arm through the empty air.
His hand touched something.
The invisibility spell shattered.
"Shit!" Doma shouted.
Chunini smiled coldly.
"A human… using an advanced invisibility spell."
"So you're the one who killed our guard?"
"What? No!" Doma said quickly. "I didn't kill anyone!"
Chunini shrugged.
"Whether you did or didn't… it doesn't matter."
"You're still an enemy."
He grabbed Doma by the collar.
"You'll spend the rest of your life in prison."
"…Being tortured."
Doma's heart raced.
Should I fight?
No…
We were told to avoid fighting unless it's life or death.
Molis… please give me strength.
And just like that—
Doma was imprisoned.
A few hours later
Friea walked cautiously through the castle corridors.
"I shouldn't have killed that demon earlier…" she whispered.
"It might cause problems."
She suddenly froze.
Wait…
Is that… Chunini?
Chunini stood in a hallway speaking to another demon.
"So the prisoners' names are Doma and Lisa," he said.
"But which one of them killed the guard?"
"…Or perhaps there are more of them."
Friea's heart skipped.
They were caught… because of me?
But how did he detect them?
Luck?
No… something feels strange.
Suddenly—
Chunini swung his arm through the air again.
"Ah. I was right."
"There are more invisible humans here."
His hand collided with Friea.
The spell broke instantly.
"Damn it!" Friea said.
"But that spell hides sound, smell, and even mana!"
"You're correct," Chunini replied calmly.
"It hides mana signatures."
"But if someone has a mana pool equal to or larger than yours…"
"…they can still sense you."
Friea gritted her teeth.
"So you're the one who killed our guard?"
"Yes," she said firmly. "I did."
Chunini studied her carefully.
"So… how many of you are there?"
"I've already captured three."
"Are there more?"
"What's your name?"
Friea hesitated.
Three…?
Who's the third?
"…Friea."
Chunini nodded.
"So we have Doma, Lisa… and Friea."
"I'll report this to my father before you cause more trouble."
Friea was thrown into the prison.
Inside, Doma and Lisa were already there.
Two demons were torturing them.
Friea's heart sank.
"I'm… sorry," she said quietly.
"You're probably suffering because I killed that guard."
Doma shook his head weakly.
"No… don't blame yourself."
Lisa glared at Friea.
"Actually… she's right."
"I'm enduring this because of you."
"Lisa," Doma said, "do you really think we wouldn't be tortured if that demon hadn't died?"
Friea lowered her head.
"Your anger is justified."
"But arguing won't help us now."
One of the demons laughed.
"Well well… another prisoner."
He looked at Friea with a cruel smile.
"Looks like a delicious woman ready for torture."
Friea closed her eyes.
Harals…
Please save us.
To be continued…