Episode 61: Infiltration
A demon had invaded Count Consilus’s territory. At first, chaos seemed inevitable, but the situation was quickly contained and declared a false alarm. From now on, they would have to move in secret.
“Our destination will be destroyed in six hours.”
“If it will be destroyed in six hours, isn’t it already too late to move now?”
They had spent the whole day preparing for the mission. To increase mobility, they wore lighter armor, even if it was risky. Magic spells were ready. Even with all these preparations, it would take a full day to reach the target. But the location would be gone as soon as the morning sun rose.
“How did you get this information?” Count Consilus asked.
“I heard it from the demon who invaded here. It was Sitri.”
“Sitri? You mean the Great Demon Sitri?!”
Sitri was a demon of lust and illusions. For knights, sworn to protect virtue and resist temptation, she was the deadliest of enemies.
“You cannot trust a demon’s words,” one knight warned.
“It’s fine. We can trust this information. I made a deal with the demon,” Ferda replied.
“A deal with a demon…?”
The knights stiffened. There was only one rule when it came to demons: Never make a deal with them.
The air became heavy. The Great Demon Sitri was dangerous enough—but now their leader had made a deal with her?
“Do not doubt, my knights,” Count Consilus said firmly. “The swords and armor you wear were all made thanks to Regent Valdrova. Have you forgotten that?”
Order returned—not because they trusted Ferda, but because Consilus’s authority was absolute. Even Consilus himself felt doubt, yet he had no choice.
After the tension settled, Consilus asked, “What was the deal?”
“There is a demon trapped in a research facility. In exchange for freeing that demon, Sitri gave us a way to get inside.”
“If Sitri herself asked you to release this demon, doesn’t that mean it’s extremely dangerous?”
“She said it was one of her daughters. We’re freeing just one demon in exchange for access to the research facility.”
“Hmph. Even demons care about their children, it seems.”
“It seems so,” Ferda replied. Then he placed a scroll on the table.
“I accepted the deal and got this scroll. It will be our way in.”
Instead of examining it himself, Consilus gestured to his personal mage. The mage studied the scroll.
“This is a Bending Bridge, capable of transporting eight people back and forth. To think a demon would provide such advanced magic…”
“I’m no expert in magic. Can you explain?”
“It’s similar to a teleportation spell but works differently. Instead of teleporting directly, it passes through another dimension. Normal detection magic cannot notice it.”
“So, it passes through Hell?”
“Yes, but the risk is very low. You do not need to worry.”
Consilus was not reassured. Hell had seven territories ruled by grand dukes. Only the dead belonged there; anyone alive entering rarely escaped.
“We should carefully check for traps—”
“There are no traps in the spell,” Ferda interrupted.
The old mage frowned. “We should double-check. This is for the Count’s safety. I have experience and—”
“I have plenty of experience too. Stop wasting time. The scroll is safe.”
The mage’s face darkened. To him, an eighteen-year-old speaking of experience was arrogance—but Ferda was simply speaking the truth.
Ignoring him, Ferda pointed to a spot on the map.
“This is where we will teleport. Inside a cave.”
“It’s close to the research facility,” Consilus noted. “If we move fast, we can reach it in ten minutes and take it before they destroy it.”
He quickly formed a plan.
“Only eight people can enter. Two will guard the Bending Bridge. The remaining six will split into two teams for different tasks. I will select five knights and one mage.”
“No. I will bring Jed. Choose five knights.”
“Understood.”
Consilus selected the knights. “Hans, Marco, Cowin, Billy, Philip. You will join us.”
“We accept the order!”
The chosen knights placed their hands over their chests, honoring the mission.
Ferda glanced at Jed. He looked exhausted.
“Sir Jed, time to move.”
“Ugh…” Jed had no honor, no passion—he went because he had no choice.
Ten Minutes Before the Mission
They gathered in the strategy room, fully dressed for the freezing northern cold. Consilus gave the final briefing.
“The mission has two goals: stealing information and rescuing a target. We will split into three teams. Cowin and Philip will guard the entrance. Ferda, Marco, and I will steal information. Hans, Billy, and Jed will handle the rescue.”
“Understood!”
“Describe the target.”
“A demon with pink hair.”
“A demon with pink hair… easy to spot. She also has horns and black skin. Bring her back.”
“Yes!”
“Final check!”
Every detail was reviewed. This was enemy territory. One small mistake could ruin everything.
Jed scratched his messy hair and approached Ferda.
“Regent.”
“What is it?”
“This portal only allows eight people, right? Eight go in, eight come out?”
“Yes.”
“Then how are we supposed to rescue the demon?”
“If eight enter, we can only bring back eight. Someone will have to stay behind.”
“Don’t worry about that. If demons die, they get sent back to Hell.”
“Oh, so we just kill her when we’re done?”
Ferda paused. “No. Bring her to me first. We’ll take her with us, not kill her right away.”
“Isn’t that unnecessary?”
“Huh? Why?”
“Killing her immediately would be too easy.”
Ferda’s expression darkened. “It’s better not to make things too easy. Simple solutions often lead to problems. That’s been my life.”
Ten Seconds Before the Mission
“Gate open!”
Following Consilus’s command, the mage activated the scroll. Magic absorbed, the air shimmered. A circular portal appeared, showing a dark cave beyond. Outside, a snowstorm raged.
“Move in!” Consilus ordered, wrapped in thick fur.
The two knights guarding the entrance went first, followed by the rest. They moved swiftly, as trained warriors do.
“The Bending Bridge lasts one hour. We must complete the mission within that time.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Begin!”
The teams split up.
“See you alive later.”
“Ugh, don’t say unlucky things.”
“If you die, I’ll take care of your wife.”
“Try it, and I’ll come back from the grave to kill you.”
Even for a veteran like Consilus, the northern blizzard was harsh. He glanced at Ferda. Would the mage, physically weak, keep up?
‘No… He’s keeping up.’
“Shall we go faster?”
“Go ahead.”
“Understood.”
Consilus increased speed, and Ferda matched him. The darkness and snow were unbearable, but hidden beneath his coat, Shadow Hand gripped the ground, lifting his coat to reduce weight.
‘It’s good that I can cover my whole body.’
The shadows’ strength depended on darkness. In strong shadows, Ferda could summon many Shadow Hands. ‘Using multiple hands to touch the ground feels like walking like a beast.’
“This way.”
Consilus moved his eyes slightly, and a soft light, like fireflies, appeared. Faint laughter echoed. Consilus drew his sword.
“I will make a path.”
“Alright.”
He slipped through a narrow gap. Moments later, the laughter stopped.
“Who are you, urgh—”
“What’s happening? Suddenly, ugh—!”
Before they could finish, the intruders collapsed with dying screams. Two more sword swings silenced others. Footsteps retreated and returned.
“The path is clear. Please go ahead.”
The hallway led to an abandoned warehouse. Traces of a one-sided fight showed no resistance. Dead guards left weapons and coats hanging. No fool would venture here through the storm. This was a ‘sweet spot.’
Consilus checked a map.
“Marco, take care of the living quarters. I’ll handle the administration office and patrol.”
“Understood.”
“No.” Ferda interrupted, pointing at the living quarters.
“I will handle it.”
“Will you be okay? There are over sixty people—”
“I am a mage.”
That single sentence dispelled all worries.
“As you command, Regent.”
Marco and Consilus moved to their tasks, Ferda to the living quarters. He drew a small dagger. As he opened the door, snores greeted him.
‘It’s been a while since I heard this.’
Memories surfaced: under a mage, he often heard this sound, ruining sleep. Yet he never complained. Sleeping in a dung-smelling place was worse.
Ferda tilted a candle to inspect each person. ‘All humans.’ Different faces, different snores—but all followers of demons.
“Ugh… What? I’m off duty today, man…”
A young man barely awake looked up.
“Who are you? I’ve never seen you—mmph!”
His mouth was sealed tight with something black and shapeless. He tried to resist but could barely groan.
Ferda looked down coldly.
“Don’t feel too wronged. You are simply paying for your choices.”
The dagger gleamed. Ferda blew on the candle; the flame flickered violently—just like their uncertain future.
Whoosh—
“All patrols are eliminated.”
“The administration office is clear. Only the living quarters remain.”
Ferda emerged from the darkness, hands behind his back.
“Is it done?”
“Yes.”
“Then, we have cleared the area.”
“Regent?”
“There is blood on your face.”
“Oh. Thank you.” He casually wiped it off with black gloves.
Consilus reported, “The administration office is clear. Patrols eliminated. Other than the living quarters, no one remains.”
“Any useful information?”
“Minor details only—servant-level soldiers and disposable human shields. Real data must be in the officer’s quarters.”
“How much time do we have?”
“Forty minutes. We must finish within thirty.”
“Then we must hurry.”
Even with information and the rescue completed, failure to escape would ruin everything.
They moved toward the research director’s office. Despite the late hour, it was busy.
“Pack everything. Orders will come soon.”
“Yes!”
“Give me that! He’s been interested in this recently!”
Documents and supplies were hurriedly sorted. The leader was a female Dark Elf.
‘A Dark Elf…’ Aside from black skin, they resembled elves. Before the Dragon-Demon War, they swore loyalty to Godwin and sought a new order. Not demons, but equally dangerous.
‘Rinne… was that her name?’ The top researcher of the Doppler Project.
‘How should I attack?’
Ferda had no doubt: defeat the mage first, then the fight would be simple.
“Lightning Bolt.”
ZAP! Lightning struck the mage’s head. The fight had begun.
