The Sword Of Salvation
Ch. 1 — Human and Devil (3)

Mariel doesn't know what to say.

He was taught not to trust others too easily. However, this demon looked solemn. More than that, Lukhiel's confession explains many things. The problem is that there is only one: whether Lukhiel can be trusted or not. But clearly, if this demon did intend to make her strong, Mariel had no choice but to obey.

“Master..Lukhiel.”

“It...it sounds really fast.” A big smile bloomed on the lips of the devil— and Mariel increasingly did not understand the personality of this demon. “And before we continue the delayed conversation last night, it is time we enjoy the fish. Here, take. Eat slowly and satisfy your stomach craving.”

Mariel received the grilled fish without any resistance.

But he didn't eat it right away. No, not at all because he's worried about poison. This demon won't get anything by poisoning him. Mariel was just curious. His mother said that the devil's food is the soul of man. So, he wanted to know, could demons really eat ordinary food? For that he silently watched Lukhiel ‒ want to make sure if he really ate grilled fish is not.

Mariel had just started eating the fish after seeing the devil swallow his first chew. Tasteless, insider. But Mariel was no wonder. They were in gua— and likely within the vast forest. There was no place for Lukhiel to look for salt. Even if there was a village not far from the forest, Lukhiel could not buy. Mariel didn't see a single piece of money the devil had.

“Continuing my question last night, do you want to travel to find someone who knows how to meet the god?”

Mariel had only spent one-fifth of the fish when Lukhiel threw the question at her. “Not him Master said he would continue speaking after ma—eh..kau..kau already spent all the fish...” Mariel looked at the demon in disbelief. How fast did he eat until he could spend three pretty big weeks in less than a minute?

“Your body is small. One fish is more than enough.”

“...No, that's not what I mean. I'm just astonished. But forget it. About meeting the god? It also forget it.”

Mariel returned her eyes to the fish and continued eating.

He decided to do what his mother told him to do. He will be strong and live as he wishes. He lives for both of them as well. Perhaps, in the future, exactly a few years before his death picks up, he will find out how to meet the god. For now he will focus on being strong. Perhaps fate had also supported his mother's message, so Lukhiel was here.

“You have accepted the reality that happened?” Lukhiel is not waiting for an answer. “It's too fast,” he continued. “But perhaps your life so far has not been normal enough that you have been forced to mature faster. And I can guess that your mother really gave you enough education. Your writing on the tombstone is pretty neat. But this is also normal. I've heard of a six-year-old boy nicknamed ‘Bengis’ Killer. Compared to him, you're still normal.”

Mariel didn't say anything. He focused on the bland grilled fish in his hands. He had no interest in telling his life on the run with his mother. Nor did he have any interest in knowing more about the child nicknamed “Bengis” Killer. As her mother said, everyone has their own problems. That's life.

“Thank you for the fish. So, why did Master decide to teach me the knowledge that Master had?” mariel asked after the grilled fish he had eaten. “Is there a special reason? Or just spontaneity intention?”

Lukhiel landed a glance at the still burning fire. “Can I say both,” answer. “Letting you neglected will make my efforts to save you go to waste. But I can't go back to town either because there are two members of the Level 1 Sterminatore. It would be troublesome to deal with them. The reason why I made you faint was also because of their presence. That's spontaneity.”

“For special reasons,” continued the devil—and this time his reptilian eyes looked at Mariel. “I see great potential from you. Too bad you haven't been trained to use prana or just taught how to fight, so I can't be sure if my guess is correct. However, you're smart. You're not like normal kids. So, I was thinking, what will it grow to be when a child like you is trained by a demon like me?”

Mariel nodded in understanding. However, although Lukhiel looks honest and the reason does not sound suspicious, there is a possibility that it is not all. Maybe he had other reasons, maybe not. But clearly, his intention to train himself was really serious. Mariel does not doubt that.

“Master said that we will make a long journey, when will we leave? I want to see my mother's belly button once again before we actually go.”

“Ah, about that.I changed my mind. I am hunted by both humans and demons. To the devil, I am a traitor. And the humans still haven't forgotten what I did before. So, bringing in this helpless state would be difficult. You can now be killed with just one kick.” Lukhiel's expression then hardened. “We will stay here for a few years,”.

“Here...where exactly is it here?”

“You are familiar with this continent map?”

Mariel shook her head, explaining, “Peta is an expensive item; we don't have the money to own it. But I know the names of the kingdoms around the empire.”

“It's enough. The cliffs where we buried your mother are in the western part of the Neiracian Empire, that is the real boundary between that empire and the Great Kingdom of Camelot. We're in the easternmost region of Camelot. If you come out of the cave, you will immediately see the cliff when you look towards the east.”

“So, I can anytime visit mommy.”

“Your conclusion is not wrong.”

Mariel took a deep breath, her eyes closed, implanting everything she knew deeply. He had also recalled his mother's conversation with the mercenary. Mariel needs to organize all her thoughts in order to really focus on being strong. He must prepare himself to accept all that Lukhiel will teach.

“Speaking about making me strong,” Lukhiel opens his eyes and looks intensely at the devil, “when are you going to start teaching me, Master?”

“Good question.” Lukhiel said and stood up. “We start your training tomorrow. For today you just focus on resting. I need to go to the nearest village/city to buy all the things we need. Especially salt. We really need salt.”

“No need to worry about problems.” Lukhiel shook his hand and started to step up. “Prepare yourself for tomorrow.”

“You're going to steal?”

“To ensure your safety, I will fence my mouth with a wind spear. So, you won't be able to get out until I get back. The cave is completely safe. You can explore it.”

“...You ignored my question.”

“I didn't hear you ask.”

Mariel sighed at the glint, but she did not bother about it anymore. Lukhiel is the devil; mariel must never forget that most important thing. More than that, they really need salt. Mariel couldn't imagine them living for years on bland food. So, he could not question how Lukhiel got their needs.

“Make sure you really rest.”

It was Lukhiel's last utterance before his figure flashed out of Mariel's sight. He then spread his body several steps beside the fire that was still burning, face to face with the ceiling of the cave. The fire allowed Mariel to see it clearly.

Perhaps Lukhiel was the exception of the demon race, Mariel's inner being closed his eyes. And maybe he's not hiding any other point. Lukhiel may not be worthy of being called i—

...* * *...

—please get back my words! Mariel called out inwardly while running with all her might avoiding the pursuit of the boars. Lukhiel is a devil! He is more demonic than the devil!

Half an hour had passed since Lukhiel started training for him to be strong. Unmitigated, the demon immediately started by dropping himself in front of a herd of wild boars that were swarming. Mariel was surprised. If only he had been late in running, and if only they had not been in the forest, his history might have been over.

“Keep running, Mariel! If I had to save you, tomorrow I'd drop you in front of a herd of jungle lions!”

Yeah, maybe the history won't end in its most basic sense. However, his suffering will increase. It was impossible for him to escape from the herd of forest lions. Mariel clenched her teeth while turning around the big tree. He could not run any faster. His feet are also on the threshold. You have to rely on strategy here.

“Don't think of going up a tree! If you're reckless, I'll destroy any tree you climb.”

Lukhiel really knows how to ruin someone's pleasure. Can he read minds? Seems not. Since it was the demon that made him experience all of this, it was likely that he had already anticipated that option. Lukhiel really wants to get his body on the threshold. To that end, forcing him to keep running was not a bad method.

But at the very least, he should have started gradually!

Of course Mariel understood that all this was for the sake of making her body strong. However, this is extreme. At least he did not expect the training on the first day would be directly like this. Mariel assumes Lukhiel will give you a gradual workout: light, medium, then heavy. The first week of light exercise. Two weeks after training. Next is weight training. Not going straight to this kind of heavy stage!

However, Mariel had no intention of protesting. There is no short way to be strong. He did not know how many weeks he would be forced to run every day until his legs gave up. He will hold it and try his hardest. Perhaps this was also the right exercise method for him. Devils naturally have a stronger physique. If he can't surpass them in that, at least he has to excel at speed.

Seeing the river not far in front of him, Mariel tried hard to accelerate to run there. Then he jumped into the river a dozen meters wide without hesitation. He swims fast. The current was not heavy, so he had no trouble. Mariel tried as quickly as possible across the river to avoid chasing the damn boars.

Mariel immediately threw herself down on her back as soon as she arrived across the river. Breath hunting. Legs shaking. But at least, the pigs were unable to catch up. They just stayed by the river before turning around. Mariel can breathe a sigh of relief. He can rest himself.

“Good work. It's an ingenious way to escape from them.” Lukhiel stands on the water of the river—dia stands in the sense of truly standing! “And because you can swim, then you must swim in the opposite direction of the current until your body can no longer. To make it more interesting, I will look for crocodiles or other water predators to chase you. You can leave for a moment.”

Before Mariel could open her mouth in protest, the devil had disappeared from her sight. The child can only sigh resignedly and continue to rest ‒ he really needs to rest if he does not want to be faced with a heavier and dangerous exercise. To undergo demonic training from the devil, for the next he must be more ber—

“Groaaaaaar!

—Mariel spontaneously sat himself down and jumped into the river. His hands and feet moved quickly, trying to reach the other side of the river.

Did he purposely bring the bear here?!

Mariel is reminded that Lukhiel is a demon.

...—End of Chapter 1—...