As the sky turned a dark bloody red, signaling the imminent descent of night over the demon lands, Bella, Vespera, and Aengus landed before a moderately sized mansion. The eerie glow of the setting Red sun cast long shadows across the ground, making the mansion appear even more ominous.
Bella moved with the grace and allure of the seductress succubus she was, her every step drawing attention as she approached the moderate sized mansion’s gate.
Vespera and Aengus followed closely behind—Vespera ever vigilant, while Aengus remained casual, confident that as long as he was with Bella Bellfrost, his safety was assured. If not no one would able to save them.
“Hey, stop!” A gruff voice interrupted their approach.
A demon guard with a crocodile-like head stepped forward, blocking their path. His eyes were wary, but he clearly didn’t recognize the danger he was facing.
“Audacious! How dare you try to stop Lady Bella?” Vespera snapped, stepping forward with an air of authority. Her eyes gleamed with a dangerous red light, and her vamperic red and black wings unfurled slightly, casting a menacing shadow over the demon guard.
“Do you have a death wish?” Vespera asked coldly, her voice dripping with malice as she glared at the crocodile-headed demon. The sharp edges of her wings hovered ominously above him, like a set of swords ready to strike.
Despite Vespera’s looming threat, the crocodile demon remained defiant, his expression stubborn and unyielding.
“No, you can’t pass! And who is this b*tch Bella you’re talking about?” The crocodile demon sneered contemptuously, his voice dripping with disrespect.
“You…?” Vespera’s face darkened, her rage boiling over like a seething cauldron. The air around her seemed to ripple with the intensity of her anger, her eyes blazing with the promise of violence.
But before she could act, Bella let out a laugh, a sound that was both chilling and amused. “Hahaha…” She laughed as if she found the situation incredibly entertaining, though a murderous intent simmered just beneath the surface.
The idea that this insolent demon would dare speak to her in such a manner was both laughable and infuriating.
Vespera, on the verge of cutting the insolent guard into pieces, was suddenly halted by the arrival of another demon, also with a crocodile-like appearance.
“Paah!”
Without hesitation, the second guard delivered a powerful slap across the face of the first, the force of the blow sending him crashing to the ground with a Bang!
The first guard’s face twisted in pain, turning a deep shade of red, almost resembling a pig’s liver.
“You fool! What are you doing? Do you not even recognize Lady Bella? Are you blind?” The second guard berated the fallen demon sternly, his voice filled with authority and frustration.
Turning quickly to Bella and her entourage, the second guard’s demeanor shifted to one of deep apology. “I am sorry, Lady Bella, for this disrespect. I failed to ensure proper discipline among the guards. Please forgive us.”
Bella regarded the second guard with a cold, calculating gaze, the amusement gone from her expression. “And what has happened to him?” she asked, her tone icy as she gestured towards the fallen guard who was still writhing on the ground.
The second guard hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “Lady Bella, it is not entirely his fault. Ever since the incident at Dark Forest, he’s been… different. His memory is failing him. He’s losing it bit by bit, forgetting even the most basic things. It’s as if something is eating away at his mind.”
Bella’s eyes narrowed at this information. The Dark Forest—this was the same place where strange occurrences had been reported. It seemed whatever dark influence was spreading through her territory was affecting even her own guards.
She turned to Vespera, who was still bristling with anger. “Vespera, stand down. It seems there’s more going on here than we initially thought.” Bella’s voice was calm but carried an undertone of command.
Vespera reluctantly obeyed, though her eyes remained locked on the fallen guard with barely restrained fury. “As you wish, Lady Bella,” she said through clenched teeth, retracting her wings and stepping back.
Bella then addressed the second guard. “Take this one away and keep him under close observation. I want a full report on his condition, as well as anyone else showing similar symptoms. Understand?”
The second guard nodded quickly. “Yes, Lady Bella. I will see to it immediately.” He then bent down, dragging the still-dazed first guard away with surprising ease.
“Hey, wait!” Vespera called out, halting the crocodile demon as he began to lead them inside. “Tell us about your Baron first. Where is he? We need to speak with him immediately.”
The crocodile demon paused, glancing back at Vespera with a wary expression. “He is inside, my lady. But be careful… the Baron’s mental condition is also not good,” he warned, his voice tinged with unease.
With that final caution, the crocodile demon hurried away, leaving Bella, Vespera, and Aengus to continue on their own.
The trio proceeded through the grand entrance and into the main hall of the mansion. The room was dimly lit, the air heavy with an oppressive atmosphere that matched the grim state of affairs in the territory.
As they entered, their eyes fell upon a humanoid demon sitting in a large, ornate chair. His skin was covered in iridescent fish scales that caught the faint light, reflecting it in a way that made him appear almost otherworldly.
However, despite his striking appearance, there was something deeply unsettling about the Baron. He sat slumped in the chair, his posture listless, and his eyes stared vacantly ahead as if his mind was far away, lost in some dark, unreachable place.
Bella’s gaze hardened as she took in the sight before her. This was the Barron who was supposed to be managing the area, yet he looked more like a broken doll than a powerful Greater demon. Whatever had taken hold of him had clearly done significant damage.
Vespera approached cautiously, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. “Baron Voldemort,” she called out, her voice sharp and commanding. “Can you hear me? We need to speak with you.”
The Baron didn’t respond immediately. For a long, tense moment, it seemed as though he might not acknowledge them at all. Then, slowly, his head turned towards them, his eyes dull and unfocused. There was a flicker of recognition, but it was faint, like a dying ember struggling to stay lit.
“L-Lady Bella…Miss Vespera…” he muttered, his voice raspy and strained. “Why are you here…? It’s… too late… for this place…”
Bella stepped forward, her expression unreadable as she stared down at the Baron. “We are here because of the disturbances in Dark Forest and about the disappearance of demons,” she said, her voice cold and firm. “What has happened here, Baron? What has caused this madness?”
The Baron blinked slowly, his gaze drifting away from them as if he were struggling to hold on to his thoughts. “Darkness… it came from the forest… corrupted everything… even me… there’s no escape… only… despair…”
His words were disjointed, fragmented as if his mind was barely holding together.
Bella’s eyes narrowed, and she turned to Vespera and Aengus. “This is worse than I thought. The corruption has taken root in the Baron himself. We need to find the source of this darkness and eradicate it before it spreads any further.”
Aengus, finding the situation mysterious, activated Appraisal to know what exactly happened here. He had to use his precious Mana for this.
