"These are just imps," Andras replied. "They're about as dangerous as goblins — except they fly.
They're not the real threat. The Fire Demons are. So don't drop your guard."
"I know," Ritta nodded. "As a knight‑apprentice, I learned the lesson about Fire Demons. They're extremely strong, but far fewer in number than humans. Only Knight‑Captains and Lieutenants are strong enough to face one alone.
Regular knights must fight them in teams."
"Good," Andras said. "Then hide behind one of the trees — because a Fire Demon just found us."
Ritta's face went pale, but she nodded firmly.
"Yes, sir!"
She immediately dove behind cover, while Andras stepped forward, ready to face the hellish enemy approaching through the burning forest.
Interrogation of the Fire Demon
Ritta hid behind the trunk of a thick tree as the Fire Demon stepped out from between the shadows.
Its body was covered in glowing red fissures, and in its hand it held a long, black trident.
It wasted no words — it lunged at Young Wolf immediately.
Andras activated the water element within the Rune Blade.
The sword flared with a cool blue glow as magic surged through it.
The demon's trident struck with lightning speed, but Andras's magic sight saw every movement before it happened.
With light, precise motions he deflected each attack, then shifted into a counter‑offensive.
The Rune Blade slashed the Fire Demon multiple times, the water element hissing as it extinguished the creature's flames.
Finally, with a swift, decisive thrust, Andras drove the blade through the demon's chest.
The creature collapsed to its knees, then fell to the ground.
It was dying — but still alive.
Andras stepped toward it, kicked the trident out of its hand, and leaned over the fallen demon.
Ritta emerged from her hiding place, but kept a respectful distance.
"Where is Wildfire, and how many Fire Demons did he bring?" Andras asked coldly.
The Fire Demon growled.
"I'm finished anyway… you won't get anything out of me."
Andras's voice remained calm, but his words were ice.
"Then I hope you won't mind if I slowly pull your intestines out of your stomach.
I'll cut you open, and when your guts spill out… you'll regret not talking very quickly."
The demon's eyes widened.
"Wait! Fine… I'll tell you. Just give me a quick death."
"I'll end you so fast you won't even notice," Andras promised. "You have my word."
The demon panted, then continued:
"You're the Water Mage… one of the main targets.
Wildfire and the Clan Leaders are hunting you."
"How many Clan Leaders and how many Fire Demons are in the forest?" Andras asked.
"It doesn't matter… even if I tell you.
You can't defeat Wildfire or the Clan Leaders.
You'll all die here."
Andras leaned closer.
"Tell me how many… or would you rather see your own intestines?"
The demon shuddered.
"Our leader is Wildfire… three Clan Leaders and a hundred Fire Demons are hunting you.
We had seven Demon Shamans, but they… died in the ritual."
"The number of imps?" Andras asked.
"Five hundred… but what do they matter?"
"If they didn't matter, you wouldn't have brought them," Andras replied.
The demon closed its eyes.
"I've told you everything… finish me quickly."
With a single swift, clean motion, Andras drove the Rune Blade through its heart.
The demon's body twitched once — then went still.
Young Wolf and Ritta — after the interrogation
"This Rune Blade is incredible," Andras remarked as he wiped the demon ash from the sword.
"It really cuts through Fire Demons as if they were made of human flesh."
Ritta stared at him, wide‑eyed.
"Why are you using a sword? Aren't you… a Mage?"
"I need to conserve my magic for Wildfire and the Clan Leaders," Andras replied.
"I didn't know you were this good with a blade," Ritta said in amazement.
"Are you at Lieutenant or Captain level with swordsmanship?"
"That depends on how much magic I use," Andras shrugged.
"That's unbelievable!" Ritta practically glowed.
"No wonder the Captain is in love with you— I mean… I shouldn't have said that. Please pretend you didn't hear it from me!"
She clapped a hand over her mouth.
"And it's amazing how easily you got the demon to talk. But… what if he lied?"
"The numbers match my expectations," Andras said calmly.
"I had a rough idea. If he'd said anything too different, he wouldn't have escaped being gutted."
Ritta went pale.
"You really… would have gutted him? That's not knightly at all!"
"I'm not a knight. I'm a Mage."
"Mages don't have a knightly code? Or… a mage code?"
"The first rule of the mage code is experimentation," Andras said with complete sincerity.
"How else are we supposed to experiment if we don't gut monsters?"
Ritta shuddered.
"Mages are terrifying!"
"I feel like I've heard that from someone before," Andras said with a faint smirk.
Ritta then noticed Andras walking away.
"Where are you going now?"
"I'm going to take a piss while I still can," he replied.
"The demons attacked right when we were about to rest. I didn't have time to take care of basic needs."
"Now that you mention it… I really need to go too," Ritta admitted, embarrassed.
"Then find a bush," Andras said.
"Unless you want to wet yourself in the middle of a fight."
"Alright, alright!" Ritta huffed.
"But don't you dare peek!"
A brief rest — Young Wolf, Ritta, and MS Eli
Young Wolf and the young Silver Knight took turns relieving themselves, then Andras sat down on a fallen log.
From his magical storage he pulled out his bag: inside were biscuits, salami, and a water flask.
Ritta immediately spotted the food.
"You have food and water? Can I have some?"
"Yeah," Andras nodded. "Eat. You won't fight demons on an empty stomach."
Ritta was already reaching for a biscuit.
"I knew you were the best! Wait— is this Noelle's famous biscuit? It's amazing! She's like the queen of biscuits or something!"
"Right?" Andras smiled.
"Noelle's good at baking biscuits… and Fire Demons are good at roasting knights."
Ritta choked on her bite.
"What's going to happen if Noelle runs into demons?"
"Noelle can take care of herself," Andras said seriously.
"She'll be fine. But there will be casualties. We can't change that now."
Ritta lowered her head.
"This is not how I imagined the Royal Hunt.
The Golden Stag is supposed to bring luck against demons… and instead it brought the worst luck possible.
That stupid King! If we lose Lady Amelia because of him, I don't know what I'll do.
Hey… your staff just moved!"
"You can come out, Eli," Andras said.
A faint light shimmered from the staff, and MS Eli's spectral form appeared.
"I want to taste the biscuits too!"
Ritta jumped back.
"A ghost?!"
"Let me introduce you," Andras said.
"This is the spirit of my legendarily crappy magic staff — Magical Staff Eli."