Chapter 5: The Inquisitor Comes for the Demon...

The night was silent.

Only the wind slamming against the cabin walls and the crackling of dying embers inside the fireplace could be heard.

Nox was sleeping deeply on the couch.

Or, more specifically...

On top of Claws.

The small four-armed bear was curled up beside the fire, and his massive warm fur was absurdly comfortable.

Nox’s body was sunk into the fluffy fur while he slept hugging the beast like a giant pillow.

Claws let out a small sleepy growl.

Nox mumbled something in his sleep.

"...Five more minutes..."

Then...

CRUNCH.

CRUNCH.

The sound of snow being crushed slowly caused Nox’s eyes to open.

He blinked in confusion.

He heard voices.

And an orange light shining through the window.

Nox slowly got up while Claws lifted one of his front paws.

"...Huh?"

The small demon climbed down from the couch and walked barefoot toward the window.

Then he saw them.

Several torches.

People outside.

Nox frowned and leaned closer to the window.

Elsa and Sienna stood outside in front of a woman wearing a long black-and-white cloak.

Golden symbols were engraved into the fabric.

And a massive spear rested on her shoulder.

The snow around her feet was slightly melting.

’...That doesn’t look normal.’

The woman smiled faintly.

"The saints of the church sent me to investigate this part of the mountain."

Her voice was calm.

"They sensed the magical energy of a demonic summoning."

Nox felt his stomach freeze.

"...Shit."

The woman drove the tip of her spear into the snow.

"So be kind and let me inside. I’m only doing my job."

Nox slowly stepped away from the window.

’I’m dead.’

Because he was sure of one thing.

Audrey might help him.

But Elsa and Sienna barely tolerated him.

There was no way they would risk their lives for him.

Outside, Elsa crossed her arms.

"We haven’t seen any demons."

Sienna slowly nodded.

"You must be mistaken."

The woman smiled a little wider.

"What a problem."

The torchlight illuminated her reddish eyes.

"You can’t lie to me."

A strange symbol faintly glowed on her neck.

"My Title allows me to detect lies."

Nox felt a chill run down his spine.

’Title...?’

Then he heard footsteps behind him.

Audrey appeared rubbing her eyes while still half asleep.

Her blonde hair was messy.

"...What’s going on?"

Nox quickly turned around.

"The church."

Audrey blinked in confusion.

"Huh?"

Outside, several seconds of silence passed.

Then Elsa spoke.

"...Fine."

Nox felt his heart sink.

"I’ll go inside the cabin and hand over the demon."

Audrey’s eyes widened.

"What?"

"But don’t harm my sister."

Sienna remained standing beside the inquisitor without moving.

Nox slowly lowered his gaze.

’Right... of course this was how it’d end.’

The door burst open violently.

Elsa entered quickly.

But instead of looking at Nox with hatred...

She grabbed his arm.

"Take Nox and Claws out through the back door."

Audrey froze.

Elsa quickly walked toward the wall and grabbed her enormous bow.

"Take everything you need to survive."

Audrey still didn’t understand.

"...What?"

Nox stared at her in disbelief.

"Have you lost your mind?"

Elsa strapped several arrows onto her back.

"No."

Her expression slowly hardened.

"But I’m not helping those shitty religious fanatics."

Nox froze.

Elsa opened the door again.

Freezing wind rushed into the cabin.

"And I’m not handing anyone over."

Then she stepped outside.

Audrey ran toward the window.

"N-No..."

Outside, Elsa raised her bow while staring directly at the inquisitor.

"If you want the demon..."

The snow shifted around her feet.

"...you’ll have to go through my corpse first, you damn religious bitch."

The inquisitor began laughing.

"Great!"

The air started heating up.

"This is way more fun."

Suddenly, Sienna moved one hand beneath her clothes.

She pulled out a hidden knife from inside her underwear.

And vanished forward.

Everything happened too fast.

Nox barely saw a metallic flash cutting through the snow.

But the inquisitor simply smiled.

A massive spear of fire appeared in her hand.

And pierced through Sienna’s chest instantly.

The burning tip burst out through her back.

Sienna’s eyes slowly widened.

Then...

Her body went still.

Audrey let out a heartbreaking scream from the window.

"SIENNA!!"

Blood fell onto the snow, melting it.

Claws started growling violently.

Elsa gritted her teeth.

Then quickly looked toward the window.

Directly at Audrey.

At Nox.

"Run."

Then she fired.

FWISH.

FWISH.

FWISH.

Three enormous arrows tore through the storm at absurd speeds.

The inquisitor swung her flaming spear.

And split all three arrows apart in midair.

The snow around her began melting.

Steam slowly rose upward.

Audrey started crying.

"No..."

Nox grabbed her arm.

"Let’s go."

She desperately shook her head.

"I can’t..."

"THEN THEY’RE SACRIFICING THEMSELVES FOR NOTHING!"

Audrey trembled violently.

Outside, the inquisitor appeared in front of Elsa in an instant.

There was a red flash.

And Elsa’s head flew across the snow.

Her body collapsed a few seconds later.

More tears streamed down Audrey’s face.

The inquisitor slowly began walking toward the cabin.

Every step melted more snow.

TOC.

TOC.

TOC.

Claws stepped in front of Audrey and Nox.

Growling.

Showing his fangs.

Nox felt his heart pounding against his chest.

’...No. It can’t end like this.’

Audrey was crying.

Trembling.

Completely broken.

And for some reason...

Nox couldn’t abandon her.

At another time, he would’ve escaped.

He would’ve run.

He would’ve thought only about himself.

But now...

He couldn’t leave behind the kindest woman he had ever met.

He didn’t know why.

He simply couldn’t.

Then, a blue window appeared before his eyes.

[Compatibility Detected.]

[Fallen Genesis conditions fulfilled.]

Nox’s eyes widened.

Another window immediately appeared.

[Compatible Individual: Audrey]

[Would you like to grant a Fallen Form?]

The sound of pounding echoed against the door.

BOOM.

The wood trembled.

The inquisitor’s amused voice came from the other side.

"Knock knock."

Another explosion shook the entrance.

"I’ve arrived, you damned demon."

A final window appeared before Nox’s eyes.

[Please assign a new Title.]