Chapter 243.1

This was the continuation of my dream.

Arcana struggled to lift the heavy firewood with both hands, wobbling as she made her way to the fireplace.

What would be a simple task for an adult was a challenge for her small six or seven-year-old body.

“Heave-ho,” she said, throwing the firewood into the blazing flames.

Outside, a snowstorm raged, and even inside the house, the cold was rather intense.

Wrapped in a blanket, Arcana sat by the fireplace, warming her hands.

Just then, there was a loud knock at the front door.

Arcana’s face lit up with joy.

“Big brother!” (Arcana)

She happily ran to the front door, unlocked it, and opened it.

“…Eh?” (Arcana)

Arcana stepped back in shock when she saw the man standing there.

“Who… are you?” (Arcana)

It was a middle-aged man dressed in a blue robe.

His face was haggard, and his eyes, filled with madness, bore into Arcana.

“…I’ve found it. The sacrificial child…” the man muttered.

And two other men dressed in similar blue robes appeared behind him.

They looked like ghosts or something.

“…You shall be offered…” (Man in blue A)

“…As a sacrifice to the G.o.ds…” (Man in blue B)

“…Now, offer yourself as a tribute…” (Man in blue C)

Arcana stepped back in fear as the men entered the house.

“N-No…! Stay away…!” she screamed, but the men paid no attention and reached out to her.

At that moment—

“GAH…!” (Man in blue A)

A piece of firewood flew through the air, cutting through it with force, and struck the back of the men’s heads.

They collapsed to their knees.

“Hmm. What business do you have with my younger sister?” (Anos)

At the entrance stood a young demon, about ten years old.

He had black hair and black eyes, and despite his age, an extraordinary, overwhelming magic power radiated from his entire body.

It was Arcana’s older brother, Anos.

“Big brother…!” (Arcana)

Arcana rushed into Anos’s arms, clinging to him tightly.

“Stand back, Arcana. I hit them with enough force that an average demon wouldn’t be able to stand back up, but it seems these ones are rather tough.” (Anos)

The men staggered to their feet, clutching their heads.

“…You dare defy the teachings, boy?” (Man in blue A)

“That girl is the sacrificial child. If we don’t offer her to the G.o.ds, the dragons’ anger will not be quelled.” (Man in blue B)

“You ignorant outsider! Because you took that girl away, dragons are rampaging across the land, and the country is in turmoil!” (Man in blue C)

The men’s anger made Arcana tremble in fear.

“You’re speaking nonsense. If the dragons are rampaging, you just have to subdue them. Don’t gather in a mob and try to put the blame on me and my sister for things that have nothing to do with us.” (Anos)

“Silence, you fool! An idiot like you who can’t even listen to reason has no right to speak so arrogantly!” (Man in Blue A)

One by one, the men drew their swords and swung them down at Anos.

He swiftly raised his hand and activated a magical barrier, causing their swords to break with a snap.

In retaliation, he set the men ablaze with a spell.

However, scale-like things appeared on their skin, shielding them from the black flames.

“Hmm. I must say, you lot are unlike any demons I’ve seen before. I’ve never heard of demons possessing such scales. Even your magic wavelengths seem slightly different.” (Anos)

Anos glared at the men with his Magic Eyes.

“Are you really demons?” (Anos)

“We have no obligation to answer a fool like you! Die, you brat!” (Man in blue A)

The men opened their mouths, revealing their sharp fangs.

They spat out scorching hot flames from the depths of their throats, burning Anos.

“B-Big brother…!” (Arcana)

“Don’t worry. It’s cold today, so this warmth is just what I needed.” (Anos)

Anos dispelled their breath attacks with anti-magic, then drew three magic circles in the air.

From within, small jet-black suns peeked out.

“Here’s a new spell I’ve just learned. Let’s see how you handle it” (Anos)

Those were spells, which he fired at close range.

The men attempted to deflect the small suns with their scaly hands.

But their bodies instantly erupted into black flames.

“Ugh! Im…impossible!” (Man in blue A)

“I’m… burning?! How could he set me… on fire?!” (Man in blue B)

“How could… this brat… possess so much… power…?!” (Man in blue C)

The very scales that had protected them from the earlier spells now offered no defense. Consumed by the jet-black suns, the men were reduced to cinders in an instant.

“Hmm.” (Anos)

Anos wrapped his arm around the trembling Arcana, pulling her close.

“Sorry for scaring you. It’s all over now.” (Anos)

As she buried her face tightly in Anos’s chest, Arcana shook her head slightly.

“You know… I wasn’t scared at all…” (Arcana)

“Oh?” (Anos)

“Because… Because I believed you would save me…” (Arcana)

Even as she trembled, Arcana bravely spoke those words.

“You’re always so quick to lie like that.” (Anos)

“…But it’s not a lie. I really believed in you…” (Arcana)

Anos gently strokes Arcana’s head.

“Is that so?” (Anos)

“Y-Yeah… it’s true.” (Arcana)

“You’re a strong girl.” (Anos)

Anos drew a magic circle to clean up the ashes and repair the damage to the house.

Next, he conjured another circle and reached into the center to pull out some bread.

“Let’s have a meal.” (Anos)

He warmed some soup in the kitchen, poured it into cups, and set everything on the small table in front of the fireplace.

“Apparently, the crops have failed because of this cold snap. I went to a nearby town, but this was all I could find.” (Anos)

“It’s okay. I don’t eat much anyway.” (Arcana)

As she said this, Arcana held her cup in both hands and drank the soup.