Chapter 172: The Demonic Man in Disguise

Chapter 172: The Demonic Man in Disguise

It was a grand funeral, with names etched onto simple tombstones. This memorial aimed to commemorate the fallen exorcists, but it felt like a mere act of discarding their bodies into a pit.

No one would venture to the demon territories' borders to visit these graves, knowing they would likely decay within a decade or two. Even the esteemed exorcists received little recognition in death. While a living elite exorcist held value, a deceased one was considered worthless by the higher-ups. Thus, bestowing special treatment upon a departed exorcist seemed futile.

After the funeral, I found myself standing before Bets' grave, fixated on his plain gravestone.

"Bets," that was the sole inscription on the stone. No mention of his exorcist rank, age, place of residence, graduation, or any notable achievements.

Grabbing a shovel, I began digging. The graves were shallow, a product of lazy work. As I stared at the coffin for a few moments, tears welled up in my eyes. "Come on, my friend, this isn't your place. Not here, among these anonymous graves."

Hoisting the coffin onto my shoulder, I walked away. Along the way, I noticed another man standing by a lavishly adorned grave. Drawing closer, I realized it was the headmaster's resting place.Updated from novelbIn.(c)om

The man had an unremarkable face, yet there was a nagging sense of familiarity. Since Carpy hadn't mentioned him, I proceeded to stand beside him, the weight of the coffin seemingly unnoticed. We remained in silence until he finally spoke.

"That foolish old man had to die like that," the plain-faced man sighed.

"You knew him?" I asked.

"He did a lot for me when I was younger," the man sighed. "Although the last time we saw eye-to-eye, I left a scar on his shoulder. I could have severed his arm, but I spared his life. He was like the father I never had."

He was capable of harming the headmaster? Or was it an unusual incident? It struck me as odd that I had never heard of this man, considering his absence from the main narrative.

The plain-faced man turned to me, bloodshot eyes scanning the coffin on my shoulder before meeting mine. "You lost someone too?"

"Yeah, my best friend, and I'm not going to let them rot away in some nameless grave," I sighed.

The man chuckled. "You really are something." Then he glanced at the shovel in my other hand and asked, "Can I borrow your shovel?"

I smiled and handed him the tool. He took it and dug with a bitter smile. "I might be a shitty student, but there's no way I'm going to let the old man die here. I never even told the old bastard that I was thankful, regardless of how things ended up between us."

Though we didn't know each other's names, I somewhat understood where he was coming from. I helped him remove the coffin and cover the grave, ensuring no one would suspect a thing. A sense of camaraderie developed between us.

After we had distanced ourselves from the gravesite and camp, he smiled at me and introduced himself. "My name is Piko. See you later, Kon."

"That's why we need Kon and the princess to meet by chance and fall in love," her father's frown deepened. "We thought we had years to wait for this, but we must gain control of the royal family as quickly as possible."

Delia knew that eventually, the truth about the Moon Exorcist's opposition to their clan would emerge, and she would be in deep trouble. However, if the Moon Exorcist were to perish before that happened, she could smooth things over.

"Kon has always been hesitant to challenge authority figures, and that probably hasn't changed," her father, the clan head, commented.

"The only thing that seems to have changed is his appearance," Delia joked.

Her father leaped down from the tree and headed toward a nearby small wooden hut. "Well, the chickens aren't going to roost themselves."

What on earth did that mean? Delia wondered, but she decided not to question the eccentric sayings of the older generation.

"Kon, we were worried," her father called out as they approached. Kon turned towards them, seemingly unsurprised by their presence. Did he already know they would come?

"Uncle," Kon smiled, though his eyes remained emotionless.

"Why are you here? This place is too small for someone like you, nephew," her father smiled, an unfamiliar expression that seemed to strain his facial muscles. "I have a splendid city in mind-"

"No," Kon interrupted, shaking his head. "I like it here. It has a beautiful beach, and it's secluded enough for me to enjoy myself."

At that moment, Kon's father stepped forward, taking the lead. "Son, we want you to meet the princess. She is a lovely and sincere girl, and I'm certain you will like her."

Delia intervened, injecting some spice into the conversation. "Yes, yes, let's just pack our bags and move already. This place looks like shit compared to-"

"Hey, I already said no," Kon clarified.

Delia felt an unsettling sensation in the pit of her stomach, like when you're swimming and expecting to touch solid ground, but the water proves deeper than you anticipated.

The Dark Sword Clan Head, her father, frowned and took a step forward. "You are a part of my clan, and we have great plans for you. However, your resistance could jeopardize everything. It's time you behaved like the obedient boy you are, or we may have to resort to more forceful measures."

Normally, her father showed more gentleness towards clan members, but the recent situation had put everyone on edge.

"Oh? Is that so? You're going to force me?" Suddenly, a chilling aura emanated from Kon. "Then I'll kill you all right here."