SSS Demon King System: The Rise of a Dying Extra-Chapter 30: Hunting Dogs. (1)

Hati could notice it, even if Sköll tried to hide it, her furtive glances were very obvious.

"What’s wrong, sister?" she said with her usual cold attitude.

"N-nothing," she responded, though her gaze gave her away.

"It’s fine then," Hati responded without giving it importance.

Though, Sköll couldn’t hold out even ten seconds before blurting it out.

"I’m sorry I hit you," the girl finally said with a downcast gaze, while playing with her fingers.

Hati sighed.

"You shouldn’t apologize, it’s part of training," she said impassively.

"B-but dad said..."

"I know, but grandpa also said he was wrong."

Hati looked at her sister; she still had her ears down, she surely still felt bad.

There was no choice.

"And I have to admit that punch was very cool," she said, with the same cold attitude as always.

Hati could notice how Sköll’s eyes lit up.

"Hehehe, I guess it can’t be helped, I’ll have to accept my genius," she said with a silly smile while laughing and starting to trot.

Hati felt happy seeing her like that, even though her emotions weren’t reflected on her face.

"Well, it seems we’re almost at the temple."

Hati finally said. They had arrived.

Deep in the forest, a wooden temple was hidden, protruding from the mountain. The real temple was inside, while the building outside was similar to buildings from the eastern continent, or so their father had told them.

There was their mother, waiting for them outside. She looked as beautiful as always; a great mane of brown hair danced with the breeze, along with her tunic, giving the woman an ethereal aspect.

She was sitting, with an elongated wooden box beside her, but when they approached, she stood up.

Freya ran to hug them when she saw them, which surprised them.

"Thank goodness you’re alright," she said relieved.

"What’s wrong, mom? Did something happen?" Sköll asked, while her mother caressed her golden hair.

"Yes, unfortunately yes, but you mustn’t worry about that now," the woman seemed not to want to let the girls go, but for some reason, she was forced to.

"Quick, you must follow me, we have to enter the temple immediately."

"What’s happening, mother? Why are you acting like this?" Hati asked, showing concern, something she rarely did.

"You see, it’s that..." before continuing the sentence, the woman released her two daughters while turning toward the temple.

There was no one. However, she opened her arms, as if she wanted to protect the girls.

"I know you’re there, show yourselves," she said while looking in all directions, as if they were surrounded.

Soon, several individuals became visible, showing that indeed, they had surrounded the girls.

"You beast-men really are impressive, you make me seem useless. Well, it doesn’t matter, because you’re going to die anyway," the hooded woman said, being the last to become visible.

And with that declaration, all those men dressed in red robes lunged at them.

***

The air whistled, as if something was piercing through it at great speed. But it wasn’t something, but someone: Freki, the chief of the beast-men.

Right now he was worried, he had been too entertained fighting with some assassins and feared arriving too late; he had sensed presences at the temple.

But then, a familiar scent made him stop.

"Mmm, Sköll, Hati, is that you?" the man said, trying to hide the concern in his voice.

Suddenly, some bushes moved, and from them two adorable beast-girl children emerged.

"Dad! You’re back, I was really scared, those men are everywhere," Hati said, jumping into his arms.

The man caught her in his arms while hugging her.

"Don’t worry, now that I’m here you have nothing to fear," he responded, relieved.

"I’m glad you’re well, father, what should we do now?" Sköll asked, while looking at her father.

The man approached her, still with Hati in his arms, to caress her head.

"First we have to meet up with your mother," he responded, but then, he felt something didn’t add up.

Father? Since when is Sköll so formal?

"Wha—"

But it was too late. A stabbing pain pierced his belly, while he felt fangs sinking into his neck.

Those weren’t his daughters.

Freki had gotten careless; seeing his daughters after being so worried about them had made him lower his guard.

The man’s hand closed forcefully; upon doing so, "Sköll’s" head burst, exploding like a balloon.

As for Hati, he grabbed her tunic intending to pull her down; however, the tunic slipped between his fingers, as if it were a liquid.

Freki also noticed how the pieces of Sköll’s head were reuniting in a disgusting scene.

He clicked his tongue then used his spiritual pressure, from inside out.

A shockwave came from him, expelling all matter around him.

"I hope that’s enough."

He said, but then, he noticed how a sticky substance was crawling and joining with the body’s remains.

Freki sighed; that would take time.