The Demon Among The Knights-Chapter 38 - 34: The Return of Heroes

The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of crimson and gold. The battlefield, once filled with the clash of swords and the screams of the dying, now lay silent. The war was over. Bodies of fallen demons and knights alike littered the ground, the earth soaked with blood. The scent of death lingered in the air, mixing with the distant crackle of burning wood as remnants of the war still smoldered.

The knights moved slowly, exhausted but victorious. They loaded the wounded onto wooden chariots, their armor dented and caked in grime. The survivors, though battered, held onto hope. Their kingdom awaited them, and the promise of a grand feast fueled their aching bodies like a beacon in the dark.

Brian leaned on his sword, After his body and his head were put back together by another knight,wiping sweat and blood from his brow. His silver armor gleamed dimly in the fading light, streaked with black demon ichor. His chest heaved as he caught his breath, the weight of the battle finally settling in his bones.

He turned to Luci, who stood atop a pile of demon corpses like a king surveying his domain. Luci’s dark hair fluttered in the evening breeze, and his crimson eyes glowed faintly. Despite the chaos, he looked untouched — not a scratch on him, not a single drop of blood staining his clothes.

"Since the war is over, let’s go back to the kingdom," Brian said, stretching his arms with a groan. "We can talk more about this 5 embolism problem later. For now, we should get ready for the feast. It’s going to be grand this year — after all, we just won a war."

The knights let out faint cheers, their tired voices echoing through the battlefield like ghostly whispers. The sound of wheels creaking and horses snorting filled the air as the procession began its slow march back to the kingdom.

Luci was given his own chariot — a grand thing adorned with velvet cushions and gold trim, as though crafted for royalty. He lounged inside, reclining on the plush seats, but his attention was solely on the massive table before him. Piles of roasted chicken, seasoned vegetables, honey-glazed bread, and steaming pies stretched across the surface like a banquet fit for a king.

He picked up a chicken leg, his sharp teeth glinting as he smirked.

"Striking a deal with these knights was a good choice," Luci muttered to himself, biting into the meat. "I mean, look at this food. This is better than devouring beast in Hell."

The meat tore easily beneath his teeth, juices dripping down his fingers. He let out a satisfied sigh, leaning back against the cushioned seat. But just as he reached for another piece of chicken, the entire chariot lurched violently. Plates clattered, bread rolled onto the floor, and the roasted meat slid across the table.

Luci’s expression darkened. He growled low in his throat, fangs bared as he steadied himself with one hand.

He wiped his mouth with his sleeve and pushed open the front curtain of the chariot, peering out with narrowed eyes.

"Oi," he barked, voice sharp as a blade. "What was that?"

The knight driving the chariot flinched so hard he nearly dropped the reins. His fingers trembled, knuckles white as he clutched the leather straps.

"M-My lord," the knight stammered, swallowing hard. "The chariot... it stumbled on a rock."

Luci tilted his head, studying the knight’s shaking hands.

"Why are you shaking?" Luci leaned closer, his face inches from the knight’s ear. "Are you afraid of me?"

The knight’s face turned ghostly pale. Sweat beaded on his forehead, dripping down his temple as he stared straight ahead, terrified to look Luci in the eye.

"Y-You’re a demon," he whispered, voice barely audible. "You single-handedly stopped the war..."

Luci’s lips curled into a wicked grin.

"Afraid of little old me?"

In a blink, he disappeared from the chariot. The knight gasped, frantically glancing around — until Luci reappeared right in front of the horse’s face.

"Boo."

The knight screamed. He yanked the reins so hard the horses reared back, their hooves stomping against the dirt as they whinnied in panic. The entire procession briefly halted, the knights further back raising their heads in confusion as the horses thrashed.

Luci cackled, doubling over with laughter, clutching his stomach as if the sight of the terrified knight was the funniest thing he’d seen .

"Master, please!" the knight gasped, chest heaving. "Let’s just get back to the kingdom as fast as we can... before the king arrives!"

Luci’s grin widened, eyes gleaming with mischief.

"What did you just call me?"

The knight’s jaw tightened as he realized his slip-up.

"M-Master..."

Luci stepped back, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"From ’Sir’ to ’Master.’" He licked his lips. "That’s an upgrade."

With a satisfied hum, Luci vanished again and reappeared inside the chariot. He sprawled across the seat, propping his feet up on the table like he owned the place. Grabbing another chicken leg, he sank his teeth into it, devouring it with slow, deliberate bites.

"Tearing into chicken like this..." he thought, savoring the flavor. "This life is better than Hell."

The knights resumed their march, the kingdom’s towering gates glowing in the distance. The banners of victory fluttered in the evening wind, welcoming the soldiers home. Cheers and bells echoed from the city walls as word of the victory spread through the kingdom like wildfire.

But beneath the surface, a storm brewed.

Because the demons who are more dangerous and deadly are planning their arrivals.

The sun glowed over the horizon as the knights’ chariots rumbled toward the towering gates of the kingdom. Two guards stationed at the entrance squinted, spotting the lead chariot. The knight on the left gasped, gripping his spear tighter.

"That... that’s Sir Brian’s chariot!" he exclaimed, voice shaking with excitement.

The other knight’s eyes widened. "Then that means... they won the war!"

Word spread like wildfire through the kingdom. People rushed to the streets, shouting the news to their neighbors. Children squealed, running toward the gates, and shopkeepers abandoned their stalls to join the growing crowd.

The war was over.

---

Moments Before the War

Brian sat tall on his horse, silver armor gleaming under the morning light. Rows of knights stood behind him, swords and spears reflecting the sun’s rays. The villagers gathered, faces filled with fear and uncertainty.

Brian raised his hand, and the crowd fell silent. His voice rang out, steady and powerful.

"Today, we march to face the demons that threaten our land. They have taken lives, burned villages, and spread fear — but we are knights, protectors of this kingdom! We will not cower! We will not run! I swear to you, we will return victorious or not at all. We fight not just for the crown but for every mother, father, and child who calls this kingdom home. And we will WIN!"

The crowd erupted in cheers, their fear momentarily replaced by hope as the knights rode off to war.

---

Present Day — The Kingdom Gates

The chariots rolled through the gates, met with thunderous applause. Townsfolk threw flower petals, their cheers echoing through the stone walls. Even as injured knights limped alongside the carriages, the people celebrated their bravery.

Daniel peeked out of his chariot, rubbing his bandaged shoulder. A man spotted him and pointed excitedly.

"Hey! That’s Sir Daniel!"

The crowd roared with excitement. Daniel smiled and gave a casual wave, but a woman’s voice pierced through the noise.

"We love you, Sir Daniel!"

Daniel’s eyes sparkled with mischief. He leaned out the window, blowing a dramatic kiss.

"I love you too, darling!" he called.

The men in the crowd groaned.

"But we cheered for him too!" one of them muttered, arms crossed.

Meanwhile, Brianna sat in her chariot, face as cold as ever. The people cheered for her nonetheless, grateful for her strength in battle. She didn’t flinch, didn’t smile — just watched them in silence.

Brian, however, stepped off his chariot, armor clinking as he walked to the center of the town square. The crowd quieted, waiting for him to speak. He cleared his throat, voice strong despite the exhaustion weighing on his body.

"We promised you victory, and we delivered. The war was long, and we lost good men,women and some other races but we stood together — and that unity brought us triumph. This victory belongs not just to the knights but to every person who kept believing in us. Let this day remind us that even in the darkest times, hope prevails!"

The crowd erupted once again, but Brian raised his hand to quiet them.

"However," he continued, voice more solemn, "we had help. From someone unexpected. A demon." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Gasps rippled through the villagers. People whispered to one another, brows furrowed with confusion and fear.

Brian nodded, acknowledging their concern.

"I know trusting a demon sounds impossible. But a deal was struck — and he upheld his end. I hope, in time, you will understand."

He turned toward the chariot.

"Luci. Come out."

The crowd collectively held its breath as Luci stepped out of the chariot. He stretched, running a hand through his messy black hair. His crimson eyes scanned the crowd, and he flashed a sharp, toothy grin.

"Hey," Luci said, voice dripping with amusement.

The people murmured, looking him up and down.

"He looks human," one man whispered.

"Maybe he’s not really a demon..." a woman suggested.

Before Brian could speak again, a voice boomed from the entrance.

"He’s NOT human."

Everyone turned to the gate, and the air grew heavy. Silhouettes appeared against the afternoon light — mages, their cloaks fluttering as they walked toward the square.

Luci’s smile widened, eyes gleaming with interest.

"Well, this just got interesting," he whispered, licking his lips.

The knights instinctively reached for their weapons, and Brian stepped forward, ready to defend the kingdom again.

The war might have been over — but something even darker was about to begin.

To be continued...