THE HERO'S SON IS A MONSTER-Chapter 81: The Mission of Eresheb
After leaving the moving castle, Eresheb had only one thought in mind. Yet, a shadow of hesitation crept over her. It was not the fear of confrontation itself but rather the fear of seeing that indifferent gaze of Ariane upon her once again. An invisible wall, an impenetrable barrier, seemed to stand between her and her resolve.
"So, XI Alpha, how have things been in my absence?"
Her voice echoed in the damp basement of a discreet tavern, a place where the stench of stale wine and smoke lingered in the air. A few weak candles cast flickering shadows on the stone walls.
At the center of the room, a middle-aged man was playing cards, surrounded by drinking companions. This man was XI Alpha. Like Eresheb, he was one of Ariane’s creations, a piece on the grand chessboard she carefully manipulated. However, unlike her, he had forgotten the tool necessary to complete their mission.
At first glance, XI Alpha was indistinguishable from a human. His gestures, his intonation, even the weariness marking his features, were deceiving. But what set him apart was not visible to the naked eye—it was his very nature, his artificial essence. He could feel like any mortal, experience emotions, be subject to forgetfulness... a flaw that, combined with his nonchalant nature, only complicated their task.
"Oh, big sister! You’re already back?"
XI Alpha stood up abruptly upon seeing Eresheb descend the steps. Around him, the card players froze, exchanging glances heavy with unspoken words.
"What’s this new trend?" — "Since when does this guy have a big sister?" — "Wait, so this guy is into that sort of thing?"
The whispers spread. For a month, XI Alpha had settled in this tavern, winning over the regulars with his easy conversation and undeniable charisma. He had become an essential figure of the place, a table companion appreciated for his humor and company. So naturally, seeing him suddenly with a "big sister" piqued everyone’s curiosity.
"So, your name is really Alpha?" one of the players asked.
Rith, a man with graying hair and laughing eyes, was one of those who regularly exchanged information with XI Alpha about the city’s situation. They often shared anecdotes over a cup of wine.
One of the serving girls working at the tavern came to fetch some wine and couldn’t help but be shocked.
"Only men could spend so much time playing without even knowing each other’s names," she muttered.
A mocking smile appeared on Rith’s lips as he added:
"Tell me, old friend, what’s this all about? In addition to being full of surprises, now you suddenly have a sister out of nowhere? Is this a new way to play?"
Silence fell. Rith had said it. Bluntly, without hesitation. Everyone was waiting for XI Alpha’s reaction, though the boldness of the question had slightly caught them off guard. They all wanted to know, but none would have dared to ask so directly.
Eresheb continued down the steps. As she approached, the candlelight gradually revealed her delicate features. An otherworldly beauty, almost unsettling.
"She’s stunning..." — "She could be among the most beautiful women in the world."
The murmurs intensified. Some stared at XI Alpha, trying to find a resemblance; others got lost in speculation.
"A father-daughter story, perhaps?"
After all, despite his commanding presence, Eresheb looked young enough to be XI Alpha’s daughter.
XI Alpha raised an eyebrow, pretending to be amused by the sudden excitement of his tavern companions. He glanced sideways at Eresheb, who remained impassive, watching the scene with cold, calculating eyes.
"A sister, a daughter... Why not a cousin while we’re at it?" he replied with a shrug.
A general burst of laughter eased the atmosphere, though some remained skeptical. Rith, still as curious as ever, wasn’t convinced so easily.
"Come on, Alpha, don’t take us for fools. If you don’t want to answer, just say so, but don’t give us these flimsy excuses."
XI Alpha sighed, feigning exasperation, before turning to Eresheb.
"Do you want to tell them yourself, or should I make up a nice story?"
Eresheb reached the final step and stopped a few paces from the table. Her gaze swept over each face, silently assessing the level of threat each one posed. Then, slowly, she crossed her arms.
It wasn’t that anyone here could truly threaten her, but that was simply how she was—her feelings were only visible to those around her in rare moments. Most of the time, she was just like a machine, destined to carry out Ariane’s will, which she valued above all else.
"The truth is none of their concern," she said in a calm yet sharp voice. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂
A shiver ran through the assembly. There was something intimidating about her posture, an aura of authority that required neither shouting nor violence.
Rith held her gaze for a moment before raising his hands in surrender.
"Alright, alright! After all, everyone has their secrets..."
He grabbed his glass and took a long sip of wine as the atmosphere gradually returned to normal. The players resumed their game, though some continued to cast furtive glances at Eresheb and XI Alpha.
But the fact that Rith had mentioned secrets didn’t help the situation. It implied that there was something suspicious between Alpha and this beautiful young stranger.
XI Alpha understood that it was time to move on.
He sat back down heavily and tapped the chair beside him.
"Sit down. I suppose if you came here, it’s not just to admire the place."
Eresheb hesitated for a second, then took a seat. She rested her elbows on the table and locked eyes with him.
"Lady Ariane wants to know where we stand. So, while retrieving what we left behind, I reported on the situation. But in the meantime, I’d like us to discuss what you’ve been doing so far."
A silence settled. XI Alpha ran a hand through his hair, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Ah, Lady Ariane... Always so impatient."
On that point, he was wrong. Ariane wanted this mission to last as long as necessary—any pressure they felt came solely from Eresheb’s own relentless drive.
He spun his glass between his fingers, looking thoughtful, before finally asking the inevitable question.
"And you, Eresheb? Are you still as loyal to her?"
The candles flickered under a passing draft, casting shifting shadows across the walls.
***
The Knight of Death had just reduced another village to ashes, his army of undead marching over the smoldering ruins. Yet, he craved more. A strange sensation stirred within him—a primal thrill that intensified as his power grew. It was as if his strength fed on the chaos he unleashed. But he was still young. Too young. Blinded by his rise, he remained ignorant of the true laws of this world and unaware of the eyes that had begun to watch him.
And so, he drew the attention of an entity that was his perfect opposite. A force of light—relentless and unwavering. In an instant, he found himself on his knees, head bowed, crushed beneath an overwhelming power. Not by choice, but because he had never faced anything so terrifying.
Fear?
Is this... fear that I feel?
For the first time since his march into undeath, he experienced such an emotion. He raised his gaze toward his adversary, and what he saw left him speechless.
A woman, of unreal beauty, stood before him. Her piercing eyes cut through the darkness, and between her slender fingers, a pipe exhaled a lazy wisp of smoke. Her mere presence made the surrounding shadows waver.
"Hmm... I wonder how something like you managed to wreak havoc for so long without being noticed! You are far too dangerous, and your power has only grown over time."
Her voice was soft, almost nonchalant, yet carried an undeniable authority.
"Who... are you? murmured the Knight of Death, struggling to catch his breath.
Around them, his army was no more. The animated corpses that had followed him were swept away like dead leaves in a divine wind. He knew that even his most fearsome creations, those lurking in his shadow, would be useless against such a force.
"I am Shai, she answered simply.
"I see..."
Silence fell upon the scene—heavy, solemn. The darkness seemed to close in around them, yet Shai held an absolute position of power, oppressing the Knight of Death without apparent effort.
"I don’t know what led to the birth of a monster like you, she continued, but it doesn’t matter. Disappear. Here and now."
She reached out and grasped his throat. Instantly, the negative energy that composed his very being tried to spread, to corrupt his opponent—but it was futile. At the first touch, a radiant light burst from Shai, burning away the very darkness that made up the Knight of Death. A sacred purity annihilating all corruption.
In the distance, a massive figure appeared. An undead orc, enormous and imposing, watched the scene. He remained motionless for a moment, analyzing the situation, and his expression hardened.
He sighed.
The Knight had fought so hard, yet at the crucial moment, the first thing he did was ask for his enemy’s name? Ridiculous.
"Ah... At this rate, he’s going to vanish, he muttered in displeasure. This is not a good conclusion... Of all the beings he could have encountered, it had to be a monster like her... It’s time to end the experiment."
