Chapter 52

Chapter 52
## Chapter 52: Golden Highway (4)

The cycle of violence persisted through the following days.

The pattern of their travels became a grim routine. Kadim would detect the presence of supernatural threats or predators and sprint forward. Duncan would trail behind, pushing his physical limits to keep pace. He usually arrived just as Kadim was reaching the point of exhaustion, finding a scene of total devastation: carcasses with shattered jaws, snapped limbs, and exposed organs. He would then perform the ritual of collecting the corrupted blood before incinerating the remains. That was the extent of their interaction.

Initially, the sheer brutality had left Duncan reeling and physically ill, but after a half-dozen such encounters, a sense of morbid familiarity began to set in.

“Whew… huff… huff…”

While the physical exertion of matching Kadim’s speed remained a trial, Duncan had learned to regulate his breathing. The sight of the mangled remains was still revolting, yet he no longer felt the urge to vomit. Without needing instructions, he began gathering the dark fluids and stacking the remains for the fire. All the while, he quietly marveled at how these monsters seemed to be infesting the landscape like common vermin.

Despite the mounting body count, Kadim remained restless. He cleaned his axe with an oily cloth, meticulously removing bits of sinew from the blade, his expression dark.

“Just bottom-feeders.”

“…Sir?”

“These are all minor entities. I was hoping for a challenge—something significant.”

Kadim’s objective was to find another ‘ruin’ to acquire a more potent brand, but that required a reserve of high-quality blood. So far, the lack of formidable targets meant he hadn’t even tested his current inscriptions. While these minor kills were enough to keep his rising instability at bay for the moment, the uncertainty of the future bothered him.

Duncan paused his work of piling the dead, looking up with a confused expression. After a moment of doubt, he spoke.

“My lord, doesn’t consuming that blood grant you a massive, temporary surge in power?”

“…”

“So, is your pursuit of these creatures purely about the blood? Or is there a deeper necessity driving you to eradicate them?”

“…”

Kadim secured his weapon and fell into a deep silence.

In his previous life, these beings had been the center of his existence—they were his target, his fuel, and his reason for living.

He had once convinced himself that killing a high-ranking demon was the only ticket back to his original world. Their blood provided the strength he needed to survive, and the memory of his friends being slaughtered by them provided the emotional fire. Back then, his hatred was focused and entirely rational.

Even when that hatred eventually morphed into a singular addiction to the blood itself, those original motivations had been the foundation.

Now, in this second life, that foundation had eroded.

There was no guarantee a great demon even existed here, or that killing one would result in his return home. The companions whose deaths had fueled his vengeance were gone. With his goals and his motivations stripped away, only the ‘means’ remained.

Was it necessary to remain obsessed with this hunt? Especially now that his physical form had reached such heights? Was it worth the risk of the madness creeping into his mind?

Kadim gave a slow, deliberate nod.

That singular reason was sufficient.

His past life had taught him a fundamental truth: power was the universal solvent. If a problem remained, it was only because he wasn’t strong enough to crush it.

The life of a warrior was a relentless series of conflicts. He couldn’t foresee what horrors or rivals lay in wait. Whether he intended to hunt down whoever had marooned him in this world or simply ensure he left no threats behind him, preparation was non-negotiable.

He required the ‘force of destruction’ to obliterate any obstacle, regardless of the toll it took.

Besides, even without the personal stakes, weren’t these creatures simply a blight that needed to be purged?

“When the world is crawling with pests, you don’t need a reason to step on them.”

“…”

“Let’s get back to the path. I’m hoping our next encounter is worth the effort.”

The duo eventually reached the sixth gate of the Golden Highway. Their passage was smooth; although the sentries were wary of travelers coming from so far out, the official stamp of the Catastrophe Council on their documents silenced any objections.

However, as they prepared to leave, a guard stopped them with a word of caution.

“You aren’t planning to stay on the main road, are you?”

“That was the plan… why do you ask?”

“I’d suggest avoiding the settlement of Kibon. Both Galentana and the Catastrophe Council have sent scouts out that way, and they’ve all vanished. There’s talk of something dangerous out there, so it’s safer to bypass it.”

“…”

A cold, crawling sensation traveled up Duncan’s spine. He looked toward Kadim, and his fears were immediately confirmed.

Kadim’s mouth was twisted into a dark, eager grin.

Duncan, sensing the inevitable trouble ahead, could only sigh.

—

The trek toward Kibon was straightforward.

Following the map, they turned off the main highway onto a secondary trail. It was a narrow path, bordered by thickets of weeds and wild growth that formed a natural, unkempt boundary. While it lacked the polished stones of the highway, it possessed a certain rustic isolation.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the sky bled into a deep crimson, casting long, tattered shadows across the brush before being swallowed by the night. Through the twilight, they spotted a weathered wooden sign labeled ‘Kibon.’

Near the outskirts, Kadim noted two specific anomalies.

The first was a heavy, cloying scent—like toxic incense burning in a closed room. The second was a literal trail of hundreds of larvae moving in a disciplined line toward the thickets.

“Gah, that’s revolting! What is wrong with these insects…?”

Duncan noticed the disgusting appearance, but Kadim saw the pattern: the larvae with horns moved with purpose toward the woods, while the hornless ones crawled in aimless circles.

‘This is the place.’

Kadim recognized the signs. He knew what kind of entity they were dealing with and what had likely befallen the villagers and the missing soldiers.

Kadim signaled Duncan to prepare the containers of harvested blood. Though filled with a growing sense of dread, Duncan complied with the barbarian’s order.

The village was swathed in the deep shadows of night. Kadim took a moment to survey the scene.

It was a compact settlement. Houses were clustered along a single dirt track. Dim light flickered behind shuttered windows, and the faint sounds of domestic life—the clink of pottery and hushed talk—suggested the population was still present.

“The monsters haven’t attacked them yet, my lord…?”

Duncan’s voice held a note of desperate optimism, but Kadim shook his head. Hand on his weapon, he walked up to the nearest residence and hammered on the door.

*Thump, thump, thump—*

The door opened a crack, revealing a woman looking out with apprehension.

“Who… who goes there?”

She had a shaky voice and common features. There was no smell of decay on her. She had some abrasions on her arms, but she didn’t look possessed. She appeared to be a standard villager.

Kadim didn’t loosen his grip on his axe.

“Mercenaries. We’re looking for monsters. Have you seen anything unusual?”

“Monsters? You’re here to kill them?”

“That’s the idea.”

The woman seemed startled, then looked around fearfully before ushering them in. She jumped when she saw Duncan but seemed to find comfort in the fact that they were traveling together.

“Demon hunters… please, come inside. It’s late, and you must be hungry.”

She served them a rustic stew of greens and tubers, accompanied by heavy loaves of bread. Duncan hesitated, but seeing Kadim eat without concern, he followed suit. He did his best to answer the woman’s nervous questions.

“So, you heard the rumors and came to help us…”

“Something like that, ma’am.”

“And the Golden Highway? Is the Catastrophe Council making progress against the enemy?”

“Uh, well, we didn’t see much of a war zone back there…”

As they talked, Kadim’s eyes roved over the interior.

The room was lit by a single, sputtering candle. The floor was marred by various footprints, deep gouges, and marks where something heavy had been dragged. Junk was piled on the shelves, and a collection of crates was stacked purposefully against a door in the corner.

*…Rustle…*

A soft, wet sound came from behind that door.

Kadim interrupted the small talk.

“Where is your husband?”

“…”

“You aren’t alone here. There’s someone in that other room.”

The atmosphere in the room turned brittle.

Duncan went still. The woman’s throat moved as she swallowed. She looked down, her face a mask of internal conflict, before she finally spoke.

“…I kept it a secret. I didn’t want the village to react poorly.”

“…”

“But if you’re hunters, maybe you should know. I’ll tell you what happened to Kibon… and to him.”

She rubbed the marks on her arm and began her story.

Men had started disappearing from Kibon recently, taken while hunting in the woods. When the Catastrophe Council scouts arrived, the villagers hoped for a rescue.

“But those soldiers never came back. Neither did the villagers who went to show them the way.”

The cycle continued. More scouts would arrive to find the first group, take more guides, and vanish into the trees. Her husband had been one of those guides.

“Eventually, the soldiers stopped coming. No one was left to help. I asked the neighbors to help me search, but they were too afraid. I can’t blame them; so many strong men had already been lost.”

“…”

“But I couldn’t leave him. He was everything I had left in this world. No parents, no children… just him.”

“…”

“So, I went into the woods by myself.”

She described a forest that had become a nightmare—choked with a toxic fog and swarming with biting insects. She heard horrific sounds in the mist and nearly turned back several times.

Eventually, she found him lying in the dirt.

“…I brought him home, but I couldn’t tell the others. They’d think he was tainted. He’s been in that room ever since. But you’re professionals. You can see he’s fine, right?”

“…”

“Please, look at him. Tell the village he’s okay so we don’t have to hide. I’ll pay you anything I have.”

She began moving the crates with trembling hands. Kadim stood, his face unreadable, and cracked his neck. Duncan watched, unsure of what to expect. Finally, she swung the door open.

The room was bathed in a sickly, dim light.

On the bed lay a massive, horrific creature—a thorned maggot of incredible size.

*—Skreee, skritch, skreeee…*

It emitted a wet, rhythmic sound. Horns pulsed above its lone eye, and venom leaked from its serrated mouth. Its numerous legs rippled, and its bulk was so great that the bed groaned under its weight.

“What… what is that?!”

“…”

Duncan recoiled in horror. Kadim simply scowled. The woman reached out to touch her injured arm, her eyes wide with a mix of terror and devotion.

“That’s him… He’s just traumatized, so he doesn’t speak. But he eats, he moves… he’s still here.”

“…”

“He’s okay, isn’t he? He’s not a monster?”

Kadim looked at her. Her face was flushed, her eyes desperate. Physically, she was human.

But Kadim knew that madness didn’t always require a physical transformation.

“Duncan, hold her.”

“…What?”

Before anyone could react, Kadim drew his axe and swung it with explosive force.

*Splat—crunch!*

*—Screee!*

The heavy blade split the creature’s hide. Green fluid erupted, coating the walls. The creature thrashed violently, destroying the furniture and the floor before finally going still.

*—Screeeee…*

“…Why?”

The woman stood frozen.

Her breath became shallow and fast. Her gaze shattered. The world she had built out of lies collapsed. She lunged for a harvesting scythe in the kitchen.

“Whoa, stop!”

Duncan grabbed her from behind, pinning her arms. She screamed with a primal, raw agony, fighting against his grip.

“Aaaahhh! You murdered him! I finally brought him home, and you killed him! Aaaaahhh!”

“…”

Kadim walked over and delivered a sharp blow to her face. The impact silenced her. He then grabbed her by the jaw and forced her to look at the dead insect.

“Look at it. Does that thing look like a man to you?”

“…Mmph.”

“Does this disgusting parasite look like the man you loved?”

“Mmph… sob…”

“Stop lying to yourself. While you were nursing this larva, your husband is out there, suffering under a demon’s curse. And don’t look to me for a rescue. If I find a human who’s been turned, I’ll kill them without hesitation.”

“…”

“Get a grip. Go back to those woods. Go before the demon kills him—or before I have to.”

“…”

“No one is going to save what’s yours for you.”

His words were cold and sharp. The woman’s eyes slowly regained a glimmer of focus.

The strength left her, and she slumped to the floor as Duncan released her. She curled into a ball, her body wracked with deep, agonizing sobs.

“Hic… ugh… sniff…”

Kadim watched her for a moment with a frigid expression, then turned and walked out. Duncan followed close behind.

Whether she would find the strength to fight for the truth or retreat back into a comfortable delusion was a choice only she could make.