Chapter 23

The next morning. In Lord Albert’s office, aside from Lord Albert himself, there were three of us gathered: me, El, and Mill. The room was too small for any more people, but the familiars—including Lil—were waiting quietly in the hallway.

I learned later that Lil’s kind is called the Spiritfolk. They’re said to be the original beings of this world. They existed even before humans, and even before the Demonkin. They are everywhere, and yet nowhere. That is what defines the Spiritfolk.

Inside that office, I explained my past once again.

That my father and mother had died.That I was taken in by my uncle and suffered terribly.The circumstances that led me to my previous job, and the abuse I endured there.And what I wanted to do from now on.

I told them everything. El and Mill listened closely, then exchanged glances and nodded. They turned to Lord Albert and said in perfect unison:

“Let’s kill them, Lord Albert.”

...Neither of them had any light in their eyes. Their faces were dead serious—completely locked in. Honestly... it was scary.

“Killing them is a given. Do either of you have suggestions on how we do it?”

...Even Lord Albert, who usually shows clear emotions, wore a blank, emotionless face like a noh mask. That made it even scarier.

“I’ll smash them into the ground from the sky over and over until they’re in pieces, then sink them to the bottom of the ocean. Let the fish eat them.”

Mill was the first to suggest a method. Normally she’s like a bubbly middle schooler obsessed with love stories, but now her voice was flat and emotionless.

“We’ll bury them alive and use their bodies as fertilizer to grow a tree. Then we’ll burn that tree to ash. Make them suffer slowly.”

Then El offered his idea. He and I had recently become friends. He helped out troubled familiars, and I ended up talking with him more often when he helped me too. It just kind of happened. I thought he was a calm and gentle person based on how he treated others, but...

“Both are solid plans. But don’t forget, the first step is to kill them mentally. The physical part comes later. Strip everything away, throw them into despair—then kill them.”

Lord Albert reminded us firmly. Well, yeah, I did say that…

Now that things are moving, I start to wonder. Was it really okay to drag everyone into this? Maybe I should’ve handled my revenge alone. Just as that doubt crept in, Lord Albert looked right at me and said:

“Don’t try to carry this all by yourself, Yuka. We walk this path together. I won’t let you bear the mud alone.”

“Lord Albert…”

I was honestly happy to hear that… but I wasn’t sure if it was something I should be happy about.

Suddenly, I heard voices from the hallway behind us. It was Lil and the other familiars.

“Everyone, let’s give it our everything for Lady Yuka!”

“This is a funeral battle!”

“A revenge pilgrimage!”

“Commence attack!”

“We’re crashing the party!”

“If they hurt us, we hurt them back! A hundred times harder!”

Lil was leading them. It looked like she had been appointed as captain of the Spiritfolk squad.

Lord Albert, watching the familiars with satisfaction, raised his voice in declaration.

“Everyone, I’m pleased to see such high morale. Thank you for standing and fighting for my wife. From this moment on, we declare war! Our targets are Yuka’s uncle and former boss—and everyone connected to them. Wipe them out. Leave no one standing!”

“As you command!”

And so began a revenge that swept in everyone around me.

Looking back now, I realize... that wasn’t a battle.

It was a massacre. A one-sided slaughter with overwhelming force and unnecessary overkill.

And soon, I would come to understand...the thing that had been sleeping deep inside my heart.