For I Am A Side Character - Zetro Translation

Dead…

An S-ranked hunter died in the hands of a demon…

And Jason saw what happened.

In a quick glimpse of a second, he saw the demon reached out to the man’s chest…and with it, a single tap was all it took to blast a hole in the man’s body.

Yet for such a skill to be made, it would naturally have been thought that the demon used some kind of magic…right?

But Jason didn’t feel anything from that attack…

To him, it was more than just a physical attack…

Something inside the demon…his tricks…his form of attacks…they weren’t common to his knowledge.

“…” Seeing the man beside the demon being dead with his guts and blood spilling out, Jason could just how far the gap was…and something inside him grew wary.

‘How is it possible that a demon is right in front of me right now?…and can I win?’ this simple question simply drew him to the idea that he was willing to fight. For some reason, his own instinct drove him to the fact that he wanted to kill the Demon and nothing else should matter.

But he controlled himself from being reckless due to the fact that the Demon that stood before him was highly difficult compared to anything he has faced in his time as a hunter.

He needed to buy time for Juel and his brother to escape…and if possible, he wished to escape as well, but this wish was fighting his will at every turn.…Against a monster that was standing in front of him, he could only ever guarantee the first part and not his own.

‘…but I injured him.’ and there it was, the thought of his confidence.

Although his flames from his breath was something he could not control, it was easy to tell where he could aim it at. The target of his uncontrolled aggression was none other than the Demon that stands before him.

‘…I can do it…I can d-’

But before he could finish saying anything more, he was flung across the room and straight into the door.

“Gh-kah——-!” the pure form of pressure he felt on his shoulder was unreal. At one point he felt nothing and by the next, he felt the most excruciating pain he ever felt. From this, his only way to cope with as a form of reaction to his pain was to scream, but his scream could only come out in small high pitched tones…

[…] with the demon staring at him from a distance, Jason’s eyes could only dart his way towards the enemy…and from this, with the demon’s hand slowly raised, he could feel his malicious intent.

‘…!?’ and soon enough, he looked away in fear. And from his aversion, he saw the result of the demon’s attack.

From his shoulder, he saw the most devastating result of injury.

Not only was his shoulder twisted like a rope, it was at a point where in just one strong tug from a child could easily break away his arm.

‘…he twisted my arm?!…how!?’

[Hmph, although I find it amusing that your power was capable of burning my flesh, to think that your body was this fragile. It makes me wonder how were you measly vermins able to craft such a craft? Did God aid you once again?…Hmm, I can see it happening. Him playing favorites was always a fact…it happened once before, so why wouldn’t he do it again?]

“.…H-how are you here?!” asked Jason as he was cautious about the demon’s presence. From the pain of his twisted shoulder, he was starting to turn pale.

[You can thank the man over there. Thanks to him, I was able to gain access to this world. You might not have heard him say it, but I was lured into this world because of that man’s ambition to gain power…I can give that, but its my choice whether or not I give it and who I should give it to…but as you can see, I’m limited to what I can do.] said the Demon as he pointed to the chain on his neck.

“…a chain.”

[This chain blocks me from roaming your world, be thankful that this is how the artifact works. If I were truly free, I would have massacred this entire damned country already.] as the demon threatened Jason, the demon knew for certain that from Jason’s fear, he could be convinced to help him be free. After all, to certain weaknesses…if fear was used right, it can simply move a man to certain things.

***

This demon was in fact a High-ranked Demon, one of the strongest there is in the old world. And he had the ability to share his power to those who wished for it, this ability was common for high-ranked demons.

And the ability to be brought into this world was due to the fact that Cursed Artifacts exist. Each cursed artifacts have certain match-ups with other certain cursed artifacts, like that of the Demon Lantern and the Red Door. And each cursed artifact was linked to the demons who had the ability to grant power. As long as those two artifacts were used on one another, one can always have the chance to bring out the powers of a demon by bringing that demon into the world.

Now that the nameless demon is brought here in this abandoned factory, it was by sheer luck that Judas Everbell was able to summon a High-ranked Demon.

With the use of the artifact, he was called to share his power and influence those who called to him. His gift, just like any other demon, although powerful had a simple minor effect. It dishevels a person from their humanity and slowly turns them into something more similar to that of a demon. The gift is simple but addictive, and because of this, certain cults were made to worship these demons.

Each Demon is only capable of bringing out their power to certain people at a certain limits. Demons like the one in front of Jason was one capable of blessing his power to ten people. His rank simply holds him of a higher seat than others.

If he can’t grant his power, then he would remain in this world until he was able to complete his objective. One of the ways he can do that was to lure people in with his magic. A demon of his level can do many things even at the limit of the chain placing him on one spot, so its not hard for him to simply wait until one would approach him with greed that far surpasses morality at ever end point.

The reason why demons share their power was simply to cause chaos into this world and spread their influence. So that once the war to starts again, they can attack at both sides, from the humans who were given their power and from the demons themselves.

This information is held secret from many, but certain people know of this and are always out for the hunt of finding the cursed artifacts and the cults to try and stop them from spreading their influence.

Jason Doesn’t know anything about this…

Soril Doesn’t yet know anything about this….

But one thing is sure for them, and that is that Demons are bad one way or the other. And its their role to pick them out and kill them to secure the safety of the others.

[Are you curious boy?…Curious about my power?…Do you want to gain the very strength that could twist this entire world to its feet? I can give that to you…I can do it…I can…let me help you reach your potential.] said the Demon as he reached his hand out for Jason. And with his hand out, he gave off a scent that would simply entice a person to step forward.

“…You can?” asked Jason.

[Oh, of course I can. I can make miracles more powerful than that of a God could…right here…right now.] said the Demon as he waved his hand and showed Jason that his arm was fixed and no longer twisted. This show of power was simply something to prove that he was miracle worker.

“…My arm!?”

[…and I can do so much more for you. Compared to the bastard that is now dead, you are more of an appealing set. I can work with you…give you power that is more than you can imagine.]

“.…”

[Just take my hand.] said the Demon as he raised his hand menacingly. With his murderous aura filling the room, he gave Jason the option.

And because of this, Jason was backed into a corner.

“…” being enticed by the fear that was brought upon by the demon, if Jason were to decline it, it was certain that he would be killed. He could see it in the demon’s eyes that all it would take was one simple hand to take away his life. But that wasn’t enough to fully convince himself and be influenced by fear by the demon.

Because of his instinct to attack the demon, it also influenced his body. It fought off any form of idea that he would give in to the Demon’s hand.

‘…’ he stared at the demon at a conundrum of two options…lose his life by fighting even when it was hopeless or accept his graces…

But in the end, his fear one over…

“…I-”

All seemed lost to him…and nothing that seemed short of a miracle was available…until.

*Boom!*

A huge explosion was made that caused the entire factory to crumble and fall apart.

And in this shaking disaster fell the sight of a man in armor.

*Thud*

Landing like a knight to save the day, Soril stood with his sword out pointed to the Demon.

“…” he simply said nothing, but his stance made all his intentions wary to the Demon.

[Hmm? Are you another vermin?] asked the Demon as he watched with a smirk on his face.

“Y-you’re here…did Miles and Juel made it out?” Asked Jason as he was surprised to find the man in armor before him.

“…What were you thinking?” said the man in armor as his voice sounded threatening to Jason.

“!?…I…I’m sorry. But He’s stronger than you think…I don’t think that even with both of us, we can’t beat him.” said Jason as his voice was shaking.

“…I’ve already dealt with the bastards outside. The only one left is the bastard in front of us…”

“!?” Jason was shocked to hear this. To find that the man in armor had already dealt with fifty mean around the ranks between B and A, was nothing but shocking…knowing this, the man was evaluated to be at least an S-rank.

“Jason…I thought that you could have done something by now, but it looks like I was wrong. If you can’t deal with this, then run…I don’t give a damn.” said Soril.

“…We already have Juel and Miles out, wasn’t this our goal?” asked Jason.

“Things change…this matters more. Killing him matters more.” said Soril.

“…”

“Here, drink a potion and fix your arm.” said Soril as he tossed a healing potion to Jason.

As Jason caught it with one hand, he was surprised to wonder why the man in armor gave him a potion, he thought that his arm was already fixed, but as he turned to his supposedly fixed arm, he found that it remained unchanged. Still twisted and broken, Jason was shocked.

“W-what is going on?!” asked Jason.

“Get out of here Jason, if you’re scared…then you can’t help me.” said Soril.

“…B-but” as Jason still felt the fear brought upon by the Demon, he turned to the man in armor to seek an excuse, but he couldn’t.

“But if you’re willing to end this problem, help me and fight.” said Soril.

[Hmm, You seem kind of tense boy…why not relax a little. Here.] The Demon raised his hand and in a flicking motion, he manifested a magic ball at the tip of his finger.

And with a simple flick, he fired an extremely dense attack at Soril.

At a speed that Jason could not realize, the attack made its way to Soril.

But with a single swing of his sword, he batted it back to the demon at an extremely fast reaction.

[Heavy Counter!]

And like a strike, the ball coursed itself back.

[!?] the Demon was shocked by this and with no action to dismay, the attack was returned straight to his forehead.

*Boom!*

That single strike back caused an explosion so large that its force of explosion caused the winds to scatter all around, causing Jason to be pushed back.

“!?”

[Well I’ll be damned…looks like we finally got someone who’s a challenge.] said the demon as he was found with a scraped mark on his face.

But without saying anything else more, Soril came in close at a speed incomprehensible to Jason.

[Ethereal Will of the Dark]

[Enlightened Domain of the Dark.]

Activating these two skills, it quickly changed Soril’s entire presence to the Demon.

[!?] he was shocked to find just what happened.

(Something is wrong…his entire presence has changed…what is this that I am feeling?)

Without having to think things clearly, the Demon simply confronted Soril back as something uncertain about the man in armor made him want to take things seriously as well.

As Soril was nearing in, the demon quickly spread his palm open and he casted another set of a dark energy attack that was twice as dense and powerful. And like a force of power simply waiting to be casted upon, he confronted Soril head on and struck Soril on his abdomen.

But as he stretched his arms for an attempt on an attack, Soril was quick enough to strike him back.

[!?]

*Thud!*

Soril was able to stretch his sword outward as an attack and confronted the Demon before his attack could reach him, striking the Demon in the place of his heart.

[Kuhk!] he felt an immense pain as the sword dug into his chest.

(What is going on?…how is it possible that a mere human is stronger than I am?…no that can’t be…I’m sure that I’m more physically stronger…more magically adept…what is it about the man in front of me that has me cornered?!)

As Soril stood on top of the Demon, his eyes stared down on the Demon’s own eyes and there…the Demon saw something within his eyes. The reflection of the very essence of his soul.

[…Those eyes…How?!]

The Demon saw something inside Soril that made him sweet nervously.

(I can’t win this…I can’t!) he thought as his mind was starting to scramble.

And in an act desperation, he quickly kicked Soril away.

[Get off me!!] he shouted.

With all his might, Soril was pushed back to the other end of the wall. Seeing that he was free, he stood up and raised his hand down to where Judas’s body laid dead. And with it, he casted a magic to revive the dead body.

[***&*@!#&*] A set of hogwash words were said and to it, the dead body quickly rose from the cold floor.

[Head my order! Protect me!] said the Demon.

And with no hesitation at all, the dead body moved.

“Aghhkarrr…” said the dead body as it could not comprehend its mind to create it own speech.

But even so, Judas’s body moved to attack Soril, but as this decision was made, Jason came out of nowhere and fought back Judas to try and keep him away from Soril.

‘…this is crazy! How is it possible that someone like him exist!? He’s completely overpowering the demon…he has a chance of beating him!’ thought Jason as he saw just how Beaten the demon was in just one attack.

Comparing the two from that scene alone simply told Jason that the man in armor was superior.

***

Seeing that the Dead Body was being held back by Jason, I made my way and stood back up again…as I did, I turned to the demon in front of me.

‘…He’s afraid.’ I thought as I could see the nervous face he was putting on.

This was completely different from the smug face a couple of seconds ago.

‘How come he’s afraid?’ he thought.

As I thought deep on this, I suddenly remembered back to the time when I was resting in the spa with my brother in the Dojo after our training. That night, I asked a question that simply left me questioning more.

***

“So…I was wondering Brother Cecil, Do you think its easy to kill a demon?” I asked as I was simply relaxing in the calm warm waters of the bath.

“Why are you asking?” asked Cecil.

“I mean, this is the house of shadows, it specializes in exterminating threats all over the world, especially the remaining demons. How effective are we in killing off the enemies that are our number one priority?”

“Well, the house of shadows was made simply because of the demons. From the start of the war until to the future and so on, we continue to hone our skills surrounding the very nature of killing the enemy known as the Demons. To those who walk our path, its easy to kill a demon more than that of the monsters in the dungeons. Trust me…a dragon is more of a threat than that of a High-ranking demon.” said Cecil with confidence.

“Really?”

“Oh yeah, totally. You’ll know once you meet a demon head on. You will realize that they aren’t much a threat to us as anything…” said Cecil.

“…B-but how?” I asked as I still find it curious.

“Hmm, you’re really curious aren’t you? Well, since you already at a point where you are mastering the Ethereal Will of the Dark, I can tell you that there is something important inside of us.” said Cecil.

“What?”

“Hmm, anyway, I can’t say it right now…only master can say it. But once he tells you what it is, you’ll be happy to know that it doesn’t really change anything.” said Cecil.

“Huh, so I can’t really know what it is?” I asked.

“Nope, but you will in the future. Just not right now.” he said.

***

Something inside of me…

What is it?

As this question continues to ponder inside of me, I realized just what Brother meant from his words. Something about this demon felt off.

As we continued to fight, I realized something.

His fighting pattern wasn’t direct, no, it seemed pretty complex if you look at it outside the scope, some parts of it even has a form of martial arts that could easily overthrow anyone…anyone, but not me.

I can see it…

His fighting style is somehow similar to how my brother attacks me during our training. But he is nowhere near the level of Brother Cecil…

At best, its like looking at a mirror…its predictable.

I can predict anything despite his superior strength.

I think I’m starting to realize why my brother doesn’t evaluate them as highly as one would…

At the end of it all…

The Demons were prey to the House of Shadows.