06. Reward For Miko

Emperor Tachibana felt that what the commander of his bodyguards said sounded strange. Kyeo says that?

Why would the cruel devil express how he felt? Isn't the devil heartless? What kind of response did Kyeo want to convey to him as the ruler of the country? Really, the emperor of the Cloud land did not understand what he meant.

There is not a single creature capable of making the bat demon respect human life. He will freely kill, destroy or destroy living things called humans because for him their lives are very fragile and the devil does not like fragile. They also really dislike weaknesses that are identical to mankind.

Not long after, the group of guards who had come carrying the cage where Kyeo was locked up arrived before the Emperor Tachibana. The demon was put out in public, because there were many citizens who asked to see Kyeo's form in person.

Unexpectedly, the screams filled with words of scones and derision could be heard filling the crowd with people who seemed to be angry. Nothing more than that. They were angry. Kyeo immediately turned his eyes, he knew very well that this would happen to him too. Watched by a group of stupid creatures who are angry because of something he cannot understand. After all, there was absolutely no business if Kyeo took care of humans like all of them. Boring.

The devil then glared at the hundred of humans who were currently looking at him in the cage. Kyeo let out a muffled growl. This was all sickening, she didn't like being in such an annoying position. The devil does not like to be the source of human blasphemy, even though he often hears it, either directly or indirectly, but it still feels annoying.

The whole country disgusted him. They were so sickening that they made Kyeo feel like throwing up. Even though they are only weak humans which are meaningless, but they still dare to look at Kyeo with their heads held high.

Damn! If only he hadn't been locked up ... he might just be having fun with their bodies right now. Just imagining it made the unclothed demon boy feel happy.

Ah, the word if is always beautiful. Kyeo really wanted to enjoy that sensation again, he is wanted to eat humans.

Ceh! This is all because of that damn miko! The bat demon did not grumble to himself. If only he hadn't been caught off guard at the time of his arrest, he might still be in a safe hiding place. Free from various troubles and peoples who intend to kill him.

Kyeo was forced to stop his reverie when a small pebble hit his head all of a sudden. He then looks for the culprit in the crowd, and intends to give his best death glare to those who dare to throw pebbles at him. Not because they feel sick, but demons do often get back at the actions of creatures that try to hurt their bodies in various ways.

Kyeo then stopped his search after feeling that everything he had done earlier was just in vain, because it was difficult to find the human who threw stones in the crowd. The devil then widened his eyes, staring at the inhabitant of the land he did not know what his name was.

According to Kyeo it doesn't matter. He knew it or not by the name of that damn land, after all, there was absolutely no profit for a devil like him. The handsome devil chose not to care for. For him, all of that was just a futile deed.

Seeing Kyeo silent without saying anything like what was previously said by one of his bodyguards, made Emperor Tachibana realize that it was all just a rotten trick from the bat demon alone.

The emperor then took a deep breath away. It is better for him to explain what happened to his people.

"This creature in front of you has killed as many as 999 people in our country. What a terrible number in the history of mankind, even during the beating war."

"He is a murderer who does not care about human life," said the ruler of the Land of Clouds, ending his brief explanation.

Kyeo chuckled at the emperor's words. There was no way he was afraid. "Since I was a devil, what else do you expect? Do you think I will be kind and friendly towards you, naive humans? I am a murderer, that's the real me."

"I am darkness, darkness is myself. And you human beings are nothing but prey which I will tear later!" Kyeo shouted at length as he explained who he was. A cruel grin spread across his handsome face, causing the whole population to scream out loud, asking the demon to be killed immediately.

It is better for the devil to die than those who die because of the devil's deeds.

"Don't let him go!"

"If we let him go, he will definitely kill another human! We must be the next victim!"

"Yes! Just kill him!" shouted a young woman from behind the crowd. "He already killed my baby! Even though my son is only two years old! That devil has no heart ... DAMN MONSTER!"

Kyeo was annoyed by a human scream. He then looked for the source of the scream that sounded sickening in his ears. When he had found her, Kyeo immediately gave her a gruesome glare.

"I really do not have a heart, human! I am a devil. A devil doesn't care about anything other than himself!" Kyeo said firmly. The villagers kept cursing and throwing stones at him, but Kyeo didn't care.

Seeing that the population of his country was becoming increasingly anarchic, the emperor finally ordered his soldiers to take Kyeo away from there.

Before that, Kyeo had a chance to glare at Himiko who was also looking at him. In his heart, Kyeo holds a grudge against that shrine maiden. And determined to take revenge in his heart.

Himiko then turned her body towards the emperor Tachibana, the emperor then smiled at the shrine guard girl.

"Starting today, thanks to the merits and heroism of the kind-hearted Miss Miko, I will proudly make her one of my advisers," said the ruler with such a bright smile.

The people of the country immediately cheered with joy at the word of their emperor. The men raised their farming tools up high, while the women clapped their hands rapturously.

Himiko was shocked, seeing all the residents cheering on her as a hero. Even though what she did was included in her duties as a miko.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty ... the Emperor." Himiko immediately fell to the earth, knelt down and put her forehead on the ground, then continued her words, "but I refused it."

Emperor Tachibana was a little stunned. "Why did you refuse?" asked the emperor in confusion.

The girl's actions raised a question mark for both the Emperor and the residents who were watching, Himiko hurriedly stood up and bowed her head. Didn't dare to stare at the chocolate slices of the ruler who was waiting for her reason for refusing the offer.

The girl who devoted herself to the god put her right hand in front of her chest with a peaceful expression. Then said, "I am just an ordinary miko who travels in this world to create peace."

"I just want to have a normal wandering life according to my mother's request, and I don't want to be tied down in one place. Your Majesty, please forgive me."

Emperor Tachibana smiled a little, he did not feel angry or offended because his offer was rejected by the miko. In fact, the ruler was happy because the girl in front of him was not thirsty for the position he was offering.

"Then, what do you want, Miko-san?" asked the emperor again.

Himiko smiled faintly, she had to speak her heart out. "I only wish to continue on my spiritual journey, Your Majesty, the Emperor," she replied. "I have to gather a lot of strength, so I can maintain the good name of my family clan."

The emperor looked curious. "What's your family clan?" he asked.

Himiko replied, "My clan is Akibara."

Emperor Tachibana has decided. "If it's like that, bring my loyal followers to accompany your journey! They will definitely guard you along the way," he said sounding like an order.

Himiko was flabbergasted, couldn't believe the emperor was so persistent. Quickly she said, "No, there's no need, Your Majesty."

The girl again rejected the ruler's offer, then said again, "Thank you for your generosity. But, I must continue my journey as soon as possible."

Himiko smiled a little again. "Thank you again, and see you soon," she said.

The miko then lowered his body, then left the Emperor and his people just like that. Without the graceful woman knowing, the emperor Tachibana smiled meaningfully at the shrine maiden's departure.

"I will still give you gifts, as a service to trap the bat demon Kyeo."

"Guards, please find out all about that shrine maiden, and bring her and her family to this land, to our city. I will dedicate a special housing and shrine to her and her family."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

The guards lined up and prepared to find out about the whereabouts of their savior miko. Armed with the girl's surname, Akibara.

***

"Shit," cursed Kyeo while watching the wound that hadn't dried up since his fight with the weak human girl with the red riding hood. The wounds Kyeo got from his battle with the miko girl still didn't close after a long time had passed. It took a long time to just recover himself.

Kyeo even had to lose one of his proud wings in the battle, and he couldn't regenerate the growth of his demon wings because there was pure energy blocking his intentions. That damn miko, to the end it was still troublesome.

"Shit, shit, shit!"

Swearing, cursing, and swearing are actions that Kyeo has done every day since he was locked up in a golden cage. The demon didn't have the strength to break the seal that was in that place.

Although, it was actually very easy for him to destroy the miko's little barrier, if only his body was in tip-top shape and wasn't seriously injured like this. Of course, he was very strong, but he couldn't possibly put all his strength into breaking the seal. That is dangerous.

Kyeo then looked around, there was only darkness around him. The demon who had the true form of that huge bat didn't even know how long it had been. He did not know the time that was going on around him. He also did not know whether the day had changed to day or had turned back to night.

Time seemed to be running slowly for him in that golden prison. Everything was boring.

What Kyeo knows from the cage where he now lives is; as soon as possible he must free himself from that place and take revenge on the human girl who had dared to lock him up there.

Every time he remembers the humans who have dared to seal and place him in a cage like a bird in the middle of nowhere, Kyeo is eager to tear the miko's body, then throw it in hot lava, or tear his body into small pieces.

Kyeo even though about eating his soul, even though the pure soul of someone who believed in god was bitter on his tongue. Yes, he is.

"Just watch," monologue the devil, in filling the void in the dark cage. His golden yellow eyes instantly turned a blood red color, a form of defense when anger began to envelop him. "I will kill and slaughter all of his descendants! No exception!" his tentacles while snorting irritably.

The demon returned to the monologue, "I also don't care what their next life will be like. What is clear, I will finish them all with my hands." Kyeo raised his hand up high, then laughed evilly.

Without knowing that the hands of fate were hugging him tightly. A fate between Kyeo and one of the girls that will change the devil's view forever about creatures called humans.

Could it be that later, Kyeo will understand the path of destiny he has to walk with that girl? With the girl he should hate?

"Tch, don't expect me to forgive you, human," Kyeo said again flatly. For now, let the devil wait for the time around him to quickly pass.

+ Note +

San *: The nickname -san is used to address an unfamiliar person, and it is a polite address for a stranger or a stranger in Japanese culture.

Ojigi *: The culture of bowing in Japan. Ojigi is one of the activities in Japanese culture to pay homage to others.