The Heavenly Demon Is Just Stuck In My Head

The sun had set, and darkness had crept into the forest.

Because of the constant ambushes along the way, I had been delayed, and with the next village still a fair distance away, I had no choice but to camp for the night.

I stepped off the road, found a suitable spot, and gathered fallen branches to build a small fire.

Crackle. Crackle.

I skewered some jerky I’d bought from the village onto a sharpened stick and held it over the flames.

Grilled lightly, it not only tasted better but also became more tender and easier to chew.

As I ate, a faint voice drifted down from the trees.

“Smells good…”

“…”

I ignored it and popped the jerky into my mouth.

This time, the voice came closer.

“Smells good…”

“Sigh…”

I shut my eyes and sighed deeply.

Leaves rustled softly overhead.

When I opened my eyes again, a figure that looked like a black stray cat was sitting across the fire, staring at me without blinking.

“Smells good…”

“…”

To shake her off, I unleashed my movement technique to the extreme and bolted.

I ran fast and far, so much that I drained nearly half my inner energy—yet she matched my speed from above the trees as if it were nothing.

It was hard to believe she’d really been careless enough to let me catch her before. She didn’t even look tired.

In the end, I failed to shake off the stray cat.

With a shameless expression, Shushruta said, “Ashuban, why won’t you share food with your companion?”

I sighed heavily and tossed her the jerky pouch.

“Skewer it and cook it yourself.”

“Understood.”

Licking her lips, Shushruta skewered a piece of jerky and held it over the fire.

I glared at her.

“How long are you planning to keep tailing me?”

“Tailing you? What nonsense. We’re companions.”

“Companions, my ass.”

She flipped the jerky over and asked innocently, “Ashuban, is it ready to eat now?”

I growled low, like a beast. “Don’t act like we’re close.”

Shushruta only chuckled. “Don’t be so stiff. We share life and death, do we not?”

“…”

Life and death…?

I stared at her smiling face for a moment, then turned away and muttered, “Stop smiling. It makes me like you.”

Crackle. Crackle.

For a while, only the fire’s popping filled the silence.

Then Shushruta’s airy voice broke it.

“Oh? It’s turned black. Is it ready now?”

“You idiot. You should’ve eaten it before it burned. Toss it.”

“How could I waste it? I’ll eat it anyway. Smells fine.”

Without hesitation, she bit into the charred jerky.

“You fool. If you eat it straight like—”

“Hot!”

Shushruta yelped, leaping up and tossing the skewer away.

“…Unbelievable.”

I looked at her in pity as she stuck her tongue out, going “pth, pth,” like a child.

And suddenly, a thought struck me—was that how I looked to the Heavenly Demon?

[Pathetic fool.]

‘…’

Shushruta tried to pick the fallen jerky back up but gave up with a miserable face. She’d dropped it into the ashes.

“…Just cook another one. There’s plenty.”

“Alright.”

Thankfully, she seemed capable of learning. This time, she took the jerky off the fire before it burned, blew on it, and ate it carefully.

“Taste good?”

She nodded, “Delicious. Grilled jerky smells and tastes much better. I’ve learned something valuable.”

I leaned against a tree, watching her munch, then shut my eyes.

Mouth full, she asked, “Ashuban, are you sleeping?”

“Yeah.”

“Understood. You must be tired. I’ll take first watch.”

“…”

I cracked an eye open, watching her act like it was her duty, then shut it again.

‘As if I could actually sleep.’

Who knew when this stray cat would turn on me, slit my throat, and take the dagger?

If I considered the kind of nicknames her footwork alone had earned her, then this clumsy, clueless act she showed might all be a façade.

Only an idiot would sleep soundly here.

I was exhausted from fighting and running all day, but…

I summoned superhuman willpower and activated my secret art.

The Secret Art of Closing One’s Eyes Without Sleeping!

[You’re the real fool here.]

‘…’

Time passed. Even with my discipline, I eventually drifted into that hazy state between waking and dreams.

Rustle.

The sound of Shushruta standing snapped me awake.

My jaw tensed.

‘Of course. This thieving cat.’

I kept my breathing slow and steady, pretending to sleep.

The Secret Art of Feigning Sleep!

Through my senses, I tracked her every movement.

Softly, she whispered, “Ashuban. Are you asleep?”

“…”

Step. Step.

She crept closer.

My grip on my sword tightened.

“What a scary man. Sleeping with his hand on the hilt.”

“…”

Like a cat, she slipped right up to me.

I clenched my sword hilt tighter.

If she released even a trace of killing intent, or tried anything foolish, I would cut her down in an instant.

Outwardly, I looked peaceful, as though truly asleep. In reality, I was taut as a bowstring.

“Ashuban. Are you really asleep?”

She waved her hand in front of my eyes.

“…”

“So you are.”

Then she grinned wickedly.

“Hehehe… hehehehehe…”

‘You little…’

My blade was halfway drawn.

But instead of attacking, she stepped back and started rummaging in the ashes of the fire.

“Hehehe… hehehehe…”

I frowned.

‘…What is she doing?’

She scooped a handful of black soot, dipped her finger in it, and began doodling all over my face.

“Hehehehe. This bastard. How dare you strike the great Phantom Thief Shushruta on the head.”

“…”

“Do you know how much that hurt? You can’t even imagine.”

“…”

“When you wake and wash your face in the stream, you’ll be shocked. And if you don’t wash? Even worse! Passersby will snicker at you while you blink like an idiot, not knowing why. Ah, what a terrifying revenge. I scare myself.”

“…”

No doubt about it—she was the biggest fool I had ever met.

After scribbling for a while longer, Shushruta nodded in satisfaction.

“Perfect. My bloody revenge is complete.”

She returned to her spot with a smug smile.

“…”

I was so dumbfounded that all the tension drained from my body.

Once my taut muscles relaxed, sleep crashed over me like a tidal wave.

‘I… can’t… sleep…’

But despite my resistance, I sank helplessly into the deep sea of slumber.

Chirp, chirp.

Birdsong woke me.

I half-opened my eyes and glanced around.

The campfire had already gone out, leaving behind nothing but wisps of fading smoke.

…I couldn’t even remember when I had fallen asleep.

“Ah!”

With a start, I shot upright and scanned the area.

No killing intent.

The only sound was the faint rhythm of someone’s breathing across from me.

Shushruta was curled up on the far side of the dead fire, sleeping soundly like a cat. Every so often, she let out a muffled, “Hehe… hehe…” as though she were dreaming something pleasant.

“…”

Judging from the state of the fire, she had been asleep for quite some time. Where once it had burned brightly through the night, now only pale ashes remained.

A sense of futility—and irritation—rose up inside me.

‘…No wonder I was freezing all night.’

I nudged her leg with my toe.

“Hey. Get up.”

“…Hehehe.”

“I said get up.”

Still, she didn’t move, so I shoved my foot under her side and flipped her over.

“Nyak!”

With a strange cry, she landed in a crouch like a startled cat, reflexes razor-sharp.

Half-lidded eyes darted around, then she began rubbing her face with the back of her hand.

I scolded the stray cat washing her face like that.

“Idiot. If you’re going to sleep, you should’ve woken me up. How could you just doze off?”

Shushruta rubbed her eyes and replied, “You were sleeping so soundly, I couldn’t bring myself to wake you.”

“…”

“Ah, but don’t worry. My ears are sharp. I can sense danger even from afar.”

“You didn’t even stir when I poked you.”

She answered calmly, “You’re not a danger.”

“…”

I was left speechless. She always had a way of leaving me with nothing to say.

I scraped some dirt over the ashes with my boot and muttered, “Up. We’re moving.”

“Hm? No breakfast?”

“The road’s long. Eat on the way.”

“Very well, Ashuban.”

After finishing her catlike wash, she stretched with an obnoxiously loud “Nyaaagh!” before standing.

When her eyes landed on me, she suddenly snorted.

I frowned. “What? What’s so funny?”

“Oh, nothing.”

She clapped a hand over her mouth, shoulders trembling as she fought back laughter.

“Pft. Pfft… pffft…”

“…”

I stared at her for a moment, then turned and started walking.

I decided to let her savor her so-called terrifying revenge a little longer.

“Pffft.”

“…”

“Pffffft.”

…Maybe I shouldn’t have.

The Mercenary Guild branch in Akenaten.

Colin yawned lazily and asked, “Elina. Anything new?”

Elina was the receptionist he often stole a seat from when bored.

“Yes. Some new bounty posters just came in.”

Carrying a thick stack of papers, she handed them over.

“Ah, nothing like checking the wanted list for entertainment. Let’s see them.”

“Here.”

Colin wiped the tears from his eyes caused by his yawn and took the posters.

“Oh, fresh ones?”

“Colin, anything good in there?”

“If there’s one worth thirty silvers, it’s mine.”

“Idiot, first come, first served. Don’t be stupid.”

“Shut it. I called it first.”

With no decent jobs to be found, a group of mercenaries who had been drinking to pass the time crowded around him.

Colin scowled and waved them off. “Back up. Damn stinkers.”

They protested, “Chief, let us see too.”

“Trying to snatch the good ones for yourself, huh?”

“You get a salary anyway, Colin. Don’t be stingy.”

He barked, “Back off, bastards! How else am I supposed to post them on the board?”

Finally, the mercenaries stepped aside.

Colin began pinning the posters one by one to the guild’s board, glancing at the prices.

The bounties varied—some as low as five silvers, some as high as ten gold. The amount depended on both the crimes committed and the strength of the fugitive.

With every new poster, the mercenaries grew rowdy.

“Thirty-two silvers! That rapist’s mine!”

“Fuck off! I’m broke!”

“Like being broke’s something to brag about?”

“If you don’t like it, step outside, asshole.”

“Gladly. Let’s go.”

Fights broke out over who would claim a job first.

“Oh, three gold! Now that’s more like it.”

“Says here he killed six soldiers and escaped… He must be pretty tough.”

“Anyone want to team up?”

“You nuts? That’s just begging for death. Bet he uses mana.”

“Only Colin here could handle a guy like that.”

“Damn, that thief’s still loose? Looks like his price went up.”

Some watched just for the spectacle.

“Sixty-seven silver for a kidnapper. Who’s in?”

“Me! But we’re splitting it evenly, right?”

“Alive, or dead or alive?”

“Alive.”

“Ugh, alive’s a pain.”

Others began forming teams on the spot.

Then—

“…Huh?”

As Colin pinned another sheet, he blinked in disbelief.

Was he seeing this right? He rubbed his eyes.

But no, the number was clear.

“The Red-Eyed Devil”

Reward: 100 Gold

Crime — Murder of a Noble

Wanted Alive

Colin muttered, “…What the hell…”

Never in his career had he seen such a bounty.

Murdering a noble? In the Blake Kingdom?

Long ago, there had been such cases, but every one of those fools had been dragged before the public and torn apart by royal knights.

Since then, no one had dared. Killing a noble was practically a one-way ticket to the underworld.

And yet, here it was again—someone had cashed that ticket.

The mercenaries grew impatient.

“Colin! What’s the holdup?”

“That the last one? Pin it up already.”

“You’re not hiding it, are you? We’re watching you.”

Under their heated stares, Colin, still in shock, posted the notice.

The mercenaries froze.

“One hundred gold?”

“Holy shit!”

“Even the worst bastards we’ve failed to catch for years barely go over ten gold. One hundred?”

“Didn’t know they even made bounties that high.”

“What the hell did he do?”

“Murdered a noble? Has he lost his mind?”

“What the fuck… unbelievable.”

“Who is it? Let’s see the face.”

When they did, the guild fell silent.

Their rowdiness died instantly. Faces went pale and stiff.

“Black hair… eyes red as blood… smug-looking face…”

“No way…”

“It can’t be, right?”

A heavy silence spread. Slowly, everyone turned to stare at one man, whose face was paling faster than anyone else’s.

Dogon—the one who had been slapped across both cheeks by Ashuban—stood frozen, staring at the poster like a statue.

“…That crazy bastard…”

For a man who had brushed death’s door, his reaction was oddly calm.

(End of Chapter)