"Kiddo! We are making a run for it! But this time I won''t be dragging you along!"


    "Huh?!"


    "I can''t really make a head or a tail out of the situation! And I''m so tense that I feel like we might open up the Einstein-Roger bridge if we touch each other."


    As I gradually backed away with hops, I made it unmistakably clear to Kiddo that he was not to leave my side.


    Continuing this nightmare of a story was the last thing on my mind. Or rather, it would be more accurate to say that it won''t end even if I want it to. Also, discovering the truth of what''s going on has become the second last priority.


    Because there was no room to think with the prompt interventions from the surroundings. I dashed past the myriad of obstacles, as well as a few more unspeakable events happening around me.


    "Holy shit! What the hell was that?! Did you just see that, Mr Knight?!" screamed a kid devoid of medieval lore.


    The drama(?) was frightening enough to make him use words I have never heard him use. I did my best to tell him to ignore it, just as I was doing, but he huddled in a corner, trying to choke his head, burdened with disbelief and horror.


    "Time to grow a pair, brat! This is just how Vlad holds a banquet and Olga responds to a marriage proposal!"


    He did stop his act of madness, not because of me, but because behind me he saw something he had half expected, and something I had fully expected. I turned my attention to the unannounced demons and how to deal with them. My thoughts were still somewhat clouded, unable to make a decision.


    But my decision solidified, when I felt an airy rustle against the cloth that veiled me, and when my dilated pupil saw the tiny wrist clasping it hesitantly.


    "Haa… Then have it your way. Let’s see this story through to the end!" I exclaimed, startling the demons.


    Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me… Right.


    Ploddingly unseating the sword, "Alright... Rubbers off, we''re going in raw from here," I declared, as I aimed it at the three demons standing before me.


    The three demons looked at each other, "We''ll just assume that he said he''ll take his gloves off and give it his all, ''kay?" and gave each other a hesitant nod.


    Readjusting the position of the sword, my index finger aimed at the demons, "No, you heard right," I uttered with a hint of excitement as I hurled the sword into the air.


    Kiddo and the demons watched in awe as the blade caught the light and glimmered. The demons were oblivious to the circumstances, but the foremost positioned demon realized something was amiss when a powerful gust of wind burst past him.


    That demon understood he had missed his chance to retreat when he saw one of his comrades on his knees, trying to choke himself because of the scabbard lodged in his throat, while another was caught in my hold, ready to be choked.


    As my grip tightened on his companion, turning his 206 bones into 412, the stationary demon began to sweat. "Amature," I muttered as I threw the half-alive demon at the last one standing, forcing him to take a step back.


    Seeing the demon retreating towards him, Kiddo tried to distance himself from it, and attempted to run past an overlooked mop, only to step on its head and feel the impact from his head to groin.


    Meanwhile, the demon, unaware of the crotch-squeezing boy lying down on the floor and one other thing, tried to put on a brave face.


    "W-We''re doing self introductions, eh? A-Amature, huh? I''m–"


    If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. "You don''t get to call out to me, you hole for a crotch."


    Although the name I used for him was nonsensical, he instantly understood the situation as soon as he looked up at the acute noise overhead.


    Fairly promptly he fell on his butt, pinned to the earth by my sword. He did not try to move a muscle, not even letting out a cry of pain, for he knew that any slight movement would only increase his agony.


    The demon''s worries deepened as it saw Kiddo, who looked like he might be on the verge of falling once more.


    As I tried to unsheathe the sheath from the scabbard of my scabbard, I called out to Kiddo, who was crouched down with his hand resting on the petrified demon''s shoulder.


    "Hey, Kiddo! I won''t stop you anymore! For starters, make that demon feel the same pain as you."


    "Huh? Hmm… Let''s see if this makes me better."


    Contrary to my expectations, Kiddo''s behavior was different. He blew slowly into the demon''s ear and spoke abruptly with minimal hand gestures.


    "How did it feel? ...Unspeakable work?!


    Wow, good job, me!


    Now imagine something red... No, a red carrot…


    And... You are a rabbit.


    You were just running by and you saw your fellow rabbits...


    Hanging upside down... And yes... Rabbits don''t wear clothes…"


    I mentioned pain, but I didn''t specify whether it was emotional or physical. And it looks like Kiddo has chosen to focus on the pain that still lingers in his mind. I feel terrible admitting this, but it clearly had a remarkable effect, as it brought the demon to tears and made it whimper, pleading to stop the crude gospels.


    The boy was so deep in those memories, I''m sure he could not even hear the soul-crushing screams. At first, the words sounded effortlessly soft, but now, with every word he spoke, his growing disbelief and horror became increasingly evident.


    "And that is where the carrot enters the picture.


    I never thought rabbits would hate carrots so much! Haha!


    How do you think they were fed?


    I will let you take four guesses…


    One, two, three, fou-


    Wrong!!! They are all wrong!!!"


    He continued to press the demon, asking if it was curious about what happened next, to which the demon responded with tears, shaking its head vigorously as if to say it wished it had never been born with ears at all.


    With each word, he leaned in closer, pressing harder on the demon until even Kiddo''s stomach couldn''t take it any more, making him vomit all the meat he had eaten earlier onto the nailed sword.


    "I-I think that should do it, Kiddo. Stop with that, and..."


    "Huh? What are you talking abou– Holy shit what''s with all these demons! How– Just how can you do this, Mr Knight!"


    I don''t mind taking all the blame, even though it was only three-quarters of it. And I''d rather not debate it and remind him of it again. After all, it made him better—the way he wanted to be.


    "Put that aside and let''s just get this story over with"


    "There''s no way I can leave this hellish illusion behind! Just look at it! One of them is in agony, choking on his own breath! Another has dust for bones in his neck! And I don''t even want to talk about the last one!"


    You were to blame for that last one though...


    "Well, this is all from your perspective. Imagine them enjoying the moment. You know, like surrounded by blooming flowers, with sunlight blinding the background and making improper noises. Give it a shot"


    "That''s lame! What are you trying to teach a kid?!"


    Although his words sounded like a rejection, his thoughts painted the scene exactly as I had described it. And as he gazed at the bright scenery with squint eyes, he muttered, "I hate how this is a viable option"


    "You know, Mr Knight… Why don''t you just……"


    ———————


    Steady, humble footsteps, accompanied by a demon''s irritating utterance.


    "Ahh... I hate this job..."