Five hours of driving later, they finally reached Struttemberg. It was already midnight, but the city was still bustling with life, much like the Adal cities they went through. Struttemberg reminded Lilac of Stelikan with its heavy industrialization. It was also comparable to the city in term of pollution from the factories. However, the suburbs and the downtown area were less polluted. Unlike Stelikan, in which industries intermingled with the rest of the town, Struttemberg’s industrial area was far from the main portion of the city, in which it was more pleasant. It reminded her of Yenhal, the city they ended up staying in to escape the pollution of Stelikan.

Also, like Yenhal, Struttemberg was culturally diverse, with Lycans and humans living and interacting with each other. By this point, Lilac was already accustomed to such diversity ever since she lived in Summinat for a while. She believed it wasn’t wrong for a Lycan to be out in the open in their werewolf form, and there certainly wasn’t any chatters behind anyone’s back of someone’s turned status. It was just as Albert said. Dusdolf was the region of wolves.

But the thing that surprised her wasn’t the Lycans. It was the hellhounds. They weren’t even trying to hide. Several of them, in fact, seemed comfortable showing their reptilian eyes and horns to their friends. Lilac was familiar of this back in Summinat, but this wasn’t Summinat. It was Struttemberg, Dusdolf.

Even Albert voiced his surprise. Just like Lilac, he noticed the clearly more dog-like hellhound chatting and joking in Dusdolfian, specifically the regional slang. It was as if he grew up in Dusdolf all his life, almost like Eshdar or the many surface-born children that populated Summinat, and possibly the An’ah region.

“I never saw hellhounds in Struttemberg before,” said Albert.

“How long has you been here?” asked Eshdar.

“Two years, give or take, then off to Tragoria,” said Albert.

“Well, they certainly did not come out of hiding recently. I shouldn’t be wary, but right now…I do. So, are we going to the Demon Hunter office, then?”

“Not tonight. We need to look more presentable,” said Albert. “Even if they are okay with it, that doesn’t mean we can’t look better, right?”

“I agree, yes,” said Lilac. “Little lady here also needs to rest. Uh…what’s her name, Albert?”

“What is your name, child?” said Albert in Dusdolfian.

The girl was hesitant at first, even though she knew they saved her. However, she eventually said, “Gertha.”

“Gertha.” Albert smiled. “That is a beautiful name. The lady here is Lilac, and the fox is Eshdar. They are both Tragorians.”

Gertha smiled when Albert complimented her, then smiled to both Eshdar and Lilac. They smiled back, though Lilac was concerned that they might be too scary, given their sharp teeth. Gertha did not seem to mind.

Without delay, they booked a room in a mid-range hotel, which was comfortable enough for the four while also being relatively cheap. After cleaning themselves up while also getting something to eat from the pub, they had their rest for the night.

The next morning, after breakfast, the four travelled to the Demon Hunter’s chapter in the town. Albert preferred to meet with Marlene first, but also understood that she was busy. In fact, he had not told her he was coming, while Otto asked him to come the first opportunity he had. He chose to hear what the Hunters had to say.

The office looked unassuming from the outside, given that it was within a larger building that looked almost like a tax office or a government office. Albert almost thought the register was wrong about where the office was, though all doubts were gone when he saw the name on the door: Gestjager, Dusdolfian for Demon Hunter, and the chapter.

Without hesitation, he walked in, followed by Lilac and the others. Then, there was a startling sound of honks and bells that came off at the same time. Suddenly, two Hunters carrying a book each and a rod rushed out of the door. The act confused the four more than startling them.

Then a familiar voice, in Dusdolfian, commanded them to stand down before he rushed out of the same door they came from. He was a gruff-looking Lycan with a combination of fur color such as grey, white, and brown. There was a very visible scar running down his right eye, with said eye milky white from damage. He was wearing a vest and a shirt, clearly deep in his job, along with a pocket watch, chains dangling from the vest pocket. The four noticed that, unlike Lilac and Eshdar, he wore slippers that let his claws free while keeping the rest of his paws snug.

“Hey, hey, calm down! False alarm!” he exclaimed. “Who the hell’s supposed to fix the alarm?”

“Again?! Oh, goddamn it!” groaned one of them. “This happened this morning, too!”

The others voiced their displeasure as the alarm was turned off. The Lycan then said, “Maybe it’s better if we talk outside while they fix the alarm. Central cut our funding, so we’re short of men, not to mention the blunder yesterday….”

“But that alarm—”

“Had been set to sensitive ever since the recent demon problem,” said the Lycan. “In any case, I assume you are commander Albert, then?”

“And you are Otto Denziger?” said Albert.

“Yes, I am. Your companions…they don’t look like they’re from around here.”

“Ah.” Albert then switched to Tragorian. “The werefox is Eshdar Winsel. The werewolf is Lilac Rezmirn. And the young lady is Gertha.”

“Well, it’s nice meeting you,” said Otto, with a heavy Dusdolfian accent. “Anyway, we can risk the alarm going off, so I suggest the coffee shop down the hall. It’s good to know where you get your daily fix, especially if you’re working late.”

And so, they went to get coffee, even though it was barely three hours since their breakfast. Lilac did not expect any excitement after what happened the previous day, but things happened, so she might as well get used to it. Nevertheless, the Demon Hunters seemed to be such interesting fellows. The way they confronted the four looked almost looked comical, considering that her experience with demon hunting happened to be Albert’s express way of shooting his way out of demons and blast them with a powerful, invisible force.

As they enjoyed their coffee, Otto finished his supper and said, “Now, then. You do keep some interesting company, commander.”

“Just Albert, please,” said Albert. “I haven’t been doing my commander duty for a while now.”

“Where were you stationed?”

“Tragoria.”

“Ah. Was stationed there before. The locals are nice, but they don’t like having a werewolf staring down at them like a hungry wolf. Can’t help it. I mean, you don’t get the luxury of having a human form when you happened to be bitten by one.”

“So, you’re a turned, then?” said Lilac.

“Been ten years now,” said Otto, scratching his ears. “Not too bad, although I need to be content with my fur shedding.”

“Well, you do have quite a magnificent coat.”

“They mostly shed during the summer. Can’t say the same to you, huh, ‘Werefox’?”

Eshdar did not like how he said it, especially when Otto’s expression turned serious.

“You don’t need to hide it, hellhound. I know you are one. Those scales are dead giveaway,” said Otto, pointing out Eshdar’s black ‘fur’ that he kept covered in arm warmers. He quickly tried to conceal the scales.

“Is that…going to be a problem?” asked Eshdar.

“Of course not. We know you’re not demons. Despite your Underworld origin, you cannot be banished by rituals, so there’s that. The young lady, on the other hand…”

Lilac pointed at herself, while the others stared at her (except Gertha, who did not understand Tragorian). Confused, Albert said, “What’s with her?”

“From the way you react, I don’t think you know,” said Otto. Then, with a sigh, he said, “That alarm that just went off…was just repaired. By me. Earlier this morning, a client came in and set off the alarm. She was touched by a demon, but she wasn’t a demon. The alarm wasn’t supposed to come off just because of that. This time, I thought it broke again, and I thought that, since the for of you got in contact with a demon recently, it might amplified the signal enough to set the alarm. But then…I never thought you came along.”

“W-what? What’s wrong?” asked Lilac, confused.

“Is she…?” asked Albert.

“Unfortunately, she is.” Otto sighed. “I don’t know how to break it for you, Lilac Rezmirn, but you are a Tainted. Something tells me this form of yours isn’t supposed to happen. You are not a turned werewolf, aren’t you, Lilac?”

“H-huh? Tainted?”

“Demonic corruption,” said Albert with a sad expression. “I don’t want to believe it, but there is no mistaking it. I have suspected this ever since we reached Summinat. Lilac…what Ifrit did to you…wasn’t supposed to happen. He was a demon.”

There was an uncomfortable pause before Lilac said, “That can’t bloody happened. He is so sweet and kind! That is certainly not something a demon act. Just look at that horse demon we fought!”

“And hellhounds, especially those coming from the Underworld, are naturally violent!” said Eshdar, trying to defend Lilac. “I don’t even get the feeling he’s out of ordinary!”

“Will this be a problem for you, then?” asked Albert. “You’re going to cleanse her?”

“Cleanse? What…?”

“Is that what the book says? Well, we don’t do Central shit here,” said Otto, crossing his arms. “She was just unexpected, that’s all. Why do you think I ask you to talk out here instead of in my office? You and me have seen layers of characters out there, Albert, but those young ones? They are stickler to the rules, and they certainly will agree with you on that. I, on the other hand, care to listen. She is Tainted, yes, but does she act like one? Perhaps, the corruption was not enough to change her. So, Lilac, you are safe out here. In fact, I think it’s better if you stay out of the office for now, alright?”

Lilac, still confused by all the information and revelations, was unable to process what’s happening. Ifrit was a demon? He looked like any other hellhounds, and he clearly looked more like a confused dog than a demon. Yet, the mention of Ifrit being a demon did make things clearer for her, especially on how he could heal by being engulfed in flame while other hellhounds were merely immune to fire.

But that was the only peculiarity on his part. It was so subtle, so unimportant. It was like a passing mention. How could she miss it? Was Ifrit’s charm part of his demonic identity, too? Was he—

“I can see those gears turning inside your head, frau Lilac,” said Otto. “I can even know what you’re currently thinking. ‘What will the Demon Hunters sitting in front of me and beside me do?’ Well, let me give you the answer. The answer is nothing.”

“Nothing?” said Lilac with a scoff. “Nothing for a corrupted girl like me? Is my life that insignificant—”

“If you want significance, you’ll be put in the cleansing program, and believe me, that is not what you want,” interrupted Otto. “I’m sure commander Schafner told you about gestjagers being traditionalists. He is being serious about it. They are frozen in a time when demonic corruption means certain death and fall to the darkness. The cleansing program is a progress, but it isn’t much, and it certainly brand you as a Tainted. That is not a life you want.”

“But what should I do, then? Blame Ifrit for causing me this?”

“That is up to you.” Otto then sipped his coffee. “As for my part, the alarm needs more fine adjustments. As for Albert, it’s up to his choice, though I think he already made a decision.”

Lilac could trust Albert, but then…she was still not sure about the rest of his people. All she could do was silently nod.

“Now that we got that out of the way, there is something else you can do for me,” said Otto. “Name your price, and I will make sure it will be done upon success of your mission.”

“The price is simple,” said Eshdar. “We need your help for the upcoming Incursion. A Hellish Incursion.”

“Well, I’m glad our interests are aligned,” said Otto with a smile. “I’m also glad we can finally give the Tragorian attack and the rampant demonic summons a name. I like that, Hellish Incursion.”

“So, you do have an idea of what’s going on,” said Albert. “Does Central know?”

“Central here, Central that.” Otto sighed. “Commander, you and I need to be clear on one thing. Central’s job is to make sure there is no political consequences of us raising an army to fight against demons. You know how the oppositions are against us existing. The 20th century is a time of progress, not a time of demons and rituals. They thought we are still living in the time of conquests, long before this region was a unified kingdom. Good thing Central agrees we are still worth it, but for how long? You don’t want to see us turn into outlawed mercenaries, don’t you?”

“But do they know?”

“Of course, they know. But then, so does our enemies. The blunder you reported is one of many blunders the Hunters made. Right now, their priorities are all over the place. Increased incidents of demonic attacks are reported all over the kingdom and we can’t do anything to stop them.”

“Okay, we get it,” said Eshdar. “But what’s the mission? Do you need us to destroy a cult?”

“We’re working on that. For you, however, I want you to be our rear guard. Struttemberg is peaceful right now, but it wasn’t the case a week ago. I’m afraid that, when we’re doing an operation to crush the demonic cult, we will be falling into a trap, and Struttemberg will fall. If there is nothing happening, then it’s fine, but don’t bet on it.”

“What’s the problem?” asked Albert.

“Circle Demons. More and more of them becomes a problem to the city.”

“Because the summoners got bold. Or misguided fools.”

“Spurred by the Hellish Incursion, but also by something else. We suspect that they are in this city. We’d investigate it ourselves, but then…”

“The cult problem.”

“Hence, we need someone who can help us. Someone with a higher authority than me. You can go in places even I can’t go. Struttemberg Chapter is not that big, you see. We’re more like foot soldiers than investigators. Will you do it for us?”

“And I assume we don’t need this to be official?”

“I don’t think you want this to be official, not when you are currently stationed in Tragoria.”

Albert chuckled. “Yeah, well….”

“And don’t worry about bringing frau Lilac and herr Eshdar along,” said Otto. “Her secrets are safe with me. Also, do not worry about little Gertha. I can ask one of ours to take care of her. So, do we have a deal?”

Albert nodded, followed by Eshdar and Lilac. As Albert shook hands with Otto and exchange some words in Dusdolfian, however, Lilac became concerned. She wasn’t concerned about what the Demon Hunters would do to her. She was more concerned with herself. What if a trigger would end up corrupting her further? Could she have the courage to end her life if that was the case, or would she be taken by the corruption, and turn against her friends?

She could blame Ifrit for this, but at the same time, she knew it was also partially her fault. Or, maybe it wasn’t even both of their faults. She had her doubts early in her journey, and she did denounce Ifrit as a demon. She never thought how right she was.

Yet…she also knew it wasn’t right, either. Ifrit? A demon? Was he playing a long game? Was that sacrifice deliberate? The seed of doubt started to cloud Lilac and she hated it. She hated that her love towards Ifrit became tainted. She hated that by honoring his sacrifice, she would be honoring a demon.

And worst of all, she couldn’t hear what Ifrit had to say about it. Ifrit was dead, and his secrets, if it was ever a secret, died with him. The whole ghastly affair made her feel depressed. She wasn’t sure who to trust anymore.

In the end, her wish became a devil’s bargain.