BVWG 08

chapter 08

‘That’s right. This was supposed to be a survival game, wasn’t it?’

Speak of the devil and he appears—just as I thought of Incubos, I ran straight into one.

This was a slum area, very close to the Black Spirit’s domain. And it was said that the sorrow and despair festering in such slums often summoned Incubos.

‘If this really is a survival game, then it’s stranger that nothing has happened until now.’

Looks like I’ll have to say farewell to the brief peace I’ve had.

“Milady, quickly, this way!”

One of my maids tugged at me in a panic.

Instinctively, I grabbed Dalia’s hand and pulled her along.

As we ran, I saw the knights I’d brought stationed along the way. They were rushing about, trying to save people from the Incubos.

But their swords, spears, and arrows weren’t enough.

Whenever an Incubo was pressed and about to be defeated, it would simply dissolve back into black mist.

That creeping mist would slither elsewhere, re-form, and then attack another victim.

Before I realized it, we had reached the large tent I had ordered set up beside my own for the servants. Knights had formed a defensive line around it.

Inside the tent were my powerless duchy maids and about fifty or so lucky slum dwellers, huddled together and trembling in fear.

Judging from the attack patterns I’d seen earlier, it was only a matter of time before the Incubos forced their way in here too…

Sensing my worry, the maid who had brought us here spoke up.

“A magician cast a protection spell on this tent. The Incubos can’t easily enter.”

That was a relief… in theory.

But I remembered the magician’s lackluster skills. Wasn’t he only really good at water-related spells?

Uneasy, I peered outside through the flap of the protected tent.

And locked eyes with the glowing red stare of an Incubo. It had chosen a man from the slums as its prey.

The Incubo’s black mist swirled around the terrified, frozen man, binding him.

Its mouth opened, revealing blade-like teeth that sank mercilessly into his neck. Only then did the man let out a chilling scream.

But it was brief—his body withered like a dried twig as all his life was drained away.

Then, swallowed whole by the black mist, he vanished without a trace.

I froze in horror at the gruesome sight.

Something squirmed beside me.

It was Dalia. The child was calmly watching the same scene.

“This happens often in our village,” she said.

Only then did I truly realize the hell this child had been living in.

“How have you survived until now?” I asked.

“When Incubos show up, everyone hides and stays quiet. If you’re lucky, you live. If not, you get eaten.”

I was stunned at her detached tone.

“But whether you starve, die of heat, or get eaten by an Incubo—it’s all the same. So everyone just accepts it.”

…Could these really be the words of a five-year-old? Even if she had memories of a past life, something about this felt deeply wrong.

Why was the world of my previous life, and this world too, both so rotten?

At that moment, a flash of white light burst through the tent’s opening.

It was our duchy’s magician launching an attack nearby. His face was strained with effort.

The Incubo struck by the light faltered, dispersed into mist, then reappeared before him.

The magician, refusing to relent, used short-range teleportation to widen the gap, then launched another spell.

‘Oh, so he’s good at short-range teleportation too.’

I admitted it—I had underestimated him.

But my admiration faded as I saw his condition. He wouldn’t last long.

Barely holding his eyes open through a cascade of sweat, his whole body shook as he glared at the Incubo.

‘If he falls, won’t this tent’s barrier collapse too?’

I racked my brain, desperate for a plan.

Seems like the survival instinct I thought I’d nearly lost was still alive.

I refused to die meaninglessly, devoured by Incubos.

But what could I do? The knights and magician were barely managing to hold them off. Could I really fight such monsters myself?

Hiding was the only real option…

Then suddenly, I remembered the village lake.

‘That magician was confident in water spells. Maybe, just maybe, we could save these people!’

I handed Dalia to the maid beside me and ran outside toward the knight guarding the entrance.

“Milady, it’s dangerous out here! The barrier doesn’t extend beyond this point!”

“I still have to go. Protect me. I’m heading to the magician.”

Fortunately, he wasn’t far. Observing the fight, it was clear:

Physical attacks only bought time. The Incubos could only truly be countered with magic.

And we had only one magician—who was on the verge of collapse.

As the leader here, it fell to me to act.

Even if I was a transmigrator, I still carried the sense of responsibility drilled into me by the duchy’s strict heir training.

With the knight guarding my back, I sprinted toward the magician.

We couldn’t afford to waste time—if he fell, so did our last hope.

“Magician! Stay strong, hold on!” I shouted.

He was too absorbed in fighting to respond.

Behind me, the knight desperately blocked the Incubos reaching for me.

‘Wait. Were they actually trying to grab me?’

No—their focus was on my knight, not me. They weren’t attacking me at all.

‘More like… avoiding me? Why?’

Either way, that worked in my favor.

I reached the magician just as he forced an Incubo back into mist.

“How much longer can you last?” I asked.

He only groaned, too exhausted to answer.

“Not long, right? Then let’s move this fight somewhere favorable to you. Come to the tent.”

He nodded weakly and raised his staff, likely intending to teleport us both.

I stopped him with a shake of my head.

“Save your strength. You’ll need it later. For some reason, the Incubos avoid me. Stick close and you’ll be fine.”

His gray eyes widened, then he nodded.

With the knight and magician in tow, I returned to the tent and addressed everyone.

“At this rate, our magician will die, and we’ll all be eaten. We’re moving to the lake. Bring anyone you can along the way.”

Everyone turned to me, listening intently.

“Knights, guard the sides and rear of the people. I’ll protect the front. For some reason, the Incubos avoid me—this is our best option.”

Then I gave the magician instructions.

“Go to the lake ahead of us. Cast a barrier spell on the water, and add buoyancy magic so anyone inside can float. After that, return here and teleport as many people as you can to safety.”

He nodded, exhausted.

“With your water magic talent, it’ll be much easier to sustain. Then focus on bringing more survivors in.”

Dalia suddenly stepped forward and grabbed my hand.

“Sis, I’ll protect the front with you. The truth is, Incubos avoid me too.”

I blinked in surprise, then quickly nodded. Whatever the reason, it would help.

The magician vanished in teleportation, and I rallied the people.

Screams echoed as we moved. Dust kicked up beneath our hurried feet.

Even so, some were caught and devoured along the way. The group was too large to fully protect.

With so few capable fighters, I could only grit my teeth and press on toward the lake.

Dalia stumbled, her small legs giving out. I scooped her up and kept running. She was shockingly light, no doubt from hunger.

As expected, the Incubos ignored us both. A blessing, at least.

Finally, we reached the lake. Most of the maids, knights, and villagers made it inside.

The magician had already cast the protection and buoyancy spells. Now he floated among us, nearly spent.

The Incubos gathered thick around the shoreline, forming a black wall.

Their oppressive aura was enough to make my skin crawl.

But whether thanks to the magician’s spells or the effect Dalia and I had, they did not enter the lake.

I looked around at the mass of people bobbing on the water. Dalia, the duchy retainers, and most of the villagers were here.

I ordered a knight to count. Including the slum dwellers we’d picked up along the way, there were about 150 survivors.

If we could keep them alive, it would be a success in this dire situation.

This was the plan’s endgame: use the lake’s barrier, evacuate everyone inside, and stay hidden.

Holding Dalia close, I glanced at the magician, who now floated limp in the water.

Earlier, his face had been sallow, blending with his straw-like hair. Now, a faint flush of life had returned.

Yes—he truly was a water-specialized magician.

I asked him quietly,

“When will those Incubos finally give up and leave us alone?”