CHAPTER 230: JUST CREATURES OF THE NIGHT

Raegar was sitting in front of a roaring campfire, cooking some bread while melting the last bit of honey he had in his Item Box. While doing that, Zargoth finished setting up a tent he had in his storage ring.

The giant Demon man stepped forward and demanded. ’’I’m hungry, would you cook something for me?’’

’’A please would be nice,’’ Selene hissed in annoyance.

Raegar chuckled before taking out some Wild Orc meat slabs he had and wrapping them in some Earth Aether to act as a shield as he buried the food under the scorching hot coals that let steam billow up.

His actions confused the two Demons. The older man shook his head and questioned. ’’What are you doing, boy?’’

’’Sizzling some cuts of meat over these glowing coals,’’ he announced.

Raegar reached for the jar of melted honey, its golden liquid shimmering in the firelight. With a flourish, he drizzled the sticky sweetness over a thick slice of campfire bread, the crust still warm and slightly charred from the flames.

Taking a hearty bite, his eyes widened in delight as the honey’s rich, floral notes mingled alongside the bread’s smoky, chewy texture. A soft hum of pleasure escaped him, and he closed his eyes for a moment, savoring the blissful contrast of flavors.

’’Now that,’’ he said, licking a stray drop of honey from his lips. ’’Is what I call a proper fireside treat.’’

The uncle and niece exchanged bewildered glances, their confusion deepening at his unconventional pairing and his enjoyment, as the fire crackled and cast dancing shadows around their rustic campsite.

Selene’s brow arched sharply, her yellow eyes glinting due to a mix of curiosity and skepticism as she watched him. ’’Why in the world are you eating bread?’’ she asked.

Raegar turned to her, his lips curling into a mischievous grin. Without a word, he tore off a generous chunk of the honey-drenched bread, its golden crust glistening in the firelight, and playfully shoved it toward her mouth.

The sudden gesture caught both Selene off guard, her gaze widening in shock at his audacity. ’’Trust me,’’ he said, his grin widening to a roguish smirk. ’’You’re gonna love this. Just take a bite.’’

Selene froze, utterly flummoxed, a storm of confusion and indignation swirling in her expression as she stared at the bread. Feeling both wronged and cornered, she hesitated, then reluctantly bit into the crunchy, honey-soaked morsel.

Instantly, her eyes widened to the size of saucers, the sweet flavor exploding across her tongue in a delightful dance. A soft, involuntary hum escaped her lips, betraying her surprise and reluctant delight as she chewed.

Raegar let out a hearty chuckle at Selene’s wide-eyed reaction to the honeyed bread. Still grinning, he tore off another generous piece of the warm, crusty loaf and handed it to Zargoth, who accepted it with a curious tilt of his head.

The grizzled Demon reached into his ring, pulling out a tarnished flask of ale. He let out a grunt of approval, the older man took a long, satisfying swig, the rich, malty aroma mingling in the air of the campfire.

As the fire’s glow dimmed to a soft ember, Zargoth, his eyelids heavy, mumbled incoherently and stumbled toward his tent, nearly tripping over a root before disappearing inside. Raegar pulled out a sleek bottle of sake, its contents catching the moonlight as he tilted it to his lips for a slow, savoring sip.

The sharp, clean burn of the rice wine made him sigh, but the motion caught Selene’s sharp gaze. Her yellow eyes sparkled as she leaned closer, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. ’’Oi, handsome, don’t hog it all, let me have a taste!’’ she teased.

Raegar chuckled, his deep laugh rumbling like distant thunder, and passed her the bottle. Just as Selene’s fingers closed around it, an eerie, cackling laughter echoed across the clearing, slicing through the night’s stillness like a blade.

Selene froze, her red skin prickling as her eyes darted toward the shadowy tree line beyond their camp. Sensing her tension while noticing the forms of Nightwalkers and Hollowborns prowling in the shadows.

’’No need to fret,’’ he said. ’’Just Creatures of the Night, skulking out there, hoping to lure some fool beyond the protective runes around our tents. They won’t dare come closer.’’

Selene nodded, her shoulders easing as she processed his words, and took a bold swig of the sake, the liquid warming her throat. Raegar turned to the fire, where slabs of orc meat had been slowly roasting on a spit, its savory aroma now thick in the air.

He carved off a few juicy slices, handing one to Selene, who accepted it. The moment she bit into the tender, smoky meat, her face lit up, a grin spreading wide as she chewed. ’’This is incredible!’’ she exclaimed, her excitement bubbling over.

Selene’s fingers brushed against another slice of the smoky orc meat, her earlier unease washed away by the warmth of the sake and the savory feast shared under the twinkling starlit canopy.

The fire crackled gently as they savored the moment. But his sharp eyes caught movement beyond the flickering light, a shift in the shadows. Raegar’s gaze narrowed as he spotted the glinting eyes of Tier Six and Seven monsters, their hulking forms skulking just outside.

Moments later, the Demoness sensed the change in his demeanor, and a chill crept down her spine as she followed his gaze, her eyes widening at the sight of the creature’s grotesque silhouettes.

Her hand froze mid-reach, the meat forgotten. Before she could speak, Raegar rose to his feet, hands flashing as he summoned his daggers. The sudden action jolted Selene, who lunged forward, her voice urgent.

’’Rae, no! You can’t go out there!’’ she hissed, her red skin paling.

Raegar turned to her, a confident, almost reckless grin spreading across his face. ’’Relax, my Demoness,’’ he said, his voice calm. ’’I could wipe them all out. But if I leave them be, they’ll keep up that infernal cackling all night, and I’m not about to lose sleep over their nonsense.’’

His words carried a mix of bravado and practicality, easing Selene’s panic just enough to make her hesitate, though her gaze flickered nervously between him and the lurking monsters beyond the runes.

Following that, Raegar surged forward, vaulting over the glowing runes, his boots barely touching the earth before he plunged into the chaos. His daggers flashed, slicing through the nearest Tier Six creature.

Black ichor sprayed as the beast’s roar turned to a choke, collapsing in a heap. Selene, frozen at the edge, watched in awe and dread as he danced through the chaos. A pair of humanoid creatures.

They lunged at him, their claws slashing through the air. Raegar spun, his movements a blur, parrying one strike with a dagger while the other carved a glowing sigil into the air. A burst of Aether that erupted in a flash, incinerating one and sending the other reeling.

His laughter, sharp and defiant, echoed through the clearing, taunting the creatures as he wove through their ranks. A massive Tier Seven behemoth, its hide like cracked obsidian and horns curling wickedly, charged while letting out a bellow that shook the ground.

Raegar didn’t flinch. He leapt onto a nearby boulder, using it as a springboard to vault onto the creature’s back, driving both daggers deep into its neck. The beast thrashed, its roars turning to pained shrieks as he twisted the blades.

With a final, brutal wrench, he severed its spine, and the behemoth collapsed, shaking the earth. The remaining monsters hesitated, their snarls faltering as he stood atop the fallen behemoth, his chest heaving.

His eyes scanned the clearing, daring the creatures to advance. One by one, they slunk back into the shadows, their eerie laughter silenced by the carnage. He wiped his blades on his cloak, his grin returning as he called back to Selene. ’’Told you, quiet night now.’’

The Demoness, still gripping the sake bottle, could only stare, her yellow eyes wide with a mix of disbelief and grudging admiration, as the campfire’s glow flickered across the blood-streaked clearing.

Raegar sauntered back to the campfire, the air still carried the faint tang of monster blood, but his grin was undimmed as he plopped down beside Selene, snatching the sake bottle from her grip with a playful wink.

’’Well, that’s sorted,’’ he said, taking a long, satisfying swig, the sharp burn of the rice wine warming his chest.

Selene shook her head in disbelief but couldn’t suppress a smirk. She grabbed the bottle back, her red fingers brushing his, and took a deep gulp, the liquid glinting in the firelight as it spilled slightly down her chin.

The two passed the bottle back and forth, their laughter growing louder, their words slurring as the sake worked its magic. He entertained her with tales of past battles, his gestures growing wilder.

Selene countered using sharp-witted jabs, her usual guarded demeanor softening under the alcohol’s haze. The starlit canopy above seemed to spin slightly as they leaned closer.