Shadow Farms

The Order of Diabolos

It's been almost a month, I think.

When thinking of the day I found the pile of meat, I let out my breath while standing in the abandoned village where I found it.

Why does something like this happen.

The experiment on the pile of meat went smoothly only until half way. Because it wasn't my body, so I was anxiously pouring out a huge amount of my magic. Not like this, like that, maybe like this, or maybe like that, oh I'm so happy to do that experiment every day. Very delightful. I became closer to the core of the magic, and felt my strength rise very quickly. Very good result.

I increased my control over magic, making it denser, thinner, and stronger, to the point where I could even easily overcome the deviation of magic… and what I found in front of me was a very young elven girl.

Since I was too focused on controlling magic, I didn't even notice when the pile of meat turned into an elf girl. It's so amazing, being able to go back to how it was after turning into a pile of meat. So I decided to return it like “You're free now, so go back to your family!” or “May you be able to live happily later!” but he's like “I can't go home to my family” and like “I have to pay this kindness”. I mean, geez, I didn't even mean to help you, you were helped just by a coincidence, right?

It seemed troublesome, and I had considered running away, but in the end I decided to make it my first man as ‘strength behind the scenes’. He didn't seem to be going to betray me, and also he looked quite clever, and had the aura of someone who was deft. Even though it was only 10 years old like me, it seemed like the rumor that the elves matured more mentally was not a lie.

 

“Starting from now on, and so on, your name is Alpha.”

Alpha, both are the same.

“I understand”

He's nodding. Blonde hair, with blue eye lenses, and white skin, a charming beauty, she was truly an elf as people used to tell her.

“And your task is...”

I paused for a moment to think. This part is very important.

His job of course is to charge me as ‘strength behind the scenes’. But I have to explain in more detail what exactly ‘strength behind the scenes is’, and what my true purpose is. In other words, I have to inform him fundamentally the role I will perform in this world as ‘strength behind the scenes’.

The setting and plot of the story is important. If the reason for his fight was “because I was angry after losing pachinko” it would look stupid.

In that case, I have prepared it carefully. Before arriving in this world, and certainly after arriving in this world as well, I kept imagining the best idea as ‘strength behind the scenes’.

Combining the several thousand, several tens of thousands of patterns that I had thought of before, I finally arrived at the best scenario.

“From behind the scenes, we will interrupt, and stop, the awakening of ‘Demon Diabolos’.”

“Demon Diabolos..?”

Alpha tilted his head in confusion.

“I'm sure you already know, in the past, ‘Demon Diabolos’ almost managed to destroy the world. But, ‘Three Heroes’ – an elf, beastman, and human-who rose to fight, finally managed to defeat Diabolos, and save the world.”

“I've heard it too, but isn't it just a fairy tale?”

“No, it actually happened. Although the truth behind it is more complicated than the story in the story.”.

When I said that, I showed a wry smile.

With the ability I have, combining various legends into a true behind-the-scenes story is easy.

“Before his death, Diabolos gave a curse to the three heroes. The curse is called ‘Curse of Diabolos’.”

” ‘Curse of Diabolos’? I've never heard of it..”.

“No, the curse is really there. But better known by the term ‘Demon Possession’. And that is the cause you suffer.”

“How could it possibly be..”

Alpha's eyes were wide open in shock.

“The descendants of the three heroes who defeated Diabolos, will forever suffer because of that curse. But the curse can actually be removed. As you are currently experiencing.”

The fact that Alpha's skin is currently white and very smooth – and like him has never suffered ‘demon possesion’ – is the best proof I have.

“‘Demon possesion’ is proof as the descendant of one of the heroes. As descendants of those who have saved the world, they are cherished, protected, and always praised. Even if it's just the past.”

“But at the moment we are not even appreciated. Except, we..”.

Alpha scrunched his face, and was unable to continue his words.

“Someone has distorted history. Hiding the fact that the curse is a sign of the hero's descent, hiding the way to treat the curse, and even giving the hero's descent the nickname as ‘demon possession’ and make it a target of hatred.”

“WHO?! Who would do something like that?”

“They are the ones who are planning a revival of ‘Demon Diabolos’. All of them who suffer from ‘Curse of Diabolos’, are those who have high magic abilities due to inheriting the blood of heroes. In other words, they are the strength of our troops that is important to stop Diabolos.”

“What's why they call it ‘demon possession’ and kill the hero's descendant? They are so despicable!”

“On the stamp with a sin they do not have as ‘demon possession’, expelled from their home and family, do you not hate it?

“I. Hates. They're. How could I not hate him?

” ‘Order of Diabolos’. That is the enemy we will face. They will never appear in public. Therefore we will move behind the scenes, and hunt them down.”

“Have a very large influence even though it is not known to the public. In other words, many members of the Order have a strong position, and, and many people have been manipulated by them without being aware of the existence of the Order itself.”

I nodded my head.

“This is a path full of thorns. But, this is the thing to do. Would you like to help me?”

“If that is your wish, I am even willing to give my life to you, and most importantly this is my wish as well. I'm sure we'll make it.”

Alpha kept looking at me with her blue eyes and laughed fearlessly. He who was young and his beautiful eyes were filled with determination and conviction.

I did a victory pose in my mind.

Hyahaa, this elf is very gullible!

Surely, that ‘Order of Diabolos’ doesn't exist, so, he won't be likely to find it. Every now and then, we went to kill bandits at random on the grounds that they were suspected of being members of that Order. Or we will interrupt the fight of someone who looks like a protogonist and says things like “Destruction of this world is near!” or “Awakening from the Demon is near!” before disappearing in a conspicuous way. Or we also pop out of the blue on the field of battle and say “O you guys are creatures full of ignorance who do not realize that you have been manipulated.” before killing them all. Ohhh, we can do anything! The sky is the limit!

Oh yes, for the name of this important organization…

“We will be known as ‘Shadow Garden’... lurk from behind the scenes and hunt down enemies from behind the scenes.”.

“Shadow Garden's. What a nice name.”

Today, at this time, is the day of the emergence of ‘Shadow Garden’. And at the same time, the enemy of this world, ‘Order of Diabolos’ has also appeared. I've taken one step forward in being ‘strength behind the scenes’.

“Alright, for now, we better improve the control of the magic and sword techniques. I'll assign you to take care of the enemy that isn't too strong so you should at least get stronger to handle it, and I'll take care of the rest.

“I understand. The enemy we will face later is indeed very strong, so we must become stronger than them.”

“Yup, Yup, Exactly once.”

“And we must find the offspring of other heroes and protect them.”

“Um, yeah, that too. But don't overdo it.”

Playing as a ‘ behind-the-scenes power’ with more people makes the atmosphere of the organization even more pronounced, but I don't need many members. Actually, even though the members are just the two of us are also enough.

“Alright, for now it is better to focus on increasing strength first.”

Saying so, I used my wooden sword to fend off the Alpha attack. He has made very fast progress after one month of training.

His instincts were good as well, and he had more than enough magic. Looks like he'll be quite useful.

While thinking about it I continued my wooden sword swing under the moonlight.

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