Side Story II - Entrenching (VII).

The aftermath was… not pretty.

It was never going to be, and this was a lot better than it could've been, but still.

Ernesto just sat outside of what had been Uther's house, his mother at his side and his grandfather behind him. The young man hugged his mother while Manuel kept watch, not that it would've been needed.

Saying that many of the local demons had been wary of those with the blood of The Order in them would be an understatement. Just the same as saying that the same demons would care very little for the normal mortals among them.

This was nothing more than how things went in Hell. You either had respect, or you just didn't.

More often than not a regular old human didn't have much hope when confronted by a proper demon. Even Imps, weaker in every sense to everything else in Hell, even weaker than humans on the regular, could easily overpower most people. One on one they would lose more times than not, but the claws, fangs, horns and tails could easily tip the balance if the Imp in question was somewhat competent. Pit any other demon with more natural talent from the get go against your regular joe and they would come out on top even at the worst times for the demon in question.

Was it necessary to kill someone in Hell to get respect? No. Not really. But Ernesto had proven something those in Hell kept forgetting regularly, though through no fault of their own: Humans could be weak, comparatively speaking, but they were also insanely dangerous and resourceful.

Problem is most humans are also idiots and cowards nowadays. Even those demons capable of going topside saw mostly spineless and cowardly acts more often than not.

Ernesto had proven that yes, while many humans would quickly show their more cowardly and incompetent side, the fact that they were dangerous and resourceful still stood. Did it help that the knife he used was probably as sharp as a surgical one more than a simple one used for your regular old dinner? Yes, but that alone would do little. A weapon is as useful, and dangerous, as the one using it, not more.

Perhaps Ernesto was untrained beyond a few practice swings with that sword he had been given, but you don't need practice to do what is needed when it is indeed needed. And survival instinct certainly didn't hurt here.

Now many of those that would become locals, people they'd get to know in time, did not offer plastic smiles and hollow greetings. It was not the kill itself so much as it was the strength he had demonstrated. This was all done without a weapon actively designed to kill demons, and Ernesto had managed to stop one of the Cannibals when she had lost it and gone feral. Even if it had been done abusing her confusion and barely there mind, it was more than enough to make it clear that he could fit.

Anything was better than just slaughtering idiotic Sinners that charged at a far more organized mob. This was a personal test in a way, and one that spoke better of what Ernesto could do, perhaps what he could achieve.

Ernesto, of course, couldn't give less of a shit about that.

"I am sorry."

He was there for his mother. "Don't worry, mom. This wasn't your fault."

"Ernesto's right." Manuel spoke with grim determination as he saw some of Rosie's Cannibals taking a few body bags from the building. "That bastard was just hoping for an easy mark. That you were alone with your son today while everyone else was away, including Rosie, just made you the perfect one to pick."

"Sadly, my dear, he is right."

Rosie, along with most of Ernesto's family, came into view. The Overlord had been talking with Carlos and the others, though she had been mostly focused on making sure no one swarmed the trio. This shock was strong enough to merit at least a moment to take it in after all.

Would it have helped to have family and friends close by? Yes. Could it also have an adverse reaction and make Mireya lose it? Not as likely, but Ernesto's mother had been very agitated at first, as was expected. Now that her family came close she seemed relieved, but not about to bawl her eyes out or start screaming.

Either Rosie knew her shit or she just went for what seemed to be the safest option.

Though the severed head in her hand was a clear warning that she was being serious. There would be space, or she would have to do more than ask.

Head or no heads, Mireya was quick to get up and embrace her mother. Her father, giving a quick nod to Rosie, went with Mireya. Most of the family was indeed here, though a few were either missing or far away.

Ernesto did not fail to see his brother as one of those looking from a good distance. Pablo didn't seem either happy or unhappy. A quick meet of the eyes and Ernesto's brother turned around to walk away.

So he was really going to be like this? His loss. Ernesto wasn't going to give up on his mother.

"Ernesto, come with me."

Rosie's voice surprised Ernesto, more so when he saw the Overlord a few steps away from them all and motioning for him. He grew even more surprised when Carlos came around and gave him a gentle shove towards Rosie. When Ernesto turned around to ask what the fuck was going on all he got was a smile and a thumbs up.

The fuck did that mean?

Whatever. Ernesto turned around to follow Rosie. If she wanted to tell him something then he was better off hearing her out.

After a moment of walking, once every demon and Ernesto's family was far away enough, Rosie began talking. "I want to say I am sorry, dear."

"Sorry?" Ernesto found the sentiment to be strange if nothing else. "Rosie, I may not have crammed as many hours checking things as Carlos is doing, but I think you don't have anything to be sorry for."

The fact that Rosie turned around with a glare told him he either fucked up, or Rosie just thought otherwise.

"This is till MY land by virtue of the Deal Carlos and I struck, young man." Rosie sounded angry, but not at Ernesto, so the poor man could at least breathe again. For a second he thought Rosie would flip on him. "I knew Uther was a scheming, backstabbing piece of work, but his fear of his own grandmother always kept him in check. I assumed he would do nothing to welcome my wrath." The Overlord lifted Uther's severed head, a look of disgust on her face as she stared into his dead eyes. "It seems I thought him to be smarter than he was. A mistake on my part."

Ernesto had a different idea. "I don't think that is it."

"And what makes you say that?" Rosie tore her eyes away from the dead, only to glare at Ernesto now. "Did he say something before my arrival that gave it up?"

"No." In fact, other than gloating, Uther had said little beyond how much he wanted a good meal. "But, as I said, I haven't studied Hell as much as Carlos. Still, you made one thing clear when you first offered that Deal to Carlos, didn't you?"

Rosie's face still expressed some level of scrutiny, perhaps anger, for a second. But it quickly turned into a much more malicious and predatory smile.

"You ARE A smart cookie my dear." Rosie chuckled. "Do you know why I took you aside then?"

Ernesto crossed his arms. "I doubt it is because you want to offer me a Deal. I don't think I have as much to offer as Carlos."

"No, and yes." Rosie got closer to Ernesto before handing him Uther's severed head. Ernesto made a face as he had to be quick to pick it up, prompting Rosie to chuckle, but she didn't leave him to hold it like that. "That bastard had you and your mother as his focus. His soul may be mostly gone by now, but we can get something out of his pitiful remains… if you help me as a conduit."

"You think I am needed for that?" Ernesto grimaced as he tried to hold the head in a way that didn't get any of the remains, or the blood, on him.

"You are a very duty bound man. Serious when needed. You have a very strong soul in you." Rosie gave poor Ernesto a boop with her claw, either as a 'funny' or to test his reaction. When he didn't pull away it seemed to please the woman greatly. "I will not put you under my employ because I promised your cousin I wouldn't, but many of you show promise. That is the only thing this idiot had right." Rosie pointed at the severed head. "As it is, asking you for a little bit of help doesn't violate the conditions of the Deal AND will give you something you want in return. I wouldn't bother you if Uther's women hadn't got themselves killed, and your mother is under too much stress, so you are the only one valid for this."

"Because this piece of shit wanted us for some reason, right? This wasn't just a coincidence then. We were actively targeted." Ernesto's grip on the head strengthened. "You can learn who gave this bastard a boost in strength?"

"Indeed." Rosie almost purred, pleased that Ernesto was as quick figuring it out, just as Carlos if not more. "He said you were just food, power, didn't he? That clearly meant a Sinner had to make a Deal with this poor excuse of a man." And this was something both Rosie and Ernesto found to be insulting, each of them for their own reasons. "This bastard likely expected not only to kill you, but to do it slowly if possible, to bind your soul against your will. The lowest form of binding a soul, used by the weak, desperate and uncaring. Not only is it unreliable, it is just as scummy and one of the few actions that may attract even the most uncaring Overlord to get rid of you. A disgusting person I would not allow to live if I could help it. If it wasn't for his grandmother…"

The only thing Ernesto felt guilty about was that part. Rosie seemed to consider Uther's grandmother someone important. "Have we caused you trouble thanks to this man's death?"

"No more than she would cause by herself the moment she learned of his actions if I had let him live." Rosie waved Ernersto's concern away. "But thank you for the worry, young man. Most would be more interested in getting something out of me. I didn't protect you from harm, as was the Deal."

"You already said I am clever, haven't you? Some of us may not be one of those Primevals, but I think we all have our quirks. Being ignorant is not one of those." Ernesto pointed out. He was far calmer than he should be, and he knew it. Most of his encounter with Rosie had been keeping up appearances, but this was something he had wanted to tell her anyways, so at least here he was as composed as he could be. "All I want is for my mother to be alright. Don't let her hurt ever again and we are square. I believe Carlos would agree."

Rosie let out a little chuckle. "Well, aren't you generous? Do not worry, I was already going to do as you ask. It will reflect very poorly on me if this repeats and far too many will have an eye out for another opportunity like this one."

"Then I can only thank you." And Ernesto did, he truly did. His mother came first. Today's scare should be a singular experience, never to be repeated. "That said… what do I do? Is having a 'connection', at least on this bastard's side, enough?"

"Hold his head tight and don't worry about anything." Rosie spoke in a sing song tone as she extended one finger, her claw growing as it had when her body had morphed within Uther's house. "You just need to let me see what little is left of him in there…"

Ernesto forced himself to watch as Rosie's ever smiling face grew monstrously happy with her handiwork. Piercing the skull and scrambling the brain? Destroying the skin and muscle, only to mix it with blood? It was as likely for her to be doing some real 'work' with her actions as she was going to just massacre and defile Uther's head in petty vengeance.

Either way Ernesto would've been happy for the fucker's remains to be sullied. He just found it disgusting for him to be holding his damn head as it happened.

"You bloody moron."

At least until Rosie's smile banished and anger came through.

"Lady Rosie?"

"This stupid child." Ernesto felt the head slip his grip. Rosie dragged it away with her claw, taking it within her hands. "Didn't even notice he had been duped!"

Then he squished the head like an overripe melon.

More disgusting you cannot get. Ernesto's facade almost fell as whatever was left in his stomach fought to crawl back out.

In the end he managed to quickly compose himself and ask. "Lady Rosie. What do you mean?"

"The idiot got power from a soul, that is true." Rosie cleaned her hands with a few shakes, but Ernesto could see a few figments of magic there. This was just for show as Rosie's mess banished in an instant. "I could feel his connection to you, his hunger for you. Uther clearly had plans for you, likely for your mother too, once you two were dead. Shortsighted vanity, but useful to learn of his last thoughts." She let out a tired sigh as she shook her head. "It was also tied to his regrets and anger. Uther's Deal with the Sinner had HIM as the underling."

Ernesto frowned. "Didn't you say he didn't notice it?"

"I am going by the regrets and feelings on what was left of his wretched soul." Rosie huffed with a grunt as she looked at the gory remains on the ground. "But whether he truly knew or not, it hardly matters. I can assure you that he was NOT in control. I could have easily tracked at least a flicker of that soul's power if he had been. After death it would've been faint, yes, but only if he had owned the soul. It should have been enough for us."

"So since he wasn't the master, that connection is not there, he was never the master." Ernesto spared a glance towards the gore, then went back to the clearly frustrated woman. "But there was nothing of use?"

"If I had inspected him while alive? Perhaps I could have found this soul's identity. If I had his wives as a medium, considering they were much closer than you with how you were just in the budding phase of a plan for the man? There would've been a decent chance after his death. But what little was there with you helping me offered…" Rosie shook her head. "Nothing. It would have been different if the soul that owned Uther while giving him power had been one I knew, perhaps a fellow Overlord, but that wasn't the case. All I got was the 'scent' of a former human, nothing else."

Ernesto couldn't help but feel a pang of anger rising in his breast. "So you got nothing… And this piece of shit likely got Uther to act on his behalf if you are right about who was in charge."

"It is possible." Rosie was no less pissed at the result, and Ernesto brought a very valid point. "Not everyone in a Deal like this becomes an Overlord. You need a lot of power for that. But when a soul is owned or power is shared? It is easy to find if you know what to look for."

"Do you mean you'll fi-." Ernesto stopped himself mid sentence. "No, you mean to tell me that whoever tried, is not going to do it again."

"Whoever did this was very sneaky, but not smart." Rosie shook her head. No, the person in question had taken a very big risk. Even if Uther was completely stupid. "My best guess is that said Sinner wanted to cause some damage, nothing else. He didn't expect Uther to survive, at least not long enough to gain enough power to contend said Sinner's control over Uther's soul. That is ALL this plan could ever be."

"So even a complete moron wouldn't do it again. Next time you would be checking on everyone that wanted to join this place, if not downright culling it." An idea Ernesto was not against after today. He wasn't as cruel or brutal as some of his relatives when it came to revenge or defending himself, and he was reticent to killing… But a few weeks here and a lot of anger had tempered many things in Ernesto. "So that means we should be safe, but this bastard could be waiting for another chance."

Rosie let out a tired sigh as she walked towards Ernesto. "Let's go back to the others. We can share this with Carlos, but it would only be a mistake to let others know about this."

"The family would get more worried than they already are." Ernesto nodded. Everyone knew they were in danger already, but having this happen in their new home while the real perpetrator was still at large? "I am sure Carlos will understand."

"He is sincere, not stupid." Rosie agreed as the two began to walk away from the remains of the traitor. The ground would eat it all up soon enough. "Besides, he can tell them part of the truth."

Ernesto arched an eyebrow at that. "And what is that?"

"That I offered, and you agreed, to have you actively join combat training the moment I find an actually capable hand to hand instructor." Rosie offered the young man a little smirk. "A good way to keep your mother safe, right?"

Ernesto had to blink a couple times to understand. But when he did? He could only offer a sincere, albeit small, smile in return.

As bad as this had been, the day could still end on a high note.

But somewhere in Pride, in Pentagram City, a beetle like Sinner was raging and destroying the room he was squatting on. Weeks of preparations had been lost, so in the end he would need to do as his friend had told him. And he hated it.

Waing, plotting, allowing that scum to live! But this plan had gone tits up something fierce. What had he achieved? Nothing. Nothing other than one upping that damn demon. In the end it was even LESS than nothing. All he had achieved was warn the living to take notice.

In all his anger and hatred at what happened a few weeks ago he had done only one thing.

He had helped them entrench and fortify themselves.