The Incubus System Chapter 78. Bloody Smell (Patreon)

The Incubus System Chapter 78. Bloody Smell
“Damian…” Emma's voice came from my side. I turned to her. Unlike before, her hood didn't cover half of her face, exposing her face clearly to me. Her eyes that were staring at me were filled with curiosity.
"You can feel demons' presence?" she frowned in curiosity mingled with astonishment. I knew she would ask this.
"Yes, I can feel them." I couldn't hide this ability anymore. 
"But how? Was that pain telling you? But why did you look fine yesterday? Why didn't you tell me?" Her curiosity and confusion were evident from the tone of her voice and the gaze in her eyes.
“I was just pretending to be in pain. My nose is very sensitive so rather than feeling them, I can smell them, "I explained.
"I didn't tell you before. Because you might think I'm lying"
'Or report this oddity to the association.' Even though I didn't want to admit that I could detect demons,but our circumstances forced me. Besides, it looks like Emma was someone who could keep a secret since she didn't say anything about my ability to the association.
Emma's surprise was clearly visible on her face since it means, besides I could fight without Demon Hunter's skills, I also could detect demons without a Demon Compass. Emma just opened her mouth, but I already knew what she was going to say so I interrupted her.
“But I still have no intention of joining the Demon Hunter Association. I also don't want other people to know about my abilities. I prefer to work alone, "I reminded her once again.
“But hunting them alone is very dangerous. Besides, if you join us, I'm sure the association will hone your skills and--- "
I interrupted her again.
"I told you I just wanted to live a normal life." I did not know how many times I had to tell her.
Emma pressed her lips, while a tired breath came out of my mouth.
After a short silence, she called my name again.
"Damian ..."
"What is wrong?" I could only hope she didn't ask me to join her again.
"I'm sorry," Her regret was clear from the tone of her voice.
I looked at her face which was filled with regret since she doubted me earlier.
"Never mind. I know you just got carried away with your emotions. I just hope you won't doubt me anymore. “ I knew if I was in her position I might do the same as her.
"No... It's about my words earlier. "
"Which one?" Almost all of her words were filled with anger before, I didn't know which one she apologized for.
"When I said you were more suited for serving women and having fun at the club," she said as she lowered her head again. It seemed like she realized I lost my calm after she said that to me.
I let out another sigh.
"I hope you don't repeat it again. "After a pause, I added.
“And don't get me wrong, I'm not tormented by my current profession. Also about Pearl and Mia, they are my women. So what they did to me was also my will." I took this opportunity to clear up all misunderstanding between us including earlier incident.
She raised her head, looking at me. This time I saw the sadness and disappointment in her eyes. But only briefly she lowered her head.
"Okay."
'Did I warn her too harshly?' But my thought disappeared since I also caught the disappointment from her gaze earlier. Besides that, I also remembered how much she was worried about me earlier.
'Could it be... she has feelings for me?' There was a feeling of joy rising in my heart.
"Why do you look sad? What's wrong?" I decided to find out.
"I just feel ... Your abilities will be wasted in that profession."
"Only that?" I confirmed once again.
"What do you expect?" she frowned.
"Nothing." But I decided to check her emotions once again.
'Observation.'
[Observation skill succeeded.]
[Name: Emma Lunaspark]     [Age: 18]
[Level 7]                                  [Race: Elf]
[HP: 113/183]                       [MP: 26/63]
[Skills: Holy Chain lv 3, Mana Strike lv 3]
[Emotion: Anxious, Uncertain, Regret]
[Love meter: 0/10]
[Condition: Normal]
[Weakness: Chest, Neck, Head, Ears]
[Talent: Elf's Blessing]
[Relationship: Single]
[Profession: Demon Hunter, College Student.]
'Uncertain? Looks like her feelings aren't clear yet.' I knew I could be wrong but I had been holding back my feelings since my first semester.
I turned my gaze to the alley and didn't want to prolong this matter any more. But since our opponent was the Foul Imps who were higher level than Emma, I could not possibly take her.
“You better call the headquarters to send their reinforcements here. I think these demons will be stronger than yesterday.” I used that excuse so I could take care of them secretly like yesterday.
"I can't ..." she said without raising her head.
"Why?" I frowned in confusion.
"I'm not on duty today, they suspended me. Besides they also confiscated my Demon Compass, so I couldn't contact headquarters," she said in an apologetic tone.
"What ?!" I couldn't believe what I just heard. She was on suspension and didn't have her Demon Compass, but she still went on patrol. Apart from that, she was also wearing her Demon Hunter uniform. Which made her an easy target for the demons for revenge.
"Why did you do that?" she was more reckless than I thought.
Her head turned side to side in restlessness.
"I - I actually only planned to meet you and ask about yesterday's incident but I didn't expect to meet a demon like this."
Okay, that was even worse. Because it meant that she wasn't ready to fight today.
"Why are you not being honest with me? We can still meet to chat and postpone this patrol until the association returns your Demon Compass. ” I knew I was the one who asked her to take me on patrol but I didn't expect the association to confiscate her Demon Compass and suspend her. Besides, I also didn't mind meeting her for a chat or accompanying her.
She tilted her head slowly, looking at me.
"I thought you wouldn't come if I didn't take you on patrol."
'Do I really look that selfish?' I really didn't expect her to judge me that badly.
"Looks like I'm really bad in your eyes." I didn't understand her, she looked so worried about me when she picked me up in Ledred earlier but her distrust and assumption that I was a selfish person was obvious. Although I knew maybe it was because I refused to become a Demon Hunter but somehow it made me a little sad.
"I'm sorry ..." she said again.
"Anyway, we have to contact the association. These demons are stronger than the demons we faced before. And I don't know how many of them."
"I can't. Because of yesterday's incident, the association accused me of reporting a fake report so they also ignore all my reports for a week as my punishment."
'Ignore her report for one week? This is crazy! What if there is a really important emergency?'
After hearing her words, I didn't want to join the demon hunter association even more.
"Then I'll do the report." Ordinary people could also make a report by calling certain numbers just like calling the police, but of course, their response were slower because they would prioritize their member reports.

My eyes were fixed on that alley, even though I knew my opponent was there but I couldn't bring her to fight against them since it only risked her life. I turned around.
"Let's go," I said as I stepped away from there I had to drop her somewhere safe before I came back again.
She glanced at the alley briefly as she followed me before returning her gaze to me.
"Why we are leaving?"
"This place is dangerous. We'll make the report somewhere safer," I reasoned.
“How about we spy on them first? "she said as she chased after me.
"That's too dangerous." My feet continue to step away from there.
But just as I took a few steps, I smelled something else. Even though it was faint, it smelled like iron. I stopped my steps and she also stopped her steps.
"What is wrong?" she asked.
I raised my hand, asking her to be quiet. My eyes moved bewildered as I concentrated on the familiar smell that was making me feel uneasy. The smell grew clearer. Suddenly an announcement in a red box in front of me.
[!!! Warning !!! ]
[Blood smell detected!]
My eyes widened. Sure ... This was the smell of human blood. A smell that reminded me when the demons ate me alive. My gaze turned to the alley in worry.
'Have they got another victim?'
"I'll check them for a bit," I said, turning and running over with a worried expression.
Without saying anything, Emma immediately followed me since she knew I came back because of an emergency.
As we started to get closer, a loud noise could be heard from there. We pressed our backs against the building walls next to it and peeked slowly into the dark alley that was lit only by a dim light.
- Clang ...! Clang, Clang ...!
The trash cans hit the wall, some of them thrown in all directions followed by a man screaming in pain.
"Aaaghhhhh!"
We looked at the man who was wearing the demon hunter uniform. His hand was holding his other arm which was badly injured. It looked like he couldn't move it anymore. Drops of blood dripped from his fingertips onto the ground, his breath getting heavier. His status appeared above his head.
[Name: Theo Ragelight]
[Level 11]
[HP: 96/210]
[MP: 3/95]
Rather than being shocked by the demon hunter's identity, I was even more shocked by his barely left MP. While his opponent was a group of Foul Imp who surrounded him. He didn't have a chance to run away. He would end up just like me, becoming demons' meal.
"We have to help him," whispered Emma worriedly.
"Once I can get their attention. You have to get that man as far away from here as possible," I whispered.
Her hand grabbed mine and she turned to me in worry.
"It's too dangerous."
"If I can't fight them I'll run." There were ten Foul Imps there, I couldn't possibly face them without using my skills.
"But---"
"Aarrhhhhgggg!" Theo's loud scream interrupted us.
We turned to him. Theo was already on his knees, his shoulders were torn by the demon's claws and his hands were hanging weakly.
[Name: Theo Ragelight]
[Level 11]
[HP: 32/210]
[MP: 3/95]
"There's no time! He's dying! Do as I say!" I immediately came out of our hiding place and dashed at them.
Hearing my footsteps' sound, the demons' attention turned to me. Several of them waved their hands, throwing their Venom spikes at me. With agility, I dodged side to side, titled my head, shifted my body as the Venom spikes passed me and stuck to the ground behind me without slowing down my speed. I planned to break through and lure them to the other side so Emma could help Theo. Although it was easier to do this by taking a detour to the other side, but from Theo's condition, I knew he couldn't wait any longer.
A Foul Imp swung his claw at me, I lowered my head to dodge and passed under his arm. Another Foul Imp spat out his Acid Splash at me, I turned to the side to dodge and resumed my running but the other two Foul Imps got in my way, I slid between their legs, past them. When I was about to get back on my feet, the other Foul Imps already surrounded me.
Without thinking twice, I rolled forward and punched the Imp's red orb.
"Arggggg!" he let out a scream as he staggered backwards, giving me a gap to escape from them.
[Critical hit!]
[You have hit a Foul Imp for 155 HP. ]
I took the opportunity to get back on my feet and run again, as the other Imps lunged at me with their claws, creating a large hole in the ground behind me.
The movements behind me made me realize that other Imps were trying to charge at me from behind. I stopped my steps and ducked down, two other Imps leaping, passing over my head with their claws pointed forward. Their faces looked shocked. They didn't think I could avoid them. They landed in front of me and turned around while I was back to my feet. I swept my gaze to the Foul Imps who were surrounding me with terrifying grins on their faces, this time I was completely besieged. My gaze shifted to Theo and saw that Emma had dragged him with a great effort out of the alley.
A smirk appeared on my lips, as soon as they disappeared from my sight. Since I knew under such circumstances, Emma would definitely take Theo to the hospital.
"Now I can unleash my full power."