I was currently lecturing Dobroyâs subordinates as they sat on the ground.\n
Dobroy wasnât here anymore. They had taken him away on a stretcher.
âListen. Itâs absurd for the strong to torment the weak.â
Dobroyâs men listened to me seriously.
My message was incredibly simple.
It wasnât hard. It was something that the residents of the Demon World should have no trouble understanding.
âThe strong were supposed to protect the weak.
That was all.
However, it might be difficult for people who believed for their whole lives, that the strong were allowed to do whatever they wanted. And so I had to repeat it to them firmly.
After all, hadnât my mother done the same thing with me? (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
And I was able to understand it. I believed that I was doing the right thing now.
Some might say it was imprintingâŚand I couldnât really argue with that.
However, this incident by the lake⌠I wasnât such a mild tempered person to let it pass.
âDo you understand!â
âY-yes!!â
ââŚâ
I wondered if they were being honest.
But before I had started, Stomel advised that I âshow restraint.â And this wasnât my country.
It was not good to stick out too much.
âAs for how you deal with them, you better not cut any corners. If you do, Iâll hit you twice as much as I did your leader!â\n
ââŚ!!â
I threatened them quite a bit, which should suffice.
If I said any more, it would just get annoying. I would have to leave the rest to the people of the town.
âI hope this can turn into a town that protects its own.â
âIndeed.â
I wasnât sure if Stomel really felt that way, but the matter was now settled.
âŚHowever, I was now forced to go and eat once more before we could leave the town.
Exercising just made me hungry.
âSir Golan. I think youâve grown again.â
âHuh? Really? I canât really tell myself.â
After we left and started walking to the next town, the conversation turned to how long I would have to keep eating like this.
âItâs the mana, isnât it? Itâs gone up a lot compared to when we first started the journey.â
âSeriously?â
Before we had left, Saifo had said that it was âten times higher.â
I thought he was exaggerating, but now it had gone up even more.
âWell, perhaps that is something else you can ask the Demon King about.â
Demon King Tralzard had lived a long time, and so he knew about many things.
He knew and understood the Demon World so well that he didnât need councilors. And his strength was just as impressive.
He sounded like some kind of multi hero who could do anything. But he was a Demon King. \nâYes. There is a lot that I want to ask him⌠However, surely the mana increase is going to stop soon?â
I didnât get as hungry as I did before.
Before, it was like I was hungry 24/7, but now I only needed about five meals a day.
Uh, was that still a lot?
âThatâs true. Things seem to be slowing down.â
âMaybe my body is getting used to it. I also feel like itâs much easier to move now. Like, Iâm finally getting back to how I used to be?â
Up until now, it felt like I was wearing an extra skin.
I might as well have been wrapped up in a raincoat. There was a feeling of discomfort, as if I didnât know how much of it was actually my own body. But it was gone now.
âSo, Sir GolanâŚâ
ââŚHuh?â
Stomel looked at me seriously.
We had traveled together for quite a while now, and so I was able to read the changes in his face.
âThat shieldâŚare you sure it was the right decision?â
I was still carrying the Mana Drain Shield.
I didnât want Dobroy to keep it.
The mana had seeped out after a few days, and it was now light enough to carry with one hand.
And so I now held it in one hand and the hexagonal staff in the other as we traveled.
They were both weapons I acquired on this journey.
âWell, why not? Spoils of war.â
\nâSir Golan. Do you know what it is that youâre wearing?â
Was this a quiz? Well, it was certainly an easy one.
âDragon scale armor.â
I probably looked pretty smug. But I wasnât sure why Stomel was asking me such an easy question.
ââŚIt suits you very well.â
âDoesnât it? After all, itâs the Delphyneâs treasure.â
âThe scale that shines on the chest was from the chief. I saw him crying as he sewed it on.â
âI was so grateful for his dedication.â
ââŚâ
Perhaps it was no surprise, as we were so close to the Demon Kingâs castle.
We had wandered into a Dragon settlement before coming here.
And since the Delphynes attacked us, with the intention of turning us into their supper, I helped myself to this armor.
In fact, it was apparently made of scales from the best warriors. But it was unfinished.
Of course, I had them finish it in a rush before we left.
When the chief came to see us off, I could see the mark on his chest where a scale had been removed. Yes, I was very, very grateful to him.
âSo, donât worry about anything.â
I said while giving him a thumbs up.
âA desire for recognition, is it?â
âWhere did you learn to say something like that?â