Ch.110Awakening (2)

I’ve learned one lesson from the battles on this island.

Reserves are essential.

Even the most dysfunctional army maintains reserves. When unexpected situations cause losses to combat power, you need somewhere to turn for help.

Although we’re in the unique situation of being isolated on an uninhabited island, it doesn’t mean we have no one to help us.

[“Finally, I might get a proper body.”]

[“It doesn’t need to be too intricate. I’d just like a dinosaur that can fly and shoot.”]

[“Isn’t that actually quite intricate?”]

[“Oh my.”]

Riyo and I have been preoccupied with creating golems these past few days. We’ve been gathering materials like stones, forgetting even meals, and pouring divine power and magic into them to create lightweight yet durable materials. We used these materials to maintain the drones.

We also rebuilt the makeshift furnace from over there. If we do it right, we might be able to produce small amounts of steel.

“Yaaawn.”

“Sleepy?”

“Yeah.”

Riyo came over to me and lay down on my lap. She fidgeted for a while to find a comfortable position, then fell asleep. Her adorable shoulders rose and fell with her snoring sounds.

She’s cute. Really cute.

How did I end up being enchanted by this fox?

[“So are you going to accept all the women who say they like you?”]

[“Was that serious? Wow, that’s amazing.”]

I hear stirring voices in my head. The Valkyrie’s companions were particularly vocal.

Not that David and Kalon were keeping quiet either.

[“Erich, I never dreamed you were this kind of man.”]

[“Whether in the Magic Kingdom or Holy Spirit Kingdom, you can legally marry only one person. Why are you having such pre-modern thoughts?”]

I was thinking that if everyone was okay with it, I would accept them all.

After all, don’t I owe my life to each of them at least once?

Needless to say, without the Valkyrie, the Saint, the fox sisters, and now the Major General, I would have died long ago.

And the reverse was also true. I had saved their lives several times as well.

The bonds forged in crisis and anxiety are as hard as diamonds. Although our time together has been short, the density of our experiences is different, so I was confident in my feelings.

“Mmnya.”

I closed my eyes while stroking the fox sister’s head. It’s still not safe. Let’s think about this after we escape.

[“Beep beep.”]

That’s when the spider monster beside me made a sound.

[“Beep beep. Beep beep beep.”]

In the deep dawn.

A rustling sound heavily pressed upon the ground.

I sensed magic of a different caliber.

Though it was an imposing force, I recognized the owner of that mana and relaxed my guard slightly. Soon, an Arachne with black hair and red eyes emerged from the darkness and approached.

Former Demon King’s Army 20th Corps Commander, Salvira.

A high-ranking demon who was helping us without asking for anything in return—a mysterious existence.

[“Where have you been?”]

[“I went to the nest.”]

The nest.

The place where the ritual for the Demon King’s revival begins.

The cause of the monster increase in this archipelago and the final destination we need to reach to remove the barrier.

[“The ritual has already begun. It will continue until the next full moon. On the final day, when the offering is ready, we will use a burnt offering to resurrect the Demon King in exchange for a sacrifice.”]

[“Is it okay for you to tell us such important information?”]

[“Well. Normally it wouldn’t be.”]

[“Then, do you want us to stop it?”]

[“Lohnstein, young one.”]

Salvira lowered herself and sat down. Her eyes, reflected in the crackling bonfire, were coldly subdued.

[“What do you think about demons?”]

It was an unexpected question.

[“This is my first time meeting them directly, so I’m not sure.”]

[“Then tell me about that brief experience.”]

At that moment, I recalled the conversation I first had with the Saint.

Originally, the Saint believed mages were vicious beings. Worshipping demons, practicing deception and fraud for personal gain, disturbing the world with forbidden magic…

Isn’t that the same as how I view demons now?

So far, we’ve only met aggressive demons. There was no way to form a good impression.

However, one thing worth noting is that they too have individual wills and slightly different personalities.

They have aspirations and beings they wish to pledge loyalty to.

And the demon before me…

[“I’m a bit curious about how you humans view us.”]

Despite being stronger than me, she’s watching my reactions.

After thinking briefly, I gave my answer.

[“Your question is flawed.”]

Salvira’s expression turned puzzled, as if my answer was unexpected.

[“…What do you mean?”]

[“If there are a hundred people, there are a hundred personalities and values. I can’t make sweeping statements about all demons based on just a few cases.”]

Just as the Saint had made hasty generalizations about mages.

[“Someone’s evaluation differs from person to person, and also changes with time. Someone I thought was good might be bad to someone else, and someone who seemed unpleasant yesterday might seem fine today.”]

[“So that means…”]

[“I can’t definitively say whether demons as a whole are good or evil, likable or not. However, you… you’ve treated us well, so at this point, I think you’re a good demon.”]

I thanked her again for saving the Valkyrie. Although the being before me was different, I couldn’t deny that she had helped us.

Salvira let out a hollow laugh.

[“…I once heard the same thing from Jeriem.”]

[“Is that why you’re helping us? Is it related to him?”]

[“He gave me homework.”]

Salvira leaned in closer.

[“Find out why we lost the Human-Demon War, he said.”]

Hundreds of years ago.

The defeat and decline of the Demon King’s Army can be divided into two major phases.

First was the incident where a special unit of holy sword warriors inflicted serious injuries on the Demon King.

Second was when mages in territories occupied by the Demon King’s Army rose up and established Hazkhail.

Although the hardliners of the Holy Spirit religion omit the latter in their teachings, these two events are basically bundled together and called the Human-Demon War.

[“I understand a little now. Why you, despite being weaker than me, are in a higher position.”]

[“Higher position…?”]

[“Look at your companions and mine. I only have the minions I created, no demon companions with intelligence who share my will.”]

When the queen bee died, the bee monsters disappeared, and when the Witch of Calamity died, the mushroom monsters rapidly decreased. Combined with Salvira’s words, I could infer that the spiders here would soon disappear, their magic depleted, if she died.

Salvira lamented.

[“Both the hero and the great mage had something they were willing to protect with their lives. And around them, there were always friends and lovers. Perhaps… I envied that.”]

I added more firewood to the fire and replied.

[“Human lives are shorter than demons’.”]

[“At least tens of times shorter. With such different lifespans, I couldn’t understand how my lord was defeated.”]

[“Perhaps it was precisely because their lifespans were short that they were more desperate. They knew every minute and second was precious. Because they age quickly, fall ill, and die, they fought harder not to fall behind.”]

[“…I see.”]

Salvira nodded. Her gaze was fixed on the burning firewood.

[“Young one.”]

[“Yes.”]

[“Will you storm the nest as soon as you’re ready?”]

[“If we want to break the barrier and escape, we have to, don’t we?”]

[“You might mature mentally, but physically you’re weak. Mages have traditionally armed themselves with mana to protect their weak bodies, but you seem to have meager mana due to a curse.”]

[“I’ll be fine because I have companions.”]

[“That’s exactly what Jeriem said too.”]

Seeing how she keeps singing about Jeriem, this woman must have really liked our ancestor. I wonder what happened that day.

[“Anyway, an era of rule by force like the past must not be repeated.”]

Salvira stood up and looked down at me.

[“I think I can help you.”]

[“How?”]

[“By becoming your teacher.”]

My tiny mana pool is actually a curse inscribed in my bloodline. It was hard to believe, but also somewhat plausible.

Salvira seemed to be saying she would solve that curse.

[“Since before Jeriem’s ascension, I’ve been training to increase the absolute amount of mana in my body. And I discovered one method.”]

[“What method?”]

[“If I tell you, you’ll be scared first. It’s not an easy path.”]

[“I’ll do anything.”]

I’d be content if my mana pool could just grow to what others have. As someone dedicated to Magic Stone Studies, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity if there was a possibility.

Salvira’s answer was a bit shocking.

[“From now on, abstain from food for an entire month.”]

[“Ah.”]

This is a bit too much.

[“You mean don’t eat at all?”]

[“Yes.”]

[“Is water okay?”]

[“Ordinary water won’t do. You must survive by drinking only magic water with at least half mana content. While doing that, perform Mirkil and repeat the process of using magic. Then your total mana will gradually increase.”]

Essentially, she was telling me not to eat anything for a month and focus solely on magic training.

When I told my companions about this, they all objected, led by the Saint.

“Is she telling our Erich to die?”

[“Ooh, ‘our Erich,’ she says.”]

“Even if you just drink water and starve, it becomes dangerous after three weeks. You could become disabled or even die. And training on top of that? For a whole month? Are you crazy? What are you plotting?”

When I relayed this back to Salvira, she gave a calm response.

The choice was mine.

However, if I didn’t do it, there was a high probability we would be annihilated by the corps commander known as the Blood-Drinking Princess.

Hearing that, I looked at the others.

“Remember? We said we’d all survive together.”

“Of course. That’s why, Erich, you absolutely must not…”

“I’ll do it.”

“Erich!”

Despite the Saint’s scolding, I decided to trust the spider woman. Of course, if it really doesn’t work, I’ll stop anytime.

With that resolution, I began the training.

And so, I ended up kissing Major General Adora every single day without fail.