Ch.16Chapter 16. Half-Bloods Are Too Strong (1)

# Chapter 16. Half-Blood Is Too Strong (1)

I gained a new servant.

It happened so suddenly that my past self, who had seriously pondered how to create servants, now seemed foolish.

Why did Lakye become one when Kanto couldn’t?

“I am Muri, daughter of Dokin and Muta, and priestess of the Brown Rock tribe. It is a great honor for this old woman to meet Lord Roa before I die.”

While I was spacing out, Muri approached and knelt beside Lakye.

“I will serve Malak as I served Rakan.”

[Muri has become your servant.]

Huh?

Another servant just like that? Hmm… let me think calmly.

Paya and Muri are priestesses, and Lakye is a Roa half-blood.

The common thread seems to be that they’re all connected to Roa and possess magical powers.

Perhaps Kanto and others couldn’t become my servants because they lack special powers?

That makes sense. I should assume that only priests or those related to Roa can become my servants.

– Lakye and Muri. Welcome as my servants.

“We are yours alone.”

“It’s an honor.”

Lakye and Muri bowed their heads simultaneously.

I sent Muri, tired from her long journey, away with Kanto and Paya who went to attend to the newly joined barbarians, leaving me alone with Lakye.

Lakye sat back in her chair, her eyes still fixed on me.

– Hmm.

This is uncomfortable.

Even as I thought this, my body was recalling the sensation of Lakye’s touch from earlier.

Perhaps the warmth of another person after so long was a shock to me.

I clenched and unclenched my virtual body’s hand, enjoying this familiar yet strange sensation.

My virtual body was originally modeled after Paya’s form. So at first, I looked like Paya.

I didn’t want to appear as a young girl who was close by, so I mentally molded my body and it changed to my former nerd self.

I don’t know how it works. I just kept thinking about my image in my head, and my body changed.

Maybe because it’s a virtual space, when I imagined a keyboard, one appeared right before my eyes. Thanks to that, I could communicate with the community easily.

Why could only Lakye make physical contact with me?

Perhaps because we’re the same species, even though she’s a half-blood. That’s a plausible explanation.

“It’s a shame. If my spiritual abilities were stronger, I could have seen your true form. I’m sure you’d be displaying a magnificent and gallant figure.”

Lakye sighed as she stared intently at my handsome totem body.

No, don’t do that. You’d only be disappointed if you saw my actual nerd self.

I told her that I would keep NotACatfish in custody until her fate was decided.

“It doesn’t matter to me. The small gift I prepared for Lord Malak—I’ll leave everything to you.”

That’s quite helpful.

I explained our plans after her joining to Lakye. I also included explanations about my blessings and abilities.

She’s now my greatest asset, so I needed to share information with her.

I’m not sure what kind of person she is yet, but at least she seems loyal to me, which isn’t bad.

“So we’re going to attack the village near the mountain. That’s the only way to strengthen your blessing.”

– That’s right.

“I see. …Could you bestow your blessing upon me? I’m curious if Malak can be with me.”

Being together? That sounds a bit strange.

– Let’s do it.

I bestowed the possession blessing upon Lakye.

It feels like my senses have greatly expanded. Lakye’s perception of the world comes to me.

I can hear insects rustling near the altar, leaves falling, and birds singing.

Is this how superhumans experience the world?

“Malak, I heard you can take control of the body. Would you like to try?”

– Let’s do it.

Where should I start? The lips, of course?

I want to see her surprised face when she hears an unfamiliar male voice coming from her mouth.

Now, to take her lips… it’s not working?

Unlike with Paya, taking control of Lakye’s lips was extremely difficult. I was concentrating, but couldn’t gain control.

It feels like something is blocking my consciousness.

“It seems I can resist you. I apologize for the rudeness.”

Whatever was blocking my consciousness disappeared, and I was able to take control of Lakye’s lips.

“Hmm. Confirmed.”

I just verified I could take control and then released the possession. It’s not fun when I’m the one who’s surprised.

I’ve realized that Roa half-bloods can resist my consciousness.

“Well then, shall we go hunt some demons now?”

– What?

Her bombshell statement made me reflexively question it.

“Don’t you need to gain a new blessing?”

That’s true, but… so suddenly?

“Don’t worry. I’ll show you something impressive.”

Lakye grinned. Unlike before, it was quite an aggressive smile.

***

Swish-swish-

Lakye’s feet moved so quickly through the underbrush they were almost invisible. Like a cheetah or leopard.

It was impressive how she dodged the line of sight of the round, one-eyed demonic creatures floating in the air while moving so fast.

I didn’t see this during the previous infected cleanup. Kanto’s claim about going where demons couldn’t see must have been true.

“Are you feeling nauseous?”

Lakye asked as she descended the mountain at incredible speed.

I didn’t answer. I felt like throwing up.

Though I was experiencing exactly what she felt, she was superhuman while I was just an ordinary nerd.

It’s normal to be overwhelmed when experiencing such superhuman speed.

That said, it’s strange to feel like vomiting when I don’t have a stomach. Perhaps my brain is sending “I want to vomit” signals.

“Lord Malak? Are you still with me?”

– Yes.

Ah, I should have asked her to slow down earlier.

I should have agreed with Kanto when he tried to stop Lakye during our small meeting.

‘What, you’re going to fight an entire village alone? Chieftain Lakye, no matter how confident you are in your skills, that’s too much. That’s arrogance.’

‘Arrogance? More like confidence. I’ll handle the demons, you just clean up after me.’

Lakye had retorted coldly. Her attitude was completely different from how she treated me, which surprised me.

‘Chieftain Lakye! Isn’t Lord Malak uncomfortable with this?’

‘Lord Malak, is Kanto right?’

– As long as we can get the blessing quickly, I don’t mind.

Ah, I should have agreed with him then. I was too eager to become stronger quickly.

‘See? This is no time to waste. Just follow behind me with the warriors.’

As soon as I bestowed the possession, Lakye coolly departed.

Though we just met today, I could tell this woman wasn’t suited for the chieftain position.

She’s definitely not a leader type.

“We’re almost there. I’ll increase my speed. Newly awakened one, please tell me if it becomes too difficult to bear.”

As if I would say that. How embarrassing.

Lakye, her paladin’s cloak fluttering, stopped in front of the village after rushing through the forest.

The buildings were well-maintained, unlike what you’d expect from a village occupied by demons in a ruined world.

It must all be a disguise. Once inside, there would be worshippers crawling everywhere.

“I’m going in.”

With that, she leaped like a rabbit with tremendous leg strength and cleared the wall.

I wonder if most blockbuster movies would seem boring to Lakye, who constantly sees such a world.

Having successfully entered the village without witnesses, Lakye quickly hid in a back alley.

Through Lakye’s eyes, I could see the villagers. They looked like ordinary people… but they must be demon worshippers.

“As I said earlier, I’ll focus on killing the lesser demons first.”

Lakye had said that dealing with worshippers too would take too long and be inefficient.

So she would leave the worshippers to Kanto and the warriors who would follow.

“From now on, I’ll speak quietly enough that they can’t hear us.”

Lakye moved nimbly, whispering.

Her keen and broad senses detected nearby worshippers. She headed toward where the demons might be while avoiding people, looking like a skilled assassin.

“Lesser demons usually make the village chief’s house their base. It’s the largest and most spacious building, after all.”

The house Lakye spotted definitely had that “wealthiest house in town” feel to it.

“There’s one worshipper on the way. I’ll kill them quickly and continue.”

Lakye, who had been dodging worshippers, encountered a child in a secluded spot.

It was a girl with fair skin.

“Mommy…?”

The girl, rubbing her eyes as if just woken up, looked at Lakye. She was holding a small teddy bear in one hand.

“Mommy? I’ve never even had a boyfriend, let alone been married.”

Lakye smirked, then quickly approached the girl and snapped her neck.

Crack-!

The girl twisted with a horrible sound.

Before she could scream, Lakye stomped on her head.

Splat!

Green blood spread across the floor.

– Hmm…

I closed my eyes involuntarily.

Even for a worshipper, it was too cruel a sight.

“Lord Malak, you said you’ve never seen worshippers directly, right?”

Lakye addressed me in a gentle tone, having noticed my discomfort. She’s perceptive.

– …That’s right.

“These aren’t humans. They’re just empty shells whose selves have been stolen by demons—mere toys. Even what she just said to me was only repeating words from her life to make me lower my guard. Killing them is mercy.”

– I know.

I knew that, but I didn’t realize they would look so ordinary.

– I was just surprised momentarily. Don’t worry too much. You did what you had to do.

“I’m glad you say that. I was worried you might come to dislike me.”

…Honestly, you are a bit scary.

But well, this is a world destroyed by demons. It’s also a world where children play by throwing axes.

Doing things that look horrific is unavoidable.

Lakye, who protects me and earns points for me, is a reliable ally, not someone I should despise.

“We’re here now.”

Lakye carefully drew the weapon from her back.

It was a curved blade, somewhere between a longsword and a dagger in size.