Chapter 108 – The Journey Takes Us Along
Molly, who was floating, used her fog magic to discover the movements of Larman’s emissaries in the forest.
“….It seems that those humans are going home peacefully. What a bore….. I couldn’t even use one of my magic tricks.”
“Hmm, it’s a pity they came all the way here and left empty-handed.”
Molly, Kageha, and Lilia, dressed in a maid’s outfit, looked out over the forest from the roof of the castle.
“Why bother with those who leave? And what about those ghouls? They died once for sure, and we can’t turn them from demons back into people.“
Molly’s casual question, was answered with as few words as possible by Kageha.
“When they’ve calmed down, we’ll do what they want.”
“I don’t know what you living beings think…. even if they wanted to die?”
“Even if they wanted to die.”
“Hmm, I see.”
—Even though those women had been turned into ghouls, they had the right to choose their future.
Even if their life had ended, if they wished to continue as ghouls, so be it. Or they may decide to end their lives if they find living as ghouls painful.
It was up to them.
“……”
From the roof of the castle, they saw a group of orcs being directed by Solnáda below.
It seemed that the orcs were not assigned to building the castle, but were instead being told the geography of the forest so that each tribe could divide it and live in harmony.
……….
……..
…..
It seemed that each tribe of orcs ate different things. Fish, meat, mushrooms, vegetables…. humans.
When I asked them about it, they said that no tribe ate humans and they were just considered as enemies.
But even I didn’t expect….. that they would be so scared by the mana I had unleashed as the Black Knight on the mutated orc that they would come to me, the Demon King, the one who did it, for help……
It was a strange twist of fate. I was really quite sorry about it.
“……”
But an orc that could speak human language had a lot of potential.
If it was intelligent, it was very likely it could learn martial arts and become strong.
I couldn’t always protect them, so I wanted them to get a little stronger.
The problem was that whether orcs that could be trained in close combat existed in those orc tribes in the first place…. but that could come later. First, they had to get used to the new changes in their life.
“….In the meantime, Molly and Solnada will stay here to protect this place, since the humans might know the orcs are here, and might attack them.”
“Of course. I have not yet finished placing the statues throughout the castle and I have not built the jewelry room which the girls are so adamant about.”
I had thought that the Republic of Larman had come to complain about me building here, but I seemed to have misunderstood something.
But there were other neighboring kingdoms besides Larman, and they might not always be friendly. It would be better to leave someone to protect the castle.
Only if Molly had no complaints, of course.
“….By the way, about this place, what did you think my instructions were?”
“All I heard was ‘I want to build a castle here, shut up and obey.’ …I’m the one who’s actually building it but they’re telling me what to do. They say that the gargoyle statue over there should not have any more spikes. What’s wrong with their sense of beauty…..?”
Molly pointed to a creepy statue at the edge of the roof and wailed.
The statue was already spiky, like it was a sea urchin.
“Heh, heh….”
But that aside, I spotted a strange sight as soon as I had arrived. Wondrously, a castle had been built here.
What part of my instructions, ‘I want to build a hut here because it looks like a good summer resort. Gather materials as you see fit.’ made them believe I wanted to build a castle?
“Oh….”
“……”
I looked at Lilia, who had beautiful light pink hair, and she looked up at me like a puppy with a clear face.
“….Um. You’re a reliable maid. I look forward to relying on you in the future too.“
“Yes, sir.”
Like a good maid, she bowed her head in a satisfied manner, looking quite cool while doing so.
“….Kek. I don’t like it. How much longer are you going to act? I hope you peel off your mask as soon as possible.”
“Unless you want me to spread the ashes that your bones will become across the world, shut up.”
“Oh, you say quite the funny things. Let’s see what you –Kotsun– can do, shall we?”
Kotsun? It sounded like… bones striking against each other? (1)
For some reason, the two of them glared at each other, but I think it’s time for me to bring the topic back to work.
“Well, I’m going on an inspection tour. Kageha, you take care of Lilia, okay?“
“Yes! ….May I ask about what plans you have for the future, Chrono-sama…..?”
Kageha, kneeling behind me, asked fearfully.
“Of course you may. I’m going to visit a hot spring….. in a city a little farther away from here. After that, I’m going to come back here again.“
“Yes, I understand.“
“Oh, but first, I might also come check on you and Lilia.“
“…at your will.”
Kageha was going to be Lilia’s escort on her way to the royal capital as part of her Sword Saint duties.
“Yes. I’ll see you later.“
“Take care.”
“Have a good trip.”
Lilia bowed deeply in a polite manner, and Kageha, who glared at her as usual, nodded at me with an exuberant smile.
“Your Majesty, aren’t you going to take a bath?”
“I’m going to run and get dirty anyway.”
“Hmmm….. I see…”
She looked extremely disappointed. I’m sure she wanted to show off.
But I wanted to soak in the secluded hot spring as soon as possible.
Yes! Since I’ve decided so, I’m going to soak in the hot springs until I become sludge!
♢♢♢♢
(1) Kotsun is a VFX used to represent ‘clink’. Here, mid dialogue, a sound ‘Kotsun’ rings out, upon which Chrono comments that it sounds like a bone striking against something.
This chapter’s 4k words long, so I’ll be splitting it into two parts.
Also, I edited a small bit last chapter. The orcs spotted Chrono standing in front of a huge abysmal hole, which is why it should have been ‘human’, not ‘human tribe’.
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