LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 57
Chapter 57. Warriors
Hey there, it’s Zilbagias, bouncing around in our carriage after cleaning up various messes.
Actually, it’s not really bouncing at all. Thanks to the paved roads of the Korvto Tribe and the cushioned skeletons rigged into the carriage, it’s quite comfortable.
It’s been a full day since we left the village of the tiger cat beastmen, making sure to rest up just in case.
“By the way, Village Chief. Your battlefield instinct was spot on.”
As we parted ways, the village chief dropped to his knees in a dramatic bow.
“I’m so sorry!”
“…? Why are you apologizing?”
“No, if I had only fought without retreating and charged into the fortress, this wouldn’t have happened…!”
“You and your men would have just become food for a giant lizard.”
I shrugged. As an old soldier who has wandered through many battlefields, his sixth sense was genuine. I’m impressed, not blaming him.
… By the way, the village men who had gone missing were found on the second floor of the fortress, dry as mummies.
I thought it was the specialty of dark creatures to drain life force. I had no idea the White Dragon could do that.
“Most likely, rather than draining them, it charmed them into surrendering their life force.”
… Is it just me, or does that feel even worse than forced dark magic?
Losing the working men of the village is a heavy blow. But they’ve eliminated the nearby threats, so I can only hope they’ll survive and thrive.
“… What was supposed to be a leisurely exercise turned out to be nearly a disaster.”
Inside the carriage.
Opposite me, Sophia, lying limply on her seat while reading a book, sighed heavily.
By the way, on either side of me, Liliana was sound asleep, and Garunya was leaning against me, getting petted. Same old crew.
Sophia finally regained consciousness right before we set off and had recovered from burnt to “maybe a little toasty?”
The first words out of her mouth when she woke up were, “Who are you?”
I panicked, thinking she had lost her memory too (Well, if Antendeis was exposing himself as a demon god, it wouldn’t be too bad if she lost those memories), but it seems my magic had grown too strong for her to recognize me.
According to Antendeis,
“We see the world through our magical power.”
—Once she realized I was me (Definitely because of some demon god’s doing…), her face turned serious. But once she learned that Hobgoblin’s mistake was behind this incident, she promptly forgot all that and was furious.
“I’ll tear those rotten brains apart!!!”
I’ve never seen Sophia curse so harshly in my life.
And as for Faravgi, the second culprit behind the charred incident—his corpse was neatly cut up by the Night Elves. Now it’s being spread out as much as possible in the carriage for transport.
As expected of the Night Elves who are familiar with biological structures, their work was impressive. Of course, Sword Saint Virosa also played a significant role. When it comes to dismantling large creatures, no one can beat her.
Faravgi’s head was magically frozen so that the Dragonkin could confirm it. The special value of a dragon’s body is mainly in its scales, fangs, claws, and horns.
The fangs and claws are said to make good weapons. However, because they carry light attributes, they are highly effective against dark creatures, but apparently don’t have much use for us demons.
… I might have some use for them, though.
On the other hand, White Dragon scales are said to offer extremely high magical resistance when processed into scale armor, making them perfect gear for demon warriors who frequently battle heroes or Forest Elf Mages.
However, Night Elves apparently can’t use them because their skin burns just from wearing them…
And the leftover dragon meat—since it was edible, it was grilled up and eaten. Mainly by the villagers of the beastman village. They ate like it was revenge for the men who fell.
I’ve never eaten dragon meat before, but since I had just killed it and it was someone I was talking with earlier, I felt a slight resistance…
But it was surprisingly delicious… So juicy that the leftover light magic burst in my mouth… If it had been aged, I bet it would have tasted even better.
It was really a lot more than I could finish, so the remaining meat will be aged or turned into jerky by the beastmen.
By the way, the Night Elves didn’t touch it. Their mouths would burn from the light magic.
“When we get back to the castle, let’s immediately have the Dwarves process the scales. A White Dragon’s scales are first-rate materials. We can expect substantial durability. There’s also plenty of them—”
Trying to mask her poor health, Sophia started planning various things.
“Ah—”
I had a feeling, but it turns out there are Dwarves in the Demon Lord Kingdom.
The Dwarf nation located in the northeastern mountain region of the continent is on our alliance’s side, but—unlike the Elves, who are unified as a race, the Dwarves are, for better or worse, individuals with freedom. There are wandering magical smiths and small hidden tribes, and perhaps some craftsmen captured on the battlefield who are kept as slaves for their smithing skills.
Platy’s magical spear is clearly Dwarf-made.
Basically, demons primarily process bones, stones, and hides.
“While we’re at it, I should probably find a new weapon for myself.”
I stroked the lump of bones hanging from my belt. I feel sorry for the blacksmith who’s being forced to work hard, but there’s quite a lot to look forward to if there are Dwarves around.
—Concerning the fusion of sword and spear, Virosa quietly praised me.
“Wonderful…! What a brilliant idea that could only come from you, Your Highness…!”
She was snorting excitedly.
For reference, I had Virosa handle a sword with a bone hilt, but it seems it didn’t quite fit her hand.
“It’s difficult. Partly because I’m too used to wielding a sword, but the weight of the blade swings me around.”
Sword Saints don’t enhance their bodies with magic. They must handle their weapons with only their own strength. Virosa is well-trained too, but it seems that being able to control the centrifugal force of a sword spear is tricky.
“The range is attractive, but if I were handling a normal sword, I could close that distance in no time…”
She casually said something terrifying.
Despite having become considerably stronger by tapping into my full magical potential, I can’t quite imagine winning over Virosa with pure skill…
That said, there’s no point in complaining. During the journey, I intend to train while discussing with Virosa, aiming to break into a new realm with my sword spear.
“………”
“… What is it, Garunya?”
Speaking of practice, there’s Garunya. Ever since the Faravgi incident, she hasn’t been her usual self. She’s been working out with a troubled expression during breaks.
Even now, while leaning against me and getting petted, she seems somewhat lost in thought.
“I… couldn’t be much help. I couldn’t even act as a shield for you, my master…”
She said she couldn’t. Garunya’s white ears drooped weakly.
“That’s not true. When I was blasted away, you helped me out.”
More like she got trapped between me and the wall and acted as a cushion.
But it’s true that she helped. Faravgi’s claws had worn down my protective spells, and if I’d been slammed against the wall like that, I could have created a potentially fatal opening. I didn’t even have time for Liliana to heal me.
—I explained that over and over, but she wasn’t convinced.
It seems she’s regretting not being able to do anything besides serving as a cushion for a moment.
It’s tough for a beastman with lesser magical abilities to face a dragon, especially one as powerful as that, so it’s perfectly understandable she was unable to do more…
But Garunya must understand that while feeling frustrated.
In my previous life, I was from the Human Race. I can’t count how many times I envied the immense magical power of demons and Elves.
I understand how Garunya feels, but I can’t voice those thoughts—
“… Virosa, it took you fifty years to become a Sword Saint, right?”
Staring at her own outstretched claws, Garunya said quietly.
“If I train… no matter how hard I try… if I take that much time, I’d just turn into an old crone…”
Beastmen have short lifespans—at most they only live up to seventy.
Their peak is shorter than that of humans.
That’s why the Beastman’s Fist Saints are respected even by demons. They burn their short lives and succumb to maddeningly intense training to master the principles of combat.
Even while being despised as a lower species, the beastmen have established a position in the Demon Lord Kingdom, largely due to the existence of their Fist Saints and the Beastman King, who can only be a Fist Saint.
There’s even a tale where the first Demon Lord, Raougius, arm-wrestled the King of Beastmen back in the day and lost.
Of course, there’s a caveat—he lost without relying on magical enhancement.
Can you believe it? In a nation filled with competitive demons, it’s a tale that the Demon Lord lost, and it’s been allowed to be passed down through the generations.
That’s just how special Fist Saints are considered. Even demons think, “If someone were to become a Fist Saint, it’s only natural they might lose in sheer force.”
For beastmen with lesser magical powers—Fist Saints are their shining hope.
“… I’ll train harder.”
Garunya clenched her fist firmly and declared quietly.
“No matter how many years it takes… no matter how many decades… I’ll definitely become stronger.”
Though she didn’t say it outright, it’s apparent her strength is aimed toward becoming a Fist Saint.
“Maybe… by then, I’ll be a wrinkly old crone.”
She peeked at me anxiously.
“… Even so, will I still be allowed to stay by your side, my master?”
I embraced Garunya’s shoulders.
“Of course.”
Garunya purred happily.
Really, she’s such an invaluable and loyal follower to me, Garunya.
No matter if you become a wrinkly old crone or what course your life takes. How could I possibly say I don’t want you?
If you wish to serve me, it makes me immensely happy.
… That is, as long as the Demon Lord Kingdom still exists by then.