CHAPTER 9- Demihuman People
(POV - Grandma)
After my death, Daniel suffered a lot. He told me everything that happened after I passed. Everything he did. Everything that happened to him… Everything he felt and endured.
Sonia seemed like such a good girl. Why did she do that to Daniel? I thought they'd get married someday; they had so much chemistry, they seemed like the perfect couple. Daniel worked so hard to make their relationship work. Sonia, why did you cheat on him? If you fell in love with someone else, why didn't you break up with Daniel? I'm sure he would've accepted your decision. Why did you do it? Why…? I don't know.
And it wasn't just Sonia's betrayal that hurt him. Daniel was starving, had no money, and sold all his possessions to pay for my funeral. Why did he do that? I didn't need a funeral. I didn't need anything. I wanted to complain about that decision, but I couldn't bring myself to. My Dani must've worked so hard selling his things and organizing the funeral. He did all that for me, to give me a proper farewell. Complaining about his efforts, even if I disagree, feels unfair. I just didn't have the courage to say anything. I know I should've scolded him for it—it was so irresponsible, he left himself penniless for something that wasn't worth it—but… I know he did it out of love. Scolding him for doing something so kind feels… just wrong.
He was deeply depressed after my death, and after learning about Sonia's betrayal, his poor heart couldn't take it anymore, and he tried to take his own life.
He's been through so much lately. And now that his mother is here, that depression will come back.
… I wish I knew what to do, but… I don't know how to help you, Dani.
I don't know anything about Nadia. I don't know her motives or anything. I never liked her; there was something about her that made me uneasy, but since my son seemed happy with her, I never complained.
She managed to change my son for the better. My son, the boy who got into trouble with everyone and broke women's hearts by cheating on them, became serious, responsible, and kind, all thanks to Nadia.
I know she truly loved my son, but… will she feel love for my Dani? How will she react when she sees him for the first time? Dani looks exactly like my son did at his age. Will seeing him remind her of my son and make her regret being evil…? It's too optimistic to think someone who went to hell for their actions would repent just by seeing their son for the first time, especially since she didn't even see him as a newborn. Will her maternal instincts kick in, or will she choose to remain an evil demon?
Whatever happens, it'll have serious consequences.
I hope you're okay, Dani.
"Be careful."
•
•
(POV - Daniel)
(Three hours later)
I bathed in a lake, saw some giant insects, and spotted a lot of strange animals. This world is truly interesting and surprising. It's a beautiful place… But none of those things managed to make me feel better.
My mother is a demon, and not only that, she's a demon here to destroy humanity.
My mother, my own mother, is my enemy.
My mother…
"My mother…"
Ugh… What should I do now?
I know I shouldn't think about her too much because it'll end up hurting me, but I can't help it. My mother… My mother is here.
The woman I've always wanted to meet is here. I want to go to her, hug her, talk to her endlessly! Spend time with her as mother and son!
"But I can't. I just can't do that."
Why? Because, even though she's my mother, she's still a demon, my enemy.
I thought it might be a trick by the demons, that she's just pretending to be my mother to kill me, but no, I don't think so. How would they know I'm from another world? How would they know about my mother? Could the same being who manipulated the rope that brought Cris and Sonia to this world have given them that information?
"That would be too good to be true."
My grandma confirmed that my mother became a demon, and somehow this world is connected to the other alternate worlds. Maybe the demons aren't just from this world's hell; they could be demons from different alternate hells… Or maybe there's only one hell, and it's in this world.
"I just… I just shouldn't think about her anymore."
The demi-humans' lives are at stake, and if I keep thinking about my mother, I won't be able to focus.
I just… need to move forward… Forward…
"I'm here… Mother, I'll see you soon, but for now…"
I'll pretend you don't exist.
After flying for so long, I finally arrived.
I land in Soular, far from a village.
If I fly into the village, they'll think I'm a demon. I need to pretend to be a normal human, but if things get ugly, I'll have to show my power. Why? Because if I prove I'm powerful, they won't want to attack me, and that'll give me enough time to earn the demi-humans' trust.
I mean, after all, someone as powerful as me could destroy all the demi-humans if I wanted to. Showing that I'm both powerful and kind will make them understand I genuinely want to be their friend, not their enemy.
Come on, Daniel, people need the happy, optimistic Daniel. I know your heart is broken, and depression might be creeping back, but the demi-humans' lives are in your hands! Smile and keep going!
"Mother, just… Just leave me alone for a while."
I know you'll come soon, but I'll be ready to face you, and depending on your actions, I'll greet you with a smile…
"Or with my sword."
This world needs me; I can't hesitate.
Alright… Time to pretend I don't know my mother.
"How long did it take?"
I pull out my phone and check the time. It took me three hours to get here. Wow, that's… Ugh, no… I shouldn't say that.
"It took over three hours; I thought it'd take two. I guess I miscalculated."
I pocket my phone.
Well, I can't complain either; it would've taken longer if I'd traveled by carriage or with Treis. I shouldn't be ungrateful; I should be happy and satisfied with my speed.
"Here I am, the demi-human country. I hope I don't run into too many problems. Good thing I landed far from a village; it'd be troublesome if they saw me flying."
I don't want them to mistake me for a demon and attack me. I need to make a great first impression!
I check my phone, reading about the village. Yup, my phone can do that. So convenient!
Hmm… Basically, it's a connector village, meaning it's a commercial meeting point between different cities due to its safety. Nobles and wealthy people gather here to close deals and build relationships. The roads must be long and tedious, so instead of a long trip, they come to this village. A short trip is better than a long one, huh?
Hmm… Oh. Use of soundproofing stones. Yeah, I should've guessed it wasn't just about safety. This village has an inn with rooms equipped with soundproofing stones, which prevent sound from escaping. I see, I see. They hold secret meetings and all that rich people stuff here.
Large warehouses and factories are located here. Interesting.
Basically, it's a commercial village. Cool.
Considering all the economic resources this village generates, why isn't it a city? Well, there must be a reason. The village is big, but not big enough to be considered a city. Doesn't it generate enough money? I'll look into it later.
I start walking toward the village.
"Zoon Village. The village farthest from the King's castle. I don't think my mother will come here first."
… Better not think about her.
I check my pockets. Empty. Same as when I started. No money.
"No money. I'll have to work hard."
I'll earn a ton of money and donate most of it to win people's affection faster.
Should I build an orphanage or start businesses? I'll think it over later.
For now, I'll focus on being likable. Hello, demi-humans!
After walking for a few minutes, I arrive. There are no walls, so I enter without any issues. The people living at the entrance (or exit) of the village give me dirty looks, but they don't stop me or anything.
I reach the village, and the first thing I notice is that people have animal tails and ears. Some have animal heads. Others have human heads but animal bodies—that's the weirdest thing to see. A woman with a cow's body and a human head… Daniel, don't stare at them weirdly. That's their race; I shouldn't feel odd looking at them.
Sorry, I'm not used to this.
Demi-humans are very different from the demi-humans in light novels. They're not like furries; they're more like… animals, actual animals. Yeah, animals. Except for those with just animal ears and tails, the others are kind of scary. For example, that cat woman—she's like a huge cat standing on two legs and wearing clothes. It's a bit intimidating. Please, forgive me, it's my first time in a demi-human village! I'm not grossed out; I just need to get used to seeing them!
But, putting that aside, I'm in a demi-human village! I finally feel like I'm in a magical world! All I need now is to see elves and dwarves.
"Awesome! Incredible!"
Wow. I wonder if there's an explanation for this. Did they evolve this way, or was the race artificially created thousands of years ago by some mad scientist? I mean, it's not normal to see humans with animal traits. There has to be a reason. Evolution is about adapting and surviving, so if this was evolution, there must've been a purpose, but I think it's more likely that demi-humans were created by some god or mad scientist. I wonder if they have a logical explanation… Huh? W-wow…
I start walking, enjoying the sights, but… the demi-humans are looking at me weirdly. The King's words are starting to make sense. When I arrived at the village, I could feel hateful stares, and even now, mothers are pulling their kids away from me.
They recognized me as a human. I-I think my scent gave me away.
Damn, I hope they don't attack me. I'm just a poor, innocent human.
I look around and see some guys who look like adventurers.
"I guess there's a guild around here."
I need to register to show them my power so they won't try to harm me. I want to avoid an unnecessary fight.
I keep walking and approach a girl with a monkey's head selling fruit.
… Human body, monkey head… That's weird. Reminds me of a certain movie.
I'd buy something, but I have no money, and I bet the currency is different in this country.
"Excuse me, miss. Good afternoon. I need directions. Is there an adventurers' guild around here? Thanks in advance."
The girl… looks at me with disgust.
Disgust… It's… It's the first time a girl's looked at me like that.
It hurts.
"Get lost, leave!"
… That hurt… I was polite, but she treated me badly. Do they hate humans that much?
"I'm sorry, thanks for your time. Have a nice afternoon."
I walk away, and some demi-humans surround me.
No, please, I don't want trouble. Please don't try to kill me; don't force me to fight. I want to befriend you, not fight.
"What are you doing here, human?!"
"I just want to go to an adventurers' guild, that's all. Please don't hurt me; I haven't done anything to you."
"Your kind isn't welcome!"
Ugh, discrimination. Humans and you are the same. It doesn't matter who's to blame anymore; you're acting just as bad. The past is the past; it's not worth hating each other over people who are already dead.
"Listen, I just want to go to a guild, I don't want trouble. I'm starving and need money."
"Yeah, right!"
Hey!
The adventurers try to grab me, and I jump back, dodging their arms. If they catch me, they'll try to kill me. Sorry, you left me no choice.
"Arches Nexus!"
I fly up and stop a few meters above the ground. They'll kill me if they catch me, so I'd better show them how powerful I am to make them fear me. That fear will slowly turn into trust, I'm sure.
I look at them. Yup, it worked; they're looking at me with fear.
"He's a demon!"
"He'll kill us!"
They're panicking.
Hearing that they're scared of me makes me a bit angry. I'm far from a demon… Though I do have demonic magic… And my mother's a demon.
Arghhh! Don't think about your mother, Daniel! Especially not now, when you need to stay calm and think clearly!
You've completed step one; time for step two.
"Please, I'm just an adventurer looking for work to eat; I'm not a demon! I'm not a demon!! And you demi-humans shouldn't judge anyone by their race without knowing them first!! Would you like some human to treat you like this?! Of course not!! Treat others how you'd want to be treated!!"
I land and look them in the eyes.
"I'm just an adventurer; I don't want trouble, please. I'm starving and need money to eat. Please, I'm begging you, leave me alone. I haven't done anything to you; this is my first time talking to demi-humans."
… Playing the pity card didn't work.
They all yell at me to leave and start throwing rocks. I dodge some, but I can't avoid them all; a few hit my body and head.
"I guess they really hate humans, huh?"
I sigh… I'll have to tell them the truth.
"I'll tell you why I'm here! I'm Daniel, an adventurer with all types of magic, and I've come to stop the fight between humans and demi-humans! I came to end this stupid hatred! Stop acting like little kids and grow up!!"
A long silence… Ugh, I know this scene.
Laughter in 3, 2…
They all start murmuring.
"All types of magic?"
Ugh, I counted wrong. Let's try again.
Mocking in three… Two…
They all start laughing. They really don't believe me, huh? I'm used to this.
"This human's crazy!"
Blah, blah, blah. Tch. Humans and demi-humans act the same.
"You don't believe me? Tell me where the guild is so I can register and prove I'm telling the truth. If I'm lying, you can kill me, and I won't resist! And you know why I'm not scared? Because I'm telling the truth!! Arghhh!! Stop judging people without knowing them!!"
Ugh… A very large, muscular man with the head of a German shepherd approaches me. He's wearing white armor.
This feeling… Ugh, here we go again.
"I'll take you."
"This feels familiar. Are you the strongest adventurer in this guild?"
"Yes, I am. Any questions?"
"I figured."
He grabs my shirt with his right hand.
"If you're lying, I'll kill you. Fair enough?"
I guess I can agree; I'm not lying anyway.
"Yeah, that's fine."
I keep seeing everyone looking at me with hatred… It's going to be really hard to get them to accept me.
"It'll be tough work."
But not impossible. I need to earn the demi-humans' trust.
I could easily make fake ears and a tail to trick them, but I decided not to. I need to earn their trust as a human.
"Demi-humans hate humans, and humans hate demi-humans. And you know what? You act just like humans. The only difference is your appearance, that's all. In other words, all of you—demi-humans and humans—are crybabies who hate each other because of people who are already dead!! You only hate each other out of stupid pride, you idiots!! Sorry for being rude, but it's the truth!! Arghhh!! How can you be so stu—? Hmmph!"
The adventurer covers my mouth.
"If you want to live, shut up."
I nod.
Yeah, I guess I got carried away. Sorry, I'm feeling a bit emotional.
We enter the village guild, and a waitress with cat ears and a cat tail greets us. She's wearing a black dress. I think she's the waitress.
Wow. So cute… She's adorable.
A real cat girl… Awesome!
"Welcome, Rocco!"
Rocco, huh? Sounds cool.
And her voice is so cute.
She looks at me and… gives me a disgusted look.
Ouch, that hurt.
"Why'd you bring a filthy human with you?"
"We made a deal. He says he has all types of magic, and I want to verify it. If he doesn't, I'll kill him."
The waitress starts laughing. H-hey, are you seriously laughing because you think I'll die?! Arghhh! Do they hate humans that much?!
"I can't wait to see you kill that filthy human!"
"Hey, I bathed today!"
She's cute, but she scares me.
You're not cute anymore… Ugh, being discriminated against reminds me of high school. Back then, they discriminated against me for being poor; here, it's for being human.
We head to a guild employee. She's a woman with a stunning body but the head of a pig.
Ugh… Sorry, but… Ugh, I'd better not say anything.
"This human wants to register."
"I won't let a human register!"
"This human claims to have all types of magic, and if he doesn't, he'll let me kill him slowly."
Slowly?!
"Really?!"
She's smiling?!
She grabs my right hand and places it on the orb.
"I can't wait to see this!"
They're all scaring me… Where are the kind, adorable demi-humans?
Ugh, fine, soon they'll learn not to judge without knowing.
La, la, la… Alright, I'll check out the adventurers while I wait.
Hmm… Oh, a goth bat girl. Cool.
A woman with mouse ears. So cute.
Oh, a… man with a tiny Chihuahua head but super muscular… That's weird.
Well, uh… I feel odd.
It's the first time I've gotten hateful and disgusted looks from women; none of them think I'm handsome.
… I don't know how to feel about that.
I mean, I don't like women harassing me, but I also don't like getting looks of disgust and hatred… Oh well, whatever.
After a minute, a card appears out of nowhere, and the employee grabs it immediately. That desperate to see me suffer?!
"Daniel. Age, 16. Magic types… It must be a mistake!"
"Give me that."
Rocco takes the card and looks at it.
"Oh, wow. You really have all types of magic."
Rocco stays calm. He knows how to keep his cool and not let emotions control him… I like you, Rocco.
The demi-humans around me look at me in shock and don't dare give me disgusted looks anymore; they're too scared.
Well, at least that's better than being hated.
"I told you."
I pull his hand off my shirt.
"Can I have my card?"
"Yeah, sure."
He hands me my card, and I place it on the employee's desk.
"Miss, I don't have money to pay for registration. Please, can you give me the hardest mission available? I don't care about the rank; I want the toughest one."
"I don't want to…! But you're part of the guild now, so I have to give you the mission!"
"Thanks, cutie," I say, winking.
Come on… Yup, she blushed… A little, I think. Her pink skin confuses me, but her tone of voice confirms it.
"Y-yeah."
So the issue is my race, not my looks. Got it. This info could be useful.
The employee grabs a paper from the mission board.
"There's a mission to help a village invaded by a demon. Fufu. What? Scared already, human?"
"Just one?"
"Yes."
"I'll take it."
"Huh?!"
It's probably not my mother, but it'll get her attention. I need to be ready.
"What's the village called?"
"I-it's Sali Village."
"Alright."
The employee writes a number and hands me the card.
"Thanks."
I extend my right hand to shake hers.
"Get away from me, you disgust me!"
I lower my gaze and stop smiling… I disgust her… I guess I'll have to get used to being treated like this… Though, honestly, I'm already used to it. In my world, my male classmates looked at me with disgust… Only the guys, but those looks hurt… They discriminated against me for being poor.
"I understand… Goodbye. Have a nice afternoon."
I'm about to leave the guild, but Rocco grabs my shirt.
"I'm interested in seeing how you handle this. I'm coming with you."
Unlike Sandro and that other adventurer whose name I don't know, he seems… kinder? He tried to kill me, but he doesn't look at me with disgust. And I like that he stays calm, even after seeing my immense magical power.
I like you, bro! You know how to stay calm and not act like an idiot!
"Alright."
We leave the guild together.
"Muslar asio! Get on my back; I'm flying."
I see everyone still looking at me with disgust and hatred. Arghhh! Don't they see Rocco treating me well?! He's already verified I'm telling the truth!
"And I'm not a demon; I learned the flying spell from a fairy!"
"I'm not getting on your back."
"Put your pride aside. Arches Nexus!"
I start floating.
"At least grab my legs."
"Fine."
Rocco holds onto my legs, and I pull out my phone.
"Where is it?"
I open the map. Hmm… Found it!
"Wow, it's close. Let's go!"
I fly off quickly, but not as fast as before; I'm not sure if he can handle the trip.
"I can go faster, but I don't know if you can hold on."
"Go fast; I'm fine."
"Alright… Here we go!"
I fly at full speed.
I think magic protects my body; I feel the wind, but it doesn't hurt. Having magic is awesome.
… My mother will find me soon. I need to be ready.
Being in a demi-human village won't help with my mission; my real goal is the King of this country. If I befriend him, everything will be resolved. But I can't go yet, not until I deal with my mother.
That's why I'm in this village—to make my name famous among the demi-humans so they'll accept the alliance with humans when the King announces it.
I know I'm putting the demi-humans at risk, but it's unavoidable. I can't waste more time on this demi-human issue; I can't stop training. The lives of one or two demi-humans are a small price to pay to save billions of lives.
I hope they can understand.
After a minute, we arrive at the village.
"We're here!"
I land outside the village.
I don't want to draw attention by landing in the village, and I want to catch the demon by surprise.
"Did you enjoy the ride?"
"It was amazing."
… Is he just expressionless? Well, at least I don't sense hatred from him.
I'm slowly earning his trust.
"Glad you liked it," I say, smiling.
We enter the village, and the same thing happens—demi-humans look at me with hatred and surround me again. Ugh, damn it.
"I'm here to kill the demon in this village, so let me through!"
"Hahahaha! You want to kill me?!"
A demon, very different from my mother, pushes through the crowd and stands in front of me. This demon doesn't look human. Its body is covered in red and green fur, with two huge horns and bone wings. It's the first time I've seen a demon like this. The first demon I killed was wearing armor, so I didn't see its face or body.
Demons are like ice cream—different flavors and colors… Well, in this case, different designs.
"I gotta admit, you look cool."
"You want to kill me?!"
It starts laughing, and I smile. Thanks for lowering your guard.
"Muslar asio! Dex Sword!"
The sword appears in front of me, and I grip it tightly with my right hand.
I take advantage of its laughter and slash its body, striking without hesitation.
"Huh?" everyone says, confused by what just happened.
I cut the demon in half and defeat it. Less than a second. New record. At least the black demon tried to attack me; this one just stood there.
Fufu. Hey, demon, never let your guard down. I'm not an honorable warrior. I'll strike my enemies at the first opportunity.
"This sword is really incredible!"
I kiss it and then spit. Yuck. Tastes awful.
"Gross, demon blood."
"Impossible, you defeated it in one hit."
… Seriously, Rocco, you should sound more excited. Like: Impossible, you defeated it in one hit!
With a more surprised tone, not so serious.
"It was thanks to my sword. Honestly, I took advantage of him being distracted."
Demons underestimate their enemies too much… A big mistake.
All the demi-humans look at me in awe, with no trace of hatred. Well, I doubt they'd dare look at me with hatred after what I did. I saved their lives!
"And humans and demi-humans are the same; stop looking at me with hatred!"
I turn around.
"Well, I've got nothing else to do here. Let's go. Arches Nexus!"
I start floating, and Rocco grabs my legs.
"I'm ready."
I fly off.
I need to build a good reputation in this country to get a chance to meet the King and earn his trust faster.
My mother will ruin my reputation, but at least she'll make me more famous.
I need that fame to gain the King's trust.
A minute later, we arrive back at the village.
I enter the guild and show my card to the employee, a big smile on my face.
"I defeated it!"
"Impossible!"
"It's true; I saw it. He defeated it in one hit," Rocco says.
"Uwaaah! In one hit?!"
She didn't doubt Rocco, huh? He's really popular here.
The employee leaves and returns with a bag of coins.
"Here, 10,000 gold coins."
Though it's less than what I got the first time I killed a demon, I don't mind; it's still a lot of money.
A lot… Well, considering the quality of adventurers… Hmm… I think a demon is considered an S-rank threat, so the rewards are high.
"Thanks!"
I take the bag.
"We already deducted the registration fee."
"Thanks again, miss! I appreciate it! Yippee, I have money to eat!"
I step away, and Rocco stares at me. I feel his gaze piercing my soul. He may be expressionless, but his stare is intense.
"Wait, Daniel."
I stop and turn to him.
"Yeah?"
"Are you really planning to stop the fight between demi-humans and humans?"
"Yeah, I was told humans treated them like disgusting monsters, and that's why they left the country and formed their own. When I heard this story and that Grenfor's kingdoms want to fight you, something inside me said I had to stop it."
"I guess you'll need help. I'll help you."
… Seriously?! That'll make things easier! I'm getting support from the strongest adventurer in this guild! Learn from his humility, Sandro!
"You don't hate me?"
"My instincts never lie; I know you're a good person."
"I'd appreciate it."
Thanks. Seriously, thank you so much, Rocco. I promise I won't let you down. I'll do my best to achieve peace.
We leave the guild, and I see two girls begging for money to eat. Their clothes are tattered, and they have dog ears, noses, and tails. They look dirty, like they haven't bathed in days.
Poor girls, so thin, starving. I can't stand seeing them like this. And since I have money now, it's time for my good deed of the day.
"One coin, please, we're hungry."
"Just one coin."
Time for my daily good deed. Helping will calm me down a bit… I'm still depressed about my mother; I need something to make me feel good, and helping others always has.
… I'm a hypocrite. I know full well my presence here puts everyone in danger, and I'm still acting like always… Ugh, Daniel, it's for your mission. Deep breath… Ugh…
I can't go to the King yet; I need to gain fame among the demi-humans. Once I'm famous enough, I'll go to him. Otherwise, he won't trust me and might attack me with his best warriors.
Underestimating the King and going now could be a mistake that costs me my life. The long path is safer and will yield better results.
I pull out a handful of coins from the bag and offer them.
"Hello, good afternoon, ladies. Here, please."
The girls seem to try to ignore my money, but since it's a lot, they take it.
"Th… Thank you, human."
"Thank you so much."
… Honestly, if they hadn't thanked me, I wouldn't have cared, but they did.
… They're good girls. Despite me being human, they thanked me. Being grateful is a virtue not everyone has.
I like them. I pull out another handful of coins and give it to them.
They deserve it.
"You're welcome," I say, smiling.
The girls blush, and I walk away. Rocco walks beside me. Having a demi-human friend will help me… And he's a guy! I won't have to worry about him falling for me…! Unless he's gay. I've been through similar situations before… Oh well.
I hope the girls make it through. They're still so young; they have a long life ahead.
I glance back at the girls. They're hugging each other while… crying… Were they that hungry…? Wow…
Yeah… Seeing that made me feel… like a good person again.
It made me feel happy.
It made me feel human.
"You shouldn't do that to make them stop hating you."
Huh? What's he talking about?
"Do what?"
"Give money to the poor."
"I didn't do it to make them stop hating me; I did it because I feel like I have to."
"You feel like you have to?"
"Yeah… I don't know how to explain it; it's a feeling I've had since I can remember."
I've always felt the need to help others, but I don't know why. I guess because I'm a good person… Huh? Wow…
I see a girl being beaten on the ground by some demi-humans.
Tch. Damn it…
"Thief!"
"Disgusting poor girl!"
Hey, hey, hey! She's just a poor girl; don't hurt her!
The girl cries, and I approach them. I'll try to help her. I don't care if she's a thief; maybe she's just starving and desperate.
"Excuse me, is there a problem?"
"A human?!"
"What are you doing here?!"
"Me? Just strolling through the village, the usual. And you, why are you beating a girl? Did she steal from you? If so, I…"
"Get lost, human!"
One of them starts punching me in the face, and I fall to the ground. He keeps hitting me, and Rocco just watches. Thanks for the help, man.
"Why aren't you fighting back?"
"If I hit him… they'll say… I'm a savage… human and…"
He keeps hitting me… I admit, it hurts, but I can't defend myself with violence. I don't want them to think I'm a savage.
"They'll hate me more."
Rocco pulls the demi-human off me, and I stand up.
"I'm willing to pay for what she stole," I say, feeling my nose bleed.
"Stay out of it!"
"Rocco, why are you helping the human?!"
"He's my new companion."
Wow. Companion? Yes, I got a new companion, and he's a guy! Goodbye, clichés! I'll introduce you to Sara or Rem. Maybe one of them will fall for you.
The demi-humans start laughing. Wow, so much respect.
"You know he just defeated a demon in one hit, right? In less than a second. If he wanted, you two would already be dead. You're lucky he's a kind guy."
The demi-humans' expressions suddenly shift to terror. Huh? They're that scared of me? Rocco, you're super reliable. Thanks for being my ally.
"In one hit?!"
"If Rocco's defending the human, it must be true!"
"Let's go!"
The demi-humans run off. Well, I sacrificed my dignity, but I stopped the fight without using force. Good for me.
I try to help the girl stand.
"You okay?"
The girl is a rabbit girl. She has rabbit ears, a tail, and a nose. She has long white hair and completely black eyes… Wow.
… She's not cute… She's adorable! Wow! Those idiots dared to hit such an adorable girl?! Arghhh! I regret not hitting them!
"I'm just a little hungry, and I have some small wounds. B-but nothing serious! Th-thanks for asking!"
"I won't hurt you, don't worry."
I touch her forehead with my right hand. Wow, a blush appears on her face. I hope she's not misinterpreting my actions.
"Freins Dreis Cure."
It's one of the fairy spells. It heals minor wounds. What do those words mean? No idea, but they sound cool.
The girl's wounds disappear.
"I healed your wounds."
"I-I don't feel pain anymore… Th-thank you, Mr. Human."
Ouch. Do I really look that old?
"You're welcome, Miss Demi-Human."
I pull out a handful of coins from the bag and give them to her.
"So you can eat something."
The girl looks at me in awe and blushes. She's the first demi-human who hasn't looked at me with hatred from the start. This is how demi-humans should be—adorable and kind!
"Thank you so much, human!"
"I'm Daniel, nice to meet you."
I smile to show I'm good.
"I-I'm Meibis."
Meibis, huh? Meibis… Mei… Mei…
That's weird; my heart races when I think of the name "Mei." Do I know someone with that name…? Not that I know of… Strange.
"See you. Have a nice afternoon."
"L-likewise."
I walk away.
"I'm going to build a place to sleep; see you later, Rocco. Call me if you need me."
"I'll be at the guild. See you later."
"Alright. Have a nice afternoon."
I run off… Ugh, I had a rough start, but I'm improving my relationship with the demi-humans.
I look around. Hmm… Some hateful looks, but some are looking at me with fear and concern.
Yup, my fame and name are starting to spread, and that means…
"She'll be here soon."
My mother will arrive soon, and when she does, I'll have to face her. I won't leave; I'll wait for her here. I'll put the demi-humans' lives at risk, but it's necessary. Why? Because I want them to find out I'm the son of a demon. I want them to see me as a freak. A monster. So when I talk to the King, he'll be too scared to refuse an alliance and peace.
The peaceful, slow way is too long; the short way is dangerous, so I'll do it this way—neither too long nor too short.
I'll use fear to achieve my goals.
"I don't have time to keep dealing with this issue."
And I want to get back to my grandma soon…
Ugh… My plan makes no sense!
But… I don't know what to do.
Arghhh! I can't leave because I want to draw my mother here! I want to talk to her! I'm risking the demi-humans' lives for a selfish decision, but I promise to revive them. This is the fastest way to get my mother's attention. I hope you can forgive me, demi-humans. I'll revive you if you die. Just… please understand me.
This won't just benefit me; it'll benefit you in the future. Just be patient.
"Mother… What the hell did you do to me?"
I… I don't even know what I'm thinking anymore.
Who am I kidding? I have no idea what I'm trying to do.
I just want to draw my mother here, that's all. I'm a damn hypocrite. A good person? No, I'm not… I'm not…
"I'm sorry… I'm sorry…"
But I really need to talk to her… I won't leave.
•
•
"That boy is so kind and sweet… Is he really a human?"
The girl started following Daniel, but he didn't notice because he was lost in thoughts about his mother.