Chapter 21
21 – Legacy(1)
The next day, the meeting continued from the previous day and went smoothly.
In fact, it was a transaction that wasn’t that complicated.
I provide grain, and the demon side pays corresponding goods.
However, since I still did not know exactly the maximum amount of wheat that could be sold, we agreed to set the transaction amount per weight unit and discuss the rest later.
The transaction was carried out in such a way that two copies of the same document were filled out as usual between the imperials, and each was divided into two copies with stamps on both sides to prevent forgery.
I wondered what would be the use of a deal with a demon, not from the same race, but anyway, formality is a necessity everywhere.
“Now, I think that’s about it. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?”
I put the papers in my pocket and turned my head in the direction of Paine’s shadow.
“Huh, I’ve told you everything I want to talk about now. As I said earlier, if you go back to the territory later, I think you can discuss it with someone on our side.”
Faine’s shadow wavered and answered my question.
Isana stood next to the veil drooping in front of the shadows, and she took on the role of drafting the contract on behalf of Paine, who was not here.
Earlier, when I saw Isana cut her own finger and covered it with blood, I was momentarily embarrassed.
She wiped off the blood on her thumb a few times as if it didn’t matter, then took a thin cloth and wrapped it around her finger.
I guess the demons don’t have a seal culture…?
“Is that person Isana here?”
“Unfortunately, she has a separate responsibility. By the time you get back from Falana, someone else will be ready.
After hearing Paine’s story, I felt somehow fortunate.
I only met Isana briefly yesterday and today, but I got the impression that she is a very aggressive and quick-tempered person.
If you take such a person with you, an unexpected situation may occur.
Please, the other person that Paine prepared should have a calmer personality than her.
“What you looking at?”
Isana must have sensed the eyes on her and looked at me and blurted out.
I feel like I’m going to fall into cognitive dissonance when I think of the courteous appearance when we first met and the insincereness that he treats me now.
I never imagined that such violence could be hidden beneath his true appearance disguised as a human.
“That’s it. When will it be possible to depart for the Eastern Continent? I’d like to get there as quickly as possible.”
“Don’t worry too much, Edwin. We’ll be ready to depart before noon at the latest.”
On behalf of Isana, who was grumbling bluntly, Paine accepted my words.
“But are you sure you’re okay? Maggie spreading across our land will be very difficult to withstand with the body of a westerner. You said there’s something you’re looking for, right? If you tell us where it is, we can search it for you.”
“It’s okay since I came with my own measures. It’s not like I’m staying for a long time, and there’s no problem in a day or two. And the thing I’m looking for is probably hidden quite deep, so it’s going to be difficult if I don’t go there myself. I’ll get it.”
“If you say that, I can’t hold you back any longer. Please, I hope you return safely, Mr. Edwin.”
When I persisted, Paine seemed to have given up further persuasion.
The shadow shook its head from side to side.
***
Within half a day of starting from East Hall, Isana and I were able to reach the vast expanse of wilderness between the southern and eastern continents.
I felt a tingling sensation on my skin and eyes little by little, it seemed that Magi was already having an effect.
If left unattended, I will be poisoned by demonic energy, suffer from pain, and eventually lose my life.
I took out the small bottle I had kept in my bosom, opened the lid, and took a sip of the liquid inside.
“What is it? It’s so sweet to drink.”
Seeing my actions like that, Isana, who was ahead of me, turned her head and asked.
Unlike me, who is struggling with demonic energy, she, as a demon, is not affected by this demonic energy at all, but rather seems to be getting more and more energetic.
“It’s holy water. It’s a deadly thing for your species, so don’t get too close to curiosity. If you do something wrong, you could die.”
“Yeah, I did something else… I got it.”
Isana put on a disgusted expression and tried to distance herself from me, taking a few more steps from where she had just been.
Holy water is usually used by sprinkling it on the body or pouring it on wounds, but drinking it directly like this also had the effect of allowing people to survive in demonic spirits for a time proportional to the amount.
As soon as I drank the holy water, the tingling sensation disappeared without a trace, and I felt something warm and cozy envelop my whole body.
Since I don’t know the exact duration of holy water, I was thinking of trying to figure out the exact time by adjusting the amount I drank.
I had brought plenty of spares anyway, and opportunities like this don’t come easily.
***
“Now you can see. There, beyond the river is our territory.”
After traversing the wasteland for a full day, I finally began to see the world beyond the horizon.
East Continent, Forbidden Region, Lost Place, or Cursed Land.
It is called by various names now, but in the future everyone will call it the world of demons.
It is also the hometown of Paine and Isana.
‘… ‘It’s more ordinary than I thought?’
Contrary to my expectations, the East Continent was a very ordinary place on the outside.
There are grasses and trees in their own way, and in the distance you can see places like lakes and rivers.
Magi, which could be felt as tingling skin, and fruits that looked like they were distorted if looked closely, were the only clues that made us realize that this place was different from the West Continent.
“Westerner…no, Edwin. Get away for a moment.”
Isana, who was walking ahead of me while admiring the surrounding scenery, stopped.
When I looked back to see what was going on, she was moving around and feeling restless.
Isana continued to glance sideways at me, then sighed as if she had made up her mind.
Then he stretched his arms out in front of him and spread his right hand.
-Whoops
As Isana opened her palms, the air nearby shuddered as if vibrating and began to be sucked rapidly into her right hand.
After sucking in the air for a few seconds, Isana withdrew her hand.
“Ugh… I’m sure I’m comfortable with my original appearance. It’s so frustrating to disguise myself as a Westerner…”
From noble mtl dot com
Isana said while stretching.
It seems that the last time I showed you in the village was only partially transformed.
Her hair was brightly bleached, and her skin was a pale gray.
The horns on his head had grown twice as large as the last time, and his ears were elongated and drooped down the sides of his temples.
The whites were inverted to black, the pupils were on a yellow background like a cat, and the pupils were split vertically to form a typical inverted eye.
The appearance of Isana, who had returned to her true form, was exactly the same as that of the demons seen in the game.
It’s not clear since the original didn’t describe it in detail, but judging from the circumstances, I wonder if the appearance will be the same as that of ordinary people once the demonic energy inside the body is drained.
Then, if you absorb demonic energy again like this, you will return to your original form.
“Hey. Can’t you stare at me like that? It’s rude to an old woman. Doesn’t a noble man know such manners?”
As I gazed curiously at the transformed Isana, she glared at me and shot me.
“Oh, I’m sorry. A scene I’ve never seen before in my life unfolded before my eyes. Excuse me.”
“Hmm… We’re pretty calm for that kind of thing. It seems like we really don’t think much of ourselves after seeing our true selves…”
“It’s strange, but nothing more, nothing less. And as I already told your master, I don’t discriminate against people based on appearance. If you care about that part, I’ll tell you that it’s not necessary at all.”
“Hey. Even if you look at it like this, I’m the best body in my bloodline…? Oh, of course, my master is an exception. And, you Westerners, if you just see my face, you guys will go crazy. It’s a lot. But hearing what’s wrong with looks and what discrimination is, to be honest, it’s a little dumbfounded… Before you say that to others, why don’t you look back on yourself first?”
master? Come to think of it, in the original work, whenever the demon king appeared, he never took off his black armor and helmet, so there was no way to guess his appearance.
Even though he’s a man, if he said that, he seems to be a really good-looking handsome man, but honestly, I’m really curious about him.
If we continue to build friendships with them like this, will the day come when we see the demon king’s true face?