Chương 449: 422. Awakened Forest II

Quest Complete: Promises Kept (Demon Lord) XP Gained: +100 XP: 12 200 -> 12 300 Quest Complete: Promises Kept (Guardian) XP Gained: +100 XP: 12 300 -> 12 400 Her eyes fluttered before the blurry face of a familiarly unfamiliar form appeared before her.

"Your Grace," came the coarse voice, the Demon feeling how dry her throat had become. Lucy held the cold form of Mara within her arms, her mind blank.

"Mara?" Mara blinked away the blurriness from her eyes and she smiled.

"It seems you've regained your strength, Your Grace." Lucy looked up at Big Ivory, uncertain of what was happening. Her eyes then darted to Adam, then to Jurot, and finally back to Mara.

"Mara?" She reached up and stroked the woman's cheek, feeling how soft her skin still was, in comparison to her own rough hands.

"You've worked hard, Your Grace." Lucy wrapped her arms around Mara and pulled her even closer, her own body growing hot, her heart pounding in her chest. She held the Demon tight, not allowing anyone to take Mara from her. Lucy shook as she began to cry, tears flowing down her face. Mara looked up at Lucy, smiling, feeling the wet tears against her forehead. She reached up to wipe the woman's tears, before she fell limp, too exhausted to keep her consciousness up.

Adam was glaring at Big Ivory, his jaw tense in a half smile. It certainly had warmed his heart that Lucy had finally reunited with her friend, but there was more to deal with.

"Jurot, why don't you take them back to the village?" Jurot helped Lucy up, carrying Mara with his strong arms, while Lucy followed after him, holding Mara's hand. She was still confused, unsure if she was currently dreaming.

"What is it?" Big Ivory eventually asked. He had waited for a short while, but it had been much longer for Adam, and yet the Half Elf hadn't spoken.

"I'm sure you can understand my anger," Adam said.

"That wasn't a scene I should have seen, no matter how touching it may have been."

"This debt will not be forgotten." Adam smiled, turning to look at Big Ivory.

"Yeah." He thought for a moment, wondering how much he should threaten the Guardian.

"For Mother Soza's sake, I hope not." With that, the Half Elf left. Whatever rage he had felt had washed away, and he returned back to his friends. He had so much he had to say to Big Ivory, and had so many threats, but he let the matter go. It still soured his mouth that they had to go through so much, and he had to give up so much, just because he had to give in to a parasite.

He hadn't thought deeply about what had happened, but after seeing Lucy break down and cry, he couldn't help but feel that this world was unjust.

'Isn't this meant to be a fantasy world? Why is everything still the same?' He sighed.

"Yo," Adam called, entering the room. Mara was settled into a bed, and Lucy was holding the woman's hand. Jurot sat nearby, his arms crossed.

"It's Mara," Lucy said.

"Yeah."

"She's…" Lucy looked up to Adam, wondering what had happened. Her eyes held a question, and Adam smiled in response. Lucy sniffled and got up, charging at the Half Elf, before he hugged her tight.

"Did you get a Dragon heart?"

"Yeah."

"How?"

"I traded for it," Adam replied.

"How?"

"The Iyr wanted something and I gave it to them."

"What did you trade?"

"Something extremely dangerous," Adam replied, simply. He pat Lucy's back gently.

"You don't have to worry about that." Lucy hid her head against his chest.

"No matter what anyone says, we're friends, Adam." The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"Just friends?" Adam asked, raising his brow. Lucy froze for a moment.

"If that's the price of a Dragon heart…" She looked up at him, her cheeks red, before she tiptoed. Dexterity Save D20 + 1 = 16 (15) Adam pulled his head back quickly, feeling her lips against his chin.

"What are you doing?"

"What do you mean?" Lucy asked.

"Aren't you the one who asked for this?" Her cheeks had turned completely red.

"What do you mean? When did I ever ask for something like this?" Adam replied, almost shouting.

"I meant that we're best friends now, aren't we?"

"The best of friends," Lucy assured, hugging him tight still, who sighed with relief, her heart still pounding in her chest. The awkwardness was washed away by the overwhelming joy of having Mara return to her. Adam smiled nervously, and was finally let free when Lucy returned back to Mara.

"Did you speak with Big Ivory?" Jurot asked, curious. Adam was curious about many things about Adam, from the deals he had made with the Iyr, to what he had planned for the future.

"I made sure he understood that he had a great debt to repay," Adam replied, simply.

"The price for this was pretty high, and it isn't something we should have had to pay."

"That is how the world is."

"I've never liked that phrase. The world being unfair isn't a good excuse. Nobby was lucky he found us, but…" Adam thought of the others who were not fortunate to find a random weirdo to help cultivate them.

"One day I'll be strong enough to make the world fairer." Jurot wondered just how strong someone needed to be in order to make the world fairer. Even the Iyr's reach could only go so far, and he was certain the Iyr was one of the greatest powers in the world.

"Jurot?"

"Yes?"

"Don't bully me for being a naive idiot." Even Adam understood just how stupid it was to suggest such a thing.

"I will not," Jurot assured. The only way to truly create a fairer world would be to unite many countries together towards a singular unified vision, but that was merely a romantic thought.

'What about the Iyr?' The Iyr had been instrumental in keeping Aldland stable through its history.

'No, no. The Iyr's main function isn't about gaining wealth. If it was, then it could allow the Iyr to extend its reach out of its borders with its might.' Adam's thoughts fell to his country, which had managed to deal with slavery when it threatened mass revolution within its borders. It went on to police the rest of the world so they could not benefit from slavery.

Of course, they did end up letting it slide whenever it suited them, and continued funding its wealth through pillaging other countries across the world.

'No doubt there's probably a bunch of slavery still happening in this world too. How does that even make sense when magic exists? Wait, how can Nobles exist in this world too? There's a bunch of magic in this world, so how is it that people couldn't band together with those who know magic, like their community Priests, Wizards, and…'

"Jurot?"

"Yes?"

"Are the Scribe Mages in this land typically Nobles?" Adam asked, innocently.

"Yes, but there are some who buy the rights to become a Scribe Mage," Jurot replied. Adam slowly nodded his head.

"They don't think that those of common blood are able to handle the work required, right? They're not intelligent enough? Except for those who have enough money to join their exclusive club?"

"Yes." Adam blew a raspberry.

"Who could have possible guessed that? What about Blood Mages? They don't need resources, just being born into…" As Adam spoke the words, he felt dirtier.

'Wouldn't it make sense for Blood Mages to rule as their blood gives them magic? Damn, that's weird.'

"Blood Mages are rare within Aldland," Jurot admitted.

"In Aswadasad there are more, but Drakkenlen has a population which boasts a greater chance of those who are Blood Mages."

"How come there are so few in Aldland?" Adam asked.

'Drakkenlen having so many makes sense, considering Dragons have rules the land for a while. Is Aswadasad just more magical?'

"They were hunted down," Jurot replied, simply.

"Ah," Adam replied.

"Well, yeah. I guess that does make sense. After all, Blood Mages could break the Noble's monopoly on power. Sometimes I'm disappointed in this world, you know? Everything seems so… predictable. Hell, it's a surprise no one's been more racist to me. I expected someone to try and hang me for being a filthy leaf ear already."

"If you were alone, many would have tried." Jurot assumed Adam had been hanging out with them on purpose.

"Oh?" Adam sighed.

"Right. I guess I've accidentally been smart enough not to get myself killed." He looked to Lucy, who was only vaguely listening to them. She was a Demon, and a Demon Lord, so it wasn't a surprise that many would aim for her too. To think that someone was so brazen to do it in front of Iyrmen, though. A thought passed by his mind.

"Does that mean if I have kids, they'll probably be hunted?" Adam swallowed. Jurot sat up straighter, the question almost like a slap to the face.

"I will not allow it." It was a rare moment that Jurot did not speak bluntly. The darkness had gripped his heart in that moment.

"It is likely." Adam rubbed his forehead.

"I didn't realise that everything was going to be so troublesome when I picked this race."

'Damn. I guess I can't get married any time soon, then. It's not like I can date anyone until Lanarot chooses someone for me anyway.' The pair left Lucy alone with Mara, going to join the others to drink and eat. Adam wondered how hard it would do to do business.

'I guess I just need to make a greater business? I need to figure out a way to become indispensable. Everyone's principles fall when it comes to money.' Jurot remained quiet during the evening. The question Adam had asked earlier weighed on his mind. If Adam had children, would they not be his nieces and nephews? However, Adam was only a Nephew of the Iyr, and he had made his intentions to remain separate well known. He drank the entire cup of wine, before staring at the emptiness within.

Adam stared up at the stars that night. His entire body ached from moving hundreds of miles with little rest. Yet, even that was nothing compared to the pain he felt in his heart.

'She almost died before we got here…' Though he was full of relief now, it was still something which ate him.

'Stronger. I need to be stronger.' He prayed he never met that guy again. At least, not until he was Level 20.

'Hey, Bell?' [Yes?]'Let's get stronger together.' [Okay.]