Chương 424: Chapter 397. The End Of Hershel's Day

Hershel Demalo's Point Of View / rumble... /" Hmm.... Wooo..." Good... My breathing and Control are nearly at 100% again. After the last attack, the young ones decided to walk away... So young, so idiotic. I suppose I was like that as well? Long ago. When I felt nothing mattered... But don't they understand the position that they're in? When I was their age, I was hopeless. Locked in my own grief of where we were, as a Country... As a People.

Just endless emotional attacks against our enemies, no rhyme or reason for any of it. I thought that was all we'd ever do. Never would we make progress, always satisfied just killing foot soldiers and an occasional commander, but now... For the first time in my life, I found an answer to the endless void I found myself in. But King Warrick failed at every opportunity. The disappointment soon morphed into anger... That led me to only one real option to offer my services to.

And I've been living my life since then for Our Lord. And now, these kids, they have a figure to look to, to lead them. Yet, instead of taking this seriously, they'd rather mess about for who knows how long. Even the one who stayed behind, "Greg", I believe his name is. He's taking a nap against the tree to my right... I can hear him snoring. It must be nice to relax like that! Pop!" Ah!" / thump... /" Dammit! You foolish beast!" SNAP! CRACK!" h.. e.. l.. p.."" Shut your mouth, scum..." I growl out my order.

It works, it returns to being silent. The job of a Mind Mage is never easy. Which is why I'm supposed to have Guards around me so I can work with peace in my own mind. That way I can focus on my work. Honestly... The fools. If only I could've been paired with my own generation, this would've been smooth sailing. But instead, Our Lord decided to pair me with a squad of children. Now the work is harder. Even while I'm hiding here in the forest, even a D-Rank Monster could interrupt my delicate network." m... oo....

m..." CRACK! Again, these things possess too much of a will for only being children. What was the point of slaughtering their parents and siblings if they still choose to fight with their wills anyways? The predicament is stressful to say the least. In this forest, it took 3 days to find a clearing like this. Large enough to create a camp and the Magic Circle to make this assault on that village work. I was currently in the center of the Circle.

All around me, at separate points, in smaller Circles, were the 10 human children that we found with mana within them. 1 of them even being a Fire Mage. They're the key that makes this all work. But the Fire Mage is the most important. By taking their Mana and Life Energy from their young bodies, I'm able to cast Spells from the Fire Mage's mind that I control. The effect of combining their energies along with my Mind Magic will surely break through that Barrier holding the village together.

And once it's gone, they'll be easy pickings for the rest of the battle. The only issue is that we'll need to find similar candidates in the countryside before attacking Phoenix Tail. No doubt the defenses will be strong as well... Perhaps 50 more orphans will be needed?" b... r.. o... t... h.. e... r..." Great! Now even the Fire Mage is beginning to try and fight back, I'll need to wipe their personalities better.

What a curse it is to be given such a delicate Job even though us Demons are much better at just full-scale destruction. Perhaps the Gods see it fit to test my patience? My Mother always did tell me that I was too impatient. Perhaps she'd laugh at me now... If she were still here on Gaia's soil." No..." I shake my head... Enough of that. I have a job to do. I need to finish it, with or without help from the kids that Our Lord assigned to me. Now... To load the next Spe- / SHING! CLANG! / Pressure!" What the!?""

Well now, that's no way to introduce yourself, girl." This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there." Damn you!"" Oh, so angry? Did you think one little stab of your daggers would end this all? How impudent. Why not stay around, I'd like to have some fun since the only woman around for a few miles is already taken. What do you say? It beats being beaten and then having to be my source of entertainment after, right?""

No thanks, I'd rather kill you first than be some random Demon's victim!"" Oh? I like when they have a fire in them." My concentration for the Spell was broken. It was due to the sound... No... The pressure from the clashing blades behind me. A human girl.... Long-yellow hair and brown eyes... Is she an Assassin? Regardless, she's sloppy, Greg was able to stop her with his sword... What is going on here? The reports said that we were blockading the humans and making progress towards the village?

Where did she come from? No... Those questions don't matter. Greg will protect me. I need to focus on my mission first and foremost. For Our Lord. / CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! /" Wow... You're not half bad. But you're still a little on the slow side. I prefer fast women. Both in battle and other ways. Why don't you speed up to see if you can match my tastes?"" Why don't I cut your tongue out first?"" Oh! You're glowing now!? That's pretty cool! Why don't I do the same?" / Woosh! /" What!?""

Oh, did you think I was a Foot Solider or something? Foolish girl... Sorry, I'm a bit higher on the Chain of Command than that. But don't feel bad, like I said, I'm not going to kill you yet, not till I've had my fun. What's the thing you humans like to do on a date? I forget... Every time I ask the men and women that question while playing with them, they all have different answers... Let's say... Dancing... I'm pretty sure some of them screamed that out after I cut a foot or hand off? Either way!

Come on, let's dance for real now!" / CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! / As I tried to focus, I couldn't get the sound of Greg or that foolish girl's battle out of my head. No... I need to focus deeper. Look for my composure. Nothing can be heard except for what is needed for our mission. / WOOSH! /" NO!" / Step! Step! Step! THUMP! CRASH! /" Like I said, foolish girl, don't focus on the old man, he's no fun anyways, always preaching about Our Commander and what we should and shouldn't be doing. He's a bit of a buzzkill.

You should be partying with me. Now get out of that tree and fight me, or do you want to drop your weapons and surrender already? I'm more than willing to accept your surrender, you know?"" Greg, there's a difference between psychological warfare and seeming like you'd actually lie with such a lowly creature." I couldn't help but comment on Greg's disgusting words. To think he'd actually think of lying with such filth. I've heard rumors, but I always assumed he was smarter than that. Perhaps I was wrong?"

Oh, come on, Hershel! I'm still young, I have needs after all!" His tone... He's pretending to be pleading with me. His mocking isn't needed right now. I sense his line of sight go from the me to the girl..." Besides, if you'd look for a second, you could tell, she'd definitely be fun to break."" If you lie with mutts, you'll catch fleas, Greg."" It'll be worth it... We have Healers after all." A strong feeling of disgust begins to grow in my mind. I'll need to report this to Our Superiors after this is over.

The last thing we need is him bringing any half-breed mutts into this world." Now then... Time to collect my prize... I think... Oh!" / CLANG! /" There you go! I knew it'd take more than that! Stay just like that! It's not as fun when they break early!"" I think you might be the most disgusting thing I've run into so far in this world."" Now, now. You don't need to compliment me, I already said you're going to be mine anyways!" / THUMP! THUD! CRASH! /" WAHH!"" GREG!?"

I heard a sickening sound of meat being clobbered, when I looked up, I could see that Greg was no longer near me, he had been knocked into a tree. He was bent over and shaking. What the hell just happened!?" Really! You men are all so simple, it doesn't even change if you're a different Species or Race. Don't worry though, you said you were bored, right? I'll play with you. Though I doubt you'll like the games I have in mind, you fake excuse for a Demon."" Greg! Get back here!"

My voice caused the girl to turn to me! NO! I drew attention to myself! This is bad! I need to get away from her!" Ah! Right. You. He was so disgusting, I forgot about you. It's a good thing he's such a fool."" Wha-"" Because he opened the path for what comes next. JAIME!" / WOOSH! /" Wha!" A giant lance of flame came flying towards me! No! / BOOM! WOOSH! / Push! I quickly fired the simple Fire Ball Spell that I had yet to invigorate with all of the tool's power! Thank the Gods that worked!

Sure, the blast of wind form both of those Spells pushed me a few inches away, but it's nothing major! I can escape and launch a separate Spell as long as the Humans here don't know how to break my Mind Magic! I can even wait for them to bring the tools into the city! Just when they think they can save the children of their own race! I can make them forcibly explode with their mana and destroy the village from the ins- STAB! PAIN!" Wha... Hwak!" SPLAT! My... Chest... I put my hand to it... Blood? Blood?

Why am I bleeding!? Pull!" If I'm right that should be his heart?" The girl... She's mumbling... She... She missed my heart by an inch... STAB! PAIN!" GUAWK!"" Well, that's definitely his throat." Pull! / SPLAT! / All my strength... It's leaving me... She... She stabbed me in the neck... Just like I thought... They're all without a shred of mercy! These animals need to be exterminated! But I can't do anything... I'm choking on my own blood... I can feel my eyes watering...

Tears are coming down the sides of my head from my eyes... I can... Only... Say his name once... my... My Savior..." Lo... Lo... Lord.... Dardus... Huawk!"" Dardus!? Who's that!?" The girl... She shakes me with her hands... But it's too late to tell her about his Greatness... The light... Its... Going... Away... Mother...