Chapter 92

In a forest not far from the imperial road, Zolmneum was deep in thought.

The remains of the mercenary group he had just destroyed were now food for Lo Ni's monsters and Muderav's sustenance.

"Hmm, humans are good. When I eat this meat, I can almost think that this journey isn't so bad. Hahaha!"

Muderav, the heavy warrior of the ogre race, laughed heartily as he threw away a thigh bone. Even a renowned warrior among the ogre race must have found this journey tough. Zolmneum thought about this somewhat.

Zolmneum looked at Muderav.

【Name】Muderav 【Lv】81

【Race】Ogre 【Class】Heavy Warrior

【HP】18423/18423

【MP】4906/4906

【Strength】1510 【Endurance】1301 【Agility】588 【Magic】451

【Skills】

Mace Mastery Lv7, Body Mastery Lv6, All Attribute Resistance Lv5, Status Resistance Lv3, HP Enhancement Lv5, Strength Enhancement Lv7, Endurance Enhancement Lv6

"Hey, Captain, can I take this one?"

Lo Ni, the rabbit person tamer, poked his head out from behind the Minotaur he had just tamed and asked. Zolmneum shook his head in response.

"No, it's too conspicuous. It doesn't even match your monsters in terms of combat power. It would just be dead weight."

"…Okay. Then—Mide! You can eat it."

After a brief pause, a giant subdragon, Worm, suddenly emerged from the ground, coiled its long body, and swallowed the Minotaur whole. Lo Ni watched the Worm devour the Minotaur with narrowed eyes.

"Is it tasty?"

This Worm, named Mide, was one of Lo Ni's monsters. The rabbit boy had named all of his monsters. Zolmneum looked at Lo Ni.

【Name】Lo Ni 【Lv】38

【Race】Beast Person 【Class】Tamer

【HP】2970/2970

【MP】2158/2158

【Strength】253 【Endurance】198 【Agility】922 【Magic】360

【Skills】

Beast Mastery Lv MAX

"Mnya… full…"

Nearby, Pirislaria, the three-eyed evil eye user, was floating in a dozy state.

She only fully woke up at limited times, such as meal times. She had eaten a bit of the food left by the mercenary group and then quickly fell asleep again.

Of course, not all three-eyed people lived like her. Zolmneum thought that Pirislaria's characteristic was due to her excessively powerful evil eye, which was rare even among her race. Zolmneum looked at Pirislaria.

【Name】Pirislaria 【Lv】46

【Race】Three-Eyed 【Class】Caster

【HP】5236/5236

【MP】25486/27644

【Strength】150 【Endurance】181 【Agility】247 【Magic】1723

【Skills】

Dark Attribute Magic Lv4, Evil Eye Lv MAX, Evil Eye Enhancement Lv7

"Hey"

Raising his head at the sound, Zolmneum saw the young black demon, Gar Gannis, standing with food in hand.

"Zol, you should eat something too. You've been doing that for a while now, haven't you?"

"Sorry, but I'm fine. In the previous battle, I had less burden thanks to everyone."

"…I see. But don't overdo it, okay?"

Saying this with concern, Gar Gannis tore into a piece of dried meat. Zolmneum thought he was a good young man. Gar Gannis was a member of the "black" clan of demons and was now expected to be the next clan leader. Sometimes, Zolmneum wondered if it was a mistake to incite him to seek revenge for his brother, who was killed by a hero, and to join the journey.

Zolmneum looked at Gar Gannis.

【Name】Gar Gannis 【Lv】66

【Race】Demon 【Class】Mage

【HP】10011/10011

【MP】21060/22948

【Strength】700 【Endurance】589 【Agility】692 【Magic】1213

【Skills】

Fire Attribute Magic Lv9, Earth Attribute Magic Lv2, Dark Attribute Magic Lv9, Magic Enhancement Lv3

Everyone has grown stronger.

Zolmneum thought this.

It wasn't just about their levels and stats. There were elements that couldn't be seen even with this "Skill," and Zolmneum felt through the journey that these were the most important.

Finally, Zolmneum looked at himself.

【Name】Zolmneum 【Lv】88

【Race】Divine Demon 【Class】Magic Swordsman

【HP】14307/14307

【MP】33211/33473

【Strength】1550 【Endurance】1035 【Agility】1411 【Magic】1593

【Skills】

Sword Mastery Lv9, Body Mastery Lv7, Fire Attribute Magic Lv5, Water Attribute Magic Lv8, Wind Attribute Magic Lv6, Earth Attribute Magic Lv2, Light Attribute Magic Lv9, Dark Attribute Magic Lv6, All Attribute Resistance Lv4, Status Appraisal Lv4

Zolmneum pondered.

This "Skill" of Status Appraisal, which no one else had… no, what exactly is "Status"?

Why can I see facts that even the person themselves doesn't know?

Who has organized this information?

Zolmneum closed his eyes quietly and dispelled his doubts.

This power, which he had agonized over since childhood and never even told his companions, now seemed trivial to him.

"This will be the last resupply."

The party members stopped what they were doing and looked at their leader.

"Our destination is near. And the end of this journey is also approaching."

Zolmneum continued to the party members, who listened quietly.

"It has been a tough journey. Reaching this point without being pursued by the empire and without losing anyone is fortunate. We must achieve our goal at our destination. Of course, we have a chance, but it's not guaranteed. We will face even greater difficulties ahead, and you must be prepared for that."

A heavy silence fell over the group.

It had not been an easy journey.

Zolmneum knew this.

He knew that Muderav had been worried about his family left behind in his hometown and had averted his eyes from the bodies of the father and child he had killed.

He knew that Lo Ni, who seemed cruel, actually cared deeply for his monsters and had dug a grave alone to bury a Shadow Wolf and stood there for a long time.

He knew that Pirislaria's waking time was getting shorter due to the strain of her evil eye and that she tried to act as if nothing was wrong to avoid worrying the others.

He knew that Gar Gannis did not actually desire revenge for his brother and wanted to meet the expectations of his "black" clan in place of his deceased brother, and that he pretended to go along with Zolmneum's story for the future of the demon race.

Greater difficulties lie ahead.

But—Zolmneum said,

"However… I want to make this journey even more difficult. I want to set a new goal beyond our destination. I believe we can achieve it together."

This was something he had decided to say someday.

"To defeat the hero for the future of the demon race. And—"

The hero has been born.

But the demon king has not yet been born.

This asymmetry will inevitably lead to a world of war.

Of course, the demon race will be at a disadvantage.

Therefore, the hero must be defeated.

With his Status Appraisal "Skill," he could probably identify the hero. He would not be fooled by decoys and would gather skilled companions from each race and set out.

Defeating the hero is the demon race's long-held wish.

But—this alone is too lonely.

So, Zolmneum continued,

"And let's all… return home."

Zolmneum understood how much difficulty this would entail.

Once it is known that the hero has been defeated, Zolmneum and his party will be pursued. Even this elite group cannot match the speed of swift horses. If they are ambushed by the army in a village they stop at for supplies or surrounded at a resting place, they will easily fall into a dire situation.

The party members, of course, understood this.

This journey was always meant to lead to a place of death.

"Hahaha! I thought you'd say something like that! What else can we do but return, live here, or what?"

Muderav's hearty laughter was followed by the rest of the party.

"Mnya… I want to sleep in a futon… Zzz"

"I'll bring back seeds of crops. I want to share them with the villagers."

"I want to tell my heroic deeds. I want to make sure I avenged my brother."

Listening to his companions' cheerful words, Zolmneum thought.

It had been a tough journey. But it was not—bad.

The heavy warrior Muderav.

The caster Pirislaria.

The tamer Lo Ni.

The mage Gar Gannis.

And the magic swordsman Zolmneum.

The days spent with this wonderful party were fulfilling.

Yes, this was.

A journey of adventure, facing a powerful enemy, the hero, with companions.

"Let's all achieve justice together."

Zolmneum called out to his companions.

"For the future of the demon race and ourselves."