Chapter 18 The Instructor, Shudders

The Instructor, Shudders

“I think I have a general understanding of heroes and Demon Lords. Thank you.”

I bow slightly.

“That’s great to hear!”

Arisu smiles brightly.

What is she so happy about?

But I have one more question.

“Hmm, Arisu-sensei. May I ask one more question?”

“Yes, please!”

She’s in a good mood.

Well, it’s good that she’s in a good mood.

If it were Monica… no, let’s stop.

I should forget about her.

Arisu is my partner now.

I gather my thoughts and ask.

“Why did I get a Demon Lord skill in the first place?”

Adventurers generally believe that defeating the Demon Lord grants the hero a skill.

I never doubted it.

If it was discovered that I had acquired the Demon Lord skill, I might be killed; that’s a concern everyone would have, and maybe that’s why I couldn’t tell anyone.

Actually, I was worried about that as well.

Arisu put her finger to her temple and thought for a moment before answering.

“Honestly, this is just speculation. When those who possess Demon Lord or Hero skills are defeated, the power they possess is transferred to the victor. At that time, the victor’s magic power will be mixed with it. Therefore, even if you defeat someone with a Demon Lord skill, you won’t inherit their skill exactly as it was, but rather a slightly altered version. Of course, there are exceptions.”

“I see… My former companion had the [Demon Lord Slayer], but it was the Demon Lord Iron Rat that he was defeated.”

“This is also just speculation, but perhaps the skill that Demon Lord Iron Rat possessed was [The Great Eater]. They seem similar in type. It was a skill that dealt powerful blows to enemies larger than oneself.”

“I see.”

Iron Rat was a giant ox-like rat.

It led a horde of giant rats.

In that sense, it was fortunate that the Demon Lord skill wasn’t very effective against human-sized opponents at the time.

“The key to this story is the point about mixing with the victor’s magic power. From what you’ve told me, it’s possible that when Danna-sama defeated the Demon Lord, there was no magic left?”

“Yes, I squeezed it out until my vessel was broken….”

It was incredibly tough.

I probably would have died if I didn’t.

“As a result, the Demon Lord skill may have flowed in a pure, 100% form.”

“When you put it like that, it sounds pretty dangerous. So, the Demon Lord I defeated had the skill [Omnipresent Harmony]….”

I wonder what kind of Demon Lord it was.

I feel a sense of unease.

“Judging from the name of the skill, it might have been a very dangerous Demon Lord! I read about a Demon Lord with the [Omnipresent Spider] skill in a book I read earlier.”

Arisu laughs happily.

“What is that? What kind of skill was that?”

“It wasn’t written in great detail, but it didn’t describe the skill as being strong or terrifying. Rather, it seemed to be an annoying skill.”

Come to think of it, defeating that Demon Lord there might have been a stroke of luck.

“I’m not sure exactly what kind of skill Danna-sama has, but I have a feeling that it involves some kind of conceptual manipulation.”

“Conceptual manipulation…? What do you mean?”

I really don’t understand.

“Skills that interfere with concepts can be very powerful when used correctly. However, they often consume a great deal of magic power, and their effects can be difficult to understand….”

“What other types are there?”

“For example, the Demon Lord Goblin King has a skill called [High Fertility, High Death]. This type interferes with events. It makes things multiply in a way that’s very intense. The target is clear and focused, so the effect is quite strong. Goblins born in the morning can grow up and reproduce at night.”

“Isn’t that crazy?”

These rats are nothing compared to that.

“Well, they’re weak, so a little push can easily take them down. But if the goblin king had a strategist at his side and they were organized as a proper army, that would raise the danger level considerably. Although I think that’s pretty rare.”

“So it seems that my skill is different from theirs, huh? By the way, Arisu, what effect does your Demon Lord skill have?”

I asked casually.

“Ufufu, that’s a secret for now! When Danna-sama can use it properly, I’ll tell you… in bed, of course.”

She said that, her ears blushing.

“Don’t exaggerate; your face is bright red….”

I looked at Arisu, who was blushing and patting her face, and thought.

If I can master the Demon Lord skill, can I protect Arisu?

I looked down at my hand and thought.

No, I have to protect her.

I don’t want to experience that feeling again.

I will definitely protect her.

I won’t let go of the hand I’ve grasped.

I clenched my fist and swore.

I renewed my resolve and looked at her as she smiled at me with a red face.

I think I’ve learned most of what I wanted to know about Demon Lords….

“Ah, there’s something I want to ask you that has nothing to do with Demon Lords.”

I could have left it unasked, but I decided to ask anyway.

“Yes, yes, I’ll answer everything!”

Arisu was full of energy.

“This is a bit embarrassing to ask, but why are you being so nice to me? I’m supposed to be a thief who snuck into your house.”

I’ve been wondering about that.

I’ve been swept away by Arisu and even made a contract with her.

Well, this is awkward, considering that I said something like a marriage proposal.

Years from now, I’ll definitely blush when I remember this.

Arisu looked up to the sky and thought for a moment before answering.

“Well, I can’t deny that I was a little dazed the first time we kissed. But when I woke up and saw a handsome man struggling to survive right in front of me, I knew I had to help him.”

Oh, so you think I’m handsome?

I’m a little embarrassed to hear that.

Wait a minute?

What if you don’t find me handsome? No, I don’t want to think about that; it’s scary.

“Besides, you responded to my teasing without getting angry, you’re easy to talk to, and you have a gift for storytelling. I could tell you wanted to make me happy.”

You’re pretty strict, aren’t you?

If I made one wrong move, I’d be dead?

Maybe I crossed a really dangerous bridge without realizing it?

“There were those little things, but there’s a bigger reason….”

She smiled softly.

“You were the one who found me when I was sealed away.”

So she really was sealed away.

Huh? Found her?

“A half-human with Demon Lord skill that doesn’t respond to human-repelling barriers opens the door to the room where I was sealed in a shrine built on the back of a high-flying Great Sky Bird Jiz… Isn’t this fate? My prince! I love you! I won’t let you go!”

She said it all in a rush.

I looked up at the ceiling.

It was a gray ceiling.

“It was a coincidence….”

“It’s a coincidence, but isn’t it fate? Danna-sama! It is fate! So love me!”

She grabbed my shoulder and shook me.

Her bloodshot eyes were filled with madness.

Her pupils were wide open.

She’s terrifying.

“I won’t let you escape.”

Yikes.

I almost peed a little.