Chapter 362
Chapter 362: Humanization and Burden
—
Unintentionally, I collapsed at the wharf, but somehow managed to return to the inn while pretending to be calm.
After all, having acted tough against the mafia, I couldn’t show a pitiful side in this town. The fishermen who deduced that I must have tired myself from excessive magic use looked extremely apologetic.
‘Not entirely wrong, but…’
Since it was something I willingly did, I wished they wouldn’t worry so much.
“Alex, do you want some water? Is there anything you’d like to eat?”
“Ah, yeah, I’m fine. Thanks…”
Currently, I was lying on the bed in the inn with Leila giving me a lap pillow and patting my head. I was fine already, and it didn’t have to go this far, but with Leila smiling softly and patting my knee silently… well, I couldn’t resist.
‘But, that’s something, huh…’
Barbara, who floated out as a spirit from Leila’s rapier, Flodida, sat cross-legged in mid-air.
‘Though I wasn’t feeling sleepy or tired, I got careless since you, Alex, might have been overworking based on human standards.’
“Really? I hadn’t noticed…”
Even so, the fact that I collapsed was true, so feeling a bit embarrassed, I looked up at the ceiling while mumbling.
Honestly, I didn’t feel that tired. I wasn’t in bad health either.
“Since leaving the Demon Lord Kingdom, it’s true that I’ve been having a shockingly hectic time despite the number of days passed.”
Antendeixis manifested, lounging lazily next to me, nodding.
“Is that so?”
“Seems like a good idea to think back from the start.”
“Umm… it was about two weeks ago when I crossed the border, right?”
By the way, I had set out a week early before my banishment sentence, so now it was seven days into it.
“And then… first, I killed Virosa.”
Yup…
“That day, I camped in the forest and the next day lured Ixel out and killed him—”
After spending a night in town, I extracted information from the soul and set off, annihilating the infiltration squad pretending to be hunters in the nearby village. Then, using Leila’s wings, I entered the city of Sugusarl in the Tritus Principality and met Edgar.
I wonder if he’s doing well. Nina-chan and Isabella-san too…
“When I tried to contact Paulo Hoentz from Sugusarl, he happened to be out in the capital Todomarl, so I had to move alongside Edgar, and that night I slaughtered Officia and the others.”
That day was quite the catch!
“Then the next morning I left Todomarl, crossed the elf forest, trailed the surrounding areas… Since it seemed like the Kaizaan Empire and Hamilton Principality had started their intel measures, I skipped those and temporarily joined the Nosh-Ugo Alliance…”
Well, I found those Night Elves no matter how hard I searched. As usual, there was a puppet organization of Night Elves at the merchant association operating at Aulitos Lake, so first, I stormed that place, killed the spies, extracted the info, and then it all unraveled from there—
“—And then, the day before yesterday, I took down Gordon, yesterday I took down Arnaak and Fraud, and today it’s Trishe. But even so, with one or two per day, it’s not so harsh, is it?”
As I said that, Barbara gave me a face that seemed to say, ‘What is this guy talking about?’ Antendeixis had a serious look while Leila, still smiling gently, paused her hand on my head.
‘…You know, have you turned into a demon even in your head?’
“Please stop… that’s not a joking matter…”
‘Ah… sorry.’
It felt weird to be apologized to so sincerely…!
‘But you know, considering the pace of unmasking the spies, it’s astounding, right?’
“Normally that might be so, but I have Necromancy… it’s like taking an exam with the answers already known.”
‘Even so, there’s a certain effort involved in taking an exam.’
“I can’t really grasp exams, but even if I factor in how I was maximizing efficiency with Necromancy, I still feel like Alex hasn’t been getting enough proper rest.”
Antendeixis rested his chin on his hand and flapped his legs while saying this.
“Maybe when you were at the Demon Lord Castle, that fatigue wouldn’t have been an issue, but now that Liliana isn’t around…”
At that remark, everyone, including me, let out a resigned “Ah~…”
I see, not having Liliana’s soothing presence is significant…
Her Healing Power isn’t just for curing wounds and illnesses. It’s a true “miracle.” It cleanses the foundational fatigue accumulated in the body too.
That’s why, when I spent time with Liliana at the Demon Lord Castle, I could push my body to its limits until I hit a mental breaking point.
“Were we too dependent on Liliana’s healing for almost a year, and then suddenly having that taken away made me numb to it…?”
“That possibility cannot be denied.”
“…..Also, I may have some inkling about Alex’s symptoms.”
Then Leila suddenly spoke up.
“It’s about the Humanization magic. When I was in the dragon cave and constantly forced to stay human… in the beginning, I struggled to grasp my lack of stamina or the frailty of my body, and I would tire or collapse. Since Alex is originally human, it may not have been as severe for you…”
…So I might have been somewhat numb to things.
“And since my original body is six years old, but I forced myself to take on the body of someone around twenty, that likely adds to the burden. After all, Alex has been staying in human form for quite a while now… and human bodies, to begin with, have weaker magical power.”
Uh, yeah… When a Natural Born Higher Being says that, I’m left somewhat speechless…
And thinking back, I had been maintaining human form since luring out Ixel. I had left it that way because being in the body of a twenty-year-old was more convenient. Was that a bad thing?
If that’s the case, then—
“Alright.”
I sat up straight.
I needed to do it because staying in this position might hurt Leila.
I imagined it. A sense that my magical power was blending and spreading out in the surroundings—
“Phew…”
I released the Humanization.
Immediately, the world felt much more vivid and overwhelmingly delicate—thanks to the annoying horns that had grown on my temples. My physique became a bit smaller, but an immeasurable strength surged forth from the depths of my body. I scattered the “pressure” of magical energy around me, so it shouldn’t draw too much attention. Since I had adapted to the human body for a while, I almost felt intoxicated by the newfound sense of all-mighty power from regaining my immense magical power.
‘Hah.’
Barbara let out a voice that was either incredulous or impressed.
‘As expected, a Higher Demon is in a different league…’
I quietly nodded while staring at my hands. My distinctive blue skin. The color of a demon. How annoying. By returning to this body, I finally understood how weak my previous self had been.
Like how Leila restored her stamina in dragon form, I felt like I could regain my energy in no time just by channeling my magical power.
But… what could it be?
No matter how weak or fragile I was, I liked the sun-kissed body I had just a moment ago more…
“…Well, maybe I’d been in human form too long. Sometimes, it’s fine to revert to my original body like this.”
When I said that and laughed, Leila smiled brightly and tugged at my horn, pulling it gently.
Huh, what?
I found myself rolling onto the bed, returned to being in a lap pillow state.
“No, Alex, you have to rest properly.”
There was a tone in her voice that brooked no argument.
“I-I mean… I’m fine, Leila. I appreciate your concern, but… if I occasionally release my human form and adjust my condition, it should be fine, right?”
“I agree that physical fatigue and magical depletion can be managed that way. But…”
Leila poked my forehead playfully.
“Mental fatigue, however, is another matter. You should slow down more, Alex.”
“That’s not something I can really afford… Honestly, every minute and second matters while we’re in the alliance area.”
Even now, rumors of Night Elf hunting could spread, and the spies might escape…
The interrogations of Arnaak, Fraud, and Trishe, the ones I’ve taken down recently, aren’t even finished yet…
“There’s just so much to do… I can’t afford to just lounge around…”
“…I’m feeling frustrated.”
Unexpectedly, Leila’s smile faded.
“I’ve been connected to you via [Kizuna], yet I wasn’t able to notice the fatigue and irregularities that were plaguing you…!!”
Her words dripped with profound regret, almost like she was muttering.
“No, but… I was fine…”
“I do think you were fine. It’s true, you didn’t seem stressed at all. I thought everything would be alright… yet, you collapsed in the end. Just like Antendeixis said earlier, I think your senses got dulled.”
“It might take a little time for my senses to return, but if I can manage the fatigue, that should solve things fundamentally, and I can cover for it by releasing human form often…”
Not wanting to waste time, I couldn’t just agree to that. Despite Leila’s encouragement.
‘I agree that time is precious in the alliance, especially now, but I don’t think it would hurt to take a little break.’
Barbara said with a troubled expression.
‘Especially since you’re someone irreplaceable, and now isn’t the time to push yourself to the extreme. Keeping your mind and body in top condition is important too, you know?’
“However… I know the importance of rest. But I’m not a patient, so when asked if I need to take it easy to that extent, I feel it’s unnecessary…”
I replied as I started to rise again. I appreciated everyone’s concern, but I didn’t feel like I was in an urgent state. Aren’t they worrying too much…?
Besides, I wasn’t in the mood to leisurely lounge around anymore… I felt restless… If I thought the Night Elves might escape, I couldn’t relax enough to sleep. Maybe after I’ve exterminated the Night Elves in the alliance territory, perhaps then I could consider relaxing on a southern island…
“Well, before anything else…”
Antendeixis chimed in.
“I think if you push yourself that hard, there’s a risk of Leila getting worn out too…”
……………
With a meaningful glance from Antendeixis, Leila wore an expression that seemed to say, ‘That’s the angle!’
“Oh no! Suddenly an overwhelming dizziness has struck!”
She fell flat on the bed.
“Uh-oh, my body has no strength at all!”
Glancing aside.
“I’m ashamed to drag down Alex, but I’d like to take a little break!”
Peeking side to side.
“……..”
Strong.
I can’t win…
“You’ve lost. Give it up.”
Antendeixis laughed heartily.
In the first place, I relied entirely on Leila’s flying ability for moving around the alliance territory. If Leila said no, then there was absolutely nothing I could do…
—
So, even though it had only been a little over two weeks since entering the alliance territory, I ended up taking it easy for a bit.
