Chapter 51

As the cherry blossoms danced in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of the promise written there.

After the registration of my classmates in the guild was completed, I thought it was time to go and increase my followers, but Manon was waiting for me just as I stepped out of the meeting room.

I took a deep breath, intending to explain about the committee president, and was about to start walking, but when I felt a gaze and turned around, I saw a group of girls gathered at the entrance of the meeting room, observing me intently.

"Kobayashi, Sakurai, I'll leave it to you! Manon, come with me!"

Leaving behind the girls who had turned into a bundle of curiosity, I ran, holding Manon's hand.

I aimed for the top of the city wall, thinking it would be safe at this time.

Manon, looking down, firmly held my hand and ran with me.

When we reached the top of the city wall and looked back, it seemed we had managed to shake off the onlookers.

I adjusted my breathing, which had become ragged from running, took another deep breath, and decided to tackle the homework given by the committee president.

"Sorry, but it's not just Beatrice; I've also received affection from the girls captured by Lastock..."

I bowed my head so deeply that it almost hit my knees and then told Manon about the committee president.

How I had gained the ability to use light attribute magic through this summoning.

How I had a strong sense of responsibility even when I was in Japan and continued to heal my companions until they collapsed every day.

How I was separated from my companions and could only talk to them during healing.

How I couldn't refuse the committee president's kiss.

How the secret about Manon and Beatrice was found out by the committee president last night.

"Yui said to tell you that she won't lose to you..."

Manon, with tears welling up in her eyes, listened to me, her lips tightly pursed.

When I finished speaking, she looked up slightly, closed her eyes, and seemed to be organizing her thoughts.

After a while, she exhaled deeply and quietly opened her eyes.

"Kent, you're a womanizer."

"Ugh... There's no way to argue with that."

Even when Manon scolded me with teary eyes, all I could do was hang my head.

"Ha... Why did I fall for someone like Kent..."

"Sorry..."

"Kent, you couldn't just leave Yui, could you?"

"Yeah, she was fighting alone, and if I hadn't helped, she would have really broken down..."

"Right... I understand..."

Manon, with a determined look, leaned in and hugged me tightly.

We heard a cheer from below the city wall, but I pretended not to hear it.

Manon, who was trembling slightly, felt unbearably precious to me.

"I can't hate Kent no matter what..."

"Thank you. When I bring Yui to Volzard, I'll introduce her properly."

"Okay, tell her before that... I won't lose either..."

Manon kissed my cheek and then tightened her arms around my back again.

"Got it, I'll tell her. So, can I use shadow travel to move now?"

"Where are you going?"

"Yeah, I thought I'd go to the Forest of Demons to increase my followers."

"Followers...?"

"Yeah, they're companions who work for me."

"Increase... How do you do that?"

"I use necromancy to turn defeated monsters into followers."

"Can you do that?"

"Yeah, it turned out I could..."

"Ha... Kent, you're crazy..."

"Sorry..."

"Be careful..."

I nodded to Manon, who had let go of me, and then dove into the shadow world.

"Hahaha, Master Kent, that was quite impressive."

"Stop laughing, it's not a laughing matter."

I moved to the Forest of Demons with Reinhardt, Zae, and the others, who were waiting in the shadow world.

"Your Majesty, why not make that one a follower as well?"

"No, no, if I did that, I'd become a criminal."

Zae's suggestion was immediately rejected, but in reality, if I turned a human I had killed into an undead and used them, would the difference from a normal human be noticeable? Would they inherit memories?

If that were the case, if I killed Camilla and turned her into an undead, I could control her with absolute obedience... But as a human, I think it would be wrong to do that.

"So, Master Kent, will you make goblins or kobolds your followers?"

"Which one is faster?"

"That would be the kobolds. Goblins are a bit smarter, but in terms of speed and dexterity, the kobolds are superior."

"I see, let's look for a group of kobolds then."

Reinhardt and the others would give off their presence if they came out, so the kobolds would run away in fear. We moved through the shadows to search.

As we ventured a bit deeper into the forest, we quickly found a group of kobolds on the move.

"That group seems to be heading out to hunt."

According to Reinhardt, kobolds have territories and build nests within them.

The individuals on the move are young males and females heading out to hunt, while the boss, breeding females, and children live in the nest.

The kobolds, which had been on the move, stopped to drink water at a stream and then took a break.

There were thirty-three in total, which was less than the fifty I had planned, but I decided to make this group my followers.

The kobolds, resting as they pleased, were dispatched one by one with a single stab to the heart from a knife in the shadow world.

It was like an assembly line, as the kobolds, which were stationary, were easy targets.

While dispatching the kobolds, Basten asked me a question.

"Master Kent, why don't you use light attribute attack magic?"

"Well, that would create a hole all the way to the surface..."

"Even if a hole opens, wouldn't it be sealed during the reinforcement?"

"Oh, right... But it's already over, so it's fine."

The dispatch of the kobolds was completed in about three minutes.

The kobolds, who had fallen, wouldn't know how they were killed.

I had Zae and the others gather the dispatched kobolds.

Without any external injuries, they looked as if they were just sleeping.

I took deep breaths to calm myself down and then, as I had done with Zae and the others, called out while imagining a link.

"Become my followers and work for me... Ugh..."

A noise ran through my head, and I almost lost consciousness, but I gritted my teeth and endured.

I desperately tried to maintain the link, which was about to break, and was overwhelmed by the feeling of my magic being drained.

I lost strength in my body and ended up kneeling.

"Master Kent, are you alright?"

"Yeah, just a little more..."

While kneeling, I endured the feeling of my strength being drained, and eventually, the loss of strength stopped.

The kobolds began to wake up and look around cautiously.

As I watched them, I mustered the strength to stand up, and the leader of the group, which I assumed was the leader, gave a signal, and the kobolds all knelt before me.

"Kyun..."

"Will you lend me your strength?"

When I asked with a cooing, cutesy voice, the kobolds nodded firmly.

I doped them with a pill to help recover their magic and then proceeded to reinforce the kobolds.

"Master Kent, since the kobolds are already your followers, can't the reinforcement be done later?"

"Well, I thought I'd finish it all at once."

"Are you sure? If you overexert yourself and get sick, it would be a problem."

"Yeah, I think I'll be fine, but this will probably be the last time I increase my followers."

"Hmm, did something happen?"

"Sort of... I just felt that I've reached my limit in connecting the follower links."

"I see... In that case, should we dispose of these and get stronger monsters?"

"No, I can't treat them so cruelly once they've become my followers."

"Ah, that's right, Master Kent is that kind of person."

Indeed, if I had known there was a limit to the number of followers, I might have chosen more powerful monsters.

But now that they are my followers, they are like family.

If they lack strength, I can reinforce them.

Increase their speed, power, and intelligence, and then...

"Okay, I'll reinforce everyone. Each of you, take one orc magic stone and one lizardman magic stone."

I used the magic stones from the orc group I had defeated yesterday and the magic stones from Zae's companions to reinforce the kobolds.

As I sent magic with the image in my mind, black mist enveloped the kobolds.

Lightning flashed, thunder roared, and when the black mist exploded, standing there were black-furred undead kobolds that resembled deformed werewolves.

They were probably less than 120 centimeters tall, even with their triangular ears.

Their bloodshot red eyes had turned into round black eyes, and their fluffy fur and tails made them look like stuffed animals.

Each of them had a black dagger, like a toy sword, attached to their back.

"Master Kent, they look quite cute..."

"Yeah, they look cute... Come on, everyone, try out your new bodies."

As soon as I called out, the kobolds disappeared in a blur.

They not only ran on the ground but also kicked tree trunks and leaped over branches, moving around the Forest of Demons in three dimensions.

They ran at full speed, diving into shadows and emerging from other shadows... Yeah, there's no way anyone could catch them.

Then, one of the undead kobolds swung its front paw, and a tree that an adult could barely hug was snapped in one hit.

The black dagger, when swung, easily cut down a tree of the same thickness.

Yeah, their power seems to be quite impressive.

"I see, if you're fooled by their appearance, you'll be in for a rough time."

"Exactly, and with their cute appearance, they can walk around the city without causing a big commotion."

"Indeed, Master Kent, I'm impressed by your foresight."

Actually, I just wanted fluffy followers.

"Alright, everyone, gather!"

When I gave the command, the leader stepped forward, and the rest lined up in four columns.

"Okay, I'll give everyone names. The leader will be Alto!"

Sorry, it was impossible to come up with names for over thirty at once, so I named them by adding a, i, u, e, o to the lower half of kobold, "lto."

After naming them from Alto to Muto, I felt the link had become stronger.

Specifically, even though the kobolds looked the same, I could distinguish their names.

Of course, the same applied to Zae and the others, and I could distinguish their faces and names.

"Everyone, let's get along from now on."

"Yes! Master!"

"Uh? M-Master...?"

"Yes, Master is Master."

Seeing Alto wagging his tail happily in response, I thought, "Well, it's fine."

"Okay, everyone, come here!"

"Woof!"

When I spread my arms to call them, Alto and the others tackled me and licked my face all over.

It's like a fluffy festival, a fluffy festival.

It's perfect for the cold season... Wait, they're undead, so they should be dead, so why are they warm?

I divided the undead kobolds into six groups of five and made three of them my direct subordinates.

I assigned one group to each of Zae and the others to work together.

The remaining group would assist and communicate with Reinhardt and the others.

Yeah, it feels like a small army now.

With this many, I can guard Amanda's shop while I'm out, and they should be able to handle any ordinary threats.

After increasing my followers, it was already noon, so I infiltrated Lastock's garrison, as usual, to steal food and take care of the committee president.

After that, I need to go to the guild to register Alto and the others.

While I'm at the guild, I'll have Reinhardt command the overall movement exercises in the Forest of Demons.

It wouldn't be fair to expect them to work together right away.

I moved to the guild with Muto, Milto, and Muto, leaving the three in the shadow world, and emerged from the shadow of the stairs to head for the counter, but I ran into someone.

"Hey, isn't that Kent?"

Oh, it's that slightly bad, overprotective dad.

"H-H-Hello... Klaus-san."

"Hey, I heard you helped about fifty companions?"

"Yes, I'll be relying on you from now on, please take care of me."

"Hmm... What should I do... It seems there's a guy who's getting a bit too cocky..."

Klaus crossed his arms and pretended to think, looking in the opposite direction.

"Um, about the incident with Liche..."

"What? Liche?"

"No, about Beatrice... Um..."

"I told you I'd kill you if you laid a hand on her, didn't I?"

He closed the distance, and I instinctively backed away, but there was a wall behind me, and I had nowhere to go.

"Y-Yes, but... Um..."

"I told you, didn't I?"

Ugh, I never thought my first wall push would be like this.

Also, he's too close, his face is too close.

Just as I was cornered and in a dire situation...

"Grrr..."

Three deep growls came from somewhere.

"What's that?"

As expected of a former adventurer, Klaus quickly distanced himself from me and began to be on guard.

"Muto, Milto, Muto, it's okay, just stay on standby."

"Kyun... Kyun..."

Since they weren't needed, they made a whiny, cutesy sound.

"Kent, what's that sound?"

"Yes, I added undead kobolds as followers and came to register them."

"Undead kobolds? What's that?"

"I used necromancy to turn defeated kobolds into followers and reinforced them. Think of them as the kobold version of Reinhardt and the others."

"Are they here?"

"Yes, I brought the three who are my direct subordinates."

"Alright, follow me. Hey, tell Donovan to come to the reception room."

Klaus instructed a passing guild staff member and then started up the stairs, grabbing my collar.

Is it recognized in Volzard that I should be carried by the collar?

I was plopped onto a sofa in the reception room, and Donovan soon appeared with heavy footsteps.

"Did you call me? Oh, it's Kent. What about the followers?"

"Yeah, I came about that. They're undead kobolds."

"Huh? You didn't add more lizardmen?"

"No, I wanted more agile followers, so I added thirty-three undead kobolds."

"Huh? Thirty-three? That many?"

"Hmm, you've really increased them."

Even Klaus seemed surprised that I had increased them so much.

"Yes, by increasing their numbers, if something unusual happens in Volzard while I'm in Reisenburg, they can immediately inform me, and I can return and deal with it using shadow travel."

"I see, so they're messengers. Show me one."

"Yes, Muto, Milto, Muto, come out."

Three of them poked their heads out from the shadow of the sofa.

"Uuuu... Master, is this an enemy?"

"No, no, they're people I'm relying on, so don't attack them."

"Uuu... Got it..."

When I petted their heads, Alto closed his eyes in pleasure, and Milto and Muto rubbed their heads against me, asking to be petted.

"Kobolds can talk?"

"Undead lizardmen can talk too."

"Really?"

Hearing that Klaus wasn't an enemy, Alto and the others climbed onto the sofa, resting their heads on my lap or leaning against my shoulder.

"Hmm, they're like pets."

"Yes, I think that's how they turned out when I reinforced them."

"Master, pet me, pet me."

Muto was lying on his back, completely relaxed.

"Hey, is this okay?"

"Of course, they'll work when they need to. They can instantly kill an orc."

"Really... So, are you going to use them to finally proceed with the rescue operation?"

"Yes, in the next operation, I plan to bring everyone to Volzard."

"What about after that?"

"Depending on the negotiations with Camilla, I aim to return to our original world."

"Kent, are you going back too?"

"Well... I'm still undecided..."

To be honest, my heart leans towards staying.

I think I can be of more help in this world.

Klaus stared at my face, thought for a moment, and then nodded before speaking.

"Kent, if you decide to stay in Volzard, I can consider your relationship with Beatrice... But! I won't allow you to touch other women!"

"Um, I'm not actively pursuing Beatrice..."

"What? That makes it seem like Liche has no appeal, touch her!"

"No, no, you said you'd kill me if I touched her."

"Of course, I'll kill you if you touch her, but not touching her is disrespectful."

"No, no, what you're saying is completely illogical and doesn't make sense."

Just as the overprotective dad started saying nonsense, Milto suddenly interrupted.

"Master is our mate."

"Huh...?"

"Right, Master is ours..."

"Wh-What...?"

With a matter-of-fact expression, Alto, Milto, and Muto rubbed their heads against me.

"Hmm, I see, with such cute followers, it can't be helped. I'll have to tell Liche to give up."

"Ah... Um... Eee..."

"Kent, do you need thirty-three registration forms? Ah, the guild doesn't handle marriage registrations."

"No, no, that's not what I meant... Eee..."

This is strange. I had already talked to Manon about the committee president, and things were going smoothly with the increase in followers, but it feels like I've derailed at a completely unexpected place.