Chapter 25

As I managed to peel my consciousness away from the scattered pieces of the frog's flesh and turned around, the boy from earlier was sitting on the ground, covered in mud.

──Thank goodness, it seems he's safe.

"Are you okay?"

"……Yeah……"

The boy slowly stood up when I called out to him. He looked a bit pale.

Perhaps he had absorbed some of the frog's poison. However, since he could still stand, it didn't seem to be a dangerous situation. If I ask Leen for treatment later, he should be fine. That kid can do anything.

"Still, that was really dangerous. To run into something like that… Did you come here alone?"

The boy's shoulders trembled slightly at my words.

"……N-no……that wasn't……I brought it……!"

Brought it?

This kid brought that ferocious frog?

"Really, is that so? Why would you bring something like that…?"

The boy's shoulders trembled again.

"……B-because I promised……! To take it to that town. I was told to take it there……!"

"To that town……? ……You don't mean…?"

It seems this boy was delivering the frog to someone in the town at their request. Despite his young appearance, he must have been on a delivery job. But why a poisonous frog? And such a huge one, at that?

──I see.

I began to understand.

Poisonous creatures are "generally delicious" – according to my experience, the meat of that frog, if the poison could be dealt with, should be quite tasty. There's no doubt about it. Even I, who don't know much, can understand this. It's probably common knowledge. And a large town likely has the technology to handle the poison properly.

So – that frog was.

"An ingredient, huh."

Thinking about it, everything makes sense.

That massive body, even one frog would yield a considerable amount of meat. To transport it fresh, it's best to keep it alive. The fact that it was initially hidden from view was probably to minimize the danger to the surroundings and the possibility of the meat being stolen.

──I see, that's how it is.

This means I've destroyed the important item the boy was supposed to deliver to the town.

What have I done?

I didn't think that far.

"Right, I've done something terrible… I'm sorry. I've ruined your important delivery. I really messed up."

"……Huh……??"

The boy stared at me with wide eyes.

…Did I say something wrong?

"…Maybe, it's… okay…? Even if it exploded…"

When I cautiously pointed to the frog's remains and asked, the boy hesitated for a moment before nodding.

…Good.

It seems he's willing to forgive me.

Come to think of it, he was almost attacked, so he might understand that it was unavoidable in such a situation.

"But how did you manage to transport such a ferocious creature all the way here? You didn't drag it, did you?"

The boy's shoulders trembled again, and he spoke as if squeezing out his voice.

"…I… I can control monsters… so I used that to bring it here…!"

"Y-you can control monsters…!?"

I was taken aback with surprise.

This kid just said he can control monsters.

Is that even possible…?

And he can control a huge frog like that…?

And at his age, too.

How does one acquire such an amazing skill?

"That's an incredible skill… I didn't know such things exist in the world."

"…Huh…? Skill…?"

"…Is that not the right term?"

The boy stiffened at my question.

What is he afraid of?

"…No, I was born with… this power… because I'm a demon…"

"Born with…!?"

I was even more shocked and involuntarily leaned back.

To think there are people born with such powers.

The world is vast.

There are so many things I don't know.

To meet such an interesting person right away, it's worth stepping out of the city –.

"…Born with such abilities… That's amazing. It must be a talent given by the heavens."

"…Huh…???"

The boy seemed flustered.

"…I… I'm a demon…!"

"Ah, so the demon race has such abilities, and it's normal for them? …That's amazing. I often wished I had such abilities…"

Taking care of livestock in the mountains used to be both enjoyable and challenging.

During sunny days, the livestock could be left to graze, but at night, they had to be brought back to the shed to avoid wild animals. If it looked like it was going to rain, they had to be moved early. It was a lot of work to manage and care for them.

Even when helping with farm work, it was difficult to get new livestock to listen. It would have been much easier if I could talk to the animals – I used to think that a lot.

I never imagined that someone who could actually do that existed… The world is truly vast.

Or maybe, it's vast but also small.

Just by stepping out of the capital a bit, I've encountered so many unknown things.

Perhaps the thrill of adventure is right around the corner –.

I was lost in such thoughts.

"…Huh…?"

The boy stared at me with wide, surprised eyes.

…Did I say something wrong again?

I didn't mean to.

"Um, are you… not afraid of me…? Not… dislike me…?"

"…No. I don't think I'm afraid…? Dislike…???"

The conversation with this boy doesn't seem to be going well.

To be honest, I don't understand half of what he's saying.

Why would I be afraid of such a small child?

And disliking someone I just met doesn't make sense.

Leen was also a strange child who was hard to understand, and this boy seems to be the same.

Perhaps sensing my puzzled expression, the boy explained a bit.

"…Some people… are afraid of this power… and dislike it…"

"I see, that's the case – there are strange people in the world."

That's all I can say.

Maybe it's like being afraid of animals, which I've heard happens sometimes.

Regardless, it's a type of conversation I can't really understand.

"Still, I don't think you should worry about it. No matter what others say, it's a very useful ability. No doubt about it."

"…Useful…?"

"Yes, for taking care of livestock, finding lost cats… anything really.

It's good for farm work, and if you can control birds, you could deliver letters, and so on… There are many uses."

As I listed various possibilities, the boy started crying.

"…Can… I… be useful… to someone…?"

The boy looked at me, tears streaming down his face.

Perhaps he's been through some tough times recently.

Maybe he's not considered very talented among the demon race.

But in this vast world, such internal evaluations might not be very reliable.

Still, being useful…?

This kid is underestimating himself way too much.

He has such a wonderful talent.

"Of course. With such an amazing talent, there's no need to be so down on yourself.

Even I, who has no talent, can manage to get by."

"…R-really…? …Can… I be needed… by someone…?"

The boy continued to cry, facing me.

…Why does he think like this?

He has a talent that's truly enviable.

Not realizing one's own talent is a waste.

He's a kind-hearted boy who forgave my mistake –

Maybe he's not in such a situation right now – but surely, there will come a time when he'll be needed by someone.

I know for sure that it will happen, for anyone – even for me.

So, I waited until the boy stopped crying –

When his tears finally subsided, I placed my hand on his head and said firmly,

"Yes, of course – much more than I could ever be. If you want, you can be anything you desire."

The unexpected number of comments agreeing with the "poison = delicious" theory made me laugh.

Thank you for reading.

It will continue.

I mentioned around 30 chapters at the beginning, but now, if I calculate, it seems it will be around 40 chapters to reach a good conclusion.

I hope you will continue to follow along.