Chapter 60

This story is a work of fiction.

The characters, organizations, and names are all fictional and have no connection to any real entities.

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058 - Defeating the Low-Rank Demon Jamil

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The presence of the low-rank demon Jamil was so sinister and menacing that I immediately knew where it was.

I thought it wouldn't be able to go very far into the building because of its massive size, which was as large as a two-story building, but it seemed to be moving forward by breaking through the ceiling and walls. What a musclehead.

The noise of battle told me that the low-rank demon Jamil was fighting. His opponent was Balkan. As expected of Balkan, he was dominating the low-rank demon Jamil. Level 42 isn't for nothing.

"I'll lend a hand."

While fighting, Balkan skillfully nodded his head and kept his eyes on the low-rank demon Jamil.

He jumped and cut off one of the low-rank demon Jamil's wings.

"GAHHH! YOU AGAIN!"

"The plan to use a golem to stall and target the duke was good, but you were foolish to forget about me, Balkan."

"STOP IT!"

He crouched and dodged the thick arm.

Just as my attention turned to him, Balkan cut off the remaining wing.

"HUMAN SCUM!"

The large mouth opened, and a jet of pitch-black breath was spewed out.

I leaped backward to avoid the breath, but Balkan didn't move an inch.

Since the duke was behind him, Balkan took the breath to protect him, sacrificing himself. Protecting his master at the cost of his own life is something I can't do. That's why I respect Balkan.

Balkan suffered damage from the corrosive breath, but he continued to attack the low-rank demon Jamil, which was truly impressive.

"Rin, go!"

"Yes! Holy Spear Summon!"

"Wh-What!?"

As the duke and his party were surprised, Balkan continued to press the low-rank demon Jamil. Rin then attacked with the Holy Spear.

"GAHHH!"

"YOU! WHAT IS THIS!?"

Rin's Holy Spear glowed faintly pink, and with each swing, pink particles scattered, like cherry blossom petals in a gentle breeze, creating a beautiful light.

"Lightning Lance!"

"ST-STOP IT!"

The low-rank demon Jamil's HP was reduced to zero by the Lightning Lance, and its body turned to sand.

"Rin, well done!"

I praised Rin and patted her shoulder.

"Balkan!?"

Balkan, who had fallen to his knees, was supporting himself with his sword like a cane, breathing heavily and in pain. The corrosive breath from earlier must have been invading his body, the price he paid for protecting the duke.

"Father!"

"Stay back!"

He stopped Egeus, his eldest son, who was about to rush over.

"But—"

"Don't leave the duke's side. We haven't confirmed that all enemies have been eliminated!"

I felt as if I had seen a true knight in Balkan. Considering his master's safety even when he was clearly dying is not something everyone can do.

"Call a priest! Hurry!"

Zaigen arranged for a priest to be summoned.

"Balkan, I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault, my lord. It's my lack of training."

I think this is a touching moment, but even then, Balkan's musclehead nature shows. Can training really make you resist a corrosive breath?

The knight gave Balkan a potion to restore his HP, but Balkan's HP continued to decrease. The potion couldn't remove the negative effects of the corrosive breath.

Soon, the priest arrived and purified Balkan's corrosion.

Priests are great. They can heal, but in cases like this, a priest's cure is necessary. Maybe if we train the reincarnated hero, they might learn it, but I don't expect that.

Actually, Rosalina can become a priest. She has defeated 100 monsters with her bare hands. But she probably won't want to change from a Battle Master, and I don't intend to force her to do so.

The knights, soldiers, and civil servants will probably be up all night cleaning up the debris from the low-rank demon Jamil's destruction and the golems. The duke and Zaigen didn't order the Footsickle family to clean up, but they were ordered to wait in a room in the castle and not return to their mansion.

Since we couldn't take a bath, I wiped my body for the first time in a while. Rosalina, now a soldier, was resting in the same room as Rin and Solidia. So in the bedroom, it was just me and Annelise. I asked the castle maids to leave.

We wiped each other's bodies, and I felt the absence of the crude slave collar around Annelise's neck.

Of course, if Annelise didn't want to, we wouldn't do it. But she offered to wipe her own body. Is that okay?

"Annelise's skin is so white, fine, and soft."

"That's not true..."

"It is. I'm telling you, it's true."

In this world, I haven't even seen soap. Yet Annelise's skin is flawless and beautiful.

When we get back to the mansion, I'll make soap. I want to make shampoo and conditioner too. I've made soap in a science experiment before, but I don't know how to make shampoo and conditioner. I'll do what I can. I have some skills I want to use, but I can't do that now. I'll tackle it when we get back to the mansion.

The next day, on the 65th day since my reincarnation, the debris in the castle had been mostly cleared. Despite the extensive damage, the castle's sturdiness is impressive.

When I entered the duke's office, I met the duke and his party, who had dark circles under their eyes. I had a good night's sleep with Annelise as a pillow. Hehehe, envy me for being able to use a beautiful girl as a pillow.

"I am very satisfied with what happened last night. The castle is in ruins, but fortunately, there were no casualties. The castle can be rebuilt, but people cannot. Moreover, the demon was completely destroyed. All of this is thanks to the Footsickle family. I am grateful."

I could tell the duke's words of gratitude were sincere. His humble attitude made me feel a bit on guard.

"No, I didn't do much. Is Lord Balkan doing well?"

I was worried about Balkan, who wasn't present. The priest had treated him, but he was still in a dangerous condition.

"Balkan is leading the knights. I told him to rest, but he won't listen. He's a stubborn one."

"He's true to form, even if I don't know him well."

The musclehead is still a musclehead. That's just how it is.

"The demon was possessed by Baron Venu. Among those executed was Baron Venu's sister. She was a well-known noblewoman who had been married three times and widowed three times. While it's understandable if the husbands were old, they were all young and healthy noble men. It turned out she had poisoned them to gain their wealth. This was discovered when the Shaldina thief group's records were checked. Although not directly related to the Shaldina group, she had to be punished. Baron Venu claimed his sister was innocent until the end. She was a genius at manipulating men's hearts, even her brother's. Her execution was just, but Baron Venu blamed the duke and made a pact with a demon."

"Demons are drawn to the darkness in people's hearts. Be careful, Footsickle family."

"Understood. We will be careful."

I'm not thinking about getting a chance to defeat a demon and get a gem.

"This time, you didn't just repel the demon but defeated it. Who is the female cat beast among the Footsickle family's soldiers?"

Sure enough, the conversation turned to that. I was prepared for it.

"She is a soldier of our house named Rin. Recently, her job evolved from a spearman to a spear saint."

"Such important matters should be reported immediately, Footsickle family."

The duke's brow furrowed. Don't look at me like that; it's scary.

"She evolved just before the ceremony, so I planned to report it afterward."

I remembered being told to report to Gandalban. I didn't forget; I just planned to report after the ceremony. "Just before" isn't a lie, but it can mean different things to different people.

"I'll overlook this as it's your first time, but in the future, report promptly. Understood?"

"Yes, I will."

That's settled. Let's go home.

"About the reward."

"Uh-huh..."

"Don't look so disappointed. For repelling a demon, we would have given you the Third-Class Peony Medal. For defeating it, we will give you the Second-Class Chrysanthemum Medal. The castle is in disarray, so it will take some time, but keep that in mind. Of course, this applies to your subordinates as well."

I see...

I don't really need the medals, but it's good for Gandalban and the others to receive them.

"Also, about the gem you obtained from the demon."

The duke signaled, and a civil servant brought a tray with the gem.

"That gem belongs to the Footsickle family, but we would like to purchase it. What do you think?"

The gem is a valuable item that grants the unique skill of spirit summoning. I would like to keep it, but since the duke is asking, I can't refuse.

"I understand. You may take it."

"Thank you. We will prepare a fair compensation."

A fair compensation... I'm afraid to know what it is. Maybe I should say money is fine for now.

"We will discuss the compensation later. Thank you for your hard work today."

"Yes, thank you. I'll take my leave."

I couldn't say it. I'll whisper it to Zaigen later.

We left the castle and did some shopping on the way, so we returned to the mansion around noon.

Despite this, Montalque and the others prepared lunch without rushing and even had a bath ready.

I took a bath before lunch and relaxed. Baths are great. Taking a bath with Annelise is very relaxing. Is this heaven?

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