Chapter 9

"Beast in Distress."

When health drops below half, all stats increase by 30%.

"Ground Sprint."

Consume mana to move quickly. Cost: 15.

I checked the unfamiliar skills of the ogre. "Beast in Distress" seems to be a passive skill like my "Spring of Magic" or "Blessing of the Gods," while "Ground Sprint" is an active skill.

Of course, I just made up the names.

The reason I'm doing this check is that I'm moving from the large bath to the room where I was initially.

After all, it wouldn't look good to summon someone into a bathtub without water.

Do other demon lords also live with such consideration?

It would be quite a problem if a hero came while I was eating lunch.

However, it takes time. It took several minutes just to move from the large bath. I must have gotten carried away and made it too big...

Finally, I arrived at the room and immediately performed the "Summoning." It was just a simple operation on my smartphone.

Suddenly, a bright light filled my vision. I instinctively shielded my eyes with my arm.

"Who's there!?"

The sudden voice made me realize that the summoning had been successful.

However, this is terrible.

I moved all the way here for show, and now I'm crouching with my arm covering my face. There's no dignity at all.

"Hey, sorry for summoning you so suddenly. I'm the Demon Lord. My name is Amdusias."

I ignored the earlier mishap and smiled at the ogre.

"You're the Demon Lord!?"

"Yeah, though I was just born a little while ago."

The ogre was initially wide-eyed and surprised when I called myself the Demon Lord, but he quickly regained his composure.

His massive body was a deep gray, with a single black horn. I had expected a muscular build, but he was surprisingly slender. However, his chest muscles were quite thick. His ash-gray short hair framed golden eyes. His face was unexpectedly handsome. He exuded a powerful aura, making him a splendid black demon.

At his feet, a circle of light glowed, which I assumed was the "Summoning Circle." It was just a simple glowing circle, without any complex magical symbols or geometric patterns. It ruined the image.

"...Why did you summon me?"

The ogre asked in a surprisingly high-pitched voice.

"One reason is to let you know that I have no intention of harming you.

I seem to have made you quite wary by incorporating this area into my dungeon.

The other reason is to invite you.

As I mentioned, I was just born. I don't have any companions yet, and I'm still unfamiliar with this world. I would be grateful if you could teach me various things."

I smiled again. A smile is essential for smooth communication.

First impressions are important, they say.

"......"

The ogre remained silent, maintaining his guard, his hand on the club at his waist.

"Don't be on guard. I understand that being summoned suddenly is unsettling. But I really have no intention of harming you."

"......"

Still silence. I managed to keep my smile, even as I began to chuckle slightly.

"......Why me?"

Finally, the ogre spoke, still on guard.

"Why me?"

"I'm not particularly strong among ogres. You can tell from this horn, right?"

No, "you can tell from this horn"? I can't tell. That huge single horn looks strong enough to make me uneasy.

"No, as I said, I'm still unfamiliar with the world. What's so special about that horn?"

"......I see, you said you were just born. For ogres, horns are a symbol of strength. Normally, we have two horns, but for some reason, I only have one.

I don't get along well with my clan and have been wandering from place to place."

So, ogres with only one horn are considered weak, and those with two horns are stronger?

"......"

"......You don't really want someone like me as part of your army, do you?"

The ogre said this with a self-deprecating tone, as if he thought I would say, "I don't want a weak ogre!"

"No, I've already gained valuable information about this world. Since you've been traveling, I want you to join my ranks."

I said this with a serious expression, emphasizing that I don't discriminate based on prejudice.

"Of course, if you want to continue your free-spirited travels, I won't force you. If you don't want to be part of my army, I won't blame or harm you.

It would be a shame, but if that's the case, I'll just summon the next one. However, if you decide to join me, I will welcome you with open arms. I will never discriminate against or neglect you.

I want you."

I pressed my case, as I had no other cards to play without money or resources.

"......Really......Is it really okay for me to join?"

The ogre asked hesitantly, almost fearfully.

I nodded with a full smile.

My first companion, born for the first time, was a crying black demon.

The demon is on the inside, you see.