100
Chapter 100
"...It's lovely. Eden Academy. It just rolls right off the tongue."
"Doesn't that align well with the ideal world you envisioned, Merlin?"
"Yes... that's why I like it even more. Alright. I'll name the academy Eden Academy."
Even if I hadn't been here, Merlin would have naturally founded Eden Academy. That's how it happened in the previous timeline. However, since I've already introduced variables into Merlin's life, it's better to be sure and block any potentially wrong futures.
I'm almost there now. Until the Saint is born.
As long as there's no problem with Maria's birth, it's fine. For now, my first goal is Maria's birth, and my second goal is to defeat Demon King Kanos.
"While you were gathering your thoughts, I've prepared the graves for your comrades."
"Thank you for your hard work. I feel bad that you had to go through such trouble because of me..."
"Not at all. Were we not comrades who once fought back-to-back? Once a comrade, always a comrade."
"Comrades... I feel truly lucky to have met you, Suoka, in the Demon Beast Forest. An irreplaceable bond..."
"I appreciate you saying that. I'll leave the burial of the Hero Party to you. I'm sure they would want that too."
Merlin bowed deeply to express his gratitude. After that, he silently moved each member of the Hero Party one by one into the holes I had dug.
I watched the scene from a distance alongside the King of Humans, who had regained his senses.
"Suoka."
"You can call me by my name for now. As long as Merlin can't hear you."
"Demon, Oscar."
"What is it?"
"The demon's energy has changed. It's immense."
"You can feel it? I tried to suppress it, but since it's a power I only recently acquired, it's not easy to manage. Oh, then could that friend Merlin have felt my energy too?"
"Only I can. Wild intuition. Something only I possess."
"That's a relief. Mr. John, are you hurt anywhere?"
"A lot. But you don't need to treat me. It'll heal on its own if I just leave it."
"As expected, Mr. John is a real man."
The King of Humans' entire body was charred black. Even so, he says to just leave it; has he lost his mind? He's not being a real man; he's determined to be an idiot.
"Still, you should receive treatment. I know a few herbs that are great for treating burns, so later on, you can tan in the sun with them plastered all over your body."
"I understand. Thanks."
"Don't mention it. I'm actually more grateful to you for acting so well throughout this ordeal. Good job."
"Comrades, good thing. Though many died, it was a happy time."
"You'll be able to meet many more people once we reach civilization. Though, there will be humans who aren't unconditionally kind, like this Hero Party or Saint Iroel."
"Many humans like demons?"
"...Hearing you put it that way makes me feel strange. It makes it sound like I'm the bad guy."
"Demon, you are a bad guy. The worst guy I've ever met."
"..."
After how much I've struggled to reform, I have to hear that. I feel a fountain of sorrow as if all those years were wasted.
But I will not despair. Being called a 'bad guy' is actually an improved evaluation.
'Joker... you are a being that should never have been born.'
'I've never seen or heard of anyone as wicked and bizarre as you. Even the most powerful devil wouldn't be able to compare to you.'
'A crystal made of pure evil. There is no other way to describe you.'
Cheonwoong's evaluation of me in my previous life was heartlessly blunt. From someone who shouldn't have even been born to just a "bad guy"—what an incredible leap forward. If I keep improving at this pace, I might one day reach the things the Saint used to preach about.
Things like love, embrace, and righteousness.
"But Mr. John, good times can't last forever. We have to say goodbye to Merlin now."
"I understand. Iroel once told me that for every meeting, there is a parting, and that is how a bond is completed."
"Wow, it's been over two hundred years since you met Iroel, and you still remember that?"
"Iroel said that because she knew we would eventually part. According to her, our bond is already complete, but she still lives on in my heart."
"..."
Suddenly he makes the atmosphere all gloomy. Is he trying to brag about being a romantic or what?
I'm not exactly lacking in that department either. I'm a demon who's been waiting four hundred years for the Saint. Though, four hundred years is long for a human, for a demon, it's barely a blink of an eye.
"Merlin is coming. Watch your words again."
"Suoka, I've... buried all the party members."
"Good work."
I patted Merlin's green hair as a sign of praise. Merlin's haggard face broke into a small smile.
"If it weren't for you, Suoka... I probably wouldn't have even woken up. No, defeating the Dragon King would have been impossible."
"What are you talking about? It was your Meteor that turned the tide."
"And I wouldn't have been able to stand back up like I am now. I would have been trapped in despair, consumed by the thought that my magic killed my comrades."
"Well, I just gave you a few words of advice because you looked pitiful."
"Those few words are what picked me up. Thank you. Truly. I want to repay this debt that is engraved in my very bones..."
Squeeze.
Merlin suddenly grabbed my hand. He whispered in a desperate voice.
"Suoka, Mr. John. Please come to the Continent with me. Let's go and establish the academy. I want to repay the kindness you've shown me."
"I'm sorry, but we can't do that."
"What? W-why...?"
I refused firmly.
I'm not about to create any loophole that might change history. I know that wasn't his intention, but I still can't allow it.
"Just as you have a dream of founding an academy, we have dreams of our own. And those dreams can only be realized here in the Demon Beast Forest."
"Ah..."
"Since we killed the Dragon King, who was our enemy, you could say we've halfway achieved our goals, but we have no intention of returning to the Continent. You'll be the only one going back."
"T-then, at least tell me where you'll be...! I really want to send you gifts once I arrive on the Continent...!"
"Gifts? That won't be necessary. What could you possibly give people who've lived in the wild, far from civilization, for decades? Right, John?"
"Decades? Hmm, decades is correct. We've lived in the Demon Beast Forest for decades."
The King of Humans, who has now become as adept at reading the room as some pampered mutt, flexibly follows my lead. Merlin bowed his head low, looking conflicted.
"We're fine without gifts or repayment. I can see your kind heart clearly enough."
"...Hic."
"You really do cry a lot."
"No, I won't show this side of me anymore...! Because the Hero told me that a teacher who leads children must always be composed, and must be someone the children can believe in and rely on...!"
"But you're still a child yourself."
"Still, I can't...! Because I'm going to be a teacher...!"
As he spoke, Merlin wiped away his tears.
It seems he's about to leave. The atmosphere feels that way.
"Merlin, I'm telling you this just in case, but once you reach the Continent, do not speak of me."
I must leave him with these words before he departs.
A veteran magician never leaves the cleanup unfinished.
"What? W-why is that...?"
"...I'm telling you this now, but I am actually a sinner. I gained fame as a hunter, but I once killed a man while drunk. I came to the Demon Beast Forest to escape that past, and that is how I met John."
"Ah... I didn't know you had such a history..."
"The incident is so old that the world has forgotten me, but someone like me shouldn't dare show his face proudly to the world. It wouldn't be... respectful to the person who died by my mistake. If someone asks about the circumstances when you reach the Continent, only speak of the Hero Party and John. I didn't really do anything anyway."
Facing my hastily constructed fake confession, Merlin remained silent for a moment before his lips parted.
"Yes, I will...!"
"Do you understand?"
"Because I know you are a good person, Suoka. Just seeing how you rejected immense wealth for the sake of your conscience, even though everyone would know you helped defeat the Dragon King, proves it."
"Ahem, that's far too much praise for someone like me."
"But from what I've seen, you truly are a wonderful person... Anyway."
Merlin takes a step back from me.
"Thank you for everything...!"
After bowing deeply to us, Merlin disappeared beyond the horizon where the sunset was fading. It felt like a somewhat sudden parting, but staying with him any longer would only limit my own range of activity.
Now Merlin will establish Eden Academy, the greatest academy in the Empire, earn the title of Great Sage, and pioneer a new realm of magic that no one had ever reached. All in a very desirable direction.
Merlin becoming strong isn't a problem. I just won't fight him. I have no desire to experience the aftereffects of that insane magic, the Big-Bang, ever again.
"You can speak comfortably now, right?"
"Yes, do whatever you want."
"Phew, that was stifling. Demon."
"I actually enjoyed the acting. Just grab that Dragon King's corpse. It's valuable."
Following my order, the King of Humans grabbed the Dragon King's torso and hoisted it up. Though it was torn and shredded in several places, important parts like the teeth and bones were intact. Great, it'll be perfect for medicines, supplements, or weapon materials.
"The Dragon King died miserably. It doesn't look like he just died from being crushed by a meteor."
"Really? You're just imagining things."
"A demon killed him. There's demonic energy on it."
"Wow, your intuition has really improved. You're right; I actually killed him."
"This feels good. Iroel said revenge is a bad thing, but seeing the Dragon King dead truly feels refreshing."
"That's how revenge usually works. A mix of lingering distaste and sheer exhilaration. Normally, you feel both. However, in Mr. John's case..."
When you kill the one who murdered your loved ones with your own hands, it's said the killer feels pleasure mixed with a sense of immorality and self-loathing. This is because a repulsion toward slaughter and a hatred for yourself—now appearing just like the target of your revenge—slowly creep up.
But what if that person died in a car accident? Or if they were killed by some other villain? Then the victim's relative feels only pleasure. Since they didn't kill them personally, there's no reason to feel guilt.
I accidentally handled the King of Humans' revenge for him. I've accumulated more good deeds today. I am truly evolving.
"Why did you stop talking?"
"Just move that thing. I read in a book somewhere that males who talk too much aren't attractive."
"But demons talk a lot."
"...Strangely, it seems not just your intuition, but your wit has improved too. It's a positive change, but let's pick the right time and place."
Exchanging light banter with the King of Humans, we headed toward where our party was staying. To the place where Beatrice Constantino, Wolf King Aru, Angel Uriel, and Shaman Meta were waiting. They must be quite curious about my whereabouts since I disappeared without a proper explanation.
Before I knew it, the sun had set and the twilight had risen. Truly, it had been a day of all sorts of events. It was as enjoyable as it was exhausting.
As I stood there with a faint smile at those thoughts, I spotted a few women over the hill. They were racing toward the King of Humans, who was carrying the Dragon King, and me at an incredible speed... along with one angel and one goblin.
"My Lord! What on earth happened! Why is my demonic energy...!"
"Young Demon! Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere!?"
"Leader! These two caught a dragon! Now the Wolf King and Beatrice are dragon slayers!"
"Oscar! Your magic power suddenly surged! Did you do something, Oscar!"
What? They caught a dragon? Beatrice and Aru did?
"M-my Lord! S-surely, what John is carrying on his back is...!"
"It's—it's the Dragon King!? Leader! Why is Dragon King Endros in such a state...!"
I have many things I want to ask, but it seems I should answer their questions first.
*****
Step.
The footsteps of the genius mage, Merlin, crossed the forest paths of the Demon Beast Forest.
With clothing so worn out they could be called rags instead of a magic robe, disheveled light green hair, and broken glasses, it was obvious to anyone that she had been through an intense ordeal.
"Ah... so stifling."
Merlin felt constrained by the clothes she was wearing. The robe was already heavy, and wearing it while drenched in sweat made the discomfort unbearable.
The weather in the Demon Beast Forest was so erratic that the air happened to be heated, making her feel the heat even more.
"...Is anyone around?"
As if worried, Merlin looked around. A look of determination suddenly appeared in her rolling green eyes.
"Hmm..."
Swoosh.
Very carefully and with a delicate touch, Merlin loosened the robe. The brown robe slid down.
Revealed under the moonlight was fair, pale skin. Even after confirming no one was around, Merlin wrapped her arms around herself as if she were deeply embarrassed.
Tight.
Merlin's chest was wrapped in white bandages. Why would she cover a chest as flat as a plain with bandages? Did she have a scar she couldn't let others see?
"Ow... the skin got pinched..."
Merlin frowned. She began to unwind the wrapped bandages using magic.
"Haa... so refreshing..."
Just as she had almost finished removing the bandages.
Pop!
There was a sound, as if some magic had been released.
"Ah...! I-it's been so long, I'm not used to...!"
As if burdened by something heavy, Merlin lost her balance and staggered.
And on her chest, which was no longer covered.
"Ugh... breasts really are heavy..."
Two pale, large mounds were situated there.
Merlin carefully supported the weight with both hands. The moonlight hit the ample flesh that covered nearly half of her upper body.
"Hyaa... but it feels good since it's so cool..."
And so, the genius girl Merlin enjoyed the freshness and freedom of the midnight air for quite some time before returning to the Continent.