68
Chapter 68
"First, let me introduce the Moonlight Wolf Association! Dear customer! Have you heard the legend of the wolf? The wolf is a symbol of those who realize all noble and sublime revenge with sharp, cold teeth! Our association was formed under the leadership of the Wolf King!"
"The purpose our association pursues is simple! To fulfill every revenge in the world! We can help you take revenge yourself, or we can do it on your behalf! Everything is up to you! We are simply here to assist!"
"We provide anything related to revenge! And completely free of charge! The form of revenge doesn't matter, nor does the method! For example, becoming so great that your target doesn't even feel worthy of your hatred is one way! Though, looking at your face, I suspect you're more interested in the kind of revenge that leads to [ruin]!"
"Ah~ what a business that rivals charitable work! Helping someone achieve a goal that could define their life without taking a single penny! However, our association does not do this for profit! We are here solely to ensure your revenge is a success! That is why we've come racing to you!"
"You ask how we got here? How we knew you dreamed of revenge? Actually, the famous Archangel Uriel is also a member of our association! You know that Lady Uriel possesses the Authority of Clairvoyance that looks down upon all creation, right?"
"Anyway! Just say the word, and we will help your revenge at any time! That is why we gathered here! With the conviction and ideology to ensure every sublime revenge in the world is realized!"
I shout in a high-pitched voice toward the Savage, who is staring at me with a blank expression. A higher voice inspires more trust, after all.
Why am I doing this? Naturally, it's to open a channel of communication with the King of Humans.
The King of Humans loved Saint Iroel. Saint Iroel was murdered by a horde of monsters under Dragon King Endros. The King of Humans might not know that yet, but there's a high probability he harbors hostility toward those monsters or Endros.
Later on, the King of Humans even hunts Dragon King Endros alongside Merlin Gregory. That was likely influenced by that hostility.
Oh, for the record, Merlin Gregory is the mage who made the latter half of my previous life a disaster of seizures. A magical genius like no other in history, Merlin Gregory reached the 9th Circle and claimed the title of Great Sage.
In my previous life, he died by my hand, but as he died, he cast an unbreakable great spell on me, forcing me to tremble in seizures for twenty-four hours a day.
In this life, I'm poaching the King of Humans. Of course, to avoid disrupting causality, I'll have to ensure that Merlin Gregory and the King of Humans still take down Dragon King Endros together.
With those thoughts, I excitedly shook the bait, attempting to tempt the King of Humans.
"Um...."
"Yes? What was that? Could you speak a bit louder!"
"I won't do revenge...."
Huh.
"No revenge... no need...."
The clumsy voice moves in a direction contrary to my expectations.
What on earth is happening?
"Revenge... is harmful...."
I can find no trace of different eyes in the Savage's gaze as he looks at me steadily. It means he hasn't felt even a shred of interest.
"More importantly...."
Wait, maybe not.
The Savage's eyes seemed to be showing interest in 'something else.'
"Did you... just speak? You can talk...?"
"What do you mean, 'talk'?"
"It's the first time since 'her'...! Someone who can speak!"
Life returned to the Savage's voice. With a face full of anticipation, he grabbed my gloved hand firmly.
And then, he shook it up and down.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh-!
Gah, it was an overwhelming power that didn't even allow me to think of resisting. The bulging veins and rippling muscles were not for show. Is this the strength of a native Savage who grew up in the Demon Beast Forest? I felt like my hand was about to be crushed.
But I couldn't shake off his handshake. Because the Savage was genuinely happy. Simply because I could 'speak.'
"What did 'she' say to do...? If a guest comes... first let them inside... Ah! Come in! I shall... host you...!"
The Savage pulled me into the hut, speaking in awkward phrasing. He was so strong that I was dragged along helplessly without being able to say a word.
"I don't have much, but please eat plenty! Ah... is that not right...? Should I ask if you're hungry first?"
After entering the hut, the Savage told me to sit on a creaking wooden chair. It wasn't a very sophisticated chair. To the point where I thought sitting on a tree stump would be better.
Of course, I didn't reject the kindness. Perhaps because I could 'speak,' the Savage was quite friendly toward me. Contrary to his blunt first impression, a smile was appearing on his face.
As I sat, the chair clattered with a creaking sound. Geez, is it okay to treat a guest like this? I'll endure it since he's the King of Humans.
"By the way, can I ask you something?"
"Of course! Please... understand if my answers are clumsy...! It's been over a decade since I've had a conversation...!"
"Well, I'll manage to understand that part... but why did you let me into your home? Since you're not doing any revenge?"
The Savage brought out a wooden table from somewhere and placed it in front of me amidst the clutter in the small hut. Then, he placed another chair opposite me and crouched his awkwardly massive frame onto it.
I put my hand under the table and felt it with my fingertips. It was a very old and worn table. It looked like it had been used for at least a decade.
"I just... want to talk!"
"Talk?"
"'She' said...! That humans must always talk to someone...! That if there is no one to talk to, one must even talk to oneself...! That is how one doesn't forget language!"
"Wait, hold on a second."
The same word kept repeating.
"You keep mentioning 'her' from earlier; why are you doing that?"
"'She' is my teacher!"
"...By any chance. That 'she' you mentioned."
There's one person who comes to mind.
The likely only human who would have willingly entered the Demon Beast Forest and contacted the King of Humans during this period.
"Are you talking about Saint Iroel?"
"You know Iroel!"
A broad smile spreads across the Savage's face. He reacts as if he's heard a very welcome name.
"You know Iroel too! I'm glad! Truly glad!"
Slam-!
The Savage grabs and shakes my hand again. Ah, I feel like my arm is going to pop out.
"Urgh...! You ask if I know Iroel? I know her because she helped me a bit in the past! So... could you please let go of my hand...?"
"Ah! It's been so long since I've met a person that I forgot! Iroel always told me to control my strength when shaking hands!"
"Haa, you're really excited. It seems you have a bit of a connection with Iroel too?"
"I certainly do! But you received help from Iroel too? As expected, Iroel is beautiful!"
The Savage's speech is clumsy. He uses 'beautiful' when he likely means she has a kind heart.
However, my job is to find clues within those clumsy words.
The Savage definitely said 'too' just now.
The basic principle of winning someone over is creating common ground. Thus, establishing empathy.
Found it, a point of empathy. I can't believe a random comment brought back such luck.
"A long time ago, it was when I was passing through the mountain valleys of the Corinth region. Back then, I was a common merchant."
"What are you talking about...?"
"Since you seem interested in Lady Iroel, I'm trying to tell you about my experiences with her. Do you dislike it? If so, I'll just stop."
"Ah, no! I don't dislike it! Anything related to Iroel! I want to hear as much as possible!"
"Right? Okay, then I'll start over. It was when I was passing through the mountain valleys of the Corinth region, and back then, I was just a lowly merchant."
I'm using the Corinth region again, the same place I used a hundred years ago to trick Beatrice. If I actually pass through there later, I should scatter some money. I keep owing favors to a place I've never even visited.
"It was a summer day during a gloomy rainy season... A forest in that kind of weather is terrible. The ground is muddy, the rain falls incessantly, and there's nowhere to take cover. I was walking hard in such a place to reach my destination. But I must have been halfway across the mountain when suddenly, bandits appeared!"
"Bandits? Ah, I've heard of them from Iroel... Thugs who take things from people by force."
Perhaps because he is the King of Humans living in the Demon Beast Forest, he reacted as if he had never even encountered bandits before.
"Yes! Those very bandits appeared before me, when I was completely powerless! I was helplessly stripped of all my money and captured, with both my arms pinned down! But perhaps God did not abandon me? At the moment I thought all was lost, a woman was climbing up from the opposite side of the hill!"
"Don't tell me, was that Iroel...?"
"Exactly! Both I and the bandits recognized her instantly! She was none other than Saint Iroel! Being the most famous person on the continent, it was impossible not to recognize her! Either way, feeling incredibly lucky in the midst of danger, I immediately screamed to be rescued by her!"
I am a silver-tongued storyteller. There is nothing more enjoyable than deceiving others to my liking. That is why I am happy right now.
"As a Saint, she naturally possessed a Holy Power more immense than anyone else on the continent. Dealing with a few bandits would have been child's play for her. The bandits must have felt the same, as they trembled in fear upon seeing Iroel."
"But the bandits were no fools. Noticing that I was about to scream, they immediately pulled out small, cold pocket knives and pressed them against the back of my neck. They naturally hid my bound hands by throwing their arms around my shoulders."
"Then, they whispered secretly to me. 'Smile.' They say the Saint's Holy Power can heal everything in the world, but it cannot bring back the dead. With the knives poised to kill me at any moment, the bandits smiled foolishly at Saint Iroel. As if they were just ordinary friends."
The Savage lets out a short sigh of disbelief. Good, now it's time for Iroel to shine.
"But! Saint Iroel was an amazing person! After scanning us with a strange look as we met on the mountain path, she approached us, saying she wanted to ask for directions. The moment she got close enough for an arm's reach! Something moved with the speed of a flash, and the bandits were sent flying, screaming!"
"Woah! D-did Iroel do that?"
"Who else could have shown such divine power! Of course, it was Saint Iroel! Regardless, though it was a brief encounter, I owed my life to her, and I still live each day with a grateful heart! That is my story!"
Clap-!
As a way of expressing gratitude for listening to the story, I brought my hands together and clapped once. The Savage seemed to have enjoyed my tale quite a bit, his expression full of excitement.
"That's it! Exactly! That's the Iroel I know! Iroel never ignores someone in pain!"
Seeing that, I opened my palms. With my palms facing up and arms spread wide, I softly opened my lips.
"Now then."
"Hm?"
"Would you tell me what kind of help you received from Saint Iroel?"
Time to get to the main point.
"Hmm... Me...? Me and Iroel...."
The bright smile that had been lingering on the Savage's lips vanished. After stroking his thick beard for a moment, the Savage spoke with a faint smile.
"When I first met Iroel... I lunged at her, seeing her as prey."
...Prey?