“My field!!”
“My bird!!”
“Calm down… the only part the halfling destroyed was the entrance. The field and the monsters are safe.”
With Rigma’s words and the view that Pilkaya shared, I was able to breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that the things we were both worried about were safe.
Thank goodness… perhaps it was because I sensed the collapse just before it happened and ordered the monsters to flee.
“Still, that’s impressive. To be able to break a dungeon wall so easily, I thought only someone like Rey could do that.”
“That was the key you used at the end, right? Could it be that it’s an item or equipment from this world?”
“No… I’ve never seen a key with such an effect.”
Fiona-sama’s words were confirmed by the other Four Heavenly Kings, all of them nodding in agreement.
Dungeon walls and floors are so sturdy that even Fiona-sama would struggle to break them. For someone to destroy it in an instant means that halfling is most likely a reincarnated person.
López Totanes: Magic Power: 10, Strength: 9, Technique: 52, Sturdiness: 11, Agility: 26
From the status, it was clear that the halfling had exceptionally high stats in areas they excelled at. However, I never expected them to be capable of such a feat.
Also… I had only seen reincarnators with Japanese names until now, but this one isn’t like that. Could it be that the goddess is reincarnating people from other countries into this world too?
“Fortunately, it seems I’m buried alive for now. Should I go ahead and kill him?”
Indeed, he is a dangerous opponent.
Like Okui, he could easily break through a dungeon if he wanted to.
Just as I was about to leave it to Rigma, a rock collapsed in Pilkaya’s line of sight.
From there, I confirmed López was alive, but strangely enough, he raised both hands in surrender, whether by accident or on purpose.
◇
I had been prepared to be buried alive.
No, I even thought I might die crushed by the rocks.
But, by some twist of fate, I am here, alive.
That’s fine, but the problem is that these rocks, which could crush me, are also what are currently protecting me.
In other words, now that they’ve collapsed, and I’ve managed to survive,
those birds will attack me again.
I thought so at first, but instead, they just fly around me aimlessly.
What’s going on? Why aren’t they attacking?
Do they think the cave will collapse again? No, they have hostile intentions, but they can’t attack. There’s a certain feeling to it.
That means… I don’t want to think about it, but these aren’t wild monsters. They must have been tamed by someone.
Did the owner of this herb field order them to deal with intruders?
Did they stop attacking suddenly because their master commanded them to?
In that case, it means that someone who controls these terrifying monsters is watching me nearby.
And there’s only one person who could be doing that… the Demon King.
“I surrender. I submit to you.”
◇
“Fiona-sama, he says he’s surrendering.”
“Huh? I’m not really in the mood… I’m busy, so I’ll leave it to Rey.”
She does look busy.
She’s praying seriously in front of a treasure chest.
“Well, I’ll go meet him.”
“Wait a minute.”
“Eh?”
As Fiona-sama’s representative, I was about to meet the halfling, but was immediately stopped.
“Is it dangerous?”
“I won’t do anything dangerous.”
“Reckless actions?”
“I won’t do anything reckless.”
“Good.”
What is this, a chant? We’re not in elementary school.
Well, if that satisfies Fiona-sama, then fine.
“Then, I’ll go again, properly this time.”
“You really don’t understand anything, do you?”
The Four Heavenly Kings were watching us with exasperated looks as Fiona-sama and I interacted.
Is it really that serious? That much?
I’m going to take the Four Heavenly Kings as guards, there’s no Hero here, and I was even planning to take the Phoenix Feather for emergencies.
“Well… I guess that’s safe enough. But you should have said so from the beginning.”
“Sorry.”
“Their ability is to destroy walls, but that doesn’t mean they can destroy everything. If they could, they would have destroyed the monsters by now.”
“Does that mean it’s a limited ability, like collapsing walls or destroying rocks?”
“In that case, Rey-sama’s skills will have the upper hand.”
“If anything happens, I’ll destroy everything and take them down, even that great hall.”
Thanks to the Four Heavenly Kings’ analysis and the reassuring strength of the embodiment of destruction, Fiona-sama seemed to be more at ease sending us out than before.
Ripianem. Fiona-sama really trusts her in battle.
◇
When we entered the herb field that belonged to Primilla , the halfling, with a tense expression, was raising both hands, shaking.
Ah, I see. He must be tired from keeping his hands up for so long. I feel bad for him.
“You said you surrender, but do you know who we are?”
“Yes, boss. You’re demons, right? I’m the reincarnated Lopez Totanes. Unfortunately, I don’t have any useful information, but I’m good with my hands. I think I can be of help.”
He answers my question, looking me straight in the eye.
That means he’s not faking his surrender and truly has no hostile intentions.
“Nice to meet you, López. I’m Rey. This is Primilla , Pilkaya, Rigma, and Ripianem.”
“Ah… nice to meet you too, boss and lady.”
He’s shaking.
Is it because he’s scared of the griffins? Or does he understand the power of the Four Heavenly Kings?
He mentioned being a reincarnator, but could he possibly be a game player?
“López. Are you a game player?”
“N-No… Unfortunately, I’ve never had much to do with video games. Sorry, boss. I don’t think I’ll be much help.”
I see. With this, he’s the sixth reincarnator to join Fiona-sama’s subordinates, but we really have no luck with game players.
As expected of Fiona-sama. That demon’s luck is nonexistent.
“Well, it’s fine. For now, let’s have him help with the inn or the shop and think about what he can do.”
With that, López followed closely behind.
He’s the least rebellious I’ve seen so far. In fact, he’s almost obedient…
This guy isn’t thinking of betraying us, right? It’s actually a bit scary how smoothly everything’s going…
◇
The goddess’s power is convenient.
Even the unlocking power she gave me can be quite useful, depending on how it’s used.
But that’s all. I have no intention of trusting her.
The only thing I trust, both before and after reincarnation, is my intuition.
And my intuition is warning me of the greatest danger.
“He said he surrenders, but does he know who we are?”
This man. At first glance, he looks like a demon I could take down on my own.
Since coming here, those birds have been playfully interacting with him.
In other words, this guy is the master of this cave… the Demon King, I guess?
The demons around us look dangerous, and I don’t think I could stand a chance against them.
So, they must be the Demon King’s subordinates or high-ranking officials.
That Demon King… looks weak, but I get the terrible feeling that if I make a move, I’ll die.
He has a nasty aura. That appearance must be a disguise.
“Yes, boss. You’re demons, right? I’m the reincarnated López Totanes. Unfortunately, I don’t have any useful information, but as you can see, I’m pretty skilled with my hands. I think I can be of some help.”
I shouldn’t defy him.
It was my mistake. From now on, I’ll have to show my worth under this Demon King—no, under this boss…
It’s fine. According to my intuition, it’s not something that will kill me.
I’m still alive, after all.
If I work obediently under this boss, I’m sure my life will be guaranteed for now.
“Ah, right. You’ll meet the Demon King later, too.”
“Ah… huh?”
Later, when I was introduced to the real Demon King, Big Boss… the warning bells in my mind rang off the charts, making me realize that he was the most dangerous being I’ve encountered in both of my lives.
