"We are set for a month at most," I said while looking at our resources that we bought from the Yeoplis Kingdom.
"Yes, also Karter really gave us some good magic stones. They would be very useful, " Dermis replied.
The bunny eared woman added next.
"What kind of magic stones did he give?"
"Three healing ones and other 2 are for increasing agility for 30 minutes."
"Hmm, they are useful,"
"Kyoko, I have been meaning to ask you something." I said while we walked along a path made in between a forest. This path was made for merchants.
"Yes?"
The party was now paying attention to my words, and I nervously added.
"Who is your teacher exactly?"
[Starlight tomb] had informed me about her, and it was definitely bothering me. Why did she have a demonic energy, even though she had no horns.
"Why do you ask?" Kyoko frowned.
"Umm, you know. Just curious" I tried my best to sound as casual as possible.
"She is just a normal person living in that kingdom."
Kyoko finished and started walking faster, perhaps to avoid me. But why?
If she didn't want to tell me, I would make her. It's not a leisure matter. We are talking about demons now.
I gulped hard and asked sternly.
"Then why does she have demonic energy in her?"
With my remark, Kyoko halted at her spot, and Dermis looked at me surprised. Ororon also put up his guard by the name of a demon. Tremious remained unwavered, however still paying attention.
"Tell me," I demanded again.
" 'sigh' it is not that serious. She is just a pupil of a Witch."
"Oh...."
I was a little startled by it, a Witch, who would've expected.
[Oh. So that's what it was]
A Witch wasn't a normal creature. There was another thing that made us different from demons, and that is the difference in mana. We use the normal pure form of mana that is present in the world. On the other hand, a demon uses demonic energy that is availablein the underworld. To put it simply, it was an evil form of mana. A mana used only for evil.
Us creatures are not able to use demonic energy and vice versa. Yet, a Witch is able to use both of the energies. That is a reason why people consider them one of the strongest creatures.
They could be the strongest of them all, but they still prefer a solitude life and prefer to be a merchant or trader instead.
"Sorry, I jumped to conclusions.."
"No, it's alright, but I'm surprised that you noticed it. Even i didn't at first"
"Ha ha....yeah,"
(Well, it was [tomb], actually)
[Yes! All credits to me, hmp]
"Then does that mean you learned the ways of a Witch," Dermis excitedly pronounced.
"Yes...I guess"
"Isn't that amazing? You have to show me some magic later then,"
"I will,"
Dermis smiled ear to ear as always, and I was distracted in the meantime.
( [tomb] )
[Hmm?]
(Can you feel people's mana?)
[Huh? Is that even a question, of course I can. I myself am half mana]
(Look into Dermis then)
[Why should I do what you say. And even if i do, I will do it later. I'm sleepy now]
'Sigh'
(This girl...)
"What's the long sigh for?"
Suddenly, I was bought back to reality when I realised Dermis caught up to me to converse.
"Aa...it's nothing."
He frowned as if to realise my unease.
He then smiled softly at me and came in front of me, blocking my way. He came a little closer to my face and placed his index finger on my frown.
"Why?" I asked, confused
He then lifted up my eyebrows, preventing me from frowning and smiling. He added.
"It's better this way,"
He left after doing that, and I touched the spot he just touched with confusion.
"What's wrong with him?"
Out of a blue, we heard many footsteps coming near us from the front. Out of nowhere, a whole crowd came running towards us desperately. Their expressions were hard, and they were on the verge of tears.
One of them bumped with Dermis and looked helpless.
"Are you okay, sir? What's going on?!"
The man was out of breath and, in tears, cried out.
"D-d-demons! Demons are here!!"
The whole party was startled, and I began inspecting the other running people. They seem to be coming from the opposite direction. I called out to Dermis, and he nodded, understanding my resolve.
We all started running in the opposite direction. In the way, I prepared myself for the worst.
When we reached, the sight in front of us was menacing. Six... no seven demons lurking around a small village and cutting through every ounces of flesh of the humans they captured.
They weren't the same as the ones we fought before. These were weaker, but that didn't conclude that the battle was gonna be easy.
Dermis hurriedly spoke up.
"Tremious! Please look after Ororon and cast a shield on us. Kyoko and Aniel, take one of each healing stones. Save as many human as you can!"
"Yes!" Everyone loudly said.
It was the same position. Tremious was gonna help us from the sidelines, Kyoko would take the long range, Dermis charges at front, and I'm his backup.
Immediately, I took out [Starlight's tomb] and unleashed some of my mana onto her.
(It's your time to shine)
[Say less!] She grinned with mischief.
The demoms took seconds to realise our presence. These demons had a form similar to a bulky humans with horns and three to four eyes.
Instantly! One of them came forward, and Dermis swiftly sliced a part of his skin. His movements had become different. They were as calm as the ocean and yet as sharp as a blade. Kyoko shot her arrow in the meantime at it's eye and that was enough time for me to strike from behind.
Even without it's eyes it still charged towards me with its large hands that was enough to penetrate my body. I planted my feat to the ground and ducked its attack. I twisted my body and launched [Starlight's tomb] at its neck. [Starlight's tomb] slided off with a swift, and the demon fell to the ground.
One down.
With the defeat of the demon, other demons' multiple eyes caught our bizarre actions. With this, at least four more demons came rushing with blazing eyes and full of determination to squiz out every blood in our body.
This time, Kyoko fired four arrows at once, and those arrows were stronger than before. Her arrows pierced through their hard skins . This resulted them being in hard rage. One of them released hot steam from their body and ignored us before charging towards Kyoko. Tremious, who took notice of it, released a sum of his mana and captured the demon in it. It was like the demon was trapped in a bubble of red mana, and he lifted it up. He clenched his fist, and the red bubble of mana shrunken and ripped apart the demons body.
At the same time, Dermis and I were left alone to deal with two demons on our own. Without needing to communicate,we both had the same plan. We each faced a demon head-on.
The demon I was given to handle had the face of an orc and a giant horn bulging out from the middle of his forehead. These lower demons weren't capable of communicating.
So, instead, he glared at me with his sharp teeth and was committed to chewing me up with them.
He lunched himself at me, and the spikey bat in his hand grassed my left arm. Before, I could feel the pain of it, I parried his attack done by his spikey bat. I tried to strike him in his stomach, but [Starlight's tomb] wasn't fast enough. Instead, it shoved at the air with a hiss. I couldn't see the ground and just locked eyes with his and greeted my teeth at him. He was least intimated by me.
Finally, I found an opening, and while he was trying to strike me in my head. I ducked and dove past him and got behind his blindspot. My adrenaline slurred, and with the tip of my spear, I ripped apart his neck, and it fell to the ground.
I tried to catch my breath, and instantly, the pain struck my left arm. I grabbed it tightly in hopes of the pain calming down. Without wasting another second, I searched for Dermis. He was also done with his opponent.
His opponent was laying on the ground and with blood all over it's body. It was as if, Dermis intentionally sliced every part of his body so that his blood forces out. He stood while gazing up the sky and looked to the right of him.
3 more demons remain.