"Oh no-no, we can't charge the Saint!"
"Just take it. And I am NO Saint!" Handing the cafeteria owner a pouch filled with coins, Damon insisted.
The reveal was dramatic, delivered on purpose—but its effect…
"Oh Saint!"
"How benevolent!"
'Yeah, I think I overdid it.' Damon wanted his magic reveal to be historic, something that would stir hearts, something that would go down in history and help his fame rise.
"I didn't think it would have such a great effect…" Damon muttered, exasperated. It was exhausting to be treated like an animal in a zoo, with all eyes focused on him.
He knew the effect he would have on people, and he did it wishing for those very results—but like an overachiever, the outcome exceeded even his own expectations. Now, people were calling him a Saint.
'I fucking robbed an entire town. During a famine, I carried out one of the biggest heists in history. Destroyed an entire forest, screwing up thousands of people's livelihoods,' Damon thought of all the acts he had committed.
'...Me? A Saint?' He grumbled as the attention began to annoy him.
"What happened, Saint? Did you perhaps notice something unpleasant, oh dear Saint?"
Shooting a glare strong enough to make grown men piss themselves, Damon looked at the black-robed bastard who clearly enjoyed the situation. "I dare you to call me that word one more time and see if I don't pull out that snake-like tongue of yours. Do. You. Dare?"
With a tone filled with murderous intent, coming from a giant of a man wielding an axe, even Hakuya knew when to stop—but he simply smiled, taking joy in Damon's annoyance.
'This fucking bastard… Hah.' Damon wanted to lash out, but he knew it wouldn't do him any good.
This was the effect he wanted—the exposure he desired. He was getting it, though perhaps too much too soon. But it was the beginning.
In the future, with every successful plan, Damon knew that even such attention would lose its value. It was better to get used to it as soon as possible.
"The big eater contest is about to begin. Sir Poncho has already left to report on time. Should we go support him?" Hakuya asked, as only he and Damon remained together.
'Poncho went to report to the staff, Bardok and his company left to hit the bar… it's only me and Hakuya now.' Damon nodded as the two began walking to watch Poncho.
"So, about your magic… you mentioned it gave you control over the elements, didn't you?" Hakuya asked, curious and probing, stressing the word *elements.*
"Yes." A short answer. Damon nodded, glancing at Hakuya from the corner of his eye.
"So it isn't just about rejuvenating trees, but more like controlling them—commanding them however you wish. Tell me, can you control other elements as well?" Hakuya asked, his fox-like eyes meeting Damon's.
Damon didn't say anything for a moment, just nodded.
"So it's like a fusion of multiple elements, allowing you to wield multiple magics at once. My, what a wonderful gift it is."
"If people were to learn about this to its full extent, it wouldn't be surprising if they officially crowned you as a Saint."
Hakuya's comment made Damon groan. The joke lightened the tense mood as the duo continued walking.
"You know… with your gift alone, if displayed in the Tournament of Talent, you could earn dual crowns." Passing through the streets, listening to the chatter, Hakuya explained, and Damon just nodded lightly.
"Yeah, I know…"
"So, don't you want to register there? Or is winning the martial arts tournament enough for you?"
"Mm… I wonder." Damon pretended to ponder before answering. "Well, it sure is great to be rewarded double the money, position, and all that."
Pausing briefly, Damon sighed and looked at Hakuya seriously. "But it isn't what I truly want."
"To be a general and lead an army? It sounds exciting to fight for one's country…" Damon continued. "I also want to experience that as a man—but not fighting for just any country… for MY country."
Looking straight into Hakuya's eyes, Damon revealed his ambition. His eyes were clear, filled with resolution, glowing bright with determination.
"You certainly dream big, Sir Damon." Hakuya smiled—but this time, it wasn't staged or pretentious. Damon didn't know what the smile meant, but the expression in Hakuya's eyes said enough. The smile disappeared as quickly as it came, replaced by a stoic face devoid of emotion.
"Such a grand dream you have for yourself… but tell me, Sir Damon, do you have within you the capability to achieve it?"
The atmosphere shifted—tense, like two predators sizing each other up.
"Why do you think I don't?" Damon's eyes glowed faintly red as he looked down at Hakuya like a predator gazing at prey. His tone was chilling, his eyes focused. A beast-like pressure radiated from his body.
"A country doesn't function with just a strong man or a capable ruler," Hakuya argued, standing firm. "It needs people to build it, land to declare it, money to run it, and most importantly—"
Hakuya's voice softened as he paused, a confident smile forming, eyes gleaming with resolve.
"—a talent to govern it."
"What do you mean by that, Hakuya?"
"I wish to recommend myself," Hakuya said, surprising Damon.
"In the words of King Souma, I say—I possess the gift of wisdom."
"I have read every book on law, finance, war, and strategy I could find, with all knowledge perfectly stored in my memory. My skills in governance, I can confidently say, surpass most others."
"My thirst for knowledge and my ability to learn—I have confidence that, in this kingdom and even across the continent, I can compete with and surpass anyone."
"With my gift of wisdom, I wish to support you and witness the rise of a new power on this continent—your supremacy."
'Y-your supremacy? That's high…' Damon looked at Hakuya, who bowed before him despite the crowd, countless questions rising in his mind.
"...Why?" was all he managed to say.
"An instinct, I suppose. Your physical prowess, your gift, your wisdom, and finally your ambition—all of it won my heart," Hakuya continued. "After observing you for a day, I can confidently say—you are a man, a lord worthy of my service."
'How arrogant…' Confidence or arrogance—Damon didn't know which word fit better. Hakuya's words sounded conceited, but knowing his abilities, Damon couldn't deny the man possessed the skills to back them up.
'My plans were only to recruit those two… but Hakuya too? Not a bad thing.' Hakuya's wisdom, practicality, and loyalty made him a desirable subordinate.
"If you win tomorrow, you can become royal librarian with hundreds of coins as reward," Damon offered one last chance. "Is it worth risking all this?"
"Haha… it doesn't matter," Hakuya chuckled. "Working under a hero, serving a kingdom as prestigious as Elfreiden—it's surely a dream for many."
"But for me, building a kingdom from scratch sounds far more entertaining."
"Hahaha!" Damon laughed at the response, joined by Hakuya. Time itself seemed to witness the agreement of two legends whose efforts would reshape the continent.
***
"So, where do you plan to establish your kingdom?" As they walked through the streets of Parnam, Hakuya finally asked the question burning in his mind.
"How does north sound?" Damon replied.
Hakuya's eyes widened.
"The Demon Lord's Domain!"