While the carriage is flying through the air, I asked the Chieftain Monarch how long his lifespan is.
He looked thoughtful for awhile before admitting that he doesn't know as he's been living for quite sometime.
I see.
I wonder who is older, he or Ahuizotl?
But I didn't ask as I'm afraid that he might get angry by answering too many questions.
I don't want to die yet.
After a few minutes of awkward silence, he asked me how I managed to knock out his guards and magic users when I visited Lion in the dungeons.
Ah.
He knows that it's me.
So I told him what I did in which he looked fascinated as he told me that what I did is certainly new as no one expected a stealth like movement when they are used to attacking directly.
Then he asked me if I'm planning to return what I stole.
Um.
Would he be angry if I told him no?
Seeing the conflicted look on my face made the Chieftain Monarch chuckle as he assured me that it is mine already as he already forced the head of the magic users in the palace to replace every single one that was stolen as it was their failure to secure it properly.
I have a feeling that I should avoid the head of the magic users when I return to the palace.
But how did he know that it was me? I was discreet! I didn't even tell anyone!
The Chieftain Monarch began to laugh in that strange sounding laugh of his in which he told me that he put everything together when he saw the way I whacked the guards and the magic users using my staff when I tried to rescue Lion and the pack.
He called me a little ball of chaos.
I don't know if I should take it as a compliment or not.
He added that he heard a strange news on that day in which a tiny being managed to make several deadly predators kneel at her feet and took over as the queen of the arena.
But that's ridiculous and highly exaggerated!
I protested, telling him that the news is highly exaggerated in which he again laughed loudly, telling me that I am indeed a little ball of chaos.
He reminded me about the time when I struck Bahar on his eye and also the time where I caused Lion and the pack to destroy the palace several times.
But Bahar deserved it! Also, I didn't order Lion and the pack to destroy the palace!
Then I saw a glint in his eye.
What is he up to this time?!
He said that he wants me to show everyone my techniques in combat after the hunting event.
Say what??!!!
He told me that it will be a training session exclusive to his guards as they definitely needed some improvement. Also the pack needs some additional training as they should be getting ready for their next mission.
He gave a meaningful glance towards my cuff in which I understood.
I told him that I'm not powerful in which he told me kindly that being powerful doesn't always comes from being physically strong but instead it comes from having a strong will and a capable mind.
I sighed and told him that I would think about it.
....
It didn't take me long to make a decision. I wanted to stay in the Chieftain Monarch's good graces. Also, it would be a good idea to look at the appearances of the demons who disguised themselves as guards.
I told him that I would do it in which to my dismay, he told me that he would watch me doing it.
Why?????
I was about to ask him when we heard an earthshaking explosion.
The Chieftain Monarch looked like he didn't expect what he was hearing as he suddenly looked alert and told me to sit properly as our carriage began to increase its speed going towards the area of the hunt.
I was so distracted by our talk that I didn't notice our surroundings. We were flying over a jungle in which numerous small creatures went flying towards the opposite direction of us.
The Chieftain Monarch told me in a serious voice that something unexpected must have happened as to cause the inhabitants to leave their homes.
Now I'm worried about Lion and the rest of the pack's safety.
....
We finally arrived at the area that is a vast grassland that might have been lovely to see before it was destroyed. The Chieftain Monarch didn't land our carriage as the situation looked serious.
To my horror, the pests are flying everywhere in which the warriors tried to fight them off to no avail. It seems that nothing cannot penetrate their skin.
Lots of the warriors are bloodied and several of them are lying on the ground unconscious or dead, I do not know.
The Chieftain Monarch exclaimed that the pests usually doesn't attack back in which we both got a feeling that it's no longer a hunting event but a survival event instead.
And they definitely are bigger than me compared to what the Chieftain Monarch told me about during the banquet that they are usually half the size of me.
I noticed that the magic attacks also isn't effective against penetrating their skin and instead of the warriors trying to attack them, they are defending themselves against the attack of the pests.
Instead of us attacking them, we were the ones being attacked.
Transforming to their ultimate form isn't effective either as I can see several of the warriors attempted which results in them attracting more of the pests towards them.
I can see Lion and the pack working together in which they tried to attack the pests to no avail.
The Chieftain Monarch tried to get up and use his magic power in which I hurriedly told him not to.
He looked surprised as he asked me if I understand how serious the situation is in which I nodded and told him to observe the pests.
I exclaimed that I noticed that the pests seemed to be attracted to magic as the warriors who attempted to transform to their ultimate form attracted even more pests towards them.
The Chieftain Monarch looked thoughtful for awhile before telling me that I should think of a solution as I am very observant, saving our lives as he was about to release a very strong magic towards the pests.
To be honest, I have a feeling that the demons certainly have connection to these pests as their appearance reminded me of the vermin that is usually found in the Netherworld.
So they really have no idea that what they are fighting are from the Netherworld and it already happened since a long time ago.
But now it got worse as too many demons are appearing lately.
I should think about that later and focus on the problem at hand.
....
We need to penetrate their shell.
But how?
Since I cannot tell the Chieftain Monarch what it is, I told him that after penetrating the shell, we must attack it using fire magic.
He nodded then asked me how to penetrate their skin as we can't attack the pests using fire magic first.
They don't have holy power here except my Buddhist staff and cross necklace but I can't attack them all using those. I would end up fainting from exhaustion before I can manage to kill at least half of them. Also, I don't have anymore holy water as it would certainly be helpful right now.
Think!
Their usual weaknesses are fire, holy water, holy magic, silver....
I'm not sure if the creatures living here even know what it is.....
Wait.
Salt!
That's it!
I remembered that I brought some salt from earth as I wanted Ghost to see if we can manage to copy its exact flavor as the salt that we made from fruits doesn't exactly taste the same.
Also, they haven't discovered harvesting salt from sea water that can be collected from the 5 seas.
I hurriedly rummaged my bag and took out a small bottle of salt.
The Chieftain Monarch looked at it curiously in which I asked him if he can somehow do magic that prevents the contains of the bottle from getting empty in which he nodded as he looked like he understood what I was planning to do.
I took out the Buddhist staff from my bag and hurriedly assembled it as I wanted to make sure that none of those pests come towards us.
I told the Chieftain Monarch that he should make sure that the contains of my bottle should not ran out or else we might die.
He chuckled as he assured me that I should not underestimate the amount of magic that he has.
Then with a grin towards each other, we began to make our move.
....
Everytime we got near a pest, I sprinkled some salt towards it in which the skin began to bubble immediately and the Chieftain Monarch hurriedly burned it using his magic.
The plan worked.
Each pest is dead.
But the problem is that it is taking too much time killing one by one and many of the warriors are already lying on the ground unmoving.
The Chieftain Monarch told me that he will use his magic to make me fly through the air and that I should pour out half of the salt on my hand as he will make sure the grains of the salt will keep appearing on my hand, making it endless as all I have to do is to sprinkle it everywhere.
Hmmm. Just like I did with the holy water.
But I should probably bring the Buddhist staff just in case.
I felt myself floating on the air in which the Chieftain Monarch instructed me to just think of a direction and I will feel my body move towards it.
I did what he told me and gripped the grains of salt tightly on my hand. With my other hand, I also gripped the Buddhist staff tightly.
While flying through the air, I decided to go towards Lion and the pack and tell them about the plan.
Lion saw me and immediately went towards me in which he held me as he exclaimed that I should not have come here as I am risking my life though he would protect me from being harmed.
The rest of the pack saw me and hurriedly went towards us in which they all gently began to scold me in which I got offended as I'm trying to save their lives and got teary eyed instead.
All of them immediately apologized as I told them I would leave as soon as I'm done with the plan that the Chieftain Monarch and I have managed to come up with.
I can tell that Lion is about to say something in which I interrupted him, telling them about the plan in which I immediately flew away from them, sprinkling salt towards the pests.
I know that I'm feeling kind of childish but maybe because I am stressed in seeing them fight for their lives that my emotions went out of control.
Still I felt angry that I threw salt everywhere, glad that the salt I'm holding is seemingly endless as I felt temporary satisfaction on seeing bubbling from the pests. The pack began attacking the pests by following what I said in which both Lion and Sly who transformed into a dragon, attacked the pests using fire.
Ghost transformed into his ultimate form in which he used his earth magic to make some sort of wall surrounding the area where the pests are, making it easier for me as I just had to concentrate on a small area rather than flying all over.
Alpha used his combative magic towards the bubbling pests in which it proved to be effective as well, highly eliminating a lot of the pests as well.
Orm is also being helpful as he used his ice magic to froze some of the bubbling pests and struck them using his tail, breaking the frozen pests into pieces.
The remaining other warriors stood by, watching us in fascination as we moved silently in harmony, concentrating in our attacks as we slowly eliminate the pests from being numerous until all of them are dead.
Seeing that the situation is under control, I went back to the carriage in which the Chieftain Monarch removed the spell and made me give the handful of salt to him in which he put it in his mouth and made a face.
I chuckled as I detached the Buddhist staff that I didn't get to use in which it only made me look silly holding it while sprinkling the salt everywhere.
Yells of victory sounded everywhere in which the Chieftain Monarch told me that we should get back first as to wait in the courtyard for the awarding while the rest will clean up here.
Awarding?
He still treated it as a sport when we are defending our lives?
I noticed Lion flying towards us in which I tried to ignore when he suddenly carried me in his arms despite my protests.
I looked towards the Chieftain Monarch for help in which he just laughed and told us not to take long as I have to stand beside him during the awarding ceremony.
Why, that traitor!
Lion carried me towards the pack in which they all cheered for me with happy faces despite me being grumpy.
They all have amused looks on their faces as I tried my best not to smile in which I failed to do as they all looked adorable and I was relieved that they aren't harmed in any way.
Lion suggested that all of us will spend time together somewhere in the palace gardens much to the rest of the pack's surprise and delight as they didn't expect to be included also.
They were making some sort of plans in which I gently reminded them that we are the only ones left as the other warriors are already gone, bring the unconscious warriors with them.
Yes, nobody died but a lot of them were unconscious and wounded, though not severely.
Sly transformed again to his dragon form in which the three sat on his back as Lion insisted that he will fly back while carrying me in his arms. He told Sly to go ahead as he will follow behind him.
I kissed Lion on his cheek while he is flying in which he smiled at me and told me that I looked beautiful and kissed me softly on my forehead.