Deal-making

The King just looked at Aaron in shock. "Ten...thousand?! That was ten thousand for you?!" He yelled out as Aaron sighed, putting his hand on the back of his head. "Yeah, this is why my power level is at zero. I can't control it well enough to not actually injure people. My mana is just that powerful, apparently. However, I have come to make a deal. A simple peace offering." Aaron explained. The King was confused, as he was confident that Aaron could get anything he wanted if he tried to.

"Why would you want to make a deal with me, monster? I'm obviously below you in power." He asked in confusion as Aaron floated slightly into the air. "Well, you have the one thing I don't. You have influence in this world, and I don't want to rule by violence. So, here's my deal." Aaron continued as he teleported Crystet, Free, None and Seph beside him. They weren't expecting this to happen so soon, but they maintained their posture. Seph and None somehow teleported behind Aaron, and the King didn't notice that they were there. "I want us to be recognised as not just brainless creatures, but as sentient, living people. I request your permission and, hopefully, support in creating our own peaceful kingdom. We'll be able to trade resources, and it would be lucrative for you, as well. I'd be able to supply your kingdom with whatever you wanted, as long as we wouldn't need to fight."

Aaron explained as he finished floating and sat down on the ground. "In return, I will help calm the situation inside your kingdom. I will explain anything you need, although I might know why you've been kicked out. Just tell me why you were thrown out, and I can help you resolve this." Aaron finished, and for the first time since meeting this strange monster, the King didn't feel so on edge.

"Well, they've kicked me out because I couldn't help them with the recent attack on our city. At least ten people died, and some witnesses saw a white-haired man spreading this strange purple smoke. He was apparently seen running away later on." The King sighed, and Aaron instantly knew what was going on. He had his suspicions, and they were true. "Oh, I know that guy. I'll handle this situation for you, as long as you agree to my conditions. I just want to show people that monsters aren't just mindless beasts. After all, I'm one of them. If you want me to, I'll even help you with projects you need to get done." Aaron responded, giving the King a decent offer, and it actually forced him to stop and think.

"Now, what do you mean by 'kingdom'? I just want to know what everything means before I agree to this." The King asked as Aaron nodded his head. "Well, it's a good deal for you, but I suppose it's a good thing that you aren't treating this like a joke. Well, I want to create a kingdom like yours. A country. A place where intelligent and sentient monsters can actually reside. There may be few or none, but I want to distinguish ourselves between the ones with no other guide but instinct. After all, if I was like a monster that you are familiar with, would you not be dead right here?" Aaron pointed out, and the King was left speechless. "True." He said to himself. He had nothing else to say, and as long as the people in front of him didn't break their agreement, he was alright with it.

"I'll accept your terms, as long as you tell me why you have a human along with you." The King responded, pointing at Clair, whose eyes almost instantly turned red in response to him. Aaron looked down towards her, noticing this change. He extended his hand out to his side, preventing her from moving forward. "Calm down. He's our ticket to what we have been aiming to do." Aaron told her before looking back at the King. "I found her while walking around the forest. She was being hunted by the Demon King, who I subsequently killed. I went to bring her back to her village after realising she had two personalities, and the people treated her like absolute shit. So, she's now with me." Aaron explained as he extended his hand towards the King. "So, what do you say? Would you be willing to accept my deal?" Aaron asked, his hand turning into that of a skeleton's. "Don't mind my hand. It's just for authenticity. After all, we're all skeletons on the inside. I'm just able to change between being human and being a skeleton." Aaron told him, the King looking down at his skeletal hand in shock. He had never seen an actual skeleton hand before, at least not like this.

"Fine. As long as you can promise me that nothing unusual will come from this deal, and you'll actually be able to quell the anger of the masses." The King informed him, standing up. "I accept your offer, and I will help you create a kingdom for monsters if that is what you desire." He continued, shaking Aaron's hand. The King shivered, feeling the cold bone of Aaron's hand touch his skin. "Wow. I did not expect your hand to be so cold, monster." The King told Aaron. "Well, it may be because I just had flesh covering it, but I do ask that you refrain from calling me 'monster'. Just call me Aaron. Aaron Stone." Aaron replied as he began walking forward. "Come on, let's get this city sorted out," Aaron told Crystet, Seph, None and Free. "We want to get out kingdom set up."

Everyone began to walk towards the city entrance, and the King saw a familiar face. "The Hero?! What are you doing, following alongside the monster...I mean, Aaron Stone?!" He yelled in surprise as Seph and None smiled at the same time.

"We're a monster now. It's fun. Maybe you should give it a try sometime." They told him, a combined smile on their faces.