Demon well
The leading figure of the group from the Ice Phoenix clan engaged in conversation with the demon hunters before being invited to proceed towards the forest.
However, Nom didn't appreciate the biased treatment they were receiving. With a smug expression, he interjected, "Are you not going to check if they are demons? Or is that only necessary for the poor folks like us?"
It had nothing to do with wealth; Nom was simply highlighting the double standard of the demon hunters.
His voice rang out loud and clear, reaching everyone from the Boulder tribe, the demon hunters, to the members of the Ice Phoenix clan.
Das was on the brink of lashing out at Nom as he realised the impact of his words. Not only had he provoked the demon hunters, but Nom had also offended the members of the Ice Phoenix clan.
'Seems like he has a talent for rubbing people the wrong way,' Aru mused, observing the startled expressions of those around him.
Before the demon hunter could react to the taunt, the elderly lady among the ice phoenix clan began to speak.
"Child, you don't need to be angry. If you wish, we can also prove that we are not demons." She said understandingly.
The elderly lady's words exuded gentleness as she spoke. The kind and caring gaze she directed at Nom completely froze him stiff.
Nom only had experience dealing with unruly people. He didn't know what to do when someone spoke to him so kindly.
Once the elderly lady began to speak, Aru began to focus his attention on her. And a chill went down his spine as he read her status through the system.
'What the heck?' He couldn't hide his shock.
"I.." Nom stuttered, finding it hard to make eye contact or reply.
"Lend me a knife." The elderly lady asked a warrior nearby.
Promptly, without hesitation, the warrior gave a knife to the lady.
"I am Nua, an elder of the Ice Phoenix clan. We don't believe that we are superior to you. Let me lead by example."
She placed the sharp edge of the knife on her arm and slashed. A long wound of a couple of centimetres formed on her arm.
But no blood tendrils were emerging from the wound.
Shouldn't that mean she is not a demon?
This shocked Aru even more.
What is happening?
Once again, he directed his gaze to the system window.
[Rank 5 Human (Parasitised) <Spirit 300 energy>]
She was the strongest individual Aru had seen since he came to the world, and she was also a demon.
He didn't have to think much to confirm.
Another system window had popped up alerting him of the mission.
[Eliminate nemesis life form. Reward +1 link]
'This basically confirms the old lady is a demon.'
'But why are the blood tendrils not forming on her wounds? She was not injured like the person back in camp, and she is exhibiting the intelligence of a normal human. Everything adds up to say that this is bad.'
Aru wanted to scream aloud that the lady was a demon.
But who would believe him in this situation?
'This is bad. She might be a demon spy of some kind who is deep undercover. I should just avoid her completely. Or else my sorry life will end before it could even begin.'
'I should warn my tribesmen separately and speak to them about not revealing my ability to identify demons.'
Aru decided.
After the elderly lady, the young warrior did the same while giving a menacing glance at Nom.
The leader of the group of Ice Phoenix clan was about to do the same. But the demon hunters quickly prevented that.
"Young master, you don't have to do it. We know you and your daughter are not demons," one of them said.
"Let's go inside to meet our leader. And the members of the Boulder tribe can follow us. And if the stone mammoth behaves unnaturally, we will kill it."
The demon hunters conceded and invited them to the forest where they had made their camp. At the same time, they also gave a warning. A rank 1 creature like the calf, even if it was a demon, they had nothing to fear.
The members of the Boulder tribe nodded in response.
'The old lady successfully proved that she was not a demon and eliminated any doubt the demon hunters had. At the same time, she could act like a kind and elderly woman. She was a scheming demon.'
Aru avoided the lady while keeping his distance from her. Fortunately, no one noticed his unnatural movement. Then he grabbed the trunk of the baby stone mammoth and guided it along the way.
However, a pair of curious eyes were following his movement. More precisely, they were following the movement of the baby stone mammoth.
'CUTE!'
The owner of the eyes was the young child who came along with the young master of the Ice Phoenix tribe. She was enthralled by the cuteness displayed by the young spirit beast.
The tender trunk of the baby mammoth, its round face and its crystal-clear eyes seemed to have captivated her.
'CUTE!'
'SOO, CUTE!'
These thoughts rang inside her mind.
Suddenly she had a desire to hug it.
'But I can't. Not now.'
The child said in her mind while trying her best to avert her gaze from the baby mammoth.
—
Soon, the group was led into a camp inside the forest. The nearby trees were chopped to create an open area where the camp stood.
The leader of the demon hunters, Deva, also came to welcome the people from the Ice Phoenix clan. However, he was shocked to see the people from the Boulder tribe, who had previously rejected his request for help, also come with them.
Nevertheless, he was happy to see them. The more manpower they had, the better it was.
"I welcome you to the demon well." He said with a smile.
'Demon well! Where is it?'
Aru, who heard him began to look around.
That's when he noticed something north of the cleared forest.
About fifty meters away, he saw a plume of thick fog rise from the ground. If he hadn't paid attention, he wouldn't have noticed it.
'Is that the demon well.'
'What is hiding in the mist?'
He was about to find that out.