Chapter 3: Assuming A Role

Chapter 3: Assuming A Role

Zephyr noticed the demoness standing, clutching a long stick with jagged edges.

'She's planning to attack me,' Zephyr notified it to the toad walking beside him.

'What do I—' But before he could inquire about his next move, the toad leaped forward.

"Quack! You fools! Bow down! Bow before your master!" Its voice reverberated loudly, capturing the attention of everyone in the vicinity.

'Bruh, as if that's going to help...' Zephyr thought, assuming the toad was once again engaged in some futile activity. However, when he glanced at the demoness and the others, confusion washed over his face.

'Huh!?'

All the demons knelt before the toad, seemingly worshiping it with utmost reverence.

'What the fuck?' Zephyr muttered in disbelief. The toad glanced at him for a fleeting moment, wearing a sly smirk.

'You!' Zephyr pointed accusingly at the toad.

"Blessed be, O Lord! The messenger of Darkness has arrived!" one demon exclaimed.

"Long live the messenger!" the others echoed in a rhythmic chant before the toad.

"Quack! Rejoice, demons. Your prayers have been answered. Your master is here," the toad proclaimed, its mouth agape, stretching its long tongue and pointing directly at Zephyr, who stood about ten meters away.

All eyes shifted towards Zephyr, intensifying his bewilderment.

'Bruh, just a second ago, they were about to attack me for being a stranger. Just because you said—', Zephyr began to protest.

"Master..." the demoness uttered, her eyes brimming with tears.

'What!?' Zephyr exclaimed, taken aback by her sudden change in demeanor.

"I beg for your forgiveness, Master! I failed to recognize you!" she cried, repeatedly pounding her head against the ground, a desperate plea for absolution.

Witnessing the demons following suit, preparing to harm themselves in the process of apologizing, Zephyr swiftly manipulated the mana around them, exerting control over their bodies. With his powers, he prevented them from moving or inflicting harm upon themselves.

"Sigh… just what are you making them do…?" [NOTE: The words that he says out loud will only be heard by the toad.]

"Heal.", he used a healing spell to heal the wound that the demoness received after having banged her head.

"Eh?" The demoness raised her hand and gingerly touched her forehead, seeking the wound she had recently inflicted upon herself.

To her surprise, there was no pain. The wound had vanished, leaving no trace of blood. She glanced behind her and discovered that all the demons had frozen in place, a subtle purple glow enveloping their bodies.

"Did... Master...?" Her voice trailed off as she turned towards Zephyr, realization dawning upon her. She understood what he had done.

*gulp*

'To think he would use his precious skills for the likes of us…', this was not just the though of the demoness but of every other demons present there, children be exception as they failed to understand what was going on.

Zephyr shifted his gaze around, taking in the sight of the dilapidated city. Crumbling brick walls and signs of decay surrounded them, serving as a harsh reminder of the demons' destitute existence.

"The demonic race..." Zephyr murmured, contemplating the situation. He couldn't help but recall his experiences as a hero in the game, where the objective was to eradicate the demonic race.

'It's ironic how I'm now being asked to lead them,' Zephyr mused to himself, a tinge of amusement lacing his words. The circumstances had taken an unexpected turn, placing him in a position of authority over the very beings he once fought against.

Zephyr's mind wandered down a dark path as he contemplated his options.

'Let's see…'

'I could simply eliminate them all here and now and live a life of freedom,' he thought, a cruel notion taking hold of his thoughts. The power to carry out such a task was within his grasp, and it seemed like an effortless decision to make. After all, eradicating them had always been a trivial task for him. But deep down, he questioned if that was truly the right choice.

His gaze locked with the toad's, which stared back at him intently. The toad, capable of hearing his innermost thoughts, displayed wide-open eyes and a languidly hanging tongue. It was as if the toad were silently questioning him, asking, "Is that truly what you intend? Will you really extinguish them all?"

'Nah, I was just kidding.'

'Being alone… it is kinda lonely.', for a moment, Zephyr recalled how lonely he felt all the time he remained lying on the bed.

"Alright, convey my words Toady!"

"I am willing to be their master."

"If they want to leave, they can. No pressure.", Zephyr added this last statement for absoliutely no reason. He knew that they would hardly resist him taking over them as they already seemed to have pledged loyalty, revering him as their master.

"Quack, my master is willing to take you all as subordinates. You have no right to refuse."

'What the…?'

And the toad changed his words.

"Yes! We will gladly serve under you!" the demoness exclaimed, tears streaming down her face. The elder demons and those who had suffered from malnutrition, on the brink of death, expressed their deep gratitude for Zephyr assuming the role of their master.

Sighing softly, Zephyr smiled beneath his cloak and spoke, "Alright, let's get moving." He passed by the bewildered demons who watched him with a mixture of confusion and hope.

"Follow your master!" the toad commanded, and at once, they all rose to their feet, closely trailing behind Zephyr. Despite his forward gaze, Zephyr could sense some of the demons limping or struggling to walk.

"Food is our first challenge..." Zephyr contemplated. He pondered potential solutions, realizing he had nothing stored in his inventory. "Should I go hunting?" he mused to himself as they continued walking. Suddenly, a brilliant idea struck him, and he exclaimed, "Ah! I forgot about them!"

With a smile, he turned to the toad, which had frozen mid-hop, now feeling a sense of apprehension. Zephyr met the toad's gaze and inquired, "Listen, Toady, you possess a transmission skill, don't you?"

"Quack-o-wack! Of course I do!" the toad replied.

"Excellent. Contact the Grizzlies and request them to bring food for the demons," Zephyr instructed.

"As you wish, Master! Quack!" the toad acknowledged, ready to fulfill its master's command.