Demon King Kyuse Descends! (5)

The rough command execution experiment was complete.

At this point, I think it was good enough to start the real task while taking it with me. The thought made my heart flutter. I didn't know that not being alone could be this exhilarating.

It must have felt like this when Tom Hanks met Wilson on a deserted island. Buril was my Wilson.

"Let's go, Buril."

"Kerek?"

"We are going to find fruit. Fruit. Hey, punk. You need to get the hint fast. It's missing."

– Ter-eok.

As I said that, I patted its head.

"Kerek Kerek."

Buril seemed to like it.

Anyway, it was time to set off.

"Let's rock!"

"Kerek!"

I walked the forest path with Buril, holding an axe in my hand. I matched my pace with Buril. Because of the difference in our leg lengths, I thought it might quickly get tired.

"Phew."

I feel less burdened than when I was alone. Back then, I was completely scared and on guard in every direction. The mental burden was huge. But now, I had Buril.

Buril was a native creature of this area.

And it was a creature with a big nose.

I guess it had a good sense of smell. Of course, it would be easier for it to be alert. I didn't completely trust it, but the fact that I was with a local comforted me.

"Buril, let's find fruit. Fruit."

"Kaerek?"

"That thing. The one we put in our mouths to eat. Let's look for that."

I gave the command while maintaining eye contact with Buril and even using body language. Buril, who had been looking at me with a blank face, suddenly answered.

"Kerek!"

Then, it jumped.

—Cheo-eok!

Then, it turned its head in a certain direction, making an ambiguous gesture, perhaps a chin gesture.

"Kerek Kerek! Kerek!"

"What? Do you want to go there? No way!"

A place with fruit?!

"Let's go!"

"Kerek!"

Immediately, I ran towards the direction with Buril, and sure enough!

"Wow!"

There stood a tree laden with green fruits!

"Buril, you genius! You're useful! Really useful! So cool!"

"Kerek!"

Excited, Buril began to climb the tree. Could this creature climb trees? Well, monkeys climbed trees, so I guess Buril could, too.

"Kerek Kerek!"

Buril, having climbed onto a branch, began to pluck the fruits.

"Hey! Throw it here! Here!"

I positioned myself right below and spread out a sack. It seemed as if Buril had done this several times before; he skillfully picked the fruits and threw them down to me.

This creature might have lived like this all along.

Perhaps he used to live by picking fruits and doing whatnot. Maybe he got injured in some fight and happened to be caught by me during that vulnerable moment. And then he became my subordinate.

Locals were damn useful.

"But what does this taste like?"

—Wa-sak.

I bit into the fruit.

"Oh, it's a bit bitter."

It was slightly bitter.

The sensitivity of my tongue made it really pronounced. The texture and feel were like a coarse apple.

—Wa-sak Wa-sak.

I kept eating the fruit and collected them. When my container was about halfway full,

"Buril! Stop and come down!"

"Kerek!"

I beckoned Buril to come back down.

"Wow. You picked all of this. This should be enough to fill our stomachs. You did really well."

"Kerurureung."

When I patted its head, it seemed really pleased. They said praise made even a whale dance, and it seemed goblins danced in delight, too. Was it a bit like a dog? It seemed to like being petted.

I should do it often, then.

"Great! Now, let's go find other fruits!"

We should gather a variety of fruits. And then we should head back to the waterside to fill up our water containers.

"Puhoo!"

I took my first wash. I took off all my clothes and went into the valley stream to scrub my body. I also meticulously cleaned my long ears and the two horns on my forehead.

It was incredibly refreshing.

And invigorating.

All of this was possible because of Buril.

Right now, Buril was standing right in front of me, keeping watch. It was a rule that you shouldn't wash without a lookout.

—Chya-hak.

After washing sufficiently, I got out and wiped my body with a towel. This small towel was also something I had kept inside my coat. It was good that I brought it with me.

—Swish swish.

After roughly drying my hair, I was about to wear my underwear… Wait. Should I wash the underwear now? If I went without underwear just for today, I could wear clean ones tomorrow.

With that thought, I washed my underwear. Then, I wore my pants without underwear.

"Alright! Buril, get in and wash yourself too!"

"Kerek!"

Immediately, Buril threw himself into the valley. This little one. Quite active. I liked it. Maybe because it was a male, it was bursting with energy.

—Chya-hak! Chya-hak!

It seemed even goblins have a concept of bathing; he cleaned himself pretty well. After cleaning up, Buril shook off the water like a wet puppy.

—Chyarururuk!

Water splashed everywhere.

"Kerek-kerek."

And then, he clung right next to me. Perhaps it was his wild nature? He didn't understand the concept of drying with a towel.

"Let's head back then."

"Kerureuk."

I grabbed my sack and started walking again.

Now, I should return and further improve the pit. With an abundance of food, my spirit felt enriched too. It seemed that my magical energy would recover well. With a little more foundation, I felt like I could even lay out the dark magic book and study.

Studying dark magic was essential. There was still a lot of dark magic I hadn't learned yet. Even with just the monster control magic, things were so convenient. Imagine how handy it'd be if I learned everything else.

Of course, even then, what was written in the current book was all basic. Once I got past the basics, I might not even know how to train, but that fact wasn't crucial right now.

"Ah. I also need to do some strength exercises."

Definitely.

Being a powerless demon, I only exercised back in the demon world, but it was proving very useful now. One could say it was a good decision. It was the physical prowess that had gotten me this far.

But since arriving here, I haven't done any strength exercises. Well, you needed something to eat to do that. Once I found a source of protein, I should start again…

—Sarak.

At that moment.

"Kerek…!"

Suddenly, Buril became restless and stared straight ahead. His body was trembling, and his legs were positioned as if ready to leap out at any moment.

What was happening?

No, not that!

"…!"

There was… something!

There was something there!

Buril had noticed it!

An enemy?!

If we couldn't run, we needed to fight. That thought consumed me entirely. Immediately, I aimed my hand axe, being on guard and ready for any threat.

"Huh?"

—Brrrr…!

But Buril's reaction was peculiar. It wasn't like he saw an enemy and wanted to run away… It felt more like he was suppressing an urge to rush out instantly.

"Kerureuk, Kek, Kerureuk…!"

Buril continued to shake as he stared straight ahead. Was this not an enemy? If not?

—Prey!

Yes!

"Prey…!"

This was the behavior of a predator that had found its prey! Realizing this, I immediately looked at Buril's face and commanded!

"Go! Buril! Kill it!"

"Kerek!!!"

—Whoosh!

Buril dashed off.

Holding onto my hand axe, I, too, ran after him. Prey! That meant meat! I must eat!

—Popopop!

"He's fast."

Buril's speed was quite impressive. Of course, if I sprinted with all my might, I could overtake him, but right now, Buril was moving with exceptional agility. Truly a wild monster. He may look weak, but in the tasks he could perform, he was a specialist.

Even the gazelles in the savannah, despite dying countless times daily, were experts in running!

And then…

"Keruuuuuuuuuuuuuk!"

Buril roared.

The moment he charged towards the bushes with that roar…

"Gwaak!"

With an odd scream, the bushes rustled. Quickly. I needed to support Buril as fast as possible. With that thought in mind, I saw the scene in front of me.

"Gwaak! Gwaak!"

"Kerureuk! Kerekkeruk!"

Buril was wrestling with a creature the size of a big dog, resembling a lizard, clinging onto its back!

"Kerek! Kerururuk!"

A fierce growl!

An outburst of aggression!

Buril, holding onto the creature's back, bit into its head and let out a battle cry!

"Wow!"

This was a true monster!

This was the very essence of wild aggression…!

"Kerururuk!"

"Gwaak!"

But instead of actively attacking, he was holding it down, immobilizing it!

This wasn't him trying to hunt alone!

He caught the creature to hunt with me! Holding it in place for me to strike, that's what Buril was essentially shouting!

"He's caught a lizard!"

"Kerekkeruk!"

"Good! Hold it well!"

The lizard struggled, but due to its body structure, it seemed hard for it to shake off Buril clinging onto its back. I seized the moment.

"Gwaak!"

I aimed at the roaring lizard's head!

—Swish!

I swung down my hatchet!

—Thunk!

"Whoa!"

The thick blade of the hatchet struck the lizard's head. Scales shattered, and blood spurted out. But, of course, it wouldn't be incapacitated with just one blow. My blood boiled. One had to strike an enemy until it was dead!

"Die! Die!"

"Kerururuk!"

Buril held onto it, and I kept swinging my hatchet without pause.

—Thunk!

—Thunk!

—Thunk!

It was over in no time.

—Shiver!

The lizard shuddered and then no longer struggled. Around that time, perhaps sensing it instinctively, Buril got off its back.

"…We won."

"Kerek."

In battle.

We won.

"We've secured our first prey…!"

Chills.

Ecstasy.

My heart was racing wildly. Tension. Combat. Victory. All these extreme emotions mixed together. We won. We triumphed. We secured our prey!

"Meat!"

We could eat meat!

That fact sent shivers down my spine…!

"Kwaak!"

Hunting with a party was great!

"Keruuuuuk!"

Unable to contain my overflowing emotions, I roared, and Buril, seeming excited, added playful bounces. The lizard still lay dead! We had gotten meat!

"To home! Let's take it home!"

"Kerek."

Another joyous point was that Buril followed my commands very well.

He might be excited now, but he was showing restraint. The creature who had been completely engaged in the fight moments ago was not immediately tearing into the dead prey but waiting for my command.

He was utterly dominated!

By me!

"I am the Demon King! The one who dominates monsters! Kyuse Bellacruel! No!"

My name is Kim Kyuse!!!