Chapter 35
Chapter 35: Lizardman!
Two days had passed since leaving Gondo Village.
Although there were a few battles with monsters, everything was going smoothly.
I quickly distributed the skills of the encountered monsters and stocked up on skills for exchange with unique skills.
As expected, the curse skill "Curse: Compensation of Blessing" was excessively brutal.
Shiro and Kuro taught me various things about this world.
Sometimes it was faster to ask [Omniscience] for information.
However, I chose conversations because I could obtain other information as well and get a wide range of knowledge.
Moreover, it was also enjoyable to converse with Shiro and Kuro.
First, there was the "Named" system, where monsters had "nicknames" they used among their comrades.
These were not their formal names but something like "aliases."
"Named" referred to monsters who had entered into a master-servant relationship, where the master's body would bear a crest and the servant would have some kind of mark.
"Did I have a crest?"
I had never paid attention to it, but I should have noticed if I had one.
"My crest is located on the back of my right shoulder."
"Mine is on the back of my left shoulder."
Since I hadn't checked my back in this world, either through a mirror or otherwise, I didn't notice.
Shiro and Kuro both acquired several new abilities.
Both of them had greatly increased their basic abilities.
It was probably due to acquiring Al and Nero's unique skills.
Kuro could hide in the shadows and move within a certain range within them.
Moreover, Kuro had also acquired the ability to detect lies.
It seemed to be something they could sense from the speaker's attitude and words.
Shiro could instantly come to my location using [Teleportation].
Furthermore, it seemed they could also stay in another space and wait during the teleportation process.
They could also use magic combined with the basic magic of the Five Great Attributes.
The effects of acquiring unique skills were significant.
If I acquired unique skills, both of them would become stronger.
I would continue learning unique skills while sacrificing normal skills and lifespan.
However, I still resisted using the term "blessing" and preferred to call them unique skills, as pointed out by Al.
The words I first became familiar with felt more fitting.
While taking a break by the river, a monster emerged from the water.
It was a "Lizardman."
Lizardmen were known to be one of the more intelligent species among monsters.
They noticed us and immediately assumed a combat stance.
In response to their movement, we also entered combat mode.
"Master, please wait."
Kuro interjected and spoke to the Lizardman.
"Cogear, do you recognize me?"
Does Kuro know this person?
"...Are you Gulpwan?"
Gulpwan? Perhaps because he was the first clan member of Gulp?
His naming sense is even worse than mine.
I'll ask Kuro about it later.
"That's right. I have been given the name Kuro. From now on, please call me Kuro."
"Understood. Then, is the human behind you the master?"
"That's correct. He is my master, Takuto-sama."
The Lizardman called "Cogear" and had been on a journey from a distant settlement for a certain purpose.
"What, you're the master of Alcyone-sama!"
Kuro introduced me as Al's master.
Well, it's natural to be surprised since I'm the Demon Lord's master.
"I can't believe it. Alcyone-sama working under someone..."
Even though we have a teacher-student relationship, it's not like there's any hierarchy...
Cogear suddenly remembered.
"Could it be that you're the one rumored to have defeated Alcyone-sama and Nero-sama?"
So I've become the subject of rumors.
"With all due disrespect, there's something I would like to ask."
I don't want any troublesome matters, but...
However, I'm curious about being referred to as a Lizardman rather than a Lizardfolk.
Come to think of it, the dragons were not called "ryu" either.
When I checked with \[Omniscient\], it seems to convert it to a familiar name for me.