Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3 The Ex–Demon Lord and His Mission to Make One Hundred Friends A week later, Ireena and I said farewell to our parents and boarded a carriage. The trip to the royal capital of Dycaeus took a few days. When we arrived, I instantly noticed the place was markedly different from my past life. I guess that was to be expected. First things first, there wasn’t a single wall or gate in sight. Back in my day, we’d all agreed that the capital needed to be fortified to the max, but this era clearly had other ideas. That, or this city was out of its mind. It seriously looked like a bustling cityscape had been chucked into an open field and left there without any thought to military defense. The whole concept was novel to me. Anyway, after we reached the drop-off zone near the entrance and thanked the coachman, the two of us took in the royal capital in all its glory. “My… This certainly is splendid.” It was as though I’d entered another world altogether: The capital was nothing like our village back home. There was a smattering of stone and brick structures, which I’d become well acquainted with, but most of the buildings were constructed in unfathomable ways using mystifying materials. I would’ve lost my mind if I’d seen some ginormous buildings piercing the sky above me back in my day. This was the best part of reincarnation, as cliché as that sounded. With that said, it wasn’t as if we could stand around taking in the scenery forever. Our next engagement involved meeting with the head of the academy, which wasn’t exactly something we could bail on. We lined up side by side and set out, weaving through the main street. It was bustling with activity and buildings sandwiched tightly on either side of the cobblestone road, where people sauntered on. We made our way to the academy at a leisurely stroll. Peace at last. …Well, except for the constant flood of vulgar gazes directed at Ireena. “Hey, that chick’s hella cute… Dare me to talk to her?” “Give it up, dude. She’s wearing the uniform of the academy. I bet she’s a noble or rich.” “Geez, she’s way outta my league.” Those scumbags had one thing right: We were both in uniform, even though we hadn’t officially enrolled at the school yet. They were sent for us to wear as students, even though our admission was technically up in the air and contingent on a few things. Nothing about my uniform was worth mentioning, but Ireena’s was…very revealing to say the least. Thanks to this crafty design, Ireena’s thick thighs and shapely breasts were on full display. Coupled with her irresistible good looks, she made twelve out of every ten people do a double take. “Heh-heh-heh, they can’t get enough of me!” “It’s inevitable. Your beauty will always turn heads, Ireena.” I was prim and proper on the surface, but I seethed with anger internally. Anyone who directed their carnal desires at my sweet daughter would face certain death for their sins. Maybe I should get half-naked and redirect their attention. I was just about ready to seriously put this plan into action. “Shaddup! All I did was kill some dumb stray cat!” sneered a dicey voice that caused us to stop in our tracks. I knew this would cause me to get tangled up in some annoying mess, but I humored them and turned toward the source. By a wall in the corner of the main street, some orc boys were looming over…a beautiful girl who looked around eighteen. Since she didn’t have any bodily characteristics or auras that suggested otherwise, I surmised she was a human. In any case, her appearance immediately caught my attention. Her features were delicate as a doll’s and framed with long platinum-blond locks. She looked absolutely divine. “…Well, I think you lot are worth way less than that ‘dumb stray cat.’” “What?! Just try and say that again!” bellowed an orc in a murderous fit. …They were so far gone that I wouldn’t be able to deescalate the situation by talking. “I have to help her!” Ireena yelped, trying to rush to the scene, but I held her back. “Please wait, Ireena. You spectate. I shall see to it.” As my dear friend and student, she had to know the rules of combat. That said, she wasn’t exactly at the level where she could take on a group of orcs. Especially since they were known to be stubborn. Which left me with one option: It was time for this humble ex-Demon-Lord-turned-villager to make his entrance. Ireena complied, and I made my way toward the group—smashing a nearby orc in the back of the head with a one-hit KO. The color drained from the faces of the rest of the group at this surprise attack. Spotting an opportunity, I swiftly turned to take out the rest. Palm strike to chin. Front kick to groin. Two down in one blow. The remaining three lined up before me. “Who the hell are you?!” one screeched. They lumbered over, fueled by rage and readying themselves as they closed in…but I rushed toward them, closing the distance between us in an instant, and bashed each head in succession. They toppled to the ground in a crumpled heap. “How rude,” I spat curtly before turning to the girl. “Are you all right, my lady?” She blinked in momentary surprise. “Yeah, all thanks to you. Those were some pretty impressive moves just now,” she commented with a grin. Ireena chimed in. “I know, right?! Isn’t he so cool?! Ard here is my friend, y’know!” she blubbered excitedly as if she’d been the one praised by this stranger. Ireena’s totally an angel. “Yeah, it really was something else. I mean, not just anyone can cast buffing magic. I couldn’t help but cheer on as I watched you take ’em down—” “I’m sorry, but that altercation involved no magic whatsoever.” “What? …You must be kidding. You’re human, aren’t you? A human couldn’t possibly take down an orc with his bare hands,” she blurted out with a clueless expression stuck on her face. I smiled and shook my head. “It’s all about how, where, and when you strike. Once you know that, it’s simple.” “B-but, uh, the way you rushed in? I mean, you moved faster than a human can.” “Another clever trick. I could tell these amateurs had no understanding of magic. I thought it’d be overkill to cast a spell on them, which was why I chose to engage them in hand-to-hand combat.” “I see…” The girl’s eyes narrowed. I shivered as a chill ran down my spine. What’s going on? There shouldn’t have been any reason she’d make me feel this way. As my suspicions about her mounted, she violently thumped me on the back. “Ha-ha-ha, you’re a wild one, huh? I like you!”