Volume 11 Chapter 6 Master’S Advice
The next day after The Merchant Guild was suppressed.
I was alone in the tavern area of the inn, lost in thought.
What I was thinking about was our future plans. We had already taken control of the bazaar and the slums, and we were sending demons to maintain our hold on the tower. Normally, the next step would be to go for the circus.
Now that we had taken over the Merchant Guild, I wanted to make use of it... but I remembered what happened after the takeover.
――After Mung finished dancing and eating Yor, he said, 'Oh, I see.'
I heard that he figured out Yor's methods. How the Merchant Guild operated. Who was important to the guild and who was a nuisance.
'If I know this, all I have to do is pick and train the demons that are lying around. It’ll be a piece of cake.'
Mung laughed as he said this.
When Clay asked, "Those big merchants have strong wills. Can we really do it?" Mung replied, "It's tough for an average trainer. But I can do it."
So today, Mung is supposedly training the big merchants. If we team him up with Clay, the Merchant Guild will move as we wish.
The key question is, what will we do with the Merchant Guild?
If we think logically, we should go for the circus. Gather information, involve powerful demons from the circus, and use money to send demons to attack key points.
But I also think about it. It seems too straightforward. That’s why I wonder if we should just attack as planned.
The Demon King’s army is on alert. The circus has its own plans. We still can’t feel any movement from Demon King Hel... No matter how much information we have, it’s never enough.
For now, I've asked Toxy to gather information about the Demon King's army. Depending on what we find out, we might need to change our plan.
As I was thinking that, someone sat down in front of me, stretching out papers all over the desk. "Haha, studying hard, my disciple!" they said.
"Mudi."
"What's with you, you idiot? You're actually thinking deeply, aren't you? Your battle skills are so impressive, it's like your brain is made of muscle!"
"Shut up."
Mudi's teasing made me scowl. He laughed with a "heh heh" and picked up the scattered papers.
"Hey? This is the detailed information I gathered from the demons. ...It seems like the Circus's information is really scarce, though."
"That's right. Since we invaded the Bazaar, nearly half of the demons we brought from Bael are now in the Bazaar, so it's only natural. But... the demons who went to the Circus haven't sent any information back."
By the way, I didn't just give careless orders and didn't just send someone to talk to the demons. I got some behind-the-scenes information from Gyurvi and the deeper information from the Bazaar.
But the Circus is... there are quite a few demons heading there, but it's not going well. So, I couldn't gather any information, and I was getting frustrated.
Mudi laughed at me.
"Wade, you're really working hard, so I'll give you a gift from the great teacher."
"What? Uh-oh."
"This is the information I gathered in the Circus over the past few days. It's a real hellhole, and we're lucky we entered through the Bazaar."
I received the paper bundle and took a quick glance.
This is... ...
"...Is the Circus really that crazy? Eh, no way. This is crazy! We're lucky we entered through the Bazaar."
"If we were careless, the weaklings would have all been wiped out."
"...Whoa, that's crazy! We almost got into big trouble! I'm so glad we decided to go into the Bazaar! The fear is creeping up on me! What is this place?! This city is so messed up!
We just realized that out of the three options――Bazaar, Slum, and Circus――only the Bazaar seems like a place where we can live a normal life.
That means there was a two-thirds chance that our group would have fallen apart. Just thinking about it is giving me the chills.
We were really lucky. I mean, we were REALLY lucky.
"...Phew, Mudi. We made it out alive. I don't think we could have gotten this information if it wasn't for you and Philia."
"Yeah, and it seems like this is a pretty recent change. Even Sur didn't know about it."
"My heart is aching just thinking about it... If we weren't lucky, we would have died on the spot..."
The Slum is a different story. If we went in without any information, we would have gotten caught by a bunch of demons. But in the Bazaar, even if we became slaves, we could still make do because we're basically just store employees.
But still, the Circus is just ridiculous... I'm at a loss for words.
"The number of midnight murders is increasing, the mirror dungeon where people who enter never come out, and the unknown leader... With all these things added up, over 2 hundred people have gone missing in just a month or 2."
I scrunched up my face and shook my head.
"No, this is bad. We need to take this seriously and think it through."
The idea of recklessly attacking the Circus is now gone. This is impossible. We can't win with just numbers.
I mean, can the Demon King's army even properly manage the tower? Is it even possible? If they can, we need to get that information out before we do anything.
"On hold."
I put down the paper about the circus. Mudi bursts out laughing.
"Hahaha! That's crazy! Even I got hurt a few times in that crazy place. There's no way you can understand it just by looking at the information."
"Mudi, you're not normal, are you? The circus is way too dangerous."
Mudi is usually super strong and wouldn't even flinch if you hit him hard. But if he got hurt, that means something weird is going on.
I make a face, and Mudi says,
"Actually, a place this dangerous should be inside the Demon King's castle, not in the city of Nilfheim. Something's off."
"You think so too, Mudi?" I ask.
Mudi looks at me and says, "Huh? You think so too, Wade?"
"Of course, that's true. No matter how strong Domain Control is, I never thought I'd encounter an enemy in the civilian world (city) that would make me prepare for defeat, even if it's just for a moment."
After all, I'm considered one of the strongest in the world, and I've been sent here with high expectations. Eik's strength is at the maximum limit of what I expected, but Don Fen is completely beyond what I anticipated.
I start thinking about how strong my past enemies were.
Don Fen might be able to beat 'Oath' Arthur.
Arthur is super strong against tough enemies, but Don Fen is too fast and can dodge his attacks. If Don Fen attacks from all sides at the same time, Arthur would be in trouble.
On the other hand, Sieg might be able to beat Don Fen. Don Fen is weak against attacks from all sides, and Sieg could just keep punching and break through Don Fen's defenses.
...So, Don Fen is the strongest. I've fought against the strongest guys and came out on top.
―――No, wait a minute. What happens to Renril, who ate that strongest Don Fen?
"I'm thinking...! I'm thinking too much...!"
"Hahahahahaha! The stupid disciple is bothered again! Ah, this is great entertainment!"
Mudi is always in a good mood. He seems to enjoy watching me struggle. Damned teacher.
I snatch the booze Mudi was drinking and gulp it down. "Ah, you took it?" Mudi says with a smile.
"Well, now's the time to wait. Drink a little, relax, and stretch your wings, stupid disciple."
"...Tch."
I click my tongue and take another sip. This sake is really good. Ah, I let out a sigh.
"That's right. Let's take a break for a bit. There's been too much going on. We can't just keep going like this."
"Yeah, that's right. Even Wade has started to understand, hasn't he?"
The strong booze makes me feel a bit dazed. It's a pleasant drunkenness. When I yawn, Mudi looks at me and says, "Ah, that reminds me. I have one more piece of advice."
"Huh? What is it?"
"Wade, what I'm about to say isn't a joke."
"Eh, what is it? You're scaring me."
I say, and Mudi chuckles, a dry sound in his throat.
"You should start enjoying bullying the weak soon."
That one sentence...
Instantly sobered me up.
"What did you say, Mudi..."
"That's right. You're saying that. But I'm telling you this out of pure, genuine concern as your teacher."
"No, no, no way, Teacher! You're not saying... that I should enjoy bullying the weak, are you?"
"Wade."
Mudi calls out to me in a calm tone, unlike anything I've ever heard before.
"You're already the strongest. But, you still have room to grow. You're still getting stronger."
"...Maybe so. But, what's the point of that?"
"It's fine for now. There's someone even stronger than you out there, the 'Absolute' Roman Emperor. As long as that person exists, you can enjoy fighting against equals or those stronger than you."
But Mudi says,
"One day, that will come to an end. Right now, you'd easily be killed by the Roman Emperor. But, you'll keep fighting and eventually win. You'll definitely surpass the Roman Emperor someday."
Mudi looks at me with an extremely kind gaze, like he's looking at his own child or his past self.
"What will you do then?"
"...What, then?"
"From then on, all your opponents will be below you. The entire world will become a place where you can effortlessly defeat anyone, a world where you're the only one who matters. What will you do then?"
"..."
I clench my fists tightly. What will I do? What will happen? I think about it and try to answer.
"...I don't know."
I can't even imagine it. It's like thinking about a world where everyone is just a weakling, a world where there's no one worth fighting.
That's because the premise is too absurd, and I can't even imagine it.
Mudi says,
"That's my prediction. You'll go mad. Your power will lose its direction. You'll become known as a monster, and people will try to kill you with all sorts of excuses. That's your future."
"No, no, no, that can't be..."
"Maybe not. If someone like Alex-san uses you conveniently, they'll teach you how to be a 'useful' god, and you'll end up killing them... Maybe you'll settle into that kind of life."
But, eventually, you'll definitely get tired of it.
Mudi keeps going.
"Those who have seen the Roman Emperor know what lies beyond being the strongest. They know how empty the so-called heavenly throne of 'absolute' is."
For example, Mudi raises a finger.
"Fist of the Dragon Sieg. He can still become stronger, but Alex-san is stopping him. Do you know why?"
"...I've always wondered about that. If Sieg becomes stronger, he could become a Roman Emperor too."
"Maybe so. But Alex-san doesn't want to turn his best friend into a madman like the Roman Emperor. He's stopping him because he can."
Implicitly, it feels like they're saying, 'You can't stop.'
And I think, in reality, I won't be able to stop, even if someone tries to stop me.
For example, Mudi points at himself.
"I like massacres. I like bullying the weak. Why do you think that is?"
"...Because Mudi has a bad taste in hobbies, maybe?"
"Hah, that's right. That's one way to put it. You can't like it unless you have the aptitude for it. But, Wade, think about it."
Mudi lowers his gaze with a smile.
"How many times in my life have there been enemies stronger than me?"
"..."
"That's right. There haven't been any. Originally, it was yoga to defeat opponents who were stronger and unbeatable. But as I kept doing it, eventually, there was no one left."
Mudi grabs his own chest.
"So, what will happen to this chakra? Was it all for nothing? The 30 years I dedicated to my training? Do I have no choice but to die in despair, thinking 'There's nothing left for me to do in this world'?"
I, unable to breathe, am overwhelmed by Mudi's words. It feels colder than facing an overwhelmingly strong enemy, deep within my heart.
"―――That's why I stopped being a 'good guy'."
Mudi laughed with a hint of self-deprecation.
"I started enjoying bullying the weak. I started enjoying slaughter. Luckily, I was able to do it. I had the talent for it. That's why I'm enjoying this eternal life."
Mudi looked at me, repeating his warning.
"So, I'm telling you now. 'Become someone who can enjoy bullying the weak.' Wade, you have talent. You can surpass the strongest and become absolute―――it's inevitable."
I stiffened my body, staring fixedly at the desk. I bit my lower lip, clenched my fists, and looked like a scolded child.
"...But."
I said.
"I can't do it. I can't enjoy bullying the weak. I don't find it fun to win. ...I only like that one moment when I'm fighting, that one instant."
I'd risk my life to fight. I might die, but that one instant of brilliance is what I love. It's the thrill of possibly turning the tables, even when I'm on the brink of death, that I find exhilarating.
――――A fight without that thrill is meaningless. What's fun about trampling on weaklings? It's just annoying. I'd reluctantly chase them away.
Mudi looked at my expression and said.
"...I see. I thought as much. I won't scold you. I just feel sorry for you, that's all."
Mudi put down his drink and stood up. "Drink as you like," he said, leaving the room.
I was left standing there, unable to move. The feeling of being scolded was unpleasant, so I reached for my drink.
At that moment, someone placed their hand on mine.
"...Rollo?"
"Uh-huh, Master~♡ Why the sad face~? Did someone bully you~?"
Seeing Rollo as usual, I relax a bit. Then I turn my face away and reply, "It's nothing."
"Oh? Well, I heard it all though~♡."
"You."
As I glare, Rollo laughs amusingly.
"Master, you're cute♡."
Then, Rollo pokes my nose.
"Rollo, maybe I've seriously fallen for you, Master♡ I've been thinking, 'kinda like you a little~' for a while, but yeah♡ Rollo, I really like you, Master~♡."
"Cut it out, don't tease."
"I'm really telling the truth~. Well, whatever. You won't believe it until I act on it, right~?"
"What do you mean by acting on it?"
"It's easy~! Just like Ice-sama said, 'make Master happy'♡."
Rollo chuckles. Then, Rollo leans close to my ear and whispers softly.
"So look forward to it, okay? Loki will definitely make Master happy♡."
Rollo kisses my cheek and leaves with light steps.
I begin to say, "That's all there is to it..." and think.
"Huh? Did Rollo just call 'Loki'?"
Loki. The parent of the great wolf Fenrir, the world serpent Jormungand, and the goddess Hel. A trickster. The most important god in Ragnarok.
"...No, it must be a simple misunderstanding."
A brat who talks back and gets beaten up in every direction doesn't seem like the leader of Ragnarok.
In this short time, a lot of weird things happened. I'm blaming it all on the booze, and I'm chugging it down with gusto.
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