“You look like you’re about to die any second,” Auraniess suddenly said.
“Huh? Didn’t you pick me up precisely to prevent that?”
“It’s pointless to raise someone so weak,” she sighed. I wondered why she’d even bothered to pick me up.
“So, you’re going to learn Energy Drain.”
I had no idea why, but if it meant getting stronger, I’d do my best. Auraniess gave a signal, and Sophia stepped forward.
“Sophia will do the practical lesson, so learn with all your might,” she commanded.
“Eh? Practically? What do you mean?” While I was blinking in confusion, Sophia touched my body. “Huh? You’re touching me, but I’m a slime?”
A strange sensation spread through me. “What… what are you doing to me?”
When Sophia removed her hand, I felt completely drained.
“That was Energy Drain. It’s a skill that absorbs the life force of anyone you touch and makes it your own. Acquiring it will give you a slight advantage in combat,” Sophia explained.
I understood that much. But how was I supposed to learn it? And if my opponent was good at long-range attacks, I wouldn’t be able to get close. What should I do then?
” Figure it out yourself,” Auraniess retorted.
At her words, I couldn’t help but shout, “Ehhhhh!?”
“Isn’t that unreasonable? It’s incredibly unreasonable!” Sophia gave a wry smile and added, “If you have the Learning skill, you’ll naturally acquire it. Just do it multiple times until then.”
I’d die if I had to do it again right now. “Ah, you mean after I’m healed, right?” Thank goodness Sophia was being reasonable.
“What, are you implying I lack common sense?” Auraniess glared at me. *If you have self-awareness, do something about it! I’m literally dying here.*
“Raising weaklings like you is such a hassle,” she grumbled. *Then don’t pick me up… No, I’m sorry, I’m lying. I’m grateful you did.* I desperately thought, *So please don’t hit me. If Auraniess hits me, I’ll just vanish.*
“I was just trying to see if you were getting stronger,” she said. *Is that really true?*
“I don’t need any preemptive moves to kill you,” she added. *That’s true. But it’s not funny at all for a joke.*
Then, Sophia made a suggestion to Auraniess. “Why not let him interact with others and foster a competitive spirit?”
“Ah, that might be good too,” Auraniess responded, as if she’d just thought of it. *Could it be that she just forgot about other beings until now…? That sounds like something Auraniess would do.*
“Then I’ll let you meet them after you eat. Uh, what’s your name again?”
“It’s Decarabia!” *Did she forget the name she gave me?!*
“I don’t remember the names of weaklings,” Auraniess declared, not apologizing but puffing out her chest. *Just why did I even get a name?* I slumped in dejection and sadness.
“Don’t worry. I remember it,” Sophia said with a gentle smile. *Ah, her smile is just like an angel’s.* Sophia is so kind, strong, and amazing. I wish I could be like her.
“Hmph. Are you thinking of something irritating?” Auraniess glared at me. *Why is she so perceptive? It doesn’t feel like just “perceptive” anymore.* Just then, Iris returned.
“I’m back,” she announced, her arms transformed into tentacles, like those of an octopus or squid. She was holding fish larger than herself, and even a bear. *Well, she is a Demon Lord.* Iris and Sophia hadn’t said as much, but Iris had defeated a Demon that attacked them in an instant. I’d decided it was probably pointless to be surprised by them anymore.
Iris began to share the prey she’d caught, handing pieces to me. It seemed I was supposed to learn from corpses too. I felt I was getting stronger little by little, but I couldn’t pinpoint specific improvements. After all, Auraniess, Sophia, and Iris defeated everything. From our earlier conversation, it seemed there were others she was raising besides me. *It’s almost believable that it’s just for Auraniess’s amusement.*
“Eat this first. And learn from it,” Auraniess commanded.
“…Can I learn from corpses too?” *If so, why wasn’t I able to before? Were grasshoppers and small fish not good enough?*
“Start by trying that,” she replied. I ate the fish, then the bear, but nothing happened. *Do I not have the skill, or did I fail to learn?*
“I just caught them randomly, so maybe they didn’t have skills,” Iris said.
“Then go catch some with skills,” Auraniess snapped, hitting Iris on the head.
“Ouch,” Iris mumbled, clutching her head. *But isn’t that amazing? The ground cracked, and Iris, who just called it painful, is a monster.*
“…Perhaps it would be better to make them able to speak first. They would naturally gain that ability upon evolving into a Demon, but it’s inconvenient until then.”
“Hmm. That’s true,” Auraniess conceded. *Right, I still can’t speak.* Auraniess, Sophia, and Iris could all use telepathy, so it hadn’t been a problem so far. Auraniess, in particular, seemed to understand my thoughts even without telepathy.
“Then shall we catch some humans and have you eat them?” Auraniess suggested.
“Wouldn’t any creature capable of conversation suffice?” Sophia interjected.
As Auraniess and Iris were discussing this, Sophia said, “Before we do, do you have room for more?”
All three pairs of eyes turned to me. *I’m already full, I’m sorry. Thank you for intervening, Sophia.*
We moved. Though, “moved” was a generous term; I was simply being carried by Auraniess. *…By the way, why can Auraniess and the others carry me? Is it just because they’re them? I don’t feel any discomfort.*
Where we arrived was a massive being. It had countless heads and arms, a truly enormous creature.
“This is Zagan, the Hecatoncheires,” Auraniess announced. *Hecatoncheires? Is he stronger than a Goblin?*
“Hm? He’s stronger than a Goblin, which is stronger than a Snake, which is stronger than a Cockatrice,” Auraniess replied. *Okay, he seems strong.* Sophia further explained, “He’s a Giant. He’s a high-level monster, spoken of in the same breath as Dragons. Though, the Giants are in ruins thanks to Auraniess.”
*Dragons? The kind they tell you to run from or you’ll die? Is he that strong? That means he’s incredibly strong!*
“Even Dragons are half-destroyed thanks to Auraniess,” Iris added with a sigh. *Oh, really? What has Auraniess been doing? Destroying the monsters that might become her subordinates?*
“I haven’t wiped them out, so they’ll revive eventually,” Auraniess said with a carefree laugh. *She’s still terrifying.*
“Zagan,” Sophia called out. Zagan looked our way.
“What do you need?” he asked gruffly. *What is that nonchalant attitude? I’m going to get killed!*
“I’ve also made him my subordinate, so this is a meet-and-greet. If you attack by mistake, I’ll kill you,” Auraniess stated. Zagan seemed unfazed.
“I wouldn’t attack a slime. It’s pathetic,” he scoffed.
“Then it’s fine. What about your task? Have you completed it?” Auraniess inquired. *What task?*
“Well, I think I wiped out all the Saber Foxes in this forest, but will I get stronger from this? I want to fight stronger monsters,” Zagan grumbled.
“Don’t be insolent when you’re weak,” Auraniess sharply retold. *Even a Hecatoncheires is weak? That makes sense, a Demon Lord dies from one punch.*
Then Sophia joined the conversation. “By the way, Zagan, have you seen any creatures capable of conversation like this?”
“Hmph. I’ve seen a few Dark Elves here and there. Is something wrong?”
No one answered his question. *They should answer him. They’re my allies, right? Are they my allies?*
“Where?”
“Over there,” Zagan pointed with one of his many arms. *Can he move all those arms independently? That’s skillful.*
“Then follow me,” Auraniess said to me and started walking in the direction Zagan indicated. Sophia and Iris followed, so I did too. *Um, since the opportunity seems to be here, may I ask: how many monsters are there, and which races are strong? And what are your races?*
“I’m a Tyrant,” Auraniess declared. *I don’t know that one. What kind of monster is it?*
“I’m not a monster,” she stated. *What are you saying? You’re a Demon Lord, so you’re a monster, aren’t you?*
“I told you, I’m not a monster. Stop making me repeat myself,” Auraniess said, punching me. *My head is shaking, my vision is blurring.*
“Well, Auraniess is probably the only one who became a Demon Lord without being a monster,” Sophia said, adding, “As far as I know.” *Is that so?* A Demon Lord who isn’t a monster… Auraniess truly is outside the norm.
“By the way, I’m a Vampire and Iris is a Kraken,” Sophia continued. *Vampire and Kraken? I don’t know them, but they must be strong.* While Auraniess is an exception, Iris and Sophia are definitely strong. *Or so I thought. Then Auraniess and Iris glanced meaningfully at Sophia.* *What’s wrong? My question should have been understood, but no one is answering.* *Is it something I shouldn’t ask?*
“Stop right there,” a sharp voice commanded, and I was hit with a feeling of being crushed. In the distance, figures with bows drawn were looking our way. *Are those the Dark Elves?*
“Hoh. Come to greet us?” Auraniess said, not only unfazed but seeming to enjoy it. She walked forward casually. Of course, arrows were fired. They flew towards us, wreathed in light and flame, but Auraniess caught them with one hand.
“What the-?!”
“Wha-?!”
Gasps of surprise arose, but I thought it was understandable. Stopping multiple magic arrows with one hand was incredible. *But I guess it’s okay because she’s Auraniess.*
“So weak,” Auraniess muttered, tossing the arrows aside.
“Monster!” The Dark Elves threw down their bows. Their menacing aura surged.
“【Congelatio】!” *Magic? A beautiful wall of ice surrounded me.* *I’m going to die from an attack like this!* “…But I’m still alive?” *I don’t understand, but Auraniess is standing near me, enclosing me and herself in a thin barrier.* *It was cold, but I didn’t freeze to death. Was it because Auraniess protected me?*
“It’s an advanced technique where compressed magic power is deployed in multiple thin layers. This allows you to grasp fluid beings like yourself and defend against magical attacks,” Sophia explained. Sophia and Iris seemed to be doing something similar. *Aren’t these people too strong?*
As Auraniess began to walk, the ice wall shattered effortlessly. The Dark Elves stared in disbelief.
“W-Who are you…? A-Are you a Demon?”
“I am a Demon Lord,” Auraniess declared haughtily. The Dark Elves looked on in despair.
“A-Are you intending to destroy us?” they asked blankly, their voices losing all strength.
“I don’t care. Today is about this one’s studies,” she said, tapping me lightly. *”I feel sorry for them, maybe you don’t have to kill them? Is that okay?”*
“I don’t care as long as you learn properly,” Auraniess replied. *It seems she really doesn’t care about the Dark Elves.* “This means my responsibility is great. I have to do my best so these Dark Elves aren’t killed.”
