Normally, he would be so angry that he would want to yell at them...no, hit them.
However, when the opponents were weak humans, especially a female, who was also a minor or has just reached adulthood, using force was completely out of the question. If such a thing were to happen and word spread to other races, it would bring shame to the clan for generations to come.
…Of course, even before that, there was no way he could ignore the warning from the ancient dragon…
It would be a different story if they didn't care at all about the resistance to defying the Ancient Dragon, and the words the Ancient Dragon said when they told it: "If you ignore this warning, the world will be destroyed... I won't go so far as to say, but it might destroy this village. Of course, this is on the condition that we, the Ancient Dragons, do not lay hands on them at all...," but all the demons knew that the Ancient Dragons were not the kind of people to joke about something like that.
"I... I... I think that's a bit of an exaggeration..." (Chief)
The village chief's body was shaking with rage, and veins were rising from his temples, but he continued to speak politely and courteously as he questioned him.
(I'm angry, I'm angry...) (All CV's mind)
Mile and her party didn't particularly want to purposely anger the demons or bully the elders.
…However, they simply didn’t feel the need to accept or go along with the demons’ arguments, as they got too carried away and spouted out their own selfish arguments while mocking other races.
Well, to put it bluntly, it was unpleasant.
"Well, that doesn't really matter." (Mile)
"Eh……"
The elder desperately tries to suppress his emotions as he protested, but Mile brushed it off, saying "That's nothing" and "It doesn't matter," leaving the elder dumbfounded rather than angry.
"Hmmmm..." (Mile)
Mile looked deep in thought with a serious look on her face.
Apparently, they had no ill intentions, she was preoccupied with thinking about something else and just really didn't care.
"Next, I would like to meet the Sacred Maiden that the elders mentioned earlier..." (Mile)
"…………" (Demons, x5)
The demons remained silent and no one responded to Mile's request.
"Umm, about the Sacred Maiden..." (Mile)
"…………" (Demons, x5)
"Sacred Maiden..." (Mile)
"I can hear you!"
The elder yelled back at Mile, who kept asking repeatedly. It seemed the elders were torn between not wanting to let them meet and the feeling that they couldn't go against the ancient dragon's orders, and were at a loss for words.
"Grrrrr..."
The elder spoke up without being asked. What goes around comes around. Therefore, even the other demons could only look at the elder in silence with sober eyes. It was understandable that she probably wanted to hide the existence of this "Sacred Maiden," but that didn't mean that Mile was the type to be shy about it.
"Even if you ask me suddenly, I'm sure she has other plans, so please do it tomorrow."
"..."
"Please?" (Mile)
"…………"
"P...l...e...a...s...e...!!" (Mile)
"I, I understand..."
(I won…) (Mile's mind)
A strength of push that was unimaginable when she was Misato in her previous life. Yes, Mile left behind her modest mindset of "Being shy and holding back from saying what you want to say" on Earth. She didn't want to go all out and stand out, but in this life, she wouldn't hold back on what she wanted to do. She would say what she wanted to say. If she lived the same way as before, there would be no point in having a second life given to her. So, she decided to be assertive and bold every once in a while.
After their meeting with the demon's higher-ups, Mile and her party were invited by the village chief to stay the night at his house, but they declined and instead pitched their tents in the grass next to the village.
Staying in the home of someone you've never met before, especially someone you wouldn't call friendly, can be stressful, tiring, and unsettling.
It was customary for guests from outside to stay at the village chief's house, and the understood that it was a little rude to refuse, but there's no other way. They were still worried that something might have been put in their food or drink, or that they might be attacked in the back.
Although it wouldn't be a problem to be attacked even if they were deep asleep thanks to Mile's protective magic (barrier) and warning (alert) spells, sleeping in the middle of enemy territory was still not a very comforting experience.
In the grassland outside the village, alert spells could be cast widely and in multiple layers, and the risk of inflicting damage on others even if attack spells are fired repeatedly was reduced, making it easier for the Crimson Vow.
Well, the biggest reason was that if they stayed at the village chief's house, they couldn't use the portable bathroom or toilet...
"So, was it a satisfying result?" (Reina)
"Yes! The mystery hasn't been solved yet, but the pieces are steadily coming together. Also, even if there are no significant results, you can confirm that there was no significant information here, and that is still good information in itself. Confirming that nothing is also important." (Mile)
Mile smiled and answered Reina's question.
"Indeed, the information that there are no enemy forces there is just as important as the information that there are enemy forces there. Mile is right." (Mavis)
Mavis also agreed with Mile's thoughts, based on what she learned from her father and older brothers.
"So, what did you learn from what you heard from the demons today?" (Pauline)
"That's it..." (Mile)
Mile began to express her thoughts.
"First of all, the contents were largely consistent with what had been passed down to other races. And since she was the one involved, there were more details about the parts relating to the demons, but most of them were..." (Mile)
"Boasting story!!" (Other 3)
Reina and the other two spoke in unison.
"That's right. Those who put down other races and elevate themselves. And those who speak ill of others, spread lies, and slander..." (Mile)
"Howling loser!" (Reina)
"The weakest dog barks the loudest!" (Mavis)
"Self-introduction!!" (Pauline)
In response to Mile's invitation, Reina, Mavis and Pauline each made harsh remarks.
"Exactly. Those who are truly confident in themselves will be proud of themselves, but will never speak ill of others. They know that doing so would only lower their own value. Only those who have nothing to be proud of try to belittle others. In other words……" (Mile)
"Mile, do you think that demons actually have a complex about being inferior to other races?"
"Yes. In the folklore of other races, there is an expression that says, 'The demons are imitations created to copy us.' And in the demonic world, there is an expression that says, 'The perfect lifeforms created after seeing the flaws in other races, who were failed attempts.' What they both have in common is..." (Mile)
"The demons were created after the other races..." (Other 3)
"Yes. And..." (Mile)
Mile made the declaration after a long pause.
"All races, including demons, are described as created beings. And for some reason, this does not include humans. This is common to the legends of all races. All the other races are listed, but for some reason only humans are mentioned..." (Mile)
"Ah……" (Other 3)
And then, Mile was thinking.
(Goddess… In this world, there is no "God." Yes, the only substitute for "God" in this world is Nanomachines, and those who are said to have lived in the now lost "Kingdom of God" that existed long ago... What on earth does this child of the gods, the "Sacred Maiden", refer to...?)
Author's Note
...
Thank you very much! (^^)/