When we were all ready, Radakel used a strange skill or magic. I wasn't entirely sure what he had done, but it was powerful enough to teleport all of us out of the castle's vicinity.
We were all quite shocked by such a display of magic.
Teleportation magic or skill? It must be quite rare and very strong, but I doubted it was that simple.
First, he had used a staff, and second, I was certain there was some sort of beacon connecting the two places—the castle and this new location.
I looked around and saw a road ahead. No one seemed to notice our sudden appearance, or perhaps Radakel had arranged for this area to be cleared beforehand.
"Whoa! That was amazing!"
"Did you see it?"
"We just teleported!"
"This guy is hella strong!"
My classmates, as impressionable as ever, were immediately captivated by Radakel's charisma.
Yes, there must be some sort of hidden beacon here. I firmly believed this because a teleportation skill of such a range must be quite impossible otherwise. We were at least several dozen miles away from the capital.
It would be worrisome if he could truly perform such a feat unaided. Since I was with him, I needed to better assess his strength and maybe find a weakness.
"We are now only a few hours away from the village of Uteska. Let's not waste time. Knights, surround the Heroes. Another group will go ahead to scout around," Radakel quickly ordered, and his knights obediently set about their tasks.
I watched as the knights moved with precision, surrounding us and forming a protective barrier. Another group of knights went ahead, scouting the area to ensure our path was safe. Radakel's command was firm, and his knights followed without hesitation, demonstrating their discipline and loyalty.
Thus, we began our journey, with Radakel leading the way alongside Amelia. They were engaged in a conversation, likely discussing the current situation. Amelia had known Radakel long before we did, so it was natural for her to feel more comfortable talking to him now. By this point, Radakel must have understood the kind of person Amelia was, and I hoped he wouldn't do anything to betray her trust.
"Nathan."
I turned to my left and saw Sienna standing there.
"Yes?" I replied.
"It's about the Demon. I don't think you should approach them—"
"You don't want me to expose myself to the dangers or kill them?" I interrupted.
Sienna looked at me for a moment before nodding. "Yes, exactly. We don't yet know how dangerous and strong they are, despite what Radakel said. We will verify it ourselves, but just in case, I'm telling you this."
"You said the same thing to Siara?"
"Yes, especially her. I don't want her to kill anyone. I don't know how she would react afterward," Sienna explained.
She was worried about her younger sister, displaying the qualities of a caring elder sibling, which was quite admirable. She was even concerned about my safety.
"I don't think I'm strong enough to defeat demons in any case. But if it's to protect you or Siara, I won't have any choice but to kill, even if it means exposing myself to danger," I said.
Sienna was surprised by my words and bit her lip. "About the last time, I'm grateful you saved me, Nathan, but it was dangerous…if something happened to you…I don't know what I would have done."
"Sienna," I said, stopping in my tracks and looking straight into her eyes. I then hugged her gently.
Sienna accepted the hug rather easily, perhaps due to my growing charm and luck.
"I want you to understand that I won't die. Don't doubt it until you see me dead in front of your eyes," I whispered in her ear with [Deep Voice].
"R...Right…" Sienna stammered a little before stepping away.
I smiled and turned to walk away.
My classmates, especially Siara, were dumbfounded, but I ignored them and continued on.
When I saw Amelia finishing her conversation with Radakel, I hesitated for a moment before taking a step forward and joining them.
"Hero Nathan, it's a pleasure to meet you again," Radakel greeted me with a smile.
"Likewise. I have a few questions if you don't mind," I replied.
"Of course. I will do my utmost to answer all the questions of the Hero," he said without hesitation.
"Why the Uteska Village?" I asked.
"The Uteska Village is a small, isolated community, traditionally inhabited by human villagers who have always been like family to each other. Recently, however, a traveler reported that the villagers seemed to have changed drastically in just a few months. He didn't recognize any of them, and they all behaved suspiciously. So, I sent one of my best scouts to investigate.
He discovered that demons had disguised themselves as humans and were living peacefully in the village," Radakel explained.
"You mean..."
"Yes, exactly, Hero Nathan. The demons certainly killed all the villagers before settling in the village without any mercy," Radakel nodded with a cold smile.
"Did you find their bodies?" I asked.
Radakel looked at me with a hint of hidden annoyance, barely showing on his face, but I could tell my question bothered him. It was as if he thought I was doubting him, which, to be honest, I was.
"No bodies. The demons aren't stupid enough to leave evidence of their murders. They probably burned all the bodies to ashes, leaving no trace," he said.
I considered asking whether the smoke would have alerted other people nearby but decided against it.
"I see," I said simply.
"I want Hero Nathan to understand that all demons are creations of evil. I have lived far longer than you and know this world very well. They have caused countless suffering, and peace will only be achieved once the demon race is erased from this world."
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