Chapter 45: Demon in Action
When Nightingale returned to her room, she was all smiles and Wendy who was reading a book stopped to look at her face.
"Strange how you can feel so happy after knowing that Anna is a step ahead of u- *cough* you" Wendy said, almost slipping without even being aware of it. She just felt it was natural to say "us" which slightly scared her.
"Hmm? Well, who said she is a step ahead?" Nightingale changed into her nightwear and dropped right onto her comfortable bed with a happy smile.
"?! What do you mean?!" Wendy asked with a raised voice showing quite a strong reaction that was unlike her.
"Hehe" Nightingale just giggled, turning her back towards her friend, clearly telling her that she won't say anything.
"Veronica...I just want you to be careful since we have no idea if you can give him what he will need in the future. It would probably break your heart..." Wendy said with a slightly sad expression.
"...To be honest, I am more afraid of what happens if I can give him what he needs" Nightingale said in a quiet voice.
"W-What?"
"If His Highness is indeed capable of having children with a witch and it somehow goes public...Don't you think there are a lot of witches who would like to be mothers?"
"Are you saying that he might become the center of attention of all witches within 4 kingdoms?" Wendy asked and thought that her words hold some truth.
"Anything completely new and unique will always garner the attention even that unwanted attention. His Highness said so...Would you like to be a mother, Wendy?" Nightingale said before asking with a curious expression.
"W-What?! I mean...which woman doesn't want to experience being a mother, when it comes to a witch the feeling is probably even stronger since they are denied that experience." Wendy replied, pressing her hand to her heart.
"In your case, the feeling must be even stronger considering how kindly you look after every one of us, haha" Nightingale said before laughing which caused Wendy to lightly giggle, shaking her head.
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The next day, Roland came to the training ground where every single recruit gathered and stood at attention.
"Good morning to everyone! I would like to announce that your training as militia has ended and you successfully defended Border Town." Roland said while walking back and forth in front of them, carefully observing them.
"I fulfilled my promise to make men out of you lot, now I want you to confess if you feel any different from before." Roland said and a few seconds were filled with silence before one of the recruits stepped out while saluting.
"I feel much better in all sides considered. I am more confident, before joining I was even afraid to confess to the person I liked but yesterday during the celebration, I confessed without a hint of hesitation or fear of being rejected. I am truly thankful to Your Highness and commander Iron Axe for this change!"
"Oh? What was the answer?" Roland asked curiously with a faint smile.
"She said how much I have changed. Before, I barely could even talk to her about anything. She said that she feels safe around me and instantly agreed." The recruit said without a hint of embarrassment and some of the recruits indeed looked impressed by his bravery.
"Good, you may return. The dread of death that has been all around you during the months of the demons helped you become more confident, however, the main thing it did was urging you not to hesitate. If you want to do something, you should work for it as soon as possible since you never know when you might die.
"If you were about to die, how would you like to die?" Roland asked while pointing towards one of the recruits in the front row.
"Eh?! I mean...a painless death? Around my friends?" The recruit said with a bit uncertain tone but his expression was firm.
"WRONG!" Roland shouted, enhancing his voice with a bit of his magic, which caused the recruits to wince in pain but no one dared to cover their ears.
"Your Highness, can you tell us the right answer?" Someone asked and everyone looked curious too.
"There is only one right answer to this...Without regrets!" Roland said with folded arms and a wide smile hanging on his face.
Hearing his answer, recruits looked at each other without moving their heads before forming smiles.
"I give you all a chance to join my official first army. Hm? Iron Axe is going to explain to you the rest of the offer. Don't shy away from asking him for details because joining my army is a huge commitment with your life practically being tied down to me and my land however the rewards are also nice. If you can, Iron Axe..." Roland noticed Barov looking at him from the side so he decided to let Iron Axe finish the rest.
"Understood, Your Highness!" Iron Axe took Roland's position once he left.
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"Your Highness, are you sure you were truly needed here? They are after all still just recruits, it looks like you are giving them a lot of attention. I am not saying that you aren't doing your work as a lord of this town, on the contrary, you are doing a great job but maybe you can take some rest instead of doing such things..." Barov asked with a concerned expression as they started walking towards the castle.
"It's actually more important than you might think. Don't worry about my health, I know what I am capable of...Now, please tell me what is going on." Roland reassured him before asking.
"Since the months of the demons ended, it is inevitable that nobles are going to start returning and today baron Cornelius Fletcher returned. He left during the months of the demons and his house was torn down because it was obstructing the town's defences. He is waiting in the reception room and wants you to give him an explanation." Barov explained with a worried expression.
"Good, he wants explanation? He will get it." Roland said with a cold smile while looking towards the castle.
'Time to make enemies with the nobles of Border Town and make Longsong Stronghold take action. It seems like my habit didn't change despite the peaceful environment I am living in...I can already smell rust and sweet metallic scent.' Roland thought.
That was one of Roland's "unique skills" from his previous life. Whenever he felt like he could smell blood in the air, it was inevitable that blood would be spilt. Maybe it was just due to the nature of his job and frequent contact with blood that made him smell it just by thinking of it, however, it was undeniable that blood has always been spilt when he felt this way.
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"Your Highness, how could you let that stonemason take down my house?! I had to spend more than 150 Gold Royals on it!"
"That is indeed heart wrecking, you have my sincerest condolences, Baron Fletcher." Roland said with a sad expression but he didn't say anything further which shocked baron.
"Um, Your Highness?"
"Yes? Feel free to ask me anything." Roland replied with a bright smile and nearly closed eyes.
"D-Don't you think that I deserve some compensation?" Baron asked with a nervous tone and even he himself had no idea why he feels so nervous.
"Oh? Well, since you no longer have your house here, I guess you travelled here for nothing. It has been my mistake for not informing you, I will give you 1, no, 3 Gold Royals as compensation for your wasted journey here." Roland said with the same expression, putting 3 gold coins on the table.
"Huh?! What about my house?!" Baron exclaimed with an angry look on his face while clenching his hands into fists
"Please don't make it more difficult for me, Baron Fletcher. I am just protecting you and doing you a favor." Roland said with a sorrowful look on his face.
"W-What kind of favor is this?!" It was evident that the baron was losing his patience.
"Well, if you were to admit that it was truly your house and demanded compensation...I would have to take into consideration also your desertion and...h-a-n-g you. None of us would want to see such end, right Baron Fletcher?" Roland has drawn his dagger and started playing with it on the table while explaining. When he got to the part of hanging, he spun the dagger and its tip stopped right pointing at the baron.
'*Gulp* Even I would feel pressured when talking to His Highness when he is acting this way' Carter thought while quietly listening to their conversation.
Baron's angry expression got replaced by a frightened one when he heard the word hanging and when the tip of Roland's danger was pointing at him while Roland was looking at him with a friendly smile.
"I-"
"I truly apologize for not informing you, that was a mistake on my part. Please accept my heartfelt apology" Roland interrupted him and said with what looked like a genuine apologetic expression which scared the baron furthermore.
"I- There is no need for Your Highness to compensate me for my journey...Longsong Stronghold is quite close so it's alright." Baron got up from his seat and carefully chose his words.
"No, no, please come here and take those coins! I would feel really hurt if you were to leave completely empty handed." Roland insisted with a friendly smile and baron could only obey as he was too afraid to refuse again.
"Alright, thank you for being gener-" Baron said as he was taking the coins laying on the table in front of Roland however Roland suddenly grasped his fat wrist.
"Please find it in your heart to forgive my inability to fully compensate you" Roland said and applied a little bit of strength to his grip which made Baron wince in pain.
"I-It's alright Your Royal Highness! You have shown me that you are fair lord, there is nothing to forgive." Baron said while gritting his teeth.
Upon hearing his words, Roland let go of his wrist.
"Then I will take my leave now, thank you for finding time to meet me, Your Highness." Baron said while rubbing his wrist, wanting to leave however before he could leave through the doorway, he was stopped by Roland.
"Ah, please do me a favor too. Inform other gentlemen at Longsong Stronghold of my inability to compensate them. It would truly hurt me if even more of them wasted their time by coming here for nothing." Roland said with closed eyes while pressing his right hand to his heart.
"I-I will make sure to tell everyone. Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness!" Baron said before leaving.
"Not at all, it was nothing." Roland opened his eyes with a cold look in them and muttered with a smile.
Carter could swear that he saw two horns growing from the sides of Roland's head. On this day, he made a mental note to never anger Roland.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone