## Chapter 1363 – Friends

“Wake up, you punk.”
“Kkeueuk…! Ears…! Kkeuaeuk…!”

Mariel, hearing my roar, squirmed like a caterpillar, covering his ears.

This bastard… I know he’s not really that hurt.

The Superhuman Demon King Kim Kat can freely control the impact of even a loud roar. I can precisely target the impact and the subject. As a result, Elise didn’t even flinch, and neither did the surrounding pedestrians.

I’m capable of long-range precision sniping with my scolding. I can assassinate key figures and cause large-scale destruction.

So, I only gave him a shock without causing any injuries, and he dares to pretend to be hurt?

“Hey. Hey. I controlled my strength, so relax. You’re not hurt. Get up, you punk.”
“What? Oh, oh? You’re right…”

Only then did Mariel check his ears and stagger to his feet. Like I’d go around bursting eardrums. I wouldn’t do that.

“Anyway, you bastard. How dare you ignore what Liz-nuna said?”
“N-No, it’s not that!”

What on earth is this guy thinking, ignoring Liz-nuna?

“Then what is it?”
“I have something to say about that!”
“Spit it out.”
“N-Now, I no longer need to listen to the Guild Master’s orders! The Martial Artist Guild in Isbante has been completely destroyed! The martial artists are all scattered!”

Ah.

Well.

So that’s the reason.

He’s no longer affiliated with the Martial Artist Guild, is he?

“And! When you think about it, the Guild Master abandoned us!
“What?”
“In this situation, I can’t keep taking orders forever, Demon King! This is a matter of pride, but it’s also more than that! If you’re not going to come right now, gather us scattered people, and lead us, then I won’t listen to any more orders!!!”
“No way!”

Mariel’s eyes were blazing as he said that…!

This bastard!

“Shut up, you punk!!!”
“Heok!”

Mariel slumped down again at my roar.

This guy must be really sulking because he thinks Liz-nuna abandoned them. That feeling was deeply embedded in his shout just now.

“E-Even if you shout at me, it can’t be helped! I’m a person who speaks his mind, Demon King!”
“Don’t bullshit me. You’re Liz-nuna’s lifelong subordinate. That means you’re my subordinate too.”
“That’s absurd…!”
“I’m an absurd existence to begin with.”

From the start, this Mariel bastard was always challenging me. I always wanted to mess with him whenever I saw him. And now he’s acting up in front of me?

“A-Anyway! I’m no longer the Guild Master’s subordinate!”
“Don’t bullshit me. Just take this letter!”
“I won’t take it!”
“Want to get hit?”
“Hieeik!”

ㅡThwack!

When I raised my fist, Mariel started trembling.

“V-Violence…! Demon King! Rumor has it that you’re a hero! How can you do this to me!”
“Heroes can do this.”
“What kind of hero…”
“Someone who does what they believe is right. That’s a hero.”
“Is this justice right now!”
“Yes!”
“What kind of bullshit is that!”

It’s not bullshit. I can’t stand Mariel acting up in the first place. Back in the day, this bastard used to attack me first… I won’t forgive you!

“So what!!! I’m a hero, got a problem with that!!!”

ㅡBwoong bwoong!

Mariel was horrified as I swung my raised fist around.

“O-Okay! I don’t! I don’t have a problem! I’ll do as you say!”
“Good.”

As expected, I have to create an oppressive atmosphere for him to listen.
I immediately took out the letter.

“Take it. Read it. It’s a letter from Liztina to you.”
“…I understand.”

ㅡSwish.

Mariel grabbed the letter I handed him.
I’ll give him some time to read it.

“…”

Elise was tilting her head next to me, looking at me.

“Saint?”
“Yeah.”
“What kind of relationship do you have… that you’re scolding him like that?”
“Ears.”
“Pardon?”
“Elise’s ears. Come here.”
“E-Ears, are you talking about ears?!”
“Yeah. I’ll tell you quietly.”
“…!”

Elise’s face immediately turned red, and she widened her eyes, covering her ears with both hands. Is she embarrassed by the idea of whispering?

“Okay, I’ll just say it.”
“N-No! It’s alright!”
“Really?”

Elise, agreeing, closed her eyes tightly and leaned her ear towards me. I whispered softly in her ear.

“So… well. It’s not really a special relationship…”
“H-Hold on…! Saint, just a moment!”

What is it?

Elise twisted her body as if ticklish and pushed me away. This is… could it be that her ears are sensitive? There are a lot of people like that. Some people have sensitive ears. I didn’t expect Elise to be one of them.

Of course, it’s not sexual, just ticklish.

“Elise, are you ticklish?”
“Ah…! It feels a little strange…”
“Then I’ll just tell you.”
“…Yes.”

I briefly explained the relationship between Mariel and me. How he used to challenge me in the past and got beaten up. That’s why I’m still treating him roughly now that I’ve become a hero.

“It’s okay to do that to Mariel.”
“I see. I understand.”

Anyway.

I looked at Mariel again.

“Kkeueuk…!”

For some reason, Mariel was holding the letter in one hand, covering his mouth with the other. He was staring at the letter almost fiercely, tears streaming down his face.

“Keuheuk, kkeueueuk…! G-Guild Master…!”
“What? Hey. What’s wrong with you.”
“Heueoheoeoeong!!”

ㅡThud!

Mariel knelt down on the spot and sobbed… What is this guy.

“You’re a really unpredictable guy, you…”
“Keueuk, keuhaak…! Guild Master…! Was I trying to betray such a Guild Master!!”
“What was written in it…”

ㅡThwack!

Mariel just buried his face in the ground, sobbing, and handed me the letter.

“Let’s see.”

I slowly read it.

“Hmm.”

There wasn’t anything special written in the letter. Just everyday questions like whether the guild was doing well, whether the guild members had escaped safely since Isbante was obviously a mess. Of course, there was also concern for Mariel personally…

Reading through it, there was a passage where Liztina was quite worried about Mariel. That’s right. Liz-nuna was worried about everyone in the Martial Artist Guild. Even Mariel.

When you think about it, that’s how I first met Liz-nuna. I was beating up Mariel, and Liztina intervened and kidnapped me.

That’s how much she regarded her guild members as her subordinates.

Anyway, Liz-nuna was very worried about Mariel and Lisette, and she told him to come to her if he was at a loss for what to do, telling me to tell them to come to her. She said she’d take them in as her subordinates.

“This bastard.”
“Keueueueuk…!”
“It’s worth crying over.”

He must have been thinking that the Guild Master had abandoned him, and then he received this letter. It’s understandable that he’s moved to tears. And well, if it’s Liztina’s request, I can take in both this Mariel bastard and that Lisette bastard.

What problem would there be if Liz-nuna had two more errand runners?

“I miss the Guild Master, Demon King!!”
“So. Are you going right away?”
“That is…”
“What is it?”

Mariel hesitated at my words. I thought he’d be crying and screaming that he’d go to Liztina’s side right away, but what’s he hesitating about?

“It’s not something I can decide right away. There’s also Master Lisette…”
“Ah.”

Come to think of it, that orphan Lisette had been taught by Liztina since she was young. From my perspective, she’s just a shitty orphan, but she has a special relationship with Liz-nuna.

“Then give this to her. A letter for Lisette.”
“Thank you!”

There are quite a few Martial Guild Masters, but Lisette and Mariel are the only two who receive Liztina’s favor. Lisette seems to be earning her trust, but Mariel just felt like he was being scolded.

“Keuheuk…!”

Mariel, greatly moved, put the letter in his arms.

“Anyway, Demon King… you…”
“What.”
“No. It’s nothing. Whatever… is the Guild Master living with you now?”
“Yeah. She’s my woman.”
“…”

Mariel didn’t seem to like those words very much.

“But you know I’ve become a hero, right?”

ㅡHwaaak!!

The moment I said that, spreading my wings.

“R-Real wings…!”

Mariel was visibly surprised and horrified. Even I would be shocked if someone showed me such a cash item in real life.

“It’s just like the rumors. I, the hero, beat up all the demon bastards. And now I’ve come to see if my acquaintances in Isbante are doing well. Mariel… now you’re just like dust to me.”
“W-Would it be okay to bow down?”
“Yeah.”
“…Would it really be okay to do it?”
“If you brought it up, then really do it, you punk.”
“O-Okay!”
“I’m just kidding, don’t actually do it.”

Mariel, who was about to prostrate himself at my words, stopped.

“Anyway, as it’s written in the letter, the entire central region of the kingdom has become mine. In that situation, Liz-nuna will be taking a key position. Then she’ll need subordinates. Take your time to decide. I’m leaving in a few days, so decide by then.”
“…I will.”
“Tell me where you live. I’ll come find you.”
“Heok!”
“No. I’m coming to hear your answer, you punk.”
“W-Wait.”

Mariel took out a pen from somewhere and wrote down where he lived on a piece of paper.

“Then get lost, Mariel.”
“…”

Mariel hesitated for a moment, then wiped away the traces of tears and quickly disappeared.

“Then Elise. Shall we go?”
“…Understood.”

I immediately went to the Radiant Holy Cross with Elise.

* * *

The reaction was explosive when I visited.

“Kkyaaaaaaaaak!”
“Aaaaaaaaak!”
“Oeoeeoeoeoeoeoeoeok!!”

Just like when I came to Krassheim last time. As the priests gathered like a swarm of bees, Elise mediated, and I explained why Elise was late.

“It’s alright! It’s alright, Sister Elise!”
“She was talking with the hero…!”

This doesn’t seem like something that would be so easily forgiven.

It must be because the fact that I’m a hero who has received the power of God has spread everywhere. The priests now are beyond enthusiastic about me.

Anyway, I didn’t see any faces I recognized. I met them during the Holy Army, but I didn’t see their bare faces. It was the same when I was exploring the demon dungeon back then.

As I was giving a brief greeting, the highest-ranking man came and told them not to be rude.

As a result, I went into the assigned room and lay down alone.

“Ugh.”

It’s not a bad thing. The priests wanted to talk to me all night, but I told everyone I saw today, so I’m a little tired. I should take it when they offer.

However, Elise will be doing what I was supposed to do from now on.

She’s sure to be tormented by her family. She’ll have to keep explaining the stories I told her yesterday over and over again… Therefore. I decided to look at Elise’s spoils tomorrow.

“Let’s take a nap.”

I closed my eyes as I lay in bed.

I don’t really need to sleep, but since it’s like this, I should be active tomorrow morning.

* * *

And dawn.

ㅡSqueak.

I woke up to the sound of the door.

“Saint? Are you asleep?”
“Yeah. Elise.”
“Ah. You’re awake.”
“I just woke up.”
“I understand.”

ㅡThud.

The slightly opened door closed again. I took off the blanket and put on the top and bottom I had taken off.

“Yeah. Elise. Come in.”

The door opened again, and Elise cautiously entered.

“Good morning. Elise. Do you all usually wake up at this time?”
“Yes. That’s right.”

They wake up early.

“Haa. Really… they asked so much about the Saint. Yesterday, I explained the stories you told me over and over again. Thanks to that, I didn’t get a wink of sleep.”
“Hehehe, really? You must be very tired. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. It’s just one night without sleep.”

Elise was also a superhuman whose body was strengthened by divine power.

“Anyway, I’m glad you slept well. But the problem is from now on. I came to hear that I was invited to breakfast.”
“Breakfast, huh.”
“Sister Blaret and the Arkio brothers have returned, so… it would be good to greet them too.”
“Ah. Those people have come.”