"Kuhahaha! Look at their smile. They look eager to bond with you!"
"In my hotown that smile brings only trouble though..."
Velucan stops laughing for a second, pats in the back once, then laughs again. I sigh helplessly at that, then prepare myself for the worst situation to co.
I know that these guys an well by smiling at —they have accepted as a part of them even though they don't know yet—but I am not sure if their smile will bring any good.
Who knows what kind of crazy shit they will make do together with them?
I am glad, however, the Monsters are nicer than I thought. Still, now I can't help but recall General Jovenus' words: "Don't forget who you are, and train like a Demon!"
I didn't get his concern at that ti, but now I have understood why I should never forget my root. These guys in front of will likely integrate into their pack so well, I beco one of them.
They are not bad people—in my perspective—but their unruliness is the one thing from them that I don't want to stick on . Valeria has put a lot of effort in educating to be a proper man, so I don't want to get an earful from her.
"Alright, packs! As you have heard the Lord's order, we are going to go on a Conquest Mission," Velucan says with a serious tone. "Like usual, I don't accept volunteers. I will only pick the best people out of the best Legions!"
Many disappointed signs can be heard throughout the rank at Velucan's words, and I can't help blinking my eyes in slight surprise. After all, if this was on Earth, many people would rejoice for being exempted from a dangerous mission.
I guess, that is just what makes the Monster—the people of this world different. Still though, I can't help questioning Velucan's choice to only take the best out of the best—to be that strict in choosing personnels.
I am sure this mission is supposed to be a Conquest Mission, which ans our objective is to make (I believe) a human's territory ours. Therefore, I think it is better to bring as many personnels as we can to make it easier.
"I get what your concern, pup."
"Did I say that out loud?"
"No, but I sohow understand what you are thinking because you are looking at like that."
"Oh... I am sorry."
I don't know how I have exactly been looking at the 10 feet Garou, but I quickly move my gaze back to the soldiers to avoid causing an unnecessary misunderstanding. I am afraid I have been looking at him judgingly, and I don't want to anger him.
"Relax, as a good General, I am open to critiques." Valucan grins then turns to the Demons and Monsters discussing among themselves in the rank. "I will only choose the best and the least personnels, because it is more fun."
I blink once and sigh. I have actually expected sothing like that to co out of his mouth, but I have imdiately discarded it due to how cliche it sounds.
I expected Velucan to say sothing that is more than it looks—like sothing along the lines of how extrely capable the unreliable looking personnels—because his explanation about the reason why the Demons are punished here is quite deep.
Alas, what I hoped would not happen but expected to happen really happens. I am not surprised, but I'm still disappointed that the story develops that way.
Now, I wish it won't be the beginning of a bad news.
"Alright! I will only take 300 personnels with ! I won't call your na—I don't morize all your na—but I will call you by your achievent. For those who feel called, you may step forward!"
The soldiers fill the place with their enthusiastic roar at Velucan's declaration. "Ah, but before that. I will have to introduce this youngling to you. He will be a part of our packs from now on, so treat him well. Everyone, greet Layland!"
The area turns completely silent at my introduction that is done by Velucan. All of them look at silently, as if they have only noticed now, even though they have smiled at just a mont ago.
As I think thing is starting to get awkward, sothing that surprises and makes feel awkward at the sa ti happens.
"NICE TO ET YOU, LAYLAND!"
The nine Legions under Velucan—roughly 59,000 people have just greeted in unison. Their voice is reverberating through the whole place, giving a weird sense of accomplishnt and also embarrassnt.
I have never imagined that many people would ever greet in unison—let alone those who have Mana. My eardrums have almost ruptured, but it still feels aweso.
Nonetheless, I don't get swept up in the emotion. I maintain my composure, and reply them the way Demons return greetings from—just like what Valeria has taught .
With my palm on the left chest, I bow my body slightly. "It is also a pleasure to be acquainted with everyone."
I can see all of them slightly recoil in surprise when I right myself up, but I can't tell whether they are surprised because they didn't expect to have such politeness or they never expected to be a proper Demon.
I was also a little bit surprised when I learned that Demons, the group of creatures that I thought as a bunch of savages, also behave like nobles, so I don't really bla the flustered look the soldiers are giving .
After all, considering what kind of General I have chosen to be my ntor and what kind of Legions said General leads, it is normal for the soldiers to think that I shouldn't possess that 'proper' quality any other higher standing Demons have.
'There was also that spar and the unnecessary provocation at Jovenus after all...' I sigh at what I have accidentally portrayed myself as in the people's mind.
"Well... Now, that you have already known Layland, it's ti for business!" Velucan cleared his throat. "For you who have killed more than 5,000 humans by yourself in the previous war, step forward!"
"..." No one steps forward at Velucan's call.
I think that the requirent is a little bit off the charts. No matter how good they are, there is no way they could kill so many people for the last two months; there were many people in the battlefield, so each Demon must have an even "ration."
Even for the exceptional individuals, I am sure that they didn't kill as many as that. After all, if that was really the case, humankind would have perished ages ago.
"What about 6,500 humans? No too? What about 8,500 humans?"
Instead of lowering down the number however, Velucan turns the already awkward situation more awkward by raising the number of kill. At this point, I am not sure whether he just wants to tease his soldiers or is just stupid.
"Alright then..." Velucan sighs in exasperation, but I don't pity him. "10,000 humans! Raise your hands if you killed 10,000 humans?!"
Just as I am starting to believe that this world has stopped surprising , it slaps right in the face to prove wrong. Much to my bewildernt, there are so many people raising their hands.
Around half of the soldiers are raising their hands, which ans, they have killed around 10,000 humans for the past two months. Just calculating the amount of people they have killed makes wonder how human can still exist until now.
"Damn it... Just look how many of you have killed that many humans." Velucan smiles proudly. "Alright. Only those who have killed 15,000 humans and above can step forward!"
I blink my eyes at Velucan's declaration, and look at him weirdly. I, however, look at him as sneakily as I can to avoid repeating giving him the judging look (I suppose), I have given just a few monts ago.
I am seriously thinking that he is joking this ti, but once again, this world's unpredictability has floored. Although they are significantly less than before, there are still hundreds of people stepping forward.
The best part of it is, I don't know whether they exactly killed 15,000 humans or more in the war. Judging by how things have been going however, I am inclined to believe they killed around 20,000 humans.
"Hoh? There are quite a lot of you." Velucan pauses as he gazes at the soldiers that have stepped forward. "Since I will only bring 300 of you with , you still need to got through a screening process. I hope you don't mind."
None of the Demons or Monsters protest at Velucan's announcent. They rely smirk confidently, showing that this is not their first ti going through it.
"Then... Here you go!"
That is the only cue from Velucan that signifies the start of the screening process. In the next mont, a heavy Mana pressure descends upon all of us.
I have no idea that I have to also go through the screening process, so I am completely caught off guard. The good news? I sohow manage to hold out.
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