“More pulling the strings today is it?” Rosia asked for confirmation as we sat in the room Rosia has in the castle. 

“Yep, I’ll just talk to some people, still no extra intel since yesterday” I replied casually as I made sure I dressed up properly one more time before I went out. I turn to look at her one more time as I’m ready to leave. Really it can hardly be called pulling the strings.

“Best of luck to you” She said as she continues to sit around. She’s taking this way slower than me that’s for sure.

“Of course, same with you as well” I said with a small smile on me, then walked out of the room into the corridor of the castle. Now what is there to do today? I supposed I could go do one of a few things. Either go talk to those advisors and other officials regarding my request for human resources, I could go search for what’s in the castle dungeon myself if Reiza were to take too long, in case whatever is in there can cause some problem later on, I could go to the academy early to get a few words in on the otherworlders, and perhaps I could just do something more mundane like strolling around in the capital square.

The lack of direction these people are going in makes it so that nothing is the most ideal option to choose, so really it makes my job a bit harder. I did think about causing a bit more chaos to stir them up but I didn’t have a chance to do that just yet. Now the problem is how do I stir it up to cause agency. The fact that there isn’t a second meeting, at least with most of the parties involved, really shows how they feel about it. Perhaps I could try to warn them one way or another, but how exactly?

Before I think anymore of this nonsense I really shouldn’t just walk around randomly in this corridor, I should go somewhere first before doing anything else. Maybe I’ll just go out of the castle for now so no eyes are on me.

 

#####

 

On the road to the academy as I see nowhere else to go for now. I think I got a few plans in mind, not many but at least some that I could see myself doing.

It would be in about seventeen day or so until the end came, over a third of the time has passed yet they clearly haven’t done much to entertain me, or any sort of confidence that they’ll give me even a tiny amount of challenge when that woman could easily entertain me while they might as well not be there.

I could go attack a place or two to get the point across so they’ll actually try to do something exciting or foolish, while the latter doesn’t exist it certainly enough for me to play either hero or villain. Have me as the Demon Lord approach them more time to remind of the impending attack and do so, then one of two things will happen, either I attack them or don’t to make them more fearful, and if I do would I actually do it myself or perhaps use someone to do it for me.

Next is that I have to go coerce regarding my experiment again, since I still didn’t get anyone to try anything on. Perhaps I could’ve done that with the man fried by Reiza but I already turned that man into a demon, so using her wouldn’t do anything.

The third thing I could do is that is related to the first point is possibly mobilizing some people to attack the capital, if all possible not actually anyone from Mom’s force or even anyone in the demi-human settlement for that matter. Now how I would do it is related to the second point, if I could get a few disposable humans that I turned using that plan then I could easily use them to cause more panic and fear.

All three things I think of doing will make them act more, and be more amusing. Would be rather difficult to do them all without unneeded casualty, so I should try to be rather careful planning this out. It might be for my amusement and not out of good will of anyone specifically, but unwittingly having others involved is just bad taste, more or less why I don’t plan on killing any otherworlders at first.

Let’s just go to the academy first to check up on the people there, I wonder if Reiza is even around.

 

#####

 

*Knock* *Knock*

Knocking on the door a few times now and absolutely no response. Guess she really isn’t in there… if she isn’t then where is she? I think the alarm would’ve been raised if she doesn’t come back here, maybe elsewhere in this academy?

Perhaps I should come back at some point to make sure she’s actually there, I should go talk to other people in the academy first. Now who could I go talk to? Perhaps that teacher, pretty sure he’s preparing today’s no doubt boring lecture. Foa-something.

 

#####

 

“Hi there, teach” I said slightly sarcastically as I walked into the classroom and saw the man still readying his lesson.

“Ah. Miss Maova. What is your business here?” He said, trying to keep his composure. Interacting with me a few times he knows full well my status as the Hero’s companion, an extremely ridiculous status for me to have but whatever.

“Not much really. Until the training hours I’m allowed to do whatever, so I just came to pay a visit” I replied dismissively.

“Pay a visit?” He muttered, sounding bewildered. This one is really just on a whim.

“Yeah, I think when compared to others you're a pretty trustworthy fellow, if not necessarily strong or smart” I bluntly stated. His face frowned slightly as he heard that.

“That’s… I appreciate your compliment, but that doesn’t tell me why you are here now” He bravely retorted. Even from his perspective there is no chance of survival if he were to slight me, so that was a bold thing for him to say.

“Heh… How bold, questioning someone like me” I said with a light chuckle as I walked closer to him. While I didn’t come here with any ill intention my words just now seem rather malicious, let’s see if he entertains that idea.

“I’m simply pointing out the flaw in your…” He began saying before my approach made him slowly shut up in distress.

“Now now. There’s no need to be fearful of me. I’m the Hero’s companion for a reason. I’m not a petty person in power” I said cheekily seeing how scared he quickly became. I gave us some distance as I finished saying that letting the man get some deep breath.

“I… see” He replied, not sounding all too convinced. Perhaps that act was a bit much.

“Eh, think whatever you will” I said as I sat on one of the chairs casually. He’s taking the wind out of my sail a bit with how mild he’s reacting. Honestly maybe he shouldn’t even be around if he’s just going to bore me to death. Still removing him is a bit extreme isn’t it? Maybe a few sad scenes from the otherworlders but really not worth the trouble, somber moments will just make me feel bad more than anything anyhow.

I continue to sit around as he awkwardly tries to not look in my direction as I sit here casually and just wait for the time to pass. Maybe I should go somewhere else, maybe there’s something to do then.

“Ah this is just boring. You’re boring. See you later I guess” I dismissively said as I stood back up and ready to leave with my hand at the doorknob.

“Do you act this way with others?” He asked, interrupting my exit. I turn to look at him as my hand is still on the knob.

“Most, but not all. The Hero is still my best ‘friend’, I’m not going to disrespect her” I said as I am ready to leave, but stood here still wondering if he’ll ask anything else.

“‘Friend’... Ah, sorry for interrupting, no doubt you must be really bothered by my questions” He said not with a sound of defiance or anything at all. Really a dull being I can’t get much out of. This frail blood bag. Still he seems to hear the slight sarcasm in what I said, but I doubt someone like him will tell anyone else, unless asked perhaps.

“Yeah yeah see you later you third-rate entertainment” I said sarcastically as I left. Not a great start of my day here but hopefully it’ll improve. Let me check the time again… about an hour left before I have to go pick up those adventurers. I still have time to do something else. Maybe I’ll go back to the castle just in case they actually respond to my request for humans right now, in case something is going on and I’m there to see it.

 

#####

 

Just walking around seeing if anyone wants to talk to me and bring me the news. So far there’s a few dubious looks but that has to be expected. Just walking about not sure what to do or say as I really haven’t been given much direction, nor does Rosia. Maybe I really have to be active here to get anything moving at all, everything here feels like a living prop rather than an actual grandiose place of the esteemed.

Maybe I’ll go visit mage’s facilities, maybe they’re trying something there without anyone knowing again.

 

#####

 

*Knock* *Knock*

I knocked on the door politely waiting for a response. I think I could hear some chatter in there.

The door opened by a man in a grab looking rather shocked seeing me.

“W-What is your business here ma’am?” He said, sounding a bit nervous at my appearance.

“I am free at the moment and I want to see if anything noteworthy happened here. Rest assured I won’t interrupt if right now something important is going on” I answered the man.

“N-No! Everything is alright! Come in right away!” He said as he walked away and let me go in. Let’s see what’s inside.

I walked in to see a rather wide room full of people, all studying something. Most of them seemed too absorbed in this to actually notice me, but some certainly did with some level of distress, when did I have this kind of reputation?

“Head mage!” One of them called out one fancy mage in particular. His robe is more golden in color than the rest, sporting the same red stripe design with blue mixed in. He stopped his research of whatever that is and noticed me. He keeps his composure to not too outwardly react, his face frowns a bit in surprise but that’s about it. Others’ reactions are pretty funny if expected.

“You’re the Hero’s companion are you not?” He said, sounding a bit stressed out as expected.

“Indeed, I’m here because I’m free at the moment. I have realized that I haven’t exactly done much to contribute so I want to come see what’s going on at least” I said as I walked over to him and the massive table he’s at, what is he even reading?

“These are ancient scriptures we have preserved for years on end. One of our roles is to translate these teachings that were lost to time” He explained before I could even ask about it. What language could it be? Let’s take a look… Oh I can read this.

“Hmm…” I take a look at these letters that aren’t that pleasing to look at, mainly because most of them are just the same letters that are tilted at a different angle. One is a triangle, another the letter q, another the letter s, all angled differently for different pronunciation.

“It is hard to understand when most of them look similar” He commented seriously. Now let me try reading it, Kaa-san has been muttering in this language before and my little curious self just has to ask her about it.

“The nature of miracle is one of concepts and the power of mind, power of the soul. Soul is the essence of human miracle, the power that skip the steps of natural progression” I read out a few lines. Making everyone in the room either let out a sound in surprise or confusion.

“W-What are you saying?” The head mage asked as he looked bewildered at my proficiency in the language. To think this actually became important.

“I’m just reading it out loud, what of it?” I casually replied as if I’m stating the obvious, now this is funny. Bunch of priceless faces.

“Do you actually know of the language?” He asked, containing his curiosity. The atmosphere of the room completely changed as I got in. Now I see something that could be done to perhaps influence this place, and perhaps more at large. Now this is what I’m waiting for.

“While I wouldn’t like to elaborate much, I indeed understand the language. I have heard it is quite ancient” I replied with a straight face to not cause any suspicion. Some began discussion among themselves while the head mage looked at me with curiosity and a bit of panic.

“This is… a miracle truly! Can you please elaborate on what is said?” He asked, trying to keep his excitement in check. Now should I even tell him? I mean from my point of view these things I’ve already been told or figured out thanks to Kaa-san who… No she didn’t write these, I know her hand writing isn’t like this, it’s similar but really drawing symbols can only be so varied.

“Hmm… The problem here is something I’ve mentioned only a few times before. Unlike the Hero I am not accustomed to this kingdom’s culture and understanding of magic, for all I know you all have figured most of these out without knowing it” I said, perhaps teasing them a bit regarding this.

“Please don’t worry, just tell us the content of these scriptures” He said putting me on the spot that I could try taking advantage of, but first I have to actually read what is on these scriptures.

“If you insist” I replied, making myself sound a bit unwilling. I turn to look at the scriptures and… well I’ve already read all of these already in a different language. Kaa-san has taught me so much about this already, for all I know this is actually outdated to what she has taught me… actually that means I don’t have to say the truth if these scriptures are somewhat flawed anyway. 

Now which part is factually incorrect or not entirely correct?... Ah, here it is. ‘The power of darkness are most likely that of strong and negative energy, not necessarily evil’ This is correct but in that it’s not evil, but saying that it’s from negative energy is wrong. Negative energy can easily be outputted as any element.

“Ah. Now here’s something that I’m pretty sure many of this civilization got wrong. It’s said here that while dark based magic is slightly dubious in its origin it’s not inherently evil, it doesn’t cause corruption or any negative side effects that other elements don't do already” I explained while pointing at the sentence I was reading.

“Really? That’s interesting” The head mage muttered. Everyone else began talking among themselves.

“That won’t be appreciated by the church” Someone muttered. They do keep thinking and trying to validate their opinions on the element.

“Perhaps, but these are ancient texts full of knowledge lost to time is it not? I would’ve imagined these being more credible” I said in response to that. Perhaps this will cause a bit of conflict later on that I can watch. 

A few more discussions as they continue to talk among themselves. If I speak about this a bit more about this then I could get them to do something for me perhaps, them owing me a favor, sounds rather fun, what I could do with it.

“Anything else from the text we should know about?” The head mage asked, sounding mildly excited. Now this is starting to feel like spoiling a child and I’m here for it, how fun. Soon they’ll probably end up relying on me.

 

#####

 

“This one talks about how gems have unnatural properties in them, which is by mana can exist in them...” I said while pointing at this line over here. This has been… Wait what time is this again? Oh just a few minutes and it’s time to go get those adventurers here.

“I see… Anything-” Before he asked for more I raised my hand towards him as if sealing his lips. 

“Unfortunately head mage I am out of time, I still have my regular duties to go to” I said as I quietly walked out as everyone’s excitement dropped and made way for me to leave. 

So that was that, the silence at the end felt a bit awkward but at least I didn’t show it. Now it’s time to actually leave and then go set up the horseless carriages and meet up with the adventurers to bagan today’s practice.

The training has been about the same, so there’s that to think about as well. Maybe I could orchestrate something to give them more motivation as well...

 

#####

 

“By the way, how are you feeling about these training sessions? A bit stale is it not?” I asked the adventurers as I managed the horseless carriages.

“Huh? Oh well… some kids are rather nice and polite, but the schedule could use some work” The mage replied first as he sounds like he’s taken off guard. I barely talked to them throughout these days so that’s expected.

“Yeah I wouldn’t lie it’s getting boring. Pays well though” The swordsman casually replied.

“Wouldn’t it be great if something else were to happen” The spearwoman said.

These replies are echoing my thoughts as well. Perhaps there could be some changes, maybe I could go about convincing someone to do that. I should go deal with that as well soon enough.

Now there are a few things now for me to actually do today already. To soon plan a second warning, to put the mage division under me to possibly put things in my favor, to change the stale life academy, the otherworlders, the adventurers, and I have to deal with. Soon many things will change and put fear and motivation into people. Soon enough.