Banished from the herd, I was actually a member of a very rare species. ~With the unique skills that only I can use, I can grow and evolve quickly. I will become an unrivaled monster~ - Episode 164: Explaining the Situation “

Episode 164: Explaining the Situation “

(Note: Special for this chapter telepathic conversations are in /…../.)

The first half of this story might be okay to skim through.

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My name is Reeses. I was born as the daughter of a lumberjack in Tim Village, located in the Ibuwa Territory. 

Tim Village was in a remote area where even traveling merchants rarely visited, but it had one unique feature that set it apart. That was the skill of [Training]. 

The effect of this skill allowed us to control other creatures. Most of the villagers learned this [Skill] when they were children. While many towns and villages worked on domesticating gentle magical beasts, the true essence of [Training] lay in the ability to communicate with wild magical beasts. 

Wild magical beasts possess various [Skills]. Normally, it would be difficult to use these skills to our advantage. But through [Training], we could communicate to some extent, allowing the magical beasts to utilize their unique [Skills] for our benefit. 

Of course, we could also rely on them for village defense and hunting. Thanks to [Training], the villagers of Tim Village were able to survive in the harsh environment of the borderlands. 

We worked together with the magical beasts in agriculture, forestry, fishing, and construction, struggling to make a living. Although there were many hardships, we still managed to feel small moments of happiness in our daily lives. 

However, when I turned ten, a turning point came in our peaceful lives.

『This must be the suspicious village controlling magical beasts with evil sorcery! As the next lord, I shall bring down the righteous hammer of justice!』

The noble son, who appeared accompanied by several knights, abruptly declared this with a wicked smile too malicious for someone speaking of justice. He was trying to kill us for such selfish reasons, despite the fact that we never troubled anyone or neglected our taxes.

The village chief, who tried to approach for a dialogue, became the first victim. 

The usually gentle and smiling chief couldn’t utter a second word before he was engulfed in flames. 

I couldn’t comprehend what was happening; my vision went dark for a moment. A fireball, released indiscriminately, burned one of my eyes.

It was my mother’s healing magic that snapped me back to reality amidst my screams of pain. 

As she held me and desperately fled, the magic alleviated the pain and allowed me to pay attention to the sounds around us.

I heard the screams of villagers and magical beasts being burned alive, one after another, as they scattered in panic. 

Despite my fear, clinging to my mother, she still didn’t abandon me and continued running. But what awaited us at the village perimeter was despair. 

A thorny wall, higher than the fence, surrounded our village.

When I turned to my mother, unsure of what to do, my body was slowly lifted. 

It was a magical beast, an owl that my mother had trained, grabbing my shoulders and lifting me. 

This flying familiar was rare even in our village. It flapped its wings repeatedly, lifting me out, and as I turned to look at my mother, a large pillar of fire rose right next to the wall.

At that moment, I finally understood the meaning behind my mother’s parting words: 

『 Don’t look back; escape far away.』

I couldn’t think of anything else, but I relied on her last words as I hid in the forest with the owl familiar. 

I tried not to think about the village, surviving with the help of my familiar and my innate water magic. When the heat died down, I returned to the village. 

What I found was the remnants of a village reduced to ash. 

There was nothing left to remind me of the once vibrant village. 

Neither people nor magical beasts, none who had fled from the noble son, nor those who had stood up against him—no one remained alive besides me.

On that day, I made a vow. I would take revenge on this world where only nobles held power and acted tyrannically. 

From that point on, every day was about accumulating strength. 

I hid in the magical beast-infested wasteland, honing my magic, raising my <Level>, training powerful magical beasts, and desperately trying to gain power beyond that of the nobles.

During this time, when my Water Attribute {Sublimated} into the Cleansing Attribute, I learned a brainwashing spell called [Brainwash]. 

This magic was derived from [Training] and allowed me to bypass the limit on the number of creatures that could be trained, enabling me to subjugate magical beasts.

With this newfound power, I descended to human settlements for information gathering. 

In one village I visited, I encountered the concept of religion. 

There were devotees consumed by apocalyptic thoughts, displaying self-destructive devotion, and a founder who spread ideology throughout the village for personal gain. 

They were an insufferable group, but they served as good lessons. 

I threatened the founder, made him my pawn, learned his methods, distorted the doctrines, and infiltrated my trained magical beasts throughout the village… thus, the Demon Cult was born. 

I mingled among the common people, conducting evangelism and manipulation with my subordinates.

Eventually, when I was fully prepared, I executed my plan for revenge against the nobles. 

That noble son, who committed his heinous acts for the foolish reason of wanting to make a name for himself before entering the magic academy, was slowly fed to magical beasts from his fingertips. 

I killed everyone who had lived in the mansion with him, leaving no one behind. 

However, my anger did not subside. I couldn’t stop until I had killed the root cause of the nobles’ immense power—the Demon King, the embodiment of social inequality. 

Thus, I continued to work on expanding my forces. But recently, the Bishop who could trap magical beasts in books was killed by someone. 

With the knights’ vigilance increasing across the regions, it became difficult to expand my influence any further without his power. 

After three days and nights of agony, I decided to bet everything on a solo attack… Cough, haah, haah… What am I even saying…?” 

“Hmph, how trivial,” 

A voice came that likely belonged to the Demon King 

The one calling herself Reeses, the founder of the Demon Cult , had spilled everything up to this point in one breath. 

Yet, the “Demon King’s” reaction to her account was rather indifferent. He answered in a voice devoid of any interest. 

“Your Majesty, are you safe!?” 

“Slow and dull. Allowing thieves to invade and troubling me—what kind of knight are you? We do not need weaklings in my empire.” 

“I-I apologize deeply!” 

At that moment, the soldiers who had been outside the castle walls rushed in. Their faces were drenched in sweat, and it wasn’t just from their hurried arrival. 

“The magical beasts have been slain, and the main culprit captured. I shall personally deliver judgment in due time. Take her to the anti-magic prison.” 

“””Yes, Your Majesty!””” 

“C-Crap, I can’t even use my [Skills]!? Let go of me!” 

The soldiers answered with vigor as half of them carried the founder, Reeses, away. She was immobilized by magic, and it seemed no other accomplices had arrived. So I left it to them, thinking it would be fine. 

As I stood there with nothing to do, watching them leave, 

“—And you, the one wrapped in bandages. Who are you?” 

the Demon King said in a suspicious voice. 

This is bad. I had just been in trouble after being addressed by a soldier. 

The unexpected lifeline for my confusion came from an unexpected source. 

“That person is an adventurer. He just defeated the Sovereign Beast that appeared outside the castle walls in one blow and followed that woman here,” 

Said the soldier I had spoken with earlier. 

I silently nodded in gratitude as I acknowledged him in my heart. 

“Hmm… so it seems true. I see, you are hiding your |Mana|.” 

The Demon King observed me with both eyes fixed on me. 

His hazel eyes appeared quite lifeless, contrary to his presence. 

“You said you defeated a Sovereign Beast. Then I shall reward you. You are permitted to follow me.” 

There was no sense of admiration in those words; it felt like he was merely speaking out of formality. 

Nevertheless, I lowered my head slightly in respect. 

The Demon King and his entourage ignored my attitude and resumed their march toward the imperial castle. Unsure of the proper etiquette, I trailed behind at the end of their procession. 

It was lucky that I wasn’t reprimanded for my rudeness, but it felt eerie nonetheless. 

I wondered if it was really okay to let a suspicious person into the castle so easily when suddenly a voice echoed in my head. 

/Respond. Where are you now?/ 

/Ah?/ 

It was the Sage’s communication. 

In the chaos, I had completely forgotten that I had come to the Imperial Capital with the two of them. 

/Uh, well, it’s a long story—/ 

Using [Telepathy], I briefly explained everything that had happened so far. 

After listening, the Sage fell silent for a moment before forcing out a response. 

/…This is not what we planned, but if you were able to meet the Demon King, that is fortunate./

I received instructions from her regarding the steps to regroup. And thus, I continued on my way to the imperial castle.