25-25 Son of a Demon Family




 I managed to wrestle my consciousness away from the splattered pieces of frog flesh and turned around to see the boy sitting on the ground, covered in mud.

 Thank God, he's all right.

Are you okay?

"...... yeah ......

 The boy got up slowly as I called out to him.
 He looked pale.
 Perhaps he had inhaled the poison from the frog earlier.
 But seeing as he couldn't stand up, he wasn't in too much danger.
 I'll ask Leanne to take care of him later and he'll be fine.
 She's capable of anything.

I'm sure you'll be fine if you ask Lean to treat you later." "That was a really close call, though. ...... Did you come all this way by yourself?

 The boy's shoulders shook a little at my words.

"No,......, no,......, that was ............ me that brought him here. ......!

 Brought?
 This kid brought that ferocious frog?

Really, it's ......? Why did you bring that thing ......?

 The boy's shoulders shook with fear again.

"Because ......, I promised ......! You promised to take me to that town. I was told to take you to ......!

"To that city ......? ............ No way.

 It seems this boy was carrying the frog to town at the request of someone.
 He looks very young, but I guess he was on his way to a delivery job.
 But why such a poisonous frog?
 Why would he bring such a huge frog all the way to town?

 I see.
 I had a hunch.

 Poisonous creatures are usually tasty... Based on my rule of thumb, that frog's meat should be quite tasty if the poison can be managed.
 That's for sure.
 I don't know much about things, but I can tell you that, so it must be known to the public.
 It's no surprise that a large city would have the technology to deal with that poison.

 So... that frog...

"Was it a foodstuff?

 Everything makes sense when you think about it.

 Even a single frog of that size would have a considerable amount of meat, but when it comes to transporting fresh meat, the best way is to transport it alive.
 Initially, it was hidden from view, probably because of the danger to the surrounding area and the possibility of theft of meat.

 I see, so that's it.

 If that's the case, then I've ruined the important goods that this boy was supposed to deliver to the city by exploding them.

 What a mess.


 I didn't think that far ahead.

"Well, I've done a terrible thing. ...... I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I've done something really bad.

"............What ............?

 The boy's eyes widen as he looks at me.
 ...... Did I just say something wrong?

"Maybe it was ...... better ......? Even if you ruptured it.

 I'm not sure what to do, but I'm sure it's a good idea.

 ...... Good.
 Apparently, he's going to forgive me.

 I'm not sure why he was almost attacked, but I guess he thinks it's unavoidable in that situation.

But how did they get such a ferocious creature up here? It's not like he dragged it here.

 The boy's shoulders shook again and he said in a strained voice.

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

"Well, I can control demons. ......?

 I couldn't help but squirm in surprise.
 This girl just said that she can control demons.
 How is that even possible ......?
 A little kid like this can control a giant frog like that ......?
 And at this age?
 I wonder how he can acquire such a great skill.

It's a great skill to have. ...... Is there such a thing in the world?

"......What ......? Skills ......?

"No ......?

 The boy stiffened at my question.  
 What is he scared of from earlier?

I was born with the ability to do that ...... because I'm a demon .......

"Oh, I was born with ......?

 I was even more astonished and winced.
 I didn't know there were people who were born with such power.
 After all, the world is a big place.
 The world is full of things I don't know.
 To meet such an interesting person out of the blue, you have to go outside the city...

"...... are you born with the ability to do that ...... is amazing. It really is a gift from heaven.

"......What ......???

 The boy seemed to be upset about something.



Oh, that ...... I'm a demon tribe ......!

"Oh, so you're saying that the Ma tribe is a tribe that has these abilities, and it's normal there? I'm a member of the ...... tribe. I can't tell you how many times I've wished I had that ability. ......

 In the past, caring for livestock in the mountains was both fun and hard work.

 The livestock could be left alone in the daytime when the weather was fine, but at night they had to be brought back to the hut because they might be attacked by wild animals.
 It's a lot of care and management.

 Even when I ask them to help me in the fields, it's hard to get them to listen to me when I'm raising new animals, even if they've been with me for a long time.
 At such times, I used to think that it would be much easier if I could talk to the animals.

 I never imagined that there was actually someone who could do such a thing. ...... The world is really big.

 The world is really big.
 Just because I go outside of King's Landing a little bit, I can meet so many unknown things.
 Perhaps the real thrill of adventure lies in the places around us....

 I was deeply moved by this thought.

"............ eh ............

 The boy's eyes widened and he looked at me with a look of surprise.
 ...... Did I say something funny?
 I didn't mean to do that at all.

I'm sure you're not afraid of my ...... demons, are you? Don't you hate my ......?

"...... No. I don't think I'm scared of them,......? I don't like ......?

 I feel like I'm not really on the same page with this boy.
 To be honest, I don't understand half of what he's saying.
 I don't know where he gets the idea that he's afraid of this little boy.
 Also, I don't understand what you mean about disliking new people.
 Leanne was a very strange girl, and I couldn't understand her, but this girl is also a very strange girl.

 Perhaps sensing my curious expression, the boy explained a little.

"Some people are afraid of ...... this power and some people don't like ...... it," he said.

"I see, so that's what you're talking about... some people are strange.

 I can only answer that way.
 I've never heard of this type of animal hater.
 I've heard that there are a few of them. .......

 Anyway, it's a kind of thing I can't really understand.

I don't think that's anything to be concerned about. I don't care what anyone says, it's a very useful skill. No matter what you think.

"...... useful...?

Yeah, you can help with the livestock, find a lost cat, ...... anything.
 It's also good for getting people to help you with your farm work, and if you can use birds, delivering letters? ...... There are many other things you can do.



 As I was saying all the things I could think of, for some reason, the boy began to cry raggedly.

"I wonder if ...... I can ...... help ...... anyone, even ...... me. ......?

 The boy continued to cry as he looked at me, tears streaming down his face.

 I wondered if he had recently been through something difficult.
 Maybe he's not a very good ...... member of the tribe, or something.
 But it's a big world.
 But it's a big world, and you can't really rely on such internal evaluations.

 Anyway, can you help ......?
 I think this girl underestimates herself too much.
 She's got such a great talent.

It's not surprising. You have such a great talent, but you don't have to be so despicable.
 I have no talent whatsoever, but I'm still able to get by like this.

I'm sure you'll be able to figure out how to do it. ...... Are you really ......? You'll be able to find a lot of people who are interested in this kind of thing. I don't know.

 The boy kept crying as he faced me.

 ...... Why do I think like that?

 It's really an enviable talent to have.
 It's a shame that you don't realize that you are blessed with talent.

 He's a boy with a kind heart who's willing to forgive my mistakes...

 Maybe he's not in that situation right now, but I'm sure there will come a time soon when he'll be needed by everyone.

 Everyone knows it, even I know it.

 So I waited until the boy stopped crying...
 I waited until the tears stopped.
 I put my hand on his head and said firmly and audibly.

"Yes, of course... much more than I could... if you wanted to.