As I felt the remaining blood on my sword, I detected the human scent. I hesitated about it, but when I licked it, my uncertainties vanished.
'Were these demons human? But I don't care. Humans or not, anyone who gets in my way will be sliced.'
Right after that, Saggy Breasts scrutinized them as if she had some doubt.
'Had she noticed too?'
"No doubt, they're controlled humans," Saggy Breasts said.
"I understand. I'll cut both demons into pieces."
'What?'
I truly didn't understand, but one thing I was sure of: I was misinformed. While Max was busy dismembering the demons, Saggy Breasts cast a glance in my direction.
"Don't tell me you didn't know? Kiahaha!"
"It doesn't matter if they were humans. I'll cut them if they get in my way," I said, but deep down, I hoped my statement was true.
Saggy Breasts stared at me again and smiled. That's when I realized that maybe I had said something reckless, and I began to worry. I hated being humiliated; that was exclusively my job.
"I can't believe you'd kill your own kind. It's truly monstrous," Saggy Breasts said arrogantly.
"Don't make me repeat myself," I said with a serious look.
"I bet you'd try to kill me at the first opportunity," Saggy Breasts claimed.
"Definitely," I confirmed with a smile.
"You monster. Try to kill me then!"
"It will be a pleasure."
I didn't think I'd have this opportunity so soon, my prey practically begging to be killed. What a foolish move. I gripped my two swords, ran, and leaped toward her. I could see the terror in her eyes, and, out of respect, I used the same technique I had used to decapitate two demons.
"Kiaaahhhh!" Saggy Breasts screamed, but it was too late.
'First form. Kotxi Swivel!'
I felt the blades hit the target, but the cut sounded different. That damn Max had intervened and blocked my killing technique. I was deeply annoyed by that.
"Were you really planning to kill her?" Max asked with a serious face.
"Isn't it obvious?" I replied as I got up from my crouched position.
Watching Saggy Breasts trembling in fear, I decided that it was enough for today; with some people, I preferred to humiliate them slowly. I sheathed my weapons, turned my back, and took a few steps away from them.
"And are you an idiot? Don't provoke him if you value your life," Max shouted at Saggy Breasts.
"Y-yes," Saggy Breasts replied, trembling.
'I missed my chance to kill that bitch, but there would be another time. For now, I would watch her fear me with every moment of her short life.'
"And Izumi."
"What?"
"You didn't leave any demons for me. Why?"
"The one who acts first wins," I replied with a smile.
"Damn!" Max said while staring at me, "I'll win next time!"
"There won't be a next time."
'Even though I thought Max was a bastard, I would never try to kill him. He was the son of the town leader who knew my mother's secrets.'
We continued to advance, but I still had doubts about why they were dismembering the demons. However, my pride wouldn't allow me to stoop so low as to ask such a question.
Five days had passed, and we still hadn't reached the location of the first fearless one. We hadn't encountered any demons worth mentioning because they were incredibly weak.
I hoped that the fearless ones would at least provide a challenge for me, and I was starting to doubt the accuracy of the map Max claimed would lead us to the first fearless one. It seemed like the map was guiding us on an uncomplicated path, which was becoming extremely boring.
"We've been walking for five days, and still no fearless ones," Saggy Breasts panted.
"To reach the fearless ones, it will take another three days."
"What???"
"Give up and die."
"Of course not, I've come too far for that," Saggy Breasts whispered, looking in the opposite direction from me, clearly still fearing my presence.
In the past few days, Saggy Breasts hadn't interfered with me, but today she dared to respond to me. It seemed like she had forgotten the terror I had inflicted on her days ago. Soon, I would make her remember.
"Hey, look, I found a village," Max shouted from a distance.
"Hm!"
I approached Max, and I could see a small, destroyed, and unprotected village in the distance. Demons could attack at any moment, and from the wreckage, it seemed like a recent event. However, I wasn't surprised by this, as I had no knowledge of the existence of other humans beyond those in Mangoland.
"I thought the only survivors were from Mangoland."
"How uninformed you are, Izumi."
"What?"
"Kikikiki!"
"For decades, the old fighters have confirmed the existence of other humans surviving these troubled times. Where do you think I got this map with the locations of the fearless ones?"
I felt humiliated. If I could go back in time and change this, I would. The only thing left for me was to pretend ignorance.
"They've suffered massive attacks."
"With this defense, it was expected," Saggy Breasts said.
We descended to the village. I could smell the scent of blood embedded in the ground and the destroyed walls. When we entered the village, we heard a loud noise.
"What is that?" Saggy Breasts asked.
"Be careful!"
As we advanced further into the village, more people appeared. Some cowered in fear, others prayed to a non-existent god, while the rest ran around, screaming and exchanging similar murmurs.
"We're going to die!"
"It wasn't supposed to be today!"
"God, help me!"
"Mommy, I'm scared. Waaaah!"
"I can't take it anymore…"
We kept walking, and two people stood out for not showing despair in the face of the situation. An old man accompanied by a young one, from their attire, seemed to be the village leader and his soldier.
"Who are you?" the old man asked.
"We are fighters from Mangoland," Max replied.
"Mangoland? Hm, I remember. You've come to kill the fearless ones, right?" The old man spoke while stroking his beard.
"Yes."
"But you're so young."
"We're young, but I'm the strongest in Mangoland," I said.
"The strongest?" Max asked.
"What are you saying? Max is the strongest."
"I won the fighter tournament," I said, smiling as I looked at Max.
"That…" Saggy Breasts said with a look that denoted resignation and acceptance of her defeat.
Now, I was feeling much better. I had overcome all the humiliation I had felt before, and there was no way they could deny it.
"Idalme, you don't need to say anything else. When all of this is over, we'll decide who's stronger. Izumi."
"Whenever you want. Max," I retorted, smiling.
"It's nice to be young. If you want, you can follow me to my quarters."
"Yes," Saggy Breasts replied.
"No."
Of course, I wouldn't waste my time in a completely destroyed village with no demons to kill. There were only three days left to reach the first fearless one, and my time was far too valuable to be wasted on insignificant people.
"If you don't want to, better for me."
"I don't want to waste my time in a village. I want to face the fearless ones as soon as possible."
"Izumi, we don't need to be in such a hurry. Maybe they know the exact location of the fearless one."
"If you want, we can provide information."
"What information?" I asked.
"But with one condition."
'This old man must be crazy. Does he think he can propose conditions? I think old age has hit him right in the brain to not understand the critical situation he's in. But I'll play his game and decide what to do in the end.'
"What condition?" I asked.
"That you exterminate the demon that will come tomorrow."
'Now, yes, this old man is speaking my language. Before, he didn't have my curiosity, but now he has my attention.'
"What is this demon like?" Max asked.
"Accompany me, and then I'll tell you how terrible this demon is," The old man said with a serious face.
"Interesting."