I float in the same void that followed my death. I float, float, float; I couldn't hear or feel anything. It felt like a slumber of eternity, an endless drift through darkness, until Miss Chronos's voice pierced the silence.
"Information! Magic essence back to normal level!"
Eh? Oh yeah. I received a heavy influx of magic from killing that man. He was weak, but who knew he had so much more essence than me? But yeah, I remember… was that Samui? It was Samui, right? Damn… did I die again? Where am I?
"No!"
So, where am I?
"You are in a state of coma due to excessive intake of essence!"
So… can I wake up?
"Yes, you can! But it will take time for your mind to fully regain consciousness."
So… how much time?
"Not comprehensible!"
Eh? How long have I been in a coma?
"It has been one month!"
What the… one month?
Oh yeah… I remember those arms. Was that my imagination?
"No! Due to excessive mana, your body has evolved! During evolution, a person's body changes to resemble that of the individual they admire. Due to your undying devotion to the individual Shiva, your body has grown extra limbs similar to his!"
So… due to my devotion to Lord Shiva, I've grown extra limbs?
"Yes!"
Eh? What was that voice?
"Master! Master!" A voice echoed, sounding remarkably like Samui. Suddenly, I felt a strong pull, as if I was being sucked away from the void. What the hell is happening?
"Seems like you are waking up from your coma!"
Eh?
My eyes began to flutter open.
"Master! Master!" A girl cried out as I opened my eyes.
"Who… are you?" I mumbled, but before I could finish, the girl ran away, leaving me in an unfamiliar place.
"Where am I?"
I glanced around and realized I was in a house.
Eh?
Then I saw the two extra arms growing from my shoulder blades, protruding outwards.
Can I move them?
Nothing. No response. It seemed like I couldn't control them yet. Then, I heard footsteps approaching.
Creeeekkkk…
The door opened, and that little girl appeared again, this time with another girl who seemed familiar.
"Who are you both—ehh?"
As I was about to ask, they both dropped to their knees, their heads touching the ground.
"Master! We are blissful to see you again!" the new girl spoke.
Eh? Master? Who are you?
With a small chuckle, the new girl said, "I am Samui."
Eh? S… Samui? Samui? But… you're different?
"Master! Due to your evolution, I have evolved too!"
So… my evolution caused you to evolve too?
"Yes, Master!"
"So… who is the other girl? And first of all, where the hell are we?"
"Master! This girl is the daughter of one of the demons you summoned! And as to answer your questions, please come with me!"
My mind raced. What does she mean by summoned? Who did I summon? When?
Kreekkk… the window opened.
I looked out and saw a small village filled with quaint houses and people bustling about.
"W… what is this?"
"Master! While you were asleep, we decided to make a small settlement. I humbly beg your pardon for not seeking your permission first…"
Eh? That's okay, I suppose…
I thought back to what Miss Chronos said about summoning.
"But… Samui, I don't remember summoning this many demons."
"Oh, Master! Originally, you had only summoned about fifteen demons, but as days passed, they reproduced and filled the village with more demons."
Eh? But… how did they grow so much in just one month?
With a small chuckle, Samui replied, "Master, demons like us—or should I say, with a strong Master like you—have a high growth rate. In terms of size, we grow into proper adults in just a few weeks, but it takes hundreds of years to fully mature into adult demons."
I see…
As I gathered my thoughts, I realized the enormity of what I was witnessing. The village was bustling with activity. Demons of various shapes and sizes, some resembling the ones I had summoned, moved about with purpose. There were not just demons; I also spotted goblins and orcs among them. They all looked up at me as I peered out from the window, their expressions a mix of reverence and curiosity.
I took a deep breath, trying to process everything.
"What's going on here?"
The people saw me peeking from the window, and as if on cue, they all knelt, their heads bowed to the ground.
"Master! We are too blissful to be in your presence!" they said in unison.
Eh… the hell…?
"So, Samui, do you know how I can control—or at least hide—these arms?"
"Eh? But, Master, I think they're pretty! They make you look like a truly intimidating figure!"
Well, that's right… but how do I control them?
"Oh, Master! To control them, you have to simply adapt to them. Instead of using your real arms, try to use your new arms to make them more usable and free."
I got it. So, what are we waiting for? Let's go down!
We three walked down the stairs, stepping onto the ground floor, and then exited the house. It was quite spacious, much larger than I had anticipated.
"Master! Master! You look so beautiful!" the villagers exclaimed as they crowded around us, showering me with compliments.
Until suddenly…
"Iidiots! Get back to work! Master will now manage you all!"
Samui looked authoritative, resembling a boss figure.
All the villagers flinched, visibly scared, and hurriedly returned to their tasks.
Except for one girl…
"Hmm… who is that?" I asked Samui, pointing to the girl lingering at the edge of the crowd.
Samui appeared annoyed and replied, "Master… she is one of the original demons you summoned, but somehow, she became a dragonoid instead of a demon. She happens to call herself your daughter. Due to your shared knowledge of history, she has similar knowledge as you, and she possesses natural strength similar to yours."
Eh? My… daughter?
That girl ran to me, beaming, and hugged my waist tightly.
"Lord Father! I am happy to see you!"
She spoke in a cute voice that made my heart swell.
"Hello? What is your name?"
"My name is Yukari! Your only daughter!"
I see…
Yukari looked so innocent and bright, contrasting sharply with the demons I had summoned. Her dragonoid features, with vibrant scales and delicate wings, added to her charm.
"Yukari, huh? That's a beautiful name."
"Thank you, Father!" she chirped, still clinging to my waist.
"So, what have you been doing all this time?" I asked, trying to understand her better.
"Well, I learned a lot from you! I studied history and magic! And I helped the villagers build the settlement!"
Her enthusiasm was infectious, and I couldn't help but smile.
"Wow, that's impressive! And how did you become a dragonoid?"
Yukari looked thoughtful for a moment. "I'm not sure, but when you evolved, I think some of that power transferred to me. I felt it coursing through me!"
That made sense. My evolution was not just a personal change but also affected those connected to me.
As I looked around at the bustling village, I realized how much had changed in just one month. These demons, once mere followers, had formed a community. The air was filled with the sounds of hammers striking metal, laughter, and the aroma of food being cooked. It felt alive and vibrant.
"Samui, how did you manage to get everyone organized?"
With a proud smile, she replied, "Master, after you fell into your coma, I took charge. I knew we needed to establish order and create a home for everyone, and I felt your presence guiding me. So, I rallied everyone and set up tasks for them. I felt it was my duty to ensure they all thrived."
"You did all of this while I was asleep?"
"Yes, Master! I wanted to honor you by ensuring your legacy continued while you rested."
Her dedication struck me deeply. I felt grateful and proud.
"So, what's the next step for us?" I asked, looking at Samui and then at the villagers.
"Master, we need to expand and strengthen our community. There are rumors of other demon factions nearby, and they may try to challenge us. We must be prepared to defend our home!" Samui explained, her tone serious.
Defending our home… that struck a chord with me. I felt a surge of determination.
"Alright, let's gather everyone for a meeting! I want to hear what they have to say."
Samui nodded, and she quickly organized the villagers to assemble in the central square.
As they gathered, I felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. This was my first opportunity to truly lead and shape this new community I had unwittingly created.
"Listen up, everyone!" I began, my voice steady but still trembling with the weight of leadership. "I know many of you are excited about this new settlement, but we must prepare ourselves. There are rumors of other factions wanting to challenge us. We cannot let that happen!"
The villagers nodded, some murmured in agreement, while others looked anxious.
"I want each of you to share your skills and knowledge.
What can you do to help us defend our home?"
One of the goblins stepped forward, his voice shaky but determined. "I can scout the nearby areas and gather information about potential threats!"
"Good! We need a scout. Thank you!"
Next, a burly orc raised his hand. "I can train others in combat. I've fought in many battles!"
"Excellent! We'll need all the training we can get."
One by one, the villagers began to share their skills—builders, healers, strategists, and more. The more I listened, the more I felt a sense of camaraderie forming.
As the meeting continued, I could feel my two extra arms twitching with excitement. They seemed to have a mind of their own, yearning for action.
Samui noticed my focus shift. "Master, how are you feeling about this?"
"I'm excited. There's so much potential here."
"Yes! And with your leadership, we can create something incredible."
"Let's make it happen!" I declared, and the crowd erupted in cheers, their enthusiasm infectious.
As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over our village, I knew this was just the beginning.
Together, we would forge a new destiny, one that was powerful and unyielding.
After the meeting, I turned to Yukari. "Are you ready to help us build this community?"
Her eyes sparkled with determination. "Yes, Father! I want to do my part!"
"Then let's get started!"
As the stars began to twinkle in the night sky, we set to work, planning our defenses and strengthening our bonds. This village was more than just a settlement; it was a home, a family, and together, we would face whatever challenges lay ahead.
In that moment, I felt a sense of purpose I had never experienced before. I had a family, a community, and now I would protect them with everything I had.
With renewed strength, I looked at my new arms, realizing they were not just symbols of my evolution but tools for our future. I would learn to wield them, to control my newfound power, and I would do it for them—my family.
And so, under the watchful gaze of the moon, our story truly began.