The Hero’s Mentor is a Demon (King) Witch

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After conquering the Goblin Dungeon.

I stored the magic stones and refined them with my mana, while Lucius focused on collecting the more valuable items found within the dungeon.

“We ended up with a whole pouch of gold and silver coins….”

Lucius fiddled with the pouch of gold coins, wearing a displeased face.

“What’s wrong?”

“No, I just think of it as loot, but…”

“Does it feel too easy to obtain?”

“That’s not it.”

I wondered if Lucius was concerned that he had gained wealth too easily with the power of the Holy Sword, but he was preoccupied with something else.

“This is called loot, but these were someone’s belongings, right?”

“True.”

“…The fact that these came from goblins means they originally had owners, right?”

“Exactly.”

Goblins hoard treasures.

This isn’t because they engage in commercial activities, nor do they instinctively collect shiny things like crows.

Goblins have intelligence and understand the concept of currency used in the human world.

They are also aware that the treasures taken from humans are conveniently used in trade with other humans or different demon races.

In other words, all the loot we obtained consists of items acquired by goblins assaulting people.

“Should we try to find the owners?”

“No. The owners are probably already in the goblins’ bellies. I’m just… curious about how many of these dungeons exist in the world moving forward.”

“Your wish is to eradicate all the dungeons?”

“That’s not it. It’s just….”

Lucius placed his fist over his heart.

“If I follow my Master and traverse the world, I definitely want to eliminate dungeons with monsters that torment people.”

Lucius is the type of person who would clean up any mess on the street himself.

He’s a true rarity in this age, and even in previous eras.

The term ‘gentleman’ could easily be flipped to mean ‘fool.’

Lucius is kind, but he’s also easy to manipulate.

From the sidelines, it’s nothing short of frustrating, but when our interests align, there’s no one kinder or better than him.

“Alright. Since collecting magic stones is important anyway, let’s smash every dungeon we come across.”

“Is that really okay?”

“Yeah. I need those magic stones to recover my strength anyway.”

I clenched the magic stones Lucius had gathered in my hand.

Flicker.

A red flame began to dance in my hand, and the magic stone quickly melted away into me.

“That’s….”

“Witch’s magic. This way, I can draw the magical power from the stones into my body.”

The magic stone that had lost its mana was now melted and running like liquid across the back of my hand.

With the mana embedded inside gone, it resembled the slime’s slime-like form, and I gently moved my hand to shake off the remnants of the stone.

“…I’ll tell you in advance, I’ll die quickly without mana because of a wound I received long ago. So, my suggestion to explore dungeons is really just to extend my lifespan.”

“Is it to obtain magic stones?”

“Yep. Are you disillusioned?”

“No.”

Lucius planted the Holy Sword into the ground.

“Isn’t it all for the sake of sealing the Demon King that you, Master, have begun your activities after a long-time seal? And…”

“And?”

“If the magic stones are essential for your life extension, then it wouldn’t be strange to think of it that way even if it’s not for some grand cause. It’s natural for someone to want to live.”

“But I’m killing actual living goblins to survive.”

“Goblins are demons, aren’t they?”

“…That’s true.”

This is the difference in perspective between humans and demons.

Even after 500 years, one thing hasn’t changed; both humans and demons regard each other as beasts.

There’s nothing strange about that.

It was normal and it’s a long-standing history of grudges.

“I don’t know if this analogy is correct, but I think it’s similar to how humans kill beasts for meat when you, Master, kill demons for magic stones.”

“Thanks for the consideration.”

“It’s just the truth….”

“I’d appreciate it if you really thought that way.”

In a situation like this, it was very simple to avoid making Lucius uncomfortable.

“Thank you, Lucius.”

“…Yes.”

A genuine smile.

Not a single drop of mana is consumed by lifting the corners of my mouth.

Why bother with brainwashing magic and issuing commands!

With just one smile and a compliment, I could turn Lucius into a demon-slaying war machine.

“Shall we wrap things up here and move out?”

“I understand. But where are we going, Master?”

“Anywhere. I have a few places in mind.”

While there’s no specific destination, I know exactly where to go to determine our destination.

“Let’s head to a village.”

“Our village?”

“No. Another village. Somewhere with fewer prying eyes.”

“A-where there are fewer prying eyes…?”

“Right. I need to restock supplies.”

I pointed at Lucius and myself with a twig I picked up from the road.

“Take a look at our current condition. What do you think will happen if we walk around like this?”

“Uh, I think people would just see us as normal?”

“No, no.”

What’s our current situation?

“First, you. How do you feel right now?”

“Just normal…”

Lucius looks normal.

A regular white tunic, average brown pants, and a Holy Sword and ring that are anything but ordinary.

“No, no. You look completely out of place. It’s like a beggar wearing a crown.”

“…Even so, a beggar wouldn’t…”

“It’s a metaphor! But did I say something wrong? I’m not much different either.”

I’m wearing the borrowed clothes from Lucius’ house, and Lucius is also in his original clothes.

Even though goblin blood didn’t splatter on us because of the Holy Sword’s effect, I couldn’t avoid getting drenched in one’s own sweat pouring out from inside.

The once old clothes are gradually getting older.

“Let’s buy some clothes with the gold and silver coins we got from the dungeon. Especially you… I’ll make sure you’re properly equipped from head to toe, even undergarments.”

“Eh?!”

“Why are you so surprised? What do you think people will say if the Hero of the Holy Sword walks around in shabby clothes? Even if it’s not a frilly dress, don’t you think you should at least have the bare minimum?”

“E-even underwear?”

“Yeah. Something that absorbs sweat well.”

“Ah….”

“How cute, blushing because I mentioned underwear. You just became an adult a few days ago, but you still feel like a kid, huh?”

“I’m not!”

Lucius raised his voice.

“I’m a proper adult!”

“Then, since you’re an adult, I’ll ask: it’s a somewhat sensitive topic regarding our travels.”

“Go ahead!”

“Have you ever done it?”

“…Huh?”

Lucius froze.

Thinking he wouldn’t understand in words alone, I decided to demonstrate through action.

“This, you know, this.”

I reached out into the air, bending my waist back and forth three times.

“Master!!!!”

“Haven’t you done it? No need to answer. Just looking at you, it’s obvious you haven’t.”

“…….”

Lucius’ face turned bright red, but he couldn’t lie.

“Be careful. Someone as naïve as you is prime prey for succubi.”

“Is that why…?”

“Of course. Among young heroes who left the village, a whopping 29.8% ended up as succubus fodder.”

“Where did that 29.8% come from?”

“It’s statistics.”

Back in the days of the Demon King rampaging, succubus squads would lure young men to join the Demon King’s army.

Those promising youths would accept the dark mana and become mana slaves, becoming nutritional snacks for the nightmares.

“Even now, it’s not completely non-existent, right? Am I wrong? Did all the succubi perish?”

“…No, they are still alive.”

“That’s right. They still exist.”

How do I know about this? Because one of the seven Demon Kings in the demon world is the queen of nightmares—succubi.

“Alright. Since you said you haven’t done it, I’ll give a heads-up: you really need to be cautious. If a man can’t guard his lower half, he’s done for.”

“I—!”

Lucius began to thump his chest again.

“My first time will be with my beloved!”

“Y-yeah, good for you. Oh, wait.”

I tapped my finger on my lips.

“We’re talking about kissing, right?”

“…….”

“We were talking about kissing, right? You didn’t have any weird thoughts, did you? Of course not, I wouldn’t bring that up in a public place like this, right?”

“…….”

Lucius glared at me like he was wronged, and I motioned towards the outside.

“Let’s get going. You said it’s just one more day until the next village, right? So….”

At that moment.

“Shh.”

I signaled to Lucius about a presence sensed outside the cave.

“Is there something out there?”

“The Holy Sword…?”

“Hide it. It’s a person. And….”

I pointed at the old iron sword used by the goblins.

“Grab that, at least. I’ll handle the disguise.”

Outside the cave.

I felt an exceptionally unpleasant energy.

“…An Order?”

*

Outside.

The blonde woman tilted her head as she inspected the footprints left on the ground.

Her body was so voluptuous and sensual that even a nun’s habit couldn’t conceal it.

“It seems someone has been here.”

“Saintess, we don’t have time for this.”

The black-haired attendant who referred to the blonde woman as the Saintess was hardly able to stay still.

“We must head to the Village of the Holy Sword immediately. We need to secure the Hero!”

“Just a moment, just a moment. It seems the inside is a Goblin Dungeon.”

“Saintess!”

“Let’s eradicate them.”

The Saintess silently extended her hand downward.

“I am Yan Diere, Saintess of the Order of the Blue Moon Goddess. I cannot overlook demons.”

The blue divine power flowing from her hand formed a ‘huge lance.’

“Let’s go.”

The Saintess gripped the blue lance and stepped into the cave.