She was still eating.
Shizu Izawa—the woman behind the mask, the bearer of something monstrous—was chewing through her meal like nothing was wrong. Like the very existence of a supposedly extinct race standing before her wasn't worth so much as a flinch.
Not fear. Not awe.
Just... casual chewing.
I cocked an eyebrow.
That's a better reaction than the other three, I suppose.
The adventurers began coughing, sputtering their food all over the tent floor in sheer shock.
"W-Woah! I thought all tieflings were extinct! I never imagined we'd be saved by a monster tribe led by one!"
"Oh! We're adventurers, by the way. This meat's amazing! We've been running for, like, three days? Barely ate anything. Thank you so much!"
"Didn't think hobgoblins were building a town out here, though…"
"Urrp—Koff! Glug glug!"
Idiots.
I scratched the back of my head, feigning a pleasant demeanor.
"Feel free to enjoy yourselves. We can talk business once you've had your fill."
It wasn't a lie, not really. Let them eat. Let them think they're safe. It buys me time to think.
Though gods, I really wished Vester was around—he's the one who taught the hobgoblins basic etiquette. You'd think a few evolution stages might come with table manners, but apparently that's too much to ask for.
Still, not worth fussing over. They were improving. Growing. Becoming more than what they were.
And that was enough.
For now.
I turned on my heel and left the tent. Watching people eat never did anything for me anyway. Besides—I had bigger concerns.
Shizu.
How do I save her?
Option one: Predator. Consume her. Isolate Ifrit. Contain him. Reconstruct Shizu using what remains of her soul and physical data—assuming there's enough left. But that leaves the problem of age. Her time is ticking. If I can't stop her natural decay, I might just resurrect a corpse with a pretty face.
Option two: Seek Veldora's help. His divine-class presence might hold a solution—he's connected to spiritual bodies and timelines in ways even Great Sage doesn't fully explain yet. Problem: I still have zero idea how to speak to him. Rimuru only managed it after his evolution, post-demon lord ascension.
Which I haven't achieved. Yet.
Option three: Degenerate + Sage = Raphael.
The ultimate combo. The only one I'm sure can unravel the core of her condition and craft a solution. Raphael can reforge skills, bodies, and even concepts themselves. But to evolve into it, I may need to sacrifice a part of myself… or her.
I could feel my jaw tighten at the thought.
Would I really trade her life for a skill?
The colder, calculating part of me said yes. The world isn't merciful, and neither am I. I didn't claw my way back from death to become sentimental over fate or pretty eyes. If it's her or me, then sorry—but Akuma survives.
And yet...
There was still her. Shizu, in the tent behind me, casually eating. Calm. Strong. Not screaming at my horns. Not reaching for her sword. Just... existing in my space like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Could I really let her die?
Could I really throw her soul into the grinder for a shot at Raphael?
I scoffed inwardly.
Dammit. I hate this.
I hate that this even feels like a dilemma.
I'm supposed to be beyond this kind of weakness.
The burden of command is sacrifice. I've made peace with that.
But when I looked at her—
When I saw those tired, ember-like eyes behind the mask quietly observing me...
—I wasn't so sure anymore.
"...Tch."
No decision. Not yet. No action without absolute certainty. That's my rule.
Until then, I'd keep her alive with the soul corridor and maintain the stasis. No risky moves until I had all the pieces. Shizu would live. And I would find another way.
Even if I had to carve it out of the world myself.
I nodded to the goblin guard outside the tent. "Escort the four of them to the cave when they're done."
Rigurd followed behind me like a well-trained hound, looking dejected. Probably about the manners thing.
"Don't worry about it," I told him as we walked. "We'll polish their behavior later. For now, survival comes first."
Back at my tent, I slumped into my seat, sighing as one of Rigurd's assistants brought over tea. It looked passable this time—light, not swamp-murky like the last attempt.
I took a sip.
Still bitter.
Fitting.
The tent flap opened a few moments later.
"Sorry 'bout that!" the adventurers chorused as they stepped inside, expressions sheepish.
You don't look sorry at all.
I narrowed my eyes just a little, enough to make the blonde girl—Elen, I believe—avert her gaze. Shizu, meanwhile, stared back without flinching.
As expected.
The goblins offered tea. The adventurers accepted it with delight, which brought a small smile to my lips. Good. Even if my children were born from evolution and naming rituals, they were mine. Seeing them play the part of civilization gave me pride in a way I couldn't explain.
"Good to see you again," I started, voice smooth, calm. "I've already introduced myself, but let me refresh it. Akuma Tempest. I lead this place. Now—what brings you all here?"
Kabal stepped forward, playing the "informal leader" card.
"Name's Kabal. This is Elen, and that's Gido. We're all B-Rank adventurers. I assume you know what that means?"
Was that supposed to impress me?
"I'm Elen, hi!"
"Gido. An honor."
B-rank, huh?
That meant they were capable, but nowhere near the level required to survive in Veldora's domain without divine luck or powerful equipment. And yet, they had survived. So either they had help… or they had secrets.
But I already knew which.
No need to stir the pot yet. They didn't know I knew. That gave me leverage.
"And this," Kabal added, "is Shizu. A temporary member of our team."
"Shizu. Charmed," she said with that same unreadable tone.
Gods, she was elegant even when exhausted.
"You too."
I kept my gaze steady. The truth is, I wanted to watch her every second I could. I wanted to study how much time I had left. How quickly the fire inside her was flickering out.
But I couldn't get distracted.
So I switched gears.
We got to talking. Or rather, they talked. A lot.
Their Guild had sent them to investigate "suspicious activity" near Veldora's cave. But the vague nature of their mission had left them directionless and confused.
"We're good scouts, yeah," Gido grumbled, "but we can't do everything."
"You do realize a tiefling built a town of goblins here, right?" I deadpanned. "And settled next to the spot where a sealed True Dragon disappeared?"
Silence.
They blinked.
"Oh... yeah... that is kinda weird," Elen muttered.
Even Shizu sighed.
I looked between them and rubbed the bridge of my nose.
These three are idiots.
But the girl?
The one with fire behind her mask?
Just wait, Shizu.
I will rewrite your ending.
Even if I have to break the world to do it.