My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger Chapter 956 - 957: Excuse Me My Good Man

Without a second thought, he advanced boldly.

Danger should have loomed large.

Yet Damon was essentially part demon.

Horns adorned his head, though he typically concealed them.

In this place, integration came easily.

Indeed, thoughts of trimming his horns a bit flickered in his mind for a more authentic appearance.

Seras gave a nod of approval.

'Very well. You may lead a team alongside you.'

Damon had his choices clear in mind.

'Wendy, Renata, and Matia will join me.'

These were the few aware of his hidden truth.

Renata herself belonged to the demonkin.

To her, this land felt like a return to roots.

Lana chewed her lower lip sharply, then lifted her staff toward Seras.

'Commander, with utmost respect, this cannot happen.'

Though her tone quivered, she pressed on resolutely.

'The Grand Duke commanded us to ensure Lord Damon survives and returns safely.'

She directed her staff at Damon.

'Yet you're dispatching him on what amounts to a death sentence!'

Seras observed her with steady composure.

Tension etched the faces of the Brightwater Knights standing behind Lana.

Their agreement was evident.

'I'm not dispatching him,' Seras responded evenly. 'He offered to go.'

Damon gestured casually to ease the situation.

'Ease off. It's a minor issue. I've got it under control.'

Silas, captain of the knights, had remained silent up to this point.

Now he moved ahead.

'My lord, none doubts your courage,' he stated with caution. 'However, stepping into a demon city would make you conspicuous right away. Blending in seems impossible.'

Damon was prepared with a response.

But Seras interjected ahead of him.

From her cloak, she drew forth a handful of brooches and flung them over.

They landed with a clink close to Damon's boots.

'Disguise brooches, these are,' she explained.

'Perfect for modifying looks, though they solely append demon traits.'

Arms folded across her chest.

'Horns, wings, tails—they can bestow such features. The illusions appear genuine and tactile.'

A subtle narrowing touched her eyes.

'Still, illusions they remain. If wings are added, flight won't come unless you possess innate wings or cast flight spells.'

Pivoting to Lana next.

'Your boldness earns my praise,' Seras uttered in a frosty tone. 'Loyalty like yours leaves an impression.'

Her stare intensified.

'Precisely why you breathe still.'

The weight in her words struck Lana with tangible might.

Briefly, it seemed myriad unseen blades encircled her form.

Her legs weakened.

Collapsing to the earth, perspiration poured from her brow as she fought to lift her gaze.

At the same time, Damon scooped up a brooch, a smile playing on his lips.

Excitement bubbled within him.

An opportunity to roam demon settlements.

Seras passed him a compact enchanted sheet.

'Daily reports, make them,' she instructed. 'Stay in touch with updates.'

A light tap on the parchment followed.

'When needed, I'll reach out and set up a meeting point.'

Gravity settled over her features.

'Our goal—don't forget.'

'The Snake Temple.'

Eyes narrowing at him once more.

'And rein in that fiery temper.'

With a nod, Damon affixed the brooch to his attire.

Horns sprouted forthwith from his scalp.

Shadowy wings unfurled across his shoulders.

Lana gnawed her lip anew before rising gradually.

Her eyes fixed on Damon.

'I'll... accompany you.'

Damon's mouth quirked oddly.

'Uh... that's truly unnecessary.'

'I must insist.'

Determination hardened her voice.

'Abandoning you in hostile lands is unthinkable. A Radiant Knight's honor forbids it.'

Posture erect with pride, she declared.

'Our role is to shield and strike for you. Count me in.'

Damon regarded her in stunned silence.

Didn't knights follow commands?

What drove this obstinacy?

Her presence was the last thing he desired.

Plans involved dubious demon dealings in their midst.

Ideally, unobserved.

'No,' he countered swiftly. 'Remain behind.'

Regrettably, no solid reason surfaced.

Seras observed the back-and-forth in silence.

A slight inclination of her head came then.

'She's right, I concur.'

Damon pivoted gradually.

'A knight's duty aligns perfectly,' Seras went on with poise. 'Lana joins your party.'

'But I don't believe—' Damon began.

Seras dismissed it with a wave.

'Settled.'

She faced elsewhere.

'She's coming along.'

Over her shoulder, without a glance, came her addition.

'Gather your gear.'

Ultimately, as expedition leader, Seras sealed the choice.

Soon after, Damon clad himself in a flowing journey cloak, a satchel slung across his back. Prominent horns arched from his forehead, while expansive bat-wing illusions extended behind.

He gave them a tentative flex.

Then, with intent, he retracted them.

The appendages tucked away, vanishing under the veil.

'Impressive,' he whispered.

Lana shook her head at once.

'Far from impressive, my lord. Utterly not. Those grotesque appendages mar your striking features.'

Damon rubbed his neck sheepishly.

'Uh... appreciate it, Lana.'

His gaze shifted to her.

'You pull off the look decently too.'

A pout formed on her face immediately.

Displeasure at her own demon wings was plain.

Differing from Damon, no horns graced her. Among female demonkin, such were absent. Horns marked males, symbols of virility, it was said.

Thus, Damon might have exaggerated his horns' size just a touch.

The concealed camp faded behind as they departed, while Seras guided the expedition further into the woods for a secret outpost.

Damon's team descended a mild slope.

Their aim was straightforward.

Locate a demon village or metropolis.

Their fabricated tale was set.

Hailing from a remote highland hamlet, the mightiest warriors there. Wanderers venturing forth as adventurers to discover beyond.

The path proved tranquil.

Now and then, stray beasts crossed their way.

Harmless sorts.

Weaklings such as arachnids and minor critters that fled upon detecting the party's power.

A twinge of letdown nagged at Damon.

Tales painted the Demon Continent as nightmarish.

Thus far, it registered as...

Dull.

The beasts lacked menace even.

At length, a road split appeared, marked by a leaning timber sign.

They paused to decipher it.

Various settlement names etched thereon, with pointers guiding sundry ways.

As Damon began to scan the inscriptions, his head snapped up.

From the left route, a band of beings neared.

Redcap goblins.

Rudimentary arms and bloodied gear clad them.

Upon sighting Damon's party, all braced instinctively.

Bracing for shrieks.

Hostility.

Assault.

But instead...

Mere stares from the goblins.

Their chief offered a gruff bow of acknowledgment.

A guttural salutation in rough common speech escaped him, and on they trudged past.

Surprise widened Damon's eyes.

Memory dawned then.

Beings like redcap goblins, alongside sundry savvy monsters, faced disdain from the Goddess Races.

Yet amid the Demon Continent...

Acceptance reigned.

Damon eyed his allies.

A hand lifted in gesture.

'Pardon, sir.'

Utterance Damon scarce imagined directing at a goblin.

Least of all a redcap breed.

Past clashes with their ilk lingered.

The goblin band halted.

Their head pivoted to regard him.