Reincarnated in a Shounen Manga - Chapter 270

Chapter 270 - We’re All Friends Now?

Despite there being no reason for Tamae no Mae to attack us, she still possessed that intense, threatening look in her eyes, as if she were on the verge of striking at any moment.

"When the barrier around the known world falls, I don't think there will be many demons from outside who would be willing to work with you," I attempted to entice her, making our partnership sound more appealing than it actually was.

"The barrier around the continent is falling?" The Demonic Exorcist mumbled, his eyes displaying a peculiar gleam.

He loved chaos and would likely thrive in those tumultuous times ahead.

Hopefully, his arrogance would lead him to pick a fight with someone significantly more powerful, and he dies. But that might be too much to hope for.

I would kill him myself, but he was slippery, and the last thing I wanted was to create a stronger enemy. Instead, having the Demonic Exorcist confronting me head-on was better. Direct confrontation was undoubtedly one of his weaknesses and was a far better option.

"Why did you reveal yourself to me, then?" She inquired.

"I want you to put a new barrier around the continent."

"No, even if you offered something I want, it would be too costly for me to put up a barrier around such a wide range. Unlike the Dragon King or Yamata no Orochi, I never could afford to throw my power around..." She glanced at the Demonic Exorcist. "Especially now."

“How about creating a barrier around a country?” I proposed, which had been my original objective.

"That is doable, but even then the barrier will need some very harsh conditions to stop demons. Like allowing humans to go through unimpeded, and even allow demons below ultimate class who didn't come from the outside world pass in with ease," Tamae no Mae suggested. Her form condensed, and her silver hair retracted from her body, transforming her into a silver-haired woman with fox-like ears and nine tails swaying behind her. Her purple eyes were enchanting, and I was almost lost in them. "Even then, you will have to stop the people inside from making contracts with the demons from outside. As that would allow said demons to pass through."

Her explanation flowed effortlessly, revealing her extensive knowledge of mystical and obscure arts. For a fleeting moment, I contemplated the benefits of having someone like her by my side... as a tamed demon.

But that was nearly impossible; someone like her was at the pinnacle of the ultimate class hierarchy. She was one of the rare ones among her peers who studied sealing and obscure mystical arts, making it highly likely that she could break free of my control if I were to attempt to tame her forcefully.

"Are you going to help me?" I asked.

Her intense gaze settled on me before she looked toward the Demonic Exorcist and said, "I will help you, as long as you give me his head."

“No, and that’s not something negotiable,” I immediately rebutted.

Did she think I couldn't see through her schemes? If I killed the Demonic Exorcist, what would stop her from going back on her word and trying to kill me as soon as I finished him off?

Someone placed a hand on my shoulder. It was the Demonic Exorcist, and he had misty eyes. “Wow, thanks, man. I didn’t know you cared about me that much.”

I pushed his arm away immediately, not wanting him to put his blood in me without my noticing. I was just as cautious about him as I was about Tamae no Mae.

And what was up with his reaction? The Demonic Exorcist was far from dumb; the guy was a genuine genius who, if he weren't crazy, could have probably revolutionized the way exorcists at large worked with Ord.

Fuck it, I'm too tired to deal with this right now.

Sighing, I turned toward the nine-tailed fox and made a counteroffer. “I know a way you can regain your power without needing to kill this murderer next to me.”

“Murderer? That’s kind of rude to call your new best friend.”

I decided to ignore the crazy bastard for the sake of my sanity.

“Oh! Look, this time he didn’t refute it even when I called him my best friend.”

Tamae no Mae stared at me with an expressionless face, and for a second, I thought her eyes glistened with sympathy. But that must have been my imagination. “You have some weird friends.”

“He’s not my friend.”

“Look, even she called us friends. There’s no need to refuse my friendship, friend,” The Demonic Exorcist was about to lean on my shoulder until he noticed water rising from the ground and forming into a water arrow pointed straight at his heart.

Tamae no Mae continued looking at us with a face that showed no emotion, but a part of me felt like she was enjoying the show. She cleared her throat. “Anyway, tell me the method you think of that could help me regain my power… one that doesn't involve killing your best friend.”

Did she just say ‘best friend’? Oh, this bitch! I knew she was having fun with this.

Despite the annoyance of dealing with both of them, I tried to keep my emotions under control and act like it didn't bother me. “You just need to consume different types of fox demons, preferably foxes with many tails. If they’re in the ultimate class, one or two of those would help you regain your full power.”

Eating too many ultimate-class demons would be dangerous even for her, but she should be capable enough to prevent a demon seed from taking root within her.

“There are no ultimate-class fox demons on this side of the world,” she said, rubbing her chin, her gaze sharpening. “Are you implying that I can only regain my power once the barrier falls? That seems rather convenient for you.”

“You could also use high-class fox demons, I am sure you have many under your rule,” I suggested.

“That would only drive them away, as I would lose my support base,” she walked closer, her red kimono barely clinging to her body. Her purple, hypnotic eyes met mine as she leaned forward. “No matter how I look at this, it just seems too skewed in your favor. What if this doesn't work? You would end up having a barrier, I would have fought against an ultimate class demon and suffered more needless injuries, or at best I would have lost my support base.”

“It seems like you will have to take my word for it,” I shrugged, maintaining eye contact, and when her charm began to affect me, I activated Perfect Me for a second. “You could also ask Yamata no Orochi, as he had eaten some hydras in the past and recovered after the fight against the one who must not be named.”

“One who must not be named?” She looked momentarily confused, then her eyes widened in pure shock. “How does a human know about that?!”

She seemed almost panicked... What was up with that?

This all but confirmed that the tales in that book were true. After all, why else would Tamae no Mae, one of the strongest demons out there, tremble like a traumatized victim?

“You should accept his offer,” the Demonic Exorcist interjected once again.

How many times had he done this now? Wasn't this the same guy who promised not to speak during this negotiation?

He continued, “I've already used your power to transform myself into a royal fox demon. Even if you were to eat me now, you wouldn't regain your full power.”

Tamae no Mae narrowed her eyes dangerously at the Demonic Exorcist, and I did the same.

He immediately raised his hands, saying, “Hey man, I thought we were all being truthful here. You know, if I kept this hidden from my new friends it would be an asshole move.”

“I am not your friend,” Tamae no Mae radiated an aura filled with killing intent, making it seem like the ground shook.

“Alright, can we get back on track here?” I said, feeling that this negotiation had become more tiresome than I had expected. At this point, I was starting to think that battling it out might have been easier.

Tamae no Mae calmed down, withdrew her killing intent, and stared at me. “I will do it, as long as my power is returned and if you have lied to me about this, then today you will have made your worst enemy.”

"Of course," I nodded.

The Demonic Exorcist's hair began flickering white due to the demonic resonance caused by his proximity to the nine tails. I couldn't help but wince at the thought of how the murder hobo had the potential to grow as powerful as Tamae no Mae.

Before Tamae no Mae could become angry again, I asked her, "By the way, couldn't you have recuperated that power on your own?"

"You're quite knowledgeable," she nodded. "But that would take hundreds of years, and with the barrier crumbling, I don't have that kind of time anymore."

"So, a truce?" I offered her my hand, and she took it. Her hand was soft and cold, her long nails touching my skin, sending a chill down my spine. "If you ever get injured by outside demons, you can call me, and I will help if I can. It would be good for both of us to have more sane demons among us who don't necessarily want humanity to end."

She nodded and smiled gently.

"Booo~" the Demonic Exorcist jeered from the sidelines. "Why are you both cowards? I was expecting a fight to the death!"

Tamae no Mae turned around, opened her mouth, and without hesitation, breathed out flames at him.

Sadly, the flaming shield demon with human arms and hairy legs stood in front of the Demonic Exorcist, protecting him from the flames. Tamae no Mae sighed in annoyance, turned toward me, and nodded.

Just like that, the deal was sealed.

"Yes, now we are all friends! Group hug!" The Demonic Exorcist exclaimed.

I looked at Tamae no Mae and nodded. "You can kill him now. He is kinda of useless."

Unfortunately, the Demonic Exorcist seemed to have realized that he had pushed us too far. He did a finger salute as a blood whirlpool formed around him, and he disappeared.

Hopefully, I would never meet him again, and he would die in some unknown ditch. But I had a gut feeling that the bastard would somehow survive. He always did.

"Why did he antagonize both of us? What does he gain from it?" Tamae no Mae asked. "We are two of the strongest creatures on this side of the barrier."

"I have no idea how that guy's mind works," I shook my head.