On The Other Side: I Quit Being Human

Chapter 287 The Puppeteer (2)

Three days passed after the death of the Grand Paladin but the uproar of his death only happens now. The Temple takes its time in establishing proper cooperation with the remaining human Kingdoms before announcing Barnabas' death.

Expecting the Temple to propagate more bad things about me, I was slightly surprised when it declared Brianna dead a day ago. I am sure it has ways to figure out whether Brianna is already dead. Like the God of this world, though, it decided to throw Brianna away. A lot of its avid followers panicked but their worry is quenched today.

After it announced Barnabas' death, it announces the new Holy Maiden who replaces Brianna. She is someone from Cresundia, which is not surprising since it currently has the closest tie with the Temple.

"It is crazy to think that only Lady Valeria can make you remain here."

The remark of the person who is standing beside me awakened me from my thought. I look sideways, and reply, "She just has perfect timing. Nothing interests me for the time being, so I want to spend my time looking around and see how everyone does in this mega city of ours."

"So, what are you doing standing here, then?"

"I am waiting for you, Millonia."

I can see Millonia physically gulp down the insult that she had prepared for me should I say something stupid. Her cheeks redden afterward, but not for long since she regains her composure quickly.

She clears her throat and then acts as if my words didn't affect her at all. "Well, I wonder if you need something from me."

Turning my gaze to the garden that I am looking at from the foyer, I watch as the human maids take care of the garden. I heard that Solas, the former King was a strict person. No one was allowed to enjoy their job. Seeing how happy the maids are doing their job convinces me more that I am doing a good job.

"You want to invite them to your bed too?" Millonia asks disdainfully.

"That is not the case, dear," I retort. "Seeing how happy they are at doing their job makes me wonder how many people feel the same. Since you already know everyone in the palace complex and where to find them, I want you to take me on a tour."

"Really? You don't need to lie. Lady Valeria won't kill you even if you express your perverted desire. She might leave you, though," Millonia replies with a smirk. "Anyway, why do you act like you don't know anything about this place? I know you have every information about all of the happenings in Antares."

"What I get is evaluation as long as it is not something major. Elizabeth is doing her job well—nothing out of the ordinary. I always get that, so I don't know how Elizabeth feels. Therefore, I think I must see how she does directly with my eyes."

"Did Lady Valeria refuse to accompany you on your 'observation' for that reason?"

"No, silly. She is training the girls right now." Turning my gaze back to Millonia, I ask, "So, are you down for it?"

She shrugs as if she doesn't care but she can't hide the excitement in her eyes. "Whatever. It's not like it is troublesome for me."

I offer her an arm and she immediately hooks hers to it. Leaving the foyer, we head to the garden. I can't help turning my eyes to her and showing my 'are you kidding?' look at her decision but she casually waves it off. She says that I still need a closer look at the maids. We leave after the maids lose focus on their job as they throw glances at me from time to time.

Millonia is irritated. She looks at me as if I am a sexual predator who deserves immediate execution. I have explained to her many times that I never casually let my pheromone out after what it did to her. She knows it is the case but she always forgets it whenever there is a female glancing my way.

After the garden, we visit the kitchen. I have never eaten anything the cooks make because Millonia always makes my food, but I get curious about how good the cooks cook the moment I smell the aroma of the food they make.

"We greet Lord Layland!" leaving whatever they are doing, they greet me politely.

I wave my hand. "Don't mind me. Please, focus on your job and serve me the dish that you are about to finish cooking."

"Yes, Lord!"

Turning to me, Millonia says, "You could've just told me if you are hungry."

"No, I am not." I shake my head. "Valeria cooked for me this morning. I just want to taste the food they make."

Nodding her head in understanding, she then takes me to the dining room. The dining room was previously reserved for the royal family. Since I like how the Warriors in Verniculos can eat in the castle's dining room, I increased the size of the palace's dining room, and let the soldiers eat there. Therefore, when I enter the dining room, every soldier turns their head at me.

They stand up straightly before kneeling in respect. "We greet Lord Layland!"

"Please, don't mind me and enjoy your food, everyone." I wave my hand lightly.

The soldiers heed my instruction but still glance at me from time to time. Ignoring their gaze, Millonia and I take a seat. Not even a minute passed, and a maid rushes at us, delivering two plates of gratin—they smell amazing. I thank the maid and spoon the gratin as she leaves.

Millonia has never made me a gratin but I know she will make a better one. Despite so, the gratin that the cooks made tastes wonderful. I look around to see if I am the only one who is having a pleasant experience. It turns out that the soldiers are too. The cooks deserve their pay, so I nod my head appreciatively.

Finishing the gratin, we leave the dining room afterward. Millonia has a calculative look on her face, so I flick her forehead.

"What?" she says calmly, not even angry in the slightest.

"They have done a good job. There is no need to chastise them."

"No. I was just thinking about what I could do to…wait, how did you know?"

"There was a hint of Millonia in the gratin."

Millonia blushes but still scoffs as if it is ridiculous. "Just tell me that your spies told you."

"I don't spy on people I trust." I wave my hand.

"Oh…"

Millonia becomes quiet. She hooks my arm tighter afterward and then skips on her step. I don't know what makes her happy. It can be the fact that I said I trust her or the fact that I could tell she taught the cooks how to cook. Either way, it is quite baffling to see her get excited by such a trivial matter.

Millonia wants to take me to the infirmary, but the moment I tell her that I already know every Succubus there, she looks at me scathingly. She thinks for a moment and eventually decides to take me to the training ground.

She tells me that everyone is dying to train together with me. That is quite baffling, since the last time I trained with them, I sent hundreds of them to the infirmary. Environment affects you, indeed. After spending months training with the Warriors, the soldiers have also become battle maniacs.

The training ground is an open ground surrounded by trees. I am tempted to make an arena, but I don't want to encourage the crazy bastards to send hundreds of people to the infirmary every day. It is not within the palace's complex but is still nearby. Because of that, curious people may spectate the soldiers and the Warriors training.

When I say curious people, I hope adults are the ones who come to spectate. Seeing kids excitedly watch the soldiers beat each other doesn't sit quite right with me.

"Layland, have you finally decided to join us?" Velucan greets me with a laugh. "Oops. Sorry for not mentioning your title."

"What a rare occasion to find you here, Commander Layland," Lemius greets politely.

Everyone's attention turns to me. Like the kids that I just passed, they look at me excitedly. They can't wait to exchange blows with me and lose. I can see it in their eyes and I don't know what to think about it.

"Don't mind me. I am just loitering around." I wave my hand.

"It is rare to see you having time to loiter around. You are not busy, are you, Commander?" Velucan asks with a cheeky smile. "Would you mind giving us some pointers, Commander?"

"That is a good idea. I believe Commander Layland will have some insight to share with us. Nothing beats his insight, so it shall be a very fruitful activity," Lemius supports.

Turning to the purple-haired Demon, I look at him with a quirked eyebrow. I wonder if he has something against me. Lemius just nods his head, encouraging me to accept the request. I am about to refuse it, but what Neroel said about how the troop fought flashed in my mind. I hum to myself and eventually nod my head.

"Very well. Let's do it."

After saying that, I notify Maxine, telling her that quite some people will crowd the infirmary. She tells me not to overdo it because Celia is currently on rest. I say yes, but I don't promise anything to her. I can't predict how this will end up.

Telling the troop to assume the formation, I watch as they do it in a second. There seems to be nothing wrong with the formation, so I tell them to come at me. They are shocked but do it regardless. This is the moment when I find out why the number of dead Warriors increased.