On The Other Side: I Quit Being Human

Being embraced like a friend by Velucan, which was something Layland had never experienced in his life, he didn\'t know what to do in that situation. He could only stand there rigidly like a statue, portraying himself as a stiff guy in the people\'s mind.

You might normally think that if someone didn\'t reciprocate your gesture of friendliness, they either didn\'t like you or they were too nervous to react—socially awkward.

For the Generals, from how steady the flow of Layland\'s Mana was, Layland was by no means nervous. This is the reason why the Generals thought that Layland was just an uptight person.

From the lack of ill intent, they, of course, could easily tell Layland didn\'t hate them, so they never considered Layland\'s "cold" response as his way to reject them.

Velucan turned his body around, still with Layland in his embrace, to face Ilschevar once again. He gave Layland a toothy grin before turning to Ilschevar, which seemed odd for Layland since it felt like he was looking at a smiling giant dog.

"My Liege, you say that this guy needs experience, right?" Velucan gestured at Layland. "I will take this guy in my Legion—I will participate in the Conquest Mission."

Ilschevar slightly blinked his eyes at Velucan\'s unexpected words. He had planned to assign someone else to take care of Layland, and Velucan was the least person he expected to volunteer.

He furtively glanced at the Second General, Jovenus, the Demon who he had planned to entrust Layland to, and clicked his tongue bitterly. It was apparent to him that said Demon wasn\'t very fond of Layland.

Still, considering Velucan\'s impulsive and chaotic nature, it seemed to him that it was too risky to entrust Layland to Velucan. Who knows what kind of a stupidly dangerous thing he might order Layland to do?

"Unfortunately, I have to put you on a rest in this Conquest Mission, Velucan." Ilschevar shook his head faintly. "I have heard how hard you have fought in the war, and I can\'t let you, as one of my greatest Generals, overwork yourself."

"Kukuku. I am deeply grateful for your care, my Liege." Velucan bowed his head humbly. "However, I know my body better than you do. I have had a rough battle—I agree with you—but it is still not enough to tire me out."

"Actually..." Ilschevar slightly hesitated as he looked at Velucan\'s grin. "I already have someone in mind to entrust Layland to." He glanced at Jovenus and said Demon immediately sighed. "I think that person is more suited for Layland."

"Ah, is that so?" Velucan slumped his shoulders regretfully. "It\'s too bad, pup." He turned to Layland. "I was planning to teach you about a lot of things, but since you are already entrusted to someone else, you have to learn from that person."

"..."

Velucan let go of his embrace, then stepped back to join the other Generals again. Layland now became the closest person standing in front of Ilschevar, and he didn\'t know what to do next.

As he was under the influence of his Origin however, his feet still brought him back to Ilschevar\'s side, which, again, surprised the Generals.

They had never thought a newborn Demon would be that bold. Whether Layland was educated on manners or not, his identity as a Demon should make him hesitate to stand beside Ilschevar, his King.

This was the point where all of them labelled Layland as an odd duck among Demons.

"Jovenus, as an experienced Demon, I want you to guide Layland so he could be a better Demon. Are you willing to take this task?"

"About that, my Liege..." Jovenus stepped forward then bowed politely. "May I question this person\'s identity first?"

Ilschevar nodded his head. "He was a human two months ago, but a certain accident made him lose his faith in humanity, and now here he is."

"This is not the first time such a thing has occured, however, that is not what I am asking about, my Liege." Jovenus\' eyes briefly glinted as he gazed at Layland. "I want to know what makes this person so special."

"An ordinary Demon shan\'t receive the opportunity to be guided by a Demon King\'s General, is what you are saying?" Ilschevar quirked his eyebrow, and Jovenus bowed his head politely. "I believe he has told you about it already."

"Pardon me?" Jovenus blinked his eyes in puzzlement. "When did he ever say the reason... Is he really that special?" He looked at Layland sceptically.

Ilschevar smirked then pushed Layland slightly forward. "I have tested him myself—why don\'t you have a go at him?"

Upon hearing Ilschevar\'s words, Layland immediately clicked his tongue in irritation. This was already his second time of being pushed forward for the day, and he could picture what kind of an unpleasant thing would occur soon.

Looking at Jovenus with his strangely calm gaze, he could easily tell said Demon really wanted to kill him. If a fight really broke out between them, he was absolute he would be the one who died.

"Very well, why don\'t I see it for myself of how good of a Demon he is?."

"I guarantee you, he will not disappoint." Ilschevar turned to Layland with a smile. "Will you, Layland?"

\'You, son of a bitch, just what kind of trouble you have put me into?! Retract your words, bitch! I don\'t want to die young!\' was what Layland wanted to respond Ilschevar with, however, "You can bet on me," came out of his mouth instead.

Ilschevar and Valeria lightly smiled at the response Layland gave. With a silent wish of luck, they sent Layland to his doom—I mean, to his spar with Jovenus.

Since there was enough space between the Generals and the army they led, clearing it up to turn it into a battle ground was easy. In just a couple of seconds a temporary arena with an area of 700 square feet was created.

Both Demons—Layland and Jovenus—stood on the opposite side of each other, meanwhile the spectators—the Generals, Ilschevar, Valeria and the soldiers—stood 12 feet away from them.

"Fighting a newborn Demon is already a disgrace for me as an experienced Demon and a General." Jovenus frowned his thin, black eyebrows. "Therefore, I will seal 95% of my power. You can rest assure—you won\'t die uselessly here."

"I thank you for your consideration. I have yet to see the world, and I will hate to die early," Layland responded calmly with his deep voice. He was genuinely grateful that Jovenus had some sanity to seal his power.

Flash!

A short sword appeared in Jovenus\' hand as he shouted, "Take out your weapon, youngling!"

"This will do." In response to that, Layland merely raised his fists.

"Huh? Are you joking?"

"Kuhahaha! I like this pup even more! Give him to me, and I\'ll make him the leader of a pack in a week!"

While Jovenus wasn\'t amused at the least by Layland\'s decision to fight with his bare hands, Velucan laughed his heart out. Said Garou was simply too elated that he had found someone who acted like him.

As the person who was unintentionally provoking Jovenus\' irritation however, Layland was cursing his mouth and his Origin. He didn\'t choose to fight with his bare hands because he wanted to, but because he wasn\'t left with any other choice.

If he decided to take out his Blue Rank greatsword, which he didn\'t name yet, to fight Jovenus that was using a short sword, it would only provoke said Demon to do the same.

He didn\'t want Jovenus to fight him with a greatsword. Putting the experience Jovenus must have in wielding greatsword aside, he wasn\'t well-versed in greatsword yet—he knew nothing beside swinging it like a dork!

He really wanted to fight Jovenus with Daggers; alas, Valeria didn\'t provide him any. Aside from the armor set he was wearing and the Indigo Rank mask, he didn\'t have anything on him—not even a Spatial Storage.

Valeria had told him to gather the rest of everything he needed in his journey, so he didn\'t even have a cheap weapon to use in this kind of situation. This is why he had to fight with his bare hands.

Alas, instead of saying he didn\'t have any weapon on him, his mouth decided to say some provocative words instead.

"Hmph! Very well. I won\'t convince you otherwise." Jovenus casually swung his short sword to the side, carving a short trench on the ground.

"..."

Layland merely sighed at that display, then prepared himself to take the initiative to attack. He had no other choice than fight Jovenus anyway, so it was better to do his best.

Whoosh!

Right after he channelled his Mana into his feet, he swiftly dashed toward Jovenus. Said Demon slightly widened his eyes at Layland\'s speed, but was prepared to block Layland\'s attack.

Clank!

Layland\'s hand that had been strengthened with Mana clashed against Jovenus\' sword, and it produced a metal against metal sound, showing how sturdy his hand had become.

"Attacking your opponent without a warning—don\'t you have shame?"

"Shame only belongs to those who have pride. As a Demon, I don\'t."

Jovenus smirked at Layland\'s response, and the spar continued.