Grand General

“A long time ago, the eastern forest was the largest human settlement. The sorcerers and humans worked together to establish a prosperous kingdom.”

“The humans were responsible for farming, construction, and trade, while the sorcerers handled defense, research, and magic. They needed each other; neither could do without the other.”

“Sounds like a good arrangement,” Leopold said. “What happened after that?”

“Later, the sorcerers rebelled, plunging the entire kingdom into endless civil strife. Overnight, the sorcerers captured the royal capital, killed the king, and burned down the council hall.”

“The human army fought with all their might and finally suppressed the rebellion. Since then, sorcerers have been viewed as an omen of misfortune.”

After Karl finished speaking, the wooden shed fell silent for a moment. The two middle-aged men kept their heads lowered, not saying a word.

They had clearly heard this story before, but they had never imagined they would be dragged into this ancient hatred.

Leopold didn't respond immediately. He stood in place, his gaze resting on the boy.

“...You said they were suppressed. But what is the background of the sorcerers we're encountering now?”

Karl shook his head. “I don't know about that. The elders in the village only said that ‘the sorcerers were defeated and fled into the northern mountains.’ But in recent years, people have started saying they've seen black-robed figures again.”

“Karl, how old are you?” Leopold asked.

“Thirteen.”

“You certainly have more courage than many adults,” Leopold said. “Can you still walk? We'll send you back to Cabin Village first.”

“Yes.” Karl nodded, turning to help the two middle-aged men up.

The two middle-aged men were still somewhat shaken, but they could already tell that this group of people weren't sorcerers. At the very least, they harbored no ill intent.

Outside, Blake was yawning. This noble Grayfrost Frost Dragon had his left hand propped on his knee, while his right hand was locked in a contest with the axe-wielding demon opposite him—arm wrestling!

“Hey, hey, hey, you call yourself a demon? Too weak, way too weak!”

Blake gripped the thick, dark-red wrist. The demon's arm bulged with veins, but Blake wore an expression of utter, lazy boredom.

Fine beads of sweat had already broken out on the forehead of the axe-wielding demon opposite him. His arm trembled slightly as he gritted his teeth.

“You... you bastard... what kind of monster are you?”

“Forget it. Why don't the five of you come at me together? If you win, I'll let you go.”

The five demons exchanged glances and then surrounded him at once. Five thick arms were placed simultaneously on the tree stump serving as their “arena.”

“Let's begin,” Blake grinned. “I'll even give you half a hand's advantage.”

He actually pulled his right hand back half an inch. A flash of humiliation and anger crossed the eyes of the five demons at the same time.

“—Pin him!” the axe-wielding demon growled. The five of them exerted their strength simultaneously, the muscles on their five dark-red arms bulging!

“Huh? I said I'd give you half a hand, so how is it that I'm still not budging at all?” Blake looked at them with a puzzled gaze.

Leopold had already walked over from the wooden shed, with Karl following behind him, and the two middle-aged men supporting each other at the very back.

“Blake, what on earth are you doing?” Isabella looked at him, completely speechless.

Blake glanced back at her, then looked at the five demons who were about to shatter their teeth from gritting them so hard. He smacked his lips. “...Fine, then.”

With a gentle flick of his wrist, all five dark-red arms were pinned to the tree stump at once. Unable to withstand the pressure, the tree stump exploded into fragments.

The five demons stumbled backward. Some clutched their wrists, while others propped themselves against the shattered pieces of the stump. Panting heavily, the anger in their eyes had completely transformed into dread as they looked at Blake.

“Big Brother! From now on, you are my big brother!”

Blake froze for a moment. He looked down at the several demons kneeling before him with sincere expressions on their faces.

“...Who are you calling big brother?”

“You! You are our big brother!” The axe-wielding demon slammed his forehead hard against the ground. “From now on, with just a word from you, we brothers will go through fire and water without a single moment of hesitation!”

“Hey, I never said I'd take you in as my lackeys...”

Leopold stepped forward. He looked down at the demon who was currently banging his forehead against the muddy ground, then looked up at Blake and couldn't help but chuckle.

“...Not bad, Blake. You've only just reached the surface, and you've already recruited five lackeys.”

“I—I didn't agree to anything!” Blake immediately retorted, pointing at the demons on the ground. “They knelt on their own! I didn't say a thing!”

Isabella also walked over and stood beside Leopold, glancing at Blake. “...It's actually quite nice. At least you'll have people to help you chop firewood in the future.”

“I—I, a dignified Grayfrost Blue Dragon, need demons to help me chop firewood?”

The axe-wielding demon looked up with a deadpan, serious face. “Big Brother, we don't just chop firewood! We can also hunt, patrol, and keep watch! Just say the word, and we can do anything!”

“Get up,” Blake said, turning his face away, though he couldn't suppress the twitch of a smile at the corner of his mouth. “I haven't agreed yet!”

Yet the axe-wielding demon didn't budge, his forehead still pressed against the muddy ground. “If Big Brother doesn't agree, we won't get up.”

“You guys—”

“Alright,” Leopold stepped forward, standing before the five demons and looking down at them. “If you want to recognize him as your big brother, you have to show some sincerity.”

“Sincerity?” The axe-wielding demon looked up, his face covered in mud. “Tell us, what kind of sincerity do you want?”

“I need your absolute loyalty. Blake, sign a dragon clan contract with them.”

“...A dragon clan contract? Leopold, are you serious?”

“I am,” Leopold nodded. “We need manpower, and demons are manpower too.”

“And most importantly, if we subjugate the entire Demon Race of the Eastern Border Forest in the future, then you, Blake, will be the Grand General commanding all the demons!”

“G-Grand General?”

“That's right! So use these few to practice first, laying the foundation for commanding thousands of troops in the future.” Leopold patted Blake on the shoulder as he spoke.

“Grand General? Hehehe, I'm a Grand General...” Blake began to giggle foolishly, a dazed look on his face.

When the five demons heard the words “dragon clan contract,” the expressions on their faces changed in unison.

“Dr-Dragon?” The axe-wielding demon's voice trembled slightly. “Are you saying... you are dragons?”

Blake crossed his arms, looking smug. “What, we don't look like it?”

“N-No, it's not that...” The axe-wielding demon's voice was weak. “It's just... we never thought we'd see a living dragon. Hasn't the dragon clan long since...”

“Long since what?” Blake narrowed his eyes.

“Big Brother, we were wrong! You are a noble dragon; we are willing to follow you!” The five demons exchanged glances and then banged their foreheads against the ground in unison once more.

“...Ahem.” Blake cleared his throat. “Since you are so sincere, I will reluctantly accept you.”

The axe-wielding demon looked up, a complex expression of mixed awe and fanaticism on his face. “Big Brother, how... how do we sign this dragon clan contract?”

Blake turned his head and looked at Leopold.

Leopold walked over from the edge of the forest clearing and stopped beside Blake. “A dragon clan contract requires no paper or pen, nor does it require a blood oath. It only needs to be spoken aloud by a dragon.”

“You only need to answer ‘I am willing’ or ‘I am not willing.’ Once you answer ‘I am willing,’ the contract takes effect immediately. From then on, your loyalty will be directly linked to Blake's bloodline.”

“Should you betray me, your lives will return to nothingness,” Blake naturally chimed in, having clearly already stepped into his role as Grand General.

The five demons did not hesitate. They kowtowed once more. “We are willing!”

Blake stepped forward, his grayish-blue eyes sweeping over the five of them, his pupils glowing faintly in the darkness.

“Swear fealty to me. In the name of the Grayfrost Blue Dragon, I, Blake Aisling von Nord, accept you as my subordinates. You shall be loyal to me and loyal to the dragon clan until the end of the contract!”