Chapter 254

Chapter 254: Chapter 254 The driver kept the horses at full gallop for another five minutes before finally, gradually, allowing them to slow to a more sustainable pace. Only when they were well over a mile from the blast site did he bring them to a full stop.

Everyone sat in stunned silence for a long moment, breathing hard, processing what they’d just survived.

"Everyone alive?" Satou asked, doing a quick mental count of his companions.

A chorus of affirmatives came back, though several voices sounded shaky.

"Is it... is it really over?" Urgot asked, his young voice carrying disbelief. "Did we actually just kill Merc Assault? The legendary nightmare demon who’s terrorized the realm for centuries?"

"We did," Kelvin confirmed, though his voice carried exhaustion that went bone-deep. "We actually did it."

"Lord Satou killed him," Grimnir corrected, pride evident despite his own weariness. "We just helped clear the path and dealt with his forces."

Sylvara said nothing, still processing her own complicated emotions about her father’s death. She’d gotten her revenge, accomplished what she’d spent three years working toward, but the victory felt hollow and strange now that it was done.

Satou took a deep breath, forcing himself to focus despite the ongoing power integration happening in his mind and body. "Driver, how far are we from my settlement?"

The driver consulted what looked like an internal map, his eyes glowing briefly with magical light. "Approximately one day’s travel at normal speed, my lord. We could push the horses and make it in perhaps eighteen hours, but they’d need significant rest afterward."

"Normal speed is fine," Satou decided. "The urgent part is over. We can afford to travel safely now."

The driver nodded and got the horses moving again, this time at a steady trot rather than the desperate gallop.

Inside the carriage, people began settling into more comfortable positions now that the immediate danger had passed. Urgot groaned as his injuries made themselves known again—the adrenaline that had been keeping him going was fading, leaving only pain and exhaustion.

"Let me see those wounds properly," Freda said, moving closer to the young orc despite her own magical exhaustion. She pulled out supplies from the medical kit they’d been given and began cleaning and re-bandaging the worst injuries.

Kelvin was checking his own injuries methodically, cataloging what needed immediate attention versus what could wait until they reached proper healers. His shoulder was bothering him more than he wanted to admit, but it was functional enough.

Grimnir sat heavily, his massive frame making the carriage creak. Blood still seeped from the deep gashes across his chest, but his enhanced healing was working steadily. Give it another few hours and the wounds would close completely.

Sylvara had curled up in a corner, her knees drawn to her chest, staring at nothing. The weight of patricide—justified though it was—clearly sat heavy on her shoulders.

Satou noticed but didn’t comment. She needed time to process, and pushing her to talk before she was ready would do more harm than good. Instead, he focused inward, examining the incredible power he’d gained from devouring Merc Assault.

The sheer scope of it was staggering. He could feel new abilities settling into place, knowledge integrating with his existing skills. Combat techniques perfected over centuries. Nightmare manipulation abilities that made his previous skills seem like child’s play. Mental fortifications that would make him nearly impossible to affect with psychological attacks.

But more than just skills, he’d gained understanding. Merc Assault had been old ancient by most standards and had accumulated wisdom about the demon realm, its power structures, its hidden dangers, its opportunities. That knowledge was now Satou’s.

He also felt the sealed abilities—the darkest aspects of Merc Assault’s power that the system had automatically locked away to prevent corruption. Skills designed specifically for torture, for breaking minds, for causing maximum suffering. Satou was grateful for those seals. He had no desire to become what he’d just killed.

"Brother," Kelvin said quietly, moving to sit beside Satou. "Are you sure you’re alright? That surge of power back there... I’ve never felt anything like it from you before."

Satou considered how to answer. He’d kept the full extent of his [Devour] ability secret from everyone except those who’d discovered it through direct observation—and even then, he’d never explained the true scope. Kelvin knew he gained some benefits from defeating powerful enemies, but not the details.

"I’m fine," Satou said, which was mostly true. "Defeating someone that powerful... it changes things. You gain insights, understanding. It’s hard to explain."

Kelvin studied his face for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Just... be careful, brother. Power that comes too quickly can be dangerous. Can change who you are."

"I know," Satou replied seriously. "I’ll be careful. I promise."

The conversation lapsed into comfortable silence as the carriage rolled through the night. The landscape around them was gradually returning to normal now that Merc Assault’s corrupting influence was gone. Trees grew at proper angles. The sky showed natural stars rather than the sick twilight. Even the air felt cleaner, less oppressive.

After perhaps an hour of travel, Freda spoke up hesitantly. "Lord Satou... may I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"What will you do now? I mean, you’ve accomplished your mission. Merc Assault is dead. Will you... will you continue hunting threats? Or will you focus on building your settlement?"

It was a good question, and one Satou had been considering himself during the quiet moments.

"Both," he said after a moment’s thought. "The settlement is my priority—building something stable and safe for people who have nowhere else to go. But I can’t ignore threats that emerge. If there are other monsters like Merc Assault out there, other beings who prey on the weak, I’ll deal with them when necessary."

He paused, then continued. "But I’m not going to actively seek out conflict anymore. This mission was necessary because Merc Assault tried to kill me, tried to enslave me. It was personal, and it was a direct threat. But I don’t want to become someone who just hunts and kills for the sake of it. That’s not who I want to be."

"Thanks for your honest answer Sir Satou" Freda said approvingly. "Master Morgana always taught me that power should be used to protect and build, not just to destroy. Though she also said that sometimes destruction is necessary to make room for creation."