Betrayed, I Met The Demon Lord

Chapter 31 - Rumor

"Hey, have you heard?" a man dressed in farmer's garb said, sparking a conversation in a wagon bustling with fellow travelers.

"The mighty dragon Arutol attacked the capital just the other day!"

"No way... That place must be ashes now," his friend responded incredulously.

"Not at all! He was magically cleaved in half as he was about to roar, and his corpse was hurled just outside the city walls! The guards claimed it was the Goddess herself who intervened, promising their safety before swiftly dealing with the dragon!" he recounted with a mix of awe and excitement, captivating the attention of others in the wagon.

A figure swathed in cloth from head to toe listened intently to the exchange.

'Hm... It was a wise decision not to rush straight to the Royal Capital of Varolon,' The figure thought, 'It would be preferable to gather some information first from the travelers regarding the world today,'

"That's nonsense... Where was the Goddess when the Demon Lord wreaked havoc!?" the skeptic retorted dismissively.

"The Goddess works in mysterious ways," the first man said, gazing skyward reverently. "Besides, she summoned the Hero, Magus. That's your proof,"

"What a load of crap! That's just something people say when they can't explain something! The Goddess does whatever she pleases, whenever she pleases. And The Goddess didn't stop the Demon Lord, it was MAGUS who did anything on his own." his skeptic friend argued.

"H-HEY! You shouldn't speak so disrespectfully about the divine—"

"Now, now, fellow travelers," the cloaked figure intervened, his voice soft yet carrying an authority that quieted the wagon. "There's no need for such spirited debate among us. Remember, our nature is measured not only in times of conflict but also in peace," he counseled gently.

'Really, how bickerish, these lot,' The figure thought, 'They are very similar to Demonic Children with their valor and need for validation,'

The wagon fell silent, the other passengers reflecting on his words.

"Indeed, the ways of the divine are not for us to judge so harshly. We humans must strive to understand each other's views, not condemn," the cloaked figure continued, his hands resting calmly in front of him.

"Y-yeah... That makes sense, I guess," the skeptic replied, somewhat pacified by the old man's gentle logic.

"Now, I'm particularly keen to hear more about how Arutol met his end. Could you elaborate on that tale?" the cloaked figure inquired, leaning forward with keen interest, urging the storyteller on.

"Sure, uh... Well, you see, the Royal Capital has been under dragon threat for the last sixteen years. About ten years ago, Yagun, an offspring of the Dragon King, tried to incinerate the capital himself but was stopped by Magus Veil and his party," the storyteller began, his enthusiasm rekindled.

"Ah, Magus Veil... the hero?" the old man interjected, curiosity piqued.

"Yes, the very same... Uh, let me think... what else..." The storyteller paused, looking upward as he tried to recall more details.

"Despite Yagun's defeat, the Dragon King kept sending his forces to attack the capital. The city responded by reinforcing its defenses. For about eight years, everything held steady, mostly because whenever a crisis arose, Magus Veil would appear to save everyone; since he had lived there after beating the Demon Lord," he continued.

"But then, two years ago, Magus Veil committed suicide. Nobody knows why. He had everything—a horde of beautiful women, numerous children, and the adoration of the populace," the storyteller elaborated, a note of bewilderment in his voice.