I stomped off until I was behind a low hill and sat down in the dirt. Shotensho stopped producing cold, returning to its usual temperature. Perhaps the sword thought this was something we had to figure out on our own, or perhaps it had simply run out of energy.

Was that it then? Was my bond with Lady Sarinknell broken just like that? As far as I could tell nothing had changed so it was probably still intact despite what she’d said. Even if I were free of it, where would I go? It’s not like I knew anyone else or had any real prospects. Maybe if the humans would accept me into one of their cities, but there was no chance of that unless I could revert back to being human somehow.

What had even happened? I felt different and things had radically changed between Elmidath and I. Despite my anger, I felt more clearheaded than I had since I first entered this world. Had Elmidath had some hold over me that had since faded?

It seemed plausible, but why would it have faded? It’s not like she’d be willing to let one of her only soldiers go now, so it had to be something outside of her control. Could it have something to do with her uncle’s death and her taking over? The timing made sense, and that was why she’d summoned me in the first place. Was our deal done then? I was free? Or at least, free of any tampering.

I wished I had someone to talk to but my only options seemed to be Sarinknell herself or the ogres, and I doubted either of them had any advice I wanted to hear right now. There was also my sword, but I had no interest in the servile lump of metal’s opinion on the subject. It was possible that I could contact that leaf girl again, but I didn’t think I could stomach her baseless optimism right now. Which meant it was up to me to figure out what to do.

As far as I could tell, my options were to go back, or die a miserable death out here alone. Not much of a choice, but I wasn’t willing to swallow my pride and go back. If Lady Sarinknell wanted her servant back so badly, she’d just have to contact me herself and…what? Even if she begged me to come back, I couldn’t see that changing my resolve. Not after everything I’d been through because of her.

And yet, somehow I still couldn’t bring myself to hate her. Was it a vestige of whatever had been affecting my mind? Or was it just because of what we’d been through together? The latter didn’t make much logical sense to me, but I couldn’t deny I did feel like we still had some kind of bond.

But it wasn’t enough to bring me back, not with the way things stood. Even if it led to both our deaths, I could hardly be blamed; she was the reason I was even in this stupid world. Try as I might, I couldn’t come up with a single positive thing to say about my new world. Everything was the same or worse than earth. Sure, there was magic, but it sure hadn’t done me much good so far. In fact, my life here would probably have been strictly better without magic.

I sighed. As annoyed as I was, there wasn’t much point in complaining. No one here cared and complaining would change nothing. I looked around for something else to do, but there was precious little around here. Of course, there was nothing here, even the entertainment in this world was practically non-existent.

Unless your entertainment of choice was battle, there was plenty of that here. It seemed like a constant fact of life here, how did their society even function like this? If they were always fighting surely they’d all kill each other off. Since that hadn’t happened, there must be significant breaks in the fighting, even if that didn’t reflect my experience so far.

I suppose this trip had technically been peaceful, barring our encounter with the ogres. That hadn’t resulted in any actual violence, not yet, but they were obviously violent creatures by nature. If I had anywhere else to go it would surely be better than travelling with Elmidath and the ogres, but… there wasn’t.

So, I just had to keep going along with something because there didn’t seem to be any other choice? Maybe this wasn’t so different to my life on earth after all… Looking at it that way made it easier to understand but also more depressing. My gaze swept the area, hoping to find something to distract me from my predicament, and I spotted a solitary figure. Wearing a robe that obscured both their race and their gender, they strolled through the wilderness with their hands clasped behind their back.

Presumably they were some sort of demon, given where we were, but that didn’t tell me an awful lot. There was a considerable chance they were hostile, but it’s not like my life was worth anything. Leaving my sword slung over my shoulder, I got up and walked toward them. It was only when I was a few paces away that they noticed me. Their hooded head turned toward me, revealing the weathered visage of an older man with a neatly trimmed grey beard and dark purple skin. He didn’t look at all surprised to see me. “Hello there.”

Surprised that he would greet me the moment he laid eyes on me, I paused before replying. “Hi.”

Eyes locked we stood motionless, and despite nothing having changed I felt a strange tension building. It was broken when the stranger brought his hands in front of him and his posture relaxed. “What brings you out here today? Away from civilisation and all its comforts.” He glanced at my sword. “Perhaps you’re just out for a walk with your friend.” Smiling at his own joke, withdrew his arms into his robes.

“I’m a traveller, passing through on my way to another town with my companions.” Or I had been at least, I wasn’t certain of my current status, but it was a good enough answer for whoever this person was. This seemingly unarmed man, travelling on his own through the dangerous wilderness. Was he a wizard or something? He looked too well dressed to just be a travelling monk or beggar, whatever the difference between the two was. Probably best to be careful. “What about you? Why are you out here?”

“Hm, much the same reason I suppose. Passing through to another destination. Though I’m looking for someone rather than heading toward a particular place.”

It was probably just my own wishful thinking, but I felt some kind of connection with this stranger. Maybe I should ask them about the dilemma I was facing. They seemed happy to talk and in no particular hurry. “Do you mind if I ask your advice on something?”

They looked a little bemused at that but they smiled all the same. “I’m not sure how much help I’ll be able to offer but sure, go ahead.”

I’d expected him to refuse and now I was at a loss on how to begin. Taking a deep breath, I decided to start by explaining how I’d ended up here in the first place. “Well, I was summoned here from another world not that long ago.” I expected him to look surprised, but he just nodded and gestured for me to continue. “And then I was bound to the service of a Demon Lord… I’m guessing you know what that is.”

“I do.”

“Okay, well, I had no idea anything like that existed and I was forced to work for this person. Things… went pretty badly… but I guess we both survived and managed to achieve the objective they brought me here for.” I paused again, unsure of how to continue.

“Then what’s the problem?”

“Well, after all that work and nearly dying several times, all I’ve really done is further their goals. Not only does it not benefit me, I don’t think their goals are even something I want.”

The purple-skinned demon chuckled. “I take it you don’t have much experience serving others. There tends to be a lot of that; putting their desires above your own.”

“Yeah, this is all new to me. And I can’t say I like it too much, why should I have to be forced to serve someone without any say in the matter? Am I just a slave or what?”

Robes rustling, he shrugged. “I suppose you are a slave in a manner of speaking. You certainly seem dissatisfied with your lot; how does your master treat you? Do they beat you?”

“Well, no.”

He clapped his hands together and smiled. “That’s one positive then. Do they listen to your opinion on things?”

I thought back to interactions with Elmidath, even if she didn’t always agree she was at least willing to listen to my ideas. “They do.”

“And do you think they would be open to you suggesting a new course? Perhaps one that’s more preferable to you? Because that seems about your only option, if you’re not satisfied with the one they’ve chosen.”

“Maybe.” Elmidath didn’t seem like she had that much of an idea of what to do.

“Then perhaps you should stop whining and do something of use, hm?” Smiling, he waggled his eyebrows.

“Fuck off.” Who did he think he was, talking to me like that? “I’m tired of being lectured when I’m trying to find actual solutions.”

“Trying to find actual solutions, are you? It sounds to me like you’re just wallowing in your petty misery.” Despite his harsh words, he was still smiling as if none of this concerned him. It only made it all the more aggravating. “I don’t know what kind of sheltered life you’ve led, but let me simplify things for you. You can either suck it up and serve, or you can die here.”

I pulled the sheath off my sword. “Are you threatening me?”

The demon didn’t move an inch. “Merely making an observation. Though if you wish to take it as such, that’s your prerogative.”

I swallowed, and rested my sword on my shoulder once more. It’s not like I really wanted to fight and his easy confidence put me on edge. “Sorry, I guess I’m just sick of people telling me to what to do.”

He shrugged. “Such is life. Now, will you continue your service of Lady Sarinknell or not?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“You still don’t get it, questions like that are exactly your problem. Only the weak of will act without purpose. You still have the choice of death, so if you wish to live, then start acting like it. Take responsibility for your duties and strive to live for something.”

Who was this guy? One of the nobles like Elmidath? Not that it really mattered either way. What he said made sense, I did need to accept things if I was going to survive. And having a purpose did sound good, though I had no idea what would be a good choice. sighed, it was time to go back. “No, you’re right. I’ve just been a fool. I should probably get back.”

“Happy to help, I should probably get moving myself. I suggest you make this your last indulgence of this sort. Which is all running away from your duties is; a senseless indulgence.”

We parted ways and the stranger was soon out of sight. Whoever they were, they were quite a strange person even by the standards of this world, but I was lucky to have met them. Or perhaps it wasn’t luck at all. What were the chances I’d run into someone in this wasteland? Particularly someone like him. And how had he known Elmidath’s name? I couldn’t remember telling him.

Strange as it was, there was nothing I could do about the mystery of the wandering demon. And there was no point putting it off any further, I’d run out of excuses and it was time to face the music. The demonic, likely still angry at me, music.

I teleported beside Elmidath without warning and she recoiled. Not, in hindsight, the smartest choice but it felt too awkward to let her know I was coming back over the telepathic link. “So, you’re back.” Her voice was still full of hostility, it seemed our brief separation had done little to improve her mood.

“Yeah.”

“Does that mean you’ve decided to come back?” I thought I heard a glimmer of hope in her voice but it could’ve just been my imagination.

“I guess.”

“Just so you know, I have no intention of apologising.” The way she said it made it sound like a provocation, which it probably was.

“That’s fine.” The argument had been silly anyway, it was nothing but a memory to me now.

She cleared her throat. “Then let’s forget about the whole thing, we have more important things to worry about.”

“Like food?”

“That’s right.”

It would be all too easy to stop thinking and continue as things had been but I thought back to my discussion with the robed stranger. “There’s something else I want to discuss first.”

Elmidath sighed. “Is this really necessary?”

“Yes.”

“Then proceed.”

What’re we going to do in the future? Assuming we can defend your manor, then what happens?”

It looked like she wanted to ask why I was talking the future when I should be focused on the present but she played along with my musing. “More of the same, I suppose. Defending my territory and influence while trying to expand the same.”

I grimaced, it was as I assumed. Well, there was no point beating about the bush any further, best to cut straight to the chase. “To be honest, I’m not satisfied with that.”

She raised an eyebrow. “What? You want more than that? I didn’t realise you were so ambitious.”

“No.” I shook my head. “I’m not really interested in land or influence. If I’m going to fight for something…” I felt a sudden wave of embarrassment at my own idealism but pressed on. “I want to it to be for something more meaningful. If more people are going to die, then I want to know it was for something better than greed.”

“Is that why you think I do this? For my own benefit?” She sounded sad.

Her response wasn’t what I was expecting, I thought she’d deny it or attack me for being naïve. Seeing her disappointed threw me off altogether. Had I missed some ulterior motive behind her actions? Thinking back to what I’d seen of her, nothing much came to mind.

“Well, isn’t it?”

“I guess it’s my own fault for not explaining this sooner, but some things are hard to put into words.” We were in complete agreement about that last point. “I really do want to make a difference. In Sarinknell and, if I can, the wider world beyond. Tell me, what do you see out there?” She swept her arm to encompass everything around us.

“A barren wasteland.” If there was ever a time to be honest, this was it.

“And what do you think of what you’ve seen of our society so far? In broad terms.”

That one required a little more thought. “There seems to be a lot of war, betrayal, a lot of little factions with no unity between them.”

“Exactly. And that’s what I want to change. The way things stand, we’re practically rolling around in the mud fighting for scraps when we should be working together.”

What she was proposing certainly sounded nice but it didn’t really match with what we’d been doing so far. She was talking about unity when we’d only just finished betraying her uncle? “And us killing your uncle rather than working with him was a step toward that?” I could hardly call him a good man but he didn’t seem especially bad for a demon.

“I’m not proud of that but it was necessary. My uncle was too short-sighted and distrustful, we could never have really worked with him.”