Humans can think and use their wisdom to accomplish things monsters cannot.
However, because of that wisdom and the accompanying emotions like joy, anger, sorrow, and fear, humans find it difficult to fight to the death like monsters.
Roy remembered a saying from his past life: A person alone is often smart and keeps everything organized, but in a crowd, the ability to think declines, eventually leading to following the herd.
Just like the situation now.
Once Cooper Olson fell, the Kingdom's army's morale hit rock bottom. Their spirit withered completely. There was not a trace of fighting will on their faces; they were no different from walking corpses.
In reality, Roy, his summoned Lightning Beasts, Tione, and Tiona had only killed two or three hundred people. Six or seven hundred were seriously injured, and the rest had minor injuries.
It could be said that two-thirds were still combat-capable. Yet, without exception, they chose to lay down their weapons. Some played dead, some fled, and some surrendered. The scene was chaotic.
Tione, Tiona, and the Lightning Beasts dominated the field, preventing any rogue soldiers from entering the village.
Roy strolled to the center of the enemy formation as leisurely as an old man walking in a park.
Upon seeing Roy, Ares, Marius, and the remaining guards trembled in fear. Over three thousand warriors with Falna had failed to protect their Patron Deity and Commander (Prince).
"Damn it! Come at me if you dare!"
Ares was a god, after all. Summoning his courage, he drew his flashy but impractical sword, raised it high, and charged at Roy.
Roy showed no mercy, kicking him flying with a single strike. Ares screamed and couldn't get up again.
"Prince Marius, any thoughts?" Roy held a sharp sword to the Prince's neck.
The cold blade was less than three centimeters from his skin. Marius could feel the biting chill. The boy before him could kill him, and he dared to do it! That was the judgment he had formed from the dossiers.
He had one foot in the grave.
Soaked in sweat, Marius's voice trembled, "Perhaps... we can talk!"
Roy smiled knowingly.
Leaving Tione, Tiona, and the Lightning Beasts outside to guard the routed Kingdom army, Roy took the captive Ares and Marius into the village, finding a quiet room.
Along the way, the villagers watched with pride and excitement. The God who ruled the Kingdom and the Prince had both been captured alive by Roy—what other village was this badass?!
A faint smile appeared on Old Village Chief Simon's withered face. As expected of the little demon king he raised; he caused trouble wherever he went. However, seeing that Roy hadn't killed God Ares or the Prince, a glint of shrewdness flashed deep within Simon's cloudy eyes. Good lad, the village didn't raise you in vain.
"Grandpa, Brother Roy is so amazing!" His little niece jumped up and down, her face beaming with joy.
"Indeed."
Old Village Chief Simon patted his granddaughter's head with a benevolent look. "You should learn more from Roy in the future."
"No, when I grow up, I want to be Brother Roy's bride." The little niece's heart fluttered.
Old Village Chief Simon glared. That little bastard... the village beauties he's flirted with could fill a mahjong table, and now his reach extends to my little granddaughter!
Truly, one must guard against fire, theft, and Roy!
And the worst part was, the guy flirted but never committed, shouting about how his "XP" (fetish) was golden-haired, pointed-eared elves. What a sin!
Meanwhile, inside the room.
Roy, Ares, and Marius sat at a table. Xilin tremblingly served tea, terrified by the tense atmosphere, and quickly ran out.
Once the door closed, everyone outside waited anxiously, wondering what the three were discussing inside.
"Lord Ares, Prince Marius, drink some tea. I taught them how to drink these tea leaves!" Roy smiled, taking a sip from his cup.
The taste certainly couldn't compare to the high-end tea in Orario, but it won in freshness. With added licorice and honeysuckle, it had a sweet aftertaste and a familiar, homely feel that made one linger on the flavor.
"I've heard of your great name." Marius took a sip of tea, his heart gradually calming down.
Information about Roy flashed through his mind.
This small village originally lived by farming and wasn't particularly wealthy. But ten years ago, Roy led the village to utilize several local specialties, establishing a supply chain with merchants and setting them on the path to riches.
When the village was booming and attempting to develop into a town, it was Roy who stepped up to pull the brakes on the runaway carriage. In this world, accumulating massive wealth without martial support only invited plunder.
The village was now in a state where everyone lived well but didn't attract the attention of bandits.
The village guards were sufficient to deal with common thieves.
Maintaining this delicate balance... if not for confirmed intelligence, Marius wouldn't have believed such a perfect operation came from the hands of a boy. He looked at Roy with amazement.
But now, this miraculous boy stood on the opposite side of him and the Kingdom. Marius asked, "Justice Bud, if you have something to say, speak plainly!"
"It's convenient talking to smart people."
Roy smiled. He hadn't killed them for a reason, and Marius knew it. "You two are currently our captives. According to the rules, a price must be paid for your release."
Marius said, "No problem. The capital will send the ransom soon. I guarantee you'll be satisfied."
"Marius! How can you negotiate with the enemy..." The impulsive and irritable Ares jumped up.
Thud!
Before he could finish, Roy punched him down, tied him up with rope, and conveniently stuffed one of Third Uncle's socks—unwashed for ten years—into his mouth. The scent was... refreshing. God Ares shook his head happily, moved to tears.
Having done all this, Roy looked at Marius. "Prince, to be honest, I don't lack money."
If anyone else said this, Marius would have spat on them. The Kingdom's compensation would surely be millions of Valis, enough to make a village prosperous.
But facing Roy, he could only feel helpless.Roy clutched the divine wine of the Soma Familia in his hands. He was filthy rich—millions of Valis were mere pocket change to him. It was rumored that he once spent over a hundred million Valis in a single transaction to hire the Loki Familia, one of Orario's strongest, as bodyguards.
Damn it, over a hundred million Valis!
Marius wouldn't dare be that extravagant in his entire life. He gritted his teeth and asked, "What do you want?"
"From now on, this village becomes an autonomous region!"
Roy stopped beating around the bush. He placed a teacup on the table and traced a circle around it with his finger. "This village will no longer be subject to the Kingdom's laws. It will be exempt from taxes and corvée labor. furthermore, the Kingdom must dispatch an army containing at least Level 2 powerhouses to protect it."
"And from this day forth, God Ares shall become a subordinate god to Goddess Astrea!"
Marius's face turned green. He slammed the table and stood up, practically roaring, "Impossible!"
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Danmachi : Starting with an Elf (444 Chapter – Ongoing)
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