The Smiling Death-Chapter 353: Talk With Malphas

After having lunch, Amon left before everyone else. On the way back to his house, he saw Malphas walking calmly with his cane.

Amon raised his hand slightly in greeting and smiled. "Hello, Grandpa Malphas."

Malphas looked at him and lifted a brow in mild surprise. "Ohh, kiddo. Going home before everyone?"

Amon shrugged casually. "Yeah... got something to do."

Malphas tilted his head slightly, his expression curious. "Hmm, what could you possibly have to do here? Well, anyways. Not that I want to know."

Amon chuckled softly. "Hehe~ it’s nothing special. Just men’s things."

They both walked silently for a while.

Soon it would be time to move. To get out of this loop. By escaping, Amon remembered the old man’s story.

After a moment, Amon glanced at him. "Hey... you heard about those things, right? About those towers?"

Malphas nodded slowly, a faint hope appearing in his eyes. "Yes, I did. Its been months already since I heard about them."

"Roland told me... if there is any connection between that thing and a way to get out of here... then I will try my best." Malphas’s expression softened with hope.

Amon looked ahead as spoke with determination. "Yes... we will find a way... so you can go back to your family."

Malphas nodded lightly. "Yeah... to my wife Ariana and daughter Remi."

Then Malphas looked at Amon with amusement. "Why are you suddenly bringing this up?"

Amon laughed awkwardly and rubbed the back of his head. "Haha! Nothing... it’s just... I also miss my... my academy? Yeah, academy."

Amon couldn’t tell him yet about Vetaal. That they had a plan.

Malphas looked at Amon for a while. Amon had told him about his own life on one particular day when he was just talking with Malphas normally.

At that time, Malphas hadn’t said much. He had only encouraged him. After a moment of silence, Malphas looked at Amon seriously.

"You... Amon... don’t you hate demons?"

Malphas asked this now. He hadn’t asked him this before, even after hearing his life story and how he had reached this place.

He had heard how Amon’s parents were killed in a monster attack. The attack had been done by demons. Then Amon had also been tortured by a demon army in the forest. His comrades had been killed by them.

But Amon had never shown any animosity toward any other demon.

Amon met Malphas’s eyes calmly.

"Why should I hate them? I don’t think I have any reason to hate a whole race because of a few. That’s weird."

Malphas raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Oh? How so? I am a demon myself... if humans had done something like that to me when I was young... I might have hated all of them to the core."

Amon nodded thoughtfully.

"Well, I did hate them... when I was young and lost my parents. But those demons were captured and killed by the higher-ups."

Amon then rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"But you know... we humans kill each other for various reasons. For money, for resources, for positions, or maybe for revenge... or just for survival. That doesn’t make us hate all humans."

Malphas nodded slowly.

"That’s true."

Amon continued calmly.

"If that’s not enough, even I have killed humans. Maybe they were someone’s loved ones? But do I care? No... if someone ever comes to me for revenge, I won’t be surprised."

He continued. "Who would be wrong in that? I killed them so I could survive... or say they were bad people. But for their family, they were important. No matter how bad they might have been. For their family, they might have been like a pillar. Someone who could do any evil thing for their family."

Amon shrugged lightly.

"Anyways, I have no anger or hatred toward demons or any humans who have done bad things to me. I’m just trying to enjoy my life. No matter where I am. What’s the point of living life full of hatred? I know my parents would never want me to live like that."

Amon grinned brightly.

"They even used to say I look better when I am smiling. So well... I keep smiling. Hehe~"

Malphas smiled faintly. "That’s a good way of thinking..also good spirit."

He then looked at the village quietly. "There was a time when I didn’t like other races. I even hated humans... all because of how demons are taught from a young age. But after living in this village for 82 years... spending time with these people... my hatred toward humans and other races vanished a long time ago."

Amon nodded. "Good to hear that."

Malphas looked at the village again. "These people are also important to me now. So I hope... we can go outside... everyone together. If not... I won’t go either."

Amon nodded again. He watched the village. It’s been nearly four months since he came to this place. Never once had he felt that someone here was doing discrimination against him.

"Guess so... even I don’t want to leave alone from this place." Amon sighed and continued. "Anyways, I will be going. Bye. See you later."

Saying that, Amon turned toward his house.

Meanwhile, Malphas stood there, staring at Amon’s back as he walked away. A gentle smile was on his face.

---

Amon entered his house. He saw Vetaal sitting on the wooden floor of the living house with crossed legs.

His hand was extended, the long tip of his nail scratching on the wooden floor.

Trying to draw something there. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Half of the house was filled with his drawings. They were some kind of runes or magical circles. Amon couldn’t understand them.

"So did you get it?"

"Yeah... I got it. After so my tries. I am finally near to right structure. Just making that final, perfect diagram," Vetaal replied, not looking at Amon but continuing his work.

Amon walked toward him and saw the diagram he was constructing.

It was circular, like a magic circle. Inside it was a complex structure with some unknown letters inside.

Mostly they were runes.

Amon had tried asking Vetaal about its knowledge. But he simply replied that Amon was not compatible to learn it right now.

He at least needed to reach the fifth rank to learn the runes that Vetaal had knowledge about.

Runes were ancient magical symbols or letters used to control and shape mana. Each rune represented a specific concept.

By engraving them onto weapons, armor, or objects, or by forming them through mana, one could trigger different magical effects. They can even engrave on magic circles of spell by forming them by mana. Enhancing the power of that spell.

Pushing those thought aside Amon started to talk with Vetaal about what his plan actually was.

After a while, someone knocked on the door.

’She’s here?’ Amon thought while walking toward the door.