Chapter 130 Picking Up The Pieces 2 (1/2)

Baal was getting restless. Zero still owed him two more stories and he was irritated. The Demon Lord had been trying to contact the child for hours now without success. It was as if Zero completely disappeared even though he knew where the brunet was. Deciding to pay the brunet who was ignoring him a visit, Baal made his presence known.

***

Constructions and repairs were progressing smoothly. The villagers tried their best not to think about Douglas or Zero. They now knew that the brunet was no ordinary person. Feeling humbled by his abilities, there was a strange air hanging in the village while they worked. Nobody spoke about that incident, choosing to continue with their normal lives to the best of their abilities. They didn't know how they should treat the brunet when he woke up and that became the huge elephant in the village that not even Zenobia dared approach.

The villagers tried to maintain the normalcy despite everything that has happened but Hua Tuo still noticed the unease. Truth be told, it wasn't something unexpected. He just didn't think that Zero will blow his cover so soon. The boy could hardly be blamed. He had a kind heart with great intentions. It was simply the nature of all living creatures to fear the unknown. Hua Tuo tried to prevent this from happening so soon. Zero just wasn't ready for the harsh reality that awaited him. Sadly, fate had other plans and Hua Tuo was powerless.

Perhaps it was time to leave the village permanently. Half Moon village has suddenly become a terrible environment for Zero to continue his training in. The physician would have to start scouting for a new village soon, preferably before Zero wakes up. He didn't quite want to leave Half Moon village because Coux was a great trader. Things that were normally impossible to attain can be obtained by the half-succubus. She was Hua Tuo's best point of contact and the physician didn't want to lose her. Still, he had his obligations to the Great Gods who entrusted Zero to him. Zero dreams of becoming a physician who surpassed him rested on his shoulders too. It would do no good to leave Zero jaded at such a young age. The brunet's greatest strength was his selflessness, a treasure in this cruel world.

Lovina had woken up a few hours ago and left for her apartment recuperate in peace. The only silver lining in this mess was how Hua Tuo was able to identify the villagers who remained undeterred by the revelation. It came to no surprise that Zenobia was fiercely protective of Zero. Amaraline wasn't too shaken by it either although Clowis and Lowis had different ideas. Grandma Moppo and Lovina seemed to know about Zero's secret even before the revelation so Hua Tuo didn't have to worry too much. Surprisingly, Mitchnew and Coux didn't shy away from Zero. In fact, the ladies took it upon themselves to glare at anyone whispering about Zero who was still unconscious. That gave the physician some peace of mind while he tended to his sleeping disciple. There was hardly anything he could do for the brunet at this point so Hua Tuo continued to brood about his next course of action. At least he could count on the ladies to do some damage control while he thought of a way out.

It was three in the afternoon when the air in the peaceful village stirred ominously. The warriors who were helping with the repairs froze and dropped whatever they were doing. Zenobia stiffened at the pressure crackling with power. Her heart fell when the source of disruption seemed to be coming from Hua Tuo's apartment. With the elephant in the village and everyone treading carefully around that topic, the chieftess could barely put a lid on the matter. With this, it was sure to push everyone over the edge especially the warriors who saw Zero as a threat more than the innocent brunet who wanted to become a doctor. Dropping everything, the chieftess rushed over. Zenobia prayed that nobody would do something as silly as to try and harm the brunet. The last thing Half Moon village needed was a civil war.

Vrald arrived at the scene first. He growled and the dragon magic in his blood boiled. He could sense it. The foul Demon King Baal was here again. Unsheathing his sword, the warrior barged into Hua Tuo's sanctuary. The physician wasn't too startled when the hinges of his door snapped and the wood of the flimsy thing came crashing down onto his floor. He was more cautious about the ex-patient occupying his student's vessel.

”Lord Baal,” he bowed in greeting, ignoring the uninvited guests making a mess out of the apartment. ”What brings you here?”

Baal frowned and glared at the pesky warriors directing their bloodthirst towards him. It didn't hurt but it got irritating. What did he do to deserve such hostile treatment? It was unfair! If anything, he should be mad at them for failing to protect Zero. He had a feeling that something was incredibly wrong with the child and now that he was here, he could confirm it.

”I was looking for Zero. He owed me two stories and I haven't heard from him even after trying to reach out to him for hours.”

The physician blinked. How did Zero communicate with Lord Baal without him noticing? He decided to push that matter to aside for now. As the murderous intent in the room increased, Hua Tuo tried his best to remain calm. He wouldn't put it past these ex-adventurers to harm the Demon Lord residing in his student's body. If possible, he wished that they could negotiate terms peacefully and leave Zero's body unharmed.

”Zero is currently in slumber from overusing mana. His constitution is slightly special so he cannot recuperate without external influences. Lovina and I have exhausted our mana reserves during the war against Carrabas a few days back. It would take a while before we can help Zero replenish the bare minimum he requires to come out of slumber.”

Baal blinked. ”Mana? Doesn't that brat have a ridiculous amount of that stocked up? Who's the Carrabas fool? What did he do to Zero?”

Hua Tuo shook his head. ”Carrabas is a human Count who attacked the village. Lovina has taken care of that fool. However, Zero exhausted his mana by using a divine spell that I couldn't stop.”

The Demon Lord sucked air through his teeth. ”Tell me everything from the beginning.”

The warriors continued to guard against the threat in their village as Hua Tuo summarised the battle that occurred in the Demon Lord's absence. He explained how Zero brought the traitor back to life and punished him using a divine spell. Baal's expression became darker when Hua Tuo explained the last part. Nobody breathed when Baal's magic made the ground beneath them tremble in his rage.

”Is that Douglas person living well?”

Hua Tuo was slightly surprised. Why would Demon Lord Baal concern himself with such a minor character?

”I'm afraid I don't have that answer. He was banished only recently. Is there something you need of him?”