Mephyst turned back towards the duo.
Richard was halfway down Bignum's shoulder, climbing carefully like a man getting off a very unstable tree. His boots slipped once, and he dropped the last bit with a grunt.
"Damn it—" he hissed, clutching his shoulder. "That hurts."
Pain shot through his shoulder when he moved it even a little.
Bignum looked at him once. "Just bruise."
Richard shook his head, wincing. "No, my bones in my shoulder were broken."
"So fragile," Bignum said.
Richard gave him a look. "Try getting bitten by those damn trods."
Bignum lifted his arm and showed a deep bite mark, old but teeth marks clear.
"Wolf bite me hard," he said. "I did not cry like you."
"I'm not crying," Richard snapped.
"You are."
"I'm not."
"You are."
An awkward cough cut between them.
Both froze.
Mephyst stood right behind them.
Neither of them heard him walk back.
Both straightened slightly.
"My lord," they said at the same time.
Mephyst's gaze settled on Richard, slow and deliberate.
"What is your name, half-breed?"
"…Richard," he answered.
"Richard," Mephyst repeated, as if tasting it. "A simple name. Easy to remember."
He took a step closer.
"My ears may fail me," he continued, "but my eyes do not. I see something in you."
Richard didn't move, but his grip tightened slightly at his side.
"I have a proposition," Mephyst said. "Would you like to hear it?"
Richard hesitated for a second.
Then nodded. "…I'm listening, my lord."
Mephyst smiled faintly.
"I will be direct," he said. "Join my army."
Richard blinked.
Mephyst spread his wings slightly, letting them catch the light.
"A mind like yours," he continued, "will rot in the human ranks. They waste talent. I do not."
He gestured to himself.
"I will elevate you. Turn you into a demon once the ordeal here is done."
He flexed his wings once.
"You will have wings—beautiful, elegant. Horns—terrifying that any adversaries think twice. And power… far greater than what you hold now."
His eyes gleamed.
"With me, we will conquer this world. And all will kneel."
Richard listened quietly.
Is he… selling something? he thought.
He cleared his throat.
"…I'm honored," he said carefully. "Really. Being recruited personally… that's something."
He paused.
"But… I think our goals don't match, my Lord."
Mephyst's smile didn't change.
"I just want a peaceful life after this war," Richard added.
Silence.
Then Mephyst scoffed softly.
"Peace?" he said. "That is a very delusional wish, my friend."
He turned his back, already losing interest.
"What a shame," he added with a small wave of his hand. "You could have been useful."
He didn't look back.
"I do not lower myself to persuade," he said as he walked away. "Try not to regret your decision."
Then he was gone again, as if nothing had happened.
Richard watched him leave.
"…That was weird."
Bignum nodded. "He is weird."
Richard glanced at him. "…Are all demons like that?"
"No," Bignum said. "Only him."
Richard frowned. "Then how did he become their leader?"
Bignum's expression didn't change.
"Because he is dangerous."
That answer sat heavier than expected.
Bignum tapped Richard's injured shoulder.
"Let's go."
"Ah—!" Richard flinched. "Careful! I just told you it's injured."
Bignum already started walking.
"Crybaby."
"Ah—!" Richard flinched hard, clutching it. "Careful! I just told you it's injured."
Bignum was already walking.
"Crybaby."
"I am not a crybaby," Richard muttered, hunching slightly as he followed. "…I'm just… loudly in pain."
They moved through the camp, passing wounded men lying on stretchers, others sitting quietly, staring at nothing. Some laughed too loudly. Some didn't react at all.
Then they reached a large open tent.
It stood on several wooden poles, its worn, patched fabric held up. Inside, long tables were arranged in rough lines.
It was a canteen.
Noise hit them immediately.
Orcs filled most of the space—big, loud, lively. Some wore pieces of scrap metal as armor, tied together with rope. Others had animal hides draped over their shoulders. Many, like Bignum, wore nothing on top, their scarred bodies on full display like trophies.
Richard blinked.
"…They really like being shirtless."
Bignum shrugged. "Scars show strength."
"…Or stupidity," Richard muttered.
Bignum pointed to an empty table. "Sit. I get food."
Richard didn't argue. He dropped onto the bench with a quiet groan, adjusting his shoulder carefully.
A few minutes later, Bignum returned, carrying two large plates stacked with meat.
He dropped one in front of Richard.
"Eat."
Richard stared at it.
"…Shouldn't we find someone to heal us first?"
"No need," Bignum said, already biting into his food. "It heal."
Richard frowned.
He knew it was true—the wounds were closing slowly. But slowly was the problem.
He was about to stand—
Then his stomach growled loudly.
He paused.
…I should've eaten that pizza.
With a sigh, he picked up a tomahawk steak.
He took a bite.
His face immediately twisted.
"…What the hell is wrong with this meat?"
It was tough. Dry. Tasted like it fought back before dying.
Bignum looked at him, still chewing. "What?"
"Is there anything here that doesn't require a second war to chew?" Richard asked.
Bignum reached over, grabbed the steak, and bit into it easily.
"Nothing wrong," he said. "Your jaw weak."
"…Fantastic."
Richard grabbed another piece—rib meat this time.
He bit down, trying to pull the meat off the bone. With the help of his uninjured arm. He tugged harder—
The meat slipped.
Flew off and landed—
Smack.
Right on another orc's head.
The orc froze.
Then slowly turned.
Not toward Richard.
Toward the wrong direction.
A completely innocent orc looked up, confused.
"…What?"
Too late.
The first orc charged.
The second orc got tackled off the bench.
A punch landed.
Then another.
Within seconds—
The entire side of the table exploded into a brawl.
Chairs flipped. Meat flew. Someone laughed while getting hit.
Richard blinked.
"…Oh."
Bignum grinned, watching the chaos.
"It's normal," he said. "Nothing to worry."
An orc got slammed onto the table next to Richard, nearly knocking his plate over.
Richard slowly moved his food closer to himself.
"…I feel like I caused that."
Bignum shrugged. "Good start."
"…That's not comforting."
Behind them, the fight got louder.
Richard pushed the plate to Bignum.
"…I'm not that hungry," he muttered.