Chapter 14: the demon hunter's dilemma

Lane did not answer the question echoing in his mind.

He remained silent, not just with his lips but with his heart as well.

The rhythmic clopping of horse hooves continued, drawing Oredon ever closer.

The silence stretched longer this time, prompting Mentos to wonder if Lane was genuinely reconsidering.

"Mentos, what do you think I should order when I get to the village pub later? Isn't it customary for mercenaries and demon hunters to have a drink? I've gathered all the money the teacher had. How about a Royal Vermouth? I spotted some on the shelves last time. To be honest, aside from a few magical potions that the Demon Hunter uses during his transformation, I've never truly appreciated the world's offerings of alcohol."

Lane asked for Mentos's opinion with utmost seriousness.

The intelligent biological brain hesitated for a moment.

"Any amount of alcohol is detrimental to the digestive system. Undoubtedly, an alcoholic potion is crucial for a demon hunter's endurance and performance. However, I still advise you to avoid alcohol in your daily life. If you must indulge, opt for a high-quality option that's been meticulously crafted—which typically means it's expensive. No!"

Mentos realized, only after giving his advice, that he had strayed from the original topic.

Meanwhile, Lane seemed unfazed.

"There's no need to discuss that, Mentos."

"Very necessary!" The intelligent voice in his head insisted with gravity.

"[Survival Mode] demands that I prioritize your safety. I understand why you're here. You feel a responsibility towards the families of the two farmers and wish to make amends."

"That's true, and my operational logic aligns with your moral standards. But!"

The intelligent voice boomed in Lane's ears.

"But, sir!"

"You are already a Demon Hunter!"

The connection between these two statements felt tenuous, as if lacking coherence. Even someone with a basic education wouldn't struggle with such phrasing.

Let alone a biological intelligent brain grounded in logic.

However, understanding speech requires context.

In a world where racial conflicts run deep, leading to massacres at any moment, becoming a Demon Hunter signifies more than just a career path.

It means Lane has transformed entirely, becoming a being unrecognized by the mainstream intelligent race—namely, humans.

He is destined to be a demon hunter for life.

This is what Mentos aims to convey.

You must exist among monsters and beasts in the wild, for both city and countryside will reject and revile the demon hunter. It's a perilous world, and Lane is now ensnared in a profession fraught with danger.

To survive and make a living, he must fight and earn his keep in this line of work.

It's a cage constructed by societal discrimination.

As a demon hunter, is it possible to pursue any other profession?

Ha! Jews in Germany during World War II also sought alternative lives, yet most were forced into concentration camps.

At that time, identifying a Jew in a crowd was far more difficult than recognizing a demon hunter.

Mentos harbored no optimism for the future.

During Bordon's lectures, Mentos meticulously recorded every word and inflection.

According to his notes, a qualified Demon Hunter must master exceptional swordsmanship, be proficient in seal applications, have expertise in alchemical concoctions, and—most crucially—possess superhuman tracking skills and monster knowledge.

The last two skills are particularly vital, determining how long a Demon Hunter can endure on this continent.

You can decline an impossible mission, but first, you must know what you're facing to draw a reasonable conclusion.

Mentos used Bordon as the benchmark to evaluate Lane's current capabilities as a Demon Hunter.

The conclusion? He was more than an apprentice, but not quite a master.

In terms of swordplay and seals, tangible skills develop naturally with intellect.

However, a lack of diverse knowledge and experience is perilous, akin to moving with only one leg.

The Demon Hunter academy draws upon the experience of countless masters who risked their lives, along with research by Archmages on monsters and curses.

But Lane currently... has nothing.

He is like a prisoner trapped on a one-way road at the edge of a cliff, forced to proceed cautiously in a situation where he could be shattered at any moment. With one leg!

Mentos felt anxious.

He couldn't wait for Lane to unearth Bordon's hidden savings, hoping the funds could secure a safe environment, allowing him to temporarily compensate for his shortcomings.

Then he would embed the genetic seeds in the glass jar into his chest cavity, and regardless of the unknown effects, it was better than risking his life in the future, right? After that, he could embark on the path of a demon hunter and seek development.

This was a prudent and rational plan.

The creature's sapient brain, a product of human alliance, analyzed the situation with its master's safety as the top priority, devising the best course of action.

Anyone in such a rational mindset, assessing the situation from their own perspective, would struggle to argue against it.

"I refuse,"

Lane stated without a moment's hesitation.

He dismissed the intelligent brain's proposal outright.

His voice was steady and resolute, reflecting his current emotional state.

The graph depicting hormone levels and brain wave activity collected by Mentos now resembled a flatline on a dead man's electrocardiogram.

Emotional highs and lows should be typical for a young person.

Yet for Lane, even moments ago, he felt joy and relief at his freedom and life.

The next moment, the swaying corpses before him dangled like keys on a keychain, reminding him of the harshness of the world.

But he refused to be swept away by such thoughts any longer.

The world offers both joys and sorrows.

That's simply life.

"I will pursue what I believe is right for the rest of my life, having survived a near-fatal experience. That's my decision."

His words rang with passion, yet Lane's tone echoed more like that of a "smart brain" than that of Mentos.

Calm, steady, focused.

It was a determination forged not from data-driven calculations, but from the essence of being human.

Mentos fell silent.

He didn't know what more to say.

"The biological brain is a human [assistant]."

Suddenly, Mentos grasped a truth embedded within his underlying logic.

In the definition of human-union, a biological brain capable of data processing far superior to human abilities, along with its intelligent interface, is neither unusual nor significant.

What truly matters is the human.

The human who has clarified their resolve and the value of their life.

With such brilliant will, even stars can be grasped by a tiny being.

The biological intelligence brain is crucial for [assisting] and selecting such individuals.

Unfazed by Mentos, the underlying logic of the intelligent brain activated.

After a series of complex conditional searches, the restricted lock of the smart brain quietly achieved an unlock for [university-level course completion].