As we were engaging in our idle conversation, I sensed another presence drawing near.
Sauntering down a nearby staircase was Wolf-head Dolda. Upon spotting us, he rested his axe over his shoulder and called out.
"A war, is it? Surely you aren't thinking of leaving me out, are you?"
Dolda asked the question with a hint of pressure. The Fighting Spirit radiating from his entire body was intense enough to prickle the skin. A nearby civil official, who had nothing to do with us and was merely passing by, let out a soft yelp of terror.
Ignoring the collateral damage, Logan shook his head and offered Dolda an explanation.
"It is not a war. Merely a domestic dispute. Besides, the forest is hardly your battlefield, is it?"
"I suppose that’s true... How disappointing," Dolda grumbled, sounding genuinely dejected.
He scratched his fur-covered neck, his wolf ears drooping. He must have been truly itching for a fight; the dip in his mood was starkly apparent.
Over the last five hundred years, Dolda had completely regained his reason. His everyday speech had become fluent, and he had established a stable sense of self, much like Grom and me. These days, he was known by the title of the Demon King of the Sea. As a Demon King, Dolda presided over a world where dry land did not exist, governing through a state of constant naval warfare.
"Say, Great Demon King."
"What is it?"
"A fellow calling himself the God of the Sea has turned up. Mind if I take him down? It seems like a fine opportunity to test out my new battleship."
Dolda spoke with a voice full of anticipation. I had previously instructed him to report in advance whenever he planned to engage in large-scale combat, and he was faithfully upholding that promise. While he occasionally failed to suppress his Combat Impulse and charged out ahead of time, it was usually within the realm of tolerance.
"Report back once you have subjugated him. I will collect the remains."
"Umu! You have a knack for getting straight to the point; it’s a huge help. My subordinates do nothing but lecture me. It’s quite the ordeal..."
Dolda let out a heavy sigh along with his complaint. He possessed a fundamentally easygoing personality and tended to act on instinct, which meant his subordinates were the ones constantly being dragged along in his wake. I received reports that bordered on formal grievances with a fair amount of frequency.
However, his subordinates would never dream of abandoning him. On the contrary, they placed immense trust in the man. Despite his conspicuous behavioral issues, Dolda was a man of character more than capable of making up for his flaws. His reputation among his fleet was excellent. He was every bit the Great Pirate one would expect; even after becoming a Demon King, that charismatic temperament remained alive and well.
Remembering something I needed to tell him, I spoke up.
"Kenny and Lana were looking for a sparring partner. If you’re interested, I’d like you to face them."
"Oh, those twins are here too? Very well, very well! I shall test their mettle for the first time in a long while."
Dolda sounded delighted as he walked away, tapping his shoulder with his axe. He likely intended to go find the two of them immediately.
Watching his retreating figure, Grom muttered with a wry smile.
"He is quite the doting grandfather, isn't he?"
"Indeed."
It was only after Dolda began interacting with Henry's descendants that he truly regained his reason. Aside from his love for battle, he seemed to possess a naturally nurturing soul. He likely felt as though he were babysitting his own grandchildren.
As I was reflecting on this side of Dolda, Yura abruptly raised her hand. She spoke with a quiet, mechanical enthusiasm.
"Inquiry to Master—I shall undertake the same mission as Individual Name Dolda. Is this acceptable?"
"Yes, I leave it to you."
When I nodded, Yura began to levitate. I thought she was about to fly off immediately, but instead, she turned to stare intently at Logan.
Logan looked back, sounding a bit bewildered. "...What is it?"
"Recruiting Individual Name Logan—you shall come as well. Having many sparring partners is preferable."
This was an unexpected move. Normally, Yura did not extend invitations like this. Perhaps she felt a burgeoning sense of camaraderie with Logan now that he had become a fellow Spirit.
Faced with the invitation, Logan took a moment to consider. After a brief hesitation, he offered a smile.
"I shall head over once I have finished my business."
"Response from Individual Name Logan accepted—I shall begin the training and wait for you."
Yura performed a mid-air somersault on the spot and then rocketed down the corridor at high speed. Drenching us in a fierce blast of wind, she vanished into the distance in an instant.