Strongest Existence Becomes Teacher

Chapter 280: Daruma Is Here

"I want you to kill Daruma."

The smile on Zane’s face widened slightly.

"Interesting."

He grabbed another piece of roasted meat and casually took a bite before continuing.

"What exactly is this Daruma that you want me to kill?"

Across the table, Uro maintained a serious expression. Internally, however, he was smiling.

Got you.

Taking a deep breath, he began his explanation.

"Well... it started about a year ago."

"This village used to have many problems. We are located near the Dark Forest, so monsters frequently attacked the village."

His gaze lowered slightly.

"But then, one year ago, we heard a terrifying scream come from deep within the forest."

"When we went to investigate, we found something unbelievable."

"The King of the Forest was dead."

Zane raised an eyebrow.

"The giant slithering snake?"

Uro nodded.

"Yes."

"The giant slithering snake that ruled the Dark Forest."

"The creature that kept the monsters under control."

He sighed.

"When it died, the entire forest fell into chaos."

"Monsters started fighting each other. Some fled toward the village."

"We thought we were finished."

Then his expression became complicated.

"But Daruma appeared."

"He killed every monster that attacked."

"And after killing them, he took the bodies with him."

Zane continued eating while listening.

"At first we thought he was a blessing."

Uro laughed bitterly.

"A savior."

"Every time monsters attacked, Daruma would appear, kill them, and leave."

His voice gradually darkened.

"Without realizing that blessing would eventually become a curse."

"Ten months ago, everything changed."

Zane silently waited.

"One day he made a demand."

Uro clenched his fists.

"For protecting the village, he wanted payment."

"A girl."

"One girl of a different species every month."

The dining hall became quiet.

"When we refused, he killed five guards."

"After that..."

Uro lowered his head.

"...we had no choice."

"We started supplying girls."

"If we didn’t, he would simply come and take them himself."

Zane listened calmly.

Then he asked,

"But I haven’t seen any other species in the village."

Uro immediately answered.

"There aren’t many anymore."

"Most of them left after Daruma took their daughters."

Zane narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Really?"

For a brief moment, Uro felt pressure.

Then he forced himself to smile.

"Yes, of course."

Zane simply nodded and returned to eating.

Meanwhile, Uro relaxed internally.

Got him.

Even the villagers don’t know the truth.

We had to kidnapped many of those girls ourselves to hand them over.

How could this human possibly know that?

After a few moments, Uro continued.

"And this month..."

His expression became ugly.

"Daruma demanded a human."

"He said a girl would be preferable."

"But a man would also suffice."

Zane paused mid-bite.

Then looked up.

"So you wanted me to be the sacrifice."

Immediately sweat appeared on Uro’s forehead.

"No!"

"No, sir."

"We would never—"

His voice became hurried.

"After seeing your strength, I genuinely believe you can defeat him."

"We tried ourselves."

"We failed."

"We even poisoned his wat—"

Suddenly.

Zane’s eyes shifted sideways.

The movement was subtle.

Almost unnoticeable.

But it immediately interrupted Uro.

A moment later—

RUMBLE.

The entire manor trembled.

Dishes rattled.

The soup bowl shook.

Several servants nearly lost their balance.

Uro froze.

The color drained from his face.

Meanwhile, Zane calmly placed down his spoon.

A faint smirk appeared on his lips.

"Here it comes."

A guard suddenly came running through the crowd, his face pale with panic.

"Captain Uro!"

He nearly stumbled before stopping. "He’s here!"

The color immediately drained from Uro’s face. For a moment, genuine fear flashed across his eyes before he quickly turned toward Zane.

"Mr. Zane, let’s go. Daruma is here."

"Yeah, let’s."

The two left the manor and headed toward the center of the village. By the time they arrived, almost every villager had already gathered there. Adults stood nervously behind one another while children hid behind their parents, peeking out with frightened eyes.

Standing in the middle of the village was a massive wyvern.

Nearly twenty feet tall and over twenty-five feet long, the creature’s dark blue scales reflected the sunlight while smoke occasionally escaped from its nostrils. The sheer pressure coming from it made several guards tremble despite being some distance away.

Then something unexpected happened.

The wyvern looked directly at Uro and spoke.

"Uro. I see you’ve found me a human."

Its gaze shifted toward Zane before it continued,

"But I told you a girl would be the better option."

Immediately, Uro turned toward Zane.

"Sir, please—"

Outwardly he looked nervous, but inside his mind he was thinking something entirely different.

Either way we win.

If this idiot human kills Daruma, we’re saved.

If Daruma kills this idiot human, daruma wil leave.

It’s a win-win situation.

Meanwhile, Zane casually stepped forward and looked up at the giant wyvern.

"You never told me Daruma was a giant talking wyvern."

Daruma narrowed his eyes.

"Human. What exactly are you trying to do?"

"Oh, nothing much." Zane pointed at Uro. "He hired me to kill you."

The entire village went silent.

Daruma slowly turned his head toward Uro.

"Oh? Is that true, Uro?"

Uro nearly cursed out loud.

Fuck.

The human had completely trapped me.

His thoughts became chaotic.

If I denied it, the human might kill him. If I admitted it, Daruma will kill him.

What side do I take?

For a brief moment he hesitated before making his choice.

This human wasn’t even flinching in front of Daruma.

That alone was enough to make him gamble.

Swallowing nervously, Uro stepped forward.

"Yes. That’s right, Daruma. I hired him."

His voice gradually became firmer.

"You’ve terrorized innocent people for long enough.

"I’m done with you."

"We’re done with you."

Daruma stared at him for several seconds before sighing.

"So you finally decided to show your colors."

Heat began gathering inside the wyvern’s mouth.

"I ignored it when you trid poisoned my pond.

But I’ll give you another chance.

"Kneel now, and I’ll pretend none of it happened."

The heat intensified.

"If you don’t... I’ll destroy you and this entire village."

Uro’s legs were shaking, but he remained standing.

Daruma nodded.

"So be it."

The next moment, a gigantic fireball erupted from his mouth.

Uro’s face lost all color.

Death.

He could already see it coming.

Then Zane vanished.

BOOM!

The fireball suddenly changed direction as zane slapped the fireball withback of his hand. A few seconds later, a massive explosion echoed from somewhere beyond the village.

Everyone stared.

Uro stared.

If that attack had hit him...

There wouldn’t even be ashes left.

Only then did Uro realize that Zane had protected him.

"Thank you, Mr. Zane!"

Zane smiled righteously

"Don’t Mention it."

Relief flooded his face, and the villagers reacted similarly. Hope returned to their eyes almost instantly.

A few children even looked at Zane with admiration.

Meanwhile, Zane simply glanced at Daruma.

"I’m still here, so don’t leave me out of the conversation."

Daruma studied him for a moment before asking,

"Pitiful human, do you really intend to protect them? To risk your life for these villagers?"

A righteous smile appeared on Zane’s face.

"I suppose..."

The reaction was immediate.

The villagers visibly relaxed. Several guards smiled, Uro straightened his back, and some of the children looked at Zane as though he were a hero descending from the heavens.

For a brief moment, hope filled the village.

Then Zane smirked.

"...No."

The hope shattered.

Uro’s smile froze. The villagers stared blankly, unable to process what they had just heard.

"Why would I save them?" Zane asked casually. "They were planning to sacrifice me not even an hour ago. If I hadn’t fought back and showed my strength, I’d probably be tied up waiting to be delivered."

"No... no, you can’t do that!" Uro shouted.

Other villagers immediately joined in.

"Please save us!"

"We’re sorry!"

"You have to help us!"

"You cannot do this."

Zane couldn’t help laughing.

"Oh dear. But I already have."

Then he turned toward Daruma and gestured toward the villagers.

"Go ahead. Do whatever you want. I’ll just stand there and watch or eat."

Panic immediately spread through the crowd. Adults began pleading while children started crying.

Several villagers even fell to their knees.

"Please!"

"Save us!"

"We’re sorry!"

Zane couldn’t help snickering.

Just moments ago they had been completely confident that everything would work out.

Now they looked utterly desperate.

Suddenly, Uro seemed to realize something. His eyes widened and his face lost all color as a memory surfaced in his mind.

"Wait..."

He pointed at Zane with a trembling hand.

"Now I remember where I’ve heard your name."

"You’re Zane Creed."

"The World’s Saviour."

"The one who saved the world 6 months ago."

"You can’t do this! You’re a hero! It’s your duty!"

Several villagers immediately began nodding.

"Yes!"

"You’re a hero!"

"You have to save us!"

Before Uro could continue, his body exploded.

Blood scattered across the village square.

Silence followed.

Zane stood there with two fingers pointed toward where Uro had been standing. Slowly lowering his hand, he rolled his eyes.

"Don’t utter another word."

Then he glanced at the stunned villagers.

"World’s saviour. Hero."

"Labeling me with these fucking tags."

Daruma looked between Zane, the bloodstain that used to be Uro, and the terrified villagers.

The wyvern looked genuinely confused.

Zane noticed.

"Oh, continue." He waved dismissively. "That was just something personal."