Volume 8 - CH 4

Afterwards, we were guided to a detached room in Rurumu’s mansion.

It looks like we’ll be staying here for the time being.

Amiyu looked around the room restlessly and said.

“It’s pretty big, isn’t it?”

“It’s like a detached room for guests.”

“If it’s a village chief’s mansion, something like this will probably be necessary.”

“… I never thought I’d see a demon village.”

Mabel, who was sitting on the stone bed, said while poking her head.

“I don’t know what’s going on in life”

“Did you have any feelings about the demon village?”

When I asked, Mabel looked at me and answered.

“A long time ago, I had a conversation with everyone at the nursery school.

“…”

“But in the end… I was the most scared at that time, I was the only one who could see it like this. I’m a little sorry, maybe.”

Come to think of it, this child had been raised as a slave and a mercenary until just over two years ago.

She certainly could not have imagined that she would be in a place like this two years later.

Mabel lowered her gaze and muttered.

“… I wish I could go to more places with everyone.”

I smile and say.

“You are here now because of your own choices. If you continue to choose such a path from now on, it will happen naturally.”

Mabel nodded.

After a while, Amiyu looked up at the ceiling and said,

“Even so… I didn’t expect you to be the Demon King.”

“…”

I answer silently.

From the stage when he decided to head to the demon territory, he told the three of them what Rurumu had said.

“Ever since I first met you, I thought you were weird.”

“Did you think that way, me?”

“But maybe there’s something I can agree on.”

Amiyu laughs lightly and says.

“Maybe we were destined to meet. The hero and the demon king.”

I answer while feeling a little uncomfortable.

“If it was fate, we would have fought as soon as we met.”

“That’s true. It’s frustrating, but I don’t feel like I’m an enemy to you, so I’m glad it didn’t happen.”

“Hmm……”

“Oh, come to think of it.”

Amiyu said as if she remembered.

“You didn’t tell Rurumu that I’m a hero, did you? Should I tell her now…?”

“Never, stop”

It’s definitely going to be unusual and complicated.

“Listen, absolutely keep quiet.”

“Okay”

“Hey, Seika-kun…”

At that time, Ifa opened her mouth as if she had timed her right.

She continues with a worried expression.

“That’s really… is it true? Seika-kun is the demon king…”

With a voice that seemed to be overwhelmed, it was no longer an atmosphere where one could make jokes.

I answer quietly.

“I don’t know. But… it’s certainly not strange.”

“Uh…that’s strange! Because Seika-kun grew up as a normal human being in that mansion…”

“But I don’t know where I was born. When I think about it, there were some things that weren’t natural. I never once heard about my mother, from the maid, her family, where she was, and even her life and death. Never”

It’s as if they didn’t know about it at all…or maybe they intentionally hid it.

Ifa said with her head down.

“If you’re really a demon lord… Seika-kun, are you going to stay here? Are you not going back to the empire anymore?”

“eh?”

“Even so, if a war with the empire breaks out…”

“No, no, of course I will return to the empire.”

I smile and answer.

“I came to the demon territory simply to see off the former slave divine demons. I had no intention of staying here.”

“Is that so? But at this rate…”

“It’s true, it’s become important for some reason, but it’s okay.

Saying that, I reached out my hand to Ifa’s head and gently stroke it.

Even if she can’t be tricked, it doesn’t matter.

“There are many ways to go home.”

Mabel and Amiyu, who were watching us warmly, said.

“Seika, are you good at that sort of thing?”

“You’re good at reprimanding, but you seem to be surprisingly bad at negotiations… if you get into trouble, I can take over for you.”

“I’m not worried”

“Why are you so confident…”

At that time.

“Is everyone there…?”

Rurumu peered out from the entrance with a timid voice.

“Ah, Rurumu-san.”

“Rurumu! come here, come here.”

Rurumu entered the room a little apologetically after being invited by the girls who seemed to be in high spirits.

“I’m sorry everyone… we can only prepare this building.”

“I’m fine. I’m an adventurer.”

“Umm… Once we partition the room, we’ll be fine.”

“…I really care”

When I mumbled, the women laughed.

“However, my father is the chief of the village, which was a big help.”

“Did you originally have a position similar to that of a noble in human terms?”

When I asked, Rurumu thought for a moment and nodded.

“Well… I think it’s fine to say that because it’s a lineage of oracle priestesses who predicted the birth of the Demon King. In return for the responsibility of connecting blood, I was allowed to live a good life, and I had a strong voice in the village. I think my father was able to become the head of the village because of the timing.”

“As expected,” I agreed.

In the past, even in a human country, the family lineage of oracle shrine maidens must have been treated in a similar way.

“While I’m here, I’ll try to make things as comfortable as possible. If you need anything, just let me know.”

“Hey, can I look around the village?”

Rurumu smiled and answered Amiyu’s enthusiastic question.

“Yes. I’ll show you around tomorrow.”

“Yeah! I wonder if there’s a store or something. Can I use the empire’s money?”

Amiyu giggles like she’s in high spirits.

Even Ifa and Mabel seemed enthusiastic.

“Seika, you’ll come too, won’t you? 　I can’t reveal to everyone in the village that you’re a demon lord, but… is there anywhere you want to go?”

I waited a beat before answering Rurumu’s question.

“It’s not like I want to go, but…”

“…?”

“Are the parents of the divine demon named Merosa still in this village?”

After Rurumu made a startled expression, she shook her head.

“No… I’ve heard that a demoness who visited this village during the journey left Merosa in front of the temple when she was still small. They’re not here.”

“……Really”

Rurumu said apologetically after answering briefly.

“I’m sorry… I should have told you earlier.”

“No. It’s nothing like that.”

I shake my head.

It would be a lie if I said I didn’t care, but it wasn’t because I wanted to see my real grandparents.

On the contrary, it’s the other way around. I was relieved inside.

It would be unbearable to have unnecessary ties with the demons.

“I’ll leave it to you where we go tomorrow.”

Then, she added jokingly.

“It would be a problem if you stood out in a place like this.”