Volume 8 - CH 9

“I’m tired…”

After Rurumu left, I was left alone on the hill and murmured.

This mutter was my heartfelt impression.

“You look very tired.”

Above his head, Yuki spoke like it was someone else’s problem.

I answer with a sigh.

“Well… I’m not good at that sort of thing. It reminds me of when I was in the Onmyō dormitory.”

“Yuki didn’t know Seika-sama when he was a government official, but… were you in such a high position as to deal with people in that position?”

“no……”

I deny it with a wry smile.

“After all, I’m an onmyoji, so I’m just an official. My work was not about politics, it was all about practical work.”

“Then why…”

“Sometimes you just have to get involved with the big guys. I was a little conspicuous, so it became necessary.”

I also had the opportunity to please the High Priest, who was allowed to visit the Emperor.

He was a man of renown and self-respect who thought politics were everything in this world.

I remember being in despair when I thought that there would always be people like this in my career.

“Well, compared to those guys… maybe the people here are still better. I don’t think there’s a more muddy political strife than the capital, so I can’t help but feel somewhat naive.”

“Thank you for that.”

Yuki says.

The tone of her voice had become that of nagging.

“However, isn’t it a little too deep?”

“…”

“It was Yuki who said earlier that you should do as you please, but I think it would be dangerous to imitate anything that goes as far as stepping into the heart of the political scene. You are unfamiliar with such a place.”

“Even if you say so…”

“Did you really take what Yuki said earlier that you have the qualities of a politician? It’s not a lie, but if you take it at face value it’s a bit…”

“Is there any reason? This can’t be helped.”

I frown and say.

“Even I really don’t want to do this… but I can’t run away. After all, I’m the center of the turmoil.”

“Does Seika-sama still think that he is the Demon Lord?”

“… I think it’s highly possible.”

“Then, I’m sure that’s the case. It seems natural that Seika-sama’s reincarnation is special, even for Yuki. But…”

Yuki said in the same tone.

“Even so, is it necessary to act as a demon lord so far?”

“…”

“At first, the only one who called Seika-sama a demon lord was that shrine maiden. At that point, weren’t there any number of ways to deceive them? Your parents could have moved to a distant land and lived under a false name. If so, no matter how much they were looking for the Demon King, you were unlikely to be pursued.”

“……that’s.…”

When Yuki told me, I muttered while remembering my own actions.

“Certainly… it may not have been necessary to visit the demon territory… Well, it was weird to not know much about the demons, so I thought it would be a good opportunity. That’s right… Besides, I was somewhat reluctant to leave Rurumu and the others alone…”

“That’s the main reason.”

I looked up at Yuki above my head.

From here, all I could see was the tip of her swaying nose.

“Knowing about their circumstances, you didn’t feel like throwing them away, right? 　Since Seika-sama’s previous life, you cherished your relationships with people.”

“…was that so? Separately, I think it was normal…”

“No, it wasn’t. Yuki understands.”

“…”

At least I’m not aware of it.

Well, in the end it’s just an appraisal of a mystical character. I should have listened to half the story.

Although.

After Yuki’s remarks, I gradually began to feel regret.

“But if that’s the case……after all, it might have been a mistake to come to the Demon Territory so easily……I should have decided to live a cunning life so as not to stand out, but recently things have gone in the opposite direction. I feel like I’mnot  making progress…”

“No, I think Yuki is fine with this.”

At Yuki’s words, I involuntarily blinked my eyes.

“Huh?”

“Yuki thinks that doing what Seika-sama wants to do is the best.”

“…Then, what was that nagging just now?”

“For the time being, I just said it. Whether you listen to it or not, I hope Seika-sama will do as he pleases.”

“what’s that……”

I involuntarily let out a hollow voice.

From my previous life, I was occasionally scolded… but I felt that Yuki’s words like this were rare.

Since I was reincarnated, she has been doing it often, and I may be amazed.

“But one thing, Yuki would like to ask you… what is Seika-sama aiming for?”

Yuki asks.

I thought that Yuki was trying to avoid war, but… it seems that’s not the case.

“It’s just as I said to Rurumu. What I want is for them to unite their intentions. At this point, I don’t care if it’s going to start a war or maintain the status quo.”

“…? But if war breaks out…”

“Rurumu’s plan won’t come true.”

I say this while looking down at the village of Shinma that spreads out at the bottom of the hill.

“In order to keep a peaceful distance from them, it would be good if the demon king became an unnecessary existence for the demons. It becomes practically obsolete.”

Even in the legends, scenes of the demon king fighting, himself are rarely depicted.

At most, it was only during the decisive battle with the hero, and after that, he was basically just sitting on the throne. He didn’t even have to be there.

Furthermore, thanks to the increase in population compared to the past, the heroes and demon lords are no longer big in terms of combat power…… Fiona had said this before, but the demons also properly understood this fact.

If that’s the case, their need for me, will be even less.

“With so many powers colliding with each other, even a war will end in a moderate amount of time anyway. It’s always been that way. I’ll try to figure it out and do something about it. That should be fine.”

“Hmm, is that so…?”

I thought it was a good idea, but Yuki said it with a quizzical look.

“It seems that there are various unreasonable things … rather, if you are aiming for such a situation, it would have been better not to come from the beginning …”

“Don’t say it. I’m already here, so it can’t be helped.”

“It’s just as you say, but…”

Yuki cut off her words with a sour voice.

“… How about giving up and moving here and spending your time as a demon king? The hero no longer needs to be frightened by her pursuers, isn’t it good?”

“There is no such option. This is a different world, not a place where humans live in the first place. If you spend a long time in a different world, people will be taken in.”

“That’s a story from that world. This seems like a normal village, and the demons here seem more like humans than monsters.”

“… For some reason, I’m curious. Maybe it’s my nature as an onmyoji. And…”

I say after a slight hesitation.

“… It’s often painful to spend time with people who have different life spans. The same goes for those kids… but also for the people here.”

“… you are right.”

Maybe Yuki had something on her mind.

Yuki continued talking as if she had regained her composure.

“Hmm, it’s true that we’ve come this far, so there seems to be no other way than what Seika-sama said… but will it work?”

“Well, I have no choice but to do it.”

I say so in a positive tone.

“I’m sure they will come to terms with each other’s situation and come to a conclusion in the not-too-distant future. How to get there and how to lead them to it…… is where the game begins.”

A flexible response is required.

I have to brace myself again.