Volume 8 - CH 22

Night. I opened my eyes.

In my vision were high ceilings and beams. I had stopped at a village of giants and rented an old shrine house on the outskirts of the village as an inn. It was a crude building, but it was difficult to rent an inn in the center of the village because the kings did not want to reveal their identities.

I wake up and look around at the sleeping kings.

“…”

Before long, I slowly stood up and quietly left the inn without making any noise.

Then, i called out to a person standing outside while paying attention to his surroundings.

“What are you doing here so late at night, Senecle-dono?”

The silver demon looked at me with a startled look.

Cell Senecle. The name of King Athos’s squire was certainly that.

The demon servant answered me with a slightly embarrassed smile.

“Looks like I woke you up. I’m sorry. I’m a little thirsty, so I’m going to the well.”

“Can you raise the giants’ well by yourself?”

“…”

The silver devil only made a troubled face.

I continue to say.

“King Athos doesn’t seem to be here, did you notice?”

The devil king’s bed had been empty for some time.

Cell Senecle replied with some hesitation.

“Yes… that’s why I went to see how things are going.”

“…”

“He hasn’t gone far. He’s right there, in the back. I think he probably knew that he wasn’t out of the Demon King’s barrier.”

As the Silver Devil said, I knew that King Athos was inside the barrier I had put up. So I wasn’t too worried about him.

I ask.

“Why aren’t you by your master’s side?”

“… It seemed like he wanted me to leave him alone.”

Cell Senecle replied as if she was at a loss for words.

She seemed unsure of her own actions.

“I was hesitant to go to his side, but I couldn’t sleep alone, so I waited here for His Majesty’s return. I wanted to be able to rush to him immediately if something happened.”

“…….Really”

I relaxed my shoulders and let out a sigh.

I questioned her because she was behaving strangely, but it didn’t seem like a big deal.

I was a little worried that King Athos would be alone on a night like this… but he must have many things on his mind. Based on the experience of my previous life, it is best to leave him alone at times like this.

I tell her.

“Then you should sleep too. King Athos will be worried if he finds out that you’ve been waiting there for a long time. Don’t worry about him.”

When I was entrusted with the kings, I took a little excessive safety measures.

Even if they get out of the barrier and get attacked by monsters or assassins, it won’t be a big deal.

I turn on my heel and continue.

“However, from now on, please stop touching the barrier carelessly.

“Um, Demon King-sama.”

I turned around as the silver demon stopped me.

Cell Senecle says.

“If you don’t mind……Could you go check up on His Majesty?”

“… Didn’t he want you to leave him alone?”

“Yes, but…”

The silver devil told me with an ambiguous smile.

“I’m sure that His Majesty will be pleased if he speaks to Demon King-sama.”

*********************************

When I turned around to the back of the huge shrine built by the giants, I heard a small voice.

It seemed to be a song.

“…”

Seeing King Athos, I stop.

The small demon king sat down on one of the timbers and sang quietly.

I wonder if it’s a song handed down by the demons.” It was a mysterious melody that I had never heard in my previous life or this life, but it seemed to fit the boy’s somewhat high voice.

I wait for the singing voice to stop before I call out.

“Surprisingly, you’re good at singing.”

“Ah!　Oh, no, no, no, Demon King!”

King Athos jumped up in amazement, turned to face me, and straightened himself.

Then he looks down and says,

“Listen, was it hard to hear… I’m sorry. Was it noisy…?”

“No, I never heard it until I got here. The giant’s shrine is big.”

As I said that with a smile, I sat down next to King Athos.

The Demon King asks in a timid tone.

“How did you know that …… I was here?”

“I asked Cell Senecle-dono. She was worried, so don’t go out alone too much. Tomorrow will be early.”

“yes……”

King Athos nodded, and then said quietly.

“Even when I was in the royal palace… I would sing alone like this once in a while. In a place where no one could hear me…”

“… Is that a song handed down to the devil tribe?”

“Yes, it’s an old folk song. When I was little, my mother often sang it, and let me listen to it…, I also liked the song.”

I smile a little and say.

“Is that so?, why not let others listen to it anyway? If you were a king, you would have a place at a banquet or something. It would be a shame to waste a voice so good.”

Hearing this, King Athos lowered his head weakly.

“My way of singing… it will only make everyone uncomfortable and whisper, ‘He’s a king who can’t speak well, but he can only sing well’..”

“… I don’t think so…”

“No.”

I couldn’t find the words, so King Athos continued.

“Ever since I was little, I’ve been like this. I’m not good at words here. I’ve invited famous doctors and teachers to try to fix it, and I’ve tried various tricks. However, none of them went well… un, un, until today.”

“…”

“Then, in order to make up for the shortcomings of my, my stuttering, I have been focusing on my studies as a king…”

King Athos lowered his eyes.

“Well, I went with Demon King-sama, and after a long time, I met everyone again… I lost my confidence.”

“… why is that?”

“Even though everyone says this and that… they are clever, have deep insight, and have clear a, a, a, aspirations. I… have nothing.”

“…”

“King Gauss and King Vildamund are worried about the fate of their own race, and see clearly, see, and decide what to do. King Sigil is a man of great political balance. As he ages, he will be able to steer the military well if he gains strength. In the royal palace, King Plushe, who is good at politics, i probably already has quite a few legislators on her side. The beastkin race ruled by King Fili Nair will probably gain even more momentum in the future. The spread of the monetary economy from human society to the demon territory will be a tailwind for her.”

“…”

“However, I have nothing. Actually, I may not even have the qualifications to stand alongside everyone else…”

King Athos finished his words while hesitantly, and lowered his head again.

I took a few moments before saying,

“I don’t think that’s true.”

“Thank you very much.

“It’s no comfort. On the contrary…you feel more like a king than any of them.”

King Athos looked up in surprise.

“Mao ma, no way, that’s…”

“It’s true. You have a graceful demeanor, and you can answer any question about your race without hesitation. I don’t even think you have a speech impediment. I don’t think you’re at a loss for words, because your words to Senecle- dono have always been perfect, kingly words.”

“b-b-, but…”

King Athos said as if he couldn’t believe it.

“I have no idea of the course our race should take, nor of what we are good at …….”

“King Vill and King Gauss’ goals are simple and clear, probably because the ogre demons and giants leave a lot of room for development. It doesn’t matter if you don’t. The more developed the country, the more complicated the politics. You don’t have to be good at anything. You’re in a position where you have to make decisions on a wide range of things.Rather, how do you gather experts, how you utilize their skills will be more important.”

I tell him.

“If there’s one thing you need, it’s confidence. Why don’t you push your chest out?”

“……Thank you”

King Athos said with a faint smile.

“I feel a little …… more confident now. I hope this will make me more fluent in the language of…..”

I ask after thinking a little.

“After all, do you stutter when you’re nervous? 　I feel like you’re speaking much more naturally now than when we first met.”

“Yes. I can’t say I won’t speak in front of you.I apologize for my stammering at that time. But even under normal circumstances, it is difficult to speak like a normal person. Besides, as a king, I cannot avoid speaking in front of many people.”

“Hmm…”

I’ll tell him what I’ve been thinking all along.

“As far as I know, in my previous life… ah, no, in human history, there have been several politicians and leaders who stutter. That’s why I don’t think it’s a fatal flaw…”

“Are you sure?”

King Athos leans forward and asks.

“So how the hell did they get over this bad habit?”

“No, no, I don’t even know that far…”

Fortunately or unfortunately, none of my students stuttered, and i had never investigated the disease in detail.

However, it seems pitiful to leave him like this.

I shake my head.

“…Speaking of which, can you speak normally when you entrust your words to Senecle-dono?”

“Yes. Senecle has been my servant since I was a child, and I can speak without hesitation… but more than that, when I whisper, the words come out strangely without hesitation.”

“Is that so? It’s something that changes depending on how you speak.”

“However, I can’t just whisper to anyone.”

After thinking about it for a while, I realized something else.

“Oh, come to think of it… the song”

“…?”

“When you were singing, you didn’t seem to be at a loss for words. You weren’t even whispering.”

“Singing… huh?  have never paid attention to this before…”

King Athos said thoughtfully.

“… Now that you mention it, it certainly seems like it.”

“Then… How about trying to talk like you’re singing?”

“Eh, like singing?”

“Yeah, like adding verses or …… speaking with that kind of song in mind. If you do that, you will be able to speak without stuttering.　Of course, it may be difficult to do so on a regular basis, but in situations where you have already decided what you are going to say, you can do it.”

“…Interesting method. No doctor or teacher has ever said something like that.”

“Well, it’s just an idea, and there’s no guarantee that it will work…”

“No… I feel like I can see the light. Thank you, ma-mao-sama, Demon King.

King Athos added with a small smile.

“Similar to a song, tho, tho, secretly so that no one will hear it…it’s a little embarrassing.”