Chapter 344 Demon King
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
(Hmph… Am I… asleep…?)
It feels like my consciousness is drifting in water.
When I try to surface, a voice holds me back.
’You can rest a bit longer.’
(That voice… Why shouldn’t I wake up?)
’The backlash from what you couldn’t fully absorb remains. … If you awaken, a great pain will strike you.’
(I just want to wake up and grasp the situation.)
’Soon enough. The goddess or her father god will heal you, so wait a little longer── Huh? Is there an intruder in the lord’s consciousness?’
(What’s going on? Is there someone else…)
[Hiroya… can you hear me…?］
A voice other than that woman resonates.
(Koichi… Is that you? What’s going on? I still don’t understand any of this.)
Just as Doll said. I… I am the reincarnation of the Demon King. ──I’ve remembered everything.］
* * *
And then, various images flow through my mind.
A huge, jet-black figure facing my father, Elberhardt, mother, and Principal Milia.
The shadow pleads with the hero’s party.
’I want to escape from this nightmare of reincarnation’
and.
’I will fight you with all my might. But if I am defeated, I want you to find me again, with Seven Lives, One Revenge… and raise me in a loving home.’
By ending his life happily… he hope to escape the cycle of ‘Seven Lives, One Revenge’.
That is the Demon King’s wish.
Elberhardt and his men agreed, and the battle became a victory for the heroes.
Despite the accident of being cursed by Azradelius who broke into the battle, the heroes found a baby born in the slums of the imperial capital Welnia who ‘inherited the soul of the Demon King’… The baby, named Koichi, was raised by father and mother.
* * *
(I see. So, Koichi, who didn’t exist in my previous life, exists…)
He remembers his time as the Demon King, but… his wish remains the same. He want to live and die as father and mother’s son.
(I understand. I’ll come to help you right away)
Koichi smiles at my response.
There’s a somewhat sad atmosphere.
[I acknowledge Hiroya’s strength. But… it’s still impossible──]
Suddenly, Koichi’s words trail off.
(What’s wrong?)
[I need to head back soon. I’ll make it brief… I’ll protect mother and Aelia. Please don’t worry. But──]
(?)
[Three years… that’s right. I can still maintain my consciousness as Koichi for 3 more years. By then──I’ll develop the power to fully conquer the Raetia Great Labyrinth.]
(Got it. Three years… right)
[Yeah. We will likely relocate our base to the labyrinths within the empire. Azradelius’s goal is, the Welnia Labyrinth──]
Again, Koichi’s words trailed off.
(What’s wrong? Did something happen?)
[It’s a farewell for a while, Hiroya. I’m counting on you… say hi to father for me──]
(Koichi! Wait for me! Definitely!)
There was no reply from Koichi.
* * *
’Welnia Labyrinth… I see, that’s what he’s after──’
(Do you understand?)
’Well, first you must conquer the Raetia dungeon. I’ll lend you a hand.’
(By the way…?)
’What?’
(You’re ‘Yamikirimaru’, right?)
’Hmm. You’re not wrong… that’s right. To be precise, it’s [something contained in Yamikirimaru]. Right now, it’s just confusing the lord, so I’ll explain [what it is] later.’
(But how can we suddenly communicate like this? Toldo didn’t say ‘Yamikirimaru speaks’…)
’That is because I have acquired such power. I have received the abundant magical power of my lord little by little. And──’
(And?)
’Because I took a liking to you, my lord. A soul that is clearly not of this World. And hidden within is [the power of the former master’s pent-up negative emotions]. I fell in love with that violent lord♡’
Oh no, what are you confessing here?
’No, I actually like the current lord’s cuteness too, you know?’
(Well, that’s nice and all… but, I want to hear more details…)
’Hey, it’s about time you wake up. It seems like Father God has finished healing you.’
Father God.
It’s probably Mr. Rudolf.
Earlier, they called him a goddess too… Do you know about Rena and Mr. Rudolf?”
’Well then, see you later. I guess I’ll take a nap for a while…’
Eventually, as the surroundings brightened, I’m──
* * *
”Hiroya! I’m so glad! You woke up!”
”Hiroya!”
When I came to, I was collapsed in the backyard, with Kazumi and Rena clinging to me and crying.
As I sat up, Martina and Dorothy supported me.
”You really worried everyone again…”
Liz smiled through her tears.
”I’m sorry. I couldn’t finish off Azradelius.”
”I was watching. If that meddling demon hadn’t intervened, you would have died in exchange for taking down Azradelius. You were being reckless…”
Asuka, glaring at me, wiped her tears away.
Looking around, Aluda, Eluda, Meluda, Simona, Gieze, Sister Karina, Lotta, and Gorge… everyone was smiling with tears flowing down their faces.
”Really…I’m sorry for making you worry so much”
”Hiroya! Are you awake?”
I heard my father’s voice.
Beyond the gate of the house…I see my father, Elberhardt, Principal Milia, and Barbara running towards me.
”My lord, how is the village doing?”
”Yes. There was no major damage. The garrison guided the villagers to safety, and the adventurers seemed to have repelled the youma.”
Father answered Liz’s question and turned to face the group sitting at the back of the garden.
”Rose Hip and Black Sheep were the main fighters. Bone, Helena, thank you. Thank you.”
Bone raised his hand slightly to Dad who bowed his head, and Ms. Helena, Ms. Frieda, and the members of ‘Rose Hip’ hurriedly stood up and bowed their heads.
”I’m proud to have been able to help, even a little, in protecting this village that we have fallen in love with and decided to make our base…”
Is it because she’s no good with men, or is it because it’s the lord she’s dealing with?
Ms. Helena, looking nervous, straightened her posture and replied accordingly.
* * *
”I’m sorry, Dad. I couldn’t protect Koichi and Mom.”
A room in the mansion.
Talking just the two of us in Dad’s room.
Principal Milia went to treat the injured villagers with Mr. Rudolf, while Elberhardt and Ms. Barbara disappeared into the bedrooms of the mansion since dawn was approaching.
Bone and the members Ms. Helena, Ms. Frieda, and Rose Hip returned to their respective clans, and I had Kazumi and the others go back to the Clan house first.
After Ms. Stella, who brought the tea, left the room, I conveyed all my conversation with Koichi to Dad.
”I see… Megumi──Mom will be protected by Koichi…”
Dad looked a little relieved.
”It’s just as I heard from Koichi. He is the reincarnation of the Demon King… I’m sorry for keeping that secret from you, Hiroya.”
”No, that’s fine. I understand the reason for the presence of an ‘older brother’ who wasn’t there in my previous life.”
I sat down on a nearby chair and drank the tea that Ms. Stella brought me.
”Also… Koichi didn’t have ‘black hair and black eyes’. I thought it was a bit strange. I even considered the possibility that he was Dad’s illegitimate child.”
Dad smiled wryly at my words.
”Three years. That’s what Koichi said.”
”Yes”
”Hmm. I guess that’s how long it takes for the miasma to affect his mind. So, Hiroya, can you do it?”
Dad asks me with a sharp gaze.
”It’s a strategy for Raetia’s Great labyrinth. I can do it.”
”You’re so bold. Even though you’re my son, you’re still as reliable as ever.”
”I have my family, my family. Yes. I can do it.”
My father’s sharp gaze towards me suddenly softens… and he drops his gaze to the desk.
”The problem is what happens after that. Koichi said he will move to a labyrinth in the Empire, right?”
Saying that, Dad beckons.
When I went over and looked at the table, a map of the Yugria Continent was spread out.
”Yeah. And it seemed like Azradelius was trying to convey that their goal is ‘something related to the Welnia Labyrinth’.”
”Hmm… Is there a collaborator within the Empire…? Then the destination is…”
”I, I, I have an idea about that!”
Suddenly, the door to the room opened, and Sister Karina walked in.
”Sister Karina!? I thought you went home?”
”I, I, I’m Karina O’Brian… because I’m the daughter here!”
Sister Karina strides into the room and greets Dad.
”Princess Karin Gaeltheus, what do you have in mind?”
”F, Father! I, I, I’m Karina O’Brian!”
”That’s right.”
Dad smiles gently at the flustered Sister Karina.
”So, Karina. Do you have any insights?”
”I-I-I heard a rumor that the entrance to the labyrinth had been discovered… I-I-Now that I think about it, I-I-I think Emperor Magnus’s goal was…”
Sister Karina points to the map.
That’s the location of the now-defunct city-state of Gaeltheus.
”The Demon King’s new destination is an unexplored labyrinth. If so, Azradelius’ ally is… Emperor Magnus Fackler IV…”
iIi-it’s just a guess, though.”
”No, that guess… I don’t think it’s wrong. Thanks, Karina”
Saying this, Father strokes Sister Karina’s head.
Sister Karina looked so happy and not too displeased.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply