Side: Labyris
Before us now stands a small grave.
When the Demon King Derieu came here, two animals lost their lives.
It was unavoidable; an act committed because each side believed their lives were being taken by the other. However, to Aslin and Filia, it was no different from losing members of their family.
"Egh... hic..."
"...Ugh... waaaah..."
Gathered at their feet were the other animals under Aslin and Filia's dominion, as if mourning the death of their companions.
Present here are myself, Yuki, Eris, Tori, Riel, Elju, and Oriel. The rest are working at the training center; they know this location, so they will likely come individually later.
"So, after seeing all this, what do you think?"
"......"
Yuki addressed the cause of this burial: the Demon King Derieu.
After being woken from her unconscious state, she was shown around the dungeon town. We showed her that we—that Yuki—had no intention of invading the Kingdom of Roshure.
"......It seems it was indeed a misunderstanding on my part."
Everyone was less afraid of Derieu than expected. Part of it was because Yuki was there, and she had already been placed under "Designated Protection," meaning she could no longer harm us, the residents, or Yuki. Most of all, the expression she wore as she watched Aslin and Filia was not that of a Demon King, but a human.
"The very fact that I was allowed to wake up is answer enough. There was no need to keep me alive, after all..."
Derieu looked at Aslin and Filia with an indescribable expression.
"Well, if the misunderstanding is cleared up, that's what matters most. So, what now?"
"What do you mean 'what now'? Am I not a criminal in this place?"
"Ha, what are you talking about now? Don't you dare run away. The people you need to apologize to are right in front of you."
Saying that, Yuki pushed Derieu toward Aslin and Filia.
"W-Wait, even I need time to sort out my feelings..."
"Derieu, you've done what you thought was right until now, haven't you? This is just one of many outcomes. It's a path you've walked often, isn't it? Killing someone and making them cry over a misunderstanding?"
"That is..."
"Or have you simply pushed your own opinions through with your power without listening to a word anyone said? Believing that you are absolutely, perfectly right?"
"......"
"Sigh... I see. So this is the downside of having great power. Because you can force things through, it's easy to convince yourself that what you do is correct. But that's not always true. Still, you're better than most, Derieu. You can still calmly judge your own actions. Well, you've probably lost before, but normally, if someone has lived that way for so long, when things don't go their way, they tend to blame the other party."
Yuki spoke gently, as if trying to calm her.
"Have I... killed people who had nothing to do with me as well?"
"Well, it would be easy for us to say it was all a mistake, but you wouldn't be convinced, would you?"
"..."
"Then, since you've realized you were wrong, and the people you need to apologize to are right here, you know what you must do."
"Nuu... I thought there was nothing left for me to fear, but..."
"Well, isn't that a good thing? If you aren't afraid of anything, you aren't a living creature anymore. You'd be a doll. The same as having no emotions. You wouldn't be able to share joy with anyone, or laugh at a funny story, or shed a tear when someone close to you dies."
"You... you still consider me a human? Even after I've been called a Demon King and crushed everything with mere strength? Me?"
Perhaps something changed because of Yuki's words; the way Derieu referred to herself seemed to soften.
Yuki's roundabout way of speaking can be hard to follow, but I believe Derieu is a human. After all, when she was talking to Yuki's shadow on the Call screen, she said she came to defeat a Dungeon Master. She misunderstood and assumed we intended to invade Roshure, but she wasn't acting out of tyranny—she was trying to do what she thought was right.
That is why we didn't demand verbal abuse or harsh punishment for Derieu. Regarding the damages... I feel bad for Aslin and Filia, but it was two animals. If it had been Yuki's life on the line, I doubt we would have had any intention of forgiving her.
"A person, or rather... as long as we can have a conversation and communicate our wills, I don't care if you're 'human' or not. Rethink that narrow definition. The ones Aslin and Filia are crying for are animals."
"Ah..."
"You can befriend animals, yet you speak the same language and have the same shape. I can't imagine we wouldn't be able to talk and get along with a 'loli-granny' who was just a bit too strong and got labeled a Demon King. Though, there's a limit. I have no intention of trying to persuade someone whose head is so far gone they think they're 'absolute' or 'always right.'"
As usual, Yuki is strange—or perhaps just unpredictable.
Is this normal? Do all Dungeon Masters develop this perspective because they command so many different types of monsters?
"That may be true, but... wait a minute!! Did you just call me a 'loli-granny'!? I don't know what 'loli' means, but I know 'granny'!! I am young! I demand a correction!!"
"Ho? If you're young, tell me your age. Or you can show me your status? What's considered 'young' for a human? What, mid-to-late twenties at most?"
"Actually, Onii-san, once a woman passes twenty, she's past her prime marriageable age."
"Gugh...!?"
Oh dear, Yuki can be so mean.
As for me, as long as I can bear Yuki's children, I have no complaints.
Fufufu... Derieu possesses strength worthy of being called a Demon King. If we can make her an ally... no, if we can welcome her as one of Yuki's wives, she would be a very reassuring presence.
From our conversation, Derieu seems quite pure. Since she accepted the Designated Protection, I have to persuade her, help her seduce Yuki, and get him to move his hips.
uki hates coercion, but I will use any means necessary to protect him. Well, I don't want him to hate me, so I won't use cowardly tricks. I'll just make it so Derieu wants to become Yuki's bride herself, you see? Ufufu.
While Yuki and Derieu were talking, Aslin and Filia approached us.
"Um... Onii-chan..."
"Nii-sama... it's this person, right?"
Ah, yes. I can see why Derieu is hesitating. Even I would find those big, round, tearful eyes hard to withstand.
"Ah... um..."
"Yeah, that's right. She is the Demon King, the Bloodstained Princess, Derieu. Go on."
Yuki pushed the frozen Derieu in front of them. But Derieu couldn't find her voice before those innocent eyes.
"Derieu-san... were this child's parents admirable?"
"Did this child's father... fight until the very end?"
In Aslin's arms were two baby raccoons. In Filia's hands was a single baby weasel.
Hearing those words, Derieu's previous agitation vanished as if it were a lie.
"Yes... even in my hands... they struggled until the end. It was magnificent. Your parents... they never gave up on living until the very last moment."
""Kyuu—""
"Kii—"
As if they understood Derieu's answer, the young ones let out a cry, slipped out of Aslin and Filia's arms, and disappeared into the forest.
"...Why didn't they bite or attack me?"
"...How foolish. Animals are different from people. They kill to survive, and they die. But this time, despite dying, their bodies remained. In nature, only bones would be left. Their bodies will become nourishment for the next life. Those little ones just wanted to confirm if there was meaning in their parents' deaths."
I conveyed the will of those young ones to the dazed Derieu.
"Meaning, is it... How noble. Far more noble than I, who went mad with rage and chose the easy path..."
I don't know exactly what she was thinking, but Derieu stared at the forest where the children had gone for a long time.
"However... I wonder what meaning those little ones found in my answer..."
"Who knows? Why don't you ask them yourself eventually?"
"Ask them myself?"
"Oh? You've caused a massive amount of trouble for this dungeon today. Do you think a simple bow of the head will settle it?"
"How harsh..."
"At the very least, I want you to work here to make up for the trouble you caused. This isn't just our home; it's their home too."
"Is such a lenient punishment truly acceptable?"
"Lenient? I take that as a declaration of war against those of us who run this place."
As I took a step back, Tori and Riel grabbed Derieu by both arms.
"W-What is this!?"
"No, you made a comment looking down on our management as 'lenient', so we're just making sure you work your hardest."
Eris wore a smile that was rare for her—though it came with a visible popping vein.
"For starters, preparing dinner for 70 people including us, and once that's done, stocking the store, cleaning the baths..."
As expected of Eris, she has the list memorized.
She began reciting the mountain of tasks to Derieu, who clearly didn't want to hear them.
"W-Wait a moment!? There is no way a single body can keep up with all of that!?"
"Oh? You're a Demon King, aren't you? Can't you split into multiple bodies or something?"
"Don't compare me to a monster like a slime!!"
Despite her protests, she didn't try to struggle. She really is kind at heart.
"Pikii—!!"
"Hiee!? Y-You're that slime from before!?"
"Rejoice. It seems Slakichi-san has volunteered to supervise you, Derieu-san."
Yes, with Slakichi-san around, we can rest easy.
"Hey!? Yuki, or whatever your name was, Dungeon Master!? Your will is being ignored here!! Is this okay? You're the king of this place, aren't you!? I think a dangerous person like me should be put in a jail cell!!"
In a final act of desperation, she actually sought help from Yuki.
"Too bad. This place is run based on everyone's collective opinion. Give up."
"I'VE NEVER COOKED IN MY LIIIIIIIIFE!!"
Ara? That won't do for one of Yuki's wives. I'll have to teach her thoroughly.
* * *
That night, after the day had ended.
Derieu was assigned a vacant room in the inn, but she was so exhausted she didn't even have the energy to make it that far. Having no choice, we laid out another futon in our room and let her sleep there. Naturally, I mean in Yuki's room.
"Waaaah... Yuki~ Only you are kind to me. Those girls are abnormal; there's no way anyone can handle that workload. I'm not leaving your side anymore, Yuki!! If I do, I'm certain to be treated like that again. The title of Demon King doesn't even reach the feet of those girls!! That's why it's normal for me to find the work hard—!!"
Derieu, being carried in a bridal transport by Yuki, wagged her metaphorical tail at him almost instantly. She's an easy mark... Though, I can't shake the feeling that something is a bit off.
Well, no matter how much she screams, I'll make sure she works hard again tomorrow. Tomorrow, let's have her work as a store clerk, and man the entertainment facilities and the open-air baths. She seems to be good at arithmetic, so she'll be very useful.
