Chapter 13
“So the Demon King can get sick... I mean, is that old guy really that weak?”
“That old guy...? Do you know my father?”
“Everyone knows who the Demon King is, right? Well... I met him a while back. That’s beside the point, though. Who cares about that?”
“I-it does matter! I’ve never heard of anyone meeting my father and making it back alive!”
Whether she couldn’t believe someone like that existed or was simply glad he was there, the girl pressed Kagami as if interrogating him, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
“It’s not like I fought him or anything. I just went to see him... about nine years ago, I think? Anyway, how old are you? Ten? And what’s your name?”
“I’m thirteen! How rude! My name is Alice, Alice Balnesio. What about you?”
“I’m Kagami Koji. I’m twenty-three. Which means... you were there when I went to the Demon King’s castle all those years ago.”
Hearing Kagami’s words, Alice shook her head.
“The Demon King’s castle is dangerous, so I lived in a settlement far away from it... We probably never met.”
“I see... What about your mother?”
“I don’t have one. She died when she gave birth to me. I lived with my aunt.”
Hearing that, Kagami offered a casual apology. “Sorry to bring that up.” At the same time, he thought, That figures. The Demon King was being hunted by humans; living among other demons would be like asking them to put their lives at risk by making themselves easy to spot.
“So? Why are you and the Demon King looking for someone like me? I’ll say this upfront: I’ve met the Demon King once before, a long time ago.”
“We started looking for someone like you a year ago. But around the same time we started searching, my father got sick... We had more important things to worry about.”
“So you weren’t thinking of anything in particular when you met me. That explains it... So?”
“We want to find a way to coexist with humans.”
Hearing that, Kagami let out a deep sigh and started walking again.
“That’s impossible. Give up.”
Then he declared it coldly, as if dismissing her outright.
“Why?!”
Alice had thought this man would understand. Looking hurt, she shouted at Kagami as he turned to leave.
“Let’s say you and I got married. So what? I’d just end up being called a traitor by humans. As long as you have those horns, it’s pointless.”
“But! We only create monsters. Other than that... we’re no different from you!”
“That’s the biggest problem.”
Humans hated monsters. They hated the demons who created those monsters, too. Even if demons did nothing, monsters would still attack humans. And so, humans would inevitably come to hate demons as well.
Even if demons lived somewhere far from the dungeons—the monsters’ respawn points—the magical energy emitted by their horns would drift through the air. Though some of it would disperse along the way, it would eventually be absorbed by a respawn point, and monsters would be created.
“At first, I thought demons were simply beings that had to be defeated, no matter what. But even after I learned that you’re not much different from humans, nothing changed. I still thought, ‘I have to defeat them.’”
“Because we... create monsters?”
“That’s right. And I’m not the only human who knows that. There are people who say they’ll slaughter demons even knowing the truth.”
Hearing that, Alice weakly sank to the ground. This was unexpected. She’d thought that if she could just show humans and demons getting along, the demons would no longer be targeted...
Seeing Alice like that, Kagami seemed to feel a little uncomfortable. He sighed again and walked back over to her.
“Maybe the Demon King has some other plan in mind. But you have to start by dealing with your own people, don’t you?”
“My own people? What do you mean?”
“Do all the demons want to get along with humans? What do you think?”
The instant she heard Kagami’s words, Alice seemed to realize something. Her face twisted with frustration, as if she’d bitten into something bitter.
“Exactly. After such a long history of hostility between humans and demons, demons hate humans so much they can barely wait to kill them. You and the Demon King are rare exceptions—rare ones at that. Both sides hate each other. If you say you want to live alongside humans, your own people will call you a traitor, too.”
“Then... why don’t you try to kill demons, Kagami?”
Alice murmured the question, watching him carefully. For an instant, Kagami’s expression grew pensive. Then he immediately turned his back to her and deliberately let out a groan. “Hmm...”
“Because it’s ridiculous.”
That was all he said. Seeing the faint air of melancholy about his back, Alice decided not to ask anything more.
She didn’t really understand, but this man must have some kind of conviction. He didn’t care if demons died, but he wouldn’t kill them himself. If someone was about to die in front of him, he’d protect them. The more she thought about Kagami—a man who made less and less sense to her—the more intrigued she became.
“So, how much longer are you going to follow me? We’re almost at the city.”
Fifty minutes after Kagami’s absurd declaration, he reached a hill with a sweeping view of the vast city of Valman. Alice, who had been sneaking after him to avoid being noticed, arrived there at the same time.