Chapter 16

“Well, yeah. You’re ‘A-chan’ and ‘Yuu-chan,’ right?”

Both looked equally displeased, though they shared one thing in common: they were the Saintess’s childhood friends, a twin pair who were once called “A-chan” and “Yuu-chan” by her.

In her memories, the Saintess had seen them as black-haired, black-eyed Japanese individuals. They were both attractive in different ways and, unfortunately, became the subjects of her idealistic fantasies based on characters in novels.

From an outsider’s perspective, it seemed both of them had harbored faint feelings for her, yet she had been too preoccupied with her daydreams to ever notice.

Arisugawa Rui. Honestly, not the kind of person I want to get involved with, but he forced himself into my life! Even though I didn’t want to, I had to see all of the Saintess’s memories laid bare!

“How dare you be disrespectful to Lord Yuhi the Demon King…!”

“Wait.”

Kasane was about to do something to me, but Yuhi stopped her.

“Where is Rui?” Asahi asked.

“You already know, don’t you? She’s nowhere and everywhere. Arisugawa Rui is ‘the Saintess.’”

“…!”

“No… that can’t be…!”

Both of them were shocked by my answer.

Wait, the Saintess didn’t explain all of that? Didn’t she communicate this directly into their minds? Was it too much for her to do individually? Either way, I had a message from her.

“I have a message for her family, or maybe for you two. But there are conditions to hearing it.”

“What are they?”

“One: my own safety. Specifically, after you hear it, none of you can touch me, nor can anyone here speak of my existence.”

“…Understood,” Yuhi said with a glance, and Kasane and Wolf nodded slightly.

Remember, Yuhi, you’re my familiar now, even in human form—it still applies.

“I swear on my name, Deneb of the White,” Asahi said, placing her palm on the swan-embossed chestplate of her white armor.

Swearing on a star won’t help me much here.

“Two: you lend me Wolf here to return to town.”

“I could escort you myself,” Asahi replied, having regained her composure.

And how would that work? She looked as if she had a white steed waiting nearby.

“No, not immediately. I’ll go when the preparations for the barrier and transport artifacts are ready.”

And traveling with you would draw too much attention.

“Three: you introduce me to a tanuki that might become my familiar.”

“A tanuki…”
“A tanuki…”

Hey, it’s not my fault my original tanuki isn’t here anymore! Bring it back!

“How arrogant for a mere human. The only reason I’m holding back is out of respect for Lord Yuhi’s word…” Kasane muttered, grinding her teeth.

Actually, that first condition was aimed more at Hero Asahi. Sorry, Demon King here.

“Fine. I’ll take responsibility for the tanuki! Now, tell us about Rui.”

You’re welcome to revert to tanuki form yourself, Yuhi. It’s hard to relax when you’re in human form. I get it; I’m experiencing it now myself.

Discovering that he could work in human form, albeit a bit inconvenient, was good enough.

“I’ll bring whatever it takes, be it hide or heart,” Asahi said.

Hero, please don’t turn the tanuki into materials.

“And the family of Arisugawa Rui? I can only deliver this once.”

So make sure everyone’s here.

“They’ve already passed away.”

So she’s truly alone. No, wait—she vanished first.

“They both lived long lives, passing peacefully at 102 and 103.”

Asahi’s words shocked me a little, but Yuhi’s follow-up reminded me that I’d been sleeping for 300 years. Though mana in this world determines one’s lifespan, the fact they lived so long suggests they fulfilled their lives.

“So, it’s just you two, then? Very well, give me a moment.”

I released the sealed mana, breaking the artifact that disguised my appearance, revealing my true form.

Wolf cowered in fear of my aura, while Kasane knelt and covered her face with her sleeves.

“…!”
“What…!”

Now that I remember, in the novels, these twins were written as one serving as the Demon King’s right hand and the other strong enough to oppose him. Both seem to be holding their ground, though.

I wasn’t even trying to intimidate them.

Maybe I can tone down the aura—can I even do that? Oh, it seems possible.

“That form…!”
“That’s impossible… a king?!”

Asahi was stunned by my appearance, while Yuhi seemed to grasp my true nature as the Demon King.

Demons and monsters apparently have an inherent urge to serve the Demon King, regardless of his strength. Perhaps it’s because I’m the rightful king? Judging from Yuhi’s reaction, he could tell I was the genuine Demon King at just a glance.

“Hold on a moment; I’ll try to tone it down.”

Is this a sudden release of sealed mana? Looks like it’d be better to lounge around in my Demon King form occasionally.

“Now then, listen to the voice of Arisugawa Rui. What remains is faint—barely five minutes—before it merges back into the mana.”

I summoned the Saintess’s soul from within.

A small figure, no bigger than a child’s doll, floated in front of me—a Saintess in a pure white dress, her silky black hair draped down gracefully.

“A-chan, Yuu-chan! I never thought… I’d get to see you again…!”

I’d manifested her in her most beautiful form from memory, but her face was already a mess from crying.