Side: Shou Amanohashi
For dinner, I decided to prepare a simple, typical modern Japanese meal centered around rice and miso soup.
I consulted with Princess Pritia about the meal, and she understood that if we were going to live in this world for a while, we would need to get accustomed to the customs and food of the land.
Of course, I wouldn’t force her to eat something she didn’t like, but I appreciated her willingness to at least try it.
“Hero, shall I help you?”
As the sunset streamed in, Sanctina came into the kitchen while I was preparing dinner.
“It’s okay. I know you’re feeling unsettled, but why don’t you watch some TV? It might be boring, but it’ll help you understand more about this world.”
“…Alright.”
She still seemed uneasy in this unfamiliar place. I had been in her world for about three years, but she had always been focused on carrying out her given mission with dedication.
Honestly, we hadn’t had many personal conversations.
For one, the four of us rarely acted alone—there were always guards, maids accompanying Princess Pritia, and priests attending Sanctina.
It wasn’t until the final battle when the Demon King created a closed space and excluded everyone but us that we found ourselves just the four of us.
So, we never had much time for personal conversations, nor did we embark on any small-group journeys to defeat the Demon King like in stories.
It felt more like a workplace relationship. We were comrades, but it was more like working together as part of a job.
In any case, though there had been various challenges on that side, I was indebted to them for helping me through unfamiliar situations. Now, it was my turn.
They needed a stable environment to live in. Just as I thought that, Filia, who had gone to check on the Demon King, came into the kitchen.
“Filia, how’s the Demon King?”
“She’s impressive. To have such skill…”
It was the first time I’d seen Filia look somewhat shocked. Normally, she was unfazed by anything.
But I was asking about the Demon King’s condition, not that. The fact that she missed the point suggested that Filia might be a bit tired as well.
“Do you think we can return to our original world?”
“…I believe it depends on the Demon King.”
“There must be a way to return. I managed to come here, after all. Until then, take it easy.”
The hope of eventually returning was important. I knew that from my own experience.
Well, dinner was ready, so I thought we should call the Demon King to join us for the meal. At least for meals, it would be better to eat together. We didn’t need to become friendly, but we should at least communicate.
Side: Filia
The war between humans and demons had started again. The elves were tired of hearing such news.
Humans, with their short lifespans and rapidly growing populations, tend to repeat the same mistakes because they don’t carry forward the lessons of the past.
On the other hand, demons, with their long lifespans, continue to harbor old grudges and dissatisfaction, making them susceptible to the foolish provocations of humans.
From our perspective, both sides were just a nuisance.
“Oh, dinner is quite different tonight.”
The one who has adapted to the current situation the best is the Demon King. After all, she had been trying to abandon her position as the Demon King. I have my own thoughts, but I can understand her point of view.
She became the Demon King against her will and had always despised conflict.
“This is rice, isn’t it?”
I recognized the food before me. Although the Hero may not know this, a similar plant existed in our world as well.
However, it seems the way it’s eaten here is different…
It looks like it was boiled without seasoning. As for the taste… it’s not bad. It’s similar to a dish where wheat is boiled in minimal water. It seems to be eaten as a substitute for bread.
Though the rice itself is unseasoned, when eaten together with the other dishes, its subtle sweetness complements the meal well.
You can tell a lot about a country’s history and culture from its food. It’s quite interesting.
“How is it? If it doesn’t suit your taste, I also have bread.”
The Hero seemed to be worried about us.
Surprisingly, he’s more sensitive to details than I thought. Back in the other world, he was always holding back, so I never noticed. Could he have been enduring that much?
“It’s fine. I’m just not used to these chopsticks.”
“Yes, it’s delicious. It’s a new taste for me.”
Princess Pritia and Sanctina also didn’t seem inclined to complain given the circumstances, though they too were aware of the Hero’s concerned expression.
Meanwhile, the Demon King was using the unfamiliar chopsticks with such grace, as if dining in a royal court, that it was almost frightening to watch.
How far will she surpass our expectations?
“Rice and miso soup, huh. This is my first time too. It was said that several generations ago, a Hero requested to eat this dish before their final battle with the Demon King.”
“Why would a demon know that?!”
Princess Pritia reacted to the Demon King’s casual comment, and the atmosphere soured again.
Though Pritia has a noble heart, she lacks the political acumen to navigate such situations. It’s said that’s one of the reasons her father favored her. Even within a family, she couldn’t fully trust them, viewing everything through the lens of status and politics. That’s a troubling trait of human royalty.
“Who knows? Why indeed? Don’t humans keep records of such things? Strange, isn’t it? Information about another world would be something you’d want desperately, wouldn’t it? Or perhaps…”
The Demon King’s words, which seemed to brush off Pritia’s glare, surprised me as well. Her tone suggested that the upper echelons of humans, demons, and even the church likely had knowledge of the Hero and were hiding it.
That would mean the Elven elders also knew. It became clear that I, too, had not been given essential information.
Was I being used as a disposable pawn without knowing it? Elder, you didn’t tell me this.
“Um… since we’re fortunate enough to have this meal, why don’t we appreciate it and enjoy it together?”
I was lost in thought, and Sanctina suddenly spoke up.
“Oh, my apologies, Saintess. You’re right. It was my mistake.”
“Princess Pritia, I apologize as well.”
Sanctina managed to smooth over the tension between the Demon King and Pritia. She was never a particularly strong-willed person, but perhaps she’s the calmest one in this situation?
The name and abilities of the Saintess are indeed reliable.
“As an apology, let me tell you something. There is a lot of inherited knowledge that has been passed down with each new Demon King upon their ascension. Information regarding the past Heroes is one part of that. I’ve heard that the demon race has always excelled at gathering information and keeping records.”
“…I see. I’m sorry for raising my voice earlier.”
With the Hero and Sanctina showing concern for us, both Pritia and the Demon King acknowledged their own faults and took a step back. Perhaps we’ve finally begun to build a new kind of relationship.
With this, we might be able to live here. After all, the thing we fear the most is that distrust would lead to conflict.
