Chapter 26: Demon King?

After enduring several unfavorable situations, we were finally able to move again two days later.

The biggest reason was my stamina, which ran out faster than a disposable lighter.

Butler and Diana also claimed their backs and legs hurt, so they rested fully for two days. Whether that was true or not, I don’t know.

Setting off again, walking along the unkempt path, the surrounding environment suddenly caught my eye.

“?”

Stopping abruptly in my tracks, Lilac, walking beside me on the right, tilted her head and asked.

“What’s wrong? Something happen? Your legs hurt? Want me to carry you?”

I was bombarded with many questions in an instant, but I just shook my head left and right, blinked, and spoke.

“The path is quite… rough, isn’t it…? And the trees, why are they like this…”

To which Lilac casually replied.

“I did some tidying up while you were asleep. You probably won’t encounter monsters and Majin for a while.”

I nodded at her words.

Indeed, if Lilac put her hand to her sword, devastating the surroundings wouldn’t be difficult.

However, there must have been another reason why Lilac left such a mangled scene.

‘For example, me…’

Briefly imagining the time I was unconscious and inferring Lilac’s actions, the mangled forest made sense.

[She is the child I chose… but honestly, I too am afraid.]

‘Hey. You shouldn’t be afraid.’

[Even for me, a being who has escaped mortal destiny is always unsettling. Especially if they are not immortal but transcendent.]

Indeed, Lilac was a peculiar case who skipped mortality and leaped straight to transcendence.

From a god’s perspective, it must seem like a human, whose limits were set, broke the mold and evolved into a mutant.

Anyway.

Lilac already held the title of world’s strongest, and I was right beside her…

‘What a strange combination…’

The world’s weakest and the world’s strongest.

Being stuck together with someone from the opposite extreme felt odd.

Resuming my halted steps, I glanced at Lilac walking beside me, and our eyes met.

Lilac also met my gaze and continued walking without looking away.

As we walked, staring silently at each other, a bewildered voice asked from behind.

“What on earth are you two doing…?”

Lilac and I simultaneously turned our necks to look at Diana following behind.

Receiving both our gazes, Diana flinched, then quickened her pace, swiftly passing us and moving ahead.

Watching Diana’s retreating back for a moment, I felt warmth in my right hand and looked down.

Another person’s hand held my right hand.

Lilac started walking, holding my hand.

Unable to resist her strength, I was almost dragged along…

I was actually being dragged.

More accurately, my feet weren’t touching the ground; I was slightly floating in the air, led by her clasped hand.

Naturally, only Lilac could handle such delicate mana control, allowing me to move comfortably.

About two hours passed like that.

We encountered Majin and demonic beasts for the first time.

They possessed builds larger than the peak-level monsters seen at the center and entrance, making me slightly tense, but.

Shlick!

Naturally, Butler, clearing the path ahead, killed them with his dagger.

Starting with the first monster killed, the monsters and Majin behind it died one after another.

Shling!

Shhwaaaaaack.

The fountain of blood and the sound of flesh being sliced and diced were still unpleasant to hear.

Therefore, I closed my eyes, covered both ears with my hands, and waited in place until the situation calmed down.

Of course, since one of my hand was clasped with Lilac’s, the back of Lilac’s hand covered my right eye.

Finding my appearance amusing, Lilac beside me seemed to be suppressing laughter.

As I glared fiercely, Lilac grinned and set off again on the cleared path.

For reference, Diana was already exhausted and moving while slung over Butler’s shoulder.

But that’s surprisingly comfortable.
I know because I’ve experienced it.

Narrowing my eyes, I looked at Lilac, and she tilted her head again.

“That look. Isn’t it familiar?”

“Hmm? Don’t know?”

The way she averted her gaze suggested she remembered carrying me slung over her shoulder when we first met.

‘When we return home, I’ll definitely get compensation for that incident.’

Anyway.

Looking ahead again, I felt the Miasma thinning and curiosity arose.

The Miasma, which grew denser as we approached the abyss of the Demon Realm, had somehow thinned to the level of the entrance.

Wondering if it was normal, I turned my head to the side and saw Lilac also frowning, sensing something strange.

Lilac didn’t panic even in the unfamiliar situation and held my hand tighter.

It didn’t hurt, but my right hand, subdued by her grip, tingled.

So, just as I slightly moved to adjust my hand’s position.

KABOOOOOOOOOM!

The sound of an explosion came from afar, and smoke could be seen rising.

“Over there…?”

“The deep core. The Demon Lord’s dwelling.”

“Eh…?”

“Something seems to have happened… but that doesn’t mean we need to rush. In fact, if they kill each other, it benefits us.”

Under Lilac’s judgment, we continued our leisurely pace until we reached the abyss.

The loud noise from earlier wasn’t heard again, so I quickly forgot about it.

Smoke was still rising, but there was no need to dwell on it.

Reaching the abyss, we decided to take a short break. Butler threw Diana, whom he carried slung over his shoulder, anywhere and began setting up camp.

“Ugh. Couldn’t you put me down gently… my back hurts…”

Diana, whining with a gloomy voice, soon started snoring and fell fast asleep.

Looking at her like this, Diana seemed to have worse stamina than me.

[My first daughter lacks motivation. Even though she has the stamina. Tsk.]

‘She’s the one you chose.’

[Regrettable.]

‘Can I really trust this Goddess? Turns out she’s a fraud or something?!’

[How your words keep getting harsher…]

‘Like mother, like child.’

[Hmph…]

The Goddess also whimpered and cut off communication.

How could they both have such personalities?

Could Diana actually be the Goddess’s daughter?

A DNA test would provide more certainty. But this world lacks such technology, and there’s no way to obtain the Goddess’s blood.

“Tch.”

Clicking my tongue pointlessly, I got out from Lilac’s released levitation magic and walked over to Butler.

“I’ll help.”

Butler waved his hands, saying it was fine, but I forcefully took the cooking utensils he held.

Lacking strength, I only pretended to take them, but Butler carefully placed them in my hands, fearing I might fall backward from the recoil if he let go.

Taking the awkwardly received tools, I placed them in the center of the tents Butler had set up.

Since I had military experience, I had camped countless times and was confident in cooking too. So much so that I was the designated cook for my seniors.

Not wanting to recall those memories, I vigorously shook my head and walked over to Lilac, telling her the ingredients I needed.

Lilac then reached her hand into the air.

Drawing a line in the void with her finger, a straight line appeared, opening a space.

Subspace magic.

Highly advanced magic that even mages of space-time wonder if they’ll ever see in their lifetime.

Seeing Lilac perform it so casually sometimes made her seem amazing.

The tents and cooking utensils we had used so far were also stored in Lilac’s subspace.

According to her, it also contained food ingredients and daily necessities.

And also numerous useless things like a piano, flower pots, large picture frames…

It wasn’t Doraemon’s pocket, so I didn’t understand why she put such things in there.

Anyway, I planned to prepare dinner with the various ingredients received from her.

My hands were already moving, and the campfire was built.

There was no stopping in my dictionary.

“I can do the cooking…”

Butler, fidgeting beside me, peeked around, watching me cook.

Butler probably wasn’t thinking I’d ruin the food, but rather worried I might get hurt while cooking.

“Make it delicious~.”

Diana, already resting in the tent, shouted loudly from inside.

‘What should I do with this cheeky brat?’

‘Does she think I’m her housekeeper or something?’

‘I’ll start a revolution soon. I should take the first position.’

[I agree.]

Since the Goddess agreed, Diana is now my younger sister.

Lost in such delusions, the final stage of cooking soon ended, and a savory, sweet smell wafted from the cooking utensil.

Once the dish was ready, I divided it moderately onto the four prepared plates, and the food ran out.

Unable to resist the smell any longer, Diana, who had been out for a while, sat down at the makeshift table, and Butler moved the plates.

Lilac, who had been watching my cooking silently, also sat at the table, and finally, Butler and I sat down.

“What dish is this, exactly?”

Was cooking part of a butler’s duties?

I pondered for a moment, but seeing Butler’s uncharacteristically sparkling eyes, I just told him.

“It’s butter soy sauce egg fried rice.”

What I made was Beogangye-bap.

A favorite dish commonly enjoyed by those living alone and the unemployed.

I once had an experience where I got obsessed with it, neglected my health, and faced consequences.

That’s how much momentary happiness this taste provides.

The first person to pick up a spoon was Lilac. She took a moderate amount of the Beogangye-bap from her plate, brought it to her mouth, and ate.

Then, after moving her mouth a few times, she widened her eyes and looked at me.

Grinning at her reaction, I also took a spoonful and ate.

Ah. This taste I missed.

People in this world mostly avoid stimulating food, so it felt like ages since I tasted something like this.

Even Butler and Diana ate with admiration, revealing how blandly people in this world typically eat.

While our group was engrossed in the meal.

Rustle rustle.

A presence was felt from the nearby bushes.

Lilac, having finished her plate, stood up and headed towards the direction of the sound.

Since she didn’t draw her sword, it probably wasn’t dangerous.

As Butler, Diana, and I continued eating and watched, Lilac unleashed a wave of mana, scattering the surroundings.

And the source of the sound revealed itself to be.

“Heek!!”

“…?”

“What is that.”

“Horns?”

“There’s a tail too…”

A young girl with horns and a tail appeared.

As the four of us stared at her, perhaps feeling burdened, I stood up and approached her.

Growllll.

“””……”””

“J-just hungry…”

That was the first time we saw the ‘Demon Lord’.