225
I Killed the Demon King. It Was a Mistake.
Chapter 225
Agatha hid her anxious expression under the table.
How would Gloria react?
Honestly, Agatha wanted to use charm magic on Gloria.
Gloria's eyes lowered.
"I don't understand well."
"Which part?"
"This is very difficult to say..."
"Just speak comfortably. I've already discussed helping you return to normal with Caesar. Though it won't be easy."
Gloria smiled awkwardly.
Honestly speaking, how could one speak comfortably when told to do so?
Agatha is of the demon race and even the Demon King.
From Gloria's perspective, even having this face-to-face conversation is burdensome.
"...No. It's too personal to tell you."
"That personal story will help heal your mind."
"You're much kinder than I expected, Demon King."
The sudden kind words hurt Agatha's conscience.
It made her realize that not just anyone could be a villainess.
Then let's change the image.
Agatha is a doctor.
Her mission is to lower Gloria's dependence on Caesar in her heart.
Thinking that way made her feel a bit more at ease.
"That's what I've been doing until now."
"What work?"
"Getting rid of nightmares."
"Getting rid of nightmares?"
"From your perspective, what kind of work do you think succubi do? Just be honest."
Gloria took a sip of tea while choosing her words.
"Well... In newspapers and books about demons... They were described somewhat negatively."
"Good. Specifically?"
"Like appearing in dreams and secretly stealing men's energy or something like that?"
"Right. That would be common knowledge. And it's true. Without energy, we can't use magic or even survive. For you all, it would be like bread or water."
Agatha snapped her fingers.
Then a moon, stars, and dark night sky appeared in the air.
A ghost wearing a white hood floated in the night sky.
Gloria blinked in wonder at the sight.
"But you don't say eating bread and drinking water is your job, right? If that was work, you wouldn't be called a knight but rather a soup murderer."
"...I'll eat moderately."
"Hah! No, we have plenty of soup so eat as much as you want."
Agatha caught the ghost–
"I worked by healing demons who were trapped in trauma from the demon realm war."
And she removed the ghost's hood.
Then the ghost revealed itself as a silly clown.
"I manipulated the nightmares demon races were having to make them somewhat pleasant. Like turning this ghost into a clown, making the nightmare subjects ridiculous or reversing the nightmare's progression. Then at least while sleeping, they become happy."
"...Like how you treated me?"
"Exactly. When people have good dreams, they wake up feeling good too, right? It's the same thing. I counseled and manipulated dreams so the demon race wouldn't suffer mentally anymore. Should I call myself a counselor? Or a doctor? I've been doing that work for almost a year."
Agatha took a sip of tea while observing Gloria's expression.
Gloria looked at Agatha with admiring eyes.
"So even though we're different races, we have abundant knowledge and experience to help you."
So Gloria, tell us all the stories held inside you.
"So what's your personal story? Tell me everything. Who knows, there might be a way to help you."
I'll prove that your feelings toward Caesar are an illness.
"I never thought I'd be telling this kind of story to the Demon King..."
"It's okay, go ahead."
Gloria hesitated but finally opened her mouth.
"Actually, I liked my Master from the first time I met him."
***
Agatha had difficulty paying attention to Gloria's story as she struggled to maintain her composure.
Women are creatures with quick instincts like larks, so they become wary at even the smallest signal.
One thing is certain though, Gloria's feelings for Caesar have been maturing for quite some time.
"I'm not sure if the Master has noticed. He might actually know a little. There was a moment at a party where we seemed to have an electric connection."
An electric connection, she says.
Although Agatha hoped it was Gloria's misconception, she knew better.
Caesar can read other people's thoughts.
So there was a high chance he had already noticed Gloria's feelings for him.
No, he must definitely know.
Yet why does he keep her close instead of maintaining distance?
'Could it be that Caesar is drawn towards Gloria...'
If Caesar was the type of Casanova who played with women's hearts, Agatha would have been disappointed in him long ago.
And Gloria would have been disappointed in Caesar's behavior too.
Then why does Caesar keep Gloria close?
Simply because she's his disciple?
Or is it because Gloria has far greater talent as a knight than expected, and he doesn't want to lose her to others?
Or perhaps Caesar needed Gloria or her background to blend stably into human society.
"...Really? It wasn't your imagination?"
"I think so, but I'm not sure. Nothing special happened with Master after that."
"How long ago was that?"
"It's been almost half a year."
Agatha felt somewhat relieved.
The fact that nothing special happened during the long six months meant that at least Caesar had no feelings for Gloria.
Of course, she couldn't know why he hadn't given his heart to Gloria.
Caesar might be too busy to even think about dating let alone marriage, or he might not have feelings for Gloria.
Or perhaps as a doppelganger, Caesar might not find the human species attractive.
Then would Caesar like succubi?
No, what about demon kings?
'That's not what's important right now.'
"If that's the case, Caesar probably doesn't have feelings for you."
"...I suppose you're right?"
Gloria let out a small sigh.
"To be honest, Master is probably someone who can't focus on marriage or dating. He has external appointments every day, and when he doesn't, he spends all his time on personal training. I've rarely seen Master taking a relaxing day off."
"What makes him so busy?"
"I'm not sure. Well, I might have some ideas. It's like the world won't leave Master alone?"
"The world?"
"Yes. Wherever he goes, he encounters devils, then when he establishes a pharmaceutical company, the Royder Order picks a fight, and suddenly Arch Duke tells Master to go to the demon realm. How can Master stay still with all this happening?"
"Isn't that just Caesar starting lots of things?"
"That could be true too. Anyway, there's always great resistance to whatever Master does. And Master always manages to break through head-on."
Gloria's eyes deepened.
It wasn't that her emotions were settling, but rather they darkened like the night just before sunrise.
"What's clear is that Master seems to be looking at something far away. But he hasn't properly explained to me what that is."
Agatha felt the same way.
Although he should be able to live comfortably after spending a long time on the battlefield as Barre, Caesar is living even more intensely.
Gloria's eyes sparkled.
It felt like the sun was rising in Gloria's heart.
"I've decided."
"...Hmm? What?"
Agatha became anxious when life returned to Gloria's eyes.
She worried that Gloria might just confess her feelings to Caesar head-on.
No, wouldn't that be bad?
If that happened, Caesar might push Gloria away.
But Gloria gave an entirely different answer than what Agatha had expected.
"To become someone who can help Master."
"...Someone who can help?"
"Yes."
At that moment, the door opened and Borden entered carrying warm soup.
"Thank you, Sir Borden."
Gloria eagerly spooned up the soup.
"Ouch..."
Although she burned her palate because it was hot, Gloria finished drinking the soup and stood up.
"I might not know exactly what future Master envisions, but the reason he took me as his disciple must be because I have talent in swordsmanship. In fact, Master told me I have talent."
"...Did he?"
"Yes, that's right. So Master wants to use me as a sword. Like Sir Gideon, he wants me to become a sharp sword that sweeps away his enemies as a knight."
Agatha didn't know if that was all Caesar wanted from Gloria.
But Gloria was probably right that Caesar wanted her to grow to some extent.
"But it will take quite some time until I grow. So until I become a perfect knight, I must fulfill my responsibilities as Master's adjutant."
"What responsibilities?"
"Similar to what Sir Borden does. Just as he helps with miscellaneous tasks so the Demon King can focus on her duties, I too should thoroughly help in all areas so Master can focus on his work. At least until I become a perfect knight."
Gloria repeatedly clenched and unclenched her fists.
After eating, her stomach felt full and strength returned to her hands and feet.
"Are you going to train now?"
"Yes. I can't waste even a minute or second."
"You might hurt yourself. Wouldn't it be better to rest properly now?"
"I feel stiff from sleeping too long. I need to at least do some running. Besides, how can I just sit still when my master is training like that?"
Gloria smiled brightly.
"Thank you, Demon King. Thanks to you, I think I have a sense of what kind of person I should become."
"...Huh?"
"You said this excitement is an emotion I need to overcome, right? Maybe that's true. What Master needs right now isn't Gloria the woman, but Gloria the knight."
"Uh..."
Agatha started to feel scared by Gloria's sudden change.
She couldn't understand what thought process led to such a change.
It was to the point where Agatha wondered if she had unconsciously cast some brainwashing magic.
"To avoid worrying Master like this time, I just need to become stronger and stronger. And just as I relied on Master, the day will come when Master relies on me."
Gloria moved her body back and forth, stretching her muscles taut.
"Then I'll be going now. Thank you for your advice, Demon King."
Gloria opened the door and left.
***
Caesar's axe stopped.
"...It's done."
He didn't know how long he had been using the new hardening technique Clear Field.
But thanks to it, he succeeded in embedding the effects of the millennium ginseng throughout every corner of Caesar's body.
As proof, the magic in Caesar's dantian had increased almost fourfold, and his magic circuits were wide open like highways.
"The Millennium Ginseng is really amazing."
It lives up to its reputation as an S-rank among S-rank spirit medicines.
Now there won't be any problems from lack of aura in the future.
More than that, his body kept sending signals.
After abusing his body for an uncountable amount of time, it was telling him to take a rest.
Honestly, he wanted to just lie down and sleep right there.
At that moment, a towel was handed to Caesar's side.
"Good work, Master."
It was Gloria.
Caesar was so glad to see Gloria.
Everything about her was the epitome of neatness, from her standing properly to her hair neatly tied back and her attire.
While Caesar wasn't deeply versed in mental illness, aren't the initial symptoms of mental illness shown through disorganized appearance?
From that perspective, Gloria seemed to have no problems at all.
"Gloria, how are you feeling? Are you okay?"
"There's no need to worry. Thanks to you, I'm much better."
Caesar tilted his head slightly.
Gloria... Doesn't seem like Gloria.
The usual Gloria would have made a big fuss saying thank you, either jumping into Caesar's arms or bursting into tears... She seems too mature now.
"Uh... Thanks. But are you really okay?"
"Yes. I'm fine, Sir Caesar."
Sir Caesar?
Did she just call him Sir Caesar?
Didn't she usually use the more familiar term ‘Master’?
Caesar couldn't resist using psychometry.
-Master looks very tired.
-I should prepare a bath and meal quickly.
-I want to hug Master so badly because I'm happy to see him, but I need to become a reliable person for Master.
-I must abandon such impulsive behavior.
-I live for Master.
-I live to be of help to Master.
-Why is Master looking at me?
-Did I make a mistake somewhere?
...Gloria seems somewhat broken.
Should he say she's trying her hardest to be helpful to Caesar?
Or should he say she's become like a machine that only thinks about Caesar?
'Is this a side effect?'
To be honest, it's not entirely a bad change.
It might even be better than what Caesar had expected.
It's much better for her to be trying to help Caesar like this than to be completely dependent on him like a child, sticking to him like glue.
But it was a bit scary to see such extreme thinking of 'living only for Caesar' underneath that controlled politeness.
Wasn't she ready to pluck even the stars from the sky if Caesar wanted them?
Caesar naturally looked for Agatha.
Agatha avoided Caesar's gaze like a child hiding something.
...What exactly happened while I was gone.
'I'll sleep for now.'
He's too tired to think straight.
"Then I'll get some sleep..."
Thud!
Caesar passed out right there, perhaps because his tension had finally released.