Chapter 54
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Demon King Beatrice (6)
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“Hmm... From your perspective, she might not seem like such a pitiful opponent...”
What? Does that woman have some hidden side to her too?
“I can't tell you right now. Once you learn the truth later, you can punish her then.”
The Demon King dodges the question again. My head's getting more complicated by the minute.
“Once you complete the mission, I'll hand her over to you as well. You can do whatever you want with her then.”
This is driving me crazy. The future me is going to have way too many women.
“Anyway, with the guardian deity neutralized right now, what do you think would happen if invaders breached this world?”
In that case... the hero party would go out to fight them.
“If they win, great. But victory isn't guaranteed. For your information, those hunters have captured my people and sold them into slavery before.”
Sera immediately comes to mind. She's the kind of woman they'd capture alive no matter what.
If they caught her, even I wouldn't let her go easily.
I could picture Sera surrounded by thugs, being defiled.
Damn it. That absolutely can't happen!
“To prevent that, join hands with me. If I rule this world, I'll protect it with everything I have.”
The Demon King shed tears as she thought of her monsters' deaths.
Seeing her cry like that, her care for her people doesn't seem fake.
If she promised to protect just Sera, I might be willing to trust her...
“The purity and safety of the females you cherish go without saying. I swear it on my authority and honor.”
Hmm... What should I do?
For now, going along with the Demon King seems like the best option...
But if her plan succeeds, won't tons of people die?
“Most humans will be killed or enslaved, but haven't the others treated you cruelly anyway?”
That's true. Most humans I've met have tried to kill me.
Some even harbor grudges deep enough to want revenge.
Thinking of them, Kasha almost seems cute by comparison.
“Shall I tell you my ultimate plan?”
What is it?
“First, I'll pour all my power into you alone, turning you into the ultimate male. You'll grow faster than you can imagine.”
Why go that far? That sounds way too good for me.
“It's beneficial for me too. I'll mate you with the finest females to produce exceptional offspring in droves.”
How does making superior kids help you?
“Those children will be raised as forces to stand against other worlds.”
You're going to turn the kids into war machines?
Having gone through 21st-century South Korean basic education's morality classes, I reflexively felt repulsed.
“It's an unavoidable choice to defend against invasion.”
Looking at you, it doesn't seem like defense is your only goal.
I could sense an unrestrained thirst for revenge emanating from her.
“Why hide it? I plan to get revenge on those hunters. I can't forgive the ones who massacred my people.”
A chilling flame ignited in her eyes.
“I'll have my revenge without fail. The women will be captured and turned into living toilets, the men tortured mercilessly before having their limbs severed and fed to livestock.”
The killing intent she exuded made it clear those words were her unexaggerated truth.
No, it might even lead to something far more horrific.
“If it means revenge, I don't care if I become a demon. I'll make any sacrifice. Even the children I bear will be thrown into the war.”
They say a woman's grudge can bring frost in May.
I'm realizing the meaning firsthand as I face her.
“Well? Will you join me?”
The Demon King extended her pinky again.
It looked innocently pure like a child's promise, but it was really a trap filled with cunning and vengeance.
A noose with no escape. A devil disguised as a naive little girl.
My answer to that...
-Shake shake.
I shook my head.
Demon King. I can't join you.
“Why not? To me, it's an offer with no reason to refuse.”
What are you talking about? It's full of reasons to refuse.
Raising kids to use as war weapons?
Does that even make sense?
Using your own children for revenge.
“In the end, it's all for the children's safety.”
Shut up, you revenge-obsessed monster. Don't rationalize it.
And there's another problem. Building a harem? Does that even make sense?
“What's wrong with that?”
Plenty. I've experienced it myself.
My wife from my past life was the type who dreamed of a harem.
Want to know what she said when I caught her sneaking around with other guys?
“Can't we all just get along?” She claimed she liked us all equally and couldn't give any of us up.
What bullshit.
How the hell am I supposed to get along with the bastards who fucked my wife? Then why marry me? Needed a sucker to pay the bills?
“Women and men are fundamentally different. How could a woman be with multiple men? She only has one womb for bearing children.”
Shut up! Male or female, heartbreak is the same.
If I could meet my past self, could I convince him to accept his wife's harem?
Absolutely impossible. Harems are only happy in fantasy.
For example, would Kasha obediently stay by my side in the real world?
If she found out about other women, she'd bite my dick off.
True love is only possible through pure, monogamous devotion.
“Haha... No matter what I say, it won't get through to you right now.”
The Demon King gave a wry smile.
“Then strive for your pure love. I'll cheer you on from afar.”
Huh? Giving up that easily?
I figured she'd force the harem thing on me.
“I'm not giving up. I will never abandon my revenge.”
Her expression was resolute.
“Your fate branches in countless ways, but all paths lead to one end. You will build a harem in the end.”
Me, a pure-love goblin who knows nothing but monogamy, building a harem? Don't lie!
“Hehe... No need for an argument here. We'll see the results later. I can already see it in my eyes—you with heroes groveling at your feet.”
A relaxed, serene smile graced the Demon King's face.
That attitude of utter confidence in victory is seriously pissing me off.
Should I just ignore the quest window from now on?
Following it would mean dancing to her tune.
“You can't do that. Without the quest window, your future is bleak.”
What do you mean?
“Forget pure love—you'll die alone as a virgin goblin. Let's be frank: you're a virgin goblin, aren't you?”
Pierce. The fact stabbed me in the chest.
I want to deny it, but getting close to Sera was thanks to the quest window pushing me.
Fine, then. I'll critically review quests before accepting them.
“Good! Then let's promise to do our best against each other. You for pure love. Me for your harem.”
She beamed brightly and extended her pinky again.
That beautiful yet infuriating sight.
She set the inescapable trap and lured me right into it myself.
“If you see it that way, I'll feel slighted. I'm just doing my best for my own goals.”
That's true. Annoying as she is, I understand her position. So even if she's playing me, I don't resent her.
In the end, I hooked my pinky with hers.
“Finally! Now, shall we settle on how to address each other?”
Address each other? Just call you Demon King, right?
“No! That's what the heroes call me. We're allies now, aren't we?”
Then what should I call you if not Demon King?
“Call me 'Your Majesty.'”
Your Majesty? Did you just step off a historical drama set?
“What's odd about calling an emperor 'Your Majesty'? All my subjects called me that. No one was as insolent as you, calling me 'you.'”
An overwhelming pressure emanated from her stern expression. Refusing seemed pointless.
Fine. I'll call you that.
“What did you say you'd call me?”
She really wants to hear it right now.
Your Majesty. I'll call you that.
“Good. From now on, I'll call you 'Hero.' When I offer you a virgin later, we'll decide on your title then.”
Got it. Call me whatever.
“Seducing the hero party is important, but if possible, please help lift the seal on me.”
Lift your seal? Where is it?
“In a deep cave on the northern ice mountain, but you'd never find it even if I told you. Only the hero party knows the location—the lizard hid my position with magic.”
I see. I'll look around as best I can.
“It's not just about searching. You need to dispel the sealing magic, so target the lizard first, then come to me.”
Target Lucy first? Think that'll work?
To me, Lucy seems emotionally distant.
Even sticking close every day, I can't read her. How do I approach her?
“Just keep doing what you're doing. Fate will guide you naturally.”
Hmm... Alright, got it.
“And out of the blue, but there's something I need to confess to you.”
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