Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Became a Mom. (8)
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The sight of the Demon King cradling the baby in her arms was enough to bring a smile to anyone's face—if only she weren't the Demon King.
A pitiful, beautiful woman.
She sat right at the edge of the bed, her hand continuously stroking the baby's soft spot atop its head, as if handling the most precious treasure in the world.
The day the Hero had gone berserk and violated the Demon King.
The Saintess had gone to Gordol for help and finally returned to the room, only to witness the Hero breathing life back into the Demon King.
It wasn't out of love or any tender affection—just a thorough act to revive the dead.
And yet, if she sensed even a hint of desperation in it, what then?
"Are you okay?"
"...Yeah, I'm fine."
Was it dejection, or sheer terror?
The Demon King flinched at the sound of her own voice, looking utterly heartbreaking.
Who could believe that the being who once tried to destroy the world had ended up like this?
From the sincerity in her draped clothes to the baby in her arms, there was nothing to mark her as the Demon King—except for the small horns sprouting from her head.
"You just gave birth, so you need more rest."
"I'm just not sleepy. That's all. Yeah."
Even laced with concern, her words met the Demon King's stubbornness.
Ever since that day when she'd nearly—or rather, had—suffered divine punishment at the Hero's hands, she hadn't slept a wink.
What could frighten her so?
The terror felt on the brink of death manifesting in her dreams?
Or perhaps the Hero who might come in the night?
Her pale face bore gloomy golden eyes, underscored by deep dark circles that made her look all the more haggard.
"Still, you have to sleep. A healthy mom means a healthy baby, right?"
"I'm fine, really. I just can't sleep..."
The way she pulled out her breast to feed the now-fussing baby looked surprisingly practiced.
It had only been two days, but the baby—already much larger than at birth—was growing at a pace no different from when it was in the womb.
A dwarf baby born between the Demon King and the Hero.
Gordol kept showing up, perhaps bothered by that fact, but he'd check the baby's condition and hurry off upon seeing the Demon King's worn-out state.
"And you need to eat something. You haven't touched a thing since we met."
Even a demon, even the Demon King, was a living being.
Without food, one weakens, falls ill, and eventually dies.
The Demon King's castle had plenty of provisions befitting its status, so food wasn't the issue—but the Demon King was refusing to eat of her own will.
The fading will to live was plain to see, as impulses surged within her, gnawing at her heart.
"You said you don't want to die."
"..."
"So eat something, Demon King."
She didn't want to die. But she wanted to die just as badly.
These contradictory emotions barely kept her lifeline intact, but anyone could see how it would end.
Why had she broken down so completely?
Even as the Demon King, did she deserve such misery?
If she'd just been cleanly killed, there'd be no such worries.
Especially after that evening when the Hero violated her and her breath gave out—if she'd seen the end then, it might have been bittersweet but conclusive.
But it hadn't ended.
Instead, the Hero reviving her had bizarrely prolonged that fragile life.
"If you keep this up, the baby will die too."
"...Ugh."
She hadn't wanted to stoop to that, but it was the only way now.
It was a vile ploy, using the baby's life as leverage to keep the Demon King alive, but Elly wanted her to live.
All mothers in this world deserved happiness.
A phrase she'd once read danced through Elly's mind.
"Hmm, still not eating anything, huh?"
"Mr. Gordol."
"You'll really die at this rate. I brought some soup, so eat."
Elly brightened at the dwarf entering through the door.
Perfect reinforcements.
He'd initially made no secret of his hatred toward the Demon King, but after sorting his thoughts over the past two days, he seemed far more subdued now.
A dwarf baby resembling his daughter.
The Demon King who had birthed that dwarf baby.
She was an enemy worthy of utter extermination, yet he couldn't bring himself to treat her harshly—not when she'd given him something so precious and identical to his lost child.
"...Why."
"..."
"Why are you being kind to me? To you, I'm just the wicked Demon King... your sworn enemy."
Her gloomy gaze swept over the edge of the bowl Gordol held.
It baffled her—first they'd tried so hard to kill her, now this kindness?
A wave of melancholy from someone who'd given up on persuasion washed over Elly and Gordol.
She no longer cared what happened.
"Dunno. I don't even know why I'm doing this. But one thing I'm sure of: you eat this, or you die."
"...Is living even meaningful?"
And yet her eyes never left the baby, stirring pity in them.
Without the baby, the Demon King would die—even if by her own hand.
It was ironic that this unnamed infant held the Demon King's lifeline.
"Just live for now. If you do, maybe one day you'll find meaning."
"..."
"I'll hold the baby, so quit worrying and eat."
The Demon King flinched as Gordol half-snatched the baby away, but she turned her head at the infant's beaming smile.
A thin soup packed with postpartum nutrients.
Elly, clutching the spoon and bowl, stifled a laugh inwardly as the Demon King stared intently.
Gurgle~
"Pfft, so cute."
No, she couldn't hold it back.
***
Where does aimless rage turn?
Recalling a scene he'd once witnessed, the Hero Arthur exhaled deeply.
The image of a woman toyed with like a plaything by demons before her gruesome death flickered before his eyes.
Begging for her baby's life, only to suffer merciless gang rape afterward.
Every hole stuffed with cocks, drowned in white semen until she died...
'You lot really shouldn't exist.'
After decapitating every demon there, he'd muttered that.
Closing the lifeless eyes, he cradled the sticky, semen-soaked woman, grinding his teeth at the thick stench of burnt flesh assaulting his nose.
To demons, existence meant nothing but blood, slaughter, and violation.
How many villages had already fallen? How many lives lost?
Undoubtedly, more buried by his hands than saved.
'...Just wait a little longer, everyone.'
He'd made a promise.
Burying them all in the graveyard amid the burning village, he'd promised over and over.
I won't forget those sacrificed here. I'll defeat the Demon King myself.
So please, rest a bit longer.
An oath made across thirty-six villages, twelve cities, and three nations.
A noble vow to revive them all.
'...I, I don't want to die. I don't want to die...'
'If it's a baby, hah, I'll have as many as you want. Just don't kill me, please...'
'Don't stir up my womb anymore—'
He recalled the Demon King's final moments.
Her despair-filled expression as she clutched the baby tight.
And himself, violating her like that.
His head spun.
He, who loathed demons and slaughtered them, had done the exact same thing.
"Damn it..."
The third tree splintered and crashed down.
Those lifeless golden eyes seemed to stare at him still.
You killed her, you killed her, you killed her.
Just like those demons you despised, you raped the Demon King to death!
"UAAAAAAAHHH!!!"
Damn bitch, fucking whore!
If only he'd stayed ruthless to the end.
If she hadn't worn that blissful smile holding the baby.
Then.
He wouldn't feel this self-loathing.
He wouldn't pity a mere Demon King!
"I'll have as many babies as you want, just don't kill me?"
Ha, ridiculous.
Among countless demons he'd faced, none begged for life on the brink of death.
Except her—the Demon King.
She neither fought nor wanted to, not even to die.
Could you even call that a demon?
Come to think of it, she'd said pain hurt too.
She was so timid, the title Demon King didn't suit her at all.
"...Ha."
And that realization carved a tiny crack in the Hero's heart, brimming with hatred and rage.
A strange fissure named pity.