The Demon King Who Cares for the Hero's Family
Is there a Demon King who looks after the Hero's family? About half a year ago. Glinis, Roen's mother, opened her bleary eyes. It was still dark outside, but she had to get up and start working right away if she wanted to keep up with the fields. It was the same routine she'd always followed, and the same one she'd continue.
"Hoo." After drawing a deep breath, she tried to begin her day by pushing herself up from the bed. "Nngh, nnngh…!" But lately, Glinis had been feeling strangely heavy. She could tell her body wasn't responding the way it used to. Sometimes it was so bad she couldn't even get out of bed the way she wanted.
"Aigoo, this wretched body!" The situation was hopeless, but the wise Glinis had fortunately found a new method. Instead of forcing herself upright with her waist, she would roll sideways off the bed. That way she could get up with far less effort and much more smoothly.
Today, however, was different. "Oh, ow, aigoo…!" The moment she rolled once, a wave of dizziness crashed over her. After suffering through it for a long while, Glinis finally realized what had happened once her head cleared a little. She had caught a cold.
Normally it was the kind of illness that would pass with good food and rest. But for Glinis, it was no simple matter. There was no doctor in Elver to help her recover, and if she simply rested, the fields would be overrun with weeds. Pulling those weeds would be even harder work. Yet the most urgent problem was this: she had to drag her aching body out of bed no matter what. Only then could she at least eat enough to survive.
It would have been nice if the neighbors noticed and came to help, but unfortunately Glinis was the youngest resident in Elver. Most of the others could barely look after themselves. "Aigoo, this is bad." It was only a cold, yet even "only a cold" was enough to make Glinis feel the threat of death. The moment she realized it was a cold, her whole body began to throb and burn.
For now, Glinis closed her eyes to conserve her strength. How old am I this year? No, I suppose it doesn't matter. In truth, Glinis had never been particularly greedy for life. There was only one reason she had clung to it so stubbornly all this time: her son and husband, somewhere out in the world.
Her husband, an adventurer, had left on a commission and never returned. Even her one and only foolish son had left her side, saying he couldn't stand living a dull life in the countryside. The only reason Glinis kept going was so that when her husband and son grew weary of the world, there would still be a place for them to return to.
"Ugh…" The longer time passed, the worse Glinis felt her condition becoming. Just as she was about to accept her fate, thinking her time had finally come, the faces of her beloved husband and son flashed before her eyes.
"No, I can't do this." Glinis snapped her eyes open. "I have to get up!" Resolved to live, she poured every ounce of strength into rolling sideways. Her body hurt so much that groans escaped with every roll, but she clenched her teeth and endured. Because she had squeezed her eyes shut in concentration, however, she misjudged the distance.
Thud! "Aigoo! Ow, aigoo…!" Glinis tumbled off the bed and nearly lost consciousness. Somehow she managed to stay awake. Getting up was impossible. At the very least, she could crawl to the door and call for help from the villagers. Glinis began crawling toward the door on all fours.
How much time had passed? Glinis finally reached the door. There was one thing she had overlooked, however. To open the door, she needed to grab the handle and turn it. "Is anyone there? Anyone at all?" She tried calling out, but no answer came. Only the wind whistled softly through the remote village where even visitors were rare.
Still, Glinis forced her voice out once more. "Is anyone there!" She waited for a reply, but again there was nothing. In the end, she had to admit it. The only thing she could do now was pray that God would grant her a miracle. Yet she had already prayed plenty over the years. Every night before bed, Glinis had begged for her husband and son to return safely. God had ignored those prayers for over ten years. Knowing prayers were meaningless, she had still kept offering them, so she no longer believed in their power.
Tears came. Even knowing crying would only tire her body further, she couldn't stop them. "Are you safe, Roen…?" Her first worry was for her son who had left home. Then came the next. "Raynald, are you alive? Please, look after our son in my place…"
Glinis let her head drop. Now all she could do was accept the time that was drawing near. Light slipped through the gap in her eyelids. Glinis regained a faint consciousness, accompanied by warm morning sunlight pouring over her body. She didn't even have the strength to open her eyes properly, but through her dim senses she realized someone was lifting her.
"Hey, are you all right? Please open your eyes!" At the desperate voice calling her, Glinis summoned her last bit of strength and opened her eyes. What she saw was a beautiful girl looking down at her with a startled expression. "Can you hear me? Please, say something!"
Looking at the girl, Glinis moved her lips with all her might. "Thank you…" Having spoken the words she wanted to say, Glinis lost her strength and let her head fall to the side. "No!!" As her consciousness faded once more, only the echo of the girl's frantic cry lingered faintly in Glinis's ears.
"Everyone, come out right now! Malkuth, not you! We don't need you right now. Hesed, check her condition immediately!" Glinis felt a single spark of hope. Thanks to these kind people, she might be able to see her son and husband again after all. "Gebura, what are you standing there gawking for? You don't know what to do? Ugh, you stupid fool! Tiphereth! First, check this person's soul…!"
"That pretty girl was Ilena, you see." "……" After hearing her mother's story, I took her hand and held it tightly. "I'm sorry." My head hung low. I couldn't bring myself to meet her eyes. No matter how hard I had tried to save the world, what did it matter? The world I saved had abandoned me, and the mother who had believed in me and waited had nearly died alone and lonely.
"I should have come back sooner…" "No, my dear. I'm just glad you came back at all." Mother pulled me into a warm embrace and gently patted my back. The familiar scent of her after so long. "I've been neglecting my prayers lately, but I suppose I need to start again in earnest. In the end, God answered my prayers, didn't He? He let me meet you again while I'm still alive."
"I'm so relieved. I'm sorry, Mother. No matter how many times I say it…" A little later, Ilena brought over a pot with steam rising from it and set it on the table, looking extremely proud. "There, it's done! I put extra effort into it today. Now, let's eat… Hm?" Mother and I were still holding each other. During the meal, Mother didn't ask me anything. She didn't ask where I'd been or what I'd been doing. Instead, she simply chatted with Ilena about what had been happening in Elver lately and what farming work needed to be done next.
When we had nearly finished eating, she carefully asked just one question. "Are you planning to leave again?" That was all. "No." I answered without the slightest hesitation. Then I made it clear. "I'll stay by your side." After finishing her fruit for dessert, Mother went to bed first. Ilena smiled as she tucked the blanket neatly over the peacefully sleeping Mother, then spoke to me.
"Did you know? The only times your mother has eaten this well are today and one other day." "One other day?" "I heard earlier. She told you the story of the first time she met me. That was the day she ate well. Or rather, to be precise, it wasn't so much that she ate well as…" Ilena hesitated before continuing. "She forced herself to eat."
"I understand what you mean." Mother had forced herself to eat in order to survive. It had been her will to live so she could meet me and Father again somehow. "Today was better. She really enjoyed the meal. Besides, the reason she couldn't eat well back then was partly my fault too." "Your fault? Even though you saved my mother?"
"W-well…" Ilena covered her slightly flushed cheeks with both hands. "I studied a lot so I could meet you. But because I had no real experience, I undercooked and burned everything that day." "That's a relief. You're good at it now." "Hehe…" When I praised her, Ilena's joy showed plainly on her face. The more I looked at her, the more wondrous it seemed. She looked like nothing more than a kind, pretty girl, yet how had she once been such a terrifying Demon King?
Regardless, I had to properly express my gratitude. "Thank you. Truly. For saving my mother and looking after her all this time." "It was all so I could meet you. In the end, I did meet you, so my goal was achieved." "Even so, a simple thank-you doesn't feel like enough for such a great kindness." "Kindness…?"
After a brief pause, I added, "I want to repay you." "Repay me?" "You said you wanted me, didn't you?" "I-I did." She had boldly declared she wanted me, yet now Ilena couldn't meet my eyes and looked away. "I swear. From now on, no matter what you ask of me, I'll grant exactly three of your requests, no matter what happens." "……You mean that?" Ilena wiped the smile from her face. But my resolve hadn't changed. "I mean it."
"What if…" Ilena slowly turned to face me and asked in a clear voice, "I asked you to stand at the head of the Demon King's army and destroy the world you protected?"