Chapter 130
Chapter 130
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: A Quiet Moment with the Demon King
-----------------------------------------------------------------
After arriving in the New Continent with the Demons—
The Demon King made sure to visit Eirene every three days, requesting a lap pillow.
At least to the Demon King, Eirene's lap possessed a magnetic charm that drew people in all on its own. It felt just like what humans described as a mother's embrace.
After spending some time admiring the rattle in Eirene's hand—
"That's enough rattling for now, Eirene. If I indulge any longer, I'll waste the whole day."
"Understood."
At her words, Eirene carefully set the rattle aside.
The Demon King, lounging on her lap and basking in the sunlight, extended her tiny hand as if trying to grasp the rays, clenching and unclenching it repeatedly before asking,
"Is work too hard for you?"
"Do you mean distributing the food?"
"Yes."
"Not at all. Any woman who serves the divine must never forget the romance of sharing a Dish of Facts even in times of scarcity. And besides, we're not short on supplies right now."
Indeed.
At least for the moment, food shortages were a thing of the past.
The non-perishable provisions that could be transported by ship had their limits, so the food the Empress had brought couldn't fully sustain all the Elves, who had barely managed three meager meals a day in the caves—
But thanks to the fertilizer developed by Reina, they could easily procure fresh, local crops tailored to the Elves' tastes.
There was no sorrow greater than being unable to eat. And there was no act more noble than sharing food with those who had none.
Eating was sustaining life itself—that was the greatest lesson she had learned at Aegerdeng Monastery.
"I see. You truly are different from the 'Empresses' in the minds of past Demon Kings."
"You're no different, Demon King. We're walking toward the same goal now, aren't we?"
With Eirene's words, silence fell once more.
But neither felt any awkwardness. It was like a bird perched on a branch, simply resting without a care—this was one of the few moments of respite in their days, for both the Demon King and the Empress.
"I ran into Erin this morning. She seemed in high spirits."
"The Saintess?"
"Yes. She had an even brighter smile than usual, so I asked what was up."
"What did she say?"
"Don't be shocked. She said God came to visit."
Eirene's hand, stroking the Demon King's pink hair bathed in sunlight, paused for a moment.
"Lord Igugwoden?"
"Yes."
"Did He give another message to the Saintess?"
If it had been a divine command, she would have relayed it to her early that morning—or so she thought.
"No. This time, it seems He came not to convey His will, but to greet her in person."
"In person...?"
"Apparently, He let Erin hear His divine voice directly."
The Demon King recounted in detail what Erin had told her.
From the sudden light seeping in before she fell asleep... to their casual chat.
"I see..."
Of course.
Lord Igugwoden had gone to the Saintess first, as expected...
Eirene knew God's face. She remembered His voice, too.
But that wasn't from meeting God Himself—it was from encountering His Fragment.
A Fragment was technically part of God Himself—
Yet as the Fragment had told her back then, the true 'Lord Igugwoden' existed separately, so...
'...It's fine.'
Eirene swiftly quelled the petty jealousy rising in her heart.
Yes.
A mere creation could never monopolize the great God.
And this was no ordinary god—He was the Sole God, her Master, the one destined to be her one and only husband!
Closing her eyes, she could still hear it vividly.
"I'll see you again someday"—those words God had conveyed through His Fragment, Eirene had never forgotten for a single moment.
'Of course You know the hardships the Saintess endures, wearing herself out to spread Your will... I know that too.'
No need to rush. Someday, God would surely shower her with love on His own.
Praying to Him out of longing here would be immature, spoiled behavior.
So Eirene felt no jealousy.
As long as she could occupy a corner of His gaze, that was enough.
Even if not, it was fine.
Better her love go unrequited than displease Him.
After all, without her Master—without God—she would have met her end at the hands of the nephew she had raised herself.
Noticing the subtle shift in the air, the Demon King looked up at Eirene and asked carefully,
"If it's Lord Igugwoden, won't He visit you soon too?"
"Me...?"
"Yes. You've bragged to me about it countless times—how you're God's woman."
"D-Did I... say that?"
Amused by Eirene's slight blush, the Demon King chuckled.
"Yes. You said even letting me rest on your lap was preparation for bearing God's child."
'!!!!'
Hearing that, Eirene's ears turned bright red as she stammered,
"D-Did I really tell you even that...?!"
"You were dozing off, so I offered to move, and you grabbed me, saying that. You really don't remember?"
"Oh..."
Come to think of it, she vaguely recalled something like that before crossing to the New Continent.
Too embarrassed at having her inner thoughts exposed, she fell silent—
"Don't worry. I can keep a secret."
"...Thank you."
"Heh heh heh. For such a cute woman to have the entire Empire at her feet... Not that I, in my current state, should say it, but it's quite the irony."
—Whatever happens, don't fret too much.
The Lord Igugwoden I know won't abandon you.
"Demon King..."
"...Up."
Pip, pip pip.
Finally escaping Eirene's lap, the Demon King reached to fix her tousled hair—
"...Can't reach."
"Just a moment, Demon King. I'll tie it up for you right away."
"Okay."
The Demon King extended her small hand holding the fallen hair tie to Eirene.
She took it and deftly tied up the Demon King's hair.
This hair tie seemed to be the first gift she had ever received from a human. She treasured it immensely, viewing it as a symbol of eternal friendship between humans and Demons.
"There. All done."
Eirene carefully handed over a small hand mirror.
The Demon King examined herself from various angles, then curved her lips in satisfaction.
"Yes. Looks pretty. Thank you, Eirene."
"You're welcome. Come visit again?"
"I will. I'd love to stay with you forever, but... many others need the Empress's touch besides me."
Eirene watched the Demon King pip-pip away from her—
And once she vanished from sight, she cautiously stood, brushing off her pristine white lap.
'...Time for me to get going too.'
Today, too, she would spread Lord Igugwoden's Plain Facts across the New Continent... With that thought, she carefully set off.
* * *
In recent days, Eirene's duties extended beyond just handing out free food.
Though not a nun, as someone who had directly experienced God's Plain Facts through the Saintess, she was qualified to teach the Holy Scripture to Elf children.
The reason she stepped up was simple: she had astonishingly mastered the Elves' language in record time.
As a bonus, communication with the Elves flowed smoothly even without Pibiola.
"×××,××××! (Amazing! How can a human speak our language so well?)"
"Hee hee hee, ××××.××××××. (Nothing to be surprised about. With study, you can reach this level too.)"
"×××,××××××……. (We've pored over the priests' books, but we still don't get it... You're incredible.)"
The tales Eirene had heard endlessly before turning twenty—the prodigy of House Ainsberg, a once-in-a-generation genius versed in both letters and arms.
Her talents were legendary enough to be etched in Imperial history; even without becoming Empress, she could have been anything she desired.
She couldn't become a mage due to her inability to sense mana—
But with effort in her youth, she could have rivaled a Dish of Holy Knights as a knight or outshone an academy dean as a scholar.
So mastering the Elves' language in under a week was no surprise for her.
Even among blood siblings, her seamless ascension to the throne after the late Emperor's death stemmed from such a background.
Eirene gazed gently at the Elf children.
Though called children, considering the Elves' slow maturation as a long-lived race, they were nearly twenty.
She had been shocked just days ago to learn these teenagers, who looked Ares's age, were her contemporaries.
...As expected.
Did God... prefer younger women, being a man after all? The thought crossed her mind—
'Get a grip, Eirene.'
She knew God wasn't a man who valued youth alone.
He had spoken of the profound resonance that came only with time.
Even so—it stung a little.
If I were twenty.
If God had descended earlier.
If her sister hadn't died and remained Empress... Could I have been chosen as a Saintess like Erin?
"×××? (Lady Eirene?)"
"Ah... ××,×××××. (Sorry. Let's begin now.)"
Shaking off idle thoughts, Eirene spent the time teaching the Elves the Holy Scripture.
* * *
"You've worked hard, Your Majesty."
"You've worked hard too, Lisa."
"Just doing my duty. Good night."
After her bath.
Having changed into comfortable sleepwear, Eirene followed her guard—who had come all the way to the New Continent to protect her—to her bedroom.
In her hand was her most treasured possession, used for teaching the Elves: the Holy Scripture.
As she settled in to savor Lord Igugwoden's will before bed—
'...!!!'
For some reason.
She knew from the tickle in her belly.
Eirene cautiously lifted her head to the window.
Her gaze met the black night sky embroidered with stars.
Yet... it felt unmistakably different from usual, stimulating her senses.
She recalled the Demon King's recent tale.
God Igugwoden, who had visited Saintess Erin in person—
'Could it be...!'
That He came to me too...
That He came to see me too, Lord Igugwoden?
Eirene closed her eyes, confirming the sensation her instincts traced.
......She could feel it.
God's gaze... looking down upon her.
And—
'...Huh?'
—Eirene.
The woman who loved God more than anyone, whose deep bond let her glimpse even realms beyond an Observer's sight—could not fail to sense it.
What the God watching her now was thinking.
"......"
For a moment, Eirene lost herself, her pupils dilating in confusion—
But she quickly regained composure.
No stranger to men despite her innocence there, she was a seasoned Empress.
She knew exactly how to handle any situation.
Eirene slowly knelt.
Then, eyes closed, hands clasped...
Burying her desires deep within, she addressed her Master, who was surely watching.
"...Lord Igugwoden. Can You hear my voice?"
"I can feel Your gaze, Lord Igugwoden. I sense with my whole body that You've come to meet me..."
"Thank You for keeping Your promise and visiting me like this. However—"
She had awaited this moment.
But having known His kindness, she refused to act spoiled.
As a mere creation, she yearned to be a restful presence for God—
—Your
hesitation
, I can feel it.
Finishing her words, Eirene tilted her head slightly, a faint smile on her lips.
Striving not to falter, not to whine, to support Him naturally...
"I can't know Your full will, Lord Igugwoden. I'm no Saintess. But if this feeling I'm sensing is real..."
"If this is Your will, then it's fine if we don't talk right now."
To cradle the emotions she sensed from Him.
She stepped back from the Master she loved most in the world.
* * *
"......!!!"
Seeing Eirene in the comic's final panel, I couldn't help but be shocked.
How could I not be?
Just as she said—I had been hesitating to speak with her.
After all, the author's late sleep from overwork was the day after my chat with Erin—so I wondered if it was right to keep demanding solo panels of Eirene consecutively.
It wasn't urgent; we could talk days later.
But...
'I haven't said anything to the author yet...?'
How did Eirene...
Know that?