Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Knee Pillow Diplomacy
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* * *
Rewinding time just a little, to the Igugwoden Imperial Palace.
"The Demon King is in the form of a little girl?"
"It seems that way."
At the report from Baron Roengrin, the representative vassal of the Igugwoden Church, Eirene tilted her head in puzzlement.
"That's quite strange. From what I know, the Demon King is supposed to be so ferocious that one couldn't even meet her gaze."
"I've given it some thought... This must be the result of the 'plain fact' that Saintess Erin mentioned."
The Demon King had appeared as a human, and all of this was the will of God Igugwoden—
That was what she had heard from the Saintess.
"Understood. Thank you for the report. You've done well."
"Not at all. May God's plain fact be with Your Majesty."
As she watched Baron Roengrin disappear, Eirene recalled an unforgettable, cherished moment.
'My Lord...'
Yes.
My one and only first love, Igeon—there must be a valid reason for the will of God Igugwoden.
Surely, there was a fitting reason known only to God for why the Demon King had taken the form of a child this time.
She didn't know exactly what it was yet—but that didn't change what needed to be done.
To follow God's will—what else was there?
And, the next day.
"You wish to have a talk... with me?"
"Yes. The people's reaction to today's speech wasn't bad. While favorable public opinion is forming, it would be good to quickly handle what needs to be done. Surely God desires that as well."
The proposal from Erin, who had come to see her—a meeting with the Demon King, representative of the demons.
Upon hearing the details, it seemed God, with His vast heart like the sea, had even looked kindly upon the demons.
"God desires it... So all of this is?"
"God's will, Your Majesty."
For the humans of the empire to hold a meeting with demons was, in a way, unprecedented—
But Eirene, already deeply devoted to God, shared Erin's criterion: the will of Igugwoden.
"Very well. I shall prepare for the meeting at once."
After sending Erin away—
Eirene quietly fell into thought.
'Saintess said all of this is the will of God Igugwoden.'
'Then, could it be that me, as Empress, meeting the Demon King is also broadly part of God Igugwoden's will?'
'What does God expect from my meeting with the Demon King?'
Simply put, 'reconciliation with the demons.'
Indeed, humans had been worn down by wars against demons each time a Saintess appeared.
From the Demon King's speech that Erin had relayed, it seemed the Demon King also wanted to end the war with humans and demand what she desired.
However.
Even so, there was no need for the Demon King to take the form of a little girl.
Even if the Demon King were utterly hideous and terrifying, if reconciliation was God's will, Eirene was prepared to suppress her instincts and gladly converse.
God's judgments each had absolute reasons. There must be a reason.
And—
Eirene's thoughts veered off in a completely unexpected direction.
'Could it be... God is testing me?'
Even now, closing her eyes brought a vivid scene to mind.
A day when the morning sunlight was warm and the breeze felt pleasant.
Beneath the large tree beside Aegerdeng Monastery, the moment she helped God Igugwoden distribute food to the poor.
The kind God Igugwoden treated the children with a smile like starlight.
It was only natural. God Igugwoden loved the weak—He was the sort who would make a wonderfully cool father in the future.
It was a slightly impudent thought that one could never have if viewing Igugwoden solely as 'God'—
But Eirene was a woman who loved God as a man. After all, the first man she ever knew was God.
Thus, she naturally arrived at 'that thought.'
'Whether I am a woman worthy of bearing... God Igugwoden's child... That's what He's come to confirm...!'
Just recently, hadn't she earnestly prayed to God Igugwoden?
To take her first time.
Even after that, He appeared in her dreams from time to time, but unlike her desperate wish, God Igugwoden never crossed that line.
'Because He hasn't yet confirmed if I can be a good mother!'
Eirene had three children.
First Princess Yuria, Second Princess Linea, and 3rd Prince Ares.
However, all three were the children of her elder sister, the former Empress Aisha von Ainsberg, and truthfully, Eirene had treated the still-young children more as heirs to the empire than as a mother.
Naturally, this wouldn't convince God Igugwoden.
Taking her first meant leaving a seed behind as well.
The seed of none other than the Sole God Igugwoden!
It was only logical, utterly natural, to undergo strict scrutiny before being chosen by God!
Realizing that far, her once-complicated mind suddenly cleared.
Ah, God Igugwoden...!
You're giving me a chance!
To confirm if I am a woman 'ripe enough' to serve my Lord...!
And if she passed this test.
As God had said—on that day He promised to meet again, when He met her...!
"...!!!"
Blushing with embarrassment, Eirene sat on the throne, fidgeting her feet in a very un-Empress-like manner.
If anyone had seen, the dignity of the Empress would have flown away like the wind, so it was truly fortunate that no one was here.
'I... will show you.'
How much I can love God Igugwoden's child.
Whether I can raise him well as a compassionate woman, befitting God's child...!
And—
* * *
"Come now, Demon King. This way. It's best to share important talks with body and mind at ease."
—The result of her wild thoughts was this.
The image of a kind, gentle mother holding a rattle, wearing an apron, and cooing babubabu!
"No, I..."
"No need to hold back. I'm prepared...!"
The Demon King couldn't understand Eirene, who spoke with round eyes, a bit embarrassed herself—
But at that moment, she realized one fact.
"Alright, alright. Here, let me pick you up. Demon King, shall we lie side by side?"
"She's still a baby. Once you're an adult, you're so immature... Just do as she wants."
"Even as a kid, she's trying so hard. Looks good."
"Demon King. Good girl. I'll buy you some snacks, so don't cry."
"Oh my. Demon King. What's wrong? Need to pee-pee?"
The humans' blatant babying.
And now, at the meeting place, the Empress treating her unmistakably like a child in need of protection.
—Surprisingly.
She finally noticed that it didn't feel bad at all.
The usual Demon King might have thought such treatment was looking down on her, belittling her—
But for some reason, now no displeasure arose.
On the contrary... she felt a strong urge to lie on Eirene's lap just like this and pour out her true feelings.
'Why... am I like this...?'
Unaware that this was part of 'elements helpful for communication,' the Demon King hesitated at the end, thinking a lap pillow was a bit much—
"Go on. Tell me what you desire, Demon King. As Empress, I'll grant it all...!"
—Jingle jingle.
Due to Eirene's sweet voice and the very fun sound from what she held—
"...Ahem. Then... excuse me."
The Demon King surrendered her body to the sea of instinct.
Thus, the Demon King's round head rested on Eirene's plump thighs.
"Uh... your h-horns aren't uncomfortable? Sorry about that..."
"No, it's fine. Here, like this..."
"Like this?"
"Yes, perfect! Good job!"
Eirene said so while stroking the Demon King's pink hair that held the sunlight.
The Demon King did not refuse the Empress's touch.
Though the appearance was a bit...
This was a historic moment when humans and demons joined hands to walk a path no one had trod.
"Demon King. I heard about your speech a few days ago. Must have been tough among all those humans. You did well."
"No. It was fine. Everyone was very kind. Of course, some seemed unable to accept my proposal... but the other humans around took my side."
"Because they all recognize your sincerity, Demon King."
"Is that so... Then I suppose that makes me happy."
"Surely it does, Demon King."
It was a strange feeling.
Just lying with her head on Eirene's lap, feeling the warmth from her touch, listening to her voice...
Why did it feel like tears would fall?
Where did this inexplicable longing come from?
"You need territory where you can bask in sunlight, right?"
"Yes. Please grant territory to us demons. If you do that much, we demons will strive to be as helpful as possible to you humans. The details—"
"No need to say. I'll do as you wish. I'll issue a decree right away placing a portion of land near the dungeon under your jurisdiction, Demon King."
"...!!!"
The Demon King's pupils dilated instantly as she enjoyed the touch obediently.
No... so straightforwardly?
"You have... no other demands?"
"Of course not. After all, this is God's will, isn't it?"
"...!!!"
God's will.
Her taking this form was God's will.
Humans accepting her without repulsion was God's will...
Then, for the sake of her kin, should she seize this opportunity without hesitation?
"...Empress."
The Demon King.
"Please speak, Demon King."
Chose the path that required a bit more deliberation.
"My kin... emit demonic energy."
"That energy is profoundly unpleasant to many humans. Though it doesn't harm your bodies... just feeling its intensity causes repulsion. Yet for us, it's essential for survival... that kind of energy."
Memories of the previous Demon King unfolded like a panorama in her mind.
The humans' expressions in those memories held only two emotions.
Disgust, and fear.
Demons, her family, were existences humans loathed to face. Communication was impossible.
Thus, they had no choice but to fight. There was no way to overcome physiological repulsion—that was the previous Demon Kings' conclusion.
"I am in human form, so I could approach you without issue... but my kin cannot. By your standards, they are hideous, horrific, terrifying monsters whose words don't even get through."
"Even if you say that now, if we come out and live, if our territory expands and more humans feel the demonic energy... you might come to regret this decision."
Why was this?
Why was she—I—spilling such weak words when she came to negotiate?
She had sworn 'never to be taken lightly,' yet why was she baring her deepest thoughts to a human she was meeting for the first time?
"So... if you have any demands, better say them now. You follow God, so you might be fine, but from other humans' perspectives..."
"If there's nothing we can help with... someday, you will inevitably tire of our existence."
Eirene listened to the Demon King's words to the end without a word.
Then, stopping her stroking hand, she looked down at the king's pink eyes—
"Demons need sunlight, right?"
"...Yes."
"Without sunlight, they can't live out their lifespan and die, right?"
"Your words are correct."
"Certainly, mixing such disparate existences could lead to all sorts of problems. There might be much discomfort. But as Empress of the empire, as representative of humans, I can say this one thing."
"If this concession can prevent many lives from dying—"
—Even if it were another human as Empress, they would say the same.
"!!!"
Even if it were someone else...
Absurdly, at that moment, in the Demon King's eyes—
Eirene before her, speaking the same words as God had.
Felt just like God's woman.
"So, please trust us humans. There are surely things known only through trust."
'Trust...'
I see.
This is God's will.
This is the 'plain fact' of Igugwoden that humans so proclaim...
Finally understanding it in her heart, tears naturally flowed from the Demon King's eyes.
Eirene beamed at her with a broad smile.
Her beaming face held no imperial dignity... but it was filled with love.
The sunlight the demons so longed for sparkled on Eirene's fair face.
"Let's end this bloody history together and get along from now on, Demon King."
"...Yeah."
—Even conflicts lasting centuries resolved from something so simple.
Without God's love, it might have been different. They might have kept clashing, repeating history.
However, in a world with God's love, God's words were absolute—
If God said 'it resolves simply,' it inevitably would.
If God said 'add elements helpful for communication,' naturally the Demon King's demeanor and mindset would change.
Even the small shift of 'it's fine how they treat me' becoming the key to moving forward was like God's will.
This was God's power.
A magical force that accomplished anything.
And the Sole God Igugwoden, who could wield such magical power freely as he wished—
—With that power, consistently did nothing but love.