Chapter 53: Kishirika, the Demon Emperor (Patreon)

As someone who had lived for hundreds of years...

Ruijerd's thoughts, while not particularly complicated,

were no longer as simple as they'd been at the very beginning.

As Rudeus explained his reasoning, Ruijerd could naturally follow the logic of it well enough — but all he could do in response was let out a helpless sigh.

For him to hunt down the Demon God for the sake of revenge was completely fine. And for humanity to control the development of the demon race for the sake of its own future was also completely fine.

So... everyone stood in a different place, yet everyone was simply making choices for their own circumstances.

It felt powerless — and yet it was the truth.

"So, Rudeus, do you have any other way?" Ruijerd asked with a sigh.

"Let's find an inn first and get some rest," Rudeus said with a smile. "As for other methods — Mister Ruijerd, have you forgotten I'm a mage? My skill isn't much, but I still have enough power to carry the two of you across a strait."

Hearing this, Ruijerd blinked, a little confused. "What exactly are you planning to do?"

Eris leaned in too, curious.

"It's simple," Rudeus said with a smile. "I'll make a block of ice, and we'll just ride it straight across."

"...Uh," Ruijerd said, nodding. The method really was that simple.

That way, no one would have to worry about money any longer.

"In that case," Eris said with a smile, "there's no need for us to hold onto the coins from the Demon Continent. I still have gold and silver on me — once we get there, we can use those to buy whatever we need."

"Sure," Rudeus said, nodding. "Then let's treat ourselves to a good big feast."

"Awesome, haha!!" Eris laughed, delighted.

Ruijerd's face broke into a smile once more as well.

Along the way, it was thanks to Rudeus's knack for making seasonings that the food over the past year or so had been bearable. But with such a limited variety of flavors eaten for over a year, no matter how good it tasted, they'd all grown a little sick of it.

Hearts full of anticipation, Rudeus led Eris and Ruijerd to a restaurant said to serve the finest food around.

It just so happened that Rudeus crossed paths with Roxy, who had just disembarked. Both of them were aware of the other's presence, but each pretended not to notice.

And so, once the three of them had eaten and drunk their fill at the restaurant, they found a decent inn and settled in for the night.

Night fell.

The white mental space arrived, right on schedule.

Hitogami appeared before Rudeus, wearing a radiant smile.

"Good evening, Lord Hitogami."

"Haha, good evening, Rudeus."

"Since you've come, Lord Hitogami, does that mean Kishirika, the Demon Emperor, is nearby?"

"That's right..." Hitogami said, nodding. "Tomorrow, take some food with you and wander through the back alleys. You'll naturally run into her — and when you do, she'll grant you an extremely useful Eye of Foresight."

Bowing slightly, Rudeus smiled, delighted. "Then I'm very grateful, Lord Hitogami."

Hitogami waved a hand. "Haha, no need to be so polite — you're helping me out just as much. Well, now that I've told you, I won't keep you from your rest any longer. Good night."

"Good night, Lord Hitogami," Rudeus said with a nod and a smile.

Watching the connection with Rudeus gradually fade, the white silhouette that was Hitogami nodded, smiling in satisfaction.

He's clever enough in most respects. But when it comes to being wary of the gods, he still falls far short.

If only you weren't that child's father, Rudeus. You'd have made such an obedient tool... but now, I suppose I'll just have to steel myself and be rid of you.

What a shame. What a terrible shame!!!!

Ah, what a pity!!!

Never mind... Get rid of him. Once he's gone, there won't be nearly so much to worry about.

The next day, Rudeus obediently followed Hitogami's suggestion.

He bought a large basket's worth of meat skewers from a street vendor, loaded them into a basket, and set off wandering through the alleys with it in his arms, searching for the Kishirika that Hitogami had spoken of.

It didn't take him long. In an alley on the west side of town, he found her — a figure reeking with a foul stench, wrapped in a black cloak, hungry and begging passersby for food: the pitiable Demon Emperor.

As he drew closer, Kishirika's labored words gradually reached his ears.

"...It's been three hundred years since my resurrection..."

"Never thought... never thought I'd end up somewhere like this..."

"Never thought I'd collapse right here..."

"This is truly..."

Before she could finish, Kishirika, the Demon Emperor, collapsed from hunger, all her strength gone.

Watching the scene unfold, Rudeus found himself at a loss for words for a moment. Wasn't this Demon Emperor's state just a little too pitiful? He walked slowly over to her side, forcing himself to bear the stench radiating off her.

He gently set down the basket of skewers he'd been carrying and said with a smile, "You must be starving, little miss. Go ahead and eat."

"Huh!!???"

Catching the scent of the delicious skewers, Kishirika snapped her head up. She looked at Rudeus's gentle smile, then lowered her eyes to the basket brimming with skewers in front of her.

The next instant, she threw herself bodily at it.

She snatched up the skewers and began wolfing them down, devouring them at a furious, frantic pace.

"So good, so good, this is so good!!!" she shouted between mouthfuls.

Since Rudeus had prepared no small number of skewers, it took Kishirika, the Demon Emperor, quite a while before she finally finished off everything in the basket.