第５４掘：魔王と子供達 (Part1)
**Dungeon Excavation 54: The Demon Lord and the Children**
**Side: Labyris**
Before us now lies a small grave.
When the Demon Lord Deryu arrived here, two animals lost their lives.
It was unavoidable; both sides acted under the belief that their lives were at stake.
Yet, for Aslin and Firia, it was no different than losing family.
"Sniff... *hic*..."
"...Ugh, uuuu..."
Gathered at their feet are the other animals under Aslin and Firia’s care, mourning the death of their companions.
Present here are myself, Yuki, Eris, Tori, Riel, Elju, and Oriel. The others are busy with their duties at the training grounds.
Since they know the location, they will likely visit individually later.
"So, having seen all this, what do you think?"
"..."
And there stands Deryu, the Demon Lord whose actions necessitated this grave.
She had been awakened from her unconscious state and taken on a tour of this dungeon city. We showed her that we—and Yuki—have no intention of invading the Kingdom of Roschur.
"...It seems it was a misunderstanding on my part, it appears."
Everyone was less afraid of Deryu than I had expected.
Part of it is Yuki’s presence, and the fact that she is already under designated protection, rendering her unable to harm us, the residents, or Yuki.
Above all, the expression she wears as she looks at Aslin and Firia is not that of a Demon Lord, but of a human.
"The fact that I woke up is the answer in itself. There is no need for me to be kept alive."
Deryu gazes at Aslin and Firia with an indescribable expression.
"Well, if the misunderstanding is cleared up, that’s what matters most. So, what will you do?"
"What do you mean, 'what will I do'? Am I not a criminal in this place?"
"Ha, why bring that up now? Don't try to run away. The ones you need to apologize to are right in front of you."
Yuki says this and nudges Deryu toward Aslin and Firia.
"W-well, I need to sort through my own feelings first..."
"Deryu, you’ve believed everything you’ve done up until now was right, haven't you? It’s just one of many possible outcomes. It’s a path you’ve walked often, isn't it? Killing someone due to a misunderstanding and leaving others in tears?"
"..."
"Or did you just push your own opinions through with your power without listening to anyone? Believing that you were absolutely right?"
"..."
"Haa~, I see. The bane of having great power, is it? Because you can force things through, it’s easy to convince yourself that what you’re doing is correct. But that’s not the case. Though, Deryu, you might be better off than most; you’re still capable of judging your own actions calmly. I suppose you’ve tasted defeat before, but usually, if you’ve lived your life that way, you’d just blame the other party the moment things didn't go your way."
Yuki speaks to calm Deryu down.
"Did I... end up killing people like you, who had nothing to do with this?"
"I mean, it’s easy for us to say 'you were wrong' now, but you wouldn't be satisfied with that, would you?"
"..."
"Then, at the very least, now that you’ve realized you were wrong, you know what you have to do if there’s someone to apologize to."
"Nuu... I thought there was nothing left to fear anymore..."
"Isn't that a good thing? Someone who fears nothing isn't a living creature; they’re a doll. It’s the same as having no emotions. You can’t share joy with anyone, you can’t laugh when you hear a fun story, and you can’t shed tears when someone close to you passes away."
"Do you... still consider me a person? I, who have been called a Demon Lord and crushed everything with mere force?"
Perhaps something changed because of Yuki’s words; the way Deryu refers to herself seems softer.
It’s hard to tell from Yuki’s roundabout way of speaking, but I believe Deryu is a person.
After all, when she was conversing with Yuki’s shadow on the call screen, she said she had come to defeat the Dungeon Master. She had concluded that we intended to invade the Kingdom of Roschur, and while she was mistaken, she wasn't being tyrannical—she was simply trying to do what she believed was right.
That is why we didn't demand insults or punishment from Deryu.
As for the damage—I feel terrible for Aslin and Firia—but it was only two animals.
If it had been one of Yuki’s lives, I don't think I would have had any intention of forgiving her.
"Person or not, if we can talk and communicate our will, I don't really care. First, rethink that narrow definition of yours. The ones Aslin and Firia are shedding tears for are animals."
"Ah..."
"You can get along with animals, yet you can speak the same language and share the same form. I can't believe that a 'loli-hag' who was just called a Demon Lord and happened to have power can't talk to us and get along. Well, there are limits, but I have no intention of persuading someone whose head is broken, constantly insisting that they are absolutely right."
As always, Yuki is strange—or perhaps just unpredictable.
Is this natural? Since a Dungeon Master commands various monsters, does that shape this kind of mindset?
"That may be true, but... wait a moment!! You called me a loli-hag, didn't you!? I don't know what 'loli' means, but I know what a 'hag' is!! I am young, I demand a correction!!"
"Oh? If you're young, tell me your age. You could show me your status, too. How old is 'young' for a human? Twenty-something, at most?"
"No, no, brother. Once you're past twenty, you're already past your prime."
"Guh...!?"
Oh my, Yuki is being mean.
Personally, I wouldn't mind at all if she could bear Yuki’s children.
Fufu... Deryu possesses power worthy of being called a Demon Lord.
If we could welcome her as an ally—no, as one of Yuki’s wives—it would be very reassuring.
From our conversation so far, Deryu herself is very pure.
She has accepted the designated protection, so I must persuade her, seduce Yuki, and have him... well, you know.
Yuki dislikes being forced, but I will use any means necessary to protect you.
Well, I don't want to be hated, so I won't use cowardly tricks.
I will simply make Deryu want to become Yuki’s bride of her own volition. Ufufu.
As Yuki and Deryu continue their conversation, Aslin and Firia approach us.
"Um... Big Brother."
"Brother... it’s that person, isn't it?"
Ah, yes.
I can see why Deryu is shrinking back.
I don't think even I could withstand those teary eyes.
"A-ah, u..."
"Yeah, that’s right. She is the Demon Lord, the Fresh Blood Princess, Deryu. Go on."
He pushes the frozen Deryu toward them.
But Deryu cannot open her mouth before their teary gaze.
"Deryu-san, was the mother of these children a noble soul?"
"...Brother... was the father of this child... fighting his hardest until the end?"
In Aslin’s arms are two baby tanukis.
In Firia’s hands is one baby weasel.
Upon hearing those words, the hesitation that had gripped Deryu vanished as if it had never been there...