I recall memories from a distant, distant past. Days spent with my beloved wife, Elisa, the happiest times of my demonic existence.
We came from ordinary villages, neither of us from noble birth, and we were together wherever we went. Elisa was frail from childhood, a delicate woman who seemed likely to collapse if I wasn’t by her side. However, she was also a woman of strong conviction. She was the only one in the village who would speak her mind to me, a rogue everyone else had given up on. She’d lecture me, and for some reason, she’d follow me. Then, with her lack of stamina, Elisa would quickly be out of breath and panting, demanding I carry her.
There was hardly anyone in the village, not even the adults, who could match me. In fact, I was feared for being beyond control. Yet, instead of being afraid, she’d throw her willfulness at me, always with a smile. And she could drink me under the table. Extremely well. That’s the kind of woman Elisa was.
Perhaps that’s why? While we were childhood friends, and that certainly played a part, it was the fact that I, who only knew how to rampage, gradually began to open my heart to Elisa. Hmm, looking back now, it seems so simple. Someone unaccustomed to human touch is treated kindly and immediately develops affection. Exactly like a teenage boy. Well, I was that age back then, so it was probably acceptable. Yes, acceptable. But still, Elisa was the only one who ever acted that way toward me, before or since.
After some time, Elisa and I left the village. In other words, we went on a journey. I had grown tired of the village’s insular atmosphere. Elisa was still the only one who paid any attention to me, but to my surprise, she also started hearing strange rumors. Elisa herself didn’t care at all. But I did. My fists moved faster than my reason. After I’d thoroughly beat an opponent, Elisa would desperately try to stop me. At Elisa’s request, I would stop. And then more ill rumors would arise—
Because this continued endlessly, I took Elisa’s hand and left the village. Fortunately, we had no parents to stop us. There was, however, a slight regret about acting solely on impulse. I hadn’t consulted Elisa at all, and before I knew it, we were out of the village together. At that moment, even I, who feared nothing, was afraid to look Elisa in the face. Elisa was frail, and wouldn’t a journey just be hardship for her? Even that village was her hometown. Had I possibly made her sad?
“Hmph hmph fohhnn♪ Oh, that’s right. Hey, hey. I want to see the sea. We don’t have anywhere to go anyway, right? In that case, let’s travel while seeing interesting things. It’ll surely be fun. You don’t need to worry about money. I brought all sorts of equipment with me, so there’s no need to boast and then return to the village.”
“…Seriously, you?”
—Elisa was smiling broadly. Over her shoulder was a bag packed with travel essentials. She said she had anticipated I would do this someday and had prepared in advance. She had even bought a map from a traveling merchant who had visited the village and meticulously noted down places she wanted to visit.
“Are you sure? We can still—”
She placed a finger on my mouth, cutting off my words.
“Yes, close your mouth. Even if we returned to the village, you’re the only one who would take good care of me, an invalid, Gustav. Besides— life without Gustav is boring and dull.”
As she said this, Elisa gripped my hand tightly. Ah, that was it. It was then that I became convinced. I loved Elisa.
“…Also, I’m at my limit, so carry me.”
“……”
After that, with Elisa and a large bag on my back, I spread out the map and headed for the sea. It seemed Elisa had grown accustomed to riding on my back; she felt better this way than when sleeping. Because of that, Elisa was always in a very good mood as long as she was on my back. Well, I had been carrying her since we were children.
From then on, we traveled throughout the Underworld. If Elisa wanted to see the sea, we went to the Blood Sea; if she wanted to speak with the Dark Dragon King, we went to his dwelling in the Dark Prison. The journey was not peaceful, but it was also ideal for my training. With Elisa in the best seat, I smashed enemies head-on. I awakened my blood-dyeing powers and, on occasion, would fall ill with a fever from overexertion, but then Elisa would diligently nurse me back to health. Well, what can I say? On this journey, we naturally became sweethearts.
After we had roughly visited all the places we wanted to see, Elisa suggested we settle down somewhere. It was around the time that suggestion came up. There was a suitable castle nearby, so, being the demon I am, I took it by force. I mowed down wave after wave of soldiers and cornered the lord of the castle, and the environment in the surrounding area gradually changed into a peaceful one.
“Wow, an environmental fluctuation! I’m seeing this for the first time! It seems the Underworld has acknowledged this entire region as Gustav’s dominion!”
“Is that so?”
“Because it’s become such a comfortable place for me to live. Just like you, Gustav, who is prickly yet secretly kind.”
“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?”
Although I had various complaints, this was the beginning of the Grellverelka Empire. I had no interest in invading other countries, but other demons would invade our territory if I did nothing. I showed no mercy to anyone who disturbed my life with Elisa, and simply beat down any invaders. Sometime later, I came to be known as the Crimson-Bearded Duke, and many who heard of my martial prowess, honed during my travels, came seeking to become my subordinates.
The more I beat them down, the more the country prospered, and the more subordinates I gained. And the country grew larger and flourished again. Before long, I found enjoyment in this, and as a demon, I took the lead in governing the country. I had always enjoyed fighting, and I wanted Elisa to have a good life. …Also for the child in her belly.
“How about we aim for total domination of the entire land? Just a thought.”
“That’s not a bad idea.”
She must have said it as a mere joke, but I was quite serious. Grellverelka continued to achieve swift victories and steadily expand its territory.
“Well now. You’re Gustav Baal, aren’t you? I am Estoria Clanvertz, the Vampire Queen. Could you show me a little of that skill you boast about, being the strongest demon?”
It was around this time that a woman calling herself the Vampire Queen appeared. It wasn’t uncommon for women to appear on the battlefield, but this one was etched in my memory. She was particularly strong, but also stubbornly persistent. No matter how many times I defeated her, she would always survive and come after me again shortly thereafter. She was beautiful, feisty, and my type, but she was a strange creature, more so than a zombie.
One day on the battlefield, I encountered that woman for what felt like the hundredth time.
“Hey, what’s going on?! Who’s Elisa, damn it!”
I don’t know where she heard it, but she pointed out that Elisa and I had gotten married.
“Unworthy…! Absolutely unworthy! The strongest should be by the side of the strongest! I don’t want to see you, the weakling!”
It seems she misunderstood and thought I had become soft because of my marriage. It was the concern of a fellow battle enthusiast. To prove that wasn’t the case, I defeated that woman again that day. And the next day, and the day after that. However, the woman was never convinced.
“Elisa… dead… *chuckle*”
At some point, the woman began targeting Elisa instead of me. Her words and actions became unstable, and she would laugh unnervingly. Gazing into her eyes, I felt as though I would be sucked in. It was then that I realized. The more my country grew powerful, the more my enemies would target not only me. Sometimes, enemies would stop at nothing.
Thereafter, I acted with a swiftness that surprised even myself. I settled my long-standing conflict with the woman, and before Elisa’s growing belly became too noticeable, I hid her away inside the castle. If it became known that I had a child, the unborn infant would become a target. Therefore, I decided to conceal that fact at the very least. I spread fake information that Elisa’s illness had worsened, and under the guise of recuperating, I wouldn’t let her appear in public until the child was born. It was quite difficult to persuade Elisa, but it was necessary.
After all, our child, just like Elisa, would undoubtedly be incredibly beautiful. And just as I expected, Sera and Bel, born as twins, were indeed incredibly beautiful. Seeing such lovely children, even a saint would turn into a kidnapper. This wouldn’t do. I needed to build a hidden mansion immediately. I resolved to give them a life with as few hardships as possible.
“You know, dear. It’s good that you dote on our children, but you mustn’t kill your daughters’ boyfriends when they finally come along, alright?”
“What are you saying! All men are wolves! I will never forgive them! Never!”
“Hahaha. Then Sera and Bel will be single their entire lives. That would be a pity, wouldn’t it? At least set some conditions.”
“No. To give away such lovely daughters in marriage—”
“Set conditions, I said?”
“…Alright. First, I’ll have to punch them with all my might. If they can survive that, perhaps…”
“Perhaps, they’ll pass?”
“…Y-yes.”
“That’s wonderful, Sera! Bel! Your chances of having future husbands have increased by about 1%!”
“……”
At that moment, I genuinely intended to punch them with all my might. So hard their heads would fly off. Yet, as I resolved this, my heart felt strangely warm. I don’t know when I became a Demon King. Day by day, my reason craved battle, and I would head to the battlefield. However, before my wife and children, those feelings would inexplicably vanish. Even as I reigned as a Demon King, the space that could calm my heart remained unchanged.
“A promise, dear. If you break your promise, I’ll make you drink all the sake in the wine cellar!”
With Elisa’s voice as the last sound, the memories of the past faded, and I awoke from my dream.
