THDK Chapter 37

Reunion with the Past (Part 5)

This place held many painful memories. But there were also faint traces of happier times—times spent with my brother and the kind servants. That’s why it remained a precious place I couldn’t let go of.

“All the servants searched for you, young master. Where have you been all this time?”

I hesitated, unsure how to answer. I couldn’t exactly say I’d been at the Demon King’s castle.

“It’s a place I’ve come to cherish. I found a family there.”

After thinking it over, the words that came out were the honest truth. Thinking about everyone warmed my heart, but at the same time, a pang of sadness darkened my mood. It had only been a day since I left the Demon King’s castle, yet I already missed everyone. I wanted to tell Nox I loved him and eat cake together.

“I’m relieved.”

“Relieved?”

“Yes. It seems you’ve found a place where you belong.”

A place where I belong…

My eyes welled up, and I felt like crying. It was true—the Demon King’s castle had become my one and only sanctuary. If I could, I would’ve stayed there longer.

“By the way, has anything unusual happened recently? Like with the first and second princes?”

Trying to shake off the sadness, I changed the subject. Gil’s expression darkened slightly, and I wondered what was wrong.

“The king fell ill, and the first prince has taken over the political affairs. Since then, the first prince’s faction has begun preparations for war against the demons, and taxes have been rising steadily. Men from nearby villages have been conscripted to hunt monsters for weapon materials, and now many people are struggling just to feed themselves.”

“…What? But the hero hasn’t been found yet…”

I had been hidden away in the Demon King’s castle all this time. There shouldn’t have been any reason for war.

“Ten years ago, a proclamation was issued across the human territories announcing the birth of the hero. But the hero never appeared, and people began to suspect the royal family was lying.”

The words I overheard outside Nox’s room about the desperate search for the hero flashed through my mind. To dispel the people’s distrust, they had to find the hero at all costs. But how did that lead to war?

“Recently, Duke Sullivan, who is anti-demon and serves as the prime minister, suggested that the hero might have already been killed by the Demon King. The first prince took this at face value and forced the decision to go to war with the demons…”

“I thought the second prince was pro-demon.”

“Yes. But the first prince, who wields power as he pleases, has imprisoned him under the pretext of being a spy for the demons.”

“How can such tyranny be allowed!?”

“…I agree, but… that’s all I can say.”

I was stunned. I had no idea such turmoil had unfolded over the past decade. If Nox and the others knew about this and hid it from me… why?

If I, the hero, were to be found, war would inevitably break out. Whether I wanted it or not, the royal family would use me as a pawn. I’d heard that the conflict between humans and demons had been escalating year by year.

I realized I had been protected by everyone. If they kept me away from the conflict to protect me…

What should I do? What’s the right thing to do? I can say I want to protect the world, but actually stopping the war and building peace between humans and demons isn’t easy. And after everyone worked so hard to protect me, is it right for me to step into the fray?

“The only chance to stop this is now.”

Oreole spoke as if to emphasize the point. Gil looked at the sword in shock. A talking sword would surprise anyone.

“…Could that sword be the hero’s…?”

“…Gil, I’m the hero.”

This was the first time I’d told someone I was the hero, and I felt a little nervous. Gil was stunned for a moment, but then he gripped my hand tightly.

“You can still run away.”

“Gil…”

“You’ve suffered enough since you were young. Even now, you don’t need to bear such a heavy burden.”

The words from Oreole and Gil shook my resolve. I could still turn back. I could return to Nox and apologize for leaving. But… I can’t do that. Because I believe there’s a reason I was born as the hero.