Demon Lord, Does Even a Crap Game Have an Ending? - Chapter 11

With the gold I’d gathered, I decided to rent a room at an inn. I’d earned more than when I was penniless, but I didn’t have enough to rent two rooms, so I had to settle for a twin-bed room.

 

“It’s the last room on the third floor. Opposite the terrace.”

 

As the innkeeper placed the key on the counter, Liheros fumbled in his pocket to pay. In the meantime, I snatched the key and headed for the stairs.

 

“Hey, come with me. Chris.”

 

“Ugh, finish paying and then come.”

 

While sharing a room with companions is hardly unusual in fantasy genres, the thought of entering a bedroom side-by-side with Liheros sent a strange shiver down my spine. Liheros escorting me in with a deep gaze and a smile? The mere thought felt sickeningly sweet.

 

‘Third floor, right.’

 

Muttering about how I wished I could use a portal, I ascended the stairs. Two thugs leaning on the railing caught my eye. Their loud chatter echoed through the hallway, making me frown. Thinking it best not to get involved, I climbed the stairs, trying to remain unseen. Despite my efforts, they stopped talking and stared at me.

 

“Wheee~♪”

 

“Miss. Are you alone?”

 

Was someone behind me? I turned around, but no one was there. I didn’t particularly want to hear their answer, but I was so bewildered that my voice automatically blurted out.

 

“…Me?”

 

“What? You’re a guy?”

 

“You’re so pretty, I thought you were a lady! Wahaha!”

 

“….”

 

Don’t they arrest guys like that? It’s so damn annoying. I tried to ignore them and continue on my way. As I passed them and stepped onto the stairs leading to the third floor, they blocked my path.

 

“Hey, hey, someone’s talking to you~”

 

One of the two, the one with a large scar on his face, roughly grabbed my arm and yanked me. He pulled so hard, it felt like my arm would come off, and I lost my balance, stumbling. The key in my hand dropped. I was so focused on tracking how far it slid that I didn’t notice I’d been caught between them.

 

“What the hell… What are you doing?”

 

“Oh, are you mad?”

 

“I don’t mind guys, you know. Wanna make some pocket money?”

 

‘Should I just kill them?’

 

Their sticky hands fumbled over my body, and the sensation of them sliding down to my waist was utterly disgusting. This must be what it feels like for blood to boil. So much blood rushed to my head that I felt dizzy. Thinking I’d just deliver a quick punch, I scanned their stats.

 

Thug 1 / Thug 2

 

[Combat Stats]

 

Attack: 728 Defense: 543 Critical Hit Chance: 10 Evasion: 5

 

They were both pushovers. The ‘stat bonus’ from equipping beginner weapons had temporarily lowered my attack power; without weapon bonuses, I could knock out most opponents in one hit, like One-Punch Man. I tossed my bow aside, concentrated all my strength, and clenched my fist tightly.

 

“Trying to escape here? Bold of you.”

 

‘You’re dead.’

 

“Chris.”

 

Liheros, who had just come up the stairs, looked at me with surprised eyes.

 

“What? Go away, while you still can.”

 

“Can’t you hear? Scram, pretty boy, quickly.”

 

Thug 1 approached Liheros, who was standing still, and reached out to grab his collar, but Liheros lightly caught his wrist, twisted it, and kneed him in the side, making him collapse. He lightly stomped on Thug 1, who was gasping for breath, and approached Thug 2.

 

“You little brat. You don’t understand when I speak nicely, huh?!”

 

Thug 2 pushed me over, letting go of me, and tried to counter Liheros, but Liheros, with minimal, light movements, kicked his leg out from under him, making him fall. His large frame flew into the air and then crashed down, shaking the entire hallway.

 

─CRASH!

 

“Gah…! You… crazy… H-Heeek…!”

 

Liheros’s sword was bared menacingly near the thug’s neck, like a predator about to sink its fangs into its prey’s throat.

 

“Even if they are weak, you have no right to do as you please.”

 

“Hee… Ugh… I-I’m sorry!”

 

“Evil deeds return to you. This is a lesson and mercy I, who am stronger than you, can offer.”

 

Liheros sheathed his sword. He then picked up the key lying a short distance away and placed it in my hand.

 

“Chris, go ahead. I’ll finish up and be right there.”

 

“…Uh, yeah.”

 

Still dazed, I entered the room first. The sunset’s crimson glow seeped into the neatly arranged bedsheets. I slowly rolled onto the bed, gazing up at the ceiling.

 

‘To think I’m experiencing RPG fantasy clichés that a heroine would go through. Do I look like that?’

 

I grabbed my cheek and stretched it, then let my arm drop.

 

“Should I have at least said thank you?”

 

Startled by my own monologue, I slapped my cheeks. I could have handled it myself. More importantly, I was taken aback by how angry Liheros was, even drawing his sword. I was also furious enough to want to kill them, but when someone else gets 200% angry for my 100% anger, I tend to get flustered and try to stop them. I couldn’t help but think of the Lumi kidnapping incident, which had enraged him the most.

 

‘Could it be… would he react the same way if I were kidnapped or something happened to me?’

 

…What am I thinking? Did falling into strange clichés make my brain go weird too? Get a grip, Yu Jihyeon. Would I be disappointed if Liheros didn’t show such a reaction? It was a delusion I never wanted anyone to discover. Perhaps the shimmering sunset before my eyes stirred my emotions, so I closed my eyes.

 

‘Don’t give your heart to anyone, just complete your task.’

 

…

 

Once I start feeling emotions, memories collapse like an unstoppable domino effect. His face, which I thought I’d never recall again, was vivid even in the darkness.

 

‘I’m sorry.’

 

‘I said I’m sorry, stop it now. How much more do I have to beg?’

 

‘Goodbye.’

 

‘I hope we never meet again.’

 

‘Be happy.’

 

I could only weep endlessly at those words, unable to reply. You’re a bastard. It would be so relieving to say that, but even in my imagination, I can’t say harsh words to him. My chest felt like it was burning, and I opened my eyes wide.

 

“…Night?”

 

The sun had set. That’s strange. I couldn’t sleep before, no matter how hard I tried, but did I somehow fall asleep? A blanket was covering me. It had to be Liheros. I turned to look beside me and saw his distinctive blonde hair lying peacefully. When had he returned?

 

‘…Master.’

 

A familiar voice echoed in my head.

 

‘Phero?’

 

‘…Sob…’

 

‘What’s wrong?’

 

‘Hic…’

 

Carefully, so as not to wake Liheros, I slipped out of the room. I sensed Phero’s presence on the terrace opposite the room. Pulling open the lattice door, I stepped out onto the terrace. A pair of yellow eyes glinted from a tree opposite.

 

“Phero…?”

 

“…Kuaaang! Master!”

 

He lunged and stuck to my face. Only after I grabbed his scruff and pulled him off, with his fur getting all over my nose and mouth, did he let go. His large eyes looked as if they were about to burst into tears.

 

“No! What’s wrong?”

 

“Those muscle-brained, ignorant demon lords, they said I didn’t deliver your message properly! That’s why you weren’t coming back! Hwaaang!”

 

“….”

 

He tried hard to hold back his tears, but he couldn’t contain his sorrow and burst into sobs. I wasn’t good at comforting people, but I slowly patted Phero’s small back, just as Liheros had comforted Lumi. The reason he was crying like this was because I wasn’t doing the job of a Demon King properly.

 

“Hic, Master, are you coming back?”

 

“That it’s not as easy as I’d like.”

 

“Heeeing!”

 

He seemed to stop crying, but perhaps my answer wasn’t satisfactory, as he scrunched up his chin and started again. But now, I couldn’t leave because of Liheros, so I couldn’t lie.

 

“Wouldn’t it be enough if you delivered my orders?”

 

Phero tilted his head. I added more words so this young bat could understand.

 

“They need ‘orders,’ right? There’s no need for me to go there directly.”

 

“That is true.”

 

“So, you’ll do a great job as the Demon King’s messenger. It’s a very important role.”

 

At the mention of an important role, his tear-soaked eyes immediately sparkled.

 

“Hehe, I’ll do it!”

 

“Alright. Then, issue the marching orders to the 6th Legion.”

 

“Understood! Where should I send them?”

 

I unfolded the map tucked into my waist to see the area after Principium. It was called ‘Deusria.’

 

“Send them to Deusria.”

 

“Understood! I’ll deliver it to the commander of the 6th Legion.”

 

“The strategy, tell them it’s entirely up to the commander.”

 

“Eeeh! Is that okay?”

 

“Why? Is there something you’re worried about?”

 

“What if they do something unpredictable without the Demon King there?”

 

“They’re that uncontrollable?”

 

“Pretty much.”

 

“Hmm… It’s fine. If they seem to be doing something too reckless, tell me.”

 

“Heh, I’m worried, but I’ll do it for now!”

 

After answering, Phero paused before spreading his wings and spoke.

 

“Master, you haven’t grown fond of the hero, have you?”

 

“Am I crazy?”

 

The recent delusions flashed through my mind, and I raised my voice, feeling guilty.

 

“I was just asking, in case.”

 

“When the time comes, I will truly return.”

 

“We need the Demon King, one way or another. Please hurry!”

 

Phero flapped his wings vigorously, took flight, and vanished like an arrow. As Phero said, I couldn’t stay away from the Demon King’s castle forever, so it would be best to come up with some excuse on my end.

 

‘Codename: <Separation Anxiety Liheros Independence Project>.’

 

I pondered a narrative that would naturally create distance and turned to go back to the room. As soon as I took a step back, I bumped into something slightly firm yet elastic right in front of me, and I instinctively grabbed it. What came into view was a pattern very similar to the inner lining Liheros gave me not long ago.

 

“Ack!”

 

“Chris?”

 

“What? Li… You startled me!”

 

The pervert who had unhesitatingly groped my chest pulled his hand away as if he had touched something he shouldn’t have, even though it was me.

 

“Why are you so surprised?”

 

“Who wouldn’t be startled if you suddenly appeared out of the darkness?”

 

“…Hmm, you were like this back then too.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Back then, you seemed to be talking to someone. Talking to a pigeon again today?”

 

Was he talking about when I spoke with Phero in the forest? Back then, we had talked about whether or not to return to the Demon King’s castle. I had brushed it off in the confusion of the moment.

 

“…Talking nonsense after waking up in the middle of the night.”

 

“You’re deliberately speaking harshly again.”

 

“I’m not doing it on purpose. Go back inside and get some sleep.”

 

His smile, which was infinitely warm, and his unwavering eyes, which seemed to pierce through my secrets, made me want to avoid him. At this moment, no matter what, my mind was too complicated to want to talk to him, so I wanted to go back and try to sleep again. He still blocked my path despite my words.

 

“Chris, do you believe in fate?”

 

“…Fate?”

 

Did he drink something? He was suddenly getting sentimental and talking in a dazed manner. While waiting for my answer, he sat on a chair placed on the terrace. As if he wanted to have a conversation. Liheros’s attitude was unusually strange today, and not wanting to face him, I leaned against the nearest wall.

 

“Well. I don’t believe in it.”

 

“Why?”

 

“…I don’t have good memories associated with that word.”

 

I thought of my past ‘person’ who cried and begged, saying we were fated, only to discard me like a spare part when they no longer needed me.

 

“Bad memories?”

 

“Something like that. It’s too embarrassing to explain in detail.”

 

“… ”

 

“… ”

 

“……”

 

“……Haaah~ It’s really nothing. Someone gave a whole speech about fate or whatever, and then when they left, they treated me worse than a stranger.”

 

I tried to keep my expression neutral and speak calmly, but it was something I had seen in a dream just hours ago and had happened less than a year ago in reality. Every time I dug up memories like this, it felt like my heart was being torn apart before it could even heal.

 

“If that’s fate, I don’t want to believe in it. What about you? There must be a reason you asked.”

 

“I believe in it.”

 

I somehow felt that would be the case. I had recognized his idealistic side from the beginning. He’s similar to ‘him.’ Unconsciously, I found aspects of Liheros that reminded me of my ex-boyfriend, and perhaps that’s why I was trying so hard not to even show him my rough edges.

 

“However, I don’t think fate is absolute.”

 

“Then?”

 

“I think what people commonly think of as ‘fate arriving’ is a ‘chance,’ and it’s only when that chance finally stays by my side that it becomes ‘fate.'”

 

“That’s one way to think about it.”

 

Liheros looked down at his palm and clenched it so hard it looked painful.

 

“That’s why I’ll always give my best when a chance comes.”

 

“…Really?”

 

“This chance to meet you. I’ll try to make it fate too.”

 

“……”

 

“So…”

 

Could it be?

 

“Don’t hide anything from me, tell me all your thoughts.”

 

To someone, these might be romantic words, but not to me. It was a statement that confirmed I was hiding something. I was afraid to ask. My lips, dry and unmoving, parted slightly as I managed to utter words one by one.

 

“…Did you, by any chance hear it?”