Vol. 1 - Chapter 10.1 - Epilogue: The Determination Of The Hero And The Beginning Of The End (1)
With the help of the inhabitants of Suzukiland, Takashi built graves for those who died in the invasion of the Salvation Crusaders.
Near the grave of Kate's husband, Allen, Takashi buried Noelle's armor with her rabbit mascot and joined his hands together. At Orneo's grave, Excella was shedding tears silently.
As Takashi approached her, Excella buried her face in his chest. Takashi gently held her trembling shoulders.
"I, I'll do my best! To never let this happen again."
"Lord Hero…"
She looked up at him with teary eyes. Takashi smiled a little to reassure her.
"But, to be honest with you, I didn't understand what exactly I was supposed to do. Until a while ago, I thought if I could just deal with the demons, I could manage somehow. But then I saw Marguerite, and I realized. The humans living in this world may also need to change their way of thinking."
Takashi said to Excella, who nodded her head slightly. He then declared—
"There are many things that need to be done. That's why, Excella. I need you to stay by my side and help me."
"If you are alright with me, I'd be happy…!"
Excella muttered in a deep emotional state, then put her hands around Takashi's body and hugged him tightly. Takashi became flustered when he felt the softness and warmth of Excella's body.
"Ehh-Excella?"
"Like Orneo and Lady Leelou, I also believe; That Lord Suzuki is the true world saviour sent to save this world."
(…I don't know what will happen or what I can do in the future. Even so, there are people who believe in me. If that's the case, I will do everything I can for them.)
Takashi thought.
Suddenly, he heard a coughing sound, "Gohon," and Takashi turned around. Nephira, arms folded, glared at Takashi and Excella as the two embraced each other. Takashi and Excella hurriedly move their bodies away from each other.
"To secretly flirt with each other in front of a gravesite, humans are more indecent than demons."
"N-No, that's not the case!"
Takashi shook his head. Nephira glared more at Excella with scornful eyes than at Takashi. Excella's face turned bright red, and she merely turned her head down, avoiding Nephira's gaze.
In the awkward atmosphere, Takashi tried to patch things up.
"Eh, well, Nephira. How's Uhouguru's condition?"
"Don't worry. She will recover after a few days of rest."
"I-I see! That's an Ogre indeed!"
Nephira walked up to Takashi. Then, with a serious face, she put her hand on Takashi's shoulder.
"Suzuki. Thanks to you, we were able to repel the insurgents. Thanks for your hard work."
"N-No, I did nothing. There was nothing I could do. Marguerite would have been impossible without Nephira. And I wouldn't be able to beat Marguerite no matter how hard I tried."
The only reason he was able to beat Noelle was because she had turned into a demonic human. Against a human being, his abilities are completely ineffective. Thinking this, Takashi smiled with embarrassment. Nephira remained staring at Takashi silently for a while.
"I'm not so sure about that. The words you spoke to Marguerite. That woman was actually affected by them."
Takashi shudders as he recalls how he taunted Marguerite before. Even though Marguerite was wounded, she could have killed him with a single hand. Why had he said what he said?
"At that time, you… were… what is it called…?"
Nephira's cheeks turned crimson red, and fidgeting,
"You looked quite... quite cool!"
She said as if she was shouting.
"EH?"
Takashi asked back, feeling a tad strange.
"Cool? Not cute?"
"Uh-huh. C-Cool."
Nephira said shyly. Excella giggled.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
In the imperial city where Serphiano resided, the Demon Lord's Army was holding a campaign meeting in the name of deciding the course of action to suppress the rebellion of the Salvation Crusaders and other human rebels.
In the conference hall in the imperial castle, Serphiano sat in the center of a round table, surrounded by the top-brass leaders of the Demon Lord's Army. Undeads, Beastmen, Giants, and Demons. The fearsome fiends, each with the strength of a battalion, were talking about the current war situation and exchanging information while revealing their hostile intent toward humans.
Nephira, the commander of the Thunder-Lance Charge, a special attack force under the direct control of the Demon Lord's Army, was also present, along with the Meru-Kiru sisters. She reported on the recent invasion of the Salvation Crusaders.
All the demons present finished their statements. Just before the demon presiding over the meeting gave closing remarks—
"Wait!"
Nephira said while clapping her hands.
Suddenly, a human being opened the door, entered the conference hall, and walked up to Nephira. The top-brass leaders' wicked gazes fell upon the human at once.
Next to Nephira, the human opened his mouth.
"My name is Suzuki, Adjutant of the Thunder-Lance Charge's Commander."
All the demons at the round table were in an uproar.
"Ridiculous! A human at the Demon Lord's army campaign conference!"
"What's more, he's a commander's adjutant…?"
"Don't fuck with me!"
For a moment, the demons turned their piercingly stern eyes on Suzuki,
"But… he's cute."
"Yes. So cute."
"Since he's so cute, it doesn't matter!"
After a few seconds, they looked at Suzuki with gentle eyes as if they were looking at an infant.
Suzuki took a deep breath and began to speak.
"What I am about to tell you may sound like an outlandish pipedream. But I still want you to listen."
Looking around at the terrifying-looking demons, Suzuki declared,
"I'm aiming for the coexistence between demons and humans!"
Suzuki nodded his head as he watched the murmurs of the Demon Lord's Army leaders grow even louder.
"You probably think that it is impossible! I know there are things you want to say and things you want to complain about! But I believe in it! I believe that one day, demons and humans will be able to live together, hand in hand, in harmony!"
Suzuki's speech continued. The hall became quiet as Suzuki spoke desperately with a mixture of mannerisms and hand gestures.
"The humans are also trying to start a war! I also think it's selfish to say not to kill all humans! But at least! I want to avoid needless slaughter! That's where I want to start!"
After expressing all his thoughts and feelings, Suzuki bowed his head with a low bow.
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