Even Though I Defeated the Demon Lord, My Wife and Daughter Treat Me Like Trash ~ I Found Out My Wife's Child Isn't Mine, and When I Confronted Her, She Got Mad and I Was Exiled. The Country's in Trouble Because the Demon Lord Came Back? Sorry, I'm Getting Remarried to a Princess, So I Can't Help. - Chapter 43 & 44 [The END]

Chapter 43: One Last Request

Clang.

My sword struck the ground.

It all happened in an instant.

Just as I swung my sword down, the King dashed in, grabbing Camilla and pulling her away.

It was no ordinary movement.

If I hadn’t been paying close attention, I might have missed it.

“Van, please give me a moment. Will you hear me out?”

The King looked down at Camilla, who was still in his arms.

Camilla seemed a bit confused, but she kept her eyes closed, just as I had asked her to.

“I know I have no right to ask, but this girl is also Albert’s killer. My feelings, therefore, are also the opinion of a bereaved father.”

“…That’s true.”

If Camilla hadn’t gone through with the Demon Lord’s resurrection, Albert would still be alive.

He might have faced some form of punishment, but he wouldn’t have lost his life.

“Van, what you said earlier… it’s all true. You’re not wrong about anything.”

“Ah…”

“And I also believe I did the right thing. Even though saving your daughter was your main goal, if you hadn’t come to our aid, there would have been many more casualties. As King, I still believe it was right to remove Albert through the contract.”

“…”

I did feel a bit guilty about it.

Of course, Albert had been the one to propose the contract, and his death was the result of his own actions.

But the truth is, I faced no real risk myself.

I simply turned the tables on someone who deceived me first, making an unfair contract in return.

Still, when someone dies because of it, it makes you think.

“He was a foolish son. In a way, a co-conspirator in the Demon Lord’s revival. I don’t know who manipulated whom first, but if Albert had shown some restraint, perhaps your family would still be the same today.”

I wasn’t so sure about that.

After all, Camilla hadn’t loved me for ten years.

Maybe she wouldn’t have aimed to become Albert’s wife, but still.

“My son was truly foolish, and beyond saving. Most would say he deserved to die, and I believe that too. As a king, I did what was right and had him killed. Yes, Albert died because of what was just.”

“Yes…”

“But you know, Van…”

The King gave a bitter, self-deprecating smile.

“Even a troublesome, foolish son… it’s still heartbreaking when he dies. That’s the honest feeling of a parent, as a family member.”

“…Yes.”

“So, I understand what you’re trying to teach Emilia. But it’s hard to let a girl like her, who’s worked so hard, bear this kind of sadness.”

“…Thank you for your kindness.”

“That’s why this isn’t a request from me as a king, but as a parent who lost his son due to the Demon Lord’s revival. This girl—she has great potential, doesn’t she?”

“Yes… there’s no doubt about that.”

“Then, could you raise her properly? Help her become someone who will serve the people and this kingdom. From what I see with Emilia, it seems you’re quite good at raising children.”

I glanced at Emilia before turning back to the King.

I couldn’t help but sigh as I responded.

“Well, I might be skilled in many things, but honestly, I’m not confident in raising kids… this is my first time, and I’ve been figuring it out as I go.”

“You’ll do just fine. Look.”

The King approached and gently handed Camilla over to me.

She was still keeping her eyes closed, but her patience seemed to be wearing thin, and she let out a small, frustrated voice.

“Dad, do I still have to keep my eyes closed?”

…

Ah, damn it.

I once stopped in a village and spoke with a trapper.

He told me that when he catches prey alive, he kills it immediately.

He had a boar he’d raised from a young age.

Normally, when he catches a baby boar, he would kill it right away. But one day, he was too tired and brought it home, planning to do it the next day.

The next morning, when he went to kill it, the boar rubbed against his leg, and he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

“Your Majesty, at least request it as a king.”

“A request?”

“To reform a criminal. I’ll consider it, depending on the conditions.”

“Hmph… very well. Van, guide this girl down the right path. As the king of this nation, this is my final request to you. The condition… well, I don’t have much left to offer you but the honor of fulfilling the wish of an old man nearing the end of his days… how does that sound?”

…What kind of terms are those?

I glanced at the Emperor, who had been quiet up to now.

When our eyes met, he nodded with a small smile.

Ah, fine. I guess there’s no way around it.

“…I accept.”

“Thank you, Van.”

As soon as I accepted, the Emperor, who had been silent, suddenly burst into laughter.

“Hahaha! Van, you’re far too kind.”

“Please don’t tease me.”

“No, I’m not teasing you. You remind me so much of Emperor Vildreft. I understand why my daughter is so devoted to you—that’s your virtue.”

“…Is that so?”

Emilia twitched at the Emperor’s words.

“Devotion? What’s that supposed to mean? Wait, Dad, are you planning to remarry? Without asking your daughter first?”

How did she figure that out from just a single hint?

Honestly, even as her father, it’s a bit scary.

“Uh, well… we’ll see?”

“Don’t try to dodge the question. You better explain everything to me later, from the beginning!”

Trying to escape her interrogation, I turned to the King with a question.

“With things like this… do you think I’m doing well raising her?”

“Without a doubt, you’re doing a great job.”

Is that really true…?

Maybe it is…?

“Dad, are we done yet?”

Camilla, still diligently following my instructions.

She’s so obedient now… What happened to make her change so much later on?

“Yes, you can open them now.”

“Hehe, I did exactly what you told me! Aren’t I great?”

“Yes, you are.”

“Hehehe!”

…Maybe I should just keep raising her like this without overthinking it.

Honestly, it feels like anyone could do this job.

As I was lost in thought, I suddenly heard Camilla’s stomach growl.

“Camilla, are you hungry?”

Immediately, Camilla’s demeanor changed, and she shook her head frantically.

“N-No! I’m not hungry!”

“But I heard your stomach growl.”

“I’m really not hungry! So… Dad and Mom should eat! Camilla’s fine, really!”

“…”

Camilla spoke with a sense of urgency.

Instead of responding, I turned to the King.

“Is my house still standing?”

“Yes, luckily the fighting happened in a different area.”

“Thank you. Camilla.”

“What?”

“Dad and Mom will eat too, so you should eat as well.”

“R-Really?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, good! You know, I’ve been wanting to say something for a while. Can I?”

“Of course, go ahead.”

“I didn’t like it when Mom and Dad wouldn’t eat and only made me eat. We should all eat together.”

“…You’re right. Emilia?”

“Yes?”

“Let’s go home and have a meal together.”

“Yeah, it’s been a long time… since the three of us ate together.”

“Yes… it really has.”

Things have changed a bit, and they’ll never be exactly the same again.

But I never thought a day would come when we could sit down for a meal together as a family again.

Grateful for that, we left the church behind.

Final Chapter: My Dad is the Best in the World!

Upon returning to the Empire, Emilia and I were required to undergo the “Ritual.”

The first step was to confirm my blood connection to Emperor Vildreft.

Present were myself, Emilia, Camilla, the Emperor, Mariabelle, and Karnak, who was there as a special guest.

It was mostly close family, if you could call it that.

Given the grand name “Ritual,” I expected a bigger crowd, but it seems it’s common to do a private test before the main event.

Apparently, it’s usually done right after birth.

I guess they want to avoid the awkwardness of finding out someone isn’t really related during the big ceremony.

The ritual involved an object called the Holy Grail, a golden cup adorned with scattered gemstones.

“Now, let’s begin.”

Karnak handed a carefully sealed vial to the Emperor.

It seemed to be protected by magic to prevent any degradation.

The Emperor opened the vial and poured a few drops of the former emperor’s blood into the Holy Grail.

Next, a needle pricked my finger, and my blood dripped into the same cup…

The gemstones embedded in the grail began to glow, filling the room with a radiant, rainbow-colored light.

“Indeed, this brilliance, this intensity… it confirms your blood relation to Emperor Vildreft.”

The Emperor solemnly declared the results.

“The way it glows tells you?”

“Indeed. Since I’m not directly related to Emperor Vildreft, I had to trace the bloodline back eight generations to prove my connection. It didn’t glow as brightly as this back then.”

“I see.”

“Now, let’s test Emilia with Van.”

“Alright.”

The Holy Grail was rinsed with water and wiped clean with a cloth.

First, I dropped my blood into the grail.

Then, a small needle pricked Emilia’s finger, and her blood dripped into the cup…

Just like before, the grail emitted a brilliant light.

“Ah, it’s confirmed—you and Emilia are indeed blood-related.”

The warm glow, almost as if it were celebrating this fact, made my chest feel tight with emotion.

Even if we hadn’t been related by blood, the bond between me and Emilia wouldn’t have changed.

But discovering that we were connected by blood after all—something I had once given up on—filled me with undeniable joy.

“That’s great news, Van.”

“Yeah, thank you.”

Karnak smiled warmly, as if he were genuinely happy for me.

Meanwhile, Emilia, who had been listening to our conversation, seemed lost in thought.

Her serious expression made me wonder if she wasn’t happy about the results…

If that were the case, I’d be a little hurt.

“What’s on your mind, Emilia?”

“I’m happy, but… also a little disappointed…”

“What!?”

Was she upset?

She was so happy when I rescued her, so why now?

“If we weren’t blood-related, I was thinking maybe I’d marry you in the future to keep you company, since you’d be lonely without a wife.”

Emilia’s serious expression shifted into a teasing grin as she looked at me.

“W-What?! …Hey, don’t smirk like that and tease your Dad!”

“Oh, come on. When I was little and said, ‘I’ll marry Dad when I grow up!’ you looked so happy I thought your face might melt!”

“W-Well, I’d still be happy if you said that now!”

Just then, Camilla, who had been listening, jumped into the conversation.

“Dad, would you be happy if someone said they wanted to marry you? Then, Camilla too will marry Dad!”

With Camilla’s innocent declaration, the air seemed to freeze for a moment, even though it didn’t make sense.

…Wait, why does this feel so awkward?

In the silence that followed, Mariabelle, who had been quietly smiling, suddenly reacted.

“Oh dear, Camilla, sweetie. But you can’t marry Lord Van, you know?”

“Why not?”

“Because you’re Van’s child, right? Unfortunately, children can’t marry their dads.”

“Aw, no fair! I want to marry Dad!”

Mariabelle’s expression didn’t falter at Camilla’s insistence… she was smiling, or at least she looked like she was.

Normally, this would be a heartwarming parent-child conversation, but…

Our family’s situation is way too complicated, isn’t it?

Despite that, Mariabelle continued to patiently explain things to Camilla.

“Besides, it’s okay! Lord Van has me.”

“About that, are you sure you’re okay with it?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I prioritized going to the kingdom over attending the party.”

After all the chaos in the kingdom, I didn’t make it back in time for the party.

I heard the party was a small affair since the Emperor was away, but still…

“And why would that be a problem?”

“It’s just that the engagement wasn’t announced, and now I’ve come back with two kids in tow…”

“Exactly. And because of that, rumors started that our engagement was canceled or that I was abandoned. It’s been quite the trouble. Someone has to take responsibility for all this, don’t you think?”

Ugh… when she puts it like that…

The Emperor had already discussed the future with me. His plan was to make the kingdom a direct territory of the Empire and assign me as the governor to gain political experience, possibly grooming me to become Emperor one day.

But he had also said, “I won’t force you.”

However, if I marry Mariabelle, that path would become pretty inevitable.

Mariabelle watched my reaction, clearly amused.

Then, Emilia suddenly slipped between us, cutting in with a challenging tone.

“Excuse me, Princess, but do you truly believe you’re a match for my Dad? For a lady of your stature, that seems a bit… lacking in humility, don’t you think?”

“H-Hey…”

I panicked at my daughter’s bold statement.

“Oh my, am I not enough?”

Mariabelle asked, clearly entertained rather than upset.

Luckily, she wasn’t angry, just amused.

Emilia, unfazed by Mariabelle’s tone, returned her smile with a mischievous grin and responded.

“To be honest, yes. The Princess is beautiful, knowledgeable, and truly wonderful, but…”

“But? Does that mean I’m lacking in some way?”

“Of course! There aren’t many women out there who could match my Dad. Because…”

Emilia paused for a moment, then, with the expression of a knight making a grand declaration, she shouted:

“My Dad is the best in the world!”

Hearing those words from my daughter, words I hadn’t heard in a while, made me so happy that I couldn’t help but lift her up in my arms.

“D-Dad! What are you doing?”

“Hahaha! Say it again, Emilia! Just one more time!”

“Dad, you’re overreacting…”

“Of course I’m happy! Come on, just one more time!”

“If I say it too much, it’ll lose its value. I’ll save it for later and tell you again another time.”

“You’re so mean, Emilia!”

“Dad, you’re such a kid.”

Despite her teasing, Emilia snuggled into my chest and hugged me back.

“Also, Dad, I need to apologize. I lied before.”

“Huh?”

Emilia sniffled softly, then smiled brightly and hugged me even tighter.

“I love the way you smell, Dad. It makes me feel really calm.”

“Is that so? Then maybe I’ll start sniffing Emilia’s scent, too.”

“Hmm, that’s kinda gross, Dad.”

“Aw, that’s harsh.”

“Hehe.”

Despite her words, she looked happy, holding onto me tightly.

As I held her close, I couldn’t help but think back to an old conversation I once had in a tavern.

“Well, there’s nothing that stays the same forever, right? If you find something that does, let me know. I’ll buy you a drink.”

The next time I see the bartender, I’ll make sure to claim that drink.

“I found something that never changes.”

I’ll tell him that… and share my feelings.

No honor,

No massive reward,

No admiration from beautiful women,

Not even being called a hero or chosen as emperor,

No matter what I gain, nothing compares.

“My Dad is the best in the world.”

That one simple line from my daughter—nothing can beat it.

Not then, not now.

At least for me, that’s the one thing that will never change.

─The End─

──────────────────

Afterword

And with that, My Dad is the Best in the World! has come to an end, for now.

There may be more to write in the future if inspiration strikes.

Let me take a moment to reflect on how this story came to be.

It was, in fact, a difficult process, with the initial concept taking shape about four years ago.

It was around four years ago, during the COVID pandemic, when my own circumstances changed quite a bit, and I was going through a tough time.

I won’t go into specifics, but a single phrase from my child encouraged me deeply.

In that moment, I couldn’t help but think, in a very parental way,

“I’m so glad they’ve grown up to be such a good kid.”

As a parent, it’s natural to have many expectations for your children—whether it’s wanting them to do better in school or sports. 

But at that moment, I realized:

“If I can just think, ‘They’ve grown up to be a good kid,’ then that’s enough.”

I wanted to share that realization with all of you, but before I knew it, four years had passed.

So, being able to finally write this story to completion is a huge relief for me.

I tend to procrastinate and look for excuses not to write, so the fact that I managed to finish this story is truly thanks to you, the readers.

Thank you for all your support!

And now, a final request.

While the support button below means a lot to me, I would be even more grateful if you could follow or leave a star to support this story.

If you can leave a brief comment when giving a star, it could help encourage others to give this story a try.

I truly appreciate your cooperation.

Lastly, thank you for reading through this long afterword.

Whether it’s a sequel or a new story, I hope you’ll read my work again.

Until then, take care!