I Was Supposed to Be Feeding the Pigeons, But Somehow I Ended Up Feeding a Beautiful Demon Lord Instead - 30

Chapter 30

That day, the park felt somehow different. Normally, the background sounds were the cheerful voices of old folks playing gateball, the laughter of children, and the flapping of pigeon wings.

But today, when I stood at the park entrance, what greeted me was a silence so deep it almost hurt my ears.

“…Is it closed or something?”

I tilted my head. Did this park even have regular closing days? Besides, at the entrance there was something like a transparent film—or maybe heat haze—shimmering, making everything inside look a little blurry.

“Oh, I get it. Some kind of event, huh… That’s annoying. I brought my special ‘ultimate melon pan’ today.”

I looked down at the big basket in my hand. This was my proud creation that I had woken up early to bake this morning. The outer cookie dough was loaded with plenty of high-grade cultured butter, and the inside was whipped full of air so it felt as light as feathers. Eating this together with Bel was today’s mission.

I thought about turning back, but then I caught a glimpse of a familiar dark figure beyond the haze. Sitting on a bench. It was Bel. If she was here, then I should be fine to go in.

“…Guess I’ll step inside for a bit.”

I reached out toward the hazy membrane. I braced myself for a sharp static shock, but instead it slid smoothly around my body and let me through. Apparently the setting was to let ordinary civilians like me pass without issue.

Once I was inside the park, the silence grew even deeper. Not even the sound of wind. And in front of the usual bench, there weren’t just Bel—several other people were already there waiting.

◆

“…He came.”

I—Hero Leon—gripped the hilt of my holy sword and swallowed hard. The absolute barrier of “crowd-clearing and perception-blocking” that had been deployed at the park entrance.

Ordinary people couldn’t even recognize the park existed and would simply walk past it. Even for demons or high-ranking mages, touching it would turn them to ash—it was that powerful a wall. And yet that man—Kazuya—had strolled through it as casually as if he were passing through the automatic doors at a supermarket.

“Kazuya… so you really are…”

Behind me, Saintess Aria was trembling. Heavy warrior Gaston readjusted his grip on his shield, and mage Ren began preparing an incantation. The full members of our “Heroes of Light Party” had assembled for what was truly the final decisive battle.

Our opponent was Demon Lord Verzaria, sitting elegantly on the bench yet radiating an aura that crushed the world itself. And the “hostage” beside her—the mysterious man Kazuya, who rendered even the barrier meaningless.

The Demon Lord crossed her legs gracefully and looked down at us with cold eyes. In her hand was an ordinary cup of coffee. Yet around it swirled pitch-black magical power, making the very space scream.

“…You really never learn, do you, you pesky flies.”

The moment the Demon Lord spoke, I almost imagined cracks running across Gaston’s massive shield.

“You insects who disturb my peace… Have you already forgotten how I blew you all into the distant sky last time?”

“Forget? Never! Today we settle this once and for all! Demon Lord Verzaria! We will defeat you and free Kazuya from your curse!”

“Oh…?”

The Demon Lord’s gaze slowly shifted toward Kazuya, who was walking over from the entrance. In that instant her expression changed. The absolute-zero killing intent melted away, replaced by a sticky-sweet obsession and a crazed smile filled with tender madness.

“Kazuya… I have been waiting for you.”

She beckoned with her finger. Kazuya walked cheerfully straight into the deadly “death zone” that stretched between us heroes and the Demon Lord.

“Sorry I’m late. The entrance was kind of crowded.”

It wasn’t crowded at all. It was a barrier. When Kazuya noticed us, he gave a small polite bow.

“Oh, hello there. Is there an event here today? Everyone’s costumes look really on point.”

They weren’t costumes. This was legendary orichalcum mail. I barely held back a shout.

So this… this was the result of mind control. Even the life-or-death confrontation unfolding right in front of him was being rewritten in his mind as a peaceful “event.”

“Kazuya! Snap out of it! It’s me—Hero Leon!”

“Huh? Oh… right, Leon. You look energetic. Another theater troupe rehearsal? Looks pretty serious.”

No use. In his eyes, we were nothing more than “dedicated theater members” or something. Damn, what a powerful brainwashing.

“…It’s pointless.”

The Demon Lord giggled softly. She stood up, walked slowly over to Kazuya’s side, and—very naturally—slipped her arm around his, pressing his hand against her chest.

“This one belongs to me. I will not give him to anyone… not even if a god commands it.”

Black magical power erupted from the Demon Lord like a storm and swallowed the entire park. The sky instantly darkened; even though it was midday, not a single star could be seen in the pitch-black void. Gravity around the bench went mad—small pebbles floated upward and shattered into dust.

“Hii…!”

Saintess Aria collapsed onto her backside. This was the Demon Lord when she got serious. Everything she had shown in the park until now had been mere entertainment.

“Get ready! Here she comes!”

I drew my holy sword. The blade blazed with dazzling light and sliced through the darkness. Behind the Demon Lord, countless pitch-black spears materialized, their tips aimed straight at us. A thousand—no, ten thousand. If she released them all at once, we would be erased.

“Disappear, Hero. From the paradise that belongs to me and Kazuya!”

The Demon Lord raised her hand. I, too, began gathering magical power to unleash my strongest ultimate technique.

The moment of collision was less than a fraction of a second away. The world would either end or be saved. The extreme tension stretched tight, the air about to shatter like glass—right then.

“Oh, right.”

A laid-back voice rang out across the battlefield.

◆

Wow. Today’s production values are really high. The sky suddenly went dark, and now there are tons of black spear-like effects floating in the air.

Leon’s sword is sparkling like crazy, and the big fans are running full blast to make wind. This has to be the climax scene. Bel is totally into it too. When she gets immersed in a role, she’s honestly intimidating.

But wait a second. I know this is a super serious moment and I feel bad interrupting, but there was one thing I just couldn’t ignore.

The contents of my basket. Freshly baked melon pan is weak against moisture. If it cools down completely or the cookie dough gets soggy before we eat it, you can’t enjoy its true greatness.

Plus, everyone must be hungry, right? Leon’s face has been bright red from shouting this whole time—he looks like he’s about to run out of energy.

“Oh, right.”

I opened the basket lid. A warm, sweet, toasty aroma rose up. The scent of cultured butter, vanilla extract, and just a hint of secret maple syrup. The murderous atmosphere slowly mixed with the smell of a bakery.

“Everyone, how about a quick break for now?”

I took out the biggest melon pan and held it high.

“I’ve got freshly baked melon pan here. Want some?”

The moment I said that, time stopped.

““… …Huh?””

Saintess Aria’s mouth fell open in a daze. Bel’s raised hand trembled in midair.

“K-Kazuya…? Right now we’re… um, kind of in the middle of something…”

“I know, I know. You’re in the middle of rehearsal, right? But if you push too hard you won’t give a good performance.”

I split a melon pan in two. A crisp sound echoed through the silence. Steam gently rose from the inside.

“Look at this crumb. Today it turned out perfect. Crunchy outside, chewy inside. Best bake ever.”

I held out one half right in front of Bel’s mouth.

“Bel-san, please try a bite.”

Bel’s eyes wavered. Her gaze darted between me, Leon, and the melon pan in front of her. The conflict lasted only a moment.

“…I’ll eat it.”

In an instant Bel made all the black spears vanish. The sky cleared in a flash. The gravity distortion stopped, and the floating pebbles rained back down. She bit into the melon pan from my hand.

“…Mmm…!!”

Bel’s eyes widened and her cheeks flushed bright red.

“What is this…! It’s… exploding in my mouth…!”

“Exploding!?”

Leon braced himself.

“No no, it’s just the butter aroma.”

I laughed and corrected her.

“Kazuya, this is dangerous… The contrast between the crispy layers and the fluffy layers… it’s shaking my brain…”

Bel’s eyes grew dreamy as she chewed the melon pan with total focus. The hero party had completely disappeared from her field of vision.

I took the rest of the melon pans out of the basket and walked over to the stunned Leon and the others.

“Here, you guys too. Playing the hero or saintess must take a lot of energy, right?”

“N-no… we’re…”

Leon lowered his sword, looking completely confused. He probably thought there was poison in them.

“It’s okay, it’s just bread… Your stomach is growling, isn’t it?”

When I pointed it out, Saintess Aria behind him turned bright red and pressed both hands to her belly. Guuuu… The sound rang out clearly, impossible to hide.

“U-um… is it really okay…?”

Aria timidly reached out. I placed a still-warm melon pan in her hands.

“Thank you… very much…”

She took a cautious bite, then froze. Her eyes shot wide open.

“…God…”

Aria looked up at the sky.

“This… this is the forbidden fruit…! Compared to this sinful sweetness and texture, the church’s hard-baked bread might as well be pebbles…!”

“Hey, Aria! Don’t fall for it! It’s a trap!”

Leon shouted, but Aria was already unstoppable. She devoured it with an un-saintly ferocity.

“Even if it’s a trap…! It’s delicious… so delicious…!”

“M-me too…”

Heavy warrior Gaston set down his shield and accepted a melon pan. He ate half in one bite and his huge body shook.

“So good…! Tastes better than the bread my mom back home used to make…!”

Mage Ren silently put down his staff, held the pan in both hands, and started munching away.

“…Leon.”

Finally I held out the last one to the hero.

“You’re the troupe leader, right? It must be tough keeping everyone together, but sometimes you gotta relax a little… You can’t fight on an empty stomach, you know.”

Leon looked back and forth between his holy sword and the melon pan. Then he let out a deep sigh. The light on the blade faded, and he sheathed it.

“…I lost.”

He muttered weakly and accepted the melon pan.

“This is… our total defeat.”

When he bit into it, a single tear rolled down from his eye. Was it a tear of frustration or of emotion? Either way, the murderous atmosphere had completely vanished.

A few minutes later.

An odd scene had unfolded on the park bench. Demon Lord Bel, Hero Leon, Saintess Aria, and the rest of the party sat in a circle eating melon pan. I went around pouring hot tea from the thermos.

“So, what were you guys fighting about anyway?”

When I asked, Leon—cookie crumbs still stuck around his mouth—stared off into the distance.

“…Creative differences, I guess.”

“Ah, classic theater troupe or band problem.”

“I… wanted to save the world. But maybe saving the world isn’t only about swinging a sword.”

He was saying something pretty philosophical.

“Yeah, exactly. Talking things out is best. Eat something tasty, open up to each other, and most problems get solved.”

When I said that, Bel gave a small “hmph.”

“As long as Kazuya’s bread exists… yes. World conquest can wait until tomorrow or the day after.”

“Really!?”

Leon jumped at her words.

“…However.”

Bel swept a sharp gaze across the heroes.

“The condition is that you never disturb ‘park time.’ …Once a week—no, on every day that Kazuya has a shift. We eat bread here like this. Anyone who gets in the way of that will be erased—country and all.”

“U-understood! We promise!”

Leon answered instantly. Aria, mouth stuffed full of bread, nodded vigorously.

“Also, guarantee Kazuya’s safety. If even one finger touches this man, you understand what happens, yes?”

“Yes! We’ll protect him with everything we’ve got! Actually, we’ll coordinate security shifts together with the Demon Lord army!”

Somehow the conversation had gotten huge, but basically it boiled down to “don’t interrupt park time” and “don’t drag me into anything.” Their own way of showing consideration, I guess.

“Good, good. Looks like we settled it peacefully.”

I let out a relieved breath and sipped my tea. A gentle breeze began blowing through the park again. The dark clouds that had covered the sky disappeared, and soft sunlight poured down.

And so, the world-shaking final battle quietly came to an end, wrapped in the sweet scent of melon pan.