Mayuten ~The Demon King and the Hero Reincarnated as Twin Elementary School Students~ - Volume 3 Chapter 3

Volume 3 Elementary School Life of Demon King and Hero

Chapter 3   The Hero and the Demon King Play Video Games

I hurled a blazing fireball at the menacing monster before me.

Yes! The creature has been vanquished.

With determination, I dashed towards the edge of the cliff and leaped with all my might.

I barely managed to reach the other side of the cliff…

But, perhaps I jumped too soon!?

No, I can’t reach it!!

Panicking, I realized the ground beneath me was an unfathomable abyss.

If I continue like this…

However, I knew that once I jumped, controlling my posture would become almost impossible.

“Frustration boiled inside me!”

In utter despair, the character I was controlling plummeted into the bottomless pit.

The words “GAME OVER” mockingly appeared on the TV screen in front of me.

I placed the controller on the floor and held my head in frustration.

“Ugh, not again…”

This was Sora’s house, in the children’s playroom, where I was playing the latest game with Isumi and Hikaru.

Now, in the following sequence, Sora, Hikaru, and Yumi spoke:

“Kageyo-kun, you’ve become bad at video games after the accident, huh?”

“Kageyo big brother is bad.”

“Hmph, you can’t even clear the first stage. You may excel in studies, but you lack practical skills.”

I couldn’t escape the harsh remarks.

After all, even before I got the chance to play, Hikaru had easily cleared up to stage 5, and Isumi had triumphed up to the penultimate stage 7.

By the way, it seemed Sora had defeated the final boss multiple times.

“Video games aren’t real-life battles! I don’t want to be ridiculed by Isumi, who still can’t even do division!”

I yelled back, to which Isumi coldly replied with a scornful look.

“Pah, do you think it’s enough just to be good at studying? You’re like a wooden log.”

“Ugh!”

Damn it! I feel so frustrated.

But, to be honest, my attempt to brush it off earlier with “Even if you’re good at games, it’s useless if you can’t study” was just a feeble excuse.

“Sora-kun, one more try! Let me have another go!”

“I don’t mind.”

I gripped the controller again, ready to embark on the adventurous journey once more.

…And an hour later.

“…Why… Why is it turning out like this…”

My character had already fallen into holes 16 times and been killed by monsters 23 times.

By the way, I still haven’t managed to clear the first stage.

Hikaru pouted and said, “Puu.”

“Kageyo oniichan has been playing the game all the time! Not fair!”

Isumi and Sora nodded in agreement.

“Indeed, you’re right. It’s like a true demon lord, hoarding all the resources and not giving others a chance to play. Quite tyrannical behavior.”

“I understand how you feel, but it has been an hour already. I wanted Hikaru-chan to have a chance to play with the new game console too…”

Ugh…

Their arguments were so valid that I couldn’t come up with a comeback.

“I’m sorry.”

I said, handing the controller to Sora.

“Oh, I’m okay. I’ve already enjoyed this game to the fullest. Let Hikaru-chan have a turn.”

“Yeah, thanks, Sora big brother!”

By the way, later on, it’s worth mentioning that Hikaru effortlessly reached stage 8, and Isumi even defeated the final boss.

…I feel so pathetic…

As we were completely absorbed in the game, we heard Sora’s mother’s voice.

“Kageyo-kun, Isumi-chan, Hikaru-chan, it’s almost 5 PM. You should head home now.”

Oh, is it already that late?

Certainly, children, especially kindergartners, should be heading home by this time.

“Okay.”

We replied and made our way to the entrance.

Sora and his mother saw us off.

“Well then, see you later, Kageyo-kun, Isumi-chan, and Hikaru-chan too. Come play again sometime.”

“Take care on your way back.”

We nodded in response and opened the entrance door.

A cold breeze swept into the hallway.

“It’s chilly after all. Make sure none of you catch a cold.”

It was already December, and winter break was just around the corner.

According to the weather forecast, today’s highest temperature was expected to be 3°C.

Isumi said to Hikaru.

“Hikaru, make sure to zip up your coat properly and wear your scarf.”

“Okay.”

It had been three months since I was reincarnated. Surprisingly, the hero, Isumi, had turned out to be a caring older sister. I initially thought she was just an overly righteous girl, but she was skilled at taking care of younger children. Not only Hikaru but also her kindergarten friends found her dependable. In this aspect, I felt that she was more capable than me.

About two weeks ago, when I pointed this out, Isumi said, “Of course.”

“If it’s about taking care of younger siblings, I’m used to it.”

“Weren’t you saying you didn’t have any family?”

“I originally came from an orphanage. Though not blood-related, I had many younger siblings there.”

I see.

“Besides, even after I embarked on my adventure, I had a younger sister-like companion who adored me.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. A girl named Eleanor. She forcibly tagged along on my journey… She wasn’t as young as Hikaru, but she was a prodigy at using healing magic.”

Hikaru also adored Isumi more than she did me, and it seemed that Isumi was loved by young children in general.

“I don’t really know how to interact with little kids.”

“Hmph, the Demon King is not good with childcare?”

“Well, yeah. In that regard, I think Isumi is much better than me.”

In reality, before my reincarnation, I didn’t have any children or younger siblings. I had no idea how to deal with children at all. Even the one and only son of the Supreme General, Sekares, never really warmed up to me in the end.

“However, I don’t know how old that girl was, but taking a child on an adventure must have been challenging, right?”

“Eleanor’s healing magic was a tremendous help. But…”

Isumi’s expression clouded.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, forget about it. I didn’t intend to talk about this.”

Well, it seems like something happened, but I shouldn’t pry.

At that moment, I made that judgment.

However, looking back later…

While heading home, I recalled that conversation from about two weeks ago.

Ugh, it’s so cold.

And then…

Something cold fell onto my cheeks.

Is it rain?

But I quickly realized it was something different.

It was a white, cold, and fluffy object.

Softly drifting down from above.

“What is this?”

I tried to catch it in my palm, but the white object simply melted into water.

Isumi mumbled softly, “It’s snow.”

Hikaru also exclaimed with excitement, “That’s right! Maybe it’ll pile up! I want to make a snowman!”

So, this is what snow is.

Near the Demon King’s castle, there was no snowfall. It was a place where summers were cool and winters were mild. One could even say it lacked distinct seasons like in Japan.

Trying not to be asked by Hikaru, I whispered to Isumi.

“You recognized it as snow quite easily.”

“Well, of course. I’ve seen it many times in the other world.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah, Hikaru is having fun, but snow can be quite troublesome when it piles up. Carriages won’t move, and if you continue an adventure carelessly, you might get frostbite or even freeze to death.”

It seems that snow was a familiar occurrence for the hero.

I heard that there are places with snow on the human continent.

Of course, it snows in Tokyo, Japan too.

“Anyway, it’s better to head back early. We can’t let Hikaru get frostbite.”

“Agreed.”

I nodded in agreement with Isumi and hastened our way back home.

On that day…

The snow continued to fall until midnight.

And then, on the following Sunday morning…

Outside the window, everything was blanketed in pure white.