Reincarnated Devil's Strongest Hero Training Plan ~The baby he picked up has grown up so well that his father is confused~ - Chapter 39

Reincarnated Devil’s Strongest Hero Training Plan ~The baby he picked up has grown up so well that his father is confused~

Chapter 39   Family meeting in the demon world

In the demon realm, which lies on the other side of a certain alternate world.

Having recalled information about a demon that piqued his interest, Hades quietly began to plan his runaway.

However, being still considered a minor among the demons at just two hundred years old, Hades quickly caught the attention of his close aides, and the report was brought to the top of the demon realm, the demon lord, putting a halt to his plans.

Currently, a tense parent-child meeting was unfolding between Hades, who had attempted to run away, and the demon lord’s family.

“Hades. Why did you attempt such a foolish act as running away…? What’s bothering you? You are the successor who inherits my blood. Your treatment in this castle, as well as your education, should be fitting for one who is part of the royal lineage.”

The one speaking is none other than the demon lord himself, with red hair slicked back and eyes dyed in the same heterochromatic green and blue as Hades.

He gazes at his son standing opposite him at the long table and sighs, then glances at the queen sitting to his right.

It seems that, given Hades’ silence even after his father’s speech, the demon lord senses a strong determination within him.

“Say something, Hilda. Our child, who has never been demanding about anything other than meals, has made up his mind like this. We can’t just ignore it.”

“Yes, indeed…”

The demon lord’s consort, called Hilda, squeezed out her words with a troubled expression.

With her waist-length crimson red hair, which served as a symbol of the lineage of the demon lord’s family, meticulously straightened, she exuded a ladylike aura as if to emphasize her status.

However, even her overwhelming aura showed a hint of hesitation at this moment.

It seems that she herself couldn’t hide her agitation upon realizing how serious her son’s determination was.

“I’ve always wondered, Hades dear. Why are you so fixated on humans? Even in this situation. You don’t have to antagonize the demons like that. And Hades dear, you used to dislike humans, didn’t you? So why?”

As Hilda posed her question, her expression revealed not only agitation but also confusion, worry, and a sadness stemming from her inability to understand her son’s thoughts.

And finally, Hades, her own son, unable to remain silent after being confronted by his mother, eventually opened his tightly closed mouth.

“Mom… That’s bullshit. It’s not that I hate humans. I just hate using those human trash as food. And besides, why are both dad and you so carefree?”

Hades spoke out, sharing his thoughts, his experiences, and the future that would unfold from them.

As a hypothetical scenario, he wondered what would happen if certain demons continued to treat humans as luxury ingredients, continuing to antagonize the surface world.

Firstly, he had to admit that he had been closely observing the girls offered as sacrifices, to the point of obsession. Initially, his impressions were merely that they were annoying creatures, crying and screaming, but as he watched them repeatedly, he began to feel increasingly irritated.

Taking advantage of his frustration, he seriously recounted how he had used those lower demons who had oppressed the human trash as a means of stress relief and how he had released the sacrifices back to their original world.

And then, one day, he suddenly wondered.

What if the humans, fueled by the hatred, anger, and resentment of being preyed upon for so long, directed their explosion of emotions towards us demons?

What if, at that moment, a human hero emerged, becoming a threat to the demons?

I couldn’t find an answer to what I should do.

That’s what Hades spoke of.

“…What do you think, old man? Do you still think it’s unnatural for me to be interested in the human world?”

“…”

After a brief silence, during which the demon lord listened intently to his son’s arguments without interruption, he let out another sigh and spoke again.

“Hmm. I see, it’s pointless.”

“What…?! What did you say, you damn old man?! Say that again!”

“I said it’s pointless, Hades.”

The demon lord asserted.

“If it comes to war with humans, so be it. The demon realm is survival of the fittest. The only law that truly governs the free-spirited and selfish demons is power. If that’s the case, then even such a war would be swallowed up, and it would be the demon lord’s duty, responsibility, to bring it under control. The time will come when you understand this.”

That was indeed the absolute law in the demon realm.

It was a logical argument.

Although it might sound contradictory, the demons were neither easy to deal with nor unified.

At first glance, it might seem that they are united against the heavens and the human world, but that unity is based solely on the charisma of the overwhelming powerhouse known as the demon lord.

Yet, even with that understanding, Hades couldn’t let it go.

“I… I won’t accept it! How can you acknowledge such sophistry! You keep talking about responsibility, but what if someone stronger than you appears among humans? What then!?”

“Of course, we fight. That is the responsibility of those who rule.”

The Demon Lord responded to his son’s inquiry without batting an eye. It was a response that seemed predetermined, leaving no room for hesitation from the start.

However, the one who received the answer was well aware of it and continued with further questioning.

“Then what if we fight and cannot win!? What will you do then!?”

“At that time, we must accept defeat gracefully. It is the responsibility of the Demon Lord, the fate of the demons who have continued to prey. There is no escaping that responsibility for the Demon Lord. …Well, for now, such a thing is unthinkable.”

The Demon Lord’s attitude in responding so dismissively seemed to enrage Hades, his eyes bloodshot with boiling anger.

However, it’s important not to misunderstand; the one who seemed to speak so dismissively was only Hades himself, and both the Demon Lord and his queen, Hilda, cared for him more than anyone else.

That’s why they faced this conversation with sincerity, neither avoiding nor ignoring the topic.

…Well, understanding the feelings of such parents might have been difficult for Hades, who had only lived for two hundred years.

“Aaaahhhhhh!! Damn it! I can’t deal with this anymore! Screw it, old man!! I’m leaving anyway! Don’t you dare stop me!”

As expected, the pent-up anger, unable to swallow his parents’ words, erupted uncontrollably. Hades screamed while scratching his head in frustration, then stormed out of the room.

It seemed that the Demon Lord and his queen couldn’t fully convey their intentions to their son.

But, however…

“He’s gone…”

“Yes, he left. My dear.”

The two of them watched the figure running away with a strangely satisfied expression, reminiscing about old memories with a sense of nostalgia.

“That child is kind. For a demon, who is inherently ruthless and where power is the absolute law, he’s love is too strong.”

“Yes. That love surpasses even ours. That’s why in this demon realm, a suitable partner could not be found, and there hasn’t been an opportunity for adulthood until now. And…”

The queen turned her gaze to the Demon Lord, urging him to continue.

“Ah, indeed. It’s reminiscent of the past me. When my father, the former great Demon Lord, was defeated by a hero and the rule of the demon realm was in turmoil, my heart was also in turmoil like that. …Thinking about it, it’s especially nostalgic. That child will surely meet someone suitable for him on his journey ahead, and his heart will grow and mature.”

In the lineage of the Demon Lord, the completion of one’s heart is also a sign of adulthood. By achieving this, the body awakens to become a suitable mate for the one who appears, and the true power hidden in this lineage is awakened.

That is the proof of awakening for the next generation of Demon Lords.

“Face the fate of the demons, Hades. I’ll be watching over your growth.”

With these final words, the Demon Lord concluded the family meeting.