The Way to Absolute Dungeon Administration – There Is No Reason To Meet With the Opponent! - Volume 02 Chapter 25: The Demon King and the Children

Volume 02 Chapter 25: The Demon King and the Children

Side: Labiris

Right now, there’s a small grave in front of us.

When the Demon King Deriyu came here, two animals died.

As beasts managed by the dungeon, it’s unavoidable.

But for Asrin and Filia, it’s like losing family.

“Sniff… hic…”

“…Ugh… sob…”

At their feet, other animals under Asrin and Filia’s control gather, as if mourning their fallen companions.

Right now, it’s me, Yuki, Eris, Tori, Riel, Elju, and Oriel here, holding a memorial for the animals. The others are working at the training facility.

I’ve told them the location, so they’ll likely come to pay their respects individually later.

“So, what do you think after seeing all this?”

“…”

The cause of this grave, the Demon King Deriyu.

After waking her from unconsciousness, we showed her around the dungeon town.

It was to prove we have no intention of invading Rocheur.

“…It seems I was mistaken…”

Everyone was less afraid of Deriyu than expected.

Yuki being with us helped, and Deriyu’s already under Designated Protection, meaning she can’t harm us, the residents, or Yuki.

More than anything, the way she’s looking at Asrin and Filia right now isn’t that of a Demon King—it’s human.

“That you woke me up is answer enough. There’s no need to keep me alive.”

Deriyu looks at Asrin and Filia with an indescribable expression.

“Well, if the misunderstanding’s cleared, that’s what matters. So, what now?”

“What now? Am I not just a sinner awaiting punishment here?”

“Hah, don’t chicken out now. The ones you need to apologize to are right in front of you.”

Yuki says this and pushes Deriyu toward Asrin and Filia.

“W-Well, I need time to process my feelings…”

“Deriyu, you’ve always believed your actions were just, right? This is just one result among many. Isn’t this a familiar path? Mistakenly killing someone and making others cry?”

“…That’s not…”

“Or have you just been forcing your will on others with your power, believing you’re absolutely right, without ever listening or seeing?”

“…”

“Sigh. I get it. You’re a walking disaster with immense power. It’s easy to believe you’re right when you can force your way through. But that’s not how it works.

Still, you’re not the worst, Deriyu. You can still calmly recognize what you’ve done. Maybe losing this time helped, but if you’ve been doing whatever you want, it’s normal to blame others when things don’t go your way.”

Yuki speaks to calm Deriyu’s emotions.

“…”

“Realized you were wrong? Then you know who to apologize to and what to do.”

“Ngh, I thought I feared nothing anymore…”

“Good for you. Having nothing to fear? That’s not a living being—that’s a puppet. No emotions. You can’t share joy, laugh at fun stories, or cry when someone close dies.”

“You’re saying I’m still human? Me, called a Demon King, who’s just been overpowering everything with force?”

Her voice softens, as if Yuki’s words shifted something in her heart.

I think Deriyu isn’t a Demon King but a person.

When she spoke to Yuki’s shadow via the Call screen, she said she came to defeat the Dungeon Master, assuming they were planning to invade Rocheur.

She was mistaken, but she was only trying to do what was right.

That’s why we didn’t curse her or demand punishment.

I feel bad for Asrin and Filia, but the damage was two animals.

If it had been Yuki’s life, I wouldn’t have even considered forgiving her.

“Human? If you can communicate intent, I don’t care if you’re not human. First, rethink your narrow mindset. Asrin and Filia are crying because they cared for those animals.”

“Ah…”

“You can bond with animals, but not with someone who speaks your language and looks like you—sure, they call you a loli hag Demon King, but still? There are limits, though. I’m not about to persuade some nutcase who thinks they’re absolutely right.”

As usual, Yuki’s unpredictable—maybe that’s just how he is?

Is it natural? Dungeon Masters control all sorts of monsters, so maybe that shapes their mindset.

“That’s true, but… wait a second!! Did you just call me a loli hag!? I don’t know what ‘loli’ means, but I know ‘hag’!! I’m young! I demand a correction!!”

“Oh? If you’re young, tell me your age. Or show me your status. What’s young for a human? Late 20s at most?”

“No, no, Onii-san, past 20 is already past prime marriage age.”

“Guh…!?”

Oh my, Yuki’s being mean. He’s really pushing her away from connecting with us. As for me, if Deriyu can bear Yuki’s children, I have no issues.

Heh heh heh… Deriyu has the power to be called a Demon King.

If we could make her an ally… no, one of Yuki’s wives, she’d be incredibly reliable.

From our conversation, she seems quite pure at heart.

I need to convince her to seduce Yuki and get those hips moving.

Yuki hates coercion, but I’ll use any means for your sake.

Of course, I don’t want to be hated, so I won’t use dirty tricks.

I’ll just make Deriyu want to become Yuki’s bride on her own, right?

Heh heh…

As I indulge in fantasies about the future, Asrin and Filia approach.

“Um… Onii-chan…”

“Nii-sama… It’s her, right?”

“Ah, uh…”

I understand why Deriyu’s hesitating.

Those innocent, round eyes—even I can’t handle them.

“Yup, that’s her. The Blood Princess, Demon King Deriyu. Go on.”

Yuki pushes the frozen Deriyu toward them.

But in front of those round eyes, Deriyu doesn’t speak right away.

“Deriyu-san, was this one’s mom strong?”

“…Was this one’s dad… fighting until the end?”

In Asrin’s arms are two baby tanuki.

In Filia’s hands is one baby weasel.

Hearing their words, Deriyu’s earlier hesitation vanishes as if it were a lie…

“Yes, even in my hands… they fought to the end. They were splendid. Your parents never gave up on living.”

““Kyu!””

“Ki!”

As Deriyu answers, the small animals cry out, as if waiting for her response, then slip from Asrin and Filia’s arms and disappear into the forest.

“…Why didn’t they bite me or anything?”

Deriyu seems to have expected the animals to attack her.

“Silly. Animals aren’t like people. They kill to survive and get eaten sometimes. Despite being killed, their bodies remained. In nature, their flesh would’ve been eaten, leaving only bones. Their deaths become sustenance for the next life. Those little ones just wanted to know if their parents’ deaths had meaning.”

I convey the animals’ intentions to the stunned Deriyu.

“Meaning… How noble. Far better than me, who gave in to anger and took the easy path…”

I don’t know what she’s recalling, but her eyes, gazing at the forest where the animals vanished, are filled with kindness.

“What meaning did they find in my answer…?”

“Who knows? Why not ask them yourself someday?”

“Ask them?”

“Oh? You caused a lot of trouble for this dungeon today. Did you think just bowing your head would settle it?”

“Harsh, aren’t you?”

“At least work off the trouble you caused. This is our home, and it’s theirs too.”

“That lenient a punishment is okay?”

“Lenient? That sounds like a declaration of war against us who run this place.”

As I step back, Tori and Riel immediately grab Deriyu’s arms.

“W-What!?”

“Oh, you called our operations lenient, so we’re just making sure you work hard.”

Eris beams, though with a vein popping on her forehead.

“For now, prepare dinner for 70 people, including us, then stock the shop, clean the baths…”

As expected of Eris, she’s got it all memorized.

I don’t want to hear it. She lists Deriyu’s tasks.

“W-Wait a second!? My one body can’t possibly handle all that!?”

“Oh? You’re a Demon King, right? Can’t you split yourself or something?”

“Don’t lump me with slimes!!”

She says that but doesn’t resist.

She’s really kind at heart, isn’t she?

“Piki!!”

“Eek!? Y-You’re that slime from before!?”

“Good news. Surakichi-san will be supervising you.”

Yup, with Surakichi-san around, I’m at ease.

“Hey!? Yuki, was it, Dungeon Master!? Your will’s being ignored!! Is that okay? You’re the king here, right!? Someone dangerous like me should be locked up!!”

In a last-ditch effort, she pleads with Yuki for help.

“Sorry, this place runs on everyone’s opinions. Give it up.”

“I’ve never cooked anything!!”

Oh my, that won’t do for Yuki’s wife. We’ll have to teach her properly.

That night, after the day ended.

Deriyu’s room was set up in one of the inn’s spare rooms, but she was so exhausted she didn’t have the energy to make it there.

No choice, so we laid out an extra futon in our room and let her sleep there.

Of course, it’s Yuki’s room.

“Ugh~ Yuki, you’re the only one who’s kind to me. Those girls are insane. That workload? No way I could handle it. I’m never leaving your side!! If I do, I’ll be treated like today again for sure. The name Demon King? It doesn’t even come close to those girls’ ruthless cruelty!! So, no matter how tough my work is, I’ll act like it’s nothing—!!”

Deriyu, carried in a princess carry by Yuki, shamelessly clings to him.

What a pushover. …But am I imagining it, or does something feel off?

Oh well, no matter how much she complains, we’ll make sure she works hard tomorrow too.

Let’s have her work as a shop clerk, at the entertainment facility, and at the open-air bath tomorrow.

She seems good at arithmetic, so she’ll be useful, right?