“The humans advanced because the Demon King disappeared…?”
Rein couldn’t make sense of it.
“Isn’t it usually the opposite? When a Demon King exists, people train hard so they can defeat him.”
【Some claim that humanity needs a single, colossal enemy like the Demon King in order to stay alert and hone itself. That is not the case.】
Rein wondered if the book had somehow read his mind.
【The Demon King is the worst foe a human can face. In an era when the Demon King exists, every human stands against him.】
True enough.
Five hundred years ago, Rein had inflicted the greatest terror imaginable upon mankind.
At the mere mention of the Demon King’s name, humans had trembled.
“If Xion finds out I’m the Demon King… will he fear me, too?”
He felt a twinge of sorrow.
He wasn’t sure why he felt it, only that the emotion was unmistakably sadness.
Humans would probably call even this well-named feeling “love” soon enough—
they’re a race that sticks labels on everything.
Foolish humans.
【So who becomes humanity’s enemy in the Demon King’s absence? Monsters? Wild beasts? None of these are as overwhelming—or as frightening—as the Demon King.】
【Therefore humans looked for an enemy close at hand. Humans cannot progress without battle and competition.】
【The enemy they chose was other humans.】
Fascinating.
Humans without a Demon King—Rein, being the Demon King himself, could never witness such an age. Excited, he turned the next page.
【Humans always fight: they wage wars, seize land. If they cannot clash with strength, they fight with wits—cheating, betraying, stepping over others to rise higher.】
【Even the kindly fruit-seller is no different. He sees the fruit-seller next door and thinks, “I wish customers would come to me instead.” He may not intend to battle, but for him to sell a little more, his rival must sell a little less.】
【So the fruit-seller stocks fresher produce or broadens his selection, anything to outdo his competitor.】
【This is the daily war of mankind.】
【An enemy close at hand is far more frightening than a distant one, so humans who treat humans as foes scramble to grow stronger.】
He had never considered the world from a human’s viewpoint. It was intriguing.
【But when the Demon King exists, humanity’s enemy is solely the Demon King. They won’t abandon all their everyday rivalries, yet the weight of those rivalries will never be the same.】
【Do people then work hard, training themselves to resist the Demon King? They do not.】
【Because it is predetermined that the Hero will face the Demon King.】
【When the Demon King exists, humanity relies entirely on the Hero. The Hero grows ever stronger, while the rest of mankind, by contrast, regresses.】
【If the rule were that whoever becomes strongest becomes the Hero, perhaps everyone dreaming of that title would train fiercely. Unfortunately, the Hero is fixed.】
In an age with a Hero, no amount of effort can make you stronger than the Hero, achieve more than the Hero, or win greater honor than the Hero.
From the outset, humans are confined by limits.
So they stop trying.
That, the book argued, was why mankind’s growth slowed whenever a Demon King appeared.
【The longer the standoff between Hero and Demon King drags on, the weaker knights and mercenaries grow.】
【Conversely, the longer the Demon King is absent, the stronger they become.】
Utterly absorbed, Rein found the book nearing its end.
His heart trembled as he turned the final page.
【For the past five hundred years humanity’s enemy has been humanity itself.】
【A problem that can only be solved by one’s own hands; an adversary of comparable skill, yet easy to surpass with effort.】
【Humanity struggled against its chosen enemy.】
【Only now, five centuries after the Demon King’s disappearance, are the results shining forth.】
【Humanity is, at this moment, mightier than ever before.】
What an inspiring book.
Rein checked the author: Neria.
Whoever that human was… admirable.
“Thanks to you, I know exactly what to do next.”
The Demon King had returned.
Rein was weak, but humans didn’t know that.
If the book was right, humans would now begin leaning on the Hero.
Once they grew complacent, the next generation would find it harder to train; their mentors would all be listless.
Each generation would grow lazier still.
If I can just hold out for, say, three hundred years, everything should work out.
By then the current Hero would have long since died of old age, but another would be chosen so it didn’t matter.
Humans would keep gaining a Hero to rely on.
As long as Rein lived.
During that time, I’ll stockpile mana and polish my magic. Once I’m strong enough to wipe out mankind single-handedly, my vassals will accept me again.
After that he could cast out the Hero and enjoy a happy Demon King life!
“Really, it’s a brilliant plan.”
Creeeeak—
That’s Xion!
The moment he heard the door, Rein flung the book onto the bed and dashed out of the room.
“Rein.”
“Xio— w-whoa!”
His mouth dropped open.
In Xion’s hand gleamed a slab of gorgeously marbled pork.
“I’m back.”
Still holding the pork in one hand, Xion supported the nape of Rein’s neck with the other and brushed a light kiss across his forehead.
“Uh, yeah. Welcome home.”
Rein pulled a face and rubbed the spot with his fingers.
Ever since a while ago, Xion had started greeting him like this whenever he returned from the fields.
Rein didn’t love it, but apparently everyone in the area greeted each other that way, so he let it slide. Showing dislike might expose him as non-human, after all.
“Smells great. I can’t wait till dinner.”
“Shall we eat now?”
“Now? For lunch? What about your work?”
“I don’t feel like going out today.”
The workaholic Xion not going to the fields?
The power of pork was truly great.
The aroma while the pork sizzled, the changing color and texture, even the crackling sound—everything delighted the Demon King.
Perfectly roasted pork, mashed potatoes, gravy thickened with flour and filled with corn, carrots and beans, all wrapped in cabbage for a hearty casserole…
A supreme midday feast.
While Rein devoured the banquet, Xion simply took the bread Rein had packed for him.
“Leave that and eat some meat. It’s pork.”
“This tastes better.”
He preferred butter-and-jam bread to meat. He had an odd palate indeed.
Rein didn’t insist. If Xion left the meat, that meant more for him.
The meal was over in a flash.
“Haah, that was delicious.”
The kind of taste that would make him refuse even if a vassal from the castle came begging on his knees for Rein to return.
As Rein basked in fullness, Xion approached.
“Your hair’s grown quite a bit.”
“Eh? Oh, guess so.”
Rein had no idea how humans trimmed hair. He peeked at Xion uncertainly.
“Come along, Rein.”
Xion reached out, and Rein immediately took his hand.
He was led to the washroom, where Xion personally cut and evened his hair. He was surprisingly adroit, as if he’d practiced. The black locks that had fallen past Rein’s shoulders were trimmed short, exposing his nape.
“Do you like it?”
Just like when he greeted him, Xion gently stroked Rein’s now-bare neck. Rein gave a tiny shiver.
So from now on, whenever he greets me, his hand will touch skin.
He’d never realized the hair had been a buffer.
A strange flutter ran through him.
“There’s a lot of fine hair on your nape.”
“Should I wash it?”
“Of course.”
The next thing Rein knew, he was soaking in a round wooden tub, only his head above water, while Xion washed his hair.
I didn’t mean you had to wash me…
Not that he minded.
Warm water relaxed him. Xion even dried his hair thoroughly. Rein did nothing but stop Xion from toweling down his whole body, shooing him from the room.
When he emerged, Xion had sliced an assortment of fruit, every kind that Rein loved.
He sprawled on the bed, popping grapes one by one. His stomach felt a bit heavy from the rich food, but Xion brought an herbal tea that soothed him perfectly.
He sipped the tea, read a few more books that prattled about love, and before he knew it dinner was ready.
After eating, he lazed on the bed. Xion insisted his back would ache if he stayed like that and gave him a gentle massage.
When night fell, Rein slipped into sleep in Xion’s arms.
The next morning he woke early, earlier than usual.
Savory smells drifted from outside his room.
Suddenly, Rein realized something.
“Isn’t the one getting lazy… me?”
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