As usual, Widge had made it a bet.
I made him treat me to a drink with some of the money he won off me while he listened to me complain.
“Hmm, sounds like it’s going pretty good. That’s rare for eccentric old Igo.”
“Oh, come on. That studious dummy just barges in on me every day for training. I can’t believe you pushed such a pain in the ass off on me.”
“The reason you’re drinking less lately is probably because she’s been lecturing you, right? A Sister’s job includes nitpicking everyone’s health.”
“Are you serious? Why would I listen to anything my apprentice grumbles about? She’s just so obnoxious all the time that I drink a drop less.”
Widge must have thought something was funny, because he crinkled his face into a smile. Even full of wrinkles, nothing changed. He always smiled from the pit of his belly.
“I never thought I’d see the day, Igo. Well, if you live long enough, anything can happen.”
I gave him a thumbs down in response. It’s all your fault. You got that little girl involved.
“Now then, all the pieces are in place. Last time Haru wimped out so we couldn’t go, but next time we’re heading into the demon lord’s castle. Get pumped, Igo!”
He seemed to be having so much fun. Must be nice to not have any doubts. Nothing has changed for him since that day he snagged me. His twinkling eyes were always looking toward his dreams, and he didn’t even notice everyone around him getting caught up in it.
I didn’t care when I was going to die, but then I ended up going around with this guy till we grew old. Still, I’m happy just to be on the journey with you.
“But are you really okay with that, Old Man Widge?”
“Eh?”
“Those girls are just hopping a free ride down the trail we’ve been blazing together for decades. And they think of the demon lord as just some stop along the way. They only want to use it to better the situation of the socially disadvantaged or some troublesome thing.”
“Hmm? That’s encouraging. That’s how youngsters should be.” He grinned and said that a future written by old people was no future at all. So this was as far as we needed to go.
“I’m not the one who will defeat the demon lord—Haru is. If we can get her there, that’s plenty for me. If I can be satisfied that all these years weren’t a waste, then I can die happy.”
Ohh, I see how it is. Are you that serious about this Haru kid?
“I’m looking forward to it, Igo.” Widge squinted, looking off into the distance.
Normal people wouldn’t go anywhere near that forest, but for us, it was home. If I have to die, that’s the place to do it. If I didn’t feel that way, I never could have teamed up with this dummy. That’s what I always thought.
“No, we should come back alive too.”
It was rare for Widge to look surprised, but he did. Well, of course he did. I was surprised myself. Who’d have thought I’d have something to do in this world after the demon lord was defeated.
“Your woman might be the one to defeat the demon lord, but mine’s the one who’s going to turn the world upside down. I have to keep an eye on her progress. I’m her master, after all.”
Widge lifted an eyebrow and whistled. I gave him a thumbs down as usual.
And I may have said all that, but this was my incomprehensible studious dummy of an apprentice I was talking about, so I wouldn’t live long enough. I would just go ahead and have high expectations.
“Igo,” Widge said, tilting his glass to make waves on the surface. “Remember how I talked you into joining me?”
...How could I forget?
You said you’d take care of my soul, that you’d break the curse on me, the guy who hated the world with all his might and called himself the demon lord. You said you’d cut it to ribbons with your sword.
That curse was lifted a long time ago—thanks to you.
“How would I remember that?”
“Right...it was twenty years ago, after all.”
“Thirty.”
“We won’t have much to do after the demon lord is defeated.”
“Probably not.”
“But you know, once the demon lord is gone, all the guys who were waiting for the chance to be the new demon lord will come crawling out of the woodwork. We’ll never be allowed a quiet retirement. How about leaving the tough stuff to the young ones and make our living beating the crap out of those guys?”
“If you say so.”
Live how you like, Widge.
You’ll be my hero till the day you die.