∗ ∗ ∗
Partway, the ishkitini landed on the ground and undid its transformation for some reason. But judging from its expression when it turned around, it could sense us.
“Cath? You look like you’re not sure if the two of us can really win on our own. Have a little more faith.”
“Meow...”
“It was just the two of us back then too. But we’ve changed. We aren’t just running away anymore! Let’s do this!”
And so the battle began.
Because the kobolds had already dealt a lot of damage, the ishkitini’s movements were duller than I’d expected. In addition, we’d grown much stronger. It probably still thought of us as nothing more than its prey. But we really had changed, and the monster was gradually losing its cool.
“This is the end!!!”
“Meooooow!!!”
I stabbed the ishkitini’s stomach, and Cath cut off its head...and at last, the ishkitini crumpled. It hit the ground with a loud thud, but we still approached it with caution. Once we’d confirmed that it was definitely dead, I let out a huge sigh of relief.
“WE DID IT!!! We did it, Cath!”
“Meow! Meow!”
We rejoiced.
Then...
“Well done, you two.”
Someone suddenly popped out from behind the trees.
“Who’s there—Wait, Aht?! Is that you?!”
“Meow!”
It was the Holy Maiden Aht Heresy, whom we had parted with just two months ago.
“It has been a long time. Your humble servant, Aht, has returned.”
“You’re...not an imposter. Your aura is the real deal. But I thought you said you wouldn’t be back for a year?”
“Regarding that...”
Aht proceeded to explain to me everything that had unfolded over the last two months. It was a shocking tale. She had single-handedly overthrown the Church. To be more precise, she’d killed the <Holy King> and usurped his throne. She was officially the <Holy King> now.
She apologized to me for this. “It would be far more appropriate for you to accede to the <Holy King>’s throne. I must beg your pardon...”
“No, I really don’t have any interest in becoming the Church’s highest authority at this point...or in the <Holy King> skill. Honestly, what you’ve just told me makes me afraid of it...”
Aht hastily tried to persuade me otherwise. “Good heavens! Master Noah, your <Holy King> skill is by no means wicked!”
“But it could turn me into a <Demon King>, right?”
“That’s...just the claim of a pretender,” Aht said, puffing out her cheeks.
Seeing that, I couldn’t help but laugh. “Ah ha ha!”
“I-Is something the matter?”
“Nothing! I just thought you were cute.”
“Wh-What? I’m...c-cute?!”
“You are cute, Aht. And you’re my number one...ally. Oops, actually, Cath’s number one. But you’re my number one human ally!” Cath had clawed at me halfway through, so I hurriedly corrected myself.
“I’m...number one? I-I’m so happy to hear that...”
✦ ✦ ✦
“Hey, don’t cry.”
“Your trust in me makes me feel so, so very—”
“All right, I get it. Well, I’ve got you by my side. I’m not gonna become a <Demon King>. That’s all I wanted to say.”
“Master Noah... You are right. In fact, even if you were to become a <Demon King>, I would remain at your side.”
“Come on, at least try to stop me. But I have to admit, being the lord of monsters doesn’t sound too bad.”
“Now that you mention it...simply possessing the title does not necessarily mean that you are obligated to destroy humanity,” Aht said with a look of sudden realization.
“Exactly! Did the Church’s <Holy King> really not consider that? He just decided that the Demon King is a destroyer of humanity. He must’ve gotten more narrow-minded with old age.”
“That could be true... Yes, I’m certain that must be the case!”
“Yeah! All right then, now we’ve got nothing to worry about! We’ll head back for today and have a feast. It’ll double as a celebration for your return, Aht.”
And so we went back to town.
✦ ✦ ✦
∗ ∗ ∗
When we got back, the kobolds were still on alert. But once we showed them the ishkitini’s carcass we’d brought back, everyone was relieved. Kuzan and his companions had become aware of the situation after we exited the town, and were there too. They were dumbfounded when I told them that we’d defeated it, doubly so once I introduced them to Aht. I told Kuzan alone that she was one of the Church’s Holy Maidens and would soon assume the seat of the Church’s highest authority, so he was especially struck.
I talked to everyone else about plenty of other matters as well. The most important thing was the question of what we would do now, but Aht had already taken care of my biggest worry. I was asked whether I’d return to House Olipiage...but I told them that I planned to keep living here.
Although the Church was no longer after me, I’d still been expelled from the Duke’s family once already. Even without the Church’s meddling, my father’s political enemies were sure to have plenty to say if I came back. Thus, I planned to stay here and at least exchange letters with them occasionally. I could probably even go visit them or have them visit me freely, now that the situation had changed.
I’d told Kuzan that he could head back too, but he said that he would remain here. He wanted to help this town develop so that one day, it’d be as big as Midrogue...
We were free to dream.
In any case, this is how we intend to spend our lives here. Maybe one day, my <Holy King> skill will make me into a <Demon King>...but as far as I can tell, Cath and the kobolds don’t want to be enemies with humans. That’s why I believe that we can keep making friends with monsters in the future.