Chapter 44

──The boy felt as if he had been dreaming all along.

Yes, this must be a dream.

He must have already been torn apart by the Black Death Dragon’s claws, and this must be the illusion everyone sees after they die.

It must be.

Because something like this could never happen in reality.

The idea of him conversing with the "Catastrophe Dragon," riding on its back with the princesses and the person who saved him, visiting the imperial capital from the sky, defeating the emperor, and then returning smoothly—none of it made any sense.

It all seemed like a made-up story, and the scenes he saw in between were so far from reality.

A single person diving into a vast army, creating a silver wave with countless swords floating in the air.

A dazzling light like the sun shooting high into the sky, splitting and raining down on the imperial capital like meteors.

A beautiful woman in silver armor slicing through the iron castle in front of her as if it were clay.

Most of all, he was fighting a giant goblin with others.

–It’s impossible.

What else could this be if not a dream?

So many wonderful things that could never happen to him.

He had never even imagined such things.

It must be a dream.

It has to be a dream.

But the boy was satisfied even so.

Even if it was a lie, it was wonderful for him.

–He must have been dreaming since that moment.

Since the moment that person deflected the dragon’s claw with a black sword.

He thought he had been in a sweet dream ever since.

He was torn apart by the Black Death Dragon’s claws and died instantly, which is why he could have such a wonderful dream.

–Thank you for showing me such a happy dream.

The boy thanked no one in particular.

So, even when the beautiful woman standing in front of him said something like this, he didn’t find it strange.

"From now on, we will be living together.

Nice to meet you, Roro."

When he was led to a large mansion, given new clothes, and various dishes were placed on a white table, he just stared at the scene blankly.

"What are you doing? The food will get cold if you don’t eat it soon."

The boy was startled by the sudden voice and shuddered.

"…What, this… can I really eat it…?"

The woman sitting across from him looked very puzzled.

"Of course you can eat it, it’s dinner –

Is there something you can’t eat?

If so, I can get you something else."

The boy shook his head frantically.

Honestly, he didn’t know if the things in front of him were edible.

He had never eaten them before.

But this is a dream.

He thought he could eat them – but even knowing it was a dream, he felt hesitant.

Even in a dream, could he really have such a happy experience?

"…R-Really? This is… dinner!?"

When he heard the word "dinner," the boy’s memory brought back a small, black, moldy piece of bread.

It was as hard as a rock and always smelled of mold and mud.

He would slowly savor it while spending his days in an iron cage.

It was enough to keep him from dying.

Being given food at all was something to be grateful for – he had been taught that since he was a child and had always been given the same thing.

But – the plates in front of him were filled with colorful, unfamiliar things.

Is this dinner?

And in the bowl that looked like soup in front of him –

"…No way… there’s… meat… in it…?"

He had never tasted such luxury.

The boy was surprised but also convinced.

Ah, that’s right.

This is a dream.

It’s not strange for something like this to be in a dream.

Thinking this, the boy felt a bit relieved.

Yes.

If it’s a dream, it’s okay to eat.

If it’s a dream, he wouldn’t be severely beaten for eating the same things as "humans."

–But what if it has no taste?

Even though he knew it was a dream, he didn’t want to feel it was a dream.

He was worried that the moment he put the food in his mouth, this wonderful dream would end.

"–What’s wrong, aren’t you going to eat?"

After a while, his stomach growled.

–That’s strange.

How could he be hungry in a dream?

"Here, don’t be shy. No one will get angry no matter what you eat. Eat as much as you like."

Saying this, the woman in front of him offered him a white piece of bread.

The boy swallowed and steeled himself.

"…Then… I-I’ll… eat…!"

The boy tentatively reached out for the bread.

The moment his fingertips touched it, he felt a strange sensation.

–It’s soft.

It was completely different from the bread he knew.

Its surface was smooth and incredibly soft, like cotton, accepting his fingers.

What is this –

Confused, the boy tore off a piece of the soft bread and put it in his mouth.

–It’s sweet.

A mysterious aroma spread in his mouth.

It wasn’t just sweet.

It was a sensation he had never experienced before.

This is –

"…D-Delicious…?"

Those were the words that came out of his mouth.

The boy imagined that this must be what "delicious" means.

He didn’t know if it was correct.

But he couldn’t think of anything else.

A happy sensation he had never felt before.

A kind of joy he had never experienced.

He had never tasted anything like this.

He had never even imagined it.

–This is supposed to be a dream.

Why can I feel like this?

And so, the boy understood what was happening to him.

"…What’s wrong?"

Suddenly, tears overflowed from the boy’s eyes.

He finally understood.

He realized it.

–This is not a dream.

This is something happening in reality.

He is not dead.

He was not killed by the dragon.

–Yes.

Because that person came.

Because he was saved then.

He is alive now.

He is alive and eating something "delicious."

But why…?

"Is it… really… okay…? To eat something like this…?"

"Overreacting, it’s just bread."

The woman in front of him smiled wryly at the boy’s reaction.

"Eat as much as you like. There’s plenty more."

"…Okay…"

The boy, with tears streaming down his face, started eating the food in front of him quietly.

While sobbing and putting food in his mouth, he thought.

–I don’t understand.

Why am I in this situation?

The boy had many questions.

This is supposed to be reality.

Why are the people around me so kind to me?

But there is one thing he is sure of.

Because that person protected him from the Black Death Dragon’s claws.

Because that person offered him a home.

–Because of that person, I am alive now.

He had thought it at the bottom of his heart.

When the dragon’s claw was about to strike, he thought:

–Ah, it’s really good to die here.

He was truly glad that the existence that only brought harm to the world, "himself," would disappear.

So, at least – he had given up and prayed.

If he could be reborn after dying – in the next life, may he not be beaten too badly.

And may he be able to be of some use to someone.

And if his wish could come true, may he be able to eat something delicious, even just once.

One of those wishes had already come true.

Without dying and being reborn.

It was granted on the very day he wished for it.

–Because that person saved him.

"…Can… I be of use to someone…?"

When the Black Death Dragon burst and he faced that person –

The boy couldn’t help but voice his wish.

–Even as a cursed being, he wanted to do something.

He wanted to be of use to someone.

That was the boy’s small dream.

But he had never told anyone.

If he said it, he would surely be beaten.

He would be rejected with "a demon like you."

He would be kicked and mocked.

–Can a cursed being like me be of use to someone?

There’s no way.

Because he is a "demon."

A creature cursed from birth.

A child with ominous powers.

A being born to be hated by all –

That’s who he is.

He had always lived thinking that.

He should have known better, but why did he say it?

He regretted it after he said it.

He would surely be beaten by this person too.

The boy instinctively cowered, waiting for a punch from the person in front of him.

But the punch never came.

Instead, he heard unexpected words.

"Of course, with such amazing talent."

That person did not deny the boy’s dream.

More than that, he called his cursed power a "talent."

–It’s a lie.

There’s no way.

This person must be lying.

He thought that immediately.

Everyone who had ever spoken beautifully to him before was like that.

Their words were filled with hatred, and they just wanted to use his power.

He thought this person was the same.

So, he inadvertently read the person’s mind.

–He regretted it the moment he did.

Even though he knew it was a lie, no one had ever spoken to him so kindly.

He wanted to believe the words this person gave him.

So, he didn’t need to peek into his mind.

It would only make this wonderful illusion disappear.

–I don’t want these words to be a lie.

He wished, but it was too late.

By the time he realized, he had already read the man’s mind.

But what he saw was different from what he expected.

What he saw in the depths of the man’s mind was a completely clear and transparent heart.

For some reason, this person completely believed in him.

–Why?

And he had no doubt about the words he spoke.

It was a dazzling "trust" he had never seen before.

The words this person spoke were not lies.

They were true words from the bottom of his heart.

Moreover, he had no disgust for the boy, even knowing he was a "demon."

Why –?

This was the first time the boy had received such unwavering trust.

So, hesitantly – he said it again.

Something he thought he should never say.

"…Can… I be needed by someone…?"

Tears overflowed from his eyes as soon as the words came out.

For a while, the man quietly watched the boy as his tears continued to flow.

When the tears finally dried up –

The man did not hit him or mock him – he said with words from the bottom of his heart:

"Yes, of course. Far more than me – if you wish, you can be anything."

At that moment, the boy felt he had received trustworthy words for the first time in his life.

But he couldn’t believe those words.

Especially now, he couldn’t believe them.

–"Far more than me"?

There’s no way.

The person who could easily deflect the Black Death Dragon’s claw with a one-handed sword, fight a dragon that could destroy an entire city, and return unscathed from an army of ten thousand.

More than such a person? Impossible.

But –

The person had indeed said it.

He believed in those words from the bottom of his heart, without any doubt.

If that’s the case, the boy thought.

About that person – about the words that person said.

Maybe he can believe them too.

Because someone far more amazing than him believes in them.

The boy couldn’t believe the words he received.

–But he didn’t want those words to be a lie.

He truly felt that way.

A small flame was lit in the boy’s heart.

Something that had never been in his heart before –

It was still faint and unreliable, but it was something that would never go out.

–"If you wish, you can be anything," that person said.

So, he can wish.

If he wishes, he might become someone who is needed by others –

Someone he thought he could never be.

–Then.

If he can wish for something, even with a person like him.

If he can achieve his wish, for that reason.

He will do anything.

Even if he can’t get what he wishes for right away – he will do anything until he can.

He had died and been reborn once.

This time, he will be someone who is useful and needed by others.

–He will definitely become that.

Because that person believed he could.

Because that person said that even as a "demon," he could definitely be of use to someone.

Because that person taught him that it was okay to wish for it –.

–He will definitely become that.

To not make the trust that person gave him a lie.

"Roro… you don’t have to eat so fast, no one will take it from you.

There are only the two of us here. Take your time."

"…Okay…"

In front of the woman who smiled wryly, the boy, with tears streaming down his face, stuffed the food in front of him into his mouth one after another, grateful for everything –

On that day, the demon boy Roro lit the light of "will" in his heart for the first time.