Chapter 84

Today is a bit shorter.

"U, uh, no way... I don't understand, I don't think it has to be me..."

She is shy, lazy, picky, and loves to sleep. Despite these traits, she had one special talent.

"Ash. But you're the one who woke up. You have that talent, so Sylph and I want you to try your best."

"Don't worry. Cain and I will support you properly, so... okay?"

That talent was the ability to become strong. Ash was purely blessed with the talent to become strong. This was the most important and rare talent for monsters.

They had been adventuring for several decades. They saved many monsters and built a town. Now, they occasionally go on adventures from there as a base. The residents of the town looked up to Cain, Sylph, and Ash as leaders and had followed them for a long time.

Basically, they couldn't leave the monsters who lived there. They built many houses, dug wells, and Sylph taught them many skills.

This land, which had developed so much, had become a paradise for the monsters who had nowhere else to go.

"Then let someone else do it. Sylph is the best candidate, after all, in terms of appearance... and personality."

"Oh? What do you mean by personality?"

"P, Pii...!?"

"What's with that bird-like sound..."

It's not a good idea to tease Sylph so easily. Ash had forgotten this. But if you think about it, it makes sense that Sylph is more suited to be a leader. Still, she wonders why it has to be her. It's a mystery to her.

"...We noticed your talent from the beginning. But we never imagined you would awaken as a demon lord."

"But it's just a form... I don't think I can beat the two of you no matter what. So it must be a mistake, yeah. It must be."

It's probably due to the difference in experience. Ash is likely stronger in terms of raw power. But in terms of combat skills, she can't match Cain and Sylph.

"...When we first met, you said something like 'I'm a bundle of potential,' didn't you?"

"I don't understand what you're talking about."

Seeing her act so innocent, Cain thought about what to do. In such situations, Sylph is the most reliable. Cain glanced at her profile.

"...Let's do it this way. Cain and I will take care of the necessary tasks. So Ash, you just need to be the queen. That will make everyone feel at ease. So all you need to do is sit in the chair."

This was the final compromise.

Everyone already knew that Ash had become a demon lord, so there was no way to deny it. In the end, they had no choice but to make Ash the queen.

"...Really? You're not lying?"

"Have I ever lied to you?"

"You said you didn't put vegetables in, but you quietly mixed them into the sweets."

That was from years ago when Sylph tried hard to make Ash eat vegetables and mixed them into the sweets as a last resort.

In the end, Ash didn't notice the taste, but she saw the vegetables stuck to the dish and instantly looked devastated.

"...I don't understand what you're talking about."

Sylph looked in a different direction, as if thinking. It felt like déjà vu.

"(I see. Ash is like Sylph.)"

Cain noticed that Ash's tendency to avoid responsibility was inherited from Sylph. But if he pointed it out, it would backfire on him, so he just kept it in mind.

"Denying it won't help. My memory is good..."

"Then why do you forget what you said?"

"Cain is too picky. I've always thought that's not a good trait."

"Ash. You shouldn't say things like that."

Smiling, Cain looked at Sylph. He was moved that she was covering for him... but her next words made him realize it was all an act.

"Indeed, Cain is picky. He often points out things that I think are fine."

"Right?"

"But... being cautious is important too. ...Right, Cain?"

"Ah, yeah. That's true."

He was only capable of giving empty responses. The two of them were too free. Of course, he wouldn't say such things out loud, as it would only make things more complicated.

"...But why me? I'm just a succubus. I'm not a Dullahan like Cain, or an Elder Lich like Sylph. A succubus becoming a demon lord... I'm afraid everyone will hate me."

During their journey, Cain evolved from a Living Armor to a Dullahan and gained a beautiful face, just like Sylph and Ash. Ash had never beaten the two of them in battle, and was always thoroughly defeated.

That's why she lacked confidence.

That's why she was afraid.

That's why she couldn't believe it.

"...Then let's perform a ritual."

"A ritual...?"

Seeing Ash's reluctance, Sylph made a suggestion.

"Yes, a ritual. ...Let's bind ourselves together. So that we can always gather, no matter where we are, for eternity. With all our prayers."

"What's that...? What do you mean?"

"Even if we become magic stones, or our bodies are burned and eaten, we will surely meet again somewhere."

"So, Sis. I don't understand..."

Cain, who was listening nearby, was strongly interested in her words. We monsters? Binding ourselves like humans? ...I don't like imitating humans, but Sylph's words deeply pierced Cain's heart.

"Let's become a family of three. That's what I mean."

"!? ...W, were we not before?"

"Let's become a family that is even more deeply connected. That's what I mean."

"O... Okay. A deeper family! How can we become one!?"

Cain was also excited, though he didn't say it out loud. After all, they were only loosely connected. Their relationship was precarious in some ways, due to their unique values as monsters and the circumstances of their meeting... but becoming more deeply connected would be a good thing.

"Do you remember the Dryad ritual, Ash?"

"Y, yeah! I remember! Those people who live so hard...!"

"Well, yes, it's true that their habit of taking root is difficult. But there's nothing that can convey love as purely as they do, right?"

It was a culture full of disadvantages, but it was a characteristic of the Dryads to love unconditionally. Ash could understand this when Sylph said it.

"...Alright. Let's put aside the difficulty. But why the Dryad ritual?"

"A similar ritual can be done with magic. So let's do that. Then Ash won't be afraid, right?"

"Can... can we do it...!?"

Just a moment ago, Ash had said it was difficult to live, but now she quickly changed her mind. Once she heard that they could do it, there was no way she wouldn't.

"Sylph. Can we do it too?"

"Yes, we can. ...But it's a secret. It might be misused. And it's a kind of curse, so we shouldn't overuse it."

"...Okay. I understand."

Ash responded, but she was still thinking about one thing. She was worried that her weakness might cause trouble for the two of them.

But despite this, the desire to be more deeply connected with the three of them overcame her negative thoughts.

"Since it's a good opportunity, let's think of a family name for ourselves."

Monsters, in general, don't have family names. Their relationships are so tenuous that they rarely have the desire to form families.

"Good idea. It feels like a real family, and I agree."

"A, Ash too! Ash agrees too!"

"Right. Then what name should we choose..."

Sylph started thinking of a family name, and Cain and Ash watched her, like pets waiting for a treat, excited but silent.

"...Do you both remember the name of this continent?"

"Y, yes! Ishtar...! I don't know who started calling it that, but that's what it's called...!"

"Yes, that's right. Good girl, Ash."

"Hehe..."

Ash smiled, and her head was gently patted. The name Ishtar, which had started to be called that at some point, was already widely known not only among monsters but also among humans.

"In the language of the gods, family is 'Riqua.' To become a deeper family, let's borrow the word from the gods."

"Can we borrow it? Will they get angry?"

"Hehe... As long as Ash is a good girl, they won't get angry."

"...Then it's fine! Ash will be a good girl!"

She was so excited that she was now completely following Sylph's lead. Cain, standing to the side, was healed by their interaction.

"Then the gods won't be angry. Let's borrow it. ...But 'Riqua' is a bit hard to say, so... let's make it 'Rika'..."

She felt her body heat up, but she couldn't suppress it. Sylph's words held the most important meaning for the two of them.

"It's decided. Our family name is... ——"

——The demon lord could not have confidence in herself.

This was partly because she had a well-achieving brother and sister always by her side. But more than that, she was timid.

Even after obtaining a family name, she still lacked confidence, but she gained the greatest weapon: a sense of security. She believed in her family and stood as a demon lord in that land.

——Finally, the demon lord's territory was born on the continent of Ishtar.

Thank you for accessing today.