Chapter 13.2

“I see. Astaroth-sama, by the way, there is something I was wondering about.”

I decided to put aside the matter of Cronaea-san for the time being and ask him what I was wondering about.

“You can ask me anything you want.”

“Demons have powers that humans don’t have, right?”

“Well, if you say so, I guess so. Mages can do things like us, but it seems they don’t live in your country.”

“So the Mages are human beings?”

“Yes, they are. Let’s say that Lydith and I were to enter into a marriage contract, okay? Then Lydith gives birth to a half-demon child with half of my power. When the half-demon grows up enough, it can choose to remain human or become a demon. Those who choose to remain human will retain our magical power in their bodies. When those children have children again, the magic will fade, but it will remain in their blood. Those who can fully manipulate such magical powers are called Mages.”

“I see.”

“Jimejime Tsumuri…”

“Yes. The Jimejime Tsumuri are born without a gender. When they reach a certain age, they change their bodies to choose their own sex in order to procreate. It’s a mystery of life, isn’t it?”

“Lydith, you know a lot.”

Astaroth sips from a long, thin glass.

He swallowed the red liquid and furrowed his brow. Then he muttered in a small voice, “What is this sweetness?”

“I now understand the Mages. What I was wondering about the Great War… even if the demons were few in number, could they not easily destroy humans if they were powerful enough?”

“Oh, that’s right. What should I say? … it was a long time ago.”

Astaroth was at a loss for words.

“For example, well… there are people with different personalities, like Lydith, who are earnest, proud, and damaging, and there are those who flatter others and live well. There are bad people and there are good people.”

“I’ve never lost anything because of my character.”

“I see. Anyway, the demon tribe is the same. In the past, before the Great War, we used to get along reasonably well. It was normal for there to be many different races in the world. But some of them preyed on helpless people.”

“You mean they cheated?”

“No, it’s something worse. It was a small fire originally. I guess the attacks from other species were more noticeable, even though the skirmishes among the same species were much more disastrous. Eventually, that small spark turned into a big fire, to the point where it became a war between humans and other species.”

“Oh, you mean that not everyone… wanted to fight with the humans?”

“Yes, that’s right. The hardliners were part of it.  Because there were many parents of half-demons too… and yet the Great War broke out.”

Astaroth’s eyes were downcast with sadness.

If I had been alive at that time, and I had been in a position to advise the king of that time, I would not have let it happen.

There is nothing more foolish than a great war. It makes me a little sad, too.

“Astaroth, but humans are not all stupid.”

“I used to like humans, so I’m very glad you’re here.”

I stopped eating and looked at Astaroth.

He smiled, reached over the table, and took my hand.

My hand, clasped on the red tablecloth, was very small compared to Astaroth’s. Astaroth’s palm, contrary to his somewhat feminine appearance, was very large and, as I expected, cool.

“Hey, Lydith, why don’t you stop pursuing the clueless and selfish young lord and pursue me instead?”

“Will you be king, Astaroth-sama?”

“No, I can’t. A king is a race, you know. Yule, who was the previous king, gave up his power to the current young Kun. The young Kun is a new demon. Maybe, Lydith-chan, if you give birth to a child and hand over your power to that child, that child will become the new king.”

“I think you said that Master Yule has gone to sleep, though.”

“Yule has had enough of living for a long time. He has not disappeared, but he is asleep. A king is only a king when he creates a new demon tribe.”

I cast down my eyes and think for a moment.

I could respond to Astaroth’s feelings, but there is an order to things.

My love is given to those whom I love equally. But I must not be disloyal.

Since I have declared that I will devote myself to Gilbert-sama, it is Gilbert-sama who should be the first to whom I devote myself.

“I am very grateful for your kindness, Astaroth-sama. However…”

The door of the room slowly opened.

When I looked over, Gilbert-sama was standing there with a very grumpy face.

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