The Legendary Rebuilding of a World by a Realist Demon King Chapter 66

The Boy's Identity

Fuma Kotaro was the name of a legendary ninja from the Sengoku era who was born in Hakone. If Hattori Hanzo was the best in the west, then Fuma Kotaro was the best in the east.

The name was given to legendary ninjas by the later Hojo clan after the start of the Sengoku era. The ninjas served the later Hojo clan for 100 years, in which they conquered the Kanto region.

Of course, one person could not be a ninja for 100 years.

The name was passed on for five generations.

There were records such as this,

Height of two meters and sixteen centimeters. Strong muscles and bones, wide eyes and mouth, a black beard, four protruding fangs, and a large nose.

Strange and almost monster-like. They had the blood of the south barbarians in them. Some even suggested they were descendants of demons.

Regardless of what the truth was, the person in front of me was not two meters tall.

He was rather small if anything.

Perhaps the same height as Eve.

Actually, now that I looked, Fuma Kotaro was dressed as a maid.

When had he changed his clothing?

It had happened in a flash.

Furthermore, the results were quite impressive.

He had been a masked man a moment ago, but now, you could see nothing but a beautiful maid.

Or was this her true form?

As I wondered about this, she chuckled.

"Well, that is a mystery. But the best ninjas are able to blend in at will. We discard our clothes and dress like the natives."

As Hanzo was very fond of his ninja clothing, he would probably not be happy about that. Though, he did wear disguises once in a while.

Still, this was very convincing.

As I stared at her in wonderment, she opened her mouth and joked.

"Perhaps you want to see me with fewer clothes on as well? It's all there, if you were wondering."

I couldn't deny that the question hadn't crossed my mind, but I could see that Eve's face had twitched. It wasn't a great idea.

There was something more important.

"You talked about a trial. Would you mind elaborating on that?"

"Certainly."

Fuma Kotara lifted the hem of her skirt and bowed.

"Thank you. So, about this trial…"

"You will have to kill a certain boy. That is the trial."

"A boy?"

"Yes, a boy. You will have to kill him or not kill him. I will observe your actions and determine whether you are a worthy lord or not."

"That won't do. I am a Demon King, but I don't kill without reason."

"Oh, but it won't be without reason. This boy is a 'Hero.' A Hero who has powers that will work against you. An Anti-Ashtaroth."

"What did you say!?"

It was Eve who was surprised by this.

"I have heard no news of such a thing."

"It is not news that is easy to find."

"But still… I doubt you could have found something so convenient…"

I stopped Eve there.

"The Goddess must have told her. It would not be a surprise if someone like her knew of such a thing."

"You're quick to grasp the situation."

Fuma Kotara said with a laugh.

"I do grasp it, but I don't understand her reasoning. Why is she telling me this?"

"To test you, of course. Just like I am testing you. How will Demon King Ashta react to such news? You are to show your worth as a strategist and realist."

"I can understand that. Though, I am not happy about it."

Damn that Goddess. She treats people like toys.

Her motive for bringing me to this world had been thoughtless as well. Perhaps she wasn't so much a Goddess as an Evil God. Well, there wasn't exactly a way for me to find out.

In any case, now that I knew about the Hero, the only thing to do was acquire more information and deal with the problem. And so I asked Fuma Kotaro.

"And will you tell me where this Hero is?"

"Yes. He is in a small town that is south of this castle. At least, he is for now."

"And how old is he?"

"Thirteen. Nearly fourteen."

When I heard this reply, a certain worry filled my chest.

What if she was talking about that boy.

I wondered.

However, Fuma Kotaro continued. And then I was sure of it.

"He was born in a mountain village called Resha. I heard he works as an Adventurer now. His name is Yuri and he was with you just a few days ago."

Fuma Kotara said all of this without emotion, but then she ended with a chuckle.

It was as if she was taking note of my reaction.

Well, what was my expression now?

My face was not expressing happiness.

That was one thing I was sure of.

Fuma Kotaro left after that.

He was going to search for the exact location of the boy called Yuri.

He disappeared in a flash of wind.

I had to decide whether or not I would kill boy, no, the Hero Yuri.

Demon Kings and Heroes were always enemies. Many Demon Kings had died by the hands of Heroes.

I other worlds, in games, in stories, in this world. It was always the same.

Heroes were a threat to Demon Kings and had to be removed. And yet I hesitated.

Yuri was the boy we had met recently in the caves.

We talked and fought monsters together.

I could not forget the image of the innocent smile and the voice.

"…Will I kill him?"

Eve was the one that answered me.

Her eyes looked sad.

"That is what Demon Kings do."

"I know. Well, I thought I did."

When I had first met Eve, I had told her to kill any young Heroes she found.

I had meant it too. But somehow, I could not repeat those words now that the time had come.

Especially since I knew the boy.

"…"

As I stayed silent for a while, Eve hesitantly opened her mouth.

"It would also be possible for me to deal with the matter myself."

She was saying that she could kill the boy herself, without talking to Toshizou, Jeanne or Gottlieb.

It was a nice gesture, but I didn't her to soil her hands.

Besides, this was not the time for indecision.

I was a Demon King.

And I would not avert my eyes from reality.

Just as I thought this, I heard a cat's 'meow' coming from somewhere.

A cat had wandered into the summoning room at some point.

The goblin orderly looked frantic as he started to chase after the cat, but I stopped him.

I picked up the wandering cat and looked into its eyes.

And my decision was made.

"..This kitten is a resident of Ashtaroth castle. And I will protect it."

Yes.

I had a responsibility.

The moment I became king of this castle. The moment I was born in this world.

My calling was to protect the residents of this castle and bring peace to the world.

If I was merciful to this child, and he killed me. Then I would not be able to fulfill that responsibility. At worst, all of my people would have nowhere to live.

I couldn't sacrifice all that for one boy.

I thought this as I put the cat down and returned to the throne room.

Later, Eve would write about that moment.

'The Demon King walked with confidence then. I would never forget the way he looked. While there was a sadness there, his back appeared to be that of the strongest of all Demon Kings.'

Chapter end