My name is Galgardo.
I am the Demon King of the Demon Kingdom.
The woman beside me is my wife, Anne.
Though Anne is older than I am, she possesses a youthful appearance. By human standards, she looks to be between thirteen and fifteen years old. Since we are of the Demon Race, it is not uncommon for one’s physical form to remain fixed at a young age. It is a testament to her immense magic power and something she should take pride in.
However, she felt that a youthful visage lacked the dignity required for the Director of a Noble Academy, so she usually employs magic to alter her form. She typically appears as a human woman in her thirties. I once suggested that if she truly wanted to project dignity, she should make herself look sixty. She punched me without a word, and I spent the next few minutes staring at my half-digested dinner on the floor.
Since then, I have made it a point to never comment on Anne’s appearance. But today, I felt compelled to speak.
“Anne, your disguise has worn off. The Village Head is staring, so please, change back. Change back now.”
“Kibustree... I just went through something truly terrifying.”
Kibustree was my name before I ascended to the throne. When I married Anne, I was not yet the Demon King. Once I took the title, she stopped calling me by that name. I’d felt a pang of loneliness because of it, but there was no helping it. I am the Demon King, after all. Still, hearing it for the first time in so long made me secretly happy.
Wait, no, this wasn't the time for that.
“Anne, are you alright? Your memory seems a bit muddled. This isn't our home, and there are others present. You need to compose yourself...”
“No.”
This was bad. Anne had completely regressed to her younger self. She pouted her cheeks and took a stubborn stance of rejection. I knew from experience that once she reached this state, resistance was futile.
I would simply have to deal with the fallout once she returned to her senses. For now, I decided to enjoy the moment.
Directly in front of us, the Demon Spider children were performing a perfectly synchronized dance.
“Kibustree, look! It’s amazing!”
“Yes, it truly is magnificent.”
They were indeed impressive. Those tiny top hats suited them perfectly. Suddenly, one of them stepped forward for a solo. It tapped out a rhythmic beat with its feet against an iron plate. They were wearing tiny iron shoes and using magic to amplify the sound, making the performance clear and captivating. When the soloist finished with a flourish, the other children waiting in the wings lined up and joined in.
They began tapping out a collective rhythm. I wondered if so many of them could stay in sync, but my worries were unfounded. Their footfalls were perfectly unified. It was a flawless display. I offered them my most enthusiastic applause.
Once the Demon Spider children finished their dance, Dragon King Dos stepped forward to offer his greetings to Anne. It seemed the fierce battle I’d seen earlier had finally concluded.
I looked at Anne. She had not yet returned to her senses. I briefly considered postponing the introduction, but I realized it might actually be easier to get it over with while she was in this state. I introduced her to the Dragon King, and she managed to offer a greeting right on cue.
“I am Anne Rochell. It is a pleasure to meet you.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. At least she could still manage the basics. As expected of my wife.
Dos offered his response. “I am the Dragon King, Dos.”
In our world, the higher one’s standing, the more concise their greetings become. It is a way to avoid being pinned down by unintentional commitments. I had no issue with the Dragon King’s brevity, but Anne apparently did.
“Excuse me, but weren't you ever taught how to give a proper greeting?”
In that moment, I was certain my life was over. It was the dozens of times I’d felt that way since visiting this village, but this felt particularly final. Fortunately, the Dragon King simply laughed it off. I was truly saved.
I looked at Anne, pleading internally. Please, say nothing more. I’m begging you.
Before dinner, Anne finally regained her senses. It was likely the therapeutic effect of the village cats. I had been healed by them many times myself.
“Anne, Samael is mine. Please don't squeeze her so hard. Here, use this cat plushie instead. You can hug this as much as you like.”
Anne seemed to have a vague memory of her earlier behavior. Overcome with embarrassment, she redirected her frustration toward me. I accepted it without complaint, believing that such endurance was a form of love.
Before we sat down for the meal, I joined her in offering apologies to everyone she might have offended. I chose not to count how many times we had to bow.
Dinner was a hot pot. Heated by a magic tool, the pot contained a miso-based soup filled with pork, chicken, fish, Chinese cabbage, mushrooms, carrots, and daikon. They called it a Yose Hot Pot.
I sat with Anne and Yuri. There was something profoundly moving about a family gathering around a single pot like this. It was an experience we never could have had back at the Royal Castle. I felt a twinge of guilt for taking the throne and depriving them of such normalcy, but had I not become the Demon King, the kingdom would have descended into chaos. I hoped they understood it was a necessary sacrifice.
“Anne, are you sure about staying in that form? You’re still young. I thought you didn't want Yuri to see you like that? Also, look at Gol and the others—they’re panicking.”
“I’ve given up on a great many things today. As for those three... I already had a brief encounter with them in this form for the sake of an old friend.”
“I see.”
Yuri, watching her mother, spoke up. “When I was a child, a girl would occasionally appear and claim to be my older sister. I’m just glad her identity has finally been cleared up.”
I shot a look at Anne. What on earth were you doing back then? She responded with a wink. It was annoying, but I had to admit it was cute.
I decided to put the small details aside and focus on the meal. “Once the ingredients start to run low, we’ll add the noodles.”
“I’m not entirely sure how this works, so I’ll leave it to you,” Anne said.
“Father,” Yuri interjected. “Before the noodles, let’s add some mochi. We must make sure Mother gets to try it.”
“A fine idea. In goes the mochi!” I cautioned them to keep the pieces separate so they wouldn't stick together.
I noticed Anne looking at Yuri and realized she was about to bring up marriage. “Anne, don't. It’s too early for that. I know we’d both love grandchildren, but let’s not rush things.”
As we ate, I caught up on the day’s events. It turned out the battle between the dragons had been settled when the Gate Guardian Dragon intervened. He had apparently thrown himself between his wife and daughter to stop the fighting. I wondered if I could ever be that brave.
“Anne, the woman beside the Dragon King is Raimeiren, the Typhoon Dragon. And next to her is Guronde. Yes, the legendary ‘Enemy of God.’ I saw her dragon form earlier—it was staggering. We should go greet them later.”
“I think I’ll pass.”
“There’s no need to be shy... but if you insist, I understand.”
After the noodles, we added rice to create a finishing porridge. This progression of flavors was the true strength of a hot pot. However, I reminded everyone to save room for dessert.
“After this, let’s all head to the hot springs. We could take a carriage, but I think I’ll just ask Beezel to transport us. The springs are wonderful for washing away the day’s fatigue. It’s a pity the baths are separated by gender, though. I don't mean anything improper; I just thought it would be nice to soak together as a family.”
I caught myself. I didn't want to push too hard and earn Yuri’s disdain.
While we waited for dessert, the Village Head arrived to introduce his children.
Alfred was a boy who looked exceptionally gifted. I couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. I love my daughter, of course, but I had always wanted a son. While it wasn't impossible for us to have another child, it was a difficult prospect given Anne’s role as Director. She had pushed herself to have Yuri, and it had been an ordeal. I hesitated to ask her to go through that again. Perhaps we would discuss it tonight.
Then there was Urza. She was a vibrant girl, but also a person of extreme caution. No matter how much I prepared myself, there was no telling what she might do. She was set to enroll in Anne’s Academy next year alongside Alfred. I wondered if the school would survive the experience. I’d have to tell Gol and the others to do their best to keep her in check. I briefly considered asking the Village Head to send more of his residents to act as a stabilizing force, but I realized that whoever went would likely just be swept up in her wake. All I could do was prepare myself mentally.
After the meal, we headed to the hot spring area. I realized too late that I hadn't warned Anne about the Death Knights, the Death Mage, or the Flying Lion family.
“Oh, look, Anne! It’s the kitty plushie! Look at the kitty! Please, come back to your senses!”