TPDGR 36

Chapter 36 …

Ah — now I understand.

Every time I fight, it’s like I lose myself.

Apparently, my violent side stirs the Demon Lord persona inside me.

I thought I was a righteous ruler of sorts, but I guess a boss-monster’s nature can’t be hidden after all.

It can’t be helped. People can’t be perfect.

Everyone has flaws.

Ugh, my head hurts.

It felt like the evil inside my body was whispering.

Just lose control and kill this bastard. Kill him in the cruellest way possible and send him back to Earth.

‘Well, in the original story he was a villain who didn’t care if civilians got hurt because he enjoyed cruelty…’

A guy like AJ only causes harm in society.

He’s a dopamine junkie who only cares about fighting; he doesn’t care if civilians die.

Someone like that shouldn’t have money and power.

It would only mean more suffering for the weak.

So isn’t it right that I judge him?

Even with my mind blurred, I could see how I was fighting AJ.

I snapped his weapon, forced him back, latched onto him like a leech, broke his bones.

Because I attacked without thinking, I also got a little hurt, but I didn’t even feel the pain. Compared to the shredded AJ, I was the lesser injured party.

That meant I’d hit him more.

I was shocked at how powerful my combat ability had become.

“……”

I shook my head a few times, then opened my eyes again.

AJ, who had seen the “Hellscape” and collapsed, was foaming at the mouth, crying, and snotty.

It seemed the “Hellscape” skill I used for the first time earlier was a pretty vicious mental assault.

Maybe because it was S-rank, he was the kind of guy who could get back up and counter even when I fought at full strength.

‘Not giant-sized, but useful enough.’

Wait, now seems like the right time to finish him off…

‘Should I kill him?’

If Ryu wasn’t around, I could kill him and bury him secretly; no one would know, right?

Or if I killed him and sent him back to Earth, it would serve as a definite warning.

Who would dare enter a dungeon if an S-rank never came back alive?

If AJ became an example, then truly no one would threaten my dungeon.

How presumptuous.

I slowly reached out to the collapsed AJ, whose eyes were turned inward.

Yes, decided.

I would kill you and…

“Demon Lord.”

When I blinked, Han Hyunjin was standing in front of me.

You again.

Han Hyunjin approached slowly with a face I couldn’t tell was shocked or troubled. I was mounted on top of the collapsed AJ.

I didn’t want to see him right now.

Like the last time he sent away that guy who used camouflage, he probably came to calm me down.

What, do you think you’re the heroine who holds the tyrant’s leash?

I ignored him and reached for AJ again.

Then he said,

“The villagers are waiting.”

My hand stopped.

“Even the kids are crying. Because you haven’t come back.”

Han Hyunjin spoke quietly. A strange feeling rose up.

I thought of No. 2 who always smiled like an idiot, and Henna with the henna mark on No. 2’s neck.

I thought of the kids blowing on the piping-hot fishcake soup from the pot.

I remembered their faces that used to run up to Han Hyunjin with smiles when he came.

Henna still speaks slowly, Jake looks like a fool because he lost his two front teeth at once, and Soo is so capable already helping with household chores.

Those kids were crying because of me?

“Kids…”

I felt bad and also somewhat dumbfounded.

Why are they crying? Where did I get captured? I just beat up an intruder — why cry about that?

Tch, it left a sour feeling.

I kept grabbing the collar of the unconscious AJ and then letting go again. As hesitation crept into my hand, Han Hyunjin came closer and said,

“Gyu and the orcs are worried about you too.”

“……”

“Not only that. Joanna and Griffis too. Everyone’s really on edge.”

At that, I slowly closed my eyes and then opened them. Han Hyunjin cautiously reached out.

I looked from his hand to his face, back and forth.

“Go down and meet the people first.”

“……”

“Hold my hand. Let’s go back.”

I glared at Han Hyunjin in displeasure, then realized something. To my surprise, my mind was clearing bit by bit at his words.

‘Kids, go back, hold hands.’

I stared blankly at Hyunjin with the light behind him. For some reason there seemed to be a halo flashing from his back.

What is this, protagonist aura?

At the same time my head felt completely lucid.

Of course, I still strongly wanted to teach AJ a lesson, but I hated the idea of the villagers crying or being terrified.

I had to go and soothe them quickly. Make sure they didn’t shed another tear.

“……”

After thinking it through, I took Han Hyunjin’s hand.

The moment I did, Han Hyunjin gripped my hand and, as if relieved, smiled slightly.

Just a barely noticeable smile.

“Wah, snif, sob, waah!”

“Kids, don’t cry. The orc will get up again.”

Joanna was comforting the crying children.

Their dungeon had been completely trampled while they weren’t looking.

The field with the gate had its soil churned up like a construction site, and even the path that led into the woods bore traces of the fight.

Griffis asked,

“Joanna, how is No. 2’s condition right now?”

“Luckily, after using Mantagrow and my holy power, prognosis is very good. The wounds aren’t deep. No. 1 only fainted for a bit.”

Fortunately, there wouldn’t be many aftereffects.

The two orcs lying out in the field looked more comfortable than before.

Villagers had placed herbs and bandages on the big green bodies. People took turns nursing No. 2. Henna didn’t leave No. 2’s side.

“Oh, it’s the Demon Lord!”

The kids huddled in their mother’s skirts pointed somewhere with watery eyes.

In the distance, Ana and Hyunjin were walking toward them.

The villagers were stunned at Ana’s appearance.

“My goodness!”

The frequently used bone-mask was broken in places, and her clothes were ragged. Beneath the slashed fabric were wounds.

The puppet troupe rushed over to check on Ana.

“Demon Lord! What happened to you…!”

“Are you alright? Oh my.”

“Huh? I’m okay.”

Ana giggled without worry.

Really, these were nothing compared to No. 2 collapsing from a mortal blow.

‘Besides, I hit him more.’

Compared to the mentally shattered AJ, Ana was a model. The giggling face did not match the person who, moments earlier, had lost her senses and neutralized an S-rank hunter.

“……”

Meanwhile, Hyunjin watched her quietly.

The Ana he had encountered in the woods looked like a ticking time bomb ready to explode.

A state in which her reason was half-eaten — it wouldn’t be strange for her to run wild at any moment.

He had thought human and monster energies were mixed in a suitable ratio…

‘Back then it was about 90% monster.’

For a moment, he felt the aura similar to the dungeon bosses he casually wiped out radiating from her.

[If she goes berserk from that state, she’ll hurt the villagers and everyone. She’ll become a complete monster. Will you just stand by?] Ego Sword asked quietly after watching the same scene.

Hyunjin hesitated, touching the scabbard.

Ana sometimes did strange things that startled him, but she treasured her people dearly.

That was something he felt in his bones.

Maybe, even in that harsh life, she could be the ‘wise ruler’ he had been searching for.

“The world needs a good leader, Hyunjin. Someone who would lift people like me up.”

His departed friend’s voice surfaced.

Ego Sword clicked its tongue.

[So foolish… Han Hyunjin, you live in such a harsh world that you’re choking on some invisible thing called ‘goodness’. Evil must be rooted out from the start!]

After mulling it over, Hyunjin said,

“I’ll keep watching her a bit longer.”

[You…!] Ego Sword fell silent.

Hyunjin seemed to understand.

Why Ana had lost control and attacked AJ like that.

Ahead in his gaze, Ana was surrounded by the people she worried about.

[That’s why you’re betrayed a hundred times! Clinging to non-existent goodness!]

Hyunjin ignored Ego Sword’s painful words and turned his gaze.

Ana raised both fists and shouted,

“I completely beat him just now. So don’t worry!”

“Huh?”

“I’ll keep protecting you like this from now on, so don’t worry. I’m the king. I should protect you — who else will?”