Story of The Ancient Demon King!

Fifteen years ago...

An old house in the woods.

There, a cute little black-haired girl with a bucket of water enters.

It looks like a five-year-old, but it's a solid step.

"... Mother, it's over."

I put water in a large bottle and called out without breathing even though I had repeatedly returned with a small body.

"Well, Hilde's work is quick and helpful. Then what about... the salary split?

"My mother is on duty today. You did it yesterday."

Hildegart, who has finished pumping water, and a beautiful woman who blows a chimney.

A black-haired woman wearing a high-exposure outfit and a slender body.

"Hmm... don't worry about the details. And, um... that's it. My waist has been getting worse since yesterday."

"How many times a year do I have to break my hips? Get out of here."

"... the effect of accommodation, you..."

Place the smoke pipe and raise your hips as you try to get out.

And open the door...

"... ahh, I forgot to tell you."

"... what is it?"

"It's bad for your health, so don't touch the sole. You can't grow up."

Hildegart's hand, which had stretched into the smoke tube, was slowly pulled.

"Fu, I'll do something better soon. Patience."

"Good stuff?

A small face with a strange expression turned to her back.

"Make tea while you finish your salary. You can work hard on your tired mother with your salary. That's good."

I looked back at my daughter with a gentle look.

"My mother's strength will be over in a few minutes. Brew it yourself."

"... hmm, I can't read the air"

I abandoned Grace, my mother, who was leaving in a hurry, and... started preparing to boil the water.

………

……

…

"... hmm?

Instead of Grace, who is working on something, Hildegart, who was starting to prepare for lunch, notices signs outside.

……

Hildegart walks silently to the door.

There are only a few visitors here.

In fact, Hildegart has only met with one person other than his mother.

"Oh, Hilde. Thank you for welcoming me."

"Marona... who is that?"

Marona is the only old woman to know about Grace and the others, who visits this house about once a week.

But this time, he was with a middle-aged man, not alone.

"This is my son. I'm old, too. Say hello to Grace as the next village chief.... hey, what are you doing! Say hello to Hilde too!

"Ah, ah.... hello, young lady. I'm Lorenzo. Nice to meet you."

Lorenzo looks nice with glasses on, but Hildegart is alert to the creature he sees for the first time.

……

"Marona, are you here?... maybe that's the new village chief?

Grace blowing the smoke pipe showed up behind Hildegart.

……

Lorenzo's eyes were stiffened by Grace's unspeakable face.

"I'm sorry, Grace... I know what you're trying to say. But... in the meantime, I still can't trust his wife. He's a man, but he's still old. He's better off."

"I see....."

A conversation between Grace and Marona that made me nervous.

……

Hildegart didn't understand a single thought at this time.

After entering the house, introducing Lorenzo to herself and communicating her precautions, and completing her usual (...) contacts and chats, Marona and the others left the forest.

……

"... Mother, what's wrong?

Hildegart couldn't stand asking about Grace, who looked slightly different from usual.

"... no... tomorrow, I'm going to hunt down the monster Marona said. And I'll pick some vegetables, so I'll come with you."

"... okay."

Is it hard to say, is it hidden, or is it deceptive...?

In any case, I have never seen my mother like this.

Hildegart couldn't pursue it any more.

"You go to bed early. My mother still has a lot to do."

"I still have things to do.... my mother just swallows the wine Marona brought."

Hildegart puts water in his glass and prepares for something.

"It's the same because you brought me honey.... don't drink too much, you'll regret it in the morning."

"Which one is it? Don't tell me you have a headache and can't go out."

Hmm, you're starting to say that.

Drink honey water and alcohol and stay up late more than usual.

In a room where there is no light at the table and only the moonlight depends on it, the mother and daughter facing each other have a conversation that is like playing with each other without love.

I had a happy time as usual.

♢♢♢

The next morning, Grace, with Hildegart, walked through the woods in unprotected gear.

Only a basket containing wild vegetables and mushrooms for your usual outfit.

It was a pleasant morning walk under a leaky day.

"Look, there are mushrooms there that can be eaten."

"... I knew it. It's just like my mother found it because I'm talking. I knew it a long time ago."

"What, was that so?"

"I didn't have to say it because I didn't have to."

"Okay, okay, okay. My mother was wrong."

There are conversations where you pick wild plants, mushrooms, etc., and you can eat them, and you can't eat them.

But suddenly the air changes.

……

"It's huge. The villagers will certainly not be able to defeat it. I wonder why these individuals are in these woods."

The target was found immediately.

The stunning Hildegart saw...

……

A trawl that throws a giant body like a mountain onto the ground and sleeps peacefully without being alert to the outside enemy.

Are the village crops scattered and full? There are no signs of Hildegalt and the others.

"Hilde, stay back. It's too much trouble, so I'll bury you in one blow."

"... I can't do it."

Grace looked at Hildegart with an unexpected grip on her mother's clothes and released her hand with a smile.

"... you know you can do it. Don't worry about it. I have defeated more powerful monsters than this many times. I will not fail such a monster."

……

Kneeling down to reassure her eyes... she leaned back behind the tree even if she wasn't convinced.

"Don't worry about your daughter. Let's get this over with."

Grace gladly leaked a word to herself, holding hands.

Scarlet Crystal (Crimson)

Red magic gathers on your hands and turns into a round red crystal.

And this crystal... burns.

"Gww!?

The troll jumps into a sudden, burning wind.

A sphere of flames that sparkles like the sun.

"The inherited scar is stronger and nobler than anything else."

A crystal of flame that was shaken down recklessly after a spiritual murmur.

Physical impact of crystals and burning fire.

A vicious magic that combines two traits hits the troll.

--A blast of fire rises in the big forest.

Giant trolls burst into flashlight.

The giant body is swallowed by the blast flame, and the scream is scratched out without any surgery and burned out.

Soon the flames of Guren will fade away...

……

Hildegart has no words on a burnt troll without traces.

Hildegart's young face, which was exposed to heat waves and flames, was red as if in love.

"Well, here's the thing. Our lineage inherits this magic from generation to generation. You'll soon be able to use it."

"Really? When?"

Grace strokes his head with a smile as he rushes over Hildegart to ask.

"... of course. The time will come for you to understand. Like me. Like our ancestors."

I can stroke you with my gentle hands and tell you.

"So I'm asking when. Don't delude me. Tell me exactly."

"... I think the brilliance of your words is troublesome."

Grace's chest was high in a childish look for toys, but Hildegart was Hildegart.

"You're so sweet, so smart, you can't handle it."

"Hmm, it's never been sweet. Don't treat me like a child."

Idiot, you're a child.

They line up and aim to get along while picking up the delicacies of the mountains.

The two, who were parents and children, sisters and sometimes friends, were filled with just being together.

"... he's coming."

"You're here... Hilde, stay ahead."

"... okay."

Back home, there was Lorenzo.

It was a wind of rolling in front of the house and waiting for Grace.

"... Mr. Grace!

"I told you it was once a week. Unless it's urgent."

Unlike Marona, Grace responded cold.

"Yes, I can help you! Recently, there have been sightings of national soldiers around here!

"Ah... I see."

Wrinkles appeared between my eyebrows in unexpected reports.

"... I understand. I'm sorry, but I need you to go through a meeting with Marona you don't know."

"Of course!

"And the trolls were exterminated. Go back to the village and reassure him."

No, I cut off the conversation early and turned my heel back.

Bye.

"Ah, hey, hey..."

Ignoring Lorenzo's call, Grace returned home.

"... Phew, I'm in trouble."

I noticed the sign of Lorenzo drifting past the door, sighing and mourning.

"What is it? You don't like that guy?

"I don't hate it. Son of a friend. But... I'm in trouble. Oh, my God. Oh, my God.

"... so what?"

"That's all right, keep the wild vegetables you picked. Don't throw away mushrooms or vegetables because you don't want to eat them."

"... hmm"

Go to the kitchen as you were told, even though you looked infidel to your secret mother.

I didn't want to see my mother's troubled face any more.

♢♢♢

But Lorenzo visited Grace four days later.

……

"... oh, I brought you a split hem."

Hildegart stares at Lorenzo, who embarrasses her mother.

Lorenzo was born with great magic and a feeling of intimidation that seemed like a toddler.

What happened to Marona?

"This time, it's just me."

"Thank you for splitting the hem. Take care and go home."

Receive the vegetables called hems and drive them back at the front door.

"Um, Mr. Grace...."

"Thank you for splitting the hem. Take care and go home."

……

I've never seen such a cute little girl before, but I can't argue with Hildegart, whose overwhelming magic begins to soak.

"... yeah, bye.... hah"

I saw Lorenzo disappear.

"... hmm"

Return home.

"I heard you."

……

Grace, with his arm braced in one hand, waited with a bitter smile.

"Are you worried about me again?... I'm sorry."

"... I just don't like him."

Even as you stroke your head, you pretend to be in a bad mood.

"The next time Marona comes, I'll tell her clearly. I think I should have."

……

"Remember that, too. Witches are different, but our lineage as witches does not inherit only powerful magic and Scarlet Crystals.... and looks great."

Hildegart leans his head toward Grace, who says sadly even though it's supposed to be good.

"Attract men and make women jealous. I know what you're thinking, but after all this time, it's gonna be bad."

Grace mourns despite saying that their looks are off-track and attractive.

"The country and the powerful aim for our beauty and abilities, and even where we flee, it is a cause of strife between men and women. The ancestors were mostly scattered by such problems."

……

"You look more like my mother than I do. The future will be beautiful."

Grace caresses her hair and cheeks, worrying about the future of Hildegart.

"Hopefully, your future will be bright...."

……

Forehead and forehead together, I just wish my daughter happiness.

………

……

…

Later, Lorenzo visited House Grace with Marona.

"... you're... pathetic and not verbal."

The three of Grace, Marona, and Lorenzo surround the table.

"Did you forget what you swore in front of the priest!! You'll have a wife!! Son of a bitch!! Shame on you!!

Hildegart jumps slightly through the window outside the house.

I was always surprised by the ferocity of the gentle marona.

"Me, I'm just worried about Mr. Grace here...."

"Over this period....."

Lorenzo just leaned over to Marona, whose face turned bright red with rage.

"Marona, take this and calm down. You'll lose your health on your way home."

"Hah... hah..."

Grace serves aromatic tea to the angry marona.

"... hah. Grace, I was wrong. It was really stupid... Men should have never stopped."

She kept breathing and apologized to Grace.

"Never mind. I guess it happened to be my son's preference. But Lorenzo, I'm the one who passed away earlier. It won't change forever."

"Eh...."

Lorenzo's chest was tightened to Grace, who clearly showed his intention to refuse.

I was aware of it without being told.

I am Grace's prisoner.

"Now you know. I'm not asking for you. If you threaten Grace's life,... I'll cut off my parents and children!!

"Ah, no way!?

Marona's unexpected anger surprised not only Lorenzo, but Grace as well.

"Well, Marona, you don't have to say that."

I mean it.

Grace's mouth was blocked by Marona, who affirmed with a firm will to show determination.

Behind Marona's head are memories from a young age.

Memories from when Grace was still a friend of Marona's mother.

"Grace, I just want to die in peace. I don't want to live like this without regret. After all, you're the only ones who care."

"... marona"

Marona is as reliable as usual.

Grace closed her eyes and desperately wept, as if she were chewing on the rising emotions.

"... you don't know! How hard Grace has been!!

Marona tells her son with tears.

I just want to convey my best friend's hardship, anguish, mourning and grief... that's all.

"I just explained it to you beforehand...! Oh, that's pathetic!

……

Nobody else knew what Lorenzo thought but herself.

………

……

…

Only Lorenzo left the woods, leaving Marona in a very tired state.

Marona recovers her health and temporarily soaks up a tea party with an old friend at the Grace Mansion.

"... uhh, ugh, Grace, you... Hilde-chan just brewed it, so your arm's falling again."

"Really?... I don't think it's that bad."

"Well, you have to tell me from scratch. Damn it, you... It's a big deal, I have things to do."

Grace was frightened by Marona's whisper of drinking her own brewed tea.

"... ahh ~ hah. It's the same, Grace."

"Isn't that what Marona used to say...? I've never been scolded for cooking."

"Of course, you are! Hilde-chan's mouth! I can't let you eat your food back then! Learn from scratch again for a while! Get ready!"

"... hmm"

"Don't swell! Ideas!"

……

Hildegart is stunned by two childish people I've never seen before.

"... hmm? Oh, Hilde. I'm sorry I kept you waiting."

"... I won't scold you."

Hildegart controls reprimand beforehand.

"... pu, ahahaha! I won't scold Hilde!

"He's absolutely adorable, you are."

"I've never seen such a good boy!

Three women spend a gentle time together.

For a few days afterwards, Marona went to the Grace Mansion to fill it up and teach her how to cook.

Grace's arm rose slightly.

But it's far from winning Marona's pass.

"... hah, this will be the same again tomorrow."

Marona sighed at Grace's soup.

"Holy shit....."

"That's my line!! With all this precious spice, you too...."

"Because I can make it... Would you stop complaining about spices? Let's not lick the witch."

"If it's delicious, I'll also meditate! The flavor is too strong to help!

……

Grace quietly shuts up.

"Hey, Marona. How about mine?"

"Oh, Hilde, will you feed me first?

Hildegart, who pulled the clothes of Marona who was tasting at the table, presented the plate.

Ma, are you stir-fried meat again?

True brown dishes. It certainly seemed delicious, but it was too simple.

"This is definitely the best. Tell her. My mother doesn't seem to be able to calculate. The vegetables and mushrooms were mixed up, and I didn't realize they were reducing the amount of meat I ate in one day."

"Is that how you thought about my mother...?

Grace is stunned by Hildegart's discontent with his daily diet.

"Ahahah! If you can cook delicious vegetables, Hilde will change her mind! Try hard!"

"... hmm"

Have a good time.

As usual.

My mother and daughter occasionally have fun adding marrona...

"Marona, can't you do it?

I dropped off Marona from the front door at a time when the sun was falling.

"... you say you're bored after you die. You want me to make you memories that I'm gonna take over there for a little while?

"Don't say anything unfortunate..."

"Don't worry. Until you can cook decent food, don't fuck with me."

"... ahh, I see."

Grace smiled calmly in a friendly atmosphere that was no different from that of a young man.

……

The night Marona left, Grace quietly drank on the moonlight.

Marona's presence, or the happiness of Hildegart, was already asleep, tilting the glass alone.

"....."

I stopped trying to pour alcohol.

……

Close your eyes.

Strong enough to endure the pain...

... eventually, I open my eyes as the clouds that block the moon pass by.

Then he stood up and walked to his daughter in the bedroom.

"... Hilde, wake up."

I stroked her cheeks like an angel sleeping happily a few times before waking her up with a small shoulder shake.

"Uhhh... what, I'm not rubbing my hips?"

"I didn't break my waist, you didn't..."

Words mean a graceful smile on the back.

Grace picks up the Hildegart with a soft hand.

…… What's the matter with you?

"I was going to tell you about the witch."

Walk to the window where the light shines and talk to Hildegart in his arms.

I wonder if it's not what I'm talking about now, Hildegart, but there's no objection to my mother's calm expression.

"As you know, me and you... stop aging when you reach your most attractive appearance. It sounds like an elf that doesn't change much, and it sounds good to say that it will remain beautiful for the rest of your life, but it's very convenient to say that you won't get old from others. As a woman, as a fighter....."

……

Hildegalt doesn't understand the level of his appearance when he doesn't know anyone else.

However, the more Grace said, the more nature and a sense of crisis seemed to emerge.

"Especially for powerful people, it's something they want at any cost."

"A powerful man...?

"That's right. My mother sacrificed herself to escape me from the Empire."

"Eh...."

Grace always boasts about being a grandmother to himself.

"A lot of people have just stepped into the border."

"Eh... who is it?

"You must be an Imperial soldier. The only one who enters here without hesitation is the one with the talisman he gave. Did Lorenzo tell you about us or his wife...?... maybe marona."

"Hmm!? Ugh, that's a lie!!

Hildegart shouted that Marrona, who was so close to Grace... was so kind to herself.

"The outside world is cruel. People's emotions change quickly. Remember that.... good, evil. Everyone lives with ugly parts."

"Oh no...."

Talk softly to the weakly depressed Hildegart.

"... I really wanted to teach you more time."

I stroke my hair and my cheeks.

To the fullest love.

Without stopping stroking her hand, Grace walks to the basement door in the living room.

"... I'm worried because you're lonely."

"Mother...?

Looking up at Hildegart with innocent eyes, I hold him tight for a while... and then I take him down to the tiny space he made underground for a while.

"Do you eat mushrooms and vegetables properly?

"What are you saying...?

I tell my daughter with a face that makes her feel impatient and lonely.

"Hildegart... goodbye"

"Hmm!?

I don't understand what you're saying.

I don't want to understand.

But Grace didn't stop stroking Hildegart and continued.

"I will take care of the Imperial soldiers. Just like my mother did... I will protect you."

……

Hildegart's little hand grabs Grace's hem.

Strong, thoughtful...

"... no."

"Hilde...."

She looks up at Grace and says, "Let go."

"My mother slept dirty, so I had to be there."

"... maybe."

"My mother is not good at making tea, so it's not good without me."

Tears come down.

"... that's right."

"I can't...... my mother needs me!!

Hildegart screams.

Whatever she decides to do, keep tears unbearable.

"... that's right. You're right."

"Uu....."

Moisturizing grace around eyes.

"I can't do this without you. If you're not alive... I can't."

Stick butterfly hair decorations from the waist into Hildegart's hair.

"Hmm, what...?

"It's an early birthday present. It looks good on you. Nobody's cuter than you. It's true."

"Better than my mother....?

"Ah, better than me or your grandmother."

"Eh... it was a long time ago"

Hildegart brutally wipes tears with his sleeves.

"Hmm!?

"... I'm sorry. Forgive my immature mother."

There was a circle of flowers in the open view of the sleeve.

It's a sleeping grass that my mother picked for me on a bad night.

"Ah, ha, Mother....."

"Hilde, I love you...."

Hildegart grabs Grace's hand with both hands.

"I love you more than anyone...."

"No, no... no..."

You whisper your last love with your mouth on your forehead.

"I love you... Ever and ever. Forever...."

"Ha, ha..."

After watching my child fall asleep weeping, I finally overflowed with shizukuishi.

--Please... please live strong, my beloved Hildegart...

... close the door to the basement with trembling hands and seal it with protective magic while dropping tears.

……

Then he walks out.

Behind the door was a bonfire that approached from afar.

Someday I saw a hate light.

"... I'm sorry, Alfred. If you came with me to tell me that you missed me and the Hildegart in my belly...."

I think my husband sacrificed himself five years ago to escape the Imperial soldiers.

The mighty Imperial Soldiers in front of us are not far from accompanying or threatening them.

I don't have time for that.

"... I wish Marona hadn't..."

I think of you as a good friend.

The red magic flashes.

Red-illuminates the forest with unprecedented power.

A red monster appeared on Grace's back.

"Mother, my daughter will be beautiful....."

I looked up at the night sky and told my mother that she had missed me thirty-five years ago.

"I'll tell you all about it. Wait for me...."

The imperial soldiers who were approaching were disturbed.

"I will give everything to my daughter Hildegalt!!

With his hands wide open, he proudly unleashes his last sorcery.

"--Scarlet of the Beginning (Crimson)!!

Burning crystals covered the forest.

As Grace braced herself and stood up vigorously, she swallowed everything with the fire of Guren.

The Imperial Soldiers, who were pushed in by the army, were easily burned out, leaving no one behind.

And...

... Hildegart... please be happy...