The Melancholy of the Demon Army Officer
Translator: Tsukii
Editor: Shizukuku
Read at Watashi wa Sugoi Desu!
Chapter 102 – Year SS500 [A]
—For a period after that, Leonhart and his group spent their days peacefully.
Leonhart apologized to the people around him for his rough attitude prior and he seemed to return to normal.
But the people who were close to him noticed he was merely trying to look fine, and even when they asked why he didn’t look well,
[“…Not really, I’m just being my usual self.”]
Such would be his answer.
On the other hand, Ssulal became more active than usual.
She took the initiative to invite Leonhart and other people to go around.
There were times when she served dishes to Galtia using new ingredients and sometimes she would taste them herself.
There were times where she would plant flowers together with Kesselring in the courtyard and grow them.
There were times where she told Carol about how Leonhart was in his old days.
There were times where she talked with Hunty about magic and dragons.
There were times where she played together with Masuzoe and haniko.
There were times where she gave new ribbons to Launea as presents.
There were times where she tried to feed Thalgo.
There were times where she rode on Samezan and flew in the sky.
There were times where she held competitions to decide between Brad and Pitt about who was the first apostle.
At the same time, she also ended up making a similar contest between Carol and Shichisei.
There were times where she tried to talk to other majins that she rarely talked to — like Meglass, Camilla, and Kayblis.
There were times that they looked for the holy gal demons that had left, but only managed to find some of them for some reason.
Every year and every season, some sort of event was held, celebrated as an anniversary.
They played practically every day and challenged themselves to try new ways to have fun.
And for every such activity, Leonhart was always beside her.
They’d often go on dates, and they were together during meals, bath, and sleep.
They were practically latched together, but neither Kesselring nor Carol complained about that.
It was because they felt something was off about Leonhart.
Even when they were clearly having fun, they felt that he seemed like he was enduring something.
But there were times where Ssulal spent her time alone.
Leonhart even tried to spend his time working together with Ssulal.
But during that period, Ssulal seemed to be researching something.
They had no idea what it was, and she wouldn’t tell them. Even when they asked, all she would say was “It’s something necessary.”
Decades passed. Ssulal and the people close to her spent their days peacefully. They didn’t have any anxiety, just spent their days happily.
But one day, Ssulal gathered the group and told them.
[“I have a lifespan.”]
She revealed such a fact.
While most people were shocked and couldn’t follow the situation, Ssulal continued to speak about the facts.
SS500. That would be the year of her death.
She told them to organize their minds.
It was at that moment they finally realized the circumstances of Ssulal and Leonhart.
Both of them had changed, precisely because they were aware of it.
They also realized Leonhart acted roughly back then because of this.
Galtia quietly asked if there was something they could do about it, but seeing Ssulal merely shake her head, everyone finally understood.
The days they spent together wouldn’t continue forever. Even if they couldn’t put it into words, they realized it instinctively.
That was why she tried to live the best she could, such was their understanding.
In the end, the group decided to support her decision.
After all, Leonhart, who felt the deepest sorrow about it and wanted to deny it more than anyone else, had decided to support her.
Nobody could say anything about it.
—And after that, time continued to pass.
Many seasons passed, followed by years.
Even during those periods, they continued to spend their days happily.
And then — Year SS500.
The season was winter. It was sunny that day.
The day had finally arrived.
That day.
Ssulal left Leonhart’s side and visited several people.
She was going to give her words of farewell to each person personally.
Galtia, the mushi user majin, was in the dining hall of Maou Castle, and exchanged words with Ssulal.
It ended and she went away. She had probably gone to meet another person.
Galtia was eating there for a while.
“…”
He ate his meal silently.
He couldn’t afford to make his mushi go hungry as a mushi user. Mushis were his precious family. There was no way he could let them starve.
At the same time, he would show his appreciation for the food he consumed.
That was Galtia’s dignity. However,
“…No good.”
Galtia sighed and muttered his words.
“… I can’t recognize the taste of food, regardless of what I eat… I guess it’s my second time experiencing this.”
The first time was when his best friend during his human days had passed away. He endured a lot back then.
And now,
“…At first, it’s just a matter of coping, though…”
Thinking back, he became a majin because he wanted to protect his homeland, comrades, and family in the settlement where many mushi users resided.
He became her comrade more out of obligation. He originally wasn’t fond of demons, and depending on perspective, they could have been considered a bitter enemy. However,
“…It is sad.”
Before he knew it, the mushis inside his stomach were calling out to him. They were trying to comfort him.
As if to respond to that, as Galtia spoke. As he continued to eat the food he couldn’t taste,
“—Losing a member of the family is a sad thing.”
He said such words, along with his farewell toward said family member.
Kesselring, the kalar majin who stood in the courtyard, felt something unbearable as she saw the figure of her master leaving.
But there was nothing Kesselring could do. Her master didn’t wish for it either.
Therefore, Kesselring shouldn’t obstruct her path. Even if she raised her voice here, it would only serve to trouble her master.
Her master was leaving to give her goodbyes to other people. And she was sure her beloved person was among them.
Thinking that, no matter how deep of a sadness she felt, she couldn’t afford to stop her master.
“…I was saved by you.”
Kesselring had laid her hands on her master’s beloved, yet her master had forgiven her, and allowed her to serve her as a majin.
“…For me, who was only living to wait for my death, you have shown me a new path to walk on.”
That path was to become a majin, and depending on perspective, it could be considered a path of carnage. But it was also because of that,
“…I have earned new happiness.”
You have included me in your lively and fun times.
That is a grace that I couldn’t repay even if I tried my whole life. Therefore,
“I have listened to your request, master… I certainly accepted it.”
That’s why,
“—At least for this moment, please forgive me for shedding my tears for you…”
As she said so with a quivering voice, Kesselring sank in front of the flower garden.
Masuzoe, the hanny majin who left the castle, kept walking forward.
Behind him were haniko and his apostles, Brad and Pitt.
After Masuzoe finished his conversation with the maou, he immediately took action. The reason was,
“…We’re returning to the abyss, aren’t we?”
“…”
He nodded. Then both Brad and Pitt spoke at the same time,
“…It’ll be lonely.”
Masuzoe didn’t answer them.
But in his hand was,
“! Masuzoe-sama, that’s…”
Haniko realized. The thing in Masuzoe’s hand was,
“Mu? Isn’t that a superball?”
“…”
It was a completely ordinary superball he got from a stall someday in the past.
But after more than 50 years since then, the ball became dirty and shabby.
Masuzoe didn’t feel anything.
He didn’t have any reason to live. He just had to stay still.
From now on, as he returned to the abyss, he would return to spending his days doing nothing.
It was just that he felt it was a waste to just leave it here. Just as he had such feeling,
“…Eh? Masuzoe-sama. What did you just say?”
Masuzoe told haniko what he intended to do from now on. That was,
“…You intended to go all out someday — and destroy the world?”
“…”
Let’s do that when the time comes, thought Masuzoe as he returned to the abyss.
Carol, the apostle of Leonhart, walked the corridor of Maou Castle with heavy footsteps.
Carol had heard Ssulal’s words together with her fellow apostle Hunty, and she walked now to fulfill Ssulal’s request. Hunty seemed to have left to fulfill Ssulal’s other request.
As Carol walked, from the other side of corridor,
“…Carol, is it?”
“…Ah, so it’s Shichisei.”
She suddenly met her rival, Shichisei, the apostle of Camilla.
Shichisei furrowed his eyebrow a bit when he saw Carol. Then he prepared himself in case she began to do something.
Carol challenging Shichisei to some sort of match was considered a daily occurrence. Shichisei didn’t mind if it was only a little, but it happened all the time and he was confronted over various things, which made him mentally exhausted and it became a source of worry for him.
But his master Camilla also told him to accept Carol’s challenge as much as possible, so he couldn’t refuse even if he wanted to. For some reason, Camilla seemed to be having fun watching his troubles.
Therefore, Shichisei stopped in the corridor. However,
“…Well then, please excuse me.”
“…Eh? Ah, okay.”
Shichisei couldn’t help but be dumbfounded as he saw Carol only give a short greeting and pass by him.
Her appearance lacked her usual energy and clearly seemed depressed.
As he saw that,
“…Somehow, it felt out of tune.”
Even when he tried to speak out, Carol was already walking in the direction Shichisei had come from and didn’t even look at him. He could guess that she most likely had some sort of important business. However,
“…That sure feels weird.”
Shichisei was at a loss after he saw Carol’s sad expression for the first time.
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