"...What’s your name?"
Suddenly, Rudeus’s childish voice rang out, forcing Alaric out of his thoughts and back to reality.
Only then did The King realize that there was still a child beside him.
And this child had just gone through a lot of tragedy.
"I’m Alaric Valthor. Nice to meet you. What’s your name, little one?"
"Rudeus Greyrat? That’s a pretty name."
To be honest, The King didn’t understand names at all, nor did he know what they meant or if they were pretty or not.
But which child wouldn’t like to be complimented?
However, Rudeus was a different case.
The boy just nodded indifferently and expressionlessly, as if completely unconcerned with anything else.
Then, with his eyes filled with darkness, Rudeus glanced around.
"Is there no one alive? My mother, my father, my family, my friends?"
"I’m sorry. You’re the only one I could find. The others are... dead."
Alaric patted the boy’s head guiltily.
If... if The King had gone to that village earlier, would he have been able to save one or two more lives?
Even upon hearing such information, the boy’s eyes did not waver in the slightest.
His expression remained cold, completely devoid of any trace of sadness.
"...But surely... they would be happy to know that I am still alive, right?"
"...Of course, they will definitely be happy."
The King hugged Rudeus, continuously rubbing his back.
"So... I have become an orphan?"
Then, the boy slowly glanced up, looking straight into Alaric’s vivid eyes.
"...Can you take me with you? I’m willing to do anything... even if you make me eat shit, I will do it."
"...Don’t say that, kid. I will definitely take you with me, and of course I won’t make you do anything too difficult."
With that, Rudeus left Alaric’s arms, and climbed straight onto the horse’s back.
The boy did everything in a hurry, as if he was being chased by the police... no, he was going to catch a bunch of criminals.
Rudeus cautiously asked The King.
As he asked, Alaric walked towards the horse.
"...Those demons... the ones who massacred my entire village... are heading towards their next target."
Looking at his territory from above, the demon king leisurely enjoyed a cup of herbal tea while listening to the report from his subordinates.
"Sir, our army has destroyed quite a few villages in the outskirts and remote areas. And we are heading towards the next villages as per your orders."
Taking a sip of tea, he replied.
However, that subordinate still did not leave even though there was nothing left to report.
"What’s the matter? Do you have anything to ask?"
"...Yes. May I, sir?"
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Taking a deep breath, adjusting his tone to not sound as arrogant as possible, he opened his mouth:
"Why do we keep attacking villages that no one cares about, sir? Wouldn’t it be better to just attack a city like we demons did in the past?"
The demon king lowered his teacup.
Then, his abyssal eyes looked straight at his subordinate.
However, there was no murderous intent in them.
"Do you know about cancer?"
"Cancer? Is that the name of a dish or something?"
The subordinate blinked a few times, not quite understanding the demon king’s intentions.
"Oh, right, you’re a demon, and cancer is a human disease."
"...What does it have to do with what we’re talking about?"
"It’s extremely relevant."
The Demon King smiled gently, yet it was extremely vicious.
"At first, when people get cancer, they won’t realize it. And after a while, when their condition starts to get worse, they’ll still believe that it’s just a normal disease."
"And only when the cancer has progressed to the final stage do they realize they have the disease. But by then, it’s already too late."
The subordinate frowned.
"But wouldn’t they just need to go for a checkup to find out if they have cancer?"
"Hahahaha! You’re right!"
The Demon King burst out laughing.
"But that’s only when they go for a checkup."
Then, the laughter died out, completely disappearing from the world.
"Right now, the five kingdoms and that empire are both at war with each other and thinking of ways to deal with us. So they don’t have the time or the mind to go for a checkup."
"...Why are you so sure that they won’t pause the war?"
"Are you doubting me?"
The Demon King sent his subordinate a sharp look, as if it could tear him into a million pieces right away.
"O-Of course not, sir! I’m just curious!"
"...According to what I know about the current emperor of the Voidveil Empire, he definitely wouldn’t do that."
The demon king’s lips curled up slightly.
"Perhaps we demons should thank that arrogant guy."
Alaric and Rudeus had been riding together on the horse for nearly 30 minutes, but up until now, the number of times they had spoken to each other could only be counted on one hand.
To be more specific, it was 4 times.
And all 4 times, Alaric had always been the one to initiate.
How should the King describe this kid?
He was too cautious, too mature.
Completely unlike the appearance a child his age should have.
What exactly did Rudeus go through to have such a personality?
"Hey Rudeus, why does a child like you have such a personality?"
Trying to find the answer on his own won’t get him anywhere, and who said Alaric couldn’t just ask the kid directly?
"...You really want to know?"
"For no reason, just curious."
Rudeus nodded a few times, showing that he understood.
In a voice that couldn’t be more casual, as if he was talking about what to eat tomorrow, the kid opened his mouth:
"...It’s nothing much. I just witnessed the villagers being killed in the most gruesome and brutal way by demons."
"Witnessing my friends being burned to the point of being left with only bones."
"Witnessing my grandparents try to protect me even though their chest were pierced."
"Witnessing my beloved father being forced by demons to eat his own parents, my grandparents, for their amusement."
"And witnessing my mother still forcing herself to smile even though her face no longer resembled a human’s, and still trying to comfort me before she passed away."
Alaric was at a loss for words.
Maybe... asking that question was a terrible choice.