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I’ve traveled with countless Hero Parties up until now.

I’ve entered as a porter, as a sage, and even once pretended to be a hero leading a party.

In those moments, I truly witnessed many human figures and met various people, chatting with them.

Sometimes about hometown stories.

Sometimes about magic.

Sometimes about how I would propose to her back home after this battle and the life we’d share post-proposal.

I shared various stories directly, and while my party members chatted when I wasn’t around, I secretly listened, eager to know what they thought of me.

You see.

Human nature is gossip at its core.

No matter how well I treated them, as long as the party members were human, gossip was bound to happen, especially when I took on a lesser role like a porter or guide; that’s when the chatter would start.

Of course, I used that to take my revenge on them, ultimately bringing the Hero Party to ruin.

If there was a party with minimal noise…

“Ah, damn it! Are you seriously that angry?! Come on, let’s have a go!”

“Alright, let’s see who’s stronger today!”

“Boss, can we just leave that one?”

“Who knows? If one of them dies, we’ll just hold a funeral and be done with it. Hey, be gentle. The rookie is worried you’ll be taking out the corpses.”

“What? The rookie? You bastard… You owe your life to the rookie today! Drink up, you punk!”

“You think you can lose?! Challenging a dwarf to a drinking contest, you insolent little elf!”

“Boss, is it correct that the elf is challenging the dwarf to a drinking contest?”

“Don’t meddle in a man’s fight.”

There was one party composed entirely of men.

The composition changed often, but despite the noise during our travels, there was no secret gossip or petty talk behind each other’s backs.

“My late father used to say: if you’re going to make a fuss, do it boldly in front, instead of whining behind people’s backs.”

“Seems like making a fuss is the same either way.”

“Right. If you make a fuss behind someone, you might have to live quietly for life, but if you do it upfront, at least there’s a chance for things to change. Understand?”

“I understand. So, elder, it’s about time for bed; please shut up and sleep.”

“No way, have you ever seen a fast-learning bastard like this?”

“Stop whining and sleep.”

“Damn it.”

If something was wrong, they said it openly, and if it needed solving, they did it over a drink, so things were kept clean.

In the end, I got so attached to that party that I set them off on a journey to a distant continent, getting myself out of the place where I was messing things up.

So I’ve always considered that ‘male party’ to be the most ideal party.

And if I had to pick the absolute worst party…

“Man, this is seriously messed up.”

It must be them.

As someone who has led Hero Parties with three or more people, I was utterly baffled by the situation I was facing for the first time.

“Lucius. Do we really have to keep listening to this? They’re writing smutty novels about you and me right now.”

“I’m sorry, Master, but please bear with it even if it’s uncomfortable.”

Lucius looked genuinely sorry yet desperate.

“If we go out now, they’ll definitely feel embarrassed to death. They might even leave the party.”

“Well, it’s not uncommon for people to run away out of embarrassment. Honestly, I would bolt if something like that got exposed.”

First, they openly admitted they were into Lucius.

Second, they depicted Lucius and me as though we were sharing a romantic relationship.

Third, in their imaginations, I was not only fooling around with Lucius but also committing adultery…

“Oh, now they’re thinking about grandchildren. Lucius, is this for real?”

“…Just know that if we go out now, they might throw themselves off something in shame.”

“Right? Just kicking the blankets won’t be the end of it.”

It was truly maddening, yet this kind-hearted Lucius was proceeding to care for the party members like a fool.

“Really, how can they be imagining something so impossible…”

“Why is it impossible?”

“What?”

I was taken aback by Lucius’s seemingly uncomfortable statement, but soon understood what he meant.

“Oh, sorry, sorry. Excluding my case, it certainly is a plausible story for them to marry.”

“…Master.”

Lucius scoffed as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Why? Those guys over there are imagining things before or after they get involved with them. The circumstances are different.”

“Not that…”

“What else could it be?”

“…….”

Lucius said nothing.

He shot me a look that seemed to wish I would get it, but I felt an irritating heat inside me.

– If you’re frustrated, just say it, damn it!

Ah.

This is what I liked about the male party.

If there was something to say, they said it right out loud, regardless of whether it was right or wrong; I missed that time.

‘Why is he being so cautious with his words?’

“Lucius. Do you have something to say to me?”

“…It’s nothing.”

“It’s nothing, you say? You were about to say something before, and it was practically stuck in your throat. Get it out. I promise I won’t tell anyone.”

“…Well then.”

Finally, it seemed Lucius was gathering his courage.

“Master… is it possible for you to have grandchildren?”

“What?”

“Children.”

“What? Me? Children? Haah.”

I almost burst out laughing, but Lucius’s expression was far too serious.

“Is that what you were curious about?”

“Yes.”

“Didn’t we talk about this last time?”

“You said something like you didn’t know how it would turn out. What’s the actual situation?”

“Oh, was that so? Hmm…”

It was like something was half-remembered, but it wasn’t particularly important.

“Lucius. To put it simply, it’s possible.”

“…….”

“But it’s not because I’m undead that life won’t bloom; perhaps a magic stone will come out instead?”

“…What?”

“This body is undead. Although it’s called a homunculus, it’s essentially no different from being undead. Well, calling it a homunculus is extravagance. This body is just undead. I’m the ghost attached to it.”

The truth is different, but there wouldn’t be a better time to blend lies with the truth than now.

Speaking as if I were being benevolent makes it feel ‘truthful.’

“I’ve heard of necromancers who can do such things, but that’s not me. This body has no reproductive functions. Probably.”

That would be the case.

Given that this body has no life activities now, if I were to truly have a child, it would likely not be a child but something resembling one.

“I’ve mentioned this several times, but this body isn’t my true body.”

“I know. It’s clear this isn’t your body.”

“…….”

In that moment, my heart sank.

‘Did he perhaps figure out I’m the Demon King?’

That won’t do.

I must remain the Sorceress of Crimson Lotus Bel, and Lucius cannot uncover the truth.

The moment he realizes I’m actually the Demon Lord Belphegor, he’ll unhesitatingly stab me.

A master?

What does that matter?

The very being that has plunged humanity into despair is breathing right before our eyes.

“Master. What’s wrong?”

“…Oh, it’s nothing. It’s just I’m bothered by what they are saying.”

Even as I said this, I couldn’t help but be concerned about Lucius.

For some reason.

I felt like he might suddenly pull out the Holy Wind Sword and stab my heart.

The being within Ascalon has been restrained by my ‘activation words,’ but if it bears a grudge and reveals the truth to Lucius to make a fool of me, who knows what might happen?

‘Should I prepare for it?’

If Lucius’s heart is pierced, I should be able to switch to another being at any time.

‘I should consider a familiar too.’

I don’t particularly like dealing with familiars, but if it comes to that, merging with a familiar’s body to escape might also be a viable option.

And then.

“Master.”

“Uh, yeah.”

“If you regain your original body, will you be able to become pregnant?”

“…Pregnant?”

Something, something was off.

“Me, pregnant?”

“Yes.”

“Uh, that’s a topic I’ve never considered before. Haha, h-haha.”

Somehow, it seems those guys are the source of this.

They must be the ones babbling weird things about Lucius and me, and now Lucius seems to be driven mad as well.

“Why’s that?”

“Well, if after you regain your original body they’re still acting that way, it would likely cause you a lot of discomfort…?”

“Right now, I’m already quite uncomfortable.”

“…That’s true.”

Lucius nodded heavily.

“Pregnancy.”

I’ve done it before but never undergone it myself.

“Logically, it shouldn’t be impossible. If I regain my true body, then everything is possible.”

Awesome magic can make anything possible.

“Did you know? Among Holy Swords, there’s one capable of resurrecting the dead.”

“…What?”

“There’s a Holy Sword that handles the wish of resurrection. There’s no need for me to regain my original body. Turning this body into a ‘living person’ with that Holy Sword should make pregnancy possible?”

Logically speaking.

“Oh, but that’s a bit tempting. That way, this body wouldn’t leak mana anymore. I’d feel like my strength would grow with workouts.”

“And pregnancy is possible?”

“Biologically speaking, it’s not impossible, right? But if that happens, their delusions will probably worsen.”

“…That’s true.”

Lucius’s voice was somewhat muffled.

“Master, I will definitely help you escape your undead form.”

“Yeah, yeah. Even just saying that means a lot to me.”

Escaping the undead meant that I would be entirely extinguished without leaving a soul behind.

This guy is truly dangerous.

“But Lucius, remember this.”

I gave Lucius’s back a light pat.

“It won’t be easy, you know?”

Lucius simply grinned confidently.

 

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