Who Could Have Loved the Monster Princess? - Chapter 24
I was nine years old. My dad was pushed back by the demon army and discovered a ruined village, where he built a temporary house. There were no survivors where the demons had swept through.
I was searching for water and food when I found a remaining demon sniffing around our house. I defeated it, and next to the kitchen hearth, behind a pile of straw, there was a little kid hiding.
“I won’t kill you, so come out.”
I just said it because I was worried about leaving him there in case there were more demons around. If he didn’t come out, I could bring any nearby soldier. Since he seemed to be looking at me through the straw, I thought he wouldn’t come out. Because I probably looked like a monster to that child.
Surprisingly, the child listened to me and came out. Coming out through the straw, he seemed like a grain spirit popping out. The child was so beautiful, with a fair face, graceful cheeks and jawline, and long eyelashes surrounding gemstone-like eyes. Even though the child was wearing rags, they still looked good on him.
That child was Ken. Later, I was extremely surprised to find out that the child was a boy. Now, well, with a physique like that, he couldn’t be anything but a boy.
At that time, I wondered why Ken didn’t show any signs of caution and followed me outside when I told him to. So, whenever I had the chance, I asked him.
“Didn’t I look like a demon? Why did you just come out when I told you to?”
At such times, he would just look at me silently without explaining.
‘Later, I found out that he simply came out because I said I wouldn’t kill him.’
I didn’t hear it directly from him; my dad told me. He guessed the reasons by asking a few questions.
‘Since he wouldn’t say anything, I thought there must be a significant reason.’
After finding out the answer, if Ken didn’t respond, I just assumed it wasn’t a big deal. And indeed, it wasn’t.
I found myself ascending a mountain without realizing it, mesmerized by Ken’s straw hat.
‘Why am I climbing a mountain?’
We had already passed by Ken’s house when he asked me what I liked. He was thinking about something else and didn’t even realize it.
“Where are we going?”
“To the valley.”
“Isn’t this mountain connected to the Mondsera Mountain Range?”
“That’s right.”
Ken looked at me as if asking, ‘What’s the problem?’
“No, this is where demons live, right?”
I explained, but Ken still seemed confused as to what the problem was.
In the past, the influence of the Demon King extended to the entire mountain range. And at the highest peak was the Demon King’s castle, crowning Mondsera. In the quest to defeat the Demon King, my father had roamed the entire continent, and the location of this castle was only discovered after receiving divine guidance.
The Demon King’s territory was an ideal environment for demons to thrive. This meant that demons still inhabited this place. It was dangerous to venture into where demons resided, and it was common sense to avoid it. We should turn back.
However, when I saw the composed face of the warrior who defeated the Demon King, I put the thought of going back in the back of my mind.
There was no demon that could defeat Ken, and I had never fought a monster and lost. I had never felt fear.
‘Yeah, even if the Demon King appears, with Ken around, what’s the problem?’
At the age of sixteen, he defeated the Demon King with a babyface. Now, he seemed even stronger than he did back then.
‘Now that the Demon King is gone, what was he trying to scare by looking so deadly…’
The muscles that stretched out his shirt with every step, and the hip line that peeked out every time he moved his legs…
I shook my head to clear those distracting thoughts.
‘Ah! What do I think I’m doing, looking at him like that!’
Ken asked, “If you’re not in the mood, should we turn back?”
I replied, “No. I thought it might be dangerous.”
“Dangerous…you say?”
“Now that I think about it, what’s the danger when I have you here?”
“…I am.”
“Huh?”
“I’m in danger.”
“Why are you in danger?”
“You.”
“Huh?”
“…”
Is he aware of what I dreamt? When he said I’m a danger to him, did that mean he realized I used him in my dream as the embodiment of my desires?
‘Well, that can’t be possible.’
Ken didn’t seem to be worried that I would suddenly attack him. Was he suggesting that I’m dangerous because my nails look scary?
“….Was he joking?”
I looked at Ken with confusion, but he didn’t say anything more and just kept walking.
“…?”
I followed Ken, still puzzled. I tried to understand why he would say he was dangerous, but I quickly gave up. Maybe it wasn’t intentional.
‘Well, if it’s not a big deal, he should at least explain what’s dangerous about me.’
Muttering to myself, I realized Ken was pointing ahead.
“We’re here.”
I looked in the direction he indicated and couldn’t help but exclaim, “Wow!”
What unfolded before my eyes was a small valley where even children could play with its winding stream flowing down the rocks. The scent of the water in the valley stimulated my sense of smell.
Best of all, we were high enough up that we could see the capital city in all its splendor bathed in the reddish hues of sunset.
“This is amazing.”
