Chapter 17: The Demon King Who Summoned the Magical Dragon
Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations
Editor: Karai
While searching for the truth, a strange rumor caught our attention: the Demon King had stolen the Hero’s fiancé. Though something about it felt off, there was no denying that this widely spread rumor gave us more directions to think about.
—From “Bizarre Romances You Must Know”, Part Three
After the Demon King injured his hand, the Hero dragged him outside every day, saying things like—
“Today’s weather is great—perfect for going out!”
“There’s a little chick at the chicken farm that got pecked by its mother. Let’s go check it out.”
“Uncle’s boat got damaged and needs fixing. Joshua, do you want to come help?”
“There are such fresh and fragrant flowers blooming outside! They’re absolutely beautiful~”
Every day brought a new reason, none repeated for a full seven days, and whether it was a question or a statement, the Hero always ended by pushing him out the door. Seven whole days of forced routines left the Demon King feeling… exasperated.
“So you really don’t plan to go back yet, huh?” the Demon King asked expressionlessly as he returned only near dinner time, once again slapping away the hand resting on his shoulder. The Hero caught the Demon King’s still-healing hand and gently put it back down. “Not for now—Joshua, don’t move too much. That’ll affect your wound’s recovery.”
The warm glow of the setting sun shone softly between the houses. The green trees swayed in the wind, their leaves rustling. Passersby smiled and greeted them as the Demon King was pushed along. Though his spirits seemed okay, his expression was less so.
The scenery nearby was crisp and bright, but after losing his freedom, the Demon King’s color seemed to fade as if a layer had peeled away. Even when people walked by and he returned their greetings, he still bluntly snapped at the Hero. “Hello—You’re standing too close to me, which is what’s actually affecting my wound.”
The Hero replied, “I think you’re a little too direct with your words. Um… I suggest you don’t talk to others that way. Being so blunt might cause some people to be resistant toward you.”
After the Demon King rolled his eyes at him, the Hero took his left hand, smiled, and hurriedly pushed him forward through patches of sunlight and shade.
The Demon King, breathless from being pushed and running without grace, finally spat out, “Then let them be resistant.”
If they have the guts, they can take me down; if not, they’ll just have to endure it. His hair almost tousled, the Demon King shrugged off the Hero’s help, glaring at him with a flushed face. The Hero just smiled cheerfully. ^ ^
…
Anything put effort into would eventually bring rewards. For example, the Hero’s daily insistence on pulling the Demon King outside had successfully brought out a progressively more “lively” side of him.
Or the method the Demon King had mentioned many days ago, which had helped him harvest a few sprouting, tender green shoots in the village fields. And after the Demon King was forced into a regular routine—coming home every day to sleep deeply and completely rest himself—he finally regained a faint trace of his magic. When the Demon King was woken up as usual, he saw the annoying Hero swaying in front of him. Having finally sensed that faint magic, he snapped, “Don’t touch me!”
The Demon King, who had already been tested before, was far from a helpless mess now. How could he possibly allow the Hero to touch him so confidently? If discovered, it would be a full-scale Hero-brand counterattack and a village-wide manhunt!
Staring at the surprised Hero, the Demon King felt that his earlier refusals had been too mild. Now, he was absolutely firm: “I’ll get up myself.”
Even though his hand still hurt a little, the Demon King angrily drove the Hero away. With the Hero’s stunned expression behind the closed door, he began preparing himself.
“Magic Dragon, Magic Dragon, this is the Demon King. Please, respond.”
His eyes shone brightly as he summoned his dragon. Outside the door, the Hero called out, “Joshua?! Move a little slower! You still have to change your bandages later, and we need to do the inventory today…”
The Demon King snapped back, “I know! Shut up.”
The dragon responded quickly through their contract. In a good mood, the Demon King opened the door, and even the Hero seemed to look better in his eyes. “Of course I will. After all, it’s my hand.”
Showing true care for his own body, the Demon King made the Hero sigh in relief. “Mm…” the Hero said softly.
In good spirits, the Demon King hopped back inside and calmly continued tending to himself. When he went out, he was, as always, the cool and aloof Joshua. Jenny from the chicken farm chased a rooster as it fluttered and flew onto a nearby tree. Leaves fell from the tree and scattered all over the Demon King’s head.
Still aloof and expressionless beneath the leaves, he brushed them all off, and when the Hero reached out to help, he gave a clear look that said: Don’t touch me.
The Hero just plucked a single leaf. The Demon King stared at that leaf for a moment. Then the rooster dropped down right in front of him. The Demon King quickly sidestepped. When Jenny apologized for the accident, he waved it off with a gesture, indicating it was no problem, then left the scene with light steps. After Jenny caught her livestock, she glanced at the Hero. “Joshua seems to be in a good mood today?”
The Hero smiled brightly. ^ ^ “Yeah, I guess.”
Dropping the leaf, the Hero waved and called after the Demon King as he walked away. “Wait up! You’re walking too fast—I’ll get lost if you leave me behind.” The Hero subtly tried to act cute. The aloof Demon King felt no trace of cuteness.
But faced with the beautiful future where they might never meet again, or the next meeting would be a fight to the death, or that he would soon return to his castle, the Demon King slightly slowed his pace.
As the Demon King, he couldn’t afford to damage his image in front of other intelligent beings. With steady steps, the Demon King strode forward, while the not-so-steady Hero hurried to catch up.
“Joshua.” The Hero called after him breathlessly. After waiting a long time for more, the Demon King looked back, confused. The Hero smiled warmly as he walked behind him, saying nothing. Puzzled, the Demon King turned back and continued forward. Ahead lay a bright and beautiful path.
…
A bright future always arrived quickly, making all the hardships seem insignificant. The Demon King felt this deeply as he learned the magical dragon was about to arrive, glancing over at the Hero.
The Hero, about to check the letters, looked puzzled. Before leaving, the Demon King smiled, found an excuse to start a quarrel, and proceeded to pick a fight with the Hero—one, two, three, four, five times in a row. Facing the Demon King’s constant unreasonable complaints, the Hero snapped, “I think we need to calm down.”
Once, the Demon King scolded the Hero for shouting too loudly. Once, for shouting too softly. Once, for forcing him outside. Once, for pushing him to work. And the last time, he blamed the Hero for getting lost and for his rebellious behavior in Eso Town.
On that last point, the Hero defended himself, insisting his poor sense of direction wasn’t intentional and that his earlier actions had reasons and were necessary. “My father taught me from a young age that rewards and punishments must have rules, limits, and guidelines.”
The Demon King argued against this idea, and their quarrel grew fiercer until the Hero left with the fisherman uncle, asking to cool off separately. The Demon King, left behind, finally exhaled.
Before checking the letters on his schedule, the Hero encountered a group of people. The warrior carrying a giant sword said, “You are the Hero.”
The thief, running fastest, added, “You rescued the princess.”
The archer, drawing his bow, accused, “You abandoned the princess at the border.”
The magician raised a fireball: “We come under the King’s orders. Please, show understanding.”
The fireball transformed into a phoenix in midair. An arrow turned to light streaked to the ground. The warrior swung his sword at the Hero, who dodged, while the thief traced a silver arc nearby.
At that moment, from somewhere far away, a dragon’s roar echoed. Everyone froze. The Hero snatched the warrior’s giant sword. The magical dragon appeared in the human realm.
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