A Chaotic Audience

Author: Iwashi-zukushi
Raw: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n3388fm/5/
Translator: Lilia v4
Editor: Yuriko AYA

I do not think it was because of my conversation with Kira, exactly, but from there on the walk, talk began to flow with Kira and the other girls as well.
In the waiting room we were shown to before the audience, the mood was so peaceable I could not have imagined it when we first arrived on the island, and Gerda watched us with a look of happiness.
Being looked at that way was a little embarrassing.

Then, as we chattered, the appointed time came, and we were led into the audience chamber.
Under Gerda’s instruction, we waited on our knees with our heads bowed.

“His Majesty Shutraum now enters. All present, compose yourselves.”

A cool voice, apparently an aide’s, rang out, and we straightened our posture once more.
All at once, a tense air ran through us.

Gerda had been such a good person.
The Demon King, it seemed, was different from what we had imagined.
But whether that difference was for better or worse, we did not know, and in any case there was no question that this was a power that could crush the likes of us with ease.
It was tantamount to facing a living weapon of slaughter. Telling us not to be nervous was the unreasonable demand.
Gerda noticed how we were, but even she could hardly speak to us in this situation; she could only send us a worried look.
Well. Her kindness showed even in that.

I was thinking so when hard footsteps echoed: click, click.
Something with overwhelming power—enough that even I, who could not use magic, could feel it—entered.

…Impossible.

The word crossed my mind, abrupt.

Standing before a being like this and being told not to tense, not to freeze—impossible.
If I let my guard down, it felt as if my heart might stop.
A presence that overwhelming came in, stopped in front of us who had forgotten even to breathe, and sat upon the throne.

“Very well. All of you, raise your faces.”

A clear, dignified voice rang out. At once, breathing became easier.
…Huh? I thought, as I lifted my face.
Because.

“You have come a long way. You have done well.
…Though, well, I am sorry for that very reason.”

Yes. The voice I heard was a woman’s.
And what I saw was a woman as well.

I, and the girls around me, had gone completely still at the sheer unexpectedness of it.

“I thought you would react so…
The offerings sent until now were the same.”

A heavy sigh.

In apparent age, she looked around her mid-twenties. What she actually was, I had no idea.
What first drew the eye was her long, lustrous platinum-blonde hair.
That silky straight fall gave her the pure look of a shrine maiden.
And the large eyes at the center of her well-formed face were slightly downturned.
Together with her gentle expression, they held a familiar warmth, and yet a light of intelligence as well.

And yet the outfit she wore was the sort that made one want to shout, is that an evil lady executive’s!?—a daring thing, black as its keynote.
And it suited her remarkably well, with her ample, mature, adult figure.
To be honest, even I, a woman, found myself swallowing at how alluring she was.

“As you can see, I am a woman.
Hence I have no need of female offerings. …Well, I have no need of male ones either.
In short, you are offerings who were never needed in the first place.”

What I had taken in only vaguely from the sight of her was made unmistakably clear by her words.
Then what, I also thought, had we been put through all this for, to be sent here?
…Though in my case, I was rather more relieved than not.
Most of the girls, as expected, seemed to be in shock.

“I, too, have given notice any number of times that I have no such need.
And still they keep sending offerings such as you.
Of the reasons one might imagine, one is the superstition that demonfolk prefer to devour humans.
Another is that they are convinced that if they take my word in earnest, I will use it as a pretext to make war.”

There she cut herself off.
Her gaze moved slowly over us. For an instant it overlapped with mine, then left.

“And for some portion, I expect, there is one more reason, a farcical one: that it is a convenient way to dispose of troublesome girls.
It is enough to make me laugh in disbelief… and yet, refuse as I may, refuse as I may, they send you on.
I can hardly sink you along with the ships, innocent as you are, and so we have this sorry state of affairs.
It is through my own inadequacy that you have been subjected to such injustice, and I am sorry.”

And with those words.
She bowed her head.
She, who was the Demon King.

A king was a king, even among demonfolk. I had never imagined such a being bowing to the likes of us.
We were so surprised we froze, unable even to speak.

“And in truth, I also believe you ought to be sent back.
I believe it… but there are circumstances that will not allow it…”

She sighed again.
Yes. If she thought so, she ought to have been able simply to send us home.
And yet sacrificial people had remained here long enough to form a town. Why?

…Something occurred to me, and I think my face went to surely not.
Perhaps she noticed my expression; the Demon King turned her gaze on me.

“Some among you have noticed, it seems…
Yes. You were sent to this island as sacrifices.
The moment you set foot on this land, you are deemed, in any number of senses, defiled.
In body, or in mind, or by some manner of curse.
At the very least, the humans who sent you here will spread such talk.
You can imagine, I think, how a person said to have been defiled by monsters would be treated, should they return to their country alive?
…I have seen it, in fact.
That is why I cannot send you back so lightly.
If, even so, there are those among you who trust the people of your country and wish to be returned, come forward.
I will see you delivered, on my name. Well?”

After she asked, silence fell for a while.

…No one could come forward.
I was one, but the other girls had surely been through much the same.
Trusting was simply not possible.

“…Yes. Your feelings are only natural.
That is why I wish to take you in.
Makeshift though it may be. Counterfeit though it may be.
I hope you will come to think of this country as a second home.”

At those words, I—we—could hardly believe our ears.
To us, who had had our place among humans taken away.
To us, who had been abandoned by parents and friends alike.
Still, she who was the Demon King had said that we were allowed to be here.
In that there was great confusion.
And, just a little. A sure sense of relief.

“Of course, this is by no means a large country, so I must have you work as soon as tomorrow.
What say you? Will you become people of this nation?”

No one could answer the question at once.
That was only reasonable. To be confronted with a cruel reality and then, immediately, with words of salvation—it would have been stranger not to be thrown into chaos.
I was the same.

I looked at the Demon King’s face.
…And at Gerda, who was watching us with worry.
And my heart settled.

“Your Majesty, may I speak?”
“Yes, of course. I am the one who asked the question.”
“Thank you.
…I beg of you. Please, allow me to remain in this country.
I am of little talent, but I wish to do all I can for Your Majesty, and for this nation!”

By the end my voice had gone shrill, almost like a scream.
Even so, I said it through.
At my words, the Demon King narrowed her eyes, looking pleased.

“Thank you. I have received your words, without mistake.
You—what is your name?”
“Yes. Though I am unworthy, I shall say it.
My name is Asha.”
“I see. Then, Asha.
From this moment, you are a person of my nation.
Serve. Keep our laws, and devote yourself in all sincerity.
So long as you devote yourself, I shall protect you.”

So saying, she turned a smile on me.
A smile like a flower coming into bloom.

…She was already a beauty overflowing with charisma, and if she aimed a smile like that at me alone, of course it would be a shock enough to do something unfortunate to the soul.
My head swam. I nearly lost consciousness.
I would have liked to praise myself for somehow holding on.

“Um! Your Majesty, I will devote myself as well! Please, allow me to remain in this country!”
“I-I will too, I beg of you as well!”

Chris’s voice, and everyone’s voices, rang out.
Each time, the Demon King nodded happily and spoke to each of them.

What was this scene?
Was I dreaming?

We who had been used and discarded by humans had found a place to belong.
Given to us by the Demon King, who ought to have been humanity’s enemy.

Perhaps.
Perhaps my knowledge existed for this.

For the development of this country. For us, and for the people who had been sent here until now.
I would do everything I could.
That was what I swore, in my heart.