Will I End Up As a Hero or a Demon King (WN)

Chapter 145

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Chapter 145 – Mother

The feeling of being enveloped in a pleasant light.

It’s like being immersed in warm water from head to toe or basking in the spring sunlight on the veranda…

As I’m dozing off in such a pleasant state, someone’s voice brings me back to reality.

“It’s all right now.”

“I see… I’m sorry…”

“(… Is that Feeril? Or is it Alicia-sama?)”

I was confused by the conversation, but when I opened my eyes, I immediately realized that I was still in the queen ant’s room.

There were so many dead ants in front of me that there was no way I could have made a mistake.

I almost hugged an ant and started to sweat.

“It looks like Loki-kun has regained consciousness.”

I thought to myself, “That voice is definitely Feeril, right?” and I sat up and turned my head in the direction of the voice.

“…Thank you very much.”

I couldn’t help but use polite language.

I could only think that an aura of rage was spewing from behind Feeril.

There was no trace of her usual smile, and the difference from before was so great that I almost involuntarily took a step back.

“First of all, both of you, sit cross-legged.”

“”Yes.””

Ril and I obeyed as if it were natural.

Our movements were fast, like ants.

Actually, I think Feeril is the boss of the goddesses behind the scenes…

That thought briefly crossed my mind, but if she found out now, my head would probably fly far away, so I put my forehead on the ground and started counting the pebbles on the ground.

I was surprised by Ril’s kneeling, and now I’m kneeling for the second time with Ril in front of Feeril…

“What the hell are you two doing? Loki-kun was just killed the other day, so why are you two so badly injured? Loki-kun almost died. You looked like a rag doll, didn’t you?”

She was right, but I couldn’t say anything.

I knew that I was worse than a rag.

“Both arms and legs were missing, as well as both ears, the right eye, and the nose, and the wound even reached the internal organs in the abdomen. Rigal, how could this have happened in your presence?”

“Ah, no… We were struck by an unexpected situation…”

“What kind of goddess are you if you can’t handle unexpected situations!”

“”(Flinch!)””

“You too, Loki-kun! I told you the other day that it would be difficult to revive you, so why did you take such a risky action?”

If I say that, she’ll get angry without mercy.

Even though I knew that, I thought I should explain it myself rather than have Ril explain it, so I opened my mouth even though I was scared.

“I-I’m really sorry. I am the cause of all of this. I made the mistake of thinking that the boss of this place wouldn’t be here at this time of the year. As a result, we were attacked by the queen ant, who is the boss of this place, and this is what happened. I was the one who decided on Ril’s skill, and Ril was desperately protecting me, so the responsibility lies with me.”

“That is not true. When Loki entered this room, you were already saying that you wanted to go back. I… I dragged you along to destroy the egg out of greed, thinking that it would raise my level. The reason for this is my words that led us to enter this room.”

“No, no, that’s not true. I agreed to it because I thought it was worthwhile to defeat it, so it’s mutual. If it weren’t for the queen ant, this situation wouldn’t have arisen, and it was I who misunderstood the information and made a mess of things.”

“No, no, no! I was properly controlling myself…”

“That’s enough.”

The words stop abruptly.

The air is tense.

The atmosphere is heavy…

“Loki-kun, aren’t you afraid of death?”

“Eh? Of course, I do. Probably more than anyone else.”

“After being killed by Rigal and suffering such extensive damage so soon after, it would be normal for your mind to break down… Why are you so normal? Are you not feeling any mental abnormalities right now?”

I involuntarily looked up and stared at my hands, which had returned to normal.

Even if you say so, I can only say that I don’t understand, right?

If you’re asking me if I want to fight monsters again, I’d have to say yes, even if it’s a boss-class monster.

Of course, the basic premise is that I want to be able to fight my way out of a situation without dying, but even so, the idea of switching to a safer job on a farm doesn’t come to mind.

A question I know I’ve been asked.

Why is that?

I want to be strong because I don’t want to be oppressed by anyone.

I want to be strong so that I don’t have to suffer any more unreasonable things.

But in order to do that, I’ve already died once, and I almost died again because of unreasonable power and unreasonable numbers.

I know this is putting the cart before the horse.

I don’t want to stop being a hunter.

I want to experience the excitement I felt in the game, the joy of getting stronger, the pleasure of seeing my efforts pay off, and the sense of accomplishment that comes with it.

But it’s not the same.

This isn’t a game. It’s the real world.

The game perspective and the real-world perspective are mixing again.

Especially recently, discoveries like quantifying equipment and resurrection have made me wonder if it’s really the real world and not a game.

Because of this…

“Lo-Loki? Are you okay…?”

“Yeah. It’s hard for me to tell, but I think I’m okay.”

I probably shouldn’t say anything unnecessary right now.

“So you’re still going to be a hunter – to defeat the monsters, right?”

As I thought.

“If I can get stronger, I think I’ll continue to hunt as a hunter. It’s the only thing I know how to do.”

“I see…”

Feeril probably doesn’t want me to become a hunter.

I can’t see any change in her expression, but somehow, I can tell that’s how she feels.

If you hunt monsters, you’ll do reckless things.

I’m sure that’s what she thinks, and there’s no way around it because of the situation right now.

Then I’ll tell her how I really feel.

“Feeril, I’m not going to die. I’m not going to die because I don’t want to die. I can’t say for sure, but I won’t do anything reckless for the time being. I’ve become really strong here!

I know it’s not right to laugh when someone is lecturing you, but I thought it was the best thing to do at the time.

I don’t know if it worked, but Feeril came to sit on me while I was sitting on the ground.

“Loki-kun, do you remember our previous promise?”

“Fuga… a promise? You mean a friend?”

“Yes, that’s right, but… I don’t want a ‘friend’ who worries me so much.”

“Eh…?”

Hearing those words, the blood drained from my entire body.

Could it be that I’ve been rejected?

“So, I think I’ll become Loki-kun’s ‘mother’ in this world. I’ve always wanted to experience that, and it seems to fit my feelings the best.”

“Huh? Mother…?”

My head is in a state of confusion. I feel relieved that I wasn’t rejected and surprised that she suddenly introduced herself as my ‘mother.’

However, I don’t feel any bad feelings when she calls herself my ‘mother.’

On the contrary, when Feeril says ‘mother,’ it feels like I’m being gently wrapped up in something, and I start to feel really happy.

“I’m really happy…maybe…”

I can’t help but feel that I’m degenerating lately, but inside, I’m still 32 years old.

Even though she calls herself my mother now, it’s no wonder I feel embarrassed.

But I’m still happy, and I want to feel comfortable, so I can’t help but hug Feeril tightly.

“Fufu, you really are cute~. I wonder if everyone feels like this when they have a child~.”

Oh, I’ve gone off-topic. My mood has improved.

At the same time, I’m wondering who I asked.

My field of vision is currently in her chest.

So I didn’t really understand, but with Ril’s answer, I could enjoy the hugging time all by myself.

“Well, I don’t know because I’ve never experienced it, but I think most people feel happy when they have a baby, right?”

“I’d like to experience that sometime. Speaking of which, what do you call your mother on Earth?”

“Well, I think ‘mom’ is the most common. Some people call their mothers ‘mother’ when they’re older, but on the other hand, when they’re little, they often call them ‘mama.'”

“Ma… Mama… That’s it! You’re still young, so you should call me Mama! Oh, and you just said ‘boku,’ which is also really good, so let’s use that from now on!” [T/n: A less formal option to Watashi, Boku (ぼく、僕) is another way to say “I” or “me” in Japanese. Boku can be used by young boys and adult men to refer to themselves in a humble way. This word is slightly formal, so you can use it when you’re talking to a stranger or someone in a higher position than you.]

“Huh? That’s… a little too embarrassing!”

“Well, just for now, just this once, as a token of gratitude for your healing, please!”

Guguu…

When she says that, I can’t say anything back.

I regret saying something unnecessary, but it’s too late.

I mumble, making a decision I don’t really understand and hoping that Ril isn’t around.

“Ma-Mama… I’m so happy…”

“~~!

“Nuoooo!!!”

I was hugged from the front, but then I found myself flying through the air, and after two and a half spins, I landed with my hands behind my back in a position that was almost like a princess’ carry.

Then Feeril immediately sat down.

While she patted my head, I thought to myself that this must be Feeril’s favorite thing to do, but I couldn’t stop feeling nervous inside.

Lying on my back is especially bad right now…

I cross my legs, of course, and desperately try to hide them somehow.

After all, I’m completely naked.

Even though my body is protected thanks to my acid resistance, most of my clothes and shoes have melted away, except for the metal ones.

I was already fighting in my heroic full chicken mode before I used Berserk, so even if Ril and Feeril saw me in my normal state now, I could just shrug it off…

I can’t show them my selfish little boy.

“(Kuh… Mama… It’s even more amazing than I imagined…)”

Every time my head is patted, the giant marshmallow that falls on my face is disturbing.

I was transported to this world, and at the age of 32, I awoke to the smell of a goddess and also to the art of being pampered.

For me, who for some reason continues to explore uncharted territory, the existence of this new mama figure also seems irresistible.

Where exactly am I going?

“Ara~? Ara~ ara~?”

“Lo-Lo-Lo-Lo-Loki~…”

I can’t see Feeril’s face because it’s blocked, but if I turn to the side, I can see Ril staring at me with her hands covering her eyes, but she’s made a diamond-shaped slit and is staring at me.

It’s just to hide her eyebrows.

“(I don’t want to die, but I want to die now… I have no dignity left…)”

I feel like I’ve reached some kind of enlightenment, and with eyes like a dead fish, I look at the wall in front of me.

“When people are in danger of losing their lives, the will to leave offspring naturally takes over, and reproductive activity becomes more active on an instinctive level. Did you know that’s common knowledge on Earth?”

“”…..””

I don’t even know what I’m saying.

Even though the situation is completely safe right now…

I still think it’s good to be safe and at peace, and I curl up on Feeril’s belly as if to hide.

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