NOVEL WEB Chapter 96 - Side Story: Zahariash (Part 2)
Side Story: Zahariash (Part 2)
“Mine’s also simple. I just wandered into this world from another.”
“No, this is no simple matter. Tell us more.”
Eugene, who always had a carefree attitude, showed us a variety of expressions as he began to speak. This was the first time I truly understood him, as a person.
“It’s going to take a while. I was born and raised in a country called Japan, in another world. Just a normal human man. I was married, had a child. But my wife passed away early, and my parents too, so I was living with my daughter.”
Firstly, I was surprised to hear that he was married and had a child. And then, that he was a human.
“Y-You’re lying… You’re a human!?”
“Hahaha, that’s a bit far-fetched, Eugene. There’s no way you’re a normal human.”
Eugene’s strength was extraordinary. His combat skills were refined, and he could fight me as an equal. And his magic, even Yenna, a natural magic user, was outmatched. It was inexplicable, unless he was a rare demi-human with immense potential. I had assumed that he was concealing his true form to make his opponents underestimate him, but…
“A normal human. I’m 45 this year, you know?”
Hearing this, we realized he was telling the truth. It wasn’t his words, but rather his serious gaze that convinced us he wasn’t lying.
He said that one day, as he was on his way home from work, he’d been involved in an accident, and his vehicle had plunged off a cliff. He’d been prepared to die, but then, he’d found himself in this world.
“This strength, it was unexpected, you know? I never thought that my status from that game I was playing would actually become real…”
We couldn’t even imagine the game he was talking about, but apparently, he’d gained unprecedented abilities after coming to this world. He’d been confused and frightened by his overwhelming strength.
“So, Ash, I understand how you feel, a little. Well, I don’t know what it’s like to be consumed by your own power and lose yourself.”
Eugene said, with a bitter smile on his face, and began to speak again.
Eugene was confused by his circumstances and afraid of his excessive power, but thanks to that power he was able to survive in this world. In an age when monsters rampage, you absolutely need at least some way to protect yourself.
And then, he’d encountered Yenna by chance, while fighting a horde of monsters, they’d hit it off, and had started traveling together. He’d pretended to be a country bumpkin, learning about this world from her.
“…Hmm? Wait. You learned from Yenna?”
“That’s right. About the world, I learned everything from Yenna, who knew about as much as me.”
Yenna, who’d been living in the High Elf Village for so long, who’d never even ventured outside, was just as much of a country bumpkin as he was.
“Th-That’s true, I haven’t seen or heard it for myself, but I have access to countless records! I know far more about the world than you, Eugene!”
“Haa, that explains why your common sense is a bit off sometimes… It wasn’t my imagination.”
“Th-That can’t be helped! And you were grateful, weren’t you!?”
“Well, yeah…”
And so, those two had continued their journey, aimlessly. Eugene had no destination, and Yenna simply wanted to escape the High Elf Village. Neither of them had a goal.
Because they were both incredibly skilled, they’d already been famous back then. And that’s when they met me.
“Can I ask you one thing?”
“What?”
After hearing all this, I couldn’t help but to ask what was on my mind.
“…There’s a daughter in that… other world, right? And from what I’ve heard, she’s all alone.”
“…Haa…”
Eugene, letting out a long sigh, held his head in his hands and slumped his shoulders. He then muttered, “That’s right,” in a small voice. It was so faint that it was hard to believe it was coming from him, usually so strong and reliable. I exchanged glances with Yenna, surprised.
“…She’ll be an adult in a couple of years, so… she’ll be fine, I’m sure. I mean, I’ve been away from home for days because of work before. But…”
He ran his hand through his hair roughly, and spoke about his daughter with a pained face.
“I’m a terrible father. I left my precious daughter, my only child, all alone, and I’m here… And I don’t even know how to get back. All I can do is pray that she’s safe, that she’s happy…”
—Even with all this power… I’m powerless.
For a moment, I thought I saw tears in his eyes. But it must have been my imagination.
“…What kind of child was your daughter?”
Yenna asked this gently, trying to change the atmosphere. Eugene chuckled and then began talking about his daughter, a happy look on his face. I’d never seen him look like that, not before, and not after that day.
“She looks like her mother, very cute, she’s smart, considerate, and kind. But she’s not very athletic, and she worries about people too much…”
“She sounds lovely. What’s her name?”
“Her name’s Megu. In my language, it means ‘circle.’ I chose it, hoping that even if she strays from her path, she’ll be able to find her way back. Hoping that she’ll be able to connect with people, create a circle of bonds. And it’s also the name of a flower. Its meaning is ‘affection.’”
It was a good name. I had a feeling that his daughter, just as he’d hoped, had grown up to be a kind, loving child.
“Well then, if I ever have a child, I’ll name them Meg.”
“Oh, how wonderful! I’d like that name too, if I have a child.”
“…Don’t you two have practically zero birthrates? I’m not sure about High Elves, but Elves and Demon Kings are notoriously difficult to conceive, you know?”
Of course we were aware of that. We’d just been trying to lighten the mood.
And we hadn’t imagined that it would actually happen. And neither of us had imagined that it would be with each other.
But after I’d managed to control my power, after the war had ended, we quickly grew closer. I realized that Yenna was someone incredibly precious to me. And thankfully, she said she felt the same way.
I was happy. But one day, Yenna suddenly said that she had to go to the High Elf Village, that there was something she had to investigate.
“It’s very important. Don’t worry. I might be a High Elf criminal, but I’m the patriarch’s only daughter. They won’t treat me badly. I’ll be back as soon as I’m done.”
That was the last time I saw her. As the Demon King, I couldn’t leave to atone for my sins, so even though I was worried, I could only see her off. And Eugene had also left after the war, saying that he had things to do. So Yenna had gone alone.
I still regret not going with her, forcing myself to go with her, if I had to.
…Well, my story has gotten a bit long. That’s about it. Hmm? What’s wrong, Meg? You look surprised. Was there something strange about my story?