The Hero’s Mentor is a Demon (King) Witch

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Life is born.

Life fades away.

Flowers bloom.

Birds chirp.

“Master, what are you thinking about?”

“I was watching the bugs outside.”

“…Bugs? Not the people passing by, right?”

“Of course not. Do you think I would consider humans as bugs? I was just thinking about the bugs flying around.”

“Bugs?”

“Yeah. Look at the bugs. When bugs run amok, humans easily kill them out of annoyance.”

“…That’s a bit harsh.”

The cycle of life being born and disappearing keeps repeating, but according to human selfishness, I don’t want the lives connected to me to vanish quickly.

“In human life, bugs are a real bother. So when bugs gather around, humans drive them away and kill them.”

Sometimes it’s necessary to do something excessive for my own sake.

If I do it, it becomes an act of kindness and justice, but if someone else does, it’s just an ordinary behavior, and if that action harms me, then it’s an evil deed.

No one can haphazardly distinguish good from evil.

But if there exists someone that anyone can clearly label as evil, isn’t that a different story?

“Rosmas. What’s your idea of a really bad person?”

“Why the sudden question…?”

“I want to hear it from an elf’s perspective.”

“Again?”

As the Demon King, I wanted to hear it from someone who isn’t human.

“Even though I’m a High Elf, thinking from a human perspective… Well, looking at insects and humans from the same viewpoint feels a bit…”

“Really? I think you’re the best person to give me a clear answer on this matter.”

“Me?”

“Yeah. It’s because you’re the one involved.”

Because, in this matter, there’s no one else who can discuss this more clearly than Rosmas.

“If I were to kill someone to win the love of the person I cherish, could that be considered an evil act?”

“…Huh?”

Look.

Humans are generally indifferent to matters that seem unrelated to them.

But when it becomes their issue, especially if they feel they might suffer a loss, they become sensitive.

This is true for humans, elves, and all races alike.

“This is just a hypothetical scenario. If.”

I grabbed Rosmas’s shoulder.

“If you had to kill someone to gain the love of your beloved, would you do it?”

“W-what kind of cruel thing are you saying all of a sudden…?”

“Let’s skip the roundabout way and ask you directly. Listen closely.”

Lowering my voice and maintaining a serious expression.

“Someone who likes Lucius is trying to stab and kill other women around him to have him. Do you think that person could be called bad?”

“Of course she’s bad.”

I shivered at Rosmas’s certainty.

I never expected her to declare ‘bad’ so extremely.

Because…

“I feel like she might stab a couple of people herself.”

Honestly, I felt that Rosmas could also be someone who would stab others for the person she loves.

But to directly call it ‘bad’?

Am I misjudging people, or do I have a bias against High Elves?

“No matter how much you want to make the person you love yours, hurting or killing others is a bad deed.”

“Um… What if such a woman appears?”

“What if it’s real? Then…”

Rosmas clenched her fists in determination.

“I will deal with her.”

“…….”

“I-I don’t mean to kill her! It’s just that if she tries to bind Lucius’s feelings regardless of his will, I would handle her for Lucius. I mean, not by killing her…”

“I understand your thoughts, Rosmas.”

“Witch? You do understand me, right?”

“Yeah. If someone tries to take Lucius without regard for his feelings, then you would intervene.”

“…Yes.”

Rosmas’s intentions were clear.

I was genuinely pleased that all my efforts to help Rosmas with her love life were finally paying off.

“Sorry for asking so suddenly, but thanks for answering honestly. The reason I brought this up is that I feel something like this might really happen.”

“…Really?”

Rosmas’s expression started to harden.

“Yeah. For real. I talked to Lucius about it, and do you remember the Black Lotus, the Black Knight?”

“Yeah. That woman?”

“Right. Apparently, she’s Lucius’s childhood friend.”

“…Oh.”

Rosmas’s eyes sparkled as she licked her lips, resembling a monster that shines deep down in a cold, dark abyss, which was a little scary.

To be honest, it reminded me of Leviathan.

“According to what Lucius said, it seems like she likes him and knows he is the Hero of the Holy Sword?”

“…Then it’s pretty clear. That woman must be looking to join the party.”

“Exactly. The problem is that if she joins the party, neither I nor Lucius will have a good reason to stop her.”

How could we stop an immensely powerful individual from joining the Hero Party?

“If it were a man, I could chase him away by pretending to be uncomfortable, but with a woman, the situation is different.”

“You mean you could chase away a man?”

“Yeah. Because I don’t like men.”

“……Isn’t that contradictory? What about Lucius?”

“It’s fine. I don’t see Lucius as a man.”

“!!”

Rosmas suddenly grabbed my hand tightly.

“R-really…!!”

“Is it that surprising?”

“T-that’s… um… What a perfect scheme you’ve devised!”

“Right?”

I almost shed tears at how brilliant I thought it was.

“If a man enters, I could say I’m uncomfortable and chase him away. But with a woman, that doesn’t work because there’s already a woman in the party.”

“That’s already the opposite of that… Ah, no! Of course! The Witch’s plans are truly remarkable! I’m left in awe just from hearing it!”

“Isn’t it?”

Is there really a logic behind disliking people?

If you dislike them, you dislike them.

There’s no need to endlessly analyze the reasons behind hatred for humanity.

“Honestly, I don’t want to recruit Black Lotus or anyone in that line. The only reason I’m even considering alliance is that she knows ‘Lucius is the Hero of the Holy Sword.'”

“Ah….”

“I didn’t initially see this as a significant risk, but the inhabitants of Lucius’s village were massacred by the Demon Race. Outside of Lucius, she is the only survivor from his hometown.”

“The only survivor….”

I whispered quietly into Rosmas’s ear.

“And she’s his childhood friend.”

“…….”

What to say about Rosmas’s expression? It looked like Leviathan would introduce her as a successor purely based on her jealousy.

“First of all, hear me out. I will accept her as an ally. Not for anyone else but to protect Lucius. If that woman goes around boasting arbitrarily that Lucius is the Hero of the Holy Sword, it will cause trouble, right? This is… our little secret.”

“…Right.”

Our little secret.

Rosmas’s eyes were gradually filling with conviction.

“Now, Rosmas. You have two options.”

“Please tell me.”

“One is to eliminate that woman.”

Variables must be blocked; that’s the right path.

“The issue is that to Lucius, she is the only childhood friend from the village, and since the village was destroyed when Lucius became a Hero, he wouldn’t want to harm her.”

“…….”

“Then the story gets simple. Just eliminate her discreetly. Right?”

That’s certainly the most certain method.

“I can’t deal with Black Lotus alone. I desperately need your help. So what would be the best way? We’ll bury her secretly in some forest.”

“That, that’s….”

“For a lifetime. It will be a secret known only to us. I’m destined to fall asleep again after defeating the Demon King, and you’re meant to live this life, right?”

“…….”

What kind of reply will Rosmas give?

“By the way, it seems that Black Lotus likes Lucius.”

“…….”

“What do you think?”

Do you really think that killing someone to seize your love could just be labeled as ‘bad’?

Like how humans chase away bugs, is removing an annoying bug a righteous deed for Rosmas?

“…Killing isn’t okay.”

What a pity.

Truly, it’s sincerely regrettable that Rosmas rejected the first proposal.

“Please tell me another way.”

“The other method is simple. If you can’t have him all to yourself, you must share him together.”

“…Huh?”

“I’ve spoken to Lucius already. You and Black Lotus, you both can share Lucius together.”

“…No, what do you mean….”

“On your left, you, and on your right, that woman. Perfect, right? You know why humans have two arms? It’s so they can hug something on both sides.”

“That, that’s….”

What a High Elf lacking tolerance for such talk.

“Think it over. It’s not a bad story for you. Do you know why? The Hero of the Holy Sword might live a kind of semi-immortal life.”

“S-semi-immortal…?”

“Yes. As long as someone doesn’t kill him or if he doesn’t lay down his Holy Sword, he might live at least as long as a High Elf. Semi-immortality means the Holy Sword won’t extend the limits of a human’s soul and body. Anyway, let’s skip the complicated parts!”

I held out three fingers toward Rosmas.

“If you both can agree well, you can share him for a lifetime. It may not be pleasing to have another woman beside him, but still, there’s a chance, right?”

With a flick, I folded one finger and whispered softly.

“If she tries to monopolize Lucius and ruins the party, then I too would have justification. Justification.”

“A motive to remove a danger.”

“Exactly. Perhaps at that time… Lucius might also turn a blind eye for the Greater Cause.”

I’ll guide him that well.

“What will you do?”

“…If. Just if that woman likes Arthur, and if she tries to claim him, and… if Arthur allows it.”

Rosmas was fidgeting with her hands.

“I know the quietest forest in the world very well.”

As expected, an elf is indeed an elf.