His skills and character are in no way inferior to those supernatural beings like the saintly sword wielders or the hero.
Being around superhumans shouldn't make me underestimate or look down on ordinary humans.
"No, I haven't done anything."
"Now, then, could I have a look at your face? And your palms as well?"
"?"
As I was puzzled,
"Marshal Crocus can tell a person's talents and future just by looking at them. He said me and Platanus would make it big one day."
Instructor Cattleya explained.
Eh? Isn't this bad?
Marshal Crocus, despite having served as this country's marshal for many years, is still just a human.
Not a saintly sword wielder, nor a spirit or a monster.
Yet, listening to his remarks, I feel something indescribable, something beyond mere words like 'ordinary' or 'human.'
"You don't need to be nervous. Face reading and palmistry are just statistics. They're not reliable, so just believe what's convenient for you and ignore what's not."
Marshal Crocus said something like that, but it's exactly those who say such things who tend to hit the mark, which is scary.
Those who have absolute confidence in their predictions or foresight are usually weak against unexpected situations.
Could it be revealed that I'm the Demon Lord, or that I'm on the verge of ceasing to be human?
No, surely that's impossible.
There's no such thing as a facial or palm reading for becoming a Demon Lord.
At most, he might say something like... watch out because you have a deathly pallor...
"You have an unusual fortune. Both your life line and fate line are interrupted and twisted. It's long and deep, so you probably won't die, but this is... have you died and come back to life several times?"
Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no!
The accuracy of his reading was uncannily precise!
"Hmm... However, seeing such a clear and typical line of a conqueror, it indeed suggests a destiny to rise above others. Yet, this line is ominously sinister... More than a conqueror, it seems to indicate a path cursed with royal trials."
Incredible!
This man is unbelievable!
It's as if he's outright saying I'm practically the Demon Lord.
"...Marshal Crocus. What kind of man will he become in the future?"
Instructor Cattleya, who had been nodding thoughtfully at Marshal Crocus's analysis of my palm, asked him.
"I can't say for sure. His palm lines don't seem human to me. My usual experience doesn't apply here. What I can tell is that he has a knack for lifting those around him to success. The reason you all have advanced in your positions is likely due to being pulled up by him."
You've already pinpointed my future quite enough.
"...Crow. You seem to have a deep concern, don't you?"
"!"
Marshal Crocus, who had stopped looking at my palm, stared at my face and said this.
"And it's the kind of concern that won't be resolved by thinking on your own or consulting with others, right?"
"...No, I mean..."
"No need to say it. It's just the ramblings of an old man. Pay no mind."
"But, everyone carries unsolvable problems through life. Though it might not be convincing coming from someone as old as me, living with the knowledge that you will eventually die is difficult. Not knowing when that day will come is a kind of fear, but also a relief. Because it's unknown, you can deceive yourself with the fact of eventual death and be positive."
This man... maybe he realized I'm about to die.
There are people like this too.
I've been so focused on supernatural phenomena and crises that I've become numb, but there are people like this too.
This feeling is nostalgic.
This might be the first time I've felt this way since being taken in by my old man.
A feeling of wanting to cling to the respect and admiration for those who have lived longer than oneself.
Like a child seeking help from a parent.
"However, Crow, sadly, there's no clear answer for every question or challenge. If there were, nobody would make mistakes. In reality, mistakes are all too common."
"Yes..."
"I don't have much time left to watch over your futures or offer advice. To you, I'm just an old fool."
"That's not..."
"Crow. Don't give up."
"Eh?"
"I can't tell you what the right answer is. I've sent many young people to their deaths, let innocent people die needlessly, and forcefully silenced those who opposed me with their own justice and ideals. How could someone like me offer an answer? Even at my age, I'm still solving problems without answers, wandering a maze with no exit."
"But that's exactly why you shouldn't give up halfway."
"Give up?"
"To give up is to close off possibilities. Do you understand, Crow? Don't acknowledge the reality of 'it's futile, it's impossible.' I don't know what caused you to feel this way, but ignore it. The decishion of what you can do is yours and yours alone."
"Marshal Crocus..."
Maybe I should have met this man sooner.
No, that's not it.
I've always disliked ordinary humans who don't possess any special abilities, including myself. I despised those who couldn't become something special.
Therefore, I thought words from someone like Marshal Crocus, who wasn't chosen by a Sacred Sword or a saintly sword, wouldn't resonate with me much.
But now, I understand.
Now that I'm aware I'm nothing but a calamity to humanity as the Demon Lord, I get it. It's precisely now, realizing that despising ordinary people without special abilities is fitting of a Demon Lord, that I understand.
The value of a human isn't determined by power, talent, or such superficial things.
At least, Marshal Crocus in front of me is far more respectable than Geranium, who was the most talented individual I knew.
"I understand, Marshal Crocus. No matter what happens, I won't give up on my life. I'll struggle until the very end."
"...You have an unusual look. You are...!"
In the end, Marshal Crocus looked at me with a broad smile.
"You possess no power, an endless void... darkness... yet, I sense infinite possibilities in you."
"No power means..."
"No, no, that I can say with certainty. You, indeed, have no power."
Even though I'm the Demon Lord?
God, is it okay if I cry now? Chapter 6: The Last Task of My Life
Twenty days have passed since my identity as the Demon Lord was revealed.
With only ten days left, nothing has changed regarding what I can do, and I continue to live each day in fear and trepidation.
What bothers me a bit is the situation with Shion.
She used to hug me at every opportunity and made me wash her feet in a bucket, but all of that has abruptly stopped.
She also stopped talking to me during meals.
Could this be...?
Perhaps she realized the man she blindly admired was actually a disappointing ordinary guy and lost interest.
Well, the truth is, I'm not ordinary at all since I'm the Demon Lord!
Not that it's something to be happy about, but it means I was as much of a genius as Shion!
Anyway, it seems Shion has started to keep her distance from me.
I knew this day would come eventually, but it's still lonely when it actually does.
However, Shion, who had started keeping her distance from me, didn't approach or speak to me but occashionally observed me from behind cover. If I noticed her gaze and looked her way, she would quickly hide, and if our eyes met, she would look down.
What's all this about?
Could it be that her instincts as a hero have led her to realize I'm the Demon Lord? If that's the case, it would be convenient.
Since our first meeting, Maris, who revealed my identity as the Demon Lord, hasn't shown herself again.
So all I could do was try to gather whatever information I could, even though there seemed to be no opportunity to use it.
"Hey, Holly."
I spoke to Holly while watching Shion practice sword fighting with Amaranth in the courtyard.
"What is it?"
Holly floated closer as she replied, sitting next to me on the bench.
Lately, Shion has been practicing more with Amaranth than with Holly. After all, Amaranth is the strongest among all the saintly sword wielders, making her the best candidate to hone Shion's sword skills without relying on Holly's power. Though, they couldn't engage in as fierce a sword fight as they could with Holly, who could easily take any damage.