I Was Reborn in Another World, but Hold On – No Parents? Was I Abandoned? - Chapter 38

Chapter 38: The Girl with Black Hair

“Looks like you’ve gotten stronger, Arus.”

“Yeah, your presence has increased several times over.”

With Leo and Torus, I face off in a corner of the training ground, each of us holding practice swords.

As a condition, I’ve been told not to use my magic, and they’re allowed to come at me with full force.

“Yeah, actually, when I remembered my real name, the concealment magic that someone had placed on me in the past was lifted, and I returned to my original status as a demon! Until then, my status showed ‘human’… By the way, my current status is tens of times higher than before.”

“What!? There’s magic like that… And tens of times stronger… As expected of the Demon King’s son… Torus, let’s go all out.”

“As expected of you, Big brother… But I won’t lose.”

Though they were astonished, their eyes weren’t dead.

They’re coming at me with the intention to win.

As their friend, I should also take this somewhat seriously.

Stat-wise, Leo is stronger, but Torus has a diverse range of magic spells.

Now, how will they attack?

Leo was the first to attack by kicking off the ground.

Fast… But honestly, the Violent Wolf was a bit faster.

Leo approaches with his unique running style, leaning his body forward.

Then, he thrusts his sword from a lower position to an upper one.

I effortlessly dodge it by shifting my body and deflect the sword while continuing the motion, spinning my body to the right.

Caught off guard, Leo gets carried away by his momentum and rolls backward.

At that moment, countless spears of earth shoot up from the ground right in front of me.

Torus, huh…

I head towards Torus, who’s back in his initial position, while dodging his attacks left and right.

“What!? So fast!!”

Torus is astonished as I appear in front of him in an instant, despite being about 20 meters away, and he takes a step back.

But I don’t stop my advance.

Instead of attacking with my sword, I quickly grab Torus by the collar and send him flying backward.

“Guuhh!!!”

“Ngahh!!!”

Torus crashes heavily into Leo, who was approaching from behind me.

“Ouch… Geez, Arus, you’re not even trying, are you?”

“Big brother… You were too fast for me to see.”

Approaching the two who seem frustrated, I say, “Well, you know, I’m kind of out of the ordinary right now…”

“Just once, can you show us your real strength? I want to see where I should aim for.”

“Big brother, I want to see too.”

With their request, they ready themselves again, keeping their distance.

They’re both straightforward… Just as I thought.

“I won’t use magic, okay? Alright, let’s do this then?”

Since going all out with my sword might actually cut them, I’ll hold back just enough.

But I’ll approach them seriously.

We’re about 30 meters apart now, with me slightly backing away.

Alright, let’s run at full speed this time.

First, I exhale deeply and let my entire body fill with energy.

Then, a strong wind starts swirling around me.

Hey, seriously… Did I just create wind by tensing up?

With one powerful kick, I quickly reach Leo and Arus right in front of me, then hastily swing my sword towards Leo’s neck at full speed.

As a result,

Whoosh!

A gust of wind blows.

Wow… Seriously? Just swinging the sword creates a gust of wind?

I’m starting to scare myself, honestly.

After about a second, Leo and Torus stagger and fall on their backsides.

“…Without magic… Is this it… Amazing.”

“…Just the moment you readied yourself, the intensity was incredible… I couldn’t see anything until the sword stopped at Leo’s neck.”

“I was faster than expected…”

“Faster? That’s an understatement, isn’t it? You’re probably already the strongest in the southern continent, aren’t you?”

“Isn’t that going too far?”

“No, Big brother. It’s possible… If you had swung that for real, both Leo and I wouldn’t have even realized we’d been cut.”

It’s impressive, no doubt, but is it really that impressive?

After all, Father is even more impressive, isn’t he?

And if the executives went all out, I think I could be stopped now.

“…But this is where I’ll aim for… Arus, thank you. I’ll work hard in my training and someday catch up to you, okay?”

“I’ll work hard too… to stand by your side, Big brother.”

As they stood up, they unexpectedly reached out for a handshake.

That’s kind of nice… feels like youth.

Just then, Maria and the others who were watching approached.

“Hey, Arus… How far do you plan to go with this?”

“I couldn’t see a thing…”

“Your Highness… You’re truly amazing!”

“Well, yeah… but still, compared to Father and the executives, I’m nowhere near their level.”

I was able to defeat Gazef back then, but I’ve only seen him use his ferocious innate magic once afterwards… and that was like facing a monster.

I probably would’ve lost if I hadn’t underestimated him as a child.

“To think there are beings stronger than Arus now… Demons really are incredible.”

“And yet, the people leading the war in the human realm are all idiots.”

Maria and Mira were dumbfounded.

That evening, a banquet was held.

It was to celebrate my birthday.

Family members, executives, top officials from various cities, military commanders, wealthy merchants from the demon realm, as well as friends, many people attended.

I received a ton of presents.

By the way, Gazef has been helping me with my training ever since, and he gave me an incredibly valuable demonic sword as a birthday present.

The gifts from other executives and wealthy merchants were naturally impressive.

By the way, Mel was happily devouring a meal with Hana, and Maria and Mira seemed to be engaged in romantic talks with Reno, having become good friends.

Leo and Torus were chatting with Kaito and the others.

Seeing such scenes made me very happy.

When I was reincarnated and living alone in the forest as a child, then immediately thrown into war upon entering school, and then finding out I was the son of the Demon King…

It was the beginning of a life that seemed like it would be depressing, but now I’m living happily like this.

“I wish these days could last forever…”

“With Arus around, I’m sure things will always be bright…”

“That’s right… peace is the most important thing.”

Suddenly, I turned around to find Mother and Mom standing there.

“Mother… Mom…”

“A Demon King who brings peace to the world… Yes, that doesn’t sound bad at all.”

“Your Highness, that might be a good idea. A Demon King of peace. Yes… that sounds like Arus.”

“Do you think I can become that?”

“You can, Arus. You’re our son, after all.”

“That’s right… you can! You’re our son…”

“I’ll do my best…”

“When times are tough, you can always cry on your mother’s shoulder.”

“I’ll pamper you too, like a good mother!”

These two… they’re starting to resemble each other.

“What’s the main character doing in a place like this?”

After slipping out of the birthday party and standing outside, feeling the wind against my face, Maria appeared.

“Hmm… I just wanted to feel the night breeze… I guess?”

“Oh… I see. Then I’ll join you…”

Standing next to her, Maria’s silky black hair fluttered gently in the moonlight, illuminated by the breeze.

Wait, has Maria always been this cute?

Sure, she was cute before… but… huh? Has she become more mature?

“What’s up… Is there something on my face?”

“Oh, no… It’s just… I didn’t realize you were this cute, Maria…”

“Huh?”

Maria’s cheeks flushed slightly as she let out a slightly silly-sounding voice.

Wow, I just said something really embarrassing, didn’t I?

“W-well, I am cute! I mean, I’m popular at school, you know!”

“Well, yeah, you must be popular.”

“…Ugh, never mind!! Why do I feel so weird saying that?”

“Sorry. I feel a bit embarrassed myself for saying that. I won’t mention it again.”

“…Just say it!”

“Huh?”

“Just say it! Say it properly…”

“Huh? Oh, um, okay.”

“Or else…”

“Hmm?”

About to say something else, Maria suddenly spun around and started walking away.

“Wait, that’s it?”

Maria, who had started walking, suddenly stopped.

Then, she turned her face back towards me.

“Otherwise… someone might steal it, you know.”

“…Huh?”

Maria’s face, slightly embarrassed as she said that, was… incredibly beautiful, leaving me bewildered.

In my past life, I probably experienced love at some point.

But I couldn’t recall any of those memories at all.

So, coming here, I have no experience or knowledge of romance whatsoever.

Yet, somehow, I still understood.

Ah, this fluttering feeling… it must be that kind of fluttering feeling.

Then, Maria returned to the party venue, leaving me behind.

Huh? What… from the situation alone, does it seem like a failed romance?

And then, I resumed gazing at the night scenery.

But… Maria.

I’m a demon, you know? And you’re a human.

Even if we have peace forever, I’ll still have to live on after you’re gone.

Ah, is this kind of thinking influenced by memories of my past life?

I’m still just ten years old here.

In reality, I should be able to easily experience one or two romances casually.

Even as my memories of my past life fade away, please don’t leave only this behind!

Heh, I wish I could think more like a kid.

“Ugh, it’s cold. Let’s head back.”