The Terminally Ill Hero’s Husband is the Demon King - Chapter 2.2
Oddly enough, Gillian had heard the rumor about the Demon King in Kartal. In the capital of Kartal, there was a street where mages gathered and lived. It was a place where highly effective medicines, enchanted defensive equipment, and curious objects were sold, all mixed together with every kind of rumor.
It was also a place where one could find delicious tea and alcohol, so whenever Gillian went to Kartal, he would stay there for a week or two. The mages and residents of the mage street did not make a fuss even when they recognized who Gillian was.
There were quite a few people who came at him, wondering if they could pry information out of this veteran traveler, or people who wanted to meet him to ask for difficult-to-obtain materials, but they did not look at him with admiration or awe. Gillian found that comfortable.
“I heard a Demon King has appeared in your country. Shouldn’t you go and take a look?”
“In Yuers? This is the first I’ve heard of a Demon King appearing.”
“It isn’t a widely spread rumor. Still, it’s your homeland, so I’m giving you a word of warning. They say a Demon King has appeared on Gray Mountain, and that your king has already dispatched scouting parties and punitive forces as well.”
“What do the mages say?”
Mage Tsuran lit his pipe and said,
“They’re saying all kinds of things. Quite excited, really. I mean they’re attaching whatever they want to see onto it. The only somewhat credible theories are that it might be the return of the demonic beast that used to devour old people, borrow their appearances, and receive care, or that winter has awakened from sleep.”
“By winter, do you mean a fairy?”
“No, I’m talking about the story of the undying Demon King. Haven’t you heard it?”
Gillian asked a few mages and heard more of the story, then returned to Yuers. Mages’ rumors tended to be very fast and detailed, but just as much, they tended to be absurd and unreliable.
Gillian did not rule out the possibility that the Demon King did not exist. He was merely curious what it was, if not the Demon King, and why rumors had spread that the Demon King had appeared.
When the sun set and night fell, the restaurant filled with more people drinking alcohol than eating dinner. The jokes being exchanged grew more risqué, and close, secret conversations that Gillian had no particular need to know became frequent.
Having filled his stomach and quenched his thirst with alcohol, Gillian grew somewhat relaxed and wanted to hear more of the interesting stories people were telling. Ever since he was young, he had liked listening to interesting stories.
He liked hearing stories, but he had never wanted to become the protagonist of one. Yet the blood of swordsmen that flowed through his maternal family had not gone anywhere. Gillian was also the sort who enjoyed hearing stories in which he himself was the protagonist.
Anecdotes of the hero Gillian. Since they were things he always did, even experiences that were nothing special would become remarkably entertaining after leaving Gillian’s mouth, circling around a few times, and coming back to Gillian’s ears again.
Gillian was not a sociable sort. However, when an interesting story came up, he could not hold back and would suddenly join in, asking what happened next and urging them on. If it was a story he knew, he also had the easy charm to add a behind-the-scenes tale related to it.
Gillian had been listening to the stories of mercenaries who had taken on a job guarding a merchant group when he spoke to them.
“If the merchant group is wary of wolves and demonic beasts, what about the Demon King? Are they not wary of the Demon King?”
The two mercenaries looked at Gillian, following the voice that had suddenly sounded, then laughed heartily.
“You’re an outsider, aren’t you?” the tall mercenary asked.
“That’s right. I don’t live here.”
“Are you scared of the Demon King? Whether it’s the people of Hamutis or the people of Gray Mountain, there probably isn’t anyone who’s scared of the Demon King,” the short mercenary said.
“I heard the capital has sent punitive forces several times. They failed, I’m told. Aren’t you worried?”
“The Demon King from 500 years ago was scary. As for this Demon King… Well? Since there are people who’ve seen the Demon King, I guess they think he must be the Demon King, but I doubt anyone’s truly worried. Has anyone heard of someone dying because of the Demon King?”
The tall mercenary raised his hand and waved it. No one raised a hand after him. The short mercenary said,
“Nope, no one. I’ve never received a request anywhere to protect anyone from the Demon King. Merchant groups are usually worried about wolves or bandits. If they’re unlucky, they might have to fight a small demonic beast, that’s all.”
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