The Terminally Ill Hero’s Husband is the Demon King

Rassel’s face clouded with disappointment. He grabbed Gillian’s arm and shook it.

“The current Demon King is on the good side, though? Have you forgotten? I told you the position of Demon King is inherited. What will you do if you kill him and the next Demon King is a cruel bastard?”

“If the Demon King truly is good, then he won’t want to play the Demon King’s role. If we kill and kill again, then just as the bloodlines of human royal families can be severed, won’t the Demon King’s line eventually be severed too?”

Rassel grinned. He felt as if he understood what kind of person Gillian was. Unexpectedly, he had a cold and inflexible side. Rassel found that Gillian somewhat frustrating, yet somehow, he liked even this side very much.

After rubbing his face with soapy water and finishing washing up, Rassel got out of the bathtub and wiped away the moisture with a towel. Gillian consciously turned his head away so as not to look at Rassel’s body.

“Bywinter has continued living for well over 1000 years. Has there ever been a country that lasted 1000 years? Besides, you mustn’t forget that Bywinter was always a hero before he was the Demon King. I don’t know which hero will kill this Bywinter, but even then, he’ll only become Bywinter’s new body. People don’t know this. That when Bywinter dies, a new Bywinter is born.”

Rassel spoke quietly as he dressed. He looked at Gillian and whispered as if tempting him.

“Gillian, why don’t you kill that insignificant Demon King and try becoming a hero? You have a good heart and you’re fair, so you could become a good Demon King. I’ll help you.”

“How am I supposed to kill the Demon King? And besides, are you telling me to become the next Demon King?”

Gillian decided to hide from Rassel the fact that he was a hero.

“The current Demon King is nothing. Someone like you could send him off in one blow. Becoming the Demon King won’t change much. You’ll just live a long, long time in a young, healthy body.”

“Why don’t you try it then?”

Rassel chuckled. The laughter somehow carried a self-mocking quality, and Gillian felt somewhat puzzled by it.

“Me? That’s impossible. I’ll never be able to.”

“I think you’d be better than me.”

“Come on, I’m a hunter who catches beasts. I’m not cruel enough to kill something that talks. Sometimes, even killing beasts is hard enough that I cry. If I’d been even a little more hardhearted, I would’ve become a hunter who hunts humans. If I saw the Demon King in the forest, I’d probably follow him around like an idiot and ask him to hunt with me. Maybe I’ve already hunted with him. I sometimes think about that. Maybe I’ve eaten with the Demon King and even slept beside him.”

Gillian suddenly wanted to tease Rassel.

“That sounds like you. But tell me, Rassel. Have you ever thought that I might be the Demon King?”

“Wha, what?”

“I am the Demon King. I drank with you and bathed with you. Now we’re going hunting, too. Shh, keep it a secret from other people. I had a very pleasant day.”

“Huaagh, Gillian! You! Don’t say something so awful!”

Gillian enjoyed teasing Rassel so much that he covered his mouth and chuckled. Rassel, fully dressed, pulled his hat over his head. Perhaps because he thought there would be no one to see him this late at night, he did not cover his face, and his shuddering expression was fully visible.

“You, seriously, don’t ever make that joke again. Good grief, if you were me, you’d never want to hear such a horrible joke again.”

Rassel must have been quite startled, for he shook his head again and again. Gillian felt sorry for him. Not that it lessened his enjoyment.

Gillian apologized without hiding his smile.

“Alright, I’m sorry. Go on and sleep.”

“I’ll go first. The water’s gone cold, so don’t stay in too long. You’ll catch a cold. Then, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Sleep well.”

“Good grief, honestly.”

Only after Rassel left did Gillian lather himself with soap once more. Rassel’s horrified expression came to mind, making him laugh, and the hand holding the dipper trembled as he scooped up water.

After rinsing off the soapy water and drying himself, he felt clean, soft, and wonderfully refreshed. It felt as if he would be able to sleep deeply without even dreaming.

Gillian returned to his room, locked the door, put his outer clothes and belongings on the bedside table, and went straight to bed. The bed was soft, and the blanket was thick and cozy. Fully relaxed, it felt as if his body was melting away.