Chapter 6

That night, I slept in the guest room bed at Lateia’s house.

Wait, is the expression “Lateia’s house” strange? Since we’ve become a family, should I call it “my house”? No, but it doesn’t feel like “my house” at all…

Then again, calling it “the girl Hero’s house” also feels off. After all, she’s my stepdaughter. For example, if your uncle’s profession was a priest, you wouldn’t call his home “the priest’s house.” That would sound terribly distant.

Well, I’ll worry about that problem later.

By the way, before going to sleep, Lateia said this to me:

“Garto, you’re more than welcome to use my room, you know?”

To be honest, it gave me quite a start.

There’s nothing strange about it. After all, we are a married couple. There’s no problem with a husband and wife sleeping in the same room. If anything, using separate rooms feels like a domestic separation, which might not be good.

However, I couldn’t help but feel self-conscious about it, and besides, I felt like the girl Hero, Angelica, would only hate me more for it, so I decided to decline.

It’s like… yes, it’s the same sensation as when you keep a cat.

If you try too hard to engage with it, the cat will think you’re a nuisance and avoid you.

But if you live your life without meddling and don’t try to force contact, eventually the cat will come to you on its own, saying “play with me” or “give me more food.”

This situation is similar. If I keep pushing, there’s a high risk of making things worse. I should proceed cautiously, very cautiously.

Incidentally, the guest bed was—so small my feet stuck out.

“I am the Demon King, after all. I’m a big guy…”

I fell asleep that night thinking I should probably bring a bed over from the Demon King’s Castle.

The next day, I woke up quite early.

The reason was to prepare breakfast.

Of course, part of it was for Lateia, but it was primarily for my “daughter,” Angelica.

There is a saying: “To win someone’s heart, you must first win their stomach.”

As long as one is a living being, eating is a vital necessity. Isn’t it only natural to feel a sense of affection or a weakening of hostility toward the one who controls that aspect of your life?

In other words, if I keep making delicious food for Angelica, the distance between us is bound to shrink eventually!

Besides, breakfast dishes are generally easier to prepare than dinner.

Well, it depends on the region and culture—apparently, some places only eat two meals a day, with the first being before noon—but I believe this human territory follows a three-meal-a-day culture.

So, first, I will present myself as the father who makes breakfast.

And through that, I’ll improve Angelica’s impression of me!

However, when I got to the kitchen, Lateia was already there preparing things. She was already beating eggs. She was probably making ham and eggs.

“Oh my, good morning, Garto ♪”

“G-Good morning! I didn’t expect you to be up at this hour…”

“Well, Angelica is an adventurer. Adventurers often set out early in the morning. Apparently, there’s a belief that demons become active at night, making travel dangerous.”

“Ah… that in itself is just a superstition…”

Except for demons specialized for nocturnal life, our biological rhythms are no different from humans. It’s better for the body to get a moderate amount of sunlight. I’ve even heard there are nutrients, or something like that, that the body produces by basking in the sun.

“However, since more humans lack night vision, they are at a disadvantage in combat and the like. So, it is logical to act while the sun is high.”

“I see. As expected of the Demon King, you’re so knowledgeable, Garto.”

Being praised made me feel a little happy. It was a completely different kind of joy from the “As expected of the Demon Lord!” style of praise I get from my subordinates.

No, no—more importantly, I have to put the Breakfast Operation into effect.

“Um, Lateia, would you let me prepare breakfast?”

“Eh? Oh, no. I’d feel bad letting you do that.”

I should probably tell her the reason honestly.

“I think Angelica still feels some resistance toward me. That’s a perfectly natural emotion. To close the distance with her even slightly, I thought I should start with things like cooking for her.”

“My! That truly is a wonderful sentiment! In that case, perhaps I’ll let you handle Angelica’s meal.”

Lateia clapped her hands and praised my suggestion.

This attitude of giving praise to encourage growth is important. I should make an effort to actively implement this at the Demon King’s Castle as well.

I decided to make a simple dish of ham and eggs. For the seasoning… since she moves around a lot and she’s young, she’d probably prefer a bolder, junkier flavor. Making it a bit salty should do the trick.

Also, I’ll lightly toast the bread over the fire. But if I toast it now, it might get hard by the time she wakes up. I’ll wait and grill it right before we eat.

While I was busy with that, the door clicked open.

“Yaaaawn… Morning, Mama—wait, the Demon King is here too?!”

Angelica, the girl Hero, stumbled backward in her pajamas. There’s still a considerable distance between us, both physically and mentally…

“Good morning, Angelica ♪ Did you sleep well?”

“You’re awake, Angelica. Breakfast is the source of all vitality. You must eat well.”

“Why are you acting so natural about worrying over my health?! That’s totally bizarre given who you are!”

I could understand Angelica’s feelings, but if I didn’t push through this, we’d never make progress.

“Formally speaking, I have become your father. Therefore, it is only natural for a father to concern himself with his daughter’s health.”

“Don’t you have any dignity as a Demon King? Are you really okay with this?”

“I’ve made the ham and eggs a bit salty, but if it’s not enough, feel free to use ketchup.”

“Ugh, seriously…”

Angelica pressed a hand to her forehead.

“Have you not fully recovered yet? Do not push yourself.”

“That’s not it! I just can’t wrap my head around the fact that the Demon King is serving me breakfast in my own home!”

It seems we both still feel the walls between us. However, if I run away now, nothing will change. I have to be the one to change.

“You will get used to it eventually. Angelica, I shall toast your bread with my flame magic.”

“Stop calling me ‘Angelica.’ Don’t act like you’re my father.”

She’s avoiding the name, huh? I expected as much, but it still stings a little.

But I won’t back down! A Demon King who runs away cannot be called a Demon King!

Specifically, a Demon King must never flee before a Hero!

“Then, let me ask you this: what should I call you to satisfy you?”

I set the plate of ham and eggs down on the table with a firm thud.

“Ugh… ‘Hero’ or something, right…?”

“Listen to yourself. Does a parent call their child by their job title? No parent says, ‘O Physician, what would you like for dinner?’ or ‘Weapon Merchant, are you leaving early tomorrow?’ That’s how it is.”

“Well, it’s even weirder for my stepfather to be the Demon King!”

Guh! She has a point!

However, if I started calling her “Hero” here, we could hardly call ourselves a family.

Besides, it would only make Lateia sad. It won’t do for the husband and daughter to remain on bad terms.

“Hmph! If you will not listen to what I say, then I shall not listen to you either! Therefore, I shall continue to call you Angelica!”

“F-Fine, do whatever you want… I don’t have the right to stop you, anyway…”

Angelica turned her face away, looking awkward.

Oh? So even she is showing a hint of compromise.

“Very well, have it your way. Now, how toasted do you like your bread?”

“Just… barely browned…”

“Understood, Angelica.”

“Stop trying to use my name every chance you get!”

Despite her protests, Angelica was properly eating the food I had made.

“My, Angelica! You look like you’re really enjoying the food Garto made! Now you two are best friends!”

“Mama, stop saying weird things…”

Lateia was happy, so I suppose this is good enough for today.