I Summoned the Demon King and Got a Dad - Chapter 97

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

97. Demon Lord and Demon Lord

The training grounds were quiet.

The setting sun cast red shadows over the sand.

And in the middle of it all, Kan was swinging his sword.

“There’s too much emotion in it.”

Kan’s shoulders stiffened at the low voice that came from behind him.

When he slowly turned around, Theodor was standing there.

Approaching with leisurely steps, he stopped in front of Kan.

Watching Theodor correct his posture, Kan tightened his grip on the sword.

“I’m sorry.”

“There’s nothing to be sorry about.”

It was a calm response.

He wasn’t scolding or pressing him.

That’s why Kan found Theodor even more difficult to deal with.

Kan lowered his sword without being able to say anything.

A brief silence passed.

The wind lightly scattered the sand.

Theodor looked at Kan.

“Again.”

At Theodor’s words, Kan corrected his stance again and swung his sword.

And Theodor watched his movements.

He was certainly a child who learned quickly and overflowed with talent.

The two often sparred together, and Theodor taught him not only swordsmanship but various other things.

Theodor intended to make Kan into the perfect Demon Lord to succeed him.

Since he had even absorbed his own magic power, Kan would surely become an excellent Demon Lord.

Theodor watched his swordsmanship with satisfaction.

But unaware of Theodor’s thoughts, Kan was nervous just from the fact that he was watching.

Kan swung his sword while maintaining his composure as much as possible.

Before long, the sunset faded and complete darkness settled over the training grounds.

Sweat dripped down Kan’s face.

Theodor, who had approached at some point, handed him a bottle of water.

“Thank you.”

Kan barely managed to take the water bottle and drank it all at once, and Theodor, who had been watching him, spoke up.

“Are you managing well enough?”

“Yes, thanks to you.”

It was an honest answer.

It wasn’t just manageable – rather, it was so comfortable that it was almost problematic.

Theodor nodded at Kan’s response and spoke.

“If you need anything, tell me anytime.”

“Thank you.”

“Right.”

Kan quietly looked at the water bottle Theodor had given him.

For Theodor, it was a trivial kindness.

Really just a very trivial kindness.

But Kan had never once received such kindness during all his moments in the Demon Realm.

Kan really liked the Mortal Realm.

It wasn’t about things being warm or comfortable.

He wasn’t lonely.

He didn’t have to eat alone and didn’t have to get beaten.

That’s why it was more problematic.

The more he got used to this life, the less he wanted to return to the Demon Realm.

He could only stay in the Mortal Realm because Theodor intended to teach him more.

With one word from him, the contract with Shuria could end.

No matter how much Shuria thought of him as a real friend, she wouldn’t refuse Theodor’s words.

He was certain he thought that way.

“How long will you stay in the Mortal Realm?”

So Kan couldn’t understand those words from Theodor.

He didn’t think he would have a choice.

But Theodor, unaware of Kan’s thoughts, simply continued speaking.

“The choice is yours to make, but I recommend returning after you become an adult.”

“Why?”

So Kan ended up asking that.

It was a question that carried the meaning of why he was giving him a choice.

But Theodor understood his words differently.

“There’s a lot for you to learn from me, and you need to have power so you won’t suffer like that again.”

Though it was the wrong answer, it was still an answer.

Kan realized that Theodor had genuinely given him a choice.

So after hesitating for a moment, he…

“…Is it okay if I don’t go?”

For the first time, he expressed his true feelings.

And at Kan’s response, Theodor spoke.

“Well, that’s also your freedom.”

Honestly speaking, Theodor didn’t want to send Kan back to the Demon Realm either.

It could become secondary victimization.

And since he was no longer a demon, he couldn’t follow him to the Demon Realm to protect him.

But the problem was the rifts.

Could Kan, who lacked both experience and age, block the rifts that even he couldn’t perfectly prevent?

Theodor thought that would be close to impossible.

That’s why he was fulfilling his responsibility as an adult and guardian by teaching Kan.

And just like that, if Kan wanted to stay in the Mortal Realm, he had to take responsibility for that choice.

“You’ll have to take responsibility for what happens as a result of your choice.”

“Responsibility, you mean?”

Rifts didn’t appear immediately.

They appeared the moment the Demon Realm recognized that demon’s location.

Assuming it would be similar to the time it took for Theodor to experience the first rift, a rift recognizing Kan would occur soon.

He thought it wouldn’t be too late to tell him then.

Theodor intuited that his judgment was wrong.

It seemed necessary to prepare his mind in advance.

“Do you know about rifts?”

“Aren’t they passages connecting the Mortal Realm and Demon Realm?”

“That’s not a passage, it’s an entrance – an entrance to take demons back to the Demon Realm.”

Kan understood the entire situation from that one statement.

“You’re saying that if I stay in the Mortal Realm, rifts will keep occurring.”

“That’s right.”

Even for Theodor, it was impossible to immediately block the entrance of a rift.

But unlike himself, Kan had the Magical Diagram.

If he could manipulate that thing well, he might be able to block them more easily, but reaching an agreement with that thing was purely Kan’s ability.

“What was the contract completion condition that the Magical Diagram requested from you?”

In Theodor’s case, it was to become Shuria’s true family.

So he could roughly guess to some extent, but his suspicion was indeed correct.

“A true friend.”

But the Magical Diagram didn’t stray from Theodor’s expectations in the slightest, and eventually Theodor burst into a chuckle.

Still the same.

“The Magical Diagram says I’m too boring and that it misses you.”

“I don’t miss it.”

As soon as Theodor finished speaking, a pink magic circle appeared before Kan’s eyes.

[That’s too much.]

“It says that’s too much.”

Theodor burst into a chuckle.

Still the same guy.

“Always so talkative about useless things.”

Strangely, longing seemed to seep through those casually thrown words.

Kan looked at the magic circle floating in the void for a moment, then lowered his head.

The pink shimmering pattern slowly disappeared.

Silence descended upon the training grounds again, and only the breathing of the two could be heard.

Kan kept his mouth shut.

A true friend.

Could he become a true friend with Shuria?

Kan didn’t voice the question that briefly arose.

“Then.”

Kan carefully opened his mouth.

“If I stay in the Mortal Realm… are you saying I must block that rift?”

“Yes.”

It was a short and definitive answer.

Kan’s fists clenched.

“If you stay, that becomes your responsibility.”

It was a calm reply.

Kan couldn’t say anything.

The water bottle in his hand trembled very slightly.

Responsibility.

It was a familiar word.

But it was a little different from the responsibilities he’d had until now.

If before it had been responsibility forced upon him by Mother’s coercion for the unwanted position of Demon Lord.

This time it was something he would choose and shoulder himself.

That difference was by no means light.

“….”

Kan thought with his head lowered.

He didn’t want to go back.

He never wanted to be alone again.

But if he stayed, someone might get hurt.

Because of him.

Honestly, Kan still wasn’t particularly interested in other people.

But if Shuria, Theodor, or Elisia got hurt because of him.

That seemed unbearable.

Kan didn’t know why Theodor couldn’t cut him down back then, but now he could understand.

Therefore, the answer was already decided.

Kan slowly raised his head.

“I’ll block it.”

A short answer.

But there was no hesitation.

Theodor’s eyes sank very subtly.

So that’s the choice after all.

He had expected it.

That’s why he didn’t try to persuade Kan.

What Theodor had to do was take responsibility for Kan’s choice as his guardian. That was all.

“Can you do it?”

Therefore, Theodor asked quietly.

Kan paused for a moment.

“…I’ll make it happen.”

That was his answer.

Not because he could do it.

But because he had to make it happen.

In order to stay by your sides longer.

At those words, Theodor let out a short breath.

And took a step closer.

His hand rose.

He gently pressed down on Kan’s head.

“Good.”

Strangely, that short word made his chest feel lighter.

Strangely, that single word of response felt so heavy.

“…Yes.”

Kan answered with his head lowered.

He couldn’t raise his gaze because it felt like tears might flow.

“I’ll be counting on you from now on too.”

The fact that he could stay here longer, Theodor’s words. Kan was so happy.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————