"...Alright."
The two walked down the small town's streets, Mohe's face filled with joy.
"Aunt, could you please hand me an apple."
"Little Mohe, who is this?"
"He's my uncle, my dad's younger brother, who only found me recently."
The shopkeeper pulled Mohe aside and whispered in her ear.
Doro could hear her; the shopkeeper didn't have anything nice to say about him, but then again, he was a rotten person anyway, so it didn't faze him.
Mohe, on the other hand, softly argued in his defense, like a truly kind-hearted girl.
It was clear that the Demon King had built quite a good reputation in this small town. The smile on her face seemed very sincere...
Could it be that she truly liked this small town?
Doro dismissed the thought; how could she like such a small town? She's the Demon King. Everything she did was to hide her tracks, resurrect, and then dominate the world.
But perhaps it was fine.
If the Demon King were to rule the world...
He chuckled self-deprecatingly, knowing that once the Demon King regained her power, she'd be the first to kill him. No matter what kind of world she ruled, he wouldn't get to see it.
As for whether the Demon King's plan would work? Who knew?
But it was likely to succeed, given that she's the Demon King after all.
Dying at the hands of the Demon King might be a good thing.
At least she never hid her intent to kill him; all her opinions were blatantly expressed. If she had the chance, she'd definitely kill him. Isn't that a kind of honesty too?
Even Doro couldn't help but laugh at the thought.
"This is too ridiculous. When did I become such a pitiful person?"
Thinking this, he stood a little more upright.
Mohe came over carrying apples, then went to buy other things.
"What are you doing?"
Faced with Doro's question, Mohe flashed a meaningful smile: "A new year is approaching, my dear Doro, don't you know? The arrival of a new year commemorates the Hero defeating the Demon King. We must purchase a total of thirteen kinds of fruits and vegetables, symbolizing the thirteen parts of the Demon King being suppressed."
Doro fell silent: "Why are you celebrating this festival?"
"The evil Demon King must not be resurrected; it's a wonderful wish. A wish that prays the Demon King won't return."
Doro couldn't quite grasp Mohe's thoughts but accompanied her through the streets buying various things until he found himself the one carrying the goods at some point.
"Now I understand why women like shopping with their partners; having someone to play the mule is such a delight," Mohe seemed quite pleased, "So tell me, Doro, do you feel your youth?"
Doro's hands were full of bags: "Do you have a high income? Buying all these things."
"Why do you think I work at the tavern wearing a maid outfit? It's because the pay is good! Other jobs pay so little! That tavern sometimes comes with tips, and these fruits and vegetables aren't expensive. I can still afford them."
"But for that job, don't you occasionally encounter some..."
"People like you?"
Mohe chuckled lightly: "As long as you don't lay hands on me, I think there's no one in this small town who could threaten my safety."
At this, she flashed a mischievous smile: "What's the matter, dear Doro, are you interested in me, planning to do this or that? Didn't you discuss the Snow Elf's figure just last night?"
As she spoke, Mohe suddenly realized Doro's gaze swept over her body and then a disdainful expression appeared.
"...You're really asking for a beating, you know!" Although she didn't mind her body's figure, when was the last time someone looked at her with such disdain?
It was when her parents had died.
Those who despised her had lost their parents too, though this had nothing to do with her.
She wanted to curse this man, but realized since he was already a rotten person, there was nothing worth saying: "Alright, we're almost done shopping, it's time to go back."
Bringing Doro back to her place, Mohe quickly started preparing.
"What are you doing?"
"A Demon King meal — thirteen fruits and vegetables diced, mixed and cooked in a pot. People say eating this is like devouring the Demon King, avenging past grievances. What do you think?"
Doro looked at Mohe, puzzled: "Eating something with this meaning doesn't disgust you?"
"What's strange about it? I was always going to eat myself."
Mohe's face showed a mysterious smile: "When I regain my body, I was always going to consume it! Eating the Demon King isn't a joke to me."
Her smile sent a shiver down Doro's spine; she was right, she meant to consume her original body, so... what seemed like a ritual to others was something Mohe was meant to do.
"This concoction is usually sweet. If you prefer salty, there's salt here. Feel free to add some," Mohe casually served the cooked hodgepodge, "Try the taste."
Doro looked at the steaming pot with mixed emotions: "Why did you take me in?"
"Leaving you in the tavern would've affected business, and my dear boss would deduct my pay."
"Even today..."
"Monitoring."
Mohe started eating: "Alright, eat first. Hot and cold are two different flavors."
"Why did you...?"
"Enough with the whys, I know what you're thinking, just a stray dog cast aside, unexpectedly fed by a stranger, hoping for an answer. Hero A·Gedora, you are so pitiful."
A stray dog...
She used a stray dog to describe him?
For a moment, Doro felt a bit humiliated, but soon, he calmed down: "You're right, I am indeed like a stray dog."
"So, Hero, stray dogs must act like stray dogs. If you're willing to let me adopt you, that might be acceptable, but you must be obedient, understood?"
Doro began to eat, staying silent.
Mohe wasn't disappointed; in fact, if he were to comply so easily, it would be unbelievable, and she'd have to question the Hero's intentions.
Though she didn't think there was anything about her worth scheming over.
After lunch, Mohe opened a previously closed room.
She didn't seem to intend to hide from Doro, so he clearly saw various "curse" tools inside.
"Your right hand symbolizes the curse; have you retrieved your right hand?"
"If I had, I wouldn't need these things; I'd just cast instantly. It's because I haven't recovered it that I need these tools."
Doro thought she made sense: "These are for dealing with vampires?"
"Yes, Lisidorwei's power isn't complicated. You humans use Holy Light against her, but actually, I have a more convenient method. Using bloodline curses, I'll directly eliminate her kin, then use the toxin rooted in her bloodline—let me think, hmm..."
Mohe pulled out a golden bottle: "This bottle contains my Demon King's Blood."
She looked a bit pained: "Directly fusing with it would grant me far greater power, but my right hand is important. It's just a small risk for a big gain."