My Daughters Have Become Gods

1 – Return

Kwa-gwa-gwang

A dense, dark abyss.

The headquarters of the demon world, the center of magic.

In the midst of it, I was engaged in a final battle with the master of magic.

“Ha. I never thought I’d be pushed this far.”

Erzebet, the Demon King who descended to the mid-world and stained the continent with darkness.

Jjeo-jeok

Her helmet, unable to withstand the aftermath of my holy sword’s attack, split, revealing luscious hair and a beautiful woman’s face.

“Hero. I never thought such a being from legends would exist.”

“I also never thought I’d be dragged into a world like this.”

“Ahahahahaha. The being that shattered my plans was not a noble goddess or a high god, but a human forcibly brought from another world!”

“Let’s end this. Demon King.”

“Come, hero! The human sword that will topple the strongest demon from the lowest position!”

Chae-ang

Kwa-gwa-gwang

Pa-sa-sak

Ku-woong

“Ha ha… Is this… the end?”

The Demon King, having received my final attack, fell. Her demon sword and her brilliant black armor were all turned to dust and scattered.

My holy sword, having exerted all its power, lost its light.

“I laughed at the Demon Kings in legends who were defeated by heroes, calling them stupid and incompetent. I thought I was different. I would conquer the mid-world and fulfill the demons’ wishes.”

She murmured, lying fallen.

“But I was no different from them. Not different at all. Hero. No, human. What is your name?”

“My name is Arwen. Don’t you know?”

“No. I’m asking for your true name, not the false name of this world.”

Since being dragged into this world, I have been Arwen.

A means to raise the morale of the allied forces. And a name as a dagger to be thrust into the Demon King’s heart.

“…Hyunwoo. Oh Hyunwoo.”

My name, spoken after a long time.

So long that it feels awkward.

My original name, unknown to anyone on this continent.

The Demon King, with whom I will have no dealings anymore.

With a mixture of awkward and refreshing feelings, I told her my name.

“Oh Hyunwoo… Heh. Certainly, it’s a peculiar name that feels like it’s from another world.”

“Are you mocking me?”

“If it felt that way, I apologize. I was just curious about the name of the man who defeated me.”

“Is that so.”

Thud

Exhausted, I too sat down beside her.

“Hyunwoo, you will become a hero of this continent with my head.”

“Hmph. Hero… I have no interest in such things.”

I just want to go home.

“hehehe. Is that so? It’s a modest wish for a man who defeated me.”

Wish or whatever, I’m just too tired.

I just want to rest in my room, in my house on Earth, as soon as possible.

“Hyunwoo…Hyunwoo… In the next life, I will not forget this name.”

“The next life…you say.”

Reincarnation…

It would be interesting if such a thing existed.

I’m curious.

About a world where we don’t meet as enemies.

“Hyunwoo… Hyunwoo… Oh Hyun…woo…”

The Demon King’s voice gradually fades.

Her breath gradually becomes faint.

My long-time adversary through adventures and wars.

It was the end for the Demon King.

* * *

The royal castle of the Kingdom of Pelsreino.

Allied forces base.

“Are you really going back?”

“Yeah. I have to go.”

“If you stay, you can live with wealth and fame as the hero who defeated the Demon King and saved this world. Even so?”

“Tabares, I told you before. I have no interest in wealth or fame.”

I just want to rest now.

“Haah. Right. So, you’re going to leave us, your adventure companions, behind and go?”

“That, that’s…”

Tabares, who blocked one of the Demon King’s four heavenly kings to send me to the Demon King, losing one arm in the process.

If you say that…

“Sorry, sorry. I’m joking. I can’t hold back the hero, my comrade.”

“Tabares.”

“You have to be happy, hero. Our savior.”

“Thank you, Tabares. I heard your wife is due to give birth soon. You’re going to be a father soon?”

“Huh? Ahahahaha, that’s right.”

A world devastated by the great war with the demon world.

This place, where all races have gathered since every place except the Kingdom of Pelsreino was destroyed.

Although it is desolate now, it is a hopeful world that the remaining people will build.

It’s a shame I won’t see that future… because I have to return to Earth.

And on the day I decided to leave for Earth.

The dimensional gate opened in the temple.

“Be happy, Arwen.”

Archmage Tabares.

“Farewell, our hero.”

Sea tribe king, Babun.

“We will build the world you saved.”

Elf queen, Elize.

“We will not forget you, hero. We will miss you.”

Saint, even Erika.

My party members, who fought the Demon King with me, came forward to the dimensional gate.

“Goodbye, everyone. Thank you for everything. Take care!”

Leaving my last words, I threw myself beyond the gate.

Finally, Earth.

I can go back.

To my beloved family.

Pa-at

The view changed.

And what I saw was….

A temple?

What’s going on?

Didn’t I pass through the gate?

And why is this place….

So devastated?

“He, Hero!”

Turning my head toward a voice, I saw the saint, covered in blood, collapsed.

“Erika! What happened!”

I rushed over and supported her.

“Th, there’s no time… Hero. Those children…”

Children?

Looking where she pointed, I saw three newborns wrapped in cradles.

“They are the children of Tabares, Elize, and Babun.”

My comrades’ children?

“What are you talking about? Why are their children here? And why are you so injured in the first place?”

“I apologize, Hero. I called you back. I blocked the way for you to return home.”

“Erika……”

“I will pay for this sin with my life. Please save our continent.”

“What are you talking about? The Demon King has been defeated.”

“During the great war, there were those who did not participate.”

Could it be… she’s talking about those who only caused trouble without participating in the war that determined the fate of the continent!

“They have risen to power. Tabares, Elize, Babun, all trying to stop them… they…”

Wait.

This can’t be….

Are you saying they’re all dead?

“They defeated the Demon King’s elite army. They can’t lose to such riffraff.”

“They summoned a demon.”

A demon!

A being neither from the demon world nor belonging to the mid-world, a third force.

Did they make a deal with them!

If so, I can understand why all my comrades were defeated.

“A demon…”

“If left like this, the continent will fall to them and the demon they contracted will swallow the continent. Please! Please save our continent.”

Things have really gone to hell.

The continent I saved is in this mess.

So when I was about to go and defeat them and the Demon King… really.

“Erika. First, let’s treat you.”

“It’s too late for me. I used all my vitality to call you. I was maintaining my body with sacred power until now. Now the limit of the sacred power has come. I’m truly sorry.”

“No. Erika.”

“Please save the continent. And… I’m sorry.”

She collapsed like a puppet whose strings were cut.

I held her up, but.

She, who had already stopped breathing.

Didn’t I save the continent?

I looked at the three babies in the basket.

It was only a moment that I entered the dimensional gate.

Did enough time pass for them to have children in the meantime?

I wished for happiness.

Although I should be angry that my return to Earth was thwarted, I wasn’t angry at Erika at all.

Tabares. Babun. Elize. Erika. Everyone.

All the journeys with them flashed by like a carousel.

-You’re the hero? With black hair and small eyes. You look pretty weak?

-Ouch! Wait! That hurt! Wait! I’m sorry! It was just a joke! My bad!

-I am the king of all sea tribes. Babun. Lowly human.

-Sea people do not show their backs to those they do not trust greatly. You are probably the first human to face the back of the sea king.

-I have no intention of trusting a human or anything.

-Leave him to me and go, hero! The hope of the entire continent rests on your shoulders!

-You can’t, Hero. Your wounds are too severe!

-…Huh? No, not me! I was just wondering if, perhaps, Hero, you have a woman in mind….

My comrades.

All of them.

“Come.”

Goo-woong

The sacred sword, tearing through space, popped out of thin air.

I grasped the sword.

This heavy and cool sensation.

It’s time to avenge my comrades.