"Alright, this should do it."

I walked through the market, buying the things I needed.

It seems that the capacity of my spatial magic is pretty large, so I can store things without worrying about space. However, from what I casually asked Marco and the others, not many people can use storage magic. So, I've been keeping it hidden in town.

Specifically, I bought a large backpack and pretended to store things in it, when in reality, I was using my magic.

I also picked up some cooking utensils like a frying pan and a knife, tableware like plates and cups, camping gear like a simple tent and a sleeping bag, and some spare clothes, underwear, and food like vegetables and bread.

As for meat, I kept about half of the cow we had butchered yesterday in storage without selling it.

"With this, I’ve almost spent all the money I earned yesterday, so I’ll have to hunt more monsters soon."

The camping gear was particularly expensive, so the 20 gold coins I earned yesterday, plus the 5 gold coins I got from selling some clothes, were almost all gone. Looks like I’ll need to earn more money again.

"Hey, the public execution of those demon kids is about to start!"

"Really? It’s at the central square, right? Let’s hurry!"

"Yeah!"

It wasn’t something I wanted to hear. I had already decided to stay out of the war between humans and demons and was about to leave this town...

I’d bought everything I needed, so I might as well leave now.

"...So this is the central square, huh?"

I was planning to leave the town and use wind magic to fly in the opposite direction of the Demon Lord's castle. But as I was heading toward the gate, I passed by a square, which turned out to be the central square. Quite a few people had already gathered there.

At the back of the square, the demon children I saw yesterday were crucified, exposed to the public.

Their arms were spread wide, with metal chains wrapped around their wrists and ankles, binding them to the crosses behind them.

In front of the demon children stood the knights from the expedition army, lined up with long spears in their hands.

"Hurry up and kill them!"

"My husband was killed by demons!"

"Kill all the demons!"

The crowd hurled cruel words at the demon children. If it weren’t for the knights standing guard, they’d probably be throwing stones by now.

The humans' hatred toward the demons was far more terrifying than I had imagined. Even though the children were still so young, they were met with merciless hostility simply because they were demons.

This is war. When loved ones or family members are killed by an enemy, even if it wasn’t by these specific children, just being from the same race is enough to stir this kind of intense hatred.

At least here, not a single person was on the side of those demon children.

"Uuuu…"

"Hic… Hic…"

"I’ll never forgive you… for killing my mother and father…"

The children tied to the crosses either closed their eyes in resignation, wept endlessly, or glared at the knights and the crowd in hatred for their slain family.

Their voices, which should’ve been too far away to hear, reached me thanks to my enhanced physical abilities.

Damn it… I can't help but see myself in these demon children, their emotions overlapping with my own when I lost my parents.

"Let the execution of these wretched demons begin!"

"Ooohhhhh!!"

The hero of the expedition army, Augus the Flame Emperor, stepped forward, and the crowd erupted in cheers. The execution was about to start.

"Mom… Dad… help me…"

"!?"

In the midst of the roaring cheers, the youngest of the demon children—a little girl—whispered, her voice so small, seeking salvation. She knew that no one, not even her parents, could hear her plea, but she couldn’t help but mutter it anyway... just like I did back then.

"... I guess it’s time to stop running from what I really want."

Whether I can return to my original world or not, I might be killed instantly by that Flame Emperor, Augus, as a rebel for interfering with the execution. If that happens, so be it. I’ll face it head-on, proud.

It’s not that I want to play the hero or preach that life is precious.

There’s just one reason... I want to save these despairing children right now, that’s all. Since I’ve become the Demon Lord, I’ll act like one—selfish and reckless, following my own desires.

"I was just making excuses, avoiding the thing I wanted most."

War? Races? That has nothing to do with me—I only arrived in this world yesterday!

Smart choices, hypocrisy, selfishness… None of that matters right now!

Who cares if it’s reckless or unplanned? I’ll deal with the consequences later!

I’m going to do what I want to do right now!

Maou Kokuengai

As I spoke the skill's name, a sinister, jet-black suit of armor and a helmet materialized over my clothes.