Epilogue III: the winding road

I was taking a stroll through the picturesque little Kalar settlement called Pencilcrow.

It has been a while since I last visited. Despite our deep connection, devils aren’t usually seen around here.

“Queen Ados Muse!”

Pastel gasped loudly and rushed towards me. For human measurements she would already be an old crone, but compared to devils she was nothing more then a toddler. At any rate, the young leader of the tribe still had trouble controlling her emotions. It was rather adorable.

I chuckled in response and resisted the urge to squeeze the cute little child against my bosom. Pastel needs to retain some dignity. “That was a name I hadn’t used in a long time and I hardly am the Chieftain anymore. You have done well, my successor.”

Pastel always had an affinity for praise. And hearing that made her instantly beam with pride. “W-We do our best! Your support is much appreciated!” She bowed deeply.

“By the way”, I started. “I heard that you recently gave birth to an heir?”

That produced vigorous nodding. “I-Indeed! Our scouts captured an adventurer trespassing our woods. We **** him promptly and then send him on his way as a warning to other base fools!”

“How delightful.” Personally, I wasn’t sure if getting **** by a Kalar would serve as any deterrence. But since Kalar were a female only species, they are always in need of breeding stocks to trespass into their forest.

“I would like to see your future heir, oh Queen.”

…

..

.

The little girl was busying herself with balancing a mandarin on her head when we entered her room.

Pastel cleared her throat, adopting or at least attempting to take on a more regal persona. “Reset, child, come here.”

“Mommy!” Reset immediately walked toward us, surprisingly still carrying the mandarin on her head.

Pastel coughed once more. Not particularly impressed with her child’s antics. “Reset, this is Queen Ados Muse, former chieftain of our tribe. Make sure, to show her the utmost respect.”

“Nn”, the girl looked up at me with curious eyes, which unfortunately caused the mandarin to finally tumble towards the ground. “You have big boobies!”

Pastel looked as if she was just about to faint.

“Oh, how adorable”, I chuckled, grabbed the child and smoshed her against my big boobies.

She has her eyes.

“Heeey!”, the girl complained. Let me down!”

I obliged.

Reset picked up the mandarin. “Wanna buy it, sir? I sell it for only 99 Gold coins! It’s one hell of a bargain!”

“R-Reset! Where did you learn such crude words?”, Pastel gasped in shock. “You must show our former Queen the proper respect!”

The girl pondered this for a bit and nodded. “I sell it for 89 Gold coins then!”

I smiled warmly. “Already making deals, I see. You will make a fine devil.”

The girl nodded again. “I want to become a merchant when I grow up! Then I leave the forest and get a hot human boyfriend! And then I become a trillionaire!”

I patted her head. “Keep at it and I’m sure you will.”

“What are you talking about, Reset!”, Pastel scolded. “You are the future Queen of the Kalar! Your place remains here!”

“But Mommy…”, Reset pouted.

“No buts!”, her mother was adamant. “A proud noble Queen of the Kalar ill needs to mingle with these inferior races!”

“You may say that, but you did leave the forest once too”, I argued, trying to give the little one some support.

Pastel made a grimace at that. “And we regretted it deeply. Humans are utterly deplorable creatures. Especially the females.”

“Ah yes, Pastel, speaking of deplorable humans. I have a small favor to ask of you.”

...

Pastel almost doubled over at my request. “We suppose”, she ultimately conceded. “If these base humans are so **** to see the new heir of the Kalar Tribe, we shall generously allow it. And we can breed the male one?”

“Of course! No reason to hold back either. He is quite resilient.”, I promised.

“Are these humans big shots?”, asked Reset with curious eyes.

I smiled and patted her head. “The opposite actually. You are the big shot. You saved his life. Twice.”

Pastel blinked confused but Reset only nodded enthusiastically. “In that case I better charge him double!”

I laughed and hugged Reset again.

What a winding road this child’s life had taken.

Once as a human.

Once as a devil.

But now.

At last.

She had arrived.