THE HERO'S SON IS A MONSTER-Chapter 39: The Ruler of Pandemonium wants to raise a child
"What the ?"
The Ruler of Pandemonium turned around at the sound of the voice. She was sure that voice had come from the child the human and she was right.
"Oh? So, you’ve finally woken up!" she said.
"Ah!"
The Ruler of Pandemonium approached the child, her curiosity piqued. She picked him up in her arms while Ariane watched the scene, ready to seize the smallest opportunity to mock her.
The child, who had been continuously repeating names, suddenly stopped as if the Ruler of Pandemonium’s voice had brought him back to his senses. His chaotic gaze calmly observed the person holding him.
"What a big boy. I’m so proud that you understand without me having to say anything."
The baby, now seemingly aware of his surroundings, started looking around.
And then, he spoke.
"I!"
Ariane had to stop herself from letting her jaw drop in shock. The Ruler of Pandemonium was just as surprised. Both of them stared at the child in anticipation, waiting for the next words to come out of his mouth.
"..."
But after several minutes, nothing else came. He simply observed those who were observing him.
"Wait, that’s it?" Ariane shouted, all her expectations crashing down.
"This is frustrating!" Ariane wasn’t the only one irritated the Ruler of Pandemonium felt the same. However, a smirk played on her lips, partially hidden by the mask covering the upper half of her face.
"I’ve decided what we’re going to do."
"I’m going to raise him!" the Ruler of Pandemonium declared, leaving Ariane staring at her in disbelief. She hadn’t seen that coming.
"Wha—?!"
Now it was Ariane’s turn to burst into laughter. It wasn’t every day one witnessed such a spectacle this was the kind of once-in-a-lifetime absurdity that deserved to be savored.
The Ruler of Pandemonium wore an exasperated expression. She already knew that now that Ariane had started, she wouldn’t stop mocking her anytime soon. And, of course, this story would never be forgotten.
What an annoying little pest.
"You? Raising something? Did you think he was just another minion of Pandemonium? Or some weed you could pluck from anywhere? And more importantly the Ruler of Pandemonium, raising a child?!"
"You’d be better off acting like humans for once, ku ku ku!"
"Ku ku ku! No, I can’t, this is too much! AH AHAHAHAHAH KUKUKU!"
The room was soon filled with Ariane’s uncontrollable laughter while the Ruler of Pandemonium, whose expression was hidden behind her mask, seemed to roll her eyes.
She was visibly irritated by Ariane’s behavior, but she knew there was nothing she could do. At best, she could change the subject, but ignoring Ariane wouldn’t help either.
The Ruler of Pandemonium let out a loud sigh, doing her best to ignore Ariane’s laughter.
Her gaze drifted down to the child still cradled in her arms. He stared back at her with dead-fish eyes, yet there was something strangely intelligent and chaotic about them.
"Hmph. You don’t understand yet, Ariane," she declared with a smirk, attempting to regain her composure but it was a lost cause.
Ariane, still doubled over in laughter, wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and shot her a mocking glance.
"Oh, enlighten me, oh great sovereign, ruler of all Pandemonium! What is it that I don’t understand?"
The Ruler of Pandemonium shrugged and turned her attention back to the child.
She gently placed a finger under his chin, lifting his head so their eyes met.
"He’s not just any child. He’s special. I can feel it. His energy is... different," she said thoughtfully.
At this point, I could say anything and move on. What was this story again? I’ll just throw in some random lines from whatever that thing was.
The Ruler of Pandemonium had no choice but to make things up but strangely, she wasn’t entirely wrong.
Ariane’s laughter suddenly stopped.
The lighthearted air disappeared for a moment, replaced by a flicker of curiosity in her eyes.
"Different, huh?" She crossed her arms.
"What do you mean by different? I mean, yeah, he doesn’t seem as fragile as any other brat."
The Ruler of Pandemonium didn’t respond immediately.
She observed the child for a moment before a small smile formed on her lips.
She set him down on the floor, and the moment his tiny feet touched the ground, a faint tremor ran through the room. The air vibrated slightly, a subtle pressure radiating from the child like an almost imperceptible wave.
Ariane’s eyes widened.
"Oh..."
The Ruler of Pandemonium leaned toward him, an amused smile on her lips.
"Do you feel that? He isn’t even fully aware of himself yet, and already, he’s releasing a presence. Imagine what he’ll become once he awakens..."
The child looked back and forth between them, slowly raising a tiny hand as if trying to grasp something invisible.
Ariane blinked, then straightened up, regaining her usual sarcastic expression.
"Alright, let’s say he is special. But you? Raising him? That’s like asking a dragon to hatch a chicken egg!"
"And besides, I already knew about his condition. You’re not teaching me anything new."
The Ruler of Pandemonium rolled her eyes behind her mask.
"Tch. This isn’t about capability. Don’t start listing all your knowledge just for some petty revenge."
"You were supposed to run some tests, weren’t you? But you didn’t. At the very least, tell me you’ve done some preliminary research on the matter."
She knelt before the child and placed a hand on his head.
"Whatever your origins may be, from now on, you belong to me. I will raise you, train you... and turn you into something great. My curiosity is growing what will you become?"
The child stared at her for a long moment before blinking slowly. Then, to everyone’s surprise, a small smile appeared on his lips.
Ariane sighed, throwing her arms up in defeat.
She made the cradle that was in the way disappear.
"Well, this is certainly the worst combination I’ve ever seen in my life!"
"It’s settled, I’m taking him to Pandemonium."
"WHAT?!" Ariane shrieked hysterically.
