So then—a year since Takuya appeared.
As for what he'd been up to, at first it was nothing but domestic policy.
"Let's build a sewer system. We'll use slimes."
"A toilet, you mean—a flush toilet."
"That's right."
And so, first of all, toilets came into being.
Before that, toilets had been poorly maintained and the towns were filthy.
This cleaned things up considerably.
As a bonus, illness declined and deaths dropped.
"Life has certainly improved, but the threat of the Demon Lord's army hasn't diminished."
"Now, now—no rushing."
"I see..."
"The Saint alone isn't enough."
"She isn't?"
"We need a female Sage and a female Mage."
"As you say."
Hmm. It seems Takuya intends to build a harem.
A game otaku through and through.
He must have some ideal image of what a Hero should be.
"Shouldn't you deliver an oracle or something, Aithel?"
"Ehh, it's fine, isn't it?"
"If you say so, I'll watch a bit longer."
"Mm."
We gods are magnanimous, after all.
A harem's no great matter, I suppose.
"Hero, sir, we've assembled the Saint, the Sage, and the Mage."
"Good. That'll do nicely."
Ah, looks like he's finally motivated.
The Hero's party leaves the royal capital and, as field training, sets about culling monsters.
Go on, keep leveling up.
Go for it, go for it. When the Demon Lord was born I wondered what we'd do, but it looks like we'll be all right.
"Oi, Lunga. Is this all right?"
"What is it?"
"The Hero's party—they've all gotten pregnant and turned back home."
"Ahh, no good, was it."
Regrettably, they got a little too frisky out on the road, it seems.
Unlike cramped castle life, once it's just the party living in their own tents and inns, that's how it goes.
Honestly, they might at least exercise some self-control.
So then—let's skip ahead a bit.
As you'd expect, the Hero's party stayed busy with child-rearing afterward and couldn't do much of any work.
They keep improving the kingdom's domestic affairs, but their combat outings dwindle to nothing, and past middle age they'll hardly be fit to fight.
"This one's fired. The Hero's fired."
"But what about Cowl—the son born to him and the Saint?"
"Ah, he's inherited the blood and the knowledge. Looking pretty good."
"Right, an oracle then!"
And so the Hero retired, and his son Cowl was summoned to the temple.
"Cowl."
"Yes, Lady Aithel."
"Your father, Takuya, is past his prime and can no longer fight. In his place, Cowl, you are the Hero."
"I'm to inherit the role of Hero?"
"That's right. I'm counting on you. And out on the road, do exercise self-control."
"Understood, Goddess!"
And so, when the son Cowl was fifteen, an oracle came down.
Cowl took a Saint, a priestess, a Mage, and a Sage, and set out on his journey.
"Oh, Lunga. Not bad, this Cowl."
"Right? Well, let's watch."
"Yep, yep."
Cowl listened to the villagers' troubles, solved their problems, and put down rampaging monsters.
Sometimes he mounted mountain hunts to root out bandits.
Whenever he heard of a corrupt lord in some region, he rushed straight over and clapped him in irons.
Growing by leaps and bounds, Cowl managed to become the kingdom's foremost Hero.
"So at last Cowl heads for the Demon Lord's domain, too."
"Yes, I'm off."
He met with the kingdom's princess and paid his respects before departing.
It seemed that, despite the beautiful girls he had in tow, Cowl's main target was the princess.
Once inside the Demon Lord's domain, the monsters abruptly grow stronger.
Ogres are par for the course; then stone golems, gargoyles, cyclopes, wyverns—and dragons that live a thousand years.
Enormous enemies, cunning enemies, enemies that fly.
"Damn it—more, I need more power!"
"Let's do our best, Hero!"
"Guess all I can do is try. Heh heh."
Basking in the encouragement of the Saints, the Hero Cowl presses on.
There's still a strong power sleeping in that young body of his.
"At last, the Demon Lord's castle."
"Here we are."
The Hero's party reached the Demon Lord's castle.
Defeating monster after monster, they finally make for the throne.
"Well come, Hero. Show me you can fell me."
There sat the great king of demonkind—the Demon Lord.
Clang. Clang-clang-clang. Clang-clang.
Cowl fights with his sword, but the Demon Lord answers in kind, blade for blade.
There's no sense of winning at all.
Joining forces with the Saint, the priestess, the Mage, and the Sage, they just barely managed to seal the Demon Lord away.
"We did it—we finally won!"
"Hurraaay!"
And so a brief peace came to humankind.
"Hmm. Not half bad, I'd say."
"So Lunga's verdict is 'not half bad,' aye."
"Well, y'know. I'd have liked a cooler victory. Besides, they only sealed him—didn't defeat him."
"True. Well, it's peace until the next time he revives."
And so time marches on.