“Instructor, it’s rare to meet you here.”
Honestly, did anything in this company ever go according to plan, even when I tried to execute things precisely as scheduled?
I do recall one time, though.
The initial schedule, whether for better or worse, seems to be inherently designed to be betrayed. That impression is much stronger.
With his usual yakuza grin, the instructor, carrying a sake barrel in one hand, bumped into me. He was carrying what should have been loaded onto a cart with the casualness of someone holding a plastic bottle, drinking as he walked with a natural flow.
“Are you procuring new sake?”
“Yeah, with the increased exchange with Japan, I heard that new sake from a brewery arrived at the store. It was too much trouble to have it delivered, so I went to the store myself.”
“I heard you were busy, is this a change of pace?”
“Yeah, if it weren’t for that bastard Evia saying you were out, I would have called you to return the favor from that fight. I was going to switch to just drinking, but it looks like coming here was the right move.”
And this demon’s nose for interesting things is abnormal. They appear at events as if they have some sort of supernatural way of obtaining information.
I don’t dislike him, and I respect him as a demon, but right now, the timing is terrible.
Sensing the situation from the presence of three meticulously dressed women, a human woman the instructor had never seen before, and Kaido by his side, he likely understood the general circumstances.
He smirked, a smile that promised something undeniably enjoyable was about to happen, and Amili-san’s expression turned impassive upon seeing it.
“Oni King, we’re about to have an important discussion. If you intend to cause a hindrance…”
“Ho, what are you going to do?”
Among generals, there are groups that get along well with each other and groups that don’t. Even though they are in the same position and support the same master, chemistry exists.
The Oni King and the Undead King are famously often seen together. Conversely, the Dragon King and Uuor are not known to be particularly close to anyone specific. Kiō, or Amili-san, is similar, though I’ve heard she’s on relatively good terms with Lunaria, the Tree King.
And the compatibility between Amili-san and Instructor Kio, who are currently facing each other…
Honestly, it’s not good.
Surprising as it may seem, Instructor Kio prefers physical combat, while Amili-san primarily fights indirectly using golems.
Their fighting styles, or perhaps their hobbies and preferences, are fundamentally opposed.
The instructor unilaterally despises Amili-san’s fighting method. Amili-san, while not denying that violence can solve problems, shuns the instructor for denigrating her own fighting style.
If you ask who is at fault, it’s the instructor for imposing his preferences, but it’s a bad move to say that here.
Even if the President ordered them to get along, they are both serious about their work publicly, and there’s little I can do.
The two of them exuded an atmosphere of imminent conflict. If a battle were to erupt here, the damage to this shopping street would be severe.
“Alright, that’s enough.”
Therefore, although I didn’t particularly want to step in front of the instructor, who was already reaching for the switch to fight, I decided to intervene.
“Instructor, I’ll take a day off later to make up for it. Can you do me a favor and back down on this one?”
“Huh?”
Amili-san is pregnant. If something were to happen and Kaido’s child were lost due to a careless action, I would truly regret it.
I could tell from his voice alone that his mood had soured because I had interrupted their tense atmosphere, but if I were going to back down for this, I wouldn’t have intervened in the first place.
“Amili-san, what if something happens? You’re not just carrying your own body right now.”
And rather than reprimanding only the instructor, I also addressed Amili-san, who was unusually emotional.
“!”
At those words, Amili-san instinctively put her hand on her stomach.
“Huh? Kiō, could it be that you…”
Seeing that gesture, even the instructor finally understood. And looking at the three women dressed up and Meguri-san, who he hadn’t seen before…
“Gahahaha! So that’s how it is!! Jiro, you! Why didn’t you consult me about this!!”
I don’t know what he concluded, but the instructor’s mood suddenly improved. I have a premonition that nothing bad will happen, but I have no premonition that anything good will happen.
“If there’s a baby, then it calls for a feast!! Damn it! If a general has a baby, it’s a cause for celebration!!”
And that prediction seemed to hit the mark perfectly. Furthermore, announcing Amili-san’s pregnancy at the top of his lungs in the center of the shopping street caused a commotion, and the surrounding area began to stir.
“Oni King.”
“If that’s settled, wait for me, Kiō! I’ll celebrate it in grand style!!”
From the instructor’s perspective, he probably just wants to drink alcohol under the guise of a celebration. The good thing about this demon is that while he wants to drink, he genuinely intends to celebrate.
I’m scheduled to go to the restaurant Keiri-san booked later, but if I use this as an excuse to refuse, the instructor’s displeasure will likely last for the next year.
I can’t stop this anymore. Sensing this intuitively, I…
“Instructor, do you know a place called Sades?”
“Huh? Ah, there’s no sake in this basement that I don’t know of.”
In that case, I’ll at least try to set the course by all means.
“We plan to hold a celebratory feast there, so if you’re going to have a banquet, please reserve that place. That way, you can secure the venue and a place to gather the alcohol.”
“Oh! That’s right, as expected of my disciple, you understand!!”
It’s better to decide the path forward than to try to stop it haphazardly. It’s confirmed that I won’t be able to eat Himik’s oden tonight.
No, it’s a change of perspective.
After all, there will be revelry and drunkenness, and there won’t be enough food or drink.
In that case, why not have Himik bring her oden?
The restaurant will undoubtedly be busy dealing with the instructor’s unreasonable demands.
As a form of support, I can introduce Himik as a way to gradually include Evia, Memoria, Suella, and the child in the celebration.
“Alright! I’ll call the people I can, so you go to the store first and get ready!!”
“Understood.”
Processing other matters in my head while talking to the instructor was child’s play. Once he had something to drink, his mood quickly recovered, and he probably went to gather members to purely celebrate Amili-san.
Watching the demon depart with heavy footsteps, I said,
“Thank you.”
“No, I’m sorry that my abilities were insufficient.”
I shook my head at Amili-san’s words of comfort and gratitude. I could have prepared a quieter place for our conversation, but I really didn’t anticipate running into that demon.
“Meguri-san… Meguri-san?”
So, I thought I should apologize to Meguri-san, who was probably the most shocked, but she was staring blankly at Instructor Kio’s retreating figure.
Huh? Is this, perhaps…
“Tanaka-kun!”
“Yes, what is it?”
Despite a sense of foreboding, I responded to Meguri-san, who was closing in on me.
“Who is that cool-looking person!?”
“He’s not human, he’s a demon. He’s my and Kaido’s instructor, and he’s known as the Oni King within this company.”
“Oni King, Kū!! His name is cool too, isn’t that the best!!”
And when I answered her question, Meguri-san started giving me a triumphant pose. Huh? Could it really be?
“Ah, Senpai, to correct your misunderstanding, it’s not that our Mom fell head over heels for the instructor. She’s on normal terms with Dad. Mom hates dramas about affairs and such so much she wants to vomit, so there’s no need to worry about that. She simply likes people who look like intimidating yakuza, like the instructor. Mom’s room is filled with movies and dramas about yakuza.”
It seems to be a common trait among former delinquents to like the aura of people who aren’t strictly law-abiding. I accepted it as a peculiar hobby that exists, and I was rather impressed that she wasn’t intimidated at all by the instructor’s imposing presence.
In any case, the banquet that will follow has now been confirmed. Even the instructor must have taken time to gather people.
I need to get the preparations for the banquet done before then, or I’ll face the demon’s fists.
There isn’t much time.
“Excuse me, Amili-san, it seems like it’s going to be a banquet after all.”
“It can’t be helped when it’s dealing with the Oni King. My schedule was already free for dinner, so a slight change of plans won’t be a problem.”
Amili-san, the biggest victim in this situation, showed a rare expression and gave a bitter smile. I felt sorry, thinking, “Amili-san smiles like this, huh?”
“Well then, let’s head to the restaurant.”
We started walking again, but…
“…President, what are you doing?”
I had seen something I shouldn’t have.
“Shh, please be quiet. If Evia finds out, I’ll be sent back to that hell.”
“If I overlook this here, I’ll be killed by Evia.”
“It’s alright, Raidou let me off the hook.”
“He does slack off sometimes, doesn’t he?”
Secretly, using concealment barriers and recognition-blocking techniques, I found the President, the Demon Lord, mingling with ordinary people at the entrance of a coffee shop. He was elegantly sipping coffee, holding what looked like a novel. I couldn’t tell the content because of the book cover.
However, if my memory serves me correctly, the President is supposed to be working right now. He shouldn’t be leisurely taking a break in a place like this.
“Eh, President? Is he perhaps Tadashi’s superior?”
“Affirmative. That person is the leader of this organization. The current Demon Lord, Insigne Runallos.”
The fact that I noticed him was a coincidence. Perhaps because he didn’t conceal his face entirely, or because of his faint magic power, he sat there so naturally that I briefly mistook him for someone else. But his actions immediately revealed him to be the President.
The instructor likely overlooked him because he intended to invite him to the banquet later. He operates on his own logic, believing it’s impossible to invite someone where Evia is present, but not a problem otherwise.
Meguri-san and Amili-san were talking about the President behind me, but in my case, since I’ve found him, there’s no other option. I need to make him return to his original duties. I was about to contact Evia.
“Whoa there, I won’t let you do that.”
However, with a flick of the President’s finger, my telepathic call was jammed. Furthermore, the jamming was localized around me, on a small scale, so Evia wouldn’t notice.
“President, please go back to work like a good boy. I also have a packed schedule for later.”
This is really childish. I’ve never fought the President at full power, but he’s undoubtedly a higher rank. He’s someone who can use even more outrageous techniques than the instructor, a “last boss” type of President. There’s no way I can break through his full-power interference.
Therefore, all I can do is glare and criticize him. I sincerely wish he’d spare me, as I have a very busy schedule.
“Yes, I know that. Raidou just telepathically invited me. As your superior, I wanted to celebrate the Kiō’s pregnancy. I will definitely be participating in the banquet later.”
And this Demon Lord intends to come along.
“There are also a few things that are a little concerning.”
He even leaves behind some ominous words at the end!?
Word of the day: Plans are just plans.
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