“However, it’s quite something that you can enjoy yourself so much during such a busy time.”
“Hahaha, Evia, are you really telling me that when you’re the one with me right now?”
I’m continuing my date with Suella, Memoria, and Himik during this long holiday. I feel quite apologetic towards the Demon Lord’s Army, who are busy during this period, for prioritizing family time. But please forgive me, as I intend to make up for it later with Valse-san’s help.
“Well, that’s true. Besides, you finished your work ahead of schedule for this holiday. And you are a diligent worker. Currently, the Demon Lord is having us work under the Tree King, so operations should be fine without any problems.”
Evia, who is pregnant, has been primarily doing desk work lately. Perhaps that’s why she seems to be seeking some physical activity.
While moderate exercise is considered good for pregnant women, for those of us with superhuman physical abilities, even moderate exercise would undoubtedly have only negative effects on the fetus.
I agonized the most over what to do on my date with Evia. A gourmet tour worried me about overeating, staying up late could lead to physical discomfort, and even sports would be too much. There are many restrictions.
And above all, we are currently going through a very busy period.
If I’m worried about work, I can’t concentrate on our date.
It’s quite remarkable that individuals in our positions are going on dates like this.
However, unlike me, who is enjoying the holiday, Evia has been working so hard that it seems she could take a vacation at any moment.
While I was contemplating what kind of date to plan for such an Evia, she told me she had something she wanted to do together. She asked me to be ready in comfortable, stain-resistant clothes. Wondering what she had in mind, we ended up sleeping in the same bed, and then the next day, I woke up a little earlier, changed into comfortable work clothes, and we moved to our current location.
“Where is this?”
“This is the treasure vault of my Dungeon. Although, it’s more of a space where I store my personal belongings. Things have been so busy lately, and there are items that Tatte cannot maintain. Plus, since I’m pregnant now, I can’t afford any adverse effects on the fetus.”
The place was like a museum, with beautifully displayed swords and armor lined up. The armor being uniform in size is likely because Evia’s equipment is all gathered here.
“So, does that mean I’m here to help tidy up today?”
“Yes, you should be fine handling even magic swords. You’re also accustomed to maintaining weapons.”
I gently took the travel case-like trunk offered by Evia and opened it. Inside were maintenance tools that even I recognized. Shall I call this a cleaning date? Tatte-san, dressed as a maid, is standing beside Evia, so we’re not entirely alone. However, she’s doing her best to minimize her presence, and I feel like I could lose sight of her if I’m not careful.
“I apologize, but there are several of Evia-sama’s primary weapons that I cannot maintain. If these magic swords are neglected, they quickly become displeased.”
“Are they like the weapons from the Ore Tree?”
However, she temporarily lifted her subtle presence and bowed her head in a more normal manner. I waved my hand, indicating it was fine, and then asked Evia about the magic sword.
“Ah, you can understand it that way. Among weapons, this is a type of magic sword that has developed consciousness over a long period. Such swords are stubborn, but once subdued, they become quite powerful. I thought it would be fine since it drew blood from a Seraph before, but it seems to have developed a taste for magic power. It has become quite choosy and demanding. I intended to discipline it here, but then I became pregnant.”
I knew that magic swords could be quite temperamental, but now I’m encountering a sword that has gained consciousness. I had never seen a weapon with consciousness other than the Ore Tree. However, the Instructor and President didn’t seem particularly surprised that the Ore Tree had consciousness. They were impressed, but their reaction was no more than mild curiosity. This implies that weapons with consciousness exist besides the Ore Tree, although Divine Swords are naturally an exception. Perhaps weapons with transformation abilities also exist.
“Okay, if Evia is in trouble, I have no problem helping.”
“Yes, to be honest, I’m glad you’re here.”
“Yes, I also think it’s wonderful that your companion is you, Evia-sama.”
“I’m getting a bit embarrassed.”
I thought that might be fun too, as I moved past the front part of the treasure vault where Tatte-san could handle the magic swords. The dangerous magic swords were located further in the back. As I moved, I accepted their gratitude, feeling a bit sheepish and scratching my head.
“If Evia-sama didn’t have a companion, I might have declared myself as a concubine. I strongly wish for the Nordis family to keep someone like you.”
“Haha, I’m happy to hear that, even if it’s just a joke.”
“It’s just a joke, right?”
I glanced at Evia, but she just shrugged her shoulders, offering no answer to my question and not even reprimanding Tatte-san.
“It’s not a joke, you know?”
“Haha, I’m full in that regard for now, so I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”
“Is that so? Then, when you’re hungry, you’ll be the first to call me. Let’s agree on that.”
It almost felt like she was tacitly approving. The relationship between Tatte-san and Evia is quite close for a master and subordinate. Evia might be thinking, “It’s fine with Tatte-san,” but any more discussion on this topic during my date with Evia is out of the question.
“Yes, if I’m hungry.”
“Yes, I’ll be waiting.”
I managed to end the conversation. But why? I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve been cornered. They say that the indirect way of speaking used by Japanese people can be perceived as “yes” by the nobles of this world, so I’ve been told to leave no room for such possibilities if I don’t want them. However, given that I don’t want to worsen my relationship with Tatte-san, this response is the best I can do.
“Tatte.”
As I found myself in a difficult situation, Evia, looking unusually troubled, called out to Tatte-san as if to help me.
“Yes, what is it, young lady?”
“If my child turns out to be a boy, even if Jiro doesn’t take you, you can become his concubine.”
“…”
“…”
“Ehh?”
Can that happen? As expected of nobility. The idea of securing a fiancé before the child is even born. It’s a thought that wouldn’t occur to an ordinary person like me. My surprised exclamation and Tatte-san’s surprised exclamation probably have different meanings. I am purely surprised, while Tatte-san is likely confirming, “Is that alright?”
“It would be helpful for me as well to have a reliable presence by my child’s side. For demons, this much of an age difference is negligible.”
“It’s negligible?”
“Yes, it’s negligible.”
For a moment, the word “shotacon” flashed through my mind, and I couldn’t help but confirm it. But if Evia, the mother, accepts it, then by common sense, it’s not a problem. I decided not to say anything further. If Tatte-san had any fatal flaws, it would be a different story, but concerning aspects outside of this engagement, which is beyond my understanding of common sense, she has none. She’s beautiful, her personality is charming with a slight teasing habit, and she’s so accommodating that she can even defer to others. Her combat ability doesn’t seem particularly high, but she’s excellent at all household chores and is very domestic. If she had served me since childhood, I might have fallen in love with her first.
“Well, it’s a story about the future. We don’t even know if it’s a boy or a girl yet. If it’s a girl, she’ll be my attendant.”
I find the conversation between Tatte-san and Evia to be very close and intimate.
“We’ve arrived.”
“Arrived? Huh, is this sealed by something?”
While we were having a conversation that could greatly influence the future of my child and Evia’s, we arrived at our destination. I had expected it to be stored on some sort of pedestal, but instead, there was a coffin. It was sealed with chains, crisscrossed, and the area around the coffin was covered in densely written characters, like a Rosetta Stone, emanating waves of magic power. A magic circle was clearly drawn on the ground, a special type that projects a barrier inward.
“Ah, this is one of my trump card magic swords, sealed here.”
“……”
She didn’t deny the word “sealed,” and it’s a trump card, meaning a powerful magic sword is inside this coffin.
“Will I be alright holding it?”
“Keep your mind steady and do not deactivate your barrier. If you’re just maintaining it, you’ll be fine as long as you’re careful. Do not casually touch it with your bare hands. Even I need a double layer of protection, special armor and a magic barrier, to avoid affecting my soul.”
“Just how powerful is it?”
“It’s quite simple, really. It cuts everything. That’s all. It indiscriminately slices through physical, spiritual, and conceptual targets. If you make a mistake with the control, it can even cut through space. It’s a single item forged by a former Giant general who bore a grudge against the gods, sacrificing his own life and soul. In other words, it’s a magic sword created to kill gods. It carries a very heavy resentment and cost, and a dedicated temple was prepared to seal it until it met me.”
“How did something so dangerous never get broken? Wouldn’t it be an extremely dangerous weapon to the opposing side?”
The content of her explanation isn’t exactly what you’d expect to hear on a date. From what I’m hearing, it’s an item that makes one hesitate even to break the seal.
“This magic sword itself has been imbued with the concept of indestructibility. I hear that the concept was created by sacrificing the soul of a general with extremely high magic aptitude, nine, at the time. It’s not easily erased. Furthermore, it’s an indiscriminate magic sword that demands a price from any approaching existence. It affects not only ordinary beings but also renowned strong individuals, driving them mad.”
“…By the way, what are the costs?”
“Four things: extreme increase in fighting spirit, infliction of hatred towards gods, consumption of the soul, and absorption of magic power until it is depleted. It only allows you to think about fighting to kill gods. You will remain in a state of excitement, be instilled with hatred towards gods, and your body, soul, and magic power will all be consumed. It is an unwavering magic sword.”
The reason for its creation is also not something that can be viewed favorably. Its performance is simple, which makes it difficult to defend against. While the weight of the cost is spoken of lightly, if it’s a magic sword intended for an individual to kill a god, its danger is immeasurable.
“Evia.”
“Hm?”
“Oh.”
I turned around and hugged Evia, who had brought that weapon to use. “If possible, I hope you never use it again. Or any of the other magic swords.” Storing it here implies she would use it if necessary. If the country were in danger, or if the President were in peril, she would not hesitate to use her strongest magic swords. She wouldn’t fear the cost and might even risk her own life. This is selfish. It’s the ego of a man ignoring her will.
“Foolish man, is that what a man who constantly causes worry says? And if Jiro were ever in danger, I would not hesitate to use it, of course. And I would return to your side after vanquishing the enemy without fail. I prefer to be trusted over being worried about.” Evia, a woman who laughs off that ego and embraces me to give me a sense of security. “Trust me. Aren’t you the man I fell in love with?”
“If you say that, I can’t refuse.” What a reliably strong woman. To think that this woman would then instruct me to perform a task akin to bomb disposal, and then, as a reward, offer to give me a ear-cleaning while I’m on her lap in her private room. Can I believe it?
Today’s word: This is what they mean by falling in love all over again.
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I am currently serializing another work: Pandora Pandemic Panic. The Pandora’s Box has been opened again, but we’re fighting back with various means from our secret base!! Please check that one out as well!!
