We live in the foothills of Dragon Peak.
The Demon Lord’s Scheme
“Elnea-kun, you must be tired.”
“Yeah. You too, Ruiseine.”
Evening. On the way back from the Great Shrine.
Ruiseine and I walked past stalls lining the main street, which was starting to show its nighttime liveliness.
We had just returned from the Mistral’s mansion, where we left Madrine, the troublesome one, with Mistral, and now we were on our way to greet Ruiseine’s parents.
We couldn’t very well meet her parents with Madrine clinging to my arm.
So the detour back to my home was unavoidable, let’s just say that.
“Still, a wedding venue? It seems like a lot of trouble.”
“No, no, it’s not just my problem either, Ruiseine?”
Before heading to the Great Shrine.
I asked why Madrine was visiting the Armēdo Kingdom.
For myself, I had vaguely thought about having a wedding ceremony somewhere, but knowing that those around me were starting to move concretely made me feel like I was finally getting married to Mistral and Ruiseine.
“But still, it’s after Lystea and the others, so there should be a little more leeway, right?”
“No. The arrangements for Lystea and the others seem to be already underway. I heard from Cerise-chan before we came.”
It wasn’t just me and Ruiseine; everyone had started calling her “Cerise-chan.”
It started as a slip of the tongue for me, but somehow it had spread to everyone.
Cerise-chan would blush and dimple slightly when called “chan,” making the beautiful girl, praised as the finest in the kingdom, even more adorable. That’s why everyone started calling her that.
“I heard that Lystea and the others’ wedding ceremony will be held at the Great Shrine in Vice-Capital Ambis. Normally, it would be held at the Great Shrine in the Capital City because royalty is involved, but since the reconstruction of the Great Shrine will take at least a few more years, this is a special exception, apparently.”
Vice-Capital Ambis also has a magnificent Great Shrine. However, it seems to be customary to hold traditional rituals and wedding ceremonies for royalty and past heroes at the Capital City’s Great Shrine.
This time… it can’t be helped!
I looked back at the main street, painted with the short twilight.
The capital city, dyed crimson for the brief time before the sun set behind Dragon Peak, showed a liveliness that belied its ongoing reconstruction.
Many people were still living in temporary housing or shelters, and many ate their meals outside. Stalls catering to them had sprung up not only along the main street but also everywhere else, and people who had worked hard all day were mingling and chatting with their companions and families.
Soon the sun would set completely, and the plains would be enshrouded in darkness. But the lights people lit would pierce the night and bustle until late.
People are so resilient. No matter the situation, they try to live their lives. And within that, they find joy and can always make merry.
Beyond the lively main street, which seemed to be just getting started for the night, the Great Shrine in the capital city, which we had just visited, was not in our sight.
Ruiseine had said it would take a few more years to build, but including the fine decorations and maintenance of surrounding facilities, it would still take decades.
Oh, right. Jiludo, who makes a living carving stone, seemed busy and happy, saying, “It’s a boom.”
Jiludo still lived in the northern part of the capital city.
Although his true identity was revealed to those around him, he seemed to be living his simple life unchanged. I must visit him soon with a souvenir from the northern land.
“Well then, let’s go.”
“Okay.”
Ruiseine took my hand, and we started walking again.
“So, Lystea will have her wedding ceremony soon?”
“I heard it would be by summer at the latest.”
“Whoa, that’s sooner than I expected.”
“That’s right. So, if you get complacent because it’s after Elnea-kun, it’ll be a big problem, you know?”
“Hey, hey. Is this something only I have to consider?”
“Fufufu. We’ll offer our opinions, but everyone’s position is different. It’s up to you, Elnea-kun, as the head of the household, to bring it all together.”
“That’s right. Well then, first, I’ll start by hearing everyone’s opinions.”
With Mistral, Laira, Yufilia and Nina. And today, having finished paying my respects and obtained consent for marriage from the last hurdle, Ruiseine, and all the temple officials, I was finally going to marry everyone.
We had already shared our joys and sorrows under the same roof, so when I heard about marriage, I honestly couldn’t quite grasp it. But as reality approached before my eyes, a strange anxiety began to well up.
Can I really make everyone happy?
Will everyone follow me?
Women often experience a sense of loss and anxiety before their wedding ceremonies. I, too, was on the verge of being caught in such unstable thoughts.
“Elnea-kun, isn’t it exciting?”
“Hmm?”
“Soon, we’ll be truly family with everyone. I’m thrilled.”
Ruiseine’s steps were light.
Perhaps she was overjoyed after officially obtaining permission from her parents and the temple.
The people passing by also smiled at the shrine maiden’s cheerful demeanor. A girl passing by looked at us, then hugged her mother’s arm with competitive spirit, and skipped away.
“Uh, you know. I’ve always thought of everyone as my true family. So, I’m always happy.”
“Fufufu, that’s right. Elnea-kun always seems happy, just like Priscilla-chan and the others.”
“Eh? Am I giving off the same vibe as the young girls!?”
We both laughed.
As we laughed, the anxiety that had welled up was dispelled.
That’s right. We are already family.
We will likely face not only fun and joy but also anxieties and dissatisfactions, and sometimes we might even fight. But family bonds are not lost over such things. They are not lost, which is why we are family.
If I feel anxious, I can consult with everyone. I have to try to lead everyone so they don’t feel anxious. No, it’s not just me leading everyone; we should all lead “family” together.
Somehow, my heart felt lighter.
As expected of a shrine maiden.
She unconsciously dispels people’s anxieties.
I re-tied Ruiseine’s hand and leisurely walked back to my home.
By the time we arrived at the mansion, which I didn’t want to call my “home,” the sun had already set.
And the surroundings of the green walls that enclosed the mansion had become quiet.
Around noon, I was surprised when I returned once.
After all, my home had become a tourist attraction and was bustling.
My home occupied an entire district. The surroundings were enclosed by trees and walls.
Given such a magnificent mansion, there were guards to prevent intruders from entering. However, now, personnel from the Royal Army had also been deployed, creating a heavy security presence.
The reason was Lily, a giant jet-black dragon, visible even from outside the hedge.
As it was a magnificent dragon, far larger than ordinary dragons, it was a huge draw during the day. It had been a festive commotion for the past few days. And to prevent any uninvited guests, security was tight.
The security continued into the night, with Royal Army soldiers standing at intervals along the roadside. Within the grounds, security guards hired by the mansion were on patrol.
…While the Royal Army soldiers are understandable, all the wages and operating costs for the people working at the mansion are coming from the national treasury.
I’m sorry about a lot of things.
I returned to the mansion where everyone was waiting, offering an apology to an unknown recipient.
After taking a refreshing bath, we enjoyed a lively dinner with everyone, including Folganne and the beast races.
My parents and I are commoners in the first place, so we don’t care about status. In fact, the citizens of the Armēdo Kingdom have a weak awareness of the class system. Therefore, the servants who were not busy also joined us for the meal.
Although Folganne and the others looked imposing, it was good that the young girl Priscilla-chan was already interacting with them casually, so the servants worked without fear.
Priscilla-chan, don’t pull on Folganne’s beard too hard.
“Elnea, take this to him.”
“Okay. I’ll take it.”
The enjoyable dinner party seemed like it was about to turn into a banquet. But there was someone not participating in this commotion.
That would be the Giant Demon Lord.
I took the tray with the sake and other items handed to me by Mistral and left the banquet hall.
Then, I headed towards a room in the mansion.
Even now, I get confused about where things are in the mansion if I’m not careful, but I proceeded down the long, carpeted corridor and towards the intended room.
Blast!
I wanted to knock on the door, but both my hands were full with the tray. As I stood perplexed in front of my destination, the door opened on its own, even though no one was there.
“Thank you for having me.”
Interpreting this as an invitation, I entered the room.
“Whoa. It’s luxurious. There’s a room like this too?”
“Kukuku. To say such a thing about your own home.”
“Well, I didn’t desire it and obtain it, and I haven’t lived here much yet.”
The owner of the room welcomed me, reclining on a long sofa that sank luxuriously.
As I entered the room, the door automatically closed.
Magic is convenient.
“I’m sorry for making you go through all this trouble today.”
As I placed the tray on the table in front of the long sofa, I expressed my gratitude and apologies to the Demon Lord.
“There’s no need to worry about it. I’m used to waiting. I can wait leisurely for a hundred years.”
“No, no, I won’t let you wait for a hundred years!”
For someone who has lived for thousands of years, a hundred years is a manageable waiting period…
The Demon Lord reached out his hand. I placed a cup in his hand and poured him some sake.
The Demon Lord sat up and brought the sake to his lips.
“Does it suit your taste?”
“No problem. The sheep’s milk sake that Lily brought back earlier was also unique and delicious, but this one tastes quite high-class.”
“Rudoriado-san. Ah, this is the finest sake brought by the second prince of this country to curry favor with the Demon Lord.”
“Is that so.”
The Demon Lord also reached for some snacks and enjoyed the sake for a while.
The Demon Lord seemed to like the mansion and appeared to be quite relaxed.
However, in reality, this is close to a miracle.
He is a demon, and furthermore, a Demon Lord. I spent half the day ignoring him.
From the perspective of human common sense, leaving the ruler of the demon race unattended is unthinkable. In fact, just thinking about it, it’s rude to leave a guest unattended.
However, the Demon Lord waited for us because of our personal matters and consideration for the people around us.
He didn’t participate in the dinner party, I think, out of consideration for the beast races.
The beast races like Folganne can identify the race of the other party just by looking at them. So, at the moment we arrived at my home, they must have noticed the Demon Lord’s race. However, due to the incident with Ruilala earlier, they didn’t take hostile action, although they were wary. Nevertheless, Ruilala’s respectful attitude and the Demon Lord’s composure when dealing with Lily must have made them sense a formidable presence.
I could have introduced them on the spot to Folganne and the others, but there was a possibility that my mother and the servants, who didn’t know his identity, might be shocked, so I refrained.
In that way, I prioritized the beast races and the people of the mansion over the Demon Lord, and ended up dealing with him later.
I’m truly sorry. And thank you.
“Don’t worry about it. I also find commotion like this to be bothersome. Just do as you see fit.”
“Even so, I think it’s strange to leave one person isolated. I’ll introduce them to you soon.”
“I see.”
The Demon Lord said little, taking a sip from his cup. Every time the liquid in the cup ran out, I tilted the pot in my hand.
The Demon Lord didn’t seem particularly displeased; he just seemed to be enjoying the taste of the sake.
“How about it? Will you have some too?”
“No, I can’t drink alcohol.”
There was another cup on the tray, but I politely declined. Then, the Demon Lord let out a low chuckle.
“To refuse the Demon Lord’s evening drink. You are truly remarkable.”
“Ugh. That’s not what I meant. I really can’t drink alcohol.”
“Well, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it. You are a precious existence who doesn’t feel obligated to me. Remain as you are.”
“I am trying to be considerate, though?”
“Let’s leave it at that.”
“So, what was your reason for coming this time?”
At an appropriate moment, I asked about what I had been wondering about.
It’s not just a simple walk with Lily. I don’t think the Demon Lord would cross Dragon Peak to come to the human race’s country for no reason.
Besides, aren’t demons supposed to have trouble crossing Dragon Peak! Is it because Lily is there? Still, you came too casually.
“It’s only that ordinary demons cannot cross it.”
“Does that mean that someone like a Demon Lord can cross it easily?”
“There are various types of Demon Lords. It’s fine to recognize that some can cross it. Kusharilla also crossed it, didn’t she?”
“That’s right. Speaking of which, what happened to Kusharilla?”
“Kukuku. You didn’t hear the reason I came here?”
“That’s right!”
“Well, it is related to Kusharilla.”
The Demon Lord placed the cup on the table and reached out, pulling a long object wrapped in black cloth from a mysterious space.
Like Ares-chan, I’m very curious about where that mysterious space leads.
“Finally, I was able to withdraw from the country that Kusharilla had been ruling.”
“Meaning?”
“I was occupying it temporarily, and although I was ordered to withdraw from above, I had to follow the proper procedures. I must give my vassals rewards commensurate with their performance.”
“So you weren’t ruling it directly?”
“It would also affect the power balance with other Demon Lords. It’s not good for me to rule two countries at the moment.”
“I see.”
“Kusharilla also moved west with her remaining loyal retainers. The demon race has finally reached a temporary conclusion. However, I have dispatched subordinates to this side for a long time. Once things are settled, I must pay a courtesy visit.”
“Ah, Ruilala. I’ve been indebted to him for quite a while.”
“He complained that you don’t entertain him enough.”
“No, no, if I were to properly entertain Ruilala, my lifespan would shorten.”
“Kukuku, that’s true. But the fact that he’s enjoying his work more than expected is thanks to you.”
“Is that so…”
I mentioned that Ruilala seemed to act freely anywhere, anytime, but apparently, it’s not so in the demon race’s country.
Ruilala’s parents are of the Primogenitor Race, holding the Duke Rank, second only to the Demon Lord. Ruilala himself holds the Viscount Rank, so he is apparently managing his territory quite seriously.
Therefore, he seems to enjoy being around us, who treat him as an equal without the constraints of status or position. And the Demon Lord also finds it a respite when he comes here.
Even though their races are different, people of considerable standing do have a difficult time.
“So, while calling it a courtesy visit, you came for a vacation?”
“Well, that’s one of the objectives.”
“Then, what about the other purpose?”
“I intended to give this to you.”
Saying that, the Demon Lord handed me the long object wrapped in black cloth. I tried to accept it carelessly, but a bad feeling made me hastily withdraw my hand.
“Kukuku. Astute.”
“This is definitely a dangerous item, isn’t it!”
“Whether it’s dangerous or not is another matter.”
Since I withdrew my hand, the Demon Lord unwrapped the long object himself.
From within, a sword with a strangely twisted blade emerged.
Yes. I recognize it. The Demon Lord Kusharilla and the girl who stands above the Demon Lord possessed it. And the Giant Demon Lord also possesses it, leaning against the long sofa.
I know.
It’s a magic sword.
A very, very dangerous, top-tier magic sword!
“That’s the kind of thing a Demon Lord wields, isn’t it?”
“That’s right. I intended to give this to you.”
“No, no, no, I will definitely not become a Demon Lord!”
Dangerous, dangerous. I almost became a Demon Lord without question.
As expected, this person is a demon. If I let my guard down, the situation quickly becomes terrifying.
I refused to look at him and showed a resolute rejection. The Demon Lord laughed as if he were amused.
“Is that so, a pity. But if you change your mind, feel free to say so anytime. Currently, there is a shortage of Demon Lord seats. If you desire it, I will always be your backer.”
“No, no matter what happens, I will not become a Demon Lord! Besides, I already have weapons.”
I have the Spirit Tree Wooden Sword and the White Sword. I don’t need a third one.
The Demon Lord, perhaps not being entirely serious, stored the magic sword back into his mysterious space without seeming concerned as I refused.
“Are those the only two matters?”
“No, the next one is the main event.”
To congratulate Ruilala and to try and recruit me as a Demon Lord. If that were all, there would be no particular problem.
The Demon Lord sat up from his reclining posture and looked at me with a serious gaze.
I felt as if my soul was being grabbed, and the relaxed aura I had before vanished.
Instantly, I broke out in a cold sweat and became unable to move.
“Then, I shall say it.”
Unable to even moisten my dry throat, I looked at the Demon Lord.
“The demon race will also be involved in the wedding ceremony.”
“…Huh?”
“The ceremony will be held in my country. Or, you must request the participation of the demon race, including myself, in the ceremony.”
“…”
“Well, in short. In exchange for cooperation in this country’s reconstruction, you are inviting us to your wedding ceremony.”
The Demon Lord smirked, his mouth curling up, laughing at his successful prank on me.
Grrr.
That terrifying aura was intentional.
You scared me and toyed with me!
“Isn’t it good? You refused the matter of the Demon Lord. Accept this much with resignation.”
“Gnnnu.”
Although it was sad to be toyed with by the Demon Lord, I couldn’t retort.
Refusing the Demon Lord’s request would normally lead directly to death.
The Giant Demon Lord killed his presence and started drinking his sake again.
Freed from the tension, I slumped onto the floor, weak-kneed.
“But, it’s impossible to have the wedding ceremony in the demon race’s country.”
“I imagine so. As a compromise, I will allow it if you invite us.”
This is a serious problem.
Choosing a venue is already difficult enough, and now to add demons to the guest list…
I clutched my head and rolled around on the floor in front of the Demon Lord.
