We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
The arduous journey prolongs the way.
When Nimia landed in the courtyard, she immediately returned to her small, usual form.
With the footing, or rather, Nimia’s back that we were riding on, gone, we were forcibly brought down to the ground.
“I’m tired, nyah.”
When Priscilla-chan isn’t around, Nimia’s designated spot is on top of my head. Nimia, who flew cutely with a flutter, yawned widely on my head.
“So, what business do you have?”
The Demon Lord glanced at everyone else besides me with interest. Behind him, Charlotte wore a wicked smile.
“Uh, it’s not me this time, it’s for the Hero’s business that we came.”
“Hoh, a Hero from the Human Race?”
Upon my introduction, the Demon Lord shifted his gaze to Listea. Listea was more nervous than I had ever seen her. No, it wasn’t just Listea. Slaton and Louvent, even though they were freed from Nimia, remained crouched in the courtyard, not moving. Oz had already rolled his eyes back in my arms. Even Alex-san’s entire body was tense with nervousness, his expression grim.
Charlotte, on the other hand, was as usual. However, “as usual” meant something different this time. She was respectfully deferential to the Demon Lord and the Chancellor, as a subordinate should be.
“Fufufu, Elnea-kun. These guests are reacting more normally, wouldn’t you say?”
“I know. I know that, but…”
He’s the Demon Lord, and she’s the Chancellor. Normally, not even the Demon Race can easily get an audience with these two. But, what choice did we have? They’re such close acquaintances that they even invited us to the wedding ceremony!
“Well, let’s go with that. Then, as guests brought by these acquaintances, I’ll overlook them.”
“Thank you.”
So, instead of everyone who was still tense, I decided to make the introductions.
Listea, the Hero representing the Armēdo Kingdom, and her partner, the foolish Slaton. Alex-san is a male of the Divine Race, and his attendant is Louvent of the Heavenly Race. These two are Listea’s bodyguards.
“Guards from the Divine Race? You should know what happens when you bring members of the Divine and Heavenly races into the Demon Race’s Country, don’t you?”
“But we have our reasons.”
The Demon Race and the Divine Race are natural enemies. So, normally, one wouldn’t invite members of the Divine or Heavenly races into the Demon Race’s Country. I understood that much. But I also knew that the broad-minded Giant Demon Lord would surely overlook something like this! The Demon Lord, reading my thoughts, offered a smile. Reassured by the Demon Lord’s demeanor that the matter of Alex-san and Louvent was not a problem, I tried to continue. Charlotte, standing behind the Demon Lord, stopped me with a hand.
“Your Majesty, and Elnea-kun. It’s getting late to be talking outside.”
“That’s true. Everyone, come in. You are permitted. However, if you try to escape after coming this far, I will kill you.”
“Eek. Come on, everyone! Now’s not the time to be petrified. Hurry and go inside the detached palace!”
The Demon Lord quickly went into the building. Charlotte also followed, laughing merrily. I hurried to call out to everyone, urging them to follow the Demon Lord. But they wouldn’t move. Of course. They were scared! But if they didn’t move now, things would get even scarier.
“I smell sweets, nya.”
“Sweets, sweets.”
“!”
A sweet scent wafted from somewhere. Lured by it, Ares-chan manifested. Nimia moved to Ares-chan’s head and cheerfully entered the building.
“Look, when a young girl and a fake Nyanko have gone in, it’s uncool for renowned adults to be afraid, isn’t it?”
“Tch, I guess we don’t have a choice…”
“Alex-sama, I shall take the lead. If anything happens…”
“Yes, yes, if something happens, we’ll be killed before we can even prepare. Let’s bravely give up and go in.”
“Elnea-kun, that sounds like you’ve become His Majesty’s errand boy, leading someone to the depths without a second thought, doesn’t it?”
“It’s just your imagination!”
Slaton, with a pale face, and Louvent, trembling at the knees, seemed to retain the spirit to protect their partners and masters, respectively. Listea and Alex-san, seeing the two of them enter the building while trembling, reluctantly followed and stepped forward.
Just before entering the detached palace with everyone. The Spirits, who had gathered around me with a slight disappointment as I entered the building, seemed a little sad. Apparently, the Spirits can move freely in the courtyard and sky of the detached palace, but they cannot enter the interior. Perhaps there’s a barrier?
“I’m sorry, everyone. Spirits, you wanted to play with me and Ares-chan, right? But there are more important matters to attend to. I’ll bring Priscilla-chan next time, so please be patient today.” I apologized in my heart as I entered the detached palace.
“Where did the Demon Lord go?”
As expected, the interior of the Demon Lord’s detached palace, befitting a ruler of a prosperous and thriving country, was gorgeously decorated. The mystical scenery outside seemed to lose its relevance once inside. Endless carpeted corridors. Pillars and ceilings adorned with intricate carvings down to the smallest detail. The furnishings lining the walls were all of the highest quality, and the glass windows overlooking the courtyard were perfectly transparent.
Hmm, to borrow Alex-san’s words… It’s luxurious and magnificent, but perhaps it’s just excessively decorated and lacks elegance. And, I’ve been thinking. This style of construction and flashy decoration doesn’t seem like the Demon Lord’s taste. The Demon Lord does wear opulent clothing, but it’s appropriate for his status and not vulgar in its display of wealth. Considering that, perhaps the legendary carpenters who built this structure misunderstood the intent. My hunch seems to have been correct.
“Is it this way? Or that way?” Pondering, we finally arrived at the room where the Demon Lord was staying. “Seriously, guide us properly!” I mean, I wasn’t complaining to the Demon Lord. It was a complaint to the young girls who, guided by the sweet scent, would have surely gone straight to this room without getting lost. The Demon Lord, sinking into a needlessly luxurious chair, said something terrifying.
“If you were lost, you should have cleared the obstacles and come straight here. Frankly, I dislike this detached palace because it’s too extravagant. You should be able to sense my presence, right? I just sent someone to have it rebuilt. You can destroy it as much as you like?”
“No, no, I can’t possibly destroy such a luxurious detached palace!”
“No, I’d rather have you destroy it by unavoidable circumstances.”
“What’s my unavoidable circumstance!?”
In front of the Demon Lord, the men, except for me, froze with tension again. Standing stiffly at the entrance of the room, the men stared at the luxurious interior and the terrifying Demon Lord with tense expressions. Oh dear, this is problematic. At this rate, the conversation won’t progress at all.
“Yes, your feet won’t move. Standing there like that is a disturbance. If you don’t want to be eliminated, I’d appreciate it if you’d move aside?”
“Pigiya!”
The men, still standing stiffly and occupying the entrance of the room, were met by Charlotte appearing from behind them with tea on a tray. Charlotte’s words were directed at everyone frozen with tension, but her eyes were inexplicably fixed on Oz. Startled, Oz wriggled out of my arm and fled to Nimia’s side.
“Want to eat sweets, nya?” he asked.
“Wh-don’t lump me in with you!”
“I hid it, I hid it.”
“Kts.”
Poor Oz. He can no longer maintain his dignity even with Nimia and Ares-chan. Be that as it may. With a glare from behind, Listea and the others, faces twitching, entered the room. Then, prompted by Charlotte, or rather, threatened, they took their seats.
“Well then, let’s hear it.”
“Fufufu, there’s no poison in the tea, so please don’t hesitate to drink it.”
“…It’s definitely poisoned. And I bet it’s only in one of the cups.”
“Elnea, do you want to improve the atmosphere of the room or worsen it?”
“Hmm, I want to improve it!”
But I have to interject like this because Listea and the others are so tense. Alex-san and Louvent aside, Listea and Slaton shouldn’t be meeting the Demon Lord for the first time, should they? I thought, but this was their first time meeting face-to-face at such close proximity! Listea took deep breaths repeatedly, but her breathing was shallow, as if she couldn’t draw air into her chest. Her complexion was poor, and she was completely overwhelmed by the overwhelming presence exuded by the Demon Lord and Charlotte. Seeing Listea’s state, the Demon Lord initiated the topic himself.
“That person from the Divine Race, is he a descendant of the Fighting God you spoke of before?”
“Ah, that’s right. The Demon Lord, you know the distant ancestor of Alex-san, the Fighting God, right?”
At the mention of the Fighting God, Alex-san and Louvent reacted.
“I know, and yet I don’t.”
“What do you mean?”
“Didn’t I tell you before? The Demon Race and the Divine Race have been in conflict. And the Fighting God is a peerless warrior who even the Demon Generals feared. To exaggerate, it’s precisely because I didn’t confront him head-on that I’m still alive and called one of the oldest of the Demon Race.”
“Ugh.”
Even the Giant Demon Lord called him a formidable being, so the Fighting God must have been truly strong. And Alex-san is his descendant, right? The Demon Lord smirked menacingly and conspicuously showed off the magic sword “Soul Spirit Seat” at his waist towards Alex-san.
“If you claim to be a descendant of the Fighting God, you must know what this is. What do you say? Do you have the spirit to take it back? A perfect opportunity to surpass your ancestors is laid out before you?”
Thousands of years ago. The Demon General, whom the Fighting God failed to defeat, is the current Demon Lord. Moreover, he wears a replica of “Reikin,” which the Fighting God once possessed, at his waist. Certainly, this is a golden opportunity for Alex-san. Damn. I was so focused on Listea that I neglected Alex-san and the Demon Lord! But by the time I realized it, it was too late. “Your Majesty, please stop playing. This is not a situation where Your Majesty needs to wield a magic sword himself. If necessary, I shall handle it.” Unlike us, who were seated, Charlotte, the Demon Lord’s loyal subordinate, stood rigidly near the entrance of the room. However, she directed a defiant smile towards Alex-san.
“I’ve been curious for a while now. That person from the Divine Race, he seems to have quite good swordsmanship, doesn’t he?”
“Hey, Charlotte! Don’t provoke people who are already nervous, Your Majesty.” I hurriedly tried to intervene, but Louvent stopped me.
“Did you plan this, Elnea-dono? To skillfully lure me and Alex-sama into the Demon Race’s Country and then humiliate us like this!”
“It’s not like that, Louvent. Alex-san, this is a misunderstanding!” Oh, what a disaster. All because I was too short-sighted…
“Before the Demon Lord stands his subordinate. Then, before Alex-sama stands I, who shall face you! I shall show you by beheading the infamous Demon, Charlotte!” Indoors, Louvent unfurled the wings on his back with a rustle.
“Hahahaha! You think you’ve sealed my wings indoors?”
No, I don’t. And please, fold your wings!
“Sweet, incredibly sweet. Louvent is not a petty person to fall for such a simple trick!”
No, no, nobody’s playing any tricks! Please, stop causing a scene here! But my thoughts were in vain as Louvent flapped his wings and soared up. Yes, the magnificent ceiling of the detached palace was grandly blown away by divine arts! Aaaaaahhh! My detached palaceeeeee!! Louvent, who ascended into the sky through the large hole in the ceiling, looked down at Charlotte from above. Then, he summoned countless throwing spears into his hands.
“Now, for tonight’s dinner, I shall offer you Demon kabobs.”
No, no, no! Demon kabobs, I don’t even want to see them, let alone eat them! To the taunt from above, Charlotte, however, drew the magic sword at her waist and smiled defiantly.
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