We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
The legendary craftsman?
“What, aren’t you that slave from the Cat Demon Race from earlier? I thought all humans were slaves in the Demon Race’s country.”
It was Slaton who asked such an impudent question to Toris, who was leading the way to the mansion of the legendary craftsman, or rather, the Cat Duke.
“Humans are treated as slaves, or rather, worse than slaves. But I am by no means a slave. I am a gladiator.”
However, Toris replied without seeming offended.
“A gladiator, you say?”
“They are people who are made to fight as spectacles in arenas. Sometimes they have to fight gladiators owned by other demons, or sometimes magic beasts.”
“So, you’re risking your life? Then, aren’t you treated worse than slaves!?”
I wonder where they capture those magic beasts from?
There’s no way those captured magic beasts would go easy on humans. If they lost a match, it meant instant death.
Besides, even Slaton didn’t say it explicitly, but even in matches between gladiators, it would sometimes turn into a fight to the death.
Fighting in an arena in front of the masses of the Demon Race means you have to act as entertainment for their amusement.
However, Toris shrugged and retorted without hesitation.
“I have to be strong. Otherwise, I can’t protect Astel-sama. I don’t mind being a spectacle as a gladiator. As long as my strength becomes known to the world, that’s enough. A strong me is guarding Astel-sama. If that deters assassins from attacking, then it’s a double win.”
Speaking of which, when we first met, he mistook us for assassins, didn’t he?
Is the Cat Duke, or rather, Astel, the leader of the legendary craftsmen, always being targeted by someone?
“Uh, Slaton, was it? Judging by our conversation, you’re not living in the Demon Race’s country, are you?”
“Ah, I had a bit of business to attend to, so I came from a rather distant place.”
“The Divine Race’s country?”
“No, it’s different.”
“Then, you might not know, but the Demon Race’s country is in an uproar right now.”
Slaton, and Listea, why are you looking at me?
“It seems the number of Demon Lords has decreased, so we’re in the middle of a Demon Lord Succession Battle. Astel-sama is also caught up in that commotion.”
“Oh, really. So, that guy, Astel-something, is incredibly strong?”
No, no, what is Astel-something? He’s already said everything else.
Besides, he’s a Duke, which means he’s of the Primogenitor Race, so it’s natural for him to be strong, I thought.
For Listea and Slaton, perhaps their knowledge of the demons in this region is still outside the realm of common sense.
Toris suddenly burst into laughter, finding something amusing in Slaton’s reaction.
“Hahaha, Astel-sama, strong? He’s actually very weak.”
Louis Rara also laughed awkwardly.
“A weak Duke?”
“Elnea-kun, regardless of whether they are strong or weak, the Primogenitor Race are Dukes.”
“So, Astel is a weak Primogenitor?”
“Very weak. He’s particularly famous among the demons.”
“And yet, he’s involved in the Demon Lord Succession Battle?”
“A lot has happened. And it’s still happening. That’s why I have to be strong.”
Toris clenched his fists, his arms and hands having a strange, dark texture.
“Speaking of which, that arm…”
Just as I was about to ask a question this time.
Boom! A grand explosion sounded from afar!
We instinctively braced ourselves.
But this time, only Toris and Louis Rara were smiling.
“Ah, don’t mind it, don’t mind it. Astel-sama and Sheria-sama are probably fighting again, right?”
“A fight that causes this big an explosion…!? After all, isn’t Astel strong?”
Sheria, the black cat demon, was a Demon General who served the Great Demon Lord Lekude Asun, if Oz’s words are to be believed. And Duke Astel, who engages in such explosive fights with him.
The explosion brought back the tension that had dissipated among us. After that, we headed to Astel’s mansion, guided by Toris, with few words exchanged.
“This is…”
We were speechless at the sight that unfolded before us.
We finally reached our destination, guided by Toris through the dark forest.
And then we saw it.
An unimaginably vast mansion, illuminated in the darkness of the night.
But as we looked around.
“The mansion’s blown away…”
Slaton gasped in astonishment.
And just as he said, the incredibly vast mansion had disappeared midway.
Surely, the building must have continued endlessly. Yet, there was nothing left before our eyes. Moreover, the ground was hollowed out, and a desolate landscape, as if obliterated by some overwhelming power, appeared against the night sky.
Then, something even more astonishing happened before our stunned eyes.
“Wh-what!?”
A part of the building was blown away, and in the empty space, a building instantly appeared.
Everyone except Toris and Louis Rara widened their eyes in surprise and recoiled.
“No way, no way, are we dreaming!?”
“What in the world?”
“Wh-what’s going on?”
Slaton, perhaps not believing his eyes, rubbed them and even hit me to check if he was dreaming. But he should have pinched his own cheek instead of hitting me.
However, thanks to the pain in my shoulder from Slaton’s hit, I too realized it wasn’t a dream.
“Come in, come in. Don’t hesitate.”
As if our surprised reactions were as expected, Toris invited us to the entrance with a smile.
Despite our surprise, we followed Toris and crossed the threshold of the entrance.
“Wow, this is amazing…”
“The Demon Lord’s detached palace was luxurious and splendid, but this is no less impressive.”
“Listea-dono. If I may comment on the taste of the furnishings and decorations, I would say this is even more refined.”
“However, is it really alright for me and Louvent to enter?”
Speaking of which, Sheria had told me not to bring the Divine Race member Alex and the Heavenly Race member Louvent.
Considering the explosion sound from earlier and the scale of the mansion that had been blown away.
If Sheria got angry at an unwelcome guest and used large-scale magic, we might be in a dangerous situation.
However, dwarfing those worries, my thoughts were dominated by something else.
“To rebuild a mansion in an instant. The legendary craftsman is amazing! If they’re this amazing, then building our mansion and the Demon Lord’s detached palace in such a short time must have been easy.”
“Legendary craftsman? Ah, I see. Judging by your words, Elnea-kun, it seems you’ve had Astel-sama build you a mansion before?”
“Yes, I had one built in the forbidden territory to the north of the Dragon King’s Capital.”
“Ah, that time! Astel-sama mentioned it before. He said he was forced to build a ridiculously large mansion that even encompassed two lakes.”
“Was that a prank!? But we really like it!”
“Oh, really?”
While Alex and Louvent were worried, Toris and I were talking.
“Hey, how long are you going to stand around and chat at the entrance? Hurry up.”
A black cat sat on the stairs leading to the second floor, looking down at us.
Mumumu, that must be Sheria, right?
I can’t tell black cats apart.
Astel is also called the Cat Duke, so he should be in cat form. It can’t be that he’s also a black cat, can it?
If they were both the same black cat…
I need to be careful not to be rude because I can’t tell them apart.
Or rather, my worries were in vain.
“Astel-sama, you tricked me and Sheria-sama again!”
“Hehehe, serves you right. You and Sheria were so flustered when you heard it was an Evil Dragon, it was comical and amusing.”
As we entered the room, led by Sheria, the black cat demon, Toris approached the person sitting in the back of the room with a displeased expression.
Hmm?
A person?
The very beautiful woman being scolded by Toris was an extremely beautiful woman.
She was dressed in a luxurious yet elegant outfit, fitting for such a tasteful mansion. Her long, beautiful golden hair gracefully hid the outline of her face.
Her refined appearance was like a model for how members of high society should be.
However, there was something off…
Even when Toris was scolding her, she laughed heartily, holding her stomach? Was it because of the numerous sake jars scattered at her feet?
No, that’s not it.
The source of the strangeness was around her eyes.
“Cat-like pupils?”
Speaking of which, didn’t Toris immediately call her “Astel-sama”?
Does that mean the woman Toris is scolding is Astel?
“Ah, I see. So that’s why he’s the Cat Duke.”
Understanding, I snapped my fingers.
“So, it means he owns a black cat, hence the Cat Duke, right? Gyahaha!”
Slaton snapped his fingers in the same way I did. However, in the next moment, only Slaton was crouching, holding his shin.
“Who do you call a pet cat! If you say such a careless remark again, I will show you no mercy and kill you?”
“Ugh!”
It was Sheria, of course, who scratched Slaton’s shin.
Under Sheria’s glare, Slaton’s face twitched.
“Astel-sama, you knew, didn’t you? That the dragon was a messenger sent by the Giant Demon Lord to you!? And yet, you incited us… If we hadn’t met Elnea-kun, things would have gotten serious!”
“You and Sheria would have.”
Toris was admonishing Astel with a rather serious demeanor. However, the person in question wasn’t reflecting at all and was instead laughing cheerfully.
“Is this the legendary craftsman…?”
No, that’s not quite right.
Astel, the Cat Duke, who is of the Primogenitor Race and holds the rank of Duke, a great demon.
“Hey, enough already. The guests are being inconvenienced. Or rather, can’t you be a little more cautious!? Divine and Heavenly Race members have infiltrated the mansion! And Toris, you scoundrel, how dare you guide them here after I told you not to!?”
No, no, I’m sure he only told me not to bring Alex and Louvent. Why is he extending it to all of us!?
However, as Sheria says, shouldn’t we be cautious on the surface? I think so too.
Then, after somehow calming Toris down, Astel finally turned his attention to us.
“Go home!”
“Eh—!”
This is what we get after waiting!
“Goodness, this is why… mgggh.”
Louvent opened his mouth in response to Astel’s unceremonious reaction. Alex immediately silenced him.
“To the Cat Duke, I offer my greetings. However, please rest assured. I and this Louvent are acting in concert with these individuals for a certain reason. However, we have no intention of opposing the demons or fighting with you.”
Sheria at our feet showed his caution, thinking, “Who would trust the words of a Divine Race member?”
However, Astel waved his hand as if unconcerned. He drove us away, telling us to go home.
“That Black Dragon, named Lily, and Ruilala over there are together. With just that, you could do anything to me if you wanted to, right? So there’s no point in paying attention to Divine or Heavenly Race members now. Rather, go home quickly!”
“Hahaha, Cat Duke, you’re as usual. But you could at least listen to what we have to say.”
“If I listen, I won’t be able to turn back, will I?”
“You know me well.”
Astel tried to cover his ears, saying “I don’t want to,” but Toris desperately held them.
“Thank you very much for your help the other day.”
“Go home!”
“However, His Majesty has some dissatisfaction with the style of the detached palace.”
“I don’t know. I’ve already finished my work.”
“However, luckily or unluckily, when this Dragon King Elnea-kun visited…”
“Be quiet, Ruilala. Shut up!”
“Unfortunately, Elnea-kun destroyed the detached palace.”
“Wait a minute, Ruilala. I didn’t destroy the detached palace!?”
“Hahaha, what are you talking about? Elnea-kun instructed the spirits, and those spirits blew away the detached palace, so it’s Elnea-kun’s fault?”
“Grrr…”
“And so, we would like the Cat Duke to rebuild the detached palace…”
“It was you! You’re the one who wasted my efforts—!”
“Gya—!”
Suddenly attacked by Astel, I screamed.
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