Chapter 3: How Not to Go to a Feast
The setting sun burned beyond the rubble of the gate, sinking below the hills in the distance. The soldiers and adventurers were treating the injured, carrying them off in stretchers. The heavily wounded were taken to the church, as were the corpses of the deceased.
No one cheered for Diablo and his group. The only thing those who watched the battle with the Demon Overlord felt was terror. Diablo could tell from their expressions alone.
They don’t see this as me defending them...
It was like this even in the game. Diablo single-handedly defeated bosses that required large raid parties to overcome, but no one really praised him for it. As for the citizens of this world, their lives were on the balance, so they didn’t mock his efforts or make baseless claims that he was cheating. In that regard, things were better than his old world.
Diablo went back to town with Rose and Sasara, Shera still hanging on him, when the pattering of footsteps reached his ears.
“Diablo!” Klem waved to him with both hands. “You’ve done well to defeat the Demon Overlord!”
“Y-Yes. Are you all right?”
“Of course I am! This Demon Lord is a tough biscuit!”
She was energetic, but there were countless cracks and scratches running along her skin, having previously been as smooth as porcelain.
Edelgard was standing behind Klem. She’d been injured to the brink of destruction, but she was all healed now.
“...Phew.” The exhaustion was obvious on her face. She reminded Diablo of an office lady waiting for the last train on a Friday. Rem was right behind her.
“Amazingly done, Diablo... I think I’ve run out of ways to express my astonishment of you at this point.”
He’d intended to reply in a pompous fashion, when he suddenly realized her face was pale.
“What’s wrong, Rem?”
“...Ah... It’s not as bad as it seems. I’ve been so nervous I seemed fine earlier, but the teleportation spell may have gotten to me. All the stress must have left my body the moment you beat the Demon Overlord.”
“Still bad with vehicles, I see.” Though it was hard to say if a teleportation spell counted as a vehicle...
Rem hung her head. “I’m sorry...”
Diablo panicked internally. He didn’t think she’d get this depressed. It was times like these when his social ineptitude reared its ugly head! But, at the same time, a Demon Lord couldn’t go back on his words.
Just as he was searching for what to say next, regional knights appeared, their metallic armor clanging. They were carrying a stretcher, Galford laying on it. His left hand was missing and his right hand was broken. There were traces of him bleeding from the abdomen, but the bleeding there was stopped. Compared to everyone else present, he was as pale as a corpse, making even Edelgard and Rem seem healthy.
Galford craned his neck to look at Diablo, and parted his now purple lips to speak.
“To think you defeated that Demon Overlord... It defies all imagination.”
“Heh... He wasn’t even a challenge!”
His leveling up, the swordmaster Sasara, the magimatic doll Rose, and the Magic Reflection ring. If any one of them were missing there was no telling how it would’ve ended. Since he won, however, he wanted to gloat as hard as he could.
The other day, Galford had intended on taking Klem to have her inspected, but perhaps he thought facing Diablo was more dangerous than it was worth.
“You are...” he started speaking, his lips curling. But, just as he was about to finish the sentence, his voice became so small Diablo couldn’t hear the rest of his words. The regional knights bowed once before carrying the stretcher away.
“Didn’t you use a potion on Galford?” Diablo asked Shera, who still had her arms wrapped around one of his.
“Yes, I did. But one only healed him so much. I wanted to use another one, but he said he didn’t need any more.”
“Hm.”
It appeared a warrior over level 100 couldn’t recover their full HP with an SR-rank potion. That said, an SSR-rank potion was too precious to use freely like that. Diablo had enough of those put aside in storage if he ever needed to use them on himself or those around him, but not enough to treat the injured in such a large scale war. If Galford wasn’t at risk of death anymore, the church would have to handle the rest. Diablo had absolutely no intent of becoming complacent and using those potions too freely, only to run out when he’d need them the most.
†
Hearing a woman’s shouts, Diablo turned his gaze in her direction.
“Hurry! The war’s not over yet!”
It was Laminitus. She was accompanied by engineer troops, with measurement tools in hands.
“What’s going on?” Shera tilted her head quizzically.
“...This battle isn’t over until they restore the gate and the barrier tower,” Rem explained.
True enough, Faltra was currently in an exposed position. The Fallen were still to the west; they probably couldn’t believe the Demon Overlord was gone, but they may still be looking for a chance to attack. They still had seven grand turtles left as well, which could make for quite the menacing threat. Faltra would have to restore the barrier to hold back their attack.
“How many days would it take to rebuild the tower?” Diablo asked no one in particular.
“...It would take a year or two to rebuild a replacement equal to what was destroyed. But I think they’ll probably make a temporary one for the time being.”
“Hmm.” Diablo nodded at Rem’s explanation.
“...It should take three days to build a temporary one in that case.”
“So if the Fallen make their move, it’d be within that time frame.”
“...Yes.” Rem looked at Laminitus as she shouted instructions. “Now that the governor is injured, having Lady Laminitus, governor of Zircon Tower, in the former Demon Lord’s domain is quite encouraging. Normally she would hold no authority over the stationed troops, but that doesn’t matter much right now, given the situation.”
“True.”
For an organization that had fallen into chaos, Laminitus, who took the initiative without minding the little details, was an ideal presence to have around.
Just as Diablo was thinking that, his gaze met with Laminitus’s. She closed one eye, sending a wink his way. He then remembered, once before, the night after he defended Zircon Tower from the Fallen, how she forced her way into his room and did...this and that, as a way of showing her thanks. The memory made Diablo go red in the face.
“...What’s wrong?” Rem tilted her head, now standing next to Diablo.
“Ah, no... It’s nothing.”
Something similar happened in the elven kingdom, and Rem had caught him with his non-proverbial pants down at the time... She’d gotten seriously mad and gave him the silent treatment for a long while. That was the moment Diablo decided to stop getting carried away by these situations.
Tearing his gaze away from Laminitus, he turned to look at the town, just to be met with the sight of a girl with a pair of bunny ears hopping out of a carriage. She had red, shoulder-length hair and was dressed in a rather revealing outfit. Despite this, she had the body of a young girl. This was Sylvie, the guildmaster of this city’s Adventurer’s Guild.
“Hiya, Diablo! Everyone! Good work out there!”
“It’s been so long, Sylvie!” Shera waved at her with a smile.
Rem simply nodded wordlessly, while Klem, Edelgard, and Rose seemed expressionless.
Sasara bowed her head politely. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m the thirteenth swordmaster, Sasara Graham.”
“Yep, a pleasure to meet you! I’m Sylvie!” Sylvie bowed her head back.
Exchanging greetings with everyone else, Sylvie regarded Diablo again. “You really saved us! I thought we were done for when the gate collapsed!”
“Hm.”
“Oh? You’re not asking me where I’ve been until now?”
“You were at the Mage’s Guild, weren’t you?”
“Man, there’s really no fooling you, Diablo!” She smiled wryly. “You picked up on it so fast.”
“If the Demon Lord’s army is attacking Faltra, it means they’re essentially fighting the Fallen-repelling barrier. The races wouldn’t be defeated anytime soon so long as the barrier remained.”
“Yup, yup.”
“But putting it another way, that means the Fallen had to have some countermeasure for the barrier. When Edelgard attacked last time, they had a Fallen infiltrate the city by inciting a member of the Mage’s Guild, and had that Fallen try to assassinate Celes.”
It ended in failure, though. Being reminded of her past failure made Edelgard contort her face.
“That made the Mage’s Guild cautious, which is why they asked me to protect her,” Sylvie said, snapping her fingers. “They had me keep Celes safe.”
“Sounds like a valid enough decision.” Both the contents of the request and the person they asked for protection were apt.
“We never thought they’d forcibly destroy the gate’s tower, though.”
“...Is Celes safe?” Rem asked.
“Yeah, but she was scared to death when the barrier was broken. But now she’s laughing it off, saying that since she’s free from the barrier, she has more freedom than she’s had in twelve years.”
“...This is no laughing matter... But that said, after seeing Diablo’s overwhelming strength, I doubt the Fallen will dare attack us blindly.”
“Ayup.” Sylvie then remembered something. “Oh, by the way... We’ve taken Emile in at the Adventurer’s Guild. He was seriously wounded, but there’s no risk to his life. He should be fine in three days tops.”
Shera gave a relieved, “That’s good... I gave him an HP potion, but I wasn’t sure it was enough.”
“Thank you, Shera. If you didn’t do that, he may not have made it.”
“Hehe.”
“...And the others?” Rem asked with a gloomy voice.
“Hm...” Sylvie lowered her eyes at that question. “Eristoff and Grutas didn’t make it.”
“...I see.”
“There were quite a few casualties among the soldiers stationed at the walls and the regional knights... But, you know? When people heard an invasion by the Demon Lord’s army with a thousand troops was advancing, everyone thought the western side of the kingdom, starting with Faltra, would be reduced to ashes.”
Not just Rem, but Shera and Sasara had serious expressions on their faces. While he didn’t outwardly show it, Diablo was listening carefully too.
“You and your group protected us all, Diablo,” Sylvie said, looking him straight in the eyes. “Thank you. I thank you all, from the bottom of my heart.”
†
“Then I’ll be going back to Celes now. Can’t let our guard down now!”
“...Can I join you?” Rem raised her hand at Sylvie’s words.
“Sure, but why?”
“...In exchange for my freedom, I promised to report everything to her.”
“I see. I’d love to hear your report, too...”
“...I refuse.”
With that exchange, Rem and Sylvie made their way to the Mage’s Guild.
“All right! Let’s go eat some biscuits!” Klem pointed to the south of the town.
“Huhhh, but it’s so late! All the stores are closed,” Shera said, her eyes wide with apprehension.
It wasn’t a matter of the time of day; with the Demon Lord’s army’s invasion and the collapse of the barrier, Fallen could flood the city at any time. No one had the leisure of keeping a store open at this crucial time.
“Buuut I want to eat biscuits!” Klem kicked the ground in annoyance.
“But everyone’s asleep...”
“That’s not true! Look, it’s so lively out there!”
Just as Klem said, the people in the streets were bustling like they were about to break out into a dance. They went from a critical situation, not knowing if they’d live to see another day, to the Demon Overlord’s defeat. The city had been saved. A similar situation had also happened in Zircon Tower.
“Didn’t you stock up on biscuits?” Shera asked.
“I ate them all already. I thought I’d have to fight Madness, so I ate them to psych myself up.”
“Oh my~”
“This Demon Lord worked real hard! And since I worked so hard, it makes no sense that I’m not getting any biscuits!”
“R-Right.”
“At this rate, my only option would be to reduce everything to ashes!”
“No no no! You can’t! We’ll go buy some biscuits, but if the store’s closed, we’ll wait until morning, okay?”
“Mmm.”
“Diablo, I’ll be going to Petre’s,” Shera said, looking a bit bothered.
“Hmm... I’ll join, then.”
“That’s fine, but...you must be tired after all that fighting, aren’t you? Don’t force yourself. Look, even Sasara’s super sleepy.”
“Hm?”
Now that she mentioned it...Sasara was sleeping while standing up. She was leaning against Rose and positively snoozing away.
“Zzz...Zzz...”
“A-Ah, Sasara?”
“Ah!” Diablo’s call made her eyes open wide with a start. “Ah, I’m sorry... I get sleepy as soon as it gets dark.”
“Didn’t you stay up the whole night reading that book last time?”
“Erm... I’m fine if I don’t have to fight so seriously, but... Aaaah.”
Apparently, fighting with high-level martial arts was exhausting. Diablo himself was tired, too. To be on the safe side, he drank a potion to recover his lost MP, but since he’d been forced into a state of total suspense, he needed some rest.
“Diablo group, rest.” Edelgard nodded. “Edelgard, protect Demon Lord? Protect!”
“Don’t be foolish. Your makeup’s all gone, and your waitress outfit is ruined. Anyone can tell you’re a Fallen right now.”
“Mmmrg...” She inspected her own appearance. Klem had healed her body, but her clothes were ruined from the Demon Overlord’s attacks, leaving her in a half-naked state that would’ve made it hard for Diablo to look at her if it were any brighter out.
“...Weathering?” Edelgard tilted her head.
“What are you, a plastic model?! Rejected!”
Apparently working in some maid café knockoff filled her head with jargon she was better off not knowing...
But even so, this wasn’t acceptable. Edelgard was with Diablo right now, and many had seen the battle earlier. However, if Edelgard were to go around town undisguised, it would cause a riot. Klem was apparently capable of changing her outfit at will; there weren’t even any marks of the previous battle on her clothes now. Her tail was folded inside her skirt and her horns were hidden under a hat. Her ears and eyes still seemed atypical, but she could pass off as something of a strange demi.
“Edelgard, wait for us at the inn!” Klem ordered her.
“Uuu... Under, stood.”
Shera smiled bitterly at the spiteful glare Edelgard regarded her with. After that, she took Klem to Petre’s.
“What should Rose do with this one, Master?” Rose said, carrying Sasara.
“Ah... Carry her back to the inn. Is there a problem with that?”
“An easy enough task.”
“You must be tired too... No, I guess you wouldn’t be.”
“Magimatics do not experience fatigue. Rose is, however, low on magical energy. Rose requires a quick charge to repair the damage inflicted during battle.”
“Hm.”
Diablo was a little surprised. He’d thought she’d just leave Sasara on the ground after having fallen asleep on her. She did treat Sasara as an intruder when they met in the Demon Lord’s Labyrinth, but, maybe fighting back to back with the swordmaster changed her values somewhat?
I might be changing the same way, Diablo thought.
“Hmph...” Diablo felt his lips slacken into a smile. “You truly cherish Sasara, do you not, Rose?”
“Of course, Master. Rose is required to automatically lock away all items above SSR rarity. In other words, Rose cannot discard them without permission.”
“O-Oh.”
She was treating Sasara like another item...
†
The celebrations were more festive than Diablo had thought. People were still working in the front lines to restore the barrier, and even though the Demon Overlord was defeated, no one proclaimed the fighting had ended. This world didn’t have smartphones or text messages, so the only ones who could have told everyone such news were the soldiers watching the battle. Thus, information regarding the life and death of everyone traveled from mouth to ear, however slowly.
Those who heard of the victory ran out to the streets, dancing as they offered thanks to God. Older men walked shoulder to shoulder with any person they could find, even if they didn’t know their names, and offered them a drink as they sang marching cadences and the national anthem. People were exchanging high-fives and hugs with anyone they bumped into. Watching them filled Diablo with a sense of satisfaction over defending the town.
Aaah, it’s a good thing I protected them.
Drunk on the festive mood, some good-looking guy caught a random girl walking along the street, and, without giving her his name, pulled her in for a deep kiss. The girl didn’t seem dissatisfied by this, however, wrapping her hands around his back.
Diablo’s fist shook as he grit his teeth at the sight.
And now I’m feeling...much less inclined to save the races...
“Master...” Rose moaned, her eyes shining. “That expression on Master’s face is...so good... Haa, haa...”
“N-No... Peace is the best. Hm!”
They’d arrived at the Peace of Mind Inn - Twilight, located in the western district. However, there was a crowd of people in front. There were other places like this along the main road where shops and businesses were holding lavish feasts to celebrate the victory.
Just as Diablo thought that all the free food would be better if it weren’t so loud out, a small shadow jumped toward him from a nearby alley.
“Wha?!”
“It’s meow!”
The moment he heard the voice, he stopped his Tonnerre Empereur mid-swing.
“Mei...is that you?”
It was hard to tell through the darkness, but this was the Peace of Mind Inn’s poster girl and idol, Mei.
“Yes? It’s Little Mei?” she said, making a cat pose.
“What were you doing there?”
“I was waiting for mew, Diablo! I thought you might get in trouble if you returned to the Peace of Mind Inn like this.”
“Explain yourself. I’ll allow it.”
“I will, so follow me,” Mei said, looking left and right restlessly. “This place is no good.”
He was suspicious, but Diablo doubted this was a trap. He followed Mei into the back alley.
“Is this acceptable, Master?” Rose asked.
“Even if it is a trap, if it’s anything more dangerous than the Demon Overlord, that’d be entertaining in its own way.”
Rose bowed and took a step back. Edelgard was following them silently. If it were Rem or Shera, he’d normally leave the negotiations to them, but...
Once they got away from the tumult, Mei parted her lips to speak.
“The people meow-ndering outside the inn are actually all here for you, Diablo.”
“What?!”
“There’s a rumor you defeated the Demon Overlord.”
“It is no rumor, it is fact.” Rose nodded. “Rose’s exalted Master reduced the Demon Overlord to dust.”
“Whoa... Really, meow. Well, anyway, everyone got excited and gathered here to see you.”
“O-Oh...”
It didn’t feel too bad. Maybe he should show his face after all.
“At this rate, it’d take until morning to receive a word of thanks from each of them.” Mei shrugged her shoulders. “I thought you could do without getting hugs from all those old men.”
Little Mei, you’re a godsend!
It wasn’t visible from Diablo’s disinterested expression, but his heart was full of gratitude.
“And, because of that...” she said, leading them through the zig-zaggy alleyway. “Ta-da? The Peace of Mind Inn - Hideout! A secret inn, reserved for special customers mew-nly!”
It was behind the residential houses and didn’t have a sign. Its door was plain and without any decorations, so even if one were to pass right in front of it, they wouldn’t guess this was an inn.
“...Isn’t this a residential home?” Rose asked with a cold voice.
“Th-Th-That’s nyot true! It’s a Peace of Mind Inn, service guaranteed!”
“This is fine. I’ll allow it.” Diablo nodded grandly. “I dislike noise and rowdiness. Let’s stay here.”
Diablo asked for Rem, Shera, and Klem to be shown here when they arrived at the Peace of Mind Inn - Twilight.
“Welcome?”
The interior of the place looked just like the normal Peace of Mind Inn. Mei handed them a set of keys.
“Rose and the new girl get this key! Klem and Edelgard get this one. I have a room ready for Rem and Shera, too. You guys have the Hideout Inn all to yourselves, Diablo!”
“Hm.”
He’d gotten used to everyone sleeping huddled together on one big bed, but he was still more relaxed when sleeping alone.
“Ah, Diablo, could you wait for a second?”
“Hm? Rose, go ahead and put Sasara in bed in your room.”
“As Master wishes.”
Rose ascended the staircase, dragging Sasara along. Edelgard took her key as well and retreated to her room. It was just him and Mei now.
“Did you need something of me?”
“Well, hmm... Diablo, here’s the key to your room.”
It was a silver key.
“Oh?”
“It’s proof you’re a special client of the Peace of Mind Inn... It’s a lifetime invitation to stay for free? From meow on, feel free to think of this city as your hometown?”
He’d found himself staring intently at Mei’s face.
“Ehehe... Do you like it?” she asked, her cheeks becoming rosy.
“Yes, it’s not bad.”
“That’s a present from the owner. And this is a present from Little Mei.”
“Hm?”
Mei stepped aside, climbed on top of a specially prepared platform, then stood further on her tiptoes.
“Mwa?” Her lips touched Diablo’s cheek.
...Huh?!
Mei hopped off the platform with a small thud and made some distance between their bodies.
“Mrooow...” Her face was bright red. “I’m sorry if mew didn’t like the present. But that was a local idol’s first kiss?”
Diablo was speechless.
“Diablo, thank mew for protecting all of us!”
The sight of her striking a pose to hide her embarrassment was somehow exceptionally innocent and adorable.
†
When he entered his room, he was faced with Rose, the top of her uniform removed. She was topless, her boobs fully exposed!
“Holy bejeezus, my life has a genre problem!” he’d found himself exclaiming aloud.
Somehow he’d gone from a sappy romantic scene to an erotic scenario that would fit right in with one of his porn games.
“Rose is prepared, Master,” Rose said with an indifferent expression that looked like nothing out of the ordinary was going on.
Well, good for you, because my heart sure as hell isn’t!
“Wh-What?”
“Of course, for Master to pour Master’s...into Rose.”
“Magical energy! My magical energy!”
He rather wished she’d stop saying the most important words in a low, inaudible voice.
“Yes, for Master to spill Master’s thick, abundant, syrupy...inside Rose.”
“...Are you doing this on purpose?”
She tilted her head with a genuinely quizzical expression. It felt like pointing it out any more clearly than that would be like willingly walking into quicksand.
“...Ah, is today too hard for Master? Is Master tired?”
He was indeed tired, but saying, “I’m tired so I’ll just sleep for tonight” was more “overworked salaryman lameness” than “Demon Lord coolness.”
“Hmph... Who do you take me for? Fighting an opponent of that level doesn’t even begin to tire me!”
“Aaah, as impressive as ever, Master!”
“I’ll pour out all the magical energy you’ll ever need!”
“Thank Master very much. Rose is so overwhelmed with gratitude, Rose detects an inexplicable shivering throughout Rose’s body.”
Having a half-naked girl bow her head so low before him that her exposed back was visible felt like he hadn’t fallen into a world based off of Cross Reverie, but some other type of game that would be best left unmentioned.
“A-Anyway, sit down. Ah, no, forget that...”
Rose’s body was as heavy as a fully armored knight. She didn’t bust through the second story floor, but that was owing to the building’s hefty construction. If she were to sit on a bed or chair, she’d likely crush the furniture.
Guess we’ll have to do this standing..
“Rose’s apologies.” Rose turned her back to him. “Rose requests Master provide her with magical energy in regions that are near the points that were damaged.”
“Very well.”
Her back. Finally, this conversation was feeling a little less over the top.
“Extend Master’s hands from behind to Rose’s chest, please.”
...Chest?
“...Hmm, Rose does not mind if Master is rough.”
As he stood there with his mouth agape, her hands clasped Diablo’s. He’d just talked a big game, saying he’d pour out all the magical energy she’d ever need, but despite that, he couldn’t do something as cruel as shake off her hands in this situation. She did wish for this, after all.
He felt his hands squish against Rose’s large swellings.
Ah, that’s soft!
“Ahn!” Rose’s body shivered.
“D-Did that hurt?”
“...Uu... It was, nothing. Rose was simply overcome with joy.”
“So you shivered?”
“Rose reports Rose has climaxed...”
Already?!
“Does that mean your charge has gone over the limit? Is this enough?”
“Rose’s first magical energy tank is filled. There are more tanks, however...”
“I see. So I just need to send over more magical energy?”
“Yes... Ah... Nnn... Y-Yes, over there...”
“Wh-What? I didn’t do anything...”
He didn’t intend on doing anything, but contrary to his timid heart, his instincts ran wild. His fingers were very much moving by themselves.
W-Whoa?! They’re just sinking in...
He could feel his fingers sinking into her soft chest. The small protuberances wedged between his middle and ring fingers were becoming increasingly hardened. He pinched and rubbed them with his two fingers.
“Aaahn?!” Rose wiggled her body. “Nn... Nnnn... Master... Over there, is...”
“What is it?”
“Aaah... Rose’s... Rose is, going crazy... Aaahn?!”
“Crazy...”
Diablo’s sense of reason was on the verge of going berserk. He groped and teased her breasts. He kneaded, rubbed, pinched, pulled, and eventually tried pushing them in.
“Hiyaaaaaa!” Rose jolted again and again in his arms, her back writhing. Her shoulders spasmed slightly.
“D-Did you climax again?” Diablo swallowed his spit.
A full charge of magical energy, of course.
“Erm... Master...” Rose shook her head gently.
“Hm?”
“Don’t just, tease me there... You need to pour your magical energy in, too...”
“Aaah!”
He was so caught up with toying with the tips of her chest that he’d forgotten to send in any magical energy! Which meant what they just did here didn’t have any sort of magical energy charging. He was just fondling her breasts!
I can’t believe myself!
Perhaps fighting the Demon Overlord had drained him a bit, which made his thinking less crisp than usual.
“A-All right! This time for sure!”
Diablo once again focused his will on his hands and let magical energy flow through them just like when he was casting spells.
“Mm... Nnn... Master, that’s good. Master’s magical energy is...flowing in... Haa... It’s wonderful... Aaah, Ahn.”
It felt like her skin was adhering to him more tightly than before. Regardless of her being magimatic, her skin felt sweaty. It was like the boundaries between their skin were becoming muddled, and his hand was sinking into her bosom.
“Like this?”
“Aaah! Aaaaaah!” Rose screamed louder than before. “Master, Master, Masteeer, it’s amazing... Nnng... Incredible! So strong! More... More... Deeper... Ah! Ah! Hiyaaaaaa!”
Her voice was so loud it surely had to have reached outside.
Won’t Rem get mad at me again if she hears this?!
He was pouring out his magical energy like he was casting a grand spell, hoping to get the charging period done faster. Rose’s body would go on to spasm so hard Diablo had to wonder if he broke something in her...
†
Rose was lying on the floor with a satisfied expression, as topless as she was before. Normally Diablo would put her in bed, but, given her weight, that was a complicated task. Since looking at her like this was problematic, Diablo covered her with a blanket. He sighed as things had finally settled down.
“Phew... I’m kinda tired...” he muttered to himself.
There was a knock on the room’s door. Rem and Shera weren’t back yet, and if they were, they wouldn’t have knocked.
“Hmph... Who is it?” Diablo asked, straining his expression. “If you do not fear audience with a Demon Lord, dare open that door.”
“H-Hmm... It’s just me...” The voice behind the door sounded like a man’s, one which rang oddly familiar. Just as he was bad with remembering faces, Diablo couldn’t recall people’s voices all that well.
“Come in, I’ll allow it,” Diablo ordered the man.
“E-Excuse me!” His guest was a soldier clad in armor.
“Ah, you’re...” Diablo finally remembered him.
“I’m Boris.”
Right, he was a soldier defending the Bridge of Ulug.
Then Diablo thought about something. “How did you know about this place?”
“Ah...that’s because you and your group are being tracked. I didn’t know which room you were in, but the military and Adventurer’s Guild are at least aware of where you’re staying.”
Sylvie had mentioned something like that once before, where Klem was being tracked by multiple organizations. Still, the thought he’d never noticed was embarrassing.
“Aaah, you mean those annoying flies.” Diablo shrugged. “Tell them to keep their distance. If they become too much of an eyesore, I may just burn them to ashes.”
“Y-Yes sir!” Boris reacted in an overtly serious manner, even saluting.
“Well, what did you come here for?”
“Ah... I, Boris Marks of the kingdom of Lyferia’s Thirteenth Faltra Defensive Regiment, have been ordered to invite you, adventurer Diablo, to a celebratory feast!”
“Celebratory feast?”
“Yes, a feast to celebrate the subjugation of the Demon Overlord and the successful defense of Faltra.”
“But isn’t the barrier still down?”
The Fallen hadn’t retreated yet; it was too soon to assume it was all over. From what he knew of Laminitus, she wouldn’t make such a careless suggestion.
“It’s, erm...the city council.”
“City council?”
“The city of Faltra is run by the governor, but there is a council of influential nobles separate from him. They’re in charge of commerce and agriculture, and on top of the local tax, they also levy a trade and agricultural tax...”
“Matters of the government do not interest me.” Diablo waved his hands horizontally. “Keep politics out of your squabbling.”
“I-I apologize. Essentially, the important people of the city are planning this feast, and it’s not related to the governor or Lady Laminitus. Therefore, they ask for your presence, as the greatest contributor and hero of this battle.”
Won’t they ask me to make a speech on top of a stage if I do go?
Just the thought alone made his spine feel like it had turned to ice.
“You intend to summon me to such a petty gathering?” Diablo glared at him.
“Yes, I thought you might say that... From what I know, you don’t like these sorts of things. Before, when the army of one hundred Fallen marched on the Bridge of Ulug, it was only said that they were ‘repelled with cooperation from the Adventurer’s Guild’ and nothing else.”
“Was it now?”
“I’m sorry. I just thought someone should at least inform you.”
Sure enough...
He’d never go, but if they were to hold a celebratory feast without informing Diablo, the one who’d beaten the Demon Overlord, that would be infuriating in its own way. But Boris still came, knowing Diablo would refuse... The soldier had taken on this role.
“You never change, do you?”
“Ahaha... Well, seeing as I did inform you of the event, do take this, at least.” Boris handed him an envelope. “It’s an invitation.”
“Hmph! I’ve no need of...”
“It includes the money, in coins, needed to cover your expenses.”
“...I will accept it, in light of your efforts.”
Diablo’s group was constantly running out of money, Klem’s hunger being the primary cause.
“I will report you won’t be attending.” Boris saluted. “Diablo... Our generation grew up on our fathers and grandfathers telling us the story of the hero Alan. But, from now on, I’m sure we’ll be talking about the exploits of the hero Diablo. Seeing you fight with my own two eyes will be a memory I’ll treasure for the rest of my life.”
“Huh...” The sudden praise left Diablo speechless.
Boris left the room swiftly with a final, “Excuse me.” Diablo fell back onto the bed, looking up at the ceiling. Before long, his eyes fluttered shut...
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