21 – Chief of Staff's Welcome Party and A Little Girl's Dream
「Bwa~h!」
Clinging to the Demon King's waist, The Demon of Love Sitri was crying.
「I'm sorry~, Lu! Sitri lost…!」
Luci gently strokes Sitri's head like the cat that she is.
「There there. You managed to fell one of them. A Hero at that. You did rather well.」
The figure of a little girl consoling another little girl was pretty rare, but it was neither strange nor uncomfortable.
「Uu…that Fenix boy, there's definitely something weird about him. He's a human that's tall, dark and handsome, has the strongest Spirit, ranked fourth in the world, and even respects Monsters, isn't that weird? If you told me that God commanded him to create the strongest Avatar around, Sitri would believe it.」
I didn't feel bad at all hearing praises about my best friend.
Fenix wasn't always this strong, but I can't blame you for thinking that if you looked at him now.
In the end, he beat Sitri with one strike and cleared the fifth stratum.
There wasn't much usable footage, so we'll most likely broadcast it together with the footage we'll get from the sixth stratum.
They booked the sixth stratum immediately after clearing the fifth one after all.
「Here, Lem. Say a~h.」
Goes a sweet voice by my side.
Milla had cut up a roast chicken, skewered it with a fork and held it up to my mouth.
Fork in her right hand, and cupping her left like a plate.
Slanting her head at a perfect angle, her lips forming to say「A~h.」.
「I, I can feed myself.」
「…I suppose you're right…for someone like me to do this causes nothing but trouble, I am sorry…I will not repeat this mistake, so please forgive me.」
Milla is dejected, and I immediately change my mind.
「I'll eat it.」
「I'm glad.」
Milla immediately smiled again.
I knew it was a trap but I still walked right into it…
I just have to put up with the embarrassment and nothing will happen.
I was so nervous that I couldn't even taste the supposedly delicious meat.
By the way, this is the Demon King Army's favorite restaurant.
It's a two-story building with an atrium in the center and a fountain in the middle of the first floor where Demi-Humans who are partial to water are relaxing.
A section of the ceiling is overgrown with ivy and there is a part of the restaurant where you can see what looks like bare rocks where Demi-beasts are kept. Demi-Beasts are animals that were once demon beasts.
Today is my welcome party, so the Demon King Army booked the entire place.
Inside the shop were Vampires, Werewolves, Dream Demons, Majin, Mermaids, Dragonkin, Birdmen, Giants, Dark Elves, Skeletons, and many more races that I didn't even know.
I am very happy to be welcomed and am thankful for such an opportunity. It is faster to remember everyone rather than going around and earnestly greeting them.
After briefly introducing myself, I head up to the second floor.
In the corner was the Demon King Luci and her Big Four Milla, Agares, and Sitri.
The black knight who I have yet to ask the name of will arrive shortly.
To my right, sat Milla and to my left was Cashew. Other than them, various other Floor Bosses sat nearby and were eating and drinking.
「Unhand her, you Dream Demon-wannabe. It is time for the Demon King's pudding. Do not be a hindrance!」
「Sitri will feed her. Agares is too noisy.」
「…In what world can a subordinate who failed at her job be allowed to cling to her superior. How inappropriate.」
「In this one. Lu, does the thought of Sitri and Lu in an inappropriate relationship make your heart race?」
「Hm? No, not really.」
「Aha! I think it might be too early for you.」
Sitri was still reeling from her defeat but she somehow managed to smile.
「You…you Dream Demon-wannabe.」
「Can you stop with the whole「wannabe」thing? You're hurting my feelings. Lu~, Agares is bullying me~」
Said Sitri in a coaxing voice while coiling around Luci.
「Oh there, there. Agares, cease your bullying at once. I've said it once before, why not call your allies by their names.」
「That's right! Besides, if you're scolding me, then look over there. There's Mil-Mil, the secretary, and that unsuitable kid who was inaugurated too quickly! Scold them.」[1. TL Note: Sitri refers to Milla as "Milla-cchi" which is like a really friendly/childish way to call someone, so I have gone with Mil-Mil]
That's me. She's definitely talking about me.
Since the start, Cashew has been happily stuffing her cheeks like a squirrel with food, while seemingly thinking「I wish I could let everyone eat this」in regards to her family.
However, when she realized what Milla was doing, her eyes somewhat flashed with determination, and she took the burger patty that she thinks would be my favorite, cut it up, and offered it to me.
Usually, a child would only think about eating all the things they want to eat, but Cashew seems like the kind of child that offers someone's favorite food to them. Perhaps it has something to do with her having younger brothers and sisters.
I couldn't coldly refuse such a kind gesture. I thanked her and ate it.
But then.
Sitri pointed a finger towards us.
「Would you kindly not talk to us right now? Don't ruin this moment.」
「Mil-Mil only acts differently with that boy. We've worked together for much longer so be kind to me too!」
「I am being kind. See, I'm being kind by talking to you right now.」
「I think you're breaking the standard of being kind.」
「The fact that I am having a conversation with you during my precious time with Lem is proof that I think of Sitri as important.」
「R…really?」
Hearing the word「Important」made Sitri twitch and shake.
「Why yes, I love you so won't you please be a dear and sit there quietly.」
「I…I guess so?」
「What a good girl.」
Sitri laughed joyfully.
「Lu, Sitri's a good girl.」
「Mm…that you are.」
Having witnessed it all, Luci decided against putting a damper on Sitri's happiness.
Come to think of it, Sitri refers to herself by her own Dungeon Name.
「How could a Monster who causes delusions of love in man be so easily tricked by such false kindness.」
「Ha? Shut up, Agares. What if I make you fall in love with an attractive mature lady?」
「Hmph, don't be absurd…My desire to protect the purity of children has no relation to my sexual desire. How many times must I say it for you to understand? …Be that as it may, please do not arouse feelings for an adult woman within me.」
The Big Four more or less get along well together.
I spoke to Agares earlier. Somehow, he had heard about Cashew's case and, without a word, shook my hand, saying「To think that I would find a kindred spirit in you, Chief of Staff, sir.」. In the midst of that misunderstanding, he formed a contract with me.
I tried to set the record straight but then he said「Tis alright, brother…you do not have to hide it.」and gave me a smile for the first time. I was at a loss for words.
It's a different matter if he asks Cashew to abuse him or step on him, but at least Luci is with the Big Four and can handle him.
I decided to leave it alone.
After that, I had a face to face with the man beneath the black knight's armor and learned that his name is Furcus. He stared intently at the food that was in front of me so I offered it to him and he ate it in an instant. After which, he stated「One assist, one meal」and with that condition, he formed a contract with me.
After the meal, I had to quickly excuse myself from the party in order to get the now sleepy Cashew home.
At first, I thought that it would be frowned upon for me, the guest of honor, to leave so soon but everyone was very kind and warm and saw me off.
There are many who were drinking alcohol and didn't notice me leaving, but nothing beats the feeling of your heart warming up.
「Hey, Lem.」
It was Sitri.
Her eyes look swollen.
「Yes?」
「Can you beat him?」
She's probably talking about Fenix.
「With everyone's help, yes.」
「…Hmm. But is it OK? He's your childhood friend, isn't he? You were recently aiming to be no. 1 together with him, can you stand in the way of your best friend?」
It's only natural to ask a question like that.
「In regards to what he did in order to win against you, what did he say?」
「…something about liking me…」
「That's the kind of guy he is. It doesn't matter if you're an enemy or an ally. He's the kind of guy that respects people who exhaust all their strength in order to achieve a goal. Doing something like going easy against his best friend or not wanting to fight even though he's an enemy would be considered an insult.」
「Huh…」
Growing interested, Sitri looked up at me.
「This time, let's negotiate, Lem. If Sitri is satisfied when that time comes, I will give you the honor of forming a contract with me. No wait, I meant to say, let's form a contract.」
Without waiting for my response, Sitri returns to Luci's spot.
As I turn to head home, my eyes suddenly catch Milla looking at me.
She smiles sweetly and her bewitching lips are forming words.
「See you tomorrow.」they seem to say.
Tomorrow is Milla's day off. I, too, am taking a day off.
That's right, tomorrow is the promised outing with Milla.
I nodded and left the restaurant.
And walk out into the night city.
「Rem…」[2. TL Note: Not a typo, Cashew is sleepy and says Lem's name with a slur]
With a sleepy voice, Cashew speaks into my ear.
「Yeah?」
「I…I wanna be a Monster when I… grow up.」
Cashew, who is on my back, feels warm. I wonder if children's body temperatures are higher.
「Oh yeah?」
「I decided just now.」
「I see.」
Cashew is eight years old. She'll find out what her Job is when she's ten.
「It's too early to decide on your future.」is something that I have no right to say.
As soon as I was old enough to understand what was going on around me, I was obsessed with Heroes. Even after I became a Black Sorcerer, I never gave up on becoming a Hero. What sort of advice could a guy like me give?
「Then…I want to ask Lem to do something.」
「Me? If it's to continue to be my secretary, you're more than welcome.」
If you have a dream you wish to pursue, of course, I'll support you too.
「Lem's ring. If someone makes a c-contrak with you…they become your ally, right?」
「That's right. I got it from Luci. It requires Magical Energy, but even someone who's far away can come to my rescue.」
Cashew nuzzles her head against the back of my neck.
「I'm still a kid. I can't help out.」
「That's not true, you help a lot.」
Cashew was already well received and loved by the people in the Demon King Castle. While helping me out, everyone is deeply touched by her bravery.
「The ring holds seventy-two, right?」
「Right. It's a ring that can hold up to 72 people to help me.」
「…I want to ask Lem to do something」
Again, Cashew repeats that.
「Why don't you ask me?」
A few moments passed before she answered me.
「When I become an adult…I want to be able to help Lem…」
「Uh-huh.」
「I…want you to stop at…seventy-one.」
Similar to Milla, who was my first Contract, Cashew wants to be my last.
She's asking me to leave one frame for her for when she someday grows up and can fight alongside me.
It seems that Cashew thinks that that's a very selfish desire.
Because she is so anxious that I can feel her shivering.
「Is that…bad?」
So I answer her softly.
「No, that would be great.」
「…huh?」
「Looks like I have one more thing to look forward to in life.」
「Huh, wha-, Lem? Um, I…uhm…」
「My last Contract will be reserved just for you, Cashew.」
「–~~~~!. A, are you sure?」
「Without a doubt.」
She squeezes my neck with a hug.
Not enough to hurt, of course.
「…I'll work hard.」
She mutters softly.
「Yeah.」
「I'll…make contrak…with…Lem…」
「Yes you will.」
We continued walking like that towards her house. I dropped her off on the first day of work so I already know the way there.
「…Zzz…Zzz…」
My feet continued onwards as I listened to her snooze.