"So you're taking me to war?"
Xion dropped the question as soon as the two of them returned to Ale's room.
It was normal. The poor guy had no idea what Ale was thinking and what he was stepping into.
The human world was like a giant maze to Xion. And although he had previously gotten glimpse of the maze from up above, it was a completely different view when seen from the inside.
"Yeah. Isn't it exciting?"
Ale on the other hand, was as shameless as a human could be. Ignoring the fact that he was putting Xion's life on the line, he even managed to make it sound like Xion was his underling.
"But you never asked for my opinion.."
Xion sulked a little as he started drawing circles on the ground. It came as a major shock to him when he learned that he'd be participating in the human worlds affairs, so directly at that.
"Hmm.. So you refuse?"
"That's not what I meant.."
"You're going then?"
"I guess...?"
Xion didn't know what to say anymore. This was the first time he came across a person this shameless. It left him speechless.
"Great! We have so many things to prepare!"
Ale took out a journal from his wardrobe and started making a list of the things that he had to take with him to the battlefield. As the saying goes "Preparation is key".
"But.. is it really okay for me to go?"
Xion just couldn't get rid of the hesitant feeling bubbling in his heart as he asked for Ale's opinion. Afterall, his origin wasn't simple. Not only was he a demon, But he was the son of the current Demon King and the next ruler.
"Cuz you're a demon?"
Ale hit the nail in the head as he turned his head and looked at him. But his expression relied no emotion or clue about his thoughts.
Xion nodded his head in agreement as he pondered over the matter once more. Entering the human world, taking shelter under a human, directly interfering in the human world, he had already broken way too many rules.
"Consider this a holiday, a break."
"Holiday?"
"Yeah. Y'know, when people visit beautiful places to heal their heart, get rid of the fatigue."
"Holiday in a battlefield.. pfft.. haha.. That sound's interesting."
"Doesn't it? Even demons need break, y'know."
"Okay! So I'm sticking with you for now huh?"
"Of course? Who else do you have here?"
"Hmm... That's true.. You're my only ray of hope."
Xion gave a puppy eyed expression as he looked at Ale. For now, this guy was the only one in the human world who'd treat a demon like him with such kindness and care.
"Ew.. Go back."
"But.. what are you writing?"
"Oh this? A list of things we're gonna need for our journey."
"You're gonna take 'those' to the battle?"
"Yeah, why not?"
"Hmm.. You're weird indeed."
Instead of rations and supplies, armors and swords, Ale's list was full of 'Fishcake from grandma's shop', 'Kebab from grumpy uncle's stall', 'Pudding from the curlybrows' etc etc.
It wasn't a list of war ration, it was a list of all the food Ale was planning on taking with him to the battlefield. Xion tilted his head wondering once again what was wrong with this human as he looked at the page getting filled with names of food and restaurant.
A month later.
Ale had finally reached the battleground.
They were currently on a town near the border where the fight was supposed to take place. The enemies dared raid one of the major towns near the border and take it under control. So the fight was a matter of time now.
Ale had yet to reach the soldiers from his side since they were at the border, camping. And he had no intention of doing that till the day of the battle. So he decided to comfortably stay in one of the nearby towns and meet the others the day before the fight.
"So we're leaving tomorrow?"
Xion asked as he sipped on the freshly made tea. They were enjoying the view one last time before going to the bloody battlefield.
"Yeah. Early in the morning."
"I suddenly don't want to go anymore.."
Xion leaned back on the chair as he whined. Ale couldn't say anything in return since he was feeling the same way.
After spending more than a decade fighting humans, monsters and demons continuously on the battlefield, this was the last place he wanted to go in this life.
"Let's end this as soon as possible and return home."
"Home.. "
Xion stayed at the mansion in the forest for three weeks while Ale finished his preparations for war. They left home and travelled a week before reaching this town.
And although it had just been a week since they left, and although the time he spent there was merely three weeks, for some reason, the word 'home' managed to warm his heart more than what he would've expected.
"Oh right. We should tour this town today since it's our last day here! I heard there's a festival!"
Ale suddenly remembered that piece of information and sat up straight. Xion looked at him from his leaned back posture and asked back what he had in mind.
"A festival? During this time of war?"
"Yeah. They're gonna pray for our victory today."
"Pray? To God?"
"Yeah. But there'll be losts of delicious food and fun games. They'll probably decorate the streets as well."
"Decoration?"
"Yeah, with frills and lights and lanterns, colour paper, probably. Let's go check it out?"
"Okay! Sounds interesting."
"Hmm.. Do demons not have festivals?"
"We don't pray."
"Atheists?"
"Yeah."
"Wow.. We have so much in common."
"We really do. It's like we're 'besties'."
"...is that one of those new words that you learned?"
"Yeah! I wanted to try it for so long!"
"Haha.."
The two of them laughed and chatted for a while like that while Phil and Gary watched them over from a distance. They had a peaceful expression on their faces as they watched their young master enjoy himself.
It didn't matter to them that his conversation partner was a Demon. It also didn't matter that they were going to the battlefield tomorrow.
The only thing that mattered to the two of them was the peace and happiness of their young master. And they'd kill and die if needed to protect that peace.