"Well well, after sending out as much as two commanding officers, what a sorry state you've come back in… to bring trouble to Leigie-sama's hands… how shameful."
The young man spoke with cold eyes, as if he were looking at kitchen waste that had fallen to the ground.
He was a handsome youth with eyes as black as the depths of the abyss. As if he were a king, he sat deeply in his chair. With one leg crossed over the other, perhaps he lacked some decorum, but he really was the spitting image of a king. If Leigie-sama and this man stood side by side, ten out of ten would say this man was the Demon Lord of the two.
At the same time, he followed his desire, and spent his time perpetually training and bettering himself. A pure military man.
Heard Lauder. Right hand of Sloth. A Demon governing Pride.
My head began to hurt.
But it definitely wasn't due to anger towards this prideful man.
"No, no… that Zebul Glaucus was a prominent and powerful Demon Lord among Kanon-sama's followers… She was too much of an opponent to deal with without the presence of another Demon Lord."
The one who committed the insolent act of pulling Leigie-sama out, Kanon's dispatch, speaks in a rebuking tone.
Her arrogant means did end up saving our lives, so I can't say anything, but…
From the innermost depths of my brain, I feel the pain of something being stabbed. To sooth it, I stroke my forehead once more.
Heard answered her glare with a cynical smile. His words were, as always, overflowing with himself.
"Hmm… that would be the case for a typical, lowly Demon, correct? What I am trying to say, is that for the ones who are supposed to be leading the great Lord of Acedia's army, it is much too shameful, Lize Bloodcross."
"… Well you sure know how to talk big. Especially when you were the only General who didn't participate in the battle."
"That's right. I truly never thought the other two would be this useless. The next time a Demon Lord thinks of invading, let's have me go out alone."
Despite his annoyed tone, he gave an immediate reply.
There is not a single hint of jest in Heard's face. An army led by two Generals was easily laid waste to by a single Demon Lord, but in his eyes there is no impatience, no nervousness.
Nothing but elegance. More prideful than all.
Superbia Demons are strong.
In truth, it is said that of the Demons that reach Lord Class, around seventy percent are Pride.
The losers are worse that garbage, the winners equivalent to God. And one's self has long surpassed God.
That is Superbia's Original Sin. Strength in weakness, and weakness in the strong, a highly unstable nature. Even so, they are called the strongest of Demons.
All they ever demand for is the result, and the no matter what step of the process resulted in defeat, they'll show contempt.
And just like the other Sins' cravings, the stronger they get, the greater their inclinations.
Of the four surrounding the round table, the last one… having lost a majority of his possessions, and even his army, the greatest victim Deige inspected a beat up Celeste as he spoke up.
"… Even so, Supreme Commander Heard, it's just as that girl Lize's saying. Zebul the Devourer stood top class among Demon Lords, and she had an impossibly large amount of power, you know? Even for someone as prideful as you, Supreme Commander, I'll bet it would prove difficult to 『Overrule』 her."
"Hmm… by that, are you comparing to the Demon Lords you've served up until now?"
"Ki ki ki, yeah. If you try to find an existence more powerful than that one… I can only think of Boss Leigie, and the Great Demon King."
He responds with a bitter smile.
The words of an old Demon like Deige held some persuasive power.
In the first place, the Devourer Zebul Glaucus ranks right up in my top three for most atrocious Demon Lords I've met. Her magic, and skills, and direction made her an absolute warrior, where normal Demons would fail to even reach her feet. She's a 『Gula』 so strong that I can't even laugh off the rumors that she ate up the Heavenly Army in the war with the Heavens ten thousand years ago.
If only I had that much power…
Just as sand accompanies time as it falls down the hourglass, I feel something like mud collecting in the depths of my soul.
The weight of it is making me dizzy.
Since reaching General Class, I have never faced defeat once. This war was the first.
Because of my first failure in a long time, I cannot control my impulses.
"Hmm, but I've heard our Lord annihilated her all too easily, did he not?"
"Ki ki ki, well, all I can say is, as expected of Rank Three. Boss Leigie is… a monster. He led the Devouring Lord by the nose the entire battle. I mean, Boss… didn't even move the whole time."
On Deije's words, that Demon Lord's, and Leigie-sama's fight play back in my head.
Yes, Leigie-sama never even stood up… though he did use some skill I've never seen before to teleport.
Heard, with a knowing face… nodded with sharp, prideful eyes.
"… Hmm, Sloth Skills get stronger the less one chooses to move… a very Leigie-sama-esque decision."
"No, I doubt that man was actually thinking about something like that…"
"Would you be kind enough as to tell me what other skills our Head used, Deije?"
How could it be that Heard manages to preserve his pride?
Just by being here, I can easily feel the vast magic power of Leigie, who should be in his private room a long ways away. This amount of power, and its quality is definitely at a stage impossible to reach by a Demon. For the General Class me… if I compare it to Deije and Heard who should be stronger than me, the difference is probably not something as small as ten or twenty fold.
"Ki ki ki, even I don't know all the specifics. I mean, even Libell got eaten up…"
"… So Libell the Pursuer was eaten… I had my eyes on him, but… Hmm."
Heard closed his eyes, as if to say, 'how useless'.
He isn't one to grieve over death. Looking at those eyes, that expression, and that posture, Deije's face doesn't change.
Even if Lize's expression gets clouded over, the face of Deije, who lost his sworn friend Libell Aijens, doesn't change.
This must be the strength of Deije, one who even survived the war with the Heavens.
… Of his strength, I can't help but be jealous.
Deije says Heard Lauder is a dreadful Demon. I wonder if he's looking at something invisible to my eyes.
Among us, I am the youngest Demon. Generally, the older Demons get, the more intense their cravings, and their strength. It's said that Deije experienced the Heavenly War ten thousand years ago, and Heard Lauder is said to be an ancient Demon who was the first to ever follow Leigie-sama's lead.
For me, who was just born a few thousand years ago, it's not a gap in time I can make up for.
… And of that, I can't help but be jealous.
I strongly grasp my shaking arm.
Without responding to Heard's words, Deije returned Celeste to its scabbard, and inserted it into his treasury space. High level Demon Blades are alive. Trivial scratches and cracks will be autonomously regenerated.
"What I saw was… a Skill to increase gravity, an instantaneous movement Skill… also an unidentified one he used to send Zebul flying."
"… Hmm… he held back quite a bit then."
On Deije's words, Heard knit his brows, and took a deep breath. That was a sort of emotion that would originally never appear on a Pride Demon's face.
He sticks his elbow into the table, and touches his hand to his chin as if lost in a sea of thought. His form, even seen from afar, was so well built that it could be made into a painting as is.
Skillfully folding his six arms, Deije asks with a tone full of doubt.
"Holding back…?"
"… Hm. The Leigie-sama I know's power is not of such small caliber. In the first place, he didn't even use his renowned『Slaughter Dolls』, did he not?"
"Ki ki ki, that's correct. But even if it's Boss, I doubt a Doll'd do the trick. In actuality, the Doll he gave me was ripped apart and eaten."
"… Deije, don't lump that Doll he gave you with the rest. Leigie-sama's original Slaughter Doll is… supreme."
Heard laughs. At Deije. At Lize. At me.
It's probably a fact that only he knows of, having served Leigie-sama for much more time than me.
And Heard spoke up.
"… Even more so than the individual."
"Hah… Having a Doll be stronger than the man himself is impossible, right?"
"… Hm. For a normal Demon, that is."
The Slaughter Doll Skill is one possessed by Demon Lords of Sloth, so there is barely any precident.
But even so, to be able to make an entity with powers surpassing a Demon Lord at will is outside the scope of common sense.
Lize's face looked as if the word 'Lies' had been written on it as she looked at Heard with shock.
Heard Lauder was an honest man. At the very least, while he was prideful, his power was real. He relied not just on skills, but on wisdom, and he definitely possessed true charisma. Otherwise, there was no way he would be able to lead the First Brigade which boasts the largest numbers.
"Ki ki ki, if that's true then it sure is amazing. I'd like another by all means. But, well, even if that's the case… this time's opponent was a Demon Lord on a level where she could even wound Boss, you know? I think it would be a bit much for a Doll without any Original Sin skills."
On those words, Heard opened his eyes wide.
He leans his body forward, and glares at Deije with strong eyes. It was a manifestation of emotion great enough to shake one's soul.
"… That can't be… Leigie-sama was injured… you say!?"
"… Yeah. Well, it was only a little bit of blood, and he healed himself up fast enough."
"… That's enough… I see, so she could injure Leigie the Depraved. Zebul the Devourer… Hm, I see…"
"Was it truly that strange? No matter how strong a Demon Lord he may be, as long as the opponent's one as well, he'll get at least a scratch or two… I mean, soon after he brought me there, he started crying."
On Lize's inquiry, Heard sighed as he leaned back in his chair, before returning to his previous position. As if he was thinking deeply, his attention wandered around the air.
"… Hm, that is a natural occurrence. But still, for one to be able to give Leigie of Sloth even the slightest scratch… it's been two thousand years."
"Two thousand… so two thousand years ago, there was someone who could do it?"
"Yeah… it was even someone you know quite well. But… that doesn't matter."
As if to declare the end of the conversation, Heard stood up.
The oppressing air emanating from his body… Superbia magic started to condense all at once.
His cold eyes lorded over me and Deije. World-eroding powers great enough to freeze over my body.
On the change in the atmosphere, Lize frowned, and after an obvious and blunt scowl, she stood as well. If this had been the moment after her dispatch, she definitely would have gone into a rage. She's learned how to manage her anger as of late, and she rarely burns up rooms these days.
"Wai…"
"… Hm. There was no problem with the final result, but I'll have you pay compensation for your shameful displays. The verdict will come down soon enough. Have fun waiting for it."
"Ki ki ki, please be gentle with me."
"… Hm."
With a loud sound, he shuts the door behind him.
The air returns to normal, and Lize spoke in indignation. A crimson phosphorescence flickers around her red hair.
"Wha, that man… no matter the case, to treat allied troops like that…"
"Ki ki ki, Lize, you sure are young. A prideful commander is pretty much always like that. Rather, the fact that we weren't executed on the spot… means that we've still got a bit of luck left in us."
Deije laughs as he stands.
He's a Demon who's lived a far longer life than me, and his words held a weight backed by experience.
His six eyes watch over me. The emotion held within them was something I was unable to understand.
"Medea, I am… going to withdraw from this army."
In a sense, his words were as I had expected.
Despite his form, Deije's a rational Demon. His cravings, his desire, by the very nature that they're aimed at objects apart from humans, he's much more trustworthy than many other Demons.
Perhaps Lize didn't anticipate it, because as she heard those words, she rose out of her seat once more.
"Wha… Are you serious, Deije?"
"Yeah… if I stay here, Supreme Commander Heard will dispose of me at this rate. Leigie of Sloth's right hand man, prideful and conceited… Ki ki ki, how troublesome."
"How foolish… do you think that Supreme Commander would permit such a thing?"
"Probably. I mean, my Sin is… not something I have to be here of all places to fulfill. I'm not sure about Girly and Heard, though."
An instant decision. Good discernment.
Deije's words were straight to the point. An Avaratia's cravings are something that can be fulfilled no matter what banner they fight under. With Deije's caliber, no matter what Demon Lord he worked under, he would receive a favorable evaluation. He even has a Demon Blade that Zebul praised as dreadful.
The later part was also quite direct.
My desire is…『Invidia』 can only be fulfilled as long as I'm here.
As if my brain was wounded, my head started to hurt.
Deije knows when to pull out. That's exactly why he survived the war with the Heavens. His body that had been trained like steel, his rationality, thought pattern, desire. Ah, all of it… how enviable.
In the ki ki ki I was used to, he laughed.
And he let out some words I had never thought of.
"Ki ki ki, I'll ask you as one who survived the Zebul War alongside me. Just in case. Girly, do you want to leave with me?"
"What… that is…"
"There isn't just one page in the book of desire. Ki ki ki, girly, you're young. Rather than being dealt with by Supreme Commander Heard, you should be able to lead a decent life…"
Lize looks over me and Deije in a panic. Disagreement and discord in a Demon Lord's army fall under her type's jurisdiction. I wonder if the Great Demon King's Wrath will befall her. Even if it isn't her fault individually, it's not like a monster's Wrath has direction. No she may be scarier than any monster.
"… Let me persuade Heard Lauder. I cannot let the Great Demon Lord's forces be diminished."
"Ki ki ki, I'm grateful for the sentiment, but some things are just impossible. Heard is… stronger than your Wrath. I mean, back when I was just an average run-of-the-mill Demon… he's a Demon who's lived since ancient times. The longer a Superbia lives, the more powerful their『Overrule』 gets."
"My orders are the orders of the Great Demon King, and my words are hers. Even so, will he fail to listen?"
"How should I know?"
Deije resigns.
"… But… I have a bad premonition about it. Ki ki ki, it's best if you don't think of him as a normal Demon. This is… some advice from your elder."
I'm honestly thankful for his advice.
His words are probably true. If I am to stay here, then in the near future, I will be taken care of by Supreme Commander Heard.
But, still, even so… I have a reason I must remain. No, I should have one.
I resolve my heart, and look at Deije clearly. While it may have been for a short time, he's a soldier who was able to properly exchange blows with Zebul.
"… Thank you. But my desire… can only be fulfilled here."
"… Ki ki ki, I thought you'd say that. Well, do your best. As a former Supreme Commander, for argument's sake, I'm praying for your survival, girly."
As if to offer a handshake, Deije presented his right center hand.
It was rugged, and wrapped in muscle. I don't know just how much power he has. But from it, I can feel the accumulation of many years.
Of that, I'm jealous. Of the building of time.
If you compare a Demon's character to the passing of years, it doesn't change all too much, however this man's personality is much more likeable than Heard's.
Finally, as if he had suddenly remembered something, Deije asks…
"Girly… come to mention it, there was something I wanted to ask. Do you know of a Demon Lord of『Luxuria』?"
"… Yes. I've met one before."
Since the 『Luxuria』 Demon Lord was destroyed, it's been over a thousand years.
But just from meeting her once, the intense Envy I felt for that Lord, makes me remember the scene as if it had happened just yesterday.
Deije lets out a sigh unfitting of himself.
"… As I thought, you lack sex appeal. There's no way I can steal you away… is it? Well, I'm thankful for that good fortune."
"…"
"Next time, treat me to something nice."
With those words, I was sure of it.
Ah, this man… he realized it. That I wasn't a『Luxuria』, but an『Invidia』.
Perhaps it was natural for him to notice. Because before his eyes, I envied Celeste.
But I didn't let out my words. I'll bet he thought that our interests wouldn't clash, but at the same time, perhaps this Demon of Greed was showing some kindness.
No, perhaps it was me that wanted it that way.
And just as Deije said, I envied him.
I became him.
"Ki ki ki, Leigie of Sloth and Depravity… he sure was an interesting Demon Lord. And a terrifying one… I can't even feel any ambition towards him. Well, next we meet, I'll pray we'll be allies."
Yeah, exactly. I pray we never cross again.
I looked straight at Deije.
"… Right, let's meet again, 『Avaritia』."
"Ki ki ki, seeya, 『Luxuria』."