Early in the morning, after my guard shift was over, I heard that Nefia had an immediate request.
Although she didn't teach me the job, I saw her practicing serving customers in the mirror, so I knew she was planning to work as a waitress.
When I saw her saying "Welcome" or practicing her smile in the mirror, my heart fluttered because she was so cute. I got caught for making a scene and got beaten up, but it felt good.
I was happy that Nefia was facing her new self, so I didn't mind the pain, and I was happy that the caged sheltered girl was okay. I think she was even more dead inside.
After dropping Nefia off at work, I decided to go to a place I knew.
The location was a bar in the courtyard of the Black Knight, which was located across the Adventurer's Guild from the main street. It was a large bar where many people, including adventurers, sat and hung out. I entered the bar and called out to the owner at the counter.
"What's up, kid?"
"I came to see you."
"Oh, I see. Well, you may come in."
"Thank you."
Enter the counter and open the back door. The smell of cigars filled the hallway, and there was a door and a guard sitting in the darkness. He was guarding this place from suspicious people. I called out to the guard and he let me in. When I entered, I found myself in a study, and a man wearing a robe stood facing the window.
"Who is it?"
"Long time no see, Captain Black Knight."
"That voice..."
The man known as Captain Black Knight turned around. The upper part of his face was covered with a mask, making it difficult to see his expression, but he was clearly surprised. He kept his name a secret, and was a wizard who had lived for hundreds of years, with his office in a strange location.
"Commander! Don't forget about me!"
"There is no way such a fool could forget. She is the one who declared that she stopped being a witch. There's no way he can forget."
"Ah, it brings back memories."
"It brings back memories. How is your duty as a hero?"
"I surrendered."
"Is the Demon Realm really that hard?.... Alright, let's eat. You have a lot to talk about, so tell me."
"Yes, yes, information."
"That's right, information about the Demon Kingdom is important. Very important."
I felt a little relieved that the leader hadn't changed since long ago. He was the one who united the Black Knights, and his magic power was enough to defeat the entire order.
He was also said to be the demon who made the contract with the Kingdom, and had achieved many great things. I was taken by the leader to a famous shop on the main street.
This restaurant is popular because only beautiful female waitresses work there, and some of them are even married to nobles, so the owner often finds them. As for why I chose this place, it was because the restaurant supported the Knights, so it was on the grounds of business cooperation. After greeting the manager, I sat down without permission. It's before lunchtime, so there aren't many customers yet.
"Tokiya. How was your trip to the Demon Country?"
The leader rested his elbows on the table and spoke with a smile on his masked face.
"I thought they were no different from humans. Well, I guess it's a world where power is everything. It was quite muddy, not unlike inside the Empire."
I moved the ashtray in front of the leader and placed a small wooden box next to it. This was a souvenir.
"Oh, this."
"Wonderland cigars. Please."
"Let's take it."
He took a cigar from the wooden box. He tore off the tip and lit it with fire magic. He smoked it and let out a satisfied "Ohhh."
"Hmm... that's good."
"That's good."
Water was served while the leader puffed on his cigar.
"What would you like to order...?"
"yeah?"
My eyes met with the store clerk. She was a beautiful store clerk. The beautiful girl with golden hair and sharp eyes blushed. It seems she worked here.
"Hey, you!! Hey!! Why are you here!!"
The beautiful girl, Nefia, pointed and shouted. The leader looked at her face, then turned to face her and began speaking while covering her mouth.
"Do you know him?"
"Ah, yeah. A fellow adventurer."
"For you? Strange thing. Here are two of these."
He points to the recipes written on the paper. The former demon lord, Nefia, takes notes. She seems to have gotten used to her female body so quickly, learning the job so easily. She shows just how smart she is.
"Y-Yes!! Understood!! Servant!! Stop grinning, it's creepy!!"
It was only when I was pointed out that I realized I was grinning. Even though I tried to hold it in, my cheeks couldn't help but relax. I had to be nervous.
I'm happy to see Nefia serving. She's cute after all. I think she's cute, even though she may have a weakness for being in love with someone. Also, I like how she seems to know what society thinks.
"It suits you and you look good in it."
I couldn't help but praise him. The Black Knights are a group that pledges loyalty to the Empire. They have no mercy on enemies or traitors. Even if they were ex-Kings, the Demon King would try to kill them if he found out. Still, I couldn't help but grin.
"Shut up, you idiot."
"Hahahaha! You guys get along well! Hehehe. Are you really fellow adventurers?"
The leader, who I didn't know, put his hand on his stomach and started laughing. I thought it was kind of pathetic.
"It's rare to see you in such a difficult situation! Interesting! I thought you had no interest in women."
"Oh, yeah."
It's not that I don't have feelings. I'm just single-minded.
"Young lady! This is a tip. Think of it as my appreciation for your kind treatment. You are like a princess, having problems with women. Just as the fortune teller said that you would have problems with women."
"Commander, I don't think that's the case."
I just wanted Nefia to leave immediately. I felt satisfied, but after I calmed down and thought about it, it was too dangerous. I really thought that she was having problems with women at the moment.
"Got it! Remember that, baby."
"Okay, see you later."
"Hmph!"
As he left, I patted my chest. That was close.
"Hmm... You didn't even see the princess. Are you obsessed with her? That's interesting. I thought you were gay. "
In a way, she wasn't wrong. He was originally a man. He was good enough to be a male prostitute. But thanks to that, he soon realized that women were what he was looking for.
"Well, I'm not interested in anything else. Besides, Commander, isn't that girl pretty?"
"She's pretty but she has a bad personality."
"Well... that's included. I intend to protect you at all costs."
"Then do your best. You kicked the Black Knight out, you're pathetic."
"Those are harsh words."
But I was really relieved. The Commander didn't know the former Demon King. And I had completely betrayed the Black Knights. Since I had betrayed them, I appeared. I would just wait and see.
"Commander, have you ever met the Demon King?"
"No, I've never seen him."
"The Demon King is a handsome young blond swordsman."
I wasn't lying. I wasn't wrong. But I will explain that the Demon King is a man.
"That's good information. He must be stronger than you. Is his magic still sealed?"
"No, I'll give up my magic. I'll live as a normal adventurer."
"So, are you really giving up?"
"Ah."
After this, I gave information about the Demon Kingdom. I can't let anyone notice me now. I need to rest. For Nefia's sake.
*
After eating, I parted ways with the leader and waited for Nefia to finish working in the shop. Once she was done, I called out to her.
"Good job."
"You kept looking at me for a long time. It makes it hard for me to work! Why did you come here? There are other shops out there!"
"This is luck. My luck."
"I'm in the worst shape. Of all people, I didn't expect you to see it... damn it."
Nefia's shoulders slumped as she let out a long breath.
"Well, don't be discouraged. I think you really are a Demon King. The speed with which you adapt to different bodies. The skill to complete your work smoothly. I'm surprised that I can say that you really are a Demon King."
He gestured with his hands together in an exaggerated surprised manner. He said the same thing twice.
"Hehehe, I am great after all."
She quickly recovered from her bad mood. I thought to myself, "Maybe she hasn't been praised much," but I think I was right. She's not used to being praised.
"Great Demon King. I'm sure you're tired after work. There's someone who wants to meet you, so could you come with me?"
"Hmm? Who's that?"
"fortune teller"
"A fortune teller? Fortune telling? Why?"
"Well, you'll understand when you meet him. He's the one who ruined my life."
"Did it make you crazy?"
"Well, the time to talk will come eventually... I hope. So, what should we do?"
"Well, I wouldn't mind meeting you. I'm generous."
She puffs out her chest and folds her arms. She leans back in her smugness, but that's just cute.
"Thank you very much. I will show you around."
I was the one who invited her, but... I was a little worried that Nefia would easily follow someone else. After saying my goodbyes to the manager and leaving the store, I walked with Nefia to the fortune teller's shop. I checked several times to make sure there was no one around, and then we started talking.
"Nefia, I'm being serious. The person with me today is the Commander of the Imperial Black Knights."
"!?"
Nefia's face was shocked. She must know about the Black Knights of the Empire. As expected of a notorious order of knights.
"Um, are you that knight who kills his allies?"
"Traitors. We will hunt down anyone who undermines the national interest or subverts the state. Even if you were an ally yesterday, we will do anything for the good of the empire."
"Why are you talking in such a friendly manner with such a person?"
"He's a former knight of the Black Knights. We know each other."
However, they were just strangely friendly with each other. Well, they were also direct and received requests from individuals, so they stood out.
"Are you strong?"
"I'm weak. I believe that, and that's why I train. But I'm confident."
"...Hmm."
And then I arrived in front of the fortune teller's shop. The sign of the shop said "General Goods" and "Magic Bookstore". It wasn't a particularly unusual store. Even ordinary people would come to buy general goods, but the magic books are not needed by anyone other than those with magical powers, so sales should not be good.
Also, it's a back alley, and in front of it there's a much larger bookstore that sells more than just magic books. So, although it doesn't look like the store is making a profit from selling its goods, it has been here for a long time.
I opened the door and went in. A bell rang throughout the store, indicating that a customer had arrived, and called out to the owner.
"Oh my, a customer?"
"Grandma. It's been a while."
A bent-over old woman in a green robe and carrying a cane appears from the back room. The face inside the robe is that of a wrinkled old lady, and she calls my name with a smile.
"Oh, it's Tokiya. Did you find him?"
I nod and introduce her.
"Thank you for that medicine. I found it, so let me introduce it to you. He was the former Demon Lord Nefarius. Now he goes by the alias Nefia."
"Okay. Okay. I'll make some tea."
"No, I'm just saying hello. Her name is Nefia, she's a fortune teller. She doesn't have a name."
I pushed her back with my hand, making Nefia come forward.
"H-hello."
"Hello. Then, may I see it now?"
"Wh-what are you showing me?!"
I pointed to the back room, which was covered by a purple curtain so I couldn't see inside.
"Fortune telling is my profession. I promised her that if I found her, I would tell her fortune."
I pushed Nefia's back gently. I then looked through the books, picked up one, and sat on the chair by the window to kill time until my fortune telling was ready.
*
"Come, Princess."
The hero led her to a shop where a fortune teller went inside a mysterious curtain. The hero sat on a chair, picked up a book and started reading.
"...Excuse me."
I followed the fortune teller and slipped behind the curtain. Inside was a small hexagonal tent-shaped room with a crystal ball in the center. There were two chairs and a magic lantern hanging from the ceiling to illuminate the room. I sat on one of the chairs and looked into the crystal, and my face changed.
"Nothing has appeared, young lady."
"Uh, yes. I see."
I felt a little embarrassed.
"Then, let me tell your fortune."
The fortune teller placed her hand on the crystal and let the magic flow through it. The crystal changed color to the colors of the rainbow, but nothing else happened.
"I see it. Then... let us tell you a story."
"A story?"
"Yes, the Demon King Nefarius has disappeared."
"Wh-what?! I'm here!"
She spoke loudly.
"Please be quiet and listen."
However, the fortune teller stopped her from saying anything further. Her eyes seemed to glitter, and I was a little intimidated. She didn't know what it was, but her intuition told her that she was something deep and powerful. Her mind understood that she was a monster, a dangerous person.
"I-I understand. Don't glare at me."
"Alright kid, let's talk."
The astrologer caressed the crystal lovingly.
"Demon King Nefarius is destined to die. His fate is determined by various choices, like a branching tree. However, one cannot choose all of them. It is also determined by the person."
"Um, yes. Then I..."
"He would have been dead. Not far off if he hadn't shown up."
"...I see."
"What he did was to save you by reincarnation. Now, even though you are a small demon king, you are protected by the large tree that you are close to."
"A big tree?"
"It's him. He's your sword and shield, like a tool that will never betray you. You can use him with peace of mind. He'll do anything for you."
"That's right!! That's the question!! Why is he serving me so much!! Why, when he's only just met me!!"
The fortune teller stood up from his chair and smiled a little before continuing.
"I believe that one day I will be able to speak from my heart. Until that day comes, please believe in me. If you don't believe me, how about I sell you some poison? We have everything you need. Kukukukukekekeke."
The fortune teller gave a hateful smile.
"No need. I have to rely on him. So I have to ask him after all..."
"Yes, yes. I won't make him regret it."
"Hey, fortune teller. Can you predict the future?"
"No, even if you can see it, it will never come to pass. In fact, your being here is an unexpected result, and there will surely be more unexpected results in the future. That's why it's fun. I hope you enjoy it too, Nefia. A new world... a world that will one day end."
The suggestive way he speaks it sends chills down my spine.
"He said the same thing. Have fun... I won't run away from the position of Demon King. Let's have a little fun."
Then I talked about trivial matters, trying not to antagonize him.
*
The moment I left the fortune-telling room, the hero stood up and spoke to me.
"Done?"
"Yeah, I've heard a lot about it. Some fun places too..."
"Here, I'll give you this. Here's your purchase."
The hero handed me the book, so I accepted it. I realized it was a fire spell book, and the contents of the book came into my eyes.
"I wanted to say 'Thank you for your purchase', but it's so much fun, so I'll give it away for free. Well, after all, everything will be lost~ to ke"
The fortune teller took the book from my hand with a satisfied smile. She attached a handle so that the book could be carried easily. It seemed like the book could be used as a magic tool.
"Is that okay?"
"It's fine. It's boring if you can see the future. This is an interesting unexpected result, so it's a gift. You should be able to handle it well now, okay?"
The fortune teller passed the book to me and I accepted it.
"The result of a prophecy?"
"No, it's not. This is just a premonition, Nefia-chan. If you're too strong, you'll get hurt."
I opened the book and skimmed through it. Things that I couldn't understand before, I could now read. After thanking her, I left the store with the hero.