Volume 4 Chapter 7 (1/2)
It has been a while since I last came to Marcho's dungeon.
I arrived here using the transfer array I had set up with her permission.
The only ones I brought along were my three [Monsters of the Covenant] and the crow monster that could use [Transfer].
It hasn't even been a year since I was last here but I felt nostalgic.
I contemplated on whether to bring Wight as well since he also lived here before. However, since he was my staff officer, he was to be the one in charge of Avalon's administration and defense whenever I'm not there and so, in the end, I decided to make him stay.
Anyway, we met with the Succubus in the residential area and petitioned for an audience with Marcho. However, we were asked to wait for a while. So, instead of idling, we chose to visit the house we used to live in before.
”It hasn't changed, has it?”
”It's exactly as we left it!”
Kuina cheerfully responded to my comment. The house we used to live in looked just like when we left it.
When Marcho inquired about what to do with the furniture, I asked her to keep it so them still being here didn't surprise me. What surprised me though was that it was almost exactly as we left it; almost no dust had accumulated anywhere which was contrary to what I predicted. Somebody must have been cleaning it, I thought. I might just have caught a glimpse of Marcho's thoughtfulness.
Anyway, Kuina and Rorono each went to the private rooms they used before and acted freely.
”I'm a little envious, actually. We moved to Avalon as soon as I was born so I don't have a lot of memories in this place.”
Aura said so as she watched the two.
What she said was true since I made her just before I made Avalon.
”You don't have to be envious. You just have to make a lot of memories in Avalon from now on to make up for it.”
”Yes, master!”
Aura smiled and replied so.
After a while of relaxing about, the Succubus came to us. She was the one in charge of this residential area due in part to her ability to use [Transfer].
”Marchosias-sama is ready to receive you. It seems her previous audience dragged on; I'm sorry for the delay.”
”Don't worry about it. We passed the time in a meaningful manner. More than that, her previous audience?”
The idea of her having a meeting with somebody other than me piqued my interest quite a bit.
”……Ah, please forget about that. I'm going to [Transfer] you now so please gather near me.”
The Succubus only openly changed the subject. She was most probably forbidden to talk about it so I decided to not push the matter any further and did as she advised.
”Yeah, take care of us then.”
”Here, I go. [Transfer].”
Like so, our consciousness faded away.
◇
Upon completion of our Transfer, we surveyed our surroundings and confirmed that it was indeed Marcho's room.
It was lined up with top-grade—but not gaudy—furnishings. And on the eye-catching throne that gave off an intimidating feeling was a white-haired, brown-skinned beautiful girl with a wolf's ears and tail.
She had a grim expression on her face and looked as though she was thinking deeply. However, as soon as she noticed us, she casted that expression off in exchange for a softer one.
Her previous guest must not have been the most agreeable fellow.
”I'm glad you came, Procell. It's been a while.”
”Yes, it has.”
”But it seems that while I wasn't looking, you've grown big, Procell-chan. Your big sister's moved to tears. You're growing up so fast.”
”What am I, a kid!?”
I inadvertently said that out loud.
As I did, she looked at me and smiled.
”Yeah, you are. As far as I'm concerned, you're still a child. You're much too green for a Demon Lord. You may have grown but you still have a long road ahead of you.”
I had nothing to say back to her for I knew myself that, as a Demon Lord, I was still a novice.
”Geez, you really know how to mess with my rhythm. Anyway, let me say my thanks for finding the time for me today. Thank you.”
”It's alright. I wanted to meet with you, anyways. Whenever I hear rumors about you, my heart would always skip a beat. You're being absurd, I thought… But then, for your first actual war, you got yourself into a three versus one. Against enemies who have received three fully grown A rank monsters, no less. I thought my heart was going to give out back then.”
”I also think that I made a blunder there. I was a tad too obstinate back then.”
My chance of winning even against an alliance was rather high so I let myself get caught up in [Steel]'s plans. However, had I wanted to avoid it altogether back then, I would have been perfectly able to; there was nothing stopping me aside from my overconfidence and my obstinacy.
But then again, that was before I knew their alliance had received powerful monsters from their parents. Had I known this fact from the start, not even my obstinacy would have prevented me from avoiding that three on one war at all cost.
The only reason I won that war was because all of my monsters performed much better than I had expected. There was a lot I needed to reflect on in order to not make that kind of mistake again.
”Even though you don't look it, you're quite a bullheaded man, aren't you? I as your parent am beside myself with worry, you know?”
”Yeah, sorry. I've been a bad kid.”
”Tell me about it.”
Macho and I looked at each other and smiled.
”Can we get to the main topic now?”
”Hmm, before that, I have noticed your greatest flaw, Procell.”
”My flaw?”
”Yes, and as a Demon Lord, it's a fatal one.”
The shock given by those words was too much. Naturally, I recognized the flaw that I was still much too green but one that could be said to be fatal? I had not noticed such.
”Tell it to me please.”
”Yeah, okay. I'll say it plainly: you, as a Demon Lord, lack majesty!”
She pointed a finger at me and then declared so.
To which I unintentionally and also impolitely replied Haa!?
”Ah, what a weird face you have. Listen, this is important. Majesty, reverence, or any such dreadful aura is necessary to a Demon Lord. If you don't have any, you will be made light of by the humans and by your subordinate monsters. For that reason, practice drawing out your Demon Lord aura here and now. If you make use of this throne, even you will be able to bring it out. So, go ahead and sit.”
She stood from her throne and told me to sit there. And so, I sat on it. Her throne, through its appearance, did make me feel a little bit stronger.
”Give me a bit more villainous smile.”
”Li-like this?”
”More, give me more confidence! …Yes, yes, I'm feeling it a little. Now, alright, let's make use of those girls. Celestial Fox, Elder Dwarf, you two try standing beside your master and leaning on him.”
Kuina and Rorono both wore strange expressions on their face. After a short while, Kuina spoke.
”Kuina is Oto-san's monster and will not listen to anyone's command besides Oto-san's.”
Rorono nodded in agreement.
Geez, these girls really are reliable.
”Oh, yeah, okay. This is a necessary lesson for you as a Demon Lord so, Procell, if you please.”
”Alright. Let's just try this out once, okay?”
Although I was doubtful myself, I commanded the two to come closer.
”Hmm, act more spoiled? Ah, Celestial Fox, act sexier. Yes, yes.”
Marcho directed the two on which pose to take until, finally, she nodded in satisfaction.
”How is it, Marcho? Do we look intimidating now?”
I asked so but no answer immediately came.