Volume 6 Chapter 1 (2/2)
The three of us together, we came to nearby bar where tables and chairs were laid outside, ready to hold meetings and celebrations.
And there, we found R'lyeh Diva and the Ocean Singers drinking merrily.
They had bravely ordered a cask full of alcohol and pretty much the entire menu. Enjoying their drinks and food, they were making quite an uproar. It seemed like they were the rowdy sort, with the sound of their laughter resounding in the air.
”Ah, Patron! Come! Kuina and Fel, come over here too. We've ordered a lot of delicious food, see!”
R'lyeh Diva noticed us and heartily called out to us.
When I looked at Kuina and Fel, their eyes were already on the delicious-looking food and their mouths watering.
Like that, we accepted the invitation.
”Then, I guess we'll partake.”
”It looks so delicious”
”I know, right?”
While swinging their tail energetically, Kuina and Fel rushed onto the table.
The Ocean Singers, looking and acting like they were the older sisters, pampered the two and offered them food after food. Both parties, the ones being fed and the ones offering the food, were in great delight.
Considering that Kuina had grown, it might have been weird to see the Ocean Singers treating her like so but to them, she would always be that little Kuina.
”Patron, here, drink, drink”
I, in a table slightly separated from the group, was sitting opposite of R'lyeh Diva.
”Yeah, thanks.”
The alcohol offered in this shop was wine made from grapes.
Before, these were outrageously expensive and hard to get but after the air transport via the Hippogriffs, they became cheap and easily obtainable.
Perhaps it was because of the shopkeeper's taste but despite my drink being a young wine, it had a very deep flavor. It was good wine.
”I really wondered if I was going to die this time. Patron, you ask for too much.”
”Sorry about that. I've depended too much on you and I'm reflecting on that. Some of the things I'm thinking about is increasing our fighting force on the other dimension. No matter what though, I won't let you be in such an unreasonable situation again.”
”Oh, that's what I was going to request so I have no issues.”
I smiled wryly at that.
We then drank our drinks together and having finished it, we poured another.
”Say, Patron.”
”What is it, R'lyeh Diva?”
”Make my name cute and not uncool, okay?”
”Yeah, don't worry about it. I'm quite confident in my naming sense, you know? Kuina, Rorono, and Aura are happy with their names, right?”
”They are but if it's them, so long as it's a name they got from you, patron, they'll be happy. But then again, who am I to blame them? …Ah, no, scratch that, I'm not being myself. This is not my character!”
She said so while swinging her head and her blue hair in denial.
Such a reaction was unusual for her.
Like so, we chatted idly.
When I noticed it, even the Wight and Dwarf Smith couple and Kohaku the Byakko had joined the drinking party.
Hey, wait a minute! Did Wight just say they've made a child together!? A child? They made one? I know it's not impossible and depends on the compatibility between races but still, the dragon race truly are impressive.
”Geez, are you that bored talking with me that you keep on looking away?”
”It's not that. Here, let's drink some more”
For a moment, I thought I saw R'lyeh Diva look upset but maybe it was just the effects of the alcohol.
When Wight says something like that, it's only natural for that to grab one's attention, right?
I argued so in my head but in my experience, such a reply would only make her unnecessarily angry. And so, I just obediently apologized and complied.
After that, R'lyeh Diva livened up and then put on a serious face.
”Say, patron, you know, before, I thought you were weird in a lot of ways. But now, I think I'm quite fortunate to have you as my patron. If ever I was created by a different Demon Lord, I think I probably won't be able to smile, laugh, and even drink like this with everyone.”
R'lyeh Diva said so as she tenderly looked at the Ocean Singers as well as Kuina and Fel.
”Really?”
”Really. So, to thank you for that, I'll be singing a special song dedicated to only you, my patron.”
After saying so, she stood up and began singing.
It was a gentle, calming song.
The fatigue I felt from the previous fight seemed to have vanished. It was as though the sea had drowned my stress.
I had heard her sing before but her songs usually were more upbeat, more energizing.
After hearing this song, I was sure that this was the song of the true and without-pretense R'lyeh Diva.
Everyone kept silent and listened to her song. There were no noise, no distractions, only the sound of her song.
It was so moving, so powerful that it gave such an impression.
And then, after a while, the song ended. Right when it did though, it was replaced by the thunderous sound of applause.
”How is it? My song, I mean.”
”It was the best. I'd like to hear it again.”
”If you say it like that, there's no helping it then, right? I'll sing it to you again. While we're in bed.”
”Hey!”
In reaction to R'lyeh Diva's joke, the surroundings went into an uproar.
Kuina and Fel in particular made their face swell and marched toward us. I tried to pacify the two and even handed Kuina some wine, saying that it was alright considering she was an adult now.
I enjoyed the drinking party for a little while more and then headed back home.
◇
I was doing some left over work in my room when I heard a knock on the door.
So, the time has finally come.
”I'm coming in. Master, I'm here for my reward.”
The one that came was the thin-nightdress-wearing Fel.
I felt dizzy. As though I had just spent a long time in a hot spring.
There's no escaping now.
”Glad you came, Fel. I'm going to reward you plenty.”
While swinging her tail, Fel leapt into my chest.
I prepared myself to give her her reward and then smiled and extended my hand toward her.