Volume 6 Chapter 6 (1/2)

The day for the feast finally came.

Though I had been referring to it as a feast, it was by no means an ordinary dining party. With all of the Demon Lords that aided in the mission to rescue Marcho—namely [Dragon] Demon Lord Astaroth, [TIme] Demon Lord Dantalian, and [Wind] Demon Lord Stolas—coming to attend, it was an assembly of very important Demon Lords.

Furthermore, it was also the day where I was going to part with Felsias and Rozelitte. So, although I was excited for the arrival of this day, I also dreaded it.

At any rate, I was currently outside of my residence.

”Master, will you be sad when I'm gone?”

Fel pulled on my sleeve and asked me so.

Upon hearing her question, I didn't need to think twice. So, I squatted down, looked her in the eye, and told her my answer.

”Of course, I'll be lonely. I've grown to love you, after all.”

She was undoubtedly capable. Not only that, she had grown very close with me, Kuina, and the others too.

”I'm so glad that master likes me. But then, if you really do like me, then why… oh, never mind.”

She began saying something but then stopped midway.

My guess was that she wanted me to make her stay, or at least try. However, I would not do that; much like myself if I ever were parted from Kuina and the others, the [Time] Demon Lord would definitely also be lonely without Fel. In fact, if I were in the situation where the other Demon Lord refuses to return my monster, I don't doubt that I would kill that Demon Lord.

…but then again, I would also kill if something like what I did to Fel was done to my girls. I really have to apologize sincerely.

”I've thought of doing that but in consideration for your happiness, I've decided against it.”

Without holding back, I patted the teary eyed Fel.

”Ohh, I love you too, master!”

With a certain sparkle in her eyes, Fel smiled and said so.

I'm glad she's so honest.

”Oh my, how about me?”

The angel-type monster Rozelitte teasingly asked so.

”I'm very grateful to you too for your service on the last campaign, of course.”

Working in the background, she supported us greatly. Without her powers, that campaign would have most likely been much harder.

”I'm afraid your words wouldn't be enough though. I want a reward. The [Time] Demon Lord's monster has gotten various rewards already so isn't it only proper that I too receive a special reward?”

”Name it. So long as I can grant it, it shall be done.”

I was sure that it was only my imagination but for a moment, I thought that Rozelitte put emphasis on various rewards.

At any rate, it was as she said. While she did receive the rewards given to all the other monsters—like money to buy things in the city and such—beyond that, she hasn't received any.

Considering that she was sent here from [Wind] Demon Lord Stolas's side, some kind of special reward was a given.

Upon hearing me, Rozelitte drew close and whispered something in my ear.

”I want you to kiss Stolas-sama. That will be more than enough.”

Fel, who was still nearby, leaned in to eavesdrop but it didn't seem like she heard anything.

”Wouldn't that make her angry?”

”Most probably.”

”Hey.”

Does she enjoy purposefully making her master angry?

”But that'll be just to hide her embarrassment. She might act like she's angry but I'm sure she'll be glad that you did something like that. She's that kind of girl, after all. So for that reason, please do this. Or is it that the [Creation] Demon Lord is the kind of Demon Lord that breaks his word?”

”I said as long as I can grant it.”

”Yeah, but my, around you, that girl always lets her guard down. So I'm sure you can do it. Anyway, I'll take my leave here; I still have to buy everyone back home their souvenirs. This city's got a lot of wonderful things that it's so hard to choose which to get.”

Rozelitte then flapped her wings and left. But not before reminding me to keep to our agreement.

What a headache.

Rozelitte probably thought of Stolas as her younger sister. Even then though, she was too caring.

”Master, are you in trouble?”

”Just a bit.”

”I might be able to do something!”

Fel proudly said so. In reaction to that, I smiled wryly and then patted her on the head.

”It's alright; I'll manage somehow. More importantly, Fel, don't you have some preparations to do? You have to look as cute as you could.”

”Okay! Look forward to seeing an even cuter Fel!”

After saying so, Fel went into my residence.

At the moment, my [Monsters of the Covenant] and Marcho were busy prettying themselves up with make-up and with the clothes of the city's best designers.

Such a thing was also provided by the Curtrude Company—the one led by Conanna. It might have been trivial but it showed their attention to detail.

It wasn't often that the girls dressed up so as a father, I looked forward to seeing what they would look like all dolled up.

Also, to not waste the chance, it was decided that Fel and Rozelitte be also included in the service. As for why they were outside, Rozelitte had finished ahead of the others so she went out already whereas Fel simply got bored and decided to slip out.

”Are they here?”

When I looked up in the sky, I saw a dragon that was gigantic even though it was still far. On its back was a single person.

Okay, let's go meet them.

With such thoughts, I headed toward the city's gate.

◇

As soon as I arrived at the gate, a gigantic, white-bodied dragon clad with a golden, divine aura landed.

It had an appearance of a dragon from the west but even then, the power it held was enormous.

I wouldn't have been surprised if it was truly the strongest dragon. Such was probably the [Dragon] Demon Lord's trump card.

It was unbelievable that such a dragon was used for just transportation.

”[Creation] Demon Lord, you're here. Ohh, it doesn't seem you were faking it; it looks like you're really the man I thought you to be.”

I heard such things followed by loud laughter, kakaka.

When I looked up, I saw [Dragon] Demon Lord Astoroth looking down on me from the top of the dragon.

His appearance was that of an aged man with a sturdy body. Though he looked like it, he didn't feel old at all. He exuded such presence and drive that I couldn't possibly match.

My body was telling me to kneel and although I resisted, it was just barely.

”Welcome. We have prepared a reception for you so please follow me this way.”

”Hmm… wait. Another person is coming. It would be a waste of effort for you to do your welcome all over again so let's just wait for a while.”

Astaroth then turned around. When I looked at that direction, I saw that space was being distorted. What then greeted my eyes were three individuals.

The first one was a handsome, graceful, aristocratic young man. It was the [Time] Demon Lord Dantalian. He was dressed in even better clothes than when I saw him last.

The second one was a monster. It was a Qilin that had flames for its mane. It was the commanding officer of [Time] Demon Lord's boasted elite shock troops, the [Chronos Knights]. I had met this nightmarish monster before when the [Time] Demon Lord wanted to test me in a game he devisedLN Volume 2. In that game, this monster had managed to pressure Aura. Aura somehow pulled a win in the end but then again, that monster didn't use its powers over [Time]. Even now, I was only 50% sure my Monsters of the Covenant could win against such a fiend.

The third was another monster but it appeared like an old man whose back was bent forward. It was my first time to encounter this monster but I knew then and there that this one was an incredibly strong monster. Perhaps it could even rival Teflare, the flame-maned Qilin. I was even confident to bet that this monster was one of [Time] Demon Lord's [Monsters of the Covenant].

”Ohh. It's rare for the always-perfectly-on-time Dan to arrive way earlier than the appointed time. Could there be something you're worried of?”