Volume 6 Chapter 7 (1/2)
Upon seeing the dolled-up Marcho and Fel, the [Time] Demon Lord was dumbstruck and I couldn't blame him.
The dresses provided by the Curtrude Company was a work of art made by a designer famous even abroad. This woman, despite achieving her firm status, had felt herself being stuck in a rut. To overcome such a rut, she had set her eyes on Avalon—where excellent things had gathered from all over—and immigrated here.
I had spoken to her just once before but I was already able to tell that she was determined to improve and yet still very sociable.
From among the dresses she had completed, she chose the ones that best suited the girls and reworked them to suit the girls further. Upon knowing that such beautiful girls were going to wear her dresses, she was ecstatic. So much so that she finished the dresses in such a short amount of time.
To draw out Marcho’s bewitching appeal, hers was a stylish white dress that clung to her bodyline. It also had a large slit at the back. The contrasting of her brown skin and her white dress was breathtakingly beautiful.
As for Fel, to bring out her cuteness, the dress designed for her was a fluffy black dress. The ribbon she wore was a nice accent.
“Father, oh how I wanted to see you!”
With her tail swinging, Fel jumped into an embrace with the [Time] Demon Lord.
For a young girl who has been separated from father, she must have felt really uneasy.
With a tender expression on his face, the [Time] Demon Lord returned her embrace.
“Me too; I was so worried about you.”
I sympathized with how they felt and thus decided to let parent and child enjoy their reunion.
“Oto-san, does, does Kuina look cute?”
“Kuina, getting a headstart is sneaky.”
“Yeah, we want master to take a look at us too.”
It was then that my [Monsters of the Covenant] approached.
Kuina had eyes full of expectations; Rorono was acting somewhat embarrassed; and Aura was being bashful. Each of the three acted differently but all of them wanted me to praise their dress.
“All of you look cute. You’ve always looked cute but now, you’re even cuter.”
“Yay! ♪”
“Mhm. That makes me happy.”
“Thank you!!”
Kuina wore a greatly revealing red dress that showcased her grown-upped form’s sexual appeal. The disparity between her appearance and her childish behavior had a mysterious charm to it.
Meanwhile, Rorono’s was an elegant sky-blue dress that made her really give the impression that she was a noble. Rorono had always been more beautiful than cute and this dress had highlighted that.
And as for Aura, her dress was a sexy violet dress that showcased her body lines and cleavage to emphasize her voluptuous body. If she were to appear in high society, she would definitely be a head turner.
”Procell, I'm hungry; can we perhaps eat soon?”
Somewhat pouting, [Wind] Demon Lord Stolas told me so.
I guess she's upset I'm praising other girls.
”Oh, of course. I'll have the food served right away.”
When I clapped my hands, the food was carried in.
Upon seeing this, the girls who had just arrived took their seats.
The table that was prepared for us was a round one, making conversation easy even with this many participants.
Marcho and my three monsters seated themselves around me, Fel sat next to the [Time] Demon Lord, and all the other monsters sat beside their Demon Lords.
The exception being the flaming Qilin, Teflare; Teflare could speak but unlike [Time]'s other monster, it was not able to take up human form.
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One after the other, the best dishes from all over the world were being brought in.
As long as merchants could, even if by foot, they would travel to an area and acquaint themselves in that area's network of merchants.
And when they become a first-rate merchant like Conanna, they could force their way to networks all over the world, continuously gather information, and obtain each area's best seasonal products.
Even the highest-ranking Demon Lords shouldn't have that many opportunities to enjoy such seasonal and exotic delicacies.
The control over air travel, such was Avalon's charm.
”You're just a greenhorn and yet you've prepared this many wonderful things.”
”In case you prepared only inferior things, I would have forced you to do better but now, I can't really complain.”
”Fufu, you're my child so this much is just natural.”
It seemed to have pleased the tastes of the three strongest Demon Lords and for that, I was relieved.
When the dishes were all served, Avalon wine was poured into our glasses. This wine was made using the golden apples of the [First Tree], a tree that was equal to a World Tree. Just like with the golden apples, this wine was only available here in Avalon.
When I was thinking of doing a toast to officially start the feast, Marcho spoke.
”Dan, Ast, Procell, everyone, thank you for helping me. I am here right now, smiling, only thanks to everyone's efforts. Please accept my gratitude.”
Upon hearing her words, the [Dragon] Demon Lord laughed, kukuku. As for the [Time] Demon Lord, he seemed calm but there were subtle signs of his face turning red.
”Marcho, helping a friend in need is only natural. Or so I would like to say but I have to confess that my plans were to ignore your plight. We did have that non-intervention agreement, after all. What convinced me to act was your child. Above all, it was akin to a business arrangement where I was compensated. For those reasons, I have no right to accept your gratitude.”
The [Dragon] Demon Lord said so and shot me a meaningful glance.
In reaction, I smiled. The [Dragon] Demon Lord was not the type of man to act for such a measly compensation. However, he did need an excuse so that he could help Marcho and I was the perfect one.
”I'm the same as the [Dragon], no, I'm the same as Ast; there's no need to thank me. It's vexing but I was not the one to save you; it was Procell. Rather than be thanked, I should be the one thanking him. So, Procell, thank you for keeping Marcho alive. I consider my reward of having more time to be with Marcho fulfilled.”
The [Time] Demon Lord then turned to me and smiled.
His smiling face was so beautiful and so devoid of worry… that it made me feel even more guilty.
Embarrassed by the words of her two old friends, Marcho smiled as well.
However, she didn't attempt to thank them again. Their bond was deep enough that no words were needed to express their unspoken feelings.
”Hey, Dan, earlier you said not to call you Dan anymore but now, you're the one going back to our old way of calling each other. What changed your mind?”
”I was being nonsensical. With all three of us gathered in the same dining table, there was no sense in being so obstinate anymore.”
”Kakaka, you say this now after complicating things for at least a century. Oh well, it was nice to hear you call me Ast again before I die. That's one less regret to worry about. …anyway, Marcho, although I have a theory, I'm still going to ask: what's with that form? You look a lot younger.”
The [Dragon] Demon Lord narrowed his eyes and examined Marcho.
”I was reborn. I was able to drive back the ones that attacked me but at that point, I had used [Awakening] too much, therefore using up what little left of my lifespan. Just when I was about to vanish, Procell used [Rebirth] and that turned me into his monster. As I currently am, I am no longer a Demon Lord.”
”Hmm, I see. It's surprising though, to have you—someone who proudly persists more than anyone to follow the proper path for a Demon Lord—rely on such a shady method.”
The [Dragon] Demon Lord said so and then looked toward the [Time] Demon Lord's direction.
The [Time] Demon Lord was leaning on his elbow, looking as calm as before, when he began to speak.
”I'm worried too. Marcho, why did you accept [Rebirth] but not my powers over [Time] when it could have just as easily prolonged your life? Can you tell me your reason?”
Upon hearing the question, Marcho scratched her cheek, avoided eye contact, and then turned red.
My guess was that she was embarrassed because she thought of what happened between us back then.
Just when she steeled herself and was about to speak, a growling sound was made and all eyes were directed to the source of that sound.
”I-I'm sorry. Please, continue speaking.”
The source was Fel or more specifically, her rumbling stomach.
To have such a feast before oneself and not be able to eat it, it would surely make one's stomach protest.
Someone laughed, then another, until everyone was laughing.
”Gahahaha. Dan, it seems your cute, little monster has grown tired of this long talk. Well, let's enjoy the food first; the talk can wait until after our bellies are full.”
”I'm sorry, Father.”
Fel said so while her wolf-ears were down and her face hidden.
”No, it's fine. I've wanted to eat too. Procell, why are you not doing anything? You're supposed to be the host today.”
It seemed like the [Time] Demon Lord was really indulgent to his daughter.
If it were not for Fel, I might have interrupted his conversation with Marcho. However, and if I did do that and he felt he lost face, it wouldn't have been strange if he decided to cut off my head.
”Then, a toast: to Marcho's safety and to renewed friendship.”
”””Cheers!”””
We all shouted so and made our glasses bump into the other's.