Volume 6 Chapter 8 (1/2)

The [Time] Demon Lord asked about Fel.

It was possible to lie but I would rather not do that to a Demon LordPerson who honestly bared their feelings for Marcho.

I have to brace myself.

”I laid my hands on her. I fiddled with her tail and then kissed her. And then, the other day, to discipline her, I made her undress and then spanked her bottom. I'm really sorry.”

I said so and bowed my head.

The fiddling of Fel's tail and kissing her happened when I used [Awakening] within Marcho's dungeon. And then, the other day, by Fel's request, I used [Awakening] again. On that second event, I fiddled with her tail again and then afterwards, I spanked her. …when I did so, I felt extremely happy but obviously, that was an awful thing to do.

After hearing me, the [Time] Demon Lord smiled.

”I see, you did that to Fel, huh. …now die.”

The world became slower. Or so I thought but it was more accurate to say that time stopped flowing for me.

Such was the ability called [Time]. If things stayed like so, I would die without being able to lift a finger, let alone any kind of resistance.

But then, my consciousness returned.

As it did, I saw a white tail before me.

”Fel, don't get in the way. I have to give this man his due.”

”Father, p-please wait”

Fel was protecting me.

The only ones who could move in a space governed by the powers of [Time] were the [Time] Demon Lord and the monsters who had the ability to manipulate [Time].

The two subordinates of the [Time] Demon Lord—the flame Qilin Telflare and the mysterious old man—had no inclination to protect me so if it weren't for Fel, I most probably would have died.

”Chief, let's do it. If you won't, I will.”

The Qilin said so while being clad in black flames summoned from hell. It was the ultimate flame that embodied incineration itself. Unbound by the laws of physics, its flames would continue to burn even while under water.

”M-my Fel-tan, my Fel-tan has been soiled. Grandpa's going to destroy this city!”

It was only the old man's face but he transformed nonetheless into a raging dragon. Dragon whiskers appeared and his eyes turned into these fiery reptilian eyes.

”No, stop! Don't harm master!”

Fel desperately petitioned so.

However, the [Time] Demon Lord just looked at me as one would at trash.

”Step aside, Fel. Let me kill that man… Or could it be that, by his authority as your Demon Lord, this man has commanded you to do this?”

The [Time] Demon Lord was furious. There was no way he was going to forgive me and, honestly, I deserved that much. Losing myself via [Awakening] was no excuse. To make matters worse, knowing all of the risks, I still used [Awakening] again when Fel requested it.

”I am not being commanded”

Fel shaked her head no.

”What he did is unforgiveable!”

”Even so, please, don't! I, I…”

Tears began flowing from her eyes.

Fel, you can stop now.

It was painful to let her continue protecting me like this: by going against her father.

”…Felsias, that's enough. I [Command] you to step aside.”

Through a Demon Lord's authority over a monster, a [Command] given by them must be carried out without exception.

As of the moment, control over Fel was mine.

The [Time] Demon Lord was perfectly aware of such and even though his [Command] had no binding effect, if Fel decided to disobey him, it would mean them parting ways.

”I-I may not be able to disobey you but if you insist on giving me this [Command], know that I will you for it. I will hate you Father, you Tef-niisama, and you Ragna-jii. I will hate all of you.”

Seeing Fel act as tough as she could, the [Time] Demon Lord's party was confused.

Given that, I stood up, grabbed Fel by the shoulder, and hid her behind me. There was no way I could let her act as my shield any more than she has.

”[Time] Demon Lord Dantalian, let me return Fel to you. Kill me after that please. If you kill me right now, I won't be able to transfer authority over her, after all.”

And so, I began the transferring of the authority over Fel.

I then extended my hand. By grabbing it, the [Time] Demon Lord would complete the process.

”Procell, if you release Fel—who has the ability to manipulate [Time]—over to me, there will be nothing you can do to stop me. If you intend to use the monsters behind you, you will find that that is a futile effort. Having unparalleled strength, such is the ability called [Time].”

”Even so, I'm sure. I do have one request though: please don't break my crystal. These children are innocent in this matter.”

Even if I was killed, so long as Wight and Marcho were there, Avalon would be safe.

”Good resolve. Now, return Fel to me.”

With that, the transfer was complete. Seeing that, Fel leaked out a sad sigh.

”Now, there is nothing to stop me anymore. Before I kill the [Creation] Demon Lord, Fel, tell me, why are you willing to go that far to protect that man, that lolicon who laid his hands on you?”

Tears in her eyes, Fel fearlessly looked straight at the [Time] Demon Lord.

”Because I love master. It was my wish, my request that he did those things. He was only listening to my selfishness; he's not at fault!”

”Is that true?”

”It is! So, please, forgive master! Please! I'll do anything, please!”

Fel said so while her head was lowered.

Meanwhile, the [Time] Demon Lord let out a long, long sigh.

After a while, he then smiled thinly.

”For you to lie to me—for the very first time—must prove how much you love him. I understand that much. My desire to kill him hasn't changed but I would rather stay my hand than be hated by you.”

What Fel said was indeed a lie.

She did request that I use [Awakening] on the second time but on the first one, I simply did what I wanted regardless of her say on the matter.

Upon realizing that she was lying, the [Time] Demon Lord sympathized with what she felt. He then put a hand on her shoulder and asked her something.

”Fel, I'm going to give you a choice to make. Return to my side or be that man's monster. Whichever you choose, I give you my word that I will not do anything horrible to him.”

Fel then began to tremble.

For a young girl like her, it must have been a difficult life choice.

”I-I've decided. I love master. I also Kuina who is like an older sister to me. I've also made a lot of friends here in master's very amusing city. The food here is very tasty too.”

Recently, Fel has become familiar with Avalon.

She has been adoring Kuina as though the latter truly was an older sister; has been befriending the other monsters; and has been enjoying herself casually in Avalon.

”I see”

The [Time] Demon Lord murmured so, almost with a sigh.

”But the one I love most is Father. I look up to Tef-niisama. Even though Ragna-jii is annoying, I don't dislike him. I love everyone in the [Chronos Knights] too. It is there that I belong. I love you, master, but I choose to be with Father.”

Fel strongly declared so.

Her decision wasn't out of impulse but rather out of careful deliberation.

The [Time] Demon Lord then brushed Fel's head with his reassuring, fatherly hand.

”I see. Then, let's return together. [Creation] Demon Lord, I forgive you. My daughter has said that she loves you and I of all people know what it feels like to lose someone you love. More than anything, every father only ever wishes for their daughter's happiness.”

”You really will forgive me?”

”Under two conditions.”

The [Time] Demon Lord shot me a piercing gaze and then help up a finger.

”First, it would be horrible of me to tear Fel apart from the people she has gotten close to. And so, from time to time, allow her to visit this place. Kuina, I believe you were called. It seems like you have been like an older sister to Fel; I leave her in your care.”

”Leave it to Kuina! Kuina'll shower Fel with love!”

The [Time] Demon Lord glanced at Kuina and thanked her.

”For the second one… I'll be clear here: I'm offended. I was trying to act cool earlier but, what the hell? You've told me that your feelings for Marcho weren't anything like romantic love and yet you've seduced her. Sure, it might have been necessary to convince her to accept [Rebirth] but… fuck off! Don't screw with me! And then, on top of all that, you go and lay your hands on Fel. Are you mad!? Do you even understand how a man who has both a daughter and someone he yearns for feels right now!? This is the first time in my three hundred years of living that I've felt this aggravated.”

”I am truly sorry”

Apologizing was all I could do.

To him, it must have felt like he was cuckolded twice.

”What aggravates me the most is that both Marcho and Fel are happy with you. They like you, they love you. So, if I kill you, those two that I love will be sad. And there is no way I'm going to deliberately do that… Hah, truly aggravating. And so, I've decided to just forget it all with alcohol. In other words, my second condition is that bottles of wine made out of golden apples be delivered to me weekly. I will make Fel go each week to pick up the wine. Do we have an agreement?”

”Are you really okay with this?”