Volume 8 prologue (1/2)

After I gave Ruru the name Ruhe, I lost my magic power and Demon Lord powers. Due to that, I decided to once again reside in the carriage near the First Tree rather than remain in my estate. It didn’t seem like there was much need for me to be physically present in my estate anyway.

And speaking of the carriage built by Rorono, it was very comfortable to live in. Each day though, she would add something new to it. To be honest, I thought she was already going overboard. What is that girl thinking? Does she intend to fight with this thing?

“Master, you’ve already recovered. You’ve recovered much sooner this time than with Duke-san, don’t you?”

Aura the Ancient Elf said so after giving me medical treatment.

“It goes to show how much outside of the norm Duke is. Well, Ruhe is outside of the norm too, just not as much. Compared to when I named Duke, I felt a very tiny bit lighter this time.”

After naming Duke, I knew full well what naming another monster would entail.

However, even with those inherent risks and also the risks of naming at this timing, I decided to go ahead and name Ruhe to repay her for all of her service thus far.

“Just please refrain doing anything too absurd. If you fall, Avalon would too.”

“I understand. I’ll keep the absurdity to acceptable levels. Anyway, now that I’ve recovered enough, let’s go to the next step.”

I said so and reached for the [Creation] medal I put in my pocket.

It’s finally your turn.

I had already decided on what kind of monster I was going to make next, and today was the day I was going to make it.

“You’re going to go out this afternoon, right, master?”

“Yeah. Take care of things while I’m gone.”

“Understood.”

Aura answered so and then smiled before clearing her throat.

“Ahem, actually, master, I have something else to report. A while back, I have undergone a powerup of my own which has allowed me to raise and sustain another golden-apple-producing tree. In fact, the new tree is ready for harvest by tomorrow! Please have a look at it some time.”

The increase of trees that could bear golden apples was definitely good news.

We had many potent and useful potions that couldn’t be made without the golden apples, after all. Not only that, even when eaten raw, they were delicious, good for the health, and provided a slight but noticeable enough strengthening effects.

“I’m looking forward to it. We could never have too much golden apples, what with it being used for my and Stolas’s recovery as well as the wine being given weekly to the [Time] Demon Lord. Our production of golden apples doubling surely is a great boon. Great job, Aura.”

I had always wanted another tree that could bear golden apples. Unfortunately, for an apple tree to be able to bear golden apples, it needed to be nourished with a specially concentrated version of Aura’s [Water of Life] which consumed large quantities of magic power to make. Try as she might, she could only make enough of the specially concentrated version for one tree. Until recently, that is.

Now that we have another tree, we could make more high-grade potions. This increase in production would most likely lead to an improvement to our war potential.

“Glad to hear you’re pleased. Kuina-chan’s excited about it too.”

“Oh yeah, that’s right. Well, I want her to evolve as soon as possible too, preferably before I graduate from being a new Demon Lord. So, to that end, do help her by making high-grade potions that will accelerate her magic power recovery rate, alright?”

“Of course. Of late, I have been preparing for her some apple juice; she seems to like it. I’m also studying the book titled Curaga, so I should be able to come up with a new and more potent magic power recovery potion soon!”

After leveling up, Kuina unlocked a skill she had obtained when she became my [Monster of the Covenant]. It was called [Aether Fox Tribute Ritual]. As its name might suggest, it would allow her to evolve from being a Celestial Fox into an Aether Fox by first offering up 9999 tail furs’ worth of magic power.

Kuina who was already the strongest of my monsters would certainly play an even greater role once she evolved.

However, meeting the condition of that skill was easier said than done.

Each of the furs in her tail could store magic power and the most it could contain was equal to the magic power of a mage-type B rank monster. Without a doubt, gathering magic power worth 9999 mage-type B rank monsters was a tall order.

At her current pace, Kuina wouldn’t be able to save enough magic power in her tail furs by the time I become a young Demon Lord. With the help of ample potions though, she just might make it.

“Let’s talk again when I come back. It’s time I head off.”

I said so and then went outside. After collecting Kuina, who was to be my guard on this trip, and the crow monster, whom I was bringing to transport us via its [Transfer] ability, we departed for Marcho’s dungeon.

◇

Upon arriving, we were met by one of Marcho’s monsters and were guided to a special room.

There, we were greeted by Marcho who was wearing clothes that were fluttery and cute. Needless to say, her current clothes were truly unusual for her.

All those frills and ribbons, is that what they call sweet Lolita fashion?

“How is it, Procell? Does it suit me?”

“I think more mature clothing suit you better.”

Even though [Rebirth] had made her appearance be younger—as though she was in the latter half of her teens—she was still the tall and cool type of woman. She was more beautiful than she was cute.

This kind of clothes just didn’t suit her.

“Aww, how mean. At times like these, even if it’s just flattery, you should praise the other person. You really don’t understand a woman’s heart, do you? But then again, I should have taught you these things as your parent. Oh, how I have failed.”

Marcho was once again teasing me.

To be frank, being treated like a child somewhat hurt.

“Anyway, why are you wearing those clothes?”

“Oh, I was just trying to please you. I know you’re a lolicon, so I thought, why not appeal to that side of yours. So, how is it? Does it do anything for you?”

Marcho said so and then twirled around, the frills on her skirt fluttering along.

“Oh, shut up. Like I’ve told you a million times before, I am not a lolicon”

What an awfully false accusation. I have very healthy preferences. I am absolutely not a lolicon.

“So you say, but look at your monster’s form right now.”

Marcho said so while looking at Kuina.

At the moment, Kuina looked like she was 12 or 13 years old. This was despite that until recently, she looked like a girl in the latter half of her teens.