Volume 8 Chapter 17 (2/2)

”Exactly. Marcho-sama, that isn't the case between us!”

Stolas and I hurriedly denied the accusation.

Marcho, meanwhile, glared at us with disdain.

”I'll take your word for it. But for the record, I'd much rather you be open to me about it than you go sneaking behind my back. If it turns out that you like each other or even that you two have become lovers, I'm fine with it so long as you come and inform me. If you don't, be ready to be punished. Nobody makes a fool out of the [Beast] Demon Lord.”

A chill went down my spine. I didn't even want to imagine what Marcho's punishment would be like.

>

It's time for that already? Dan and Ast would probably go to the theater by themselves. The VIP coins I handed them should get them VIP seats.

”Well, let's go”

”Yeah, let's. If we don't hurry, we might miss the main event.”

”Tsk, found a way out. Fine, but don't forget what I said, you hear?”

Stolas and I somehow managed to escape.

…I didn't doubt that Stolas cared for me, but even so, I firmly believed that remaining as we were was for the best.

◇

After a while of walking, we reached the VIP area.

Other than us, many high-profile personalities like high-ranking nobles and successful merchants were also in the VIP area.

As of late, many people like Conanna would come here often and chat with the others so that they could build up their personal connections. But then again, perhaps that was to be expected from such a place.

It was a bit bold of me to bring everyone to the VIP area while the place was like that, but it was still much preferable to the crowded general admissions area.

And because this was the VIP area, bets could be placed here at any time before the corresponding race began.

Dan and Ast took advantage of that. They sat on a sofa, drank alcohol, and read the latest newspaper about the flying dragon races before finally deciding on which dragon they would bet on.

Their usual majesty was long gone. They were now just two old men.

By the way, they also seemed to have purchased some frog-shaped cakes.

As for us, we proceeded to sit down.

When I saw the old men's alcohol, it gave me the desire to drink some too. So, I called on a staff member and ordered us some high-quality red wine.

Dan and Ast did the same because apparently the alcohol they brought in was already gone.

They've been drinking before coming here and yet they still want more?

Like that, we passed the time with some idle chat.

After a while, the race began. It would seem the race's ability to excite the crowd affected even the Demon Lords.

Especially Dan. Far from his usually calm and collected self, he clutched his ticket really firmly and cheered loudly for his dragon.

At that moment, I understood why he didn't bring along Fel, his beloved daughter. He would never want to show her this, only the side of him that was a majestic and cool Demon Lord.

But he's fine showing it to Marcho?

”Kyuuuuuu! Gau, gau!”

Burning with a sense of rivalry toward the Darkness Dragons shown on the screen, Enlil cried out from atop Stolas's shoulder.

”Enlil, do you perhaps want to compete too?”

”Gau!”

…quit it. Please quit it. If you join, it isn't really a race anymore. At most, it'll be a race for second place. The Darkness Dragons will surely be devastated.

Just a few moments after that, the race ended.

Apparently, Ast wasn't bluffing when he said he could tell which Darkness Dragon was the best. His bet was spot on.

”Yes!!! I turned the tables on you this time!”

”Damn it”

Astaroth, the winner, laughed loudly while Dantalian, the loser, hang his head.

”Hahaha! Procell, I had a lot of fun today. The gambling, the food, the alcohol, they were all great. They almost make me want to spend the rest of my life here!”

”That's great to hear. I hope you use your earnings and splurge on extravagant things in the city tonight.”

”Of course, of course. Everything is on me tonight. Everyone, come along with me to the city, alright? Let's go have fun!”

Upon hearing Astaroth's generous offer, I started thinking of the most exquisite stores I could recommend. There had been a number of high-end stores geared toward nobles and wealthy merchants that were opening in Avalon lately, after all.

The race over, the VIPs exited the room.

The only ones that remained were us Demon Lord. As such, we could now talk as Demon Lords without worrying that anyone would overhear us.

”Now then, shall we get down to business? I believe there was a reason on why you guys came here…?”

”Fumu, right. Procell, Stolas, there is something I have to tell the two of you. As you know, I am not long for this world. For that reason, I've been bequeathing the things I've accumulated over the years to others. However, there are some things that are too much to handle for even the Demon Lords in my faction.”

Astaroth paused for a bit before continuing on.

”Originally, I wanted to entrust it only to you, Stolas, but by yourself, it's just beyond you right now. And so, I want both you and Procell to take on the dragon's trial. By overcoming the trial, one of you shall inherit my strongest dragons. Moreover, either Enlil or Duke shall receive [Dragon Emperor] from Caesar, my trump card, and become a true dragon emperor. I realize that giving you new Demon Lords such things will incur a penalty and I am fully prepared to receive whatever that might be.”

The sound of the beating of my heart grew loud. The strongest dragon army and becoming a true dragon emperor, those were doubtlessly great inheritance.

”So, are you two prepared to undertake the dragon's trial?”

However, there was no way that the trial to ascertain whether we were worthy of such an inheritance was going to be an ordinary ordeal.

I wonder what the trial is going to be like.

Bidding my loud heart to be silent, I nodded.

TL note: this chapter gave new context on Fafnir’s special chips. As such, I’ve made slight changes to