Chapter 188: Power is needed even in a temple visit? (1/2)

Chapter 188: Power is needed even in a temple visit?

“A friendly match, you say?”

“Umu.”

The next day after seeing an absurd dream like becoming the next Demon Lord, the Demon Lord Zef said one of the things I kinda expected.

Yesterday he was repeatedly saying ‘power’, after all.

“The type of battle that probes each other’s personality, right?” (Makoto)

Leaving aside the way of putting it, he is telling me to fight while being treated as a guest.

I ended up asking for a confirmation.

“Yeah. Don’t worry, a bit of spectators will gather, but it is fine for Raidou-dono’s group to fight as normal.” (Zef)

It is fine, he says.

I can kinda predict who my opponent will be.

We did say that as long as there’s merits for us, we wouldn’t mind accepting, but…what should I do?

Currently, it would only scare them, so I just have to properly hold back and act in a gentlemanly way. In that way, their impression of us would actually get better.

“By the way, who will be our opponent?” (Makoto)

“The opponent this one will be assigning will be a Demon General or someone who has an ability close to that. Even if this one says it is a friendly match, it is only that this one needs some sort of proof of friendship with the Kuzunoha Company. In truth, it would be troublesome if you get too serious and it turns into hatred.” (Zef)

“…A proof of friendship. Yesterday’s banquet was plenty enough to tell us about your friendship though.” (Makoto)

The Demon Lord and everyone else made a banquet, and there wasn’t any people looking down on us.

Actually, it was so friendly to the level that I am scared of ulterior motives.

“That makes me happy. Well, today’s plan is to guide you to the Spirit’s temple; if there’s extra time, look around the area of the castle, speak with the people of the castle, you can spend it however you wish. If your side accepts the match, this one would like to begin tomorrow.” (Zef)

“Tomorrow. Understood. I will consult this with my followers and consider it positively.” (Makoto)

“Please do so. This one won’t be able to guide you, but this one will have my two daughters, Sari and Lucia, go with you. Send my greetings to the Spirits.” (Zef)

Hah?

“…Eh? We will be meeting the spirits? I mean, we can meet them?” (Makoto)

“Of course. It seems like they took an interest in Raidou-dono. Fire and Earth High Spirits. They are not our allies only, but they are generous people that don’t hesitate in assisting us. Maybe you will end up meshing well with them.” (Zef)

Spirits… When it comes to High ones, I have not met any.

I had the impression that they were all from the side of the Goddess, so it was hard to get close to them. And most of all, I had no opportunity to.

Meeting one at the demon race territory for the first time, feels quite mysterious.

“I thought we were going there to pray or something. Learning that I will be meeting with a Spirit makes me nervous.” (Makoto)

I thought it would be like going to a Shinto shrine.

Not only am I going to a place where they reside, but I am going to be meeting them in person. Moreover, with how things are going, it is as if meeting them is already a set deal.

How annoying.

“Your Majesty, it is almost time.”

“Waka-sama, the preparations are ready.”

Oh, the Demon Lord is busy every day, that’s obvious.

Rona lowers her head and comes to get Zef-san.

Is she filling the job of secretary at the times she is in the castle?

“Good work, Rona. This one will be going soon. Raidou-dono, the guides this one told you a while ago are waiting at the main gate. This one hopes you will enjoy the demon race’s city today as well. Then, this one will be excusing himself.” (Zef)

“Thank you very much.” (Makoto)

I see off Zef-san who is leaving along with Rona.

“Shiki, is Mio already outside?” (Makoto)

I ask Shiki who came to call me, and ask him about Mio who I can’t see.

“Yes. Mio-dono is also enjoying the area around the castle. It is a section that she didn’t check yesterday, it seems.” (Shiki)

“I see. You probably heard already, but it seems like there’s guides at the main gates waiting, so let’s hurry. Sari-san and Lucia-san. If I remember correctly…two children of the Demon Lord.” (Makoto)

“Yeah, those two huh. Going through the trouble of choosing two women, I wonder if there’s some sort of reason behind it.” (Shiki)

“…I don’t think so. And what about you Shiki? It seems like you were together with Rona, could it be you two get along better now?” (Makoto)

I could tell Shiki was trying to tease me.

Lately, I have been able to not take things seriously and deal with them, so I think I am getting a bit used to it.

“It was a stupid confrontation between a fox and a racoon. No matter how friendly they get, they won’t be able to match. With Kuzunoha Company and Waka-sama’s matter, their amount of information is so low it couldn’t even be called a match though. Even if she looked like that, she was quite mortified.” (Shiki)

“Ahaha… I am kinda scared of the future. The grudge of a woman. Ah, by the way, Demon Lord-sama said that he wanted us to do a friendly match with them but, is it okay to accept?” (Makoto)

“…Yes. Please accept it. I have a slight idea of what they are trying to stick their nose into. If that’s the case, we will be able to obtain something that will not be a loss for us.” (Shiki)

“Is that information something you got from Rona?” (Makoto)

“Yeah. She probably purposely leaked out the information to have us accept the match. Their aim is not really disadvantageous for Waka-sama, so in this occasion, let’s receive everything they give us.” (Shiki)

“Understood. Then, we will have to tell Mio as well. I am counting on you for the follow-up so that Reft-san doesn’t end up against Mio.” (Makoto)

“As you wish.” (Shiki)

While walking together to the outside of the castle, I enjoyed a morning talk with the dependable Shiki.

It calms me.

Fuh~, no matter how frankly Zef-san smiles, just speaking with him makes me tired.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

“Then, Raidou-dono is putting special effort in developing a medicine for the curse disease?”

“Yeah. That’s where we are putting most of our efforts in. If you need medicine, order it from us.” (Makoto)

“I am the person tasked to guide Raidou-dono today. Even if that weren’t the case, you are a guest invited by his Majesty, so there’s no need to speak formally. Please speak to me without worries like you do with your followers.”

…The youngest girl I know here is probably Rinon.

This girl called Sari is probably in the same age.

Her appearance is similar to that of Rinon, a primary schooler.

Lately, that girl has grown a bit bigger and her appearance has begun to look more curvy like that of a woman, so when thinking of that point, this girl Sari actually looks younger huh.

Her way of speaking is incredibly mature though.

Her matureness makes me think of a feudal lord that has been appointed at a young age.

The maturing speed in this world is honestly faster than that of Japan.

A bit of time has passed since I have gone to Tsige. When I went, I remember Rinon told me: ‘Rinon is already over 10 year old, so Rinon is not a kid anymore.’.

I think that a 10 year old is still a kid, but in truth, Rinon is keeping tabs of her sister’s expenses, earning herself, and she is already skilled at housechores.

If she were in Japan, she would be an incredibly level-headed girl.

I don’t want to compare her to my 10 year old self, I would feel pathetic after all.

“Even if you say so, it doesn’t sit right to speak with the two Demon Lord candidates in the same way as I speak with my followers.” (Makoto)

“I didn’t really tell you to speak with me casually though.” (Lucia)

Lucia-san is hard to deal with in a different meaning.

This one responds with a smile when I speak to her, but that smile of hers feels completely business-like.

But aside from that, there’s no other action.

When I glance at her expression for a bit, I could see that she also had a discouraged expression at times.

From the four successors, she is the one that looks like a military person the most, so maybe she is displeased in guiding a merchant.

“Sorr–” (Makoto)

“You are…” (Lucia)

Interrupting my apology, Lucia-san speaks to me for the first time without a smile.

“Y-Yes?” (Makoto)

“A person that has been recognized by my mentor Io, and also my father and Lord Zef who excels in magic and spear.” (Lucia)

Hm?

So it is not like she is angry?

It feels like she is in ill humour, and yet, the contents of her words are just…

“It is vexing, but I still can’t measure the limits of your power, or how much it is at all. But if you have that much power, don’t you think you should learn to have more pride and attitude befitting that power?” (Lucia)

“Pride and attitude huh.” (Makoto)

Is she telling me to appeal by saying things like: ‘I am strong!’?

“Most of the strong people have reached that strength by defeating many. Then isn’t the duty of the strong to engrave their feelings and accumulated experience, and act confidently? But you are actually trying to hide that power. I can’t comprehend that, and I can’t consent to it.” (Lucia)

“Lucia-anesama, that way of speaking is rude towards Raidou-dono.” (Sari)

“Sari, you have a tolerant mind like Rona, so you can endure it, but for me, I can’t bear the way Raidou-dono acts. I find it hard to believe that my mentor Io was defeated by someone like this. He most likely used an underhanded…” (Lucia)

Maybe she doesn’t like me, because she is the disciple of Io.

I see.

It is certainly true that sending him flying with a Rocket Punch can be considered an underhanded method.

I did accept the friendly match, so as long as I properly proof my ability in the fight, I feel like I can clear the misunderstanding.

“The weak really do bark a lot.”

…

“…What did you say just now, follower-dono?” (Lucia)

Mio?!!

Since when did you return from the food cart?!

Mio who had both hands filled with snacks, cuts into the words of Lucia-san..

“You are not even in a position to speak about this and that of Waka-sama, and don’t even have the power, and yet, only your words are splendid huh. That’s all I said-desu.” (Mio)

Your words are harsh, Mio.

Lucia-san is trembling.

I don’t even need to try reading her emotion, it is clearly anger.

Would it be bad if I don’t stop it?

But I kinda feel it is unnatural.

Hm, in these moments, it is better to take a step back and increase my field of vision as much as possible.

I will take care of not acting by reflex.

…Ah, it is Sari.

She is way too silent.

It is strange that she only tried to control the situation by doing a light interruption.

Maybe it is all a play?

Or could it be that Lucia-san’s speech and conduct are real, but Sari is plotting something?

From how the conversation went, it seems like Sari is similar to Rona, so it might be possible.

Then I should be careful that Mio doesn’t go way too overboard…

“…I have done my best in training everyday under the tutelage of Io and Reft, two Demon Generals. Since the day I grasped a sword, there hasn’t been a single day when I haven’t trained. And Mio-dono is saying that I am weak? If you don’t take back those words, I will take this as an insult.” (Lucia)

She is seriously angry.

I think.

As I thought, maybe Sari is really the one utilizing this situation.

Don’t hurry it. Calmly look over the transition of the situation.

“Reft…You are receiving instructions from a person of that level-desu ka? I am sorry for the rudeness. It seems like it wasn’t even a point of being weak or strong, but simple wailing of a baby. I wasn’t mature enough. I take back what I said-desu wa.” (Mio)

“It is an insult huh.” (Lucia)

“Ara? Didn’t you hear me saying that I take it back? Do you have ears?” (Mio)

…Mio has gotten better at stirring things up.