《Suzuki is Cute Even In A Savage World》


 prologue

    Morning.


    On the way to his high school, Takashi Suzuki became involved in an accident.


    He was crossing the crosswalk after the traffic light turned green, but the sound of a tremendous impact and a crash hit his ears, and the next thing he knew... he was standing in a completely white space.


    "Nice to meet you, Mr. Suzuki. I am a goddess," said a woman with wings on her back in a clear voice as her gaze went back and forth between a file in a binder and Takashi''s face. "Mr. Suzuki, you died in an unfortunate way. I hope you will lead an ideal life in your next lifetime."


    "Ho, a goddess, for real...? Or rather, I died? And my next lifetime?" Takashi muttered, confused from receiving a lot of information.


    While his mind was still completely unorganized, the self-proclaimed goddess kept her eyes on the file and continued in a clerical tone.


    "By the way, it wasn''t just that you were unhappy at the time of your death. You grew up as an orphan with no relatives and never had a girlfriend. Your only purpose in life was reading isekai novels on novel posting sites. Isn''t that right?"


    "Y--Yes..."


    The goddess had an accurate insight into Takashi''s life. She was a radiant beauty, and the wings on her back didn''t seem artificial. He could conclude that she must really be a goddess.


    Wait a moment! He definitely enjoyed reading novels on the internet. That''s for sure. But he didn''t think it was the only thing that made his life worth living!


    "And finally, you got hit by a drunk driver on your way to school. You were so pathetic that the Supreme Deity took pity on you. Now, Mr. Suzuki, please tell me what you desire or wish for."


    "Huh. Hmm. Even if you tell me that all of a sudden..." Takashi trailed off, struggling to get a grasp of the current situation. While he was gawking, a thick voice sounded from behind him.


    "Bastard, stop being so slow and decide quickly. I''ll murder you."


    Takashi turned around and became even more dismayed. Facing him was a strong-looking man with a massive frame, a bald head, and sunglasses with his tattooed arms crossed.


    "Yow--!? Are you perhaps a god, too, by any chance?"


    "Eh? What are you saying, you bastard? I''ll murder you."


    The goddess pointed with her beautiful hand at the man who kept ending his sentences with ''I''ll murder you.''


    "This is Mr. Sasaki. He, like Mr. Suzuki, passed away just a short moment ago. It''s so busy these days that the gods don''t have time to devote themselves to one-on-one meetings. So we''re having a three-way conference."


    While Takashi wondered what she meant by "three-way conference," the goddess flipped through the files in her binder. Eventually, she stopped and looked down at one file.


    "Mr. Sasaki was a motorcycle delinquent gang member in his youth, and even until his death, he worked a job with his head submerged in organized crime. The Sasaki Gumi Clan, which started out with three members, has become one of Japan''s leading designated crime organizations. In recognition of this achievement, we are pleased to award him."


    (No, that''s not an achievement, you know!? Isn''t it more like an evil deed!?)


    However, Takashi couldn''t voice such a comment in front of the person in question. Then the goddess asked, "Then, Mr. Sasaki, would you please tell us what you would like to request?"


    "Oh! Then, make me absurdly strong!"


    "Yes. The ability to be absurdly strong, right?" repeated the goddess as she smoothly slid her fountain pen over the documents in the file. "For the place to be reincarnated in, what kind of other-world would you prefer?"


    "Right. I want the wildly disorganized, chaotic feeling of an end-of-the-world place. There''ll be a bunch of bad folks out there. I''m going to murder them all myself!"


    "An end-of-the-world feeling other-world with bad people... so you can trash and murder them.... Is that right?"


    "Yeah! I''ll conquer the whole world!"


    Takashi was dumbstruck, listening to Sasaki''s story. Was it okay for a grown man of a mature age to wish for such things as being absurdly strong and aiming for world conquest?


    Twirling a fountain pen around her slender fingers, the goddess asked, "Then, would a very bloody other-world be acceptable? The difficulty level of survival is quite high because of all the strong opponents, but..."


    "Bring it on! The more powerful folks, the more it gets my blood pumping, ya know!" Sasaki declared.


    "Certainly!" After giving Sasaki an affirmative, the goddess turned to Takashi as she placed her fountain pen on the binder. "Would you also be satisfied with an other-world with the same feeling, Mr. Suzuki?"


    "N--no. It wouldn''t be good at all! I''d like to live a more laid-back life in a more peaceful and heartwarming other-world!"


    "Laid-back and heartwarming, is it?"


    While Takashi''s hobby was reading internet novels, they were mainly peaceful, otherworldly stories with few battle descriptions. As the goddess had said, he was an orphan and had always longed for an ordinary life. The most mundane life. One with parents, good friends, and no need to move from one place to another.


    "Then, what should we do about your abilities? Do you want to become absurdly strong like Mr. Sasaki?"


    "I don''t think I need anything. I just want to do some things in another world---raising cute monsters, growing crops, and the like."


    "That''s troublesome! I have to give everyone an ability per regulations, you know," replied the goddess. She frowned a little and then looked at Takashi''s whole body with a peeved expression on her face. "Mr. Suzuki''s appearance looks too ordinary. So, how about enhancing your charm as a human being?"


    "Huh. Then, will I become good-looking or something?"


    "No, you will be reincarnated as you are appearance-wise. But you''ll receive the ''Captivate The Opposite Sex'' ability. Every woman you meet in the other world will unconditionally fall in love with you, Mr. Suzuki!"


    Then it might be easier to live a heartwarming otherworldly life. Takashi did not feel all that bad about her proposal, but Sasaki, who had been silent until now, snorted and spat on the white floor.


    "What a bastard. You talked all nice, but in the end, you''re tryin'' to build a harem? This perverted brat. I''ll murder you!"


    "T--that''s not it! It''s not like that!" Takashi hastily denied it. Seeing this, the goddess also put her finger to her chin and tilted her head in contemplation.


    "Then, let''s change the ability into ''Be Loved Unconditionally By The Local Race.'' That way, it should prevent the situation from becoming a blatant harem."


    "Uhm. What''s the difference?" he asked.


    "It''s---"


    Just as she was about to explain, Sasaki stepped in between the goddess and Takashi. He brought his rugged face close to Takashi''s, then glowered, "What a pain in the ass! Chop-chop! Get on with it already! I''ll murder you!"


    "Y--Yes! I''m sorry!"


    "In that case, let''s chop-chop. Then, let''s start with you, Mr. Sasaki. Are you ready?" the goddess interjected.


    "Oh! I don''t know if it''s another world or whatnot, but I''m gonna murder them all!"


    "Then, off you go!"


    The goddess snapped her fingers. Then Sasaki suddenly vanished without a trace. It was so unexpected and instantaneous as blowing out a candle with a puff of breath.


    "Next is Mr. Suzuki, isn''t it?"


    "Ehh... Can I contact you if I have any problems over there?" he hesitantly asked.


    "No. This is where we say goodbye. We may meet again when Mr. Suzuki dies again."


    And then the goddess snapped her fingers.

 CH 1.1

    "Ohh! The summoning has succeeded!"


    The noise of the crowd resounded. Takashi, who had been chatting with a beautiful goddess in a white room, now stood on a red carpet that stretched in a straight line across a marble floor. Around him, men with the appearance of medieval aristocrats stared at him with expectant eyes.


    Takashi was breathless in the unduly spacious room, which gave a baroque-style impression.


    (I--I really, have come to another world!)


    The conversation with the goddess felt somewhat surreal for him. But now that it really happened, he had no choice but to believe everything.


    (All right! That does it. From now on, I will live an enjoyable heartwarming life in another world!)


    "This One is the King of this country of Leirune."


    A small, plump man with a mustache and wearing a golden crown held out his hand to him. Takashi shook the portly man''s hand.


    "Oh, Hero! Please save this world!"


    "H--huh. Is that sort of thing the plot setting?"


    While he was still pondering about the circumstances of his situation, a man wearing a robe and carrying a silver staff, who looked like a typical fantasy wind sorcerer, timidly presented a single piece of paper to the king.


    "Your Majesty the King. These are the Revered Hero status values..."


    "Let me see."


    Takashi guessed that his status was written on that paper. But then the king''s ecstatic smiling face grew grim.


    "Attack value, defense value, even magic value are all in single digits? What? This chap!! He''s a failure!!"


    That was a very poor way of putting it, Takashi thought. However, he knew from the beginning that he did not have the talent, so he expressed, "No, I just want to live a laid-back, heartwarming life here."


    "What the... laid-back and heartwarming!! The Demon Lord''s army is about to invade. This situation is a life-or-death matter!"


    "Huh... De--Demon Lord''s Army?" Suzuki repeated, dumbfounded.


    There seemed to be a misunderstanding between the two. The king turned to the sorcerer and shouted, "Hurry! The next summon!"


    "U--um. What about, me...?"


    The king no longer reacted to Takashi''s voice. The sorcerer began to cast a spell, treating Takashi like air. The men in expensive-looking costumes, who looked like aristocrats, shoved him by his shoulders.


    "Hey, you are a nuisance. Get out of the way."


    "You are no longer needed. Get the hell out of the castle."


    They all glared at Takashi as if they were looking at something filthy.


    (W--what is this!? This! This isn''t what I was told!)


    Right then and there, at that precise moment. The doors behind Takashi opened with a loud bang. Out of nowhere, strange figures appeared. Demons or beastmen with mouths ripped open until their ears, giants over three meters in height---all carrying blood-soaked weapons---stormed in.


    "De--Demon Lord''s Army!!"


    The king''s blood-curdling yell coincided with the guards near the door being decapitated by the demon''s broadsword.


    "Hyaaaaa!"


    The aristocratic-like men who had mistreated Takashi earlier made pathetic noises and ran away. A beastman with a face like a lion slashed one of the fleeing men from behind with razor-sharp claws. Fresh blood stained the marble floor red.


    "Wha--Wha--Wha...!"


    Takashi was in a state of shock. He saw everyone present get decapitated, disemboweled, or eaten from the head down by ferocious fiends.


    (Not a tad heartwarming, riiiggghhtt!)


    Takashi screamed internally. The place plunged into pandemonium. In the back of his mind, Takashi thought of a bald-headed man who wore sunglasses and kept threatening to f*cking kill him even though he was already dead. Sasaki''s words came to mind.


    [---the wildly disorganized, chaotic feeling of an end-of-the-world place.]


    (I--Impossible... It''s not the other-world I wanted!?)


    Indeed, the pronunciations of Suzuki and Sasaki were similar. However, it should be strange for a deity to make a blunder like that, but given the circumstances, it was not impossible.


    Soon after, the fiends ravaging the humans stopped moving altogether. Then three demons entered through the door. All the other fiends knelt down and made way for them.


    Takashi gulped at the majesty of the female demon leading the way. Her jet-black hair reached to her waist, and goat-like horns sprouted from her head. Her black leather armor, almost like a bathing suit, revealed her tanned-colored skin. Large breasts. Tall and well-built with an awe-inspiring face. However, her beauty was opposite that of the goddess. Hers was the bewitching kind of beauty.


    And that demon was heading straight to him.


    "Sa--save me, please!"


    The king of the castle was kneeling on the red carpet, prostrated with a pitiful expression on his face. The tanned demon silently walked past him. The king showed a relieved expression, but suddenly, his head fell to the carpet.


    (Wha--!? Right now, what did she do?)


    Takashi could not see the tanned demon''s attack. The terrifying demoness who had instantly slain the king walked toward him with two child-like demon girls on either side of her. One with red hair in twin tails and a sickle as tall as she is, the other with blue hair in a ponytail and holding knives in both hands. Their faces were almost identical, but the red-haired one had pointed ears like a cat''s on its head, while the blue-haired one had rounded ears.


    Takashi glanced behind him. Almost everyone had died, but several maidens in maid outfits were trembling behind his back.


    (S--since things have turned this way, I''ll have to do it myself!)


    This place wasn''t the heartwarming other-world he wanted. But if the current situation persisted, they would all be killed.


    Takashi''s heart pounded furiously with fear. But even so, he had a small glimmer of hope. When the king saw his status earlier, he dismissed it as a failure. However, if the goddess had made a mistake between him and Sasaki...


    (If I fight seriously, I should be able to use the "Absurdly Strong" ability!)


    "Whoaaaaa!!" Takashi gave a short war cry, raised his fist, and punched toward the tanned demoness with all his might.


    Boing~


    It was a sound so far removed from the concept of strongest. As if sucked into them, Takashi''s fist got buried in the valley between the demoness''s large breasts.


    "Wah--Wah!?" he shrieked and pulled his arm away. He was surprised at his own powerlessness, combined with the shock of unintentionally touching a woman''s breast.


    The tanned demoness looked down at the frightened Takashi with cold eyes and opened her fanged mouth, "Human-like creature! You deserve to die for what you have done!"


    Takashi trembled at the husky and powerful voice. As if to rub salt into a wound, The red-haired, twin-tailed demon shouted, "You dare to strike Lady Nephira, you reckless scum!"


    The demon with blue hair and a ponytail said in a high-pitched voice with a happy sneer, "Let''s pull out his entrails--! Let''s make intestinal necklaces--!"


    "Gigegegege! How about hollowing out his eyes while he''s still alive?" the red-haired twin-tail laughed in a vulgar voice once again.


    (I-I... got hurled into a savage other-world without any noteworthy ability!? Damn it! What about this is considered my ideal life?!)


    Inside the throne room stained with the blood of slaughtered humans, with tears in his eyes, Takashi looked helplessly at the demons in front of him.

 CH 1.2

    For Nephira, the leader of Thunder-Lance Charge, the special strike force under the direct control of the Demon King, this day was the long-awaited invasion of the Land of Leirune.


    More specialized in offensive attacks than any unit in the Demon Lord''s army and always spearheading major battles, the Thunder-Lance Charge, composed of six hundred elite fiends, successfully conquered the city. With their bodies splashed with human blood, they marched into Syness Castle.


    Skilled soldiers and sorcerers staffed the entirety of the castle, but they were no match for the prided elite of the Thunder-Lance Charge. Nephira proudly entered through the front door. Together with her top brass demons, the sisters Meru and Kiru, they cut the soldiers'' throats, scattered their guts, and reached the king''s chamber. They captured Syness Castle so easily.


    Humans have their uses as slaves and food, but the city''s inhabitants were sufficient for that. She planned to kill everyone in the castle to set an example. Reigning by fear was the demon''s standard method, and Nephira had been doing it for a long time. Like any other demon, she felt no empathy for humans. Killing insects had never perturbed her.


    Not until that moment.


    Nephira currently felt very disturbed. The problem was the creature in front of her. It definitely looked like a human being. A being she considered scum, an insect, no more than that. And yet...


    (Eh. Wait, what''s this? Cute...)


    What about that charming appearance with medium height and round eyes? Its frightened appearance was also pitiful and made one want to gently extend a hand.


    The feeling of this creature stroking her chest region moments ago still remained. Per usual, she would have killed the human instantaneously before it could even touch her. And yet, she allowed herself to be touched. A strange sensation struck Nephira.


    (My chest feels warm. What is it? This feeling? N--no, right now, rather than that...)


    Nephira inwardly bit her teeth with remorse. Her regret... was that she had so brazenly declared in front of her subordinates that this lovely human-like being ''deserved to die.''


    The human-like being had attacked her, someone profoundly favored by the Demon Lord. It was the natural response for the leader of a battalion. However, how could she possibly kill this incomparably lovely and adorable human trembling and quivering before her eyes? No, she couldn''t do it.


    Because he''s such a cute thing!


    On the other hand, saying something like, "Just kidding. After all, let''s... not," would be bad for her reputation as a commander. Nephira tried to keep her composure while deeply troubled.


    (Aaaaah! What the hell am I supposed to do?!)


    ¡ô


    The right hand of Nephira, the top brass of Thunder-Lance Charge, Meru of the twin demon sisters, held her blood-stained assassin daggers tightly. During today''s invasion, she had cut down more than a hundred humans with those weapons.


    She glanced at her sister, Kiru, standing beside her. In contrast with her blue hair in a ponytail, Kiru had red hair in twin tails. And earlier, she had decapitated more than two hundred human heads with her beloved grim reaper''s scythe.


    The two sisters were not on bad terms. However, Meru somewhat felt considerably inferior to Kiru. She wanted to win against her older sister. Such was the feeling in her heart.


    The trouble started with her sister, Kiru. Nephira, their commander, was attacked. Before Meru could say anything about it, Kiru busted out, saying, "You dare to strike Lady Nephira, you reckless scum!!." In other words, her sister had beaten her to the punch.


    (Uhh!! I don''t want to lose to my sister...!)


    In a panic, she thought she needed to say something more potent and devilish.


    "Let''s pull out his entrails--! Let''s make intestinal necklaces--!" she had excitedly declared.


    But after saying those words, she calmed down and looked at the human being again. Meru''s hobby was collecting stuffed fiends, but the human being in front of her was more lovable than any stuffed animal she had ever seen.


    Regret surged over her like waves as she gazed at the indescribably lovely human. His face looked like he was about to burst into tears when he heard them saying they would make necklaces from his intestines. Intense guilt swirled inside Meru. The thought of dragging out the viscera of such a lovely creature? No, no, impossible. What exactly was an ''intestinal necklace'' anyway? She didn''t need it. Who would wear such a thing?


    She wanted to prostrate herself and apologize. Such thoughts filled her mind. However, expectedly, a demon could never bow down to a human.


    Still, Meru had one hope.


    (Lady Nephira will never let this human who attacked her go scot-free! That''s my chance!)


    Meru had decided to plead directly to Nephira. However, the other party was the leader of the Thunder-Lance Charge. She was a ruthless, inhumane, and unrivaled demon. Of course, she expected it wouldn''t be free. So she planned to offer one of her own arms as an apology. That surely would satisfy Lady Nephira, and the human would no doubt be grateful.


    ¡ô


    The red-haired twin tails of the twin demon sisters, Kiru, also regretted her actions.


    Although Kiru was extremely vicious towards humans, she acted differently to her own kind. Kiru liked to care for young fiends and was a good caretaker for them. And the trembling creature in front of her, even though she had never met it before, was somehow as lovable as a younger brother.


    Despite this...


    When their leader Nephira got attacked, she shouted, "You dare to strike Lady Nephira, you reckless scum!" She saw the cute little human shiver a little when he was called a scum. She really regretted it, but... well, he attacked their commander. She gave him full marks for that courage. The problem was what came after that.


    Meru had uttered the devilish line, "Let''s pull out his entrails." Kiru just thought she''d drop a line afterward to keep the momentum going and had blurted, "Gigegegege! How about hollowing out his eyes while he''s still alive?" Kiru could not tolerate what she had just said.


    It would be insane to hollow out the eyes of such a lovely human being while it is still alive. No, usually, she would be able to do it as easily as breathing, but not with this human being. Because if she did it, she would feel sorry for him.


    And her biggest regret. In front of that human, she had laughed with her mouth open wide with a "Gigegegege."


    (What was that laugh sound?! I''m so embarrassed! I want to die!)


    Kiru doesn''t usually laugh like that. The only reason she used that tone of voice was to create a strong impression since there were still people alive around her.


    What would this lovely human have thought when he heard the hideous, crude laugh she let out? He must have thought it was vulgar. No doubt he didn''t want to be near it. Aah, she wanted to turn back time and say, "My, my. We don''t appreciate that sort of thing, dear."


    His first impression of her was probably the worst. But she still had hope. The ruthless Lady Nephira would surely kill this human who attacked her. That would be her chance. She would chop off her own leg and offer it to exchange for forgiveness for this human being. That would surely make this human see her in a new light.

 CH 1.3

    The three demons were staring at Takashi. A long, lingering silence. During that lull, all the fiends that had invaded the king''s chamber and perpetrated their tyranny had left.


    In the king''s chamber, other than Takashi, only the tanned-skinned demoness and the two petite demons with similar facial features remained.


    They did nothing and simply stared at Takashi. Time passed in vain until he couldn''t stand the silence any longer.


    "W--what in hell are you planning to do with me?!" he shouted belatedly. His voice trembled with fear.


    The tanned demoness glanced at her subordinates'' faces. She responded, "Ah, aah. That''s right. You, bastard, are a human. Of course, you won''t get away with this for free."


    "I--I knew it. You are going to kill me...!"


    One of the petite demons raised her scythe while the other readied a dagger. Both were breathing heavily. An unusual atmosphere permeated the air. Takashi shuddered and squealed "Eeek" at the situation. However, the tanned demoness raised her right hand as if to hold back the petite demons.


    "Don''t be in such haste. It doesn''t mean I''m going to kill you, bastard."


    "Lies! You just said it was worthy of death a while ago!"


    "C--certainly, I did say that. However, I never said anything about killing you."


    Even the other two demons looked at the tanned demoness with blank faces. Huh. What? Saying worthy of death did not mean getting killed? Then what did it mean?


    "I''m a little uncomfortable calling you ''human.'' Identify yourself."


    "Suzuki... Takashi..." he muttered softly. Thereupon, the tanned demon''s cheeks reddened a little.


    "Suzuky... It''s a good name..."


    Even the petite demons smiled kindly.


    "Yeah. It''s a really good name! It has a pleasant ring to it..."


    "Aah, it sounds wonderful! It''s got a certain noble flair!"


    All three demons were praising his surname, which was very common in Japan. Takashi was absolutely terrified by their comments and behavior.


    (W--What is this? Why''d they suddenly start praising my last name?)


    He didn''t understand. Demons and humans must have completely different thought processes. And then all of a sudden...


    "I--I, my name is Meru--! I''m the younger sister of Kiru over there--! Nice to meet you--!" said the demon with a ponytail as she held her hand out to Takashi. Takashi trembled in fear.


    The twin-tailed demon shouted, "Meru, you bastard! Who dares introduce themselves before the commander, Lady Nephira? ...I am Kiru! Meru''s older sister! Let''s get along from now on!"


    The twin-tailed demon also offered her hand to Takashi. And a moment later---


    "You bastardsss! I''m firsstt!"


    ---Nephira raised one long leg high enough that her important place could be seen, and then brought it down in a single motion. The marble floor cracked and sank from a mere foot stomp.


    "Eek-- I''m sorry--!"


    "I--I also apologize!"


    The demon sisters hung their heads, but Takashi was more horrified by Nephira''s terrifying power, which created a crater in the marble floor with a single stomp.


    "Our name is Nephira. Commander of the Thunder-Lance Charge, leading 600 fiends. Much stronger than Meru or Kiru. In other words, incredibly distinguished."


    The two demons timidly backed away. Takashi shuddered at the sight of the triumphant-looking Nephira.


    (Since a while ago, these gals... were arguing about who gets to take the lead? ...HUH!)


    Takashi thought of something terrifying. Perhaps, were they competing over who gets to eat him first? That''s it! That must be it!


    "Even if you eat me, I won''t taste good!" he cried out in terror.


    After a moment of silence, the demon sisters started laughing.


    "Ahahahaha! Eating Suzuky, doing something like that--!"


    "You''re an idiot, you know! Aren''t you too prejudiced against demons?"


    Seeing the two''s behavior, Takashi felt a tad relieved. He murmured hesitantly, "Is that so? You gals, don''t eat humans, do you?"


    "No, we usually eat plenty of them!"


    "Yes! We heartily eat them, you know--!?"


    "I knew you were going to eat me! Or rather, I remember now! You, earlier, said something about dragging out my entrails!" Takashi yelped, pointing at Meru. Meru''s eyes darted about uncomfortably.


    "...I didn''t say that."


    "Yes, you did! Why are you spurting lies?! And after that, the redhead over there said something about hollowing out my eyes while I-I''m still alive!"


    To avoid facing Takashi''s pointing finger, Kiru looked away and played with her redhead''s twin tails.


    "...I don''t remember any of that!"


    "What the hell? What the fudge!?"


    They said they would kill him, then said they wouldn''t. They said they don''t eat humans, sure enough, then said they do. And now they said they don''t remember things that they have said. Takashi had no idea what these demons were thinking---he couldn''t understand at all. The thoughts of fiends must be far beyond human comprehension.


    Nevertheless, no. Precisely because of it, Takashi had to make sure.


    "In the end, what are you planning to do with me!?" he shouted. The twin demons turned anxiously toward Nephira.


    "Huh, wait..." Nephilas said, looking confused for a moment, but then immediately tightened her face, held up her right arm wide, appropriate for a fiend of her stature, and declared, "Prison! Throw Suzuky into the castle''s underground dungeon!"


    At Nephira''s instruction, the twin demons nodded, and each held one of Takashi''s arms while blushing slightly.


    "Wait!!"


    Just before Takashi was about to be taken out of the king''s chamber, Nephira''s bellow echoed through it.


    "Three meals a day!! And make sure to give him plenty of water! And provide restrooms both inside and outside of the prison cell! In addition, make sure he gets a healthy amount of sleep!! Take him outside for sunbathing when the weather is fine, and always have a demon on guard in case he gets sick! After that, give him a snack at 3 pm! Understood?!"

 CH 1.4

    (I wonder if Suzuky is all right. Is he feeling lonely in the dark prison?)


    That same night. In the queen''s chambers in the Syness Castle, Nephira lay on the bed, restlessly chewing her nails. Of course, she was concerned about Suzuky. Was he thirsty? Was he eating enough food? Was he able to go to the toilet? Ah, she was worried...


    She wanted to check on Suzuky immediately, but the Thunder-Lance Charge had just conquered the Land of Leirune. The fiends under her command constantly asked her for instructions. The range of topics was very diverse; the questions ranged from the governance of the conquered country to the selection of humans for food and slavery. Not long after, a new fiend visited Nephira.


    "Pardon the discourtesy."


    Again there was a knock at the door. Nephira half-raised herself from the bed and brushed her lustrous black hair with her hands to create the austere atmosphere of a dignified leader.


    "Mm-hmm. Come in"


    Pholus, a bird-headed demon, opened the door and entered. After bowing respectfully, he turned his beaked face toward Nephira.


    "Lady Nephira. What should we do with the Knight Commander?"


    "Make an example of him. Kill him as brutally as possible in front of the surviving townspeople."


    "Yes!"


    Nephira knows that doing so would incite fear and dread in humans, making them more obedient.


    After that, Pholus continued to ask about the assignment of rooms to the demons in the fallen Syness Castle and various other matters. While Nephira gave out instructions, her thoughts wandered elsewhere.


    (Suzuky. Are you doing alright?)


    She couldn''t help but be concerned about him. Intrinsically, it was unthinkable that a demon, the commander of the special attack force directly under the Demon Lord to boot, should be concerned about a single human. That was why she patiently endured for several hours since parting from Suzuky. But now, she was at the limits of her patience.


    "Hey. How''s Suzuky, by the way?"


    "Huh? Suzuky? What is that?"


    "It is the human in the king''s chamber during the invasion. I instructed him to be locked up in the underground dungeons of the castle," Nephira asked as casually as possible so that Pholus would not sense her anxiety. "Thereupon, that guy, who is taking care of him now? Meru? Kiru?"


    "No. The two are executing the remnant soldiers as per usual. For some reason, they were reluctant to do it today, even though they are usually happy to do so."


    "Wait. In that case, who is currently taking care of Suzuki?"


    "One moment, please," Pholus said, leaving the room for a moment before returning shortly after. "It appears to be that the human was transferred from the underground dungeon to the torture chamber."


    "...Huh?"


    "About now, I suppose Uhouguru is torturing him."


    "Idiot!!"


    Torture. When she heard the name, "Uhouguru," she unconsciously bolted to her feet. The strange appearance of Uhouguru flashed through Nephira''s mind.


    Uhouguru always wore a blood-stained burlap sack mask, so it was impossible to see what it looked like. It also wore a black robe on its body and was rumored to have a variety of torture devices hidden inside it.


    On one occasion, Nephira had witnessed Uhouguru torture, but even she, feared for her ruthlessness, couldn''t bear its bad taste. Uhouguru kept bugs in its robe and sent them into the openings of the humans. The bugs would then eat their way into the brain and internal organs; the human writhes in agony, shedding tears of blood, as Uhouguru ridicules them while watching.


    Whether it be a woman or a child, Uhouguru never held back in any way. The wordless Uhouguru was a bizarre and eerie presence to Nephira and the other demons.


    "Isn''t Suzuky, going to be tortured to death?! I ORDERED IT! To ensure he got enough sleep, received enough food, and so on! Despite this, why the torture? Moreover, with Uhouguru!"


    In a fit of rage, Nephira grabbed Pholus around the neck and shook him vigorously.


    "B-b-but, this Suzuky or whatever it''s called... it''s only a human, isn''t it?" Pholus flapped his beak to grunt. But Nephira''s wrath was unrelenting.


    "You bastard can only say such a thing because you have never seen Suzuky! That guy... what... he''s... incredibly cute..."


    "Cu--cute...?"


    "He has incredible tactical value! You morons!"


    "Eep! I had no idea he was such an important human! I will bring him back immediately!"


    "Enough! It''s fine! I''ll go myself!" Nephira declared and rushed out of the chamber. She passed by demons in the halls who looked at her twice in surprise.


    The calm and collected Nephira was running without caring about appearance, her ample bosom shaking. Yet Nephira didn''t pay any attention to them and ran frantically through the castle.


    (Wait for me, Suzuky! I''m coming to save you now!)


    ¡ó

 CH 1.5

    The underground dungeon of Syness Castle, where the twin demons Meru and Kiru took Takashi, was quite large and held one man and one woman other than him. The woman was in a maid outfit and sat in a corner, frightened and weeping. Probably a maidservant at the castle. On the other hand, the man sporting a haircut like those portraits in the music room approached Takashi with a frown.


    "Hey. Hand over that food."


    "Ah, yes..." Takashi handed over the bread to the man.


    The man snatched it up and glared at Takashi as he bit into the bread. He grumbled, "Tsk. Why is this brat the only one who gets preferential treatment?"


    Within a one-meter radius of Takashi were things that appeared to be a portable latrine, spare clothes, and of course, bread and other food as well. Meru and Kiru had prepared those for him.


    [Suzuky, I''ll give you this--! Eat it when you get hungry--!]


    [If you feel like peeing or pooping, I''ve made arrangements. Here they are, alright?]


    With those words, the twins left. What were those gals really thinking? He didn''t understand. Perhaps they were teasing him.


    Takashi let out a heavy sigh. Rather than outrage toward the goddess who had so carelessly reincarnated him in the wrong place, his anxiety about the future far outweighed his anger.


    "Ahh... I wonder what will happen to me from now on..."


    Before long, a full-body skeleton soldier appeared in front of the cell. It unlocked the door, entered, and grabbed the man who took the bread from Takashi by the scruff of the neck.


    "Eek!?"


    "Kakaka. Torture starts with you."


    "Tor--torture!? This must be a mistake!! Wha-aa-aa-aa-aa-aa!!"


    The cage was locked again. Takashi looked outside the cell and saw the man taken into a small room a few meters away.


    (W--What''s going on!?)


    Takashi''s hair stood on its end as a masked monster with an eerie appearance entered his field of sight. The masked monster bound the man to a chair with a rope. The man''s screams echoed all the way from over there.


    "Sa--save me, please!! I''ll pay you whatever you want!!"


    "..."


    "I''m a nobleman...! I know! I''ll prepare for you a substitute human!"


    "..."


    Did it not understand human language? The masked creature silently slid its hand inside its black robe and pulled out a writhing insect like a centipede. The bug was inserted into the man''s ear even though he tried to avoid it by shaking his head.


    "Gya-aa-aa-aa-aa-aa-a!"


    The man''s screams made the masked creature laugh in a low, muffled voice that seemed out of this world. The masked creature then silently inserted one bug after another into the man''s nose and mouth. The man kept screaming, blood dripping from his eyes and mouth, and then he stopped moving.


    (W-Will we have to go through that too after him!?)


    "Eeeek...!"


    Behind him, the woman in a maid outfit moaned while covering her ears. If the woman had not been nearby, Takashi might have cried pathetically too. He could barely keep his sanity in front of the masked creature''s torture because someone else was nearby.


    The skeleton soldier left, dragging the motionless man with him, but soon after returned and walked to the cell where Takashi lay. It then unlocked the door and took the woman''s hand.


    "Kakaka. You''re next"


    "Noo-oo-oo-oo-oo-ou!!"


    The woman cried out. Takashi''s eyes met with the woman getting dragged by the skeleton soldier. Unable to stand still, Takashi mustered up all his courage and stood before the skeleton soldier.


    "Ho--hold up for a bit! Take me first!" Takashi said, his voice shaky. Even so, he could not abandon the woman sobbing pitifully.


    "Eh. Y--you? I can, but I wanted to take you last..." The skeleton soldier replied as it scratched its cheek with its fleshless finger.


    It paced around and fidgeted, as if hesitating, but before long, it made up its mind and grabbed Takashi''s arm. It then spoke, "I understand. Don''t think poorly of me. This is my job."

 CH 1.6

    ¡ô


    As usual, Uhouguru put bugs inside the human''s body. The man begged it to stop, but this only further fanned Uhouguru''s sadistic tendencies.


    Kukuku.


    Nothing felt more pleasant than that. Shrieks. Screams. Human misery and suffering! They were its delight and nourishment.


    Uhouguru had thought that way for a long time. But when it took a look at the next human the skeleton soldier had brought, Uhouguru felt something it had never felt before.


    (Cu...te...?)


    For Uhouguru, who had no friends among the Thunder-Lance Charge, bugs were soothing companions. Their wriggling, writhing forms and the large compound eyes looked the most charming to Uhouguru.


    The human in front of it wasn''t wriggling around, nor did it have more than two regular eyes. And yet, what was this? The human looked cuter than any bug Uhouguru had ever seen.


    Even when the skeleton soldiers tied him to a chair, the human kept his lips tightly shut and acted stout. But Uhouguru noticed he was getting a little teary-eyed. He must have seen his own people being tortured and killed.


    (I see. Was he watching the previous torture?)


    Suddenly, Uhouguru felt the urge to crawl into a hole in the ground. It was an extremely embarrassing feeling, like when you were dancing in excitement, thinking no one was watching, only to realize someone had been peeking.


    With a fidgety twirl of its finger, Uhouguru spoke to the cute little human.


    "...Your name is?"


    "Y--You, you can talk?"


    "Yes, just, I don''t talk much, usually.... Your name is?"


    "It''s Suzuki, but..."


    "Suzuki... it is a good name."


    "I--It''s good, I guess. A--A--Are you going to start torturing me or something...?"


    "No, I''m not going to torture you."


    "Huh. The--then, what are you planning to do to me?"


    "I''m going to chat with Suzuki."


    "Chat...?"


    "That''s right. Why were you captured?"


    ...After hearing the details, Uhouguru was in despair. He had attacked Lady Nephira! For that, he had no salvation!


    "No way!! What a stupid thing to do!! You stupid human!! You''ll be executed for sure!!"


    "Eep! Uhh--...!"


    Seeing that Suzuki had started to cry, Uhouguru became agitated. Uhm, Uhouguru had said too much! Uhouguru had made him cry! What should it do. What should it do?!


    "F--For raising my voice, I apologize," Uhouguru said as it waved its hands in a fluster. Looking for something to wipe his tears, Uhouguru took its own linen mask and handed it over. "Wipe your tears with this."


    Suzuki looked at Uhouguru with a puzzled look on his face. He didn''t know what to make of what he saw. Uhouguru had short hair, a little longer than a man''s, and a face marked with scars.


    "You were... a woman?" Suzuki asked in surprise.


    "Oh. I''m from the Ogre Tribe. You don''t fancy rugged, muscular women like me, do you?"


    "N--No, not particularly."


    "No, huh?"


    "Well... it''s..."


    "Say it clearly!! Which is it?!! You fancy them or you don''t?!!"


    "Eep!? W--Well, you were more of a beauty than what I thought you would be!! I''m surprised, for real!!"


    "Huh... I--is that so? Fufu. A beauty? I am, a beauty? Fufufufufufufufufufufu!"


    A warm feeling spreads through her heart. Uhouguru was so happy that she reached into her robe and pulled out a bug she had secretly named "Pochi."


    "Do you want a bug?"


    "N--No, I don''t want it."


    "I see..."


    With sadness, she returned Pochi to her robe. It seems the human wasn''t happy to receive bugs, after all. Even so, she wanted to do something to make this human happy. Something like that, even an uneducated person like herself understood what it was.


    "I''m suddenly sleepy. I''ll sleep for a while."


    "Huh..."


    After untying him, Uhouguru pretended to be asleep. When she glanced at him, Suzuki looked stunned, but eventually, he stood up quietly.


    (That''s right. Run away. Suzuki, you must run away.)


    However, Uhouguru realized something. The same skeleton soldier from earlier was in front of Suzuki, who was about to leave the torture room.


    She stopped pretending to be asleep and decided to knock out the skeleton soldier. But the skeleton soldier also stood still, tilting her head and emitting a snoring sound from her bony mouth cavity. Suzuki ran past.


    As Uhouguru watched, the skeleton soldier gave her a fleshless thumbs-up.


    (Oh, I see. You want Suzuki to be saved, too?)


    It had been fifty years since she had joined the Thunder-Lance Charge. For the first time, Uhouguru felt a sense of connection with her comrades.


    (All right, go, Suzuki. Run away in good health and grow up fast. And one day, I hope you''ll show me your healthy face again.)


    However, Uhouguru''s wish was soon crushed.


    The sound of footsteps echoed violently from the basement stairs. Nephira, the leader of the Thunder-Lance Charge, appeared with a bloodthirsty look on her face.


    (N--Not good!!)


    If Suzuki were to get caught and considered an escapee, he would be killed instantly. Uhouguru ran out like a rabbit and held her hands out in front of Nephira as if protecting Suzuki.


    "Lady Nephira, please wait!"


    "No, before that.... Who are you bastard?"


    "I''m Uhouguru!"


    "Uhou---- Eehhhh...! We''ve been working together for more than 50 years... and you... look like that...?!"


    "Yes. That''s right, Lady Nephira. Don''t kill this human..."


    "I don''t need you to tell me. Torture has been suspended. Suzuki will be taken to the slaves'' cell."


    Uhouguru was relieved. Slave labor, was it? At least he would not be tortured nor turned into food.


    At the same time, she felt lonely. Now, they would probably never see each other again. No, that''s fine. It would be better for him not to be around torturers like herself. But why? Tears dripped from her eyes.


    Within her blurry vision, she saw Suzuki, who had been taken by the hand by Nephira, looking back at Uhouguru.


    "U--Uhm. You know the next one is a girl, right? I hope you don''t hurt her or kill her, but..."


    "If I don''t kill her, will I see Suzuki again?"


    "Uhm..." Suzuki hesitated and glanced at Nephira.


    Nephira looked back and nodded lightly, "Sigh. You will see him again."


    "Really? Then, I, will not kill her! So, please come and visit us again!"


    "Understood."


    "Definitely?"


    "Y--Yeah."


    "Absolutely!" Uhouguru hollered at Suzuki, who nodded silently. "Unmistakably absolutely!"


    Wishing for him to definitely come and visit again, Uhouguru reminded him once again. Suzuki looked a little hesitant, then waved at her. Uhouguru was so happy that she shouted as loud as she could.


    "Unmistakably, absolutely, for sure----------!!"


    "You''re so persistent, Uhouguru! Shut up!!"


    Uhouguru got angry at Nephira.

 CH 2.1

    After being rescued from the torture chamber by Nephira, Takashi was placed in a slave cell. The slave camp was a shabby wooden shack located a short distance from the Syness Castle, and he was put in one of the ten or so cells lined up in a row. Inside was a straw mat and several vats of water.


    The smell of beasts pierced Takashi''s nose. He speculated that this was where the castle raised livestock before the demons conquered them.


    (Somehow, I was spared from torture thanks to Uhouguru''s change of heart...)


    The slave cell he was assigned contained men and women dressed in filthy, prison-like clothing. Including Takashi, there were five men and three women. Eight in total.


    He thought back to what happened earlier.


    "To ensure fairness, slaves are auctioned to determine which demon they will serve. Stay here for a while until the selection day," Nephira had told Takashi as she walked out of the torture chamber. Incidentally, Nephira then blushed a little, and offered, "You can stay in my room until the day of selection, if you like."


    Takashi immediately refused, thinking that entering the room of the Thunder-Lance Charge''s captain would be like sticking his neck into a hanging noose. However...


    (When I refused... that demon, she looked a little sad, didn''t she?)


    Sitting on the straw mat, Takashi thought about such things. The stuff received while in the previous prison was laid out in front of him. There were things like a water bottle, a portable toilet, a creepy doll, and strange pieces of meat. Aside from the water bottle and the portable toilet, he didn''t know what the other items were for.


    A few moments after Nephira left, a large, muscular man walked toward Takashi.


    "You, look at you douche."


    Standing about 190 cm tall, he looked at Takashi and wrinkled his brow. Soon, the man with the fox''s eyes, sitting near the water bottle, approached Takashi as well.


    "This guy has dark eyes. By any chance, were you the one summoned as a hero?"


    "...Yes, that''s right," Takashi affirmed, and at that moment, he felt a shock and pain in his abdomen as he was blown away to a nearby pile of logs. The muscular man had struck Takashi.


    "Guh. Wha-What the hell did you do that for...?!"


    "Shut up, you piece of trash! If only you were stronger, we wouldn''t be in this position!"


    "Tha-that''s right! It''s all this guy''s fault!!"


    The man with the fox''s eyes was also furious and lunged at Takashi. After being kicked repeatedly, Takashi was forced to grovel on the ground helplessly.


    "Stop!"


    An imposing voice echoed through the shack, and the two violent men stopped in their tracks. Somehow, Takashi managed to look up at the source of the voice. A beautiful girl with chestnut-colored hair braided in the back stood tall. She wore the same prisoner''s outfit as Takashi and the others, but she possessed a sharply defined expression in her emerald green eyes. Her eyes were full of strong will, and her entire body exuded a noble aura.


    The fox-eyed man was puzzled by the regal girl, but the muscular man laughed through his nose and snorted, "Don''t act so conceited! You''re not a princess or anything anymore. The castle has fallen, you know?"


    Then an old man with a white beard next to the girl stood up and with a hoarse voice, shouted, "Logue! Know your place!! How dare you, a mere knight, address so rudely the Third Princess of the Kingdom of Leirune, Lady Excella!"


    "You mean, the former third princess of the Kingdom of Leirune. Besides, I''m not a knight anymore," replied the large man named Logue as he approached the old man with a white beard. And without hesitation, he punched the old man in the face.


    "Uh..."


    "Orneo!" the girl shouted and ran to the fallen old man. The girl glared at Logue while showing concern for the old man. "What cruelty...!"


    "YOU better know your place. Now that the demon race has conquered Leirune, you royalty are the biggest criminals of all. My position and yours have been reversed!" Logue spat at the collapsed old man.


    Takashi could not remain silent at the repeated rampage. He stood up, holding his stomach. He called out, "Stop it!! We are all humans, you know!"


    "Can it!! Like I said, this is all your damn fault!!!"


    Takashi received a hard kick to the abdomen, and his body bent into a boomerang shape. He rolled onto the straw, vomiting up his stomach contents. With a snort, Logue approached Excella.


    "You are also a cocky witch. Let''s see our princess."


    He reached out with his fat hand to her chest and ripped her clothes off in one swift motion.


    "Noo!"


    Excella''s once regal face contorted into shame.


    Seeing this, Logue smiled wickedly, "We have no future anyway. So let''s have some fun, shall we?"


    "That''s good! Please give me a turn, too!"


    The man with the fox eyes approached Excella with Logue. The other men and women around them acted unconcerned---as if they didn''t want to get involved.


    "S--Stop...!"


    Takashi tried to stand up again, but the kick was too hard that he could not muster his strength. The old man, Orneo, seemed to be in the same condition as him. He cursed at himself. He couldn''t do anything but watch as the girl was about to get violated!!


    "Hey, Suzuki! And also, the rest of you livestock! It''s time to eat!"


    Suddenly, a voice full of excitement filled the slave cells. The red-haired, twin-tailed Kiru and the blue-haired, pony-tailed Meru entered the slave cell with innocent smiles on their faces, almost un-demon-like. Logue clicked his tongue and stepped away from Excella, who he was mounting like a horse.


    In the tense atmosphere, Kiru entered the cell and, without paying attention to the other slaves, ran totteringly to the portable toilet she had given to Takashi. After peeking into it, her attitude changed.


    "H--Hey, Suzuki! You, haven''t pooped today, have you? Are you okay?"


    "I''m FINE!!" Takashi screamed, embarrassed.


    (Would you stop it?! Why are you talking about me pooping in such a heavy atmosphere!?)


    In the first place, why would she be concerned if he hadn''t defecated for just one day? As if having no clue how Takashi felt, his sister Meru tapped a large iron pot with a ladle.


    "Here you go---- It is porridge!---- You better be grateful!----"


    After tossing a few dirty bowls on the straw, Meru slammed her hand on the straw mat.


    "Then, next---- Bring me some food for Suzuki----"


    Two skeleton soldiers appeared, carrying several plates. Placed around Takashi were giant whole fish and bread of all sizes. They also served him hot soup and a drink that smelled of fruit.


    Logue shouted in rage, "He''s treated like a king?! Why is he the only one?!"


    Takashi felt the murderous gaze of Logue. C--Could this be the demons'' way of harassment!?


    (Are they trying to isolate me from everyone else? If that''s the case, it''s too insidious!)


    On the contrary, the thin man, who had been cowering in the corner, muttered to himself as he held a bowl of porridge.


    "W--What''s the point of eating! W--We''re all going to be killed anyway..."


    In an uninterested tone, Kiru replied, "You are not food, but slaves. Suzuki, in particular, will never be killed so you can rest assured."


    She patted Takashi''s shoulder in a friendly manner while saying so.


    "I am sure that Suzuki will become Nephira-sama''s slave. He''ll have a nice life at the castle."


    "Yeah. Until then, he''ll have to be patient here in the stable for a while----"


    "See you, Suzuki! You should take a poop properly!"

 CH 2.2

    The twin demons were about to leave after saying so when the old man Orneo called out to them.


    "P--Please excuse me, but would you please move me and Her Highness the Princess to a neighboring cell?"


    "Huh---- Why----?"


    "Because they have been violent with the princess."


    Orneo pointed with a crooked finger at the muscular man and fox-eyed man.


    "Old thing! You bastard!"


    The two men''s faces turned red with rage. Still, Meru and Kiru grew bored and absentminded.


    "Hmmm. I see----"


    "A transfer of cells. What a hassle... Yeah. Well, get along. That''s all. See ya."


    They were about to leave. Orneo panicked and then pointed at Takashi.


    "P--Please wait! They assaulted that boy, too!"


    The two sisters turned around at the same time, their faces red with rage.


    "What did you say!?"


    "Huh---- unbelievable----!!"


    Then they rushed toward Takashi in a panic.


    "Suzuki----! Are you okay----? Are you hurt----?"


    "If you look closely, he is holding his stomach, isn''t he?! Let me see!"


    Kiru rips Takashi''s clothes open. The blue bruises from Logue''s punches and kicks were clearly visible. Kiru approached the muscular man and the fox-eyed man standing a short distance away.


    "Hey. The one who did something terrible to Suzuki, was it you?"


    "W--What if I was?"


    "I''ll murder you!"


    "You said it earlier! You don''t kill slaves!"


    "I don''t care! I''ll murder you!


    Kiru''s eyes shone with a strange light that Takashi had never seen before. Logue raised his fist as if he just had a major epiphany.


    "Don''t joke with me, you weak-looking little devil!"


    Logue winded his arm out wide and drove his fist into Kiru''s abdomen as if to gouge her. With a thud, the small body floats in midair.


    "Hehe..."


    Logue smiled smugly. Suddenly, however, his face became distorted with pain.


    [Crunch crunch munch crunch]


    A bone-crunching, gruesome sound echoed through the slave cell.


    "Guaaaaaaahh!!!"


    Logue''s arm remained stuck in Kiru''s abdomen as he screamed. Takashi, however, couldn''t believe his eyes. Logue''s thick arm was gradually becoming shorter and shorter.


    (W--What, is that...!)


    Kiru''s clothes ripped open, revealing a huge mouth with fangs emerging from it. Logue''s arm was being devoured by the huge mouth that had opened up in Kiru''s abdomen. Then, as if sucking up from his arm, the mouth opened wide and bit off the upper half of Logue''s body. The lower half of Logos'' body was left, splurging guts and fresh blood, and it crumpled on the straw.


    "Phua. Oh, no---- This guy, was so oily."


    "E--Eeek!"


    Kiru pounces on the man with the fox eyes, who tried to run away screaming. As she tightened her hold on him tightly, the fox-eyed man pleaded.


    "P--Please spare m--"


    Snap. The fox-eye man''s plea disappeared mid-sentence. The man was engulfed from head to torso, and like Logue, was reduced to only its lower half. The men and women in the cell all let out a shriek.


    "Hm---this guy''s like the guy before. A piece of shit on the inside."


    The sound of bone-crunching chewing was emanating from her stomach, but Kiru completely changed her attitude as she turned and smiled tenderly at Takashi.


    "Suzuki! I killed the bad guy! Now you can live more comfortably!"


    However, Takashi was horrified and abashed by the sight of Kiru eating a human right in front of him.


    "F--For real, she, she ate a human...!"


    He muttered in a trembling voice. Kiru covered her stomach with her hand suddenly as she realized her mistake.


    "I do not eat humans, you know!"


    "No, you eat them!! And you ate two of them in a row!"


    "N--No, you are mistaken, Suzuki! I thought I was doing the right thing...!"


    Takashi was frightened. Kiru covered her eyes with her hands and ran out of the cell.


    "Waaaaaah!!"


    "D--Dear older sister----!!"


    Kiru started to cry and left the slave cell while Meru chased after her.


    ¡ô


    For a while, Takashi was stunned, but then he calmed down and reconsidered.


    (Hmm... Kiru helped me... didn''t she? N--No, I still think that''s a bit of a stretch!)


    Takashi shuddered as he took one look at the two dead bodies that only had the lower half of their bodies left, wondering if anybody would quickly clean up the mess.


    Orneo walked toward Takashi, who was inwardly unsettled. Then, he suddenly held Takashi''s hand.


    "Huh?"


    "As I thought, you are indeed the summoned hero! You have a great ability!"


    "N--No, no. You saw the way they hit me, right? I have no ability whatsoever,"


    But Excella, holding her torn clothes, stood beside Takashi, her eyes shining.


    "In the eyes of demons, humans are an abomination! Despite this, the demons are not hostile toward you! On the contrary, they treat you as if you are one of their own!"


    (So to say...)


    When he was summoned, he received scorn from the king who called him a failure and was treated roughly by everyone around him. But that was because they were human.


    Thinking back on it, Nephira, Meru, Kiru, the skeleton soldiers, and Uhouguru... all the demons treated him well. He had thought he was being played with because of their different behaviors from humans, but... that wasn''t how it was. Was it their own way of being nice to him?


    Looking at the lovely food and portable toilets placed only around him, Takashi recalls the Goddess''s words.


    [I''ll gift you the ability to be loved unconditionally by the local race]


    (I see. The other-world I was sent to was wrong, but the ability I received was the original one.)


    Finally, Takashi became convinced. Excella was staring at such a Takashi who had a serious expression on his face. Takashi noticed tears in Excella''s eyes. She held Takashi''s hands in hers as if to envelop them.


    "Lord Hero! Please use your ability to save the world!"


    "B--But, that''s assuming I have the ability to make demons like me, right? Even so, I can''t save the world with that kind of ability!"


    Takashi smiled bitterly in denial, but the old man Orneo turned his deeply wrinkled face toward Takashi.


    "Fighting demons with swords and magic does not necessarily make you a hero. For example, if those demon''s leaders take a liking to you... And if you could move from the shadows...''


    "Orneo! That is too dangerous! If he does that and he makes a mistake, he will lose his life!"


    "Yes, that''s right. Let''s just treat that as the rambling of an old man."


    "Ah, aah..."


    ¡ô


    That night, while lying on the straw in the slave cell, Takashi thought to himself. Originally, Takashi had hoped for a light-hearted life in the other-world he would be sent to. However, the situation was not quite what he had in mind. This was a terrifying world where humanity had been conquered by demons.


    (But, I have the ability to be loved by demons. In that case...)


    Takashi stood up and walked to the entrance of the slave cell. He then approached the skeleton soldier on watch.


    "Can I go to Nephira''s quarters?"


    "I have been instructed to listen to Suzuki''s requests as much as possible. But, what are your intentions?"


    Takashi told the skeleton soldier clearly.


    "I want to become Nephira''s slave."

 CH 2.3

    The former queen''s quarters have been turned into Nephira''s quarters. Today, too, Nephila''s pointed ears heard a demon knocking on her door.


    Not again, Nephira thought. The number of audiences and consultations had decreased considerably compared to the days immediately after the conquest of Leirune. Even so, someone would always visit her once an hour, except during her bedtime.


    "Lady Nephira. Please excuse me."


    Nephira''s face broke into a small smile at the sound of Meru''s voice, her loyal top-brass subordinate. When she entered, Meru was accompanied by a snake-headed fiend that gave off a shady impression.


    "What''s wrong?"


    "Uhm----. This is Gharaga!----. The one that ate a human baby!----."


    "Sorry, Leader. I meant no offense. "


    Gharaga was a senior soldier who had distinguished himself in battle. However, his ferociousness was undeniable, and he caused problems at every turn.


    Gharaga stuck out his long, red tongue. He seems to have no malicious intentions.


    "You eat humans, too, right? Forgive me, will you?"


    "Except in cases of force majeure, troop rules forbid the eating of human babies for personal gain."


    After the conquest, the humans in the town were to be raised in such a way that they would not become extinct. They consider humans to be an abomination, but they have their uses. Even the loss of one of them would cause problems.


    "Kekeke. Don''t be so stiff!"


    Nephira flashed her hand like a sword at Gharaga''s floundering tongue.


    "Guhaaaaa!"


    Gharaga screamed as his tongue was cut out in half, gurgling green fluid from his wounds.


    "...Three days, put him in a cell."


    "I understand----. Hey! Get moving! ----."


    "Damn!!! Damn youuuuuu!!"


    After Meru took the rampaging Gharaga away, Nephira sighed with a fed-up look on her face.


    (Ah... It''s tough.)


    (It''s hard to command demons, especially due to their own eccentricities. I know that very well, but I can''t stand it when my people keep causing problems when I''m already so busy after the conquest.)


    Nephira''s slightly irritated ears heard another knock at the door.


    "That''s it for today! Come tomorrow!"


    "I--I understand. I apologize for the inconvenience!"


    She answered with an angry shout, and a skeleton soldier apologized through the door. Then mumbling and whispering could be heard from the other side of the door.


    "Suzuki. Today''s no good. Let''s come back tomorrow."


    "I--I see."


    (Suzuki!?)


    Nephira rushed to the door and opened it. There stood the adorable Suzuki.


    (Ah, He''s so cute today, too--!)


    Just looking at Suzuki soothed away the fatigue of the day. What cuteness. What solace. Ah, imagine being able to look at him at all times.


    "This slave insisted on meeting you, Lady Nephira! However, you seem to be very busy! We will come back another day!"


    "No! I will listen to what Suzuki has to say! You can return first!"


    "Huh? Ah! R--Roger!"


    After the skeleton soldier bowed and left, Nephira invited Suzuki into her quarters.


    (Ah, he said he wanted to meet me... Suzuki... with me!?)


    Nephira''s two hearts beat wildly. Suzuki hesitantly entered the room and noticed Gharaga''s tongue still lying on the floor. The tongue was twitching eerily.


    "W--What, is that!?"


    "It''s Gharaga''s tongue. Don''t let it bother you."


    "No, it''s really bothering me! It''s moving!"


    Nephira reaches her arm out towards Gharaga''s tongue. Then, she activated lightning magic from her palm and burned it away. Suzuki''s body quivered slightly, watching her.


    "That ruffians broke the rules. That''s why his tongue got cut off. When it comes to our own people, we must judge even more strictly."


    "Hey... wasn''t that a bit too severe, Nephira..." Suzuki mumbled.


    "So, Suzuki. What do you want?"


    After a slight hesitation, Suzuki looked away from Nephila while saying, "...I''d like to become Nephira''s slave, but"


    (Y... --------------------------------------------Yay!!)


    Nephira was thrilled in her heart. What! What!!! Suzuki, with me, he likes me!? Oh GOD. Aren''t we already in love with each other!!


    "Wh--What is wrong, Nephira?"


    "I''m dizzy from standing abruptly. Wait a second."


    She thought she was acting calm, but her legs were shaking.


    (No, I can''t, I can''t. As the leader of the Thunder-Lance Charge, I must not lose my dignity.)


    She had to keep her cool and think things through. Slaves must be chosen through the auction, according to the rules in the Thunder-Lance Charge.


    Nephira snapped her fingers, causing a black vortex to appear in the space in front of her. The astonished Suzuki watched as Nephira plunged her hand into the whirlpool and pulled out a scroll containing the rules of her corps. She then unrolled it.


    [Article 7 of the Regulations of the Corps: The selection of slaves shall be determined by mutual consultation in the interest of fairness.]


    Nephira gritted her teeth at the rules she had set herself. What''s, with these corps rules? Even though, even though Suzuki had volunteered to become her slave!


    She glanced alternately between the scroll and at the adorable Suzuki. Eventually, Nephira''s heart began to waver.


    Wouldn''t it be fine to break a rule or two?


    (It is fine, you know! I, am the leader. I decided on the rules and regulations for the corps in the first place...!)


    Having convinced herself, Nephira took a fountain pen made of bone from the vortex and added a note to the scroll.


    [Article 7 of the Regulations of the Corps: The selection of slaves shall be determined by mutual consultation in the interest of fairness. (¡ù Except for the commander.)


    (There we go!)


    She felt bad for Gharaga, whom she had just punished for breaking the corps rules. Even so, she couldn''t get over Suzuki''s cuteness. Well, she was a demon by nature. And that made her cunning by nature. It was a quality she couldn''t deny.


    "Nephira. In exchange for becoming your slave, I''d like to ask you for a little favor."


    "What is it?"


    "You see. Regarding the people in the slavery cell that I was in, I ask you to, as much as possible, find a gentle demon to become their master. I don''t want the slaves to be harmed in any way. Especially for Excella or any of the girls. I don''t want them to suffer the brunt of the violence from the demons."


    (Excella... Ah, the daughter of royalty, right?)


    Because she was concerned for Suzuki, Nephira knew to some extent who was in his slave cell. She remembered that the third princess of Leirune was in the same cell.


    Originally, Nephira had planned to kill everyone in the castle, including the royal family. However, Suzuki was inside the castle at the time of the invasion. To avoid the possibility that others might think that Suzuki''s survival was a mistake, the rest of the people in the castle got enslaved as well.


    (Well... even though she''s royalty, she''s only the third princess, which is close to the end of the succession line. It should be fine. I''m sure that would make Suzuki happy.)


    "I understand. I will choose the demons to be their masters. I''ll make sure it won''t be a brute like Gharaga."


    "Thank you!"


    Seeing Suzuki''s happy face, Nephira felt happy too.


    "It''s already late today. Are you going to sleep or is there still something you plan on doing?"


    "A, AH! Well, I''ll take my leave"


    "What are you saying? Suzuki is my slave, right? Sleep here."


    "Eh...!"


    ...


    ...A few hours passed. Nephira wanted to sleep next to Suzuki, but it was too strange for a demon to sleep with a slave. So, with tears in her eyes, she decided to sleep in separate beds.


    In a dark corner of the room, Suzuki was lying down, wrapped in a blanket.


    (Suzuki, is he asleep?)


    Nephira got up from the bed and slowly and quietly approached Suzuki.


    She saw Suzuki''s adorable sleeping face illuminated by the moonlight coming from the window. Ah, cute. Too adorable. She felt the desire to embrace him. She wanted to undress and get intimate with each other.


    (No, NO GOOD! That''s not good!)


    Nephira shook her head wildly to overcome her desire. The cuteness of Suzuki should not be tarnished by anyone. To make a lovely creature like Suzuki the object of one''s sexual love was sacrilege---as if one were disgracing a demon god one should worship.


    (A--And yet, that''s what makes it a little exciting, right...?!)


    She thought her impulses were wrong. Yet it also aroused her demonical sadistic desires. Just a taste! It would be fine if it is only cuddling a tad, right!! Yes, cuddling! An embrace of affection towards the demon god!!

 CH 2.4

    Takashi volunteered to be Nephira''s slave for a reason. He wanted to use his ability to be unconditionally loved by demons to save the country, as Orneo hinted in the slave cell.


    If the leader of the Thunder-Lance Charge, Nephira, took a liking to him, they could establish a good relationship. The short-term goal was the liberation of slaves. Eventually, a peace treaty between demons and humans... Takashi dreamed of such a goal.


    (But... I was too naive...!)


    Right now, Takashi was filled with regret and trembled with fear.


    Nephira, who was supposed to be sleeping a distance away from him, was, for some reason, right next to him. Nephira''s big chest approached closer to him as she breathed deeply.


    "Eeep!? Nephira!! Why are you next to me!?"


    He couldn''t help but shout. Then Nephira''s body winced in surprise, and she cleared her throat.


    "Uhm, I--I... I''m a terrible sleeper, you know. I''m afraid I accidentally rolled my way here..."


    Takashi glanced at the canopy bed where Nephira slept. The queen''s quarters were spacious, and Nephira''s bed was at least five meters from Takashi''s current position. No, how far did she roll? That''s a lie for sure!


    Suddenly feeling uneasy, Takashi shuddered.


    (Surely, she wasn''t planning to eat me, right?)


    His ability might not necessarily mean "Being loved by fiends = Being loved by fiends." One could love a pet or love one''s favorite food. If so, there was a good chance that Nephira might kill him in the future. Cold sweat broke out on his back as he recalled how one of the twin demons, Kiru devoured Logue. However...


    "I''m sorry about this. I''m going back to my bed."


    "Ah. O--Ok."


    Takashi was relieved to see Nephira leave without a hitch.


    Nephira didn''t do anything after that, but Takashi couldn''t sleep for the rest of the night.


    ¡ó


    (I''ll have to prepare something tasty for Suzuki to apologize for yesterday! I wonder what would be good!)


    The next day, Nephira was strolling alone in the town market. She felt quite remorseful for having snuck into Suzuki''s bed in a moment of desire. In order to continue to get along with their master-slave relationship, she wanted to make up to him for yesterday.


    But what did humans like to eat, anyway? She didn''t know. Vegetables and fish were probably safer than bloody beast meat.


    While looking at the various foodstuffs laid out on the mat, a well-built troll approached Nephira.


    "If it isn''t Lady Nephira! We have fresh products!"


    "Oh. What product?"


    "Fresh human hearts!"


    "Hey, you...! You''ve got to be kidding me...!"


    As a human, Suzuki couldn''t eat human hearts. This fiend was trying to tear apart the relationship between herself and Suzuki. Nephira glared at the troll.


    "W--Why are you making such a scary face? Lady Nephira... isn''t human hearts your favorite food!?


    "Mu. That''s true. But, right now, I''m looking for food for my slave."


    "Ah, if that''s the case, please just say so!"


    After the vegetable and fish shopping, the shopkeeper bowed down to Nephira in a humble manner.


    "If you like, how about that human heart of earlier as an apology? Free of charge, of course!"


    "I appreciate the gesture. But I''m not really in the mood today. "


    Saying that, Nephira left the market.


    After walking for a while, she suddenly stopped. Human hearts were indeed her favorite. And the shopkeeper had offered it to her free of charge. Why, then, had she turned him down?


    She wondered a little about her change of heart, but more than that, she wanted to see the joy on Suzuki''s face, so she quickly returned to the castle with the ingredients in her arms.


    (Should I boil the fish? Should I grill it?)


    Nephira was in a cheerful mood. However, just after passing the castle gate, a skeleton soldier hesitantly approached her.


    "Lady Nephira. There is something I would like to bring to your attention..."

 CH 2.5

    Excella, the former Third Princess of the Kingdom of Leirune, was praying in her slave cell. It was a daily routine for her, but these days, the object of her adoration was not God but Suzuki. Orneo had told her that Suzuki had become Nephira''s slave.


    "Lord Hero¡­ Please be safe."


    Such prayer from Excella was interrupted. The door to the slave cell opened loudly and violently, and Nephira walked straight toward her. She shrank back at the unusual look on Nephira''s face. The icy gaze shot through her eyes.


    "You wench. I heard you have been plotting to free the slaves by instigating Suzuki."


    For a moment, Excella thought she might stop breathing. W¨CWho in the world could have blabbered?


    Quickly looking around, she realized. The man who was always in the corner, biting his fingernails and trembling, was gone. I see. He was listening to them. Perhaps in exchange for that information, he asked the Demon Lord''s Army to guarantee his safety¡­


    "T¨CThe princess did not instigate the hero!"


    Orneo tried to intervene, but Nephira was not interested. She kept her sharp gaze fixed on Excella.


    "Young lass. Don''t look down on a DEMON!"


    "W-what about Lord Hero!!! What will you do to Lord Suzuki!?"


    "I didn''t tell Suzuki about this. Suzuki is just a victim of your evil schemes."


    (L¨CLord Hero will not bear the brunt of their wrath¡­!)


    In such cases, the hero who infiltrated as a slave would normally be the first to be suspected and then punished. And yet¡­


    It was as she expected. His extraordinary ability shook Excella to her core. With his ability, he really could win over the Demon Lord''s Army. The total liberation of slaves was not a dream. However, it seemed unlikely that she would witness that beautiful future for the human race.


    (Surely, I will be killed now.)


    Even so, Excella was fine with this outcome. Because in this brutal world, she could see a glimmer of hope.


    (Lord Hero will change this world into something new. In the future, without me¡­)


    However, Nephira clicked her tongue in annoyance.


    "I''d like to kill you right now, but¡­ Suzuki might be saddened if you die."


    (Ah, my God!!)


    Excella thanked God for saving her. However, the hope that had bloomed in Excella''s heart soon faded.


    Nephira''s icy gaze shifted from her to Orneo.


    "As your substitute. I''m going to kill this senile old fool."


    "N¨CNo way!"


    "He is a senile old fool with a foot on the grave. Suzuki won''t be too saddened even if he dies."


    Excella was about to rush toward Nephira, but Orneo placed his hand on her shoulder and shook his head quietly.


    "Sooner or later, the head advisor of the Demon Lord''s Army, Serphiano will arrive in this country. Then this senile old fool will be executed."


    With these words, Nephira turned on her heels.


    ¡­


    After Nephila left, Excella sobbed as she clung to Orneo.


    "Why! Why! Why Orneo!"


    "My Lady. Don''t worry. It was just as that demon said. I''m not going to live long anyway."


    "Orneo has always been there for me! Even after Father and Mother abandoned me!"


    Born as the Third Princess of Leirune, Excella was excluded from the succession to the throne due to her thin royal blood. Orneo was always kind to her, even though she often was mistreated in the castle. From an early age, he raised her as if he were her own grandfather.


    (And yet!)


    Perhaps it would have been easier for her if it was her that was to be killed. Excella''s chest felt as if it was about to burst open.

 CH 2.6

    Three days had passed since Takashi became Nephira''s slave. Although he wasn''t allowed to leave the castle without permission, he could eat three meals a day and sleep freely. Takashi was living a life without any inconvenience.


    Nephira didn''t do anything to Takashi and simply treated him like a guest. Nephira had told him she planned to make this country her home until the next expedition. In some cases, they would stay in the conquered lands for several years.


    After climbing the tower connected with the castle, Takashi stood alone in the wind, contemplating. As the goddess had said, the feelings the demoness had for him were different from what he understood as love. So what was really the "Ability to be Unconditionally Loved"? The more he thought about it, the more he realized that it was an ability that was vague and difficult to grasp. Takashi himself was unsure of how powerful his ability was.


    (But well... I can feel that they, at least, care about me.)


    He had become familiar with demons other than Nephira. The MeruKiru sisters, as well as the skeleton soldiers in the castle, were all very friendly to Takashi.


    He descended from the tower and walked around the castle. He met a demon dressed as a maid who smiled at Takashi.


    "Good morning."


    "Hum. G''Morning."


    "How are you feeling today?"


    "Ah... Not bad."


    He was allowed to go out as long as he was with Nephira. The demons they met outside bowed to Nephira and talked to Suzuki in a friendly manner.


    While browsing for groceries at the market, he met Uhouguru, the torturer from the dungeon.


    "Hey! Suzuki!"


    "Oh. You''re not masked today, are you?"


    "I took it off. So, Suzuki''s looking at my face... fufufufufu!"


    Uhouguru bashfully wiggled her hands. Huh? What? Did I... say something to her?


    "I know! Want, a bug? It is a different one from the one before!"


    "I don''t want it."


    "...I see."


    Meanwhile, Nephira returned and handed Takashi the ingredients she had bought. It was a slave''s job to carry his master''s luggage.


    "Let''s go, Suzuki."


    "Ah. See you, Uhouguru."


    ...The gentle sunlight and the demons smiling at him. And next to him is Nephira, who is pouting but seems to be in a good mood. Nephira must have been concerned about Takashi. The load given to him to carry was not heavy at all.


    (Huh? It''s pretty heartwarming, isn''t it? Maybe this is the life in another world I''ve always wanted...)


    When he was thinking that...


    "Come on in! Human flesh is cheap today!!--"


    He heard the voice of such a fiend. Furthermore, a demon with a human woman with bruises on her face passed right next to Takashi.


    "Walk quickly! You useless slave! I''ll kill you! ... Ah, Lady Nephira and Suzuki! Good afternoon! It''s a beautiful day, isn''t it?"


    Takashi shook his head at such a sight.


    (N--No, No good, no good! There is no meaning if I''m the only one having a heartwarming life!!


    ...


    Back at the castle, Nephira cooked the ingredients she had chosen. Normally, slaves were supposed to take meals separately from their masters, but Nephira wanted to sit at the same table as Takashi.


    Nephira''s cooking was surprisingly quite tasty.


    Sipping blood-colored wine, Nephira spoke to Takashi.


    "Tomorrow, the head advisor of the Demon Lord''s Army, Lord Serphiano, will come to the castle."


    "The head advisor of the Demon Lord''s Army? What does he want?"


    "He is coming to see how the conquered country is doing. Well, it is fine if you don''t worry about it, Suzuki"


    Nephira brings a piece of seafood similar to a shrimp to her mouth. She seemed a bit drunk and happy.


    "Lord Serphiano is an amazing person. In the past, we, the Demon King''s Army and the Beast King''s Oni Squad, attacked the human nation of Krevalun. The Beast King''s Oni Squad had the upper hand, but among the enemy humans was a sorcerer. He used his mysterious sorcery to make the Beast King''s Oni Squad believe they were friendly with the humans of Krevalun."


    "Hu--HUH. Really?"


    "Apparently, it was quite the powerful sorcery. It was so powerful that no one in the Beast King''s Oni Squad even noticed that they had fallen for the technique."


    Nephira continued to explain.


    "However, in the presence of the third eye of Serphiano, the head advisor of the Demon King''s Army, there was nothing to fear. Lord Serphiano immediately saw through the sorcery. The Beast King''s Oni Squad came to their senses and killed the sorcerer. After that, they slaughtered every last human in Krevalun."


    Takashi gulped heavily as he listened to the story. T--That sorcerer''s sorcery is similar to my ability, isn''t it...?


    "You will be introduced to Lord Serphiano as my slave. No problem, you will be free from any blame as long as you carry on as you normally do."


    "Y--Yes. I understand."


    He knew his own voice was trembling.


    (Head Advisor of the Demon Lord''s Army, Serphiano...! Is such a dangerous demon really coming...!?)


    After that, Takashi could not taste anything from the food he ate.

 CH 3.1

    Two small dragons were pulling a cart along the road to Atlasia, where human bones once rolled. From the back of the dragon carriage, a roof covered it, and the interior was surprisingly spacious. In the leather chair was Serphiano, the Counselor of the Demon Lord''s army. A little further away sat Grant, the ogre accompanying her.


    Serphiano had long, flowing silver hair and wore an unmistakably demonic silvery-white dress, giving her the appearance of a goddess to strangers that lay eyes on her.


    Between the eyebrows of her seemingly beautiful and demure face, however, shone a reptilian third eye that glinted with suspiciously gleaming light.


    "Grant, let us hurry up on our journey. Make the dragon chariot go faster."


    "Ugha..."


    Grant, an ogre with bright red skin, muscular and strong, stood up, went to the driver''s dais, and gave the dragons a whip. The dragons roared in response, and the speed of the carriage increased.


    Serphiano closed her eyes except for the one on her forehead. In her mind''s eye, she saw exactly the Syness Castle, which she was now heading for in her dragon chariot. It was overflowing with an abominable peach-colored disturbance. She bit her lip as her third eye caught the waves of love, which was considered foul by demons.


    (He is already using his charm-technique. The Thunder-Lance Charge should already be seen as under the control of the enemy.)


    Serphiano, the Chief Advisor of the Demon King''s army, had already detected an anomaly in the Land of Leirune with her third eye, the awe-inspiring ability aptly named "Clairvoyant Sight".


    It felt similar to the sorcery of the sorcerer in Krevalun before. However, this powerful wave... The range and power were even greater than at that time. But...


    (Don''t you dare underestimate this Serphiano, the Chief Strategist of the Demon King''s army!)


    Serphiano, who had absolute confidence in her ability, Clairvoyant Sight, and her own wits, gloatingly grinned inside the shaking dragon chariot.


    ......


    "...Dame Serphiano. Thank you for coming."


    Nephira, the commander of the Thunder-Lance Charge, welcomed Serphiano as she stepped out from her dragon chariot. Led by Nephira, she headed for the castle with Grant.


    She and Grant parted ways at the entrance to the castle to avoid suspicion. She then went to Nephira''s quarters.


    Upon entering the room, she sat on the chair offered to her. Then Nephira offered her a glass of wine, but Serphiano shook her head. The abhorrent wave was becoming more intense.


    "I''ll get right to the point, Nephira. Are you keeping any humans near you?"


    "Keeping? Perhaps, you are referring to Suzuki?"


    "Suzuki... It is an odd name. I wonder if it is some otherworldly being summoned as a hero?"


    "I do not know much about it. He''s a human who was in the castle of Syness at the time of the invasion. I made him my slave. He is quiet and obedient. He is an excellent slave. No problems at all."


    "Is that so? I would like to see the slave once, if possible.


    "You want to see Suzuki? I''ll make him bring in some sake right now. Just a moment. Fufufufu"


    Sephiano has never seen Nephira laugh outside of battle. And yet, she was grinning as if she was proudly introducing her son.


    It was futile to try to persuade someone who is under the influence of powerful sorcery. There is a simpler and surefire way... to kill the sorcerer. Serphiano believes this is the best strategy.


    (The moment the door is opened. I''ll kill Suzuki immediately, regardless of his intentions.)


    Serphiano had made up her mind. Under the table, out of Nephira''s sight, the nails of her right hand sharpened as if they were knives.


    (With this claw, Suzuki''s... yes, Suzuki''s back, let''s give it a good scratch. Kukuku. Gently and carefully scratch him without... hurt... ing... him...?)


    Serphiano was astonished when she noticed the change in her thoughts.


    (Th--Th--This is ludicrous!! Before I had even met him, I was ready to kill him!? I--I had no idea it would be this powerful!!)


    It was like a divine power. Suzuki''s ability far exceeded Serphiano''s imagination.


    Step, step, step.


    (Something is approaching. This is bad! A monster! Suzuki is coming!)


    (F--For now, I can bear it somehow! But! This is... before I have even met him...! If I look directly at him...!)


    "Excuse me..."


    Suzuki awkwardly brought the plate to the table.


    "Gyuuu!?"


    Unexpectedly, Serphiano let out a yell she had never uttered before. At the same time, she became flushed, and a certain part of her felt a bit damp. Suzuki, in his awkwardness and cuteness, was something that couldn''t be described in a thousand words.


    "This is Dame Serphiano, the Chief Advisor of the Demon''s Lord Army."


    "Uh--Uh-hum. Nice to meet you. I''m Suzuki."


    After placing the plate containing sausages on the table, he curtsies politely with a bow.


    (W--What an unprecedented cuteness! Ah, adorable! Adorable! I want to make him my slave.... HUH!)


    "Rasseraaaaaaaaaa!!"


    Serphiano, making a strange noise, slammed her face into the plate of sausages that Suzuki had brought in. Suzuki and Nephira were startled.


    "No, wait!? This person, what is she doing!?"


    "Wh--What''s wrong!? Dame Serphiano!?"


    (Stop----------------it!! I''m losing my marbles!!)


    In an instant, all sense of reason flew out of her body. What is this, this creature? It''s just too cute! Isn''t it?!


    Feeling fear as if her brain was being eroded, Serphiano repeatedly slammed her face against the plate. The plate cracked, and the sausage got crushed into a soggy mess.


    (Phew~ phew. I can... Somehow...!)


    When Serphiano looked up, she saw Nephira and Suzuki staring at her with shocked expressions on their faces. She was able to keep her reason, but she felt that she had lost something important as a general.


    Serphiano tried to smooth the situation over with a wry smile.


    "Hohoho. It sure is a delicious sausage, isn''t it? Nom, nom!"


    "Pl---She''s eating, by the plate? Is this how the Demon Lord''s Chief Advisor eats!?"


    "Suzuki! That is not important! Dame Serphiano''s face is bleeding! Get something to wipe her up!"


    "I''m on it!"

 CH 3.2

    "Suzuki! That is not important! Dame Serphiano''s face is bleeding! Get something to wipe her up!"


    "I''m on it!"


    Suzuki scurried around the area but could not find something to use, so he ripped off a piece of clothing and offered it to Serphiano.


    (His own clothing!? Please stop!! In addition to the cute appearance, that... Don''t show such a commendable attitudeeeeeee!)


    "Hoashaaaaaa!!!"


    Once again, Serphiano got up from her chair, screaming. She then rushed toward the wall and hit the wall head-on. The room echoed with a sound similar to fruit dropped from a high place.


    "Dame Serphiano!?"


    "What the HELL was that all about? This person!? She''s messed up, isn''t she!?"


    After slamming her head against the wall ten times, she finally regained her reasoning and consciousness. Serphiano returned to the table, blood dripping from her head. Her dress was torn from the wild violence, and one of her breasts was sticking out. However, she did not have the luxury of worrying about such things.


    "Nephira!! Suzuki!! Get Suzuki out of the room!! And please bring me a thick chain for binding magical beasts!!"


    "Wha--What the hell, do you mean...!?"


    "Do it quickly! While my, PHUA--PHUA--PHUA!! Consciousness is still, HUFF!! Normaaalllll!!"


    As if overcome by Serphiano''s ghastly appearance, Nephira called for the skeleton soldiers. After that, she kicked Suzuki out of the room. As soon as Suzuki was gone, a skeleton soldier came with a thick chain.


    "Nephira!! You must bind me with those chains!!"


    "Why?!"


    "Just tie me up, quickllyyyyyy!!"


    Finally, Serphiano smiles a little when she is bound to the chair by being wrapped in huge chains.


    "Th--This will do. Haa, Haa, Zaa, Zaa"


    "Dame Seraphino, what is this!?"


    "Let''s call it... Self-bondage measures. I had no choice but to do this to protect the integrity of my mind and the future of the Demon Army..."


    "I''m not sure I understand what you are saying, but...!"


    "Anyway!! We must execute Suzuki at once!!"


    "Wha--!? That''s--!!"


    "Suzuki... that is a terrible weapon of mass destruction, which drives demons mad!!"


    "That can''t be true!! Suzuki is a docile human!! Execution and such...!!"


    (Huh? "Execution"? Execution, is it? Did I, did I say that? That is strange. Why did I say such a deplorable thing...?)


    Since her hands were tied, Serphiano kicked the floor with her feet. The chair tipped over with tremendous force, and Serphiano was knocked to the floor headfirst.


    "OH--OHF...!"


    "Dame Serphiano ah, oh, oh, oh!?"


    Because of her upside-down position, her underwear was completely exposed. The whites of her eyes were showing, and she was foaming from her mouth. Serphiano was horrified, even as Nephila helped her correct the chair.


    (What -- What a horror! Any attempt to harm Suzuki will result in more severe mental damage! For sure, we must execute him with absolute certainty! For the survival of the Demon Lord''s army!)


    "Immediately!! Execute Suzuki right now!!"


    "The--There will be an execution of an old man shortly! Dame Serphiano! I beg of you!"


    "No, I don''t care about a GEEZER!! NO!! NO!! NO!! Absolutely------------not. Regardless, Suzuki must be executed!! He absolutely must be execu------------ted!!"


    "But!!"


    "My orders are the orders of the Demon Lord! This is a compulsory execution order issued for the Thunder--Lance Char------------ge!!"


    "Damn...! Shi--...!"


    (Pe--Perhaps there might be others with abilities similar to Suzuki''s...)


    Seeing Nephira''s pained face, Serphiano proclaimed with her last ounce of strength,


    "It''s not only Suzuki!! Kill all the people who were in the castle when it was conquered!! Prepare for execution now!! Ohhhh, ahhh! Kill them while my ego is still intact!! Kill them ablobablot!! Hurry!! I beg you, please, hur------------ry!"


    ¡ó


    (Damn it... because an incompetent like me pretended to be a hero or something...)


    Takashi looked around, feeling like he was about to burst into tears. After chaining their wrists, the skeleton soldiers brought them to a place that resembled a bullring he had seen on television. He could see many Thunder-Lance Charge fiends sitting on bowl-shaped seats.


    Takashi was now in a waiting area a short distance away. Excella, Orneo, and dozens of other chained slaves stood around him with despairing looks on their faces.


    "What the hell! What the hell!! I thought you said slaves wouldn''t be killed! AHHH!!"


    A thin man screamed in despair. The women were crying heavily.


    It was possible that Serphiano, the chief advisor to the Demon Lord''s army, considered executing all of the slaves because Takashi had been with Nephira. Takashi was too ashamed to look Excella and Orneo in the eyes.


    "NO! STOOOP!! I don''t want to diiieeeeeeee!!"


    A skeleton soldier pulls the arm of a man who continues to yell in terror.


    "Shut the bloody hell up. First is, you."


    "EEEKK!! NOOOOOOOO!!!"


    The skeleton soldier forcibly drags the wailing man away. Takashi, bound by chains, was helpless.

 CH 3.3

    The round arena of the former kingdom of Leirune. Now an execution site.


    In a special seat overlooking the execution, Nephira sat with an anguished expression on her face. She was rocking one leg up and down, restlessly.


    (Ugh, why is Suzuki...!)


    The thought of Suzuki being killed made her feel like crying. However, demons, and even more, the commander of the Thunder-Lance Charge, would not be allowed to weep. That''s why Nephira endured desperately.


    "NOOOOOO!!! HELP MEEEEEE!!"


    Suddenly, the execution site was haunted by the voice of a thin, gaunt man. The Skeleton Soldier held him by the arm. It was the same man who had once informed them that Excella was scheming against the demons.


    He got dragged, screaming, to the center of the execution stage. The Thunder-Lance Charge''s fiends, seated in the bowl-shaped spectator seats, began to roar with excitement.


    "Hya-ha-ha-ha! What is that! Such a pathetic human!"


    "Ho-ho-ho! What a miserable face!"


    "Ka-ka-ka! Kill hiiiimm!"


    They were showing a glimpse of their demonic side, which they usually hid whenever they were in front of Nephira. They seemed excited to hear about the execution of a human.


    """Kill him, kill him, and kill him!!"""


    Soon, a loud chanting chorus of fiends began. The voices of the six hundred Thunder-Lance members shook the arena. In the midst of it, Berserker, a muscular durama in an iron mask approached the man, wielding a huge saber.


    "S----STOOOPP!!"


    Berserker swung the saber down without hesitation, separating the man''s right arm from his torso. Blood gushed out, and the man screamed even more. Seeing this, a snake-haired demoness laughed heartily.


    Berserker then cut off the man''s left arm. The man cried out, and the site of execution became filled with the laughter of demons.


    "Just... kill... me... already please..."


    The man, who previously cried out that he didn''t want to die, now had his arms cut off and was begging for death with wild eyes.


    Killing them after inflicting severe pain... That was the demon tribe''s execution method. Nephira turned away from the man whose legs were about to be severed while he remained alive. Normally, she wouldn''t care, but the thought that Suzuki would suffer the same fate made it difficult for her to watch the man''s execution.


    When the man was finally beheaded, the site erupted with excitement. However, a few meters away from Nephira, Serphiano, the chief advisor, was shouting in anger.


    "What have you been doing all this ti------------me! Wasn''t Suzuki the first one to be executed?! Uh-huh, oh-huh! We have to kill Suzuki as soon as possi------------ble!! Oeufuu, barf!"


    Serphiano was screaming and spreading vomit all over the place. The chains that bound her inside the castle had been broken, but shackles had been used in their place, and Grant, the ogre accompanying her, was holding a noose extending from the chains.


    "Grant! Take me to the place of execution right now!* Oggh*!"


    "Ugha..."


    Grant dragged Serphiano away. Serphiano, now looking like a slave to Grant''s will, shouts as he steps onto the execution ground.


    "Next! You are to execute Suzuki!! Come on, get Suzuki here, quickly! Oeufuu, barf, barf--!!"


    Tsk. Nephira bit her lip. Pholus, the bird-headed demon, came to Nephira''s side and spoke to her.


    "Lady Nephira. Are you sure about this?"


    "I--I have no choice! Serphiano''s orders are the same as orders from the Demon Lord!"


    "But... harming, such a lovable, adorable, cute human..."


    "I know! But disobeying orders would be treason!! Not only me, but all 600 demons will be punished!! And that includes you, of course!!"


    Blood dripped from her mouth due to biting her lip too hard.


    "Lady Nephira..." Pholus hesitated but said nothing more.


    The six hundred fiends were getting frustrated because the next round of executions did not begin. The goblin soldiers raised their voices.


    "The next execution hasn''t started yet!! Hurry up!!"


    The death of one human seems to have added fuel to the fire. The demons at the execution site were excited. Demons and demonesses, beastmen, skeletons, and cyclops, all the gathered fiends revealed their true nature and shouted their desire for more brutal executions.


    In the whirlpool of madness, a skeleton soldier brought a boy to the execution site.


    "Hya-ha-ha-ha!! Kill him, kill him, kill him, kill... ah------------"


    "Huh..."


    "Wai..."


    "Eh..."


    The execution site went quiet as if their previous passion had been doused with cold water. The fiends sobered up and began to make strange noises.


    "He--hey. Could that possibly be, Suzuki?"


    "Unbelievable. Is that cute little human going to be executed now?"


    "I--I can''t watch it...!"


    "It is too much! Stop, don''t do it!"


    The demons that had just been urging to kill, and kill, suddenly showed a somber look on their faces.


    "Noo!!" The snake-haired demoness screamed and covered her face.


    "You can''t do this, no, no. It''s not right... " A female demoness, whose mouth had been ripped open up to her ears, uttered while another with horns began to weep and wail.


    "Ah! Sinister Evil God of the demon world! Please, have mercy on Suzuki!"


    Some even knelt down and prayed to evil gods.


    The execution site suddenly transformed into something similar to a funeral wake. However, the berserker with a saber approached Suzuki.


    "Whoosh, whoosh!"


    Even the ruthless Berserker was breathing heavily in front of Suzuki, who was hanging his head and waiting for his execution. The hand holding the saber seemed to be trembling somewhat.


    However---


    "That------------is------------right!! The neck of Suzuki... just like that, Ogh! Cut off the he------------ad! Abibaba! The ratio of the length of the circumference to the diameter of the circle is 3.1415926535897932... FUA, FUA..."


    After loudly ordering the execution, Serphiano began to do some calculations as a distraction. The scene looked strange, but of course, Nephira was more concerned about something else.


    (Suzuki!! They''re going to kill my Suzuki!!)


    Next to Serphiano, who was counting the circumference of a circle, stood Grant, the most powerful Ogre of the Demon Lord Army. A powerful demon that killed hundreds of demons during a civil war that once took place. His power truly embodied being a match for thousands. Therefore, he was guarding the chief advisor all by himself.  Even the seasoned Nephira could not know how the fight with Grant would turn out.


    (But...!)


    Nephira stood up with a brisk stride. In an imposing voice, she commanded the bird-headed demon, Pholus.


    "Bring me my Thunder Spear Blitzberg!"

 CH 3.4

    "Bring me my Thunder Spear Blitzberg!"


    Right after that, Pholus became frightened at her declaration.


    "Are -- Are you defying Lady Serphiano!? T--That''s!!"


    At that moment, a familiar voice reached Nephira''s ears.


    "It''s not necessary for you to go fetch it!"


    The red-haired, twin-tailed demon Kiru stood there, holding Nephira''s weapon, the Thunder Spear Blitzberg, in one hand. Next to her was her twin sister, the blue-haired, pony-tailed Meru. The top brass twin sisters of the Thunder-Lance Charge, Meru-Kiru, also held their favorite weapons, a Grim Reaper''s Scythe and Assassin''s Daggers, in their hands.


    "You gals...!"


    "You''re going to save Suzuki, aren''t you -- --? We''re coming with you -- --!"


    "Ha-ha! We can''t let Lady Nephira receive punishment alone!"


    "Do you understand? A battle with Grant is inevitable. Even if we win and save Suzuki, it will be considered treason against the Demon Lord. Win or lose, it will be hell."


    That''s right. No matter how this battle turns out, it can only end badly for the Thunder-Lance Charge. Suzuki was a mere slave. No matter how you slice it, Suzuki should be left to die.


    But even so, Kiru''s mouth turned into a crescent moon as she smiled.


    "Since we''re demons, it doesn''t matter if we end up in hell!"


    "Fu~"


    Nephira also grinned. She received Blitzberg, the thunder spear that had slaughtered thousands of humans. Her resolve was made firm. However, before Nephira could advance towards the execution site, Serphiano, the chief advisor, shouted.


    "Get on with it, Berserker!! While I''m still myself!! 3. 1415926535, ah!! I peed myself, uhiheehee!''


    Serphiano blasts him, and Berserker, who had been hesitating, raises his saber. Nephira''s two hearts throbbed violently.


    "Let''s see if you can do it!!"


    Nephira, armed with her thunder spear, descended on the execution site. In an instant, she closed the distance of dozens of meters with a tremendous speed imperceptible to humans and lower demons. However, Berserker''s saber was already swinging down on Suzuki''s neck.


    (I''m--I''m not going to make it!? Suzuki!!)


    However, it was at that moment. Serphiano, who was supposed to be mumbling and counting pi, shook off Grant''s restraints and lunged head-first at Suzuki.


    "I knew iiiiitt! I feel sorry for------------him. "


    With arrow-like momentum and speed, Serphiano slipped between Suzuki and Berserker. But the saber did not stop. With a resounding "slid", Serphiano''s head danced across the execution site.


    "EEEEHHHH!? Dame Serphianoooooooo!?"


    Nephira, who normally does not show much emotion, lost it and screamed. Nephira was not the only one. The demons at the execution site also grew wide-eyed, and their mouths gaped open.


    The person who ordered the execution suddenly jumped in and beheaded herself. ------------ The arena was quiet as it was presented with incomprehensible sights.


    The torso of Serphiano, who had lost her head, ran and picked up her head, which had rolled away, and held it under her arm. Serphiano''s face twisted in pain.


    Nephira called out to Serpiano, who now stood like a Dullahan (headless horseman).


    "A-Are you ok? Dame Serphiano...!"


    "Guuh...! Somehow, I''m holding on with my wits...! Guh...!"


    "Uh--Uhm... wits has nothing to do with it, does it?"


    After a few moments, Serphiano seemed to have calmed down a bit and spoke, propping her severed head against her neck and pressing down on it.


    "I just got the answer. The ratio of the circumference of a circle seemed to continue indefinitely after 3.14. I have found out the solution..."


    Then Serphiano smiled as if something had been cleared up.


    "The answer is: ''Suzuki is cute''"


    "Hu, huh...?"


    Nephira had no idea what Serphiano was talking about. Serphiano. She was the best intellect in the Demon Lord''s Army deemed to be outside the realm of normal wisdom. However, there was one thing that really bothered Nephira.


    Pointing at the trembling Suzuki, she asked Serphiano, "So, about Suzuki''s execution...?"


    "The execution by beheading has been suspended."


    She was pleased, but at the same time, a little worried. The execution taking place today should have already been notified to the Demon Lord. There must be a clear reason to cancel the event of a human''s execution in the middle of it happening. It needed to be a clear reason, written in the report to be submitted to the Demon Lord at a later date.


    (How could she do such a thing!? Serphiano, Chief Advisor of the Demon Lord''s Army!!)


    Nephira and the demons in the execution grounds gasped. Serphiano raised one hand and declared enthusiastically.


    "I hereby revise the sentence of execution by decapitation and sentence Suzuki to have his fingernails decapitated."


    (Wha--!?)


    Berserker brought out a small nail clipper that didn''t fit his large hand and clipped off the excess nail on Suzuki''s right index finger.


    "Right. The execution is o----ver."


    Serphiano declared. At that moment, the execution site became filled with the thunderous applause of the demons and their shouts of joy. Everyone hugged each other and rejoiced that Suzuki was saved. Some of them were crying.


    Nephira also patted her chest in relief. Then, she was in awe of the Demon Advisor in front of her.


    (She is indeed the wisest commander in the Demon Lord''s army! What a mind! Such wisdom!)


    After all, she didn''t want to become enemies with Serphiano. Well, if you think about it, it seemed like she just announced that she would carry out the execution herself and then rescinded it, but that''s just about it. There is no doubt that Serphiano was a rare genius.


    Nephira walked up to Suzuki, who had been unchained. She suppressed the urge to hug him and blurted out, "I''m glad."


    Suzuki nodded in agreement and pointed to a corner of the execution site.


    "So, then the people after me can get their nails clipped too, right?"


    Suzuki looked at Serphiano. Serphiano looked a little troubled.


    "Well... right. That''s what will happen, I suppose. It is unavoidable..."


    Afterward. Excella, Orneo, and all the slaves had their nails cut off by Berserker.


    The execution thus ended.

 CH 4.1

    The Thunder-Lance Charge training grounds, located in the vast estate of the Syness Castle.


    In a clearing larger than the athletic gymnasium from Takashi''s high school, Nephira introduced him to the many demons lined up.


    "From today onwards, Suzuki will be part of the Thunder-Lance Charge as my familiar. He may look human, but he is a demon at heart. Everyone gets along with him."


    (I--Is this really all right?)


    Takashi was a little nervous, fearing pushback from the demons.


    "Ah, I don''t mind at all!"


    "You are Nephira''s familiar, aren''t you? Then I''m not one to complain!!"


    "Uhh! Congratulations on your enlistment!"


    Demons and demonesses, as well as fiends of various races, all welcomed Takashi with open arms.


    (What a relief! I knew it! My ability is amazing! That''s right, even Excella praised me, so maybe I should have more self-confidence!)


    Takashi was welcomed with friendly applause. However---


    "Tsk. Why the HELL is a human in the Thunder-Lance charge?"


    A low voice echoed. A serpent-headed fiend with a hideous face spat on the ground. He walked up to Takashi and brought his vicious face close to him.


    "You are an EYESORE. Human."


    "Ugh..."


    Overwhelmed by the pressure, Takashi could not say anything back. Wh--Why? This had never happened before! All the demons had been kind to me!


    "Enough, Gharaga. Suzuki is one of us from today onwards. Besides, this is my decision as the commander."


    Nephila glared at the snake-headed Gharaga. Gharaga then snorted with a "phun" and walked away. Nephira let out a small sigh.


    "Well then, Iron-Rank soldiers. I entrust you with Suzuki''s training."


    With these instructions, Nephira also left the training site.


    After Gharaga and Nephila left, the remaining fiends split into smaller groups and began swinging their swords and sparring with each other.


    While he was at a loss as to what to do, three goblin soldiers came close to him and smiled.


    "Nice to meet you, buddy. For a short while, Suzuki, you''re gonna train with us."


    "Ple--Please treat me well."


    He was intimidated by Gharaga earlier, so he hesitated a bit to reply. One of the goblin soldiers lightly tapped Takashi on the shoulder.


    "Don''t sweat it, buddy. Gharaga''s head is missing three, or maybe four, screws."


    "Yeah, right. He killed fellow demons in training before."


    "And he thinks of humans as nothing more than food, ya'' know. If he''s hungry, he will snatch and eat anyone''s slave or baby."


    The goblin soldiers talked about Gharaga. Takashi was horrified as he listened.


    (H--He is such a dangerous guy! Is that why my ability was less effective!?)


    It was only due to his ability to be favored by demons that he overcame and survived during conquest day. If not for his ability, Gharaga might have killed him that day... Takashi was horrified at the thought.


    "Well, Gharaga is an Adamantine-Rank Soldier. I don''t think he''ll ever train with Suzuki."


    "Silver-Rank soldier...?"


    "There are different ranks of soldiers in the Thunder-Lance Charge. Iron-Rank soldiers, followed by Bronze-Rank soldiers, and Silver-Rank soldiers. Above that, the Adamantine-Rank soldiers."


    (So that means that Gharaga must be pretty strong...)


    "Uhm. So, right now, I''m a Bronze-Rank soldier, huh?"


    "No. Suzuki just joined, so he''s a ''Stone-Rank'' soldier."


    "Stone-Rank!?"


    "Hahaha. Everyone is like that at the beginning. But if you work hard, you can become an Iron-Rank soldier right away."


    "Ya, or rather, we shouldn''t be laughing either. We must become one rank higher as Bronze-Rank soldiers as soon as possible."


    The Goblins continued by telling Takashi that the Meru-Kiru sisters were like division captains who united these soldiers and thus existed above and beyond the clouds.


    "So, how does one rise in the ranks?"


    "Excluding getting glory by war merit, the fastest way is dueling fellow members. If you challenge a Thunder-Lance Charge member to a duel and win, you get to switch ranks with him."


    "I see! Dueling!"


    "Hey, hey, hey. First, you must train, Suzuki."


    The goblin soldiers laughed as if to admonish Takashi, who was feeling nervous. Takashi laughed no less than they did.


    Soon, the goblin soldiers began to swing wooden swords. Takashi, too, received a wooden sword and watched and copied them.


    While swinging the wooden sword, Takashi was thinking. His only strength was the ability to be loved by demons. Of course, that alone was not enough. He had to grow stronger and more powerful to survive this terrifying otherworld. Not to mention that he needed to raise his rank in order to save Excella and the others.


    (Besides, if I train hard enough, I might even be able to increase my magic and attack power!)


    When he was summoned as a hero, the king dismissed him as a poor candidate with low abilities. However, it is a trope in isekai novels that characters with initially low status will work hard to improve their level and become powerful. Although this was not Takashi''s preferred genre as a lover of heartwarming isekai novels, he had, of course, read such novels on the Internet.


    (All right-o! Let''s leave aside heartwarming isekai novels for a while! From now on, it will be the underdog-isekai life!)

 CH 4.2

    After they finished the practice swings, the soldiers faced each other in sparring. Takashi nervously faced the goblin soldier in front of him.


    "Hiya!"


    Takashi shouted as he swung his wooden sword at the goblin soldier. Using the wooden sword as a shield, the goblin soldier easily blocked Takashi''s attack. Then---


    "Whoa! Suzuki, you''re good!"


    The goblin soldier fell down and landed on his buttocks. The surrounding goblin soldiers applauded Takashi in a friendly manner.


    "So strong! Suzuki!"


    "Good job! Suzuki!"


    (No, no, no!! Wait, wait, wait!! Didn''t he just fall over on his own accord?)


    After that, the goblins didn''t attack him first, but instead, when they were hit by Takashi''s lanky attacks, they yelled: "Whoa" "You got me!" "You''re a genius!"


    (This discovery is amazing!! You will never become strong in this environment!!)


    Disgusted by the goblin soldiers who acted as if they were playing with children, Takashi exclaimed, "Fight more seriously!!"


    The goblin soldiers looked at him with puzzled looks on their faces, saying, "Eh, we are being serious."


    (No, I appreciate the sentiment! But I can''t improve my skills like this!!)


    Then, a huge, hairy monster walked slowly up to Takashi. Brown fur covered its body even up to its face, leaving only its two golden eyes visible.


    "Wha--What is with you? Are you going to fight me, by any chance?"


    "..."


    "He--Hey?"


    "..."


    The hairy creature with the appearance of an abominable yeti stared at Takashi silently. The goblin soldiers whispered in Takashi''s ear.


    "This guy''s name is Gregorio. He doesn''t talk much, ya know."


    "He joined the Thunder-Lance Charge a little before Suzuki."


    "But he is strong. He became an Iron-Rank soldier the very first day he joined."


    (Does this mean, that if I defeat this monster Gregorio in a military duel, I too can become a Bronze-Rank soldier?!)


    He was much bigger than Takashi, but his movements seem slower, partly because of his size.


    "Gregorio. If you are willing, perhaps you could duel with me?"


    Seeing his chance, Takashi asked Gregorio for a military duel. Still not speaking, Gregorio nodded in agreement.


    (All right-o! I have the ability to be liked by demons! Maybe he''ll go easy on me! If I win, I''ll be an Iron-Rank soldier!)


    With his wooden sword at the ready, Takashi faced Gregorio with high hopes.


    "...Puh-uh!?"


    Takashi was knocked off his feet several meters away by Gregorio''s unreserved punch. Apparently, he had been cut inside his mouth by the hit. The taste of iron spread through his mouth.


    Somehow, he managed to get up, but his wooden sword was gone. It had been blown away together with him. He tried to find it, but Gregorio, the hairy monster, was already standing in front of him. This time, Gregorio''s knee gouged Takashi''s stomach. Takashi groaned and crumbled.


    This was the battle Takashi had hoped for, as he had been unable to get the goblin soldiers to fight him seriously. In reality, however, Takashi was frightened to face the monster seriously coming at him.


    The goblin soldiers who were watching the duel were in an uproar.


    "Tha--That Gregorio guy, is amazing..."


    "Ah, ah. There aren''t many people, besides Gharaga, who could have beaten Suzuki the way he did."


    "I don''t know if I feel sorry for him."


    "He''s a little crazy, too, right?"


    He was knocked off his feet again and fell to the ground on his back. Takashi looked up at the sky in disbelief as he heard the goblin soldier''s voice that said, "That far is enough!"


    (Da--Damn! How weak am, I!? This is no good at all!)


    Gregorio beat him severely, but Takashi''s heart remained strong. In fact, he was so inspired by that day that he began to train even harder.


    ......


    A few days passed after that.


    After the goblin soldiers in his group left, Takashi remained alone in the training area, doing push-ups and swinging a wooden sword.


    Skeleton soldiers of a higher rank passed by Takashi.


    "Yo! You''re doing a great job! Suzuki!"


    "Hey, look. If you have time, I''d like you to fight me."


    "Ah, sure! Let''s have some fun!"


    "No, uhm... not for practice, but waging for rank..."


    "By any chance, a military duel?"


    "That''s right, please."


    "Yeah. Then, I''ll do it..."


    "...guha!!"


    Takashi fell in agony as he was hit in the gut by a thrust of the wooden sword from the skeleton soldier. The skeleton soldier rushed over to him in panic.


    "I--I apologize, Suzuki! Are you okay?"


    "Ah, aah..."


    A fellow skeleton soldier who was watching nearby called out in disgust.


    "You''re terrible, you know that? The other party is Suzuki. Go easy on him, will you?"


    "Bu--But, you know! I can''t afford to go easy on him in a military duel! Because rank is important!"


    Hearing this, Takashi became convinced. He was now certain the demons cherished and adored him. However, it was just like loving a pet. No matter how cute his opponent was, there was no way he would cut corners in a serious duel where his own rank was at stake.


    (I knew it! Only being adored by demons is not much of an ability! If this happens, the only way to rise in the ranks is by sheer force! I have to improve my physical strength and attack power!)


    After everyone else in the training area had left, Takashi continued to work on his own training.

 CH 4.3

    Today, Nephira visited the training field. And as she stared from afar at Suzuki, who was hard at work in the training field swinging a wooden sword, Nephira was deeply impressed.


    (His serious face is also adorable! He also does push-ups every day... ah, how I wish I could do something for the hard-working Suzuki!)


    Incidentally, it had been almost a month since Suzuki joined the Thunder-Lance Charge. It would be a good time to mark it as an anniversary. That way, she would have a reason to celebrate with him and give him something.


    ......


    After dinner that night. While sipping her wine, Nephira spoke to Suzuki.


    "Suzuki. I have a gift for you."


    "A gift?" Suzuki asked.


    Then Nephira clapped her hands. The door opened, and there stood Excella. Suzuki was astonished and exclaimed, "Excella!? ...Nephira! This is!?"


    "Uh-huh. Ever since you joined the Thunder-Lance Charge, you have been working hard in your own way. Your reputation among the other soldiers is also good, with them praising you whenever they''re asked about you. You are still a rank-and-file soldier, but in light of the above, I have decided to gift you a slave. From this day on, Excella will be your slave."


    Suzuki beamed upon hearing those words.


    "Seriously? Thank you!! Nephira!!"


    (Fufufu! He is delighted. He is pleased! I''m so glad I gave him this gift!)


    "I look forward to working with you. Lord Hero"


    Excella knelt reverently and smiled at Suzuki. Then Excella slowly walked towards him with a limp. Suzuki noticed the bandages on Excella''s legs and spoke in a stutter.


    "Hu, huh? Excella. That leg...?"


    Excella looked troubled at his unspoken question and was embarrassed to answer. Nephira explained to him instead.


    "Because she is a slave. I severed the tendons in both her legs so she can''t run. Walking normally will not be a problem for her, though."


    "Eh...?"


    From Nephira''s point of view, this was the natural way to treat slaves. However, the air around Suzuki changed and felt tense.


    "Why... such a terrible thing...!"


    Suzuki''s face turned crimson red as he glared at Nephira.


    (Eh!? He is so mad at me!? Why!? I thought Suzuki would be pleased...!!)


    Suzuki slapped the table with both hands. The vintage wine Nephira was drinking spilled, producing a bright red stain on the tablecloth.


    "What the HELL were you thinking!? Excella might never be able to run again!!"


    "B-Bastard!! Who do you think you are talking to!! Shut your mouth! Know your place as a familiar!!"


    Normally, she would not have been so harsh. However, in the presence of other people, especially in front of Excella, a slave, Suzuki spoke harshly toward her, his superior, when his status was a familiar. Nephira had to save face and uphold her pride as the commander of the Thunder-Lance Charge.


    "Don''t get conceited!! You helpless worm!! How can a weakling who can''t even survive on his own proclaim such things with such pompous talk!!"


    "Damn...!"


    With a snarl, Suzuki kicked the chair away. He then ran straight toward the door.


    "Lo--Lord Hero!! Please wait!! I don''t mind!!"


    Excella shouted, but Suzuki threw the door wide open and walked out.


    "You moron!! Fall in line!!"


    Nephira spat out. But in her mind, she was screaming and panicking.


    (Kyaaaaaaaaaaa!! I went too faaaaaaaar!!)


    (How on earth did such a celebration end up like this? I am an IDIOT! Idiot, idiot, idiot, my blockheadedneeeesssss!)


    She put her elbows on the table and clutched her head. Excella looked at Nephira, fixed up a smile, and spoke awkwardly to her.


    "Su--Surely, he will come back right away!"


    "Why... do I have to be comforted by you..."


    Nephira said to Excella, who was wiping the spilled wine with a rag, in a voice that seemed to be a whisper.

 CH 4.4

    Outside the castle, rain poured heavily. Takashi ran to the training ground in the pouring rain, which was battering against his skin.


    The rain was raging. Of course, no one was around in that weather. Only the straw dummies used for sword practice were exposed to the wind and rain, swaying sadly.


    "Damn, Damn it!"


    Takashi swung his wooden sword at the straw dummy. He was angrier at himself than with Nephira. What a Hero. The girl he was trying to protect ended up having both her tendons severed, rendering her unable to run.


    Wielding the wooden sword with his emotions and without proper control and form, he eventually hurt his arm when he hit the dummy. Takashi lost strength and dropped his wooden sword to the ground. A throbbing pain came from his wrist. He felt like he had been defeated, even by a motionless straw dummy.


    (Nephira is right. I can''t do anything on my own. I''ve only been living off the kindness of the demons up until now.)


    Facing the rain-soaked straw dummy, he extended out one hand.


    "Fire!"


    He tried shouting, mimicking a wizard he had read about in an isekai novel. He tried yelling again and again while being drenched by the torrential rain. However, no matter how he shouted, nothing came out of his palm.


    He lay down on the ground, battered by the rain, disgusted by his own incompetence.


    ...


    How much time must have passed? Suddenly, he noticed a hairy monster looking down at him.


    "Yo, Gregorio. What are you doing out here, in the middle of this rain?"


    "..."


    "You''re still as quiet as ever. That''s fine. You don''t have to talk. I just wish you''d listen to my complaints as you are."


    "..."


    "Being cute is not enough to save the world. Haha. Of course not."


    After saying this, Takashi noticed that Gregorio had disappeared from his sight.


    (He must have been so exasperated that he left. Yeah, that''s right.)


    But when he raised his head, Gregorio was a short distance away. He was moving his hand a little bit. He seemed to be telling Takashi to follow him.


    In the constantly pouring rain, Takashi silently followed Gregorio.


    After a long walk, they finally arrived at a cabin on the outskirts.


    "Hee. It''s quite a nice house."


    He could see chopped firewood piled up near the house. There was an axe close to the pile.


    "Chopping firewood? By any chance, is this how you train your body?"


    "..."


    "I see. I should train my body harder too. And one day, I''ll be strong enough to surpass Nephira."


    It was at that moment.


    "You fool. Are you really a hero?"


    Takashi was absolutely speechless. From the quiet Gregorio came the voice of a fully grown woman.


    "Gre--Gregorio?"


    "Even if it is decades. Even after decades of physical training to the point of sweating blood, you have no chance against Nephira."


    Gregorio''s body started glowing. The huge, hairy frame shrunk, and he became as tall as Takashi. Peach-colored hair trailing behind. Light clothes on a slim figure. An adult woman with slanted eyes and an intellectual face was standing there.


    "Wha--!? You are!?"


    "My real name is Leelou. I''m a human, just like you."


    "Lee... lou!? Human!? Wh--, Why, is there another human besides me in the Thunder-Lance Charge!?"


    "I am just like you. In order to bring peace to this chaotic world, I infiltrated the Thunder-Lance Charge, aiming to disturb the Demon Lord''s army. However... I changed my mind after I saw you."


    (Changed her mind... after seeing me...? Ha--... I suppose my incompetence as a hero, disheartened her so much that she lost all motivation...)


    Even he was aware that he was incompetent. But to be reminded once again by a stranger. Moreover, being looked down on by another human like him, Takashi ended up shouting---


    "THAT''S RIGHT! I''m incompetent! HELPLESS! But I wanted to help at least the people around me! That''s why I joined the Thunder-Lance Charge! But I have neither attack power nor magical power! And... Excella had the tendons on her feet severed, losing the ability to run again!"


    Tears welled up in her eyes as he cried out, feeling ashamed of himself. Even so, Leelou still spoke coldly to Takashi.


    "Pathetic. It''s because you are not making an effort--that you ended up like that. Human beings are striving creatures. Progress and improvement are what being human is all about."


    "Do--Don''t talk nonsense without knowing anything at all! Effort? I''m making an EFFORT! I train with a wooden sword and train my body every day,"


    "That is why you are a fool, you know. You put your efforts in the completely wrong direction."


    "Wrong direction...?"


    "Listen to me. You are not incompetent. I have abandoned my original plan and revealed myself to you only because I have seen the awe-inspiring power of a hero. Because I thought you could bring about a revolution without nearly any bloodshed and save the world."


    "A--Awe-inspiring... my power? My only ability is being adored by fiends!"


    "Hero! Earlier, you said being cute isn''t enough to save the world."


    "Because you CAN''T! I can''t even save myself just because I have the ability to be cute! There is no such thing as a demon that can lose a duel just because someone is cute!"


    Leelou turned her sharp eyes to Takashi and said with a solemn tone.


    "I assure you. It is possible to save the world just by being cute."


    "Th--That''s absurd!! Saving the world with cuteness alone!? How in the hell!?"


    "Follow me."


    In the continuous downpour, Leelou turned away and started walking toward the cabin. With her beautiful peach-colored hair drenched in raindrops, she spoke to Takashi without turning her head.


    "I''ll teach you. The 48 adorable gestures that have the potential to liberate the world from the forces of the Demon Lord---- ''Pretties''."

 CH 4.5

    Before realizing it, the rain had eased off. Takashi stared in disbelief at the cabin where Leelou had entered as he basked in the misty light rain.


    (48 Adorable Gestures ---- Pritis...!)


    "Tsk, WHAT THE HELL!! Are you freaking kidding me? HEY!?"


    Takashi opens the wooden door of the cabin vigorously in a clamor. Is she, taking him for an idiot? I bet she is! Surely!


    Leelou was sitting cross-legged in the middle of the dirt floor. An iron box-like object was on the floor, and firewood burned in it, producing warmth. Wet clothes hung beside her, and Leelou was wearing only her underwear. Beneath her peach-colored hair, he saw Leelou''s bulging breasts and her slender waist. Takashi looked away, embarrassed by the sight of Leelou''s voluptuous body.


    "Suzuki. You, too, come over here. You will catch a cold if you stay wet."


    Takashi hesitantly sat down in front of Leelou and glanced at her face. She was quite beautiful, although her eyes were somewhat dim.


    After regaining some composure, Takashi asked Leelou once again.


    "I--If I acquire that Pritis or whatever it''s called, will that make me strong?"


    "You will never be strong at all. Your strength and attack power will remain the same."


    "Ha--HUH!?"


    "You are a man of limited comprehension. I never said anything about becoming stronger. You''re just going to get cuter."


    "No, like I said!! It''s not enough just to be cute! right?"


    "You seem to be under the mistaken impression, that physical strength and magical power are essential for saving the world."


    "O--Of course, that''s only natural!"


    Without the power to defeat at least lower and intermediate demons, it was impossible to save the world. Takashi thought so.


    "That is a misunderstanding. By the way, my only ability is the art of transformation. Even so, I was able to engage with the Demon Lord''s Army on equal terms for several years. The point is how you use your power."


    (What the hell? She was able to go toe-to-toe with the Demon Lord''s Army? This person, what in tarnation...?)


    The firewood crackled and flared, illuminating Leelou''s face.


    "Suzuki. Your ability to be loved by demons is quite impressive. It is resourceful to such a degree that it even snatched away the senses of Serphiano, the chief advisor to the Demon Lord''s army."


    "Did you see it? At the execution site..."


    Leelou nodded in agreement.


    "In my opinion, your abilities are more effective against female demonesses. On the other hand, the effect on fiends of the same sex as you seem to be halved."


    "I see. That''s why Gharaga was trying to make trouble for me... No, made trouble for me."


    "Well, in his case, something is wrong with his head too. If you handle him poorly, he may even kill you."


    "EEHH...! There are demons that can kill me? I knew it, is not much of an ability after all...?"


    "That''s why you have to make an effort. Up until now, you have been spoiled by your rare ability from heaven. That''s why you''re up against the wall."


    "An effort? Then, so Pritis, could it be..."


    "At the training ground, I watched you the whole time. And I kept on thinking. How to get the most out of your abilities."


    Then Leelou stood up and fetched a scroll from the bookshelf in the corner.


    "On this scroll, you will find forty-eight of the cutest gestures I have ever devised. To increase your cuteness by twofold, no increase it tenfold---- That is ''Pretty''"


    "I--Increase my cuteness by tenfold!?"


    "Uh-huh. Do this, and you will save the world."


    "No, like I said, how!?"


    In the end, Takashi did not fully understand. He understood Pritis to a certain degree. It was supposed to strengthen Takashi''s ability "to be loved by demons." However, even if he were to become tens of times cuter than he is now, he still couldn''t believe that would lead to saving the world.


    Leelou suddenly asked Takashi, whose face showed a lack of understanding.


    "Hey Suzuki. What is your dream?"


    "Eh"


    "What do you want to do in this world?"


    "I..."


    Takashi told Leelou. A world where humans are not eaten by demons, are not enslaved, and can live as equals---- he would like to see a world like that.


    "Then your dream and mine are the same."


    Then Leelou stared at Takashi with a serious expression on her face.


    "Suzuki. You will be staying here for a while starting today. And train with me in the art of Pretty."


    "Ah, aah..."


    (Uhm. Let''s just trust this person for now and give it a shot)


    Thus, Takashi''s training began.


    ......


    After such a string of events, the training with Leelou started.


    On the first day---


    (I knew it, I should quit...!)


    Takashi suddenly regretted his decision.


    "You fool! You shouldn''t be satisfied with the cuteness you were given!"


    Leelou was very strict. When she saw that his behavior was not in line with her teachings, she beat him with the leather whip she held in her hands.


    "What are you doing? Polish up your cuteness more and more!"


    (What do you mean by "polishing up cuteness"!? I don''t understand! Hey!)


    Since coming to this world, Takashi had been treated kindly by demons for one reason or another. However, as a human being, Leelou was not affected by Takashi''s ability. He was reprimanded severely and repeatedly whipped.


    "More flirtatious! And change your clothes for this long and cute outfit with loose sleeves!"


    "What is with, that dull smile! Smile more, with your dimples showing!"


    "Your movements are awkward! Stop being bashful!"


    "How many times do I have to say it!? I am asking you to wink at me! You keep closing both your eyes all the time!"


    During the meal, Leelou continued to scold Takashi.


    "What a plain way to eat! Be more ingenious and eat in a more lovely way, with small bites nom-nom!"


    At night. When he tried to sleep in a corner of the room, Takashi was still whipped.


    "When you go to sleep, make sure to get your face out of the blanket just a little bit! Or wrap yourself in the blanket like a caterpillar!"


    Takashi was never able to understand what Leelou thought was cute. He was only getting more and more frustrated.

 CH 4.6

    Then, three days later.


    "No, enough, I can''t do this anymoooreeeee!!"


    Takashi finally exploded. In front of Leelou, his face turned bright red, and he shouted.


    "What the hell is supposed to be the point of all this?!! I don''t even know what Pritis means?! Damn it all!! Who the hell do you think you are!? Are you nuts!?"


    Usually, training would involve a different kind of struggle and a different kind of sweat. Leelou''s teachings, from up close, seemed to be the kind of foolishness one might expect from a third-rate comedian performing in front of a small audience.


    "Jeez! I, am going home!!"


    This cannot possibly save the world. He only completely wasted time---- With this thought in mind, Takashi turned on his heels and headed out of the cabin.


    "Wait."


    When he turned around, he saw that Leelou''s body was glowing. As she transforms into Gregorio, the hairy monster, Leelou speaks to Takashi in a hoarse voice.


    "I''m going out now. Come with me."


    ......


    Gregorio, portrayed by Leelou, headed to the town''s marketplace. Today, the market was once again bustling with many stalls and demons.


    (Huh!? What the hell are we doing, in this place?!)


    "Come on in, come on in! We have fresh fruits from the forest--!!


    The owner of the store, a Cyclops, was laying out colorful fruits on a straw mat and shouting at the top of his lungs. Leelou talked to Takashi in his ear.


    "Suzuki. Go get an apple from that street stall."


    "Uhm... what about money?"


    "None."


    "Huh?"


    "Go get an apple from that guy. For free."


    "Th--There''s no way I can do that!"


    "It will be fine. Just go! Come on!"


    With a big push on the back from Leelou, Takashi staggered forward. A few steps later, he turned around only to see Leelou standing at a distance with her arms folded, watching him.


    (In--In other words, is she telling me to steal an apple?)


    Takashi looks at the Cyclops shopkeeper. A single vicious-looking eye and fangs as thick as those of ferocious beasts. The huge body, more than three meters high, looked so intimidating. Takashi gulped and swallowed hard. If a fight were to break out, the odds of winning were definitely zero.


    (Ah, I want to go home...)


    Once again, he turned around. As expected, Leelou still had her arms crossed. He felt a kind of black aura rising from her hairy body. If he ran away, he''d be whipped for sure.


    (Damn it! Fine. I''ll have to do it!)


    Half desperate, Takashi asked the Cyclops shopkeeper.


    "Can I have, one apple?"


    "Oh, if it isn''t Suzuki!? It''s 10 gold!"


    Maybe he saw Takashi at the castle or the execution site. The cyclops seemed to know Takashi and was smiling at him.


    Takashi hesitantly explained, "Uh--Uhm, that apple... I--I''d like to have it for free."


    The Cyclops then broke into a broad smile.


    "Ka-- Ka-- Ka! Hey, hey, Suzuki! Free is impossible, no matter how hard you try! We are a business, you know!"


    "Th--That''s right, isn''t it?"


    "That''s right, you know! That joke is a bit harsh!"


    Inwardly, he let out a sigh. It was the natural result. It was the same as a duel in the training ground. The owner of the store also liked Takashi and had a favorable opinion of him.


    But, that was it. That''s all. That was the limit of what he could achieve by being cute.


    He was about to head back dejectedly, but at that moment, he looked back. He saw Leelou, disguised as Gregorio, and their eyes met.


    Leelou silently raised her index finger.


    (Uh? The index finger? What? ..."One"? Perhaps "one" could mean?)


    Suddenly, the three days of ridiculous training flashed through Takashi''s mind. If he went back like this, the whip would be there to welcome him.


    (No choice. Let''s give it a shot.)


    What came to Takashi''s mind when he heard "one". It was a gesture from the scroll that he had practiced over and over again.


    "...Pritis'' 48 Gestures--First Gesture, ''Upward Glace''"


    Takashi muttered to himself as he lowered himself and stared into the shopkeeper''s face.


    "Heyy~. Is it really really impossible~?"


    "Like I told you, Suzuki! How many times do I have to say it!? I don''t care how cute you..."


    The Cyclops'' eye creased angrily, but it immediately drew back when he saw Takashi.


    "He--Hey! Don''t do that! Wh--Why are you looking at me with those eyes?! I told you! I''m a businessman!"


    The Cyclops, who Takashi thought was furious, was in a panic for some reason. Takashi was surprised by the unexpected reaction.


    (Wh--What is this? Hesitation? Th--This is...!)


    Immediately, Takashi looked back at Leelou. This time she raised four fingers.


    ("Four"! If I remember correctly, Four is...!")


    "Pritis'' 48 Gestures--Fourth Gesture, ''Hands Clasping''!"


    Takashi gently wrapped his hands around the large hands of the cyclops shopkeeper.


    "Kya!?"


    The Cyclops shopkeeper let out a high-pitched voice that was unimaginable from his large frame and vicious face.


    "Pretty please~? I''m asking you..."


    Combining it with the upwards glance he had just given him, Takashi pleaded with the shopkeeper while holding the shopkeeper''s hand. The shopkeeper''s cheeks were turning peachy pink. And then...


    "For Pete''s sake. I--I have no choice, right? Just for today, Suzuki! Take it, you cat burglar!"


    ...


    ...With the free apple in his hand, Takashi stood stunned.


    (Unbelievable...! The demon gave me the goods for free...!)


    He noticed that Leelou, portraying Gregorio, was standing behind him. He addressed Takashi in a hoarse voice.


    "It doesn''t matter how weak you are or how strong your opponent is. The one and only ultimate technique that exceeds attack power and magical power---- That is ''Pretties''."


    "The one and only ultimate technique that exceeds attack power and magical power..."


    After parroting back, Leelou tapped him on the head while he was still standing blankly.


    "Why are you going soft in the head? Let''s go back and continue your training."


    "Y--Yes!! Please take good care of me!! Master!!"


    Takashi called her Master with a naturalness that surprised even him and followed behind her as she started to walk away.


    (A--Amazing! I don''t quite understand it, but somehow it seems amazing! With this technique, I might be able to do a lot of good things!)


    Takashi''s heart swelled with anticipation. However, Leelou stopped walking, stood still, and gave him a warning.


    "Suzuki. Be careful. Your Pretties only works on demons. If you do it to a human, the most you can expect is being told something like ''What the hell are you doing?'' or ''It''s disgusting.''"


    "Oh... Yes. I guess so, right..."


    Nevertheless, Takashi''s motivation was rising. He was determined to devote himself to Leelou''s training and master the art of Pritis.

 CH 5.1

    In her private quarters at the Syness Castle, Nephira sat in a chair, her knees bouncing up and down. It had been more than a week since Suzuki had left the castle. Honestly, she thought he would be back in two or three days at most. However, Suzuki still hadn''t returned.


    She could not eat, had trouble sleeping at night, and often tapped her foot unconsciously whenever she was alone. It even caused the floor of the room to sink in some places.


    She was so worried that she sent a search request to the Thunder-Lance Soldiers. Some fiend had seen Suzuki at the market not long ago, but that was all the information they had found.


    (Fueeeen!! Where did you go, Suzuki!)


    Lying on the bed in the empty room, she burst into tears. If Suzuki ever came back, she wanted to apologize sincerely.


    (So, please. Please come back soon, Suzuki. I miss you. I miss you so much. Without you, Suzuki, I can''t go on...)


    Knocking was heard. And Nephira stood up from her bed with a jolt.


    "Lady Nephira. It''s Excella."


    Adjusting the clothing around her bosom, which had been disheveled from lying on the floor, Nephira spoke with a firm voice.


    "Uh-huh. Come in."


    "Pardon my intrusion."


    The former Third Princess, Excella, entered the room dressed in a maid''s outfit. The limping that resulted from her severed tendons was now not much different from a normal person''s gait.


    Since then, Nephira kept Excella by her side as a slave in place of Suzuki. For Nephira, Excella was the cause of her fight with Suzuki. She didn''t really want to see her, but she thought Suzuki might get angry again if she treated her roughly, so she let her work as her slave.


    However, Excella was a modest woman unlike most royalty, and she performed her assigned tasks with great speed and efficiency. So, putting aside the whole incident with Suzuki, Nephira regarded Excella as a remarkable slave.


    "So, what can I do for you?"


    "Yes. It seems that Lord Hero has returned."


    "What!!? Really!!?"


    She shouted in a high-pitched voice. Nephira coughed when she saw Excella smiling at her.


    "S--So where''s Suzuki now?"


    "The demons say that he''s supposed to hold a promotion match at the training grounds..."


    "...huh?"


    Nephira rushed to the training grounds beneath the castle with Excella in tow. The demons were swarming in one corner of the vast training ground. The boisterous crowd hung their heads and moved out of the way when they noticed Nephira''s arrival.


    "Ah! Lady Nephira came too?!"


    "THIS WAY--, Lady Nephira--!"


    The twin demoness, the Meru-Kiru sisters, waved at her. Nephira joined Kiru and the others.


    In the center, surrounded by the other demons, was Suzuki holding a wooden sword. And facing him was a skeleton soldier holding a wooden sword as well.


    (Eh. Suzuki...?)


    Seeing Suzuki, Nephira felt a sense of incongruity. Of course, there was the fact that it had been a long time since she last saw him. But... she couldn''t quite put it into words, but she felt he was much cuter than before.


    (Ah... So cute...! Haa haa... So cute...!)


    Nephira admired Suzuki''s cuteness for some time but soon shifted her gaze to the skeleton soldier confronting him and wrinkled her brow.


    "Hey. That skeleton is a Bronze-rank soldier, right? Isn''t Suzuki still a Stone-rank soldier?"


    "That''s true. Apparently, Suzuki himself came forward and volunteered to do it," Kiru said in a concerned tone.


    (Are you being stubborn because of what I said to you last time? But that doesn''t mean you are unfit, Suzuki...!)


    There are several skeleton soldiers in the Thunder-Lance Charge. Their appearances are so similar that it is difficult to tell them apart. Nevertheless, Nephira recognized the skeleton soldier with a crack on his forehead who was confronting Suzuki. His name was Jilfried, as she recalled.


    When he was a human, he was a renowned soldier and master swordsman. He was killed in a great battle in the past, but because of his extraordinary swordsmanship and attachment to life, the Demon Lord brought him back to life as a skeleton soldier. Of course, Jilfried himself has forgotten that such a thing had happened...


    Jilfried walked up to Suzuki. He then made an apologetic expression on his fleshless face.


    "Suzuki. I''ve told you before, lad. I can''t go easy on you on a military duel."


    "Ya. It doesn''t matter. Let''s fight each other with all our might."


    And then, a moment later------ they shook hands.


    "...Pritis'' 48 Gestures--Fourth Gesture, ''Hands Clasping''"


    Nephira asked Meru, who was watching the match next to her.


    "Just now, didn''t Suzuki say something?"


    "Mhm. Is--- Is that so---? ...Ah, more importantly, the duel is about to begin ya know---!"


    The arbiter, a cat-eared beastman, announced the start of the duel. Both contestants hold up wooden swords. However, something unusual happened soon after the beginning of the match.


    Jilfried was shaking while holding the wooden sword. The Meru-Kiru sisters look at each other quizzically.


    "That fellow, what in hell is he doing? That Jilfried guy."


    "It''s like all his momentum from earlier has just flown away, huh---?"


    Nephira turned her sharp eyes on the duel and muttered.


    "...It''s the handshake from earlier."


    "Eh? What do you mean, Lady Nephira?"


    Nephira had not overlooked it. As Suzuki shook hands with Jilfried, he muttered something. That must have been Suzuki''s technique.


    "At that point, the battle had already begun. Suzuki''s handshake before the match was a blow to Jilfried''s morale. Furthermore..."

 CH 5.2

    Suzuki approached Jilfried who was trembling with the wooden sword in his hand. And then,


    "Pritis'' 48 Gestures--First Gesture, ''Upward Glace''!"


    Looking up as if peering from below. Suzuki spoke to Jilfried while staring at him with large, moist eyes.


    "Please~ be gentle, with me... Would you~?!"


    "Gnuh...!"


    Jilfried roared and began to tremble more violently. Nephira, who was watching this series of Suzuki''s actions, was also shaken.


    (How, how cute!! And what a lovely thing to see! I feel like wanting to forget about the battle and just want to hug him!)


    If it had been her facing Suzuki instead of Jilfried, she would have thrown away her wooden sword and hugged Suzuki. Then she might have kissed him just like that.


    But Jilfried was different.


    "Uh, uohhhhh!!"


    Jilfried raised his wooden sword above his head and roared to dispel his own tremors and the fluffy warm aura that filled the air around him.


    "Suzuki! You sure are cute! I feel so uncomfortable that I''m about to duel with you! I feel like I''m in the depths of self-loathing! But!"


    Jilfried then pointed the tip of his wooden sword at Suzuki.


    "For a member of the Thunder-Lance Charge, rank is the most important thing! Second only to life!! I can''t allow myself to lose!!"


    (That''s Jilfried for you! He''s a first-rate skeleton soldier! But what is this "second only to life"? You''re already dead, you know!?)


    But aside from that, Nephira admired Jilfried''s strong will, which blew away Suzuki''s imminent cuteness. Jilfried, who had stopped shaking, held the wooden sword in his right arm at the uppermost position and his left arm, which was holding nothing, at the mid-level position.


    "Secret technique! ''Skeleton Transformation''!"


    As Jilfried shouted, the bone in his left arm made a cracking sound, and it became a long, thin rod.


    "He--Hey!! His left arm is now like a wooden sword!!"


    "Wait, is that allowed---!? Isn''t that a violation of the rules---!?"


    "It''s his ability. It''s not a violation. Besides, he knows they are not killing each other. As proof, the tip of his left arm isn''t sharpened like a sword."


    "But doesn''t that mean Suzuki''s at a disadvantage if his opponent''s a dual-sword style fighter!!"


    There was no mistake in Kiru''s words. Jilfried was holding a wooden sword in his right arm, and his left arm, which had become like a sword, was crossed with it.


    "Take this!! Skeleblade Style, ''Bone Disruption Piercing Thrust''!!"


    A wooden sword on his right and a bone sword on his left. He pointed both swords at Suzuki and delivered blindingly fast thrusts.


    (Fast!)


    Jilfried''s sword technique struck with several thrusts in one second. Of course, Nephira''s eyes can see it, but it would be impossible for an ordinary human to see through the stabs.


    (S--Stop! Suzuki, is going to get hit!)


    However, the very next instant, Nephira saw an unbelievable sight. Suzuki stood there, unperturbed, exposed to the high-speed thrusts that left afterimages.


    "Not even a single hit? Are you telling me that Suzuki''s dodging that barrage of attacks?"


    "Tha--That''s not it, Lady Nephira!! Suzuki hasn''t moved a muscle!!"


    "What the hell is going on...!?"


    Nephira took another look at Suzuki. And then, she noticed. Not only was he not moving. The wooden sword he was holding was down on the floor.


    "...Pritis'' 48 Gestures--Twentieth Gesture, ''No Defense''!"


    (WHAT, is that! It''s not just an opening! How could he dodge high-speed thrusts from such a position...W--Wait! I see! I get it!)


    That''s right. Suzuki was completely defenseless. On the other hand, if Jilfried''s Bone Disruption Piercing Thrusts were to strike in such a state, the bones of Suzuki, a human, would be shattered.


    (In other words, Suzuki would be seriously wounded!! Seriously injure Suzuki!? Who in the world, could do such a deplorable thing!!?)


    Meru asked Nephira in a loud voice.


    "Lady Nephira---!! What in hell is that---!?"


    "It''s Suzuki''s technique! At first glance, he looks defenseless! And yet, it is the perfect defense!"


    An attack that doesn''t hit. However, Jilfried''s Bone Disruption Piercing Thrusts continued.


    "UHOOOOOOO!!"


    The speed of his hands increased rapidly as his spirit increased. Jilfried''s sword technique, the Bone Disruption Piercing Thrust, exceeded human kinetic vision. However, both swords did not even graze Suzuki''s skin.


    Before long---


    "It''s impossible...!"


    Jilfried dropped his wooden sword to the ground.


    "Too cute... for real...!


    With these words, Nephira understood completely. After all, Suzuki was not dodging. Jilfried himself had failed to hit Suzuki.


    All the sword blows that left afterimages were stopped just short of hitting Suzuki or were swinging in the air a few centimeters away from his body.


    "It is my loss..."


    Jilfried went to the ground on his knees. It was clearly a signal of forfeiting the duel.


    "Winner, Suzuki!!"


    The cat-eared arbiter declared, and the surrounding demons were in an uproar. The cheers and jeers soon turned into compliments for Suzuki.


    "That was awesome, Suzuki!!"


    "From a Stone-rank soldier, you''ve suddenly become a Bronze-rank soldier!!"


    "When the hell did you become so powerful?!"


    Smiling at the goblin soldiers who were also part of his group, Suzuki slowly walked over to Nephira.

 CH 5.3

    Smiling at the goblin soldiers who were also part of his group, Suzuki slowly walked over to Nephira.


    "Nephira."


    In front of the gathered demons, Nephira forced away her happy expression and put on a scowl.


    "I''m sorry I ran away so abruptly and didn''t call you until now."


    Hm. Nephira snorted, but inwardly she was relieved. It seemed that Suzuki was no longer angry with her.


    (Ah--- I''m so glad!)


    "Let''s leave it at that. Anyway, the military duel was splendid. From today onwards, you are a Bronze-rank soldier, two ranks above a Stone-rank soldier. Once again, you will be granted permission to have slaves. I will also give you a small territory of your own."


    "Thank you," Suzuki answered and smiled happily.


    While Nephira was staring at him, thinking how cute he was and how she wanted to kiss him, Excella walked up to them. She bent her hips in front of Suzuki and bowed her head politely.


    "I''m Excella. From today, I will serve you, Lord Hero, as your slave."


    "Y--You don''t have to be so formal! Or rather, instead of master-slave, let''s be friends, you and me!"


    And then they both laughed together. While watching that scene, Nephira was suddenly enveloped in a feeling of loneliness.


    (Ugh, Suzuki...! Are you going to leave me just like this...?)


    However, Suzuki told Nephira with a smile on his face.


    "I''m going out for a bit now! I''ll be back at the castle for dinner."


    "Huun? Are you, coming back to the castle?"


    "I''m Nephira''s familiar, right? I''m supposed to be around as much as possible."


    "I--I see! That''s RIGHT! You are, my familiar!"


    (Ufufu! That''s right, that''s how it is---! Suzuki is my familiar---! We don''t have to separate just because he received territory, right?! Ufufufu!)


    While Nephira''s head was a field of flowers from joy, Suzuki and Excella had left the training ground together.


    ¡ó¡ó¡ó¡ó¡ó


    "Um... Lord Hero. Where are we going?"


    "There is someone I want you to meet, Excella!"


    Takashi held Excella''s hand as he walked happily through the town. His destination was Leelou''s cabin on the outskirts of town.


    (Pritis, impressive! Actually, Master Leelou is even more amazing for thinking of such techniques!)


    During his training, Leelou was very strict with Takashi. He could hardly remember her praising him. However, Takashi became a Bronze-rank soldier and gained territory.


    Imagining his master''s smiling face while saying, "Well done!", Takashi arrived at the mountain cabin.


    "Master!! I, did it!! Thanks to Pritis, I won a duel!!"


    He opened the door and shouted, but the cabin was empty, like a haunted place.


    "Master...?"


    He thought she might be out shopping, but he soon realized something was wrong. The bookshelves were empty. The blankets and other things were missing. It didn''t have a lived-in feeling; it was as if she had moved out of the house.


    Takashi soon noticed that a letter and the scroll of Pritis had been placed on the table, the same table where Leelou used to read her books.


    Takashi took the letter in his hands.


    "Hey, Suzuki! It seemed that Serphiano, the Demon Lord''s Army Chief Advisor, had noticed my presence with her third eye. I will leave this country before Serphiano comes back to Leirune again. I bid you farewell."


    "N--No way! Master...!"


    Takashi''s hand trembled as he held the letter.


    "I''m going to tell you the truth. There are other reasons for our parting. I thought it would not be good for either of us if we stayed together. I am human. Your ability does not work on me. Yet it is strange. As I stood by your side, I grew to love you more and more as I watched you work so hard. It is not proper for a master to be charmed by her pupil.


    "If you have charmed even me, a human, then surely you can save the world with your cuteness. Polish up your techniques even more. Let us work together under the same sky to create a new world. We may be far apart, but our feelings are the same."


    The letter ended there. Next to Excella, who was looking at him with concern, Takashi clutched the letter in his hand.


    "Master whaaaaaaaaaaaaa--!!"


    Then, Takashi hugged the letter and wept inconsolably.


    (I... never thanked my master even once! I made fun of the Pritis she created for my sake! And yet... I can''t believe we''re parting ways like this!)


    ...After letting him cry for a while, Excella spoke to Takashi in a gentle voice.


    "Lord Hero. You achieved your earlier victory thanks to this person, correct...?"


    "Ya. That''s right. It was all thanks to Master Leelou."


    At that moment, Excella put her hand over her mouth as if she had just realized something.


    "If I may ask, is that master a peach-haired person?"


    "Do you know her!?"


    "With peach-colored hair, named Leelou. If so, it must be her. I heard that she was killed in battle at the hands of the Demon Lord''s army during the Great War but... she is still alive, isn''t she...!"


    Excella was so moved that she burst into tears.


    "Excella. Who in the world is Master...?"


    "Lord Hero''s mentor is the greatest mind among humans------ Former Grand Tactician of the Imperial Army, Lady Leelou Dimension. No doubt."


    "Former Grand Tactician of the Imperial Army...?"


    "During the Great War, we used to say things like *''Demon Lord''s Army has Serphiano, but the Imperial Army has Leelou'' *to lift our spirits. The Demon Lord''s Army had an overwhelming disparity in military strength over the Imperial Army, not to mention the difference in individual abilities. But even so, we were able to hold out for several years because of the presence of that one person."


    Excella wiped her tears with her finger and smiled.


    "It seems that Lady Grand Tactician is also working to save the world. If you continue aspiring to save the world, Lord Hero, I''m sure you''ll meet her again at some point."


    "I see...?"


    Takashi recalled what was written in the letter. That''s right. He is not alone. His master is fighting for world peace in a different place, using all her wisdom.


    (Then, someday! Just like Excella said, I''ll meet you, Master!)


    By then, He''ll have become a splendid Hero worthy of the title---Takashi was determined to do so.

 CH 5.4

    Just as Leelou''s letter for Takashi had said, Serphiano, the Demon Lord''s Chief Advisor, paid a visit to Leirune shortly after noon that day.


    Takashi had attended the meeting between Serphiano and Nephira as her familiar. Because the Thunder-Lance Charge had killed the king and conquered Leirune with lightning speed and swiftness, the reception hall of Syness Castle was still furnished with priceless artwork and furnishings as they were in their original glory.


    Around a long, horizontal table sat Serphiano, Nephira, Takashi, and the twin demons, the Meru-Kiru sisters. Nephira addressed Serphiano, who was seated directly in front of her.


    "The time was very sudden. If you had let us know in advance, we would gladly have made arrangements to welcome you."


    All three of Serphiano''s eyes turned to Nephira.


    "As a matter of fact, my third eye had detected a disturbing presence. The shadow of a human other than Suzuki moving in the midst of the Thunder-Lance Charge...."


    "What!"


    The air around Nephira became tense at once. Takashi was inwardly worried, thinking that this must be about his master.


    "Therefore, I visited without prior notice. However, by the time I arrived here in Leirune, the unsettling presence had already vanished."


    At the same time, Takashi was relieved and amazed at Leelou''s skillful execution. How in the world had she detected the arrival of Serphiano, who possessed Clairvoyant Eye, when she claimed that her only skill was the ability to transform?


    (I don''t understand it, but Master Leelou is really amazing!)


    Serphiano let out a small exhale with a fuu and sipped the cup of tea in front of her.


    "Perhaps it was just my imagination. It is not humanly possible to instantly disappear from Leirune upon realizing that I''ve been watching with my third eye. However... If there is a person who can do such a thing..."


    Below her eyebrows, Serphiano''s eyes sharpen sharply.


    "...Former Imperial Strategist, Leelou Dimension"


    "Impossible! She should have died in the last great war!"


    "My intuition can''t help but feel that she is still alive out there somewhere."


    While listening to Serphiano and Nephira''s conversation, Takashi swallowed hard. She is the most intelligent person in the Demon Lord''s army. She is aware of Master Leelou''s survival. Takashi realized once again that Serphiano was no ordinary woman.


    "The empire has fallen. But the remnants of the Imperial Army are still scattered all over the world. The world is almost in the Demon Lord''s hands, but we cannot be too complacent."


    Serphiano drank her tea. When the conversation came to a close, they took a short break, and Kiru spoke to Takashi in a loud voice.


    "Come to think of it, Suzuki! What happened to that conversation? The matter of those human slaves!"


    "Ah. I''m supposed to have a face-to-face meeting right after this."


    "It''s amazing, isn''t it? You have five slaves all of a sudden!"


    Suddenly, the place went quiet. Her sister Meru elbowed Kiru.


    "H--Hey Elder Sister---! Don''t talk about that right now---!"


    "Ah..."


    Kiru suddenly noticed and gave an embarrassed expression. Although Takashi had become a Bronze-rank soldier, he could normally only hold a maximum of three slaves at his rank. However, Takashi wanted to save as many slaves as possible. So he asked Nephira to allow him a special limit of five slaves.


    Takashi nervously looked at Serphiano. After returning the tea to the plate, Serphiano firmly stated.


    "The rules are only meaningful if they are strictly enforced. That''s how disorder begins in a corps unit!"


    "Y--Yes, that''s right! My bad, Suzuki! As expected, you can only have three slaves!"


    Hearing Nephira''s words, Takashi was disappointed. However, suddenly Serphiano blew out the tea she was drinking from her nose and mouth with a "buh-buh".


    "Da--Dame Serphiano?"


    Everyone looked at Serphiano, tea dripping from her face. Serphiano then wiped her face with a napkin and smiled beautifully.


    "Even so, it is fine if it is Suzuki! He is so cute!"


    (I--I''m glad. It was a bit risky, though)


    Depending on one''s perspective, the presence of Serphiano, the Chief Advisor of the Demon Lord''s Army, might be a chance for Takashi to make his various requests known. Takashi hesitantly asked Serphiano for help.


    "Eh-uhm. I''d also like to have as large a territory as possible... Can I?"


    "Suzuki! That''s a bit presumptuous of you!"


    Nephira rebuked him. But after that, both Nephira and Takashi silently looked for Serphiano''s reaction.


    "What Nephira said is right! The territory should be within the limits set by the rules of the corps."


    Suddenly, Serphiano began to tremble and mutter incomprehensible words. And then, her eyes peeled back.


    "Dame Serphiano!"


    But as soon as Nephira shouted, Serphiano changed her mind and smiled gracefully.


    "A large territory is fine. Because Suzuki is so cute!"


    (All right! This might be a good idea!)


    If Serphiano, the Chief Advisor, approves it, surely no one will complain. Takashi took the initiative and attacked.


    "Ma--Maybe you could do something like, completely freeing all the slaves...!?"


    This caused not only Nephira but also the Meru-Kiru sisters to turn pale.


    "I--Idiot! Suzuki!"


    "Th--That''s absurd, no matter how you look at it---!"


    "Uh-huh. It''s outrageous!"


    But for the time being, everyone stared at Serphiano and waited for her reaction.


    "Yes. That''s right. If the adorable Suzuki says so, then let''s take the plunge and free all the slavvvvvv, ofwashaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!"


    Suddenly, Serphiano was bleeding like a fountain from her nose, ears, and mouth.


    "Uwhaaaa!?"


    Takashi shouted in horror at the sudden slush of blood.


    "Dame Serphianoooo!?"


    Nephira also shouted. Serphiano planted her face on the table, twitching and spasming.


    (Serphiano''s "inner rationale for maintaining discipline and her desire to give me special treatment" are at odds with each other! So--Something seems to be wrong! I think I should stop!)

 CH 5.5

    After Serphiano left, Nephira brought Takashi along a country road away from the center of town. The area they passed through slowly began to be covered with crop fields and rice paddies. Soon, they saw a large Western-style house at the end of the road.


    Turning to Takashi, Nephira said, "I heard it used to be owned by a prominent aristocrat."


    (Th--This is my home!)


    Takashi was impressed by the magnificent exterior. Frankly, he never thought he would someday own such a large house. It even had a garden and a pond with fish swimming in it.


    "It''s small compared to Syness Castle, but I guess it''s enough to accommodate five or six people."


    "Yes, yes! It''s the BEST!"


    Excitedly, he ran and opened the large double doors. Carpets lined the entrance hall, and a large chandelier was overhead. It looked like the entrance to a first-class hotel.


    "Amazing! The inside is so beautiful!"


    "Just like the castle, it hasn''t been vandalized."


    Takashi went up the stairs to the second floor, where five doors lined the corridor. Takashi checked each room one by one. All the rooms were fully furnished with bedding and other amenities. In particular, the room at the end of the corridor even had a wide and massive bed. Takashi jumped into the bed to try it out.


    (Feathers? It''s soft and fluffy! Hmmmm! I think I''m going to make this my room!)


    While he was mulling about this, Nephira was watching from the other side of the door.


    "Let me tell you a funny story. The place where this house''s master was slain by soldiers of the Thunder-Lance Charge... It''s the bed you''re currently lying in."


    "No, wait!? You can''t say something like that!! That''s not funny at all!!"


    If you thought about it, the availability of the mansion meant that the people who originally lived there had suffered some misfortune. Feeling ashamed of his excitement, Takashi turned his head toward the bed and clapped his hands together. In any case, he would probably make his room a different one...


    After exploring the mansion for a while, he heard the sound of the door knocker coming from the main doors.


    As he went down the entrance, he saw Excella and Orneo, together with two strangers, a man and a woman, standing behind them.


    "Master Suzuki. From today onwards, we will be in your care."


    Excella and Orneo bowed deeply to Takashi and introduced themselves once again. The two people in the back also bowed down to Takashi. Both of them must have been in their early twenties. The man had short blonde hair. The woman had waist-length blonde hair. They both had refined eyes and noses. However, they looked somewhat tired, and their bodies were thin.


    "M-Master, I--I am Allen. This, here, is my wife, Kate. And... this is our daughter, Clarice."


    Kate was holding a newborn baby in her arms. With the presence of Nephira, the commander of the Thunder-Lance Charge, Allen and Kate''s faces were tense.


    Nephira announced to the five of them in an imposing voice.


    "As a conclusion of our discussions, you are now all slaves of Suzuki. Listen to what your master says."


    Nephira then took a look at Takashi. Takashi nodded to Nephira and stepped forward.


    "All right, everyone. From today on, you will work as slaves. Those who don''t listen to me will be severely punished."


    Allen and Kate shivered. Nephira, who had her arms crossed, nodded her head in agreement.


    "Uh-huh. Suzuki. Very master-like."


    "Because I''m now a Thunder-Lance Charge soldier, you know. I must keep these slaves in line."


    "That''s impressive." Wearing a look of relief, Nephira turned on her heel and said, "Well then, I have some business to attend to, so I shall return to the castle."


    "Nephira. See you later."


    Nephira left, and the door of the mansion closed. Then, Takashi''s stiff face relaxed, and he smiled at Allen and the others.


    "I''m sorry about before! In front of Nephira, I thought I''d try to act the part."


    The husband and wife couple were perplexed. Takashi spoke with a smile on his face.


    "Just do the basic things like housework, cooking, etc., ya know. The rest of the time, I want you to be free to live as you please."


    Takashi approached Clarice, the daughter that Kate was holding. Takashi held Clarice''s tiny hand.


    "I don''t know much about babies, but if there is anything I can do, please let me know. Also, if you get tangled up with a demon in town, tell them, ''I''m Suzuki''s slave.'' They probably will stop bothering you!


    "Ha--Huh..."


    Takashi smiled again at the dumbfounded couple. Orneo walked up to Takashi.


    "So, Lord Hero. How did your meeting with Serphiano go?"


    He let them in, and then at the table in the hallway, Takashi told Orneo and Excella about the previous meeting.


    "...Hu-huh, Hu-huh. So, well, then. I think that was the right place to pull out."


    "Eh, that''s right, you know. If we push too hard, Serphiano may come to her senses and try to execute Lord Hero this time again."


    "Th--That would be a problem...!"


    Excella talked with a finger on her chin.


    "Even if Serphiano, alone, were to change her way of thinking, it would be difficult to achieve peace. A sudden order to abolish slavery could cause a riot among the demons."


    Orneo rubbed his white beard as he heard Excella''s words.


    "As expected, it would be unreasonable. It''s best to take it easy and slowly fill the moat."


    "I agree. First, let''s expand our free territory here in Leirune."


    "So, should I work harder to move up the ranks?"


    "If you do, it would increase the number of slaves you could own and the territory you could hold. However, won''t the higher the rank, the greater the risk that Lord Hero will end up being sent to war?"


    "What Orneo said is correct. I think it''s best to err on the side of caution."


    As he talked with both of them, Takashi was impressed. Excella was intelligent, and her retainer Orneo was also very knowledgeable. These two people could provide Takashi with insights he couldn''t have thought of on his own. Excella was also the one who recommended the Allens, who had a young baby, to be included in Takashi''s first group of slaves.

 CH 5.6

    As Takashi and his colleagues were talking enthusiastically, Allen unexpectedly approached the table.


    "Uh, Uhm..."


    "Hmm?"


    "I was listening to the conversation on the side... and, in other words... Are you people trying to save the world...?"


    "Yeah. Well..."


    Takashi scratched his cheek with a troubled expression.


    "If I were strong, I could help you right away, but... I''m, weak. But I intend to make this place a better place to live. So, I''ll be looking at the long term and... huh, WHAA!?"


    Suddenly, Allen held Takashi''s hands with tears streaming down his face. He cried while his voice trembled.


    "When Leirune was conquered, we thought the world was over and resigned ourselves! But the heavens have not abandoned us!"


    His wife, Kate, also shed tears as she kneeled before Takashi.


    "Ah! Lord Hero, thank you so very much!"


    "No, don''t be so dramatic!!"


    Kate then looked down at the little Clarice.


    "It doesn''t matter how many years it takes. If one day, there is a world where this child can live happily, then..."


    Takashi felt his heart tighten at the thought of Kate''s love for her child. Takashi stared at Clarice''s innocent sleeping face and swore in his heart.


    (Someday, for sure, I''ll make the world a place where people can live happily ever after.)


    ¡ó         ¡ó         ¡ó         ¡ó         ¡ó


    The open market downtown from the Syness Castle. While Excella was amongst the demons shopping for ingredients for supper, an orc barged into the line.


    "Get out of the way, woman. I''ll go first."


    "U--Uhm..."


    Behind the bewildered Excella''s back, a golem lets out a thick, muffled sound.


    "Stop it. This lad is Suzuki''s slave."


    "Eh. Is that so? About this, my bad."


    The orc quietly got in line behind Excella.


    ...Returning from the market. With a shopping bag in hand, Excella was convinced.


    (Thanks to Lord Hero, this town is changing more and more for the better! If things continue as they are, there will be peace in the world!)


    One week had passed since Excella and the rest had started living in Suzuki''s mansion.


    Suzuki brought them all the money they needed for their daily life. Thanks to Suzuki''s generosity, the Excella and the rest were able to live a life without any inconvenience. Both Allen and Kate must have started getting used to living there. They showed more smiles on their faces.


    After preparing dinner, Kate said while soothing Clarice.


    "Lady Excella. Is it all right that, we alone, are allowed this happiness?"


    "Lord Hero is planning to free all the people of the town from slavery. More and more people will be happy from now on!"


    Kate smiled gently.------it was then, that a sound like something breaking could be heard from the garden.


    "Allen dear. I wonder if he knocked over a flowerpot or something."


    Kate ran to the front door, looking worried. Excella followed her.


    The moment she stepped out the front door, she tensed. A snake-headed fiend was standing in front of Allen.


    "When I told him that Master Suzuki wasn''t here, this man took a flowerpot from the garden and..."


    Allen spoke with a tense look on his face. The snake-headed fiend had an aura of evil different from the demons and fiends that Excella encountered in the town. The snake-headed fiend looked over at Excella and the others as if scrutinizing them.


    "On-- Tw-- Thre... The old geezer''s here, too. Damn. How many ssslaves are in here! For an Iron-rank soldier, how dare he!"


    Excella tried to keep her voice as cheerful as possible while trying to encourage herself.


    "Master Suzuki is currently, away visiting Syness Castle. What can we do for you?"


    "I''m-- ssstarving."


    "Is that so? If you would like, please join us for dinner---"


    "Ah, no. Doing that would be bad. That''s why, Give me that!"


    The fiend''s vertical pupils were focused on Clarice, who was sleeping in Kate''s arms.


    "That little baby. Feed it to me."


    "No... you must be jest---"


    "I did not sssaid it as a joke!"


    The snake-headed fiend tried to walk up to Kate. Allen stood in his way.


    "W--We are Master Suzuki''s slaves!"


    "Ssso what of it!? I''m Gharaga, a Thunder-Lance Charge Silver-Rank Soldier. I outrank that chum."


    Gharaga tried to extend his sharp-clawed hands toward Clarice in Kate''s arms. Allen grabbed his arm.


    "Don''t touch my child!"


    "Human. You ssscum are the one who ssshouldn''t be touching me with your filthy hands!"


    Gharaga swung his other arm, the one that Allen hadn''t grabbed.


    "Die, Out of my way. You ssshit."


    In the next instant, Allen''s head separated from his torso, splattering great amounts of fresh blood.


    ...


    Thud.


    The sound of Allen''s head hitting the ground awakened Excella from her dream-like thoughts.


    And she remembered.


    She was living in a savage world ruled by demons without mercy or compassion.

 CH 6.1

    Having witnessed her husband slaughtered, Kate fell to her knees, shaking as she held Clarice in her arms. Just like the day Syness Castle got conquered by the Thunder-Lance Charge---the things she took for granted in everyday life suddenly disappeared.


    But then Excella stood with arms outstretched in front of Kate, who was holding Clarice while almost crushed by despair.


    "Your Highness!"


    Orneo rushed to her side with haste. Excella''s voice was filled with strength, knowing she couldn''t afford to lose to the vicious snake monster, even if only in terms of spirit.


    "Gharaga! Did you not come here to meet Master Suzuki?"


    "That''s right! Suzuki... That fucking brat."


    When he heard the hero''s name spoken by Excella, Gharaga''s serpentine eyes narrowed in disgust.


    "The Thunder-Lance Charge soldiers have been a little too happy to see that little shit. Even Nephira is doing whatever she wants. Why would a human want to join the Thunder-Lance Charge in the first place? It''s crazy, right?"


    Gharaga stretched his snake-like neck---glaring at the large mansion---and spat on the ground.


    "A disproportionate number of ssslaves in a disproportionate estate. What a joke. I''m here to teach him a lesson about the real world."


    Excella felt a roar in her mind. Gharaga''s thoughts were inherently natural for a demon. The fact that a human got accepted by demons was truly ridiculous.


    (But! Why doesn''t the power of Lord Hero work on Gharaga?)


    Excella couldn''t understand. However, it was no use thinking about it now. What she needed to do was to protect Kate and Clarice. Excella kept her arms outstretched and glared at Gharaga.


    Suddenly, Gharaga''s figure disappeared from her vision. Hearing Kate''s scream, Excella turned around. Gharaga had taken Clarice from Kate and held her up with one hand.


    (N--No way! I couldn''t see his movement at all! This is an Adamantine-rank soldier of the Thunder-Lance Charge!)


    Seeming to be in a lot of pain with Gharaga holding her by the back of her underwear, Clarice started crying loudly.


    "Please don''t do it! I have heard that eating human babies is against corps regulations!"


    "You know your way around. I remember the last time they cut out my tongue and put me in jail. It took a while to regenerate."


    "T--That''s why!"


    "Well... but, I''ll think about it after I eat."


    Kate, who had lost her child, screamed and tried to run toward Gharaga. Orneo held Kate from behind.


    "You can''t go! He''ll kill you! Just a tad more! Lord Hero will return soon! Until then, bear with it!"


    (Just a tad more...? Could it be?!)


    Excella looked beyond Orneo''s line of sight. Across from the garden gate. She saw Suzuki walking toward the villa.


    "Lord Herooo!!"


    Perhaps he heard Excella''s cry. Or perhaps he saw the current spectacle. Suzuki dropped the bag of fruit he was carrying to the ground.


    Gharaga also seemed to notice Suzuki in the distance.


    "Did he come back? Then let''s have the baby before he gets here."


    Excella thought it was a miracle that Suzuki had returned at such an opportune time. But Suzuki was more than fifty meters away. No matter how fast he ran, he would never make it here before Clarice got eaten by Gharaga.


    Gharaga happily held up the crying Clarice with one hand. Gharaga''s mouth opens wide, with drool dripping down through his fangs.


    (Please! Lord Hero!)


    Excella clasped her hands together as if in prayer and closed her eyes.


    "What in tarnation..."


    At the sound of Gharaga''s deadpan voice, Excella slowly opened her eyes.


    "Lo--Lord Hero...?"


    Excella expected the hero to come running at full speed with a determined expression on his face. But even at a time like this, the hero was hopping around on one leg, alternately shuffling his feet.


    (S--Skipping? He''s skipping happily!! What a thing to do at this critical moment!!)


    "Ke-ke-ke. What the hell. What a stupid gait!"


    Gharaga laughed at Suzuki, but he continued skipping.


    (Is he for real?!! Allen is dead, and now Clarice might, too!!)


    "What kind of a hero is that? He is making me laugh."


    (With all due respect, that''s what I think too!! Lord Hero!! Please hurry!!)


    Even Clarice, who was being held up, noticed Suzuki and laughed, Kya-ha-ha.


    "Even the baby is laughing at him! Moron hero!"


    (Enough is enough, Lord Hero!! I''m starting to get angry!! I really feel like punching you in the face!!)


    At the hero''s skipping, Excella shook her fist. What on earth is he thinking?! I really want to punch him in the face! Not a slap, but if possible, a punch!


    But before she knew it, the hero had arrived before Gharaga. The hero nimbly took Clarice, who was being held by Gharaga, within his arms. The hero, holding Clarice, who was enjoying herself with a "kya-kya", then spoke.


    "Pritis'' 48 Gestures---Thirtieth Gesture, ''Light Hop Gait''."

 CH 6.2

    "...Ah?"


    Gharaga''s narrow pupils widened as he realized that Suzuki was holding the baby, Clarice, whom he was about to eat. Excella was surprised as well.


    (H--He made it in time...!? From that distance!! And he got Clarice back unharmed!!)


    Excella was ashamed of herself for wanting to "punch him in the face" for even a moment.


    The hero glanced at the headless Allen, lying on the ground far away from him, and showed a sad expression. After he handed Clarice to Kate, his expression drastically changed as he glared at Gharaga.


    "Why did you kill Allen...?"


    "That filth grabbed me out of nowhere! That''s why I punished him."


    "Allen was my slave!"


    "What if he was?"


    The hero grabbed Gharaga by the chest. Excella had never seen the hero so furious.


    "If you''re mad at me, take it out on ME!"


    "Get off me, you fucking brat. I hate being touched by humansss..."


    Gharaga raised one hand in the air, just as he did when he killed Allen.


    "Lord Hero!!"


    Excella shouted involuntarily. However, Gharaga clicked his tongue and slowly lowered his raised arm.


    "I''d like to kill you right now, but if I kill you, I''ll probably end up worse than in jail."


    Gharaga''s golden pupils sparkled suspiciously.


    "A Military Duel."


    When Excella saw Gharaga grinning, she gasped for breath. Perhaps this is what Gharaga was after. If he killed the hero, who was favored by Nephira, in the worst-case scenario, he could be executed in return.


    However, if it was due to an accident during a military duel, he would not be charged with anything. Gharaga was trying to legally kill the hero. That was why he killed Allen and had the hero form a grudge against himself.


    (He may look like a psycho, but he''s smart! If this continues, the hero will be forced to play into Gharaga''s ploy!)


    However, ignoring Excella''s concern, Suzuki kept his eyes fixed on Gharaga and nodded his head.


    "I understand. I accept the duel."


    "Ke-ke-ke. Tomorrow at noon. At the training grounds."


    Gharaga laughed in satisfaction and extended his long-clawed index finger to the hero''s face.


    "Ow--..."


    Suddenly, the hero''s face contorted. A trickle of blood dripped from his cheek.


    "I''m looking forward to it."


    Gharaga licked the claw covered in the hero''s blood with his slender tongue and walked away.


    ¡ô ¡ô ¡ô ¡ô ¡ô


    Walking from Suzuki''s villa to a deserted back alley of the town, Gharaga placed his hand against a brick wall. He was a little out of breath from excitement.


    (That lowly human dares...!)


    The baby he was about to eat easily got taken from him without notice. But more importantly. When he was about to hurt Suzuki, Gharaga realized the true power of the hero. That sensation------it was similar to smashing a piece of pottery that you''ve been carefully polishing every single morning and evening for years onto the floor and shattering it. It was unbearable for normal nerves.


    And yet, Gharaga had hurt Suzuki. He could hurt him. That''s right! I can do what no other demon cannot do!


    Recalling the red blood from Suzuki that he had licked earlier. An indescribable sweetness spread throughout his mouth.


    "Ke-ke...... Ke-ke-ke-ke-ke-ke-ke-ke!!"


    Gharaga laughed loudly. When was the last time it happened? When was the last time he tasted something that he could truly appreciate from the bottom of his heart? Twenty years ago... No....


    (It''s been 30 years.)


    One day 30 years ago, Gharaga began to feel a constant salty taste in his mouth that made him want to throw up. Even after rinsing his mouth, he was left with the salty taste, as if his oral cavity had been dumped with seawater.


    The symptoms, which did not improve no matter what he did, only eased when he ate a human. The reason Gharaga joined the Thunder-Lance Charge, a special attack unit under the direct command of the Demon Lord''s Army, was because he would have more opportunities to eat humans at the front lines.


    When he heard that virgins'' meat was delicious, he snatched it up and ate it. When he heard rumors that babies were delicious, he devoured human babies.


    However, a few moments after eating, Gharaga''s mouth would soon be filled with the salty taste that made him want to throw up again.


    ...However.


    Gharaga breathed heavily in the back alley. The sweetness of Suzuki''s blood still lingered in his mouth. It was only a few drops, yet it lasted for so long.


    (If, I kill that bastard, and eat his flesh...)


    Gharaga was convinced. His sense of taste would return to normal. No, not just that. If he killed Suzuki, he would reach a new height as a fiend.

 CH 6.3

    Takashi and Orneo built a grave for Allen in the garden. Of course, it was only a simple gesture, but they couldn''t leave Allen''s body where it was, at least for Kate''s sake.


    When Takashi returned to the villa, he found Excella by the table in the entryway with a tired look on her face.


    "Excella. What about Kate?"


    "She''s in her room soothing Clarice. I think she''s calmed down a little..."


    "I see," Takashi nodded.


    Excella gazed at him and murmured, "Are you really, going to fight Gharaga tomorrow?"


    "Yeah."


    "I''m against it. That guy is different from ordinary demons. Because Lord Hero''s power does not affect him."


    Orneo looked at Takashi with a wrinkled brow. He was looking at the wound on his cheek inflicted by Gharaga earlier. He advised.


    "It''s not too late to reconsider. Let''s inform Nephira and call off the duel--"


    "I''ll duel him!" Takashi interrupted Orneo, causing the two to stare at him. "My power isn''t completely useless. A little while ago, I was able to get Clarice back."


    Takashi could not forgive Gharaga. While burying Allen, that feeling became even stronger. Orneo told him that Allen had taken his advice and told Gharaga that he was Suzuki''s slave. And yet, Allen had been killed.


    "I will definitely defeat Gharaga!"


    "I understand how you feel. But there are humans and demons with broken brains. Gharaga is exactly like that. You shouldn''t fight him. Lord Hero''s power will be necessary for the future salvation of this world."


    Takashi also understood Gharaga''s abnormality. Takashi''s legs trembled when his cheek got scratched. As Master Leelou had said, if he wanted to, Gharaga could kill him. Nevertheless...


    "I will fight! This is a battle between Gharaga''s ferocity and my cuteness!"


    After saying this, Takashi wondered if he had said something strange about the bout. He noticed that Excella''s eyes were on him.


    "Not long ago, Lord Hero skipped all the way to the villa, didn''t you?"


    "Ah, yeah"


    "Allen just got killed, and when Clarice was about to be killed as well, I couldn''t believe you were skipping. It looked insane. Frankly, I thought of punching you in the face."


    "I see... No, wait a minute! Did you really think that, Excella?"


    "Yes. If Clarice had died due to that, I was going to wallop Lord Hero in the face."


    "Moreover, wallop...!"


    Takashi was shocked. As expected, from a human''s point of view, they will think, "What is he doing? Gross!"


    It was sad. He was trying. It had been his very best.


    Then Excella smiled at him.


    "But as a result, Clarice was saved. A swordmaster or a grand sorcerer couldn''t have saved Clarice under such circumstances. In this world, there is only Lord Hero."


    Then, Excella clasped Takashi''s hand with both of her hands.


    "I believe in you! In Lord Hero''s power!"


    Takashi nodded broadly to Excella. Maintaining the smile on her face, she put her hand on her bosom, took out a flower, and offered it to him.


    "What''s this?"


    "It''s a flower from the garden. Please put it in your hair if you would like. I hope it adds a little bit of cuteness."


    Takashi did as he was told. He put the flower in his hair, then turned to Orneo and asked, "How is it?"


    "Eh. No, well, that... I think it is cute..."


    "N--Not so good, right? Let''s not!" The princess pouted at Orneo''s reaction.


    "Or rather, Your Highness. I don''t think that is what cuteness is all about."


    "Is that so...? I apologize..."


    "N--No! I could understand your feelings!! Thank you, Excella!"


    Although he removed the flower from his hair, Takashi still felt encouraged by her.


    ¡ô ¡ô ¡ô ¡ô ¡ô


    One day, 30 years ago, Gharaga met a girl in the forest.


    "Mr. Snake, Mr. Snake! You have such a cool face, you know!"


    The little girl, not even half Gharaga''s height, looked up at him and said such things.


    Humans feared and abhorred the basilisk race Gharaga was part of. And Gharaga himself was taught from an early age by his parents that humans were slaves or food.


    And yet.


    "I am Mimi! Nice to meet you, you know!"


    The girl was not afraid of Gharaga and even smiled at him.


    He thought about eating her, but the sight of the small, skinny Mimi made him lose his appetite.


    Mimi took the liberty of telling him her personal story, even though Gharaga had not asked her about it. She had been living with her grandfather in a cabin in the forest, but he had died of an illness about a month ago.


    "That''s why Mimi, you know, was VERY lonely! But! I''m so glad I met Gharaga!"


    "...I don''t get what you mean!"

 CH 6.4

    Whenever he went hunting for beasts in the forest, he always met Mimi.


    "Gharaga! You''re looking good again today, you know!"


    "You''re being TOO familiar! Don''t talk to me, human."


    "Good Morning, Gharaga! Spring is warm and fluffy, you know!"


    "Shut up. I''ll eat you."


    "G-Good evening, Gharaga! It''s snowing t-today. It''s cold, you know."


    "I don''t care, idiot."


    Gharaga was unfriendly, and no one, not even humans or demons, was willing to talk to him.


    ...No one except for Mimi.


    As he spent time with Mimi, Gharaga''s way of thinking began to change. He was taught that humans'' value was nothing more than slaves or food. However, he did not feel bad when he was with Mimi. He did not dislike seeing Mimi''s delighted face when he picked fruit from tall trees.


    However, his parents were worried about him.


    "Gharaga. It seems you''ve been playing with humans in the forest, haven''t you?"


    "You shouldn''t play with food!"


    Despite their repeated admonitions, Gharaga didn''t care. Seeing Mimi in the forest had somehow become a source of pleasure for him.


    One day, however, Gharaga''s parents stopped saying anything about Mimi. And Gharaga no longer saw Mimi in the forest.


    A short time later, Gharaga found Mimi''s torn clothes in the kitchen of their house. Holding Mimi''s clothes, Gharaga inquired with his parents.


    "Ah. That was supper five days ago!"


    "Ha-ha-ha. Gharaga. You ate it like it was a delicacy."


    His parents'' words did not come as much of a surprise.


    (Ah, I see. The meat from that time. The meat that I thought had a different texture from that of animals.)


    Ridiculous. No wonder he could not find her when he searched around.


    (Ke-ke-ke. Because I was the one who ate her. She couldn''t be found because I already ate her. No matter how hard I searched, there was no way I could find her. Ke-ke-ke-ke-ke-ke-ke-ke.)


    But what on earth exactly did Mimi taste like? He couldn''t remember much. As he tried to remember, his mouth felt salty, as if it was flooding with seawater, and he vomited violently.


    ...Years have passed since then. However, Gharaga could never get used to the unpleasant taste that chafed the mucous membranes of his tongue.


    In the morning, as soon as he woke up, Gharaga vomited the contents of his stomach into a bucket. It had always been like that. The saltiness was especially strong upon waking up.


    Wiping his mouth with his arm, Gharaga grinned while breathing heavily.


    (I''m going to get rid of this shitty disease today! If I kill Suzuki, everything will change!)


    ......


    When Gharaga arrived at the training grounds, he found the place crammed with hordes of demons. It seemed that they all knew that Suzuki would be participating in a military duel.


    (Even those who don''t usually come to the training grounds because they seem to hate training. Could it be that he''s rallying all the members of the Thunder-Lance Charge?)


    The junior soldiers were looking at Gharaga from afar and whispering secretly with each other. When Gharaga looked at them, they quickly looked away.


    In contrast to Gharaga''s usual unapproachable self, Suzuki was surrounded by a group of demons with worried expressions on their faces. There was even Nephira and the top-brass Meru-Kiru Sisters.


    "It''s dangerous, you know, Suzuki!"


    "You shouldn''t do this!---"


    "Meru, Kiru. Thank you. But this is how I''ll settle it with Gharaga."


    (Ke-ke-ke. That''s a very bold statement.)


    However, the Meru-Kiru sisters seemed to really want Suzuki to call off the duel.


    "Suzuki! I know! Your slave was murdered, right!? That''s why I found you another slave!"


    Kiru pushed a middle-aged man with a large mole on his face in front of Suzuki. The man bowed his head.


    "He-he-. My liege. I''ll be in your care!"


    "No, you see... That''s not what this is about, Kiru."


    Meru laughed as she kicked away the middle-aged man that Kiru had brought with her.


    "You don''t understand---, My Elder Sister---! Because Suzuki is a boy! Of course, it''s better if he is fixed with a woman, isn''t it?---!"


    Meru presented a voluptuous, erotic woman with large breasts in front of Suzuki. The woman gazed at Suzuki with eyes like a dead fish.


    "From now on, please use me as your sex slave, Lord Suzuki..."


    "Like I said, that''s NOT what this is about!!"


    In front of the angry Suzuki, Nephira, the commander of the Thunder-Lance Charge, smiled confidently.


    "You fools. You don''t understand how Suzuki feels. Can''t you see? Suzuki''s slave, Allen, is dead. You have to consider that."


    Nephira then presented a very young boy to Suzuki.


    "This is Eren. His name is similar to Allen''s, isn''t it? You are satisfied now, right? Suzuki. Now you can call off the duel."


    "No, I''m not satisfied at all!? You don''t know how I feel about any of this, do you!?"


    Suzuki raised his voice as if he couldn''t stand it any longer. Then he noticed Gharaga laughing at him with a "ke-ke-ke," and gave him a scowling look.

 CH 6.5

    "For Kate and Clarice!! Allen was irreplaceable! He was so indispensable!!!"


    Hearing such a shout, Gharaga gnawed his teeth together.


    (He''s talking silly nonsense. My nausea that had subsided has returned.)


    "Well, then. When you''re both ready, please come this way---!"


    The cat-eared female beast-man who usually takes the role of referee appeared again today, wagging her tail, and led Suzuki and Gharaga to the center of the training grounds.


    Surrounded by so many demons, Suzuki seemed a little nervous. Some of them, if not more, were cheering for Suzuki.


    "Now, both of you! Face each other!"


    (For what it''s worth, it''s all going according to my plan. I''m going to kill you right now, human!)


    However, just before the battle began, Gharaga noticed that Suzuki was unarmed.


    "Hey, shitty brat. How are you going to fight me without any weapon?"


    "Combat is not all about strength. I''m going to teach you that right now. "


    "Don''t you dare underessstimate me."


    Gharaga lightly slashed Suzuki''s other cheek with his fingernail. Another streak of blood dripped down. The demons in the training grounds were in an uproar.


    "That Gharaga fella. He wounded Suzuki a tiny bit!?"


    "That cute Suzuki!! Unbelievable!?"


    "He''s crazy...!"


    Even the words of the audience sounded pleasant to Gharaga. When he looked at Suzuki''s legs, they were trembling slightly.


    (Ke-ke-ke. I knew it. He''s scared, ain''t he?)


    "Then, from now on, the duel between Gharaga and Suzuki will begin!"


    At the same time as the cat-eared referee spoke, the training grounds filled with cheers. Most of the support was for Suzuki. Suzuki took a deep breath as the demons cheered him on.


    "I... believe in Master."


    "Eh? What are you talking about, bastard?"


    Then Suzuki wiped the blood from his cheek with his thumb. At some point, the trembling of Suzuki''s legs had stopped. He gave Gharaga a piercing glare.


    "The one and only special technique, surpassing both attack power and magical power. That is Pritis."


    "Don''t talk nonsense that makes no sssense to me!"


    Gharaga shouted and swung his right arm. He intended to kill Suzuki at that moment. He was overcome with a terrible sense of loathing as if he was about to attack the evil god that served as the subject of the demonic race''s faith.


    (Ke-ke-ke-ke-ke! I don''t give a damn! I''m going to kill it! Even if it''s an evil god!)


    A moment later, he let his fury take over and tried to swing his right arm out with all his might.


    "Pritis''s 48 Gestures---Fourth Gesture, ''Hands Clasping''."


    Suzuki''s whisper sounded in his ears. At the same time, Suzuki was holding Gharaga''s left hand.


    "Bastard!! Don''t touch me with your FILTHY HANDS!!"


    However, Gharaga thought that this was his chance. Before Suzuki''s ability activated, he would drown himself in a sea of anger and cut off his head.


    With this in mind, Gharaga looked at Suzuki.


    (Moron...!)


    An impossible sight stopped Gharaga''s movements.


    Until now, he had been fighting against Suzuki. And yet, right in front of his eyes...


    "Gharaga! Long time no see, you know!"


    Mimi was holding Gharaga''s left hand. The young Mimi spoke to Gharaga with that same smile.


    "Let''s play! Gharaga!"


    The dreadful-like emotion rising from the pit of his stomach caused his fangs to rattle.


    "Ga... Gaaaaa--!"


    Gharaga screamed in an attempt to erase the illusion in front of his eyes. It worked. Mimi was gone, and in her place stood the loathsome Suzuki.


    "This sorcerer familiar!!"


    He was unexpectedly holding one of his hands just now. Perhaps that was the trigger for the illusion to activate. He wouldn''t let that happen next time.


    Gharaga raised both hands, showing off his sharp claws, high in the air.


    "Wicked Serpent Cross Claw Guillotine!!"


    Gharaga''s signature strike, which cuts through the target with both claws crossing each other, was aimed at Suzuki.


    However, before Gharaga''s arms could reach the target, Suzuki murmured.


    "Pritis''s 48 Gestures---Twenty-Fifth Gesture, ''Puffy Face''."


    Suddenly, Suzuki''s cheeks puffed up in anger. A demon in the audience could be heard exclaiming, "How cute!"


    "What in the hell is so cute about it? Stupid idioooooooot!!" Gharaga shouted.


    (You''ve got to be kidding me, you son of a bitch! I''m going to slice your face off in one fell swoop!)


    Gharaga made up his mind to do so but then realized that Mimi was standing in front of him. Once again.


    "Gee! GHARAGA! You''ve got to stop screwing around, you know!"


    Mimi''s cheeks were red like apples, showing that she was angry. It was the same as thirty years ago, just like in his memory. Mimi''s realism shook Gharaga to his core. The raised arms lowered without any force.


    (Su--Suzuki, looks like Mimi...? No, I''m, a moron! This bastard is a man! He''s not even the same age as Mimi... and they... don''t look anything alike!)


    Gharaga''s frustration was at its peak. With bloodshot eyes, he extended his left arm forward.


    "Fine! One arm, I''ll let you have it!"


    Without hesitation, Gharaga sliced off his left arm with his sharp claws. Blood gushed out. The demons were surprised by Gharaga''s strange behavior.


    (Intense pain interferes with the illusion! No more! Your techniques WON''T work anymore!)

 CH 6.6

    TL Note: I apologize for the sporadic release schedule this month. I had been extremely busy and didn''t have much time to revise my translations, and I would have hated to release something unpolished. As a way to make it up to everyone I will be releasing 3 parts per week for the following 3 weeks. Happy reading.


    Gharaga, an Silver-rank soldier, knew how to break the enemy''s illusions from his many combat experiences. The pain of losing his arm was outweighed by the thrill of blocking Suzuki''s technique. Gharaga looked at his hated enemy with a grin on his face.


    Suzuki''s eyes filled with tears as he stared at Gharaga with concern.


    "Ay-ay-ay, that looks painful, ya know. Are you okay, Gharaga?"


    At the same time, he heard Mimi''s voice. Suzuki must have spoken imitating Mimi''s voice. His stomach was churning.


    "You''ve got to be kidding me, you fucking brat!! You''re DISGUSTING!"


    As he was about to pull his arm back, determined to kill him this time, Gharaga saw another unbelievable sight.


    A young Mimi was standing next to Gharaga. Mimi had moved away from Suzuki and was looking up at Gharaga from right beside him.


    "...Pritis''s 48 Gestures---Thirteenth Gesture, ''Tearful Eyes''"


    (Mimi split from Suzuki! Wh--What, the heck? Wasn''t it an illusion sorcery?)


    Like Suzuki, Mimi had tears in her eyes and looked at Gharaga with concern. Mimi''s image was clearly visible without any blurring.


    (A ghost? Is this guy a necromancer?? No, he''s not! This is something else...!)


    Gharaga was having difficulty breathing. It was not an illusion sorcery. Perhaps it was also different from a Spiritism technique. Suzuki''s technique did not conform to Gharaga''s knowledge of sorceries.


    "Hey, Gharaga. Do you want me to bring you some medicine??"


    (It does NOT matter if it is a hallucination or a ghost!!)


    Rather than Suzuki in front of him, he thought he had to deal with Mimi first. Gharaga swung his arm around and tried to slash Mimi.


    "Damn you! Do NOT look at me that way!"


    However, the moment Gharaga''s claws struck Mimi, she disappeared without a trace. The next moment, she was standing on the opposite side from where she had been.


    "Gharaga. Your arm is bleeding, you know."


    "Bastard!"


    This time, he aimed at the head and delivered a thrust.


    "Gee, cut it out. Please? We need to get you patched up quickly."


    Just when he thought he had for sure hit, Mimi disappeared again and was now standing right next to Gharaga.


    The attack was not successful. But while attacking, Gharaga realized something decisive.


    "Ke-ke... ke-ke-ke-ke-ke-ke-ke-ke!!"


    (I understand! I knew it was all a hoax!)


    Gharaga laughed loudly. That Suzuki! He got carried away and dug his own grave! "Medicine"? "Patch you up" was it?


    "Ku-ke-ke-ke-ke-ke!! Mimi would never say such a thing to ME!!"


    What kind of person would be worried about an enemy who has eaten her?! That statement proved that it wasn''t the real Mimi! He had seen through Suzuki''s shallow technique!


    "You moron!! Mimi is full of RESENTMENT and HATRED towards me!!"


    Gharaga was convinced that he had seen through Suzuki''s technique. Even so, Mimi''s illusion would not disappear.


    "I do NOT care!! Then, I''ll eat you again!! I''ll swallow you whole!!"


    In front of the young Mimi, Gharaga opened his big mouth. He tried to bite her head off.


    (Be gone!! Impostor!!)


    The moment Gharaga was piercing her with his own fangs, he saw------ it was Mimi, smiling innocently at him.


    "Y--You... are...!"


    Seeing her smile, a perfect replica of the one she had 30 years ago, a sense of dread ran through Gharaga''s body. The gentle smile that stuck in his mind made him stop moving. For the first time in his life, Gharaga experienced complete terror and collapsed, leaving his mouth open as if it were about to take a bite out of Mimi.


    "Why... Why are you smiling...? How can you have a smile on your face like that...? I ate you, didn''t I...?"


    (And, I was just about to eat you... right now...!)


    Mimi looked at Gharaga with a curious expression on her face.


    "What do you mean, why? Isn''t it obvious?"


    Mimi beamed with a big smile.


    "It''s because I love you! Gharaga!"


    ...That''s right. Mimi was smiling. She must be smiling. He was sure Mimi had forgiven him for eating her and was smiling, just like that time.


    Gharaga reached out with a trembling hand to the small Mimi in front of him.


    "I also... I also... you...!"


    (I finally understand. Why I''ve had that salty taste in my mouth for so long.)


    "You... Love you...!"


    Tears welled up in Gharaga''s eyes. Tears, which he had swallowed for thirty years, fell uncontrollably down his eyes, soaking the ground.


    "...Pritis''s 48 Gestures---Final Gesture, ''Radiant Smile''."


    He heard Suzuki''s voice and looked up. Mimi had disappeared, and Suzuki was standing in front of Gharaga, who was kneeling down. Gharaga could feel that Suzuki had a sad look on his face.


    The surrounding demons began to make a commotion.


    "Hey! Gharaga kneeled down...!"


    "Un--Unbelievable! He''s crying!"


    "I mean, that guy confessed to Suzuki that he liked him at the end, right!?"


    (Not to him, you idiot!)


    However, he didn''t think it was necessary to bother to say such a thing. Gharaga was feeling wonderful right now. He wanted to enjoy this feeling in silence for a while.


    Before long, the cat-eared referee raised her hand and announced.


    "Eee-uhm... Gharaga cried and told Suzuki ''that'' ------ The winner of the military duel is Suzuki!!"


    The roar of the demons'' cheers reverberated through the training grounds.

 CH 7.1

    TL Note: As Promised, extra chapter tomorrow.


    In the Western-style house given to Takashi by his Master, Nephira.


    When he stepped out of the garden, the countryside spread out before his eyes under the gentle sunlight.


    Looking over the vast expanse of land, Takashi felt deeply moved.


    "All this... is my domain..."


    Nephira nodded her head next to Takashi.


    "You have defeated Gharaga and have become a Silver-rank soldier. It is only natural that those who are capable should be rewarded accordingly."


    Nephira spoke nonchalantly, but she seemed pleased. Takashi thought it might be the satisfying feeling of seeing her personal familiar proving himself and going up the ranks. Still, it was very generous of them to give him all the land within sight of the villa!


    Behind Takashi, the Meru-Kiru sisters also expressed their delight.


    "It''s great, Suzuki!"


    "I''m really happy for you, ya know---!"


    "Thank you!"


    He thanked the demons honestly. When he did, Kiru smiled at him brightly.


    "If it''s this big, you can poop anywhere, anytime, for as long as you want!"


    "No, how long are you going to go about that!? I, I''ve become a high-ranking soldier, haven''t I!? Please stop saying things like that."


    "M--My bad. But, I''m worried about your health."


    He was not so happy about it. He was afraid that no matter how high he rose in the ranks, he''d still be like a pet to Kiru. Furthermore, Meru hesitantly asked Takashi:


    "Uhm---. Suzuki, you''re gonna have a relationship with Gharaga from now on, aren''t you---?"


    "HUH!? That''s impossible!!"


    "But, but---. Gharaga, declared to Suzuki---. Maybe Suzuki isn''t too satisfied about it---."


    "That''s NOT what he meant!!"


    "Then, what did he mean---?"


    "That was..."


    Takashi was not certain how Gharaga''s state of mind was affected by Pritis''s influence. Even so, Takashi thought. Gharaga must have been confronted by his own past during the battle.


    "In any case! Gharaga and I don''t have that kind of relationship!"


    "If so, I''m glad---!"


    Meru then wrapped her arms around Takashi''s arm. Nephira glared at Meru and cleared her throat. Meru hurriedly and panickedly let go of Takashi''s arm.


    "That Gharaga, though. He requested to resign from the Thunder-Lance Charge."


    "Eeh! Really!?"


    "Gharaga, resigned---? Why---?"


    The Meru-Kiru sisters were astonished. Takashi, of course, was also surprised.


    "His reasons were ''Because the taste has vanished'' apparently. I don''t understand what he meant by that."


    After saying it, Nephira tilted her head in wonderment. Kiru made a smug face.


    "I think he was frustrated because he lost to Suzuki and dropped a rank, ya know!"


    (No... that''s not right.)


    He saw Gharaga''s tears that day. And then, the refreshing expression on his face, as if he had finally gotten over something. Gharaga must have made peace with his past and ventured in a new direction. Takashi was convinced of this. And he had another belief.


    "Gharaga may not eat humans ever again."


    "What makes you think that?"


    Takashi smiled at Nephira''s question.


    "Just because."


    Then Takashi looked up at the wide sky, feeling refreshed.


    (All right-o! I have to take a new step forward!)


    ......


    After separating from Nephira and the others and returning to the villa, Takashi discussed the situation with Excella, Orneo, and Kate, who was holding Clarisse, in the reception room on the first floor.


    Excella smiled graciously at Takashi.


    "I heard that in addition to the vast territory, the number of slaves you can own has increased. It is truly wonderful."


    "No, no. It''s all thanks to my Master''s Pritis!"


    Takashi humbly sipped the tea Excella had brewed for him. After the battle with Gharaga, Takashi, with the help of Nephira''s favor, was allowed to have fifteen slaves, three more than the limit of slaves that Silver-rank soldiers were allowed to have.


    Orneo stroked his beard in satisfaction.


    "With this, we''ll be able to save even more humans."


    "Uhm. That''s the thing, though... I think there is a limit to the number of slaves one can have."


    Takashi stood up, walked to the window, and beckoned everyone to join him.


    He looked out the window and said, "I wonder if we could turn this vast domain into a village? And put all the slaves and the people who would be used as food here to work. I think, if we do that, we can save a lot more people."


    Kate hesitantly addressed Takashi, "That''s a wonderful idea, but... Is such a thing permissible?"


    "I''ve thought it through. We give a percentage of the crops we produce from farming to the Thunder-Lance Charge. Like paying a tribute."


    "Uh-huh. I see. If it works, then maybe we''ll be able to negotiate with the demons."


    Orneo nodded his head in agreement with Takashi''s idea. Takashi looked out the window and talked about the vision he had in his head.


    "I want to turn this place into a village where people can live in peace and security. The people could build houses, raise animals, and grow crops..."


    He then noticed that Excella stood next to him, her eyes shining.


    "It is like a dream! If that were to happen, it would save dozens, if not hundreds of times more lives!"


    Even so, within all of Leirune, he could only save a fraction of the lives. It may be mere self-satisfaction. Nevertheless, Takashi was determined to take action anyway. Otherwise, nothing will ever change.


    "I can see it. I can see so many people living peacefully here..."


    Excella said, deeply moved. Clarisse was sleeping peacefully in Kate''s arms.


    Everyone remained quiet and thoughtful for a moment.

 CH 7.2

    TL Note: EXTRA CHAPTER


    The moment was peaceful and calm. Suddenly, Excella held up her index finger as if in a fit of inspiration.


    "Eureka! Let''s name the village ''Suzukiland''!"


    "Eh...!"


    Suddenly, Takashi felt as if time had stopped and furrowed his brow.


    (Excella''s naming sense... is pretty bad...!)


    Not only Takashi, but Orneo and Kate were also perturbed.


    "I--It sounds kind of cheap, somehow."


    "It gives the impression of a spectacle, doesn''t it..."


    Clarisse, who had been sleeping peacefully, began to cry loudly. Witnessing such a scene, Excella''s eyes threatened to spill tears.


    "I--I... don''t have a naming sense, don''t I!?...! Waaah!"


    Kate and Orneo were dismayed to see the weeping face of the former Third Princess of Leirune.


    "N--No, Perish the thought! Right? Lord Orneo!?"


    "H--Hu-huh. I did not mean anything of the sort! Uhm... Ah! Lord Hero!"


    "Eh!? Ah, yes!! I--It''s a good idea!! Suzukiland!!"


    Excella looked up at Takashi with teary eyes.


    "Are you... being honest?"


    "Yes! It''s not as bad as it sounds! If I had to say whether it''s good or bad, I would say that it seems to be leaning a little bit in the good direction!"


    Takashi nervously babbled on, his words ambiguous as to whether he was praising or ridiculing her. Even so, Excella displayed a flowery smile.


    "I''m glad! Then, Suzukiland it is!"


    (I--It''s settled...! The name is strange, like an amusement park...! W--Well, it doesn''t matter what it''s called! Yeah!)


    ¡ô ¡ô ¡ô ¡ô ¡ô


    In her room inside the Syness Castle, Nephira was reading with her back straight. Her eyes darted over the boldly written text.


    "Listening to the familiar and doing whatever he tells you is not always the right thing to do. Sometimes it is necessary to be strict with the familiar for his own good."


    (Oh ho! It''s instructive. Whoa---)


    Nephira put the book on the table, feeling impressed. The cover of the book read "How to Train a Graceful Familiar by Serphiano". The most intelligent demon in the Demon Lord''s Army had authored several books to educate the demons in the army.


    Nephira had never read such a self-help book before. However, in order to be a good master for Suzuki, she picked up Serphiano''s book and opened its pages to continue reading.


    ......


    On the evening of that day, Suzuki visited Nephira in her room. To describe the contents of his proposal,


    "...Oh. You want to build a human village, called ''Suzukiland'', in your territory?"


    "As I said before, I''ll offer half of the vegetables, fruits, and whatever else I harvest to the Thunder-Lance Charge! Not a bad proposition, right?"


    Food provision. It wasn''t just not bad. It was also an unsolicited proposal. But...


    (Oops. My mistake! I have to strictly enforce discipline!)


    Nephira put on a serious face and turned toward Suzuki.


    "Is this really the case? Could it possibly be a plan like, ''Gather the humans in your territory and plot rebellion against the Thunder-Lance Charge''------"


    "H--HUH!? That''s not what I''m doing!!"


    "I meant that there may be demons who think that way."


    Nephira looked away from the flustered Suzuki and softened her tone a tad.


    "Not long after you joined the Thunder-Lance Charge, you defeated Gharaga and became a Silver-rank soldier. Your promotion in such a short time is unparalleled. I am proud that you are my familiar."


    "Eh--. T--Thank you...?"


    "Therefore, I do not want to arouse suspicion from other demons."


    This was the "carrot and the stick" principle described in Serphiano''s book. And this was Nephira''s true intention as well. Suzuki was not only a cute and adorable familiar but also one worthy of her pride. She didn''t want anyone around her to talk badly about him behind her back.


    "For that reason. I can''t allow such a request."


    "T--That''s...!"


    (Yes! It''s a little harsh... but it''s for Suzuki''s sake!)


    At that time.


    A knocking sound rhythmically echoed, counteracting the somewhat heavy atmosphere. With Nephira''s permission, the Meru-Kiru sisters entered.


    "Lady Nephira, I apologize. What should we do with these guys?"


    Saying this, Kiru randomly pulled people chained together. Three people staggered around. A middle-aged man with a large mole on his face, a woman with breasts so large they threatened to tear off her slave''s clothes, and a very young boy.


    "Hey. Do not bring any humans into the room except Suzuki."


    "I--I''m sorry---. Lady Nephira---. But---"


    "I was thinking about what we should do with them. You see, before Suzuki fought Gharaga, I made arrangements for this middle-aged man to persuade Suzuki to stop his recklessness. Meru for this slave woman. Lady Nephira for the little one, didn''t you?"


    Now that she mentioned it, the human child looked familiar.


    (Ah, that''s right, isn''t it? I was trying to discourage Suzuki from fighting Gharaga.)


    "However, in the end, Suzuki won overwhelmingly against Gharaga. ...Which meant that they no longer have a role to play. Would all three of them be sent to the human-flesh trader?"


    Immediately after hearing those words, Suzuki''s expression changed and he leaped in front of the three of them.


    "W--Wait!! I, all of them, will take them in!"