Chapter 28: The Masquerade Ball

Wow—amazing!

I couldn’t help but let out a mental gasp.

Who would’ve thought there was such a massive hall hidden beneath the Commerce Guild?

It’s easily the size of a school gymnasium—maybe even larger. The ceiling must be at least ten meters high.

And the decorations—my god, the decorations!

Golden sculptures of dragons, lions, phoenixes, and unicorns. Oil paintings of angels and demons across the ceiling. Busts of heroes lining the walls. And right in the center, a massive chandelier glittering with countless crystals.

No royal family could afford to build something like this, even if they spent their entire fortune.

The royal palace back in Sugarcreek has nothing on this.

So this is what real wealth looks like.

Whether or not he noticed my silent awe, Zex—wearing a jester-style mask that only covered his eyes—was smiling calmly beside me.

Apparently, we were the last guests to arrive.

Thud...

The heavy doors closed behind us with a deep, echoing sound.

And as if that noise had been the signal, the lively chatter inside the hall faded into silence.

Once the quiet settled—just long enough for the guests to start growing restless—Zex spoke up.

“Ladies and gentlemen. I, Zexais, sincerely thank you for attending tonight’s masquerade ball. Please, enjoy yourselves as much as time allows.”

His voice carried through the hall—calm, yet commanding.

“We’ve also prepared several forms of entertainment for the evening. Now then, please, enjoy your conversations.”

And with that, the grand Magic Banquet began.

“Well then, Lady Sonia. I must go and greet our guests. If you don’t mind, would you care to accompany me as I make my rounds?”

Ugh. What a pain.

Still, this was the perfect chance to make connections and expand my circle of acquaintances. I’d just have to endure it.

With reluctant determination, I replied, “I think I’ll stay here and wait for your return, Lord Zexais.”

No way.

Flipping my mental switch into ‘social butterfly mode’ is impossible on short notice. Let’s just call this a warm-up for the next party. Tonight, I’ll focus on getting used to the masquerade atmosphere.

Yes. That’s a perfectly reasonable plan.

So don’t misunderstand, Watson. I am not hiding like a scared chicken right now. Absolutely not.

“I see. Well, I wouldn’t want to pressure you. In that case, please excuse me for a while.”

“Ah, yes. Have a good time.”

I smiled beneath my ornate mask—black, shaped like a butterfly, covering the upper half of my face.

My dress was also primarily black. When I saw myself in the mirror earlier, I looked like a proper villainess.

Hmm. Maybe a bit too flashy... but it’s fine. Losing confidence now would be the real defeat.

So there I was, sipping wine alone near the wall, listening to the conversations around me. Sadly, there didn’t seem to be any sweet wines available at this party.

“…I’ve found a new potential mining site, you see.”

“…Apparently the Paptes Kingdom’s succession dispute is heating up.”

“…Just between us, they say that country’s developing new magical technology.”

As expected of Zex’s acquaintances—every conversation sounded shady or politically charged.

Compared to the royal parties I’ve attended, the tone here was completely different. Those were full of noble gossip; this one was pure economics, politics, and international affairs.

But honestly, this is my kind of thing.

In my previous life, I was well-versed in military and international economics.

Well… not that my knowledge of this world’s politics is particularly strong.

Still, I listened with interest.

At the center of the hall, more than ten people were dancing gracefully.

Of course, I had no plans to invite anyone myself—I’d rather wait and observe.

Besides, my would-be escort, Zex, was off greeting guests anyway.

So I simply stood there, enjoying my drink. Doing nothing but sipping wine—now that’s a kind of happiness too.

Servants passed by with trays of snacks, so I called one over and helped myself to a few biscuits topped with ham and cheese.

Perfect.

And that’s when it happened.

“Hey there, are you here alone?”

Oh boy—someone’s hitting on me?

“Ah, well, my companion stepped away to greet a few people, so I’m by myself for now.”

A young man with messy brown hair and a cocky grin had approached me. His build was surprisingly solid.

“Cool, cool. You see, I came here with someone too, but they just kept talking and talking—boring stuff, nothing fun at all. So I ditched them.”

I studied him carefully. The upper half of his face was hidden behind a simple white mask—like something out of an old mecha anime.

Overall, he looked like a flirt. But my finely tuned sixth sense screamed that this guy was dangerous.

You tend to develop that instinct after spending so much time around beings like the Demon Lord, Berial, and Kamina.

I briefly considered calling for Berial... but that might make things worse. Best to wait and see.

“Ah—I’m Ains,” I said smoothly, using a fake name on instinct. After all, this was a masquerade. Everyone here was incognito.

“Oh, me? Name’s Behemoth. Pretty famous back home, not so much around here though. Nice to meet ya.”

He slapped me on the back with obnoxious familiarity.

Right. Definitely a bit too casual.

“Ah, I see. It’s a pleasure, Lord Behemoth.”

“Yeah, yeah. Anyway, to be honest—this party’s kinda boring, don’t you think? Isn’t there something fun around here?”

“Well… not that I’ve noticed.”

It’s not like I know any entertaining secrets either.

“Oh! I just thought of something good.”

“Something good?”

“Yeah. You and me go find a quiet room somewhere.”

“Alright, and then?”

“Then we take our clothes off.”

“…Uh-huh.”

“And then, we have some nice, fun se—”

“…Huh?”

Does this guy have maggots crawling around in his brain?

“Um… how should I put this? I’m sure someone far more suitable would be a better match for you, Lord Behemoth. Someone other than me.”

“Oh, don’t worry. My body can’t make kids anyway. So with me, you can just enjoy the pure pleasures of the flesh. How’s that sound?”

Oh, for the love of—he’s beyond reasoning.

“I’m telling you, it’d be a good experience for you too.”

Hmm. He’s getting more and more annoying by the second. What should I even do with this idiot?

“Uh, well, um—”

Just as I was struggling to find a graceful way to end the conversation, salvation arrived—Zex, returning at the perfect moment.

“Excuse me, sir. Is there a problem with my companion?”

Zex smoothly stepped between us, his expression calm and polite, his tone perfectly measured.

Behemoth turned to him and grinned—like a predator that had just spotted prey.

“Nice. So there is someone with guts on this side too.”

He spoke with amusement, but the pressure rolling off him was palpable. His presence seemed to swell, his body practically radiating a heavy, suffocating aura.

He was raising his battle spirit—shifting into a fighting stance.

“That won’t do, sir,” said Zex calmly. “Have you forgotten the ‘Pact Protocol’ that applies here?”

“I don’t care about your so-called restrictions. Those rules don’t bind me.”

“…Sigh. What a troublesome guest. If that’s the case, I suppose I’ll have to use force.”

Zex exhaled softly, relaxing into a natural stance—composed, effortless, yet unmistakably ready.

“Heh. That’s what I like to see. Things are finally getting interesting.”

Behemoth grinned, eyes glinting with bloodlust.

“What’s your weapon of choice?” he asked.

For a brief moment, Zex said nothing. Then he turned toward a nearby group of guests and called out.

“…Lord Maor. If you would, please.”

“Eh? Lord Maor is here?”

The words slipped out before I could stop myself.

At the center of the room, a man who’d been laughing and chatting cheerfully with several women turned our way. After exchanging a few parting words, he began walking toward us.

“What is it, Zex?”

The figure approached casually. His entire face was hidden behind a strange, voodoo-style mask, giving off a suspicious—almost ominous—air. But his build, his posture, his tone… there was no mistaking him.

The Demon Lord.

Seriously, why are you here having fun?

“…Oh crap.”

The instant Behemoth saw him, his posture deflated. His aura vanished. He actually stepped back.

Looks like he knows exactly who he’s dealing with.

“Well, if it isn’t Behemoth! So you came to join the fun too, huh? You could’ve at least told Berial you were coming.”

The Demon Lord cheerfully patted Behemoth on the back—hard. The man flinched like a scolded child.

“Ah, it’s been a while, Lord Maor. I’m Ains—it’s a pleasure to see you again.”

I hurried over and bowed politely.

“Oh? Ains, you’re here too? You should’ve told me ahead of time if you were coming.”

“W-wait… you know Lord Maor, miss?”

Behemoth, who’d been all swagger and arrogance moments ago, now looked utterly deflated.

“Yes. I’m quite familiar with Lord Maor,” I replied, intentionally emphasizing Maor.

He was supposed to be keeping his ‘Demon Lord’ identity under wraps, after all.

“Behemoth,” Maor said lightly, “the name’s Maor. Don’t forget it.”

“Y-yes, sir. My bad.”

Behemoth bowed deeply, not a trace of his earlier bravado left.

“Well,” Zex said pleasantly, “since our guest seems to have calmed down, how about a little entertainment? Perhaps a dance? If you’ll allow me, may I have this one with you, Lady Ains?”

Zex stepped closer, gracefully knelt before me, and pressed a kiss to the back of my hand.

“Ah, um—yes. I’d be delighted.”

My voice came out awkward and flustered. No matter how many times this happens, I’ll never get used to such gestures.

“Heh. How adorable. Then… shall I continue to call you Lady Ains?”

“…Yes, please. Let’s go with that.”

At least he was keeping up the cover story.

Still… just how much does this man really know about me?

“Come on, Behemoth,” said Maor with a grin. “I’ve got a few things to discuss with you. Let’s step over here.”

“I get it, I get it! Just—don’t wrap your arm around my neck like that!”

And just like that, Maor and Behemoth walked off together, still bickering playfully.