Chapter 39: I Must Take My Leave

“…And that’s how it happened—I’ve been assigned to accompany Princess Sonia on her overseas trip starting the week after next.”

“Hm?”

We were at the Shirasagi Inn, a regular lodging spot for the Demon King himself, located in the royal capital of Torte. I was halfway through a ramen set meal (regrettably, yes, they had it on the menu), and while slurping my noodles, I pointed my chopsticks toward the Demon King.

Hmm… that might’ve been a bit rude.

“So, I’m terribly sorry, but I won’t be able to visit you for a while, Maor-sama.”

“Mmm…”

The Demon King blinked several times, looking mildly confused—with a mouthful of noodles still hanging from his lips.

Then, with a long swoooop, he slurped them up, chewed thoughtfully, and nodded once.

“I see. Is that so?”

“Yes, that’s so.”

We stared at each other in silence for a few seconds.

“Hm. …But this trip, it’s for Sonia’s business, yes? There are plenty of maids in the castle besides you. Why must you be the one accompanying her?”

“Uh, w-well, that’s probably because I’m the most capable one!”

I placed a hand over my chest, struck a modest pose, and gave a confident grin before taking a sip of water.

“…I see. Well, putting that aside, perhaps I should speak to Sonia myself and negotiate directly—so you won’t have to travel abroad?”

“Pff—!!”

I nearly sprayed water all over the table.

No, no, no! Please don’t do that!
If you pull something like that, Sonia will be in serious trouble!

“Uh, um, well… Maor-sama, I truly appreciate the thought! Really! But please, just let me accept your kind feelings, all right?”

“Hmm. Is that so?”

The Demon King looked ever so slightly disappointed.

Oh no, don’t make that face. Please.

Honestly, whenever the Demon King gets involved in something, it never ends well. I really need to make sure he doesn’t poke his nose where it doesn’t belong.

Actually, now that I think about it, leaving someone this dangerous alone in the capital might be even more worrying…

“A-ah, um, so—how about this, Maor-sama? Why don’t you… return home for a bit? To your family estate, perhaps? It’s a good opportunity, right?”

“Hm. My family estate, huh…”

The Demon King crossed his arms, sinking into deep thought.

“Yes. I mean, isn’t it about time you went back anyway? Wouldn’t it be bad if you didn’t? You’re a noble, aren’t you, Maor-sama?”

I vaguely remembered him pretending to be some count’s son at one point.

“That may be true, but…”

Well, strictly speaking, it’s not like he has to go back. I’m the one leaving the capital, so asking him to leave too is a bit unreasonable. But lately, I’ve developed the habit of just saying whatever comes to mind around him—after all, asking is free.

And the Demon King is surprisingly agreeable. If it works out, great; if not, no harm done.

All right, this time, please, just follow my advice and return gracefully to your own lair, Your Majesty!

“…Hmm. I’ve thought of something good, Ains.”

“Something good, you say.”

The Demon King’s “something good” was never actually good.

“Then let’s do this… I shall accompany Sonia and Ains to that foreign country as well.”

“Eh!? Wait, what—!?”

Ehh!? What!?
How in the world did you reach that conclusion!?
Seriously, what part of our conversation led to that!?

Maor-sama, your brain circuits are definitely wired wrong!

“U-uh, wait, wait!”

I flailed my hands frantically, trying to pull myself together.

“B-but surely Maor-sama has his own matters to attend to, right!? I mean, this trip will take over a month with travel time! That’s really long, you know!?”

I waved my arms, doing my best to stress just how troublesome it would be.

“…No need to worry. I have no particular plans.”

The Demon King declared this with that smug, hopelessly confident expression of his.

“…Ngh.”

As expected of a useless Demon King—the same one who, in the game, spent all his time getting along with Princess Sonia instead of ruling.

Not a shred of awareness as a ruler!

“Um… but, you see, Maor-sama, what about money? Money! Surely you’re not seriously planning to come along, right? That would be impossible. You understand that, right? Right?”

I tried to reason with him as best I could, desperately grasping for logic.

“Ah, money, you say? I have plenty, so there’s no need to worry. In fact, I could even lend you a little if you like, Ains.”

“Eh? Really? You’d give me pocket money? ♥”

“Indeed. I have no objection.”

“Eh? W-wait, then… n-no, no, no!”

…Phew. That was close.
I almost walked straight into the Demon King’s trap.

Okay, okay—then how about this…

“Then, during the trip, there’s the risk of bandit attacks and such. It could become a very dangerous journey!”

“Hm. You worry for me, do you, Ains? …Hah, but rest assured. I am confident in my strength. Bandits are nothing more than mere numbers.”

The Demon King’s smug grin grew even wider.

Well, of course it did.

“Moreover, if it’s a choice between traveling with Sonia or with me, I can guarantee it would be safer to be with me.”

“Ha… ha ha… I’ll just take your kind consideration for now.”

From a purely physical standpoint, he wasn’t wrong.
But from the standpoint of my chastity… I wasn’t so sure.

“U-um, in that case…”

…I tried every argument I could think of to make this idle Demon King abandon the idea. I twisted every reason, every excuse, but in the end, he wouldn’t budge.

“Huff… huff… Even after all that, you still won’t give up?”

“I have already decided to go. Understand?”

With all the authority of a king, Maor spoke without hesitation.
When a handsome guy says it like that… it’s annoyingly impressive.

Damn, he’s kind of cool.

“U-ugh…”

There’s nothing I can do…

“…Ah, by the way, I just remembered something.”

Maor suddenly spoke up.

“Eh? Eh? What did you remember?”

I braced myself, knowing full well it wouldn’t be anything good.

“Indeed. From noon today, there will be an event at the central park here in Torte. They call it the ‘Thanksgiving Festival.’”

“A Thanksgiving Festival?”

“Yes. So, what exactly is a Thanksgiving Festival?”

Huh? Maor doesn’t know what a Thanksgiving Festival is?

“Uh, um… I don’t know the exact definition either, but I can explain how it’s held here in the capital of Torte, all right?”

“Yes. That will suffice.”

“All right. Um… generally speaking, a Thanksgiving Festival is an event where people show gratitude to the gods for nature’s blessings—like a good harvest.”

“Oh? So it’s basically a harvest festival.”

“Well, yes. It’s called a Thanksgiving Festival because it’s a ‘festival’ to give ‘thanks’ to the gods. That’s the main meaning behind it. Originally, it began as a religious ceremony held in front of a shrine, but nowadays, the religious side has faded. These days, it’s mostly about people gathering in the park and having fun together.”

I repeated the information I’d overheard from the maid Kamina, pretending it was my own well-learned knowledge.
After all, I do have a good memory.
In my previous world, I was a scholar, you know. Hmph!

“Hmm, hmm. I see. So it’s a ceremony before the gods. That’s the one where people pair up, and one keeps fighting until the other can’t move anymore, right?”

Whoa, whoa. What kind of world do you think this is, Maor? Gladiator combat? That’s way too violent for a festival!

“R-right now, that tradition is purely symbolic. These days, people just gather and enjoy themselves, okay? Under no circumstances are you to grab random civilians and start fighting them.”

I made sure to emphasize that point clearly.

“Hmph! I already know that.”

Sounding oddly obedient, the Demon King turned his face away.
Oh my, sulking too? Even the Demon King has his cute moments. Heh heh heh.

“All right then. Let’s go.”

“Huh? Go… where?”

“It’s obvious—we’re going to see the Thanksgiving Festival at the park.”

Wait, we’re going now?
Uh, but… could you maybe ask me about my plans first!?

“B-but, I have plans after this…”

“Come on. Let’s go!”

“…U-uh… y-yes.”

Well, honestly, I’d already cleared my schedule, suspecting this exact turn of events. As expected of me. I should pat myself on the back.

Lately, I’ve realized I keep adjusting my schedule around the Demon King’s whims.

N-not that I’m doing it because I care about him or anything! (tsundere mode: on)

“…Master. As expected, the magical readings in Torte are abnormal.”

Inside a quiet room of the church in the royal capital, Torte—

A young man sat at a desk, concentrating on a peculiar-looking device.

“I see… What’s the current measured magic intensity?”

Next to him stood a tall man with short, dull-blonde hair. Leaning over the device, he asked the question while keeping his eyes fixed on it.

“One moment, please…”

The young man adjusted the device, carefully watching the readings flicker on its display.

“…!? Th-this… Could it be a malfunction?”

“The test measurement earlier worked fine. If that’s the case, it’s more reasonable to assume this reading is accurate.”

“I-if so, then the source would have to be a monster exceeding threat level ten…”

“This might really be a jackpot. Hey, how many ‘Holy Knight Paladins’ can we summon immediately?”

“…One moment. …It would be two: January of the ‘Divine Blade,’ and November of the ‘Demon Bullet.’”

“I see. For now, we’ll have to gather intel with just three people. Worst case, we retreat.”

“If we have three ‘Holy Knights,’ wouldn’t that already make us among the strongest forces on the surface!?”

“Huh? Listen, kid. On the battlefield, the one who underestimates their opponent is always the first to die. Remember that well.”

“Y-yes! Sorry!”

“Hmph. That’s fine. Now then… time to prepare for the hunt.”

The blonde man let out a sharp grin as he began to sharpen the blade of his dagger, its edge catching the light with a cold glint.