novelIra: Quit. Screwing. With. Me!
| ← Ch.15 | Ch.17 → |
Give me a break already.
Every time he shows one of his Sloth skills, my stress build up.
What I understand is that this Demon Lord has advanced enough to be appropriate for Rank Three. That's about it.
And while I originally would be happy upon learning such a fact, every time I'm reminded of it, I lose confidence in myself as a Demon.
Just how much do I have to satisfy my Sin to get some bullshit skill like the ability to rewind time? To be more specific, it seems it separates stored up experience, and rewinds the body, but that doesn't really matter.
Compared to Wrath, which is all direct attacks, Sloth is too free, and the effects are indeterminate, or how should I put it... they're really annoying.
He rarely uses them, so the damage when he does is horrendous. He's definitely trying to piss me off. It's a conspiracy.
This workplace is dangerous... my stomach hurts.
I can now understand why my Sloth predecessor abandoned all responsibility. When a Sloth Demon gave up on this, there's no way a Wrath like me can endure it.
No matter how much I try venting my anger on him, he remains peaceful, so my stress isn't going anywhere at all.
Kanon-sama's expectations, and the environment itself have me stuck between a rock and a hard place.
But if I just let him be, then there's no workplace more peaceful than this one.
I mean, even if I don't observe him, in the end, he definitely won't do something as troublesome as a revolt, and even if we don't lend him power, it'll work out one way or another.
Is what I thought, but just look at this!
I hold my aching stomach as I turn to Leigie-sama who was slouching deeply into a chair.
"What? What did you just say?"
"... Nothing."
He's quite clearly making a face that says repeating would be a pain, as he averts his eyes. For me to almost completely understand this mostly expressionless King, is that some sort of growth on my part? I don't need this sort of growth...
It's no good... there's nothing we can do about this one.
I take deep breathes to control my anger. My control has greatly increased compared to when I first came here. Without a doubt.
I need to control my anger... even shouting at this man is more than he deserves.
"... Do you remember that Imperial decree?"
"..."
Don't... don't close your eyes. I'm begging you, listen...
It's... it's fine... calm down... if I get angry, it's my loss...
I take deep breathes, and leisurely lower my voice to make it easier for Leigie-sama to hear.
"I said it, didn't I? This time... the enemy's a Demon Lord."
"... No?"
Ku... this man...
I firmly clench my fist. I squeeze so hard my nails break through the skin, and a hot pain runs up my arm.
Is he making fun of me? No. Without even playing dumb, the memory's already completely gone.
I... said it! I definitely said it! I was the one who brought the order from Kanon, I was the one who painstakingly explained it to Leigie-sama, and the one who said that the opponent was a powerful Demon Lord so if he didn't go out himself, he would be sending his Generals to die a pointless death was also me!
It's because if I didn't warn him, I was sure he would never go out!
Anger splits my head, and as I felt that I was about to destroy the area, I somehow kept it contained with repeated abdominal breathing.
"Hey, hey, oneechan. Lize-san sure has become quiet lately."
"Don't mind her, just hold the end properly!"
AAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH!
Next to Leigie-sama, the annoying sisters spoke as if it were someone else's problem.
Hiero's master later learned of her unsightly display, and sent her in for maid training. Recently, those two have taken to coming here together.
The prideful younger sister, who intentionally raised her voice so I could hear, and the older one, who despite being one-sidedly killed by me, continued to show absolutely no interest towards me. By that devastating combo, my stress is swelling up twice as fast as before. This really is the worst.
Pride's Skiltree's nature lies in bestowing absolute adjustments to opponents they've Overruled.
To put it simply, to them, to those weaker than them, they display absolute strength, and to those that excel even a little bit more than them, they display complete weakness... that sort of skill.
And so, now that the older sister Lorna's revived, it seems that Hiero was once more forced to occupy second place. Normally, once someone's been Overruled, it's difficult to overturn that, but now that Lorna's been reduced to around the same age, the clear disparity in their appearances (mainly in the chest area) beat down Hiero once more, and while she's still a bit afraid of Leigie-sama, she obediently follows her sister's words.
Well, for now, that doesn't really matter.
The problem is that Hiero is taking mischievous glances at me as if she had set up a prank while she practices making the bed.
She speaks in my direction as she makes an annoying smile.
"Lize-san, you're not getting angry anymore... could it be you've finally given up after witnessing Leigie-sama's power?"
"An inevitable result. No matter the case, laying hands on a Demon Lord... it was her previous behavior that was the stranger one!"
AAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHH!
Rage so large I felt my head would explode at any moment swelled up, fueling my power.
Blood flows from the palm of my hand, and it trickles onto the ground.
I unintentionally put in too much power, and cracks are spreading across it.
I use up all of my mental fortitude fighting my own emotions.
Calm... calm down. Lize Bloodcross.
In the end, this is the nonsense of a child...
Compared to this man, who never moves by himself, despite being a Lord...
Smile. Make a smile.
"D-Dem on Lord? I-I said it, right? The opponent is... the Devouring Demon Lord."
"... Who's that?"
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHH
Someone do something about this maaaaaaaaaaan!
Among Kanon-sama's subordinates, there isn't one who doesn't know of Zebul Glaucus, the Devourer.
But this Demon Lord probably, in all honesty, doesn't know. Hooray.
That's why. I. Explained it. Because I thought he didn't know, I explained it! I definitely did!
AAAAAAAH, please save me, Kanon-samaaaaaaaaaa!
I hit my head against the bed post in an attempt to forget my anger, and Lorna looked at me with repulsed eyes.
This is all your Lord's fauuuuulllt!
"... Fifth... The Fifth Rank, a Demon that governs Gula, my liege. He subjugated the Fifteenth Rank, and the Sixteenth rank Demon Lords in a matter of three days. An atrocious... Demon Lord."
"... Is that supposed to be amazing?"
"Gu... Yes, it's amazing! Listen here, Rank Five means that among the Demon Lords loyal to Kanon-sama, he's the fifth strongest!"
"... Is he stronger than you?"
Nuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!
General class... and a Demon Lord. Don't compare them!
I shed tears of restraint as I answer. Damn, why must I go through something like this?
"W-well... that's right..."
"... I see."
His uninterested line finally made me snap.
IF YOU DON'T EVEN CARE, THEN DON'T ASK!
AAAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHH!
"Wow, that's amazing... Lize-san. After going through this much, you can still keep quiet..."
"Naturally. In the first place, what was strange was the way Lize has been treating our Demon Lord up until now."
In my head, how many hundreds of thousands of times have I killed him so far!?
AAAAAAAAAAHHHH. This is bad... I'll die.
Even within my rage, tears started flowing out. Why am I...
"Uku... and. So. It. Would. Be. Bad. If You. Don't. Go. Out. Demon Lord! In. The. Worst. Case. They'll. Be. Annihilated!"
In the first place, having a Demon Lord confront a Demon Lord is common sense in battles between Demons.
This time, we even know beforehand that Zebul is personally leading his army.
A normal Demon Lord should know the meaning of this without me having to spell it out. But I thought Leigie-sama didn't know, so I already explained it to him!
Give me back all of my hard work!
Having listened to the drawn out conversation, Leigie-sama yawned with sleepy eyes.
"... Iyo."
"If the army the Great Demon King sent you is annihilated, you'll definitely be punished, you know!? Do you understand that!?"
But seeing her behavior, I'm not sure about other Lords, but perhaps Kanon-sama will let this man off.
But of course, I won't say that. If I did, he definitely wouldn't go out.
Why is it that the man in question isn't even thinking anything, when I, who was merely sent to watch over him, have so much on my mind!!
"..."
Are. You. A Child!!?
I pull at his arm as he silently closes his eyes.
From Lorna, I heard that Deije and Medea had launched an attack, and it's been a few hours since we informed Leigie-sama.
If we don't hurry, they'll all die. No, it's not strange it they've already perished.
And wait, normally, shouldn't he at least say something!? That he wanted to join them or something!?
With Leigie-sama showing no signs of movement, I was just about to give up, when my savior popped up from an unexpected place.
With eyes full of curiosity, Hiero pulled at Leigie-sama.
"Leigie-sama, I want to see it! The place where they're fighting!"
Nono, that wasn't my intent, you know?
Hiero has even less restraint than me when dealing with this Demon Lord. Of all things, she climbed onto his knee, and started shaking his shoulders back and forth.
Due to the younger sister's sudden recklessness, the elder one quickly tried to apprehend her. Unfortunately, due to her years of training being blown away, she lacks the physical ability to pull her away.
"Hey, stop that! What do you think you're doing to Leigie-sama..."
"Eh? No, but even oneechan wants to see the form of a Demon Lord fighting once in your life, right?"
"Yes, well..."
On the younger's direct question, Lorna hesitated for a second.
Despite this and that, Lorna who serves a Demon Lord who doesn't do anything must harbor those feelings. That's a bit of a relief.
As if he had noticed a change in the behavior of the faithful maid he had rewound the time of, Leigie-sama opened his eyes, and said a word.
It really was just a word. It seems he's finally started to remember the name lately.
"Lorna."
"Hiero, look! Leigie-sama is tired. Stop troubling him, and come back here so we can be doing what we should!"
Lorna spilled out her opinion without restraint. She grabs Hiero's body firmly with both arms, and pulls her off of Leigie-sama.
Even while pulling her off, she continues to direct a charming smile at Leigie-sama before deeply lowering her head.
But without a hint of interest towards her smile, he closed his eyes.
Inside of Lorna's arms, Hiero resists, and shouts out.
"B-but oneechan! Every night, to Leigie-sama, don't you mastur...!"
... What?
Upon hearing that, with movements unbefitting of Lust, Lorna locked Hiero's face in an iron claw with speed that made me question whether she had used a skill or not.
She looks over her sister expressionlessly. Her eyes definitely aren't laughing. That's the expression of someone considering how to cook up the live fish sitting on the cutting board.
Just what would happen if you break her usual calm temperament? It feels as if a sleeping beast had been awoken.
"Hiero... if you say any more, fufu... you may earn some of my resentment..."
"Hii!? Ha... hahi!!"
And suddenly, there was a girl directing serious killing intent at her younger sister.
Hiero noticed she had stepped onto the beast's tail, and nods obediently with a pale face.
Lorna's face slowly turns red, as she turns to her lord, but as he's already taken up a sleeping position, there's no way he was listening. In the first place, even if he was, I doubt he would even stop to think about it.
But... I see. So that's it... Luxuria. A Lewd elder sister... that's what Hiero was trying to say.
Seeing Leigie-sama's behavior, Lorna put her hand to her chest in relief.
For once in a long time, I smiled from the bottom of my heart.
... But don't forget that Leigie-sama isn't the only one here. Don't forget me.
I lightly tap Lorna's shoulder.
She turns around, and noticing my smile, she turns pale.
Inside of her hand, Hiero's frothing at the mouth as she loses consciousness.
"Li... Lize?"
I completely ignore Lorna's pleading eyes, and casually bring up some idle chatter.
"So that's it... to think that under that diligent face, you were... should I say, as expected of Luxeria?"
"Wha...!?"
"I did find it odd when I first heard you governed Lust, but I never thought that of all things, you would use the lord you served to..."
"Wait, wait, wait, time out!"
With an expression I've never seen on her before, she grabs my collar, and pulls me closer.
Even if she looks a bit more innocent, being exposed to her beautiful face point blank, even though I'm of the same gender, I can't stop the beating of my heart.
Ku ku ku Lust... lust... is it?
With teary eyes, she turns her face away.
What should I do. I'm having a lot of fun.
"Even if you may be a Demon of Lust, are you not a little too sinful? Did you want to look stoic, while you advanced your Luxuria class inside your heart... as expected of the girl her own sister called lewd. What's more, every day... aren't you going to become a Demon Lord of Lust sometime soon?"
"Wait, that's wrong! Lize! It's not like that! Right, it's Hiero's misunderstanding!"
She shakes me violently.
Just what sort of persuasive power do you think you have when your face is that red, and your eyes so teary?
In the first place, whether that be fantasy or reality, it doesn't really matter to me.
"And I doubt you even have to be so secretive about it, like Hiero, why don't you just tell Leigie? To instruct you to do sexual favors or something, that you'd happily accept. Ku ku ku, I think even Leigie-sama'll be surprised. That the Lorna that always did the cooking and cleaning was actually thinking such things deep down."
"...!!"
She raises a scream without any words as I thrust the final blow.
You won't get any pity. I put my hand to her face that's become as red as an apple.
"Ah, if it's hard to say, then do you want me to tell him for you? As an apology for killing you that one time? Fufu, Leigie-sama sure is a happy Demon Lord. For a Luxeria Demon to think of him to that extent, and even give her first to him."
"Huu... Uu... wrong, it's not like... I'm..."
She's lost and confused as she falls to the ground.
By the way, despite all the noise we're making, Leigie-sama isn't stirring in the slightest.
As she made a face as if the world was going to end, I lightly tapped her shoulder. At this rate, I'm really going to awaken to something besides Wrath.
"Hey, Lorna. How about a trade?"
"A... Trade...?"
With eyes like an abandoned puppy, she spoke as she looked up at me.
I have things I have to do, and Lorna has things she has to do. In order to fulfill both, why don't we help each other a bit? Ku ku ku, this is mutual aid, isn't it?
"Yes... Lorna. I want... to see Leigie-sama's form in battle. Maybe if I saw the moment Leigie took down Zebul, I would completely forget everything that came to pass here."
"Gu... uu.. you Demon."
What are you saying, this late in the game.
Even when I gave her hope at the last moment, Lorna continues to hesitate. She's a perfect image of loyalty. Though she is a lewd woman who does this and that with her Lord's image every night.
"Ah, if it's that, we can record his fighting form on a memory crystal, you know? Ku ku ku, won't it make for some good... material?"
"I-I get it! I get it, so p-please stop it!"
She raises the white flag.
As I thought, it's nice to win. I didn't even use my Wrath, but it's a refreshing feeling after so long.
Now the problem is whether or not Lorna can persuade that guy...
Could it be that's the greatest problem?
Lorna gently pulls the cuff of the sleeping Leigie-sama with restraint.
"Leigie-sama..."
"..."
Perhaps because that was the voice that always rung out for his meal time, amazingly, after only one call, Leigie-sama opened his eyes.
Lorna began negotiations with her face dyed a deep red.
"This may be presumptuous, but I have a small request..."
"Don't want to."
... He shows no mercy, even to the maid.
I guess that's right. Even when he had a revival spell, he's a man who didn't even use it until Hiero got to be a pain. There's no way the presence of Lorna will do anything.
But perhaps because she's even more used to dealing with Leigie, she doesn't pay any mind to his denial.
"Together with Lize... won't you bring ruin to the opposing Demon Lord, Zebul?"
"... Why?"
Why?
Why, you ask? Because it's an order from the Great Demon King!
I try to approach, but Lorna stops me.
She continued on with a kind look in her eyes.
"Leigie-sama, is there anything special you want to eat tonight?"
"... Curry rice."
"Then we'll have Curry Rice tonight. Leigie-sama, I'll put all my skill into making it. It will taste better if you excersize a bit first."
"... Unnecessary."
"Leigie-sama, how about dessert?"
"... Apple pie."
Are you a child?
"Then I'll bake Apple Pie. Leigie-sama, it will take a little bit of time, so how about you move your body a bit?"
"I hate it."
"Fighting, you mean?"
"I'm a pacifist."
And what the hell's with a pacifistic Demon Lord?
"That's quite amazing, Leigie-sama."
"Especially if the opponent's strong, I hate it even more. It's a pain."
"... Compared to you, my liege, their power amounts to nothing."
Nono, that isn't the case, right?
The opponent is Rank Five. Compared to that, Leigie-sama's become Rank Three quite recently.
It's undoubtable that he's above Zebul, but I have to say that it'll be difficult to win that easily. There's a problem of affinity, and I don't know the details of Sloth Skills.
Leigie-sama has a troubled face as he locks eyes with Lorna.
"... I see. Lorna... you want me to fight that badly?"
"... Yes."
"For whose sake?"
"... For my sake. Later... I'll bear witness. I'll have Lize... take pictures, so..."
"Bu...!"
I unintentionally laughed.
Lorna's face is the shade of a boiled octopus as she glares at me. Her eyes are telling me that she doesn't mean it like that, but from my point of view, it can be for nothing else.
I get it. I get it. I'll take them! Use them as material however you like.
"... I see..."
"... I'm very sorry."
"... Hah..."
"... I'm very sorry."
"... For some reason, my stomach hurts..."
With a face devoid of any pain, the Demon Lord spoke.
That much!? You don't want to fight that much!? Leigie of the Slaughterdolls!
If you're going to fake illness, at least give a pained face!
"... I truly am sorry, Leigie-sama."
In response, Lorna gave a truly apologetic face as she lowered her head.
Even after seeing that, he doesn't seem to think anything. He turned away, and curled up into a ball.
This is definitely impossible...
"... Now, Lize. Leigie-sama has given affirmation."
"... Eh!? Fo realz!?"
With that? That was enough?
Is that really fine? No matter how you look at it, he was refusing, but...
Within the chair, the Demon Lord tried to shrink his body. I was right to try asking in the time his bed was being made. If he was on the bed, he would have burrowed under the covers without a doubt.
Lorna continued to say some unbelievable things.
"... Lize, please take Leigie-sama. Even if you can do nothing else, then at the very least, you can do that, right?"
... Even if I can't do anything? That's quite rude. Just how much trouble do you think I'm going through...
But that's fine. That's still fine. The problem is... will he even go?
"... Eh? Should I take him on my back?"
"... You will be moving my liege. That much is obvious."
What's obvious? ... Move already!
In the first place, the Castle of Shadows is the center of the large mass of land given to him. I understand the general distance to its borders, but I'm going to have to carry him that far...?
I don't want to think about it. Even if I have enough strength, is the Demon Lord's pride really intact after being carried by a woman shorter than him?
... It probably is.
I swallow the rage that began to boil up. I don't really understand why I have to do so much, but it'll take time. Flying dragons are the main forms of transport within the Demon World.
So this time as well, even if I'm carrying him, it'll only be to the Dragon Stables.
"... I get it... I'll carry him, so..."
"That's fine. Now, Leigie-sama... I'm sorry, but..."
"... The truth is, if I'm away from the bed for more than an hour, I'll die."
At this point in time, he still knows not when to give up. He has not a scrap of pride.
And wait, don't lie with a straight face! There's no way this thing is a Demon Lord!
In the first place, it'll take longer than an hour to get there, even by Dragon.
"... Even if we use a flying dragon, it'll take more than an hour just to get there..."
"What? More than an hour... you say? You, are you trying to kill me!!?"
That was the most motivated voice I had heard from him from the moment I was stationed here.
Does he really hate it that much... this man.
A grinding pain comes from my stomach.
"Don't' screw with me! I'll give in and fight... that much is fine. Because it'll be over after I randomly use some skill or another. But if you want me to fight, then bring that something something Demon Lord to my room, or it ain't happening!"
"T-there's no way that's happening! Now let's go!"
I pull at the whining Demon Lord's arm with all my might.
"... Don't~ Want~ To~! I definitely won't work!"
"Don't be selfish! It's an order from the Great Demon King!"
"Damn, why must I go through this... Being a Demon Lord... I quit!"
This man... he's serious. He doesn't want to move that badly.
You're not even working in the first place!
And in a time like this, this Demon Lord still hasn't worked up any interest towards his enemy.
"... Now then, stop screwing around! You can sleep on the way there!"
With Wrath being my attribute, the only one who's made me make so many concessions is this man.
"... Can I sleep in battle too?"
Is his head screwed on right?
And wait, you'll die! No matter who you think you are, you'll die! Your enemy isn't General Class, he's a Demon Lord like you!
Does this man understand that!?
"... It's no good. Go tell Kanon. Go fight for yourself."
With eyes full of needless self-confidence, this man shows no fear even towards the Great Demon Lord.
If one of the Great Demon Lord's direct subordinates saw him now, it wouldn't be strange for him to get convicted for treason.
"There's no way I could say something like that! And it's not like it has to be dragons. I just thought that would be fastest. Now warp, or do some instantaneous movement, or whatever it is you want! You're still fighting, you know! That's your responsibility!
"...Hah..."
Leigie-sama lets out a sigh.
He really is useless.
And this conversation is a pain.
Is what his eyes are telling me.
When I thought he was about to return some more complaints, I felt a weightless feeling as if my body had been tossed into the air.
My field of vision instantly changed.
"He...?"
Having been thrown into the air himself, as well, Leigie-sama doesn't try to roll or even raise his voice as he flops onto the ground.
I quickly correct my body, and land on my feet.
A desert of darkness without a single place to take cover extended to the horizon. The pale blue moon illuminated the desolate earth without a single blade of vegetation.
"Heh? Wai... wah... eh?"
Am I seeing an illusion?
I was definitely inside the castle so how did we...
in comparison to me at the height of confusion, the Demon Lord who had been thrown on the ground isn't panicking at all.
The pitch black dirt that seemed to personify darkness itself, a sign that it was soaked in the Mana of death.
"... Zone... more, that way..."
"What? Wait..."
I heard an ominous voice.
My vision shifted once more.
From an empty plain, to a plain drenched in the scent of blood and flesh and ash.
Leigie-sama rolls on the ground in an unsightly manner.
When I hit the ground, my instincts perceived it.
Much different from Leigie-sama's existence...but something as great as him. And wait, the object releasing it is right before my eyes.
As if a hole had been cut in space, an overcoat that seemed to suck in all light draped over a small shadow.
The small face covered in green hair looked over with an expression of bewilderment. But if you were to compare, I was the more confused of the two of us.
Zebul Glaucus.
The Devouring King. Her appearance and figure match the one I had heard about.
How can this be... am I dreaming!?
The Demon Lord ignores me, and turns to Leigie, who unsteadily lifts himself."
In front of Zebul, with shaking steps like that of a baby fawn, he fell onto his back, and sighed.
Without letting his voice out, and moving only his mouth, he began to complain.
"... Really... impossible... no good. This one's strong... don't want to...I can't hear anything lalalalala."
The first thoughts that were born in my mind were retorts.
Wait, so that was you!
I definitely said you could teleport or something, and I'll admit that.
Is this also a Sloth Skill? No, it's perfect for Sloth, isn't it!
Even so, he gives up quickly!
Leigie-sama takes a glance at Zebul, and swings his head from side to side.
My stomach instantly goes into ominous spasms of pain. Perhaps I'll burn through my gut.
Anyways, Quit. Screwing. With. Me!
| ← Ch. 15 | Ch. 17 → |