Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. Chapter 137 - We Can't Just Sit There and Take It

Chapter 137 — We Can’t Just Sit There and Take It

 

The fourth-floor reading room of the library.

As the first servant of the newly freed Demon King, I was carrying out the duties that naturally fell to me.

“Delicious!”

The Demon King sat with one leg crossed over the other, licking an ice cream with a smile.

“Half-elf, what is the name of this cold and sweet delicacy?”

“It is called Heavenly Frozen Confection, made by chefs of the Celestial Race, Your Majesty.”

“The Celestial Race! Surely this is an expensive dessert reserved only for nobles!”

“In Pletica, even children buy it. It’s cheap and common.”

“What!?”

The Demon King pressed a hand to his forehead, eyes wide. Watching him react so dramatically to the local culture made me understand why television shows featuring foreigners marveling at everyday customs existed. As a citizen of Pletica, I couldn’t help but feel proud.

“I’m glad you like it….”

Librarian Kiji cautiously spoke while watching the Demon King’s mood.

“What do you think… of the clothes?”

“As the ruler of the Demon Realm, I cannot say I find them particularly pleasing.”

The Demon King, who had walked around naked the entire time until now, was currently wearing clothes Kiji had bought from the marketplace.

They looked rather shabby. They certainly weren’t dignified.

“But…”

He took a huge bite of his ice cream and grinned.

“It’s fine. They merely prove that such ragged clothing cannot suppress my majesty. In fact, they’re better than luxurious garments.”

After serving him for only twenty minutes, I had already gained a rough understanding of the Nameless Demon King’s personality.

“Excellent, Librarian! Thank you! Thank you for reminding me of the harsh reality that I must rebuild everything from rock bottom!”

“…You’re welcome?”

Our Demon King was someone completely detached from negative thinking. His optimism surpassed even Pendrick’s.

“From today onward, I shall diligently improve myself as nothing more than an ordinary demon. I shall wake up every morning and exercise. I’ll maintain a healthy diet. I’ll meditate for ten minutes every single day. Librarian, you shall join me!”

“…Me?”

“You accepted me even though I trespassed into your library. It is only proper that I repay your kindness. I shall cleanse your spirit of the lethargy and fatigue that plague it!”

The problem was that he was far too cheerful. Bright enough to blind everyone around him.

“Half-elf, you shall join us as well.”

I answered without the slightest hesitation.

“I already exercise diligently every morning, Your Majesty!”

“Ah, is that so? Splendid!”

“Shouldn’t a servant of the Demon King naturally strive to be upright and disciplined?”

“Indeed!”

I bowed deeply, carefully engraving into my mind one lesson after another on how to properly serve the Demon King. Even as a professional cultist, this was my first time acting as a Demon King’s subordinate. Since this was unfamiliar territory, naturally, I had to begin by learning the basics.

“Sadly, it is time to bid farewell to this frozen treat.”

“Then please try this next.”

I quickly handed him the next snack, a soft drink.

“And what is this?”

“This is Troublemaker Cola, a refreshingly fizzy beverage made by Eastern Continent dwarves.”

“Oh?”

Gulp.

“Good heavens! It’s as though lightning itself dances upon my tongue!”

“They even make versions that replace all the fattening ingredients with substitutes while preserving almost the exact same taste.”

“Such sorcery is possible!?”

While the Demon King continued his tour of Pletica’s snacks, Bartimir and Abel sat together in a corner reading a thick book.

History of the Demon Realm

“…Just as I thought. It doesn’t mention anything.”

“You’re right.”

Bartimir scratched his bandage-covered head.

“Not a single history book contains even one line about a ‘Demon King sealed inside a grimoire of Mysteries.’ And none of the past Demon Kings match his appearance either….”

The demonkin’s gaze turned toward me. As though asking me to explain everything as usual.

Unfortunately, I could only shake my head.

This time, even I didn’t know the full story.

[The Wise One demands that you thoroughly investigate exactly how the Nameless Demon King came to be sealed!]

“Half-elf.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“As I have already told you, my goals are twofold.”

Crunch.

After biting into a crispy cookie, the Demon King wiped his mouth and continued.

“Ordinarily, I could accomplish both with my own power alone. But the sealing ritual left me capable of wielding only about one-tenth of my former strength.”

“And yet Your Majesty still possesses such an overwhelming presence… I, Karr, am honored to serve beneath you.”

“You truly have a way with words! You adorable thing!”

Crackle.

Su’eje seemed thoroughly pleased, apparently approving of a demon who knew what he was talking about.

“Worse still, my memories remain incomplete. My mind is hopelessly clouded. I don’t even remember who I seek revenge against, nor what happened before I was sealed. Only a vague desire for vengeance remains.”

His power and memories were both incomplete. No matter how mighty he had once been, at present, he was merely a tall demon with extraordinary presence. This made the role of his subordinate all the more important.

“I shall devote myself fully to helping Your Majesty achieve your goals. I appreciate that lengthy explanations aren’t necessary.”

“As expected of a cultist of Twisted Truth.”

Crack!

The half-eaten cookie shattered, scattering crumbs everywhere.

“Half-elf! From this moment forth, I appoint you Grand Duke of the New Demon Realm!”

Grand Duke.

The position is second only to the Demon King himself.

“I shall do my utmost, Your Majesty!”

If this had been an Evil God’s cult, suddenly being elevated to such a high position would have inflicted the status ailment [True Believer], so I would have refused.

But becoming the Grand Duke of the Demon Realm? There was no reason to decline.

The title sounded grand, but in reality, it wasn’t even more prestigious than being the headman of a small village.

“Grand Duke! From now on, use every ounce of your knowledge for my sake!”

“As you command… heh heh heh….”

I bowed deeply and let out a quiet laugh. The Demon King, who had been rubbing his stomach, frowned slightly.

“Why are you laughing so strangely?”

“Shouldn’t the Demon King’s closest aide naturally exude an ominous atmosphere?”

“I dislike that sort.”

“The kind who constantly hide their true thoughts, leaving everyone unable to tell what they’re thinking it gets on my nerves–”

“I don’t!”

“I’m an open half-elf who can show you everything, from my deepest secrets to my embarrassingly naked body!”

I immediately corrected both my expression and posture before continuing.

“Before focusing on restoring the Demon Realm and taking revenge, I shall first restore Your Majesty’s strength and memories.”

“Excellent.”

“Since Your Majesty is a demon, I assume your strength will naturally recover if you consume enough negative concepts.”

“A reasonable assumption. But allow me to correct one point.”

The Demon King folded his arms and thought for a moment before speaking.

“There is no point hiding it. I differ somewhat from ordinary demons. I was so unusual that I spent my childhood alone.”

“Were you so exceptional that others envied and resented you from childhood?”

Bullying had been a traditional demon culture during their golden age. It seemed entirely plausible.

“The opposite. I was simply… too horrifying.”

“In what sense?”

“My very nature is the problem.”

The Demon King uncrossed his legs, opened his mouth slightly, and stuck out his tongue.

“I am a mutant who consumes not negative concepts… but positive concepts.”

“…!”

Kiji and Bartimir’s eyes widened simultaneously. Their expressions went beyond surprise. They were filled with shock, horror, and disbelief. The only one left confused was Abel.

He carefully asked,

“Why are you all reacting so strongly?”

“Because that’s hardly an ordinary constitution. If I had to compare it… It’s like a beastman who falls in love with animals.”

“Ugh… Is it really that strange?”

“An apt comparison.”

Chuckling, the Demon King stood and rubbed the back of his neck.

“A regular daily routine. A balanced diet. Kind and beautiful words. Wholesome hobbies. Neat clothing. Proper manners. I lived an upright life, producing diligence through all those commendable efforts, and then consumed it myself.”

“Hmm. To simplify what he just said… It’s like a human cutting off his own hand, cooking it, and eating it.”

“…”

Unsure how he should react, Abel wore a rather peculiar expression. Meanwhile, the other two demons looked as though they were desperately holding back nausea.

“…Mom. Do you really have to become that demon’s subordinate? You can’t!”

Bartimir was so horrified that he actually grabbed my arm to stop me.

“Grand Duke. What I require of you as strategist of the New Demon Realm is simple.”

While I gently pried the tearful demonkin off me, the Demon King calmly nibbled another cookie.

“When you kissed the back of my hand earlier, your soul and mine formed a contract. Through the Mystery known as Soul Bond.”

Soul Bond. A martial-type Mystery mastered only by certain rulers such as Demon Kings.

“…I think I finally understand, at least vaguely, how Your Majesty rose to such heights.”

“As expected, you’re clever. My memories are unclear, but I suspect I became such a powerful demon by absorbing the positive concepts produced by the countless subordinates bound to me through Soul Bond.”

At last, my role as the Nameless Demon King’s very first underling had become perfectly clear.

“So from now on… I simply need to experience as many emotions classified as positive concepts as possible.”

What the Demon King wanted from me was a steady supply of positive concepts. All I had to do was keep serving him regular meals.

Lowering my head with a sly smile, I declared,

“As it happens, I am the cultist who enjoys happiness and joy more than anyone else in Pletica. Your Majesty. You may trust me completely. I shall restore your original strength within a few months.”

“Is that so?”

The Demon King studied me carefully before breaking into a bright smile.

“I made the right choice in appointing you Grand Duke!”

He stepped closer and firmly pressed a finger against my forehead.

“A Demon King must keep his promises to his subordinates. Grand Duke… I shall bestow upon you a Sin Mystery. Is there one you desire?”

“There is.”

There happened to be a Sin Mystery that suited a half-elf whose greatest asset was his beauty better than any other.

“Please grant me… Sin: Lust.”

 

***

 

Becoming the Demon King’s subordinate cleared my mind.

All I had to do was experience cheerful and pleasant emotions? That meant that simply exploring labyrinths as usual would make me a perfectly loyal servant.

[I think I finally understand what future the Saintess glimpsed for you….]

The Saintess had foretold that I would soon experience something enjoyable.

Ordinarily, I disliked prophecies that erased the uncertainty of the future. But this time, I couldn’t have welcomed it more.

“Young Master. I’ve decided which labyrinth we’ll explore next.”

Odilon’s room.

The young master, who was happily nibbling on cheese cubes as snacks, tilted his chin.

“Which one?”

Using Illusion, I wrote the labyrinth’s name in midair. 

Odilon casually looked up to read it. One of his eyes narrowed.

“…South Continent Expedition?”

“The name sounds familiar, doesn’t it?”

Of course it would. No member of House Brites could possibly fail to recognize it.

A slow smile spread across Odilon’s lips.

“It’s the dungeon my sister Flora has been meticulously preparing to conquer.”

“Exactly.”

The eldest daughter of House Brites. The C-rank labyrinth Flora had been targeting to improve her achievements.

“The more I thought about it, the more uncomfortable I became. Lady Flora struck at us first… So, shouldn’t we naturally take revenge?”

Revenge was unquestionably a positive act. I knew that from experience.

After quitting my previous job, I carried out one tiny, insignificant act of revenge against Manager Choi… and it kept me in an excellent mood for an entire week.

“Young Master. We can’t just sit there and take it.”

I clasped my hands together like a proper cultist.

“Let’s conquer it before she does. Just to make Lady Flora furious.”

“…”

Odilon took a sip of wine before smiling faintly.

“Cultist Karr. I truly made the right decision when I formed an expedition with you.”