Published at 18th of January 2020 8:59 pm

Volume 4, Chapter 4: The Young Man’s Decision and Their Changing Relationship

This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml

How many times had she come to this place now, she wondered. This world made of monochrome light in all colors.

She stood before the only vacant throne. Ever since she made her “decision,” she had visited over and over again. That wish she’d held in the depths of her heart ever since she was young, that wish she thought would never be granted... When that was accepted, she had made up her mind.

And that had been precisely the requirement. Suddenly, the “first throne” in front of her was filled with a presence. The master of the only throne lacking one had been decided.

It was said that when one looked up at the heavens and saw a multitude of rainbows, it told of the birth of a new king into the world.

She knew that clear presence well. And so, she faced it and whispered, “Congratulations... on being crowned our new king.”

She felt like she heard a reply, and there was no way that she would mishear this person’s voice.

“Oh new king, with your name of gold... I’m truly glad that you were chosen, just as predicted. And that I wasn’t...”

Upon hearing the response that followed, she quietly shook her head. “No, I really am glad. I’m fine. You were the one who should become king. And so...” she whispered, looking at the new throne that had appeared in the center of the seven others.

“I won’t seek the power of this throne... so I’ll be fine,” she muttered, standing before the throne, which existed outside of the natural order and should be numbered zero, or perhaps eight.

†

“What’s up, Latina? You were spacing out,” Dale asked.

“Hmm?” Latina blinked a few times, then tilted her head a bit. “...I don’t know.”

“You’ve been spacing out like that a lot lately. Are you feeling bad or something?”

“No, not at all. I really am fine.” She shook her head back and forth in a way that was reminiscent of when she was young. However, as she smiled back at Dale afterwards, there was hardly any “childishness” left on her face.

Dale sensed a glimpse of something in her smile that worried him, and decided to keep an eye out to make sure it didn’t turn out to be something serious.

“I see.” He grasped her hand, trying only to say that he was always her ally.

It was then that Dale suddenly realized there was something strange going on in the sky. Apparently, he wasn’t the only one to notice, as a stir could be heard from outside the window.

“Rainbows...?”

It was an unusual sight.

The sky was covered in rainbows. There wasn’t just one, but a multitude coming down from different angles and coating the entire sky. Dale had seen rainbows before, but this was his first time seeing the sky like this.

“Rainbows cross the sky when the gods are looking down upon us...” “Right. Is that a saying amongst the devils, too?”

“Yeah. I was told that there was a rainbow in the sky when I was born, too. Rag often said that I was born being protected by the gods.”

“I see.”

Rainbows were known as fragments of the majesty of the Gods of the Seven Colors, and as rainbows contained all of the colors those gods governed over, it was said that when one stretched across the sky, the gods were intervening somewhere in the world.

Apparently, there had been a rainbow in the sky when Dale was born, too. It was said that it wasn’t at all uncommon for such a thing to occur when it came to those with high-ranking divine protection. But even so, Dale never heard of this many rainbows appearing.

Outside the window, he could see the especially devout bowing down in prayer or trembling in fear. Half-unconsciously, Dale embraced Latina, who was by his side, and she snuggled her head up against his shoulder.

“*******, ****,” she whispered, muttering words Dale didn’t recognize. “Latina?”

“A king... A new king has been born,” she responded, her grey eyes clouded over like they often did lately when she was drifting off.

“Huh?”

“That’s what this denotes...”

“Latina!” he shouted firmly, and grasped her shoulders.

Seeing her act so clearly off stirred up an unspeakable concern inside him. He felt like he needed to call her back to her senses right away.

“Wha...?” She gave a big blink of her eyes and then looked at Dale, seeming like she’d been startled by his loud voice.

He felt relieved from the depths of his heart to see her looking like her normal self once more. “Are you alright, Latina?”

“What? What is it, Dale? You surprised me...”

“I’m the one who was surprised. Seriously... why were you spacing out like that?”

Latina titled her head in response.

Swallowing down the concern Latina’s reaction was evoking, Dale tried asking her in a calm voice, “What ‘king’ did you mean?”

“Huh? These rainbows indicate that a new demon lord has appeared,” Latina responded, as if it was obvious.

Dale knit his brows. “Do the devils have a legend like that?”

“I don’t know...” Latina responded, tilting her head again. “It... wasn’t Rag... Was it Mov...? Who told me that... It wasn’t you, right, Dale?”

“I’ve never heard that before.”

“I see... Just who told me, then...?”

Latina pondered the matter as she stared up at the sky by Dale’s side, but she never figured out the answer.

†

When the sixth month next arrived, Latina would turn sixteen.

Over a year and a half had passed since Dale had come to see Latina as a member of the opposite sex, but a strange distance had been maintained between them. It was as if their relationship had changed, but also as if it hadn’t.

Dale had recognized Latina as a special woman to him, but at the same time, he still thought of her as a young girl. He could clearly see that she had been growing, but at the same time, he couldn’t bring himself to make a move so soon. He got the feeling that that would somehow make him a failure as a person. As a result, he’d chosen to use whatever excuses he could to maintain the status quo.

Latina herself hadn’t said anything that made it sound like she wanted such a thing, either. She simply believed in Dale’s words and smiled gently back at him. Thinking about it, it wouldn’t be incorrect to say that Dale had been thoroughly spoiled by the younger girl.

However, it wasn’t exactly as if Dale had a ton of leeway. When she started puberty, Latina had said that her development was behind compared to other girls her age. Apparently, that turned out to be the truth. She hadn’t grown all that much taller, but other parts of her had gotten rather large. Apparently her mother’s genes, which had worried her so greatly, hadn’t had that much of an effect after all. Perhaps she’d gotten her curves from her father’s side.

Latina got quite a bit of exercise while running around at work, so her arms and legs weren’t so thin that they looked like they could easily snap. They had also grown long and slender. Thanks to all that exercise, her waist was rather thin too, giving her rather enchanting, womanly curves.

To put it bluntly, she’d grown up to have quite the nice figure. Her face still looked a bit childish, but that was likely due to the innocent expression she always wore. Sometimes, when she was lost in thought, Latina’s appearance was enough to shock even an older man like Dale. It would only be natural to call her “beautiful” or “pretty.”

In fact, now that she’d grown, it was hard to imagine calling her anything but a beauty. And yet she was still as unguarded as she ever was, and Dale still pampered her. Looking totally at ease, she’d snuggle up to Dale like a kitten and happily gaze up at him.

It was powerful enough to make Dale try to distract himself from the moment, and he wondered just how much of a seductress she’d be if she were doing it intentionally. It’s not exactly as if Dale was a saint. With such a beautiful girl who adored him so close, there was no way he wouldn’t feel something.

Realizing that it was all his fault for not making things clear, Dale spent his days in this sort of occasional anguish.

†

“If he’s never going to get intimate with you, then you should get together with me.”

“I’m fine with Dale. He said he’d wait till I’m an adult, so we’re just waiting for now.”

“I’d be ready to go for it right away.” “I’m fine with Dale!”

Over the past year and a half, this sort of exchange between Latina and Rudolph had become a normal sight in the Dancing Ocelot.

He had declared that he wouldn’t give up on Latina, and just as he’d claimed, he hadn’t stopped his daily visits to the shop. Immediately after his confession, things were awkward between the two of them, but it didn’t take too long for Rudolph to shake that off and start begging Latina every day, only for her to bluntly turn him down.

For the time being, Rudolph had been harshly ridiculed by the frightening old men who made up the regulars. But he didn’t let that discourage him, and since Latina hadn’t clearly stopped talking to him, the old men’s attitudes had gradually softened.

Rudolph had taken the initiative because he was aware of the group swarming around Latina. Part of the reason was because he wanted to show her that he hadn’t given up on her. But if that were all, then there was no need to keep doing that in front of everyone. Rudolph made sure to have such exchanges in the Ocelot, which made them the center of attention, in order to keep the other men aiming for her in check.

The people around him assessed Rudolph as a young guardsman who had potential and was doted on by his superiors. They couldn’t help but wonder if they could get close to Latina despite her stating that she loved Dale more than anyone else, like Rudy had. The flood of confessions Latina’s guardians had feared was being more or less held in check because Rudolph had been able to secure his current position.

He’d tried hard.

“By the way, Latina...” Rudolph called out to the girl while sipping some liquor, having grown accustomed to alcohol other than sweet ciders in the past year. “What is it?”

“There are some traveling devils in town right now.”

“Huh?” Latina tilted her head in response. “I’m surprised you could tell they were devils. I’ve never really heard of devils walking around human towns with their horns showing...”

Including their country of Vassilios, devils were known to have an insular society and didn’t interact much with other races. They also made up more of the demons that served demon lords than the other races, so it wasn’t rare for other races to see them as a threat. Because of that, many devils hid their horns when visiting the lands of other races, wanting to avoid unnecessary trouble. The only clear visual difference between them and humans, the race with the highest population, was their horns. So those circumstances were also part of the reason why devils were rarely ever seen elsewhere.

“No, their horns were hidden. All three of them wore southern-styled hats.”

“Then how did you know?”

“They reacted to this,” Rudolph responded, pointing to the black shard dangling from his neck. “They knew that this was a horn.”

What Rudolph had pointed to had been Latina’s horn, which she had once broken off herself. At a glance, it looked like a precious black stone, but Latina herself had recognized it as hers.

“My horn?”

“They had a thick accent, to start with, and they seemed to be foreigners, so we got a request for assistance from the eastern gate.”

Kreuz was known as being much more welcoming to travelers than other towns, but it wasn’t as if they unconditionally let all outsiders in. The jobs of the gatekeepers who watched the outer walls involved collecting tolls from the people who wanted to come inside, while also keeping an eye out for anyone suspicious.

And so, the gatekeeper had suspicions about these foreigners, with their trouble speaking the language. They wouldn’t be regarded as suspicious just because they were foreigners. Kreuz had developed around travelers and merchants, so they welcomed foreign visitors and saw them as people to do business with. Rather, the problem in this case was their trouble speaking. The official language of Laband was known as Western Continental. It was the language spoken by the most people in the world, so people who couldn’t speak it fluently naturally stood out.

As a result, an inquiry was sent to guard headquarters, and in turn Rudolph was ordered to the eastern gate.

When they saw Rudolph, their expressions shifted. One of the three looked clearly enraged, while another’s expression displayed a hatred that he couldn’t suppress. The last of the three stared at a single point—the small shard hanging from Rudolph’s neck—and appeared lost in thought.

Because of those reactions, Rudolph realized that they were devils. “You had told me that the devils use a different language, and it’s only natural that they’d have such an uncomfortable reaction to your horn.” “Huh?” Latina looked puzzled.

Surprised by her reaction, Rudolph in turn appeared astounded. “I mean, it’s the result of having broken a horn.”

“Ah, that’s true.”

The devil culture regarded their distinguishing trait, their horns, as sacred, and breaking one was considered the greatest slight against one of them. Just as had once happened to Latina, those who committed a crime were punished by having one horn broken and being exiled. And as an insult, a victor would at times take the horn of his opponent. To a warrior, that meant living in disgrace, so many would choose to take their own lives if it happened to them.

“One of them reined in his companions, so nothing happened.”

Age differences between devils couldn’t be seen by the naked eye. Devils aged slowly and had exceptionally long adulthoods. However, from the reactions of the others, Rudolph could tell that the one staring at the horn lost in thought was the mediator of the group.

“Little lady, you gave away your horn?” Sylvester, sipping away at cheap booze at the next table as always, interjected into Latina and Rudolph’s conversation. He looked clearly surprised and had apparently spoken up without thinking.

“Mr. Syl?”

“If you have something like that on you, it’s like picking a fight with any devils you come across, so we humans treat them as cursed items.”

“Really?”

“From what I’ve heard from experts on the matter, horns also get imbued with grudges and curses. When you consider how they get broken, though, that’s not exactly surprising.”

Hearing Sylvester’s explanation, Latina looked like she at last understood. She was fairly out of touch with the customs and thinking of devils, having left her home village when she was young and growing up in Kreuz, so even if she was talking about herself, it felt kind of like talking about a stranger.

“I’m not a human, so I can’t enchant things, but...” Latina whispered, touching the shard of her own horn hanging from Rudolph’s neck.

Among the seven races, the technique called “enchantment” was exclusive to humans. Using that power, they crafted magical devices that allowed even those who couldn’t cast magic to make use of mana.

“This is a part of me... so my mana still remains in it.” “Really?”

“Yeah. The ‘curses’ are probably because normally when a horn is broken, the mana remaining in it is full of suffering, hate, and despair...” After saying that, Latina smiled at Rudolph. “But this one should be fine. Chloe said that it was pretty, and that made me so happy that it wiped all those negative feelings away.”

“I-I’m not worried about that sort of stuff.” There was no way that Rudolph would be upset that there was something like a lingering essence of Latina’s about it.

“What I’ve imbued in this are my feelings of joy at having a precious friend by my side. It’s probably more like a protective amulet. Maybe the person who looked at it closely understood that.”

The way that devils could see all sorts of things that humans couldn’t was one of the reasons they were known to be a race with great capabilities by nature. Since they could see the lingering mana, it would have been possible for them to clearly identify the shard of Latina’s horn.

Rudolph hurriedly tucked away the necklace. This precious protective charm from Latina was clearly seen differently by those around him: as a “cursed item.”

“It’d probably be good to keep things low-key for a while when you go out, right? That’s... I mean, I think... it’d be better if you didn’t meet up with anyone from your home village.” Rudolph said that because after joining the guards, he’d learned of the devils’ custom of breaking one of a criminal’s horns and exiling them.

In addition to Rudolph, all the regulars of the Dancing Ocelot knew that Latina had been driven out of her home village, but they didn’t see her as a criminal. Especially when it came to those who knew Latina when she was young, if such a well-behaved girl was a “criminal,” then nearly everyone the world over would be a great sinner. However, there also must have been some reason behind that exile. They couldn’t see anything but trouble coming from it, so the people around her all hoped that she didn’t run into anyone from her home village.

“When I was little, I really only ever spent time with a limited number of people, so... I really think there are only a handful of people who would recognize me. Although a lot of people may have heard that I was exiled ...” Latina responded, smiling at Rudolph. “But thank you for worrying about me, Rudy.”

“R-Right...” Having taken Latina’s stunning smile head-on, Rudolph gulped down the contents of his glass as if trying to hide his blush.

At night, when Dale and Latina were alone in their room in the attic, Latina reported what Rudolph had told her to Dale.

During the night festival incident, they had temporarily separated their living quarters, but due to the slope of the Dancing Ocelot’s roof, there wasn’t exactly enough space for two rooms in the attic. Originally, the space was just used for storage, and there was a lot of luggage there that couldn’t be moved. As a result, the space that Latina had created to get away from Dale was ultimately small and just meant to be temporary. When they returned from the capital, they were closer than before, and Latina naturally returned to Dale’s side. The adventurer had regained the soothing presence that he often held in his arms.

Dressed in a light, comfortable dress as her nightgown, Latina approached the desk set up near the window for writing. She had placed a small mirror with a stand on top of it and used it as a simple dressing table. Facing the mirror, she diligently ran a wooden comb through her hair, which was her nightly ritual. She soaked the comb’s rough teeth in a sweet-smelling perfume and then carefully ran it through her hair, starting at the tips. It was also part of her daily routine to tell Dale what had happened that day as she did so.

And every night, Dale carried out the maintenance and inspection of his weapons and tools while idly chatting away with Latina. Ever since Latina was little, such gentle, calm moments had only been natural for the two of them.

“That’s what Rudy told me.”

Having heard everything from Latina, Dale looked a little surprised. “More importantly... you didn’t keep your horn for yourself?”

Dale knew that in devil culture, horns were treated as sacred. That’s why he thought that even if she had broken it off herself, Latina would still treat her horn as something precious. Even if they were talking about her best friend, Dale never imagined she’d hand it over to someone else so easily.

And why did that kid, who wasn’t her best friend, have a shard of her horn? It wouldn’t be wrong for him to get into trouble with some devils and get beaten to a pulp. And why was Latina so carefree around someone with ulterior motives, like him? She really wasn’t good at sensing danger, was she?

Dale’s thought patterns had hardly changed from since when he was still a doting, idiot parent.

“Is there something wrong with that? I didn’t need it. And Chloe and Rudy said they wanted it, so that made me happy.”

“If you say so, then it’s fine, but...” There was no extra meaning behind Latina’s gaze, which was fixed straight at him. Rather, he was probably being too suspicious. While thinking that, Dale sighed. “Is there anyone looking for you in Vassilios?” That was what Dale was wondering after hearing of the devil travelers.

Dale hardly knew anything about Latina’s home village. She had been young when she was exiled, but that act of being cast out, combined with the prophecy that led to it, had left deep scars in her heart.

She apparently had too many painful memories of her home village. Persistently asking her about such things would only hurt his precious, adorable Latina, so Dale didn’t even think of doing it.

Latina wore a lonesome smile in response. “I don’t know. But... I can never go back.” Rather than resignation, there was a ring of determination to those words. “My existence can be nothing but a calamity for Vassilios. That country has finally received a new First Demon Lord, which everyone had been awaiting for so long... I’m sure it’ll become a good country, like everyone hopes...”

“Latina, you...?”

“I don’t... want to become a ‘calamity.’”

Hearing the unrest in her voice, Dale embraced her. “Was that the prophecy about you?” He wrapped her in his arms and protected her and made her feel safe, like he’d done since she was little.

Latina moved from the chair to atop Dale’s knees and rested her head on his shoulder. She had once told him that she didn’t remember the contents of that prophecy, and now she gave a slight shake of her head. “I don’t know.

But since I’ve grown up... I’ve thought about it. I remembered what my parents said... and thought that was probably it.”

She put her arms around Dale, who was hugging her, and brought herself in close to his warmth. As she did, she quietly continued on. “My parents said that they were trying to protect me... that if I stayed in that country, I’d cause a ‘calamity’... So I think that they took me away in order to keep me safe.”

“I could tell just by looking at you that you were raised with love.” She’d been earnest and kind ever since she was young, with no darkness hidden behind it. She’d been persecuted and driven out of her home village, but she didn’t hold any grudges and had grown up honest. From the fragments of her past that she occasionally shared and the way Dale had seen her grieve over her departed father, he could also tell that she truly adored Rag.

Latina’s parents had likely raised her with deep love. Even when those around her persecuted her because of the prophecy, they remained her allies. They had worried about her until the very end. And Latina didn’t doubt the care her parents had given her as she was raised.

There was a deep, unshakeable love at her core. Otherwise, Latina would have suffered more emotional trauma than just low self-esteem from losing her parents and being driven out of her village. Those circumstances would be enough to drive any adult to despair, but she had made it through without holding a grudge against anyone or anything. She hadn’t utterly rejected everything about herself, nor had she been overtaken by hatred or sadness.

“And so, I... can’t return to that country.”

While embracing Latina, with her lonesome smile, Dale found himself hugging her tighter, once more realizing just how much she had lost.

†

Whenever Dale considered the things Latina had lost, he thought about what he could give her and what he should be to her. He wasn’t conceited enough to think that he could replace everything she had lost. But if he could give her a place to belong and be someone to help affirm her existence, then that was enough. He wanted to be someone who could tell her that her mere presence was more precious than anything to him.

He could no longer remember a time before she was around, and he wanted her to stay by his side from now on, too.

And so, it was about time for him to resolve himself. “I’ve been seriously thinking about marrying Latina.” “Took you long enough.”

“Yeah, it did.”

“I would have dumped you by now.” “Woof!”

It had been momentous decision on Dale’s part to say that, but “the landlord family” and a single animal had unanimously given such responses. That depressed Dale so much he thought he could cry.

“Agoo.” Held in Kenneth’s arms, Theo’s little sister Emma reached her tiny hand out towards Dale’s head. She touched his black hair and messed it up, then gave a satisfied smile. Apparently she was trying to console him. He earnestly hoped that this girl would continue to grow up to be this kind.

Rather than a strong-willed woman like her mother Rita, he wanted her to become kind and gentle like Latina.

“And so, I’ve been looking for a house lately, but...”

“I don’t mind if you leave, but Sis should keep on staying here.” “So you’re saying the same sort of thing as your parents...”

Dale had no hesitation about casting a suspicious gaze at the five-year-old child, who boldly declared, “If you have an ‘unfortunate accident,’ I’ll marry Sis.”

“I’ve thought this for a while now, but the geezers who come to the shop really are the absolute worst influence on a little kid.”

“It really is a relief that Latina grew up right,” Kenneth added in agreement, awkwardly smiling at young Emma in his arms. There wasn’t even the slightest doubt that the drunkards who gathered in the Dancing Ocelot were the ones who had taught his son such questionable vocabulary and ways of thinking.

“I won’t die so easily.”

“Sis is a devil, so I’ve got plenty of chances, and I’m younger, so I’ll be around for a long time!”

“Seriously, what have those geezers been teaching you?” Dale didn’t object or get depressed when he saw Theo’s self-satisfied look. The child’s overly cocky statement just left Dale at a loss. His declaration had been pretty awful, but he was still just a kid. Dale also knew Theo earnestly adored Latina, so he didn’t immaturely scold him.

The ultimate culprits here were the regulars of the Dancing Ocelot, who “doted” on Theodore, the first child of the couple who ran the place. Since he was raised in a bar, though, there was no helping him constantly hearing conversations that were far from classy. Regardless of whether there was any ill will there or not, it was impossible to expect such high morals from drunks. Thanks to that environment, even a polite and gentle girl like Latina, with an appearance fitting to her nickname of “fairy princess,” had a strong- willed side to her. And that was even more the case for a boy, like Theo.

“Still, marriage... You’re kind of skipping a lot, aren’t you? You’ve been putting things off for so long, and now you’re talking about that all of the sudden.” It was totally understandable that Rita was astounded. Latina had been transitioning from a girl into a woman, but Dale was already plenty old. In addition, there was a limit to how long they could keep things platonic and spend years together with such a lukewarm relationship.

“I, how should I put it...? I still feel like Latina’s guardian, in a way.” “Well... You still are, yeah.”

“As her guardian, I’ve been thinking, ‘If anyone lays a hand on Latina and is just messing around, I’ll slaughter him.’”

The owners of the shop kept the quip of You wouldn’t hold back on anyone who made a move on her, even if they weren’t fooling around unsaid.

“And so, I’ve got the same sort of feeling when it comes to myself. I don’t want to do things halfway when it comes to Latina. She has a tendency to think of things in a pretty negative manner.”

“So marriage, huh?”

“To be blunt, I’ve been worrying lately that I’m getting closer and closer to making a move on her.”

“Latina... sure has grown, hasn’t she...?” “She really has...”

“She was so worried about it, but... before I’d even realized it, she’d gotten even bigger than I am now, and I’m nursing...”

The adults that had all known Latina since she was young now looked like they were staring off into the distance.

Rita looked down at her own chest and gave a slight sigh. It’s not like bigger was better, so she tried not to let it bug her. Still, it was an awkward feeling to have her “little sis” be so much larger than her.

“And we’ve been sleeping together, but...”

Though the space in the attic was limited because of the slope of the roof, the bed in their room was actually a good bit wider than normal. Even though Latina was now full-grown, it was wide enough that it wasn’t at all cramped for the two of them to sleep on it. And out in the country and the like, due to limited rooms and heaters, it wasn’t at all strange for a whole family to share a bed. Personal rooms and separate beds were luxuries limited to those who could afford them, though that did differ based on place and circumstances.

Thinking of it that way, Dale and Latina sharing a bed wasn’t enough to raise the suspicions of the public at large. Latina looked incredibly adorable as she snuggled in next to him, and she’d draw close to his back as if seeking warmth, perhaps unconsciously, which helped soothe Dale.

But at some point, Dale had started to feel something soft against his back when she did that. When he realized what that was, Dale awkwardly tried to keep his distance from Latina. But unfortunately, he didn’t possess the special ability to completely control his unconscious actions as he slept.

“Lately I’ve been waking up feeling something soft and smelling something good, only to realize I’m hugging Latina.”

“Are you boasting?”

“Well, that too.” As always, the man wasn’t shy when it came to such things. “It’s an undeniable fact that Latina is cute, after all.”

The people around him had also gotten better at ignoring him over the years.

“So, did you find any good places?”

“It’s been tricky... I’ve tried looking around the western district, but...

Latina is definitely going to say she wants to keep coming here, right?” “It’d also be a real mess for us if Latina wasn’t around.”

“It’s thanks to Latina that Theo hasn’t gone back to acting like a baby.” Rita’s father and Theo’s parents, especially Kenneth, had been fawning over Emma ever since she was born. Rita tried to avoid doing it too much, but she still naturally had her hands full taking care of the baby. However, Theo hadn’t sulked at that or regressed to acting like a baby because Latina had spent more time with him in exchange.

Latina of course had an interest in the baby, too. However, she also sympathized with Theo, who was feeling lonely now that his little sister had been born. As a result, Latina doted on Theo heavily, and for the boy, who loved his “sis” even more than he loved his parents, he was perfectly alright with this development.

These circumstances that strengthened his love for Latina may have been one of the reasons he was so confident when he spoke to Dale.

“But in this district, I’d be worried about her when I’m away for work... so I’ve been worried about if I should prioritize her safety coming and going from here, or when I’m away...”

Dale had tried to plan out getting a new home for himself and Latina many times in the past. He’d ended up giving up each time, though, because he couldn’t figure out how to overcome that concern. The idea of leaving her to fend for herself when he was away for a while had also been an especially big issue when she was younger.

When it came to her safety, Dale felt more at ease with the attic of the Ocelot than any high-class mansion. If he were to go with an expensive residence in the western district, Latina would have a good environment, but he’d worry about burglars and the like, and if he was going to hire servants to maintain the house, he’d have to carefully make sure that they had good character.

Considering the hours Latina worked at the Ocelot, she’d end up commuting during the early morning and late at night, when few people were around. It was only natural to worry about a woman walking on her own at such times. In the southern district, where the Ocelot was, there were plenty of travelers and ruffians of unknown background. There was also a residential area for commoners, but he couldn’t quite say with confidence that the place was completely safe. Obviously, everyone there wasn’t a good person.

It wasn’t realistic to have Latina live in the Ocelot only when Dale was away. The space there was limited, but it wasn’t as if Kenneth and Rita could just leave the room in the attic vacant, and there was no guarantee that when

Latina needed to stay there, a room would conveniently happen to be open. It was difficult to secure a definite living space for the girl.

“I know that Latina can defend herself to some degree with her magic, but that still doesn’t change the fact that it’d be dangerous... Latina is kind by nature, so she may end up hesitating even when dealing with scum... even though I’d be fine with her just slaughtering them.”

“Most people normally wouldn’t go that far.” “Slaughter them!” cried Theo.

Seeing his son declare that with a clenched fist held up in the air, Kenneth made a reasonable judgment. “You’re not exactly a good influence on kids, either.” He sighed. “It’d be easy to figure out when you were gone. You’re famous in a lot of ways, after all. Lately a lot of young folks have been idolizing you as ‘Dale Reki, whose name is renowned even in the capital.’”

Most of them were also surprised when they saw the real deal.

On the field of battle, Dale seemed worthy of his fame as a young hero. But that wasn’t the case when it came to Dale in his everyday life here in Kreuz. The sight of this doting idiot fawning over his young adopted daughter had already become a specialty of the town. For the young folks who admired him, that was enough to shatter their illusions, but the aura about him was just as rumored, causing him to give off a complex impression.

And if any of them happened to fall for Latina, they’d be subjected to the ambition of one known as a hero firsthand.

“If we’re talking about Latina being on her own while you’re away...”

“It wouldn’t be a surprise at all for degenerates to show up each and every day, right?” Rita continued Kenneth’s sentence.

“Yeah.”

“Vint could act as a watchdog, but... To be honest, that just wouldn’t be enough.”

“Woof?”

Vint wouldn’t just have to deal with people attacking Latina directly, but also would have to be on guard for peeping toms and burglars; no matter how capable of a pup he may be, it was just too heavy a load.

“I figured I at least needed something to firmly declare to the people around us that Latina and I are together, so I thought I need to make our relationship clear.”

Seeing Dale randomly search for excuses, Kenneth and his wife knew that he was hiding his embarrassment, and they exchanged awkward smiles with each other. Out of pity, they just let him be rather than using the chance to mess with him.

Not long after he had made that declaration, Dale invited Latina to Kreuz’s central park.

“Latina, do you have some free time?”

“What is it?” Latina asked, stopping and tilting her head.

“The weather’s good, so I figured it could be nice to walk to the park or something.”

“A walk? Should we invite Theo along?” Latina questioned with her usual, gentle smile, not realizing the determination in Dale’s voice.

“No... Let’s make it just the two of us for once.” “Woof?”

“I’m saying, you stay back here.” “Woof.”

Hearing Dale drive the point home for Vint, Latina gave an amused giggle.

After leaving the Dancing Ocelot, the two walked slowly along, hand in hand. Ever since they met, it was only natural for the two to be that close to one another. When Latina hit puberty, they had grown apart for a bit, but now they held hands once again.

At first, they had done it so Latina wouldn’t get lost, but at some point, the meaning behind the action had changed. Considering how he didn’t want her to leave his side though, Dale thought that perhaps there hadn’t been such a change there, after all.

The path they took for their relaxed walk followed the same as the one Dale had once walked with a young Latina in his arms when they had gone to the eastern district for the first time.

“Do you remember when I took you to the eastern district for the first time?”

“I remember being really surprised. I’d never seen so many people before in my life.”

“I came from the country, so it was a shock for me my first time, too.” “Um, about the shoe store you took me to... Theo and Emma’s shoes came

from there, too. It specializes in children’s shoes.”

“Huh... So do you buy yours from a different place now?”

“I use a place that Chloe told me about. Rita recommended it, too. It’s a new store, but the designs are all refined, and their shoes are comfortable.”

“I see.”

Their conversation was just a frivolous, everyday one.

As they were talking, Latina occasionally touched her upper arm through her clothes; she seemed somehow on edge. Dale recalled unintentionally brushing up against something hard earlier, and before long voiced what he was thinking. “Ah, is that your bangle?”

“Yeah. I’ve kept it stored away all this time, but I thought it was about time to put it back on, so I’m giving it a try.”

That was her only belonging from her home village, and it had her father’s name engraved in it. The bracelet was meant for an adult, so it had been too large for Latina when she was young. Dale had seen her store it away in her “treasure box” in their room, not wanting to lose it.

“I’m not used to it, so I just can’t settle down...” “Devil customs, huh...?”

“All the adults I saw when I was young wore them, so I figured I’d give it a try when I grew up.”

“Sounds good to me. It’s a charm from your father, after all.” “Right.”

Because she was wearing a loose coat, it was impossible see her arms. Even so, Dale recalled the shape of the bracelet, having seen it before. It had been too big for her young, slender arm, but before he knew it she’d grown enough for it to fit snugly; the thought deeply moved him.

The central park was crowded again today, with everyone spending their time off in their own way. Seeing a group of children yelling and running about, Latina broke out in a smile, remembering how she had once done the same.

“You sure like kids, don’t you, Latina?” “Really? I guess that may be so.”

Dale saw how she never grumbled about taking care of Theo or Emma at the Ocelot and how she broke out in a gentle expression like this whenever she saw children. He’d always been watching her like that.

“Someday, I’ll...” “Hmm?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Sensing what she’d been mumbling about, Dale gripped her hand more firmly.

There were a large number of people on the wide expanse of grass, but it felt spacious enough that that didn’t seem to matter. There were trees planted here and there to create shadows to block the sunlight on days where it was hot enough to make one sweaty. Latina smiled wide as she felt a refreshing breeze blow on her cheek.

They picked out a tree to rest under and sat down on the grass in its shade. The sound of the children playing could be heard from far away, but was drowned out by the rustling of the branches and leaves overhead.

“Latina,” Dale started.

“What?” she responded, turning to face him. She looked stunningly beautiful.

Her glamorous long hair trailed down in a loose braid, and her firm, smooth skin was brilliant enough to glow without makeup. The long eyelashes over her grey eyes and her cherry blossom-colored lips had hardly changed since she was little, but now that she had matured, they were a part of what made her so beautiful. Even so, the innocent expression she wore told to the fact that there was more to her than just a pretty face.

She’s beautiful, thought Dale earnestly.

As Latina smiled at him, she looked like she was overflowing with joy. Dale felt confident that he hadn’t made the wrong choice.

“It sure is nice out,” Latina commented. “That’s true.”

“What is it, all of the sudden? Did something happen?” “Am I acting that strange?”

“You are. I’ve always kept an eye on you, Dale,” Latina said with a smile, looking up at him.

Dale had known that there was no way Latina would fail to pick up on how he was acting weird today, but it still felt a little awkward and he averted his gaze.

“Latina, this is for you.” “Huh?”

Because of his embarrassment, Dale bluntly thrust a small box straight at Latina. He practically shoved it at her, surprising her in the process.

Blinking, Latina looked at the box for a while and tilted her head. “It’s still too early for my birth month...”

“True. But today’s a special day, isn’t it?”

“Right,” Latina responded, gently bringing her hands to her chest. Dale felt relieved at Latina’s reaction, seeing that she thought of today as a special anniversary as well.

Nine years ago, Dale and Latina had met. It had been exactly nine years since the day that everything had started in that forest.

“It’s a special day for us.”

“That’s true,” Latina responded, and then opened up the unadorned box. The sudden burst of a dazzling, almost blinding shine surprised her. While it was impossible to tell from the appearance of the box, the jewelry inside was delicately crafted, and even from a single glance was clear that it was a beautiful and expensive piece.

“Th-This looks... really expensive, doesn’t it?” Latina said hesitantly in a perfect display of her practical nature.

“Why’d you have to say that?” Dale said with an awkward smile. “Never mind that. Take it out and try it on.”

“Okay...”

At Dale’s prompting, Latina took the piece out of the box. A little nervously, Dale then took it from her and smoothly put the bracelet around her wrist.

“It’s beautiful...”

“It’s also a magical device. Though to be honest, it has more meaning as an accessory.”

There was a flower in full bloom engraved in a shining jewel on the bracelet. No matter what angle you looked at it from, a beautiful flower and glamorous fruit design could be seen.

“Marry me.” “Huh?”

“Let’s become family a different way. Not as a substitute father and an adopted daughter.”

“Dale...?”

Having moved her gaze from the bracelet to Dale’s face, Latina looked dumbfounded. Dale awkwardly looked away. Thanks to her surprise, he was completely unable to read how Latina was feeling from her expression. He was known as a first-rate adventurer and a veteran of many battles, but he was overcome by a nervousness greater than he’d felt in any fierce combat.

“L-Latina...? I-It’s pretty rough, proposing, and getting silence back, you know...?”

“But, I mean, it’s so sudden...” Her voice was hoarse and shaky. “So... do you not want to?”

“That’s not it... That’s not it at all! But, I’ve never even thought about getting married!”

“So you’ve said you love me, but you’ve never thought about getting married?”

It was very much like her, but it was still awkward.

“But, I mean, I’m a devil! I don’t even know... if I can have a child.” “I know that. And I’m sure your kid would be super cute, but that’s not why I’m asking you to marry me.”

Dale was aware that the long-lived race of the devils had a low birth rate. He sensed that Latina was so worried about the fact that she may not be able to have a child precisely because she was so fond of children.

“Even if you’re okay with it, your family may...”

“This is their answer,” Dale said, touching the bracelet on Latina’s wrist that he had only just now given her. In Dale’s home village, there was a tradition that the presence of both flower and fruit designs held a special meaning.

“My dad and mom said, ‘Oh, finally?’ while Granny... She said, ‘If you let Latina go, you’d never find anybody else to marry you.’”

Respecting the lineage of his clan, Dale had made sure to inform his family of his intentions to marry Latina. That was also because he wanted as many people as possible to not only acknowledge his marriage to Latina, but also to give them their blessing.

He knew his family was fond of Latina to start with, so he didn’t expect them to object, but the bracelet that was delivered with their response not only employed the jewelry-crafting techniques his home village specialized in, but was also made with difficult-to-achieve, high-quality, delicate craftsmanship. Dale had been the one to request it, but he suspected it had been prepared far before he asked, as it had been so carefully crafted.

“Granny...” Latina whispered, and then looked at him with teary eyes. “Is it alright? Are you... really okay with me?”

“You’re the only one for me, Latina.”

The moment she heard Dale’s response, Latina was unable to hold back any longer, and tears started streaming from her grey eyes. “Why... do you grant all my wishes, Dale? Why... Why is it that you give me everything I want...?”

Dale went to wipe away her tears with his fingertip, but he wasn’t quick enough and new tears kept streaming down.

“I wanted... I always, always wanted... to become your one and only...” “I know.”

“I love you, and always want to be together with you... I don’t have anything to give to you in return, but please, let me keep on staying by your side...”

“That’s not true at all, that you can’t give me anything... Just by being by my side, you’ve supported me all this time... so...” He felt embarrassed and shy, but that was far better than not saying what he needed to and regretting it. “I want you to stay by my side,” Dale said, staring straight into her eyes.

“...Yes,” Latina replied, with a smile like a flower in full bloom.

As Dale’s face approached hers, Latina awkwardly looked down. His repeated kisses were like mere child’s play, but when Latina went red to the tips of her ears, Dale’s cheeks blushed in turn.

†

All this time, Latina had been lying to herself about how she felt. She realized that because she was happy, she’d been able to turn a blind eye to it. It was a lie, though, to say that she’d given up. It wasn’t true that she was able to bear it.

If she was at the peak of her joy now, then later on, she may only be able to lose that happiness she’d finally gained. What should she do if she lost him? How should she spend the time left to her?

As she whispered about such things, a clear drop fell upon the chair in front of her.

†

She was spacing out again.

Looking concerned, Dale stroked Latina’s hair as she sat in a trance.

She’d been going into a haze a lot lately, but ever since he proposed to her, she’d ended up in this state even more frequently.

He was assailed by a strange, uneasy feeling. His concern wasn’t just based in worries about her physical condition; for some reason, there was an alarm bell going off deep inside him. And so, Dale called out her name countless times. He was trying to call her back to him.

“Latina.” “...Dale?”

“Yeah. I’m here.” Latina smiled feebly back at his response; her expression reminded him of her tear-stained face after she’d gotten lost long ago.

The expensive-looking bracelet around Latina’s wrist quickly drew the attention of those around her. Not wanting to damage it while working, she tried at first to store the present from Dale away. However, Dale told her not to. After all, it was the sort of piece that didn’t have any meaning if she didn’t always have it on. It wasn’t just a mere accessory, either—it was also a magical device, so it wouldn’t be damaged so easily.

“You need to make it clear that you’re taken,” Dale said with a wide grin; it made Latina’s cheeks turn deep red.

That was when Latina realized such an expensive piece of jewelry had a meaning attached to it. It showed everyone who saw it that Latina knew someone who would give her such an expensive present, and Latina wearing it made known that she reciprocated his feelings. And when it came to Latina, there was no need to explain who that “someone” was.

After seeing Latina’s bracelet, the amount that Rudolph drank increased for a time. That didn’t just go for him, but also countless young folks as well as a few men who weren’t exactly in their prime.

As the regulars teased Latina (just a little lewdly), they always drank heavily. All in all, this led to a big profit increase for the Dancing Ocelot. When the regulars tried to add tips to their tabs, the always earnest Latina refused them, but they were clever enough to get her to take them by saying that they were for the couple who ran the place. Every one of the regulars was aware that ever since she was young, Latina had only had eyes for a single man. Now that her dreams had come true, they wanted to openly give her their blessings.

Latina just looked so overjoyed. Whenever they teased her, her cheeks would turn red with embarrassment and occasionally she would pout, but her every action made it clear that she was just so happy she couldn’t contain it. She was already naturally pretty, but this overflowing happiness only made her look all the more beautiful, and seeing her like that, the regulars earnestly wanted to offer their congratulations.

At least, that’s how they felt when it came to Latina.

However, when it came to the man who had claimed their beloved Fairy Princess, the regulars didn’t quite feel that way. Dale had been her chief guardian, but these old fogeys had watched over her far more than what would be considered normal for mere pseudo-parental affection.

“Well, drink up.” “Hold o—”

“It’s fine, just drink. It’s all on us, so you don’t have to hold back.” “Hold on a minute... Why is it all such strong stuff...?”

“Huh? You want an explanation? Should I lay it out for you thoroughly?” “No... Sorry.”

In that way, Dale was crushed by the unified attack waves from the numerous middle-aged men.

Dale wasn’t a weak drinker and could use detoxifying magic to sober up, but he resigned himself to his fate because he realized it was their way of congratulating him. Also, if the regulars caught him using magic, he’d be in real trouble later.

“Gah... I’m seriously... drunk...” “Are you alright, Dale?”

Seeing Latina so lovingly concerned about Dale only accelerated the drunken frenzy.

Latina looked truly happy in the days that followed, too. Dale found the way that she pitiably grew embarrassed when he embraced her or kissed her adorable, and that made him want to mess with her even more. As if making a comeback from how he’d been holding himself back, he now doted on and clung to his younger fiancée.

Frankly, it was a bit irritating to the people around them, and considering how his doting words hadn’t changed all that much, everyone felt awkward.

“Latina’s just too cute, so I don’t want to go to work,” Dale reported to Rita for some reason while wearing a slovenly grin on his face.

She was busy with paperwork. “I’m well aware that she’s cute.”

Rita singlehandedly took care of the Dancing Ocelot’s clerical duties, so she could frequently be seen working away in the same spot. This may have made her the perfect captive audience, but from her viewpoint, having to listen to Dale day after day was intolerable.

“She’s cute! Latina’s just so cute!”

“Any chance I could be spared your boasting?”

“Just giving her a little hug is enough to make her embarrassed, and if I give her a sudden kiss, she turns beet-red! I’ll ask her, ‘Are you mad?’ and she responds back, ‘I’m not,’ in her super cute voice! She’s just too cute, so I ask, ‘Do you like me?’ and she says, ‘I love you,’ in a quiet, awkward little voice, so I say, ‘I love you so much that “love” doesn’t even cover it!’ back!”

“Vint! Are you around, Vint?! You’ve got my permission to do whatever the hell you want to this idiot!”

“As I am now, I fear nothing!” Dale said with a loud laugh. Rita’s patience almost audibly snapped.

“Ah... but I am scared of Latina hating me... She’d never say that she did, though!”

Rita had passed her breaking point. “Latina! Hurry up and do something about this love-struck moron already!” she yelled towards the kitchen. Latina timidly peeked out.

The girl replied in a feeble voice, “Wah... Rita... if I get near Dale now, then—” only to get cut off before she could finish her sentence.

“Latina!”

“Waaaah!”

She was immediately captured.

An ordinary civilian like Latina couldn’t keep up with the skills of a first- rate adventurer like Dale. Suddenly, she was on Dale’s lap and being hugged tight. It looked like a simple embrace, but she was so thoroughly restrained that she could hardly resist, much less move.

Turning red all the way to the tips of her ears in embarrassment, Latina looked around for someone to save her as Dale assaulted her with countless kisses.

“Dale, Dale! You’re embarrassing me, stop...!” “You’re seriously cute when you’re embarrassed, too...” The idiot has no intention of restraining himself!

The light disappeared from Rita’s eyes. She had finally given up. “At least keep your flirting to where other people can’t see.”

“R-Rita!”

“Well then, that’s what we’ll do.” Dale lifted Latina (who was on the verge of crying) up with ease and headed to their room with her in his arms. An awkward expression crossed Rita’s face as she watched them go, and she wondered if Latina would be alright when their relationship advanced to the next level.

It’ll be hard for her to get pregnant, so that idiot might get carried away...

Quirmizi governed the harvest and the prosperity of one’s descendants, and Dale had high-ranking divine protection from that god. While devils had a low birth rate, Rita had a premonition that Dale’s enthusiasm may easily fix that in Latina’s case.

The mental image was a bit too intense, so Rita forced herself to stop thinking about it. Latina’s gonna be sore, but well... at least she can use healing magic...

As the older woman, all Rita could do for her “little sis” was offer a modest cheer for the girl in her heart.

Until just a moment ago, Latina had been squirming about in Dale’s arms out of embarrassment, but now she was in a trance. Still holding her tight, he buried his face in the crook of her neck. When she didn’t react, he was grasped by a terrible unease.

“Latina!”

It was only when he called her name that she faintly reacted. Her hazy, grey eyes moved slowly, looking for Dale and Dale alone.

“Dale...” “Latina.”

He kissed her eyelids and cheeks over and over. While he did, the light returned to her eyes and she said, “Dale, Dale... that tickles!”

Her mild words of protest made him so relieved that he felt like he could cry. And as a result, he didn’t feel at all like stopping his hugs or kisses.

Even though he asked her countless times, Latina always responded that she wasn’t feeling bad. Rather, she didn’t even seem to realize that she was so frequently drifting off. She was sharp, so she should have realized something was off if there were gaps in her memory; however, she didn’t seem to notice that anything was strange. That’s what made it so frightening.

Dale felt like something was going to happen that couldn’t be undone. He was afraid of releasing her from his arms, even for a moment.

“I’m here with you...”

Latina tilted her head in confusion...

“...Right.”

...but even so, she then smiled happily and nodded.

†

He felt like he was being pushed forward, but also like he was rushing ahead.

He’d intended to take things slower and wait until Latina’s heart and body had matured, but because of his anxiousness, he sought to deepen his relationship with her further not long after they officially became engaged.

No matter what method he used, he wanted to become a little closer to her, tie her to him a little tighter. His actions were born from that desire.

Her eyelids, her cheeks, and her lips weren’t enough. He wanted to imprint every last nook and cranny of her body with kisses. He wanted to mark her as his.

His actions were rooted in not wanting to let her go and wishing to stay by her side.

†

He’d called her name countless times. Outside of her family, hardly anyone had ever said her name back in her home village, but she’d likely heard Dale say her name more than even her family had spoken it.

That beloved voice of his sounded somehow different than usual. As the heat rushed to her head, even complements aside from the typical “You’re really beautiful,” were hard to make out.

She was embarrassed and confused, but more than that, she was awash in a state of euphoria. The listlessness that enveloped her whole body afterward was a result of the bliss that they’d shared.

She’d long since hoped for this. She’d wanted to do this with him, not with anyone else. Her heart was overflowing with joy from the choice that she’d made. She felt so fortunate to be loved that it made her feel dizzy.

She was happy.

She brought her cheek up to that warmth that was closer than usual and lost herself in that smell that to her meant peace of mind.

She was happy, and so...

...in his arms, Latina started crying.

†

When she came to, she was surrounded by a familiar sight.

She sat down in front of her decided throne in the center of the circle of seven others.

Her tears kept flowing, unending. Her shoulders trembled and she continued to sob. She couldn’t hold it back.

It was because she had experienced such happiness that she didn’t want to lose it. She prayed that wouldn’t happen. That was her one and only wish. She wanted to live together with him—the man she loved. To be with him.

It had been a lie that she’d accepted her own long lifespan. When she said she had come to grips with the fact that she’d have to part with him someday, that hadn’t been true. She didn’t want to lose him. She surely couldn’t keep on living once he was gone, when she was all alone.

She stretched out her trembling, slender fingers. She touched the back of that throne outside of the natural order only to suddenly pull her hand back. But regardless, she knew. And because she knew, she reached her trembling fingers out toward the throne once again.

She had sworn that she’d never seek its power. And yet she still sought it because she knew it was the one and only power that could grant her wish.

[...Platina.]

That name she’d once been called had a nostalgic ring to it.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry... I know it’s wrong... but, but I... I don’t want to hurt you... but... I’m sorry, I’m so sorry... oh new First Lord...”

[I permit you to use my name... my dear Platinum Princess,] the kind voice responded to the sobbing girl, as if to console her.

She turned to face the first throne. Until now, she could only feel a faint presence from it, but now she could see a clear vision of the one sitting there. “...Chrysos... I...” she said, her grey eyes teary. The being appeared to have a golden shine, just as their name implied.

[My beloved Platinum Princess, I...] the kind voice continued, only for the girl to shake her head back and forth over and over.

“I... I...” As her tearful voice resounded through this world, a multitude of rainbows covered the sky.

At this time when most people slept, the world was enveloped in rainbows, which silently twinkled alongside the moonlight.

†

Dale was unable to seek the reason behind the discomfort he felt towards the warm presence in his arms. If he was forced to say why, it was because of some essential factor he possessed. It was a noisy, discordant unease and disquiet. An almost instinctual part of him was rejecting the girl that he loved.

“L-Latina?”

Looking at her, Dale couldn’t see anything peculiar. She hadn’t changed in the least. And yet, he could sense something different.

She looked drowsy, with an even more innocent expression than normal, and her soft, white skin was enchantingly exposed. Rather than grinning wide like he had done the night before, though, Dale could only stare at the girl who had somehow changed.

“...Dale?” Her voice hadn’t changed, either. And the way she tilted her head looked entirely the same as it always did.

It was because she didn’t seem any different that he needed to wring out his words, saying, “...Demon lord.”

The words caused her to shoot straight up, and a look of surprise crossed her face. That reaction alone was enough to confirm that what Dale had sensed was the truth.

“Why...? Why are you... a demon lord?” “D-Dale... how... how did you...?”

At the moment, Dale didn’t have the leeway to worry about how Latina was shaking, her teeth chattering. However, he was able to repress his instincts and hug her tight.

Those with the power of a “hero” possessed divine protection of multiple gods. One kind Dale possessed was that of Tislow’s principle god, Quirmizi, from whom he was granted a boon in regards to magic related to the earth. As he made a living by fighting, this was a hugely significant power. Dale also possessed divine protection from Azraq. It was precisely because he had this divine protection that Laband regarded him an “anti-demon-lord hero.”

Dale could detect demon lords and the demons that served them, and right now, he sensed a being that existed outside of the natural laws of man. Because he was aware of his own abilities, Dale wasn’t able to turn a blind eye to the reality of the situation. He couldn’t ignore it and pretend he hadn’t noticed.

He’d had a vague feeling that something was going on. That was why he simply hid Latina in his arms rather than taking her to the temple of Niili when he realized she was out of sorts.

He chose to just keep on calling her back, not wanting her to go wherever she was heading.

He didn’t know why.

He had no idea why she had changed.

“I-I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” As Latina kept sobbing and apologizing, Dale hugged her tight.

As a being that was the antithesis of a demon lord, Dale instinctually rejected them. But even so, the one in his arms right now was undoubtedly Latina, the girl he’d always, always watched over, ever since she was little. He had sworn to be with her and give her a place to belong. As long as she remained herself, that wouldn’t change.

Unwavering in his resolve and having made up his mind, Dale regained his composure.

So what if she was a demon lord? Even if she was, that didn’t change that she was an adorable, well-behaved girl and someone utterly irreplaceable to him. Even if she’d become a demon lord, Latina was still Latina.

Now that he’d thought on all that, he remembered that thanks to the events of last night, Latina was disheveled and her skin exposed, and he was currently hugging her.

I only noticed that just now. Maybe I really am a failure as a person. “Come on, don’t cry, Latina...”

“I...! I... I’m sorry... I’m sorry...”

“I’m not mad. I may be concerned, but I’m not angry. Please don’t cry...” Dale was so weak to Latina’s crying face that it didn’t need to be restated. He felt absurdly guilty as Latina kept on sobbing. It wasn’t as if he were

at fault, so there was no reason for him to feel that way, but he did regardless. As if displaying that, he said what he was thinking to the girl in his arms.

“It surprised me that you became a demon lord, but it’s fine.” “Wha...?”

“I mean, it’s already happened, so there’s no helping it now.”

“Huh...? Wha? Dale...?” Latina responded in shock, not having expected him to declare such a thing without even questioning her.

“As long as you’re still you, I don’t mind,” Dale said calmly. He’d already gotten over it. His expression looked crisp and refreshed.

His great love of Latina had overcome his instincts as a hero, the antithesis of a demon lord. His own identity was just too overpowering. Before he was a hero, he was a former doting idiot who always put his adopted daughter first.

“But I... I knew that it was wrong...” “I see.”

“I knew... that I shouldn’t seek that power...”

“Right.”

With teary eyes, Latina looked at Dale, who simply hugged her and kindly listened to what she had to say.

“Why...? Why aren’t you angry?”

“I still don’t see any reason to be mad. If it’s a decision you made after a lot of thinking, then I know you must have a reason.”

“Dale...” Hearing his kind voice, her tears started flowing again. Clinging to Dale, Latina told him her thoughts, bit by bit. He stroked her hair as he listened to what she had to say. “I love you, Dale.”

“I know you do.”

“I never want to be separated from you!” “Right... I know.”

“And so... so... I sought the power of a demon lord...!”

“Hmm?” He didn’t quite understand what she meant with that statement. Up until now, Dale had simply listened without asking any questions, but he naturally wanted an explanation. When he opened his mouth to ask, he realized he had forgotten something important.

Even if they were facing unusual circumstances, the world would keep moving as usual. Which is to say, Kenneth was curious as to why Latina still hadn’t come downstairs when she normally would have long ago, so he called up to her. “What’s going on, Latina?”

With that, the couple came back to their senses like they’d been splashed with ice-cold water.

In more ways than one, it would be bad to be seen in their current state. At the moment, that was more important than demon lords and things like that. Putting aside Dale, being seen would be especially awkward for Latina.

Rather than having any proper walls, the attic room that they lived in together was sectioned off with luggage and partitioning screens. Kenneth and Rita didn’t normally come up during Latina and Dale’s private time, but if they did now, they’d see all sorts of things. Finally remembering that she was in a rather unladylike state, Latina’s whole body turned red with embarrassment.

The instant he heard footsteps from below, Dale instinctually called out, “Sorry, Kenneth! We overslept!”

Next to him, Latina hurriedly started getting dressed. She was so flustered that her nightgown got tangled around one leg, and she fell down with a thump. Now she was on the verge of tears again, although for a different reason than before. There wasn’t even a hint of demon lord-ness about her.

Then again... just what exactly is a demon lord?

There were no visible changes to Latina at all. Dale could tell something was different because he had divine protection from Azraq, but nobody else would notice just from looking at her. Demon lords all shared a title but, for example, the Second Demon Lord and the Fourth Demon Lord had entirely different powers and natures. Dale had no idea what sort of demon lord Latina had become or what type of power she possessed.

And having changed, today Latina...

...peeled a mountain of potatoes, the same as she always did.

Dale tried to think about the situation calmly, but things only grew more and more confusing.

He couldn’t wrap his head around the idea of a “demon lord who cries cutting an onion.” They say truth is stranger than fiction, but he’d never imagined a day when he had to confront a reality like this.

Right, but Latina really was cute. He was trying to face reality, but he ultimately ended up avoiding it.

As Dale’s thoughts chaotically darted about in that way, it showed on his expression.

According to what they’d once heard from the devil woman Glaros, demon lords weren’t inherently humans’ enemies, nor were they all incarnations of destruction and slaughter. And based on what he’d heard from Rose about when she encountered the Second Demon Lord, that monster wasn’t an enemy of other races because she was a demon lord, but because of her own inherent nature. And that was why, even if Latina was a strange demon lord, Dale couldn’t imagine that she was a so-called “Demon Lord of Calamity.”

As he thought about such things, however, a question came to Dale’s mind. He counted on his fingers and then tilted his head.

“Just which demon lord did Latina become?”

Following the logic of the world ruled over by the gods of the seven colors, the number of demon lords the world over should naturally be seven. Dale hadn’t faced off with all of the demon lords personally, but thanks to his work, he was well-versed on the subject.

The other day, Latina said that a new First Demon Lord had been crowned. If that was true, then there shouldn’t have been any other vacant spots.

The ruler of the largest devil settlement as well as their only nation, Vassilios, and in turn the king that led their people, was the First Demon Lord.

Then there was the one Rose encountered, the killing enthusiast, the Second Demon Lord.

In the east, coexisting with the Merfolk was the Third Demon Lord. There was the one who governed illness, whose mere presence could ruin whole nations with plague, the Fourth Demon Lord.

Also known as the “Demon Lord of the Tower,” the Fifth Demon Lord never left the tower that served as her castle.

The “Giant Demon Lord” who led demons far larger than normal devils as he wandered the earth was the Sixth Demon Lord.

And finally, there was the lover of war and strife, the Seventh Demon Lord.

They were all accounted for.

Maybe one of the spots had opened up without humans learning of it, like what had happened with the First Demon Lord.

Still having no means of answering the question that had come to his mind, Dale stared at the girl who was undoubtedly a new demon lord.

Looking at her again, Latina sure was cute.

When Dale found himself remembering how she’d looked even cuter than usual last night, a lewd look crossed his face. She’d been a pampered child to start with, but had let him dote on her further, and she’d called his name in an adorable voice that he’d never heard before. They’d lived together for so long, but it was all things he’d never seen before. It was only natural for him to feel lovestruck.

He tried to pull himself back together, but since that sloppy grin had already crossed his face, his renewed feelings of affection thwarted that effort.

He was the same as always, too.

†

“So, I’ve been thinking about it all day...” Dale started, having waited until they were all alone in their room at night.

“Yeah?”

A demon lord and a hero were confronting each other, with no one else around. When simplified down to just that, it sounded like part of some epic saga, but the atmosphere between them felt more like some sort of strange review meeting. There was a regrettable feel to it that was very fitting to the two of them.

“You’re still you, Latina.”

“That’s right. It’s not as though my personality or thoughts have changed.”

Based just on how the scene looked, it wouldn’t be strange to think of this exchange as an interrogation, but there wasn’t that sort of tension between the two. For better or worse, they were just that close.

“So was it your choice to become a demon lord?”

“Yeah,” Latina hesitantly responded, looking like she was about to cry. “I knew that it was wrong... that if I chose to become a demon lord, there’d be no turning back... And I knew... that I’d become something other than what I’d been, so...”

“So did you think on it carefully?” “Yeah.”

“Then it’s fine,” Dale said with a smile, patting her on the head. That action he’d done since she was little was imbued with the message that he was always her ally.

“Dale...”

“If that’s the path you’ve chosen, then I won’t just reject it without hearing you out, so go ahead and tell me about why you made that choice, and about demon lords.”

“Right,” Latina said with an earnest nod. She started thinking about what to say.

“‘Those chosen and protected by the gods become demon lords’... I heard those words when I was in Vassilios. Demon lords are those protected by the ‘fate’ granted to them by the gods. They are destined to become demon lords and continue to be demon lords, so they are protected from all things.”

“I know that,” Dale replied briefly. This was common knowledge to him as a hero—the antithesis of a demon lord.

No matter how great of a warrior or martial arts genius someone may be, their weapons and magic could never reach a demon lord. The ability to negate a demon lord’s natural protection was the crucial power of the heroes who were their opposites. Rather than the multiple forms of divine protection heroes possessed, it was this ability granted to them by the gods that placed them in the position of opposing presences, and that was where their true worth was.

“Demon lords are granted a portion of the gods’ authority, making them into lower gods born from man,” Latina said, her grey eyes quivering. “That’s why not just anyone can injure a demon lord. One with the power of man cannot defeat a demon lord... The only ones who can harm them are their fellow demon lords, also granted the power of the gods, and those to whom the gods give the ‘power to overthrow,’” Latina stated. Though she’d had trouble figuring out what to say, there was no hesitation to her words once she started talking.

“Did you hear that back in your home village, too?” Dale asked, seeing that she wasn’t just guessing, but rather was stating facts.

“No, that’s not it. Demon lords are granted the power to change the world from the Gods of the Seven Colors, who manage and maintain the world and are themselves the natural order of things. Ever since I became one, I’ve been permitted knowledge of a part of the foundation of this world.” As she said that, Latina looked at her own throne in that place which could be called a neighboring dimension, which Dale couldn’t perceive.

It wasn’t as if everything was open to her, but as long as it was within the permitted range, as she was now, she could learn all sorts of things using this terminal. She knew that this was how she was able to understand the power of a demon lord as well as all sorts of other things.

Right now, as a demon lord she was just standing at the starting line. If she tried to learn everything at once, she’d end up drowning in the sea of information before she could understand any of it. That was precisely why she’d just be able to obtain the information that she needed bit by bit from this throne.

Latina was still an absolute novice of a demon lord who hardly knew anything of her own power.

“So can I think of that as one of the powers of a demon lord?” “Yeah.”

As he watched Latina nod, Dale still had some reluctance, but part of him had accepted it. He hypothesized that demon lords were able to wield their power because when they became one, they gained such knowledge at the same time.

There was no way that a demon lord’s predecessor taught them their powers, and it was hard to imagine one demon lord teaching another. In that case, there must have been a system in place to educate them from the start.

Such a system was truly a work of the gods.

The ones who created demon lords were the gods, who were themselves the very laws of the world; since demon lords were beings living in this world, they were unable to ignore the intervention of the gods.

“Why do demon lords exist?”

“To prevent the world from growing stagnant. The gods are the very laws of the world, so they can’t interfere with it... with society, directly. Just like how the world exists, there are also administrators charged to keep things cycling, never stagnating. So from the perspective of normal people, those administrators must all be beings who can throw the world into chaos. That’s what demon lords are.”

“So it’s established... that some will be calamities, too?”

Dale’s contract with Laband was to oppose the threat of the demon lords of calamity, and he fought to defend the nation. The job may not have broken Dale’s spirit completely, but it certainly had caused him to suffer. He’d thought, If only demon lords didn’t exist... Even if he understood that they were established by the gods, he couldn’t help but resent that fact.

There was just a hint of harshness to Dale’s tone, but Latina remained composed as she responded to him.

“That’s why the gods also established opposing presences.”

As he stared straight at Latina, Dale calmed down a bit. A conditioned reflex to not want to let her see him worked up and scare her had long since taken root in Dale.

“Demon lords are born from the devil race. They’re kings born to the devils, so they become demon lords. Because they’re the race that birth demon lords, they’re called devils. Heroes are born from other races. They overturn the destiny that protects demon lords, and possess deep favor from the gods... The gods established their presence to eliminate demon lords from the world.”

“Overturn...”

Dale had heard that word used before. It referred to the power of a hero, which let them oppose demon lords.

“But why... were you chosen to become a demon lord?” Dale asked, also wondering what she meant by it being because of him.

Latina wore a troubled expression on her face and looked down at the floor.

Before long, she opened her mouth to speak. She looked despondent, as if she’d been scolded for something. “To be honest... I didn’t think that you would realize. I was planning... on talking to you about it a long time down the line, when I felt ready.”

The fledgling demon lord, Latina, was apparently also unprepared for this sudden development in many ways. Dale was also quite shaken, but that didn’t even compare to how shocked Latina was. She didn’t know about Dale’s abilities, so she hadn’t even considered the possibility that he’d see through her. She had no idea how Dale had known, but she hadn’t even had the chance to think about that. There was just too little time.

“I’m a demon lord, but one that exists outside of the natural order, so... I don’t have any great and powerful abilities... but I do have the powers granted to demon lords in general.”

She spoke the next line slowly. “Demon lords are able to create their own households.”

Demons.

The followers of a demon lord. They came from all races, not just those of man, and could include any beings with intelligence, such as mythical beasts and demi-humans. Their appearances didn’t change from those of their original race, but they possessed a vast amount of power that couldn’t even be compared to what they once had.

“That’s...” Latina hesitated once more. As if urging her onward, Dale gently stroked her hair. Feeling the warmth of that gentle hand, she looked like she was about to break out in tears as she looked up at Dale. “That’s the only chance... to grant my wish.”

“Your... wish?”

Latina clung tightly to Dale’s clothes. He sensed her unease from this action, which she’d often done since she was little.

“By... By becoming a demon, someone’s allotted time can change... So...

So, I... I knew it was wrong... and yet... I’m sorry, I’m sorry...” Latina kept apologizing as the tears started streaming from her eyes.

Dale gave a small sigh, and then hugged her tight. “So... that’s why I’m the reason, huh...?”

Dale was aware that Latina had always worried about the difference in how long they would each live, as she was a devil and he was a human. However, there was nothing that could be done about that; the time would simply come when it came, so he thought they could only accept that time would flow on as it did. They had no choice but to resign themselves to it.

And yet Latina had presented an option other than giving up. She’d discovered a way to not need to accept that eternal farewell and loneliness that was sure to come as absolute. She’d had the only option possible thrust before her to achieve her long-held desire, to not lose that happiness that she’d finally gained.

The abilities of a demon far exceeded those of their original race, and their lifespans were altered as well. They were granted more time in order to serve their master.

Even if they were originally human, someone could live as long as a demon lord if they were a demon.

“Because of me...” Dale muttered, but then shook his head midway through. “You became a demon lord for my sake.”

“I... I’m sorry, Dale... I’m sorry...”

“You don’t need to apologize. It’s alright,” Dale said, hugging Latina tightly. Within his trembling heart, he searched for words to say. “Latina, you... want me... to be your retainer...?”

For some reason, Latina’s eyes shot open wide in response.

“Latina...?” Dale looked surprised as Latina shook her head back and forth.

“I can’t tell you to become something other than human... I won’t say that... you should become a being outside the natural order... I couldn’t reject the possibility, and I was weak, so I reached out for it, but... but I still can’t make you, who I love so much... into something else...”

For some reason, her reply brought a smile to his face. He gained the resolve he needed and gave the response that he needed to: he hugged her tightly once more. He buried his face in her soft, platinum hair and was surrounded by a sweet, gentle scent.

“Dale?”

“You’re still you, Latina.”

She hadn’t changed. She was still that same girl who was so precious to him. And so, he would still remain himself, too.

“Alright.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t mind becoming your retainer... a demon.”

His smile was completely natural. It wasn’t at all forced, and it came from the depths of his heart.

“I don’t want to leave you all alone, either.”

In that case, that was a choice he should make, too. “I-I can’t, Dale!”

“Why?”

“I mean... because...” Having Dale tell her so bluntly that he’d stop being human made Latina turn beet-red. Completely flustered, she tried to persuade him.

Thinking on how normally this situation would be reversed, Dale couldn’t help but grin even wider. Even after seeking that power, Latina was still carefully thinking about him. She was such a kind girl and incredibly precious to him.

“I want to live the same amount of time as you, Latina.” And so, Dale shared her desire.

“Just like how you say that I’m the one for you... you’re precious to me, too.”

With those words, Latina was unable to stop the tears from flowing from her big grey eyes. She clung to Dale and sobbed out of gladness for his kind words, his approval, and the way he was granting her wish.

“It... It only needs to be you, Dale.” As she said that, a smile crossed the new demon lord’s tear-stained face.

There were many people who were precious to her. However, she didn’t believe that she could stay with all of them forever. She didn’t seek that. Even if demon lords possessed powers similar to those of the gods, they weren’t omnipotent. And so, she only sought him. She wished to stay with him, the most precious, beloved person to her, the one she never wanted to lose.

“I promised you, right? That I’ll stay with you until my time is up. This all falls within that promise, too.” “I’m sorry...”

“You don’t need to apologize. After all, I chose it myself.”

“...Thank you, Dale.” Latina gently held out her hand and grasped his, which was bigger than her own. She brought it up to her cheek and closed her eyes. She knew what she needed to do. That was because even though she hardly understood anything about her abilities as a demon lord, this power alone was the one she had sought.

That hand of his had rescued her. He’d offered it to her back then and saved not only her life, but her heart and soul as well.

“My greatest happiness comes from you saving me, Dale.”

If she hadn’t met him there, or had been found by someone else, the current her wouldn’t exist. She was only able to say she was happy now because of their encounter back then. He had granted her all of her happiness.

The warmth from his palm had saved her countless times. Every time they’d walked together hand-in-hand had become a precious memory to her. And so, that was the place she chose for the symbol of their bond.

Numbered eight, or perhaps zero, this demon lord who existed outside the natural order engraved his name as a retainer, as her demon, there.

†

Dale held his left hand up in front of his eyes. He clenched it, then opened it again. After repeating the action several times, he concentrated the magic circulating through his body there. Faint, flickering letters appeared on the back of his hand, forming a word he couldn’t read.

Noticing where Dale was staring, Latina explained, “The language of the devils is also spell language, and it has a high affinity related to magic, That’s why the letters that are engraved need to be a devil word.”

Dale was able to use magic, but he couldn’t read the alphabet of the devils’ mother tongue. There wasn’t any formal interaction between devils and humans, so he didn’t have many chances to learn about their culture.

“I wanted to use your name, but...”

“Well, it’s fine. I got a precious name from you, so it’s no problem,” Dale said, patting her head with his right hand.

Dale was right-handed, so he generally offered his left to Latina. If something suddenly happened with the precious girl by his side, having his dominant hand occupied could prove fatal.

“It’s almost shocking how much I feel like my regular self...” Dale muttered. While he sensed a power stirring within him that hadn’t been there previously, he couldn’t sense anything else that had changed.

It didn’t seem like that newly gained power was uncontrollable, either. Dale was an excellent magic user to start with, and he possessed a high level of divine protection, so he was proficient at controlling great powers. And even though he’d gained this massive power, he had no intention of wielding it.

“I didn’t mess with your sense of self,” Latina whispered in objection, pouting a little.

Having heard that, Dale asked more in detail, “Could you do that?” “It’s possible to mentally control someone so they can’t disobey. The demon lords who treat their retainers like slaves all do that. I think the other demon lords all use restrictions, too...”

“Restrictions?”

“Like making it so that demons can’t use the power they’ve gained... to kill their master.”

“Ah, I see...”

No matter how much they swore loyalty, there was no guarantee that a demon wouldn’t have a change of heart down the line. It seemed obvious, like putting a collar around their neck in order to avoid risks. It was necessary compensation for the great power they gained as demons.

“But I didn’t do that to you, Dale.”

“Huh?” Because he understood the meaning behind those restraints, Dale was taken aback by Latina’s words. “Why?”

“I want you to be someone who can step in and stop me when I do something wrong.” Those words were imbued with trust.

Dale buried down the question of what would happen if his heart ever changed, but being such a sharp girl, she picked up on Dale’s internal conflict.

“I love you, Dale, so I’d never want to do anything to change you. If I controlled you, though, then I may end up doing that someday. I could end up wanting you to look only at me... to be mine and mine alone... but I don’t want that. I love you, Dale, so I don’t want you to become someone else. I want you to always stay yourself. Even if you come to hate me someday, as long as that’s what you decided, I’ll accept it.”

“As if I could ever betray someone who says things like that...” She was just too pure and adorable.

She really should wish for her own happiness more, but for whatever reason, this girl always put him before herself. She was such a naturally kind girl, so he just couldn’t leave her be, and wanted her to be happy more than anyone else. As long as she remained herself and by his side, he’d surely stay himself as well.

For the time being, he hugged her tight and kissed her forehead. Just once or twice wouldn’t be anywhere near enough.

“...Smaragdi.” Still in Dale’s arms, Latina’s gaze once more returned to the letters on the back of his left hand. What she’d muttered was her birth father’s name, as well as the name she’d given Dale as a demon.

Demon lords engraved names onto their retainers. That was the proof both that they were demons being granted mana by a demon lord and that they were being controlled by one. Dale had known all that, but he never imagined a day would come when he’d be given a demon name.

Latina had used her father’s name because the only names she knew in the devil alphabet were his and her own. She had been exiled from her home village as a criminal when she was so young that she hadn’t yet learned all of the letters. Her father’s blessing, which was engraved on the inside of her bangle, was the only letters from her home that she knew.

It wasn’t as if Latina had learned everything in the entire world just because she’d become a demon lord. She had no intention of trying to do that, either. It was hard to even say if she understood the scope of her own power and abilities. But she’d achieved her main objective in becoming a demon lord, so she didn’t want for anything more.

As a result, Latina the beginner demon lord left the things she didn’t know as unknown.

Dale also thought it was incredibly like her, the way that she was a little aloof and easy going.

“So, are you going to call me Smaragdi, then?”

“No, I won’t. But demons and people with high levels of mana will be able to read it... so there may be times you get called that.”

“I see.” He stopped concentrating his mana, and the letters disappeared. “Will this appear when I’m unconscious or anything?”

“Emotions and the like may have an effect on it.” “How ambiguous...”

For a bit now, all of her responses had been somehow vague. Were all demon lords like this when they started out? There wasn’t even a hint of majesty to her. Perhaps demon lords inherently possessing solemnity and an intimidating air was just an assumption of humans.

While thinking such things, Dale had completely forgotten the fact that demon lords were beings like the gods, though not quite. Latina was just too much like her old self.

“I think such things may not disappear at all, normally.” “Really?”

“It’s the proof of a demon lord’s control... You’re being affected by your ‘master,’ me, but I’m not controlling you.”

“...I see.”

For the time being, Dale at least understood that Latina had done something out of the norm.

Well, that wasn’t anything to be surprised about at this point. Ever since she was young, she’d far exceeded his expectations and those of the adults around her. Thinking about that, maybe the fact that she’d become a demon lord wasn’t so unexpected, after all.

Over the many years he’d known Latina, Dale’s common sense had drifted in a variety of ways. His own family was abnormal in many ways to start with, so he’d become fundamentally detached from the thinking of the average man.

Still... to think that I’ve become a demon... Dale thought, considering the ability he possessed. It wasn’t as though he regretted it or thought that he’d made the wrong choice, but he had made the decision on the spur of the moment.

The greatest issue was that he hadn’t even known if someone like him, an opposing presence to demon lords, could become the retainer of one. He’d considered how there’d been a chance that he couldn’t accept a demon lord’s power, or that something could have happened to endanger his body. But Dale had held his tongue because he was aware that if Latina knew there was a potential risk to him, she’d never do it.

No matter how strong her desire may be, she would have placed her concern for his safety first. Even when she should act selfishly, this kind girl always prioritized others. And so, knowing her well, Dale decided to take that risk for the sake of her wish.

In the end, it turned out to be a needless concern.

The effect of her mana as a demon lord was even less unpleasant than Dale had expected. Even the initial instinctual rejection he’d felt towards demon lords had faded once he realized it was Latina.

She was undoubtedly a demon lord, but aside from that, she was still her same old self.

Dale couldn’t quite explain it, but he felt that his instincts had come to accept her, the demon lord.

Well it’s her, so there’s no helping that, Dale thought. He wished to stay with her so strongly that he could persuade himself in that way.

How am I going to explain this?

He’d need to inform his family about this development, and now that his lifespan had changed, he wouldn’t be able to hide it from the people around him forever. He’d have to leave it up to the head of his clan, his grandmother, to decide whether or not to let the duke know.

“Well, I guess it’ll work out.”

Until Dale had chosen to stay with Latina, he’d been horribly troubled and had even tried to run away. But once he made up his mind, he remained unshaken. As long as he didn’t forget those feelings and that they were for the sake of the girl who supported him, he could do anything.

He didn’t know what the future would bring, so he couldn’t clearly declare that he’d never have a change of heart. However, he had made that choice on his own. He wouldn’t blame anyone else for it.

And to be honest, he was afraid of dying and leaving her behind. Latina was so adorable and precious to him. She’d live far beyond his natural human lifespan. Surely, a day would have come when he’d have to tell her, “You should forget about me and find someone else.” If he wanted to act cool as he faced his end, that’s what he would say. And if he cared about her, he’d need to accept that.

But even so, he didn’t want to say that. He could never accept the thought of her happily smiling, held in someone else’s arms.

It was a selfish thought, so he had no intention of ever voicing it. And so, since he held such feelings inside him, the choice she’d offered him as a demon lord also served to grant his own wish.

As Dale came to such a conclusion, he stared at Latina in his arms. Realizing he was looking at her, Latina gently smiled back at him. That smile of hers hadn’t changed since she was young. It shouldn’t have been any different, but at some point there was a mature allure added to it.

While thinking that he’d want to be someone who could protect that smile, Dale brought his face in close to lock his lips with hers.

†

This place was a part of the world, but also nowhere at all.

In this monochrome place composed of all colors, a circle of thrones existed. One throne was filled with a presence, and that presence looked at the throne that stood in the center of the others, one which existed outside of the natural order.

[The Eighth Demon Lord...]

It wasn’t a proper voice, but the presence’s thoughts flowed through the space as a whisper.

[A being established by the gods to rein in the natural demon lords. A demon lord, and yet also not... A demon lord outside of the natural order.] That ‘voice’ spoke indifferently, lacking emotion, but it was clear that the words spoken were definitely not friendly.

The presence sat quietly, staring at the central throne, and before long faded away.

All that remained was silence.

Share