I'm not going to make you wait long, he says. It's so touching I could cry. You don't have to go that far. It's fine if you make me wait forever. Ideally, until the day I die.
But Asild is the type who always keeps his word. He won't forget this promise. In other words, no matter when it happens, the moment will inevitably come when I have to cross swords with that terrifying guy.
"Demon?"
"Ah."
Come to think of it, I asked something at the end... Right, I asked if I could go watch.
I swallowed the sigh that was about to escape, forcing it down.
I had no grounds to refuse.
Still, watching a spar was better than nothing, so maybe I could take some comfort in that.
With no choice, I nodded, and a faint smile ghosted over his stiff face.
"Thank you."
"No need to thank me..."
A guy who slaughters humans like mad on the battlefield was being so polite—it was making me uncomfortable, leaving me at a loss for what to do.
I wish he'd just speak casually. Or at least act a little shameless. That would put my mind at ease.
"Uh, then can I come too? I'm curious about the 0th Legion's training methods."
Why was Idelia trying to tag along when she and Asild didn't get along? Ah, could it be spying?
Like, checking for anything useful. What was I supposed to do about that?
"Do what you want, I don't mind..."
Sorry to disappoint the expectant Idelia, but my training method was basically "neglect."
Leave them be and occasionally drop by to watch. That was it... She'd probably be let down.
Out of conscience, I couldn't say I was in the middle of neglecting them, so I quietly cleared the tableware.
I piled all the still-full bowls onto a tray and stood. Jaykar and Asild, who had finished eating earlier, grabbed their empty dishes and stood as well.
Idelia, who had already tidied her own dishes before coming over, tilted her head at my plate.
"You ate all that?"
"Yes."
"Are you feeling unwell or something...?"
"Yeah, a bit."
Because of you lot.
I swallowed the words rising in my throat and answered flatly. Jaykar peered at my face with concern.
"Shouldn't we see the chief physician first, then?"
"I'm fine."
No matter how kind Ben was, if I kept bothering him with trivial stuff, who knew what might happen? He was a demon, after all.
I shook my head, thinking of the guy whose face was partly covered in snake scales, as if proclaiming himself a demon from the start, and handed the tray to a servant.
As I stepped outside, the other legion commanders followed in a group. Caught off guard by the unexpected situation—and maybe because someone overlapped with my position—I flinched and stopped reflexively.
This made it seem like...
'I'm the Demon King or something?'
The stares, which hadn't let up anyway, now felt even more intense. I'd planned to eat quietly and slip out unnoticed, so how did it end up like this?
The mood suggested we should head to the legion right away, so I stood awkwardly, gauging the situation. Then someone came running urgently from afar.
"Jaykar, sir!"
What now? Having been through some things, my guard went up immediately.
Judging friend or foe was quick.
"Jaykar, sir, your adjutant says paperwork is piling up and to come quickly..."
Friend, then.
"...Now that you mention it, there were stacks on my desk. Don't tell me that's all of it?"
"Yes, probably..."
A heavy sigh echoed.
Jaykar rubbed his face with one hand, frustration and exasperation plain, before composing himself and turning to me.
"You heard that, I suppose. Looks like I can't make it today."
"Yeah, too bad."
Not at all.
Silently praising the demon who brought the good news, I reflected on how I'd drawn the line on paperwork from the start.
Back then, my voice had trembled like my head might roll off, but now I was glad I did. No adjutant nagging me because of it.
For reference, my adjutant, freed from work thanks to me, was currently out in the human realm. I'd complained of boredom, so he went to fetch new puzzles or cubes. Demons needed watching, same as always, but he was as kind and reliable as Ben in his own way.
"...Come to think of it, I'm on thin ice too."
Asild, standing beside me, muttered something between a lament and a groan.
He ruffled his hair irritably, sighed deeply as if the ground might cave in, then looked at me apologetically, as if resigned.
"Looks like watching will have to wait. Sorry to ask first and bail—truly."
"No, it's fine."
Really fine, so no need to apologize.
I did my best to convey it was okay, shooting a gaze full of affection at the good-news demon. He flinched like a petty thief spotting the guards.
I didn't think it odd. Standing before legion commanders without a care was the weird part. Plus, delivering news of piled-up paperwork they had to do—scary stuff.
"A-and Idelia... Huh? Idelia?! Where's Idelia?!"
The attendant, timidly scanning for her, widened his eyes and looked around frantically.
'Idelia? She was right here... Huh? Where'd she go?'
What? Had she vanished without me noticing?
No, apparently not just me. Asild and Jaykar were glancing around with subtle mixes of admiration and annoyance.
Where'd she go all of a sudden? Not running from paperwork... right? She was a legion commander, after all.
"She bolted again."
"Her skills seem sharper by the day."
Really?!
I'd forgotten. Legion commanders weren't normal.
The attendant, realizing she'd fled, looked on the verge of tears—practically sobbing—ranting on without regard for who was listening.
"Have you seen Idelia's adjutant's face? He's practically a corpse. That's bad enough to pity him, but the problem is her adjutant's threatening to resign right now..."
"...Tough break."
"No... Excuse me. I'll be going, then. If you spot Idelia..."
"I'll grab her and toss her to the adjutant."
"Yes, please do."
He bowed and withdrew, seemingly to search more.
As he faded from view, Jaykar and Asild turned to me in unison.
"See you next time."
"Until next time."
"Yeah, good luck with the paperwork..."
Ah, wrong thing to say.
They sighed in sync, as if rehearsed, at my attempt at encouragement.
I tensed, fearing anger, but thankfully they just turned and trudged away reluctantly.
'And I...'
...guess I have to go to the legion.
There was no deadline, and I could delay forever, but finished with paperwork, they might come hounding me.
With everyone gone and busy, now was the perfect, once-in-a-lifetime chance.
So I forced my reluctant steps away from my room and toward the 0th Legion's training grounds.
Ah, I don't wanna go.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The training grounds were empty, probably because lunch had just ended.
Who'd jump into training right after eating? Sides would cramp.
The thought of heading back crept in, but leaving without seeing a single legionnaire wouldn't count as checking on them.
So, planning to wait, I grabbed a wooden sword from the rack and trudged to a corner, crossing my legs as I sat.
Fiddling with the discolored hilt, it hit me anew.
Demon world make or just my weakness? It was heavy. I could swing it, but it'd be the sword swinging me, not the other way around.
Cursed strength that couldn't handle even a wooden sword, let alone a real one.
That's why, my first battlefield, I'd dodged and fled without a proper weapon. Later, I chose a small, light dagger.
"Gasp."
A small sound snapped me from my thoughts. I looked up to see a pale-faced legionnaire staring from the entrance.
0th Legion grounds, so probably one of ours. Here to train? Diligent.
...But no sooner had I thought that than he bolted out.
"..."
What? Why come if you're leaving?
Or... does he hate me? Planning to stay away until I leave?
"Sigh."
Yeah, what was a mere human doing playing legion commander?
Let's go. I've done enough.
I couldn't claim "enough," but my conscience screamed it was fine.
I stood to return the sword. As I stepped off, the ground vibrated.
At first, I dismissed it...
Thud thud thud thud thud.
Dust clouds far off confirmed it.
Crazy, what's that? Magical beast? Are there beasts in the Demon King's castle?
Ah, shapes like people emerged from the dust.
Got it. Legionnaires. Ours.
"..."
Run.
Whatever it was, bad vibes. Checking the legion could wait. Heaven itself was telling me to delay.
As I backed away hesitantly, they closed in and lined up in perfect ranks and files. Astonishing speed and precision.
"..."
"..."
Silence blanketed the vast grounds.
Unlike the quiet space, my mind raced.
What was this? Treating me like a commander, so hurry up and leave? When should I go? Now? Their eyes said yes.
I nodded to signal I'd leave and turned—when their apparent leader called cautiously.
"Um, Demon?"
"Yes?"
"What brings you here...?"
Why did that sound like "Got nothing better to do?"
Even if right, it wasn't wrong, so I couldn't argue.
Unable to quell my anxiety, my hand moved on its own toward my collar—but better to grip the wooden sword.
I tightened my hold and said,
"Curious."
About our legionnaires' skills.
I'd believed they were above average from constant training on my visits, but separately, I wanted to see for myself.
Though their attitude suggested no show without incident.
Unable to bear the silent pressure to leave, I headed to the rack to return the sword.
Trying for calm naturalness, but too tense.
My feet tangled!
My shaky legs were doing their job today!
You're falling!
Falling now would be disastrous. Beyond embarrassing.
They already eyed me poorly as a human; rumors of tripping over my own feet? Obvious fallout.
Thinking I'd die if I fell, I desperately lunged a foot forward for balance.
Lowering my torso to stabilize—something whooshed overhead!
"Demon!!"
Startled, I glanced up. Something fluttered down before me.
Like white fur... Wait, my hair?
Panicking, I straightened and twisted to look back. My elbow thudded into something solid.
Followed by a groan.
"Guhk!"
"...?"
When my vision cleared, he clutched his solar plexus, doubled over and trembling.
Familiar face—my eyes widened.
"Human?"
No tail, horns, or scales. Unlike demons with odd features, this one looked fully human.
Questions of a human in the castle aside, I spotted his sword.
Infiltrator. My elbow must've hit his gut.
Lucky. Otherwise, I'd be the one down.
Calming my pounding heart, I gripped the wooden sword two-handed and raised it.
Human or not, he was an intruder who'd attacked me. No hesitation.
Worried he'd endanger me if left, I swung with full force and weight.
Thwack!