The noisy chatter coming from somewhere.
But none of the children, including me, pay it any attention.
– Whoosh!
The flames flicker and dance freely along the tip of the wand Iris wields.
What began as a flame the size of my palm gradually expands, wriggling and circling the air like a living creature.
“Hoh hoh ho.”
– Clap, clap, clap, clap!!
The proficiency displayed is distinctly different from when she first learned Fireball.
I realized for the first time today that a skill once seen merely as an attack could be utilized in such a way, creating a scene akin to a performance.
Is that why?
I found myself clapping non-stop, enthralled by the magic Iris was showcasing.
“My goodness… I guess you can call me a proper magician now….”
“Hmph! I am now a grand magician.”
The awkwardly curled white fluff stuck around Iris’s mouth, along with the stiff cape spread behind her like a robe, suggests she is trying to mimic the appearance of a grand magician.
“Oh, right. That’s right.”
“Since there’s a kind-hearted nun living here, as a grand magician, I’m showing my magic without taking a single penny.”
“Is it because you’re a grand magician that your thoughts are so different? I’m truly moved.”
“Hmph─. Well, even this much─.”
Another gift Iris prepared for me was a magic performance.
Though somewhat hastily put together, and with the makeup slightly lacking, what Iris showed me was far more impressive than I expected.
When the first flame shot into the air, I held my breath for a moment, my eyes wide.
The flames were not simply burning.
They moved from the tip of Iris’s wand, alive, darting across the space as if dancing to her will.
Each time the flames died away, the remnants spun in the air, forming new shapes.
“Iris kept singing that she wanted to show this to Levi.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I guess she wanted praise.”
Aizen, who was watching Iris’s magic performance with a satisfied expression equal to mine, quietly spoke up.
But then, Iris suddenly flinched and began to frown at Aizen.
“No! I didn’t show the magic to the nun for such a pathetic reason!”
“If not that, then what?”
“I just wanted to show that I’ve grown up to this point. Now I can fight well without getting scared, even if monsters appear.”
“Then you probably don’t need Levi’s praise, right?”
“…Why are you deciding that…? That’s up to the nun….”
“Didn’t you want to be treated like an adult?”
“The nun is always an exception. She can do anything for me.”
As the trivial banter flew between Aizen and Iris, I listened closely to every word exchanged, a bright smile on my face.
Just the fact that the children prepared various things for me was enough to fill me with joy and emotion.
In the end, it was the natural conversations and actions flowing in our ordinary life that seemed to bring me even more happiness.
I felt a warm and cozy sensation in my heart.
“Certainly, her skill is exceptional for her age, but I still find it a bit disappointing. It would have been far greater if she could use other spells as well.”
In that warm atmosphere, a rather profound voice from the Demon Tribe disrupted the moment.
“Ah, I’m sorry. I didn’t expect it to suddenly become this quiet.”
“…….”
Even though it was buried deep in the ground, the Demon Tribe casually muttering to itself was both ridiculous and oddly interesting.
How could it speak so calmly in such a state? Was it stronger than most due to its lineage as a demon?
“…I’m sure she’ll definitely be able to use other spells later….”
“Of course, of course. Iris is still in the growing phase. Even now, she has considerable talent.”
“Hmm, is that so? She seems quite ordinary to me.”
The Demon Tribe kept slyly inserting itself into our conversation.
Each comment chilling the atmosphere like a nuclear bomb.
“Oh, I’m not saying anything specific. Just that it’s my opinion.”
“Ugh… I didn’t show my magic to get evaluated….”
“Haha, I understand. Just don’t mind me and enjoy it. You’ve all prepared hard, right?”
The moment the Demon Tribe finished speaking, I quietly stood up and effortlessly pulled it from where it was buried deep in the ground with one hand.
“Whoa? Why are you doing this all of a sudden?”
“I’m sorry, everyone. I’ll be stepping away for a moment.”
“Were you offended?”
“I’ll be back soon.”
“Wait, just a moment… If you were offended, I apologize. It wasn’t said with any ill intent….”
Besides intruding on our cozy family gathering, to come and openly pour cold water on Iris’s performance.
This thing deserves to die a thousand times.
.
.
.
“……”
Avoiding the children’s gaze, I took the Demon Tribe into the dark thicket.
The Demon Tribe, which had been chattering confidently, now held its mouth shut and began to sweat coldly.
I glared at it, expressionless, and took a long breath.
“It seems I’ve made a significant verbal blunder. I apologize.”
“What difference does it make to apologize now?”
“I thought it might be better than not apologizing at all.”
“That’s quite brazen of you. Speaking politely doesn’t make you a gentleman.”
“Haha, I didn’t intend to say it that way….”
– Clap!
A crisp and lively sound echoed through the quiet forest as if it were a reverberation.
Before my words were even finished, the Demon Tribe blinked slowly, astonished, after being slapped.
“…Huh?”
– Clap!
After a long silence, the Demon Tribe cautiously opened its mouth to speak.
At that moment, another loud sound echoed through the forest, thickening the tension in the air further.
“For every word you say, you take a hit.”
“No, wait a moment….”
– Clap!
The place I hit must have been slightly numb, as the Demon Tribe began to rub its cheek and its eyes glistened with tears.
“To be honest, I’m not even surprised by a demon showing up anymore. But this isn’t how you interrupt our time.”
“I-I didn’t intend to interrupt… I just….”
– Clap!
Once again, I didn’t let the Demon Tribe finish its sentence.
It wasn’t worth listening to.
“I-Enough… I’m not particularly fond of children….”
– Clap!
“So what about that?”
“If my words made you feel uncomfortable, I sincerely apologize….”
– Clap!
As I continued to slap just one cheek, the Demon Tribe’s face slowly began to swell grotesquely.
It looked so pitiful that I almost couldn’t bear to watch, but still, I didn’t flinch and kept swinging my hand.
“P-Please stop hitting me… You see, I’m a demon, but I’m weak….”
– Clap!
“I understand if you’re suspicious of me… But I truly have no ulterior motives….”
– Clap!
How much time passed like that?
The Demon Tribe, which had been continuously slapped, finally leaned against a tree, helplessly sitting down.
Even while being unilaterally beaten, it showed no sign of resistance, it seemed its claim of being a weak demon wasn’t a lie.
“…I-Is it over…?”
“Perhaps.”
“Then I’d like to explain a bit….”
“Go ahead.”
“…Thank you….”
The Demon Tribe, with its face swollen and sniffling pitifully, was honestly the weakest and most insignificant demon I had ever seen.
I had thought it was hiding some unusual power because it kept squinting, but in reality, it was utterly trifling.
“I didn’t approach you with any ulterior motives… I just happened to notice you while heading back after finishing my work….”
“You know the kids’ names too well to say it was a coincidence, don’t you?”
“Ah, well, that’s because… I was aware of your existence beforehand….”
“Could it be that rumors about us have spread throughout the entire Demon Tribe?”
“No, before explaining that, I really should introduce myself properly….”
With that statement, the Demon Tribe struggled to rise from its seat.
Its face still swollen and in a pitiful state, but it began to emanate an unusual aura and acted somewhat aloof, typical of a demon.
“My name is Jermund Nadine… Believe it or not, I am a cadre of the Demon King’s army….”
“…Huh?”
“It may sound unbelievable, but it’s true….”
For an instant, my head went blank.
The identity of the Demon Tribe I had been slapping around like a rat was actually a cadre of the Demon King’s army.
Moreover, it wasn’t that strong for a cadre, nor did it exude a particularly ominous aura.
“I didn’t rise through force to become a cadre. I’m a unique case who gained the title due to my abilities being recognized.”
The Demon Tribe continued, maintaining a demeanor as if defending itself.
While this statement seemed somewhat brazen, I was genuinely curious about its abilities.
“Abilities?”
Tilting my head slightly, I asked with a puzzled expression.
The Demon Tribe flashed a sheepish smile and quietly replied.
“I have one extra eye. That eye can see as clearly as if I were right in front of something, no matter how far away it is.”
“…?”
“I was watching your every move with that eye. Of course, without anyone knowing─.”
Upon hearing the Demon Tribe’s reply, I unconsciously frowned.
“In simpler terms, you can think of me as the demon responsible for the Demon King’s eyes.”
“…….”
“Don’t you find it hard to believe?”
“Yes.”
“…Well, there’s nothing I can do about that. I usually don’t reveal this, but I’ll make an exception this time.”
With those words, the Demon Tribe slowly revealed its hidden third eye on its forehead.
It wasn’t all that striking, and simply seeing the eye didn’t paralyze me with fear, so it wasn’t particularly surprising.
But it was clear enough that the Demon Tribe’s words were indeed true.
“I don’t lie. I always speak the truth….”
With a glimmer of curiosity, I gently poked the Demon Tribe’s third eye with my fingertip.
At that moment, the Demon Tribe tightly closed all its eyes and began to awkwardly flinch.
“It’s a bit too much to touch an eye with bare hands─!! It’s a real eye that can lead to blindness if you’re not careful!!”
“Oh, it’s real.”
“Didn’t you just say you wouldn’t believe me?!”
“What if it’s just an illusion?”
At my nonchalant statement, the Demon Tribe raised an incredulous eyebrow and chuckled.
“Well, I’ve told you the truth about everything, so shouldn’t you have some degree of trust in me…?”
“I saw the third eye. It’s unique.”
“…Eh?”
“To be honest, Iris’s fire magic is much more fascinating than that grotesque eye. I should probably go watch that performance too.”
Seeing the Demon Tribe blinking its three eyes in confusion, I maintained my calm demeanor without flinching.
“Now please leave. This place isn’t somewhere you can just insert yourself in.”
