“Is this the Demon King’s castle?”
“Of course! Isn’t it super cool?!”
Led by Lili, the Demon King’s castle looked somewhat similar yet different from the imperial palace I had seen during my visit to the empire.
If that place focused on extravagance, this Demon King’s castle seemed to emphasize grandeur.
By the way, unlike the golden palace, which shone brightly, this castle was built from dark materials resembling obsidian, giving it a certain nobility.
“It’s impressive…”
But thinking about how Lili would puff her chest up at this compliment made me tremble, so I muttered it under my breath.
Yet, to my surprise, I received an unexpected response from an unlikely source.
“It truly is.”
“What! Did you hear me?! I whispered!”
I didn’t even use telepathy, did I?
Can Lili and that Nameless guy read my mind because of our sticky disciple-master relationship or something?
While I was lost in thought, Nameless shot me an incredulous look.
“…You certainly said it quietly, but didn’t you whisper it directly into my ear?”
“Oh.”
Right.
As I could tell from Nameless’s words, I was currently being carried on his back.
Maybe I was consuming more energy than expected; my legs felt weak and unresponsive, not moving as I wished.
Of course, if I really wanted to, I could get moving, but…
‘How can I waste this opportunity?’
I couldn’t just let it slip away like that, could I?
This was one of the few chances to stick close to Nameless.
That disciple of mine only seems to want to hold hands.
“Are you okay, Harang? You look too happy for someone in pain!”
“Hmph. Just mind your own business and guide us properly.”
“Nyah-nyah~”
Making a snarky sound, Lili patted my back with a sinister smile before continuing forward.
Tsk, I really don’t like this.
“Did I say something hurtful?!”
Her sense of observation is annoyingly sharp.
“Harang?!”
“I didn’t think of anything.”
After a playful quarrel, we reached a door.
I gulped nervously at the thought of soon meeting the Demon King.
…What would they look like?
“Tada! Here it is!”
Lili opened the door while humming a tune, revealing a pink room.
…Pink?
“This is my room!”
“Why did we come here?!”
“I said I’d show you the Demon King’s castle! So of course, the first stop is my room!”
…True, we did come to tour the Demon King’s castle, but…
“Didn’t you say the Demon King called for me?”
“Right?”
“Then is it okay to be dawdling like this?”
In response, Lili, who was looking around as if pondering something, added with a quick exclamation,
“You don’t have to rush! The Demon King isn’t awake yet. It’s more like a ‘come by whenever’ situation!”
What did she just say?
“…Then was it unnecessary for us to come today?”
“Umm… yes, but if we hadn’t come today, you wouldn’t come again, right?”
Well, even though the Cheonma Church is here, it’s ultimately the Demon King’s territory.
I can’t stay long.
Besides, the ones at the Cheonma Church said they’d come to the mountain where I was staying.
“…That’s true.”
“So, let’s take a look around first!”
Eh, Lili’s reasoning was compelling, so I nodded, and Nameless chimed in.
“Master, what are you trying to pass by?”
“Hmm?”
“You shouldn’t confuse the purpose. It’s better to visit the room of the one called the Demon King first, and then have free time afterward, isn’t it?”
Hmm, that does make sense.
“Then, Lili.”
“Yup?”
“Let’s just take a quick look and head over.”
At my words, Lili’s eyes sparkled as she nodded, while Nameless looked at me with a surprised expression.
“Okay!”
“Master?”
…I’m a bit too close being on Nameless’s back.
I responded with the most composed face I could muster.
“Why are you being so stiff? A day is long.”
Most importantly, I was curious about the pink room in front of me. After all, it’s not every day you visit a succubus’s room.
“What could be in Lili’s room?”
“Hehe.”
“…I don’t know.”
“I feel like I’m getting a strange look… Hurry and take a look!”
After clearing my throat, I said, “Ahem, then I’ll take a look.”
Lili’s room was quite ordinary except for the fact that everything, from the walls to the ceiling, was pink.
Except for one suspicious door.
“Can I go in here?”
“Ah! That’s…”
Lili hesitated.
Thinking I’d hit the jackpot, I opened the door without even waiting for a proper response.
“Harang!!”
“Bwahaha! What on earth were you hiding…?”
What is this?
I turned my head in disbelief at the sight in the room and shot Lili a questioning look, but…
“Oh my, Lili is so embarrassed…”
Lili was covering her flushed cheeks, curling up, providing no answers.
Feeling a bit dizzy, I slowly observed the paintings hung in the room.
Though they were a little different, they were all portraits of Jack.
Each one was adorned with tiny heart illustrations.
As I was internally freaking out, a voice interrupted my thoughts.
“Do you… feel my love?”
Lili approached me, beginning to proudly introduce each painting as if showcasing trophies.
This one is of my first speech, this one is from a training session, this one is of me running away…
“…I don’t even know where to start.”
“Gasp! Is my love that amazing?!”
“No, it’s scary…”
“What?!”
Lili’s expression changed, filled with genuine shock. She began thumping my shoulder, demanding a correction.
“Say it again! Say it again!”
Should I say it’s not frightening but gross?
But if I returned that comment, Lili might cry, so I swallowed those words along with my spit.
…In the end, it’s none of my business.
Only Jack will suffer from this.
‘Hang in there, Jack.’
As I silently prayed, Nameless, drawn by our conversation, entered.
“What kind of room is this?”
“Don’t be surprised.”
Nameless looked around the room and widened his eyes in shock, starting to mumble.
“…What in the world.”
“Why? What do you think?”
See, even Nameless is shocked!
To signal to Lili that something was off, I nudged Nameless’s reaction.
“It’s truly impressive.”
“What- what?”
“Is there any room that expresses Lady Lili’s love for Jack this well?”
“Right?! Hehe, I knew Nameless would understand!”
After that, Nameless and Lili started chatting about this and that.
…Is it really impressive?
Sigh, am I just an old-fashioned guy?
No way.
I shook my head in disbelief at how close I had come to understanding this crazy room.
No matter how much I tried to understand, I couldn’t do it.
“Wow… how did you draw this?”
“Ah! Should I give you a tour?”
“Thank you.”
As I listened to their conversation, my head felt heavier, so I stepped out of the room.
…Poor person who’ll marry Nameless.
‘Hang in there.’
I bowed my head slightly and prayed for the future wife of my disciple.
*
After exploring Lili’s room, I started heading toward the original destination, the Demon King’s room, after checking out the dining hall and training grounds.
“Do you want to come again next time?”
“No, I never want to come back again.”
Firmly rejecting Lili’s plea to see Jack’s painting as a gift next time, she pouted and guided us.
“Just open this door!”
“Aren’t you coming?”
I grabbed Lili as she took a step back, and she shook her hands in refusal.
“No! Only those invited by the Demon King can enter!”
“Is that so?”
“Yes! Right now, only you and Nameless have been invited, so I can’t go in!”
Hmm, I see.
Nodding slightly, I held onto Nameless’s hand.
“Then let’s open it.”
“Yes, um, but is your leg okay now?”
“Hmm?”
Leg?
“You moved on your own that entire time after entering Lili’s room.”
“Oh.”
Now that I think about it, I did say my leg hurts.
Noticing I was starting to wobble, I pretended to collapse dramatically.
“Oh dear! My legs are suddenly shaking!”
“Pffft, just kidding. Please go in.”
“…Alright.”
Well… Nameless probably figured it out earlier, but still.
With a sigh at my playful disciple’s antics, I grabbed the gigantic doorknob.
“Let’s open it together.”
Finally, with a firm grip on the doorknob, I pushed it open.
-Creeeak
The sound of the old door creaking filled the air, revealing a vast chamber.
At the end, there was a dark, ominous chair that looked like it could hold an adult man.
That must be the Demon King’s throne.
“The Demon King doesn’t seem to be here.”
I used my senses to scan for any presence, thinking maybe they were hiding, but felt nothing in the chamber except Nameless and me.
Didn’t I hear a voice though? Perhaps they’re not fully awake yet?
If that’s the case, there wouldn’t be a reason to call us.
“…What exactly are we supposed to do? Nameless, do you have any guesses?”
As I turned around to ask for his thoughts, I saw him frowning deeply for some reason.
…Why are there tears?
