Welcome to the Impregnable Demon King Castle

35 – A Black Sorcerer who appears to have trouble with work, invited to the world’s No.1 ranked party…? (Part 3)

「Th-that’s great, Lem! It’s the 1st-ranked party! The 1st-ranked!」

Blitz cheered as if he was the one who was invited.

Yes. It really was a great conversation.

Slowly, I turned my gaze towards Milla.

She was smiling.

「Congratulations. Even among Adventurers, there are those who understand how wonderful you are. I’m glad, very glad. It was short, but being able to spend time with you was like a dream. I will cherish it forever.」

Milla’s voice was shaking.

Stifling her own emotions, she supports me.

Smiling, but wanting to cry.

You were right, Aerial.

She truly is a wonderful and lovely person.

However, I was sad.

「Milla, do you think that I’m going to take him up on his offer?」

「…originally, were you not aiming for 1st-ranked as an adventurer…? With Monsters, you can only make a name for yourself as Lemegeton. You even have to hide your face…it is different from what you dreamed of as a child…」

「The dream that you showed me isn’t my second choice, y’know?」

「…so, you would refuse the 1st rank’s invitation and remain in the Demon King Army? Why…?」

「Why, you ask?」

I take Milla’s hand and stand up.

「Huh? Lem, wher-?」

「Blitz, we’ll be right back so just sit tight, please.」

「Uh, sure.」

We leave the shop and head outside.

I find Aerial with an overcoat, hiding his face with a hood.

「Excuse me!」

I called out to his back and he immediately stopped and turned around.

「Oho, have you already come to a decision?」

「Yes.」

「I see, I am glad. So then-」

「I am truly honored by your invitation. However, I must humbly decline.」

Unsurprised, Aerial gently speaks.

「May I ask why?」

「I wanted to earn my place as a 1st-ranker. Not have it bestowed upon me.」

He gave a happy smile to that reply.

It was a boyish grin.

「…Hm. I see, you are an honorable man. Surely, the pinnacle is something to climb towards, not something to be pulled up to. I seem to have given a tactless offer.」

「Not at all, it pleases me greatly to know that there are people among Adventurers who appreciate me.」

「Ah, but you have already found a place where you belong, right?」

…He even picked up on that, huh.

「Yes.」

He nods.

Aerial extended his hand. As did I. We shake hands.

「I look forward to it. To see how you will become the very best. In order to do that, you have to take us down, you know?」

Just how far has he seen through me?

He can tell that I am not giving up the fight.

「When the time comes, I will win.」

「Splendid. It seems it’s too early for me to retire, huh?」

He grinned and laughed, turning to return to his inn.

「W-wha-wh-what have you done, Lem?」

Milla, who was dumbfoundedly staring at our conversation, looks at me with an incredulous look on her face.

Once again, I took her hands and I cupped them together with mine.

「I made my own decision to join the Demon King Army. You saved me and made my dream even clearer.」

Milla listened quietly.

「I decided to become the Hero of the Monsters. You’d never forgive me if I quit halfway.」

I look into her eyes and chuckle playfully.

Large drops of tears start falling from Milla’s eyes, confusing me.

「Wait, no, that wasn’t what I meant, I didn’t mean to accuse you or anything-」

Milla gripped her hands tightly.

「Honestly…you have always been my Hero since a long time ago.」

Smiling while crying, with a tearful yet clear voice.

I was captivated by her beauty.

She calmed down after a few seconds, so I decided to lighten the mood by cracking a joke.

「…I need to at least be able to give hope to all the Demi-Humans in the world, huh? I hope that they’ll think「Hey, we can beat the Adventurers!」or something like that.」

「Fufu…you are truly a Monster like us now. A traitor to humanity.」

Milla gently leans her head on my chest.

And with a voice soft enough for only me to hear, mutters.

「…truthfully, I was really anxious.」

「Uh-huh.」

「I thought you would happily accept his invitation.」

「And I thought you would stop me.」

「Your happiness comes first. Those who do not wish for the happiness of those that they support have no right to call themselves a fan.」

Those they support, huh?

「Is that so? But when it comes to getting involved with other women-」

「Insignificant insects must be exterminated.」

「…I…guess we’ll leave that aside for now.」

There are things that must never be brought up.

「Well, let’s do our best from now on, Milla」

「Yes…!」

She raised her head and our eyes met. I smile.

She suddenly put distance between us.

She looks like she’s gnawing on the second joint of her bent index finger.

「What’s wrong?」

「Once I sucked your blood, my body has a taste for it now…I have an incredible urge to suck your blood.」

「Ah…」

「I am fine, I can tolerate it. However, if Lem can’t tolerate it, please let me know as soon as you can. In fact, I hope that time comes sooner rather than later.」

「Didn’t you want us to get to know each other better?」

「What more would you like to know? I am not even hiding anything else besides what is underneath these clothes…sob sob cry cry.」

Says Milla while crying crocodile tears.

I know she’s faking it yet, yet I can’t help but fall for it. She really is amazing.

「For now, let’s head back to the bar. Blitz is all alone.」

「Mm, understood.」

In the days to come, the Fenix Party breaks through the ninth stratum.

They are determined to advance to the tenth stratum.

On the preparatory night before the day of the Clear, Fenix came to visit me.

Just like Aerial, the bearers of the Four Great Spirits are absurd.

Because he found out where I was hiding.