Welcome to the Impregnable Demon King Castle

56 – The Demon of Love’s True Form and the Shadow Approaching the Flame Hero

There was something that had me wondering.

During the welcoming party, Agares called Sitri a「Dream Demon-Wannabe」.

Sitri’s abilities are the real deal, so I thought maybe he was being sarcastic about her not being strong enough to be one of the Big Four.

But even so, why「-wannabe」?

The answer to that question was right in front of me.

Her clothes flopped to the ground.

I thought her body had instantly disappeared but I was wrong.

Out from the crumpled pile of her clothes came a…cat-sized…Demi-Beast.

「So…?」

It spoke with Sitri’s voice.

But not with the same bubbly and bright tone as before. Now, she had a tone that sounded scared of rejection.

She had a yellow and black patchy pattern to her fur…she was a leopard. On her back were hawk-like wings.

Since the world found peace, one thing has been discussed more vigorously than in the past. Exactly how far do we go to classify something as a「Person」.

In the past, Orcs and Goblins who both had their own languages were treated as Monsters, but there were those that could speak the official language. Communications were established.

Being able to reproduce at a faster rate than other species, and having an abundance of possible Job variations, the so-called「Humans」became the majority party due to their numbers and diversity despite their lack of any racial physical characteristic.

Fenix, Alba, Lark and I fall under this race.

The Elf Lily, the Vampire Milla, the Majin Luci and Agares, the Werewolf Marchosias, and the like resembled humans the most so their classification was simple.

They are all people but because they all possess characteristics that Humans do not, they are called Demi-Humans.

The same goes for Dragonkin and Birdmen. Even Orcs and Goblins fall under that now.

But then came the problem regarding those that imitate people and have a good command of the language.

Alraunes and the Demi-Beasts like Sitri here.

In the end, a law was established that, if they so desire, they can apply to be a citizen of the country as a Demi-Human.

「I knew it…you’re creeped out, aren’t you?」

But even then, there are those who discriminate against them.

Just what about them is so different from people?

I’m not smart enough to answer a complicated question like that.

But what I do know is that Sitri is a reliable colleague.

One who was ready to be hated yet revealed her secret before me.

I crouch in front of her.

「Of course not. You have a beautiful coat of fur and a splendid set of wings.」

Sitri’s eyes opened wide.

「……really?」

I smile and nod my head reassuringly.

「Yes.」

「But…it’s not cute at all.」

I suppose that’s why she takes the form of a cute Dream Demon.

「To be able to become whatever you want, I’m jealous.」

Not long after that, Sitri looked up at me.

She hesitantly flaps her wings, and then she timidly lands on my shoulder.

「Is it OK?」

「Better than OK. In fact, you’re so light that I’m getting worried about your diet.」

I think my joke landed because I saw her lips finally loosen up.

She licks me on the cheek.

「Thanks, Lem.」

「Don’t mention it.」

「I don’t like this form. As a Dream Demon, I can look cute and it matches my magic. But no one would hire someone camouflaging themselves as a Dream Demon except Lu.」[1. TL Note: ‘Lu’ is Sitri’s nickname for Luci.]

Even under normal circumstances, finding work as a Dream Demon is tough. Trying to find work as a Demi-Human who transfigured themselves into a Dream Demon must be even harder.

「So that’s how it was.」

「Agares is a little mean, but Milly let me be her friend. I think Fu doesn’t really care about anything. And you…you complimented me.」[2. TL Note: ‘Fu’ is Sitri’s nickname for Furcus]

I think she shined a little and she returned to her usual form. It took only a moment.

However, since her clothes were left on the side there, she’s completely naked.

I was about to immediately avert my eyes but then she grabbed my head.

I tried my best to somehow only look at her eyes, which looked back at me with amusement.

「Y’know, I can change into any form that a person desires. I want to repay your kindness by becoming the most beautiful woman of your dreams. So what do you say? Just say the word, I’ll become anything you want.」

I was shocked for only a moment.

I take her hand and pull it away from my face.

I remove my tunic and put it on her.

「Lem?」

「This is the form that you wish to be, right Sitri?」

「Yeah…」

「Then you’re perfectly fine the way you are. You don’t have to worry about thanking me」

Maybe it was just a bit of fun, but I didn’t want an ally to change themselves to suit someone else’s convenience.

After Sitri blinked her eyes in surprise, her whole expression changed into a laugh.

「Ahaha. I get why Milly likes you. You’re a real player, aren’t you?」

「Huh, what do you…」

「Sorry for testing you like that, Lem. Milly’s such an easily tempted girl, I couldn’t leave it to her to do it.」

「I…can’t get mad at that.」

If she says so, then that’s what it is.

Sitri stretches her hand towards my ring.

「I’ve taken a liking to you. So, let’s be friends!」

「Yes, please.」

「And a friend helps a friend in need, right?」

「I hope so.」

「Me too. That’s why I’ll come help when you’re in trouble.」

Our Magical Energies flow together, and I form a contract with Sitri.

「Looking forward to working with ya, Lem.」

「Likewise.」

「Now, should I put on my clothes?」

「I’ll head out.」

「How kind.」

「I thought it was an obvious thing to do…」

「I’ll be borrowing your tunic.」

「It’d be trouble if you gave it back to me right now.」

「Ahaha.」

Just as I was about to leave the Supply Room, a thought popped into my head that I just had to ask her.

「Does your true form have anything to do with how Milla doesn’t get angry when I talk to you?」

Milla isn’t the type of woman who wouldn’t be worried about a Demi-Beast.

There must be something about Sitri as a person that causes her to let her guard down.

「Huh? Oh, y’see, it’s because I have transcended the boundaries of gender.」

「What…do you mean by that…?」

「That’s still a se~cret.」

Does she mean she’s a species that has no gender…or is she actually a boy?

Anyway, there must be a reason that even Milla has decided that it’s OK for Sitri to come into contact with me.

But I suppose if the person in question says it’s a secret, I can’t get her to divulge it.

「Oh, let’s have lunch together.」

「Sure, I’ll just wait in front of the door.」

「I won’t tell Milly if you take a little sneak peek, y’know?」

「I’ll make sure the door is firmly shut.」

「So not cute.」

I left the room.

I grab my chest.

「…man, I was so nervous.」

I don’t have enough experience with situations like that, so it took a tremendous amount of willpower to keep calm.

Will there ever come a time where I’m used to seeing naked women?

I find it a little hard to imagine a day like that ever coming to fruition.

I may or may not have heard a voice saying「How cute.」from the other side of the door.

◇

「Do you believe that you all can rise to the third rank and above as you are right now?」

I stare fixedly at the man in front of me. A man with crimson hair and a pair of black horns.

「We are aiming to be first ranked.」

「That is your objective. I am talking about the reality of the situation. The top three ranked parties have been the same for years, thus it is difficult to break the status quo. That is why you dismissed your Black Sorcerer, ushered in the Frost Hero, and embarked on your Clear of the Impregnable Demon King Castle. You somehow garnered attention and your popularity skyrocketed.」

We were called into a room in an inn under the guise of collecting information for an article related to the party, but it seems like the man in front of us had no intention of interviewing us.

「Sir Fenix, you are suitably a person of outstanding talent. The other four are also worthy of their own merits…Yet somehow, three of you haven’t been able to exhibit your strength as you once could, but time heals all wounds as they say.」

「I don’t see the point of this conversation. What is it you want us to say?」

「Are you interested in a Hero of a new age?」

This man really resembles my best friend Lem’s elderly master.