Hataraku maou-sama ! Volume 8 Part 1+2

Hataraku Maou-Sama ! Vol 8 Part 1+2 

Vol 8 Prologue

Hataraku maou sama Volume 8 part 1+2 cause i need to read them the 2 (i will go the the hotel so the volume 8 part 3 will be in 5 days matajane :/ )

Enjoy it and thx :D

It was not expected that such a day would come.
The troubling issues, until now, have not been solved.
Considering her own standpoint, this can be completely considered neglecting of one’s duties, or the abandonment of one’s mission.
Wrong, to be more accurate, from the beginning since that time, she kept setting aside the mission she should have finished while going through the days nonchalantly.
As long as she wants to, it would be easy to list out the reasons where she had no other alternative.
But if she asked herself whether she was able to actively make a decision every time, the answer would definitely be a negative.
She was only going with the flow.
From beginning to the end, she was only thinking about solving the situation in front of her while ignoring her purpose, and when she came to her senses, she discovered that doing so became very comfortable, so until now, her purpose in the beginning slowly became unimportant within her heart.
Honestly, with things as they are now----
“I already do not know……if I should kill the Demon King or not.”
“……Is that so~~”
The voice of her old friend from the other end of the phone, did not contain any signs of blame.
Rather than that, it even contained the tone akin to relief and being considerate to her.
“I already felt~~from before that things might turn into this~~”
“What do you mean?”
“Hm~~when we met before~~”
Her good friend gave a wry smile,
“I felt that the next time we meet~~Emilia would probably not want to defeat the Demon King~~”
“I have nothing to say.”
“It’s alright~~since Emilia thinks so~~that means something enough for you to think so must have happened~~and……”
In a rare move, her good friend cut off in the middle of the sentence, then continued,
“Emilia had the right to choose to start with.”
“What do you mean?”
The Hero, who did not understand, asked in return, and the good friend answered,
“Logically, when Olba betrayed~~Emilia can also choose to take revenge on us~~”
“Eh? How could I do such a thing to all of you……”
“I’m not referring to me or Alberto~~but the Church and the whole of Ente Isla~~because this world returned Emilia’s kindness with ingratitude~~so even if Emilia plans to take revenge~~no one has the right to stop you~~and in reality, no one should be able to stop you~~”
“What, so you’re referring to this.”
If it was the time of the young female Hero’s days when she was just thinking about killing the Demon King, she might have felt despair if she found out the truth about her comrade’s betrayal and the world accepting her death.
But it is different now.
“Because even in this world where internet is common and everyone has mobile phones, it is already difficult to choose the right information, and in addition, Ente Isla is still in the recovery stage now right? If I take even a misunderstanding at this level to heart, wouldn’t it be endless?”
“Internet~~?”
“It’s nothing, it’s something on my end. Anyway, because I am a simpler person, and denser than that, so I won’t think about these stupid things.”
“Even though I don’t really understand~~but I’m relieved~~but~~if you have such plans one day~~remember to tell me okay~~?”
“Do you want to encourage me, or try to advise me to stop?”
The Hero asked with a wry smile, and her friend replied directly,
“No matter what path Emilia chooses~~I will be on your side~~so even if we have to destroy the world together~~I will do so~~”
“As the strongest warlock amongst humans, don’t stay such dangerous words. If you’re targeted by the church, I’m not going to care okay?”
“Seriously~~the people watching me is so numerous they can be made into sardine skewers and given to fishmongers~~this is nothing~~”
After casually dealing with her friend whom she does not know how serious she is, the Hero looked next to her feet.
A huge backpack stuffed full of things was placed there.
“Anyway, I will be depending on you for next weekend.”
“Leave it to me~~”
The strongest warlock in Ente Isla and her old travelling companion, Emeralda Etuva replied in a lively tone.
Vol 8 Chapter 1: Hero, temporary goodbye
The banquet at dinnertime was filled with the usual stable atmosphere.
The rice, carrot flavored miso soup which were freshly cooked and steaming, and thanks to the specialized baking paper for microwave ovens, roasted fish could recently be seen on the dinner table.
In addition, cold tofu topped with diced Japanese ginger. Roasted eggplant was also placed on a large plate in the middle of the table.
The news footage shown on television reported that a place was holding a traditional festival from the start, it looks like no incidents which disrupt world peace or accidents have occurred.
From the open window, it can be seen that the skies were getting darker, and the wind flowing in to the room brought in some signs of life from the town.
Within a certain apartment in a corner of Tokyo, it was preparing to enter dinnertime where anyone can personally feel the peace of the world.
However, just one sentence, broke the stable atmosphere of the wooden apartment situated at Tokyo, Shibuya district Sasazuka----Villa Rosa Sasazuka, Room 201, the Demon Fortress.
“I’m going back to my old home for a period of time.”
This sentence which did not match the peaceful family dinnertime, but was disguised to sound peaceful, caused everyone present to freeze.
“Ah?”
“What?”
“What did you say?”
“W, what is going on?”
“O, old home?”
“I like Tofu!”
The six different reactions from the six people preset, caused the female who threw down this shocking bomb----Hero Emila Justina from the foreign world Ente Isla----Yusa Emi to get a shock.
“What, what’s with all your reactions?”
Holding a book with one hand, and actually sitting at the computer table for once, the master of the Demon Fortress, Demon King Satan, Maou Sadao replied with a expressionless face,
“Everyone is unable to grasp the true meaning behind your words.”
“Eh?”
Logically, the man who normally stays at the computer table, replied Emi from the second level of the opened cabinet,
“Emilia, try to repeat the sentence you said just now. Within Sasaki Chiho’s mind, she is about to create a never ending family drama with Maou and you which centers around Alas=Ramus, and panicking on her own……”
“Urushihara-san!”
“Uwah! How close……”
The second thing in the world which is suited for being kept in the cupboard a.k.a the burden of this room----fallen angel Lucifer or Urushihara Hanzo, and so with a taunting smile.
The high school girl who was named Sasaki Chiho, pushed Urushihara into the closet while blushing furiously and closed the door.
“Hey, Sasaki Chiho, what are you doing!”
Voices of protest from Urushihara and sounds of him hitting the sliding door could be heard from within the closet.
“Urushihara-san is the one who is speaking nonsense all of a sudden!”
In order to stop Urushihara, who lacked any respect, Chiho pressed against the sliding door with a red face.
“Chi-nee chan, your face is very red.”
An innocent and cruel voice chided Chiho from next to her feet.
The young girl who had been playing together with Chiho until a moment before, and strongly believed that Maou and Emi are her parents----Alas=Ramus, was currently stepping on the 50 phonetics chart on the floor.
“Ah, Alas=Ramus-chan, t, that, it’s going to be dinner soon, so let’s keep the things first.”
Trying to dismiss the situation only now, it was already too late.
“Oh! I know, keep keep!”
The 50 phonetics rubber chart underneath the young girl’s feet, is a highly priced children’s educational toy which would not break no matter how much it is bent.
“B, but Yusa-san, what is this all about?”
Chiho asked again as she watched Alas=Ramus fold the educational toy which Maou bought with his own money in the messy way unique to children.
“Actually, it’s nothing serious, and it’s just like I said……I want to go back to my old home for a bit……”
“But Emilia, your old home……”
The lady dressed in a Kimono washing the cookware in the kitchen sink asked with a troubled expression on her face.
“Yeah, my hometown is in the Western Continent. It is a village on the outskirts of Saint Aire, known as Sloan. Even though it was destroyed by the army of a certain person who is locked in the closet, ne?”
Emi glared at the closet with a sharp gaze.
“So when I’m not around, I would like to ask Bell to watch these guys……”
Crestia Bell----a high inquisitor in Ente Isla, known as Kamazuki Suzuno in Japan, washing away the dishwashing soap on her hands and drying them, said next in a troubled manner.
“Can you provide more details? I do not really understand what you mean.”
“T, that’s right, Yusa-san, even if you suddenly say you want to go back, things aren’t so easy right?”
“That’s right, I might have said it too simply, sorry. Actually……”
Faced with the questions from the two females, Emi straightened her posture with a wry smile when she finally realized her inadequate explanation and noticed that a guy was standing behind Chiho and Suzuno.
“Even though I don’t really care where you want to go……but I cannot tolerate my carefully prepared miso soup cooling down because of you.”
The man hugged the huge pot of miso soup and said in an overbearing voice.
Demon General Alsiel a.k.a Ashiya Shiro, reported to his master in front of the computer table,
“Demon King-sama, dinner is prepared. Please stop reading for the moment and take your seat.”
“Alright alright, my focus just happened to be cut off by Emi anyway.”
“What, don’t push the blame for your mistakes on other people okay?”
“Tofu! Alsiel! Tofu!”
Unknowingly, Alas=Ramus had already stood next to Ashiya carrying the large pot.
“Hey, Alas=Ramus, approaching someone holding a pot is very dangerous. Come to Mama’s side and wait quietly.”
Suzuno gently pulled Alas=Ramus away from Ashiya. Even if she looked unhappy, the young girl still obediently walked towards Emi.
“Mama! Tofu!”
“I know, but you have to say “Let’s eat” first okay. Alsiel, I don’t want Japanese ginger on my tofu. Because I want to share it with Alas=Ramus.”
What Alas=Ramus normally eats, is basically a portion taken from Emi or Maou’s dishes, but after Ashiya looked at Emi’s cold tofu and Alas=Ramus in turn, he shook his head sternly,
“I refuse. What will happen if it causes Alas=Ramus to be a picky eater when she grows up?”
For a conversation between the Hero and a Demon General, this conversation was so thoroughly strange that people would not even know where the strange part is.
“B, but Ashiya-san, I feel that Japanese ginger is too strong for a child……”
As the only pure Japanese, Chiho accurately pointed out the problem.
“Letting children get used to strong tasting vegetables are important. As long as they know how to taste this kind of flavour, the dishes every day after this would become more delicious……”
Even though Chiho, who rarely rebukes Ashiya, found it difficult to retort----
“But I can understand. Honestly, I don’t really dare to eat Japanese ginger.”
But because he was cut off by Urushihara, who walked slowly out of the closet, he said angrily,
“Lucifer, can you be considered a fallen angel like this?”
“It can’t be helped, after all, I have not eaten Japanese ginger until now. And I have never heard of any legends about fallen angels liking Japanese ginger.”
It was true, whether it was Ente Isla or the Demon World, there was no food like cold tofu with Japanese ginger added.
So it was unknown if it is because of this reason, just for this time, a person who agreed with Urushihara’s opinion appeared.
“Honestly, I also do not really dare to eat it……”
The one who said this embarrassing sentence while walking to the dinner table, is the one who had unified the Demon World and dominated the human world Ente Isla, Demon King Satan.
At this moment, the humans knew the weak point of the strong enemy who planned to conquer the world.
That is the Demon King actually did not dare to eat cold tofu with Japanese ginger added.
“Maou-san……”
“Demon King-sama……”
“Demon King, you……”
Faced with the complex stares, a mix of surprise and pity, from Chiho, Ashiya and Suzuno, Maou shrank back and answered,
“B, but I can still eat it! I always finish my food okay!”
“Then the Japanese ginger on top of Alas=Ramus’s tofu can be handed to Papa.”
Hero Emilia did not let go of the weakness shown by the Demon King.
She used her chopsticks to move the Japanese ginger on top of her tofu to the tofu in the plate of the pathetic looking Maou sitting in front of Chiho, Ashiya and Suzuno.
“Ah! Emi, you!”
Maou looked at the huge pile of Japanese ginger on top of his tofu and screamed, but Maou said nonchalantly,
“Complain to Ashiya if you want to complain. No matter how much we wish for her not to be a picky eater, it is natural for children at Alas=Ramus’s age to dislike eating Japanese ginger. After all, even the Demon King with the ambition to conquer the world does not dare to eat this.”
“Ugh……”
Maou was momentarily speechless. Seeing this situation, he said with an expression of deep regret,
“Ughhh, Bell, say something too.”
“Alsiel, no matter what, letting Alas=Ramus eat Japanese ginger is too cruel. Oh yes, Emila, let me take the low salt soy sauce from my room. Compared to normal soy sauce, this would still be better for Alas=Ramus.”
Suzuno quickly walked towards room 202 which was next to where she was. Seeing the outline of her back, Urushihara stretched his chopsticks towards the roasted eggplant without saying anything.
“Everyone spoils her so much, I’m really worried about Alas=Ramus’s future.”
“Urushihara-san! When eating in front of Alas=Ramus-chan, you must first say “Let’s eat” properly.”
“Raising a child is so difficult. If she becomes like this after growing up, it is a bit……”
“Maou, Maou, why must you say this while looking at me and Alas=Ramus like this.”
“Look within yourself and reflect. Compared to you, not only is Alas=Ramus chan more obedient, she is more rule abiding.”
Chiho said mercilessly.
“Sorry for the wait. I brought the soy sauce.”
At this moment, Suzuno also brought the low salt soy sauce over, seeing that everyone had already gone off topic, Ashiya could only let it rest like he had given up.
“……It can’t be helped, the miso soup has almost turned cold. Everyone come and eat.”
“Ah, Ashiya, I want more rice.”
“That’s right! My mum asked me to bring kaarage over. Ashiya-san, can I borrow your microwave?”
Chiho frantically took an airtight container out from the bag she brought.
“Sasaki-san, I feel bad, always receiving your care, as for the usage instructions……”
“Don’t worry, I know how to use it. How close, how close, I nearly forgot……”
Within the Demon Fortress, a Demon General and Inquisitor, a high school girl who brought side dishes stood side by side in the kitchen, as well as the Hero and Demon King who watched the non-rule abiding fallen angel while thinking on how to raise children, were gathered, even if this scene seemed detached from reality and is ridiculous, but from this result, unless it was an abnormal situation, it would not be possible to shake the peaceful normal life in this room 201 of Villa Rosa.
Whether this is a good or bad thing, it was still difficult to tell.
※
Even if the quarrels are never ending, the lives of the Demon King and Hero in Japan can be still called peaceful, and it was until almost the end of summer, did an obvious shadow get cast over it.
After Maou lost to Emi, the Malebranche clan, with Barbariccia as their leader, built a new Demon Army in order to conquer Ente Isla.
As one of the most powerful people in the Ente Isla Church, Olba Meyers had pushed Maou to the brink as one of Emi’s comrades, but right now, not only is he Emi’s enemy, he also planned to bury her along with Maou.
With his information as a basis, one of the Malebranche chieftains, Farfarello, came to Japan in order to instate Maou and Ashiya as the leaders of the new Demon Army.
Even though Emi and Suzuno were worried that Maou would return to the Demon Army, against both their expectations, Maou and Ashiya did not accept Farfarello’s proposal.
With this, logically Farfarello should either be sent back to the Demon World, just like Ciriatto who attacked Choshi earlier, or be allowed to be killed by Emi before he caused harm to Japan.
But another young boy who accompanied Farfarello to Japan, caused the situation to become more complicated.
According to the holy texts of Ente Isla, the world was built upon the orbs created by the Tree of Life, and that young boy called Iron, was the existence born from one of the Sephira ‘Geburah’.
Iron and the personification of the ‘Yesod’ Sephira, the girl Alas=Ramus, who was currently fused with Emi’s holy sword, were the same type of existences, and the power he hides depended on the situation, and was even enough to overpower the Hero, Demon King and archangel.
As for why he would be commanded by a Malebranche chieftain, it was a mystery even now.
It would not be a problem if there was only one Malebranche chieftain, but if they do not carefully handle the child born from the Sephira, then not only the Malebranche, they might even agitate Heaven and attract unnecessary enemies.
However, unfortunately, these two people which could not be agitated easily actually realised that Chiho is actually an important person to Maou and Emi.
If this goes on, it was difficult to guarantee that the Malebranche side, who could not obtain Maou and Ashiya corporation, would not capture Chiho to become a hostage.
Emi and Suzuno, due to strong wishes from Chiho herself, in order for Chiho to be able to contact Emi or Maou when in danger, taught Chiho the spell for telepathy, ‘Mental Transmission’.
Partly because Maou and the others also obtained Sariel’s assistance using a simple bait, Chiho finally learnt the spell successfully. However, Maou judged that just simply guaranteeing Chiho’s immediate safety was not enough to solve the situation.
Therefore, he intentionally borrowed Emi and Suzuno’s power, and regained his ‘Demon King Satan’ form in front of Farfarello. Through naming Chiho, Emi and Suzuno, these three people as the new Demon Generals, he announced that they play important roles in conquering the world, and finally in a peaceful manner, Maou was able to successfully persuade Farfarello and Iron to return.
But Emi and Suzuno, officially seen as ‘Demon Generals’ by the Malebranche side, were seriously angered because of this. Even if it was guaranteed that the Malebranche side would not harm Chiho in the short term, the situation in Ente Isla could still change slowly over time, and at that time the meaning represented by the name ‘The Demon General recognized by Demon King Satan, Sasaki Chiho’ could becoming heavier, but based on the results, this means that the situation revolving around Maou and Emi have not been solved.
The Malebranche forces who wished for Maou to return to the Demon Army, a new Sephira child and Heaven’s secret.
Even if they sensed that the foreign world was currently enveloped in a tense atmosphere, today, for the Demon King and group living in Japan, they still have to work for their three meals tomorrow.
This is something which happened when the world situation started to become white hot even though summer had already ended, in September.
※
Even if the time of sunset became a little earlier, the sky after 7pm was still a little bright, and the heat felt on the way to Keio line Sasazuka station had not dissipated.
Emi carried Alas=Ramus, who was fast asleep after eating her fill, walking side by side with Suzuno while Chiho and Maou followed the two of them.
When it was the day for Emi and Alas=Ramus to head to the Demon Fortress, Chiho would actively eat dinner together with Maou and the others.
Chiho had once declared in front of everyone,
“Because if I’m not around, Maou-san and Yusa-san will fight immediately.”
Ever since the incident with Farfarello, Chiho became more proactive in wating to maintain the good relationships between Maou and the others, such that even Maou and Emi felt a little overwhelmed.
Even though Chiho herself was clueless, but the three of them had accidentally heard the feelings which Chiho haboured for them, and therefore it was difficult to resist that honest intent.
Even if they put this matter aside, not only did Chiho’s visits cause the dishes for dinner at the Demon Fortress to beome more sumptuous, it would also make Alas=Ramus happy, there are basically benefits, so correspondingly, over time, Maou and Suzuno naturally cultivated the habit to accompany Chiho back home.
“So Emilia, what do you mean by wanting to return to your old home?”
Suzuno asked on the way home.
And once she brought up the topic which was vaguely passed over at dinnertime----
“That’s right, that’s right! Like she said, Yusa-san! What is going on?”
Chiho, who was originally talking about the work to Maou, immediately entered the conversation from behind.
“Oh……”
The ladies walked forward in a horizontal line in what was definitely a narrow alley in a residential area, and Maou, one step behind and unable to join the conversation, could only follow behind the three people in a dejected manner.
Faced with the stares of Chiho and Suzuno, filled with curiousity and suspicion, Emi sighed lightly and said,
“I am almost tired of waiting.”
“What do you mean?”
“……Ever since reuniting with the Demon King in Japan, I kept being dragged into strange troubles, and even though the obstacles were successfully overcome everytime, but at the end of it all, what is my original purpose?”
“Yusa-san’s……purpose?”
After discovering that Chiho was truly confused, Emi replied in a depressed manner,
“Chiho, I am still the Hero who carries the hopes of humans. So I originally came to Japan for……”
“Curry…………uu.”
“Puh…………………sorry.”
The sleep talk of the deeply asleep Alas=Ramus, which sounded like it came out intentionally at that timing, caused Maou to laugh, but when he detected the sharp glare from Emi who turned back, in a rare move, he still apologized honestly.
“……defeating the Demon King who planned to conquer Ente Isla……it was supposed to be that way.”
While talking, Emi pointed to Maou, who shrank back because of her gaze.
“Even though I can understand, but compared to that, what does this have to do with you going back to your old home?”
Suzuno continued to prompt Emi to explain, but seeing the Demon King as ‘that’ and ignoring it seemed to be not right as well.
“That’s true.”
As Maou did not react, so Emi, who lost interest, turned to the front again and said while looking towards the young girl sleeping contendedly in her arms.
“Even though the existence of Alas=Ramus had some influence, but during the period when I am unable to get rid of the Demon King, those angels, demons and what not, did they not keep coming to cause trouble?”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
“Isn’t it more accurate to say that other than the three of us, there are no other humans……”
Chiho’s naturally asked question was ignored on the spot.
“Anyway, those outsiders who obviously did not have a relation to us before I came to Japan are simply acting too recklessly recently, and I can’t take it anymore. In order for them to not cause trouble for us anymore, I think it would be better to go back to Ente Isla for a bit.”
“So you want to go back and get rid of all those bad people?”
Even if Emi’s explanation was a little too simple, but Chiho’s thoughts were too direct as well.
“How should I put this……it feels like not long after Bell came, a lot of people who are targeting the Holy Sword suddenly appeared right?”
“Then again, Sariel-sama was very stubborn about Emilia’s Holy Sword at the beginning as well.”
“But based on the results, isn’t it because the Holy Sword had something to do with Alas=Ramus?”
The purpose of archangels Sariel and Gabriel on the surface was to obtain Emi’s Holy Sword.
It was only until Alas=Ramus appeared, and revealed that the ‘Holy Sword, One Wing’ was a weapon with the Sephira fragment as its core, did Maou and the others know that the true purpose of Heaven was to collect the Sephira fragment which is the core of the ‘Holy Sword, One Wing’ and Alas=Ramus……
“It would still be alright if it was just Heaven, but the demon Ciriatto who appeared in Choshi also set his sights on the fragment of ‘Yesod’. Not only that, the Malebranche army lurking in the Eastern Continent, also seem to have a fragment of ‘Yesod’, and in addition, Iron who appeared earlier was also at a demon’s side even though he is a child born from a Sephira……”
“The simplest explanation is that there is actually a connection between Heaven and demons……”
Even though Suzuno’s explanation should be the simplest way to interpret this----
“W, why are all of you looking at me suddenly?”
The three people walking in front suddenly turned back at the same time, giving a shock to Maou who was originally so bored that he started to become frantic.
“But if it is like that, then the reason why he is here cannot be explained right?”
“That’s true. Basically, the Demon King doesn’t even know that the ‘Yesod’ fragment he owned has become Alas=Ramus, and the Malebranche army only started moving after the Demon King died, no matter how you think about it, Heaven has no reason to help them.”
“I don’t know what all of you are talking about, but don’t casually see them as a dead person! I am living well today as well!”
Maou’s report of survival of the Demon King was ignored completely.
“That’s what I think as well. Even though we have no idea about Iron……about ‘Geburah’ because we have too little clues, but we already have a number of clues related to ‘Yesod’ with us. Thinking about it carefully, why does Sariel and Gabriel want to collect the ‘fragments’ of Yesod?”
“Eh?”
Chiho, who could not understand the meaning behind the question, was confused.
“……Let me remind all of you, we’ve almost reached the station!”
Maou’s voice was heard from behind, but it was ignored by the three people.
“Thinking about it carefully, why is only ‘Yesod’ in ‘fragments’? The answer is simple. Since they are currently collecting the fragments, then it means that ‘the person who broke the Sephira into pieces and scattered them’ exists.”
“Seriously causing trouble for others.”
Maou, who discovered that no one was listening to him, after agreeing with Emi, he picked up an empty can which had been thrown onto the ground, planning to throw it into the empty can recycling box next to the roadside vending machine, but as the box was already full, he could only carefully place the can on top and walk back.
“Ah……I see.”
“Eh?”
Suzuno nodded in understanding a step before everyone else.
Seeing that Chiho still did not seem to get it, Emi used her other hand which was not carrying Alas=Ramus to lift up Chiho’s hand to make her notice one of her fingers.
“……Ah!”
A ring with a small purple jewel embedded in it was worn on that finger.
“Even though it isn’t know if it was really ‘broken apart’, but it can at least be confirmed that someone is ‘distributing’ the fragments. After all, we have a solid example in front of us.”
The ring on Chiho’s hand had the same ‘Yesod’ fragment the one on the hilt of Emi’s Holy Sword and the one of Alas=Ramus’s forehead. In the commotion where Chiho had the opportunity to obtain this ring, other than the ring, Chiho also obtained a portion of memory.
It was a memory from a faraway world which Chiho did not know about and at the same time, it might also be a memory from long ago.
A certain injured young demon, and a man standing in a wheat field.
“Yusa-san’s……mother?”
“That’s right.”
Emi nodded with an irritated look on her face and let go of Chiho’s hand.
“Anyway, as long as I follow the traces which my mother left behind in Ente Isla from before I was born or my childhood when I did not know anything, perhaps I might discover something. Even so, I actually have no basis, I just feel it would be good if I am able to find some clues.”
What Emi felt most regret about, was that even for just a short time, when her past travelling companions Emeralda and Alberto came to Japan to help her when she was targeted by Urushihara and Olba, she should have returned to Ente Isla with them for a bit.
Emi’s mother Laila, seemed to have stayed at Emeralda’s place for a while.
But at that time, Emi did not have comrades she could trust in Japan, and Maou was not the type of existence where she could just shift her attention away from. Even if Maou would not do bad things, if he took the chance to move house when the Hero returned to Ente Isla, Emi would have to search for them from the beginning again.
For Emi, who lived alone in Japan’s society for close to a year, she really did not wish to lose the Demon King who she found after much difficulty.
However, she was also unable to ask Emeralda or Alberto to help watch Maou.
After all, different from Emi, who came from a normal village farming family, after the human society regained peace, Emeralda and Alberto have important responsibilities.
Honestly, the status of the two of them was originally different from Emi.
After the Demon Army retreated, the power structure of Ente Isla’s church and kingdoms returned to their orginal state, so naturally there was no way to let such promising talents stay in a foreign world.
In addition, the ability of Emi when she is serious, when defeating the Demon Army in Ente Isla, her overall battle power had already grown to a point where Emeralda, Alberto and Olba needed to work together in order to barely be evenly matched with her.
Ever since she failed to kill Urushihara during that battle high above the capital, the only person in Japan who can contend with three demons at the same time and win is Hero Emilia.
If only Chiho’s importance in the eyes of Maou and the rest was increased earlier.
Or if Suzuno arrived earlier.
When Emi was planning to return to her home village, such meaningless thoughts had run through her head before.
But the trust relationship between Chiho and Maou and the others was only built up within this half year, and basically, if the outrageous acts by Urushihara and Olba did not occur, Suzuno would not have come.
Everything which got Emi involved was all because ofsome slight deviations causing things to be unable to go her way.
Of course, it was useless to complain about these things now.
And----
“Oh……uu……uh……ah, Mama, are we going back?”
Before they knew it, the four of them had already reached the ticketing gate of Sasazuka station.
Perhaps the announcements in the station and the sound of passing trains were too noisy, Alas=Ramus who woke up with a frown looked around her while raising up her head in a bleary eyed manner.
“Oh, Alas=Ramus, you’re awake, come and play again.”
Maou, with a sharp eye, noticed that the young girl had woke up, and walked up to grasp Alas=Ramus’s small, tender hands.
“Bye, Alas=Ramus-chan.”
“Before you reach home, you should be obedient okay.”
Chiho and Suzuno, from behind Emi, showed warm smiles to Alas=Ramus.
If everything went ‘according to Emi’s wishes’, she would probably be unable to experience such times of warmth.
Recently, Emi started to feel that this kind of life is not that bad as well.
“I’m sorry for not having spent much time with you. Let’s play together next time.”
“Pinky promise!”
Alas=Ramus, who gradually woke up, stretched her hand towards Maou with some force.
Looks like it was too difficult for her to extend just her pinky.
“Oh, pinky promise.”
“……What were you doing today? It’s rare to see you use a calculator.”
Emi was also surprised that there was something that actually took higher priority than Alas=Ramus.
Normally, no matter what was thrown to him, Maou would never forget to make time for Alas=Ramus, therefore it was already surprising enough like this, however, the answer actually came from an even more unexpected direction.
“Recently, Maou-san needs to take a license.”
Chiho answered thus.
““License?””
From Suzuno’s surprised expression, this was also the first time she had heard of this.
“License……is it for cars?”
When talking about ‘license’ in normal Japanese conversations, the first thing people think of is a driving license.
After all, it was impossible for Maou’s next goal to be to learn everything in a martial art.
In Japan’s laws, Maou is an adult male, so he was definitely considered an age where he could take a driving license, however, this was not what Emi and Suzuno’s concern.
““It’s amazing that you managed to get Alsiel’s approval.””
“Is that what is important? You’re actually rebuking on this part? What kind of person to me do you think he is?”
Even for Maou, commenting on this simultaneously still caused him to become stony faced.
“Because doesn’t a driving license cost a lot of money? And you still have to go to driving lessions right? Do you have that kind of spare cash? Then again, even though you’re a Demon King, you still plan to respect traffic rules?”
“I would occasionally get a flyer in front of the bus stop from the nearby driving class, but even the cheapest course cost more than 10,000 yen right? I really think that Alsiel will not allow this expenditure, and I also do not feel that you have the capability to save that much money.”
“I only want to take a license, is there a need for me to be wounded to such an extent? What’s so bad about a Demon King taking a license.”
“Ever since a Demon King needs to obtain approval from the country to do anything, this matter is actually hilarious enough.”
Suzuno nodded with force to agree with Emi’s explanation.
“I say you people……”
Maou’s shoulders sagged in depression.
“From the beginning, I have never said I wanted to take a car license right?”
“Then what license are you taking?”
“Could it be a specialized professional license? Basically you seem to only take matters related to MgRonalds seriously, so is it something like a food hygiene management or chef license? Even though it still costs quite a bit no matter which one it is……”
“Thinking about the future, I would probably take the food hygiene management license later on.”
“So you did think about it.”
“Because I might be able to use it after becoming a permanent employee. But I’m not taking that this time.”
Maou cleared his throat once, puffed up his chest once again and said,
“You’re sure to get a fright after hearing this. What I’m taking is……a Moped license!”
The sound of a Rapid train passing through Sasazuka station was heard.
“……Then, Bell, Chiho, I’m going back first.”
“Yeah, be careful on the way back.”
Emi ignored the proud looking Maou and naturally prepared to leave.
“Yusa-san, Suzuno-san! Maou-san looks like he’s going to cry, please react a bit!”
“Eh……”
Even though it was Chiho’s request, Emi still showed an obviously irritated expression.
“Because he was putting up an act for so long, making me wonder what it was……even though it’s not like I look down on Moped licenses, but if someone asked if this is a license which a Demon King can be proud of, how would you reply, Chiho?”
“Eh……? Uh, th, that……”
Chiho became flustered because of Emi’s unexpected question.
“Let, let me tell you this! I’m not just taking part in the examination! From the administration fee of 7,750 yen, the company will help me pay 5,700 yen! There’s no reason to take it right! Even though I say have to pay 2,050 yen, but Ashiya didn’t complain at all!”
“……”
With regards to how serious this Demon King was when he said these things, this type of questions have already circled around in Emi and Suzuno’s mind of a few months, even if they based it on experience and know that he should be 100% serious, they still felt themselves overwhelmed by a feeling of emptiness and tiredness.
“……If so, then why don’t they just subsidise the entire thing.”
“According to company rules, only the administration fees of 2,050 yen for the collection of the license is not included. Because the company will only subsidise the training fees!”
“Wait, the company you’re talking about it MgRonalds right? Even though you’re the one taking the license, why does MgRonalds have to help pay?”
“Listen carefully! Actually our MgRonalds……”
“Our store will start to provide ‘delivery’ from now on. So employees 20 years and older have to possess a Moped license, as for those who sill do not have a Moped license, the company will help to pay through the professional license grant.”
(T/N: delivery is written in English in the original text.)
Chiho, who judged that the progression of the topic will be slowed down if the explanations were left to Maou, interrupted Maou and explained in a simple manner.
“……”
In contrast to Maou, who looked like he had his fun taken away from him, Suzuno and Emi showed different reactions.
“By ‘delivery’, that’s referring to delivery service right?”
(T/N: Again, ‘delivery’ is written in English in the original text.)
Suzuno simply overturned the domestic labour market to wanted to use English to describe anything and everything,
“Delivery…….yes, that’s what it means. Because the delivery can’t be sent by bicycle, so a Moped has to be used, thus needing a license……but I’m still a high school student, and do not meet the conditions for the professional license grant.”
Chiho explained unhappily.
“Even though it is surprising that MgRonalds has started delivery, but didn’t you just open the café on the second floor? Even though just half a month has passed, you’re going to add another new business model?”
Emi, who is still relatively familiar with Japanese society, expressed a salaryperson like opinion.
“About that part, even Kisaki-san feels it a bit strenuous.”
The capable manager of the MgRonalds in front of Hatagaya station which Maou and Chiho worked at, Kisaki Mayumi, is a lady who is so passionate about her work that people called her the profit demon.
Normally, not only does Kisaki announce without any reservations that she wants to let the daily profit exceed the previous year’s by more than 100%, she also accumulated quite a number of achievements, but adding a new business model before the MdCafe which newly opened some days back could stablise, still made her so busy that she was stretched thin.
“Because our store is opened next to the main road of the nearby city residential area and business area, and belongs to one of the stores which can do delivery for MdCafe meals, so the upper management suddenly made this decision. Compared to quickly expanding to a new business model, the bigger issue is the lack of manpower.”
Actually the MgRonalds delivery service itself was nothing new.
Not only is it restricted to specific areas like pizza delivery, the expenditure needs to be at least 1500 yen in a single purchase including GST to be able to order over telephone and use the delivery service.
Even though they have gradually increased the delivery services with the stores located along the main city roads as the focus, this time they coincidentally chose the store in front of Hatagaya station.
The problem is the store itself, the core of the matter, was not ready to accept such a change.
From the way Maou has to prepare to take a driving license, it can be seen that number of employees with a license is rare.
And before addressing the problem of the driving license, the number of employees at the store in front of Hatagaya station were not sufficient to handle the newly added delivery service.
After all, just the addition of a specialized coffee counter on the second floor, has already increased the number of people who needed to be stationed within the store.
To add the Moped needed for delivery, of course they needed more than one.
In order to deal with telephone orders, they would either have to hire new employees or conduct further training on the current workforce, and these things will increase the time and people needed.
Even if the number of delivery staff is increased, it was difficult to guarantee that the delivery location would be on the main streets, so it would still be better to appoint someone familiar in the area to be in charge.
No matter what, the task at hand would be to secure the number of employees and train them to the standard which Kisaki set, even though it was still two months away from the beginning of November where the operations will officially begin, the time given was not enough allowance at all.
“We still need three people who can involve themselves in daily operations……no, as long as there are two!”
That was Kisaki’s favourite line recently.
They still need at least two full time employees. Even though they just need this number to take this window of time to train the people in charge of delivery to supplement the manpower, but during this autumn where the summer holidays of university students were about to end, it was still difficult to increase manpower.
“Emi, do you have any plans to change job?”
Even though this statement was clearly said in jest, Emi still coldly replied Maou’s touting,
“By the way, my current hourly pay is 1,700 yen.”
“……Sorry, just treat it like I never said anything.”
“One, one thousand seven hundred yen……”
Emi’s hourly pay, caused Chiho, whose hourly pay did not change much since her training period because she was a high school student, to get a huge shock.
“Even though the hourly pay is very high, but in comparison, there’s many difficulties as well okay? Even though it’s a bit much saying this myself, but since I, the Hero who has experienced many battles, say this, you should know how bad it is.”
“……Th, that’s true. Since you’re a call customer officer.”
Emi’s job, is a call customer officer in the company’s telecommunications department, responsible for receiving calls. Even though the role is still known as a call customer officer, other than the responsibilities of receiving calls and taking the initiative to telemarket, as there are many job roles depending on the different industry, it cannot be judged that would definitely be difficult in every industry, but for Emi’s situation there really seemed to be a lot of problems.
Maou turned towards Suzuno----
“By the way, I can’t as well. I have no confidence that I can use foreign languages to serve customers to the standard which shop manager Kisaki expects.”
But Suzuno said this first.
Even though they felt that this issue should not have anything to do with foreign languages, but whether it was Maou, Chiho or Emi----
“Welcome! For those who have completed their orders, please move this way!”
They were unable to imagine Suzuno, who has a stern expression even in daily conversations, showing a professional smile.
“Are the three of you thinking of something rude?”
Suzuno, who was sensitive enough to sense Maou and the others show a complex expression, asked this in a low tone, and the three of them shook their heads at the same time with stiff smiles.
“A, anyway, even though I feel bad for Chiho, but I can only say do your best. Then back to the original topic……”
“Then again, what were we talking about originally?”
Emi’s words caused everyone to regain their senses.
Unknowingly, the group of people have already talked for close to 20 minutes in front of the ticket gate.
“It’s regarding me going back to my howntown.”
The Hero and Demon King chatting in front of the station, and going off the main point repeatedly because the topic was dragged on, this was a real joke.
“I have already taken leave with the company, so I just need to ask Em to get me. I plan to set off next Monday.”
“Eh?”
Chiho sucked in breath, even though Suzuno also protested----
“Isn’t that too rushed? Even though I said that the things later on can be left to me, but I still have to make some preparations…………”
But after she looked up and glanced at Maou beside her, her two hands which were raised in protest lowered limply.
“looks like preparations aren’t needed much.”
“Right?”
“Even though I don’t know what both of you are saying, but at least I know I am being looked down upon.”
Seeing Emi and Suzuno nod at each other with empty expressions, from Maou’s standpoint, he needed to seriously express his disagreement.
“……We’re not looking down on you. Everyone is praising you, saying that you’re hardworking, serious and abides to the rules.”
“……That’s right, Demon King. Someone like you who wakes up early in the morning, lives a simple life, works hard and studies hard in order not to break the law, who will look down on you?”
“If you want to praise me, at least look at my eyes!”
“Papa’s amazing! So good!”
“………………………..Thank you……Alas=Ramus.”
No one can win against a child.
“B, but Yusa-san, starting from next week, that……”
Chiho asked hesitantly, so Emi nodded with a wry smile like she suddenly thought of something,
“Relax, the people on that side are also busy with things, and I still have to work, so I will return during the weekend. The matter on the 12th, I won’t forget it.”
“……T, thank you.”
“12th……oh, that.”
Maou and Suzuno nodded because they remembered something.
“Let me say this first, ignoring Bell for the moment, you better not think of anything unnecessary.”
Unexpected, Emi glared seriously at Maou, but the latter brushed it off and replied,
“What, how boring. I was thinking of making a general badge and giving it to you.”
12th September, mentioned by Chiho and Emi is a Sunday.
This day, with a strong wish from Chiho, the group of people were planning a combined birthday party for Emi and Chiho.
The calender system in Ente Isla was different from Earth. But Emi’s birthday was in early autumn, so everyone suggested celebrating both their birthdays during Chiho’s birthday on the 10th, but unfortunately, it was a Friday, which was a weekday.
As Maou, who Chiho strongly wished to attend, had a shift which ended very late at night, so after discussion, they decided to hold the party two days later, on a Sunday.
Once the number of people who attend increase, it would be difficult to make time on a certain day.
“If I can cut it into pieces on the spot, then it’s not as if I cannot accept it. Basically, part of why I am going back this time is also to ensure that the words you accidentially said did not cause strange effects on that side.”
With said like that by Emi, Maou also showed an unhappy expression.
After all the news that Demon King Satan and the Demon Generals are still alive and that Satan had named Hero Emilia, Church Inquisitor Crestia Bell and a girl from a foreign world as his new Demon Generals have already spread to Ente Isla.
Even though it was something which had to be done in order to protect Chiho, but from Emi and Suzuno’s standpoint, once it is known by others to be a fact, they cannot complain if everyone in Ente Isla criticized them behind their backs.
“Nothing will happen, probably.”
“Your words can’t be trusted at all!”
Emi, who could not tolerate Maou’s thoroughly optimistic attitude, glanced at her watch.
“Oh no, if I don’t leave soon, I won’t be able to make it in time for Alas=Ramus’s bed time.”
“Does she normally sleep so early?”
“Ever since the time Chiho went training, she keeps pestering me for a bath. And it has to be a hot one. When I go back and fill up the hot water and bathe until Alas=Ramus is happy, it would be 10pm in no time.”
“Alas=Ramus is qualified to be an Edoko.”
(T/N: Edoko means child of Edo. Suzuno said this because Alas=Ramus insists to bathe in hot water before bed, probably what Suzuno believes to be a habit of Japanese people.)
Suzuno said happily for unknown reasons.
“If an Edoko is born from the Sephira, how ridiculous is that!”
Maou rebuked unhappily.
“Then Iron should be a Dosanko.”
(T/N: Dosanko refers to people born in Hokkaido. It also refers to a particular breed of horse native to Hokkaido. Not sure how Chiho made the comparison.)
Chiho continued this meaningless topic.
“……Then I should really go back now. See you again on the 12th.”
“Er, erhm, Yusa-san.”
Chiho stopped Emi, who was going to take the monthly pass out from her bag.
“Can I see you off? I’m a little worried……and since Emeralda-san rarely comes over, I woud like to say hi as well……”
“I’m sorry. I’m meeting Em on Monday afternoon. Chiho should still be in school right?”
“Aww……”
Even though she occasionally forgets because she has too many intercultural interactions, but Chiho is not an Edoko, but a high school girl created as a modern Tokyoko.
Since her summer holiday has ended, then naturally Chiho had to fulfill her role as a student.
Emi patted Chiho’s shoulder lightly in order to comfort the depressed girl, Alas=Ramus also stretched her hand out to repeatedly touch Chiho’s forehead.
“Don’t worry, I am still the strongest among humans, the Hero. Please believe in my achievements of defeating the Demon Army and chasing away archangels. Because Alas=Ramus is coming along as well, so I do not plan to go to dangerous places or fight with other people, like organizing things back at my old home, I’ll be back soon.”
“That’s right! Let me warn you, it would be bad if something happens to Alas=Ramus, so don’t think of any unnecessary things, and come back after meeting with Emeralda and having a meal with her!”
Maou, who finally remembered that Emi and Alas=Ramus cannot be separated, frantically raised his head and leaned over.
Emi frowned hard, interrupted Maou’s momentum and said,
“The main reason lies with you, I don’t need to hear you lecture me in the first place! You, don’t take the chance when I’m not here to mess around! In many ways, I will ask Bell to watch you well okay?”
“Hah! Even if I do nothing special, I have obtain a bigger world through the Moped. There’s no one who can stop me! When you come back, you better not cry in depression!”
“You better forget to buy copy paper, then get stopped by the people at the driving centre!”
(T/N: Copy paper in this case refers to a certificate which proves that he had already paid for the fees.)
“They sell copy paper at the centre as well! You’re lacking in common knowledge!”
“Aah! Enough, Emilia, go back already! Demon King as well, you’ll cause Chiho to return at too late a time! If both of you don’t stop it now, the fierce battle of the Hero and Demon King will be changed to a quarrel about the selling location of copy paper in the driving centre and be recorded in the bible and spread to future generations!”
Maou and Emi’s quarrel leaned towards a meaningless direction, so Suzuno forcefully stepped between the two of them to stop this ugly scene.
It was already 15 minutes after the time Emi checked her watch, whether it was bringing a high school girl around the place or letting a young girl stay awake, it had already become inappropriate in several ways.
“Chiho-dono, rest assured. Even though it’s nothing to be proud of, but I have a lot of time. Also I would also like to meet with Emeralda-dono, so I will see her off personally. Demon King, that would be okay right?”
In this period of time, an announcement notifying at the next train was going to arrive at the station was heard.
“Then Chiho, see you next week. Bell, I’ll send you a message later.”
After Emi raised her head and said this, she really walked through the ticket gate this time and walked towards the inner portion of the station.
“Bye bye! Papa, Chi-nee chan, Suzu-nee chan, bye bye!”
Maou, Chiho and Suzuno, after watching the scene of Alas=Ramus leaning over Emi’s shoulder and waving with all her might, they calmed down subconsciously.
“Ugh, but the centre really sells copy paper you know?”
“Who cares about you……alright, anyway let’s quickly send Chiho-dono back home. Chiho-dono, is your time alright?”
“Ah, y, yes. There’s no problems……but……”
“Hm?”
[Image of Emi carrying Alas=Ramus]
With the sound of the train moving off being heard above them, Chiho stared at the train which should be carrying Emi and Alas=Ramus, and said softly,
“Yusa-san, seems to be become more cheerful lately.”
“……Why must you look at me and say this?”
Maou, who sensed Chiho’s gaze shifting from the train to him, could not help but shrink back a bit.
“Do you not know the reason?”
“I don’t.”
“……Alright alright, we better talk while walking.”
Suzuno sighed and urged the both of them to move.
“Yusa-san definitely became more cheerful, or should I say became more energetic……”
“She’s normally already very noisy to begin with right?”
“No, Maou-san! It’s not like that, it should be more……I also don’t know what is the way to say it.”
“She said so herself before……”
Suzuno turned back towards Sasazuka station and said,
“After all, comparing handling the situation in a passive manner and actively attacking, there would be a difference in the mental state.”
“The feeling she gives others recently, wasn’t hesitant like before……”
Even so, Maou also felt that these few days, Emi had already recovered to the stage like the first time they met in Japan, exhibiting a proactiveness where to a certain extent, she had stopped considering the situation around her.
“But, I feel that it’s definitely not just that.”
“Hm?”
“Chi-chan, what do you mean?”
“Seriously……do both of you not know yet? In some way, this is related to Maou-san and Suzuno-san the most.”
Chiho looked at Maou and Suzuno’s faces in turn, truly surprised.
But Maou and Suzuno could only look at each other, surprised.
After all, other than living in the same apartment, Maou and Suzuno had nothing in common at all.
Adding to the fact that it had something to do with Emi, and other than that the three of them were living in Japan, they cannot seem to find other common points……
“Because I’m frustrated that I have not reached that level, so I don’t want to tell both of you!”
“W, what is this about?”
“I don’t know……?”
The two people, who were considered to be criticized by Chiho in some sense, frowned while looking at Chiho, who looked rather happy and approached her.
“Chiho-dono, I surrender. What is this about?”
When they saw Chiho’s home, Suzuno matched her own way to speaking, raised both her hands and said this to Chiho.
Chiho first turned her face away, and answered honestly with a rather unsatisfied expression on her face,
“Even though I don’t know if Yusa-san herself is aware of this herself.”
After this opening statement, Chiho continued and turned her body to face the two people.
“‘The Hero who came to fight the Demon King’ actually decided to return to her hometown you know? Doesn’t that mean that she already fully trusts Suzuno-san and Maou-san?”
““!””
Maou and Suzuno sucked in a breath at the same time.
“I think that because Yusa-san believed that even without her survellience, Maou-san would definitely not do anything bad in Japan, and even if anything happened, Suzuno-san would definitely think of a way to slove it, which is why she said she wants to return to her hometown yes? Uh……even though the kind of trust might be a little different……”
Chiho’s words cause the two people who were listening to be dumbfounded.
“Until her is fine. Thank you for seeing me home! Suzuno-san, I’m counting on you about seeing Yusa-san off!”
After Chiho smiled and waved, she turned and entered her home.
After standing dazedly on the spot and taking one look at one another, Maou and Suzuno shrugged in an awkward manner and shifted their gazes away from each other.
“As a Demon King, this is really something to feel regret over.”
“……Then let’s treat it like that......it’s about time to go back, if we go back too late because of us chatting, Alsiel is going to nag again.”
After that, Maou and Suzuno passed through the residential area at night to go home without saying anything, and parted ways on the common corridor of the apartment without saying anything as well.
“Welcome back, Demon King-sama! Oh my, once I think that Emilia is not around for the time being, I feel refreshed! Why don’t we go to that yakiniku store to celebrate!”
Once Maou got home, he discovered an excited Ashiya giving a rare suggestion to eat out.
During the time when the Hero left, a Demon General actually only wanted to eat yakiniku, it felt that it had reached a stage of beyond help.
“Demon King-sama?”
“Ah, Maou, I sent a message asking you to help me buy pudding at the convenience store on the way back, did you see?”
“……Ugh, I did not notice.”
Maou took his mobile phone out of his pocket, and found out that he did receive a message more than 10 minutes ago.
“Eh~it’s rare for Ashiya to agree!”
Urushihara protested unhappily.
“Seriously.”
“Demon King-sama?”
“Maou? What is it?”
Ashiya and Urushihara looked towards their Master on the porch in confusion, but Maou, who looked up a short time later, had a rare angry expression on his face.
“When the Hero is not around, actually only thinking of yakiniku and pudding, because all of you are like that, that’s why Emi put her trust in us! Show some self awareness and pride of a Demon Generalllllll!”
Maou’s angry shouts and Ashiya ad Urushihara’s chaotic screams were heard from next door, Suzuno covered her eyes with a stony face and waited for the commotion caused by the deranged Maou to settle down.
“The Demon King has no right to lecture other people in the first place…..”
As a superior who scolded his subordinate’s yakiniku and pudding, the Demon King next door seemed to be too deeply affected by Japan’s customs. Suzuno listened to the very human like conversation coming from next door while feeling irritated and recalled the question and answer with Emi a few days ago.
“Since angels are humans, then……”
Then the one next door who is in a bad mood, trusted deeply by the Hero and high school girl, and plans to obtain a driving license following traffic rules and regulations, the Demon King----demons, what are they?
Maou, and Ashiya, the appearance of demons resemble humans even lesser compared to angels.
Unlike the angels who use holy magic to grow wings, demons’ appearances are very varied, not only do they have body parts which humans do not have like horns, tails, wings and so on as well as huge builds which defy common sense, they even had appearances like the Demon Minister Camio who appeared in Choshi, a bird species with human appearance.
However, Demon King Satan, Demon General Alsiel and the Malebranche Chieftian Farfarello, had appeared in completely human forms in front of Suzuno and the others.
“Is there no way to investigate……the meaning behind them having this appearance?”
Thinking to this point, Suzuno, who planned to pick up her phone, eventually shook her head and relaxed her hand.
It’s not like she did not trust Emi, just that with the grey situation in Ente Isla, it was too difficult for Emi to look for clues alone.
If too many things are handled at once, it would be easier for weaknesses to be shown, ot only would it cause unknown effects, it might also implicate Japan and Chiho as well.
Emi said that she wanted to search for the traces left by her mother.
Then this time, it would be better to focus on this issue right now.
Since this is a mystery which can involve the entire world, it would be meaningless to feel anxious.
The priority right now……
“Ah~so noisy! This is neighbour harassment! Shouldn’t all of you calm down by now!”
Should be to calm down the commotion next door which she could not listen to anymore.
Suzuno, through an angry lecture, stopped the unhappy Maou and the panicked Ashiya and Urushihara.
It was strange. Even though Suzuno did promise Emi that would handle any issues later and watch the Demon Fortress----
“Don’t argue over those meaningless things, finish your studies and sleep! You still have to work tomorrow right!”
But this action like a mother helping her children end a quarrel, should not be included within this.
Suzuno had already started to worry about how she would pass these few days before Emi returns.
After letting the three people quiet down, Suzuno who returned to her own room and closed the porch door behind her, sighed deeply.
“But even so……this is also considered a peaceful manner……”
Even though it was not right, but it did not feel bad.
This should be the sentence that can describe the situation of these people the most.
※
Monday, the beginning of the week.
Chiho rejected her friends’ invitation and after quickly finishing her lunch, and went to the old school building which students and teaching staff do not normally go----nearby what is known as ‘the room which cannot be opened’, and stared in concentration at the certain thing in her hands.
It was a small purple stone, a simple ring with a ‘Yesod’ fragment embedded in it.
As a morally upright high school student, Chiho was of course unable to wear such obvious accessories in the school.
Even if she had never heard any concrete explanation, Chiho also knew that a ‘gate’ is a special spell, and a way to move over extremely long distances.
Of course with Emi, including Suzuno, Emeralda, Alberto, Urushihara, Ashiya and Maou, everyone came here through that ‘gate’.
Chiho had a feeling, that is when Emi and Alas=Ramus went through the ‘gate’, perhaps the ‘Yesod’ fragment would react.
Chiho remained wary about whether someone passed by while staring at the ring----
“……Ah.”
The fragment suddenly showed a faint glow, and emitted a strong light like a camera flash and reverted to a normal jewel.
As she had gone through spell training, Chiho could also feel a strong power in the instant the ring emitted light, however even so, she did not feel that her body had undergone any special changes.
Just that the phone she placed beside her, received a message.
“Emilia and Emeralda-dono have gone on the journey together.”
That message was a simple report from Suzuno, who had seen them off.
Emi, Chiho’s important friend, forget about Japan, she was not even in any corner of this Earth anymore.
To Chiho, who did not see Emi pass through the ‘gate’ to teleport with her own eyes, this fact gave her a strange feeling.
That was like Emi (Emiila Justina) suddenly becoming a kind of apathetic existence, causing conflict with her.
But Emi had said that she would not do anything dangerous, and Emeralda is with her as well.
Since the other party is Emi, even without Chiho worrying, she should be able to get out of danger easily.
Chiho, gripping her phone and closing her eyes like she was praying, recalled Emi’s phone number in her mind.
Chiho’s hand, ring and phone, emitted a faint glow.
“I hope that the Ente Isla which Yusa-san returns to would be able to become a bit more peaceful.”
Would this prayer be able to transcend the ‘gate’ and be transmitted through time and space and even worlds? Chiho, who is still an inexperienced spellcaster, did not know at all.
However----
Two weeks later, even past 12th September, Emi still did not return.
Vol 8 Chapter 2: Demon King, Encounter
Keio-Choufu station is the central station of the Keio Line, from normal trains that stop at every station to express trains, different types of trains that are in operation will stop here.
The next train that will set of from Shinjuku can be differentiated as the train that will head towards the Takao-Hachiouji direction and the train that would head towards Kanagawa-Sagamihara Hashimoto direction. Choufu stations serves as one of the junction stations.
In front of the station is a large public transportation transit stop. The different public buses that went around demonstrated the efficiency of connecting the Keio with JR and Odakyu station areas. Though the current weather was the same as the usual mornings, suitable for wearing short sleeves, but according to the weather report, the weather in the afternoon would be a bit more unpredicatable. The chance of rain was sixty percent. Maou left through the North Exit of Choufu station. “Uh….I remember the place to take the bus is further ahead.” Maou relied on the memory of getting off the bus nearby a while ago, and searched for the bus stop. By the time he found the correct waiting area at the transit station, there was already a long queue and Maou walked to the end of the queue. The sign of the bus stop had the words [Keio Bus, towards Musashi-Kogane station, Exam hall Entrance].
In order to revise a bit before the bus enters the station, Maou prepared to take out some exam reference books from his bag when-- “Mama!”
“!” A voice from behind him made him turn around subconsciously. There was a young girl who wanted to get the attention of her mother who was currently looking at the map in front of the station. She stretched her small body with a lot of effort and grabbed the other person’s hand.
“……”
Maou’s line of sight temporarily stopped on the mother and daughter whom he did not recognize. After a short while, that mother seemed to have finally found her destination and was moving her finger around repeatedly to confirm what she was looking at---- “Ok ok ok, sorry. Are you alright? Is it too hot?” While comforting the child with her words and picking up the young child, the two quickly left Maou’s field of view. Choufu station has many people moving around during the day, Maou traced the mother and daughter who disappeared in the crowd in front of the station before sighing and removing his hand that was inside his bag. He had already thoroughly familiarized himself with the questions for the Moped license. Even without looking at the book, he would be able to memorise them. “The second time huh.” Maou slacked his shoulders and started mumbling to himself.
Maou’s destination was the Fuchu Driver’s License Test Site.
Tokyo citizens who wish to obtain a license usually have to head towards one of the Driver’s License Test site in Fuchu, Samezu or Koto to take the exam.
And for Maou, this was the second time he visited Fuchu Driver’s License Test site within the month. “…That idiot Emi….”
Once Maou started opening his mouth to vent, the bus arrived as though it was able to hear him.
In the queue that Maou was in, aside from normal commuters, it seemed that everyone was heading to the same place as Maou. The entire group orderly boarded the vehicle and then messily scattered within the vehicle. Maou was fortunate and managed to sit on a single person seat near the door. As he absolutely could not fail another time, Maou took out the text books and started revising. That’s right, Maou failed once for the driving license test.
And to think he specially arranged his schedule for the sake of the test, spent 300 yen to register himself into the national registry (T/N: Juminhyo-go wiki it), spent 700 yen to get a passport sized photo at the photo booth which he has not done since applying for a job at MgRonalds, spent another 170 yen on train fares and 230 yen on bus fares only to end up not passing the written test.
Upon finding out that his own number was not one of the numbers displayed on the electronic screen which displayed the passing candidates, Maou had the same feeling when he first received news of Lucifer’s defeat in the Western Continent by the Hero and her group, no, perhaps this shock might even larger than that one.
(T/N: Really, the shock of failing a test is greater than the announcement of the “death” and defeat of your comrade? Welcome to the Asian society…)
Maou felt that his answers were perfect. He even worked hard to the point that he could remember all the legal provisions. So why would he fail? Maou forced his halted mind to think hard----
“Ah!” And let out the most air-headed sound he had ever made in his life. Through the memory that was guaranteed by Maou’s talent, hard work and demonic instinct, he remembered a very cruel reality.
“My answers were wrongly shaded by one question….?”
As the test consisted of straightforward true of false questions, it made use of a separate answer sheet for answering. Since it was a simple two-choose-one, even if you mess up the answer’s orders, it is quite unlikely for one to get all the answers wrong, but for this kind of exam, the passing mark is forty five out of fifity. Even if some of the questions are right despite the mistake in order, there is no way of getting a correct rate of ninety percent.
And like this, Maou had deep regrets of not passing his first driving license test.
Although he can apply for reimbursement once he gets his license, and MgRonalds would foot the course fee as professional reimbursement together with his salary, it is obvious that the company will only reimburse the fee once. When Maou informed Ashiya about his careless mistake and he had to pay the training fee of 5700 yen, which was supposed to be paid by the company in the name of training, out of his own pocket, Ashiya gave a devastated look,
which made Maou remember the time when the humans counter-attacked and they had to painfully and regretfully abandon the Eastern Continent.
“…..This is all that stupid Emi’s fault.” The bus engine which was turned off, restarted at this time.
“Alright, we’re going to move off now……”
In the instant when the vehicle start slowly moving forward with the steady voice of the driver, Maou mumbled softly,
“The person, from beginning to end……can only cause trouble for me……”
Unable to concentrate.
Just this sentence was able to explain the situation these two weeks.
Not only Maou, including Ashiya, Chiho and Suzuno, everyone was like this. As for Urushihara, it was unclear. Emi returned to Ente Isla on the Monday two weeks ago.
That day Maou went to work, and Chiho went to school.
As Ashiya and Urushihara did not have special reasons to see her off, so Maou, from the message Suzuno sent, knew that Emi successfully headed towards Ente Isla after noon.
Other than the fact that the destination was not on Earth, Emi and the others did not have the reason or obligation to tell Maou, Ashya and Urushihara about their recent situation.
And Maou, who assumed that Emi would remain in contact with Chiho and Suzuno using some method, he did not pursue this further.
In addition, without Emi’s reminder, Maou originally intended to study properly to prepare for the license test scheduled to be held next week, so he did not pay attention to the situation around him.
These period was very peaceful.
Even the shop manager of their competitor Sentucky Mitsuki Sarue a.k.a archangel Sariel had been working seriously recently.
Partly is because Sariel wholeheartly had a crush on shop manager of the MgRonalds in front of Hatagaya station where Maou and the others worked at, Kisaki, and in addition this archangel, through the spell training which Chiho went through, successfully managed to shorten the distance between him and Kisaki (at least Sariel himself thought so), so recently he has been very hospitable to Maou and Chiho.
Other than that, once he thought that the normally nagging Emi was not at his side, Maou was able to quickly focus on his work and studies.
This feeling of release also affected Ashiya, who was originally very strict about expenses, not only did he add a dish which Maou and the others choose for dinner, he did not complain to Urushihara, who took the chance to go online shopping continuously.
Even though Chiho seemed to be worried about Emi’s situation, the other party was still the strongest human in the world----Hero Emilia. Since she would definitely nonchalantly return, then he would just lose out if he thought too much, so Maou, with these kind of thoughts, did not confront Chiho’s worries.
The change occurred on the Saturday of that week. ※
“Demon King, has Emilia returned?”
Sightly earlier than the time Maou went to work, Suzuno came to visit and asked.
“Huh? Why did you suddenly ask about this?”
“Uh, I just wanted to know if Emiia has come back……”
After Suzuno repeated the same question, she fell silent.
“Who knows. She hasn’t returned yet?”
From Maou’s standpoint, he would only feel troubled if he was asked this by others.
Even if Emi returned from her hometown, she had no reason to contact Maou.
Since Suzuno and Chiho have not heard anything, then the possibility of Maou and the others knowing was even lesser.
After Maou explained thus----
“Yeah, true. That’s true. I’m sorry, disturbing you like this.”
Suzuno left with a rather troubled expression on her face.
“……?”
Just as Maou and Ashiya looked at each other in confusion and Urushihara was fast asleep at the computer table, Suzuno, who walked out into the corridor dawdled for a while, and like she made up her mind, spoke,
“……Chiho-dono? Sorry for disturbing you this early.”
The sound of Suzuno calling Chiho was heard from outside.
Maou, intermittently hearing their conversation, looked up at the monthly shift timetable stuck on the fridge.
Today was Saturday, September 11.
If Maou recalled correctly, Emi should have returned yesterday, on the postion of tomorrow, the 12th, in Chiho’s cute handwriting----
“Yusa-san, Happy Birthday!”
she wrote this.
Even though without detecting that Suzuno’s voice could not longer be heard from outside, the moment Maou realised this, the mobile phone which Maou put in the corner of the room started to ring.
It was a call from Chiho.
Her voice sounded like she would start crying anytime.
The next day, there was no communication from Emi as well.
Even though Maou was busy comforting Chiho who was worried about Emi yesterday, this time even he started to feel that something was wrong.
Considering Emi’s personality, disregarding Maou, she would not do anything which would make Chiho worry.
And today was also the 12th, the day she made arrangements with Chiho.
Even though she felt unhappy with Maou’s participation, Emi should not dislike celebrating with Chiho, and break off the arugment without apologizing at all.
Today Suzuno also came to the Demon Fortress early in the morning to confirm Emi’s safety.
“Is there no way to contact that person called Emeralda?”
Even though Maou tried to ask this, but Suzuno did not even enter the room and said softly while standing on the porch,
“Because even Emeralda-dono was unable to establish contact, that’s why I’m so anxious.”
The ‘gate’ to the foreign world was opened at the roof of Emi’s apartment, and on the day she saw Emi off, Suzuno also exchanged mobile numbers and email addresses with Emi’s past comrade----Ente Isla’s strongest warlock----Emeralda Etuva.
The court warlock from Saint Aire and inquisitor from the Doctrinal Correction Council, who originally would not have direct interaction, actually exchanging mobile numbers in the foreign world of Japan, even though it was not known who started it first, both of them showed intriguing smiles.
After that, through ‘Mental Transmission’ using the mobile phone, Suzuno received a notification that Emi had safely arrived in Japan, however this made it harder for her to understand why she was unable to contact Emi and Emeralda right now.
Compared to the time when the two factions of humans and demons fought, because of the interference of various powers in Ente Isla, the situation right now has become more complex.
If this is the result of the peace which Emi brought, then it would be too ironic, anyone in the human world right now was in a war situation where one of the five continents, the Eastern Continent was making enemies out of the other continents.
The Malebranche who wanted to revive the Demon Army infiltrated the Eastern Continent, and the one who was pulling the strings was the person who fought against the demons as the Hero’s comrade, Olba Meyers.
Even though just that was already very complex, these Malebranche were already commanding the personification of the orbs which made up the world, the things the angels were searching for----the ‘Sephira’, making one feel that the angels were currently working in the background.
Even though the people who know this are very few, but no matter what reason they haboured while taking action later, it can be confirmed that this was not a problem which could be solved by simply ending the war between humans in Ente Isla.
“If my communications with Ente Isla are too frequent, there will be a risk of the Church detecting the waves of Mental Transmission, so I cannot carelessly make contact with that side.”
The secret order given to Suzuno by the Church has not been retracted, and she had no intentions to carry it out.
Suzuno lived in Japan and acted on her own in order to correct the justice of the Church, so on the results alone, what she was doing is equivalent to disobeying the orders of the Enforcement division of the Church.
The orders which Suzuno had in the past was to spread the fake news that Hero Emilia had died and hide Olba’s act of apostasy as he did nothing about the fact that the Demon King was still alive.
If these goals could not be met, she would have to kill Emi and Maou, causing ‘Olba’s lies to become the truth’.
Considering that Emi had spent 2 years to finish her journey to defeat the Demon King, the Enforcement division probably did not think that Suzuno, who went to a foreign world for her job, would be able to finish it in just 3 months.
However, even though she has not been suspected, Suzuno could not let others know that she had taken actions opposing the intentions of the Church Enforcement division. After all, the shocking news of ‘Crestia Bell becoming a new Demon General’ has already reached the ears of the demons occupying the Eastern Continent.
Olba seemed to have separated himself from the Church’s activities at the moment, so in the short term, there was no need to worry about the Church obtaining the information which the Demons had, but even so, Suzuno’s position was still much more delicate than Emi’s.
“In the worse case scenario, they might send someone like how I was before to Japan. And those people, in order to erase the facts unfavourable to the Church, would definitely do things which can endanger Japan without any hesitation.”
“Sigh, just the fact that Emilia is still alive is already disadvantageous to the Church, Olba also said this a few times before coming here.”
Urushihara recalled what happened before and said this.
“Bell, based on what you said, even since you first came to Japan until now, you have been pushing this issue aside?”
Ashiya asked this with a rather stern tone.
“You’re right. With regards to Sariel-sama, I do not have anything to say……but honestly speaking, why things have become the way they are now, you guys also are largely responsible.”
However, Suzuno retaliated without any trace of guilt.
“What?”
“……More accurately, this is all your fault.”
“I can’t pretend that I did not hear that.”
Even though Maou was somewhat angered by Suzuno’s arrogant explanation, the latter lightly shrugged her shoulders and answered,
“My original ideal situation was the let the Hero return after defeating the Demon King who had escaped to the foreign world and bring true peace to Ente Isla and at the same time correct the Church’s justice, who had spoiled Emilia’s reputation, to that of true faith. However, the Hero Emilia herself……”
Suzuno hmphed like she felt it was boring, looked down at Maou and said,
“Not only did she not fight the Demon King because she believed that he would not do anything bad, she even left him behind and went back to her hometown. In this way, no matter how long I wait, my situation will not change.”
“……Ugh.”
Maou clicked his tongue awkwardly and Ashiya groaned while frowning.
But the two of them could not give any rebuttal.
“If I can get rid of all of you now, then the situation might change a little you know?”
Suzuno’s eyes narrowed, glaring at Maou who was gritting his teeth in regret.
“Sigh, it’s not time for jokes right now. The problem is with Emilia……but right now, we cannot do anything on our end. Regarding the fact that Emilia has not returned, rather than Emilia herself, it would be more appropriate to think that something happened with Emeralda-dono.”
“Emeralda?”
“Yeah. Emilia is unable to use the ‘Gate Opening spell’, and this is the same for Emeralda-dono. They mainly rely on a tool called ‘Angel’s Feather Pen’.”
Upon hearing the name of that tool, Maou frowned a bit for unknown reasons, but the people present did not discover this.
“I heard that this feather pen is in Emeralda-dono’s possession, so I was thinking, perhaps something happened to Emeralda-dono……and Emilia might be trying to solve it.”
The reason why Suzuno’s tone held some hesitation was probably because she knew that all this was just conjecture.
“Then why didn’t Emi tell you or Chi-chan about this?”
This deduction was immediately rejected by Maou’s nonchalant question.
“Until now, Emi has communicated with Emeralda through ‘Mental Transmission’. If so, she should be able contact here from her side……why hasn’t she contacted all of you?”
“……If I knew the reason, I would not have to feel so anxious.”
Suzuno’s voice was filled with anxiety.
“However, even if we assume that Emilia has met up with some trouble, then what kind of problem is it? Even though I feel bad for Emilia for saying this, but no matter what kind of trouble she encounters, I find it hard to believe that she would meet with difficulties. After all, she is the Hero right? Other that the destruction of the world, I cannot think of any trouble which can cause Emila, who can easy beat back even the Demon Army and Archangels to get into a situation where she cannot communicate.”
That’s right, basically Emi had a strong body that was much more powerful than the humans on Earth or Ente Isla.
Even though it was mainly due to holy magic and angel’s blood, but even if she met with a traffic accident on the road, she should be unharmed.
If it is enemies at the standard of the Knights, whether she was ambushed by more than one person, or had her arms and legs tied up and gagged, Emi would be able to defeat them solely using spells without even having to move one finger.
“Hey, let me ask you something, is the ‘Gate Opening spell’ really that difficult for humans?”
“What?”
Suzuno raised her eyebrow because of Maou’s sudden question.
“Uh, even though we are like this now, whether it is me, Ashiya or Urushihara, we can cast the ‘Gate Opening spell’ alone. In addition, Olba seemed to be able to use it as well, so I really cannot understand why you and Emi do not know it.”
“You just want to express that you’re skilled right.”
After Suzuno said this unhappily, she closed her eyes and answered,
“Strictly, it’s not as if I don’t know how to use it. As long as Emilia accumulates proper practice, she can probably learn it as well. Anyway, the ‘Gate Opening spell’ not only uses up a large amount of holy magic, it also requires complicated spell rituals. Even if I can learn the spell ritual, if I do not have a corresponding amplifier, even if I can open the ‘gate’, I am unable to specify the destination after passing through the ‘gate’.”
“I see, the key is the amount of holy magic huh……”
“So in a different meaning from Emi, Olba-sama who is able to cast the ‘Gate Opening spell’ with his own powers without an amplifier, is an existence close to a monster. Even amongst the six archbishops who are part of the Enforcement division in the Church, the only one who probably can match up to Olba-sama’s power is the comparatively younger Cervantes-sama. And I don’t even know if Cervantes-sama researches on these related spells, after all, this is a spell which is not normally required.”
“That’s true……”
“Even though there are other people who have trained in the ‘Gate Opening spell’ in the External Missionary department, including me, but other than Olba-sama, I cannot think of anyone else who can use it without an amplifier. As for the important amplifier, it refers to the huge structures built in the headquarters of the Church, Saint Ignord and a few Church controlled areas in the Western Continent----‘Heaven Stairs’. Before casting the spell, the person has to spend time to travel to those places.”
“Oh~”
“Even though Olba-sama can use the ‘Gate Opening spell’, whether he can stablise it completely on his own and perfectly decide the destination is questionable. After if Olba-sama really planned to kill Emilia, he should not have sent her to a human society in a prosperous country.”
This explanation was reasonable.
“And opening a ‘gate’ and maintaining the stability of the ‘gate’ for people to pass through, are two completely different things.”
Suzuno continued to speak,
“If it’s just opening a ‘gate’, perhaps I would be able to barely do it without assistance, but it would be like that at most. I cannot guarantee the safety of the people passing through the ‘gate’, and if I want to pass through the ‘gate’ I created myself, I would need to have the ability to ‘maintain the gate’s opened state in a steady manner’. Even though I don’t know the actual time spent, if I ran out of energy halfway through and cause the ‘gate’ to lose stability, I would be unable to predict where I would be sent.”
“Ooh……”
Maou and Ashiya could not help but look at each other and nod to show their agreement.
The two of them had gotten stranded in Japan because they lost control of the ‘gate’, so they had to agree with Suzuno’s explanation.
“If so, as long as Maou regains his form as a Demon King and cast the spell, we can head for Ente Isla right?”
Urushihara suddenly interrupted.
“After overloading with holy magic, if would be converted to demonic magic, didn’t you guys succeed in that experiment once before? If we can let Maou regain his demonic magic, then it would be no problem opening the ‘gate’ a few times right?”
“Hm, for Lucifer, this is a good suggestion.”
Ashiya said in awe, but Suzuno replied with a stony face,
“It probably can’t be done.”
“Hm, I think so as well.”
Maou rejected this as well.
“That time Emi was around. With just Suzuno’s holy magic, even if she used her full power and injected it into my body, it would only cause me discomfort and would not be able to recover my demonic magic.”
“Even though I’m frustrated, but the Demon King is correct. The holy magic I possess might not even be half of what Emi has. Basically our capacities are different from the start. If only the portion from me alone is injected, if I am not careful and caused the demon side of the Demon King to have holy magic poisioning, then all of you will be homeless from next month.”
“Ugh.”
“Impossible huh……and I thought it was a good idea.”
Ashiya sucked in a breath with a stern expression while Urushihara slumped over the Japanese style chair and mumbled to himself.
(T/N: At this point of time, I wonder why no one suggested that they could just give holy magic to Lucifer and have him open the gate haha. Must be for the sake of the plot.)
“……Wait a minute everyone. When did the topic turn into Emi getting into danger and me having to save her?”
Maou waved his hand and restructured the scene.
“Even though all of you seem to have forgotten, but I am the King of Demons, Emi’s enemy you know? Regardless of whether the humans of Ente Isla want to go to war or anything, it has nothing to do with us, to be more precise, if all of you kill each other because of war, it is actually to our advantage. And going back to Ente Isla, or getting involved in some trouble there, that is all Emi’s responsibility, Whatever happens later, it is Emi and your problem, and has nothing to do with us. Sigh, though Chi-chan is quite pitiful.”
Maou looked towards the shift timetable stuck on the fridge while remembering Chiho’s back as she happily wrote down the agreed date for the combined birthday party on top.
“Even if the Demon Army attacked together, they were not Emi’s match. In addition, after returning to Ente Isla, the holy magic accumulated in her body will increase and become a few times stronger than when she was here. It is meaningless to worry about her.”
Maou said this quickly in an uncharacteristic manner while looking towards Suzuno.
“Since you are helpless now, then we are as well. And we are different from you and do not have to worry about Emi’s safety. That person returned on her own will.”
“Demon King……but……”
“This topic ends here. Since Emi did not come, today’s party will be cancelled. I should prepare for tomorrow’s driving test. Hey, Urushihara, move aside.”
Maou chased Urushihara away from the computer table, and Urushihara, in a rare moment, said nothing and relinquished the computer.
Maou connected to the website which he is able to do mock questions for the driving license test, Ashiya, Urushihara and Suzuno could only look at his back with complex expressions as he gave off the atmosphere that the topic has ended.
“Demon King.”
“……What is it, is there anything else?”
“Even if Chiho-dono asks you for help, would you say the same thing?”
“……Ugh.”
Maou momentarily became speechless, but he still replied stubbornly,
“Even though I would say it in a gentler manner, but my conclusion will not change. Firstly, I really can’t do anything about it. And in addition, this is Emi we’re talking about here. I already said many times before, there is no need to worry about her.”
Maou replied even without looking back.
With regards to this, Ashiya and Urushihara had nothing to say as well.
But----
“Maou-san……”
A frail sound caused the Demon King’s already bent back and heart to jolt once.
Maou held his breath and slowly turned his head.
The person there is----
“Sa, Sasaki-san……”
“Uwah, how cruel.”
The person standing in front of the groaning Ashiya and Urushihara, who seemed like he was chiding Suzuno, was a sorrowful looking Chiho.
Chiho, who appeared next to Suzuno, looked straight at Maou who had turned back with an uneasy gaze.
The reason why Suzuno did not enter the room was because of this.
From the beginning she had planned to have Chiho hear everything.
“……Tsk……”
“I know that Maou-san isn’t the type of person who says one thing and does another.”
“……Eh?”
Maou thought that he would be lectured coldly, but Chiho actually said something unexpected,
“Maou-san is the Demon King, Yusa-san is the Hero……the both of you were originally enemies, I know all of this. Maou-san saying that you don’t care what happens to ‘Hero Emilia’, you should be serious about that.”
Chiho clasped her hands in front of her chest and even though her voice was shaking like she was about to cry, she still continued speaking in an agitated manner,
“ The ‘Demon King Satan’ and ‘Hero Emilia’ have been enemies since they met, and until now, this is a fact which cannot be reversed. I also feel that you can only see each other as enemies……but, Maou-san……didn’t you say before……that you’re going to give me an amazing present?”
The emotions which Chiho could not suppress started to show on her face.
“Even though Yusa-san, may be very reluctant, and maybe not so……but, didn’t you say before……me, Suzuno-san……and Yusa-san, are Maou-san’s ‘Generals’……and can, stay by your side, you want us to, see the new world……”
“……Sasaki-san.”
“Eh, what is this, why didn’t I hear about it, ouch!”
Ashiya seriously listened to Chiho’s voice as she tried her best to speak to Maou and gave a slap to Urushihara’s face as he spoke without reading the atmosphere.
Chiho looked towards Urushihara who could not speak due to the pain from his nose because of the strong impact and continued speaking,
“Even Urushihara-san, who betrayed you once, is a General now right……uu……Maou-san, didn’t you pick Yusa-san yourself……didn’t you, on your own will, picked Yusa-san who was your enemy……”
“……”
“Even if my worries are meaningless, it is alright. This, would be better……but, for such an amazing Yusa-san, to have not returned yet, I’m really very worried……”
“Chiho-dono……”
Chiho’s legs weakened, but Suzuno, standing next to her, supported her.
Maou maintained his posture of looking back, and was unable to move at all.
“And……Alas=Ramus-chan, is with Yusa-san right? If so, how can Maou-san not worry……so, Maou-san right now, is lying……fu……”
Chiho seemed to have restrained her own feelings before she broke down, she shakily sighed heavily and bowed.
“It was me who asked Suzuno-san to allow me to listen at the side. I’m sorry, actually doing something akin to lying to everyone.”
“……Yeah.”
“……Then I’m leaving first……”
Just as Chiho bowed lightly again, and walked past Suzuno to go back, Maou shouted in a voice which lacked any domineering air,
“Chi-chan.”
“……Yes.”
Chiho stopped walking but did not turn back.
At that moment, Maou did not know why he wanted to stop Chiho.
After a short silence, what Maou finally said----
“……you better not carelessly use ‘Mental Transmission’ to communicate with Emi okay. If Emi really met up with a tricky situation, your situation might become dangerous as well.”
what something this meaningless.
Chiho did not turn back, so it could not be confirmed what expression she had right now----
“I understand.”
but after saying this softly, she left Villa Rosa Sasazuka.
After hearing the footsteps walking down the public staircase, and confirming from the window that Chiho, whose dejected looking back which appeared at the road in front had disappeard around the corner, Maou looked back towards Suzuno with a sinister expression,
“……You……”
He was tricked.
Even though Maou could not help but glare at Suzuno, the both of them knew how weak the power in this Demon King’s eyes were.
“If I did not go to this extent, I would be totally unable to confirm your true thoughts.”
Suzuno gave a wry smile without any guilt.
“Even though this was not my idea, since I am also named as one of the Generals of the new Demon Army, I also hope that my ‘Master’ would consider protecting my ‘colleague’, it shouldn’t be considered unreasonable right?”
“……About that matter, you better explain to me properly later.”
After seeing Urushihara crawl into the closet with an unhappy look on his face, Suzuno continued speaking,
“Even though I said that, if I trouble my ‘Master’ from the beginning, then it is quite shameful for me as a ‘General’, since I have already obtained your gurantee, I will leave it as that for now.”
“If you use your standpoint as a General only when it’s beneficial for you, I can fulfill your wish and remove you, you know. And most importantly, I did not promise both of you anything……”
“From how you can only listen to Chiho-dono’s words in shock and did not rebuke at all, I already know that you are very concerned about Emilia and Alas=Ramus’s safety. Besides that, do I need any other guarantees?”
“……”
“Then, I will first try to think of things which I can do. If it turns out to be nothing to worry about like what Chiho-dono said, that would of course be good.”
Suzuno quietly left the Demon Fortress.
“……Damn……”
Maou slammed his fist on the computer table.
“Demon King-sama, with all due respect……”
“What is it. Are you going to lecture me and ask me to worry about Emi?”
Maou replied unhappily to Ashiya, who spoke to him from behind.
“No, honestly speaking, I am actually against the matter of appointing Emilia and Bell as Demon Generals, but compared to that, there is a situation which is more worrisome.”
“Huh?”
Ashiya sat behind Maou with a straight back and spoke while being at the same height with his Master,
“Even though Demon King-sama intentionally avoided a certain possibility just now, Bell and Sasaki-san might have felt traces of it. That is why they felt that Emilia had been dragged into some trouble.”
“……”
Maou looked at the screen of the computer in front of him, which showed the questions from the driving license test.
The question, from the point of view of a vehicle in motion, a pedestrian crossing and intersection was drawn, the theme was ‘Predicting danger’.
Next was an open ended question, predicting the dangers which may occur from this picture.
“Of course, if it was planned to harm Emilia directly, then even if it is our Demon Arny, it should not be an issue for her. But since the humans of Ente Isla are in a warring situation……then the thing which can weaken the ‘danger’ of Emilia’s weapon and power, might not just be swords coming from the front.”
“……”
“Even if Emilia was betrayed by the human society of Ente Isla, she is still proud of being the savior of the humans and Hero. As a human, if you want to suppress the morally upright Emilia, what is the most effective method?”
“……Who knows what humans are thinking……”
“For Demon King-sama, who stayed here personally in order to learn the way of thinking of humans, has a duty to know these things.”
Ashiya’s tone was very steady from beginning to end.
But because Ashiya, like Chiho, understood Maou better than anyone, he was able to mercilessly point out Maou’s contradictions.
An official who is able to give exact advice to their Master is a very precious existence.
“Other than Emeralda Etuva and Alberto Ende, Emi does not have other comrades in the current Ente Isla. The power holders is the Church is obvious, and even the Malebranche lead by Barbaricca and Heaven are her enemies. If these people knew through certain methods that Emilia has appeared in Ente Isla, equivalent to the main battlefield, do you think they would just stand by and watch?”
With regards to her own movements, Emeralda should have tried her best to control the flow of information.
But on the other hand, it was not difficult to imagine that Emeralda and Alberto were watched by many different powers.
After all, not only did they escape the Church’s house arrest with their own power, they even publicly rebuked the news of Hero Emilia’s death released officially by the Church.
Since Suzuno did not move according ot the wishes of the Church, then it was impossible for the survellience of the Church on Emeralda and Alberto to be abolished over time.
If Emeralda’s movements were detected by someone, and like how Suzuno predicted, the faction decided to use this and set a trap on Emeralda, then how would things turn out......
“The easiest way is to use hostages…..right?”
“You are correct. And not only restricted to Emeralda Etuva, as long as they can suppress Emilia’s power, it doesn’t matter who the target was. Abducting the existences important to Emilia to suppress her god like ability……aren’t humans, that kind of existence?”
“That’s right. Basically before I carried out the unification, high level strategies such as ‘abducting hostages’ did not exist in the Demon World at all, and no humans will get the idea of using demons as hostages. But…..do the humans in Ente Isla have to do such a thing to Emi? No matter what, she is still the Hero who saved the world right?”
The humans of Ente Isla do not have a reason, and are unreasonable to make Hero Emilia their enemy.
Just based on the difference in ability alone, it was difficult to imagine what benefits one can get from doing something like challenging their savior……
“Even though it is meaningless to say it now, but before when Farfarello returned, appointing Emilia and Bell as Generals is really a bad decision.”
Ashiya suddenly pulled the topic back.
Like he was giving his Master directions, Ashiya spoke with frevour to the confused Maou.
“When I first heard about this, I thought it was a plot by Demon King-sama to weaken the relations of of Emilia and Bell……looks like it’s not like that after all.”
Sensing that Ashiya was starting to enter his lecture mode, Maou could not help but show a stotic face and answered,
“Even though I was affected by the atmosphere to some extent, in order to guarantee Chi-chan’s safety and prevent the demons from coming to Japan again, this was something which could not be helped……after all, if Barbaricca knew that Emi is still alive, he might just attack directly……”
Ashiya nodded in agreement.
Maou did not wish for his own demon citizens to die in a meaningless battle.
The battle which Ciriatto incited in Choshi proved that even if a Malebranche Chief went up against Emi who had not fully regained her power, he still would not win.
Barbaricca, who betrayed and left the Demon World, regardless of what kind of motives he had as he acted, if he continued to cause harm to Japan, Emi and Suzuno would not just stand by and watch.
In other to prevent things from developing to that, there was a need for the Demon King himself to announce that these enemies of the demons in the past were no longer enemies.
To the King of the demons, this kind of thinking was very correct. However, though correct----
“Even though Demon King-sama guaranteed Japan and Sasaki-san’s safety through appointing these three people as new Generals, but did you realise that that would also sacrifice Emilia’s and Bell’s safety in Ente Isla?”
Maou replied after being stunned for a bit,
“Uh, hm? Because Suzuno and Emi are like this right now……and Farfarello took this news to Afsahan……and since the Eastern Continent is being controlled by Barbaricca right now……”
After Maou used his finger to draw in the air a few times like he was sorting out his feelings----
“………………Ah!”
He grabbed his head and shouted.
“I see, this made the humans angry! Because they thought Emi and Suzuno are traitors!”
“Looks like you really did not know……”
Ashiya sighed.
“Since this is news brought back by demons, and the official word on the surface is that Emilia has already passed away, and considering that Suzuno’s mission is a secret order, the humans would probably not believe this information immediately, but even so, there might be some people to start to act because they have become suspicious.”
Just like what Suzuno just said, next time they might send new assassins or a large scale human army. Maou had thought that he had eliminated the threat from the demons, but unknowingly exposed Emi and Suzuno to danger.
“Th, then why did they not say anything……”
Even though it was in a half joking manner, but Suzuno did call herself a ‘General’ just now, perhaps because she was thinking of Chiho’s safety, other than the first day, Emi also looked like she accepted this fact.
“This means that they have accepted it. For Sasaki-san’s safety, they probably have made the decision to face danger long time ago. The reason why Emilia decided to return home this time, wasn’t it because she ‘did not want to be controlled by others’?”
“……That is……”
“Because she understood this, Emilia and Bell did not say anything, of course part of the reason is because they are concerned for Sasaki-san……but doesn’t this mean that they wish to protect the current situation……protect this life where even though we are not compatible and habour various problems, we still gather and eat dinner together.”
“Then what do you think about this?”
“About that, with things as they are now, as long as Demon King-sama is able to accomplish your ambition of conquering the world, I will not be concerned about the process. Of course, personally, I do not wish to face the situation of working together with my enemies.”
Ashiya deftly avoided Maou’s counterattack.
Maou stewed in his own anger with an unhappy look on his face and Ashiya, after looking at this Master with an easy smile on his face, he immediately resumed his stern expression and continued speaking,
“Demon King-sama, these are my thoughts……which faction do you think clearly wishes to detain Emilia?”
“Huh?”
“Emilia has a strong physique and spirit. So by thinking about it, even if normal people wanted to force her to do anything, they would not be able to harness that power, and if they are not careful, they might end up being counterattacked by her.”
“What are you getting at?”
“Which faction……is able to see what value Emilia has besides her fighting powress?”
“……Hey, don’t tell me……”
Maou sucked in a breath because the faces of the angels who acted to steal Emi’s holy sword, Alas=Ramus and ‘Yesod’ fragements surfaced in his mind.
If this hypothesis is true, and Emi did meet up with trouble, then even Alas=Ramus will be affected.
“But all this is just your imagination right?”
With the sound of the sliding door opening, Urushihara suddenly opened the closet and walked out.
In Urushihara’s arms was the mini storage drawer he put in the closet without anyone’s permission.
“We don’t know if Ente Isla’s and Japan’s calender system corresponds completely, then the public horse carriages are different from Japan, and won’t reach the station based on a timetable right? In addition, they would also have to consider Emeralda Etuva’s schedule, so she might have postponed coming back because it was difficult to find a suitable time.”
Urushihara placed the drawers on the tatami and started to rummage around inside.
“Even though we don’t have the right to say such things, it is still a recovering country which had been conquered by the Demon Army, so the various facilities might not be sufficiently built up yet, I feel that Emilia is simply too used to the way of living in Japan, which is why she’s late.”
“……Your way of thinking is too optimistic.”
“Even so, if it’s like Sasaki Chiho, who is starting to cry even though today has not ended, it’s really too pessimistic. Even though both of you discussed about the possibility of hostages, but the western raiding army which I commanded before, not just Emeralda Etuva, we have also held quite a few important people of Saint Aire you know? But at that time, not only did Emilia rescue all the hostages, she also defeated my army in the end. So I find it difficult to imagine that she would be controlled by others because they have hostages.”
As expected for Urushihara who had fought and lost to Emi twice before, it felt that his explanation was strangely persuasive.
That’s true, if the other party is Emi, it feels that should would be able to break through any trickery about normal people just by her power alone.
“Sigh, why don’t we observe the situation for a bit? Even though it’s not like I don’t understand your worry for Alas=Ramus, but as long as Emilia is still alive, she’ll be alright yeah? At least, for now, on Earth or Ente Isla, I cannot think of anyone who can singlehandedly kill Emilia.”
After saying this, Urushihara put the drawer he searched back into the closet without taking anything and went back again to take out a new drawer.
“Anyway, let’s wait for Bell to act. Basically even if Emilia met with some trouble she would not hope for Maou to do anything for her right?”
Rather than that, it feels like she would get angry because Maou and the others are too meddling.
“……Ashiya, Urushihara.”
“Yes.”
“Hm?”
Maou sighed deeply with a wry smile.
“I’m sorry. I have calmed down a bit.”
After saying this, Maou turned towards the computer again.
“I should first focus my attention on the things in front of me. When she comes back, I’m going to show her the driving license, and amuse myself using the fact that she’s late.”
“……”
“Whatever makes you happy……eh, where did I put it……I recall that I put it here when he came before……I shouldn’t have thrown it away.”
Ashiya silently bowed to his Master’s back, while Urushihara pulled out a new drawer, it looks like he’s searching for something.
(T/N: If anyone has not made the connection, Lucifer was searching for the phone number Gabriel left behind when he visited in Volume 5.)
As a result, even though Emi did not return that day, on the surface, the Demon Fortress still passed the day in a normal manner.
※
In the end, Maou’s failed at his first exam and had no choice but to challenge it a second time.
Even though it’s not like he wanted to shift the blame, but the reason for Maou being unable to focus during the first exam was definitely because of what Chiho and Ashiya said.
Maou himself did appoint Emi as a General, and after that he also announced to Emi that he will help her find a new meaning in life.
Currently, Ashiya’s theories were worrying, Heaven has always wanted to detain Emi, if they found out that Emi has went to Ente Isla, they would naturally use this strategy.
However, Sariel, who wanted to catch Emi and steal the holy sword, has completely become a Japanese citizen because he has a deep crush on Maou’s superior, and after that, he had shown no signs of contacting his comrades.
In addition, Gabriel, on the same level as archangel Sariel, had been easily pushed back by Emi.
Even though the situation might be different if more than one archangel level opponent appeared at the same time, but even if that did not happen in Japan, it will still become a huge incident.
It was difficult to imagine that the people of Ente Isla would not sense their holy magic, but like this, Maou found it even harder to understand Emi’s reason for not returning to Japan.
Even though Maou had filled the answers wrongly by one space because he had been thinking about these things, but it was already more than two weeks after the date which Emi was supposed to return to Japan.
After that, Suzuno seemed to have researched many methods, such as collecting amplifiers in order to use a high level technique to make it difficult for others to detect Mental Tramissions, emitting sonars or searching for Emi’s other comrade Alberto and so on, anyway, whatever could be done in Japan, she has tried everything.
Therefore, Suzuno’s room was currently filled with strange tools and spell diagrams which were used as amplifiers, and it looked like she was immersed in some kind of suspicious new cult.
But until today, there seemed to be no results shown.
The only thing which could be confirmed was at least Emi and Emeralda had not returned to Japan.
Ever since the day Emeralda fetched Emi to go back home, there was no one else who opened a ‘gate’ connecting between Japan and Ente Isla.
The frequency which Chiho opened her mouth and spoke at work had decreased, causing Maou to be suspected by Kisaki, who did not know anything, about whether he had carelessly made Chiho unhappy again.
Perhaps because he failed at the theory exam of the driving license, and the discomfort he felt with the life without Emi showed subconsciously----
“If you have anything troubling you, you can discuss with me you know?”
In the end Kisaki actually said this to Maou.
Logically, Maou should not feel that troubled.
After all, when their archenemy the Hero is not around, the surrounding atmosphere was so quiet until even Ashiya got rid of his inhibitions and suggested to eat yakiniku.
“……Wrong, I’m just worried about Alas=Ramus.”
Recalling the exam failure last time, Maou started to find excuses.
Someone is still truly good at telling lies will only tell lies at key moments, the remaining time is used to actively tell the truth so other people will not suspect them.
Even though it is a sin to lie to others, but occasionally the lies told to oneself will only be filled with more deception, not only does it wear away at the spirit, it would cause a person to cower.
Maou was truly worried for Alas=Ramus.
But he knows that things are just like that.
Maou was angry at the part of him who is looking for reasons to hoodwink others and having to hide this kind of feelings.
“……Reached Tenmondai-mae……Tenmondai-mae.”
The bus driver made an announcement in a unique speaking rhythm and stopped the vehicle.
This place happens to be the middle point between the south gate of Chofu station and the exam centre.
At the bus stop in front of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan----
“Yea! We caught up!”
A voice which did not match the current atmosphere was heard from the entrance at the back of the bus.
Looking carefully, a young girl wearing khaki overalls and a newsboy cap which covered her eyes was pulling a man wearing a western suit onto the bus.
“Father! Hurry up!”
“Yeah, yosh……”
It looks like they are father and daughter.
Maou subconsciously looked out of the window.
Even though he did not notice the last time, but the station name ‘Tenmondai-mae’ seems to be literal, a door was built on a small green hill and from its appearance, it looked like a university.
“Oh, so there are places like this.”
Tokyo, where the light of the stars are dimmed because of human activities, actually having an observatory is quite unexpected.
For a residential area in the city fringe, Mitaka City who has an observatory installed is still considered a propersous big city.
At least if a person looked at the night sky with naked eyes, there are no expectations to see the light of the stars.
Looking at the rare facility which he normally would not notice, such thoughts surfaced in Maou’s mind, but at the instant he realized that he did not have further thoughts on this and planned to return to his revision, taking the chance before he reached the exam centre----
“……Alright, we’re moving off……”
With a huge shake, the bus moved off again.
Just now the bus stopped on a slope. Perhaps because the vehicle moved off on a slope, the tremor was especially strong, causing Maou to accidentally drop the textbook he was reading.
“Ah!”
“Oh?”
A voice was heard in the fully crowded bus.
“S, sorry.”
The textbook dropped onto the foot of that passenger.
Maou looked up as he apologized----
“It’s alright, don’t worry about it.”
and discovered that the passenger in front of him was the young girl wearing the newsboy cap of the father daughter pair who got on the bus just now.
Even though it was beyond his control, Maou still felt hesitant about reaching his hand next to a girl’s leg on public transport. Therefore that young girl, without touching the other passengers, picked up the book in the mess of passengers and passed the book to Maou.
“Here, please take it.”
“Ah, thanks.”
As that girl wore her hat until it covered her eyes, so Maou, who was seated could not see her expression, but at least she looked like she was not angry.
In reality, the other party was smiling while holding the book out----
“……”
“Er, erhm……”
However the young girl, for unknown reasons, actually stared closely at Maou’s hand as he prepared to accept the book.
Even if Maou’s hand had already touched the textbook, she still did not let go of the book, and it looked like she was snatching the book from Maou.
“Erhm……”
“……Sniff sniff.”
Did she not hear him?
No, at this distance it was impossible for her not to hear him.
But the young girl, who leaned towards Maou, not only did she not intend to let go----
“…………Sniff sniff.”
“Wait, wait a moment!”
she even pulled Maou’s hand towards her face together with the textbook.
Maou, who could not let go of the book in his hand, and at the same time, did not know why he was pulled over----
“H,hey?”
could only use the hand which was not holding the book to grab his other hand.
Maou did not have a personality where he would feel happy if a girl who was a stranger held his hand, and even more so, he was still on public transport at the moment.
As a male, even though Maou wanted to pull his hand back to preserve his life in society----
“Just a while is fine.”
“Eh?”
But the young girl was not willing to let go.
And it looked like----
“Sniff sniff……”
she seemed to be smelling the smell on Maou’s hand?
“H, hey!”
This time even Maou started to feel uncomfortable and forcefully pulled his hand away.
Even though he did not take back his textbook, but Maou, with his arm free, looked up at the young girl with shock on his face, and discovered that she was pouting in dissatisfaction.
“Even though I don’t know what you’re doing, please return the book to me.”
Honestly, Maou did not want to continue talking to this girl who acted strangely, but since the book was still in her hands, it could not be helped.
Even though it was not something valuable, and Maou had already memorized all the content, but he still could not hand over something which he bought with his own money to others.
At this moment.
“……Tsubasa.”
A new voice was heard from beside the girl.
“Yes! Father!”
It was the man in the western suit who got on the bus with the girl.
Then again, this father and daughter did take the bus together.
That man who looked like a father and stood next to the girl, even though he had good looking features, it was obvious that he was not Japanese with one look. Then again, from the short conversation just now, Maou sensed that the young girl had a strange accent when she spoke. They should be foreigners then.
That man who looked like the father, took the book from the hands of the young girl ‘Tsubasa’ and passed it back to Maou.
“I’m really sorry.”
“It, it’s fine……”
Even though the father looked more normal, but even so, Maou still did not want to be involved with these two people.
Even though doing so seemed rather intentional, Maou still opened the book and moved his line of sight away from the father and daughter.
However----
“Tsubasa, apologise to this mister as well.”
that father started to exert excessive good conscience.
“Yes, father!”
The girl called ‘Tsubasa’ straightened her back, and with a close distance such that their cheeks were almost touching, lowered her head and apologized,
“Sorry!”
Even though the girl’s actions were inappropriate, but in the end, the problem still lay with Maou, who dropped the book next to her feet.
“Ah, yeah, it’s alright.”
Therefore Maou could only answer thus.
That father, seeing the situation, nodded and did not look at Maou again.
“…….”
As for the young girl, who readjusted her posture, turned her face towards Maou like she was observing him.
……The atmosphere became very awkward.
Maou thought to himself, I wonder how long it would take to get to the exam centre.
Maou angrily looked at the sign outside of the window which said that the speed limit was 30km----
“Onii-san, Onii-san!”
However, forget about the exam centre, before even reaching the next stop, that girl called Tsubasa initiated a conversation with him!
Why did things turn out like this?
Maou could not help but show a troubled expression.
“Is Onii-san going to take the driving license exam too?”
“Y, yeah……that, that’s right.”
Maou, who almost answered in a rough manner, remembered that the girl’s father was next to them, and just answered with normal polite speech. Deducing from how she used the word ‘too’, was the destination of the father and daughter the same as him?
This momentarily made Maou almost faint.
“Which attempt is it?”
“Eh?”
Maou, who did not understand the purpose of this question, answered in a confused manner.
“This time would be mine and Father’s tenth time! It’s worth commemorating!”
“Ten……”
Maou was momentarily speechless.
Even though the question just now seemed to be asking the number of attempts he had taken his license, but the girl’s answer was really too shocking.
From what Kisaki and the other employees, who had already obtained driving licenses, the theory portion seemed to be unexpectedly difficult, but it was very possible to make mistakes, but to make it to the tenth attempt was too exaggerated.
Even if this may be worth commermorating, but there was really no value in leaving a record or memory about it.
“Er, erhm, please lower your volume……”
The father, who was going to take part in an exam filled with commemorative value, was standing next to them.
Even if he was someone Maou met by chance, Maou did not want to talk about such disgraceful topics with them before reaching the exam centre.
“This can’t be helped, after all, Father can’t read kanji that well.”
Even though it was not known if the father wanted to take the Moped or car license, why would someone want to take a driving license in this situation.
And the phrase ‘can’t be helped’ shouldn’t be used in this way right?
Maou jitterly looked at the father who was backbitten by his daughter in public----
“……”
“……”
And the man in the western suit also looked in his direction with a sidealong glance, causing both their eyes to meet.
The instant their eyes met, the man immediately shifted his line of sight towards the window.
Wrong, it should be that he was pretending to look at the scenery outside.
“……”
Since you heard it, then at least say something……
Maou thought this within his mind.
“Then Onii-san, which attempt is it for you?”
“Se, second time……”
“Woah! Amazing. That is only 20% of father!”
Even though that was correct, but just based on this sentence alone, it sounded as if Maou could not match up to that father in some way.
“A, are you also taking the exam today?”
Anyway, he has to stop Tsubasa from continuing to backbite her father.
Maou, who had given up on having the other party stay quiet or be ignored, tried to change the topic.
“No, I came to wait on Father. Hm? Or is it take care? I came to take care of Father.”
This explanation made things more confusing. What is going on? Would daughters normally specially follow their father to the exam centre to take care of them? Isn’t it normally the opposite? And even if it is the opposite, it can be considered very strange already.
“T, then you don’t plan to take the exam together……”
“I did plan to take it.”
Then reply like that directly from the start.
There was no need to make reservations before registering for driving exams, as long as they reach and finish the paperwork before the appointed time, they can take part in the exam. In some corner of Maou’s heart, he prayed that the two people were not taking the same exam as him.
“But I haven’t been reading the book, so I’ll be accompanying father this time.”
Maou started to feel tired.
Even though it looked like the other party had a certain standard in Japanese, but to fail nine times in a row of a driving exam, then even if he is able to converse, he should not be that skilled in reading and writing.
Japan’s driving exam was not so easy that such laid back people would be able to pass.
“Sigh, do your best then……”
Maou could only reply in this manner.
“Yeah, let’s do our best!”
Tsubasa raised both her hands energetically.
It would be good if the conversation ended here, however after a short silence and one left turn----
“Hey, Onii-san!”
“……What is it?”
The girl initiated another conversation with Maou.
Even if Maou had already given up on revising on the bus, but once he thought that this awkward conversation might continue for an undetermined period of time, he felt a wave of despair.
“Onii-san, what’s your name?”
“……Uh……”
Maou paused intentionally.
Even though it is a good thing to be friendly, but Maou really did not want to know such a troublesome person, and just as he was troubling over whether he should say his name----
“I’m A……no, Satou Tsubasa.”
What did that ‘no’ mean? Even saying your own name wrong, don’t do that.
Not expecting that the other party would even get her own name wrong, Maou felt drained of energy again.
“Ah, erhm, I’m called Maou.”
“Maou?”
The girl’s head, wearing the newsboy cap, tilted a bit.
Then in the next instant----
“Is it referring to the king of demons?”
Maou felt chills even in his stomach.
“W, what……”
Maou was momentarily speechless.
Until now, no one had said this to him on their first meeting.
Even though there were people who joked about the reading of his name, but basically, the intonation of ‘Maou’ and ‘Demon King’ in Japanese were obviously different.
But like she was denying Maou’s thoughts when he did not know how to respond, Tsubasa said in surprise,
“Because when one talks about Demon King, aren’t they referring to the last boss in the game……”
“It’s not that meaning.”
Maou exhaled the breath he held in one go.
Anyway, Maou finally discovered that the other party did not even notice that intonation difference between the two.
Even though ‘Satou Tsubasa’ was obviously a Japanese name, but if she had been living overseas since birth, it was possible for her to be unfamiliar with Japanese.
“Oh~ so you’re not the Demon King.”
Even though it was not known what there was to regret, the girl still hung her head in a depressed manner.
However, she looked up immediately like she had discovered something.
Under the cover of the newsboy cap, Maou was still unable to see the girl’s gaze, but the latter still smiled in a satisfied manner and said,
“But! My father is called Satou Hiroshi!”
“Eh?”
Maou, who did not know how this was worth emphasizing, looked back at the father, who stood to the side, on reflex.
So that father also looked up, shifted his gaze from the book to Maou----
“I’m called Satou Hiroshi.”
and gave a soft greeting.
“Eh……”
Even though he knew doing so might be a bit rude, Maou still could not help but give a dry smile while showing a suspicious expression.
Even though this man did not have the classic foreigner features of blond hair and blue eys, but the features on his face and appearance still gave people the urge to rebuke with all their might ‘How can there be this kind of Satou Hiroshi’.
Even so, it was not a good thing to presume things. Even though this man’s appearance looked like he came from a pure European bloodline, he might still have ancestors who are Japanese or have Japanese descent, or parents who love Japanese culture, and it is also possible that this Satou Hiroshi got his name through immigration.
“……”
After Maou and Satou Hiroshi looked at each other for a bit, the latter, like before, broke off eye contact first.
Even though he was unable to ask about what is wrong with them directly, this was definitely what Maou was thinking within his heart.
At this time----
“The next stop is, in front of the exam centre main gate, in front of the exam centre main gate. Passengers heading to the Metropolian Police Department License Headquarters or Fuchu Driving License Exam Centre, please get off here……”
An electronic voice within the vehicle caused Maou to finally release his tension.
Finally he would be able to get away from this strange father daughter pair.
Just as Maou planned to press the bell installed on the grab bars in the bus----
“Uwah!”
Because he was suddenly pulled by someone, he was unable to successfully press the bell.
It turned out that Tsubasa had grabbed Maou’s hand.
Looking carefully----
“……Sniff sniff.”
“What are you doing!”
The girl, at a distance such that she was almost kissing, was actually sniffing at Maou’s fingernails.
“Tsubasa!”
The father, who could not take it anymore, warned his daughter with a stony face, but Tsubasa looked at Maou’s hand with a serious face and said,
“……I don’t understand.”
“That’s my line!”
This time, Maou wrenched his hand away without hesitation.
“What is wrong with both of you!”
If they swapped genders, it would obviously reach a standard of a criminal offence.
Even though Maou did not want to say such petty words, Tsubasa’s actions have already broken the code of conduct within the bus.
“Because a fragrant smell is interfering, I don’t really understand.”
“Huh?”
“Maou’s hand, has a fragrant smell.”
What is this person talking about?
Because of the characteristics of his profession, Maou would normally pay special attention to washing his hands, but for today, he only used a non-foaming soap bought from a nearby pharmacy for 80 yen this morning after using the washroom and before eating breakfast.
During the time when the both of them were talking, the bus finally stopped in front of the stop in front of Fuchu Driving License Exam Centre.
“T, then I’ll be going first.”
Even though he was concerned about Tsubasa’s difficult to understand actions, Maou, who wanted to quickly shake off the father and daughter pair, quickly got up, and after quickly walking past the girl towards the front door of the bus like he was running away, he got off the bus.
As there was a road between the public bus stop and the exam centre, in order to finish his paperwork before the father and daughter got off the bus, he quickly rushed towards the overhead bridge in front of him and ran towards the front porch of the exam centre.
On the other hand, the Satou father and daughter pair, in order to convert a 1000 yen note to the 220 yen bus fare for the journey from the southern entrance of Chofu to here, they ended up at the back of the queue when they got off.
“……Tsubasa, don’t stand out too much…...”
Tsubasa reacted to Hiroshi’s vague reminder in an unconcerned manner.
“That Onii-san is definitely hiding something. He has a certain smell on his hand.”
“Smell? Cough!”
Hiroshi accidentally inhaled some exhaust from when the bus was moving off and coughed lightly.
“Yeah.”
“What smell?”
“Hm……where did Maou run off to?”
Not knowing if she was even listening to Hiroshi’s words, Tsubasa looked around her from the bus stop, searching for signs of Maou.
“……Anyway, let’s go take the exam first. I must pass today.”
“Do your best.”
Tsubasa did not seem to take Hiroshi’s faint determination to heart at all.
After some time, Tsubasa gave up on searching for Maou and walked up the overhead bridge with Hiroshi.
“And also, about the smell on Maou’s hand.”
“……You always jump around topics when you speak, shocking me every time.”
Hiroshi turned towards Tsubasa in a restless manner.
But Tsubasa still continued to speak like she did not really care,
“Maou’s hand……”
At this time, from the overhead bridge, the two of them could see a public bus approach from another place and stop on the side of the road closer to the exam centre, and immediately, a large group of candidates came out from the bus.
Looks like Hiroshi would have to wait for quite a while to finish the paperwork.
Hiroshi sighed without changing the expression shown on his face, and Tsubasa continued to speak,
“has the smell of oil, potatoes and a nostalgic smell.”
“……a nostalgic smell?”
Even though Hiroshi looked like he did not understand anything from the oil and potatoes, he still looked back at Tsubasa like he had sensed something.
Tsubasa suddenly stopped walking and twirled on the spot like a ballerina, finally stopping and accurately fixing her gaze on the front porch of the exam centre, whispering in a serious tone,
“That nostalgic smell, is the same as the warm place which I stayed at before……”
※
“Hey, did you smell something strange?”
After Urushihara, sitting at the computer table, surveyed his surroundings with a frown, Ashiya, busily writing something on the kotatsu, replied without even looking back,
“It’s Bell’s room.”
“Eh?”
Urushihara, looking back, replied in a confused manner,
The smell which wafted over, was a smell of a type of herb mix being brewed and heated, sweet and piercing to the nasal cavity, and was very unpleasant.
“She seems to be burning some kind of incense. Probably as a spell amplifier.”
“……What is she doing exactly?”
“I don’t know. When I saw pink smoke coming out from the gaps around the door, even I was shocked. Anyway, she seems to want to give every method a try.”
“If it comes out from the windows, won’t the neighbours call the police thinking that a fire occurred?”
Urushihara looked towards Suzuno’s room with a stony expression.
“Sigh, she probably is trying all she can track Emilia down right?”
“Yeah.”
Ashiya answered Urushihara in a vague manner, writing rapidly on the table with a stern expression on his face.
Even snice the day they were supposed to hold Chiho and Emi’s birthday party, Ashiya would write things like this once he had the time.
Urushihara thought that Ashiya was writing something like a household expenses book, but as these documents increased in frequency from five pieces of A4 paper a day----
“Do you want to use the computer?”
and even Urushihara displayed a rare moment of concern for Ashiya----
“I don’t know computers.”
he was rejected promptly.
Even though Urushihara, who felt unhappy because of this, did not concern himself with this matter anymore, from when Ashiya started doing such a thing, in this own way, he should be doing the things he can based off a certain way of thinking.
At least it could be confirmed that Ashiya should not be concluding the household expenses for this year, after all it was just autumn.
At this moment----
“Uwah!”
“Hm?”
The apartment shook slightly.
A sound which could be classified as an explosion was heard from Suzuno’s room, causing Urushihara and Ashiya to shout out at the same time.
and that the same time----
“Ughhh, cough, cough!”
From the open window, both of them could hear the sound of Suzuno opening the window and coughing from next door.
Urushihara and Ashiya got up after looking at each other, leaned out of the window while avoiding the clothes hanging out while the weather was good to investigate the situation next door.
“Uwah, what’s with all this smoke? What are you doing?”
Like she was avoiding the white smoke coming out the room, Suzuno stuck her face out of the opened window, coughing as tears ran down her face.
“Lu, Lucifer……I’m sorry, cough, a problem occurred when I activated the spell……cough, cough!”
“Don’t use such dangerous spells where an explosion can happen when you fail inside the room!”
Faced with Urushihara’s pertinent rebuke----
“It, it’s not like that even though I went to places like antique markets to buy things which can made into amplifiers, but these items are still slightly different in terms of spell concepts, cough!”
Suzuno gave vague excuses while coughing continuously.
Urushihara shook his head in exasperation, and Ashiya, leaning out above Urushihara’s head, also complained,
“Bell, what are you doing, this will cause trouble for the neighbours. What if the freshly washed clothes end up getting a strange smell?”
Ashiya’s sensitive senses detected that the smoke billowing out from Suzuno’s room was drifting to the Demon Fortress, which was downwind, and quickly took the clothes which were hanging outside into the room to prevent the freshly washed clothes from getting a smell.
“Uh, I’m really sorry……huff……”
Suzuno leaned against the window frame in tiredness and took a deep breath.
“If I had proper facilities, this spell should not be that difficult……even though I proudly helped Chiho-dono train, but in reality, the one who lacks training is me, how shameful……”
Even though it was not as exaggerated as Chiho, but during these two weeks, Suzuno also became easily depressed.
“Looks like there’s not much progress.”
“Such regret……”
After the mysterious smoke dissipated, Suzuno sighed deeply.
“Hey, even though I don’t know what you’re doing, but remember to ventilate the air before using the kitchen equipment. I don’t want to see a fire occur.”
After Ashiya, who opened the other window in other to move the already washed clothes, said this to Suzuno, Suzuno, leaning on the window frame like a futon hung out to dry, listlessly waved her hand and replied,
“If only there were other people who can be trusted in Ente Isla besides Emeralda-dono and Alberto-dono……”
“If such a person really exists, then you won’t have to make such efforts to come here in the first place right?”
Perhaps because Suzuno herself also understood this, so she did not rebuke Ashiya’s merciless fault picking.
“Nothing can be done, I’ll try other methods later…….I need to clean up the room first.”
Even though it was not known what Suzuno was doing next door, but after the process of incense burning, smoke production and an explosion, it was obvious that her room was in a mess, and would not be as clean compared to the last time they went inside.
“Someone else besides Emeralda huh.”
After hearing Suzuno’s complaint, Urushihara started thinking for a bit.
“Hey, Bell.”
“What is it?”
Even though he was the one who called out to her, Urushihara still hesitated for a bit before handing over a small namecard like he had made up his mind.
Even though it was not known where Urushihara, who normally holes himself in the Demon Fortress, obtained this thing, but as he looked at the card which was covered in dust and dirty fold marks because of poor storage methods, he said,
“Even though more accurately…… this should be considered as untrustworthy, but other than Emeralda and Alberto……there are still other people who might understand the situation……”
Just as Urushihara was explaining hesitantly.
“Hey!”
A certain person shouted from the road in front of the windows where the three people looked out from.
“Hm?”
“Ah!”
“……Who’s that?”
That person looking up from the road next to the apartment, was waving lightly in their direction in an happy and excited manner.
But Ashiya and Suzuno, sensed the unease which was hidden beneath that smile.
“Ashiya-san, Suzuno, hello. And……even though we’re meeting for the first time, you should be Urushihara-san right?”
“So, who is she?”
Urushihara asked because a lady he did not know suddenly said his name, but he was ignored by the other two people.
“Suzuki-san……”
“Rika-dono, why……”
Faced with Suzuki Rika, who looked at them from the road, Ashiya and Suzuno could not hide their surprise.
“Please have some tea.”
“Ah, excuse me……”
Rika respectfully accepted the tea served by Ashiya.
Even though Rika looked around in interest when she first entered the Demon Fortress, there was not much to see in this room in the first place.
So after that, she stared at the ceiling above the kotatsu, quietly waiting for Ashiya and the others to be seated.
“Rika-dono, thank you for the help you have given us earlier.”
After changing to a new Kimono, Suzuno also came to the Demon Fortress, and thanked Rika for the suggestions she had given when they went to buy televisions.
“But you actually were able to find this apartment.”
Ashiya, sitting on the tatami, remarked.
“Ah……because when we went to buy televisions, I did exchange phone numbers and email addresses with Suzuno……”
“With me?”
Suzuno, who was named, pointed at herself in surprise.
“Suzuno, other than name, phone number and email address, you also filled in many things in your mobile phone’s personal information file right? Even though it differs by model, but normally when exchanging information with other people using infrared, these information will also be sent to the other party you know.”
“Ah, I see.”
Suzuno answered in realization.
When she exchanged numbers with Rika, Suzuno remembered that she did use infrared communication to send her personal information to Rika.
“I did not write anything which cannot be seen by others anyway, if it is of help to Rika-dono, that would be the best.”
Suzuno smiled cheerfully and said----
“Yeah, even though you did write ‘Inquisitor something’ in your occupation field, so I did not really understand that.”
But that smile froze after what Rika said next.
“…….Haha……so I actually wrote something like that?”
“Yeah.”
Even if Rika did not look particularly suspicious, and did not plan to continue talking about this topic, Suzuno still looked away stiffly and discovered that Urushihara was laughing at her slip up through his gaze.
“Uuu~~”
Just as Suzuno hung her head and cursed her own carelessly, Rika spoke with urgency,
“That’s right, even though I’m sorry that I came to visit suddenly without contacting first, but, I really don’t know what to do……”
The normally cheerful Rika, showed a gloomy expression when she said this.
Seeing this expression, Ashiya roughly guessed what Rika was going to say next.
“Ashiya-san, Suzuno, did you……hear anything about Emi?”
Ashiya’s prediction was spot on.
Even though Emi did say that she took leave because she had things to do in Ente Isla, she should have only taken one week leave from the day she left.
Just from this, Emi had already been absent without reason for two whole weeks.
“She did not answer my calls or messages at all, and even though I made up my mind to go to her home, I did not find her, as for work……she has been absent without work for a while.”
“Then did Yusa get fir……is everything still alright for her work wise?”
As even Ashiya, who known her for only a short while, could tell that Rika was only forcing herself to remain energetic, so after hesitating for a while, he asked his question in a more tactful manner.
“It’s currently still alright……after all, until now, forget about being absent without reason, she doesn’t even have any late records, and the management have good feedback about her work attitude and ability, so rather than angry, and director and manager, these superiors, are more worried about her current situation.”
“I see……”
“But, isn’t Emi living alone, and her parents are overseas as well?”
“Y, yeah……”
Not knowing what kind of background Emi had provided to other people, Ashiya, who was asked for an agreement, was momentarily flustered.
“Other than her colleagues, Emi doesn’t seem to have much friends, so everyone was worried that if she got sick or met up with a serious accident, people might not know about it......”
“Uh……”
Ashiya took the chance when Rika was looking down to glance at Suzuno and Urushihara.
Of course, losing communication to that extent, anyone would end up thinking of bad scenarios. After confirming that optimistic opinions would not be able to solve the current situation, Ashiya looked towards Rika once again
“So, talking about Emi’s friend whom I know, there’s only Maou-san and you guys left……even though I know that visiting suddenly would trouble everyone, but I really cannot sit still and do nothing……”
Even though Ashiya and Urushihara are not the types of demons who cannot read the atmosphere at this time and correct the fact about being ‘friends’, the people present were really unable to fulfill Rika’s expectations.
“I’m sorry……the things we know are about the same as Suzuki-san.”
Rika did not look especially depressed.
She must have mentally prepared herself for this. No, perhaps she did not habour that much expecations to begin with.
“Do you know the reason for Yusa taking leave?”
“Hm, I heard it’s because of things back home……but she looked like she did not want to talk about it, so I also did not want to ask about it, I don’t even know where she is going……”
If it’s her other colleague Shimizu Maki, she might have asked Emi about her hometown.
But to Rika, digging up facts about the hometown of other people could be considered a taboo.
Even though this had something to do with the large disaster which had occurred in her hometown of Kobe when she was young, without considering this, for people at a certain age, behind the reason of ‘things back home’, there would normally be some complicated issues involved.
“We also knew about these things only. Even though we heard that she wanted to go back home, but honestly speaking…….because we were not interested in the destination……”
In order to avoid suspicion, Ashiya tried to be as honest as possible.
“Suzuno as well?”
From Rika’s tone, it could be felt that she expected a different answer between males and females----
“I’m sorry……I do not know anything more than that……”
But Suzuno could only give the same answer as Ashiya.
Even if they said the ‘truth’, Rika would not believe them and might even cause her to be more confused.
“……That’s true…..I’m really sorry, actually coming over suddenly to ask this……”
“……Are you still doing alright?”
Even from the view of a bystander, it can be seen that Rika had relaxed her originally tensed state.
Even though Ashiya was worried that Rika would faint just like this, but luckily she only slightly relaxed her posture.
“Seriously……Emi, what happened to you……”
Rika’s sentence, really summed up all the inner voices of everyone connected to Emi, everyone present was unable to say anything in response, and the room was filled with a heavy atmosphere.
“It would be better to discuss with the police huh?”
“Wait, that’s a bit……”
Urushihara could not help but react to Rika’s natural opinion as a person from Japan.
Even though Ashiya and Suzuno knew that it was no use going to the police, Rika still looked towards Urushihara, who reacted on reflex and said,
“Normal people will react like that after all. Even though I am a friend, Emi and I are not related at all, so I really don’t want to aggravate the situation by going to the police…….but, once I think that something irreversible might happen during the time I did not report to the police……”
Luckily, Rika misunderstood Urushihara’s reaction, and thought it was the natural feeling of citizens who think that involving the police would be troublesome, but she still looked very depressed.
“Rika-dono……”
Suzuno, who felt pained at Rika’s appearance, could not help but stretch her arm towards Rika’s shoulder, planning to comfort her----
“But……”
However, what Rika said next, changed the atmosphere at one go.
“Having no contact for an entire week, is really strange after all right? Wrong, not just not contacting, she didn’t even go home……”
“““Eh?”””
Rika’s unexpected sentence, caused Ashiya, Urushihara and Suzuno to exclaim simultaneously.
“Suzuki-san?”
“Hm?”
“……What did you say just now?”
Ashiya asked in shock.
“Just now……eh? I said it was strange for her to not go home.”
“Nonono, before that!”
Urushihara rebuked.
“From when did she lose contact?”
“Eh? Like I said, it was one week ago……”
Rika replied in confusion.
But this sentence, caused the other three people to descend into chaos.
“Wait, please wait a moment, Rika-dono, are, are you sure?”
“Sure, sure about what?”
“That is, the last time Emilia……Emi-dono contacted you……”
“Uh, it was last Friday night……?”
“““Last Friday night?”””
This time the Demon Fortress was really enveloped in shock.
Last Friday night, that was exactly one week after the day Emi was due to return.
Maou, Suzuno and the others were unable to discern Emi’s location since two weeks ago.
If so, why would there be communication from Emi one week after that?”
“W, what has made all of you so shocked?”
“We lost contact with Emi-dono on the Friday two weeks ago. Wrong, because she only said that she would come back on that day, so actually, it has already been three weeks.”
“Eh?”
Even though she was anxious, Suzuno still represented everyone and continued asking,
“Did she call you? Or did she use a message?”
If it was a message, then someone else could have used Emi’s name, but Rika’s answer defied everyone’s expectations once again.
“She called you know.”
“A, are you sure that the other person was Emi-dono?”
“Uh, erhm, please give me a moment.”
Even if Rika shrank back a bit because she was pushed on by Suzuno and two males, she still took out the flip phone from the bag she brought with her and pulled by the conversation history screen.
“I remember that this call is the call I received from Emi……”
But the screen which Rika showed, displayed ‘Unknown number’ for reasons not known.
“Did she not show her number?”
“You did not enable the settings for rejecting unknown numbers?”
“Because the phone number from my old home will automatically hide their number for unknown reasons, and my grandfather will occasionally call me.”
“But since no number was shown, would it be possible for other people to impersonate Emi-dono……”
Suzuno, who was unable to accept the evidence and statements in front of her for the moment, proposed this, but Rika shook her head and denied it,
“That’s impossible. That is Emi’s voice, and before I opened my mouth, she had already said her name, and the conversation contents were the same as the usual Emi. I do work at a mobile phone company, so I am especially wary of scam calls.”
Urushihara mumbled softly ‘it’s these types of people who are dangerous’, but this sentence did not reach Rika’s ears.
“What did both of you talk about?”
“Uh, I remember it was something about the working shifts and unimportant topics. Ah, that’s right, I remember, didn’t all of you mention Friday two weeks ago? Emi called me that day as well you know?”
Rika operated her phone again, and showed the conversation logs that day to Ashiya and the others.
And that call, also did not show a number.
“Emi’s call that day, was to ask me if I can cover her shifts during the next week , which would be last week.”
“Cover her shift next week? Doesn’t Yusa work almost everyday?”
“No, she seems to have less shifts this month. That week, she only had to work around three days.”
At this time, Rika subconsciously looked towards Ashiya, and after meeting gazes with a confused Ashiya, she frantically looked away.
“E, erhm, and coincidentally, I regrettably did not have any plans, and I wanted to take more shifts, and that week, I just had to have more rest days, so I agreed to that attractive request.”
Ashiya and Suzuno looked at each other.
Just by the content, there was nothing suspicious about Rika’s words.
Since the both of them could talk to that extent, then it should not be an imposter, and the contents of the phone call did not contain any anxiety at all.
But, there was still some things which were concerning.
“Is that really all there is? Isn’t there anything else that’s strange?”
“Eh?”
Rika folded her arms across her chest and thought about Urushihara’s question.
“Even if you ask this, Emi wouldn’t talk too long on the phone to start with, and just based on this incident, it feels like there was nothing strange about it.”
“Those two calls, were they just about work shifts?”
“Eh? Yeah,it’s only that. The call after that, was just thanking me for covering for her shifts.”
Even though Rika was not particularly suspicious, but to Suzuno and the others, this is a important question.
What situation was Emi under, and what motive did she have to making ‘such an normal call’ to Rika.
Disappearing for a whole week without any communication, Emi should know that this would make Chiho and Suzuno worry, however the call she gave Rika, was only to help cover shifts and thanking her.
Even so, with regards to Emi disappearing, Rika’s words was still an unexpected piece of information.
Everyone present knew that they could not let this clue slip by.
“Other than the work shifts, did both of you talk about anything else? Such that the weather that day, or a greeting different from normal, even if it’s something minor, it’s fine!”
Suzuno kept trying to jolt Rika’s memory. With Suzuno’s serious interrogation, Rika complied and searched through her memory, trying her best to recall.
“Even though I often heard such things on television, I never thought that I would be told that by someone else one day.”
While saying this, Rika groaned, rested her hand against her head and replied,
“Hm~~ if I go by order and start from the call at the beginning, I received an unknown call which I thought was from my old home, and then I realised it was Emi. Then, oh yes, I felt that her tone seemed rather anxious, and her voice sounded very far away, because I remembered that Emi’s parents lived overseas, I though she was concerned about the phone bills, after all, free calls or fixed price call services do not apply to overseas.”
As she was replying while searching her memory, Rika’s sentences were halting.
“It felt as if her voice was light and floating. Perhaps it was because the signal was too far or too weak, so I thought she was in a basement or something.”
Since she was in a foreign world, it was definitely far. But in order not to interfere with Rika’s recollection, the three of them just looked at her face while nodding silently.
“Ah, that’s right, a loud sound like an announcement was heard from her end. And I think it should be overseas.”
“Annoucement?”
“Yeah, even though I don’t know which country’s language it is, but in order to dance during summer festivals, won’t they also play very loud music? It was a sound like that. Hm, then we started to talk about the shifts, then, ah, that’s right!”
Rika slowly took a notebook out from her bag and started to flip through it.
“Ah, found it. I remember among the dates which Emi asked for, there was a date where the situation was more troublesome, so I suggested Maki……ah, Maki is a female colleague of ours, because she was free that day, so I originally suggested that Emi find her to exchange shifts. If I really had to point something out, it was only then did Emi say something strange.”
With regards to Rika’s suggestion, Emi seemed to have answered thus.
“She said ‘I am unable to call Maki’. Even though I remember that they should have exchanged phone numbers, but I normally just messaged Maki and never called her before, and in the end, I was still the one who covered her shift and after that Emi hung up immediately……as for the call last week, Emi only thanked me about covering her shifts, oh yes, at that time, the sound like an announcement was also in the background. But at that time, we only talked about things related to the work shifts.”
What is going on?
Even if they did not know what the announcement was, but if Emi contacted Rika from someplace in Ente Isla, why did she only call Rika?
In addition, if she got involved in some trouble, she should have notified Rika in an urgent manner, why can she still leisurely discuss work shift related issues with Rika.
No, the crux of it is----
“…….Why is it Rika-dono?”
“Eh?”
“Ah, nothing……”
Suzuno, who could not help mumbling, anxiously tried to brush it aside.
Even though saying this about Rika is not that ncie, but even if Emi did meet up with danger, she should know that calling Rika would not be much help.
What can be confirmed is, currently, an unexpected situation did occur, then was it possible that Emi actually did not meet up with any danger, and because she was unable to return earlier, she was forced to ask Rika to cover her shifts?
“No, it shouldn’t be like that.”
Even if Emi had the leeway to ask other people to cover shifts for her, to only contact Rika, there must be a corresponding reason.
“Ah, excuse me, pardon the interruption.”
Ashiya broke the tense atmosphere which formed because of the unexpected information.
“Hey, Urushihara, it’s raining, go and close the windows.”
“Eh? Ah, it’s true.”
“Hm, even though the weather forecast said that it would only rain in the afternoon. Oh no, the windows in my room are still open.”
Looking carefully, even though there was still sun shining in when Rika entered the apartment, the sky had filled up with a thin layer of clouds without anyone noticing and it started to rain lightly.
As Suzuno had just opened the window to dissipate the smoke from the spell explosion, she quickly returned to her own room to close the windows.
“Ah, Ashiya-san, those clothes……”
When Rika discovered that the clothes which avoided the smoke from Suzuno’s room were getting wet from the rain, she could not help but stand up.
“Oh, oh no, I’m so sorry about that……”
Ashiya apologized to Rika about the clothes still being hung up.
Other than towels and socks, those clothes also included loose underwear, when female visitors came, it really was not appropriate to hang them up so openly.
“Don’t worry about it, I’m not a child who would blush at things of this standard. But……”
After Rika said this with a smile to Ashiya, who was trying to cover up the clothes, she glanced out of the window and showed a gloomy expression which matched the sky.
“Uwah, but look at the sky outside. Was there a special report given about such a large downpour?”
Ashiya, who hugged the drying rack with both arms, looked at the same sky because of Rika’s voice.
“Looks like it was be heavy rain. I’m sorry, keeping you for such a long time, did Suzuki-san bring an umbrella?”
“I did bring a folding umbrella……but can I stay for a while longer? I want to confirm the facts we know about Emi, and what other things are different, and looking at this situation……”
Looking carefully, it could be seen that the heavy downpour like a waterfall was approaching from a place not that far from Villa Rosa.
“Just using an umbrella, doesn’t seem to be enough.”
Before Ashiya nodded, thunder was heard from the faraway sky, and like a signal, the skies suddenly turned dark.
Accompanied by flustered steps, Suzuno hurriedly rushed over from next door.
From the light coming from the back of the mobile phone in Suzuno’s hand, someone should have called her just now.
“Emergency!”
“W, what is it?”
Rika looked at the intimidating Suzuno in surprise, but Suzuno did not reply and only looked towards Ashiya and Urushihara in turn.
“Lucifer!”
Suzuno addressed Urushihara as such in front of Rika and threw something at him with the hand not holding the mobile phone.
“……Is, isn’t this bottle your……”
That was the bottle of Holy Vitaminβ.
This kind of nutrition drink which can replenish holy magic, allowing Emi and Suzuno to maintain their supernatural powers in Japan, can be said to be both their lifeline.
“Chiho-dono sent a distress signal!”
“Eh?”
“You said Sasaki-san?”
“Chiho? Eh, you’re referring to that Chiho?”
Suzuno, acting like she had no time to waste, showed her mobile screen to Ashiya and Urushihara.
The words ‘Unknown number’ were shown on it.
Ashiya and Urushihara exchanged looks with one another.
This was not a simple distress signal. If she used Mental Transmission, this meant it was a true emergency.
“Lucifer, we can only depend on you now, quickly fly over there! The location is Chiho-dono’s school!”
“Sasaki Chiho’s school……is it Sasahata High School?”
Anyway, Suzuno planned to bring Urushihara along as backup in case something went wrong.
If it was the normal Urushihara, even if Chiho was in danger, he should be lazy to act, but this time, Urushihara stood up honestly with a stern expression on his face.
And what surprised Ashiya was----
Urushihara actually accepted the request of Suzuno, an enemy, and was willing to go out when it was raining for Chiho’s sake?
“H, hey, Kamazuki, calm down a little, what exactly happened?”
Ashiya tried to remind Suzuno that Rika was still around, but Suzuno shook her head and replied,
“This cannot be delayed. If what Chiho-dono says is all true, then it’s not only her, the entire school and its surroundings will be affected. I’m sorry, Rika-dono, if there is anything else, we can talk later.”
After Suzuno and Urushihara looked at each other and nodded, they drained the Holy Vitaminβlike how it was done in commercials.
Then----
※
“Hey, what is this?”
Maou, in the classroom of the exam centre, frowned as he looked out of the window.
From the clock, it should be just past 11am. Even though the forecast mentioned that it would rain, it did not say that it will be this heavy, and the time should be a little later.
“Even though I roughly sensed it……but the weather forecast is really still quite unreliable when it comes to rain.”
Even though complaining to the weather station or prediction officials about nature is rather meaningless, but to the Demon King who could control the weather to a certain extent when at his full power, he hoped at the main female weather reporters could work harder in areas other than being young and beautiful.
“……Times like this are so boring that one feels frantic.”
Maou looked at the rain drops hitting the window and mumbled.
Even though it was still difficult to concentrate during this exam, but according to the feeling he got after answering, Maou was confident that he will not fail.
According to the arrangements, when the exams end, the electronic screen in the exam centre will show the candidate numbers of the ones who passed, then a practical lecture will be conducted in the training field outside.
“Looking at this, it won’t be possible huh?”
The weather outside was enough to make people think it was a storm in a typhoon.
Considering the reason why Maou took the license, he actually wanted to have actual training in the safe training field on days like this, but faced with this heavy rain, even the police would be unable to carry out their practices.
Currently, no one had announced that the exam was stopped, and there was still one hour to the time when the people who passed will be announced.
Even though it was not known if the rain will stop one hour later, but for heavy rains in a mid-August afternoon, it would normally take more than one hour to lighten into a drizzle, the main organizer should have considered this.
No matter what, right now, Maou could only stay in the exam centre and let his mind wander while waiting for time to pass.
The people around were also candidates who were like Maou, so bored that they felt frantic, after they picked places, they started to play with their mobile phones, read or listen to music.
Maou, who also had nothing to do, was sitting on a bench of the waiting area.
Maou’s mobile phone did not have many features, it was an old generation phone where calling and messaging functions were sufficient.
Even if it was not so, Maou did not have a habit of playing with his mobile phone if he had nothing to do, and even more so, would not buy luxury items like Bunkobon in order to pass the time.
(T/N: Bunkobon are small-format paperback books, designed to be affordable and portable.)
The books in the Demon Fortress are normally either borrowed from the library or are Ashiya’s cookbooks from second hand stores.
“Even though I lead a healthy life, but I’m still at the minimum level in terms of culture huh.”
Ever since he came to Japan, Maou was practically working hard all the time, maybe it was time to widen his perspective and observe this country of Japan.
The MgRonalds Barista lecture and the driving license this time let Maou realise one thing.
In Japan, as long as one has the heart, one would be able to learn anything one wants.
Of course if a person wishes to polish their knowledge through the school system, they would need to pay school fees, but like the driving exam and registering fee, Maou already knew that even if he had no money, as long as he fulfilled certain special conditions, he still would be able to obtain assistance from some corporate bodies.
It feels like it was something to be happy about.
“……I’ll browse a bookstore on my way back. I did save up my allowance anyway.”
Everytime Maou goes to work, Ashiya will give him 300 yen under ‘Food fees’, as long as he did not use it that day, Maou will definitely save it as his private stash.
Of course other than that, Ashiya would still put a portion of Maou’s salary aside for Maou to spend freely, but Maou wanted to use that money as insurance when some emergency occurs.
Anyway, as long as he gets the license, the number of things Maou can do in Japan will increase by one.
To be able to increase his range of movement without depending on public transport tools, was considered a revolutionary change.
Of course, even if he is able to obtain the driving license, it would still be the same if he did not have his own Moped, but as long as he is not too pickly, Maou felt that he would be able to buy one in the near future.
“My dreams have expanded again.”
Maou, who made plans in his mind, showed a cheerful expression different from the weather outside, but at this moment, a shadow covered his face.
“Yo! Maou!”
“…………Yeah.”
Even if he did not look up, Maou also knew it was Satou Tsubasa.
Since they also came to take part in the exam, then even if they reunited in the exam centre building, there was nothing surprising about it.
Under the florescent light shining from the celing, Maou looked up and saw a girl wearing a newsboy cap, and the father standing behind her, Satou Hiroshi.
“……How did you do?”
Even when taking the father Hiroshi out of the picture, even though Maou did not know if Tsubasa took the exam or not, he still tried to ask, and so Hiroshi, standing behind the girl, let out a heavy sigh which matched his stature and atmosphere.
“It looks like, I probably failed.”
“Hey, that’s not good!”
“Those questions……I don’t even understand half of it.”
“I say……isn’t that such a waste of registration fees, why don’t you consider taking a break?”
After hearing Hiroshi’s pitiful confession, Maou could not help but give a warning.
Even though Maou did not take what the laid back Tsubasa said seriously, but if this is really Hiroshi’s tenth time taking the exam, that means he had already paid the registration fee ten times.
Forget about Mopeds, if it is a car driving license, it was really a huge expense.
“Satou-san, did you not have a driving license in your own country? If you have one, you can apply for an international license right?”
“I don’t.”
“…………I see.”
In Maou’s position, he really felt that the other party could think about how to continue the conversation between answering.
“Basically, father’s hometown does not have any cars!”
“Hm?”
“Tsubasa!”
“Ah, sorry sorry, my bad my bad.”
Even though Maou was suspicious for a while, but once he saw Hiroshi scold Tsubasa for unknown reason, and Tsubasa obviously not showing any regret, he immediately felt that everything did not matter anymore.
“But, I can understand what Maou means. It is a waste of money like this after all.”
“Y, yeah, of course I am not looking down on Satou-san……”
“That’s why I said I want to stand next to you and help you read the questions!”
Maou gave a wry smile because of the girl’s bold remarks and answered,
“Even though I don’t know why you are able to read the Japanese text which your father cannot, but exams can only be taken by one person. If someone reads at the side, it is considered cheating, in the worse case scenario, a person can be arrested.”
“Cheating? Does that mean being sly?”
“……I’m more surprised how you are able to infer such a meaning.”
“If so, with things as they are now, it would be alright even if you do not take the driving license right?”
Even though this sentence did sound a bit blatant, but compared to challenging it without a plan and wasting money, Maou also felt it would be beter to give up the exam for the time being.
“Yeah, even though having a driving license is more convenient, it will only be a waste of money if things go on like this.”
“That’s right, father, don’t waste money anymore, why don’t you drive directly without a license, uuuu!”
Even if it was not known how serious the girl was, but no matter what, saying this within a police agency is too dangerous.
Even if it has nothing to do with him, Maou will frantically covered the mouth of Tsubasa, who nonchalantly spouted nonsense.
Luckily there was a wall next to Maou, and the man on the other side, was engrossed in listening to music from his earphones with some acoustic leakage.
“Uuuu?”
“Do you not know that this is still a police agency?”
“……”
Maou moved his hand covering Tsubasa’s mouth away and after glancing around, he reminded her softly.
“Anyway, you can’t help other people read questions, and if you spout nonsense again, they might disallow you from taking the exams. Be more careful.”
“I see. But as long as no one finds out, uuuu!”
“Didn’t I tell you not to say those things anymore!”
Tsubasa, without reading the atmosphere, loudly shouted dangerous terms, so Maou could only cover her mouth again.
“……Tsubasa, I think so as well.”
“You better think of some way to handle your daughter’s Japanese!”
Maou unhappily chided Hiroshi, who calmly rebuked his own daughter.
“Uuu.”
Perhaps she finally understood the situation, Tsubasa waved her hands vigorously, and Maou also let her go.
Perhaps of Tsubasa’s exaggerated way or speaking and her intimate attitude, Maou could not help but use this forceful tactic of covering her mouth, but thinking carefully about it, doing such a thing to a lady whom he first met was just sexual harassment.
Luckily Chiho and Emi are not here, following his normal behaviour, Maou thought this reflexively.
“……”
Just as an indescribable irritation rose up in Maou’s heart and he planned to return to the bench----
“……Hey.”
As Tsubasa had grabbed the hand Maou originally used to cover her mouth, Maou, who planned to sit down, also stopped his movements.
“Sniff sniff.”
She’s doing it again. Why does Tsubasa have to continue sniffing at the smell on Maou’s hand?
“……As I thought, behind the potato smell……sniff sniff.”
“Hey, what are you smelling……”
“I lick.”
“Ughee?”
This time, even the youth standing next to them and listening to music was looking towards Maou with a frown.
But it was not strange for Maou to make such a weird sound.
After all, someone licked his palm.
“W, wha, what are you doing?”
Ever since he came to Japan, it was Maou’s first time facing a situation which thoroughly defied all ethics, such that he could not help but blush heavily in shame.
“Y, you, you just……”
Maou hid his hand which had been sniffed and licked behind his back, while protesting in shock.
“Hm……”
Tsubasa, who pulled the newsboy cap over her eyes, nonchalantly tilted her head and started thinking for a while.
Then she nodded her head like she had made up her mind and said,
“Father, it looks like this person is who I think he is.”
“Hm?”
The girl suddenly threw the topic to Hiroshi, causing the latter to widen his eyes in surprise.
“Father, can I take off my cap?”
“……Don’t attract too much attention okay.”
Even though the three people already stood out enough in a negative way, but Tsubasa still nodded after getting Hiroshi’s permission and slowly moved her hand towards the brim of her cap----
“……………………….!”
The face the girl showed after taking off the cap causing Maou to hold his breath in shock.
No, not just the face.
Whether it was the hair which was tucked within the newsboy cap or the eyes which looked at Maou with a lazy gaze, everything gave Maou a shock.
However, the girl had a rare well proportioned face, matched with this lazy, or rather expression which looked like she was not thinking about anything, it was a little wasted.
Her age should be a bit younger than Chiho.
But the problem did not lie there.
The colour of Tsubasa’s eyes, is purple.
The hair which was pulled backwards besides the longer length next to both cheeks, under the fluorescent light, reflected a conspicuous bright silver.
And more importantly----
“……Y, your hair, could it be……”
“Yeah.”
Tsubasa twirled the hair next to her cheeks with her finger.
Just that pinch of fringe which Maou stared at, is purple.
Hearing Maou’s groaning like voice, Tsubasa gave a smile like she was still not thinking of anything and said,
“When I detected the smell, I thought that should be the correct one.”
“Smell……”
Maou recalled how Tsubasa had repeatedly smelled his hand a few times.
“Even though I don’t know who you are, my nose will not be mistaken.”
Tsubasa used her finger to rub the area beneath her nose proudly while showing a smile.
Then what the girl said next, deepened Maou’s confusion.
“Maou, you know my older sister, Alas=Ramus right?”
“……………………………………….Hm?”
Even though this unexpected situation had greatly shaken Maou, but in that sentence, there was one portion which sounded especially strange.
“Older sister?”
“Yeah.”
“What you mean is?”
“My older sister, Alas=Ramus.”
[Image of Acies and Nord]
“……Hmm?”
Maou felt that he should say something to the two people standing in front of him.
And he definitely had to say it.
For example, what is up with that hair colour; are both of you really father and daughter, basically forget about Japan, both of you are not from Earth right; And from that appearance and the fact that you know Alas=Ramus’s name, you should also be born from the ‘Sephira’; exactly who around me are you related to; anyway, Maou should have thoroughly asked both of them how they lived in Japan, ask their names, address, phone numbers and the full number of their identification certificate.
Even if he threw all these things which should be confirmed to the back of his mind, Maou still had a question which he had to ask.
“When you say older sister……is it the normal meaning?”
“Yeah, if the Alas=Ramus Maou mentioned is the same person as the Alas=Ramus I know, then that Alas=Ramus is my older sister.”
It would be bad if it one could easily find someone else who had the complicated name Alas=Ramus.
With regards to Tsubasa knowing Alas=Ramus’s name, Maou did not want to rebuke anymore----and there was no need to do so.
But, he still could not understand.
“The reason why you call her older sister, is because to you, she is an ‘older sister’ like existence, worthy of respect?”
“Older sister like ex-ist-en-ce……what does that mean?”
“……Hey.”
(T/N: In the Japanese novel, Tsubasa’s dialogue is written entirely in Katakana, which is why Maou thinks that Tsubasa’s Japanese is strange. Here she is just repeating what Maou said because she doesn’t understand the meaning of the word ‘existence’.)
At this time, Hiroshi-----no, with the current situation, whether this is his actual name was dubious----the man temporarily known as Hiroshi calmly patted Maou’s shoulder with his massive palm and said,
“It’s something….like what you think.”
“Can you explain to me more clearly about which part of what I said are you agreeing with!”
Even though on the surface, he was asking what Tsubasa meant by ‘older sister’, but in Maou’s mind, it was filled with many questions about the mystery of Earth and the creation legend of Ente Isla.
“……Older sister?”
“It’s really tiring talking to both of you!”
In a rare moment, Maou actually had the urge to use violence.
“Okay, let me phrase it differently! For the father, please be quiet for the moment. Hey, Tsubasa!”
“Hm?”
Maou asked in order to solve the question he had in the beginning,
“……Are you Alas=Ramus’s ‘younger sister’?”
“Yeah!”
The girl confirmed this happily.
“……Why?”
The characteristics of Tsubasa’s appearance, silver hair and a pinch of purple hair in the fringe, had the same characteristics has Alas=Ramus and Iron, those born from the ‘Sephira’.
Even though this could just be an artificial look, but since Tsubasa could mention the name ‘Alas=Ramus’, this possibility can be ignored.
But……
“My gosh, don’t keep staring at me because you think I’m pretty!”
Maou looked at Tsubasa from head to toe, but Tsubasa, for unknown reasons, happily smacked his shoulder.
“……I want to punch someone.”
Even though the words ‘gender equailty’, used in various ways, surfaced in Maou’s mind, he still pushed this anger down.
Tsubasa’s appearance was the same as the impression she gave others, slightly younger than Chiho, or even younger than that.
But putting it in another way, at least her stature still gave the impression that she was close in age to a high schooler.
However, Alas=Ramus, being called the ‘older sister’, looked like a young child no matter how one sees her.
Of course it was not just Alas=Ramus, Tsubasa might not just be a normal human, so naturally, her growth could not be judged using a human viewpoint.
Perhaps some reason which Maou could not know about caused a huge difference between the growth rates of the two, but even so, it was too much of a difference.
Currently, the only thing which can be confirmed is that the Satou father and daughter are people related to Ente Isla.
After Maou surveyed his surroundings, he secretly whispered in Hiroshi’s ear,
“Are you people of Ente Isla?”
“!”
Once Hiroshi heard this, he widened his eyes in shock for unknown reasons.
“……How do you know? Who are…..?”
“You already have such a dangerous person next to you, and you don’t understand what we said just now!”
Compared to Hiroshi, who looked very shocked, Maou, who did not bother to rebuke anymore, only silently got up from the bench seat he was able to get with much difficulty and gestered with his hand for the both of them to follow.
Even though nothing much will happen even if they were heard by the other people around them, but it was still troubling if they were seen as strange people other others (even though it might already be too late), Maou walked
to the front of the exam registration window which had its metal shutters pulled down as the registrations had already stopped for the day.
Even though many people passed through here, but on the contrary, as long as one person stopped to listen to the trio talk, Maou and the others would be able to find out immediately.
On the other side of the front porch, was the window specially for renewing driving licenses, and the service was still open.
“Alright, first I want to know your real names.”
““……””
Tsubasa and Hiroshi lightly looked at one another.
They were probably guessing at Maou’s true identity.
“Even though saying this now is a little strange…..”
Hiroshi suddenly changed his tone.
Wrong, he changed the language he used.
“But it cannot be guaranteed that you are not our enemy. You, who knows that we are from Ente Isla, a totally different world, who are you?”
Hiroshi, different from the good natured impression he gave others, his eyes and tone momentarily became filled with power.
Even though special power like holy magic cannot be felt from Hiroshi, but from the power in his eyes and tone, it can be seen that he was not a normal middle aged man.
“Deweiss language, it’s the language used on the eastern region of the Western Continent.”
Maou, matching him, also switched his language.
Other than being unable to fully master the Holy Weiss language used in the Western Continent, if it was conversing, even if he does not use demonic magic, Maou can also use native languages of Ente Isla.
“I’m sorry, right now I’m the one asking questions, because currently, I know everyone who has come here from Ente Isla. So I am curious as to which side are you on, and in a certain sense, you are the first clues which appeared.”
“Clues?”
Maou nodded, and shifted his gaze to Tsubasa.
“Even though I forgot to confirm because I was too surprised, but let me ask you first. Are you born from the fragment of ‘Yesod’?”
Compared to ‘older sister’, this felt like something which should be confirmed first.
Compared to Maou, who could not keep calm because clues from Ente Isla unexpectedly appeared, Tsubasa replied in a relaxed manner,
“That’s right.”
And she totally ignored the atmosphere and used Japanese.
“Father, can I just reveal everything?”
“……”
Hiroshi kept quiet because he was still wary about Maou, but not knowing if she used this reaction as an agreement, or she originally did not need Hiroshi’s agreement, Tsubasa just continued speaking directly,
“Relax, father. Maou is not an ‘angel’. This kind of thing, I can determine this as well.”
Tsubasa rubbed lightly at Hiroshi’s arm to make him relax and used her large purple eyes to look straight at Maou,
“My name is Acies=Ara, ‘Tsubasa’ is my fake name.”
Acies=Ara.
Maou took a deep breath like he wanted to let the atmosphere circulate around his body, and carved the name into his brain.
“Ara……so that’s why you’re called ‘Tsubasa’?”
“Yeah! The name Tsubasa, sounds nice when spoken right!”
Maou nodded in response.
“……In other words, Acies and you aren’t blood related father and daughter. And Satou is of course, a fake name as well right?”
Since they have spoken this much, then Satou Hiroshi was definitely not his real name.
Just like how Maou Sadao is actually Demon King Satan, this man should also have a real name.
“The last name Satou……was worried from a man I met not long after I came to Japan.”
“That person is a normal Japanese right. You probably have not leaked your true identity……”
Tentatively, Hiroshi shook his head in denial.
“But, he is cheerful and strong hearted, a man who treated me, someone who did not understand Japan at all, very kindly. No matter how many times he failed, that man would pick up his dreams again, and is willing to take up any job, living each day happily.”
Maou did not ask if Hiroshi had a hard life in Japan.
Because he was not so dumb to not know that the direct reason was him.
“From how both of you got on at Tenmondai-mae, have you been living in Mikata the whole time?”
“No, we lived near Shinjuku at the beginning, the reason why we moved to Mikata is because of Tsubasa……Acies’s wishes, and were introduced by Satou.”
Maou could not help but groan.
Like this, it would not be strange even if they had walked past each other before.
No, perhaps even for the numerous incidents caused by Maou and Emi, these two might have a certain level of understanding on it.
“……Hey, even though I don’t know your actual name, I might know the name of the person you know.”
“Beating around the bush huh.”
Tsubasa, no, Acies=Ara still did not change her thoroughly laid back attitude.
At this moment, Maou suddenly felt a sense of mismatch from Acies=Ara.
“Don’t tell me, you can’t speak the Deweiss language?”
“Yeah, but I understand it. Using here, like this.”
Acies pointed to her own temple and Maou’s forehead in turn.
“Mental Transmission huh. So, on the contrary, you don’t know how to use it?”
“It’s regretful, I don’t have the knowledge or talent in spells at all. So going about my daily life is really hard for me.”
So the stiff Japanese language which cannot follow the atmosphere came from this.
“Then, with regards to you possibly knowing about the person I know, it’s referring to……”
“Yeah……”
Maou nodded lightly, and looked at Hiroshi again with a sharp gaze.
“But, after hearing this name, you have to help me to the best of your ability. Correspondingly, I would also try my best to help you and Acies. Don’t suddenly run away from other me okay.”
Hiroshi replied unhappily with a frown,
“I am also not a child anymore. Ever since I used Deweiss language in Japan, I have already prepared myself mentally for this. Since we have already discussed to this point, you better not say that you’re my enemy okay. Even though I don’t know any spells, that does not mean that I have no confidence in my power.”
At this point, Hiroshi glanced at Acies for unknown reasons, even though Maou did not miss this, he intentionally did not mention it.
“That’s what you said okay. You better not turn into jelly later on.”
Maou smiled evilly, then spoke after making up his mind,
“My comrades and I, are currently searching for Emilia Justina. Until recently, Emilia has been staying in Japan, but after returning to Ente Isla a few weeks ago, she lost contact, do you know any……”
“Emilia?”
Hiroshi’s reaction was very strong.
Hiroshi was originally wary of Maou, looking at him with a sharp gaze, but right now, that tense atmosphere dissipated.
Emilia.
The instant he heard this name, his expression changed as if the blood had rushed to his head.
Hiroshi used his large and strong hands to grab Maou’s shoulder, and leaned in towards Maou with uneven breathing like he could hyperventilate anytime.
“Do, do you know Emilia? Do, do you know where Emilia is? W, why would she be in Japan?”
A rough voice was heard in the premises.
Even though the people passing by stopped and looked in their direction in surprise, Hiroshi did not have the luxury of noticing these things.
“Calm down, don’t be so loud! You’re attracting too much attention!”
“H, how can I calm down! Where! Where exactly is Emilia!”
“Didn’t I tell you to calm down a little!”
Maou frantically reverted back to Japanese, and forcefully pushed Hiroshi’s hands aside.
“Hey!”
“……Listen carefully. Emilia was staying in Japan before. But because she had things to do a few weeks ago, she went back to Ente Isla.”
“What……what did you say?”
“However, it has already been two weeks since the day she said she would return. Because of some situations on our side, we are unable to go to Ente Isla to find her. So to us, you are a clue which has fallen from the sky.”
“……”
“Isn’t it rude to say fallen from the sky!”
Hiroshi ignored Acies, and could not help but lean on the counter with its metal shutters down, it looks like he would collapse anytime.
“Hey, don’t cause anymore trouble for me.”
If Hiroshi continued to let his emotions free and act recklessly, it would be troublesome if they were spotted by a staff member, so Maou frantically supported his arm.
“Emilia……Emilia is……”
“……You’re related to Emi after all……sigh, I knew it should be like that.”
Since Acies is the same type of existence as Alas=Ramus, then there must be involvement from the ‘Yesod’ fragment and cannot be totally unrelated to Emi and the core of the holy sword.
But on the other hand, from Hiroshi’s reaction, he definitely did not seem like he knew what Maou and Emi did this past year.
Just on this part, Acies should be the same.
So after Maou thought back to all the different situations happening around himself and Emi, a.k.a the Demon King and Hero and all the information, he finally come to a conclusion.
“Could you be Emi……Emilia’s……”
“……Emilia……Emilia, is my important daughter……”
“……I see.”
“Father’s true name is Nord. Nord Jus….Jus what was it again?”
From the words Acies said as she interrupted from the side, Maou obtained the necessary information.
Emi’s father, Nord Justina.
And the child of the Yesod Sephira, Acies=Ara.
This was luck which had fallen from the sky.
He could not let these two people go.
Just as Maou was thinking this----
“Hm?”
The mobile phone in his pocket rang.
Even though Maou could not think of anyone who would call him at such a time, but it was probably Ashiya, concerned about the exam results, using Urushihara’s computer to call him.
Right now, compared to that, the people in front of him were more important, just as Maou planned to ignore the call and resume interrogating the man in front of him----
“Hurry and pick up, stupid Demon King!”
“Woah!”
“Kya?”
As if he was hit by a large hammer, an angry shout was heard in Maou’s mind.
Even though the edge of his vision blurred a bit, Maou still managed to take the mobile phone out from his pocket before that happened.
The words ‘Unknown number’ were shown on the screen.
Even though he had not answered the phone, another angry shout was heard in Maou’s mind.
“Demon King! I know you can hear me! Hurry up and answer!”
“W, what, Suzuno? Why are you suddenly like this?”
That was without question, Suzuno’s voice. And it was Mental Transmission conducted through the phone.
“You deserved it, not answering the phone! An emergency has occurred! Hurry up and return to Sasazuka!”
“Huh? What are you saying……”
Maou subconsciously looked at the two people in front of him in turn.
Hiroshi, a.k.a Nord was standing in a depressed manner with a dazed look in his eyes, as for Acies, her eyes widened for unknown reason and was looking at Maou with a look of surprise.
“I’m busy over here. And I haven’t gotten my license, even if you ask me to go back immediately……”
Even though there was no need to do so, Maou still pressed the phone with the call from an unknown number against his ear to avoid raising the suspicion of others and protested.
But Suzuno ignored him completely.
Because she had a corresponding reason.
“Chiho-dono sent a distress signal!”
“What did you say?”
“Demon King, is it raining over at your side?”
“Y, yeah, and it’s as heavy as a typhoon……”
“The epicenter of this rain, is at Sasazuka! Typhoon grade low pressure has suddenly appeared in Tokyo, and is spreading heavy storms all around! The centre of this strange phenomenon is at Sasazuka……which is also Chiho-dono’s school!”
“What…..what is going on?”
Maou could not understand Suzuno’s messy explanation at all.
But, Suzuno did not have a reason to lie.
As if to prove Suzuno’s words, an announcement was suddenly heard within the exam centre.
“Uh~thank you everyone for using our exam centre today, the results of the Moped driving license theory exam will be announced soon, but because of the weather, the starting time of the practical lecture will be postponed. For details, please confirm with the staff at the exam counter……in addition, visitors who wish to reapply for their driving license……”
“Typhoon……how can this be?”
“Even though I don’t know if the other party is angel, demon or human, but someone used the originally unstable weather to execute a large scale spell! Come back quickly! With just me and Lucifer, we don’t know how long we can hold out! The location is Chiho-dono’s school!”
After saying this, Suzuno one sidedly cut off the Mental Transmission.
“W, what happened exactly? A, and even if you ask me to go back now, what, what am I supposed to do about these people!”
Maou grabbed his head, feeling greatly troubled.
Compared to the danger Chiho was facing, the exam results were unimportant.
But even if he ran out of the exam centre now, he would need to take the bus and train to return to Sasazuka, and it would take a minimum of one hour.
Even if he hailed a taxi, it was difficult to imagine a driver being willing to drive quickly in this large rain.
Other than that, Maou was finally able to meet these two people who held clues, so he could not just leave them here.
If only he left a little demonic magic as a backup when he returned the demonic magic to Farfarello! But almost a month has passed since that incident, and it was meaningless to regret about such things now.
After all, at that time, Maou did not expect that he would actually lose their strongest battle power, Emi.
“……Looks like I can only take a taxi!”
Other than taking these two people back to Sasazuka with him, there was no other way. Even though the fare would be a huge expense, but he would be able to manage if he depended on the credit card.
“Hey, Maou.”
“Huh?”
“Do you have something urgent to attend to?”
Acies asked jitterly.
“Even though it’s an emergency, I’m feeling troubled right now because I don’t know what to do!”
“That lady’s voice just now, was Mental Transmission right?”
Maou’s eyes widened in shock.
“Did you hear the conversation just now?”
“Yeah, roughly.”
Even though he did not how how much Acies heard, but then again, when Suzuno shouted angrily at the start, she also jumped up in shock.
“What’s wrong? If Maou disappeared now, we would be a bit troubled.”
“About that, it’s the same for me too! If possible, I hope both of you can go back to Sasazuka with me right now!”
“Sasazuka?”
“That’s where I live! Ah, damn it! If I can fly, I can go back using the shortest distance!”
As Maou did not know how long the straight distance was, he only said this casually, but in fact, if he could revert back to this Demon King form and fly back with all his might, he might reach Sasazuka in short time, and even if he had forgotten because he was frantic, but Demon King Satan even knew how to use the ‘Gate Opening Spell’.
“It’s fine if three people can fly right?”
“It’s troublesome because that can’t be done!”
“Three people refers to me, Maou and father right?”
“That’s right! Ah~now is not the time to say such things, I have to flag down a cab……hey, stop standing there all depressed! It looks like we have to give up on the driving license this time!”
Just as Maou tried to pull Nord, who was still listless, up----
“I understand. Maou, tell me the direction.”
After Acies said this nonchalantly----
“Hah!”
Within the exam centre, her body suddenly floated.
“Eh, heyyyyyy?”
Even though Maou frantically tried to stop it, before that----
“Maou, father, let’s go!”
By just looking at the both of them, Acies was actually able to use the same psychic ability as Ashiya in his demon form to cause people to float in the air.
“A, Acies! This will attract a lot of attention! It’s too attention grabbing!”
Within the exam centre, the trio floated.
Not only did they float in the air, they also floated in front of everyone.
Ignoring the commotion around here, Acies used her psychic ability to pull Maou and Nord in the air to the heavy rain outside and quickly rose towards the sky covered in thick rain clouds.
“Owaaaaaaaaah?”
The exaggerated speed caused Maou to shout out but Acies did not let it get to her.
Even though Acies was obviously using some kind of psychic power to lift Maou and Nord, it looked like she did not erect any defenses are barriers, so Maou and Nord were immediately soaked by the rain.
“Maou, which way to go?”
“Which way? Uh, I’m still not sure of the direction……”
“The older sister just now, said someone used weather magic! Then it must be that way!”
“Hhhhheeeeyyyyyyyyyyy!”
Before Maou grasped his orientation, Acies started to fly straight towards the eastern sky without even adjusting Maou’s or Nord’s position.
“You’re in a rush right! I’m going to fly now!”
“W, wait a moment! At least let me support my body……ugahhhhhh!”
“We’re setting off-----------------!”
“………………….”
Dragging Maou’s screams and Nord’s silent groans, the three people flew towards the eastern sky from Fuchu Driving License Exam Centre like this.