Volume 3 Part 2
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VOLUME 3 CHAPTER 2
Chapter 2
The Demon King’s Daily Life is Turned Upside Down
The afternoon of the day after Demon King Castle was thrown into chaos.
After peeking inside for a moment, Chiho quietly knocked on the door to Unit 201 of Villa Rosa Sasazuka.
She could hear a shuffling sound from inside, drawing closer to the door.
“Ashiya-san?”
After she called from outside, the sound of the door unlocking was heard and Ashiya, who had large bags under his eyes, stuck his face out.
“…Hello… thank you for coming, Sasaki-san…”
His voice was full of fatigue, and there was not a trace of his usual energy and ambition.
“Is everything alright now?”
“…She just went to sleep a moment ago… anyway, please come inside.”
“Yes, excuse me.”
The two of them lowered their voices and closed the door to the apartment with the utmost care, so as not to make too much noise.
Once Chiho took off her shoes and came inside, she put down what she was carrying instead of heading further in right away.
The noise that the vinyl bags rubbing against each other made sounded like an explosion. As Ashiya hurried to get in between the bags to stop the noise, a motorcycle flew by right outside the apartment.
Ashiya and Chiho held their breaths and froze, then turned around simultaneously to look at Alas Ramus, who was taking a nap under the shadow of a bamboo screen.
They both let out a sigh of relief as she kept sleeping without stirring at all. However, their expressions immediately grew serious again.
“These are… all the things I bought that I thought would be useful.”
Chiho brought out the contents of the bag, making sure not to make any loud noises.
“Baby formula, sugar-free yogurt, and some microwaveable baby food that you can try… what did you do for her dinner last night?”
“We cut up some udon that we received from Crestia and boiled it together with eggs and fish cakes until it was all soft, and she ate it willingly. She has no problems chewing, either. She drank water too, so she seems okay with eating human food.”
Chiho nodded, and took some more items out.
“Here are some baby wipes for when she has an accident, and this is a children’s toothbrush. Please don’t use any toothpaste since she can’t spit it out yet. And here is some bottled mineral water.”
“Toothbrush… that’s right, she didn’t brush her teeth last night… and what are these small water bottles? Are they different from the mineral water?”
They both let out a sigh of relief as she kept sleeping without stirring at all. However, their expressions immediately grew serious again.
“These are… all the things I bought that I thought would be useful.”
Chiho brought out the contents of the bag, making sure not to make any loud noises.
“Baby formula, sugar-free yogurt, and some microwaveable baby food that you can try… what did you do for her dinner last night?”
“We cut up some udon that we received from Crestia and boiled it together with eggs and fish cakes until it was all soft, and she ate it willingly. She has no problems chewing, either. She drank water too, so she seems okay with eating human food.”
Chiho nodded, and took some more items out.
“Here are some baby wipes for when she has an accident, and this is a children’s toothbrush. Please don’t use any toothpaste since she can’t spit it out yet. And here is some bottled mineral water.”
“Toothbrush… that’s right, she didn’t brush her teeth last night… and what are these small water bottles? Are they different from the mineral water?”
“That’s called oral hydration solution.”
Ashiya blinked his tired eyes at the strange words that he had never heard before.
“It’s really hot right now, right? If she gets dehydrated, she can drink this to get back her sodium and sugar content along with water. Just think of it as a baby sports drink.”
“How is it different from an ordinary version?”
“It’s made in a way that won’t stress a child’s body. You can make it from normal tap water too, but you don’t have a water filter here, right?”
Chiho turned her eyes to Demon King’s Castle’s sink, which had a silver-colored faucet.
“Tokyo’s water quality has improved from what it was before, but that doesn’t mean anything if the house or apartment’s water pipes are old… I thought it would be better to use cleaner water for her whenever possible, especially since she came out of an apple. Also, this is only for emergencies, so make sure this isn’t the only thing you give her to drink.”
“…I see.”
Ashiya nodded, impressed by Chiho’s expertise.
“And use this when you give her drinks.”
Next to come out of the bag was a plastic cup with a lid, which had a straw sticking out of the middle.
“This has a cover inside the straw, so it won’t spill even if you knock it over. Since she can already talk that much, her sucking strength should be pretty good, so this will be fine for her… oh, are there straws in Ente Isla?”
Ashiya blinked his tired eyes at the strange words that he had never heard before.
“It’s really hot right now, right? If she gets dehydrated, she can drink this to get back her sodium and sugar content along with water. Just think of it as a baby sports drink.”
“How is it different from an ordinary version?”
“It’s made in a way that won’t stress a child’s body. You can make it from normal tap water too, but you don’t have a water filter here, right?”
Chiho turned her eyes to Demon King’s Castle’s sink, which had a silver-colored faucet.
“Tokyo’s water quality has improved from what it was before, but that doesn’t mean anything if the house or apartment’s water pipes are old… I thought it would be better to use cleaner water for her whenever possible, especially since she came out of an apple. Also, this is only for emergencies, so make sure this isn’t the only thing you give her to drink.”
“…I see.”
Ashiya nodded, impressed by Chiho’s expertise.
“And use this when you give her drinks.”
Next to come out of the bag was a plastic cup with a lid, which had a straw sticking out of the middle.
“This has a cover inside the straw, so it won’t spill even if you knock it over. Since she can already talk that much, her sucking strength should be pretty good, so this will be fine for her… oh, are there straws in Ente Isla?”
“There are… I think, but since they’re a human invention… Emilia or Crestia should know…”
“If Alas Ramus-chan doesn’t know how to use a straw, please use this.”
Next, Chiho took out some drink cartons that read, “Barley Tea for Children.”
“Does it really matter whether barley tea is for children or not?”
“Yes, it does. Ordinary barley tea, whether it’s cold or hot, will taste bitter if you don’t make it well. But anyway, it’s not so much the content of these cartons that is important, but that the cartons themselves are perfect for practicing.”
“Practicing using straws?”
“Yes. To help the baby understand that if you suck on it, a drink will come out, an adult can squeeze the carton gently to send some up the straw. Then the baby will stop trying to resist using the straw, and start sucking on it on their own.”
“…”
Ashiya was on the verge of tears as he listened to Chiho.
“And these are all diapers!”
“If Alas Ramus-chan doesn’t know how to use a straw, please use this.”
Next, Chiho took out some drink cartons that read, “Barley Tea for Children.”
“Does it really matter whether barley tea is for children or not?”
“Yes, it does. Ordinary barley tea, whether it’s cold or hot, will taste bitter if you don’t make it well. But anyway, it’s not so much the content of these cartons that is important, but that the cartons themselves are perfect for practicing.”
“Practicing using straws?”
“Yes. To help the baby understand that if you suck on it, a drink will come out, an adult can squeeze the carton gently to send some up the straw. Then the baby will stop trying to resist using the straw, and start sucking on it on their own.”
“…”
Ashiya was on the verge of tears as he listened to Chiho.
“And these are all diapers!”
Chiho handed over diapers of all shapes and sizes.
The type that could slip on like pants; the traditional type that was fastened with tape; diapers of one type after another was taken out of the bag.
“Please try them all one after another, and see which kind is the best for her.”
As he took the diapers that were handed to him, Ashiya could no longer contain his emotions and buried his face in his hands.
“You… you’ve aided us all this time, in so many different ways… I, Ashiya, don’t even have the words to thank you with…”
“Please, you’re exaggerating.”
“No… if you so desire, Sasaki-san, I would even go as far as to say that once my lord has taken over Japan and formed the new demon army, I would like for you to be an arch-general!”
“I will have to decline that, thank you.”
Chiho pondered for a second whether it was really alright for the demon army that planned to take over the world to make someone a general just for offering baby advice and goods.
Even though she had nothing to do with that, she still worried for them.
“Besides, Maou-san was the one who gave me the money to buy all these things, and what I did was more or less just small errands for you. Oh, and here are the change and receipt. Please give these to Maou-san.”
“…Yes, yes… I, Ashiya, shall deliver them even if it costs me my life…!”
The type that could slip on like pants; the traditional type that was fastened with tape; diapers of one type after another was taken out of the bag.
“Please try them all one after another, and see which kind is the best for her.”
As he took the diapers that were handed to him, Ashiya could no longer contain his emotions and buried his face in his hands.
“You… you’ve aided us all this time, in so many different ways… I, Ashiya, don’t even have the words to thank you with…”
“Please, you’re exaggerating.”
“No… if you so desire, Sasaki-san, I would even go as far as to say that once my lord has taken over Japan and formed the new demon army, I would like for you to be an arch-general!”
“I will have to decline that, thank you.”
Chiho pondered for a second whether it was really alright for the demon army that planned to take over the world to make someone a general just for offering baby advice and goods.
Even though she had nothing to do with that, she still worried for them.
“Besides, Maou-san was the one who gave me the money to buy all these things, and what I did was more or less just small errands for you. Oh, and here are the change and receipt. Please give these to Maou-san.”
“…Yes, yes… I, Ashiya, shall deliver them even if it costs me my life…!”
Chiho smiled awkwardly, as she wasn’t quite sure how to react to someone putting their life on the line for some change and a receipt, and added,
“Besides, it was fun for me.”
She looked at Alas Ramus, who had been sleeping peacefully without stirring ever since Chiho had come in.
“My cousin on my father’s side got married recently, and they already have a child. Whenever I visit them, I play with and help take care of their child, so I’ve learned a lot from his wife about how to take care of a baby.”
“…I see…”
“Besides, besides, um,”
Chiho made an expression that somewhat resembled being nostalgic, but clenching her left hand and blushing in her cheeks, she mumbled,
“If I can someday… with Maou-san… wouldn’t that be…”
“Um, Sasaki-san?”
“Huh? Um, um, um, no-no-no-nothing! It’s nothing!”
Chiho shook her bright-red face and waved her hands in the air all at once. She then realized something, and asked Ashiya,
“Where did Urushihara-san go?”
Urushihara the ultra-NEET, Debt Generator and Budget Destroyer of Demon King Castle, who had lost both his title as an angel and all sense of consideration for others, was nowhere to be found.
In fact, the laptop was missing from the desk that he always sat in front of.
“Besides, it was fun for me.”
She looked at Alas Ramus, who had been sleeping peacefully without stirring ever since Chiho had come in.
“My cousin on my father’s side got married recently, and they already have a child. Whenever I visit them, I play with and help take care of their child, so I’ve learned a lot from his wife about how to take care of a baby.”
“…I see…”
“Besides, besides, um,”
Chiho made an expression that somewhat resembled being nostalgic, but clenching her left hand and blushing in her cheeks, she mumbled,
“If I can someday… with Maou-san… wouldn’t that be…”
“Um, Sasaki-san?”
“Huh? Um, um, um, no-no-no-nothing! It’s nothing!”
Chiho shook her bright-red face and waved her hands in the air all at once. She then realized something, and asked Ashiya,
“Where did Urushihara-san go?”
Urushihara the ultra-NEET, Debt Generator and Budget Destroyer of Demon King Castle, who had lost both his title as an angel and all sense of consideration for others, was nowhere to be found.
In fact, the laptop was missing from the desk that he always sat in front of.
“Did he run away?”
Knowing Urushihara’s character, positive reasons such as going out to work or to do grocery shopping could not possibly be the case. In the first place, he wasn’t exactly in a position where he could just walk around in public.
“Humph… if he had any resolve, I wouldn’t be this tired in the first place.”
Ashiya frowned and criticized Urushihara under his breath, then let out a great sigh.
“…As you guessed, Alas Ramus’s crying and energy last night were beyond what any of us could have imagined.”
Unlike the cries of a newborn baby, those of one who had learned to speak somewhat and realized the effect that had on its surroundings usually indicated that they had some kind of need to be met.
Chiho had had some prior family commitment and had to leave for home in the evening, so did not know what had happened afterwards.
She tried to remember what had happened before she left.
Knowing Urushihara’s character, positive reasons such as going out to work or to do grocery shopping could not possibly be the case. In the first place, he wasn’t exactly in a position where he could just walk around in public.
“Humph… if he had any resolve, I wouldn’t be this tired in the first place.”
Ashiya frowned and criticized Urushihara under his breath, then let out a great sigh.
“…As you guessed, Alas Ramus’s crying and energy last night were beyond what any of us could have imagined.”
Unlike the cries of a newborn baby, those of one who had learned to speak somewhat and realized the effect that had on its surroundings usually indicated that they had some kind of need to be met.
Chiho had had some prior family commitment and had to leave for home in the evening, so did not know what had happened afterwards.
She tried to remember what had happened before she left.
********
Alas Ramus’s speech development was much farther along than her apparent age would suggest.
Alas Ramus, who had said, “Daddy is Satan,” then pointed to Emi and called her “Mommy.”
Alas Ramus, who had said, “Daddy is Satan,” then pointed to Emi and called her “Mommy.”
However, just like Maou had denied everything, Emi also denied being the mother after recovering from the initial shock.
Of course, the other four had been just as shocked at first, but none of them seriously thought that there had been some sort of “mistake” between Maou and Emi. The demon king and hero mixed even less than oil and water, and repulsed each other more than similar polarities of magnets. Alas Ramus’s apparent age also suggested that it couldn’t be the case, and obviously, the two had no recollection of having done anything of the sort, nor any desire to do so.
However, predictably, denying their parenthood made Alas Ramus cry as if she had beenset on fire.
“Hey! There, there, Alas Ramus. You do have a mommy and a daddy. But she and I aren’t your pare—”
“WAAAAAAAH NOOOO! SATAN IZ MAI DADDIIIIEEE!!!”
Since she cried and screamed at the top of her lungs with her tiny mouth, her words were barely intelligible.
“Man… what are we supposed to do?”
“…”
“Hey, Emi…”
“…”
Of course, the other four had been just as shocked at first, but none of them seriously thought that there had been some sort of “mistake” between Maou and Emi. The demon king and hero mixed even less than oil and water, and repulsed each other more than similar polarities of magnets. Alas Ramus’s apparent age also suggested that it couldn’t be the case, and obviously, the two had no recollection of having done anything of the sort, nor any desire to do so.
However, predictably, denying their parenthood made Alas Ramus cry as if she had beenset on fire.
“Hey! There, there, Alas Ramus. You do have a mommy and a daddy. But she and I aren’t your pare—”
“WAAAAAAAH NOOOO! SATAN IZ MAI DADDIIIIEEE!!!”
Since she cried and screamed at the top of her lungs with her tiny mouth, her words were barely intelligible.
“Man… what are we supposed to do?”
“…”
“Hey, Emi…”
“…”
“…Hah!”
“Kyah!”
Maou clapped right in front of Emi’s face as she just stood there with a blank expression, completely at a loss as to what she should do.
Caught by surprise, Emi fell down on her butt and Suzuno hurried over to her to help her up, but—
“MOOOMMMYYYYYY!!!”
She was tackled immediately by Alas Ramus, whose face was covered in tears and snot.
Alas Ramus’s voice was muffled, but she most likely kept screaming “Mommy” as she buried her face into Emi.
Having no chance of dodging, Emi had no choice but to accept Alas Ramus into her arms.
“BIEEEEEEEEEEE!!!”
“Uh, um, uh,”
The force that thumped into Emi was surprisingly heavy.
A clinging, crying child. Something that she must protect with every fiber of her being as the hero.
However, this child claimed that she was its mother. With her elbow bent at an awkward angle, Emi had no idea what to do in this imagination-defying situation, and could not decide on her next course of action.
“I-I don’t know what I’m supposed to…”
As Emi looked up while being completely baffled…
“Stop looking at me like that!”
“Kyah!”
Maou clapped right in front of Emi’s face as she just stood there with a blank expression, completely at a loss as to what she should do.
Caught by surprise, Emi fell down on her butt and Suzuno hurried over to her to help her up, but—
“MOOOMMMYYYYYY!!!”
She was tackled immediately by Alas Ramus, whose face was covered in tears and snot.
Alas Ramus’s voice was muffled, but she most likely kept screaming “Mommy” as she buried her face into Emi.
Having no chance of dodging, Emi had no choice but to accept Alas Ramus into her arms.
“BIEEEEEEEEEEE!!!”
“Uh, um, uh,”
The force that thumped into Emi was surprisingly heavy.
A clinging, crying child. Something that she must protect with every fiber of her being as the hero.
However, this child claimed that she was its mother. With her elbow bent at an awkward angle, Emi had no idea what to do in this imagination-defying situation, and could not decide on her next course of action.
“I-I don’t know what I’m supposed to…”
As Emi looked up while being completely baffled…
“Stop looking at me like that!”
Everyone in the room was looking at her to see what she would do next.
“Urrrrrgh… you guys haven’t forgotten, right? This little girl stopped my holy sword with her bare hands! She might not be an ordinary baby!”
“But Emilia, that does not have to do with the matter at hand. Consider the emotions of the little girl who thinks of you as her mother.”
“Bell! You’re just saying that because it’s got nothing to do with you!”
“BIEEEEEEEEEEE!!”
“Wha-what’s so bad about this, Yusa-san!? I-I would love to switch places with you!”
“Chiho-chan, you’re saying that because you have an ulterior motive…”
“MOOOOMMMYYYYY!!”
“Geez, I already told you, I’m not your mommy… geez…”
As if finally giving in, but timidly, Emi placed her hands underneath Alas Ramus.
Either way, she began by picking her up to calm her down,
“…”
This time, Emi was surprised by how light she was. Alas Ramus had no trace of the great force she had when she tackled Emi.
Her skin and body were so soft, as if just a slight force might break her. Emi’s own words, “stopped the holy sword with her bare hands,” crossed her mind. As Emi picked up Alas Ramus slowly and cautiously, Alas Ramus, who had been sticking her face into Emi’s stomach, raised her face.
“Urrrrrgh… you guys haven’t forgotten, right? This little girl stopped my holy sword with her bare hands! She might not be an ordinary baby!”
“But Emilia, that does not have to do with the matter at hand. Consider the emotions of the little girl who thinks of you as her mother.”
“Bell! You’re just saying that because it’s got nothing to do with you!”
“BIEEEEEEEEEEE!!”
“Wha-what’s so bad about this, Yusa-san!? I-I would love to switch places with you!”
“Chiho-chan, you’re saying that because you have an ulterior motive…”
“MOOOOMMMYYYYY!!”
“Geez, I already told you, I’m not your mommy… geez…”
As if finally giving in, but timidly, Emi placed her hands underneath Alas Ramus.
Either way, she began by picking her up to calm her down,
“…”
This time, Emi was surprised by how light she was. Alas Ramus had no trace of the great force she had when she tackled Emi.
Her skin and body were so soft, as if just a slight force might break her. Emi’s own words, “stopped the holy sword with her bare hands,” crossed her mind. As Emi picked up Alas Ramus slowly and cautiously, Alas Ramus, who had been sticking her face into Emi’s stomach, raised her face.
“…”
Emi looked down with a slight frown, as she saw a shiny silver bridge of snot extending from the baby’s nose to Emi’s shirt.
“Hic… sniff… mommyyyy…”
Even as she cried with all her soul and strength, her large pupils captured Emi’s gaze as she looked to her for assurance with a little girl’s trust.
“Fi-fine… okay…”
Emi “held” Alas Ramus in a manner that implied she had given up.
Alas Ramus’s chin rested on her shoulder, and her pudgy baby arms held her neck and shoulder tightly.
“Hic… mommyyy… fweeeh…”
Alas Ramus changed from crying her lungs out to letting out small sobs, having calmed down somewhat.
So adorable, but what am I supposed to do about this? But she’s so adorable. What do I do? Those were Emi’s honest thoughts.
Emi stroked the back of her yellow dress to settle her down, and asked Maou,
Emi looked down with a slight frown, as she saw a shiny silver bridge of snot extending from the baby’s nose to Emi’s shirt.
“Hic… sniff… mommyyyy…”
Even as she cried with all her soul and strength, her large pupils captured Emi’s gaze as she looked to her for assurance with a little girl’s trust.
“Fi-fine… okay…”
Emi “held” Alas Ramus in a manner that implied she had given up.
Alas Ramus’s chin rested on her shoulder, and her pudgy baby arms held her neck and shoulder tightly.
“Hic… mommyyy… fweeeh…”
Alas Ramus changed from crying her lungs out to letting out small sobs, having calmed down somewhat.
So adorable, but what am I supposed to do about this? But she’s so adorable. What do I do? Those were Emi’s honest thoughts.
Emi stroked the back of her yellow dress to settle her down, and asked Maou,
“So… what are we going to do now?”
“What are we going to do now? What are we supposed to do?”
“I’m the one asking you.”
“I don’t know, but you look like a natural at this.”
“…Do you not realize that saying those words are the equivalent of putting a noose around your neck?”
“Hey, I’ve been wondering for a while, but how did this kid know that Maou is Satan?” asked Urushihara while looking at Alas Ramus and Maou.
“Unlike mine, Maou’s demon and human forms look pretty different, don’t they?”
“How should I know? She did sniff my hand earlier, so maybe that’s how she knew?”
“Maou, all your hand ever smells like is MgRonald.”
“It’s a great smell!”
Maou retaliated to the wrong point.
“…But what can we do?”
Wondered Maou after snapping back at Urushihara, looking at Alas Ramus with a troubled frown.
Alas Ramus, about to fall through Emi’s arms, wiggled slightly and hugged Emi’s neck tightly again. Emi also adjusted to support Alas Ramus’s bottom.
“Oh, could it be what they call ‘imprinting?’ Maybe when she saw Maou-san and Yusa-san, she mistook you two for her parents?”
Chiho suggested as she raised her hand, but Maou shook his head.
“That sounds possible, but if that were true, she wouldn’t have said Daddy is Satan.’ Alas Ramus didn’t say ‘Maou,’ or even ‘Demon King,’ but ‘Satan.’ Could she have heard someone call me ‘Satan?’”
“Oh, you’re right…”
“Well, the name ‘Satan’ is as common as rocks in the demon world, but she came all the way to Japan and called me ‘Satan.’ I think we can be sure that when she said ‘Satan,’ she didn’t mean anyone else but me.”
“Th-then, Maou-san, are you going to accept Alas Ramus-chan!?”
“Chii-chan, Chii-chan, you’re getting worked up.”
Maou replied wearily to Chiho, who seemed desperate for some reason.
“You intrigued me when you mentioned that ‘the name Satan is as common as rocks,’ but what is your point?”
Suzuno steered the conversation forward, and Maou nodded.
“The simplest explanation is this, isn’t it? Someone camouflaged Alas Ramus as an apple and sent her to me, and…”
“…We don’t know whether they’re a friend or an enemy, but they’ll be here soon, right?”
Emi, who was holding Alas Ramus, finished the thought with a serious expression.
“Pretty much. I probably shouldn’t say this, but it’s most likely got something to do with you again. No matter how you look at it, she doesn’t seem like she’d be connected with someone from the demon world.”
“…Shut up… I actually do feel bad that Chiho-chan got dragged into this because of me.”
“What about the rest of us? What are we, chopped liver?”
“Ho-how do you know that this has something to do with Yusa-san?”
Emi looked at her right hand, which was holding Alas Ramus at the moment. She then answered Chiho’s worried question,
“This little girl stopped the holy sword with her bare hands, and reacted to me, its wielder. That’s more than enough evidence. Chiho-chan, you still remember how Sariel wanted my holy sword, right?”
When the angel Sariel had attacked just a few days prior, both Chiho and Emi had been kidnapped. He had attempted to forcibly take the holy sword from Emi using his special power, “Wicked Light of the Fallen.”
“Sariel never said why he wanted the holy sword. As if I’d let him take it before I’ve finished off this beggar demon king. We still don’t know the reason behind all of this, and now, a little child capable of stopping the holy sword in its tracks has shown up. It’s impossible to say that this isn’t related somehow, isn’t it?”
“Don’t pretend to be thinking logically just so you can mix in some insult towards me.”
Emi then asked Chiho, ignoring Maou’s quip,
“What are we going to do now? What are we supposed to do?”
“I’m the one asking you.”
“I don’t know, but you look like a natural at this.”
“…Do you not realize that saying those words are the equivalent of putting a noose around your neck?”
“Hey, I’ve been wondering for a while, but how did this kid know that Maou is Satan?” asked Urushihara while looking at Alas Ramus and Maou.
“Unlike mine, Maou’s demon and human forms look pretty different, don’t they?”
“How should I know? She did sniff my hand earlier, so maybe that’s how she knew?”
“Maou, all your hand ever smells like is MgRonald.”
“It’s a great smell!”
Maou retaliated to the wrong point.
“…But what can we do?”
Wondered Maou after snapping back at Urushihara, looking at Alas Ramus with a troubled frown.
Alas Ramus, about to fall through Emi’s arms, wiggled slightly and hugged Emi’s neck tightly again. Emi also adjusted to support Alas Ramus’s bottom.
“Oh, could it be what they call ‘imprinting?’ Maybe when she saw Maou-san and Yusa-san, she mistook you two for her parents?”
Chiho suggested as she raised her hand, but Maou shook his head.
“That sounds possible, but if that were true, she wouldn’t have said Daddy is Satan.’ Alas Ramus didn’t say ‘Maou,’ or even ‘Demon King,’ but ‘Satan.’ Could she have heard someone call me ‘Satan?’”
“Oh, you’re right…”
“Well, the name ‘Satan’ is as common as rocks in the demon world, but she came all the way to Japan and called me ‘Satan.’ I think we can be sure that when she said ‘Satan,’ she didn’t mean anyone else but me.”
“Th-then, Maou-san, are you going to accept Alas Ramus-chan!?”
“Chii-chan, Chii-chan, you’re getting worked up.”
Maou replied wearily to Chiho, who seemed desperate for some reason.
“You intrigued me when you mentioned that ‘the name Satan is as common as rocks,’ but what is your point?”
Suzuno steered the conversation forward, and Maou nodded.
“The simplest explanation is this, isn’t it? Someone camouflaged Alas Ramus as an apple and sent her to me, and…”
“…We don’t know whether they’re a friend or an enemy, but they’ll be here soon, right?”
Emi, who was holding Alas Ramus, finished the thought with a serious expression.
“Pretty much. I probably shouldn’t say this, but it’s most likely got something to do with you again. No matter how you look at it, she doesn’t seem like she’d be connected with someone from the demon world.”
“…Shut up… I actually do feel bad that Chiho-chan got dragged into this because of me.”
“What about the rest of us? What are we, chopped liver?”
“Ho-how do you know that this has something to do with Yusa-san?”
Emi looked at her right hand, which was holding Alas Ramus at the moment. She then answered Chiho’s worried question,
“This little girl stopped the holy sword with her bare hands, and reacted to me, its wielder. That’s more than enough evidence. Chiho-chan, you still remember how Sariel wanted my holy sword, right?”
When the angel Sariel had attacked just a few days prior, both Chiho and Emi had been kidnapped. He had attempted to forcibly take the holy sword from Emi using his special power, “Wicked Light of the Fallen.”
“Sariel never said why he wanted the holy sword. As if I’d let him take it before I’ve finished off this beggar demon king. We still don’t know the reason behind all of this, and now, a little child capable of stopping the holy sword in its tracks has shown up. It’s impossible to say that this isn’t related somehow, isn’t it?”
“Don’t pretend to be thinking logically just so you can mix in some insult towards me.”
Emi then asked Chiho, ignoring Maou’s quip,
“Come to think of it, what’s going on with Sariel? What’s he doing now?”
Chiho’s answer was short, blunt, and to the point.
“He’s getting fat.”
“Huh?”
“He comes to eat at MgRonald every day just to see Kisaki-san, and he always supersizes everything. He’s realized that she loves whoever contributes to her profit margin. But because of that, he’s gotten surprisingly fat in just a little over a week.”
Sariel’s plan failed because Maou had reawakened his demon king alter ego, but the angel had now wholly became his once-fake identity of Mitsuki Sarue, manager of the Hatagaya Station Branch of Sentucky Fried Chicken.
Having fallen in love at first sight with Mayumi Kisaki, the manager of MgRonald and Maou’s supervisor, Sariel abandoned heaven and all his missions so he could come to MgRonald every day without fail.
Since Kisaki wasn’t always working there, he sometimes came face to face with Maou, the temporary shift manager. However, Sariel had even proclaimed that he was willing to become a fallen angel for Kisaki.
He seemed to be aware that Kisaki knew what his intentions in coming to MgRonald were, and was so polite to Maou and Chiho that it became disturbing. It was as if he was trying to pretend that his previous violent acts had never happened.
“…Well, I don’t know if that idiot angel has anything to do with this, but I hope he doesn’t get involved if we get into some sort of trouble. He hurts our business with all his antics.”
Chiho’s answer was short, blunt, and to the point.
“He’s getting fat.”
“Huh?”
“He comes to eat at MgRonald every day just to see Kisaki-san, and he always supersizes everything. He’s realized that she loves whoever contributes to her profit margin. But because of that, he’s gotten surprisingly fat in just a little over a week.”
Sariel’s plan failed because Maou had reawakened his demon king alter ego, but the angel had now wholly became his once-fake identity of Mitsuki Sarue, manager of the Hatagaya Station Branch of Sentucky Fried Chicken.
Having fallen in love at first sight with Mayumi Kisaki, the manager of MgRonald and Maou’s supervisor, Sariel abandoned heaven and all his missions so he could come to MgRonald every day without fail.
Since Kisaki wasn’t always working there, he sometimes came face to face with Maou, the temporary shift manager. However, Sariel had even proclaimed that he was willing to become a fallen angel for Kisaki.
He seemed to be aware that Kisaki knew what his intentions in coming to MgRonald were, and was so polite to Maou and Chiho that it became disturbing. It was as if he was trying to pretend that his previous violent acts had never happened.
“…Well, I don’t know if that idiot angel has anything to do with this, but I hope he doesn’t get involved if we get into some sort of trouble. He hurts our business with all his antics.”
“Sariel… the holy sword incident aside, I do not believe he is involved directly with Alas Ramus,” added Suzuno.
“It is not that he had run out of sacred power in our previous battle, but rather that he is choosing of his own free will not to return. If he had something to do with Alas Ramus, he would have flown here the instant she appeared.”
At those words, Urushihara checked on his security cameras, Chiho peeked out into the public hallway from the kitchen window, and Ashiya glanced outside through the door.
“Besides, the name ‘Alas Ramus’ is not from a Heavenly language. It comes from a human language widely used in Ente Isla.”
“What?”
“The meaning of ‘Alas’ is ‘wing,’ and that of ‘Ramus’ is ‘branch.’ Furthermore, the words come specifically from the central trading language, ‘Centrumian,’ that is used exclusively in Isla Centrum.”
The language had earned its title from being used as a common language for standardizing units of measurement and contract negotiations in Isla Centrum, which was the center of trade and commerce due to its location in between the north, south, east, and west continents.
Those who spoke the central trading language were mostly government officials, high-order clergy, or traders, but it was the only language that would be universally understood in all of Ente Isla.
“In other words, somewhere in Ente Isla, she has a parent who gave her this name. We do not know whether that person is a human or an angel, but they cannot possibly be a demon…”
“It is not that he had run out of sacred power in our previous battle, but rather that he is choosing of his own free will not to return. If he had something to do with Alas Ramus, he would have flown here the instant she appeared.”
At those words, Urushihara checked on his security cameras, Chiho peeked out into the public hallway from the kitchen window, and Ashiya glanced outside through the door.
“Besides, the name ‘Alas Ramus’ is not from a Heavenly language. It comes from a human language widely used in Ente Isla.”
“What?”
“The meaning of ‘Alas’ is ‘wing,’ and that of ‘Ramus’ is ‘branch.’ Furthermore, the words come specifically from the central trading language, ‘Centrumian,’ that is used exclusively in Isla Centrum.”
The language had earned its title from being used as a common language for standardizing units of measurement and contract negotiations in Isla Centrum, which was the center of trade and commerce due to its location in between the north, south, east, and west continents.
Those who spoke the central trading language were mostly government officials, high-order clergy, or traders, but it was the only language that would be universally understood in all of Ente Isla.
“In other words, somewhere in Ente Isla, she has a parent who gave her this name. We do not know whether that person is a human or an angel, but they cannot possibly be a demon…”
Regardless, they still had no idea who had given her that name and with what purpose.
“So either way, we can only react to whatever’s coming at us next. We have to wait for someone who we don’t even know if it’s a friend or a foe, while holding this mysterious Alas Ramus in our arms.
Maou concluded with a serious expression. Even Emi and Suzuno listened to Maou’s words.
“Whatever you say, in the end, it all boils down to who’s going to take care of Alas Ramus, doesn’t it?”
Urushihara’s interjected, moving the conversation along. At that moment, the demon king’s castle became silent aside from the cries of cicadas.
“I thought she was quiet for a while. So she fell asleep, huh.”
Maou looked at Alas Ramus, who slept while still resting her head on Emi’s shoulder.
“…I don’t want such a little girl to get dragged into some sinister plot.”
Emi sighed, and stroked Alas Ramus’s back.
“Aside from the whole apple thing, she’s basically just a little baby girl. Goochy goochy goo…”
Maou had some fun and poked her in the cheek. Emi glared back at Maou.
“Hey, knock it off. She’s finally asleep.”
After being scolded, Maou pulled his hand back.
“Sigh… I’m so jealous, Yusa-san…”
“So either way, we can only react to whatever’s coming at us next. We have to wait for someone who we don’t even know if it’s a friend or a foe, while holding this mysterious Alas Ramus in our arms.
Maou concluded with a serious expression. Even Emi and Suzuno listened to Maou’s words.
“Whatever you say, in the end, it all boils down to who’s going to take care of Alas Ramus, doesn’t it?”
Urushihara’s interjected, moving the conversation along. At that moment, the demon king’s castle became silent aside from the cries of cicadas.
“I thought she was quiet for a while. So she fell asleep, huh.”
Maou looked at Alas Ramus, who slept while still resting her head on Emi’s shoulder.
“…I don’t want such a little girl to get dragged into some sinister plot.”
Emi sighed, and stroked Alas Ramus’s back.
“Aside from the whole apple thing, she’s basically just a little baby girl. Goochy goochy goo…”
Maou had some fun and poked her in the cheek. Emi glared back at Maou.
“Hey, knock it off. She’s finally asleep.”
After being scolded, Maou pulled his hand back.
“Sigh… I’m so jealous, Yusa-san…”
Chiho watched the three of them act like they belonged together. Even though she thought it was adorable, she couldn’t help but feel jealous and puff her cheeks out.
“Chiho-dono, Chiho-dono. Your true feelings are written all over your face.”
Suzuno pointed this out to Chiho, causing her to realize what she was doing.
After pulling Maou away from his fooling around with Alas Ramus, Emi let out a deep sigh.
“I can’t take her home with me. I live on my own, and my job keeps me too busy to have the time to take care of her.”
“But Demon King Castle is even more ill-equipped to take her in. Our budget can’t handle another mouth to feed, and we’re a group of three men.”
Ashiya also objected right away. Not only did they already have a dead weight that ate food and contributed nothing in return, but the three men lived in a six-tatami room with no air conditioning. They couldn’t make it a worse environment to raise a little child in if they tried.
“I’m sorry… I want to help, but I can’t think of any reasons that would convince my parents.”
Chiho also chimed in with an apologetic tone.
“You do not need to concern yourself, Chiho-dono. This is an Ente Islan problem.”
Suzuno patted Chiho’s shoulder to make her feel better.
“I do not want to see a little child with no relatives shuffled around among adults because she would be an inconvenience to them. Besides, I do not have a job, so I do not mind taking her in. I also have experience in the caretaking of large numbers of children.
“Chiho-dono, Chiho-dono. Your true feelings are written all over your face.”
Suzuno pointed this out to Chiho, causing her to realize what she was doing.
After pulling Maou away from his fooling around with Alas Ramus, Emi let out a deep sigh.
“I can’t take her home with me. I live on my own, and my job keeps me too busy to have the time to take care of her.”
“But Demon King Castle is even more ill-equipped to take her in. Our budget can’t handle another mouth to feed, and we’re a group of three men.”
Ashiya also objected right away. Not only did they already have a dead weight that ate food and contributed nothing in return, but the three men lived in a six-tatami room with no air conditioning. They couldn’t make it a worse environment to raise a little child in if they tried.
“I’m sorry… I want to help, but I can’t think of any reasons that would convince my parents.”
Chiho also chimed in with an apologetic tone.
“You do not need to concern yourself, Chiho-dono. This is an Ente Islan problem.”
Suzuno patted Chiho’s shoulder to make her feel better.
“I do not want to see a little child with no relatives shuffled around among adults because she would be an inconvenience to them. Besides, I do not have a job, so I do not mind taking her in. I also have experience in the caretaking of large numbers of children.
Although Suzuno’s appearance would suggest that she was about the same age as Chiho, if not younger, considering her position and her history with the Church of the Divine Creed, she was actually the oldest of the girls in the group.
The rest of the group already knew that bringing her age up would be the equivalent of throwing their own lives away, but going by age and her experience from being in a clergy, they all thought Suzuno would be the most qualified of them all.
Moreover, the image of her wearing a yukata, which was more or less her default housework uniform, with an apron on top and a bandana on her head, carrying Alas Ramus on her back in a baby strap just somehow seemed right.
In response to Suzuno’s proposal, Emi, Ashiya, Chiho, and even Urushihara, who never even tried to help, made expressions of relief.
“…”
Maou was the only one who did not loosen his face.
In an atmosphere where things had finally began to calm down because of the ideal plan to have a clergywoman from the Church of the Divine Creed take care of the little baby who seemed to be somehow related to the Evolving Holy Sword, Better Half, Maou repeatedly looked from Emi, to Alas Ramus, to his own hand.
“…Um, Maou-san?”
The first person to take notice of that was, unsurprisingly, Chiho.
“Is… something wrong?”
“Yeah. There’s one thing… no, two things that I don’t get.”
The rest of the group already knew that bringing her age up would be the equivalent of throwing their own lives away, but going by age and her experience from being in a clergy, they all thought Suzuno would be the most qualified of them all.
Moreover, the image of her wearing a yukata, which was more or less her default housework uniform, with an apron on top and a bandana on her head, carrying Alas Ramus on her back in a baby strap just somehow seemed right.
In response to Suzuno’s proposal, Emi, Ashiya, Chiho, and even Urushihara, who never even tried to help, made expressions of relief.
“…”
Maou was the only one who did not loosen his face.
In an atmosphere where things had finally began to calm down because of the ideal plan to have a clergywoman from the Church of the Divine Creed take care of the little baby who seemed to be somehow related to the Evolving Holy Sword, Better Half, Maou repeatedly looked from Emi, to Alas Ramus, to his own hand.
“…Um, Maou-san?”
The first person to take notice of that was, unsurprisingly, Chiho.
“Is… something wrong?”
“Yeah. There’s one thing… no, two things that I don’t get.”
Maou answered while looking at Emi, and not Chiho.
“I might be overthinking it, but…”
Muttered Maou as he placed his hand on his forehead. Chiho tilted her head, not knowing what Maou was trying to say. He continued to mumble and think out loud without waiting for an answer from Chiho.
“…Why didn’t she say, ‘Mommy is Emilia’…?”
“What?”
Chiho widened her eyes, as his answer changed the flow of the conversation abruptly.
But more importantly, at that precise moment, Chiho felt an indescribable pain run through her heart.
She tried to ignore that pain.
She knew that “Emilia” was Emi’s real name. She also understood that Emi and Suzuno were Maou’s enemies.
But this thought ran across Chiho’s mind.
“Will I… ever be more than just ‘Chii-chan’…?”
She was an ordinary high school girl who knew of their secrets, but she did not have any special powers.
The unanswered confession aside, when she had been kidnapped by Sariel, Maou had declared that she was “a subordinate whom he must protect.”
“I might be overthinking it, but…”
Muttered Maou as he placed his hand on his forehead. Chiho tilted her head, not knowing what Maou was trying to say. He continued to mumble and think out loud without waiting for an answer from Chiho.
“…Why didn’t she say, ‘Mommy is Emilia’…?”
“What?”
Chiho widened her eyes, as his answer changed the flow of the conversation abruptly.
But more importantly, at that precise moment, Chiho felt an indescribable pain run through her heart.
She tried to ignore that pain.
She knew that “Emilia” was Emi’s real name. She also understood that Emi and Suzuno were Maou’s enemies.
But this thought ran across Chiho’s mind.
“Will I… ever be more than just ‘Chii-chan’…?”
She was an ordinary high school girl who knew of their secrets, but she did not have any special powers.
The unanswered confession aside, when she had been kidnapped by Sariel, Maou had declared that she was “a subordinate whom he must protect.”
She only knew about them, and that was all. Both at work and outside of work, she was always being protected by Maou.
Even in a moment like this, the inner tension between her rational self, which realized that she had to accept who she was, and her yearning self, which wanted to be treated as his equal, pierced her heart.
“Hm? Did you say something, Chii-chan?”
“…Sorry, it’s nothing.”
Chiho was ashamed of not being fully focused on the situation at hand, and drew back from the circle that surrounded Alas Ramus.
Of course, Maou did not even notice Chiho’s heartache, and after showing signs of hesitation, said something no one was expecting.
“It’s decided, then. Alas Ramus will stay in Demon King Castle.”
Even in a moment like this, the inner tension between her rational self, which realized that she had to accept who she was, and her yearning self, which wanted to be treated as his equal, pierced her heart.
“Hm? Did you say something, Chii-chan?”
“…Sorry, it’s nothing.”
Chiho was ashamed of not being fully focused on the situation at hand, and drew back from the circle that surrounded Alas Ramus.
Of course, Maou did not even notice Chiho’s heartache, and after showing signs of hesitation, said something no one was expecting.
“It’s decided, then. Alas Ramus will stay in Demon King Castle.”
******
“…So where did Urushihara-san actually go?”
As Chiho repeated her question while remembering the chaotic events of the previous day, the answer came to her from an unexpected place.
“Maaaan, it’s so hot. Ashiya, are we eating yet?”
The sliding screen to the closet opened with a rattle, and a sweat-covered Urushihara emerged from it.
“Oh? You’re here, Chiho Sasaki?”
Chiho was at a loss for words at the sudden turn of events.
Upon a closer look, she saw that a flashlight, the laptop, and a mini-fan were inside the closet. Urushihara came out of the closet as Chiho watched him, then walked over to the refrigerator with a nonchalant expression, took one of Alas Ramus’s bottles of barley tea, and returned to the closet.
“Well, make yourself at home.”
Said Urushihara, as the useless robot cat wannabe closed the sliding screen.**
As Chiho repeated her question while remembering the chaotic events of the previous day, the answer came to her from an unexpected place.
“Maaaan, it’s so hot. Ashiya, are we eating yet?”
The sliding screen to the closet opened with a rattle, and a sweat-covered Urushihara emerged from it.
“Oh? You’re here, Chiho Sasaki?”
Chiho was at a loss for words at the sudden turn of events.
Upon a closer look, she saw that a flashlight, the laptop, and a mini-fan were inside the closet. Urushihara came out of the closet as Chiho watched him, then walked over to the refrigerator with a nonchalant expression, took one of Alas Ramus’s bottles of barley tea, and returned to the closet.
“Well, make yourself at home.”
Said Urushihara, as the useless robot cat wannabe closed the sliding screen.**
**This is a reference to Doraemon, a cat-like robot who also slept in a closet.
“…Ashiya-san…”
“I saw nothing.”
Said Ashiya, with no energy in his voice.
“I do not want him to cross my field of vision ever again. Last night, my lord and I took turns trying to get Alas Ramus to stop crying, but she never showed signs of stopping and kept asking, “where is mommy? where is mommy…?” Lucifer has been spending most of his time in the closet since last night.”
“Urushihara-san should just shrivel up and die from dehydration.”
Chiho empathized with Ashiya from the bottom of her heart.
When Maou had said that he was going to take Alas Ramus in, Suzuno, who had been the first to volunteer as her caretaker, opposed him.
But when Alas Ramus woke up and said that she wanted to be with Daddy, Suzuno agreed to it surprisingly easily.
“I saw nothing.”
Said Ashiya, with no energy in his voice.
“I do not want him to cross my field of vision ever again. Last night, my lord and I took turns trying to get Alas Ramus to stop crying, but she never showed signs of stopping and kept asking, “where is mommy? where is mommy…?” Lucifer has been spending most of his time in the closet since last night.”
“Urushihara-san should just shrivel up and die from dehydration.”
Chiho empathized with Ashiya from the bottom of her heart.
When Maou had said that he was going to take Alas Ramus in, Suzuno, who had been the first to volunteer as her caretaker, opposed him.
But when Alas Ramus woke up and said that she wanted to be with Daddy, Suzuno agreed to it surprisingly easily.
“A child’s wishes are to be respected. However, I will take her out of your arms as soon as I see the first sign of you doing anything that would be detrimental to her upbringing,” warned Suzuno.
And since she possessed holy power stronger than the three demons combined and lived right next door, her words carried weight.
However, the “Mommy” problem still remained. Unlike Suzuno, Emi was not their neighbor.
Alas Ramus was seemingly satisfied with being able to live with Maou, which solved their first problem. However, she was already glancing nervously towards Emi, who was getting ready to leave to go shopping with Suzuno like they had originally been planning to.
“mommy, are you leevin me again?”
She asked with tearful eyes. Emi was at a loss for words.
“…?”
Maou tilted his head at Alas Ramus’s question, and said to her in a persuasive tone,
“Hey, listen, Alas Ramus, Mommy is going out juuust for a little bit.”
“gowing out?”
“Yep, she’ll be right back!”
And since she possessed holy power stronger than the three demons combined and lived right next door, her words carried weight.
However, the “Mommy” problem still remained. Unlike Suzuno, Emi was not their neighbor.
Alas Ramus was seemingly satisfied with being able to live with Maou, which solved their first problem. However, she was already glancing nervously towards Emi, who was getting ready to leave to go shopping with Suzuno like they had originally been planning to.
“mommy, are you leevin me again?”
She asked with tearful eyes. Emi was at a loss for words.
“…?”
Maou tilted his head at Alas Ramus’s question, and said to her in a persuasive tone,
“Hey, listen, Alas Ramus, Mommy is going out juuust for a little bit.”
“gowing out?”
“Yep, she’ll be right back!”
“…weally?”
Emi hesitated as Alas Ramus looked at her with a clinging expression. Maou mouthed, “Just go with it!” to Emi from behind Alas Ramus.
“Re-really. I’m coming back.”
“ah’ll be a good girl and wait for yu den.”
Alas Ramus nodded, faithfully believing every word that Emi said. Everyone except Urushihara felt like they had been stabbed in the heart with a dagger.
Because of the Alas Ramus incident, it was nearly evening when Emi and Suzuno left. Chiho also had to go home, so she only knew what had happened to that point. However…
“Did Yusa-san not come back?”
“No, she did come back with Crestia… however, that’s when the trouble began.”
“Alas Ramus thought she was going to sleep together with Emilia.”
At that moment, the door to Demon King Castle opened and Suzuno came in with some shopping bags, just like Chiho had.
“Hi, Suzuno-san.”
“Alciel, here are the bento and vitamin drink that you wanted.”
Suzuno bluntly handed the bags over to Ashiya, who took them lethargically and said,
“…I’m not going to thank you. How much was it?”
“Re-really. I’m coming back.”
“ah’ll be a good girl and wait for yu den.”
Alas Ramus nodded, faithfully believing every word that Emi said. Everyone except Urushihara felt like they had been stabbed in the heart with a dagger.
Because of the Alas Ramus incident, it was nearly evening when Emi and Suzuno left. Chiho also had to go home, so she only knew what had happened to that point. However…
“Did Yusa-san not come back?”
“No, she did come back with Crestia… however, that’s when the trouble began.”
“Alas Ramus thought she was going to sleep together with Emilia.”
At that moment, the door to Demon King Castle opened and Suzuno came in with some shopping bags, just like Chiho had.
“Hi, Suzuno-san.”
“Alciel, here are the bento and vitamin drink that you wanted.”
Suzuno bluntly handed the bags over to Ashiya, who took them lethargically and said,
“…I’m not going to thank you. How much was it?”
“The ginger-fried pork Orion-bento was five-hundred yen. The vitamin drinks are for me, but I will let you have one.”
“…”
Ashiya took out a five-hundred yen coin and handed it to Suzuno without saying a word, got up, and took off the bento packaging.
“…”
Ashiya took out a five-hundred yen coin and handed it to Suzuno without saying a word, got up, and took off the bento packaging.
*Orion-bento is a spoof on Origin-bento.
“Excuse me, Sasaki-san, I’m going to eat my lunch now…”
“Huh? Oh, ye-yes, please, don’t mind me.”
“What? Lunch?”
Just then, Urushihara slid open the closet screen and poked his head out after smelling the ginger-fried pork. But,
“Silence, parasite.”
The great archdemon general who had conquered the Eastern Continent of Ente Isla in just one year gave Urushihara an expression and voice so filled with unbelievable malice and hatred that it seemed it would physically injure him. Surprisingly, Urushihara said nothing in return and retreated behind the sliding screen.
And then, Ashiya slowly proceeded to eat the bento without paying any attention to Suzuno or Chiho.
“To think that Ashiya-san would pay for and eat an Orion-bento…”
Chiho made a perceptive comment on just how abnormal an action this was for Ashiya, and wiped a tear from her eye.
“Her crying last night defied all imagination. Even I, with a wall between her and me, was forcibly woken up multiple times.”
Upon a closer look, Suzuno was actually wearing makeup. Just how extremely rare this sight was could not be overstated, for she almost never wore makeup. The corner of her eyes slumped downwards tiredly. She must have been severely affected.
“Huh? Oh, ye-yes, please, don’t mind me.”
“What? Lunch?”
Just then, Urushihara slid open the closet screen and poked his head out after smelling the ginger-fried pork. But,
“Silence, parasite.”
The great archdemon general who had conquered the Eastern Continent of Ente Isla in just one year gave Urushihara an expression and voice so filled with unbelievable malice and hatred that it seemed it would physically injure him. Surprisingly, Urushihara said nothing in return and retreated behind the sliding screen.
And then, Ashiya slowly proceeded to eat the bento without paying any attention to Suzuno or Chiho.
“To think that Ashiya-san would pay for and eat an Orion-bento…”
Chiho made a perceptive comment on just how abnormal an action this was for Ashiya, and wiped a tear from her eye.
“Her crying last night defied all imagination. Even I, with a wall between her and me, was forcibly woken up multiple times.”
Upon a closer look, Suzuno was actually wearing makeup. Just how extremely rare this sight was could not be overstated, for she almost never wore makeup. The corner of her eyes slumped downwards tiredly. She must have been severely affected.
“There was an incredible uproar this morning as well. She adamantly refused to let the demon king leave for work. She must have thought that the demon king would not return either since Emilia left after coming back once.”
“I see… but it’s not like Yusa-san can just stay here overnight, either.”
As she was a woman and the hero, she absolutely could not stay over at Demon King Castle, thought Chiho.
But in actuality, Emi had already stayed the night there once before. Ignorance is bliss.
Staying at Suzuno’s room may have been another possible solution, but wouldn’t work either.
Suzuno only had the bare minimum of cosmetics, and since it was the middle of the summer, Emi would need a change of clothes.
“I see… but it’s not like Yusa-san can just stay here overnight, either.”
As she was a woman and the hero, she absolutely could not stay over at Demon King Castle, thought Chiho.
But in actuality, Emi had already stayed the night there once before. Ignorance is bliss.
Staying at Suzuno’s room may have been another possible solution, but wouldn’t work either.
Suzuno only had the bare minimum of cosmetics, and since it was the middle of the summer, Emi would need a change of clothes.
However, if she kept going back and forth between here and Emi’s apartment in Eifuku town, the bathhouse in Sasazuka would be closed before she could go there. She had work the next morning, and couldn’t possibly go in without taking a bath.
“It is not as if Emilia does not care at all, but she cannot disregard her real world responsibilities, either.”
Said Suzuno, as she took out a cellphone from her yutaka sleeve, opened it, and showed the screen to Chiho.
The name “Emilia” was written on the screen. And right next to it was a message that read:
“I’ll stop by tomorrow. I really feel bad about this, but please take care of her.”
Chiho read the message, but she was more interested in the fact that Suzuno had a cellphone to begin with. She looked back and forth between the phone and Suzuno.
“Suzuno-san, you bought a cellphone?”
“Hm? Oh, yes. I purchased it yesterday. I asked Emilia for help, and she taught me numerous things.”
“Yay! Let’s exchange numbers! It’s a Docodemo phone, right?”
Suzuno’s phone was not the popular slimphone, but rather an ordinary flip phone.
“It is not as if Emilia does not care at all, but she cannot disregard her real world responsibilities, either.”
Said Suzuno, as she took out a cellphone from her yutaka sleeve, opened it, and showed the screen to Chiho.
The name “Emilia” was written on the screen. And right next to it was a message that read:
“I’ll stop by tomorrow. I really feel bad about this, but please take care of her.”
Chiho read the message, but she was more interested in the fact that Suzuno had a cellphone to begin with. She looked back and forth between the phone and Suzuno.
“Suzuno-san, you bought a cellphone?”
“Hm? Oh, yes. I purchased it yesterday. I asked Emilia for help, and she taught me numerous things.”
“Yay! Let’s exchange numbers! It’s a Docodemo phone, right?”
Suzuno’s phone was not the popular slimphone, but rather an ordinary flip phone.
“E-exchange? I am not certain how the process works. I believe there is a infrared sensor gun feature on this phone.”
Suzuno searched for a feature that might defeat a gigantic monster for a while, looking all over her phone with a frown on her face. However, she eventually gave up and handed it over to Chiho with a look of defeat.
“…My apologies, Chiho-dono, but I cannot make heads or tails out of this. I would like your assistance.”
“Sure, but are you really okay with me messing around with your phone?”
“I do not mind. It was just purchased, so all I have done with it is save Emilia’s number.”
By no means did Chiho consider herself to be a gadget expert, but if it was just a cellphone, she was confident that she would be able to figure out how to use it from playing around with it, even if it worked slightly differently from her own.
However, when Chiho flipped the phone open, there was something strange about it.
Chiho also had a Docodemo flip phone, but the numbers printed on Suzuno’s phone were very large.
Additionally, obnoxiously large keys for numbers “1,” “2,” and “3” sat on the top row of the number pad. She had not seen anything like that on her phone, her family’s phones, or her friends’ phones.
And to top it all off, there was a dedicated “help” key at the bottom left of the number pad.
“Suzuno-san, is this… is this a Docodemo ‘Super-Easy Phone?’”
Suzuno searched for a feature that might defeat a gigantic monster for a while, looking all over her phone with a frown on her face. However, she eventually gave up and handed it over to Chiho with a look of defeat.
“…My apologies, Chiho-dono, but I cannot make heads or tails out of this. I would like your assistance.”
“Sure, but are you really okay with me messing around with your phone?”
“I do not mind. It was just purchased, so all I have done with it is save Emilia’s number.”
By no means did Chiho consider herself to be a gadget expert, but if it was just a cellphone, she was confident that she would be able to figure out how to use it from playing around with it, even if it worked slightly differently from her own.
However, when Chiho flipped the phone open, there was something strange about it.
Chiho also had a Docodemo flip phone, but the numbers printed on Suzuno’s phone were very large.
Additionally, obnoxiously large keys for numbers “1,” “2,” and “3” sat on the top row of the number pad. She had not seen anything like that on her phone, her family’s phones, or her friends’ phones.
And to top it all off, there was a dedicated “help” key at the bottom left of the number pad.
“Suzuno-san, is this… is this a Docodemo ‘Super-Easy Phone?’”
At Chiho’s question, Suzuno made a shocked expression and nodded.
“Astounding, Chiho-dono! You can tell models apart just by looking at them!?”
“We-well, sure, kind of.”
“I have no attachments to any particular model, and I do not require any function other than communication. Furthermore, I have no confidence in being able to use a phone well, so I asked for the absolute-easiest one, and this is what was given to me.”
As Suzuno explained confidently, Chiho stopped thinking too much about it.
TV commercials always portrayed the Super-Easy Phone to be targeted at elderly people who were not adept at using technology. However, there was nothing preventing a member of the younger generation from using one.
Soon enough, Chiho found the infrared function on Suzuno’s phone and exchanged their contact information by matching her phone’s sensor to Suzuno’s.
“Here, it’s done. I saved my number on your phone, Suzuno-san.”
“You have my gratitude. My knowledge of phones stops at black rotary phones, so even though I tried to read the manual, I did not understand even the very basic vocabulary.”
Suzuno said in an embarrassed voice, and took her phone back.
And at that precise moment,
“…daddyyy…”
Everyone in the room froze, and turned to look at the origin of the voice.
“Astounding, Chiho-dono! You can tell models apart just by looking at them!?”
“We-well, sure, kind of.”
“I have no attachments to any particular model, and I do not require any function other than communication. Furthermore, I have no confidence in being able to use a phone well, so I asked for the absolute-easiest one, and this is what was given to me.”
As Suzuno explained confidently, Chiho stopped thinking too much about it.
TV commercials always portrayed the Super-Easy Phone to be targeted at elderly people who were not adept at using technology. However, there was nothing preventing a member of the younger generation from using one.
Soon enough, Chiho found the infrared function on Suzuno’s phone and exchanged their contact information by matching her phone’s sensor to Suzuno’s.
“Here, it’s done. I saved my number on your phone, Suzuno-san.”
“You have my gratitude. My knowledge of phones stops at black rotary phones, so even though I tried to read the manual, I did not understand even the very basic vocabulary.”
Suzuno said in an embarrassed voice, and took her phone back.
And at that precise moment,
“…daddyyy…”
Everyone in the room froze, and turned to look at the origin of the voice.
Alas Ramus, who was supposed to have fallen asleep just a little while ago, had gotten up slowly and looked around sleepily.
“Ngh…”
Ashiya was taken by surprise, causing him to choke on his ginger-fried pork and let out a muffled cry.
“wheah is daddy?”
Seeing that neither Maou nor Emi were in the vicinity, Alas Ramus’s face turned red in a matter of seconds and she began crying like a faucet had been turned on in her head.
“DAAAAAAADDDYYYYYY!!!”
And she exploded. Ashiya forced the pork down with a gulp of barley tea and rushed over to try to calm her down, but he had no idea how to stop her shrieking.
“Excuse me, Ashiya-san.”
However, Chiho calmly asked Ashiya to step aside.
“Ashiya-san, is this diaper…”
Alas Ramus was wearing a diaper, but it was bulging to the point of nearly bursting.
“Yes, I bought that yesterday.”
Suzuno was the one to answer.
“After Emilia went home, Alas Ramus had a great accident. We completely forgot about being prepared for such things, but since the pharmacies were already closed, we had to resort to buying some from the convenience store next to the station…”
“Ngh…”
Ashiya was taken by surprise, causing him to choke on his ginger-fried pork and let out a muffled cry.
“wheah is daddy?”
Seeing that neither Maou nor Emi were in the vicinity, Alas Ramus’s face turned red in a matter of seconds and she began crying like a faucet had been turned on in her head.
“DAAAAAAADDDYYYYYY!!!”
And she exploded. Ashiya forced the pork down with a gulp of barley tea and rushed over to try to calm her down, but he had no idea how to stop her shrieking.
“Excuse me, Ashiya-san.”
However, Chiho calmly asked Ashiya to step aside.
“Ashiya-san, is this diaper…”
Alas Ramus was wearing a diaper, but it was bulging to the point of nearly bursting.
“Yes, I bought that yesterday.”
Suzuno was the one to answer.
“After Emilia went home, Alas Ramus had a great accident. We completely forgot about being prepared for such things, but since the pharmacies were already closed, we had to resort to buying some from the convenience store next to the station…”
Upon a closer look, there was a small bag of diapers that had been opened violently next to the bathroom.
“…Ashiya san, no wonder.”
“Wha-what is it?”
“Of course she would cry. You didn’t change her diaper even once the entire night?”
Chiho said sternly as if scolding him, took out a new diaper, and placed it on the tatami mat.
And after lying Alas Ramus on top of it,
“Ashiya-san, there’s a bottle that looks like a syringe in the bag that I brought. Could you fill it with the water from the faucet and bring it to me, please?”
“Ye-yes, but um, the water from the faucet is lukewarm.”
“That’s actually better. Please hurry.”
After giving quick instructions, as Ashiya and Suzuno looked on, Chiho used one hand to hold and lift both of Alas Ramus’s legs, and her other hand to remove the taped-on diaper.
“Okay, let’s get your bum nice and clean!”
After taking the bottle, she slowly squeezed the warm water onto Alas Ramus’s bottom. Ashiya and Suzuno were shocked for a second, but the running water quickly disappeared into the absorbent diaper.
Chiho then put down the bottle and used a wet wipe to clean any leftovers. Next, she placed the used wipe in the diaper, lifted Alas Ramus’s legs just a little bit higher, and pulled the diaper out from under her and put it aside.
“…Ashiya san, no wonder.”
“Wha-what is it?”
“Of course she would cry. You didn’t change her diaper even once the entire night?”
Chiho said sternly as if scolding him, took out a new diaper, and placed it on the tatami mat.
And after lying Alas Ramus on top of it,
“Ashiya-san, there’s a bottle that looks like a syringe in the bag that I brought. Could you fill it with the water from the faucet and bring it to me, please?”
“Ye-yes, but um, the water from the faucet is lukewarm.”
“That’s actually better. Please hurry.”
After giving quick instructions, as Ashiya and Suzuno looked on, Chiho used one hand to hold and lift both of Alas Ramus’s legs, and her other hand to remove the taped-on diaper.
“Okay, let’s get your bum nice and clean!”
After taking the bottle, she slowly squeezed the warm water onto Alas Ramus’s bottom. Ashiya and Suzuno were shocked for a second, but the running water quickly disappeared into the absorbent diaper.
Chiho then put down the bottle and used a wet wipe to clean any leftovers. Next, she placed the used wipe in the diaper, lifted Alas Ramus’s legs just a little bit higher, and pulled the diaper out from under her and put it aside.
After doing all of that single-handedly in one smooth action, Chiho gently placed Alas Ramus’s bottom on the new diaper that she had laid out beforehand, and quickly fastened it with tape.
Before anyone could even blink, Alas Ramus, who had been crying like a typhoon, calmed down.
Ashiya gaped at Chiho and Alas Ramus with his eyes wide open.
“…Since she kept screaming for Emilia, I just assumed she was lonely…”
“Well, you’re not wrong, but babies often don’t know how to precisely say what they want. If something’s bothering them, they just repeat phrases they already know over and over again.”
Chiho rolled up the old diaper and trash together and threw them into the flammable trash bin. She then wiped her own hands with the wet wipes, picked up Alas Ramus, and rubbed her cheek against the baby’s apple-like face.
“See? You don’t like being dirty, riiight?”
“ouuuuh.”
Alas Ramus replied, but it was unclear whether she was agreeing or just making a noise.
However, it was clear that the reason for Alas Ramus’s crying last night had been the dirty diaper.
“It’s okay. Daddy and… Mommy… will be back soon! So be a good girl and wait for them, okay?”
Chiho felt some form of inner resistance against calling Emi “Mommy,” but she knew it was pointless to brood over something like that in front of a little baby, so she just let it go and said what she thought would best calm down Alas Ramus.
Before anyone could even blink, Alas Ramus, who had been crying like a typhoon, calmed down.
Ashiya gaped at Chiho and Alas Ramus with his eyes wide open.
“…Since she kept screaming for Emilia, I just assumed she was lonely…”
“Well, you’re not wrong, but babies often don’t know how to precisely say what they want. If something’s bothering them, they just repeat phrases they already know over and over again.”
Chiho rolled up the old diaper and trash together and threw them into the flammable trash bin. She then wiped her own hands with the wet wipes, picked up Alas Ramus, and rubbed her cheek against the baby’s apple-like face.
“See? You don’t like being dirty, riiight?”
“ouuuuh.”
Alas Ramus replied, but it was unclear whether she was agreeing or just making a noise.
However, it was clear that the reason for Alas Ramus’s crying last night had been the dirty diaper.
“It’s okay. Daddy and… Mommy… will be back soon! So be a good girl and wait for them, okay?”
Chiho felt some form of inner resistance against calling Emi “Mommy,” but she knew it was pointless to brood over something like that in front of a little baby, so she just let it go and said what she thought would best calm down Alas Ramus.
“yesh.”
Alas Ramus looked straight back at Chiho through her teary eyes and nodded with a gentle smile.
“Geez… you’re so cute. That’s a good girl.”
Chiho nearly melted at the adorable sight of Alas Ramus wiping her tears with her tiny little hands.
“Huh…?”
At the exact moment Alas Ramus stopped crying, Chiho saw a purple, crescent-shaped mark appear on the baby’s forehead. Her entire body started to emit a glow in the same color as her one-piece dress.
But in a blink of an eye, the mark and glow disappeared.
No drastic change had occurred to Alas Ramus during that series of events, but Chiho sighed upon being reminded once more of her mysterious origin from an alternate world.
Chiho knew that all she could do was pour out her love on the little child, and she hugged Alas Ramus once again.
“Wapu!”
Alas Ramus let out a surprised cry.
Ashiya fell down on his knees at the sight before him.
“No, I cannot even be compared with Sasaki-san… I’m ashamed to have boasted of myself as a knowledge general at one point in my life… A diaper change that used the abilities of the diaper itself to bring out its maximum potential… I feel as if a blindfold has been removed from my face…”
Alas Ramus looked straight back at Chiho through her teary eyes and nodded with a gentle smile.
“Geez… you’re so cute. That’s a good girl.”
Chiho nearly melted at the adorable sight of Alas Ramus wiping her tears with her tiny little hands.
“Huh…?”
At the exact moment Alas Ramus stopped crying, Chiho saw a purple, crescent-shaped mark appear on the baby’s forehead. Her entire body started to emit a glow in the same color as her one-piece dress.
But in a blink of an eye, the mark and glow disappeared.
No drastic change had occurred to Alas Ramus during that series of events, but Chiho sighed upon being reminded once more of her mysterious origin from an alternate world.
Chiho knew that all she could do was pour out her love on the little child, and she hugged Alas Ramus once again.
“Wapu!”
Alas Ramus let out a surprised cry.
Ashiya fell down on his knees at the sight before him.
“No, I cannot even be compared with Sasaki-san… I’m ashamed to have boasted of myself as a knowledge general at one point in my life… A diaper change that used the abilities of the diaper itself to bring out its maximum potential… I feel as if a blindfold has been removed from my face…”
Ashiya was probably the only demon aiming for world domination in the universe who would lament about not knowing to change a baby’s diaper, but his remorse over his lack of knowledge on the subject matter was genuine.
Not knowing how to respond to Ashiya, Chiho looked up at the clock on the wall and tried to change the topic.
“What time will Yusa-san be back?”
“She will not return until her job is over, so I would assume the eighteenth hour at the earliest.”
“Suzuno-san, you know Yusa-san’s shift schedule?”
“I do not know, but I have ambushed her before.”
Chiho had no idea what Suzuno was talking about, but she remembered something and looked at the bag that she had brought.
“Suzuno-san, there’s a notebook with a pink cover in my bag, and right inside that, there’s a folded piece of paper. Can you get that and open it for me?”
“Of course, just wait for a second… is this it?”
Chiho, who still had her hands full holding Alas Ramus, looked down at the paper that Suzuno was holding in front of her.
“Maou-san is acting shift manager from morning until after lunchtime today, and Kisaki-san will come in after peak time, and… oh, he’s getting off early today. Four in the afternoon, huh?”
What she was referring to was not a typical electronic timesheet, but a handmade shift chart that Kisaki handed out to every employee. According the chart, Maou’s shift ended at 4 PM.
Not knowing how to respond to Ashiya, Chiho looked up at the clock on the wall and tried to change the topic.
“What time will Yusa-san be back?”
“She will not return until her job is over, so I would assume the eighteenth hour at the earliest.”
“Suzuno-san, you know Yusa-san’s shift schedule?”
“I do not know, but I have ambushed her before.”
Chiho had no idea what Suzuno was talking about, but she remembered something and looked at the bag that she had brought.
“Suzuno-san, there’s a notebook with a pink cover in my bag, and right inside that, there’s a folded piece of paper. Can you get that and open it for me?”
“Of course, just wait for a second… is this it?”
Chiho, who still had her hands full holding Alas Ramus, looked down at the paper that Suzuno was holding in front of her.
“Maou-san is acting shift manager from morning until after lunchtime today, and Kisaki-san will come in after peak time, and… oh, he’s getting off early today. Four in the afternoon, huh?”
What she was referring to was not a typical electronic timesheet, but a handmade shift chart that Kisaki handed out to every employee. According the chart, Maou’s shift ended at 4 PM.
The current time was 2:30 PM. Chiho looked from the time on her phone to the shift chart and then,
“How about this? Why don’t we take Alas Ramus-chan to MgRonald?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“What?”
Ashiya and Suzuno looked at Chiho with a confused face.
“She’ll get really bored if she’s holed up in here for so long. If we take her out for a walk, she might get in a better mood, and she’ll see her “daddy” sooner, right?”
“Daddyyy!”
Alas Ramus happily raised her arms while still being held by Chiho as she reacted instantaneously to the word “daddy.” She absolutely adored her daddy.
However, Ashiya raised his face from a depressed posture and disagreed.
“I have no idea what reasons my lord had for taking in Alas Ramus, but I still do not think it would be best for her to be out in the open unnecessarily while we still are not certain about her situation…”
“No, I actually concur with Chiho-dono. Even if we do not completely understand her situation, perhaps something may come to light if we take the initiative. Furthermore, the social system set in this world is not so simple as to let the likes of you take care of some unknown child. For example, what if Alas Ramus becomes ill and you have to take her to a hospital? How would you take her to the doctors with no proof of guardianship or insurance?”
“How about this? Why don’t we take Alas Ramus-chan to MgRonald?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“What?”
Ashiya and Suzuno looked at Chiho with a confused face.
“She’ll get really bored if she’s holed up in here for so long. If we take her out for a walk, she might get in a better mood, and she’ll see her “daddy” sooner, right?”
“Daddyyy!”
Alas Ramus happily raised her arms while still being held by Chiho as she reacted instantaneously to the word “daddy.” She absolutely adored her daddy.
However, Ashiya raised his face from a depressed posture and disagreed.
“I have no idea what reasons my lord had for taking in Alas Ramus, but I still do not think it would be best for her to be out in the open unnecessarily while we still are not certain about her situation…”
“No, I actually concur with Chiho-dono. Even if we do not completely understand her situation, perhaps something may come to light if we take the initiative. Furthermore, the social system set in this world is not so simple as to let the likes of you take care of some unknown child. For example, what if Alas Ramus becomes ill and you have to take her to a hospital? How would you take her to the doctors with no proof of guardianship or insurance?”
Ashiya had no response to Suzuno’s insightful rebuttal.
Suzuno looked at Alas Ramus, who was happily being held by Chiho as if her crying just a few moments ago had all been lies and imagination.
“Do not worry. As I am now, I am confident that i will be able to fend off some demons or angels. And if some more light is shed on this situation, we will be able to decide on our next course of action. Would that not be beneficial to you as well?”
“That… may be true, but…”
“Besides, Alciel, no matter what the situation may be, or who might be behind everything, do we all not share the common desire to protect Alas Ramus?”
“I don’t share that at aaaaall.”
The entire room ignored the sound that came from the closet.
“So I believe that it is in the best interest of Alas Ramus’s health for us to take her out on a walk. Do you not?”
Suzuno then turned to look at the closet.
“Besides, I feel that that existence over there is going to have an adverse effect on child development.”
“I agree.”
Chiho nodded emphatically.
“Hey, you’re insulting me again, aren’t you.”
Urushihara realized that he was being insulted, but since he stayed in his closet, he seemed not to have a shred of motivation to change his attitude.
Suzuno looked at Alas Ramus, who was happily being held by Chiho as if her crying just a few moments ago had all been lies and imagination.
“Do not worry. As I am now, I am confident that i will be able to fend off some demons or angels. And if some more light is shed on this situation, we will be able to decide on our next course of action. Would that not be beneficial to you as well?”
“That… may be true, but…”
“Besides, Alciel, no matter what the situation may be, or who might be behind everything, do we all not share the common desire to protect Alas Ramus?”
“I don’t share that at aaaaall.”
The entire room ignored the sound that came from the closet.
“So I believe that it is in the best interest of Alas Ramus’s health for us to take her out on a walk. Do you not?”
Suzuno then turned to look at the closet.
“Besides, I feel that that existence over there is going to have an adverse effect on child development.”
“I agree.”
Chiho nodded emphatically.
“Hey, you’re insulting me again, aren’t you.”
Urushihara realized that he was being insulted, but since he stayed in his closet, he seemed not to have a shred of motivation to change his attitude.
“…Very well. However, as the subordinate of the demon king, I cannot just simply hand over Alas Ramus, who my lord has decided to take under his care! I will permit it only if I am to come as well!”
Said Ashiya with food in his mouth as he quickly stuffed the rest of the bento into his face, then proceeded to chug an entire vitamin drink in one go.
This lack of eating manners was another example of abnormal behavior from Ashiya, who usually took great care to conduct himself in a respectful fashion. However, as soon as he finished the drink,
“Ugh-”
Ashiya let out a grunt, and fell face up.
“Ashiya-san!?”
Chiho frantically ran over to help Ashiya, but after struggling painfully for a few seconds, his eyes closed as peacefully as if he had just died,.
“Ahsheel bedtime!”
Alas Ramus said happily while the blood instantly drained from Chiho’s face. Chiho wondered if Suzuno had done something to the drink in order to kill Maou and his underlings.
“Su—-…”
However, Ashiya began to snore as soon as that thought ran through her head.
“…It seems like that finally did him in.”
Said Ashiya with food in his mouth as he quickly stuffed the rest of the bento into his face, then proceeded to chug an entire vitamin drink in one go.
This lack of eating manners was another example of abnormal behavior from Ashiya, who usually took great care to conduct himself in a respectful fashion. However, as soon as he finished the drink,
“Ugh-”
Ashiya let out a grunt, and fell face up.
“Ashiya-san!?”
Chiho frantically ran over to help Ashiya, but after struggling painfully for a few seconds, his eyes closed as peacefully as if he had just died,.
“Ahsheel bedtime!”
Alas Ramus said happily while the blood instantly drained from Chiho’s face. Chiho wondered if Suzuno had done something to the drink in order to kill Maou and his underlings.
“Su—-…”
However, Ashiya began to snore as soon as that thought ran through her head.
“…It seems like that finally did him in.”
Suzuno shook her head with a tired expression.
“Even I, who was next door, was woken up multiple times. I cannot begin to imagine what it must have been like for Alciel, who was right next to her.”
Suzuno picked up the small bottle that Ashiya dropped as he collapsed, while keeping an eye on the closet.
“This is what I received from Emilia yesterday. This may have been somewhat of a rough method, but Alciel probably would not have rested on his own. I noticed last time, but whenever Alciel collapses, it triggers events around them.”
Suzuno showed her the vitamin drink bottle. “Holy Vitamin Beta” and some words written in a language Chiho had never seen before were printed on it.
“…What does the bottle say?”
“The label is in the Ente Islan language. Just think of it as medicine that weakens a demon’s physical strength.”
From Suzuno’s cautious glances at the closet, Chiho understood that it was something she didn’t want the demons to find out about.
“Oh, come to think of it…”
Chiho looked at Ashiya, who seemed to be sleeping uncomfortably, and then at Alas Ramus.
“Earlier, you said ‘Ahsheel’… Alas Ramus-chan, you can say Ashiya-san’s name?”
“ou?”
“Even I, who was next door, was woken up multiple times. I cannot begin to imagine what it must have been like for Alciel, who was right next to her.”
Suzuno picked up the small bottle that Ashiya dropped as he collapsed, while keeping an eye on the closet.
“This is what I received from Emilia yesterday. This may have been somewhat of a rough method, but Alciel probably would not have rested on his own. I noticed last time, but whenever Alciel collapses, it triggers events around them.”
Suzuno showed her the vitamin drink bottle. “Holy Vitamin Beta” and some words written in a language Chiho had never seen before were printed on it.
“…What does the bottle say?”
“The label is in the Ente Islan language. Just think of it as medicine that weakens a demon’s physical strength.”
From Suzuno’s cautious glances at the closet, Chiho understood that it was something she didn’t want the demons to find out about.
“Oh, come to think of it…”
Chiho looked at Ashiya, who seemed to be sleeping uncomfortably, and then at Alas Ramus.
“Earlier, you said ‘Ahsheel’… Alas Ramus-chan, you can say Ashiya-san’s name?”
“ou?”
Alas Ramus, who was still in Chiho’s arms, looked back at Chiho with a finger in her mouth. Chiho looked back into her big eyes and thought for a moment.
“Alas Ramus-chan,”
“yesh?”
She answered energetically with arms raised high. With just that, Chiho felt as if her cheeks would melt off.
“My name is Chiho!”
“Chioh?”
“Chi-ho. Your daddy calls me Chii-chan.”
“Chii-cha!”
Then Alas Ramus’s face lit up as if she had remembered something.
“Daddy’s fwend!”
“Alas Ramus.”
Suzuno interjected from the side.
“Chiho-dono is an older figure to you. “Chii-chan” is too informal.”
“Ouu? Ou?”
“Let’s see, try calling her ‘Chiho-oneechan.’”
Alas Ramus looked up to Chiho while concentrating all her strength in her body in a strange way, as she took Suzuno’s slight scolding seriously.
“Alas Ramus-chan,”
“yesh?”
She answered energetically with arms raised high. With just that, Chiho felt as if her cheeks would melt off.
“My name is Chiho!”
“Chioh?”
“Chi-ho. Your daddy calls me Chii-chan.”
“Chii-cha!”
Then Alas Ramus’s face lit up as if she had remembered something.
“Daddy’s fwend!”
“Alas Ramus.”
Suzuno interjected from the side.
“Chiho-dono is an older figure to you. “Chii-chan” is too informal.”
“Ouu? Ou?”
“Let’s see, try calling her ‘Chiho-oneechan.’”
Alas Ramus looked up to Chiho while concentrating all her strength in her body in a strange way, as she took Suzuno’s slight scolding seriously.
“Chio… Chi, Ne… Ou,”
And as she tried her best to replicate Suzuno’s suggestion,
“Chii-neecha!”
Alas Ramus finally settled into a name.
“Ahhhh! You’re too cute!!”
Chiho could not hold her emotions back anymore, and rubbed her cheek against Alas Ramus over and over again.
“Chii-neecha! Chii-neecha…!”
Alas Ramus repeated the name over and over again while pointing at Chiho, as if she was confirming it.
“…ou,”
She then stared at Suzuno, who stood next to Chiho.
“Wha-what is it…?”
Suzuno gulped, as she faced a different kind of pressure.
“This big girl’s name is Suzuno-oneechan!”
Said Chiho, as she astutely inferred what Alas Ramus was seeking, and since she had done this once already, her reply was much faster.
“Suzu-neecha!”
And as she tried her best to replicate Suzuno’s suggestion,
“Chii-neecha!”
Alas Ramus finally settled into a name.
“Ahhhh! You’re too cute!!”
Chiho could not hold her emotions back anymore, and rubbed her cheek against Alas Ramus over and over again.
“Chii-neecha! Chii-neecha…!”
Alas Ramus repeated the name over and over again while pointing at Chiho, as if she was confirming it.
“…ou,”
She then stared at Suzuno, who stood next to Chiho.
“Wha-what is it…?”
Suzuno gulped, as she faced a different kind of pressure.
“This big girl’s name is Suzuno-oneechan!”
Said Chiho, as she astutely inferred what Alas Ramus was seeking, and since she had done this once already, her reply was much faster.
“Suzu-neecha!”
Alas Ramus pointed decisively, as if giving an order. Suzuno’s face immediately turned red.
“Suzu-nee… yes. I suppose, that is acceptable, yes.”
“Chii-neecha! Suzu-neecha!”
Just like when she had said Maou and Emi were her parents, Alas Ramus said the two names over and over again as if she were double-checking.
“Aaaaah! Geez! Soo cuuuute!”
“S-stop repeating it over and over again! Ugh… no! Stop looking at me like that! This is inexcusable! You are too adorable!”
As the two red-faced girls were raising their voices and getting excited,
“…You’re both so simple.”
They glared intensely at the closet where the mood-killing voice had come from.
Suzuno stepped over Ashiya on the floor, stood in front of the sliding screen, and pounded on it loudly several times.
“Wha!?”
Instantaneously, Urushihara could be heard being rattled inside.
“Anyway, it is as you heard. Chiho-dono and I will be taking Alas Ramus on a walk. Tell Alciel that when he awakens. We will be back when either the demon king or Emilia finishes with their work.”
“Geez, you scared me. Yeah, yeah, do what you want. Just please pretend that I don’t exist, no matter what happens.”
“Suzu-nee… yes. I suppose, that is acceptable, yes.”
“Chii-neecha! Suzu-neecha!”
Just like when she had said Maou and Emi were her parents, Alas Ramus said the two names over and over again as if she were double-checking.
“Aaaaah! Geez! Soo cuuuute!”
“S-stop repeating it over and over again! Ugh… no! Stop looking at me like that! This is inexcusable! You are too adorable!”
As the two red-faced girls were raising their voices and getting excited,
“…You’re both so simple.”
They glared intensely at the closet where the mood-killing voice had come from.
Suzuno stepped over Ashiya on the floor, stood in front of the sliding screen, and pounded on it loudly several times.
“Wha!?”
Instantaneously, Urushihara could be heard being rattled inside.
“Anyway, it is as you heard. Chiho-dono and I will be taking Alas Ramus on a walk. Tell Alciel that when he awakens. We will be back when either the demon king or Emilia finishes with their work.”
“Geez, you scared me. Yeah, yeah, do what you want. Just please pretend that I don’t exist, no matter what happens.”
“We were all planning on doing exactly that, but you will not be struck by lightning if you try to make yourself useful by passing on a message.”
“…Why does it feel like there’s a category for me and a category for everyone else? Aren’t you both humans?”
“Why do you not listen to your heart? Danger unites friends and foes alike, but without fail, you always look out for yourself and no one else.”
“Loosifah, yooseless?”
Questioned Alas Ramus, as she watched the conversation between Suzuno and the screen.
It seemed the voice had reached inside the closet as well. Some sense of stirring could be felt from within.
“Children are honest and learn quickly.”
And Suzuno delivered the final blow.
“…Why does it feel like there’s a category for me and a category for everyone else? Aren’t you both humans?”
“Why do you not listen to your heart? Danger unites friends and foes alike, but without fail, you always look out for yourself and no one else.”
“Loosifah, yooseless?”
Questioned Alas Ramus, as she watched the conversation between Suzuno and the screen.
It seemed the voice had reached inside the closet as well. Some sense of stirring could be felt from within.
“Children are honest and learn quickly.”
And Suzuno delivered the final blow.
***
3:00 PM.
A cry echoed like thunder throughout the Hatagaya Station MgRonald.
“Daddy!!”
3:00 PM.
A cry echoed like thunder throughout the Hatagaya Station MgRonald.
“Daddy!!”
The sound was aimed precisely at one direction, and moved quickly towards one man.
Time within the restaurant stopped, and all present turned to look at the source and target of the sound.
One crew member stopped right in the middle of helping a customer, while another dropped a stack of trays, and another forgot to take their finger off of the drink dispenser, causing a great waterfall of orange juice.
A melody that announced when fries were done played in the background, not fitting at all with the sudden change of atmosphere.
The man who was struck by that heaven-shattering lighting froze in place for a moment, with a dazed expression that resembled that of someone who could not believe his own eyes, ears, or the entire world. However, as he was showered by looks from the entire restaurant crew, light quickly returned to his eyes.
“!!!!!!”
It was the very definition of a voiceless scream.
Sadao Maou launched himself using an invisible catapult that he had just obtained, leapt into the air with one leg, and took flight.
“Daddyyy!”
Chiho and Suzuno froze like statues as they suddenly changed the atmosphere of the restaurant when they stepped in. Meanwhile, the small, small apple girl, Alas Ramus, who was in Chiho’s arms, saw nothing other than her beloved Daddy running to her at full speed.
“Wha-wha-wha-wha-wha-wha-wha-wha-what do you think you’re doing!?”
Time within the restaurant stopped, and all present turned to look at the source and target of the sound.
One crew member stopped right in the middle of helping a customer, while another dropped a stack of trays, and another forgot to take their finger off of the drink dispenser, causing a great waterfall of orange juice.
A melody that announced when fries were done played in the background, not fitting at all with the sudden change of atmosphere.
The man who was struck by that heaven-shattering lighting froze in place for a moment, with a dazed expression that resembled that of someone who could not believe his own eyes, ears, or the entire world. However, as he was showered by looks from the entire restaurant crew, light quickly returned to his eyes.
“!!!!!!”
It was the very definition of a voiceless scream.
Sadao Maou launched himself using an invisible catapult that he had just obtained, leapt into the air with one leg, and took flight.
“Daddyyy!”
Chiho and Suzuno froze like statues as they suddenly changed the atmosphere of the restaurant when they stepped in. Meanwhile, the small, small apple girl, Alas Ramus, who was in Chiho’s arms, saw nothing other than her beloved Daddy running to her at full speed.
“Wha-wha-wha-wha-wha-wha-wha-wha-what do you think you’re doing!?”
Maou pressed them for an answer with a face was so pale that he might foam at the mouth and faint at any second.
“What were you thinking, bringing her here!? Hey! Come on! This isn’t funny!”
“Uh, um, I’m sorry, but we thought it would make Alas Ramus-chan happy…”
“She kept crying, saying she wanted to see Daddy. We thought that maybe if she were in a happier mood, she may remember something, and that is why we brought her here.”
Feeling the tense atmosphere in the restaurant and knowing that she may have made a mistake were causing Chiho to panick, but Suzuno was not fazed in the slightest.
And Alas Ramus, who could not care less about what was happening around her, started fidgeting violently in Chiho’s arms and extended her hands towards Maou.
“Daddy! Daaaaddy!”
“He-stop! Don’t move around so much, it’s dange…”
“St-stop calling me that over and over! Please!”
Chiho almost let Alas Ramus fall, but Maou caught her just in time and supported her.
“Daddyyyy!”
Alas Ramus, who was caught by Maou, wore the biggest, brightest smile ever, and hugged his neck tightly.
“Daddyyy! Ah came to see yuuuu!”
“O-o-okay, ahahaha…”
“What were you thinking, bringing her here!? Hey! Come on! This isn’t funny!”
“Uh, um, I’m sorry, but we thought it would make Alas Ramus-chan happy…”
“She kept crying, saying she wanted to see Daddy. We thought that maybe if she were in a happier mood, she may remember something, and that is why we brought her here.”
Feeling the tense atmosphere in the restaurant and knowing that she may have made a mistake were causing Chiho to panick, but Suzuno was not fazed in the slightest.
And Alas Ramus, who could not care less about what was happening around her, started fidgeting violently in Chiho’s arms and extended her hands towards Maou.
“Daddy! Daaaaddy!”
“He-stop! Don’t move around so much, it’s dange…”
“St-stop calling me that over and over! Please!”
Chiho almost let Alas Ramus fall, but Maou caught her just in time and supported her.
“Daddyyyy!”
Alas Ramus, who was caught by Maou, wore the biggest, brightest smile ever, and hugged his neck tightly.
“Daddyyy! Ah came to see yuuuu!”
“O-o-okay, ahahaha…”
As Maou laughed dryly,
“Is that Maou-san and Sasaki-san’s child?”
“No way. If that were true, I’d murder Maou-san in his sleep. No, I’d drown him.”
“Where’s Kisaki-san? If she hears about this, this place will get turned into a sea of blood.”
“Crap! The fries! The fries are getting burnt!”
Voices of curiosity, agitation, and questioning could be heard behind his back.
“Ahahaha… Maou-san, I-I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done this…”
Chiho noticed a great shadow approaching behind the backs of the frowning Maou and smiling Alas Ramus, and made an expression that was, in a way, more horrified than even Maou’s.
“What is the matter, Chiho-dono? Your face is pale. Were you under the sun for too long?”
But Suzuno’s misplaced concern did not reach Chiho’s ears, because…
“Maaaaaa-kuuuuun?”
The manager of the restaurant, Mayumi Kisaki, stood with an expression that resembled a terrifying mask.
“Hyeh!!”
“Ou?”
Maou snapped to attention with a force that could have popped his spine out.
“If my eyes and ears didn’t deceive me, that little girl Chii-chan brought in called you ‘Daddy,’ didn’t she? Hm?”
“Is that Maou-san and Sasaki-san’s child?”
“No way. If that were true, I’d murder Maou-san in his sleep. No, I’d drown him.”
“Where’s Kisaki-san? If she hears about this, this place will get turned into a sea of blood.”
“Crap! The fries! The fries are getting burnt!”
Voices of curiosity, agitation, and questioning could be heard behind his back.
“Ahahaha… Maou-san, I-I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done this…”
Chiho noticed a great shadow approaching behind the backs of the frowning Maou and smiling Alas Ramus, and made an expression that was, in a way, more horrified than even Maou’s.
“What is the matter, Chiho-dono? Your face is pale. Were you under the sun for too long?”
But Suzuno’s misplaced concern did not reach Chiho’s ears, because…
“Maaaaaa-kuuuuun?”
The manager of the restaurant, Mayumi Kisaki, stood with an expression that resembled a terrifying mask.
“Hyeh!!”
“Ou?”
Maou snapped to attention with a force that could have popped his spine out.
“If my eyes and ears didn’t deceive me, that little girl Chii-chan brought in called you ‘Daddy,’ didn’t she? Hm?”
“…yessshedid.”
Maou answered honestly, realizing that Kisaki’s voice carried great pressure that would not forgive even a hint of a lie.
Both Maou and Chiho waited with pale faces for the next lightning strike that would inevitably come from Kisaki.
However, seeing that Kisaki did nothing for the next few moments, Maou turned around slowly and fearfully.
“You’re Maou and Sasaki’s friend, Kamazuki-san… was it?”
Suzuno nodded simply.
“May I borrow Sasaki for a little while?”
Kisaki asked unexpectedly.
“…I do not- I mean, … Sure, I don’t mind…”
Remembering the last time she had met Kisaki, she quickly changed the way she carried herself and her manner of speech.
“Thank you. Hey, Maa-kun, show Kamazuki-san to her seat. I’ll take the child.”
“Huh? Su-sure, bu-but—”
Maou hesitated for a second, but Kisaki ignored him and took Alas Ramus from his arms. Seeing Alas Ramus give a big grin in Kisaki’s arms, he let out a sigh of relief. However,
Maou answered honestly, realizing that Kisaki’s voice carried great pressure that would not forgive even a hint of a lie.
Both Maou and Chiho waited with pale faces for the next lightning strike that would inevitably come from Kisaki.
However, seeing that Kisaki did nothing for the next few moments, Maou turned around slowly and fearfully.
“You’re Maou and Sasaki’s friend, Kamazuki-san… was it?”
Suzuno nodded simply.
“May I borrow Sasaki for a little while?”
Kisaki asked unexpectedly.
“…I do not- I mean, … Sure, I don’t mind…”
Remembering the last time she had met Kisaki, she quickly changed the way she carried herself and her manner of speech.
“Thank you. Hey, Maa-kun, show Kamazuki-san to her seat. I’ll take the child.”
“Huh? Su-sure, bu-but—”
Maou hesitated for a second, but Kisaki ignored him and took Alas Ramus from his arms. Seeing Alas Ramus give a big grin in Kisaki’s arms, he let out a sigh of relief. However,
“Chii-chan, come to the staff room for a bit. Maa-kun, you too, when you’re done taking her to her seat.”
At those words, his blood pressure dropped sharply.
Chiho seemed to have a similar reaction. Kisaki walked crisply towards the staff room, followed by a grave-faced Chiho.
“…I apologize. Perhaps I was too shallow in my thinking.”
Suzuno apologized as she watched and felt the obviously tense atmosphere. However, she still did not understand what was happening.
“Seriously!… is what I’d like to say, but you two did this with the best intentions for Alas Ramus in mind, so I’m not going to complain to you. The A/C doesn’t blow directly on those seats over there, so just pick one and wait there.
Suzuno looked in the direction Maou pointed at, and then back at Maou again.
“I thought you would be more angry.”
“Huh? Why would I be angry? Well, looks like it didn’t turn out well, but you were just trying to help me in the end, so I should be thanking you. Sorry about all this.”
Said Maou earnestly as he looked directly into Suzuno’s eyes.
“…Humph, the demon king acting like an admirable being.”
Suzuno could not look back at his sincere eyes, so she avoided eye contact by pouting and looking away. Why should the king of all demons thank her honestly over and over again?
“Why shouldn’t the demon king be admirable? Anyway, just go take a seat over there and…”
At those words, his blood pressure dropped sharply.
Chiho seemed to have a similar reaction. Kisaki walked crisply towards the staff room, followed by a grave-faced Chiho.
“…I apologize. Perhaps I was too shallow in my thinking.”
Suzuno apologized as she watched and felt the obviously tense atmosphere. However, she still did not understand what was happening.
“Seriously!… is what I’d like to say, but you two did this with the best intentions for Alas Ramus in mind, so I’m not going to complain to you. The A/C doesn’t blow directly on those seats over there, so just pick one and wait there.
Suzuno looked in the direction Maou pointed at, and then back at Maou again.
“I thought you would be more angry.”
“Huh? Why would I be angry? Well, looks like it didn’t turn out well, but you were just trying to help me in the end, so I should be thanking you. Sorry about all this.”
Said Maou earnestly as he looked directly into Suzuno’s eyes.
“…Humph, the demon king acting like an admirable being.”
Suzuno could not look back at his sincere eyes, so she avoided eye contact by pouting and looking away. Why should the king of all demons thank her honestly over and over again?
“Why shouldn’t the demon king be admirable? Anyway, just go take a seat over there and…”
As Maou frowned at Suzuno’s reaction,
“Fu…! Oh the wretched, scorching heat of the third hour after midday that robs me of my senses! The time has come for me to cool my heart by receiving the gift of a luscious soft-serve from the beautiful goddess!! Oh, my beloved goddess! I have once again come into your presence at this hour to deliver you my love!”
The noisy pervert entered the restaurant, sprouting perverted noises and making noisy, perverted gestures.
The man was none other than Mitsuki Sarue, the manager of the Hatagaya Station Sentucky, also known as Archangel Sariel, who had resolved to become a fallen angel when faced with Kisaki’s beauty.
When Chiho had said that he ate every meal there every day, that apparently included snack time as well.
Sariel actually had a handsome face, which was his only redeeming quality. He scanned the restaurant quickly with his deep, violet eyes.
And then, he found the beautiful goddess to whom he had eternally dedicated himself in front of the restaurant’s staff room.
And also the existence that said goddess held in her arms.
“Ngah!”
Letting out a strange cry, Sariel froze, his body colder than the soft-serve he had come for.
“He really did grow fat.”
Only a few days had passed since Suzuno had last saw Sariel. However, in just that short period of time, the somewhat short angel’s cheeks and neck had grown unnatural bulges.
“Fu…! Oh the wretched, scorching heat of the third hour after midday that robs me of my senses! The time has come for me to cool my heart by receiving the gift of a luscious soft-serve from the beautiful goddess!! Oh, my beloved goddess! I have once again come into your presence at this hour to deliver you my love!”
The noisy pervert entered the restaurant, sprouting perverted noises and making noisy, perverted gestures.
The man was none other than Mitsuki Sarue, the manager of the Hatagaya Station Sentucky, also known as Archangel Sariel, who had resolved to become a fallen angel when faced with Kisaki’s beauty.
When Chiho had said that he ate every meal there every day, that apparently included snack time as well.
Sariel actually had a handsome face, which was his only redeeming quality. He scanned the restaurant quickly with his deep, violet eyes.
And then, he found the beautiful goddess to whom he had eternally dedicated himself in front of the restaurant’s staff room.
And also the existence that said goddess held in her arms.
“Ngah!”
Letting out a strange cry, Sariel froze, his body colder than the soft-serve he had come for.
“He really did grow fat.”
Only a few days had passed since Suzuno had last saw Sariel. However, in just that short period of time, the somewhat short angel’s cheeks and neck had grown unnatural bulges.
The sound of Suzuno’s voice alerted Sariel to Maou and Suzuno’s presences, and he turned his head toward them like a broken puppet.
“Have the heavens forsaken me?”
Sariel asked a pointless question.
“Is this… divine retribution from God for abandoning my duty? Has my eternal goddess’s heart… been won by another man, and she responded to him, and is that the manifestation of their love!?”
Seeing that Sariel was having a very obvious misunderstanding, Maou had no idea how to respond.
“Ehh, I’ll leave him to you.”
And he decided to delegate that task to someone else.
“What? He-hey!”
Maou ran away and followed Kisaki and Chiho to the staff room before Suzuno had a chance to object.
“Crestia Bell! Is this a dream!? Tell me that this is a dream! If this is because of the wrongs I have done in the past, I repent for everything! I may have been fickle with women, but this time, I am completely dedicated! Please, listen to my confessions and ask for God’s forgiveness on my behalf!”
“Why is an archangel such as yourself asking to perform a confession to a human clergywoman, sir!?”
Even if they had once been enemies, he was an archangel whom the clergy treated like a god. She could not stop herself from speaking politely, but the archangel who had came down to the human world was, despite common belief, as endlessly selfish as the demon king himself.
“Have the heavens forsaken me?”
Sariel asked a pointless question.
“Is this… divine retribution from God for abandoning my duty? Has my eternal goddess’s heart… been won by another man, and she responded to him, and is that the manifestation of their love!?”
Seeing that Sariel was having a very obvious misunderstanding, Maou had no idea how to respond.
“Ehh, I’ll leave him to you.”
And he decided to delegate that task to someone else.
“What? He-hey!”
Maou ran away and followed Kisaki and Chiho to the staff room before Suzuno had a chance to object.
“Crestia Bell! Is this a dream!? Tell me that this is a dream! If this is because of the wrongs I have done in the past, I repent for everything! I may have been fickle with women, but this time, I am completely dedicated! Please, listen to my confessions and ask for God’s forgiveness on my behalf!”
“Why is an archangel such as yourself asking to perform a confession to a human clergywoman, sir!?”
Even if they had once been enemies, he was an archangel whom the clergy treated like a god. She could not stop herself from speaking politely, but the archangel who had came down to the human world was, despite common belief, as endlessly selfish as the demon king himself.
“So this is what was meant in this morning’s horoscope that I would have terribly bad luck! Oh, God, why! Why have you given me this cruel trial!?”
Suzuno got a headache just from imagining what the confessions of a womanizing archangel whose mood fluctuated with the horoscopes would be like. And as a woman, she wanted nothing to do with an confession that would confirm what she was imagining, either.
“Sariel-sama, you have no knowledge of the origin of that little child over there, correct?”
Suzuno nonchalantly asked a leading question, taking advantage of the fact that Kisaki was holding Alas Ramus.
“Yes… but how I wish that I were her origin…”
Sariel broke down into feeble sobs and gave an uncensored answer. However, with that one sentence, Suzuno verified that Sariel had no direct relation to Alas Ramus.
“…Very well. Please, tell me of your sins..”
Suzuno resolved to hear Sariel out in order to extract more information from him, but as she imagined what “confessions of sins” she might hear, her headache grew worse.
Suzuno got a headache just from imagining what the confessions of a womanizing archangel whose mood fluctuated with the horoscopes would be like. And as a woman, she wanted nothing to do with an confession that would confirm what she was imagining, either.
“Sariel-sama, you have no knowledge of the origin of that little child over there, correct?”
Suzuno nonchalantly asked a leading question, taking advantage of the fact that Kisaki was holding Alas Ramus.
“Yes… but how I wish that I were her origin…”
Sariel broke down into feeble sobs and gave an uncensored answer. However, with that one sentence, Suzuno verified that Sariel had no direct relation to Alas Ramus.
“…Very well. Please, tell me of your sins..”
Suzuno resolved to hear Sariel out in order to extract more information from him, but as she imagined what “confessions of sins” she might hear, her headache grew worse.
“…Well then,”
Maou and Chiho stood next to each other, and jumped at her voice. Their stomachs dropped as they braced themselves for what yelling might come.
Maou and Chiho stood next to each other, and jumped at her voice. Their stomachs dropped as they braced themselves for what yelling might come.
“How old is she?”
However, the first question Kisaki asked was not at all what they were expecting. Kisaki rocked Alas Ramus back and forth gently, naturally handling the little child.
Maou and China reflexively looked at each other.
“Three…? No, she’s not big enough for that. I’m guessing she’s a little younger than two? Right?”
“Huh? Oh-um, yes. You’re probably right.”
“Probably? You haven’t even asked her parents how old she is?”
They would have loved to know that themselves, but seeing as her parents were still a mystery, there was nothing they could do.
“Well, I guess that’s not that strange. If someone asked me how old my niece is, I wouldn’t be sure either. It’d help me remember when she starts attending grade school, though.”
However, Kisaki did not press the question further. As a matter of fact, she answered it herself.
“Relax. I’m not here to yell at you. Besides, there’s a little child here.”
However, any human being who would be able to relax upon hearing that would certainly be an oddity.
“I’m going to have to ask you this awkward question, but this child really isn’t yours, right?”
“Of course not! …but I wish she was…”
Chiho’s quiet mumbling that expressed her true feelings didn’t escape Kisaki’s ears.
“You’re free to wish for whatever you want, but you should keep something else in mind as well.”
Said Kisaki as smiled and continued to play with Alas Ramus, all the while maintaining her authoritative tone that would subjugate even the demon king himself.
“You two aren’t dating, right?”
“Ri-right.”
“That’s… right.”
Chiho turned to Maou, who denied it immediately, and also nodded.
Kisaki laughed with a slight frown as the young man and woman replied.
“Did you think I was going to lecture you on bringing romance or family matters into the workplace? But really, I wouldn’t have to give you this lecture if you two were actually seeing each other in the first place.”
“Huh?”
Maou answered with a silly voice as he was caught completely off-guard.
“It doesn’t matter whether it was Maa-kun who asked Chii-chan to help or Chii-chan volunteered. But look, have you really thought about what everyone else and society might think of a high school girl going to and from a man’s house to take care of his baby?”
As the conversation took a turn that neither of them were expecting at all, the two made no attempt to hide their surprise.
“Bu-but, there’s no one else Maou-san can count on, and there’s seriously nothing going on between us…”
“Chii-chan, you might not understand this yet, but society is shallow and quick to draw conclusions. Rumors spread faster than light, and even worse, they have no single form.”
“…!”
“!!”
Chiho tried to say something at the moment Kisaki shifted her eyes to Alas Ramus, but Maou stopped her right in time.
It was unclear whether Kisaki saw that from the corner of her eyes as she tickled Alas Ramus’s cheek with her finger. Alas Ramus laughed cheerfully and said,
“yuu smell like daddy!”
And she smelled Kisaki’s hand happily.
“Really? Just like your daddy?”
Kisaki also answered cheerfully.
“And when some young people who are just as shallow as the rest of society are told something like this, their answers are always the same. ‘What does society know about us!?’ Just the fact that you aren’t reacting like that shows that you two are already mature for your age.”
Kisaki placed Alas Ramus on her knees, wrapped her hands around her belly, and spun around in her chair slowly. Alas Ramus smiled again.
Watching them, Maou lowered the hand he had used to stop Chiho and said quietly,
“I don’t know nearly enough about the world or anything else to say something like that.”
Kisaki stopped the chair’s spinning with a little squeak, and smiled as she lifted Alas Ramus up high.
“Miaaaa! hahaha!”
Alas Ramus let out a fun cry, most likely from enjoying that.
“By being able to say that, you’re finally halfway there to becoming a man.”
Kisaki returned Alas Ramus to Maou, looked at the clock in the staff room, and relaxed her shoulder.
“Maa-kun, you can take off for today. It’s a little early, but we’re not so busy that having one less person working would make a difference.”
“Uh-really? But…”
“You’re her ‘daddy,’ right? Then you should value the time you spend with her more than some measly future hourly wage. I’ll consider your request for more hours.”
After saying that, Kisaki put on her crew cap on and quickly left the staff room.
“…Maou-san, what did she mean by more hours?”
Asked Chiho, with an unsatisfied look on her face.
“I’ve got another family member I have to support now, so I have to work harder. I might even have to send Alas Ramus to school someday.”
Maou played with Alas Ramus in his arms, and answered in a way that made it difficult to tell how serious he was.
“Are you really going to take in Alas Ramus-chan?”
“Well, I’m not exactly taking her in.”
Replied Maou, as he poked Alas Ramus’s forehead.
“I just want to take care of her until the mystery is solved, that’s all. I’ll give her back as soon as her real parents show up.”
Chiho noticed that Maou had also been preoccupied with her forehead when he had originally been thinking about whether to take Alas Ramus in.
“Hey, Chii-chan. A little while ago, your mom and dad said it was okay for you to come to my place, right?”
“…Yes.”
Chiho stiffened.
She knew that Maou respected Kisaki as a great member of society. Whether or nor that was acceptable for a demon king from an alternate world aside, Chiho feared that Kisaki’s lecture had made him change his mind. However,
“I know what Kisaki-san just said, but I’m asking you despite that…. could I put my trust in you for a little while longer?”
“Of co… huh?”
Chiho had fully expected him to ask her to stop helping, and her eyes widened when the words that came out of his mouth were the complete opposite.
“For the time being, everything is normal and peaceful, but Emi and Suzuno are originally my enemies, so… what I’m trying to say is, Chii-chan, you’re the only human I know who I can trust completely.”
“…”
“And I know I’m being unfair, asking you this while still not giving you an answer, but um, there might be some bumps and troubles down the road, but if you could help me out here, I’d really appreciate it.”
“…”
“…Chii-chan?”
Chiho just had her mouth open with a blank look for a while, but then,
“…He-hey!? Wh-why are you crying!? Chii-chan? Huh? Did I say something wrong!?”
A tear rolled down her cheek.
Maou panicked as Chiho’s reaction caught him completely off-guard. Chiho finally noticed her tears after seeing Maou’s reaction, and took out a handkerchief to wipe her face.
“Um, so-sorry, I, I was um, happy…”
“I-I’m so sorry! It was my mistake! I’m older than you and a demon king and asking to rely on you, Chii-chan, I shouldn’t have… wait, what?”
“I’m happy because you said you trusted me, Maou-san.”
“Huh? What? Huh? You’re ha… wait, then, wh-why are you crying?”
Chiho smiled, while a cloud of question marks appeared over Maou’s head.
“Ehehe, sorry. That’s just how humans are.”
“I-I don’t get it… but, er…”
“I know… that you can’t give me an answer… right away. No matter what your answer might be… I’ll wait for it… so…”
Chiho fought back her resurging tears and took Alas Ramus’s hand.
“chii-neecha?”
“I’ll do my best to help you, Maou-san.”
“O-Okay. Um, sorry ‘bout that. Thanks.”
“Of course!”
This time, Chiho gave a great, big smile. Maou had no idea how to react, and pretended to readjust his crew cap.
“Oh, that’s right, Maa-kun, in that drawer, there’s…”
Kisaki chose that exact moment to walk back in.
“!!”
Watching Maou and Chiho freeze in place, Kisaki drew her eyebrows together.
“…That’s it, I’m not hiring another female crew member for a long time. Geez…”
She was not someone they could play it off as a joke with. Even the equal opportunity employment law was powerless against the Kisaki law.
Kisaki walked in quickly with a sour expression and took out an envelope from the office desk.
“I got these from a newspaper seller, but I’d never use them, so I was going to give them to you. But…”
Kisaki sighed, then looked at Maou and Chiho.
“You understand what I just said, right?”
Said Kisaki, who proceeded to put the envelope on Maou’s head and left again.
Maou and Chiho gave a great sigh after the door closed. Chiho took the envelope from on top of his head, and after looking at each other, they took out its contents.
And what came out was…
However, the first question Kisaki asked was not at all what they were expecting. Kisaki rocked Alas Ramus back and forth gently, naturally handling the little child.
Maou and China reflexively looked at each other.
“Three…? No, she’s not big enough for that. I’m guessing she’s a little younger than two? Right?”
“Huh? Oh-um, yes. You’re probably right.”
“Probably? You haven’t even asked her parents how old she is?”
They would have loved to know that themselves, but seeing as her parents were still a mystery, there was nothing they could do.
“Well, I guess that’s not that strange. If someone asked me how old my niece is, I wouldn’t be sure either. It’d help me remember when she starts attending grade school, though.”
However, Kisaki did not press the question further. As a matter of fact, she answered it herself.
“Relax. I’m not here to yell at you. Besides, there’s a little child here.”
However, any human being who would be able to relax upon hearing that would certainly be an oddity.
“I’m going to have to ask you this awkward question, but this child really isn’t yours, right?”
“Of course not! …but I wish she was…”
Chiho’s quiet mumbling that expressed her true feelings didn’t escape Kisaki’s ears.
“You’re free to wish for whatever you want, but you should keep something else in mind as well.”
Said Kisaki as smiled and continued to play with Alas Ramus, all the while maintaining her authoritative tone that would subjugate even the demon king himself.
“You two aren’t dating, right?”
“Ri-right.”
“That’s… right.”
Chiho turned to Maou, who denied it immediately, and also nodded.
Kisaki laughed with a slight frown as the young man and woman replied.
“Did you think I was going to lecture you on bringing romance or family matters into the workplace? But really, I wouldn’t have to give you this lecture if you two were actually seeing each other in the first place.”
“Huh?”
Maou answered with a silly voice as he was caught completely off-guard.
“It doesn’t matter whether it was Maa-kun who asked Chii-chan to help or Chii-chan volunteered. But look, have you really thought about what everyone else and society might think of a high school girl going to and from a man’s house to take care of his baby?”
As the conversation took a turn that neither of them were expecting at all, the two made no attempt to hide their surprise.
“Bu-but, there’s no one else Maou-san can count on, and there’s seriously nothing going on between us…”
“Chii-chan, you might not understand this yet, but society is shallow and quick to draw conclusions. Rumors spread faster than light, and even worse, they have no single form.”
“…!”
“!!”
Chiho tried to say something at the moment Kisaki shifted her eyes to Alas Ramus, but Maou stopped her right in time.
It was unclear whether Kisaki saw that from the corner of her eyes as she tickled Alas Ramus’s cheek with her finger. Alas Ramus laughed cheerfully and said,
“yuu smell like daddy!”
And she smelled Kisaki’s hand happily.
“Really? Just like your daddy?”
Kisaki also answered cheerfully.
“And when some young people who are just as shallow as the rest of society are told something like this, their answers are always the same. ‘What does society know about us!?’ Just the fact that you aren’t reacting like that shows that you two are already mature for your age.”
Kisaki placed Alas Ramus on her knees, wrapped her hands around her belly, and spun around in her chair slowly. Alas Ramus smiled again.
Watching them, Maou lowered the hand he had used to stop Chiho and said quietly,
“I don’t know nearly enough about the world or anything else to say something like that.”
Kisaki stopped the chair’s spinning with a little squeak, and smiled as she lifted Alas Ramus up high.
“Miaaaa! hahaha!”
Alas Ramus let out a fun cry, most likely from enjoying that.
“By being able to say that, you’re finally halfway there to becoming a man.”
Kisaki returned Alas Ramus to Maou, looked at the clock in the staff room, and relaxed her shoulder.
“Maa-kun, you can take off for today. It’s a little early, but we’re not so busy that having one less person working would make a difference.”
“Uh-really? But…”
“You’re her ‘daddy,’ right? Then you should value the time you spend with her more than some measly future hourly wage. I’ll consider your request for more hours.”
After saying that, Kisaki put on her crew cap on and quickly left the staff room.
“…Maou-san, what did she mean by more hours?”
Asked Chiho, with an unsatisfied look on her face.
“I’ve got another family member I have to support now, so I have to work harder. I might even have to send Alas Ramus to school someday.”
Maou played with Alas Ramus in his arms, and answered in a way that made it difficult to tell how serious he was.
“Are you really going to take in Alas Ramus-chan?”
“Well, I’m not exactly taking her in.”
Replied Maou, as he poked Alas Ramus’s forehead.
“I just want to take care of her until the mystery is solved, that’s all. I’ll give her back as soon as her real parents show up.”
Chiho noticed that Maou had also been preoccupied with her forehead when he had originally been thinking about whether to take Alas Ramus in.
“Hey, Chii-chan. A little while ago, your mom and dad said it was okay for you to come to my place, right?”
“…Yes.”
Chiho stiffened.
She knew that Maou respected Kisaki as a great member of society. Whether or nor that was acceptable for a demon king from an alternate world aside, Chiho feared that Kisaki’s lecture had made him change his mind. However,
“I know what Kisaki-san just said, but I’m asking you despite that…. could I put my trust in you for a little while longer?”
“Of co… huh?”
Chiho had fully expected him to ask her to stop helping, and her eyes widened when the words that came out of his mouth were the complete opposite.
“For the time being, everything is normal and peaceful, but Emi and Suzuno are originally my enemies, so… what I’m trying to say is, Chii-chan, you’re the only human I know who I can trust completely.”
“…”
“And I know I’m being unfair, asking you this while still not giving you an answer, but um, there might be some bumps and troubles down the road, but if you could help me out here, I’d really appreciate it.”
“…”
“…Chii-chan?”
Chiho just had her mouth open with a blank look for a while, but then,
“…He-hey!? Wh-why are you crying!? Chii-chan? Huh? Did I say something wrong!?”
A tear rolled down her cheek.
Maou panicked as Chiho’s reaction caught him completely off-guard. Chiho finally noticed her tears after seeing Maou’s reaction, and took out a handkerchief to wipe her face.
“Um, so-sorry, I, I was um, happy…”
“I-I’m so sorry! It was my mistake! I’m older than you and a demon king and asking to rely on you, Chii-chan, I shouldn’t have… wait, what?”
“I’m happy because you said you trusted me, Maou-san.”
“Huh? What? Huh? You’re ha… wait, then, wh-why are you crying?”
Chiho smiled, while a cloud of question marks appeared over Maou’s head.
“Ehehe, sorry. That’s just how humans are.”
“I-I don’t get it… but, er…”
“I know… that you can’t give me an answer… right away. No matter what your answer might be… I’ll wait for it… so…”
Chiho fought back her resurging tears and took Alas Ramus’s hand.
“chii-neecha?”
“I’ll do my best to help you, Maou-san.”
“O-Okay. Um, sorry ‘bout that. Thanks.”
“Of course!”
This time, Chiho gave a great, big smile. Maou had no idea how to react, and pretended to readjust his crew cap.
“Oh, that’s right, Maa-kun, in that drawer, there’s…”
Kisaki chose that exact moment to walk back in.
“!!”
Watching Maou and Chiho freeze in place, Kisaki drew her eyebrows together.
“…That’s it, I’m not hiring another female crew member for a long time. Geez…”
She was not someone they could play it off as a joke with. Even the equal opportunity employment law was powerless against the Kisaki law.
Kisaki walked in quickly with a sour expression and took out an envelope from the office desk.
“I got these from a newspaper seller, but I’d never use them, so I was going to give them to you. But…”
Kisaki sighed, then looked at Maou and Chiho.
“You understand what I just said, right?”
Said Kisaki, who proceeded to put the envelope on Maou’s head and left again.
Maou and Chiho gave a great sigh after the door closed. Chiho took the envelope from on top of his head, and after looking at each other, they took out its contents.
And what came out was…
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