The First Night in the Demon Lord's Territory

──Thor's Perspective──

After I promised Demon Lord Lukie and Mabel that we'd have a tea party, Mabel brought a table, chairs, and a tea set into the room.

The table and chairs were quite large.

I was worried they might not fit inside the 'Simple Warehouse,' but, as expected of a Hero's item, it sucked in the table and chairs with a soft shloop, despite their being larger than the entrance.

After that, we prepared for the tea party inside the 'Simple Warehouse.'

We decorated the table with a cherry-blossom-pink tablecloth and arranged cushions on the chairs.

Mabel brought tea leaves and created a storage space beside the table.

After letting out a satisfied sigh, she loosened the neckline of her sweat-dampened maid uniform—

"...Ah."

She noticed me looking at her and turned bright red.

"I-I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I got so absorbed in what I was doing..."

"N-no..."

Mabel seemed to be gradually letting her guard down around me.

"That was the first time I had ever seen Lukie-sama looking so happy."

Mabel murmured.

"Lukie-sama was raised as the heir to the Demon Lord's position from a young age. The previous Demon Lord was a formidable person, but... he was strict with Lukie-sama. The previous Demon Lord could fight dozens of magical beasts on equal terms, so he expected Lukie-sama to possess the same level of strength."

"My family is similar."

I had been trained by my father ever since I was little.

Rather, I think it was nothing but abuse.

My father never hid his frustration that I had no combat Skills.

He continued forcing me through unreasonable training, saying that he would never forgive me until I acquired the same combat ability he possessed.

He made me swing a wooden sword until I could no longer move, and had me spar with professional swordsmen.

That was why I had no choice but to leave House Rigas.

But... unlike me, Demon Lord Lukie possesses combat strength.

"The Demon Lord has powerful dark magic, right?"

"Of course. When it comes to magic, no one can rival Lukie-sama."

"Then there shouldn't be any need to hide the Demon Lord's true form, should there?"

"There are people in the Demon Lord's Territory who believe only in physical strength. To people like that, the Demon Lord's appearance must still seem terribly weak."

"People like that are everywhere, I suppose."

"But I think everyone will eventually change."

Mabel thought for a moment before continuing.

"We have a history of being unable to defeat Heroes summoned by humans, after all. Deep down, everyone understands that there are things strength alone can't overcome."

"The victorious Empire, on the other hand, has ended up treating strength as everything."

"Things don't go the way people want anywhere, do they?"

For some reason, we both sighed at the same time.

"I'm weak too, so I'll be careful around people who 'believe only in physical strength.'"

"Hehe. That's right."

"By the way, Chancellor Kelv isn't like that, is he?"

"Kelv-sama is on Lukie-sama's side. As for someone you should be careful around... that would probably be Fire General Raizenga-sama."

"What kind of person is he?"

"He's two and a half meters tall, with a massively muscular build. His hair is red like flames, and when he gets angry, he breathes fire from his mouth."

I wanted to see him, but he sounded frightening.

"Raizenga-sama's family descends from an Ifrit, and they are famous throughout Demon Lord's Castle as a warrior clan."

"When you say Ifrit, do you mean the one who was entrusted with the Flame Mountain fortress by a Demon Lord long ago and fought a fierce battle against a Hero from another world?"

"The 'Seven-Day Battle for Flame Mountain,' right? Raizenga-sama is descended from the Ifrit who defended that fortress."

"Perhaps he greatly respects his ancestors?"

"That is why he respects strength."

"...I should probably stay away from him."

"Yes... probably."

Mabel faltered.

She looked as though she wanted to say something, but stopped herself halfway.

"But not every member of Raizenga-sama's family places such importance on strength... There are kind people among them. And some are too kind."

Mabel shook her head.

Then, as though she had just thought of something,

"That's right. More importantly, I need to show Thor-sama around Demon Lord's Castle."

She clapped her hands.

"That was the plan, wasn't it? Would tomorrow be all right?"

"Yes, please."

I would be living in the Demon Lord's Territory from now on.

At the very least, I wanted to be able to walk around the castle on my own.

"Yes. I'd be delighted!"

Mabel's silver hair swayed as she gave a little bow.

After that, Mabel and I left the warehouse.

It had gotten quite late by the time we finished all our various tasks.

"Thank you for everything, Mabel-san."

"Thor-sama?"

"Yes?"

"I told you before. Please call me 'Mabel,' without the honorific."

"Did I?"

"That's right. And there's no need for you to speak formally, either."

Mabel gave me a mischievous smile.

"Lukie-sama ordered me to treat Thor-sama as an honored guest. I don't know how things are in the Empire, but to the Demon Lord, an honored guest ranks alongside a chancellor or minister. In other words, Thor-sama holds a position far above mine."

"Even so, it doesn't feel real."

"Besides, you're the Demon Lord's personal Alchemist, aren't you?"

"But you've taken such good care of me, Mabel-san—"

She stopped short.

Before I knew it, Mabel had placed a white finger against my lips.

Then she touched that finger to her own lips and said,

"So you don't need to use polite speech, either. Please, just speak normally."

"...All right, Mabel. I look forward to working with you."

"Yes, Thor-sama!"

We looked at each other and laughed.

This was my first day in the Demon Lord's Territory.

And yet I felt at ease, as though I had been here all along.

It hadn't been like this in the Imperial Capital. The nobles were always competing over 'who was stronger.' The civil officials and commoners followed their example, competing over 'who was important' and 'who was allowed to act high and mighty.'

I realized only after coming to the Demon Lord's Territory how exhausting that was.

"...Please stay in this land forever, Thor-sama."

Suddenly, Mabel dropped to her knees.

She held my hand in both of hers and said,

"If that wish comes true, I, Mabel Refrain, swear to serve you with all my strength and with my very life."

"...Mabel?"

"Th-then, good night, Thor-sama!"

Mabel stood, bowed, and left the room.

I was stunned.

That was the first time anyone had ever made such a vow to me.

In the Empire, that was how one swore loyalty, but I wondered whether the same was true in the Demon Lord's Territory. I would ask about it later.

"...Today is only my first day in the Demon Lord's Territory."

A lot had happened.

I had found books from another world and made magic items. I was satisfied.

I was glad I had come to the Demon Lord's Territory.

Mabel had said, 'Please stay in this land forever,' but I thought that was probably how things would turn out. I had no intention of returning to the Empire. In fact, there was no place for me there.

So I would make this Demon Lord's Territory an even more convenient place.

As Thor Rigas, the Alchemist serving Demon Lord Lukie.

──To surpass the Heroes' world.

With those thoughts in mind, I fell asleep.