After the audience with the Demon King concluded, I returned to my chambers briefly to prepare for my descent to the town below the castle.
'Seriously, I never thought the first job I'd get after defecting to the Demon King's army would be… a human thresher.'
This was the first time I'd ever seen a Grand Archmage capable of using Hexa Spells deployed to such a manual labor site.
To think that the magic I used to decapitate demons on the battlefield would now be used to cut rice stalks-isn't this like using an ox-cleaver to kill a chicken?
"I've brought water for you to wash up."
"Ah, thank you."
Since I'd worked up a sweat earlier in the training grounds, and the faint smell of perspiration was bothering me, I wiped down every nook and cranny of my body with a towel thoroughly soaked in the basin of cold water.
To think I'd be applying water to my body twice a day-this is a luxury I never would have imagined before.
"Hoooh…."
As I rubbed my body with the cold towel, my muscles, stiff from the sudden exercise, felt somewhat relaxed, bringing a pleasant smile to my lips.
'This is why people do cold showers.'
Afterward, I tossed the used towel into the laundry basket and asked the Maid standing beside me,
"Could you get me some clothes to change into from the wardrobe?"
The Maid nodded slightly without a word and took out a crisp, perfectly ironed white shirt from the wardrobe.
It was the exact same design as the one I wore this morning.
They must have stocked plenty of spares.
After wiping away the sweat and changing into the fresh clothes, I checked my attire once more in the mirror.
A neat appearance greatly influences the first impression you make on others, so it's crucial.
"Alright."
After perfectly restyling my hair, which had gotten messy from the water, while looking in the mirror, I draped the green robe I'd set aside over my shoulders and asked the Maid who had helped me dress,
"Come to think of it, what's your name, Maid-ssi? We can't communicate without proper address forever, you know."
The Maid, who had finished helping me with the robe and stepped back, placed a hand on her chest and replied in a calm voice,
"…My name is Camilla."
"Then, may I call you Camilla from now on?"
"Please call me whatever is convenient for you."
Camilla, Camilla. I repeated her name inwardly several times.
It rolled off the tongue nicely; I wouldn't forget it easily.
"So, Camilla. When are we heading down to the town below the castle?"
"Whenever Kaldraash-nim is ready, it makes no difference."
"Then let's leave right now- Ah, wait a moment."
Come to think of it, the Demon King asked me to hide my identity.
Remembering the crucial detail belatedly, I took the staff I hadn't discarded from the training grounds earlier and used Alchemy, one of the most basic forms of magic.
The staff, which was on the verge of breaking, writhed and reformed into a new shape.
"Hmm, this should do."
A wooden mask shaped like a dog's head. Not bad for something made on the spot.
I put it on my face, then pulled the hood attached to the robe deep over my head.
With this, I had completed the look of a suspicious-looking mage, no matter how you looked at me.
Satisfied with my reflection in the mirror, I nodded and said to Camilla beside me,
"Let's really go this time."
I thought we could leave right away when I said that so confidently…
As payment for coming out too early, we had to wait with bated breath for about 30 minutes in front of the Demon King's Castle's moat for someone we had arranged to meet.
As I stood there, arms crossed, tapping my fingers impatiently and staring only at the castle gate, Camilla, who had boasted that we could leave as soon as I was ready, seemed to feel guilty and spoke first to apologize.
"I apologize. He isn't usually one to break appointment times…"
"…He is coming, right?"
"Yes, someone was just dispatched, so he should arrive shortly."
"Hmph."
There was no point in me nagging her here anyway.
It would just be taking my frustration out on the wrong person.
Knowing that, I decided to endure it once more, closing my eyes tightly behind the mask, and said,
"There might be unavoidable circumstances, so let's wait a bit longer."
"Thank you."
About 40 minutes after we started waiting by the castle gate, a headless knight, clutching a helmet that looked like a tin can under his arm, finally appeared before the gate.
"My apologies! These brutes suddenly started causing trouble!"
Beside Barnessa, who came running up with short, hurried steps as he spoke, was a massive black horse fitted with reins.
It was a magical beast commonly known as the Two-Horned Beast, the Bicorn.
The moment I laid eyes on the Bicorn, my anger melted away.
'Ah, if they were late because they were bringing that, then I can accept it.'
After generously forgiving Barnessa for being 40 minutes late, I shifted my gaze to another Bicorn being led by the Demon soldiers.
Its flowing white mane like a valiant lion's, bulging muscles, unsettling red eyes, and sleek black skin.
It was truly a horse embodying the epitome of a man's fantasy.
"Prrrrumble!"
As I cautiously approached it, wanting to touch it, the Bicorn, whose reins were firmly held by a soldier, suddenly snorted.
I stopped for a moment, wondering if it was wary of me, a stranger, but surprisingly, the Bicorn didn't struggle further and just stared intently at me with its red eyes.
'What's this? Does it like me?'
I had heard that man-eating magical beasts sometimes lure humans like this before devouring them, so I felt a bit skeptical, but I mustered my courage and took another step forward.
Then,
"Hee-hee-hee!"
Suddenly, the Bicorn let out a pleased sound and extended its long tongue, licking right over my mask.
Only then did I realize it just wanted to play, and I could relax.
"Good boy. Good boy. Such a good boy."
I hugged its large head and gently stroked its white mane.
Perhaps feeling comfortable, it closed its eyes contentedly and rested its head in my embrace.
A Bicorn raised in the Demon King's Castle would likely be trained as a warhorse for executives, but this one is surprisingly docile.
Maybe the handler trained it well?
As I vaguely wondered about this, Barnessa, who had been watching the scene beside me, covered his mouth with his hand as if he'd witnessed something astonishing.
Perhaps because his face was hidden by the helmet, his gestures were excessively expressive.
"Unbelievable. How many wicked deeds must one commit for that ferocious Bicorn to become as gentle as an angel?"
"What? Hey!"
Hearing his words, which I couldn't overlook, I unintentionally retorted in a confrontational tone.
However, Barnessa wasn't flustered and proceeded to explain the habits of the Bicorn nestled in my arms.
"Bicorns are naturally drawn to humans who have a strong scent of blood or those who are sexually promiscuous. They particularly favor and genuinely follow individuals who exhibit eccentricities in that regard."
"Scent of blood… promiscuous…."
Hearing that, too many things came to mind.
As I fell silent with a complex expression, Barnessa shrugged as if he understood everything and said to Camilla and me,
"Let's get going before it gets any later. If we're not careful, we might not reach the town until after sunset."
Camilla, the only one of our party standing on the ground, nodded and reached out to take the Bicorn's reins from another Demon soldier…
"Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee!"
At that moment, the Bicorn suddenly reared up as if it had seen something filthy, hastily backing away to avoid Camilla.
Perhaps witnessing an even more incomprehensible situation than I was, Barnessa, who had quickly dismounted, tried to calm the agitated Bicorn.
"I'm so sorry! Why is it acting like this all of a sudden! It's like it just encountered some pure virgin!"
At that, Camilla momentarily showed a flustered expression, clutching the hem of her skirt and clamping her lips shut.
"Huh? No way?"
Seeing me stare in surprise from the side, Camilla, her face turning bright red in a way that was the polar opposite of her usual stoic expression, trembled her fists.
"…I am… not a virgin."
But they say a strong denial is an affirmation.
Realizing belatedly why the Bicorn was acting so wildly, Barnessa turned around with an oblivious, startled gesture.
"What, a Succubus? You're kidding me, right? Not at your age?"
"...."
Apparently quite offended, Camilla bit her red lips and, with a determined expression, attempted to force herself onto the fleeing Bicorn's back.
"Hee-hee! Hee-hee-hee!"
But the more she tried, the more the Bicorn bucked violently, tossing its body back and forth.
In the end, perhaps because Camilla couldn't be mounted on the wildly bucking Bicorn, one of the soldiers watching the scene hastily ran to the stables and brought back a regular warhorse.
Only then able to mount the saddle, Camilla, wearing a thoroughly displeased expression, didn't exchange a single word with Barnessa during the ride down to the town below the castle.
'Serves her right.'
I thought so, glancing at the Dullahan slumping its shoulders.