"...Is there anything inconvenient about living here?"
"Nothing in particular."
Even if there was, it had to be nothing.
Recalling the Demon King's words that all the legion commanders were a bit off somewhere, I answered curtly without any fluff. Jeikar's face subtly stiffened as he meticulously examined my expression.
"'Nothing in particular'... does that mean there is something?"
"Yes?"
"You're human, after all, so there must be some inconveniences. Don't hold back—tell me. I'll accommodate you as best I can."
What was this? Consideration...? Because I was personnel the Demon King had brought personally, was he taking personal interest?
Even as I thought it unlikely, a faint what if flickered in my mind. Just then, Jeikar's voice continued.
His tone even more cautious, as if gauging my reaction.
"Just don't go flipping the castle upside down or anything..."
"...Thank you for the advice."
Of course not. Ugh, I want to die.
That was definitely a roundabout jab at the garden incident. He was clearly scolding me for unnecessarily setting the garden ablaze.
At the same time, it was a warning. A warning that if I pulled another pointless stunt, he wouldn't let it slide.
Forcing the words through my fear-choked throat, I spat out a reply. Only then did he return his focus to his food. Beside him, Asild—who had been silently waiting for our exchange to end—finally tried to speak.
Or so he thought.
"Oh my, Demon. Long time no see?"
If not for the 4th Legion Commander's sudden interruption.
A furrow creased Asild's brow. Mine nearly did too, but I managed to school my expression just in time.
I really shouldn't have come here.
From the 1st Legion Commander on, then the 3rd, and now the 4th. With these utterly unexpected figures keep popping up, my already tenuous sanity was crumbling to dust.
Regretting that I should have toughed it out no matter what Ben said, a low, languid voice slithered into my ear from the side.
"Idelia, you know exactly what you're doing, right?"
A voice grinding teeth, audible even from here.
Even knowing it wasn't aimed at me, it made me flinch instinctively. But 4th Legion Commander Idelia seemed unfazed, coyly covering her mouth with her fan as she smiled.
"What did I do? I have no idea why you're angry."
"Nonsense."
Asild growled.
Right, those two had never gotten along. I stabbed at my already hole-ridden salad with my fork again, desperately ignoring the scene unfolding before me.
Of course, inside, I was anything but calm. I wanted to smash the food off the table so badly... Ah, I'd already done that once.
Feeling nauseous despite barely eating, I quietly set down my fork, afraid I'd choke. Jeikar, who had been watching the situation, turned his head and quietly called to them.
"Both of you, enough. Have you forgotten who's sitting right here?"
"...Ah."
"Sorry."
As if on cue, their gazes snapped to me.
Flustered, I hurriedly shook my head to signal it was fine. Idelia slid into the empty seat beside me and slyly struck up a conversation.
"I heard you burned down the garden?"
"Idelia."
"Ah, sorry if that was rude. I was just curious what could enrage Demon so much..."
If Jeikar hadn't spoken up, I might have choked to death without even taking a bite.
Please, no more garden talk. She wasn't involved, hadn't even witnessed it—so why the interest?
...Come to think of it, the 4th Legion handled intelligence.
Makes sense she'd be into this stuff.
It came with the job.
The 4th Legion, including Idelia, was in charge of processing intelligence. The 2nd Legion mainly gathered it, while the 4th refined it, filtering out the dross and extracting the pure essence. Still, they gathered some intel themselves.
So...
She's the most dangerous legion commander to me right now.
A sudden conclusion, but not wrong.
I was the only human in the Demon King's castle. Naturally, most of them despised me.
Idelia could uncover my weaknesses anytime, anywhere—and sell them off.
The harsh reality jolted me awake. I quickly reined in my scattered thoughts, steeled myself, and met her eyes.
As if she'd been staring the whole time, our gazes locked immediately. Idelia beamed and spoke.
"Rumor has it, it was because of the gardener..."
"..."
"If you spared him because you didn't want to dirty your hands, I'd gladly eliminate him for you."
"...No need."
Typical demons—when trouble cropped up, their first instinct was always to kill the source. Did they even know what mercy was...?
Thinking that far, I paused.
Wait, conversely... didn't that mean they assumed I had no mercy either?
No good, dangerous.
My future self was in peril.
Already tiptoeing across thin ice, this realization sent cold sweat trickling down my spine.
My grip tightened on the fork—so hard that veins bulged on the back of my hand.
I sensed a flinch beside me, but that wasn't important now. For my future self's sake, I had to instill the concept of 'mercy' in these Demon Castle denizens.
With that resolve, I lifted my head—which I'd briefly lowered—and looked at Idelia. Unlike moments ago, her eyes trembled violently, as if she were in pain.
Did she bite her tongue? Her hand was shaking too. I felt a twinge of pity, but for future me, I had to say my piece.
"It was nothing serious to begin with. Not worth killing over."
"Y-yes..."
"Got it? Not worth killing."
"Yes, sorry."
"Idelia, what are you sorry for? Just... before jumping to 'kill,' think once. Did they really deserve death?"
Ah, almost forgot the key point.
"And sometimes, showing mercy isn't bad."
"Yes, I'll remember. Really sorry."
I had no idea why she kept apologizing, but this was good enough.
Indoctrinate them gradually like this, and someday—even if I slipped up—they might let it slide once.
The problem was the silence that descended after Idelia finally clammed up. Seeing their sullen expressions and the other legion commanders' rigid faces, the atmosphere felt like I'd scolded her. And she'd apologized nonstop, despite doing nothing wrong.
Only then did I realize how I'd painted myself as utter trash.
"..."
"..."
The silence stretched on. The mounting pressure eroded my control, my face stiffening of its own accord.
Naturally, the legion commanders' expressions soured further. How could they stay nonchalant when a mere human was stiffening up before them?
As I racked my brain for a way to salvage this deteriorating mess, Idelia—who seemed just as uncomfortable with the silence—exchanged glances with the others. She looked lost in desperate thought before turning to me and softly speaking.
"...Demon."
Yes!
The awkward tension eased. Overjoyed, I faced her with a magnanimous heart, ready to agree to anything.
Good, go ahead. This time, whatever you say, I'll...
"You're going to inspect the legions, right?"
Agree...
"Ah, I actually have something related to that too."
Damn.
Already plotting to flee—or at least excuse myself—I quietly scooted my chair back.
I had indeed said I'd inspect the legions.
When? Probably around the time I'd begged for drinks and the Demon King showed up.
[Anyway, no booze. Planning to wreck the castle? If you're that bored, inspect your legion or stroll the garden. Hien's thrilled about some new flowers he planted.]
[I'll inspect the legion.]
I'd chosen dealing with legionnaires over facing that nightmare gardener.
Unfair. I'd picked the legion to avoid the gardener, yet now I had to deal with both.
And I'd said it right in front of the Demon King—no backing out now.
"Demon...? You alright?"
"Fine."
Did my face look off? Fortunately, they didn't seem to notice the chair. Just time my escape right and...
...No dice.
Realizing my predicament, I saw I was perfectly boxed in.
Idelia on the left, Asild on the right, Jeikar dead ahead. All legion commanders. The moment I bolted, they'd snag my nape.
Resignation hit fast.
Discreetly relaxing my tensed body—without tipping them off that I'd been plotting escape—Asild met my eyes and slowly began to speak.
"I know you bring your sword when inspecting the legionnaires."
I'd heard that rumor. Never swung it, though. And it wasn't even a real blade—a wooden one.
That wooden sword was so heavy my arms shook. Embarrassing, but honestly, my strength could barely manage it; a real iron sword was a pipe dream.
But why bring it up?
"After you've instructed all the legionnaires, could I request a spar then?"
"..."
I barely stopped my hand from scratching my ear.
I must be seriously out of it lately. Hearing total nonsense like this.
My desperate denial of reality shattered at Jeikar's offhand remark.
"Good idea. Mind if I observe?"
He'd told me to speak up about inconveniences, yet he ignored the desperation screaming on my face.
This spar was absurd from the start. Our size difference alone made it laughable—what spar? Just look at Asild's hands. One smack from those, sword or no, and my neck would snap with a crack.
"...Um..."
Couldn't stall forever, so I squeezed out a voice.
Gazes locked on instantly, expectant.
Under that crushing pressure, I desperately brainstormed an excuse.
—Tried to.
"...That'd be difficult."
Ultimately failed.
I slowly bowed my head.
Was this the end? No good reason, so they'd push ahead. My skills would be exposed, and I'd pay dearly for the deception.
No, post-exposure wouldn't matter. One hit from me would kill me outright, laying my incompetence bare for all.
The barely touched, now-cold food caught my eye. Should've stuffed myself with something hot before dying.
Waiting like a condemned prisoner for the verdict, Asild's reaction was surprisingly calm.
After a brief silence, he nodded slowly.
"Well, fair enough."
"...?"
"You shine more in real combat than spars. Wouldn't want an 'accident' where you kill me mid-match."
"?"
"Sorry. That was reckless."
"No, it's..."
...Did it actually work out?
I'd heard some ominous stuff, but I dodged the spar, so call it a win.
"Later, once I've built enough strength that I won't drop dead easily, I'll ask again."
On second thought, not at all.
Big trouble.
"Won't keep you waiting long."
"..."
"Still, today—mind if I at least tag along to watch?"
I'd just received a declaration of war from the 3rd Legion Commander.