AN: I think girls who fight all the time are yuri.
Yuri is a part of liking even if you don’t like it.
「I’m not good at elemental magic, but unlike you, I can heal and support. Unlike you, who can only destroy and exterminate, I am a versatile magician. If you understand, then quickly admit defeat, you stupid Tiana.」
「I’m not sure I understand what you are saying. When in the world did you become an all-versatile magician? You can heal a little? You can attack a little? That’s not versatility, that’s called poor utility. You are the one who admits defeat, no-good Feria.」
「You better watch your mouth, okay? I don’t care if you are a high elf or not, you are a second-rate magician who can only use magic to the extent that your nephew is better than you. You are a creature who is too small to even talk to me, aren’t you?」
「I think there was a woman who challenged my nephew without knowing her size and was defeated without a scratch on him, wasn’t there? Oh, it was you. You are ranked sixth because you are a third-rate person who can’t even tell the difference in strength between the two sides, do you understand? I think you’re a thousand years too young to be trying to pick a fight with me, the third-ranked person here.」
「Well, you bring up the ranks. If you say so, it’s war, isn’t it, my dear? All right, get out in the open!」
「I know it’s a waste of my time to waste it on you, but it’s also a good time for me to clarify my position. All right, then, let’s get started. Lean-sama, may I wait a moment?」
「I’m not happy okay!? I was too scared to say anything, but how bad of friends are you guys!!」
◆◇◆◇◆
I did my best to mediate between the belligerent dark elf and the elf who for some reason tried to take the belligerent dark elf on.
「I’m sorry, Lean-sama. I’m sorry for the embarrassment…」
「N-No… I don’t mind…」
After that, Feria-san said,「If you stay with that idiot, you won’t be able to be strong! Come to me!」and then she left.
Tiana-san said something unnecessary like,「You are not strong enough」and they almost had another fight, but I managed. I’m not so tough, am I?
「Umm…that…Tiana-san, you have haters too, don’t you?」
「Of course there is, as an intellectual creature, it is not unnatural at all.」
That’s right, but somehow I don’t feel that way about Tiana-san.
Well, she’s a hidden S. If anything, I’m still a little scared of her, so I’m walking slightly away from her.
「…Are elves and dark elves don’t get along?」
「No, not at all. Rather, we have always known each other as a race.」
It’s like,「As a whole family.」
「The elves are based in the forest and the dark elves build a civilization in the wilderness. They are friendly races that have exchanged what they don’t have for each other. They have no animosity toward the Dark Elves themselves, although they have appreciation and respect for them. I just don’t like Feria.」
「S-Sounds rather refreshing…」
I’m curious about what happened, but I’m kind of scared not to ask.
◆◇◆◇◆
One evening, a week after the emergency executive meeting.
As usual, I was doing my magic training under the guidance of Tiana.
『Lean, Tiana, can you hear me?』
Eh, wait, what’s this?
『Demon King-sama. How can I help you?』
『Mm, a little bit. Come to my room if you can. Oh, Lean, it’s just a reminder. Don’t worry about it.』
I do worry about it.
It reminds me of some evil god.
…Well, let’s leave it at that.
I opened the classroom door and sure enough, it led to another place.
Not the demon king’s room or the round table in the conference room, but much smaller. Well, it’s still pretty big.
Bookshelves, a closet, a desk, and a bed.
So this is the Demon King room.
As I looked around, I saw the Demon King-sama sitting cross-legged on the sofa.
I did as I was told and sat down on the sofa opposite the Demon King-sama.
In the room were myself, Tiana-san, and the Demon King-sama. And there was one more guest in the room.
「It’s been a week, Lean-chan, and Tiana-san. Do you remember me, Lean-chan?」
I remember you.
How could I forget those distinctive wings and horns?
「She is the first rank in the Demon King’s Army, in other words, the first in the executive ranks. Vinel, the『General Murderer』.」
She is a close aide of the Demon King and a general strategist in the Demon King’s army. As her name『General Murderer』suggests, she is the most intelligent person in the army, and she uses her unbelievable cruel strategies to finish off her enemies.
Her blue hair is tied back in a single bun, and she has a beautiful face with a disheveled appearance. At best, she is a mysterious girl, and at worst, she has a face that makes it hard to tell what she is thinking.
「Oh, Vinel-san was there, too? What about the other executives?」
「I didn’t invite any other executives. Well, in the big picture, it’s just a little thing, but as the Demon King, I’d say something happened that wasn’t so big.」
I see.
I don’t know.
「…The humans killed all the prisoners in our army.」
Oh, I see. So that’s why Demon King-sama was unhappy.
Humans again, you lowlifes.
「Originally, we were going to exchange the humans we had captured for the people they had captured.」
Hostage exchange, is there such a thing in this world?
Well, it is certainly a better strategy than fighting each other while worrying about hostages.
「But the life signs of all the captives were gone. There were less than a hundred of them… Good grief.」
「Perhaps they were used as an experience for the hero. I think they decided that it would be more beneficial to abandon the humans in our place and strengthen the heroes than to exchange hostages here.」
「What… That many of our people have lost their lives? …So what are you going to do about it? We have taken care of our people. Shall we change our plans?」
「No, the plan is on schedule. We will protect the hero. The hero is innocent, after all.」
「The hero has now become a『tool』. She just did what she was told to do without a care in the world. What is unforgivable is the person who gave the order.」
…Awesome.
What’s amazing is that these people are extremely rational.
Normally, one will be outraged by the murder of their friends and go,「I’m going to kill the hero!」. I think it would not be surprising if the situation were to turn out something like that.
「So, what we have to think about is what to do with all the people we have as prisoners of war here. We have given them all the information they need, and now that we have killed their prisoners, there is no reason to keep them alive.」
「Yes, I have a suggestion. I was wondering if we could use that prisoner as a doll for Lean-chan battle training.」
…Huh?
「I have about 1,000 humans in captivity here, and you see, Lean, you need to level up. Besides, if you don’t experience real combat, your skills will become dull, you know. I got the idea after hearing about the『21 murders』in the vampire village.」
「…I see. We can improve Lean-sama’s actual fighting ability and level up at the same time. Moreover, it is very efficient because Lean-sama gains more experience when she kills people who are the target of her revenge. Furthermore, Lean-sama can kill humans and advance her revenge even if only slightly… Three birds with one stone.」
Indeed, leveling up should be a top priority for me.
The higher my level, the more magic power I will have, the more progress I will make in my magical training, and the close combat training I am doing on my own will be more useful.
I am one of the few in the demon army who is completely nocturnal. I wake up at night and go to bed in the morning.
I want to achieve results because I’ve involved Tiana-san in this rhythm of life.
For that reason, I need to raise my level and experience magic in actual battles.
「So, what about you, Lean? You can refuse if you don’t want to. Frankly, it’s not something I’d let a five-year-old girl do.」
「…No, I will do it. Please let me do it.」
「Kukuku. I knew you would say so. Get ready. Vinel, go get ready.」
「Yes.」
Now, for the first time in a long time, let’s slaughter the humans.