As the Demon King, I have married a slave elf. How should I express my love?

And so, the peculiar trio of the magician's apprentice, the paladin, and the clothing store clerk hurriedly left the scene.

◇

"...Sorry, I've made a fool of myself in front of everyone."

Illustration p229

The paladin, finally stopping her crying, spoke through her still-red nose. Looking closer now, the paladin girl was actually about the same age as Neferpitou.

Although the three of them arrived at the tavern, they created an incredibly awkward space. The tavern wasn't very big, yet one customer after another moved to the seats against the wall.

If she could, Neferpitou would love to join them and become part of the wall decorations. But she also bears some responsibility for how things turned out this way.

After all, it was one thing for the paladin who had injured Sagan, but Manila only got involved because she was standing up for Nefi. Nefi wasn't so callous as to ignore those who cared about him.

Even so, she didn't know what expression to wear, so she could only remain silent and expressionless, just like everyone else.

Manila did her best to speak in a cheerful voice:

"Many of the people here are familiar faces. You'll be safe as long as you stay here. Plus, there's a hotel on the second floor..."

Based on Nefi's condition and Sagan's absence, she guessed that Nefi probably wouldn't be able to go home today.

But Nefi, who had been led into the tavern by her in a daze, shook her head.

"I have no money on me."

It seems that all she has left is the outfit she's wearing. Aside from a dinner recipe notebook in her pocket, she has nothing else with her.

Looking at the note, Manila's expression also turned serious.

"Well, it's my treat tonight, so please sit down! You haven't had dinner yet, have you?"

Nefi didn't answer, but at that moment, the paladin girl beside her had a rumbling sound from her stomach.

Manila glanced at her coldly.

"........."

"N-I'm so sorry!"

The magician's apprentice Nefi and the paladin girl are mortal enemies... logically speaking, that should be the case.

But for some reason, this unreliable girl didn't exude any hostility.

After leading Nefi to a seat, Manila picked up the menu and ordered a lot of things... but most of them were alcoholic beverages.

While waiting for the food to be served, the paladin girl spoke.

"So, I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Shestie. As you can see, I'm a paladin."

"...My name is Manila. Let me make it clear first, you'll have to pay for your own share."

"Hey, why are you being so cold to me?!"

"Because who knows whether you actually bullied Neferpitou."

Perhaps recalling the attack on the castle, the paladin girl, Shesty, stiffened at those words.

"Uh, this..."

"Look at this! I knew this person must have done something!"

"But...but that time it was because of a mission..."

"Huh? Does going on a mission mean you can endanger others?"

It seems the residents of this city don't have a good impression of paladins.

However, it's said that Kinnoind is the territory of magicians. Perhaps this has more or less influenced the residents' thinking.

Seeing that Shestie was about to cry again, Nefertie spoke up.

"Yeah, I'm fine. She didn't do anything to me in the end that time."

"Really?"

"The person who hurt the master that time was someone else, and that person also received the retribution they deserved."

Perhaps it was the thought of 'magic' that made Shestie shudder.

"Otherwise, what was that person doing there?"

"I don't know. But she helped us take the others back."

"Oh, so it's a pack animal?"

"Yes."

"No, that's not true!"

Shestie slammed her hand on the table and said.

"I am the Holy Sword Maiden! One of only twelve Holy Knight Commanders! Yet you look down on me like this!"

"But did I say something wrong?"

"This... Waaah..."

Shessti stammered again, as if she couldn't argue her point.

—This person is probably even more timid than they appear...

As they were talking, a bowl of soup was brought to Neferpitou first.

"Well, I still think I can't drink it."

"I was planning to have a few drinks, but you're just sitting there not eating anything? How am I supposed to get properly drunk like this?"

"Well……"

Although the reason was a bit far-fetched, Neferpitou was intimidated by his aura and had no choice but to obediently nod.

Why is this person being so nice to me...?

In order to pick up the spoon, she placed the fragment of the collar that she had been carefully holding in her hand on the table.

"Is your collar broken?"

"No, it was my master who helped me untie it."

Shestia, standing to the side, scrutinized Neferpitou's face and asked a question.

"But you don't seem very happy—ouch, that hurts!"

"...Could you please be a little more observant?"

It turned out that Manila had kicked her. Although her legs were also protected by armor, the kick seemed to have hit a gap, causing Shisty to cry out in pain.

Nephew didn't know how to answer, so he just picked up his spoon.

"...I'm starting."

"Um."

I scooped up a spoonful and put it in my mouth; the familiar taste came over me.

No, it's not just about familiarity. It tastes exactly like the soup I made this evening.

Lamb soup.

A warm sensation slid down my cheek.

"Huh...?"

What flowed down were tears.

I thought I was no longer able to feel sadness, but after taking a sip of hot soup, tears just wouldn't stop falling.

Shessie screamed in panic.

"Are you...are you alright? Did I say something I shouldn't have?"

"Eek, ee ...

An uncontrollable sob escaped from her throat.

Master, why...?

Seeing Nefi cry, Manila seemed to understand everything and spread her wings to embrace her.

"Oh dear, really... you two should go and cry your hearts out in your sister's arms."

"No, don't include me, okay?"

It seems that the world is far more compassionate than Nefert imagined.

After crying for a while, Neferpitou began to mumble about what had happened in the city.

Manila listened silently to her, holding her beer glass. By the time the conversation ended, there were five empty glasses on the table.

Shessty listened with a look of trepidation. It seemed that although she was a paladin, she wasn't inherently bad.

After hearing the whole story, Manila, her face flushed, slammed her wine glass on the table.

"—You mean, he just kicked you out without any reason?"

Nefi nodded slightly.

"Did I mess something up...?"

The incident happened so suddenly that Neferi was completely baffled.

Shestia nodded indignantly.

"I thought that man had some redeeming qualities, but I never expected him to be so awful. Isn't this just using you and then discarding you?"

"My master isn't that kind of person."

Neferpitou's urgent rebuttal caught Shestie off guard.

"I... I know that, that's why I can't understand why he's trying to get rid of you like that..."

"What do you know about your master?"

"Eek...you don't have to be so angry..."

"I'm not angry."