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

"...Maybe."

On the day they first faced the Demon King, Sagan drove Neferpitou away out of fear of them.

Sagan broke Nefertari's heart, leaving her all alone.

Even so, Neferpitou returned.

Sagan felt for the first time what it felt like to have her soul redeemed, and she felt a sense of belonging.

It seems that this could be considered some kind of dependency.

Besides Nephi, Sagan's research on the Holy Sword and the Mark of the Demon Lord also clearly stated that he was counting on Fal and Raphael.

To say that these things don't count as relying on others would be an overstatement.

But will Sagan really ever become so dependent on Shisty? That answer is probably puzzling.

Therefore, Sagan snorted.

"Stop talking big like that when you can take care of yourself."

"...I'm really curious, how do you usually view me?"

Shestia sighed helplessly.

But this time, she wasn't teary-eyed like she usually was.

Sagan glanced at the girl out of the corner of his eye, then turned his gaze to the other end of the table.

"—So, you little rascal who's been sneaking around like this, what brings you here?"

In the shadows of the steps leading to the bow of the ship, a magician was secretly watching Sagan and his companions.

◇

"Ee-huh?"

Upon being shouted at by Sagan, the magician collapsed to the ground with a scream.

The other person was a boy or girl of about twelve or thirteen years old… or perhaps a girl? Although his physique was as slender as a girl's and he had no Adam's apple, his clothing was a boyish style with trousers and a tie. Maybe he was just a late bloomer.

—It's that kid who came to our room to call us earlier.

I wasn't paying much attention at the time because I was worried about Nefertari. Could he be one of Bivron's men?

The magician, whether a boy or a girl, quickly stood up, rubbing his hands together and making a twitching smile.

"Good evening, good evening. My name is Nilu, and I have come here to greet the new Demon King."

Sagan looked Nero up and down.

With blond hair and green eyes, and a delicate face that still retained a childlike quality, Nel looked like both a boy and a girl. Yet, for some reason, not a trace of magic could be sensed from him.

—Who is this kid...?

The slight magical power emanating from Niru belonged to an ordinary person who had no connection with magic.

It seems he's just a magician volunteer, not even a newcomer, and not someone who should be invited to the "Demon King" banquet.

He was clearly just an ordinary person who didn't fit in.

This, ironically, made Sagan even more wary.

"That's strange. Why would someone like you be on a ship?"

"—Because, because I…"

Niru knelt down on the spot and pressed his forehead flat against the deck.

"I'm so sorry! Please forgive me. As you can see, I'm just a magician who's just starting out. Because I have no talent, I've been studying for a year but still can't use any magic tricks. That's why I've come here to beg you, hoping to ask the 'Demon King' to take me as his apprentice!"

The banquet was a marketplace for magicians. Since Sagan had just so brazenly asserted his presence, it was no surprise that magicians would come knocking.

Shess frowned.

"So you snuck onto the ship? I might not be in a position to say that, but you're really courting death..."

"I...I know this is reckless, but I really have no other choice!"

Sagan squinted.

—Oh, I see. That's how it is.

As if he had figured something out, Sagan nodded.

"Sorry, I don't have the time or inclination to take on any apprentices."

He only taught Nefi magic so she could learn some self-defense techniques. As for the others, even Fael taught himself by reading in the city's library.

After Sagan finished speaking in a threatening tone, Nero sidled up to Sagan, as if he wanted to lick his shoes.

"Please, please have mercy! I'm willing to carry your luggage or be your maid! Or even lick your shoes!"

...And he actually intended to lick it.

Seeing Nilu's tearful expression, Neferpitou couldn't bear it and said:

"Well, Mr. Sagan, why don't we listen to what his difficulties are?"

"There's no need for that, because of this kid—"

Just then, a voice came from behind, interrupting Sagan.

"Hehehe, it's better not to believe magicians. All magicians in the world are liars."

At some point, a magician appeared behind Sagan, at the very front of the bow.

—Oh? How did you manage to get so close without me noticing?

His skill impressed even Sagan.

Upon seeing the man's appearance, Niru immediately collapsed onto his backside.

"Ee, ee~~~~~!"

It turned out that the person standing at the bow of the boat was an old woman holding a large scythe.

She wore a tattered cloak over her head, and her swollen fingers were adorned with several rings studded with large gemstones. Her slender hands and feet resembled withered branches, and she could not even straighten her bent back, yet the large scythe she held was twice her height.

On her head grew winding horns like those of a goat.

—Is it a demon? That's quite rare.

That race is said to have demonic blood, second only to elves in rarity. They are mentioned in passing when discussing demons, and are also known for their powerful magic.

"Are you Gomel from 'The Witch'?"

—If she were still young, her appearance would certainly be worthy of the title "The Wicked Woman"...

But as a centenarian—or perhaps twice as old if she were a magician—the title of "femme fatale" truly evokes sympathy for her.

But Sagan remembered that when she saw her before, she should have been younger than she is now.

—So, Barbarossa never said Gomel was an old woman.

Even when he left Fael in the city, he mentioned Gomel's name when he heard about the adopted daughter.

That's a really good way to put it—a liar.

It seems that the old woman's appearance is not real; she must have used magic from the same system as Fa'er to transform herself into human form.

The old woman, carrying a large scythe, bowed respectfully.

"Hee hee, I am overjoyed that you remember my name, Demon King. My name is Gomel, and I have come here to pay my respects and greet the new Demon King."

"Let's skip the insincere pleasantries and just say what we have to say."

"Hehe, I really don't deserve that."

The old woman smiled, revealing her yellowed teeth.

But upon closer inspection, the old woman, though seemingly facing Sagan, was actually paying attention to the little girl riding on Raphael's neck, her eyes fixed on her as if she were looking at some precious treasure.

"...What do you want with my daughter?"

To a magician, even a drop of dragon's blood or a single scale is priceless. Even in front of the "Demon King," there's no guarantee she won't be momentarily bewitched and do something foolish.

After Sagan declared that he would kill the other party if they dared to make a move, the old woman swayed her shoulders and chuckled.

"It's nothing, I was just worried that these fluttering butterflies around you might be snatched away, Demon King. I was just trying to be helpful, but it seems I was being nosy."

After muttering to himself, Gomel glared fiercely at Niru.

—Yes, after all, he just tried to appeal to Neferpitou's conscience to persuade me.

Sagan knew, of course, that Nilu's kneeling and feigned crying were just attempts to gain sympathy, and he had wanted to get rid of him for a long time.

Sagan glanced at the trembling Nel out of the corner of his eye and said impatiently:

"Put your worries on that guy instead."

"Eek, Sagan, are you going to betray me?"

The sudden change of topic startled Shestie, causing her to scream. It turned out she was already terrified when she first saw the sinister old woman.

But Gomel wrinkled his nose in displeasure.

"I hate paladins. Whether she lives or dies, or whether she was assaulted, is none of my business."

This left Shess speechless.

Gomel's earlier affection for Far and Nefi had vanished, replaced by blatant hostility.

—If Biffron hadn't specifically requested that Shesty attend the banquet, things wouldn't have gotten so complicated.

It seems there's now another reason to beat up the Demon King.

Just as he was feeling troubled, a shadow fell on the old woman's head.

"Sister Gomel, it's very rude of you to speak ill of people like that."

The newcomer's voice sounded as childish as a teenager's... After looking up to see who was speaking, Sagan was momentarily speechless.

Because standing there was a burly man with a lion's mane.

—He should be Simmons from "Black Blade".

He appeared to be an orc, his face unlike any human's, but rather the face of a wild beast covered in jet-black fur. His golden pupils possessed such sharp gaze that even the king of beasts would likely flee in terror.