Presia’s misfire. As I blocked the magic bullets, it was difficult to fend them off with the whip I was holding, and trying to dodge to the side was impossible due to Lilith clinging onto my pants and dragging me back. In the end, I was at a loss for what to do amidst the confusion and ended up getting hit on the butt.
Clearly, it was a misfire.
“Boss… Kyaa!”
Realizing she had struck the wrong target, Presia quickly called out to Lilith, fearing she might attack again, but in that moment, Bear swiftly approached and lifted me up. Bear must have hurried to protect me. But why did Bear lift me up only to make me lie face down? An unpleasant memory from a few days ago when I was held by Bear resurfaces.
“Hey, hey Bear…? I’m fine, you can put me down… What? What are you doing! Why are you pulling down my pants! Hey! Yama! Putting me down doesn’t mean pulling my pants down! Stop! Stop it, I said!”
I struggled and tried to break free, but as usual, it was no use. Meanwhile, the others had already closed the distance.
“Don’t look! Don’t look, I said! Bear, you, pull my pants up before you get in trouble later!”
I was in a panic as my underwear was exposed to my companions when suddenly Presia slowly approached.
“S, Boss… Right? Hehe…”
I nervously smiled at Presia, trying to defuse the situation, but without a word, she stared down at me and slowly raised her hand.
Slap!
“Kyaa!”
*
Now, in a room with one of the walls completely blasted open, Lilith and I were kneeling in front of the group.
Even though it’s true that I caused some worry, I thought it was excessive to spank me in front of everyone, and even more so to make me kneel down like this in front of them…
However, since the others’ expressions were serious, I couldn’t voice any complaints. I merely shifted my body slightly to subtly express the numbness in my knees.
Meanwhile, Lilith kneeling beside me was quite amusing. When everyone’s attention was on me, she didn’t even try to escape but instead stayed still, watching silently as I was spanked and ordered to kneel.
Then, as if something occurred to her, she lifted her finger, pointed at herself, looked down, then pointed at me, glanced at me, and finally pointed at Presia standing in front of me while looking at her. Then, as if something dawned on her, she lightly clapped her hands, then briskly stepped over to kneel beside me.
What exactly is this kid up to?
“So, you’re one of the Four Heavenly Kings?”
Just as the suffocating silence was about to choke me to death, Presia finally broke the silence and asked Lilith.
“Yes! For now, Great Master!”
Does ‘Great Master’ refer to Presia? But if we go by that logic, I’m taller than Presia, so shouldn’t I be the ‘Great Master’?
“In truth, I really don’t feel like being one of the Four Heavenly Kings. It’s just that stalkers keep calling me that. Please tell me to quit, and I’ll quit immediately! No, there’s no need to even say ‘quit.’ People around me just assume it.”
“…Is this person really one of the Four Heavenly Kings?”
Without a trace of hostility, Lilith happily answered, causing Lindy to furrow her brows in muttering. Honestly, I still can’t believe such a clueless person is one of the Four Heavenly Kings.
“Hmm… That’s how I understand it too.”
In the previous cycle of life, Selian had cut down one of the Four Heavenly Kings, who turned out to be Lilith. Back then, due to the immediate onset of battle, I didn’t have the chance to speak and never imagined she was like this.
“Phew… This is really a twist I couldn’t have predicted. Elicia, how much farther do you plan to go?”
“My goal, of course, is the Demon King, as you know. Why are you suddenly asking something so obvious?”
“…Why does it sound strange coming from you? Is there something wrong with my hearing?”
Departing from being the Hero, I have no intention of giving up until I achieve my goal of becoming the Demon King. Even if I die before then.
“Senior, Senior! Then is this person also going to travel with us?”
In the midst of all this, Luna, oblivious to the mood, excitedly circled around Lilith and me, who were kneeling side by side, then turned and asked me. Judging from her expression, this wasn’t a joke but rather a serious question.
“Hey! What kind of talk is that…!”
However, before I could respond, Lindy stepped forward and scolded Luna. Of course, taking along a demon, especially Lilith, who is both one of the Four Heavenly Kings and a Succubus Queen, doesn’t make any sense, especially for a Hero group.
“Ah, are you going to take me along?”
Meanwhile, why is this person taking it so seriously?
“Do you think that makes sense?”
“I’ll listen well to the Master and the Great Master. I’m fine even if you whip me like before! So please don’t abandon me.”
“Elisia?”
She should just say she wants to live, but by bringing up things like ‘Master’ and ‘whips,’ she’s putting me in an awkward position. Look, now Presia and Lindy are glaring down at me as if they’ve misunderstood, even though I don’t have the slightest reason to treat Lilith as a slave.
“Ah… She’s a Succubus Queen who lures people but, well, she’s actually a good kid. She’s young and hasn’t really caused harm to anyone yet.”
Since I had already promised to spare her life, as I continued to speak, I found myself defending her instead of allowing her to create more misunderstandings.
“Really, I don’t know what else to say. I’ll follow Presia’s judgment, so handle it as you see fit.”
Fortunately, Lindy seemed to buy my argument. She sighed deeply and stepped back. Essentially, she had given the go-ahead. Now all that was left was to convince Presia.
However, looking at Presia, who had been silently staring at me since earlier, persuading her didn’t look that easy.
“Hehehe… Great Master, I have confidence in this area. If you wish, I’ll always be ready to serve for the Masters!”
“Stop that, you’re only causing misunderstanding!”
“First, can you disband the minions under you?”
Thankfully, instead of focusing on Lilith’s words, Presia got straight to the point and addressed the fundamental purpose of coming here. It’s truly Presia-like of her to stay calm and focused despite the current chaotic situation.
“Hmm… That? They’ve probably already dispersed on their own?”
In response to Lilith’s statement, instead of speaking, Presia merely nodded slightly, urging her to continue.
“Here! Can you see this?”
At Presia’s urging, Lilith quickly raised her hand and pointed to one of her two horns jutting out from her head. Originally, both horns should have been sharp, but in our battle, one tip was slightly cut off by my Holy Sword.
“Because my horn was cut, I momentarily lost control over them, so my charm was lifted. Unless I happen to meet them again, they’ve likely snapped out of it and scattered by now.”
Lilith spoke, and as she did, I quietly picked up the horn tip lying on the floor, ensuring the others wouldn’t notice. Though Lilith, the original owner of the horn, seemed uninterested, I planned to later offer it to Presia as a bribe for her to use it as research material.
If these horns belong to a high-ranking demon like the Succubus Queen, any mage in the world would be eager to get their hands on it. Presia, who naturally has an affinity for magic, would surely be delighted.
It’s absolutely not for protecting myself in case I get spanked again.
“Still, if you take me along, you’ll be able to easily pass by my stalkers later on! It’s just that I’ve lost control for now, but it’s different when we meet face to face.”
I only intended to spare her life, but if what Lilith said is true, it changes things.
I want to kill more demons, not just ones that hurt humans, but if I were to continue in this sluggish state where we cannot even properly fight the Demon King or even the Four Heavenly Kings, that is also impossible. If Lilith joins us and gives us more flexibility, then we might also have a better chance against the other Heavenly Kings and the Demon King.
“In return, there are conditions.”
“Yes, please tell me!”
“You must obey my word absolutely. Even if Elisia says something strange, my words take priority. If you can follow this, I’ll take you with us.”
“Of course! I’ll really work hard, Great Master!”
Acknowledging Presia’s words, Lilith jumped up and embraced her. Though it was an arrogant action considering her previous obsequious behavior, Presia merely gently pushed Lilith away without really reprimanding her.
Then, shall we head back?
Following Lilith, who stood up from her spot, I began to slowly rise as well. However, at that moment, Bear’s heavy hand pressed firmly onto my shoulder.
“Elisia, stay seated for a bit longer.”
“What?”
What’s going on? Presia’s gaze was colder than before when she was looking down at Lilith. Lindy too, who had stepped back, returned slightly forward.
“Elisia, we’re not done yet.”
And there followed another hour of Presia and Lindy’s nagging me to cherish myself, stop doing reckless things, and the like. I silently listened to their complaints, reflecting on how careless I had been.
Meanwhile, Lilith who had just been freed was gleefully sticking close behind Presia, and it only made me more annoyed.
Anyway, though it took a circuitous route, our first mission to defeat one of the Four Heavenly Kings was safely completed.
