The day after all that mess with the bath, Arc and I go visit the dungeon where Orobas and Asmodeus live.
“So it was tough yesterday.”
“You fought Miss Wilhelmina seriously again…”
“Hahaha. It’s not really my power, so I can’t feel too smug about it.”
As a hero, Arc understands the terror of fighting the strongest demon king in history, and his face is twitching a little.
To me, it’s business as usual, but it might not be very normal.
“If you called Orobas, all would have been settled quickly!”
“Ah, yes, you could have testified… Eh? But can I call you?”
“I am a demon! Of course you can!”
“If the holy church knew a great demon such as Orobas could be easily summoned, they would all lose the color in their faces…”
Says Arc with an awkward smile, and Orobas shows his white teeth while laughing as always.
We’re in a kind of dim dungeon, but the blue candles illuminate it, so I can see their faces.
We sit on the ground and talk about recent events for a while, and…
“You… Why are you chatting in my room?”
Mister Asmodeus crosses his legs on the staircase while looking down at us with an exasperated sigh.
“Orobas said you were free.”
“Orobas suggests that you also come down!”
“…Ahh.”
He sighs again after hearing our responses.
I thought he’d ignore us, but he slowly makes his way down and squats for some reason.
The rest of us are sitting cross-legged, so we might look like delinquents hanging out in front of a convenience store.
Also, it’s a great demon, a great demon, a hero, and me.
If a monster of this island saw this, it would run away as fast as it could.
“So you were talking about having him retaliate against Wilhelmina?”
“No! Can you imagine the consequences of something that frightening?”
“I-I’m scared to even think about it…”
“What? I would help with that.”
He says with a bored snort, but look at how scared Arc is.
This is the normal reaction. Well, I’m not scared or anything, but I am fearful of what might come later.
“So why are you here? When you’re here, all the monsters in the dungeon are afraid to go out.”
“Is it that bad?”
“It’s bad for their health.”
I comment in my head about what kind of great demon cares about monsters’ health, and Orobas laughs loudly.
Being able to read my mind seems like a useful power, but troubling in itself.
Come to think of it, I haven’t answered Mister Asmodeus.
“My dream is to hold a banquet with all the races of this island.”
“Yes, I heard something like that.”
“That includes demons, so here I am to mingle.”
Mister Asmodeus silently points at me and looks at Orobas.
He nods with his white teeth showing, and after seeing I’m not lying, he looks exasperated again.
“In my long life, I have never been invited to a banquet…”
“Well, there’s a first for everything.”
“Nicely put! Orobas wants to go and have fun with people! It’s been a while!”
“You have plenty of fun outside.”
This island was made to keep Wil locked away, and so people of the strongest races like Suzaku can’t go out, but I heard that demon summonings are an exception.
Apparently Orobas is often summoned by humans, so he leaves the island periodically.
“You’re popular.”
“Yes! After all, Orobas is the demon who rules over the truth! Orobas was even summoned by a bishop!”
He probably should have kept that to himself…
Then again, are there private information protection laws in this world?
“But I heard that demons aren’t originally supposed to be able to leave this dungeon, let alone the island.”
“Well…”
Mister Asmodeus nods to Arc.
I heard that too, so I want to hear more.
“Normal demons are in the demon realm, realm of the dead, purgatory… Not in this world.”
“Are all those different?”
“…I don’t know a lot either. He knows more.”
“Of course Orobas does! After all, Orobas is a demon who knows past present and future!”
He points at Oroboas, who strikes a pose while smiling, happy that it’s his turn.
That makes me think that Orobas has even better cheats than me. Even though he looks like a horse.
“Not a horse! Horobas!”
“S-sorry…”
He corrects me with his face super close.
He’s pretty lenient about everything, but won’t let that word go for some reason.
Well, I should just not think that.
“Hum, so Orobas, is it all different?”
Asks Arc.
“Yes! Demons exist in a different world than that of the surface. And since they name the places where they live, they are known as all sorts of things!”
“Eh…”
The explanation was for Arc, but I’m impressed too.
It’s a whole different world compared to this island or the continent.
In that world, they establish their territories and give them names like demon realm or realm of the dead.
“Then can other demons be summoned into this island?”
“Yes, but Orobas wouldn’t recommend it. Most demons tend to be no good.”
“I see…”
It makes sense. Orobas and Asmodeus being nice doesn’t mean all the others are too.
It’s too bad, but I should forget about summoning others.
“Actually, you’re the ones that are too chummy with demons… Heroes and demons should be trying to kill each other.”
“Well, I’m used to this island at this point… And Mister Asmodeus even gave me those rings.”
“I think it’s too late for that too.”
He’s talking about killing each other, but I know Mister Asmodeus has no intention of doing that.
And Orobas doesn’t even think about fighting.
“You two can’t leave this dungeon, right?”
“We can if we form contracts and are summoned.”
“But to summon great demons of our level, you need quite the payment.”
Payment… What kind?
“Normally, a soul wouldn’t be even close, but… I think your magic energy would do.”
“Great. I can ask someone like Edinburgh to teach me how to summon, so it’ll work out.”
And then we can try having that banquet.
But I need to make sure I tell everyone, or they’ll be surprised when they’re suddenly summoned.
I don’t think people of this island would mind it that much, but it’s still important to inform them.
“Orobas. I can’t read their minds or anythin’, so is he thinkin’ somethin’ weird?”
“He is thinking about summoning us for a banquet.”
“Doesn’t he think summonin’ demons for a banquet is weird…?”
I feel like they’re saying something rude, but okay.
“Ah, that’s right. I need to ask you something, Arc.”
“What?”
“What are your plans for a wedding ceremony?”
“Hum, we still haven’t… I’m just thinking about going along with Ceres and Erie.”
“I see…”
She was betrayed, but Ceres is still a saint of the church.
I heard that was the most popular type of wedding ceremony on the continent, and apparently it’s pretty close to what I know.
I can picture it, but…
“I guess we’re going to need stuff like a church.”
“But that custom doesn’t exist on this island.”
“Yes…”
I could ask Reina to make blueprints again, but still…
I wasn’t going for a surprise, but it doesn’t feel right to ask the bride to make the wedding venue.
“They can’t be serious… They’re talking about making a church in a demon stronghold.”
“Could Wil do something nice if we asked her?”
“Wasn’t Miss Wilhelmina the one who built that castle? I’m kind of scared of that idea though…”
“That true ancestral one!?”
“Hahaha! You’re a funny man, Arata!”
Mister Asmodeus is looking at me like I’m weird, but Orobas finds it funny.
To me, the fact that we can chat like this tells me they could be friends and I can invite them to hang out, even if they’re demons.
Arc doesn’t seem to mind either. If anything, it feels like he respects Mister Asmodeus.
I guess demons would be scary if you have preconceived notions, but…
Then again, there weren’t any humans on this island before I came.
I don’t think that’s worth thinking about.
And as I think that, Orobas laughs with his white teeth showing.
◇ ◇ ◇
We leave the dungeon and see the sun is at its highest point.
“It’s almost lunchtime. What are you going to do, Arc?”
“Go home. Do you have anything you need to do.”
“I’m going to see Graham. Apparently he needs to talk to me.”
I owe him one for helping me propose to Tiltue.
And even putting that aside, if someone who looks up to me like an older brother needs advice, I want to listen.
I say goodbye to Arc, and head west.
The ancient dragons’ place is close to the dungeon, and it doesn’t take me long to see the rocky mountain.
Some ancient dragons see me and call out to me, and I respond as I reach Graham’s house. And when I go in.
“Bro… Sorry for looking uncool when you came to visit…”
“Wah!?”
Graham is on the ground in tatters.
Thanks for the treat. 🖖
1.He points at Oroboas
2.“Not a horse! Horobas!”
Orobas*