The weekends.

If there’s an item on a bucket list for when you’re in a fantasy world, exploring the kingdom for hidden gems is one of them.

Nine messaged me saying that the Regressor was now staying in a room inside the elven palace. It seems he reconciled with Laura, good news. 

That said, Nine made sure to warn me to be careful when I come with Rin or Liliath next time. His hate for the demon lords just goes that deep.
I’m just glad he’s not hostile towards Miss Margrett’s family nor to Nine and Prune.

Anyways, with that aside, we should enjoy our date today.

Our first destination is–
“A lingerie.. mff?”
“I know you’re very excited, but don’t say something so embarrassing like that.” I placed my hand over Liliath’s mouth.

She began licking my palm.

A thin silver string formed where there was contact, I grimaced. Memories of my past were returning.

“That’s so lewd Liliath..”

“You want to do lewd things too, don’t you Rin?”
Rin looked away, can’t hide the fact that her ears were red and– Liliath went to tease her further by pinching them.

As I was saying, our first destination is the demon tower, not the clothing store.

Demon Lord Javiel left Ruff in charge of the place. So he holds the highest authority at the moment.

I know, it sounds funny how we made an enemy an ally. It’s not realistic– I can only attribute the sudden change as an effect of [Reincarnated Otherworlder], or maybe even the 2000 LUK from way before. Who knows?

I know I can trust Ruff because his marker is green on the system map. 

“It’s tall.”

“I agree. I wonder what material it’s made out of?” Liliath touched the surface of the wall. It’s like square cobblestone cutouts, except blacker. It’s not some simple structure made black with  black paint.

“Do we wait for them here?” Rin asked.

“I think so. He said to wait outside.”
Liliath was wearing her signature black dress with a capelet to cover her exposed shoulders. An amulet attached where both corners connected to tie both ends up.

Rin was wearing a blouse and easy to move around brown adventurer skirt. She had a dagger holster dangling on her side to boot.

I’m curious whether or not she still wears garters?

As for myself, a simple white tunic with loose dark blue pants. A sword strapped to my waist in case of emergencies.

Well.. it’s just a cheap training sword. Even so, I hope there won’t come a time when I have to pull it out.

Toren Kingdom is known for its vibrance. Be it the structures of the buildings or the culture, there’s a lot of fantasy fusion material, like the use of lanterns in modern interiors or some streets made of something like asphalt. If I were to try to describe so..
“It’s not that, I only asked him to fight me because I wanted to vent– it’s them.”

“Oh, looks like I had you waiting.”
“Good to see that you two are alright?”

“Same here.”

“Good morning.”

After a light greeting, Ruff invited us into the demon tower.

“Just asking, by any chance anyone knows if Her Highness Valentine will return to working for us?” Ruff asked with a slightly somber tone.
“I doubt it.”

“That’s unfortunate. She’s been an incredible help. With her sudden disappearance, I had to manage all the chaos that came with it,” his words were pretty thorny. 

“That’s what you were busy with, hmph?” Gina narrowed her eyes.

“Part of it.”
“Spend time with me more.”

“I will.. try.”

The first to fifth floor of the tower is open to the public. It’s quite literally the fantasy equivalent of a shopping mall– props to Javiel for even thinking of such an idea– the floors above the fifth were office spaces used to operate and organize admin work which came as a result of extending influence into Toren Kingdom. 

If I’m not wrong, there are also accommodations. I just don’t know on which floor. 
We followed Ruff up to the fourth floor– a food court. Food in trays, drinks in glass cups. Waiters and waitresses from the demon origins operating..
Is that a kobold? Dark elves, cursed armor and hobgoblins.

“I see what he did here.”
“Most people become surprised by the sight. Some leave, others who are more open minded shrug it off as an exotic experience. It’s His Highness’ measure to slowly accustom the people to the presence of demons.”
I don’t know how exactly naming works but.. besides demons, some call them monsters, miasma or corrupts. They’ve got a lot of different names.

“I invited you here to try some of the food. Since you came from a place similar to His Highness, it would be good if you could give some pointers on how we can improve.”

“I take it that you’re planning to swindle us into your faction?”

“I thought that sort of thing had been demolished already, Liliath,” I dissed her before things got out of hand. Ruff was being kind to us here.

Liliath gave me a silent look. 

I now wonder if I should’ve just kept my mouth shut.

In any case, we went to order our food items.

There’s a lot of food here that people would regard as ‘hero’ cuisine. Basically, stuff you’d find in Japan. Ramen, takoyaki, soba, sushi, bento, grilled unagi, gyoza, etcetera.

“What’s that?” Liliath pointed at the yellow egg-like thing.
“Sea urchin.”

“Does it taste good? I had thought urchins were poisonous?”

“In your world at least.”

Hearing that, Liliath walked right up to the hobgoblin with an octopus costume and ordered one to try.

I got myself some takoyaki from that same stall– oh boy, it’s been so long. They even managed to create bonito flakes and mayonnaise? 

“What do you recommend?” Rin, who didn’t know anything about Japanese cuisine, had trouble deciding.

“Takoyaki,” I held out one in front of Rin, she took the toothpick and began nibbling on it. It was still hot.

“Perhaps tofu.. there is no tofu here.” 

Liliath was right. Tofu doesn’t exist, why though? Isn’t the process similar to cheese?

“This tastes odd.”

“Really?”
“I don’t really know how to describe it,” even though that was her comment, Rin finished the takoyaki ball I gave her in the end.

We ordered a few other dishes before returning to the table reserved for us. Gina and Ruff returned quick, Gina already in the midst of feeding Ruff his entire meal.

“How is it?”

“This is good too..” Ruff said in between bites.

“Do you normally get these sort of answers when you feed Noel-san, Liliath-sama?”
“It depends on the occasion, for example..”

Liliath sucked on her forefinger before using it to hold a piece of mochi. She held it out to me. I don’t know what kind of expression I’m making… or should even be making anymore.

“That..” you’re right for stuttering Gina.
“See? Say ah~”

“Why does it always have to be like this..”

I tried to take it with my own hands, Liliath kept moving it away. Catch it..
I’m setting a bad example to the other couple, but, I can't just deny Liliath.. is this revenge from earlier?

I ate the mochi– Liliath held it in a way where I’d have to make do with her fingers.
It’s so embarrassing.
Liliath licked the finger which had my saliva lasciviously.

[Liliath’s Special Quest Completed!]

Seriously?!

“How does it taste dear? Much better, doesn't it?”

“Y-Yeah..”

Liliath chuckled in such an elegant manner, you wouldn’t think she’d actually done such a lewd thing.

“I-I can’t possibly do something like that,” Gina said with a wry expression.

“I don’t think I can handle it either.. I can see why Noel-san would fall for someone like Your Highness.” Ruff commented.
“Rin, you too.” Liliath was about to pick up another mochi.
“Eh. um.. no thank you!?” Rin quickly waved her hands about.

We had our lunch in this unusual manner. I feel a sense of camaraderie with Ruff, probably because he is the only other demon lord I’ve met who’s done a kiss of blood.

I heard a sigh.

“I think I should make the situation clear for everyone, first and foremost,” Ruff said. “Noel-san, Rin-san, and Your Highness Liliath. You had asked me before to act as the mediator between you and His Highness Javiel. As I was ignorant, I had thought to reject it.”

So he’s finally getting to the serious stuff.

“However, now realizing that we’re aiming for the same goal, I see more merits in cooperation than competition.”

Same here. 

“I don’t understand why it is that you betray His Highness Javiel in the past, nor that to be a misunderstood coincidence, but if we’re going to increase our chances to reach this ultimate outcome, I will have to agree that reconciliation is necessary. Against his will, I will see what I can do to persuade His Highness.”

Liliath wanted to say something here, but Rin held her hand from underneath the table, which naturally stopped her.
“I am still unsure if he wishes to attempt.. or to resume his hobbies,” Ruff said this while gritting his teeth. “Know that I’m not fond of that part about His Highness.”

“Don’t tell me..” so you’re saying Javiel torturing Liliath is a hobby? Can something like this even exist?

“Everyone has a thing or two about them that they don’t wish for people to know about,” Gina added.

“Since you’ve said as much, I will make my stance clear also. We don’t wish to go against the demons, nor am I against the integration of the demon race into the public space. It’s a personal grudge which I hold against that brute of a demon you speak of. That aside, I don’t have any particular qualms,” Liliath said, playing with a fork, “My only wish is that I finally end what I began.”

End what she began?

“What do you mean by that?” I asked Liliath.

“I don’t understand it too clearly myself. It’s a feeling, difficult to describe. Somehow I just know it’ll end once I meet..” she trailed off.

Hm.. the end huh?
Gina nudged Ruff, he reacted with a small jump.

“Also..” Ruff drawled, “I apologize for having done harm to your sister, Your Highness Liliath, and, thank you for saving my fiancé,” he bowed with his forehead very close to touching the table.

“You had no ill intentions, raise your head. I did what I wanted, that’s all.”

===

Things can’t end without a little shopping. So after the meal, we went around the city. Gina and Ruff had their errands to run so they didn’t join us.

“Noel.”
“Yes?”

“Am I too harsh?”

“What do you mean?”

“The way in which I portray myself, the words which I speak. I do embody what it means to be a demon lord.. somehow.. my actions remind me of that brute,” Liliath frowned.

“I see.. but to me, you’re still you.”
“I think it’s alright to be angry.. sometimes,” Rin said.

Liliath nodded.

The place we’re aiming for is a wood craft gift shop. I wasn’t particularly sure why Liliath came to this place, I just tag along.
The counter was right at the storefront, you could see numerous pieces of woodworks on display. There were things like furniture and 3d puzzles.

Liliath looked around, the clerk greeted us.

“This.”
“I see you have good eyes, this is made from nightmare wood baked under the heat of a forge. After that, it was cut into shape.”

It’s a round necklace, or charm. No odd descriptions could be found on it, saying that it’s cursed or anything like that..

Liliath also went around buying some of the 3d puzzles before we paid up and left. By the way, the coins used in each kingdom seemed to be standard. It’s the same current throughout. There’s no foreign exchange or anything like that. 

This fantasy world has achieved the impossible.

“What is that for?” Rin asked.

“Nine asked for it.”
Nine?

“Why?”

“She said it was a sign,” Liliath examined the necklace, one side was black, the other side was burnt to an ash grey. It’s like a connect-four token. “She asked for an item which had two faces, something we could see plainly.”
That’s.. odd.

I know there’s nothing wrong with Nine conversing Lilaith but.. he could’ve asked for it through me right? Was there anything wrong with her? She looked alright in Bleu’s domain though?

Bleu would’ve caught on if something was really happening.

Liliath placed the necklace into the inventory.

“Will we go back there?”
“Hm? Go back there?” I looked at Rin.

“The house at the Elven Territory. That Regressor person is there.. right?”