Reunion

——Secret Lair, Animania.

...And that’s about it. That good with you, Mister Secretary?

Not bad.

The Demon Lord was Communicating with Tahara as he soaked in the igloo bath. Tahara reported on how he had met the Paladin and sent the numerous humans freed from Hellion territory to the village of Rabbi. Both of them seemed pleased with the turn of events.

What do you make of him, Tahara?

The Paladin? He’s above my pay grade. He’s sincerity embodied... He wouldn’t bat an eye at a weasel like me.

The Demon Lord, sipping on his Fire Spirit, wondered if he, the king of deception and comedic errors, would stand a chance against him.

Same goes for Yu, Tahara added. Hate to say it, but he’s all yours, Chief.

I concur. I’ll take care of it.

We’re on easy street, then. Out of everybody, he’s the type I don’t wanna face off against. It’s a lose-lose defeating or killing him. In Tahara’s opinion, all he would gain from killing the Paladin was a crowd throwing stones at him. In fact, he was sure that the people’s hearts would leave the Demon Lord at once, their grudge leading to the inevitable revolution that he feared above all. That’s my two cents, anyway. What do you think, Mister Secretary? Tahara asked with careful nonchalance, as to scope out the Demon Lord’s thoughts. He imagined that the Demon Lord he knew back in the Empire would have executed the Paladin first thing, using it to spread fear among the people. A dictator’s iron fist could not afford to let anyone slip that might give hope to the masses. That would eventually lead to their downfall.

After a brief moment of silence, the Demon Lord answered honestly. He attempts to change the world according to his own convictions. Have you ever seen such arrogance? The Demon Lord chuckled.

Tahara, too, wore a smile. While they were on opposite ends of the morality spectrum, the Paladin and the Demon Lord were much alike in that way. Tahara found it insane that both of them were trying to make the world bend to their will. He couldn’t comprehend it. I’ve noticed... That the city of Rookie’s important to you, chief.

Hm...

The first city you went off to, this Invasion ‘happened’ to occur. And now you’re delivering these folks here.

(Because I didn’t know of any other town...!) The Demon Lord thought, but wisely kept quiet to avoid letting it slip.

Tahara seemed to infer something from the silence, and casually spoke again, Well, then I’ll take care of things. A piece of cake compared to facing off against that Paladin.

(Crap...!) The Demon Lord’s hand quivered, unbeknownst to Tahara. (What the hell is he talking about?! Give me some context, here!) The Demon Lord simply told Tahara that he was returning to the village of Rabbi, and shut off the Communication to flee from the confusing conversation. (Ugh... Things are going to snowball again behind my back... Oh, well. It’ll work itself out. It always does. Gah ha ha!) The Demon Lord cackled, filled with the illogical sense of achievement again. The igloo bath ensured that he was completely detached from any sense of anxiety or dread.

After coming out of the igloo bath, the Demon Lord changed and approached Cake. “Ready to leave?”

“Y-Yes!” Cake answered energetically, but was secretly afraid to head into the Demon Lord’s land. She imagined a worse hell than Hellion territory.

“Shame to cut my vacation short, but I’ve got work to do... Pack It Up,” the Demon Lord commanded. The Secret Lair flashed and shrank to a grapefruit-sized ball of light before floating into his Item Folder.

Cake watched in amazement, but kept her shouts to herself. She was beginning to learn that she couldn’t afford to keep having big reactions to everything this man did.

“Shall we? I haven’t returned in a while.” The Demon Lord grabbed Cake by the shoulder and casually Quick Traveled to the village of Rabbi. The world flickered before them, as a nostalgic view surrounded them.

“This is where Master Demon Lord...” Cake saw a normal, human town filled with pedestrians and carriage traffic, most carrying some sort of material with them. At a glance, it almost seemed like a trading port.

“Welcome back, Mister Secretary.” At the edge of the village, Yu greeted him with a smile before glancing at Cake beside him. The situation seemed similar to when he had brought Tron to the village. “Is she the...?”

“The Princess in Exile, perhaps. Have her fill you in on the details later.”

Cake gave a polite bow as cold sweat formed on her forehead. From her experiences in the Slave Market, or perhaps just from her interactions with the Hellions, she momentarily saw Yu as a demon wearing human skin. (H-Holy crap... They’re not human, after all...!) While Cake was now sure of that much, she knew that being scared now would not improve her circumstances. On the contrary, she renewed her resolve to take advantage of the Demon Lord’s great power.

“Yu, give her a detailed physical. Then show her around the hot springs.”

“Yes, sir.” With a smile, Yu took Cake by the hand and strode off into the village. Cake’s cold sweat was far from drying up if she was about to come face to face with the Hot Spring Resort and the Field Hospital.

After watching them leave, the Demon Lord watched the village, letting his coat flutter in the wind. The village of Rabbi was filled with workers as busy as bees, with heavy carriage traffic on the streets. The place was jumbled with shouts, laughter, and the sound of Bunnie children playing. But the atmosphere shifted as the Demon Lord walked in. Everyone shut their mouths and straightened their backs. Those who had never seen the Demon Lord before were either dumbfounded or terrified. A considerable number of people dropped what they were carrying. The Demon Lord’s appearance could have been described as otherworldly, given his rare, pitch-black hair, his business suit that was unlike any garments of this world, and his coat as black as night. There was no way to avoid everyone noticing when he walked down the street.

“Th-That’s the...”

“The Demon Lord...”

“I’ve seen him in the Holy City... He blew up a giant devil with one shot!”

“For real?!”

Just by walking, the Demon Lord amplified the murmurs among the people. He leisurely, in what seemed like piercing glares to the people on the streets, looked around the village, apparently in contemplation.

A girl came running, breaking the heavy air. “Master Demon Lord, you’re back!”

The Demon Lord froze in his tracks upon seeing Aku. His heart ached at the sight of her, but it wasn’t an unpleasant sensation. Rather, it was the feeling of remembering something important. (Oh... So this is what it’s like to come home.) A kind emotion, slightly different from the one felt by fathers coming home to their daughters, filled the Demon Lord’s heart. Even he didn’t know what to call this sensation.

“Welcome home, Master Demon Lord!”

“Hm. How have you been? Never mind, I can tell.”

The Demon Lord hoisted up Aku with ease and gave her a beaming smile. She was covered in dirt from her face to her clothes, showing she had been working in the field.

“Um...! You’ll get your hands dirty, Master Demon Lord!”

“Don’t worry about it. Here, I brought you a little something.” The Demon Lord presented the Adventures of Spot the Dog. It was seriously unimpressive.

“Wow! This is the story of the dog you read me in the Holy Castle!”

“Completely useless book, by the way.”

“I-I don’t think so! Spot uses his sharp fangs to save this girl dog from a slime—”

“A slime... I met one of those.”

“Really?! Were you hurt?!”

“A weird one, like they have in hentai.”

“Hentai...?”

As their conversation continued, all of the workers nearby were frozen at the sight of the fearsome Demon Lord showing a smile to Aku. And now, Tron came floating through the air and plopped onto the Demon Lord’s back.

“I want to read too. And welcome home.”

“Get off of my back, you koala.”

“I want to read now. Read it. Now.”

“Did I wander into a kindergarten...?” the Demon Lord grumbled as they walked off towards the Hot Springs resort.

The crowd, having witnessed the entire interaction, sighed in relief once they were out of sight.

“I gotta get his blessing before marrying Aku...?”

“Come off of it! You think a lazy bum like you can take care of precious Aku?!”

“I wish Tron would hang on my back...”

Considering the chaos the Demon Lord typically wrought wherever he went, the scene of the workers left muttering their fantasies together was a peaceful contrast. However, hurricanes at times continued to bring destruction even after they passed, as strong winds came from different directions. The village of Rabbi was about to be met with the blowback.

“Why don’t you go soak in the hot springs first?” the Demon Lord proposed once they had reached the resort.

“I will!” Aku answered. “Please read me the book later!”

“I’m going to hide and pop out at people coming in. Pop goes the Tron.”

“Y-You can’t do that!”

As the pair left, another arrived: Kyon and Momo, both wearing their bunny outfits. After frequenting the hot springs with the Madam, their skin was supple and their hair was luscious. Combined with their revealing outfits, they had garnered a secret popularity among the workers. While Luna was arguably more attractive than both of them combined, her status as a Holy Maiden made her less approachable, even in fantasies. In the same vein, Yu was mostly considered a god-like doctor despite her beauty. On the other hand, both Kyon and Momo had a lot of direct interaction with the workers, making them the girl-next-door type. Their beauty even seemed to supersede the fact that they were demi-humans and the preconceptions that came with that label.

“Welcome home... Hoppity.”

“Lady Luna is calling for you, Mister Black, hippity.”

“Good grief... How long are you two going to keep up the catchphrases, anyway?” The Demon Lord started walking up the stairs, grumbling that he couldn’t even get a moment to rest.

He entered the usual room on the third floor to find Luna, who seemed fidgety, and Eagle, who was wearing a smile.

“Th-There you are...” said Luna. “Took you long enough.”

“Long story.” The Demon Lord put his coat and suit jacket on a hanger and undid his tie. He sat down on a floor cushion and looked around the room with nostalgia.

“W-Would you... like some tea?” Eagle offered a Japanese tea mug filled with black tea instead of green. The Demon Lord chuckled at the mismatched tableau he was in.

“Do you even know how long you’ve been away...? Where were you, and what were you doing? Don’t tell me you were off with some Miss Who-Knows-Who!”

“Hm... Who knows who, indeed.” The Demon Lord thought of Akane, Mynk, Olgan, and the Cat Hybrid. While she looked like a child to him, Cake was certainly a character, too. He realized he really hadn’t come in contact with any ordinary women and let out a chuckle.

“Wh-What are you snickering about?! You pervert! How many butts have those brutish hands—?!”

“What are you talking about?” The Demon Lord turned to Eagle, sipping on his tea. Her presence seemed so faint that he nearly forgot that she was in the room. “How are you feeling? Did Yu take care of you?”

“Y-Yes, she did... I’m all healed up now.” Eagle thanked him and lowered her gaze. There was a translucent air about her, so much so that she almost seemed untouchable.

“Hey, Demon Lord. Yu can heal anything, right? Even wings?”

“Wings...?” The Demon Lord noticed the pair of wings, short and misshapen as if they had been ripped off, protruding from Eagle’s back. “Yu can heal any injury or ailment. She can regenerate lost limbs or organs, too,” the Demon Lord confidently confirmed, having seen Yu’s ability in action several times.

“See, you heard him,” Luna said to Eagle. “Have Yu heal them, already!”

“Luna... Who’s going to want to be around someone with wings?” Eagle responded with gravitas, having been persecuted for just that.

While Luna usually strong-armed her perspective, this was a tough issue to press upon. “S-So?! We’re in my land! If anyone says a word, I’ll kick them out! No, you know what? I’ll execute them! Execute them!”

“Don’t be ridiculous...” Eagle answered.

The Demon Lord began to piece things together. Holylight was harsh against those called demi-humans, and Eagle and Tron would be persecuted anywhere outside of this village. In a sense, the Village of Rabbi was a special place with its own rules, shut out from the rest of the world. More accurately, the place was ignored by most nobles and people in power as an untouchable piece of land.

“I’m not like the Bunnies...” Eagle faintly muttered. There was a surviving myth about the Bunnies that told of how the Wise Angel loved them, which led to them being the only species of demi-humans allowed in Holylight. Someone like Eagle, though, with her wings, would become a huge issue. Eagle feared that she might become a weakness for Luna, an opening for others looking to take her down.

However, Eagle, who always thought of Luna’s position, and Luna, who was simply concerned for a friend, were hard-pressed to find a compromise.

“People are weak,” the Demon Lord finally said. “That’s why they want to keep others below them. Gives them a sense of security,” he said with an uncharacteristically serious tone. Luna and Eagle both listened, each considering the statement. “I believe I’ve seen many species since I’ve awoken,” the Demon Lord continued. “Humans, Firebrands, Dwarves, Cat, Bull, and Monkey people, even a Kappa.” The Demon Lord reminisced, realizing how ridiculous this all was, as if he had kept running into one alien species after another. He doubted that anyone on Earth had ever lived through an experience like he had. “As far as I can tell, none of them were much different from humans. They were all noisy, but fun. No sense in hating someone you can talk to and shake hands with.” The Demon Lord found it very simple, precisely because he had ignored all preconceptions of this world. If anyone else had suggested that humans could shake hands and get along with Dwarves and Firebrands, one could only imagine the reaction of those around them.

“You’re... accepting me too? Even if you burn bridges because of it?”

The Demon Lord wanted to spit in disgust. The way Eagle talked, it was as if they were in a classroom, where anyone who helped those getting bullied would only end up being bullied themselves. He found it ridiculous that grown adults were acting this way. “Ridiculous. Any bridge that burns is not worth having. And if they try to get in my way... I’ll have no mercy for them.” The Demon Lord’s glare shook Eagle. She saw an equal amount of cruelty and kindness in his black eyes. In truth, he would trample anything that got in his way without hesitation. “Well, they’re your wings, after all. Take your time and think it over. But...”

“But...?”

“It’s only natural to want to take back something you’ve been given... Or something you’ve created,” the Demon Lord declared. “If you need something, you’ll strive for it no matter what anyone says.”

Eagle feebly nodded, deep in thought.

Luna chimed in cheerfully, “I didn’t really get that, but it seemed like it clicked with Eagle... You do good once in a blue moon, Demon Lord. Keep up the good work for me.”

“If I keep hanging around you, I’ll be embaldened.”

“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?!”

The Demon Lord waved her off and retreated to the bedroom in the back, apparently still wanting more R&R after his vacation.

“I’ll let that slide for today,” Luna called. “All right, Eagle, let’s hit the hot springs.”

“Again? We’ve already gone twice today...”

“Don’t be stupid. The more you go, the more beautiful you become! We can’t pass up any chances to go!”

“It’s a waste of water... What’s the point of me being beautiful, at the end of the day...?”

“Ugh, shut up! I’m going to whip this penny-pinching out of you!”

“H-Hey...!”

Luna grabbed Eagle by the hand and rushed out of the room.

The Hot Springs Resort was a bona fide paradise for womankind. In fact, even men—in particular the elderly—couldn’t get enough of the place. Harts, who had been staying at the village, had his plan of a timely departure thwarted by the allure of the hot springs.

After performing his thorough daily training regimen and taking a simple breakfast, he found himself once again soaking in the hot springs. His exhausted muscles seemed to rejuvenate as quickly as his body warmed. (I must return to the fortress soon...) he thought to himself, and he thought this quite often, but his body seemed to disagree. Even Sambo had politely suggested that Harts indulge in some R&R for once, which certainly didn’t help him muster up the resolve to leave this place. (A truly incredible facility. Sometimes I feel as if I’ve been ensnared by a devilish charm...)

Harts had developed a routine of completing his daily training, chilling himself in the cold bath, working up some more sweat in the sauna, returning to the cold bath, and concluding with a soak in the star-gazing bath. Each day, he felt his exhaustion melt away and his body tone. From time to time, he also enjoyed bubble baths and carbonated springs to treat his aging, yet robust, frame. He had also taken to meditating in a solo tub. He had served his country so valiantly that a retirement in paradise couldn’t even come close to repaying his lifetime of work.

(And this star-gazing bath...) He couldn’t put into words how wonderful it was to soak in a perfect bath, outdoors, surrounded by towering bamboo. The scaredeer, a common Japanese contraption that let out a clank every few minutes as it filled with water and spilled over, provided a relaxing metronome. (The Empress... To think she kept a place like this all to herself...) The thought frustrated Harts for a moment before comfort took over again. After all, the star-gazing bath was equipped with the special effect of liberating a person’s mind from the stress of their daily life, in addition to merely restoring their health. For someone like Harts, a man with much pressure and many responsibilities on his shoulders, there was no better place to relax than the star-gazing bath.

(Tomorrow...) he vowed to himself, as he did day after day, (I will depart and return to the fortress...) He was in a most tricky situation, similar to how the Demon Lord was perfectly content in his state of groundless fulfillment in the igloo bath within the Secret Lair.

“I brought you some wine, hoppity.”

“As silvery as always, hippity.”

Harts nearly jumped out of the bath at the sudden intrusion, but managed to quickly re-submerge himself, seeing that it was Kyon and Momo, who always seemed to be tending to him. “I told you... This side is for the men. Ladies should go to the other side—”

“Doesn’t matter to us, hoppity, we’re left in charge of the resort.”

“You’d better do as we say if you want to stay in that bath, hippity... Hippity-hippity-hop!”

In truth, the Bunnies were running the resort. Cleaning, replenishing supplies, and customer service, Kyon and Momo were at the helm, and Harts was simply a guest. Within these walls, the Bunnies ran the show, and Harts’ position held no ground.

“Look how you’re dressed...” he grumbled, averting his gaze. “Have you no sense of decency...?” Even for a man like Harts, who had grown out of his libido, the girls’ appearance unsettled him.

“You’re blushing, Grandpa. That’s kind of cute, hoppity!” Kyon teased.

“Setting a silver heart ablaze. How cruel we are... Hippity-hippity-hop!”

Momo’s bizarre yet theatrical laugh caused Harts to cover his face. There was but one thought on his mind. (Why did the Wise Angel take a liking to such a species...?) His mind wandered back to the age of mythology. His naturally stoic mind was now thinking about completely impractical curiosities.

To top it all off, the Demon Lord entered, having woken from his nap. “This was the men’s side, last I checked...” He was fully equipped, a bottle of spirit and some glasses in the wooden pail in his hand.

Harts moved to step out of the bath, but the Demon Lord stopped him with the raise of a hand.

“We’re also in charge of the management here, hoppity.”

“We wouldn’t mind washing your hair for you once in a while, hippity.”

“No need. You’re still using those catchphrases...? Oh, I forgot to mention earlier: there are thirty Bunnies coming back from Animania.”

“What...?” Kyon and Momo froze.

The village of Rabbi was once populated with numerous Bunnies before they emigrated away one by one, unable to bear the continuous drought and increasing taxes. None of those who left had any prospects for the future, which had always saddened those left behind just as much as those leaving. No matter where they went, they were always going to be discriminated against for being demi-human. It was clear to see that the future held little more for them than being forced to grow carrots in practical slavery.

“Wh-Who’s coming back?!”

“Do you know their names? Tell us!”

“I don’t know their names, but you should speak with Tahara about providing them with housing.”

“Yay! They’re coming back!”

“Let’s go tell everybody!”

The pair stormed off, and quiet returned to the star-gazing bath.

The Demon Lord shook his head and unwrapped his bath towel from his waist before slowly lowering into the bath. The instant he sank in, a sublime warmth enveloped him. Harts intently stared at the Demon Lord.

“Forgive my staff for intruding,” the Demon Lord said.

“No need for that.”

“How is your recovery?”

“I have all my limbs... Thanks to you.” After his leg regrew and his mangled arms began working as if nothing had happened, Harts couldn’t help but feel that he was treated with devilish magic. He had a million questions regarding the bizarre bandage and Yu’s treatment, but he also had trepidations about asking outright. Historically, devils whispered sweet temptations into man’s ear, creating an opening for them to slip into their hearts. Their most notorious example was them granting a wish and requiring an unexpected price. Harts shuddered to imagine what the Demon Lord might ask of him in return.

The Demon Lord, on the other hand, had no topic of conversation in mind that seemed appropriate to discuss with one of the most important men in Holylight. He simply kept his eyes closed in a display of thoughtfulness.

Harts decided to break the ice. “None of the history books tell how accepting you are of demi-humans.”

The Fallen Angel Lucifer’s relationship with demi-humans was a historical mystery. The only related story was how the demi-humans became independent through the mythical war between Lucifer and the Great Light, establishing a hostile relationship with humans.

“You won’t find me in historical documents...” This wasn’t a lie, of course. The most notoriety he could earn was as a wanted con artist.

“You mean to say they don’t accurately depict you?”

“I am accurately depicted here and now. Any other depiction is none of my concern.” The Demon Lord had effectively written out the true Lucifer from history.

Harts, meanwhile, recalled what the Madam had told him: If you’re so concerned, see his rule for yourself. No need to open a history book when the real thing is right under your nose, she had said, as if speaking to a bratty child. Harts chuckled, also recalling how he was unable to make a rebuttal.

“I must say, your physique is unbecoming of your age...” the Demon Lord muttered, impressed.

In fact, Harts was hardened and muscular despite being over 60. What’s more, his body wasn’t just for show, like that of a competing bodybuilder. His was adorned with countless scars telling tales of numerous battlefields. Even to other men, his appearance and demeanor were perfectly gallant, making him the ideal commander.

“I apologize for the eyesore. I’ll be going,” Harts said politely.

“Nonsense,” the Demon Lord countered. “Where else can we have such quality time, man to man?” He stared Harts down with a sharp glare, ready to solidify a relationship with another political figure vital to Holylight.

To Harts, the proposal seemed eerily like a sweet whisper in his ear. (Quality time...? What does he mean by that?) Devils were notorious for corrupting men through temptation. While Harts acknowledged the theoretical difference between a devil and a fallen angel, he was nonetheless alarmed. (Could he possibly mean... Quality time?!) Harts trembled from head to toe, as the Demon Lord’s diction reverberated in his mind.

How have you recovered?

Your physique...

Quality time...

I am accurately depicted, here and now.

Blood drained from Harts’ face. The image of a fallen, or corrupt, angel made his fear seem even more real. They were naked and alone... The blissful hot spring had turned into a deadly gallows. One wrong step...

Harts squeezed out, his voice shaking, “F-Forgive me for such a personal question... Have you ever taken a wife? Had children? Nothing of the sort is mentioned in documents.”

“I’m rather busy, actually. No time to chase women,” the Demon Lord tactfully replied, fearing that Harts was trying to arrange a marriage for him.

(The Fallen Angel does have a twisted sexuality...!) Harts shook in terror.

He was struggling to find a way out of his predicament, when he was saved by a voice coming through the entrance.

“Looky here, couple of VIPs... Wonder what scheme they’re hatching now?” The naked Wo Wungol, leader of a notorious gang of bandits, the Moles, walked in. His muscular body was topped with a mane-like tuft of chest hair, which, along with his beard and mustache, added to his gruffness.

Harts saw an opportunity, and quickly rose to grasp it. “I’ve been soaking for a bit too long. Excuse me.”

Harts left without giving Wo another look, leaving him and the Demon Lord taken aback. As Wo only saw Harts as a man who usually gave him nothing but a death glare, he let out a hearty laugh. “Heh, Grandpa Square... Go back to where you came from already.” He brazenly strode into the tub, staring the Demon Lord straight-on. This was another reunion, in a sense. “It’s been a while... Master Demon Lord.”

“It has...”

“The hell’s with that boy Tahara? Threatening a bandit into day labor. To boot, I’m practically a slave to that brat of a Holy Maiden. It’s all gone down the crapper since I ran into you. For my Absolution, my hands were stabbed with needles until I passed out from the pain!”

“I see... That’s hilarious.”

“How’s that, huh?!” The leader of the bandits furiously rose. The sight of a bandit raging in the wafting steam of the bath was comical in and of itself. “What’s this ‘hot spring,’ anyway? How’s there so much water coming out? That boy Tahara hasn’t given me a straight answer yet.”

“Boy... That brings back memories.”

“Huh?”

The Demon Lord snickered, grabbing the bottles from his pail. Fire Spirit and Thunder Water, both very strong Dwarven alcohol.

Wo, who had acquired quite an eye for appraising stolen goods, stared at them in disbelief. The bottles that contained the drinks were extraordinary, made of Crystal Glass and decorated with intricate details like those used by royalty and nobility.

“H-Hey, aren’t those...?”

“Gifts from an acquaintance.”

“Acquaintance...?! That’s Dwarven...!”

The Demon Lord carelessly poured some Fire Spirit into a glass and handed it to Wo, whose hand trembled as he peered into the pour of the amber liquid. In human society, this stuff was traded by the drop. He was practically given a glass full of liquid gold.

“J-Just so we’re clear... I can’t pay for this, so don’t expect me to.”

“It’s a gift, don’t be ridiculous.”

“All right. I don’t know where you snatched this from, but this ain’t on me.” Wo downed the whole glass in a gulp, foregoing any gesture of enjoying the aroma. “Wh...oa... This...”

“Isn’t too bad, is it?” The Demon Lord smirked as if he had distilled it himself.

Wo seemed oblivious to the comment. “Is... real. I had three drops of this stuff, long time ago. Heh heh heh...!”

The Demon Lord silently watched Wo laugh. The laugh, on top of the bandit’s appearance, seemed all too familiar. “Do you know someone named Aoki?” he asked. “The term ‘42-OMG’ mean anything to you?”

“Huh? What are you going on about? You better wet my lips some more if you got something to ask me.” Wo gleefully stuck his empty glass out.

The Demon Lord let out a chuckle as he concluded that their resemblance was coincidental. That was reassuring; he didn’t know how he would handle some sort of link between the real world and this bizarre fantasy world. As he poured another glass of Fire Spirit for the bandit, the Demon Lord asked, “How do you know Harts?”

“Know him? He nearly killed me, once. Had me surrounded before I knew it. Slaughtered my guys like we were a pack of cattle.”

“Right, you were a bandit... Ha! It’s perfect. I always thought you must have been a bandit or pirate in a previous life.” Something cold ran down the Demon Lord’s spine. ‘Previous life.’ Didn’t that phrase also apply to him...?

“Previous life, my ass. What are you, some fortune teller?” Wo jeered, overjoyed by his second glass of Fire Spirit, showing quite the courage in the face of the Demon Lord.

“Never mind that... Well, what are you doing now?”

“The boy wants me to dig wells. Everyone around here’s off their rockers.”

“Wells... Tahara wants to put buckets on them, I’m sure.” An old memory came back to the Demon Lord. A memory that seemed too significant for him to have forgotten it.

“Yeah that weird bucket... And this place. The hell are you guys? Angels? Devils? Or are you Alchemists? Heard stories of them from the West.” Wo’s question was left unanswered as the Demon Lord silently drank from his glass, as if he was looking at the bottom of it for the rest of his memory. “What’s the point of digging wells out in this wasteland, anyway?” Wo went on. “The oh-so-wise nobles say this is ‘uninhabitable’ land, y’know.”

“An artist’s work is like blindly digging for a well, not knowing what lies underground. The only way to find out what’s there is to dig. Even if you’re left with nothing to show for it but pointed fingers and ‘I told you sos.’”

“Huh?!”

“An old friend said something like that to me, once... He looked a lot like you.”

With that, the Demon Lord pushed the floating pail across the tub and stepped out of the water.

Peering into the pail, Wo’s eyes widened. “Isn’t this... Thunder Water?! Hey, you know you’re never getting this back, right?!”

“Drink it. Sell it. I don’t care.”

“You kidding me?! This stuff’s too good to sell! You can’t put a price on this!”

“You can’t put a price on it, huh... You haven’t changed. Wait, no. Forget what I said.” The Demon Lord shook his head.

“Hey, Demon Lord?” Wo called with an uncharacteristically serious tone.

“Hm?”

“I had a dream... To dig up a well so everyone could drink as much water as they wanted. I don’t know if you’re a devil, or evil spirit, or whatever... But I’ll stick around. At least until I get tired of it.”

“Very well... So it’s my turn to work you like a dog? Do your best.”

“Huh?”

The Demon Lord chuckled, without malice, and walked away.

Wo wasn’t sure what he was talking about, but couldn’t help but drool at the bottle of Thunder Water. He could live in luxury for a considerable time if he were to sell it, but he seemed determined to drink it up himself.

When the Demon Lord walked out of the hot spring, he ran into Aku wearing a yukata.

“Have you been waiting for me?”

“Yes! I feel so happy that you’re back in the village...” Aku’s innocent smile was mirrored by the Demon Lord, as if she were his own daughter.

“This is a good time to set up a Secret Lair, then.”

“Secret... Lair?”

“Looks like things will get a bit busy tomorrow, so I’m going to set up a safe house, just in case.”

Aku responded with an adorable tilt of the head.

The Demon Lord took Aku to the empty plot of land adjacent to the Hot Springs Resort, then produced the Secret Lair from his Item Folder.

“Set up Base—Secret Lair.”

The ball of light blinked into a cozy cottage and blended into its surroundings. Aku had watched a base being set up before, but this was an entirely different construction.

“Th-That’s incredible! Is this a magic house, Master Demon Lord?!”

“Hm. The best man cave there is. No one will find you in here.”

“W-Wait... The house disappeared...”

“It’s almost undetectable except to the user. I’ll gift it to you, Aku.” The Demon Lord retracted the base and gave the ball of light to Aku.

She accepted it like it was a hot potato and gave a confused look.

The Demon Lord laughed at her struggle for a few moments before gently holding her hands to guide her through the process. “Now look at where you want to set it up, and yell ‘Set up Base.’”

“L-Like this...? S-Set up Base!”

At that moment, the Secret Lair materialized in the same spot. There was no reason at all that Aku had to shout those words, other than a little dose of placebo. Some players had dubbed it a Capsule House.

“W-W-Wow! There’s the house! I did it, Master Demon Lord!”

“Hm. Now you’re a bona fide player,” the Demon Lord self-importantly declared, as if he had raised a prodigy.

Aku seemed just as excited that she was able to experience the Demon Lord’s mysterious powers.

“Now let’s go inside,” the Demon Lord said.

“Yay!”

The interior of the Secret Lair was the same as before, decorated just like a mountain lodge, featuring a second-floor loft with an entrance to the attic. It also contained a cedar bath, igloo bath, a camping cot, and a hammock. There was even a campfire pit in the center that allowed for cooking. The Lair sparked a sense of adventure in every corner and appealed to all ages.

“Is this... Where you used to live?”

“More like where I wanted to live when I was a kid,” the Demon Lord smiled, reminiscing about his childhood. In fact, there were toy ray guns and insect models on the shelf.

“W-Were you ever a child, Master Demon Lord?”

“Of course I was. Sure, all I did was goof around...”

As they toured the Secret Lair, Aku happily spoke of her life in the village. How she was studying with Tron under the Madam’s tutelage, how she helped the Bunnies out in the field, how she helped hand out water and salt to the day laborers in the morning, and many more things.

The Demon Lord couldn’t help but be impressed. “So you’re working all day...”

“It’s always fun,” Aku innocently remarked.

The Demon Lord still believed that it was a child’s duty to play, rather than do actual work. (Of course, she was doing horrible work before I met her... To boot, they tried to sacrifice her.) Considering all of that, Aku’s life now must seem incredibly fulfilling. It wasn’t unusual for young children to be put to work in this world, anyway. The same went for the Bunnies, who started working early in the morning. If he had told them to play instead of work, they would have looked back at him, confused.

“I mean, it’s not bad to start getting work experience at a young age...”

“Um... Don’t children work in your country, Master Demon Lord?”

The Demon Lord recalled, fondly, how working a paper route had become a popular trend when he was in elementary school. “There was a phase where every kid wanted to deliver newspapers...”

“Newspapers?”

“The point is, they needed people to deliver them. Deliverers went house to house from like three in the morning, leaving a set of papers at every house. You made about 500 yen... About 5 bronze coins.” That was, of course, one of the lower-paying jobs out there, even after accounting for the fact that a child that age could not deliver as many papers as an adult. That being said, 500 yen was a lot of money for an elementary student.

Aku tried her best to comprehend what the Demon Lord was saying with the knowledge she had. “Did you do that delivery job, too, Master Demon Lord?” she asked, somewhat cheerfully. She couldn’t imagine the Demon Lord’s childhood, much less him delivering something door-to-door.

“No, I quietly mocked those who did. There was only so much a kid could earn. I thought it was a waste of time, working at the crack of dawn, no less.”

“Oh...”

“On the other hand, I was jealous of them. They could buy the snacks and little toys they wanted. One of them even saved up to buy an expensive RC car. Then I realized... That I was deserving of mockery more than any of them, for disregarding their hard work,” the Demon Lord plainly conceded.

Aku quietly listened to the Demon Lord. While she didn’t understand parts of his story, she felt like this was a very precious confession for her to hear.

“That’s enough nostalgia for today. Point is, don’t overwork yourself trying to help everyone.”

“I won’t...!” Aku gently held the Demon Lord’s hand, as if to console a father who had just told her an embarrassing story from his youth. “I was reborn when you saved me, Master Demon Lord. I can’t thank you enough. I always think about that.”

The Demon Lord scratched his scalp, embarrassed by Aku’s sincere gaze. Something was different when he was with her. He felt himself relax, and at times come face to face with a deeper part of himself, with surprising ease.

“We’ll see about who saved who...”

Aku gave him a puzzled look.

“Nothing. Let’s get some rest for the night.”

“Oh, you haven’t read me The Adventures of Spot yet!”

“For real...?! Come on...”

The Demon Lord went on to read the story to Aku and Tron, an exhausted look pasted on his face. Despite the utterly nonsensical story, Aku and Tron seemed to thoroughly enjoy it.