Chapter 129
Chapter 129: Demon Race’s Customs
Greetings, it’s Zilbagias, and honestly, there are too many visitors coming to say hello, and I’m getting bored.
At this rate, I can’t remember their names… What was the name of that guy from ages ago?
Hey, Antende.
“Do you think I remember?”
Not at all. In fact, if I did, I’d be questioning whether this is a dream or not.
“That’s rather annoying to say.”
Ow! Don’t casually poke my eyes…!!
While I was secretly having a heartwarming exchange with Antende,
that guy appeared.
A young demon with ash-gray long hair, flamboyantly fluttering as he moved. If you compare his age to humans, he looks like he’s just under thirty, but to be honest, you can’t really tell the age of demons just by their looks at this point.
These guys spend a hundred years in bodies that look like they’re in their twenties to thirties…
You could maybe tell by their expressions.
This guy’s all eager, definitely doesn’t have the “calm demeanor” that someone like Zikvart, my next-door neighbor and future clan leader, has.
“Good day, Your Highness Zilbagias.”
He said, holding a cup filled to the brim with wine in one hand.
Zikvart remains composed, but my other neighbor, Eijivart, radiates a tense atmosphere.
Maybe they don’t get along well?… Well, I won’t mention it.
I urged the long-haired guy to continue with a glance. He hasn’t opened his mouth yet. I haven’t heard his name and rank.
“…I am Germadios, of Count rank.”
The man, squinting slightly while looking down at me, introduced himself—Germadios.
“Dios,” huh? That name rings a bell.
The Reiju Tribe took responsibility for not fully healing the first Demon Lord and withdrew from their leader’s position. It seems the previous leader committed seppuku the moment the Demon Lord passed and shielded the others from accusations.
Given that the former leader’s bloodline has many skilled users of teleportation spells, it’s said that the entire Reiju Tribe owes them a great debt in some sense, making them rather troublesome, as Platiphia mentioned.
The current leader’s family and I, being a blood relative, must find this complex. Still, this guy’s making quite a nasty face…
That said, I couldn’t ignore him since he introduced himself.
“Nice to meet you, Count Germadios.”
I offered a neutral response.
“I have heard much about Your Highness…”
While bowing in a somewhat overly polite manner, Germadios smiled faintly.
“Oh? What kind of rumors?”
I’m not particularly interested, but I’ll listen.
“Why, it is said that you have displayed unparalleled martial prowess on numerous occasions, earning great renown…”
So, I’m a hot-headed brawler with an inflated ego, huh?
“Not entirely wrong, yet not completely accurate.”
Hmph, well, as long as I’m not underestimated, it’s fine… But rumors alone won’t serve as any sort of protection in Reiju Territory.
“Is it true that Your Highness single-handedly defeated the leader of the white dragons?”
Germadios leaned forward, pretending to be intensely interested—he’s probably underestimating me, I can see it in his attitude.
I glanced back and saw that the line of others waiting to greet was pretty much dwindled down. Oh, and I just realized this guy boldly cut in line. He must have some power to get away with that…
Mmm, I can’t just brush him off; I might as well entertain him a little.
“Yeah, I had my work cut out for me, but I didn’t exactly go out to take him down solo—”
I summarized the situation, explaining that I was ambushed by a dragon in a ruined castle after going hunting with a few followers.
Germadios exclaimed things like “Oh!” and “How intriguing!” at all the right moments, feigning astonishment. We both smiled insincerely, almost like we were performing in some bad farce—
“I see! I had heard rumors, but I didn’t imagine it unfolded like that. I have confidence in my skills, but I would struggle against a leader of the white dragons.”
Oh, he’s subtly bragging about his confidence.
“What an honor, to think you could single-handedly escape peril at your age. You are indeed a true hero, Your Highness, haha—”
Germadios laughed uproariously, as if something was genuinely funny.
What a charade. Now, what’s his real goal here…?
Just as I pondered that,
Germadios’ hand holding the cup suddenly wavered.
The wine that had been filled to the brim…overflows.
And then it follows a pretty parabola—
splash right onto my face.
“…………”
Huh?
†††
Zilbagias, dripping wine from his face.
“What the—?!”
Zikvart and Eijivart on either side of me were shocked.
How rude, even if I’m a child of royalty. Since this is a family banquet, if this was an accident, it might still be forgiven—
“Oh no! What a blunder! I deeply apologize for my rudeness…!!”
Germadios, with dramatic gestures, bows his head and apologizes for the faux pas.
But it’s clear he spilled the wine on purpose.
“I simply became careless in my eagerness to praise Your Highness’s martial prowess. Please forgive me. Allow me to cleanse it with my own hand.”
Ignoring the astonished crowd, Germadios swiftly took out a handkerchief and wiped Zilbagias’ face clean.
His actions resembled someone fussing over a child—and, in a way, showing off to the others.
Zilbagias remained completely expressionless, allowing it to happen without pushing his hand away. Since he didn’t say anything, Zikvart couldn’t carelessly speak up either.
“…There, all clean.”
Taking advantage of the silence, Germadios continued without a care.
“This Germadios is filled with profound regret. When my hand slipped, I prayed to the gods for it to be an error… No, however, if you are indeed powerful enough to take down a white dragon solo, I thought for an instant that you might have been able to dodge it—but oh, that’s irrelevant. Forget that.”
In a loud voice meant for everyone to hear.
“If I had been an ill-intentioned rogue with a knife, Your Highness’s life could have been in danger. What do you say? As an apology—though it may be inadequate, might I offer you some lessons in martial arts?”
—Did he really take down a dragon by himself? Because his movements seem rather sluggish. Should I teach him some martial arts instead?
“You…!”
Zikvart couldn’t help but interject. This was far too impolite! From what Platiphia told me, Zilbagias wasn’t just a child.
Who knows what could happen if he gets enraged—!
“—I see.”
But finally, Zilbagias reacted.
Zikvart looked on in apprehension.
Zilbagias wore a refreshing smile.
“Count Germadios makes a valid point.”
The nonchalant attitude put everyone, even Germadios himself, in a perplexed state.
“Indeed, it seems I was lax. I had unconsciously assumed that such a miscreant wouldn’t appear at a banquet of my maternal family. I appreciate your guidance, Count Germadios.”
Not only did he thank him politely, but he did so with a warm smile, leaving Germadios flabbergasted, taken aback by the overly cheerful demeanor.
“Though it may not be suitable to say in return—”
Here, Zilbagias thickened his smile again and opened his mouth once more.
“I, too, could teach you something I learned at the Demon Lord Castle.”
At that moment, a loud bang echoed.
“—Whoa?!”
Germadios recoiled as a “wall” loomed in front of him.
…No, it’s different; Zilbagias kicked up the table!
Acting on instinct, he raised an arm to shield himself; the dishes on the table fell and shattered on the floor—
“—This is the fate of a miscreant.”
In a low voice.
A chill ran down everyone’s spine.
On the other side of the table.
The presence of the prince.
The magic power.
“【My name is Zilbagias = Reiju】”
—Grew larger.
“【I am the Seventh Prince of the Demon Lord Kingdom!!】”
With a thunderous sound, a noise that was a whole level above the last echoed throughout.
Before Germadios’s eyes, the table shattered,
and Zilbagias’ fist, breaking through it,
came—
With all its momentum—
—Smashed into his face.
――――――――――――
Q. How strong is the enhancement of one’s declaration?
A. It’s easy to understand if you think of magic power in terms of height and weight.
Imagine there’s a 5-year-old boy who’s about 150 cm tall. If you think, “That’s impressive for his age, but I could crush him with my strength,” only for that kid to suddenly transform into an 180 cm heavyweight wrestler and come charging at you!
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