Chapter 216
Chapter 216. Cultural Dinner
I approached the date of the next dinner party with a gloomy feeling.
Dressed in my aristocratic attire as usual, I entered the palace—only to freeze as if struck by lightning the moment I stepped into the room.
“Hey, Zilbagias!”
Diagias was flaunting his usual bon-dage style—this time even more different from the last—it was expected, but…
“Nom, chew… gulp. It’s been a week, hasn’t it?”
Spinethia, the fifth Demon Lord’s Prince, had an outfit completely unlike what he wore before!
No… those legs are long! Spinethia, who looks about 20 in human years, had boldly revealed the physique he usually covered in a fluffy dress.
He had a super slender and toned body… dressed in elegant leather that matched his reddish-purple hair, the fit was supple. He wore leather pants that seemed to meld into boots, connected at various points with net-like leather straps, designed to cling tightly to the skin yet feel cool. His upper body was cinched tightly with a vest-like leather garment, while his stomach was completely exposed. A human lady would undoubtedly blush at this point, but Spinethia seemed unfazed.
After all, he was already stuffing his face without a hint of shame… with a big mouthful, he tossed a cutlet into his mouth. Huh? Isn’t that a main dish instead of the usual appetizers…?
He chewed happily, swallowed, and his neck bulged slightly as if he had swallowed an egg like a snake, but it quickly went back.
“This outfit is great; it doesn’t compress my stomach at all, so I can eat like this… More, please!”
At his call, the servants rushed in with a kitchen cart loaded with food. As they cleared the stacks of plates, the food fighter happily munched on his main dish of cutlets.
What the hell… He’s been eating all that while being compressed by a dress until now…
While I stood there half-dazed, Diagias, with his arms crossed, nodded as if to say (Bon-dage style is good…).
“Yo… Whoa!?”
Next, the green guy entered. For a moment, he directed a sticky stare at me—but somehow, it seemed like he had gained a slight heft since last week—quickly redirecting his gaze to Spinethia, he gasped in shock.
“Oh, brother, you’re in normal clothes too!”
Chewing away, Spinethia was comparing me and the green guy.
“…”
The green guy and I exchanged glances and quickly looked away. We were both in our usual aristocratic attire…
“Hey, everyone!”
Just then, the door banged open and Aiogias strode in.
“Whoa!?”
… Thanks to the green guy’s reaction, I understood without turning around…
“Brother, you’re wearing what you ordered too. It suits you well.”
Diagias looked pleased. For him to say something like that to a guy…!
Turning around—
“Fufu… right?”
Aiogias struck a stylish pose with a smug expression—!
“Oh ho! This is quite the impact!”
Ante shouted before he could stop himself.
Contrary to Aiogias’s cool facade, he was showcasing his impressive physique. Like Diagias, he wore leather trousers, but his upper body was half-naked, adorned with fluffy blue fur at his neck and waist.
Most striking, however, was the wolf monster head mounted on his left shoulder. It looked like shoulder armor, proudly displayed! My personal impression was, “A wealthy hunter who forgot his coat sleeve somewhere…”
“It’s an Ice Snow Wolf. Quite the catch, wouldn’t you say?”
As he sat down, Aiogias tousled his hair with pride. Diagias, impressed, murmured, “What a big one…”
Even the food fighter paused his eating to look closely and showed interest.
“…”
I met the green guy’s eyes. In a sense, he wore a look of “Wow…” but clearly, the nuance of the expression matched mine. Rather than being impressed, we were both taken aback. Damn it, for us to be on the same page…! That wolf head on his shoulder must be a huge nuisance…!!
Just then, the door swung open again.
“Sister!”
Diagias shot up, his expression altered, and without needing to look back, I realized Rubyphia had also…
“Oh ho!”
Ante let out an odd cry.
There stood Rubyphia, wearing a confident smirk. She was draped in a bright red leather dress that gleamed with luster. Of course, despite being a dress, the amount of skin revealed was substantial, emphasizing her voluptuous figure to the max. Especially the sides and back were outrageous!
“Rubyphia… the bon-dage style I gifted you…!?”
“How could I walk around in something like that!?”
Rubyphia yelled, causing the surrounding people to instantly guess what had been sent. “But that look suits you too…” Diagias crumbled to his knees, but he suddenly looked up, gathering magic sparkles as he inched toward Rubyphia.
“This magical scent… I can sense my enchantment! Sister! Could it be, you’re wearing it underneath—”
“Ugh, enough already!!”
With a huff, Rubyphia shoved Diagias’s head aside—more like she delivered a palm strike, sending Diagias flying with an odd sound, “Huh!?”—as she placed Topazia, the sleeping princess, onto a seat.
The sixth Demon Lord, Topazia, looked… well, something like a cocoon. Wrapped in shiny black, fluffy fur.
As Rubyphia placed her in the seat, the coverings gradually dissolved. It transformed into a lovely yet somehow sultry leather and fur dress that gave off a “fairy” vibe. She still seemed to be peacefully asleep—perhaps the cocoon form enhances the quality of her slumber.
“Hmmm… it seems everyone’s here.”
Came the voice of the Demon Lord from behind.
“Whoa…!?”
The green guy recoiled. Demon Lord, you too…!!!
Without needing to turn around, I heard him striding confidently through.
“Whoa…!”
I couldn’t help but voice my surprise. What a flamboyant sight!!
Demon Lord Goldgias was draped in golden fur. While Aiogias and Diagias were decked out in long pant styles, he wore almost nothing aside from a few strategically placed coverings—there was even a decoration resembling a lion monster head taxidermy on his groin! His upper body was almost completely exposed, with belts and leather straps tightening around his muscles.
In other words, he was practically half-naked, donning what looked like a cape.
Complementing that exposure was a massive fur cape! A luxurious piece made from golden lion fur!!
“Golden Lion! And quite a large one at that…!”
Aiogias’s eyes went wide.
“Fufu… this is a memento from my younger hunting days, but it won’t do any good just being stored away.”
Usually, the Demon Lord would promptly take his seat, but today he proudly flaunted the cape and even started posing.
“Moreover, Fufu, this isn’t all. Behold!”
Suddenly, he swirled his cape around—
The golden cape… now bled into a solid black color, like an abyss!!
“It’s double-sided…!”
The Demon Lord boasted greatly.
“Ohh…”
Came the impressed murmur from those around. Upon closer inspection, the decoration on his groin had shifted to resemble an ominous wolf head…! Was it a transformation enchantment?! What a waste of height!
“Boosted morale, with a bit of soothing magic mixed in… thanks to that, I shake off fatigue and am able to handle affairs with ease now…!”
The Demon Lord spoke with pride, looking even more powerful than usual, but… what’s that? Thinking he needed the power of magical gear to manage his work just feels tragic…
“Gah! I lost!”
What’s this, Aiogias seemed crushed by defeat.
“As expected of Father, truly a magnificent presence befitting the title of Demon Lord…!”
“Man, I want to go hunting too, but I don’t have the time…”
Diagias looked troubled. Apparently, he wasted nearly a full day frolicking with the ladies…
“Father… so magnificent…”
Rubyphia was enraptured, and even the food fighter looked impacted while munching.
“…”
I locked eyes with the green guy. What’s up? Are we the weird ones? Is it just our values that are out of whack…?
“Hmmm… but Zilbagias and Emelgias seem to be unchanged in their appearance.”
The Demon Lord cast a disappointed glance in our direction.
“I was looking forward to seeing your bon-dage styles… But still, Aiogias. That trophy on your shoulder is something else!”
“Thank you, Father… But yours overshadows mine, the decoration in that area was a blind spot…”
“Fufu… Well, I initially thought to wear it on my shoulder like yours—”
The Demon Lord and Aiogias began flourishing a discussion about fur. Diagias looked at me with genuine curiosity, “Why are you still in normal clothes?”
What… Am I abnormal…?
“Of course. That look is definitely way cooler.”
Is it? Maybe…
Just as my perspective began to waver at Ante’s words.
“Surprisingly, you two might actually get along.”
Spinethia, having gulped down another dish, suddenly looked back and forth between me and the green guy.
“…!”
The corners of both our mouths twitched.
Who the…
Who would associate with him…!!!
We shot each other glaring looks, then huffed as we turned away.
I had made up my mind. Later, I’d order a rather safe bon-dage style for myself from Kusemon…! I couldn’t stand being categorized with the green guy, not a chance!!!
The green guy pressed his forehead, as though warding off a headache, but those blue veins might have been showing…
Thus—
Today’s dinner party… No, the Bon-dage Style Appreciation Society wrapped up with excitement except for me, the green guy (and the slumbering princess).
I had been gloomy to begin with, but now I felt even more exhausted…
†††
Leaving the palace, I returned to my room.
“Welcome back… Are you feeling unwell?”
Sophia, who had been waiting for me, tilted her head while looking at my face.
“No, I’m fine. I was just surprised by some new menu items.”
I answered casually.
There was nothing wrong with my condition. No problems…
“Then, as planned.”
“Yeah.”
I quickly began to change.
—Into my battle attire.
“Here you go.”
“Thanks.”
Leila assisted me. Tenderly helping me into Faravgi’s armor…
With gauntlets and greaves attached, as well as my helmet on, I became fully armored.
“Leila, are you ready?”
“I’m all set.”
Nodding while placing her hand on my chest, gently stroking theキズーナ beneath my clothes.
“Your Highness, here.”
Viene handed me a rather hefty bag. I could hear the chime of gold coins.
From there, I proceeded to the landing area for flying dragons.
Leila shed her maid uniform—her dazzling white skin and theキズーナ that tightened around it shimmered—transforming back into a sleek White Dragon.
“Take care then.”
“Yeah. I’ll be back by tomorrow.”
Waved off by Sophia and the others—
I mounted Leila, soaring into the sky.
The weather posed no issues. It looked like it would be a calm flight…
… Where are we headed, you ask?
To Reiju Territory.
If all goes as planned, we should be arriving there shortly.
—With the wagon carrying Albar and the others’ remains.
