Chapter 270
Chapter 270. Cautionary Characters
On my way, without anything particularly noteworthy, I arrived safely at the Demon Lord Castle.
It was just past noon when I arrived, which was midnight for the demon race.
“Since you’re in your growth period, you should live a more regular life!”
As Sophia lectured me, I had a light snack, took a bath, and snuggled into bed for a nap.
Then, in the evening, I woke up again, and my life as a Demon Lord’s Prince was about to start…
Dressed in a conventional noble outfit, I walked through the castle’s residential area.
Today, I had received an invitation from a certain individual. I was stepping out of Grand Duchess Platiphia’s territory and into an area bustling with powerful clans.
Even if you simply call it “residential area,” the rank varies greatly depending on the location and environment. The highest-ranking residence is the Demon Lord’s “Palace,” followed by the residences of royalty and the Demon Lord’s wives, along with the powerful clans assigned to the upper castles. Then there are the powerful beings of other races, like the Dark Dragon King and the Beastman King, who reside in the upper outskirts, while lower-tier clans are collectively assigned to the mid to lower outskirts.
And further outward, almost at ground level, are the Dwarf residential areas and workshops, as well as residences for the Night Elves, who prefer the underground, and the prison. With terrible ventilation and sunlight, the damp insides of the castle are home to the lowest-ranked beings, such as servants and lower-class beastmen.
By this logic, it would mean that the undead in the deepest underground are in the worst environment… but surprisingly, the Undead’s Palace is quite comfortable. According to Enma, undead beings are constantly operating windmills for ventilation to welcome me.
I don’t know how it was in the past, but currently, the living conditions inside the castle are far better than those of the servants’ quarters.
“Such superb technological skill and adaptability to easily transform the environment, what a threat!”
Right? And Enma’s mentality of using undead without hesitation as tools is also frightening. It’s quite troublesome… I wonder if I can somehow eradicate them…
As I was pondering these thoughts, I stepped into an area dominated by flashy red colors. Guided by a red-haired demon, I was led into a room with a great view.
“You’re here.”
Awaiting me was a stunning beauty with flaming red hair. Clad in a striking red Bon-Dage style, she sat on a sofa with her legs crossed.
Rubyphia Liberel.
Yes, this is the territory of the Liberel Clan. As a part of the Aiogias faction—more like as a part of my harassment against the green-haired guy, I intended to show some inclination toward the Rubyphia faction to apply pressure.
And Rubyphia, understanding that, was eager to join in. She seemed thrilled to best me in a private talk with me, having surpassed Aiogias.
In terms of exerting pressure and harassment on the Aiogias faction, our purpose was half fulfilled just by meeting at this moment.
“It’s an honor to be invited, sister.”
I deliberately greeted her in a rather informal and playful manner. I couldn’t afford to grovel too much due to the power dynamics, but acting equally would create tension as well.
Well, Rubyphia is hardly a stiff character, so this kind of joking attitude was likely the best approach.
“Fufu. It’s fine.”
As I had hoped, Rubyphia smiled coyly and began to scrutinize me with gleaming eyes. I could almost see her thoughts of wanting to make me one of her pawns—such intentions were transparent.
I quietly took a seat on the sofa opposite her.
Now that we were face to face again—truly, she was something special.
Her immense magical power swirled around her like a volcano on the verge of eruption.
Rubyphia’s title is Grand Duchess, the highest rank in the Demon Lord Kingdom, excluding the Demon Lord. Plus, she wasn’t promoted to Grand Duchess through the special merits of giving birth to the Demon Lord’s child like other Demon Lord’s wives; she had climbed to this position solely through her martial prowess.
If you disregard her magical power, she appears as a beauty in her twenties, yet she’s one of the most feared high-ranking demons in the alliance.
—“Volcanic Eruption” Rubyphia.
That moniker resounds even in the alliance. Wherever she invades, it’s as if a volcanic eruption has struck the land, turning everything to ashes and leaving nothing but scorched earth behind.
What sort of demon did she contract with? Actually, that’s also well-known.
The 【Firestarter Demon】 Fortia.
“He’s a nuisance who sets things ablaze wherever he gets the chance.”
Antedeixis said with a tone of disgust.
“In fact, our palace was once set on fire by him. I was napping, so I noticed too late, and put out the flames with great difficulty…”
It seems that trouble arises whenever you’re napping, whether being pranked by the mischievous Sophia or having your palace set ablaze.
“As the Great Demon God, my blunders tend to occur when I lose consciousness…”
By the by, demons don’t require sleep, so daytime naps are pretty much just for passing time.
Anyway, the 【Firestarter Demon】 is a crazy guy who would set fire even to the palace of a taboo Great Demon God, and surprisingly has substantial power, contrary to the impression his name gives.
“Someone who wields fire would find that quite compatible, wouldn’t they?”
Heh heh, Antedeixis chuckled.
Rubyphia’s clan, the Liberel Clan, is proficient in fire attributes.
Of course, their bloodline magic is noteworthy as well.
It’s called 【Ember Spell】.
This magic allows charging objects with magical power, igniting things that wouldn’t normally burn.
For example, stones. Or iron. Even ashes will continue to burn until the magical power runs out. Water won’t extinguish them normally. You’d need to use water magic or have an equal amount of magical power to dispel the 【Ember Spell】.
What happens when you combine that with the 【Firestarter Demon】… is not hard to imagine.
Indeed, considering Rubyphia’s ascension to Grand Duchess, it’s clear even without seeing flames.
“Thanks to the power of 【Firestarter】, she grows stronger the more she burns. With 【Ember Spell】, she can’t be easily extinguished. Furthermore, the magic supporting her magic can be enhanced by her 【Name】… how troublesome indeed.”
That’s more than just troublesome. I struggled to maintain my Demon Prince smile in front of Rubyphia.
Yes, Rubyphia’s cards are nearly exposed. But they’re simple and powerful enough that it doesn’t matter if they’re revealed.
On the battlefield, Rubyphia fills the surrounding area with flames and incinerates everything in sight.
Even if strong combatants like heroes or sorcerers rush in, they can be forced to deal with her heat and fire spread, making it easy for her to counterattack.
Moreover, Rubyphia boasts high magical power and is a top-tier spear fighter, making her a powerful warrior even in close combat. Although Rubyphia has records of being injured in the past, all of them were due to ranged attacks.
And the Bon-Dage she’s currently wearing—without a doubt, it’s imbued with extremely potent arrow-deflecting protection.
Combining the heat of offense and defense to viably expand her damage, she wipes out the enemy forces, transforming everything into her own achievements and power—what a greedy combat style that fits Rubyphia perfectly. If I were to fight… what would I do?
“—You’re directing quite the fiery gaze at me.”
Rubyphia’s teasing words snapped me back to reality.
“My apologies. I was just captivated by my sister’s beauty.”
As I quickly replied, Rubyphia’s previously assertive attitude shifted, and she started fidgeting awkwardly with a flustered expression.
“D-don’t say that! You shouldn’t speak like Daiya either…”
She seemed extremely anxious, constantly checking the windows and doors. By the way, there were only Rubyphia and me in the room right now.
“Well… I have no romantic feelings toward you, sister… so please rest assured.”
Even I’ve got to say, that’s not a phrase a brother should say to reassure a sister, is it?
“I-I see… well, that’s good…”
Even Rubyphia seemed to have a distant expression, as if to say, “What on earth am I saying…”
“…”
Silence. Oops… I might have ruined the mood…
“W-well, let’s enjoy some tea while we chat.”
Regaining my composure, Rubyphia reached for the teapot on the low table.
With a sudden noise I’d never heard before, a heat wave surged from her fingertips, and the contents of the teapot instantly boiled. Rubyphia personally poured the steaming tea into the cup.
The delicate control of fire magic was extraordinary, and on a cold winter day, it would be delightful, but hot tea…
It’s summer, you know… now…
“I suppose I should have headed to Aiogias first…”
Hmm. I could have gotten an abundance of ice treats… Feeling a bit regretful, I watched Rubyphia down the hot tea without a care, acting wild as if manners didn’t matter, yet it somehow didn’t seem vulgar, perhaps due to her upbringing as a princess despite her barbaric nature.
Rubyphia, a person who exudes a personality reminiscent of the first Demon Lord, has a level of tension when it comes to Daiagias. That brother of hers will likely gain quite a reputation in this war, so what will happen when their ranks align?
…Or, if her younger brother truly displays a spirit surpassing her own, demonstrating power befitting a Demon Lord, would she accept it?
“So, you actually don’t have feelings for Daiya, do you?”
When I casually asked, Rubyphia snorted out tea from her nose.
—
Merry Christmas! The parallel series “Armed Missionary Hikarino,” a psychological horror, has been completed today. I believe it will leave a lasting impression in your memory once you read it! I hope you take this opportunity to enjoy it. Thank you!
Click the heart to easily express your support! (Login required)
