I'm not interested. I'm tired, so I wish you could just send me to my room.
Although there was no way he could not have read the blatant expression on his face, the Demon King pretended not to notice and walked naturally and opened a door in a corner.
"Take your pick. If there's something you like, I'll teach you."
"..."
Feeling that he couldn't resist the wide open door and the smile facing him, Deon sighed and stood up from the piano chair.
"Why are you so obsessed with making me choose a hobby? It's not your business."
"I remember the reason was fully explained."
"... Are you serious?"
"Of course. And you're saying it's not my business? This definitely has something to do with me. Things won't work properly until the spirit of the main forces is broken."
Deon replied by frowning once and looked inside the open door.
There were all sorts of musical instruments in the room he checked.
From the familiar Northern-style instruments to the unfamiliar Southern-style instruments. Deon, who was tracing the familiar harp with his fingers, suddenly stopped as the Demon King's words passed through his mind.
"... I remember you said that if there was an instrument I liked, you would teach it to me..."
"That's right."
"Does that mean... you can play every instrument in this room?"
"Of course. How could I teach an instrument that I can't even play?"
Nonsense.
It's a room that seems to have a collection of musical instruments from all over the world, but can you really play all the instruments here?
"If you don't believe me, can I at least play for you?"
"... No, I believe it. You've lived for a long time, so it's not impossible. Still, I'd like to hear you play..."
"Any instrument or song you want?"
"I already heard the piano, so please play the violin."
"Yes? That's surprising."
He knew how to choose an unfamiliar instrument.
Deon just smiled.
Didn't he say he would believe it? It's unbelievable by human standards, but the opponent is the Demon King and there's no way he would lie about something like this, so he had to believe it. In other words, since the intention was not to doubt or test, there was no need to choose a difficult instrument.
But the song.
"I also want a different song."
"What?"
"I don't know the title. This is a folk song widely known in the human world. Do you know that the lyrics roughly convey a warning from Death not to commit sins?"
"Ah, 'Advice from Death'?"
It seems like he knows too. He never thought the title would come out right away.
If he said he didn't know, he tried to call it roughly. He was curious about the Demon King's reaction after hearing the lyrics, but he was a little disappointed.
The Demon King, who had tuned the note by making a few sounds as Deon clicked his tongue inwardly, raised his head and smiled.
"I like it because it's a short song. It's not difficult, so I'll play it for you right away."
"..."
What kind of ridiculous comedy is this when the lyrics of the song played by the Demon King, who can be said to be the center of evil, to mankind's greatest criminal are a warning not to commit sin?
Whether Deon was sarcastic or not, the Demon King took his stance. The bow was placed on the string and the playing began.
'... It's good.'
Even though it was a simple song, it was clear that he had overwhelming talent. A skill that an ordinary human would not even be able to reach even if he tried his whole life. The same went for the piano, and it seems that not only can he play all instruments, but his skills are all at a high level.
Although there was only accompaniment with no singer, the lyrics naturally come to mind in sync with the notes.
He thought these lyrics clearly reminded him of even the vaguest parts. Deon looked back at the lyrics in his mind.
Once upon a time, in a world, Death spoke.
Do not sin.
After death, your soul begins to break under the weight of your sins.
Extinction without paying the penalty is too convenient an avoidance.
The bigger the sin, the faster the reincarnation process takes place.
And, and...
'Isn't this the end?'
The song didn't end. Similar notes were repeated and continued naturally, as if there were two verses.
Even though it ended up being shorter than a typical song, it was definitely longer than he originally thought.
The fact that there was a second verse means that there are more lyrics after it... Deon looked at the Demon King.
"What?"
"... No, I heard you well."
"It was nothing."
The Demon King bowed playfully and elegantly, then turned around and put away his instrument.
A low voice, as if muttering, filled the space after an awkward silence for a moment.
"It seems like you're not interested in playing instruments, so I'll try teaching you a different type next time."
"... Is there no option to give up? Anyway, I have no time to pursue hobbies..."
"You have it."
"..."
"If you don't have it, you have to make it. You seem to be overconfident in yourself..."
That's right. The Demon King turned his body and narrowed the distance, bending slightly to be eye level. It seemed like he was staring at the bright red eyes, but then he disappeared between the curved eyes. He grinned and tapped his temple with his index finger.
"No matter how excellent your body is, if this part is damaged, it will be useless. Even though you are a hero, your spirit is separate from your body."
"..."
"I understand that you feel proud after becoming a hero, but don't be too overconfident. From what I can see, your mind is not in a very good condition right now."
***
I was finally free from the Demon King. It was a moment I had been waiting for, but I was not in a good mood. This was despite the fact that the Demon King let me go in a simple manner, contrary to his strangely persistent attitude as if he would not let go unless I learned something.
'Is today just a day to be in a bad mood?'
Considering the incident that happened in the conference room, I think it can be said that this is the case.
Still, I can't just be annoyed. I thought as I tried to cool my head as much as possible, since I would be the one to lose if I continued to expend my emotions.
'... Let's go back quickly.'
A familiar room, a space that can be seen as a kind of personal territory, gives a feeling of stability regardless of whether or not it is a place to rest. So, it would be best to go back and lie down in bed. Even if I work, I have to do it in bed. Dan will nag me a bit, but I can just ignore it.
After diligently walking, I arrived at the room. And I was able to find a figure standing in front of the door.
"Ed."
"Deon."
The loyal adjutant bowed his head and apologized, saying he was sorry for not being able to come to collect him.
Was it just because that was on his mind that he was waiting here? I was looking at him silently and suddenly opened my mouth due to a sudden impulse.
It was an impulse that had nothing to do with Ed.
"There's nothing to apologize for, just bring me a drink."
"... Yes?"
"A lot."
"Yes?"
"At least ten bottles."
"... Wouldn't it be better if you punished me? Sorry. I offended Deon..."
"I said you have nothing to apologize for."
You didn't do anything wrong. His eyes shook with confusion, shock and doubt. It may have seemed pitiful to the faint-hearted, but I completely ignored it.
I didn't get an answer, but since I said this, I'm sure he will get it on his own. I passed him and opened the door. My eyes met something.
'... No, since it doesn't have eyes, it's a bit hard to say our 'eyes met'.'
Soft weeping.
The monster plant cried softly as if asking what I was doing standing there. I closed the door and went inside, as if I had been in a daze for some time. A complex gaze was directed at the monster plant.
"... I forgot about it for a moment."
"What?"
Looks like you had a lot of work to do today.
I told Dan to get this guy. I ordered it myself and completely forgot about it. Still, it worked because Dan did what he asked.
I belatedly moved my feet and approached the flower pot placed in a familiar location. As I got closer, the flower bud that was facing this way opened slightly, then shrunk, and let out a cry. The leaves shook as if in greeting.
I smiled faintly.
"Okay, hi."
"Hiek."
A strange plant that originated from the same type of flower as the flower on the previous window that would not die easily.
As expected, I have no choice but to cling to the remnants of someone else's something for the rest of my life. I swallowed the bitter feeling and reached out my hand to touch the bud.
"From now on, this is your place. Please be quiet."
"Hiek."
Are plants originally derived from flowers in the human world gentle in nature? Or that it is particularly friendly to humans... I turned around, leaving my meaningless thoughts behind.
Dan, who snuck in, was standing there naturally, as if he had been there from the beginning.
"Where have you been..."
"It looks like you really like that plant. Did you give it a name?"
"..."
"You didn't even give it a name?"
"... What's a name matter?"
I know I'm going to change my mind, but I'm thinking of letting it go for now. Deon, narrowing his eyes, turned his head and answered.
If I had to think about it, his attitude when he accepted the Demon King's proposal at the meeting was suspicious, so it probably had something to do with it.
This is what happens in the demon world. If the demons were focusing their eyes and ears on this area, they would immediately cut off the screen transmission and slit the guy's head as soon as he caused damage to the demon world. Dan probably doesn't know that fact, so he won't have any bad accidents.
'He's not an idiot. I wonder if he's going to stab me in the back 'in the demon world'.'
A soft laugh was heard, whether he was aware of this thought or not.
"You are so heartless."
"Hiek!"
"Shut up."
Previously, plants did not have names, so why do we need to give them names now?
Irritatedly, I took off my outerwear and sat down on the bed.
Dan, who cleverly caught the coat flying towards him, folded it neatly and draped it over his arm, then stopped and turned his head.
"... Strangely, I kept feeling a cold breeze coming in..."
Where his gaze landed, there was a window that was wide open, letting the cold air in.
"Aren't you cold?"
"Not really."
"Still, it would be better if you keep it closed. The room is too cold."
Before I can say anything, Dan approached the window and extended his hand. However, he was unable to achieve his goal as a green stalk suddenly popped out from the side and hit his hand away, and he had to bite himself in surprise.
"Good job."
"Hiek!"
"Master...?"
I came closer, returned holding the flower pot, and sat down on the bed again. My index finger tapped the flower bud as if praising him.
"Just leave it open. Because the smell gives me a headache."
"The smell... what are you talking about? It doesn't smell like anything..."
"It's just something like that."
It contained an expression of incomprehensibility as the red eyes looked around the room filled with blood.
"The time has come..."
"...?"
Knock.
"This is Ed, Deon."
"That's right. come in."
The door opened and something that wasn't Ed came in.
I fell silent as I spotted a cart full of liquor bottles. I felt Dan's narrowed eyes next to me, but I pretended not to notice and looked away.
... I thought he would roughly put it somewhere and bring it, but I never thought he would bring it on a cart. I said he should bring a lot, and he brought a lot.
I was looking blankly at the bottles being placed on the table one by one and muttered softly.
"I don't think it'll all fit on the table..."
"I'll put the rest on the floor."
"Uh... okay... Thank you for your hard work..."
Hands wearing white gloves busily carried the bottles onto the table. I had just barely regained my composure after watching the scene for a long time and belatedly looked at his hand and opened my mouth.
"You didn't take off your gloves?"
Hands wearing pure white gloves.
Rumors spread that I was embracing the demons as they are, so everyone stopped pretending to be human-like, so why wasn't he taking off his gloves, which must be frustrating?
Ed, shocked, curled his fingertips.
"Yes...? Yes that's right. If there is any problem..."
"No. That's not it. The other demons have stopped hiding their differences from humans in front of me."
"Oh, I know. I thought about that too, but it has become a habit and I feel empty without it, and since I received the gloves as a gift, I decided to just keep wearing them."
"... A gift?"
"Yes."
Ed smiled faintly.
"It's a gift from Deon."