Chapter 119: Meal and Outlook
１１９． Meal and Outlook
That day, I had supper(lunch) with Platy.
We had a meal together like this every once in a while. Due to her busy schedule and combat training with me, Platy rarely had free time like this.
If I was a normal brat, I would've cried from the lack of motherly warmth.
『When the time comes, I'll protect you.』
If I was a normal brat, there was no way I would be able to make a pact with you.
「It's quite delicious.」
Platy's hands moved elegantly to cut the Meunière and brought its cut into her mouth.
It was a Meunière made from white-fleshed fish. Despite being located inland, the marine product in the Demon King Castle was fresh.
「it's truly delicious.」I was too mesmerized by its flavor. I grew up in a landlocked village and rarely saw marine products. I've only seen the sea every once in a while fighting in the war all over the place, but I still love seafood.
The fleshy fish meat that was covered with crispy batter crumbling apart in my mouth, the added lemon juice balanced the oily flavor――I really can't get enough of this.
「 You like it eh.」
Platy spoke happily, seeing me eat the seafood with gusto.
「This is present from Lazriel.」
「… Eh?」
This is from the mother of Aiogias(1st Demon King's Child)? My hands stopped at once, I looked at the ring on my right index finger. It was a magic tool enchanted to detect poison and protect against poison.
「Fufufu, don't worry it's safe. I've already done the poison tasting.」
Platy ate the Meunière that had already been proven to be safe.
Well since Platy can eat it without any problem… Yup…
「Mother, I'm curious―― Why is that woman going as far as sending you a gift?」
「You seemed to be getting along with the 3rd child(Diagias) a few days ago, right?」
Platy replied with a slightly impish smile on her face.
「That's why she did this kind of probing, fearing that you might join the 2nd child(Rubyfia)'s faction.」
「Aah… So that's the reason…」
From a third person’s perspective, it did seem like I had a clandestine meeting… But the content of our conversation was… THAT…
Yup… Even I had not expected that it would turn into THAT kind of conversation…
Naturally, no need to say that I told Platy about the content of my meeting with Diagias. But I didn't want to repeat it during the meal.
「Thanks to that we can enjoy this kind of meal.」
「You can get it if you like it. Isn't it a bit too rude for a scheme?」
「Maybe she has unexpected talent in managing business.」
「Ahahahaha! That'll be a masterpiece.」
Apparently, my comment was well received by Platy.
I'm telling the truth though…
「I can't wait to see what kind of face she makes if I say that to her now.」
I don't care, I just wish that you didn't drag me into the mess too.
We were back to enjoying the seafood in silence, and a while later, 「By the way――」 Platy spoke again.
「It's about time for you to go to the frontline.」
――My hands on the table stopped moving again.
「Naturally I'm not asking you to depart tomorrow morning.」
Platy continued on with a flat tone while looking at my expression.
「You should've heard that the Defteros Kingdom is about to fall.」
… I know of course.
It's about the time, eh?
Before I participated in the Demon King Castle Assault Tactic. The last frontline I participated in was the country around the United Kingdom of Proe Refshi.
Back then, Defteros kingdom was located in the hinterland. But after I reincarnated, the United Kingdom of Proe Refshi had already been destroyed, and Defteros kingdom became the 『Frontline』――
The northern and the southern frontline were quite hectic for some time, there was not that much movement on the eastern front, but starting from this year, the Demon Kingdom started to move aggressively in shaving the Defteros Kingdom's territory.
「I guess the flag of the Demon Kingdom will stand on the royal capital of Defteros Kingdom in the next year or so. Raiding the royal capital is an honor. That's why you'll get the most honor―― By participating in that raid.」
Said Platy, smiling sweetly at me… Though Faravugi had been officially declared as my first hunt, I hadn't the experience of fighting the alliance.
Raiding the royal capital. That surely will become a brilliant debut for me…!!
「My hands are itching already.」
I adjusted my breathing to retain my composure and said so with a nonchalant face. I was trying desperately to suppress my rising heartbeat right now.
「Fufufu. It's just as you say, you're really composed. Any normal demon race youth would be jumping in joy when they hear this.」
As expected, Platy nodded in satisfaction.
『I think we're spared from a lot of trouble thanks to this woman’s optimistic mindset.』
Y-Yeah… Being isolated from the clan turned out to be a good thing for us…
「But Jilbagias. When you're heading out to fight the alliance, you're not just going with your beastfolk attendant or the night elf.」
Oops, here we come, the main topic of this supper(lunch).
「I'll take you to the Reiju clan's territory this coming winter. You have yet to meet the people of your clan after all. You also need to choose the people who will aid you during the battle.」
Don’t need any…
I shouted from the bottom of my heart that I… Had no need for such people…
「Normally, the team will be composed of people from the same age as you… But considering your situation, the one with the same age as you are just a bunch of toddlers…」
「I'm still a toddler too alright?」
「Fufufufu―― The current you has vigor rivaling that of an adult.」
Please don't dismiss it as a mere 『Amusing joke』.
「Meaning that I have to work together with people older than me.」
I said so while desperately stuffing the Meunière into my mouth.
「Fufufu. Nice joke you said there, for your information, few people in our clan can defeat me in mock combat with magic included, and the patriarch is one of the people who can defeat me.」
… I'm the one who was left dumbfounded here. That patriarch sounds like an overpowered character.
「And then I have you, who has been trained in no-hold-barred live combat against me. You can dispatch the chick that is just growing into an adult as easily as taking candy from a baby… Since they won't expect that, I'm sure that you'll receive a welcome from the youngsters over there.」
Scary, Platy had a really nasty look in her eyes right now. Am I going to throw another stupid fiasco again?
Since they were people of the same clan, breaking their horn’s was clearly not an option.
『How about setting an example for them, to make them realize the horror of Jilbagias, the 『Horn Breaker』?』
Crushing the face of one of the Reiju clans that is responsible for healing in the Demon Kingdom sounds like a nice plan.
By the way, the 『Horn Breaker』 was another moniker that I got after a scuffle with a certain idiot. There was a debate about which one was better, the new one or the 『Second Coming of Diagias』.
But man, can those people who are literally weaker than me serve as my attendants? They might be just a hindrance, in various meanings. Rather, I prefer to be alone.
「 My magic is the kind that affects both enemies and allies, it'll be for the best to move by myself.」
「That's… True.」
Platy's face formed a frown, maybe she recalled how the constraint magic affected her.
「… You did bear the resemblance with Diagias. Both in fighting style… And various other things.」
Please stop saying it with such vague expressions. Even I was at a loss in this regard.
And I didn't want to be compared with Diagias. I mean, no one can beat that guy when it comes to lust.
「But as expected, I can't say that when it comes to your case. You have to let the youngling of your clan earn merit too.」
「So that's the case.」
Dammit, who cares about merit. Just how many humans have to die for those merits…
「… I can't guarantee their safety.」
Thus I replied with a nonchalant face.
I said it out for sure.
「They should have that much resolution on the battlefield.」
Platy nodded in agreement without mulling over the meaning of my remark.
「…」
But as expected.
Victims were inevitable.
I threw the last bite of the Meunière into my mouth to hide my depression after such a heavy topic, and then looked at the spectacle outside of the window as I leaned on the backrest of the chair.
I tried to see―― Far, far distant until the frontline――
†††
――Defteros Kingdom's Royal Capital, Evaloti
The kingdom that never experienced war for the last few hundred years was on its last leg.
The royal capital had no proper rampart to facilitate transportation, It only had a hastily made earthen wall which was made in a hurry to surround the flourished town, it shows just how cornered this kingdom is right now.
Naturally, it's not like the founder of the kingdom was an idiot since the landscape of the royal capital was made in preparation for war.
There were few robust fortresses surrounding the royal capital like a satellite city. At this very moment, they were working together―― To repel the foreign enemy.
Properly speaking, it was only a matter of time, but better than to die.
And then, in one of those fortresses.
「Toast for the day called today.」
「Toast for our bravery and tomorrow.」
The pair did a toast with their ale-filled wooden mugs.
「Today's dinner is scrumptious.」
「Man, that's awesome, there's still a lot left!」
The duo of sword saints, Barbara and Hessel, were looking at their table with a smiles on their faces.
―― Apple that was almost withered, moldy cheese, discolored sausage.
Then wheat porridge that looks like soup.
「We're lucky to get meat.」
Hessel, who became completely relaxed, leaned his great sword on the wall as he ate the sausage.
「Yeah… I can still fight.」
「Being able to eat is the only luxury.」
「So tasty!」 Said Barbara as she bit a large chunk of sausage, ignoring Hessel who was stiffened for a moment.
… They've managed to evacuate safely from the frontline.
The duo who were regarded as the most elite of the reorganized defense force then stationed at this fortress, waiting for the Demon King Army that would invade again later.
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