Chapter 167: The Demon Race and Strange Festival
BGM: Teddy Spectre PV
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「―― Come to think of it, it’s about time for the【Men's Naked Festival in The Frozen Prison】」
Platy, who had been reading a book, suddenly looked up and looked at the snowstorm outside the window and said those words:
「【Men's Naked Festival in The Frozen Prison】!?」
What the heck is that!?
Good day, this is Jilbagias, who was enjoying the peaceful end of the year amidst the snowstorm.
Platy suddenly spouted a jargon-like name during the after meal break.
「… Ah, no wonder Jilbagias never heard about it. It’s held once every ten years after all.」
Platy snapped her book shut and propped her head to the side with one arm as she spoke.「【Men's Naked Festival in The Frozen Prison】, it's a festival whose origin can be traced to 800 years.」
「Wow, it turned out it's a tradition with a long history.」
I omitted the "Needlessly" part from my remark.
「Nowadays, even in winter, we can read books or train indoors and do all sorts of things. But back in the ancient demon race homeland, the『Sanctuary』, there really was nothing to do in the long months of winter.」
「I guess so.. 」
They were barbarians who used to live in a cave a few hundred years ago, after all.
「But staying holed up to avoid the snow only led to pent-up frustration and physical decline. That’s why a festival that transcends the boundaries of clan was born, a festival where men would show off their physical fitness, stripped down to nothing, and engage in bare-handed brawls to compete for true strength.」
「…？」
Was it just me who felt that there was a leap of logic ever since Platy said 『That's why』?
「Um… How exactly did they manage to transcend the boundaries of clans? There's bound to be cowards who took advantage of everyone being unarmed, right?」 Ṙ𝘼ŊO͍฿Ě𝘴
「Apparently, such incidents do happen over the long history of the festival. But when the snow melted, those fools were hit with a full-scale assault from the rest of the clans wiped out from history.」
「Ah, no wonder…」
Thus, over time, the foolish clans were weeded out, and the demon race as a whole became even more refined in their savagery.
「Since they fought bare-handed, does that mean it resembles some sort of huge brawl?」
Some parts of the alliance's territory did have a similar "Brawl Festival".
Well, something like fighting buck naked in the middle of winter was something that I heard for the first time though; that’s a whole new level in various ways.
「It's more like a one-on-one fistfight, actually. Officially, it’s a free-for-all brawl where everyone can challenge anyone, but nowadays, it mainly serves as a way to reaffirm the usual hierarchy. It’s not really a formal duel or anything, though.」
「Is that so?」
「In other words, it’s a festival where the Demon King or patriarch accepts challenges from those beneath them to demonstrate their power. While there are cases where those with equal strength might fight against each other to establish their rankings, that’s mainly something the younger ones do.」
「Hohohoho~u.」
There were not that many demon races a long time ago, so they would gather in one place and brawl it out. But nowadays, it seems that each clan holds these events separately within their own territory.
「Even so, the largest-scale event is still the one held at the Demon King's castle. The wealthy clans will send their representatives regardless of the situation and weather. The representative from the Reiju clan might be Siegwald..」
The Reiju clan patriarch, Jijiwald, might stay behind to accept the challenge of those beneath him in the Reiju clan's territory. And those challenges might come from Dios' family or the other lime minded families.
When you put it that way, it’s clear that with the clan patriarch's prestige on the line, it was actually an even more important festival than I initially thought.
「So, when will that festival be held?」
「This weekend.」
I looked out the window. The cold wind was howling, and snow had piled up outside of the window.
「Hee, it must be a freezing cold day.」
「You're going to participate too.」
「Naturally.」
I had completely treated it as someone else’s problem, but Platy’s words made me stop and take it seriously.
「That's only natural since your horns have already been growing.」
Isn't the participation requirement supposed to be for the adults or something?!
Were they judging by whether you have horns or not?!
「You’ll be able to interact with boys around your age… Or rather, with similar builds. Sounds like fun, right?」
That was a damned way to pass time… Why the hell did I have to freeze my ass off brawling with some demon brat…
「Well, it's partly to keep our bodies from getting sluggish during winter, and also to show off our vitality. The point is that just participating has its own merit.」
Leaning forward, Platy spoke in a tone that left no room for argument. Her words made it clear that skipping wasn’t an option, and I had no choice but to nod in agreement.
If I didn’t participate, they might call me weak and pathetic…
『It sounds like it’s going to be really cold.』
Don’t laugh, you lazy demon god…! Don't act like this is not your problem…!!
Well, I’m still training outside like usual, and back in my previous life, marching in the snow and fighting in blizzards were common, so this kind of thing didn’t bother me at all.
…Yeah, but being naked might be a bit rough…
「By the way, the men's festival aside, what do the women do during the festival?」
I asked out of curiosity to change the topic as well, but Platy frowned upon hearing that.
「Do you really like seeing naked women that much?」
Heck no, and not limited to during festivals too!
「No, I just thought that if there’s a men’s festival, there might be a women’s one too!」
「There isn't really anything like that. However, during 【Men's Naked Festival in the Frozen Prison】, the mothers, wives, and daughters stand guard with spears when the men are brawling against each other. In a way, we are participating too. 」
Platy's eyes flashed with dangerous light, so it was more of a man's performance.
So, the women were also sizing each other up based on how strong their husbands or sons were…
「Ah, I see…」
I nodded awkwardly, pulling back a bit.
Nevertheless, it was hard to believe there was an event where all men of the demon race gathered and fought barehanded.
If I had known in advance, I would have planned the assault on this day!!
『Or we can use the next festival ten years later to launch another assault plan.』
It's not impossible, but… ten years, huh?… I wonder how many countries would fall by then.
Well, I will be 15 years old in ten years.
『If you can defeat the Demon King at such a young age, wouldn't that actually be quite a victory?』
Well, you could say that too…
And so, with mixed feelings in my heart, I spent my days training and studying, and before I knew it, a week had passed――
†††
――Demon Kingdom, Demon King Castle, the 1st Training Ground.
Amidst the biting wind and swirling powdery snow, the women of the demon race clad in vivid battle attire stand tall, holding spears as they encircle the training ground like formidable statues.
A massive watchtower had been constructed in front of the castle gate leading to the training ground.
At the very top stood an absurdly large drum, and a woman in striking red battle attire that made her stand out even more.
She was the 2nd child of the demon king, Rubyfia Rivalelle.
As the female representative of the demon race women in the Demon King Castle, she serves as the drummer today.
After exhaling white air from her breath, Rubyfia raised her white, bone drumsticks high in the air. Her long hair, tied in a ponytail behind her head, was swaying like flame.
Wham! Wham! She struck the edge of the drum with her sticks, making a loud and clear sound.
BOOM! BOOM!
BAM! BAM!
The other women were keeping a watch with serious looks on their face――
Doom! Wham! Do-Do-Do-Doom!
「ENTER!」
Rubyfia shouted.
「「「「Aye」」」」
Thousands of deep, guttural voices resonated, filling the air with an overwhelming presence that seemed to shake the very ground beneath.
The castle gates swung open, and naked men stomped through the snow-covered ground, making their way into the training grounds with heavy steps.
Naturally, leading the way was――
「【I AM THE DEMON KING! GORDESGIAS ORGI!!!!】」
The demon king Gordesgias boldly used 【Naming】.
Since he was literally the strongest man in the Demon Kingdom. The others who followed from behind shouted 「YOUR MAJESTY! YOUR MAJESTY!」「KING! KING!」.
In response, magical power surged forth from the Demon King's entire body, bursting overhead and blooming into a fiery flower of hellfire. It was a strike so powerful it seemed as though it might blow away the cold sky itself. His golden hair resembled a lion’s mane, billowing in the explosive wind.
Normally, he never goes without his 【Demon King's Spear】, but it seemed that he left it behind today. With only his steel-like body, he appeared, unarmed but no less imposing.
And standing behind him――
「【I AM THE 1ST CHILD OF DEMON KING!】」
He was a muscular, strikingly handsome man with flowing blue hair. Naturally, he was completely naked too.
「【AIOGIAS VERNAS!】」
Not to be outdone by the Demon King, he too boldly used his 【Naming】 with unwavering pride.
At that very moment, his magical power surged forth, crackling sharply as if the air itself froze, and glittering snowflakes scattered through the air like shards of light.
The others were jeering at him 「It's already freezing cold here!!」「Cut it out already!」 but Aiogias, who wielded lineage magic over water and ice and had resistance to the cold, merely kept a cool expression, unfazed and unbothered.
Following that was――
「【I AM THE 3RD CHILD OF DEMON KING!】」
He was a nobleman with platinum blonde hair. Of course, naked.
「【DIAGIAS GIGAMUND!】」
Though the volume of his voice was modest, Diagias’s voice carried clearly.
Then, a pink rose formed from pure magical power appeared in his hand. As Diagias struck a pose with it clenched the rose between his teeth, and countless petals scattered dramatically around him.
And then—Boom! A bolt of lightning crashes down behind him! Crackle! Arcs of electricity dance wildly across the air! The sheer spectacle explodes into a dazzling frenzy of light and sound—so over-the-top, so thunderously theatrical, he puts even the Demon King’s grand entrance to shame!
「KYAAAAAH!」「DIAGIAS-SAMAAAA!」 Shrill, almost scream-like cheers from young women erupted from all corners of the training grounds, showering him in adoration..
Diagias, who was basked in adorations, waved his hand gracefully and blew theatrical kisses in return with practised charm.
Following behind him was――
「【I AM… THE 4TH CHILD OF DEMON KING!】」
A desperate, grating scream, raw with frustration.
「【EMERGIAN IZANIS!!】」
With his green hair whipping wildly in the wind, Emergias screamed, his dishevelled look adding to the sense of chaos and desperation.
Perhaps due to the effect of his lineage magic, his voice cuts through the wind, reaching every corner of the training grounds without being drowned out by the howling breeze.
「ORAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!」
His magical power surged forth, and a swirling vortex of coloured wind blasted the snow away in a violent frenzy.
「Cool!」「Show 'em, You're the Master!」 The cheers from the Izanis clan echoed with an unnerving clarity, amplified by their lineage magic. The sharpness of their voices made it impossible to ignore, but it also served as a stark reminder that only those of their blood were present to offer their support.
And then――
Following behind Emergias was――
With a heavy, forceful stride, shoulders bristling with tension, he stomped forward――
「【I AM… THE 7TH CHILD OF DEMON KING!】」
The spectators' voices resounded in the training ground.
Because the youth was clearly still far too young!
「【JILBAGIAS REIJU!】」
The young prince, shouting with even more reckless abandon than his older brothers.
The ground trembled as a surge of dark, ominous magical power erupted from his body along with his monstrous roar, sending shockwaves through the air and causing the very ground beneath him to crack.
「OOOH!」「SUCH UNBELIEVEABLE AMOUNT OF MAGICAL POWER WHEN HE IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD!」「TRULY IMPRESSIVE」「YOUR HIGHNESS, YOU'RE SO COOL!」 Cheers poured in from people of all ages, men and women alike, their voices filled with admiration!
「WOOOH! I AM THE REPRESENTATIVE OF OMBRE CLAN, MIAVORI!」
「I AM THE REPRESENTATIVE OF REIJU CLAN, SIEGWALD!」
「HAHAHAHAHA! I AM TORDON, THE REPRESENTATIVE OF ROFONOS CLAN!!」
Following after the entrance of the men from the royal family, the representatives of each clan followed one after another, making a grand entrance in their own way!!
Thus, the Demon King Castle's 【Men's Naked Festival in The Frozen Prison】――
Had Begun――
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