Vol 3 Chapter 45 – The Observer

“Aromaaaa, my underwear was seen. That guy is a pervert.”

Our Demon Lord, who had burst into the office, let out a pathetic voice while wearing her usual dignified expression.

Others might not be able to tell, but I can.

Her eyebrows are drooping a little bit.

The tone of her voice has dropped, too.

“What are you saying after making him lick your feet? He was staring intensely right from that moment, you know.”

“I-Is that so?”

“Don’t mumble your words. You’ll lose your dignity, won’t you? Besides, you’re the one who suggested training that thing, aren’t you? Well, I don’t think he can hurt you, but there’s the example with El-chan, so it’s not exactly desirable for you to be alone with that thing too much, though?”

“But, I just wanted to show that I can do things by myself even without Aroma here.”

This is it.

Her Majesty still has her lingering habit of dependence.

Because her mother was indifferent to her and she lost her father early on, she ended up coming all this way remaining as the clingy Kuri-bou.

She has somehow become able to behave without ruining the outward appearance of “Her Majesty the Demon Lord,” but the moment she relaxes a little, it immediately turns into this.

It’s not like I mind, particularly.

She just needs to grasp her own capabilities, do what she can, and ask for help with what she can’t. Yet she doesn’t realize that saying such things to me every single time is tantamount to saying “Please watch me.”

During that bet the other day, even though I ended up losing, I felt a little relieved seeing Chris proudly raising the bet herself. Yet her useless side has resurfaced in the blink of an eye.

That’s why I keep telling you I can never leave you alone.

…Or perhaps, is it my fault for continuing to spoil her?

Her father… no. Ever since the previous Demon Lord told me to “take care of my daughters,” I’ve meant to support them all this time, but I wonder if I made a mistake in my methods.

She undoubtedly possesses the charm to lead the demon race, and her power alone is absurd, but at this rate, it will be difficult to have her reign over the world as a king.

Therefore, I’ve been making preparations behind the scenes, carefully, oh so carefully, all this time. But…

As long as you don’t grow, you won’t be able to completely control a giant monster like the world, you know?

“You said it yourself, didn’t you? That if you just dominated that human you failed to kill at… the First Lost, you would be able to have confidence in yourself.”

“That is true, but…”

“Then, show me you can see it through to the end, Chris. Because you are a girl who can do it if you try.”

Ah, geez, I’m not your mother, you know.

You can’t rely on me for every little thing forever, alright?

What your father could not do… yes, could not do: the sweeping conquest of the world by the demon race.

Because this, too, is something you brought up.

You can’t back out now after all this time, you know?

“But that guy said I smell like an old lady and stuff.”

“Don’t lend an ear to what a livestock says every single time! You are a king, aren’t you?”

“N-Nn, that’s right. I am the most noble in this world, the Demon Lord.”

Yes, yes.

That’s perfectly fine.

—Yes, yes, that is perfectly fine—

—Aroma Sugesta. Nine’s enemy. For you, too, that is perfectly fine, you know?—

—Do your best to smack the bottom of that cowardly Demon Lord, won’t you?—

—As the one standing beside that congenital coward, Christela Vala Detra—

—Because that is your role in this world right now—

“…? Chris, did you just say something?”

“Hm? I did not say anything.”

“Oh… I see, must be my imagination.”

There was someone staring intently at that Demon Lord and Prime Minister.

Highly skilled in stealth, the eyes of that person—who should originally be Aroma’s subordinate—had vertically slit pupils unlike usual, just like a snake.