Returned from Another World, Earth Turned Out to Be Quite the Fantasy Too. Also, Losing Heroines, Stop Looking This Way. - V2 Chapter 16

Chapter 16: “A big name just showed up?” ②

Natsuki couldn’t leave Koume’s father, the Demon Lord known as Satan, standing in the garden forever, so he led him to the living room. 

Surprisingly polite, the Demon Lord removed his white leather shoes and properly placed them at the entrance, aligning them neatly, which was quite impressive.

“Instead of just any tea, I’ll serve you some good tea. Please, enjoy.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Satan replied, sitting cross-legged as Natsuki placed a teacup before him. 

He happily took a sip, appearing quite pleased. The sight of a middle-aged Caucasian man holding a teacup felt odd, yet somehow, Satan’s every move seemed elegant, perhaps due to his graceful demeanor.

“You damn father… Following this damn brother… What have you come here for!”

“You haven’t changed a bit with your harsh words, Koume-chan.”

“Answer me now!”

Koume yelled with open hostility, to which Satan simply shrugged his shoulders in resignation.

(Ah, it’s because of Satan’s fall from grace that she was named Koume. She seems to have a lot on her mind, which explains her attitude. But it feels more like she’s going through a rebellious phase rather than hating or despising him, which is somewhat reassuring to me.) 

Personally, he thinks that while Satan’s fall was unfortunate, it was God who was truly to blame for imposing Japanese names on the family as a penalty.

“I came here worried that my foolish son would throw a fit after Koume posted a photo of her getting cozy with a boy on social media. Never expected to find you two chatting amicably.” 

“We’re not chatting! If you’re done here, take that good-for-nothing brother of mine and leave!” 

“Come on, don’t be like that. The last time we saw each other was… what, fifty years ago? Let’s have a little chat with dad.”

“Who would want to chat with ‘dad’?!”

Koume showed her rejection clearly, but Satan remained unfazed and nonchalant.

Lucifer was sipping his tea, staying out of the fray. Natsuki, behaving as quietly as a borrowed cat, whispered to Ginko, who was keeping a low profile.

“Ginko-san, is something wrong?”

“No, it’s just unbelievable. I mean, if Koume-san’s father is Satan, of course, but to feel nothing? That’s impossible. Even humans without spiritual power feel something.”

“Oh, Ginko-san, you’re missing the point. It’s fun to not let them feel your power and then surprise them in battle by leaving them speechless.”

“Eh? No way, that’s scary.”

Natsuki reminisced fondly.

In another world, he had approached self-proclaimed strong individuals by pretending to be weak, only to unleash his full magical power in revenge after being ridiculed. The so-called strong ones not only cowered in fear of Natsuki but also ended up wetting and soiling themselves in terror.

Since then, while he’s been careful about releasing his magical power, he’s opted to hide his strength.

Seeing the look on the faces of those who underestimated him turn to one of near tears was amusing, and it was convenient to be able to easily defeat someone who was off guard.

“Ah, you get it, don’t you? The truly strong don’t show off their power. I really dislike those like God, always radiating a halo and acting all ‘I’m God, what about it?'”

“That’s a complete rejection of God!”

“Well, I am Satan, after all.”

“Oh, right!”

Natsuki and Satan burst into laughter together. 

Although Natsuki couldn’t feel Satan’s power, he accepted it since he was the top of the demon realm.

He knew there was a gap in their powers, but if it came down to a fight, Natsuki was prepared to show the resolve of humanity and his hidden strength. But there was no hostility, and after all, he was Koume’s father; he didn’t want to fight.

“Why are you getting along with that terrible father of mine, Natsuki?”

“Though I knew it, Natsuki-kun, you’re quite the anomaly. Is your mental fortitude made of orichalcum or something?”

Koume puffed her cheeks, not finding the happy conversation between Natsuki and Satan amusing, while Ginko seemed quite taken aback.

“It’s amazing that a human can get along with my father like this… Normally, humans start from a place of fear.”

And Lucifer remarked with interest.

“Natsuki Yura… was it, right?”

“Yeah. Nice to meet you.”

“Ah, likewise. But Yura, huh? Seems like I have some connection to that family name.”

“Eh? What do you mean?”

“No, it’s just… Wait, hold on!”

Satan, recognizing the surname Yura, suddenly became flustered and, after some thought, took a deep breath through his nose.

“Indeed, this scent.”

“Please don’t sniff around our living room so much.”

“Falling from heaven really did a number on him, didn’t it?” 

“Father… that’s a bit off-putting.”

“YOU DAMN FATHER! Don’t do creepy stuff in the house we’re being taken care of!”

Natsuki winced, Ginko and Lucifer withdrew, and Koume shouted in dismay.

“Ah, my apologies. It’s a misunderstanding, let me explain—”

Satan tried to defend himself, but Natsuki and the others, including Lucifer, had already distanced themselves. 

It wasn’t just physical distance; it felt like an emotional gap had formed too.

Just as Satan began to offer an excuse, another complication arose.

“I’m home— Oh my, there are so many shoes. Do we have guests?”

Mother Haruko arrived home. 

Natsuki panicked, unable to think of a reason to stop her mother in time, and in that moment, Haruko entered the living room.

“Oh my, we have guests? Are these friends of Natsuki— Oh?”

Haruko paused, surprised, then smiled upon seeing Satan.

Before Natsuki and the others could react, Haruko approached Satan.

“Is that you, Taichiro-kun? What brings you here? Are you an acquaintance of Natsuki?”

“H-Haruko-san.”

Everyone was speechless. 

And for good reason: Haruko knew Satan. 

The nature of their relationship was unclear, but there was Haruko, smiling away, while Satan fidgeted shyly.

“Ahh…”

Natsuki let out an indescribable sound, not wanting to think too much but guessing all the same.

“Didn’t I mention it to you before, Natsuki?”

“Eh?”

“Taichiro-kun is my partner at the ballroom dancing classes I attend. He’s a wonderful gentleman who dances with such passion!”

“H-Haruko-san, you flatter me too much. I’m getting embarrassed.”

(The fact that my mom knows Satan, that they’re dance partners, and Satan’s reaction is like a love-struck middle schooler, not to mention his bashfulness and all… There are too many points to question, I don’t even know where to begin! And mom’s network is kind of terrifying!) 

While Natsuki and the others were blinking in confusion, only Koume looked at her father with disdain and muttered, “Gross.”

〜〜Afterword〜〜

Satan was on a business trip, staying for an extended period.

He joined a ballroom dancing class in the local area of Mukaijima City, to secretly indulge in his hobby, where he met Haruko, who danced like a celestial maiden. 

“―tokkun. Could this feeling be… love?” he wondered, captivated by her.

Since then, he has been trying to woo her, hoping she would become not just his dance partner but also his partner in life. 

According to him, these are the brightest days of his long existence.