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ED Note: Our Suzuki was expecting. Hahaha. And Excella was of the teasing temptress attribute, huh. Is it consciously or not?
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The rubble and debris from collapsed buildings littered the crumbling cobblestone road, forming a dilapidated scenery.
Takashi Suzuki, who was on his way to the Syness Castle with Excella, saw the devastation caused by the assault of the Salvation Crusaders.
Takashi felt a sense of helplessness, and bowed his head to Excella, who was walking next to him.
"I'm so sorry. For me to leave Leirune at such difficult times…"
He apologized in a dejected voice, causing Excella to hurriedly respond.
"N-No! That's not the case!"
After the incident of the invasion of the Salvation Crusaders, the Demon Lord's Army held an emergency campaign meeting in the imperial capital. Takashi knew that Suzukiland was in turmoil during such a time, but it was precisely because of what had happened that he had asked Nephira to let him participate in the Demon Lord's Army's campaign meeting.
He thought it would be the perfect opportunity to convey his intentions directly to the top brass of the Demon Lord's Army.
"So, how was the campaign meeting?"
"Yea. Well… I said what I wanted to say… but…"
Takashi replied clumsily. He faced off the campaign meeting with firm determination. He managed to express his thoughts and feelings to the top-brass leaders, but he was not satisfied with the results. He did not feel as if his actions had achieved anything.
"To be honest, I don't think anything has changed."
Takashi sighed listlessly, and Excella forced a cheerful voice out of her.
"B-But! For the first time, a human participated in a campaign meeting of the Demon Lord's Army! It used to be composed of demons exclusively! I think that alone is very meaningful!"
"That's very kind of you to say!"
The two of them continued to walk in silence. Takashi thought he needed to cheer himself up in front of the Excella, but his depressed mood was not easily reversible.
Suddenly, a demon with a collared human woman in tow passed right in front of Takashi.
"What are you waiting for? You shitty woman!"
After saying that, the demon kicked the woman in the stomach. Takashi immediately ran to the crumpled woman.
"H-Hey! You shouldn't abuse slaves!"
"Ah–, Suzuki…"
The skeleton soldier next to him poked the demon in his side with his elbow.
"Idiot! It's 'Lord Suzuki' now! He has become a Commander Adjutant, you know!"
"S-So it was! I apologize, Lord Suzuki!"
The woman was separated from the demons, who started smiling and speaking pleasantries. Takashi took her a short distance away and talked to her tenderly.
"Uhm... is that guy always like that?"
"N-No. But since the invasion of the Salvation Crusaders, he has been in a bad mood…"
Takashi ground his teeth upon hearing her words.
Because of Marguerite and her troop's invasion of Leirune, many Thunder-Lance Charge demons were also killed. It seemed that the hatred towards humans was flaring up among the demons after that event.
(Damn it–! When finally... the demons in Leirune were starting to change their perception of humans!)
Takashi's disappointment was enormous. First of all, he firmly admonished the demon not to abuse his slaves as he had just done, and then he slumped his shoulders down and started to walk away.
"Uhm… Lord Hero. May I have a moment of your time, please?"
Excella gingerly inquired toward the depressed Takashi.
"Mhm? Ah, yeah."
Despondent, Takashi absentmindedly responded. With a smile, Excella pulled his hand and led him somewhere.
……
"This is my room."
Excella led the way to her former room on the second floor of the Castle of Syness. The furnishings have been arranged in a neat and orderly fashion that reflects Excella's meticulous nature.
However, no one seemed to be using the room now, and the desk and bookshelves were completely covered with white dust.
Excella walked to the bed, brushed the dust off with her hands, and beckoned at Takashi with a smile.
"Lord Hero. Right over here, please."
(Eh. W-What?)
Takashi sat down on the bed nervously. Excella, who was standing right next to him, looked into Takashi's face.
(E-Excella, somehow you seem a little erotic today…?)
Excella stared at Takashi with moist eyes. She then moved her face closer to his underbelly and spoke softly.
"I… want to make you feel better, Lord Hero…"
"N-No! T-That's not necessary!!"
"That's why... I'm willing to give it to you..."
Excella bent down and pushed her arm under the bed. After rummaging around for a while, she finally pulled out an old book.
"I wanted you to read this book, Lord Hero!"
(O-Of course! Of course, it was that! Whew! I was so surprised…)
Takashi shook his head lightly as if to regain his composure, then took the old book presented to him by Excella.
"I hid this book under my bed because I thought of the possibility that it would be forbidden to read these kinds of books."
Takashi looked at the book Excella gave him. On the cover was a picture of a man in armor, holding a sword and challenging a dragon. Takashi slowly read out the title written at the top.
"'The Legend of Champion Hartline' huh?"