Volume 12 Chapter 26 Familia
That day, Clay was extremely busy.
"Hah, haha, this is crazy! I've got so much to do..."
After the Merchant Guild fell, on the eve of the battle against the Demon King's army.
In other words, he had to secure the personnel to attack the Demon King's army while maintaining control of the Merchant Guild. It was a hellish situation.
From morning till night, he was running around non-stop. He went east to the Bazaar to capture devils who were already guild members and handed them over to Mung, and then went west to put up recruitment posters.
While Wade was taking down strong enemies one by one out front, he was providing backup support, especially in situations where many people were involved.
"Phew..."
After working to the limit and exhausting himself late at night.
The tavern area was empty, with only the light from his table. In this desolate atmosphere, Clay was slumped over the table, alone.
"No... haha, honestly, if Wade-kun weren't here, I wouldn't have been able to do this... controlling the Merchant Guild with just a few people... deploying hundreds of demons to attack..."
He feels like he's gaining valuable experience. He has a sense that this is what he's suited for. But at the same time, it's a workload that's pushing his limits.
Sometimes he wants to vent to his friend Wade, but he's busy planning strategies, and they don't have much time left, so he'll just leave him alone.
So, Clay was slumped over the table, alone in the dead of night.
Just then, footsteps approached Clay.
"...Who's there?"
"Ah, you must be tired, Clay. You're working so hard, even at this late hour."
As he said that, Mung appeared from the darkness, carrying several bottles of liquor in his arms.
"...Are you alone?"
"What are you talking about? I'm busy, and I thought it'd be nice to have a little drink with you guys."
"Haha... Yeah, that's true. We have an early day tomorrow, so just a casual drink is fine."
"Yeah, I don't plan on getting too drunk either."
Mung sat down at the same table as Clay, who was getting up, and stretched out his cat-like back. Then, he placed 2 cups on the table and poured liquor into both of them.
"I've been making a lot of money lately, so I bought some good stuff. Yeah, I'm really grateful, setting aside the busyness."
"Mung is really capable, isn't he? Even as a demon, he has a sense of ethics, making it easy to get along with him."
After Mung finished pouring the drinks, they simply clinked their cups together and said "Cheers!" before taking a sip.
"Ah, yeah! Liquor is really good, isn't it? And, by the way, Clay was saying something about being human, right?"
Mung swirled his cup, gazing at the liquor inside, and said,
"That's right. Demons don't usually get along with anyone unless they really like them. And as for trust, forget about it. ...In reality, even in the original Dark Guild's training association, it was the same."
With a sarcastic smile, Mung cut in.
"It's because we were so busy that we got along well, and our relationships with demons were pretty shallow. But, on the other hand, everyone here is really friendly and takes care of each other."
"Haha, that's true, isn't it? Everyone's really nosy and tends to poke their heads in."
"Ah... Wade-san is really curious, always coming to listen to our conversations, and Wade's wife, except for Sandra, is super enthusiastic about helping out during meals. Those 2 in the corner, though, are totally uninterested."
Clay couldn't help but chuckle at this.
It's true that Wade gets along with everyone. He has a way of making people feel at ease, and it's clear he's genuinely interested in others. Talking to him always puts you in a good mood.
As for his wife, Ice and Toxy, they're also super friendly and caring towards their friends. They're the type to go out of their way to help others, except for Sandra, of course.
And those 2 uninterested ones in the corner are probably their 2 teachers. They may be human, but their personalities are more like demons. They basically have no interest in others.
Clay thought to himself, "It's interesting to hear about others from someone else's perspective," and asked, "So, what about the others?"
"Ah... well, when it comes to that, these demons here are weird."
"Weird?"
"I mean, it's understandable that humans would be friendly. I even felt a sense of relief when I heard about it. But at the same time, I thought, 'What's up with these guys?'."
"You mean Rollo-chan, Renril-kun, and Sur-san?"
"Exactly. They're always getting super clingy with me. They've got this demon-like habit of being overly attached, and it's just... confusing."
"Speaking of."
"And then there's Rollo. He has this childish habit of spoiling me, saying things like 'Mung-ojisan is doing his best!' or 'Don't overdo it, okay?'."
"Haha, I thought Rollo only treated Wade and Renril that way..."
"So, what I think about Wade-san and what I think about myself are different, you know. When I said that, even Renril-nii-san agreed, saying 'No worries about that?' and stuff."
"Brother...?"
"Yeah, that's what he told me to call him. But, surprisingly, I don't feel that awkward about it, and I'm calling him that. On the other hand, Sur is a bit different from those 2, haha, he's pretty generous with his money, that guy."
"A generous person, yeah... he even bought me clothes and stuff."
"It's been ages since I've had someone else treat me to something, I thought. And it's not just small stuff, either - it's high-end items. I felt kind of uneasy about it, but normally I'd be super stingy with my own money, you know?"
Mung said this with a troubled expression, but his face didn't look that unhappy. Clay said with a teasing tone,
"You're talking like that, but you don't seem unhappy at all."
"I didn't say I was unhappy, okay? But, you know, it's like... I'm me, after all."
Mung took a sip of his drink, then continued to spit out hard-to-say words.
"I've been living in this city, using people as pawns. I've been living by the creed of 'let the demons eat my emotions' and crying out loud. That's how many demons I've made cry."
Mung took another sip of his drink, trying to drown his chest's heavy feelings and spit them out.
"That's how I've been living, piling up my sins, all alone. And then, suddenly, I'm treated like family, which is... I didn't expect that at all. In other words..."
"You're confused."
"Yeah, that's right. I lost my sense of purpose, and now I'm trying to start anew, business-like and dry, like this."
After downing his drink, Mung let out a self-deprecating laugh and said,
"Well, I'm pretty messed up, yeah."
Clay listened while pouring more liquor into Mung's cup, then took a swig himself before speaking.
"...So, demons don't have families or anything?"
"Mostly that's the case. Occasionally, nobles or devils might create fake families as a hobby. At least, that's how it is in the city."
Mung's words made Clay think for a moment, sipping his drink quietly.
Then, he opened his mouth.
"There's this concept called 'familia'."
"Huh?"
"People who are close to you, not necessarily related by blood or marriage, but treated like family. That's what familia is about."
"...Oh, I see."
"Not family, but people you treat like family, that's the idea."
Mung still looked puzzled, but Clay's next words changed that.
"In fact, I think that's how it is for us, Wade-kun's group."
"...Huh?"
As Clay acknowledged this, Mung's eyes lit up with interest.
"I'm infatuated with Wade-kun and I'm here as a friend. But I'm also straight, and I have someone I love. We used to just be friends, but then 3 girls became Wade's wives and part of the family."
"Oh, oh...that's, um..."
"Yeah. I did feel a little lonely, though. Among friends, I'm the only one who's not part of the family. I even thought that if I was in the way of Wade's family, it'd be better to keep my distance."
But, Clay continues.
"Wade-kun said I'm family. Of course, it's not true as a fact. But, even if we're not really family, he showed me that we can be like family with words. That made me really happy."
"...Wade-san is pretty nice, huh?"
"Haha, that's true. So, I don't really worry about that kind of thing. Like, am I really okay with being here? Or, am I not really part of the family? That kind of thing."
Mung teases Clay about his words.
"At that point, it's clear you've worried about it at least once, yeah?"
"Haha, yeah. But, I've already gotten over it."
Clay makes a big gesture with his cup, drinks the rest of the liquid, and stands up from his chair.
"I think it's great if Mung-san and the others welcomed warmly, and you don't hate it. Even if you have some baggage from your past, it's not like you'd reject their kindness, right?"
Then, Clay waves goodbye to Mung and parts ways. Mung bows his head and says "Thank you, Clay-san" as Clay heads towards his bedroom.
* * *
Clay opens his eyes. His consciousness returns to reality.
"Ugh...!"
Clay is inside the body of a Tyrant. And that Tyrant is being wrapped around by Jormungand's tail, with most of its body crushed.
"Hehehe, looks like I won this round, Clay."
Jormungand, completely different from before, teases Clay with a clear sense of self.
"Remember that talk about 'family' from before? It really resonated with me. Thanks to that, I could muster up the courage to give power to the girl. I didn't have to regret it later."
So, Jormungand continues.
"Don't worry. I'll do what I have to do. No matter what happens, I won't let Clay-san and the others be unhappy. So, please just stay calm and quiet here."
"...Do you really think I'd be convinced by those words...! ."
When Clay strongly retorts, Mung floats a sarcastic smile and slightly lowers his eyes.
"Well, I want you to understand that I didn't start doing this because I hate you guys. It's hard to convince you, I guess. Whatever..."
Jormungand mutters quietly. The extent of his thoughts is still beyond Clay's comprehension.
But Clay can't afford to lose either. He can't just let his friend, who's been blown away by Jormungand, lose like this.
So he waits for an opportunity. He pretends to behave, waiting for the perfect chance that will surely come.
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