Volume 12 Chapter 44 Return From Hell
After everything was over, we were all busy running around.
First, we needed to tell the 3 revived giant monsters that only Loki would be going to the surface.
"...So, um, it's like this── I, uh, want to go with them── um..."
Loki seemed really nervous about bringing it up, her face pale and cold sweat dripping down as she awkwardly explained.
On a barely standing high ground in the ruins of the Demon King's castle, they were having this conversation.
The first to speak up was Fenrir.
"Got it. We'll take care of the Demon King and the city."
"R-Really!?"
Loki looked up with hope in her eyes at Fenrir's agreement. Fenrir then relaxed his fierce wolf face into a smile.
"Why should we stop you? It's a big moment for our family. I'd like to go too, but... we're just too big for the surface."
"Fenrir~~~!"
Loki hugged Fenrir's snout with tears in her eyes. Then, Jormungand and Surtr nodded in agreement as well.
"Yeah, I don't have a reason to stop you either. You'll be back in a few decades, right? Bring Wade and the others with you. Share some stories when you return."
"Yeah. A few thousand years sounds long, but a few decades? Please, don't worry about it, Loki-sama."
"Everyone~~~!"
Once again in tears, Loki went to hug the gigantic Jormungand and Surtr.
Everyone's sense of time was so different from humans, and I realized again, "Demons really are immortal..." It felt like a response to a long trip.
So, Loki was happily celebrated by the family over there.
"Alright then. Let's get started on rebuilding the city."
"Since we're at it, I want to make it look good. I'm pretty skilled, even with this size. Leave the Demon King castle building to me!"
"I wonder how big it will be when we think about it in our size..."
The 3 of them started walking while saying such things. Just that made the ground shake, and the demons watching from a distance screamed and ran away.
On the other hand, there was, of course, the family welcoming them.
"...So that's how it is."
I was the one explaining while sitting formally.
On the empty land that used to be an inn, I had turned even the rubble into a micro black hole, so I was sitting there on the empty ground.
On either side of me were Ice and Loki, both sitting formally. I wondered why I was in the middle, but I thought it made sense for me to speak first, so that's how it ended up.
"I see."
Clay created a rock to sit on and said that.
His tone felt neutral, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. After all, Clay didn't interact much with Loki. He seemed to have had some dealings with Jormungand, though.
"...Well, I'm not against it, I guess...?"
That was Toxy speaking. She had casual conversations with Loki and hadn't been hurt by her, putting her in a good position. In a way, she was similar to Clay.
In that sense, there was actually someone who had talked quite a bit and had a serious battle with Loki, getting hurt pretty badly.
"..."
That was Sandra.
Sandra, I didn't know this, but she had been hanging out with Loki a lot behind the scenes, inviting her to play whenever she had some free time.
Of course, in battles, she had been completely crushed. Given how close they were, it must have been a shock.
Naturally, everyone's attention turned to Sandra, who hadn't answered.
The two masters didn't seem to want to say anything, instead talking about something else like, "Where are we going next?" and "Are we going back to the Underworld?"
"I..."
And then, Sandra said.
"I totally agree. Let's make Loki a maid."
That was a big yes. Well, I figured Sandra would say that.
"A maid?"
Loki jumped in with interest.
"It felt weird that even though everyone else is being addressed formally, Loki isn't in a maid outfit. I don't care if she's a god or whatever. We're making Loki a maid. If she stays as Loki, it's too much, so I'll call her Rollo."
"Toxy, please stop Sandra before she goes too far."
"Wade! Don't treat Sandra like she's a pet! Besides, you're definitely like that too, Wade! You're her husband!"
"I can't argue with that."
"Loki, no, Rollo, want to be a maid! You know, those super cute, fancy outfits they sometimes sell at pawn shops for high-class sl*ves! I've always wanted to try one on~♡."
Rollo, now Loki, was super excited. She bounced around dreamily while Sandra gathered her up, and the two started dancing together.
"Everything Rollo has worn until now has been kind of s*xy, right? I couldn't wear any cute outfits at all, so I'm really happy!"
"That can't be helped. Rollo looks good in s*xy clothes."
"I'm so happy to be praised by Sandra-sama!"
I quietly look away with Clay. Ice and Toxy are smirking.
"Well then, for now, we're okay with accepting Rollo, right?"
When I ask again, Clay and Toxy nod.
"Yeah. It seems like there aren't too many hard feelings left, so I'm good with it. I'm not sure if it's appropriate to call you Rollo-chan, but I look forward to working with you."
"Rollo! I haven't been able to talk much because I've been busy, but now that this has happened, I'll take care of you! Rollo, you need to contribute to the family too!"
"Yes, Clay-sama, Toxy-sama!"
Rollo straightens up and replies sharply. Despite being a god or a Demon King, she's surprisingly humble.
"Okay, so now that Rollo is officially part of the family... let's talk about the real issues ahead."
As I start to speak, everyone closes their mouths and listens.
"We've done what we needed to do, and now we're going back to the surface, but do you all remember about securing supplies for the journey to the city?"
When I ask everyone, they all make faces that show they don't want to.
"...Right. We have to go back that long way again. I think it'll be faster with just this small group, but we need to be prepared."
"Huh? Just use the teleportation circle."
Just as I say that, Mudi interrupts.
"...Teleportation circle?"
"No, remember? You 2 dumb apprentices used it to get back during the graduation exam."
"...Can we use it?"
"Of course, Philia can use it. Right, Philia?"
"I can! I'll send everyone off!"
"...Why didn't you use it when we came to the city?"
"Well, there wasn't any info about the teleportation point to the city, right?"
I see, so it seems like you can go to places you've been before.
As I was thinking this, Mudi teased Philia, saying, "You're still young, so it was your first time in Nilfheim city, right?"
"Yeah, that's how it is. That was part of the request from Alex-san. I'll take care of that much for you in the end."
"But I'm the ones writing the teleportation circle! And it's not that I'm young, it's just that Mudi is too old! Hey, old man!"
"Hah, that doesn't work on me. Unfortunately, there's someone here who's thousands of years old."
"...Oh, you mean Rollo!?"
"These guys are so childish..."
I probably sound the youngest saying that. Ice is the only one my age. Plus, I'm a few months older.
Anyway, as the conversation flowed that way, Philia started drawing the magic circle. I let out a sigh while watching her hum and draw it quickly.
It had been a long period of hellish travels, but looking back, it was all pretty simple. I think about all the large-scale things we did that we couldn't do on the surface.
...And it means I'll get to see everyone I haven't met in a while again.
I wonder if Moruru is lonely and crying. Ridge too, I felt really bad for leaving him alone for so long right after marrying him. Everyone else was left back at the mansion.
While I was thinking about that, Ice and Rollo squeezed in beside me.
"Wade-kun... um, thank you for your hard work...!"
"Master is just off daydreaming by himself! Let's tickle him~♡."
"Wow, haha, that tickles. I'll get you back for this!"
"Hehe, eek, no, not there...♡."
"I was taken aback by the unexpectedly lewd reaction."
I pulled my hand back with a shocked face. "You don't like this kind of teasing...?" she asked, and I'm looking at her with watery eyes, and then I flicked her forehead.
"Thanks for your hard work too, Ice. I won't say it, but Rollo is the cause of the last big job."
"Say it! I want to hear my master's thanks!~♡."
"Watch your wording."
With that energy, she could fit in anywhere, anytime. Thinking that made me feel a bit relieved.
So, when we return, it looks like the younger group (who looks younger), Moruru, Ridge, and Rollo will join us. Whoa, that's going to be chaotic. What is going to happen there?
While I was thinking that, I suddenly asked Ice this.
"Hey, why did you want to bring Rollo along?"
"Huh?"
Ice looked puzzled. Rollo also leaned forward and said, "Oh, I was thinking that too!"
"Because, Ice-sama, you were kind of treating Rollo like that, right? ...Actually, I'm a little worried that you might have gotten too close to Hel's feelings..."
I frowned at that confusing talk and looked at Ice. Ice met my and Rollo's gazes and started to speak slowly.
"...I might have seemed like I was treating her that way, but... I actually liked Rollo-chan quite a bit recently...?"
Hearing that answer, Rollo exclaimed, "Yay!" and hugged Ice. While accepting Rollo's embrace, Ice said, "And, you know...?" while gently stroking Rollo.
"Rollo-chan is a senpai, you know."
"...Senpai?"
"Yeah... you thought of a way to make Wade-kun happy and actually did it. You're an amazing person. If it weren't for my selfishness, it would have been a success."
Rollo is praised directly by Ice, and she shyly replies, "I-I guess so...?" Ice strongly agrees with a "Yeah..."
Watching the two of them, I think.
After the fight with Rollo, I became sure of something. I will definitely meet the same doom everyone else thinks I will.
I love fighting. I hate bullying the weak, but I really enjoy fighting strong opponents.
And I am getting way 'too strong'.
I've long passed the point of just growing quickly. When I want to get stronger, I can do it in the next moment.
If I were to compare it to a game, it feels like I have countless skill points just sitting there.
Probably, after the next big fight──the battle with Emperor Roman──I will become unbeatable.
From that point on, I will surely have days of just enduring. The fun battles will be nowhere to be found in this world anymore. Even if I fight, it will always be against weaker opponents.
And eventually, my limits will come.
I know this. I love fighting too much. Every time I throw myself into a battle, it feels like every cell in my body is blooming. The stronger the opponent, the stronger that feeling is; the weaker they are, the more uncomfortable I feel.
I am obsessed with fighting.
I think this will never change for my whole life. The thought that the joy of fighting might disappear from me in the near future makes me feel helplessly scared.
"Everyone! I finished drawing it!"
I snap to attention at Philia's voice. Then, I slap my cheeks to regain my focus and call out, "Alright, let's all head back. Is everyone here?"
There are 5 of us in the party, including me. And with Rollo, that makes 6.
The two masters are outside the teleportation circle, watching us. It seems they don't plan to accompany us back to the surface.
"Mudi, and you too, Philia, see you later. Let's meet again."
When I say that, Mudi snorts and waves his hand.
"Hurry up and go home, you stupid apprentices. If you don't get killed by the Roman Emperor, I'll come by to see you again at some random time."
"Don't say such unlucky things, you jerk master."
Thinking that this kind of banter will be on hold for a while makes me feel a bit lonely.
"Alright, everyone take care! Activating the teleportation circle!"
As Philia channels her magic into the teleportation circle, the ground beneath us starts to glow.
In the midst of all this, Ice whispers in my ear.
"Don't worry, okay... Wade-kun, I will definitely make you happy...!"
I look at Ice, illuminated by the shining platform. She has a strong smile and is looking at me warmly.
"...Yeah. When that time comes, I'll count on you."
I gently smile back. Then the light shines brightly, and my vision is filled with pure white.
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