--. dozens of seconds later.



　When you say that, you fall to the ground with an exaggerated motion as if you were before leaving for the other world, and then you remain motionless.

　Of course, I didn't kill him.

　I'm sure he was simply stunned because he had 30 percent of his HP left on the status screen. ...... You actually have a lot of time to spare if you can act like that.

　Also, please don't make me your rival. I don't like it.

Tsk. ......! What a mess! An arm and a leg!

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most out of this one.

　It's not just a matter of time before you get to the point where you'll be able to get your hands on it.

　--It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on a new one.

　There are many creatures that are stronger than me, who are much stronger, and there are also those that are lower in status than me, but still use their natural fighting skills to overwhelm me.

　Although I'm used to fighting to a certain extent, I can only basically push you with my physical and magical abilities.

　But, well, even so, I've adapted to this world to some extent.

　It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on a new one.

It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with them. Demon King Yuki! You duel with me!

　I'm not sure why they booed Liu's father when he said that, but for some reason they booed him from the War Wolf tribe.

　...... Well, they asked for a duel, and then lost easily.

　It's not a good idea to ask them to fight again because they don't want to be defeated, but they must be thinking about it.

Shut up! How can I ever get out of this mess! --Demon King Yuki! Let's hear the answers!

"Eh, ...... is fine, but hey, you'll have to agree with me on that, won't you?

"Humph, let's see how well you can keep it up!


　　　* * *


　I knew.

"Kahwa ......, dammit ......!

　With a thud, Liu's father thrusts his knee and leans against the fanged sword, breathing hard and seemingly out of breath.

　...... Yeah. He was stronger than that gymnast you saw earlier.

　You will be able to find out more about the best way to get the most out of your new collection.

　But that's about as far as it goes (・・・・・・).

　After the old butler battle, that level of attack doesn't surprise me now.

"Hey, give up now. To tell you the truth, you're not as strong as the rest of them.

"- Give up, you say? That's not possible!

　Yes, as if spitting out blood and spitting out words, Liu's father .

"My missing daughter (・・・・・・)! Next time I see you! Under a man who has no name, even a demon king! I've been made to be a maid and so on! And that's happiness! Speak up!

　--Oh.

　Oh, I see.

　So this old man is willing to put his body on the line for his daughter.

　That's why he's so stubborn and determined to stand up, even when he's ripped apart and booed by his men.

　.............

............ Hey, old man.

"Shut up! Do not open your mouth any further, Demon King!

　I gritted my teeth and shouted at Liu's father - I .



　--I'm not going to be the only one who can do that.



I'm not going to be able to get to the bottom of it. Hey, old man, give me your finger.

　Then I extend my blood dripping thumb toward Liu's father.

"...... What are you going to do?

It's like this. You guys swear by it.

　Liu had done it before.

　I don't remember how she came to make the vow, but ......, but she said at that time, "When a wolf makes the vow, they slash their thumbs and seal their blood with each other's.

　As I recall, she didn't go so far as to slash her thumb, but I remember her saying that that's what you have to do to make a real vow, not a simple one.

I swear. I will protect your daughter (・・・・・・) with my life (・・・・・). I will protect your daughter () from all the threats that may come at her.

"............ You're serious, you say that?

I'm serious. Just as you care for him, he is now irreplaceable to me. ...... In my daily life, I can't imagine my daily life without him.

　So.

　She is so important to me that I can no longer have her.

　There can be no daily life without Liu, and just the thought of losing her makes me afraid.

"Therefore, I swear. I'll protect your daughter with my life. I will risk my life so that Liu can live a peaceful life.

　At my words, Liu's father shuts his mouth and stares at me with his sharp eyes.

　--There is a pause, a drifting silence.

　I don't take my eyes off of Liu's father, and I continue to extend my thumb, dripping blood, forward.



............ hum.



　--Eventually Liu's father sniffed and slashed his thumb with his sword.

That word is not allowed to change. Show me again that your will is not a lie.

Yeah, I'll tell you again. I will protect Liu. Never.

All right.

　Then Liu's father stood up with all his strength on his battered body and extended his blood dripping thumb toward us.



　Overlap, Liu's dad's thumb and my thumb.

Repeat my words. --I pledge my thoughts and my wishes on the blood of my father and mother, which surrounds me. I pledge my thoughts and my wishes.

I hereby swear my thoughts and wishes on the blood of my ancestors' father and mother that surround me. If I break it, I shall disappear from the blood of my ancestors.

...... your will, your resolve, but I have received it. I have received your will, your resolve, and under that certainty and this pledge, my daughter entrusts you with her power. ...... If you do anything to make her cry, I and the blood of my ancestors will curse you for generations to come.

That's scary. Let's try not to fight, at best.

"Hun ......

　Liu's father sniffed at my snide remark, and continued in a tone of voice that said it was already decided.



All right. I accept you as my daughter's (・・・・) son-in-law (・・・・・).



　.................. Hmmm?

I will be back here in a year to make sure that your pledge is honored. Until then, do not forget what you said yourself.

　--Wait.

　Wait, wait.

　I've got a lot to say, but let me just say this.



　--There's been a lot of that going on lately, hasn't there?