I didn't expect them to come back so easily. ...... I thought they were just coming back to resupply. You are indeed an elite group of people. As a resident of the port of Poza, I thank you.

I'm glad I was able to help you. ...... But I have to admit, we weren't expecting it to go so smoothly. One of them went above and beyond.

　Carotta, who is conversing with the captain of the ship, looks at you with a meaningful smile on her face.

You are the lover of the ...... Brave Lord. I thought you were young, but if you're that good, are you really not?

"No, you're supposed to be a little older than Nell. ...... I never asked how old you were, either. Mask, how old are you now?

"It's one year and a few months old.

It's ......, yeah. They say he was the youngest of them all.

...... I see, as the mask suggests, you want to keep your identity hidden. It is true that you are not a holy knight, an adventurer, or a member of any organization, so it would be better to keep your identity hidden to prevent unwanted recruits.

　The captain, rubbing his fine beard, looks strangely convinced.

　Well, it's true.

　It's too late now, but we've only been in this world that long.
　I feel as if five or ten years have already passed. It's been a very intense year and a few months.

That's about how long you've been a demon king, isn't it? It's a good thing ...... that it's only been a year or so since I met her.

　I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm not the only one," said Nell, who had taken off her usual light armor and changed into a more comfortable outfit, quietly in my ear so that the others wouldn't hear.

It's a surprise. That's the extent of the time since you and I have met.

I know ...... but for me, I'd be more surprised at how fast you can get your hands on it.　I don't think an ordinary person could get three wives in such a short period of time, do you?

...... don't use that language, it makes me sound like a very flirtatious person.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm just saying that this is the result of being with everyone.

...... Um, Nell, that would be embarrassing and I'd like you to stop doing that.

　Nell giggles happily, and I look away and scratch my cheek.




　--We had already left the ship's graveyard dungeon and returned to the galleon we had come from.

　Before leaving the ghost ships, I stayed inside for a little while to check whether the dungeon was definitely defeated or not, but since there was no response from the demons, it was determined that this was because the ruler, the demon king, was dead and his instructions were no longer given, so the dungeon attack was completed. It was formally declared by Carlotta as a "good time".

　Of course, I'm in control of this dungeon, and I've been instructing the new demons under my control not to attack them.

　Those demons here are a b*tc*. Unlike our guys, these demons don't have much of a sense of self at all.
　It's probably a characteristic of the demons of the necromancer type. It's as if they were moving dolls...and their reactions to commands are very weak.

　Or perhaps it's actually a doll.
　They're puppets that bind and move soulless corpses with their magic.

　Only Wraith showed disobedience to my orders with hateful intent, so ...... well, yes. They all perished before they could join up with the holy knights. Nell.

　Apparently, she didn't like the fact that the new ruler was a living person.
　Checking the map display, the skeletons and zombies were marked as allies, but the Wraiths were the only ones who remained hostile, and even though I was supposed to reign supreme, they remained red dots indicating the enemy.

　So I used the "distant conversation" function, which is available only with the demons under my command, to call them to me and have them cut down by Nell.

　If you don't obey me, you're just an enemy.
　It would be easier and safer to have her fall into a state of tranquility than to try to figure out how to make her listen to me.

　After this wraith incident, it seems that demons under the demon king's control are not absolutely obedient.

　Is this because they are dungeon demons captured from the enemy, or is this common to all demons in dungeons?
　I think it's probably the former, but ...... we need to keep the latter possibility in the back of our minds.

　If you treat them too disrespectfully, even though they are submissive, there is a risk that they will rebel.

　I don't have any intention of doing such a thing to our lovely, lovely pets, not to mention Shi and the Wraith girls - but you're forcing Lil to do a lot of work: .......

　I'm aware of the fact that I've been throwing too much work at him for a while now. ...... I'm trying to help him out, but I'm just trying to be helpful.

　...... Would you be happy if I bought him some fancy dog food or something from DP?

　I think she's going to look at me with sad eyes.

...... Hey, my wife. I want to buy something for Lil to show my appreciation, but do you have anything special in mind?

"Reward?　Hmm ...... Well, normally, I'd say something like Lil's favorite food would be good. What do you like, Lil'?

...... I don't know. I think you'd probably like the meat: ......

　As long as the dungeon's monsters have magic power to fill the dungeon space, they can live without eating anything.
　Therefore, eating something is a luxury item, and if our pets want to eat something, they hunt and eat it on their own, so to be honest, we don't know much about what they like.

　As for Lil', I've seen her eating meat with relish on several occasions, so at least I know she doesn't hate meat: .......

It's a good idea to invite Lil and have a barbecue or something with everyone. And then you can cook a lot of meat for them and let them eat it, so they can see how much you appreciate it.

"Hmm. ......

　Well, when you show your gratitude with a favor and not an object.

Okay, ...... I've decided. Maybe we'll have a seafood barbecue when we get home. Nell, you should come home with me once. We'll barbecue, barbecue.

"Oh, but I have to work at ......

"Carrotta, that's why I need to borrow this guy for a few days, no?

What, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait!



"Hm?　Yeah, that's good. I was originally going to give the members of this expedition a break when this job was done. Not for long, but a few days would be fine.

You know what I'm talking about!　You're forgiven, Nell. You made it.

"...... huh, totally. I'm being pushy. ......

　Nell let out a single sigh, but with a happy smile loosening her cheeks, she said so.


　　　* * * *


　Then, after about two hours of rocking on the galleon, chatting with Nell and chatting with Reyes, Grifa, and the Holy Knights .

. ......?　It's ......

　The captain, who was checking the course through his binoculars, suddenly let out a questioning voice: "What is it, captain?

"What is it, Captain?

"...... There are four ships approaching us, but they are not displaying a flag to indicate their affiliation. But they do not carry a flag to indicate their affiliation.

...... a fleet of unknown affiliations. That means ......

　The captain nodded at Carlotta, who let out a voice as if she had noticed something.

"Yes. Perhaps--pirate...

"Ho!　Pirates!

No, why do you look so happy, dude?

　Because we're pirates, pirates.
　After the ghost ship, pirates!

　Isn't the sea romantic enough?

　There is still a distance and they are as big as a dot, but as far as I can see with my ...... demon king's super vision, there are indeed four ships advancing towards us with their heads turned towards us.

　I'm sure that the ships are about one size smaller than the other, but that's why they are so fast, and I can see that they are getting closer and closer.

"Bastards!　Combat yo yo!

　A bell attached to the side of the rudder is rung, and at the same time, the ship's sailors begin to move in unison in a hurried but disciplined manner.

　All at once the ship is on high alert and the cannons are loaded.

"Reyes, I don't know much about the sea, but four ships is quite a fleet for a pirate, isn't it?

Oh, that's a lot of ships. There are four ships, there must be about 150 to 200 in all. --But with a master on board, it's kind of like ...... sorry for your loss.

　Reyes, who was nearby, showed no signs of impatience and turned his compassionate gaze toward the oncoming pirate ship and said.

　Well ...... yeah.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find the right one for you.

　I'm on my own when we're at sea.
　You'll be able to use the seawater to reduce magic consumption and turn a bunch of big water dragons against them.

Do you want to smash that thing, Carotta?　Come a little closer and we'll get it done.

"No, wait. --Would you like us to assist you, Captain, in capturing that ship (・・・・・)?　With our current strength, we can do it.

If you can do that, of course I would like to, but ......

　Without saying it, "Can you really do that? The captain of the ship.

"It's not mine to do. --That's right, the mask. Let's not smash it. Let's not smash it. First, we'll just have to blow their brains out with .......

"Ai-I-Mom

　Carotta carries a fearless smile around her mouth, and I also smiled behind my mask and began to formulate my magic.