In the parlor of the mansion, I was alone with Lina, who had come to visit, facing me.

'Did you hear the example?'

　After taking a sip of the tea I told the maid to serve, Lina asked me with a straight face.

'The example?'
The story goes that Comotolia has declared war on Aegina.
Yes!

　Pan!　I stand up, banging on the table.
　A spinal reflex plunge, and Lina looked at me like that with zit eyes.

'I knew you were involved.
I don't know what you're talking about.

　I turn my face away and whistle.
　For some reason, I can't whistle well at times like this.

They're all talking about it.
Guys?
'Your Majesty, the ministers. We all know, you know. Why did Comotolia declare war on us? So we're looking for it.
Are you looking for it?

　When I returned the favor, Lina looked at me with even more horror.

"A demon king and a being of equal status
Oops.

　I sighed, I didn't know that was going to happen.
　I mean.

'Everyone knows about the Demon King of Comotolia, right?
Everyone involved in the government knows that. After all, Comotolia is ruled by the most powerful creature on earth, the Demon King. We need to understand the principles of the Demon Lord's behavior or the country will be destroyed.
I see...

　If it's true that it's the most powerful creature on earth, it's certainly impossible not to know about it.

'So what did you do?'
It was an accident, and a misunderstanding.
You mean, as usual?
Oops.

　I was crushed.
　No, it's hard to put it all together like that.

Well, that's what I thought.
Does anyone else know about this?
I don't know. But I have to give you a proper presentation.
'Ugh....................'

　Well, maybe that's a blessing in disguise.
　His Majesty the King would know that Hermes is strong.
　And he's also a bandit in secret.
　It's not impossible to include him in the story.

"You'll have to tell him sooner than later.
All right, I'll tell you what.

　Lina gave a small nod and stood up.
　The thing is, I got up from the couch to go to the capital now, too.

　I took them both with me and left the parlor.

　As I walked down the hallway, I heard the sound of rushing footsteps clattering from the other side.
　Was there anyone in the mansion who made these childlike footsteps?　And then I realized what it was.

　A body that looks like a child, twin tails long enough to reach the ground.
　It's the Demon King Kaori, running with it fluttering.

　Kaori, the Demon King.

　It is the very person in the middle of the vortex.

I have found it!

　Kaori tackles me with all the momentum of a dash.
　He took it in his stride and looked up at me, clinging to my waist.

We have found your nephew!
What are you doing here?
'I'm here to report to my nephew for blowing one up.
No, I don't want you to know what I'm talking about.
'You needn't be embarrassed. Now my nephew and I are sworn enemies, no, grudge enemies.
You're the first person I've ever heard say that with a smile on their face...

　Is he really the Demon King, or is he really going to fight - or war?
　I sighed, a little unsure of that.

'Hermes.'
What?

　A short distance away, Lina was scowling.

'Who is that kid?'
She's...
Insulting me is a petit death sentence.

　I stop clinging to my waist and turn back to Lina.
　A moment later, something swelled up--

No!

　He drew the sword from his waist.
　He swung it out almost by reflex.

　The hand that the Demon King Kaori held up released a blow, a blow that flashed at Lina, and she swung her sword out.

　Somehow deflecting the trajectory, the beam-like blow grazed right beside Lina and blew up half of the mansion.

....

　Poking around, Lina's hand zings in my sword's grip.
　It's the most powerful blow I've ever defended against.

"You've done that!
It's okay.
It's not okay, by all accounts.
'It's perfectly all right. I've never killed anyone outside of the battlefield at your mother's behest.
Is that so?
Yes. I practice it properly with my men. It's my specialty that I can spot anyone's physical strength in an instant and give them exactly three months of full recovery.
You don't have to die to be dead!

　It felt rather more awful.
　How could he be so used to wasting his time?

'For that matter, nephew, why did you help that woman?'
No, I mean, what if he does this right in front of you?

　I was about to say that I usually help them.

'Is this woman your nephew's mate?
Huh?　No, no, but...
'Really?　
"Huh?

　What is this guy saying all of a sudden?

''It's understandable that he shows his good side to a woman he has a crush on.

　Kaori stared at Lina, who was still letting loose.

'I saw this look, this vibe, this noble birth. She's a princess.'
Well, you're royalty.
"You will protect the princess you have a crush on and stand against me, the Demon King. It's just like the stories your father used to tell you. It's the peach syndrome.
Syndrome...?

　What is Kaori's father, a doctor or something?

　When I was confused, Kaori quickly distanced herself from me and took an uncharacteristic but unsuitable stance.

'Very well, it's coming at you.
No, no, no.
It's a good thing.

　Kaori beckons me over.
　On the other hand, she continues to look out for me so that Lina can't see her.

　Let's see........this is.
　I'm going to lose, so go ahead and take a crack at it--is that it?

No, really not.
'Hmm?　I understand. The promise is to be fulfilled on the Demon King's throne.
No.
Waiting for you, you foolish mortals.

　Fuhahahahahaha," said Kaori, leaving how he laughed with a Doppler effect, and walked away like the wind as he had come.

'Stammer, what's that, stammer?'

　I'm the one who makes the mistake of plugging in too much.

　Huh ... what a stormy kid.
　She's not a bad kid, that's for sure.
　But that overwhelming power........

　
　It's going to be a messy one - and I'm thinking.

Hmm?

　Lina came to my side and pulled my hem.
　She turned her cheeks away, slumped over.

'Thank you ... for helping me.'
'What?　Oh, well, I was just doing the obvious...
I mean, it's not that I don't want to be a mate, but let me think about it.
"Huh?

　While I was flabbergasted, Lina walked away shyly, her cheeks getting more and more stained.

''........''

　What did I do?
　I saved your life, but... oh.