Chapter 111

Home Sweet Home

"I'm finally home…" I muttered a few words to no one in particular as I basked in the sunlight . It was just past noon, the time the star was shining its brightest . I couldn't help but relish in the warmth of its rays as I regarded the ever familiar cave before me .

Not having to account for Nell meant that Rir didn't have to show restraint . He was able to dash home at his top speed . Still, the trip had still taken longer than expected—and not because I had decided to nap on his back as he ran . Our lateness could be attributed entirely to the sudden introduction of a few necessary miscellaneous tasks . All of which stemmed from an encounter with a group of bandits .

They had attacked us on sight, so I returned the favour by wiping them out . I followed up the extermination by hitting up their base, snatching all their loot, and then burning their whole damned operation to the ground . Huh . You know, in retrospect, I almost feel like my actions were just as heinous and criminal as theirs . But hey, I did check their titles ahead of time just in case . The result? Yeah, let's just say that their kind doesn't deserve any pity . And I am supposedly the Demon Lord of Judgement . Convicting sinners of their crimes and punishing them accordingly is basically my job, at least according to the title . So yeah, whatever, fuck it . Not my problem . Might as well just call it karma and move on .

Although it was my first time doing anything of the sort in real life, I rather enjoyed the activity . Raiding bandit camps is fun, likely because their base of operations was an abandoned fortress . Clearing it out felt somewhat reminiscent of an old RPG . Beating up bandits was definitely worth my time . 10/10 would do it again if I had the chance . It's a great way to grind money too . Not that I've got any use for money, but y'know .

Oh, wait . On second thought, I do . I can totally just feed it to the dungeon . Man, I've been feeding it nothing but corpses, so I totally forgot . Might as well at least try doing that then, I guess . I might even make a whole bunch of DP if I'm lucky .

Rir and I had already gone our separate ways, so I ended up getting lost in my own thoughts as I moved through the cave . I didn't exactly feel like walking through the plains, so I switched the door's destination to the true throne room before giving it a twist and walking right through .

“I’m home . ” The first thing I did after entering was announce my presence .

“Welcome home, Yuki!" Illuna dashed towards me the moment she noticed me and greeted me with a flying tackle that made use of all her momentum .

"Welcome back, Lord . " Shii was only a single step behind her . She too pitter-pattered towards me, but instead of jumping at me, she instead opted to slow down and wrap her arms around my waist .

“Thanks . I'm glad to see you guys doing so well . ”

I gave each of the two girls a few pats on the head . Man, seeing these two fills me right up with energy . Their smiles are the best medicine a weary soul could get .

“Heya Master, welcome home!”

“Welcome home, My Lord . ”

"Hey Lyuu . Thanks Leila . " I responded to the maids' greetings in turn before finally turning towards the dungeon's final resident . "Hey, Lefi . I'm back . "

She had been looking right at me, so our eyes met the moment I directed my gaze towards her . For some odd reason, her cheeks immediately began turning a shade of crimson . She opened and closed her mouth a few times as if to say something, but she never managed to get it out . After a few tries, she gave up, and her expression ended up as one of indifference . Huh . That's weird . What's up with her?

"I-Indeed you are . I must admit that I would have preferred for you to return sooner . " Lefi approached me and entered my personal space, which was more or less cluttered due to the two girls that had attached themselves to me, and grabbed a hold of my shirt before she continued speaking in a bashful tone . "T-The void you left by my side was filled with naught but loneliness . I-I missed you . "

I . What . I . Huh? The dragon's words had caught me completely off guard .

"W-what the heck's gotten into you? Are you okay? You aren’t sick, are you?"

"O-Of course not," Lefi stuttered . "I am simply stating that I did not anticipate that your absence would cause me to suffer so . "

“Hwauht!?” The words that came out of Lefi's mouth were so laced in sugar they led me to scream incoherently . W-What the hell has gotten into you, Lefi!? Seriously!

The way the dragon girl was acting was so adorable I wanted to scoop her up in my arms, take her home, and ask if I could keep her . But as cute as it was, it felt… wrong . Something was off . She was acting so differently from the Lefi I knew that I almost didn't want to think they were the same person . You know, this is almost like how animals end up acting all weird right before some sort of great calamity or something . Though in this case, Lefi herself could easily cause said great calamity, huh?

I looked around the room in order to check whether I was the only person that felt as if something was off . And apparently, the answer was yes . Lyuu was watching us while pumping one of her fists, whereas Leila had an even bigger smile on her face than usual . Wait . Did they put some weird ass idea into her head or something? Because it sure as hell looks like it .

I opened my mouth in order to question the two suspects, but Lefi interrupted me before I could speak .

"Yuki…" Her nose twitched as she sniffed me .

"W-what?"

"Explain yourself . You bear the scent of a woman . What is the meaning of this!?"

Oh shit! She knows! She totally knows!

"B-Before you say anything, hear me out . I'm totally innocent!" I smashed the figurative not guilty button as hard as I possibly could as I stammered out an explanation . "Some kid got really attached to me so I played with her a bit . That's all! And I mean it, she was just a kid! Barely any older than Illuna! And you can't call someone that young a woman!"

"I see . " Lefi narrowed her eyes . "So you have once again laid hands on a child in order to appease your distorted desires . "

“That’s definitely not what I meant!”

The supreme dragon wore a smile, a terrifying, dreadful smile . I could feel my brow dampening with cold sweat as I trembled in fear . Fortunately, her anger vanished as quickly as it had appeared .

"…Very well . It matters not . " She calmed down and shook her head as she continued to speak . "Your journey must have left you exhausted . Have you had your midday meal?"

"I uh… no . Not yet . "

"Splendid . You must join us then . We were just about to start," she smiled before turning towards the two little girls that had attached themselves to me . "I believe that is enough clinging for now . I am sure the two of you have had your fill, so let us assist in arranging the table . "

“Okay!”

Both Illuna and Shii happily responded as they finally let go .

"Be seated, Yuki . Lunch shall soon be served . "

"Errr, sure . Alright . "

Lefi led me to the table and sat me down . She then followed the action with something that was nigh unprecedented . She went into the kitchen and grabbed a few plates in order to help set the table .

"Seriously…" I muttered as I tried to wrap my head around the odd situation . "What the hell is going on…?"