Chapter 36

Maou Ni - Chapter 36

PICNIC 2

"What's wrong, Lefy? Are you that upset because I wasn't scared?"

"Grrr… You have some nerve . "

Lefy said with a chagrined expression .

At first, I had trembled with fear at the Supreme Dragon Coaster, which surpassed mere human strength . But ultimately, I loved a good thrill . "Oh, this is actually quite fun?" Once I noticed that, my screams had turned into cheering .

"Hmph . If anything, that was not nearly scary enough for me . "

"You're one to talk, you were so scared in the beginning . "

Lefy said with an even more twisted expression as she saw me looking victorious .

"Hey, older brother, older sister, let's hurry up and eat already . I'm hungry . "

"Oh, sorry . I want to eat too . Now, let's dig in . "

"'Itadakimasu . '"

"Itadakimasuu . "

"I- itadakimasusu . I can't get used saying that…"

At first, it was just me that said 'itadakimasu', but before I knew it it had become a common salutation around here before eating meals . Well, it wasn't a bad thing anyway . The newcomers would slowly get used to it .

"Ah! There's fried chicken! Lot's of fried chicken!"

Iluna exclaimed with joy as she opened the lunch basket and saw that there were mountains of her favorite fried chicken inside .

"Yeah, there is quite a lot . You can eat as much as you like . "

Interestingly, the fried chicken was made from the meat of a magical beast known as 'rock bird' . This animal was covered in rock-like feathers and attacked its enemies with a braying that sounded a lot like a death metal vocalist; making it 'rock' in more ways than one .

Its taste was quite plain but was juicy when chewed, and quite delicious overall .

"Mmm . The meat of magical beasts tastes so good . "

"Oh, so this is meat from a magical beast? What magical beast is it?"

"Rock bird . "

"I see, the rock bird…rock bird!? Isn't that a war-damage class beast!? Aren't the ingredients super expensive!?"

Lyu said as she did a double take in disbelief .

"War-damage class?"

"It's, it's a category for magical beasts! It means that just one of them is an equivalent threat as going out to war!"

Apparently magical beasts were categorized depending on their threat level . Non-threatening, Threatening, Man-made disaster, War-damage, Natural disaster, Large natural disaster, and Cataclysm . A war-damage class meant that you had to anticipate casualties equivalent to a war when going up against one . Although, since it was war in this world, the numbers would be in the hundreds instead of tens of thousands .

"Ah, is that so . While they are quite hard and sturdy, they still go down after a single hit with a greatsword . And because their flesh was quite delicious, I just saw them as a convenient source of food . "

"…While it's a bit late, I finally understand just how abnormal things are here . Though, I don't mind as this tastes good…"

Lyu said with a conflicted expression that could be read as both exasperation and admiration .

"Hehe, you haven't seen anything yet, Lyu . Just wait until you see what other ingredients are used here, you will surely be surprised . "

Leila said as she indicated towards the other sandwiches and rice balls .

This meal was made by me and Leila together . She had helped me from the cutting of the game, so she knew what was being used .

Today was a picnic after all . Usually, I was lazy and just used DP to acquire the ingredients, but today I took the effort to procure some meat from magical beasts instead .

"…I think I would rather not ask in that case . Being delicious is justice . I am satisfied with that . "

"That's a good way to live . Being delicious is justice . But, I think there is one missing component in calling this justice . Right, Yuki?"

"You really don't change, huh . I have prepared the dessert, okay . Just be patient . "

Hearing those words and realizing that I had prepared it, all the girls except for Leila broke into loud cheering .

"Yay! Dessert!"

"The sweets that Master prepares are so good that they make my mouth water . "

"Yes . I don't think there is anywhere else where you can eat something so good, regardless of where you are in the world . Be thankful for it, Lyu . "

"Eh, why are you acting all uppity?"

"Why, because it is I that has eaten the snacks that you've served the most . "

Ahh… That was true .

"Hey, hey . I am overjoyed that the Supreme Dragon has acknowledged me . "

"Aye, you can be very grateful of it . "

"…Umm, Master, there is something that's been on my mind for a while… Uh, does the reason that you call Lefy the Supreme Dragon have anything to do with…"

"Eh? Didn't I tell you? Lefy is a Supreme Dragon . And an ancient dragon . "

"…No, I hadn't heard . …But that means, wait, you really are a 'Supreme Dragon!?'"

"Yeah . Hard to believe, is it?"

"No, no . But, but… Supreme Dragons are known as a legendary species… But you're really small, with a weakness for sweets and are quick to anger when you lose . The exact opposite of what I had imagined…"

Ahh, yeah… That's true . No one would think she was such a person, sitting there with her cheeks full of food like a squirrel .

"Oh, what is it, Lyu? If you have something to ask me, I will listen . "

"Eh!? Oh, it was that!! It's just that, since you are a pretty young girl, you didn't really match my idea of a Supreme Dragon!!"

"Oh? Well, will you tell me what your idea of a Supreme Dragon's appearance was?"

"Eh, ah, umm, well, I…"

"Don't threaten her, you idiot . "

I gave a single karate chop to Lefy's head as she got carried away with her teasing .

"But…uhh, but, Lyu was…"

"No 'buts' about it . If you have any complaints, you should reconsider your daily actions before talking of others . "

I stared back as Lefy gave me a vengeful glare .

"Oh, you saved me, Master… But, Leila, you seem quite calm about it, had you noticed it? That Lefy was a Supreme dragon?"

"Well, I did . It is quite well-known that the Supreme Dragon, - I mean, Lefy had made the deeper parts of the haunted forest her territory . And the first time I met her, she was subduing dragonkin . If anything, I am shocked that you hadn't realized it all of this time . "

"Uh, well, but, at first, things were constantly moving and I didn't even know what situation I was in . When I met Master, I was completely distracted by Mofir and wasn't looking at anything else…"

Incidentally, Fir and Shii were now both resting with their eyes closed under the shadow of a tree . Shii was completely immersed in a dream world, but Fir seemed to be awake, given that there was second where he reacted . Most likely he was staying still out of diffidence . He's a cute little guy .

"It doesn't really matter . Everyone, let's hurry up and eat so we can play! I want to play badminton again!"

"Oh, that's a good idea . Iluna, let's play badminton together . "

"Yes! I want to play with older brother!"

Iluna said with a big smile . Cute .

"…By the way, Master . Your younger sister…"

"She's just a normal girl . "

"…Well, that's still very impressive for her, regardless . A girl who is doted on by both you and Lefy, a Demon Lord and Supreme Dragon… Maybe she is the most important person of all…"

I agree completely with that opinion .

Among the Big Four of my dungeon, Iluna stood at the top . Next was Lefy and then Fir, with me at the bottom . Shii and the two newcomers were a pet and maids so they are excluded .

I was likely to eventually play the role of someone who says "Heh, I am the weakest of the Top Four . I wouldn't get too cocky just because you beat me…"

…no, no that won't do . People say those kinds of lines right before they die . I don't want to die, so that notion is dismissed .

So, this other one then . I will say, "Heh, I am the weakest of the Top Four . You must be weak if you cannot even beat me . " I will stop the enemies that attack and defeat them . I will be the dungeon's shield .

"Heh . It is I, the shield of the dungeon and most fearsome Demon Lord, Yuki . "

"? What's the matter, older brother?"

"Nothing . "

And just like that, we played and frolicked for the entire day, until Iluna was so tired that she fell asleep .