Chapter 143: Dining with the Demon Lord (Bonus Chapter)

(Author's Note: This is technically a bonus chapter. But this is kinda needed in the story XD)

But by the time I turned around, Meliodas landed on the bed and stuffed himself with the peculiar linens of demons. "Don't talk to me right now, Arthur. I'm not in the mood to argue with you. Go away."

I was in the mood to debate with this man, since he had gotten on my nerves. But since we had a draining journey, I let this event slide for now. Meliodas and I could resume our quarrel as soon as he wakes up.

The Meliodas I knew was a reckless bard who would do anything to achieve his goals. However, it turned out that he was too tired to do anything for this trip. If I could guess it right, Meliodas couldn't act after he had heard the demon king's personality. It also took me aback that the demon lord had this warm heart, compared to the ones we saw on the streets.

Fenrir and Merleen also hit the deck as soon as they had the chance. Those two women slept like a log when they came into contact with the fluffy sack. Although Fenrir was an ancient hound, she still needed some rest after meeting with the demons. But since I had trained for years to stay up late, the drowsiness didn't hit me one bit. And Lilith didn't need that much sleep, considering she was a demon.

"Hey, Arthur….Do you want to talk?" Lilith said, and struck a conversation.

"Talk about what?" I answered, while staring at the window.

"Hey, Arthur….Do you want to talk about something?" Lilith said, and struck a conversation.

"Talk about what?" I answered, while staring at the window. "I'm fine to crack a conversation or two. But what's this about?"

Lilith became a party member in my team for almost a few weeks since we last met with each other. The people in our group also trusted Lilith, despite the fact that she was a demon. But we set aside our differences and remained united before we could butt heads against each other. 

If there was one thing that I thought about, the distinct cultures were the top of my list. Lilith might have felt isolated from this group, regardless of the times she spent chatting with us.

But before I could even say my words, Lilith interposed my train of thoughts. "What do you think about this world? And what are your plans to change it?"

"I've heard your claims to my father earlier that you want to help those people in need. But you can't save everyone, since you're just one man. And even with a team, those individuals would still perish from their inevitable fates. I can't just help myself but wonder about how you envision this world. You claim yourself as a hero, but it's a giganti responsibility without any practical reward. However, you still do it without doubting yourself. Why?" Lilith continued, as she glanced at my side.

Lilith wanted to look at my eyes. But I glued my orbs to the scenery before us filled with demons and buildings clustered in the lands. 

As soon as I digested Lilith's question, I answered her without returning her gaze. "I live in a world without superpowers and magic. And the majority living in that world live with greed, prejudice, hatred, and position. Since I live in that kind of environment, I thought to myself 'wow! I want to change the world!'. It was a little kid's dream, which led me to playing this game….This world was originally a game. Well, not to you, but….you get the idea. When I reached the god-level skill, I saved people and used my fortune to help them. Unfortunately, those people I helped stabbed me from behind. But even after those events, I still believe that all of us are good inside."

"If you have this power and didn't use it to help people, and then they needed someone, it happens because of me," I appended, while clenching my fist.

(Author's Note: I got my inspiration from Civil-War, Spider-Man)

Lilith and I stared into nothingness after hearing my words. But that silence didn't make me uncomfortable, compared to the groups I had in my previous world. The two of us cherished these quiet minutes passing by as we observed the demons buzzing around the streets.

Within a few seconds, Lilith broke the silence and replied, "That's why my father likes you, Arthur."

"That's why I like you too," I said. "We have different methods, but different goals. The two of us want to stop the war, together with my team. Even though we don't have an army, we're still a formidable foe against these two factions. So we're basically the third power in the stack of cards. I call it the ace."

"Lilith, we might change the world someday. And I can't wait to see that peace emerge on these terrains. I want the humans roaming around those distorted roads, trading items from demons to demi-humans. Those kingdoms would also share their products and open their borders for everyone. Can't they just see the bigger picture? Well, I guess not, since none of them ever thought about that. One feared the other, while the remaining side wanted revenge. It's an infinite loop of reasons to start a way, which the generations would carry," I appended. 

"Which is why we need to stop it. As soon as we suggest these concerns to King Arthur...Not you, but King Arthur of the humans….It's very confusing. But once we offer that treaty to Albion, we could pave that road and have a bright future."

After concluding our conversation, Lilith forced me to lay on my bed and sleep for the time being. Lilith insisted that she would stay on watch to protect the team. 

"I will find the rest I need later after eating some arcane in the hallway. Or I could grab some mana stuck on the walls if I'm really efficient! Don't worry about me, Arthur. Just mind your body and rest until we see the sun tomorrow," said Lilith.

I heeded Lilith's advice and took myself on a trip to the dream world. I didn't know how many hours I had dozed off. But when I woke up, the window's sky had already changed. The darkened atmosphere remained jet-black. However, a light shone across the congested clouds. 

Lilith was also beside me and shook my shoulders to wake me up. I didn't know why, but the event sounded important. It was as if I was reimagining myself when I was a kid, and my parents would wake me up. 

However, since my body reacted on time, I didn't have the luxury to laze around. I rose from my temporary bed and listened to Lilith's scolding. She kept blabbering about the dinner we promised with her father, Abaddon.

Lilith also mentioned that it was only the two of us included in that dinner. We didn't have to bring Merleen, Fenrir, and Meliodas with us. Since Abaddon took a liking to me, he wanted to know more about my moralities in front of the table. The demon king would fill the board with various cuisines out of this world….both literally and metaphorically.

After countless debates and scolding, Lilith and I rushed to the hallway and arrived at the banquet. Abaddon and the elders all waited for us on the table. The demon king also separated those two tables, which gave more room for the three of us to dine. He left the other one for the elders and other nobles, while giving us the hot seat.

"Isn't this a bit excessive?" I asked.

Abaddon heard my whisper and gave me his reply," Nonsense, Arthur! You're my future son who would marry my daughter! Surprising you with this lavish buffet is the least that I could do. But it's too bad your team and you would leave this place within tomorrow. I wish we could have experienced more fun with your stay in the demonic kingdom."

Upon hearing those compliments, my mouth couldn't help itself but to grin at Abaddon. While that happened, the servants arrived on our side and prepared our meals. My weary eyes disappeared as soon as my nose caught an alluring smell that grumbled my digestive organs.

Among those meals prepared by the demon lord included: peculiar lobsters, sea foods, wild boars, edible monsters, and flying creatures….that looked like bats. It was the most hideous thing I saw in my life. But after taste-testing them, my tongue twisted like a helicopter hovering the skies.

Before I knew it, my hands kept swaddling my utensils. Within a second, I gobbled up those plates and left nothing on my plate. I even surprised Abaddon, Lilith, and the rest of the demons how fast I ate my meal without even waiting for them.

"My, you have a wonderful appetite, Arthur," Abaddon remarked, as he chuckled up a storm. "You are a work of art, Arthur! I commend you for being you."

I didn't know why, but the demons who had watched me also cheered me on. Those violent gazes in my direction drastically changed into something I had never seen before. But I paid them no mind and continued conversing with the demon king.