Volume 3 - CH 1.7

Part 7

Sadraa’s group approached the table.

「Thank you very much for your hard work, Cristela-dono. You said that you had some business to take care of but, was it to meet with these good people?」

Alicia expressed a smile. Her tensed mood from before had disappeared.

「Yes, since they are Adventurers that had assisted me when I came here before, I thought that I should give them my greetings.」

「I see. We Holy Knights do take along attendants, but it would seem that the State Knights often receive the cooperation of the local Adventurers.」

「Though, if I can settle things alone, that would be the best way of doing it.」

Since they were expressing smiles that made them look like nice people to each other and conversing, when seen someone that doesn’t know the situation, they would without a doubt think that they are on good terms.

In reality, the tension was swelling to the point that it feels like one could hear the air grating.

Sadraa turned his gaze towards Diablo’s direction.

「Nice to meet you, I am known as Holy Knight Sadraa belonging to the Royal Capital main Church.」

「……」

He couldn’t just keep silent.

He needed to at least give his name.

Honestly, Diablo was nervous.

He mustn’t provoke him. But, to abase himself, there was a problem with going with the Demon King role play. While he could be Demon King like, he needed to give his name without saying anything unnecessary. It’s fine to do it like normal. It should be fine to do it like normal.

「I am Diablo! A Demon King that has come from another world!」

──Ah, just now, I said that I was a Demon King, didn’t I?

Sweat spouted out.

Alicia opened her eyes wide in shock. This might be his first time seeing her facial expression this disturbed.

Rem hit her hand on her forehead, and Shera tilted her head.

Sadraa raise a voice of laughter.

「Ahahaha! As expected, there are a lot of interesting people among the Adventurers out in the countryside. I see, a Demon King, are you. Well now, you’ve got me there.」

Alicia smoothed over her facial expression, and expressed her usual troubled looking smile.

「Yes, Diablo-sama really does love to joke around.」

The smile vanished from Sadraa’s face.

He had the eyes of a beast about to sink its fangs into its prey.

「──Whether or not it was a joke, to think that you would be intimate with a suspicious looking man that would call himself a Demon King……This is a problem that I cannot shut my eyes to, you know, Cristela-dono?」

「ッ!?」

No way, to think that go in Alicia’s direction.

Diablo couldn’t just take back what he said at this point.

Still, just what would be the best thing to say……

Alicia was at a loss for vindication.

Sadraa looked as if he were tormenting his dying prey.

「No matter how deep His Majesty’s trust in you is, with how you seem to be having a secret talk with ones such as these, wouldn’t that instead be said to be betraying His trust?」

「They are Adventurers that had cooperated with me. I have not done anything shameful at all.」

「Well now……Do you really have nothing that you are hiding?」

Diablo smiled.

「You have made quite the foolish imitation, haven’t you, you small fry! Divine punishment, you say? That is nothing but magic!」

「Wha!?」

Sadraa opened bloodshot eyes wide open.

「To deceive people into believing that a power not of God is actually something of God’s, that is equivalent to making a disciple of God a pretension. In other words, it means that your belief is also questionable. Before placing suspicion on the surroundings, you should prove your own innocence.」

「D, did you just doubt my innocence!? You say this towards a Holy Knight!?」

「The social status of a foolish Church that bestowed such a position to a questionable fellow such as you, that doesn’t suffice as any sort of proof!」

「Guh, kuh……A lowly Demon dares to insult a Holy Knight!?」

「Since a mere Holy Knight had used a joke of a magic on my property, I simply said the truth. You aren’t even worth insulting.」

He sneered.

Since he had done so, Diablo finally realized his own feelings.

──I see, so I was angry.

When he had heard of the Holy Knight’s heavy-handedness through hearsay, he contracted that from the surroundings. When there were false accusations towards Alicia, when there was abuse towards Rem who had possessed the courage to protest, the use of magic in a way that was like foul play……

With all of that in front of him, Diablo got angry.

If one thought about the opponent’s position and true strength, it was probably wiser to not confront him.

However, due to those strong feelings that could kick away such self-interest, he unintentionally let out those words.

All at once, the tension rose, and the surrounding guests escaped to the walls of the store.

The employees as well, even the cats that were there, they drew back to behind the counter.

「……Since it was a Bad Status through magic, there isn’t anything remaining. But, if you give me that meat, I’ll be even more healthy.」

「That’s fine but, give me that cheese over there, okay?」

Diablo also tried to restart his meal.

Alicia whispered into his ear.

「……Was it really alright to let Sadraa go like that?」

Did she think that it would be better to have killed him?

Certainly, judging from that personality of his, killing him might not be any distant future troubles.

However, he opposed killing people only because they “might be a danger”. He might be a peace idiot but……

Diablo made a Demon King-like composed nod.

「A small fry of that degree, I have no interest in whether he lives or dies. Though, if he challenges me once again, I will not go easy on him at that time.」

「……I understand. Certainly, he isn’t a threat to you, Diablo-sama. I had a needless worry.」

Alicia expressed a gentle smile and nodded.