NOVEL NEXT Chapter 110: The Usual Courtyard
１１０． The Usual Courtyard
「――Uhm.」
Good day, Demon Prince Jilbagias who woke up due to his snoring is at your service.
I got this feeling that I saw some sort of dream and yet, I forgot about it the moment I woke up. Well, I'm used to this.
Come to think of it, Ante, did you see my dream too?
『Depending on the situation. There are cases when I just feel the emotion or see a broken image of your dream, there are cases in which I see it as clearly as you. By the way, you're dreaming about being covered in horse dung during your childhood this time.』
Uwaaa, that was a pretty awful one… It was the horse dung pitfall made by Claire!!
Darn, I am always so pissed off whenever I recall that event. Though I could force her to suffer the same fate right away by abusing my authority as the Demon Prince… Doing that would make people doubt my persona as Jilbagias.
I couldn't afford to ruin my act since that girl had uselessly sharp intuition. I had to endure it for now…!
I mean, the fact that I was still a virgin got exposed by the magic and intuition of a certain sex maniac a few days ago.Nevertheless, it was still bright outside there.
「… Woof?」
I looked to my side upon hearing that voice, there I saw Liliana looking at my face as if she said 「Have you woken up?」
「My bad, I ended up waking you up.」
She squinted her eyes delightfully when I brushed her cheek. Darn, she was so adorable.
… Even though her figure was clearly that of a beautiful high-elf lying half-naked, at this point, even my brain couldn't help but recognize her as 『Adorable』 pet…
Did this phenomenon happen because I had the soul of a human and the body of a demon race?… Did that irregularity affect my mind?
『Aren't you just overestimating the virtue of the human race? Just accept the fact that you're starting to get used to this.』
Yeah, that must be the case.
But still, I woke up far too early.
I slept far earlier yesterday after getting beaten to a pulp and left completely exhausted during the training. It seems the reason I woke up early was because Liliana recovered my wounds along with my stamina.
Yesterday, I finally managed to get Platy to fall on her knee during training with magic. Thanks to the training so far, I got used to Platy's three-spear style, pain magic, and other kinds of hexing.
I on the other hand developed an advanced physical defense which was only possible thanks to the cooperation of the soul of the old soldier along with the combination of bone manipulation magic and necromancy.
That power allows me to fight toe-to-toe against Platy's three-spear style. Platy's frustrated face was truly a sight to behold when I managed to slip past her storm of attacks and deliver a clean hit on her horn.
『You've become… Stronger. Your growth rate is truly… Impressive!!』
Well, it must be frustrating for someone who had been training for more than one hundred years to be outmatched by a mere 5-year-old kid.
And yet, she looks proud for some reason.――
『――Well then, I'll go all out this time!』
But, just when I thought that lifting the ban on using second lineage magic was too immature…
『Never expected that she would use a blade that is made from condensed darkness, what a terrifying woman.』
The bloodline magic that Platy inherited from her father was magic that turned the magical power of darkness into an immensely powerful blade in a moment.
It was a simple yet extremely terrifying magic in the hands of an adept spear user such as Platy. I mean, just when I thought that I managed to dodge her attack, the tip of her spear suddenly extended and dug into my flesh. Not to mention that she used pain amplification hex right at that very moment. When I tried to block it with the human bone spear since the magic shield broke way too easily…
The problem was that the demon race had too many cards to play. This ain't something as simple as 『I held back from using this bloodline magic since it can't be used as a reference for you but, it turned out it's a groundless worry!』.
Yes, I got beaten to a pulp again. I might've died for real had it not for Liliana's healing…
『But, you're finally seeing the bottom of your mother, right? The reason for that defeat is that you're neglecting the magical defense of the bone. You will be more prepared next time, and surpass her with your own prowess.』
Easy for you to say since you're just looking…!
『I'm providing you with third party opinion alright!』
Said Ante as she leaned on her back in my soul vessel…
That moment, I heard an adorable sound coming from my side.
「Wo~of.」
Liliana had a rather pitiful look on her face… Was she by chance, hungry? This reminds me that I didn't feed Liliana her dessert after the meal before I went to sleep since I was so exhausted. Meaning that she wasn't full enough.
「Shall we have a supper(lunch)?」
「Woof!」
Maybe I should treat this as waking up earlier. And sunbathing might not be a bad idea either.
「Good morning, dear♪」
When I asked for a light meal for the imp employee, the flushed Lyla came a while later carrying a meal for us.
「Morning Lyla. Are you sure that you don't have a problem with waking up earlier?」
She looked like she was always awake, did you get enough sleep? This Demon Prince is worrying about your well-being you know…
「Yes. My body is in perfect condition if it's only this much.」
Said Lyla as she clenched her fists to show me that she was in perfect condition.
Since she was a white dragon, basking under the sun seemed to energize her. That's why they were most active during the day, super early risers(by demon race standards).
I mean, there were thick dark circles under her eyelids back when Orphen(dark dragon) presented her to me but…
「I mean, I even get my own private room so that I can get a quiet sleep…」
The dark circles under Lyla's exhausted eyes from back then were long since gone.
… It seems that she had always been harassed and bullied with loud sounds whenever she slept in the dragon cave.
She did a really good job of staying healthy even in that kind of environment. That's why I beg you…Please get enough sleep when you're working for me.
Now then, back to lunch. Yeah, a literal lunch(by human standards).
「Woof, woof!」
Liliana had also happily stuffed fruit into her mouth until fruit juice smeared around her mouth. Since the night elf employee was sleeping around this time, Liliana looked more cheerful than usual.
Due to her high elf trait, Liliana loves to bask under the sunlight.
Even though she had tanned skin in the past, the current her was fair-skinned thanks to the torture that she had experienced during her time being a captive…
「Let's take a stroll for a bit. Are you coming with me, Lyla?」
「With pleasure.」
「Woof! Woofwooof!」
Liliana was jumping around merrily upon hearing that.
Thus, our party had an early afternoon stroll in the Demon King Castle along with Lyla.
Since most employees we met along the way were beastfolk, Liliana was frolicking with Lyla in her human form along the way.
… As long as I ignored the fact that Liliana's limbs were amputated and welded with metal, and my identity as the Demon Prince, this place didn't feel like Demon King Castle at all.
And the best place for hanging around during the day was, of course, the courtyard.
Though I ended up meeting Enma every time I visited that place, I'm sure that I wouldn't meet her this time since she was too busy with her job of removing corpses from the battlefield in the frontline right now.
Meaning that we could be at ease for real this time.
「WOOF WOOF!」
Upon arriving, Liliana didn't waste any time running around the lawn while enjoying the sunlight. Lyla and I sat on the bench while looking at her.
It was almost the end of autumn and yet, the sunlight was still quite strong. What's gonna happen in the winter of this year I wonder? Will the Demon King Army take a break too?
「…」
Lyla rested her head on my shoulder.
Woops , I couldn't help but scan our surroundings. It wasn't that I hate to be seen like this since this was a gesture to show the other how close we are.
But―― This courtyard was truly deserted around this time.
Far above us were the dragons flying in formation.
「… Do you hate it when I do this?」
Maybe because she felt my discomfort, Lyla lifted her head from my shoulder immediately.
Her face was filled with anxiety――
「I'm not.」
I denied her question immediately to reassure her.
「It's not that I hate it.」
That was only natural.
『Humph!! I wish you could look at your silly face right now!!』
Can't be helped dammit! I mean… Lyla is so damn adorable.
I just feel nervous since… There was no way she would like me who turned Liliana into a dog.
『You've got a good angle… Or should I say…』
Uhm, say what?
『No, it's nothing…』
It was rare for Ante to speak in such a roundabout way like this…
「Uhm…」
Woops, I almost forgot that Lyla was still looking anxiously at me.
「I'm just a little surprised.」
I hugged Lyla's shoulder as I smiled at her. And though Lyla was speechless at first when I suddenly did that, she entrusted her body to me immediately.
So warm…
It was truly unbelievable that I could spend my day in peace like this.
Only at this kind of time could I be truly at peace without having to worry about the future of the dragon race or the Demon Kingdom.
Liliana was basking under the sunlight on the lawn before us while looking at the blooming autumn flower…
That was a poisonous flower… Liliana shouldn't have a problem with that…
「…」
Lyla squinted her eyes as a smile was blooming on her face.
「… You can sleep if you want to.」
「Ah, it's okay. It's not like I'm sleepy.」
Lyla replied with a slightly embarrassed face.
「Did you get enough sleep? You mustn't overwork your body you know.」
「Thank you, I have enough sleep.」
「If you want to, you can come early at night.」
「That's…」
She looked troubled for a moment.
「… Much… together.」
「Eh?」
「I think… It'll be much better if we're sticking together around the clock…」
…
Though Lyla's face was flushed as red as a tomato when she said those words, I also felt that my face heated up.
W-What an… Outrageous thing this girl said just now!!!
『GAAH! THE HECK WITH DAT FACE! NO WONDER THE FACT THAT YOU'RE A VIRGIN GOT DISCOVERED RIGHT AWAY!』
OH SHUT IT! THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT!!!
But I snapped out right away thanks to Ante's charade.
「I-I see…」
But then, despite nodding desperately as she spoke.――
Zap.
There were footsteps behind.
「If it isn't..」
Voice akin to creaking metal―― Resounded from somewhere.
「Your Highness Jilbagias.」
When I turned around, a huge man walked out from the shadow of the corridor.
His cold, blue eyes were looking at me――
「It's been a while. You seem to be in good spirits.」
Dark Dragon King Orphen stood over there.
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