Chapter 248: Do as One Pleases

「Nooo! I want to show off my dress~!」

「Hey, don’t be selfish! It’s my wedding, you know!?」

「I’m sorry. We can’t accept such a large sum of money. On the contrary, it’s troubling.」

「Oh, kids these days sure are well-raised. Then, I’ll give you candies instead.」

「Ahaha, Old Vakala~. I think those garlic-flavored candies will only please Maria, you know?」

「………」

「Haru, don’t force yourself to endure the bad taste. You can spit it out.」

The negotiations were difficult. Or rather, it was already a mess. Maria is throwing a tantrum on the table and won’t listen to Nell’s words, Vakala is trying to impose a lot of money on Haru and Chinatsu―― as a guardian, I think I should keep that money. No, I don’t want that candy.

「Hey, this is getting out of hand! Let’s calm down, everyone!」

I threw the garlic candy that Vakala had imposed on me into Maria’s mouth and told everyone to calm down. Just so you know, I’m still holding hands with Nell. Just when I think she’s calmed down, she tries to reach for the hilt of her sword. My arm is already at its limit. It’s tattered…!

「Agalia wants to do some entertainment. Vakala wants to say something. Maria wants to show off her dress in front of everyone. Nell wants to beat Maria up. In short, it’s like this, right?」

「「「「Yes.」」」」

When it comes to something like this, they replied in harmony, huh….

「Alright. I will force a program that will fulfill everyone’s wishes into the schedule. So, don’t cause trouble more than this.」

「Eh, really!? Deris, is that true!? I got your words, yay~!」

「Deris, I always believed that you are a capable man. Yeah, I always believed that. We are friends after all!」

「Well, it’s natural. It won’t start without my greeting after all. You sure understand that well, Deris. Here, I’ll give you a candy.」

「…… Deris, are you serious?」

I’m serious, super serious. So, don’t squeeze my hand more than that! Your love is going to crush me!

「D-Deris-san, are you sure? Making such a promise….」

「Shishō, I will do anything! I will do my best to help you!」

「Y-Yeah, thanks for worrying about me. Don’t worry, I have a plan.」

For some reason, Haru is strangely motivated. Is it because she ate that garlic-flavored candy a while ago? Haha, no way. ……No, it’s quite possible for Haru.

「Maria, you also have to keep your words. Don’t cause a problem, okay? If I judged that there’s a problem, your chance to show off your dress will be gone at that moment.」

「I-I know. I will be careful~」

「You too, Agalia, Vakala. Make sure the other Great Eight Demons are aware of this too.」

「Haha, that’s a needless worry. We’ve agreed to it, and I don’t think Rimudo and Zex would do something strange. Also, Alezel and Lilyvia are originally the Great Eight Demons on your side, right?」

「Umu, no problem at all. If I had to say, I don’t know what the newcomer Hund would do….」

Eh, Hund is coming too? B-But, well, I’m sure he’s the most sensible person in the Great Eight Demons. In a sense, he’s the most trustworthy. Yeah, I trust Hund from the bottom of my heart. At least more than the top three!

「By the way, are your subordinates coming with you?」

「I’m planning to make them stay at home on the day of the ceremony~」

「Well, we are not so rude as to bring our subordinates to the celebration. There are some meddlers in our army, so they forced me to take them as escorts for formality.」

What’s with that subtle line of concern? Still, in that case, their subordinates will have free time, huh.

「Nell, how about we hire these guys as staff at the venue?」

「Deris, is your head okay? Are you sane?」

「Don’t suddenly make a serious face….」

I’m not joking, you know? Even though they are just mobs, they are strong enough to be entrusted as the escorts of the Great Eight Demons. During the ceremony, I won’t be able to feel at ease if they are out of sight.

Also, I have been observing their work behavior from a while ago, and I can see that they have been taking sensible actions, such as reading the atmosphere of the place, bringing in the liquor, and livening up the mood. Since each person is as strong as Haru, even if a fighting scene were to happen, they can deal with it on their own.

When I explained it and looked at Nell’s face, she was quite troubled. I’m sure she’s hesitating to hire the people from someone whom she has tentatively designated as her enemies. However, even Nell wouldn’t want to leave these guys in the city. When comparing them, I’m sure her choice would be――

「About their positions, let’s talk about it later. I’m drunk and tired, so I can’t think clearly in this state.」

――Yeah, this one. Hey, she’s drunk after all.

「Vakala, sorry that we decided it on our own, but can we borrow these guys for the day?」

「Even if they wait, there’s nothing for them to do other than sightseeing. I don’t mind.」

「You were going to let them go sightseeing, huh…. What about you, Maria?」

「I don’t mind too. The vampires from 『Maria-chan’s Protector Squad』 are top-notch who have the Service Skill, I promise that they will definitely be useful!」

「They are like top-notch butler-type hosts, huh. Got it. You all will be here until the day, right? We will let you know after we’ve decided on their roles.」

「「Roger!」」

It’s decided, it’s settled, it’s ended safely! In the beginning, I was terrified when I found out that Nell was drunk and was wondering what should I do, but I was able to manage somehow! Humans can do anything if they try.

「My~, you sure are having a hard time, Deris. You haven’t changed since a long time ago, huh.」

「If you think so, please make it easier for me. Agalia, as the head of the Great Eight Demons, keep your promise, okay?」

「Don’t worry. As long as you give me what I want, I’ll keep my promise.」

「I see. That helps.」

Thus, we were able to get out of this shabby shop without destroying Adelheit.

「――Haa…. It might be too late saying it now, but I was so nervous. They were unexpectedly frank, and I couldn’t grasp their strength at all….」

「Haha. If you can grasp their strength, then it would mean that you’ve reached the realm where you can analyze any person.」

「Ah, but, I think I can have a good match against their subordinates!」

「Let’s see, should we try to ask for a practice match? If it’s them, maybe they will accept it―― Nell?」

I can feel a superb sensation from my arm that’s holding Nell’s hand. When I look at Nell, I see that she fell asleep while hugging my arm.

「Kuu….」

「Nell-shishō fell asleep, huh.」

「Wah, what a cute sleeping face.」

「It seems that she was actually drunk and has reached her limit….」

I carried the sleeping Nell on my back and returned to the mansion while ignoring the bewildered slum dwellers. Their reaction toward the peacefully sleeping Nell was the same as when we came. Oh my.