Chapter 363: The Power of Love and Fire is Proportional

After dispelling Nell’s misunderstanding with my life on the line, I somehow managed to prolong my life. Now I only have to sit seiza for a long time, but I went through hell before I got to this point. I’ve healed myself with magic, but the surface of my face is still tingling like a burn.

「Shishō, are you okay? Do you want me to collect your ashes?」

「You sometimes say something terrible that I wonder if it’s a dark joke. You’re more or less worried about me, right?」

The words that were released were very harsh to me personally. However, it wasn’t entirely wrong since I received attacks that could turn me into ashes. The gorgeously-decorated party venue has been burned down by the giant monster Nellgon. The dishes and liquor were evacuated by Haru and the others, so they are fine. If possible, I wanted them to evacuate me as well.

「Deris, I get the gist of it, but the interrogation isn’t over yet, you know? Now, speak up. Tell me everything.」

I explained to her that I didn’t make any promise with Touko. I made that kind of promise with Lilyvia, but I desperately explained to her that it was because I believed that Haru and the others would win, and there was no ulterior motive at all.

「But in fact, they were about to lose, right? Deris, even you believed that they would lose until Touko’s comeback, right?」

「Yes….」

「What were you going to do if they really lost? Did you really intend to carry out that promise? Tell me more about it. Come on.」

「About that, well….」

Even though the direct attack has disappeared, the mental attack still continues. It’s hard to answer, really.

「Of course~. Goshujin-sama is not the kind of person who would break his promise! If I won, if only I had won! I would have been having a passionate night right now…. Ah, I’ll always be your ally, Goshujin-sama ♪」

「Hou?」

An enemy, Lily is definitely an enemy! This is bad, I will end up receiving Nell’s iron claw again…!n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

「H-Hey, can you forgive him already? It’s true that I talked about something like that with Lily-shishō, but I don’t want it if it would hurt Deris-danna.」

「Eh!? Touko-chan, are you sane!? Now is your chance, you know!?」

Lily, you’re an enemy after all.

「Ah… Tehehe.」

Perhaps she guessed what I was thinking, Lily intentionally put out her tongue to gloss it over. Let’s leave her alone for now. I will get burned if I talk about it more than this.

「Nell-san, Shishō didn’t have any ill will. I’m also at fault for not being able to meet Shishō’s expectations! I’m sorry!」

「Nell-shishō, since Touko said so, I think it’s better not to make things worse more than this….」

「H-Hey, it’s like I’m the villain here if you say it like that. Jeez, fine. But Deris, there’s no next time, okay?」

「Yeah, I know. I won’t make that kind of promise anymore….」

「So, what about Touko-chan’s reward? She worked so hard, so you’re not going to say that you won’t give her anything, right? Right?」

Lily! Haru and Goddess Chinatsu did their best to stop Nell, but you――!

「…. Well, it’s irritating, but Lily has a point. In fact, it ended without Deris being sullied by her.」

「O-Oh…?」

「H-Huh?」

However, Nell was surprisingly calm. I and Lily were surprised by her unexpected reaction.

「Hmm, what to do? It’s out of the question to keep the promise as it is――」

「――Now, now, there’s no need to decide it right away! Nell-dono, please take your time and think about it! By the way, is it okay for us to start cleaning this room now?」

When Zex said so, I could see cleaning golems waiting outside the door of the room. They probably came to repair and clean the place that was destroyed by Nell.

「Ah, I’m sorry that I burned and melted it this much…. Zex, I will pay the repair expense, so send me the bill later.」

「FUHAHAHAHAHA! Don’t worry, I was able to see something interesting, so you don’t have to pay for it.」

「Then, let me help you with the cleaning, Zex-san! I’ve been staying here, so I’ve been itching to do some housework!」

「Hohou, then, by all means! Haruna-dono’s cleaning skills may lead to new product ideas! FUHAHAHA!」

Zex was laughing like that, but the state of the place behind him was terrible.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The celebration party ended in an unexpected way, but it can be said that it was fortunate that no one died. There was a fierce exchange between Deris and Nell, but in a way, that was just a part of their daily life. Nell sent out her super destructive flames one after another, but Deris was still alive even after being hit by them. Despite everything, he could walk back to his room with his numb legs. His toughness sure is amazing.

『That’s the type who will live long despite everything, y’know~』

「「「Hmm?」」」

The three disciples have a question mark on their heads. They felt like they heard the voice of someone who wasn’t supposed to be there.

「I felt like I heard something….」

「Me too!」

「More importantly, let’s start it already. The food is going to get cold.」

Haruna and the others brought the rest of the food that was evacuated during Nell’s rage, and they secretly gathered in Haruna and Chinatsu’s room to hold a review meeting after the celebration. Even though they won the match against Lilyvia, they were just lucky. After all, they would lose against her if they were to fight again. The three are already wearing their pajamas and it’s somewhat like a pajamas party, but it’s a review meeting.

「Then, I’d like to start the review meeting. The concept of this meeting is to express our opinions frankly. Let’s make it a meaningful time together.」

Chinatsu’s tone was brighter and more cheerful than usual, probably because she spat out her stress considerably in the previous battle.

「Yes! First of all, I want to applaud Touko-chan again! You’re amazing, Touko-chan!」

「That’s right, you’re amazing, Touko! Everyone, applause!」

――――Clap clap clap!

At the command of Chinatsu, the sound of applause resounded in the room.

「H-Hey, stop it. T-That’s not true. I-I’m serious…!」

On the other hand, Touko probably didn’t expect to be praised like this. Moreover, it was praise from Haruna, who she decided to be her eternal rival. The combination of embarrassment and happiness made her panic and blush.

「No, it was really amazing. You can be proud of it. So, why am I here?」

By the way, Hund Lind was also invited to the meeting. In the flower garden where cute girls gather, he looks a little uncomfortable.

「What are you talking about, Hund-kun! We are friends and comrades, so it’s natural to have a review meeting together like this! Yesterday’s enemy is today’s friend, and then becomes a powerful enemy in the future!」

「Eh? Ah, I see…?」

Persuasion completed. Hund reseated himself and chewed his food.