Chapter 468: Congratulatory Gift

――――The 74th day of training.

Rising from bed with the sunlight coming in through the window, I slowly stand up with my feet on the floor. While standing upright, I confirmed that my balance was stable. Next, I lightly jumped up and down, and there was no problem. I took out my black staff and raised it with one hand, but I didn’t feel any discomfort in my waist. Rather, my body feels lighter and better than before the fight with Maria.

「Yep, It’s safe to say that I’ve completely recovered. With the first aid from Chinatsu’s magic, enough rest, Nell’s tender care, and Haru’s medicinal cooking, I could blow away the fatigue from the battle against Maria, the side effects of Quitet’s suspicious drug, and the serious injury inflicted by Lily. Thank you, my wife and disciples.」

I can be grateful even if I don’t have faith. Thus, I put my hands together and show my feelings as best I can. …… Alright.

With a light footstep, I left the hospital room and headed for the courtyard of Crocus Castle, relying on the flow of magic power. From there, I could hear a loud sound. There are only a few people staying at the castle who would do such a thing without minding others.

「Jeez~, why can’t you do it~? I only used the magic power of a single hair, you know~?」

「I-I-I-I can’t do it! I’m going to die! I’m really going to die! I can’t defeat this monster!」

「……What the hell are you doing?」

「Ah, Shishō!」

「Danna!」

In the courtyard where Haru, Touko, and the uneven trio were gathered, Maria was there as well for some reason. And there was a squirrel-shaped magic creature, which seems to belong to Maria’s Celestial Zoa, relentlessly hunting down the crying Oda. Although the body is a cute little animal-like creature, its strength is the real deal. It is obvious that Oda is no match for it that’s at least as strong as a Demon King. Maria is making a dumbfounded face, but her mouth is slightly smiling. She is definitely enjoying it.

「I see that you’ve fully recovered from your near-death state! As expected of Shishō, you have great resilience!」

「Yeah, it’s as Haruna says!」

「It’s thanks to Haru and the others. Ah, more importantly, what are they doing? Is that a new kind of bullying?」

「No, how should I put it…」

「A lot of things happened and we decided to train Oda. We were planning to teach him our own training methods, but just now Maria-shihan came here while humming and said that she would train him. Well, we thought we’d give it a try, but it seems that it doesn’t suit him.」

「I don’t think there’s anyone who can match Maria’s wavelength…. Hm? Touko, are calling Maria with 『shihan』?」

「She told me to call her that since she’s Lily-shishō’s mother. I didn’t have the time to ask Lily-shishō, so I’m calling her that for now.」

「And Maria-san is in a good mood because of that.」

(TLn: shihan is similar to shishō, but it’s more like an example or model. Source: google.)

And she’s in a better mood by toying with Oda. Now, I don’t know where I should start. This vampire sure is doing whatever she wants, huh? Well, I guess I will save Oda now.]

「Maria, you are supposed to be in a meeting with Clarius right now, right? Is it okay to slip out and come to this place?」

「Hmm? Oh, it’s Deris. Is your body finally recovered? It’s too slow~. I guess it’s because you’re an old man now, right?」

Fuhaha, that’s right. If you know that I’m old, I’d appreciate it if you don’t pick a fight with me anymore.

「Don’t make fun of me, answer the question.」

「Boo~, thank you for the boring reply! It’s break time now. Sitting on a chair all the time is not good for a maiden’s health, right? That’s why I’m training the Queen’s knight like this! It’s also an apology for the inconvenience I’ve caused~. The knight is getting stronger and I’m satisfied, it’s a good idea full of pluses, right? But, the knight is weaker than I imagined. He’s only as strong as the lowest class of my subordinates!」

「Gueh!?」

「Don’t be unreasonable. Oda who’s crying there is a hero, but he’s a hero for an ordinary Demon King. He’s not strong enough to fight against the Great Eight Demons, unlike Haru and Touko. He’s pitiful, you know!?」

「Ugh!?」

「Deris-san, Deris-san, if you say more than that, not only Oda’s body but his pride will be shattered, so please go easy on him.」

Fuchi apologetically whispered to me. When I turned around, I saw Oda vomiting blood before I knew it. That damn Maria, what a terrible person.

「Even so, Maria-chan, the world’s most popular person, won’t give up! I believe that even a weakling can be forged if you beat them, so I’m going to keep on beating him like this! Well then!」

「Gyaaa! I-It’s coming again!?」

「Hey, heeey….」

My voice was ignored, and the special training, which I don’t even understand the meaning of it, restarted. Oda is just being tormented by a squirrel. Well, I wonder if it will make him sturdier and have more guts…

「Fuchi, Mani, I will give this to you.」

「Yes? …… Is this a special training schedule?」

「Not only for Oda-kun, but also for us…?」

「Yeah, I got the gist of it from what Nell told me. I had some free time when I was in the hospital, so I made the schedule for you two as well. I was making it to kill time, so it’s up to you whether you will use it or not. Well, at least I can guarantee that it’s more effective than imitating Haru’s training or being trained by Maria like that.」

「…… Sure, it seems that even an ordinary person like Oda can do this. Thank you very much. Haha, you beat me to the punch. I was planning to ask you to make a schedule that suits Oda after you’ve completely recovered.」

「Then, it’s just right. Besides, it’s not such a big deal, so don’t mind about it. Well, if you’re that happy, give it to him and tell him that it’s a congratulatory gift for him and Queen Clarius.」

「I see, this is the best gift. I promise to convey it to Oda if he can survive that.」

「Yeah, I hope he can survive that.」

「Um, thank you for making one for us as well. It’s really helpful. Also, I will definitely do my best to do it every day…!

「Yeah, do your best. Depending on your efforts, you may reach level 7 someday. Well, before that, Haru and others may get permission to use the door to another world.」

The training schedule for the uneven trio is much milder than the one for the girls. It’s a kind that avoids dangerous acts as much as possible and steadily gains experience to become stronger. Even so, their levels will surely rise if they keep doing it for a few months. For Oda, who has decided to live permanently in Crocus, this is just right.

「Gyaaaa!」

「Wait~ ♪. You can’t escape from me~ ♪」

…… If he’s still alive, that is.

「Ah, that’s right. Now that I’ve been discharged from the hospital, can you accompany me with my warming-up, Haru? There is a suitable dungeon near here.」

「Fighting together with Shishō!? By all means!」

「Then, that settles it. As they said, strike while the iron is hot, so let’s go ten minutes――」

「………」

「――And Touko, how about going to the dungeon with us?」

「I-It can’t be helped~. If Deris-danna invites me, then I will go too~」

「Wah, Touko-chan is going too~. Let’s do our best!」n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

I’m not a demon. If she looks at me like an abandoned puppy, I’ll invite her, of course.