SSMDTSKKYIKSSKS – Chapter 1. [Interlude]

Chapter 1. [Interlude]
“Wife’s Care ~ Ah, a Maid Wife Is Good After All ~”

 

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An inn in a plaza a little far from the exam site. Sitting on the bed in the room where I’d been staying for a few days, I nodded my head in satisfaction.

[Keith, Shaula, and Roca. We had three promising kids today. It’s quite something, don’t you think, Rena?]

Then the space behind me, which until now had been empty of any signs, shook, and a silver-haired maid girl appeared and hugged me from behind.

[Lucifer-sama… Hmm… Huh… Lucifer-sama’s smell.]

She’s not listening completely. I mean, in this posture, her too-bulky breasts are pressed tightly against me. Although it was a trivial game that was far from a real battle, it was the first time I had fought in a long time, and I was in the mood to fight.

[Are your ribs all right, Lucifer-sama? I will caress them and heal them.]

Yeah, you’re stroking the navel, not the flank. And why is your hand gradually shifting downward?

[If it’s a fracture, it’s already healed, so I’m fine. The pain is gone. But Rena, I’m asking you seriously.]

[Those beast girls have done so much to Lucifer-sama. I would like to tear them to pieces right now. Can I have your permission?]

[I won’t give it to you. So, how is it? It shouldn’t be too bad.]

Although she says it to mean that she is looking forward to the future, Lena is not quite enthusiastic about it.

[I admit that they have the power. But from what I saw today, I don’t think they can endure the hardships of being a hero or companion ……]

[Is that what you think from your own experience, my former hero?]

Rena nodded her head, her nose resting on the tip of my neck.

[What a brave man needs is not only strength but also a strong heart, and far from being noble. Distorted self-esteem is like arrogance itself. Without it, there is no such thing as a hero.]

[Really? You came to defeat me and you looked so full of light and precious, didn’t you?]

[Because I was exhausted by the process of being recognized as a hero. I had seen so much of the irrepressible malice of the humans that I wonder why they went to defeat Lucifer-sama in such a disciplined manner.]

I’ve slowly heard about the process of becoming a hero over the long hours spent with Rena.
At that time, she was the strongest in the country, and she was always at the front of the line at the organization for the training of heroes and many people did not take kindly to that.

This is probably partly because she is not a noblewoman and partly because she used to be a mere maid. Nobles and royalty are cold to the poor and commoners.

[It’s the same for all races, isn’t it, the weak pulling the strong down?]

Among the demon tribe, such problems happened not a few times. When I was not yet a demon king, and even after I killed my predecessor and became Lucifer, many things happened.

But I have suppressed it all with my power.

[I’m sure Lucifer-sama is not afraid no matter how much he is dragged down. He’s wonderful.]

[You guys are helping me out. I hope I can count on you to keep up the good work.]

[Of course! I have dedicated my body and soul to Lucifer-sama. I will serve at your side until this body is destroyed, or even after it is destroyed, even if I have to become a ghost.]

Rena hugged me strongly. It was soft and comfortable.

But maybe it’s not a good time.

[Lucifer-sama? How are you doing ……? Are you excited?]

[Slightly.]

It wasn’t light, but it was very light. The unexplainable feeling that has been pressing against my back for a while now is about to blow my reason out of the water.

[You are looking at the beast’s daughters quite warmly, too.]

[As I said, I’m looking forward to seeing where it goes.]

[Is that all there is to it? What would Lucifer-sama have done with those girls if that had been an empty ruin or wilderness instead of an examination hall?]

Rena giggles and licks my ear. She knows everything, doesn’t she? Of course, she knows that I’m about to reach my limit.

[Tomorrow is the magic test. I will calm you down a little so that you don’t get too excited and accidentally blow up the whole city.]

[…… Oh. I don’t know what the test is, but that might happen. Okay, Rena.]

[No, Lucifer-sama.]

[? What?]

Rena comes around in front of me on the bed and puts her forehead on my forehead.

[I would appreciate it if you would use your usual tone of voice when we are alone.]

[I think it was Rena who adjusted a lot before she came to the empire because she would have become rude and violent.]

[I don’t want to frighten people. Only when we are alone, please be your usual self, Lucifer-sama.]

Her bright, dark purple eyes are lovely. Her hair is as beautiful as silver thread. I can’t help it. Alas, the feel of it melts my reason.

Well, just for now, I guess. It’s only me and my possessions here anyway.

[…… Good grief. You’re selfish, you know that? I won’t let you sleep tonight.]

[Ah! ……! Hah, Lucifer-sama ……!]

I pushed Rena down roughly.

Her long silver hair was disheveled on the bed and her sensational eyes gazed at me, and when I took her lips from hers, the memory flashed.

When the curtains of the room were opened, the dazzling morning sun illuminated the room.

While dressing lightly, I look at the bed.

A scene that had me lose my reason. So I decided to just say a word.

[It’s morning already …… early.]

[You okay, Rena?]

[……]

[Rena.]

She seemed to be struggling to regulate her disordered breathing and sounded as if she were in a fever.

[…… that …… yes, I’m okay.]

[Take it easy. You can go back to sleep.]

[Lucifer-sama.]

[Yeah?]

[Why don’t you continue? I don’t care about the exams anymore.]

[ …… No.]

[Where are you going, Lucifer-sama?]

[I’m a step ahead of you out there. If you want to follow me, come after you get that …… stuff in order.]

[…… sure.]

I run out of the room without seeing her say anything more than a little disappointed.

As I descended the stairs in front of the room I had rented on the second floor, I ran into the innkeeper.

[Hey, you.]

[What is it …… no, no, what is it?]

The landlady is …… No, I can’t do this anymore. Let’s switch.

[ I know you are young, energetic, and intense, but please don’t let the bed fall out. This place is old.]

Oh, no. Should I have lightly wired the room to make it soundproof? I can’t believe I didn’t even think of that.

[Oh, sorry. Haha ……]

I finished my breakfast lightly and went outside.

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