Chapter 79

That’s why— “I can’t lose until a sadistic dreamboat takes my virginityyyy—!” “Phrasing!” Shinichi shrieked. “Overdrive!” Her entire body was encircled in blinding light. With blood spurting from her arm, she pushed back Darc’s arm and slammed it to the table. The impact split the surface in half, sending the dark elf to the ground, jaw slack from shock. Shinichi took the light elf’s blood-soaked arm and raised it high. “The winner is…Clarissa!” “Congrats, Clarissa!” “I knew you could do it!” Rosier and Maren cried out in joy, hugging Clarissa, who grinned in silence. The loser slowly stood in front of her and smiled gently. “Thank you. Good game.” “No, thank you. You’re not half bad.” Darc extended a hand, and Clarissa gripped it back. They smiled at each other, then Darc quietly turned away. “I guess there are many powerful people in this world other than the Demon King… I’m gonna start training from scratch. See ya!” “Good luck.” Shinichi waved as the muscular man rushed out the door. The light elves waved to him from behind. “And do you remember why we’re here today?” “““…Ack!””” Their faces, flushed from victory, turned pale. After two whole months of searching, Ribido had finally tracked down one strong, sincere, single, and smoking-hot guy, and they’d let him get away without a fight. “We can clean up tomorrow. Let’s break for today,” Shinichi suggested. “Understood,” replied Celes as the two left the room, leaving Clarissa and her friends frozen in shock. As soon as the door closed, the girls exploded on one another. “Clarissa! What have you done?!” “We won’t ever find a catch as good as him!” “H-h-h-he said he didn’t like weak girls! I had to try!” “You tried too hard! Boys are sensitive creatures! You need to lose on purpose to make them feel stronger!” “This is all because you have no experience…” “Shut up! You’re both virgins with no dating experience—other than kissing up to an imbecile and getting harassed by a dirty grandpa!” “…Clarissa, did I just hear you correctly?” “…I haven’t been this mad in a long time.” “You wanna go? Come at me!” Shinichi grinned to himself when he heard magic blasted and insults barked. “There’s no way to eliminate fighting from this world as long as humans and resources are limited…” “Says the man who put kindling in the fire.” Shinichi responded with a tiny yawn as they walked down the hallway of the Demon King’s castle. “Huff… What a busy day.” Shinichi dived into his bed on returning to his room. “Good job,” Celes commended him, standing next to the wall like she was waiting for her next order. Their work was done, and she could retire to her own room, but Shinichi thought it might be rude to chase her off. He sat up. “Celes, have you never thought about marriage?” “Black Dragon who rules below the surface—” Celes started to chant. “Declining to answer, huh?!” Shinichi rushed to explain himself. “I just thought someone must have proposed to you, since you’re so strong among the demons.” “Well, I cannot say there have been none…” Celes must have been upset that he didn’t seem particularly jealous, and she pouted. “The topic was broached a few times…around five years after Lady Regina met His Majesty during our travels and bore Rino.” Apparently, there had been times when dark elves proposed at first sight and Ribido and Regina introduced her to eligible bachelors. None of them, it seemed, went well. “But there was never anyone stronger than me.” “Ah…” That made sense to Shinichi. Celes was the sole pupil of the Blue Princess of War, who was matched in power with the almighty Blue Demon King. For the past ten years, the only man to rival her magic was her master, the Demon King himself. “Just because I’m a demon doesn’t mean I’ll marry on strength alone. In fact, many marry for love. I’ve simply never met anyone who made me feel that way.” If Ribido was here, she’d blame Celes for never putting herself out there. In reality, Celes had been too busy and having too much fun caring for Rino, which was why she never settled down. It’s like when people miss their chance to get married because of doting over their new pet, thought Shinichi. As if reading his mind, Celes glared at him, and Shinichi quickly looked away. “You’re so…” Celes sighed in frustration before taking a big breath like she was preparing for something. “You know, I have finally found what I was looking for.” “And what’s that?” “Someone stronger than me.” She stared at him. Her golden eyes made him think of the moon. There was the Goddess Elazonia, who’d managed to pull a fast one on the Demon King, and the Dirty Advisor, who went above her and succeeded in his plot to destroy her. “No, I—” “The ability to get others to cooperate is a type of power,” Celes quietly admitted as Shinichi tried to piece together a random excuse. When it came to a fight to the death, nothing was off the table—not even underhanded tricks. Judging by demon standards, Shinichi was the strongest person Celes had ever met. “Your strength of mind changed the world—and me. It’s something neither His Majesty nor My Lady have.” “You won’t get anything from sucking up to me, except maybe some candy.” Shinichi blushed and tried to veer the conversation offtrack, but she wouldn’t drop the topic or her gaze. “Will you continue to let me be by your side as I watch your strength transform the world?” “……” Celes implored him with dewy eyes. He looked back at her for a moment in silence before flashing his usual smile. “I’m just a puny human who can’t even Teleport. You think I’ll ever part with my overpowered, pervy maid?” “Pervy? How dare you.” “Gaaaaaah—!” He screamed out in pain. Celes clamped a claw on Shinichi’s skull, squeezing so hard he thought his head might crack. “You’re so…” Celes sighed and removed her hand from his face. Just as she reached the door, ready to leave, she spun around, lifting the hem of her skirt and curtsying with a gentle smile. “From this day forward, till death do us part, I’ll be in your care, Master.” “Uh… What is that supp—” Shinichi started, but Celes shut the door behind her. He heard her walking away. Now alone, he pressed his hands to his burning cheeks and rolled back to lie on the bed. “That’s so unfair…” He thought he heard a voice—“Says you”—and continued to toss and turn in bed.