Demon King, Retry! Chapter 23-25

It didn't feel like it will be going the route of peacefully investigate and then return…

—Holy Capital: Night.

(Now then, we managed to secure the inn.) (Maou)

I used a big gold I had and secured a lodge in the Holy Capital.

It is apparently quite the popular and high cla.s.s inn.

If we consider the lack of money in possession right now, a cheap inn would have worked, but thinking about how we will be advertising the hot spring and hospital, it would be better to push the image of being a highly wealthy person.

The words of a poor person and a rich person have different levels of persuasion even if the same words are used.

"And so, the establishment is called Artemis, right?" (Maou)

The place that Luna introduced us to had quite the decent name considering the country. That I am counting the name of the place being decent as a surprise is already quite the sad thing though.

"Yeah, it is a nice place that's worthy of being visited by a high cla.s.s person like me." (Luna)

"High cla.s.s, huh… More importantly, why is it that you are also staying at the inn?" (Maou)

"I-Isn't it okay? …It is my own business where I stay!" (Luna)

It is not your own business! I am the one paying the stay!

I wanted to twist that mouth of hers, but I can't gather strange attention in the middle of the city. I am already gathering attention as it is after all.

A Holy Maiden, a man that calls himself the Demon Lord, a lab coat beauty, and a white dress princess; no matter the place, we would stir it up just by walking there.

> (Yuu)

<…indeed.>> (Maou)

No, sorry. I don't know what you are talking about at all.

> (Yuu)

> (Maou)

Now that I think about it, I did write something like that in the brief background story of the game…

So for the close-aides, that is also a reality, huh. s.h.i.+zuka has a lot of stories like this, so I feel like she will become quite the dangerous character.

She was like a little joke made to show the mercilessness of the Grand Empire, but when it turns into reality, it makes me tremble to the pit of my stomach.

"Maou-sama… Is it okay for someone like me to enter an amazing store like that?" (Aku)

"There's no need to worry. You look like a princess right now." (Maou)

"A p-princess, you say…" (Aku)

I calm myself after seeing Aku's face redden and getting embarra.s.sed.

Isn't this girl slowly becoming the medicine that stabilizes my mind?

(At any rate, this is a dreamlike city…) (Maou)

Street lights that were releasing a variety of lights were standing here and there in the city as if colouring the night.

There's also a water fountain at the main street, and I could even see many couples flirting around it.

(The attire of the people walking around is also completely different.) (Maou)

They are obviously clean clothes, but there's also many clothes that are centered in being stylish. It seems like they are even picky with their hairstyle, I could feel like they have put their own style to them in it.

I didn't feel it that much in the morning, but it feels as if, when night comes, it turns into something like s.h.i.+buya.

There were a variety of signs that use magic crystals lined up on the path, and the dressed-up women that are standing at the bars were calling out the people that were pa.s.sing by.

With how things look, I feel like there's a red-light district somewhere.

(In the day it is the Holy Capital, and at night it is a different face, huh…) (Maou)

Interesting, is how I thought.

Looks like it isn't trying to pa.s.s off as being a city solely of purity.

I don't hate the tranquil feeling that a temple gives, but I by no means hate a lively and flashy city like this.

"Luna, this is an interesting city." (Maou)

"I-Is that so? It is rare of you to praise something." (Luna)

Luna was making a shocked expression, maybe because it was unexpected.

It was no sarcasm. I felt like I understood something here.

"This is a lot easier to understand than being told stuff like angels and the like. The desires of people are showing as they are… So this place is the core of the country." (Maou)

Doing their best, polis.h.i.+ng themselves, and finally obtaining money and power.

This is the place that welcomes those kind of people.

This is a lot more realistic than being told shady stuff like 'you will be happy in the life after death'.

"Desires, you say… You… We are here. This is Artemis." (Luna)

"Fumu, well then, let's go." (Maou)

Entering the establishment, it was like this was a different world.

I could soon tell from the quality of the customers.

People in expensive-looking clothes were sipping on wine and eating meat as they elegantly chat. It was like a social gathering.

"Lunsama, we are glad for your visit."

"Yeah, counting on you for something good today as well, okay?" (Luna)

When we got to our seats, a person that looked like the owner of the place came to greet us. As expected of someone carrying the t.i.tle of Holy Maiden.

Looks like this t.i.tle of hers will be of great use to me in the future as well.

"Now then, let's celebrate grandly for the healed leg of Aku." (Maou)

The dishes that were brought to the table one after the other were making Aku open her eyes wide, but my heart was also beating fast. However, maybe because the body of Kunai Hakuto is familiar with table manners, it was showing polished conduct as if I was a n.o.ble since birth.

"Aku, no need to mind things like manners. Eat in any way you wish." (Maou)

"Y-Yes!" (Aku)

It might be a good idea to not only come to high cla.s.s restaurants like this, but a restaurant where we can eat more at ease.

I would like to relax my shoulders and eat comfortably too after all.

> (Yuu)

> (Maou)

The food that was prepared in the game was mainly things that were found in modern j.a.pan. If we were to replace them for the ones in real life, then of course they would be delicious.

j.a.pan is the kind of country that would get ingredients from the other side of the world to make even things like fast food.

Freezing techniques, manufacturing techniques, cooking techniques; this world is far lower in terms of those areas, so it would be harsh to compare the dishes of this world to our own.

(Now then, when talking about celebrations, we talk about cakes.) (Maou)

In the game, there's obviously cakes as well, but it is an item that can't be obtained directly. There's the need for an > in order to make the item.

With the use of that ingredient, it is possible to make four types of recovery items.

>

>

>

>

On top of that, the people that have the Survival Skill [Cooking] can increase their options further, and additional effects will show.

>

>

>

Is how it would go.

Sadly to say, Kunai doesn't have the cooking skill. In regards to this part, it would be either getting back the Skill Acquisition Right, or calling a close-aide with the skill.

"[High Grade Item Creation: Ingredient]." (Maou)

I create the ingredients below the table.

I say ingredient, but it is actually a beautiful white ball. There's no knowing for what it will be changed into, so it must have taken this form.

Should I put on a bit of airs in this place?

"[Item Manufacture: Strawberry Tart]." (Maou)

I thought it was a bit pretentious of me, but I snapped my left hand fingers and acted as if it were magic.

The ingredient began to visibly change and a strawberry tart was made within the light.

From an outsider's perspective, this would look exactly like magic…

"Waah! Maou-sama, is that a pastry?!" (Aku)

"W-What is that?! It is incredibly cute!" (Luna)

As I thought, girls like cakes no matter the world. It was worth using 20 SP.

It is not as if I myself was the one who made it, but I could feel as if I had become a first-cla.s.s patissiere.

"Aku, this is my present for you. Yuu, slice it please." (Maou)

"Yes, Chief." (Yuu)

It recovers vitality by 50, so the exhaustion from the long journey will be blown away. Two birds with one stone.

The cut tart was placed on the plates of each of us, and they slowly brought it into their mouths.

I do have confidence in the taste, but I don't really like sweet things that much…

"Sweet! Delicious! Cute!" (Aku)

"Uaaaah! Delicioooous! I feel like my cheeks will melt! You, what magic did you use?!" (Luna)

"This really brings happiness inside one's mouth, Chief… Fuuuh…!" (Yuu)

"I-I see… That's great." (Maou)

Aren't these girls making way too much of a ruckus?

I do understand liking sweet things, but…to think even Yuu would act like that…

"You seem to be having quite a lot of fun there…Lunchan."

"Feh, Madam?!" (Luna)

When I look at the place, I see a Madam in a blue dress who's clear to the eye that she is wealthy. In those fingers of hers, there's rings that could be said to be exaggeratedly big. Moreover, one for each of her 10 fingers.

She is most likely an acquaintance of Luna, she was acting quite familiar with her. On the other hand, Luna seemed to not be good at dealing with her, it is rare to see her eyes swimming around.

(What's with this super rich person…? Her whole body is s.h.i.+ning.) (Maou)

Thinking I should learn about who this Madam is, I silently try to collect info on her.

I will be beginning a business soon, so I can't stumble in weird places.

I stand up from my seat and bow elegantly.

"Madame, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name's Kunai Hakuto." (Maou)

"Ara, I am late in my introductions. I am Ebifry b.u.t.terfly." (b.u.t.terfly)

(Are you a one-liner comedian?!) (Maou)

Rather than laughing, that name made anger well up in me.

What was running in the mind of her parents when they named her?!

> (Maou)

> (Luna)

> (Maou)

> (Luna)

So she is the Queen of the Madams that have way too much free time in their hands, huh.

If I can win her over well, I might be able to see unexpected results. This is a society with no internet, so the word of mouth from a person with strong influence will be big.

"Madam, would you like to have a seat with us?" (Maou)

"W-Wait, Maou!" (Luna)

"Ara, to think I would receive an invitation from the 'rumored Maou-sama'… This is quite stimulating." (b.u.t.terfly)

This is a hard to deal with woman.

She knew about me, and yet, she approached us with a face as if there was nothing.

I can see how she is the center of the wive n.o.bles that are most likely naggy. She is probably over 50 years old, but I can't tell anything concrete.

Looking at her, she has a big body like that of a small mountain, and I can see that she doesn't exercise much.

(Are we getting closer to the root of her aim? But mind you, I will be the one doing the devouring.) (Maou)

And in this way, what seems to be a peaceful casual talk had begun.

At the same time, in the shadows, the Satanists were blending into the darkness and were silently waiting for the signal to ring.

A part of the data is now available.

There's other manufacturing items as well. > and > are the most prominent ones.
When the former is used, it can create an item that will have a +2 effect on the weapon's attack power, and the latter can grant a Status Up.

Because both items could break the balance of the game, there's the need for skills like [Prodigy] and [Unlawful Goods] which are difficult to get.

Aside from those, there's also the > that, when used, it can change the effect and details at random.

Things like > and > can show good or bad results, and there's the chance for the Status to decrease, so there's the need for plenty enough caution.

Things like >, >, >, and > can grant many valuable items, but there's times when trash-like items appear, and there were many players who would get discouraged by this.

Chapter 25: Signs of Chaos

The restaurant Artemis was gathering a bit of attention.