When we arrived at the castle hall, the various nobles were already waiting.
「Sorry to keep you waiting. I apologize for being late.」
I apologized, thinking I had made them wait, but everyone was in a great mood.
「No, no, we have been here since yesterday!」
「That’s right～ The dishes Demon King-sama came up with were delicious～」
「Wow… I never thought meat boiled in oil could taste that good…」
Everyone spoke cheerfully. It seemed these people had been drinking since yesterday.
(If I look closely, there are wine bottles and barrels rolling around…)
「Good morning, Yuuki-dono.」
「Ah! Father!」
「Ah, Noctarl-sa… wow, you reek of alcohol!」
Noctarl-san, who was leaning heavily toward me, smelled strongly of liquor.
「For now, please step back!」
「That’s right! Father, move away! You will dirty Yuuki-sama’s clothes!!」
「Auuu～ Liliana, you’re so mean! He’s the fine son I finally got!?」
Noctarl-san whined and pretended to cry. I didn’t know he could get this drunk…
「He is only my husband by marriage! Besides, clinging to him is a wife’s duty!! Here! Amilia and Selene, stick to him!」
「Eh?」「Fue?」
Amilia was pressed against my left side and Selene against my back. Liliana had already neatly occupied my right hand.
「Whistle whistle～ Looking good, Demon King-sama～」
「Indeed, indeed. No problem with producing an heir!」
「I heard last night was amazing too!」
「Alright! One more toast!」
「「「「「Cheers!!」」」」」
The drunkards raised their glasses for another toast. Wait, Noctarl-san, don’t join them!?
「Honestly… today is the day we set out for battle…」
「Now, now～ It’s fine, isn’t it～」
「Anyway, you men! Pull yourselves together!」
「「「「「Yes…」」」」」
◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
After that, the extremely sloppy departure ceremony finally ended. We left the royal capital while receiving blessings and cheers from the citizens lining the streets.
「I’m sorry, Yuuki-sama…」
Liliana looked apologetic. The rest of us recalled the scene and gave wry smiles.
「Ahaha… that was the first time I’ve seen Noctarl-san drunk to the point of passing out…」
「Still, I laughed when Yuuki sobered everyone up and kicked them out.」
「That was impressive… using magic to snap them out of it right in the middle of the departure speech…」
「They really drank too much…」
It would have been problematic if they were completely wasted when it was time to ride horses, so I used status recovery magic to instantly clear their intoxication and had Shia brew that bitter tea (the energizing one).
「Some of the demons with sharp noses even passed out…」
Just what kind of thing did Shia make me drink…?
「Thanks to that, the departure went smoothly though.」
I looked at the long marching column. By the time we left the castle, about 3,000 soldiers from the various nobles who had been waiting nearby had formed up into ranks from all directions.
「I’m glad no one was hurt because of what happened yesterday.」
「Yes, but it seems some of the soldiers are still shaken by it.」
Amilia’s shoulders drooped. Apparently, a portion of the soldiers had been terrified by the sight of the evil god yesterday.
「Hmm… seriously?」
「Yuuki-sama, do you think it will turn into an actual battle?」
「Yeah, I’m certain it will.」
「I see…」
「Well, I’ll make sure it becomes a bloodless surrender if possible. If the numbers aren’t too many, I can handle it myself.」
「In that case we will fight too!」
「That’s right. We won’t let you bear everything alone!」
「Yeah! We’re husband and wife after all!」
At that moment, Selene’s sword began to glow.
「Eh? Ehh!?」
「Selene, what’s… ehh!?」
The floating sword rose up and flew off on its own.
「Yuuki-san, what should we do!?」
「What do we do…」
We pulled out of the marching column and stopped the horses. I then checked the map.
(That direction is the Carbuncle village… I wonder if something happened?)
「Amilia, Liliana, I’ll be gone for a bit. Shia, are you there?」
When I called for her, Shia popped out from near my feet.
「What is it, Master?」
「Can I leave the horses with you for a while?」
「Yes, that’s fine. Should I continue with the princesses?」
「Yeah. There’s one more horse…」
「In that case, I’ll lead the extra one.」
「Got it. Thanks, Amilia.」
「Yes, leave it to me.」
「Liliana, I’ll step away for a bit, but please continue the march normally. I’ll return with 『Teleport』.」
「Understood. Leave it to me!」
「Alright, Selene. Let’s go.」
「Yes!」
I lifted Selene in a princess carry and rose into the air with flight magic. Heading in the direction the sword had flown, a village soon came into view.
「Somehow…」
「The shrine is glowing…」
Light was leaking from the door of the shrine where the sword had embedded itself.
◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
I retrieved the sword and stepped inside. There, Marel-san was floating gently in the air.
『Yoo-hoo～ Long time no see, you two.』
「「Long time no see.」」
『Sorry for calling you so suddenly.』
「That’s fine, but…」
「Is there something you need?」
『Yeah. I was watching through the sword, and it looks like you’re invading the royal capital over there?』
「W-Well… we also need to find and defeat the evil god, and it won’t be long now…」
『Uh-huh, uh-huh. So, I’m coming with you!』
「「Eh? Ehh!?」」
『What? You’re not happy about it?』
「It’s not that we’re unhappy, but…」
「Is it really okay for you to leave this place?」
Selene tilted her head and asked.
『It’s fine, it’s fine! I’m not bound to this place! Plus, I’m bored!』
Marel-san spoke in a carefree tone.
「Is that so…」
「Then… I guess it’s okay?」
She then smoothly slipped into Selene’s sword.
『Alright then～ Let’s go!』
Marel-san’s cheerful voice rang out.
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