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Chapter 249 – Respective Fanservice 2 (Part 1)

249 – Respective Fanservice 2 (Part 1)

On the way to the lottery event, we noticed that a large crowd has gathered in the designated route via purposefully leaked information and a clear path set up for us.

The outstanding appearances of my allies, apart from me, seemed to immediately be popular.

In front of us is the world’s 6th ranked party.

『Look out, partner.』

It was the voice of the Spirit Dark, who was nowhere to be seen lately.

In an instant, I felt a terrible chill and turned around at once.

Then, I felt something bouncy and soft hit my face.

「Oho, I expected no less from the man who I see so much promise in. To not neglect a single day of training, I’m more than impressed.」

It was Black Magic.

And in the end, I Resisted it.

For the sake of training my Black Magic, I am constantly casting myself with my own magic. In other words, I was already wrapped in my own Magical Energy.

What actually happened is a little complicated, but to put it simply, I was already in that state.

Even if someone else’s Black Magic were to come at me, it would interfere with my Magical Energy before affecting me. As a result, it offset my Magical Energy before the Black Magic could have any effect on me.

Unless you do that, it’s hard to nullify Black Magic in everyday life.

This is exactly why I was so surprised at how Milla reunited with me or how Aerial found me.

Although in their case, they had Resist on assuming my Black Magic would be cast, so it’s a different thing altogether.

In any case, when a high-ranking Black Sorcerer uses Black Magic every day, it is difficult for other people to guard against it.

Even the other members of the Wraith party didn’t notice her sneaking up on me, let alone the public.

At the very least, if she released hostile or murderous intent, Wraith or Fran would have noticed, but there was none of that.

Well, of course.

That’s because I know her.

「…I…can’t breathe.」

「Hu~h? I thought a man would be more than happy to have his face buried in an ample bosom. At least, that’s what I remember.」

Rather than separating from me after bumping into me, she embraced me. It’s soft, warm, and a dizzying scent fills my nostrils, but I’m not sure if all of that equals pleasure.

At the very least, I am extremely embarrassed right now. Also, I’m having trouble breathing.

「Honestly, you’re as mild-mannered as ever.　Just when I thought you finally gained the resolve to reveal you’re true abilities to the world…oh well.」

She gently releases me while saying that.

「Lem, everything alright?」

「Ah, yeah. It’s fine.」

I return a smile to Wraith, who was looking at me curiously and resumed walking while keeping a little distance from the other party members.

The woman happily walked side-by-side with me.

「It’s been such a long time, Black Sorcerer Lem. I’ve wanted to see you, much much more than you think.」

「…Long time no see, Asmodeus.」

Her wavy, purple hair swayed alluringly in the wind, the top half of her face covered by a mask. She licked her lips with a long tongue reminiscent of a snake. At that moment, I noticed that she had a mole by her lips.

While her skin isn’t directly exposed, her outfit accentuated every curve of her body, making it very suggestive.

The ruler of the Northern Demon King Castle, its other name being Extreme Level – North Pole Dungeon.

The Six-Horned Demon King Asmodeus.

The most eye-catching thing about her whole appearance is her six horns, as her title implies.

Of the five Demon King Castles, the domain that she presides over is the only one that the Fenix party traversed.

That is to say, we never challenged the South, East, or West Demon King Castles.

To challenge the Impregnable Demon King Castle, Adventurers must have, at the very least, the necessary strength to conquer any of the North, South, East, or West Demon King Castles… At least, that’s the common understanding in the industry.

While there are many who have ignored that and went straight for the Impregnable Demon King Castle, the Fenix party followed in the footsteps of their predecessors and challenged another Demon King Castle before attempting the Last Dungeon.

So yes, we beat her once.

However…

As a basic premise, Dungeon Clears are a form of entertainment.

In addition, the Magical Energy in a horn is finite. You can’t use it all against challengers every time.

I don’t believe this is holding back against your foe, but it’s different from going all out and using everything you have.

It’s similar to how Four Great Spirits contractors don’t use their Esoteric Spirit Magic all the time.

「Hm. Mmmhm. You really are a good man after all. You see, there are many Adventurers who are pumped up and raring to go, right? While that isn’t bad, the problem is that far too many of them are blindly devoted to the almighty ranking. The type that thinks that just winning once makes them better than the loser. An adorable arrogance that seems to think that the result will stay the same no matter how many times they fight. You display none of that.」

There certainly are people like that.

To put it simply, it isn’t unusual for people to change their attitude depending on their world ranking.

Although the higher you climb in the rankings, the fewer of those sorts of people there are.

「Thank you very much. However, if we were to fight, I plan to win with my current allies, you know?」

Most of the time, you don’t know what the outcome of a match will be until you fight.

That said, I’ll work hard to win.

「Ah, goodness me… Fufufu, just look at you… You give me such a pleasant feeling like I have an extra spring in my step. Of course, if we were to meet in battle, we must fight to win. I look forward to when that time comes. But, that isn’t why I’m here.」

I thought as much. If it was, she could have waited till after the lottery event.

「Then what is it?」

「I have been fascinated with you ever since that time. After hearing the news of your departure from the party, I sent out people to search for you. Well, I wasn’t able to find you in the end… Pitiful, no?」

「That’s…」

I pause for a little bit before continuing.

「…Were you searching for me in order to invite me to work at the Demon King Castle perhaps?」

「Is there another reason? No, perhaps there is. Maybe to console your broken heart and gain your affection?」

「Uh, no…I…」

「Fufufu, just a joke. You’re right, I wanted to invite you to work for me. Though it seems I’ve been beaten to the punch?」

I suppose this was a possibility.

The Impregnable Demon King Castle was the same.

When I was part of the Fenix party, those in the first to fourth strata faced me as an enemy and it is precisely because of that, and precisely because they have felt the effects of my Black Magic themselves that they did not doubt my abilities.

In other words, they knew.

Those who fought me when I was in the Fenix party know of my strengths.

The stronger the opponent, the more I had to increase the potency of my own magic, which is perhaps even more impressive.

This is why, to a Demon King, a troublesome Black Sorcerer is unforgettable.

I left an impression in her mind enough to desire me as a subordinate.

「…I’m…with the Wraith party right now.」

「Oh stop it, you know you can’t fool me, right?」

If she truly is someone who valued me that much, it isn’t strange to think that she linked Lemegeton as Lem the moment she saw him.

Then, of course, she’d know that was employed by the Impregnable Demon King Castle.

「So, how about now? I am prepared to give you whatever you want.」

I am honored. Truly.

Just as when Aerial invited me, when someone pays attention to me, and when people accept me, I am happy.

But…

「Everything I want is in my current place of work.」

Asmodeus opened her mouth wide in surprise in response to my answer… and it quickly turned into a smile.

「Incredible. I hope to create a workplace where my employees think the same.」

And then, she deliberately takes my arm in hers.

「But how sad. To so decisively reject a beautiful woman’s invitation… You could have at least pretended to contemplate it a little, you know?」

「Huh? Oh, uhm…my apologies. Also, uhm…c-could you please let go?」

My arm is in contact with…various places.