The Greatest Demon Lord Is Reborn as a Typical Nobody - Volume 1 - Chapter 11

CHAPTER 11

The Ex–Demon Lord and an Invitation

Participate in a school-sponsored event? And smash the competition? Thanks, but no thanks. I didn’t want to stick out more than I already had or…give Olivia any more room for suspicion. That left me with one choice.

“I cast spells to help those in need. It’s not my style to flaunt them before the masses at a public exhibition.”

…Which is why I politely decline your request, I wanted to say.

“That is very noble of you. Yes, very noble. But if that’s what’s holding you back, well, I have to admit, I’ve got plenty of cause for concern.”

“…What do you mean?”

Golde toyed with his chin hairs. “Well, it’s hard to talk about, but our alums and current students haven’t really done anything to write home about. From my perspective, I’m simply happy that our country is peaceful enough to not need their help, but…it’s a different story from their perspective. You know, the government.”

…Ah, I see. So that’s where this is going.

“As I’m sure you’re aware, this school belongs to them, meaning they control our purse strings. What I’m tryin’ to say is…”

“If the state decides there’s no more use for you, they’ll cut your budget without hesitation…which makes this event an appeal to increase funds.”

“Right. You’re a bright one, Ard. Very perceptive. The royal family started the tradition of the student battle, and members of the country’s upper crust all come out to see it. If we can get on their good side by showing off a star student, the government would have no choice but to give us a steady stream of income.”

“…In other words, you’re telling me to be your cash cow, right?”

“No, no, no! It’s nothing as evil as that! I’m just always thinking of the future of the academy and its students—figured a little more spending money will do us all a bit of good!” Golde bowed his head entreatingly. “Look at me! Please! Please, oh, please help us out!”

If I could have just given him a flat-out no, life would be so much easier. But you’ve got to remember that with age comes pride—even more so when you’ve got power, like Golde. Plus, I was some lowly commoner, and he was a count. And on top of that, he was bowing to me.

I had to take all that into consideration, even though I didn’t want to stand out.

“…Please raise your head. May I have some time to think it over?”

“Of course. We’ve still got time until the opening ceremony. Let us know when you’re ready.”

Well, I guess that was that. I spun on my heel and made a beeline for the door.

“‘Magic exists to help those in need,’ was it? I think I might have had a stupid brother who used to spout the same drivel,” noted Olivia.

I was pretty sure I could guess who this “stupid brother” was. That said, it was generic, cliché even, and nothing that linked me directly to the Demon Lord.

“Hey, son of the Great Mages. Humor me by listening to my little monologue, won’t you?”

Olivia continued on before I could answer.

“I used to act all high-and-mighty toward my stupid little brother—never showing him any affection…even though I’d always respected him in my heart… You know what? I even loved him. I would have died for him.”

…I knew as much. I’d felt the same way. I would have thrown my life away for Olivia’s sake.

“That’s why… That’s why I have to see him again.”

“…To punish the traitorous Demon Lord for reincarnating into some other life-form without discussing it with you beforehand?”

“No, that’s not it. I want to…apologize to him.”

“Huh?” That caught me off guard.

Not that she noticed. Olivia’s cat ears were back and flat against her head.

“It’s my fault that he reincarnated. After all, I’d left him to his own devices, alone in the world. That’s what drove him to do such a thing. Betrayal. But I had my reasons, too, you know. I want to talk to him about it and apologize…to go back to the way things used to be between us. To laugh together over nothing, just like siblings. That’s how I really feel.”

These curveballs left me speechless. My eyes started to well with tears, clouding over my vision. I never knew that she felt this way. I’d been sure she would unleash her fury once she found me out, but that didn’t appear to be the case after all.

She was kinder than anyone else. How could I forget? She would never, ever attempt to live long enough just to punish her little brother.

How had she felt when those boundaries sprang up between us back then? The line that separated us into subordinate and superior. Now that I was reflecting on it, I realized I’d treated her like a traitor, but never once asked her how she felt about the matter… I’d acted like a complete child.

“Lady Olivia…”

I had to say it. I had to tell her I was the Demon Lord. Then we could be a family again—

“Yes. I’ll make up with him…then get revenge for my steamed potato…!”

“Um? …What? E-erm. What do you mean…?”

“What do I mean? That piece of garbage ate my delicious potato that I’d been saving for myself, and then he had the gall to reincarnate himself to skedaddle on out of there…!”

…Damn, that’s right. I totally forgot. I wolfed down her potato at the very last second to piss her off. I figured I’d never see her again… I can’t believe it’s come back to bite me…!

“I’ll never forget my frustration and hatred! That’s why I’m gonna find him and make him pay! That’s why I’ve lived on for thousands of years!”

What kind of life is that? Geez, what a face. You don’t look like a demon. You are a bloody demon.

Thank goodness I hadn’t admitted the truth. I was better off never admitting it at all. I’d been the one to instigate it, I guess; I wasn’t ready to deal with the repercussions in the slightest.

I was about to just put the lid back on this can of worms.

“I’m sure I’ll figure out exactly who and what you are in the upcoming events, O son of the Great Mages” she predicted, her voice dripping with suspicion. I bet she’d already pinned my identity down by this point.

Now I had to deal with her on top of this event? Gimme a break. As I broke into a cold sweat, I hurried out of the room.

Ireena was waiting outside for me. Her seriously cherubic face eased some of my mounting tension as we made our way back toward the dormitories. But I was still racking my brain, looking for a way to get out of this tournament.

First things first, Golde wanted me to participate to obtain more funding for the academy. If that was the end goal, that meant I wouldn’t need to show up to the event if we could procure it using other means.

Of all the high-ranking officials, it was the queen who had the firmest grasp on the nation’s purse strings. If we could negotiate with the queen, that would be ideal, since the government veered close to an absolute monarchy. But even if that were in the realm of possibilities, we wouldn’t be able to sway her decision since we had no real bargaining chips. That all meant we needed to obtain leverage first and then find a way to get a seat at the negotiating table.

And the real problem is figuring out how to secure both these things, I thought as Ireena and I exited the building.

“Oh, Ard!” cooed a familiar voice.

I whipped around to find a certain someone beaming up at me.

It was Ginny. She let her medium-length peach hair sway and barely covered boobs bounce up and down as she trotted over to us.

As she skidded to a stop, she looked at me imploringly. “Any plans for our day off tomorrow?”

“No, nothing in particular.”

“In that case…p-please go on a date with me!”

…Huh? A date? A date date? Like for lovers? But we aren’t in that kind of relationship… Oh, wait. Could it be about that incident from before? Huh, I guess Ginny’s fallen in love with— No, stop that. Don’t jump to conclusions. You’ve been burned enough times in your past life, haven’t you? This is what they call…“leading you on.” Yeah, that’s totally it. Women are just like that.

I’d been in a similar situation way back when I’d attempted to conceal my true form at my previous academy. On top of being completely friendless, I was called a certain number of things: “that thing in the corner” or “that idiot with middle-parted hair” or “that gloomy baldy” were a choice few.

But there was one girl who took notice of me. With her kindness and ravishing good looks, it was really no wonder she’d been the most popular girl in school. Which meant she wasn’t exclusively kind to just me, but…it made me feel a certain way. At the time, I was totally inexperienced in love and became completely obsessed with her. I wouldn’t have realized in a million years that she was leading me on. When I took matters into my own hands and finally confessed…well, I’m sure you already know what happened.

“Oh, I like you, too…less than I like goblins,” she replied thoughtfully.

There’d been a reason why she was called the belle of the school. I mean, she’d fully managed to sidestep the word hate and still obliterate my dreams.

That said, damn. Less than a goblin, huh? I guess she really did hate me.

Oh, and after the whole debacle, she was still kind to everyone—well, everyone except me.

“A-Ard? Wh-why are you crying?”

“It’s nothing. Just some gunk that got in my eye—gunk called ‘memories.’”

For a moment, Ginny recoiled in surprise, but she snapped back to her normal self relatively quickly. “W-well, then! Back to what I was saying earlier!” she continued, gazing up at me with hope in her eyes.

I was seriously confused. I had no idea what this girl was thinking. How could I even respond?

…I couldn’t refuse. She’d be devastated… That meant there was really only one answer.

“Understood. I’ll accompany you tomorrow.”

“Whaaaaat?! Really?! Hooray!” Ginny cheered and hopped around excitedly. Her hair and ample assets moved in perfect sync.

“W-waiiiiiiiiit a second!” screeched Ireena.

She was as surprised as everyone else that she’d raised her voice, and her beauty was marred by horrible confusion for a minute, but then she focused her gaze on Ginny in a scowl.

“M-me too! I’m going, too!” she exclaimed as her long silvery hair bristled like a dog’s tail.

She was trying her best to come off as intimidating.

However, Ginny had been keeping up her cheerful smile the entire time. “Of course! That’s perfectly fine by me!”

Ireena clearly didn’t expect her to agree so easily, cocking her head and regarding Ginny with a quizzical look. “R-really?”

“Sure. I don’t intend to keep him all to myself. I mean, I think Ard should have a harem of girls! You and I can be girls one and two; then we can build up from there!”

Erm, a harem is…not my style. Plus, I hate the word itself. It brings back too many bad memories.

In my old life, I’d somehow amassed a different kind of harem (for troublemakers exclusively), and because of that…

Nope. I’m not going there right now. No need to dig up repressed thoughts.

As that swirled through my mind, Ireena tilted her head adorably. “Hey, Ard. What’s a hair-em?”

…Oh, Ireena. My pure, sweet maiden. Of course she wouldn’t know about this. There was no way in hell I was going to make this a teachable moment, either. All I wanted was for her to stay the way she was and—

“Well, a harem is…,” Ginny started to explain, completely trampling on my wishes as she slunk over to Ireena and whispered in her ear.

I bet she went into the fine details, too, because Ireena’s ivory complexion became redder and redder until it resembled a perfectly ripe apple.

“Wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-wha…?! N-no way! Absolutely not! Forget it! I will never, ever allow this ‘harem’ thing to happen!”

“…Whaaat? Awww, why not?”

“Because it’s disgusting! Ard surrounded by a bunch of girls?! Just thinking about it makes me sick!”

“…Makes you sick? Really? But wouldn’t it be so cool?” Ginny prompted.

“I don’t get how that could possibly be ‘cool’! I mean, Ard is my friend and mine alone! Even thinking about all those girls…makes me so mad! No way I’m allowing this! And that’s that!” she huffed, inflating her cheeks in a fit of adorable anger and looking like the very definition of an angel.

Ginny never let go of her grin. “Ohhh, I see. Well, to each her own, I suppose.”

…My eyes must have been playing tricks on me, but I swore I could see something miasmic, something pitch-black swirling behind Ginny…

“That aside, we have a date to plan! Just think about how to let Ard have some fun, okay?” Ginny suggested before bowing elegantly and taking her leave with her chest held high. “How should I get rid of Miss Ireena?”

…I thought I’d heard that last bit, but it was probably my imagination.

I left the dormitory for commoners the following morning, heading straight for the school gate, our proposed meet-up spot. It made getting together easier since Ireena and Ginny were living in the dorms on campus, too.

“Oh, Ard! Good morn—”

“Good morning, Ard!” Ginny interrupted, barreling past Ireena to step out in front of her.

“Hrrrgh…!” Ireena was none too happy about it, cheeks puffed out in endearing protest.

But Ginny paid her no mind and trotted up to me. “What do you think? I bought this outfit just for today… How is it?”

“Y-you look nice,” I replied honestly.

Her all-white attire made her seem sweet and innocent. That said, it was revealing enough to draw attention to her cleavage… And I felt incredibly turned on, though that could have been due to her powers as a succubus.

“Hmm? My eyes are up here?”

“Huh? Ah, no, I…”

“Hee-hee-hee. You just can’t get enough of me,” she said coyly, giggling with a dainty hand over her mouth and acting devilishly seductive.

Ginny stole a glance at Ireena in her uniform. I guessed that the date was too short notice for her to prepare anything fancier.

“…I win the first round,” she muttered, which fired up Ireena’s competitive spirit.

She shot Ginny a fierce look. “What?! Won in what way?!”

“Hmm? Did I say something? I can’t seem to remember…” Ginny continued to feign innocence.

Ireena growled.

…That’s strange. Aren’t dates supposed to be fun? All I’m feeling is a stomachache.

“Well then, let us be off, Ard!”

“Wh-what are you grabbing his arm for?! Quit acting so cozy!”

Squeezed between two girls who were at each other’s throats, I set off on my first date.