D(EATH)-DAY (5)

"Yo."

"Huh? HUH?!" Elaine staggered.

"So? What do you want to talk about?"

"Y-You're.. "

Nine shrugged– the male version of Nine. He wore that typical black trench coat outfit he got way back in time from Bleu. As mentioned previously, ever since his arrival to Imagi, he can change his gender much like changing a user– that his clothings changes along with the corresponding gender. It was something he couldn't do back in the real world, and now that he could, it made no sense.

But what made sense in isekais?

"Hello."

Prune decided to cancel off her concealment barrier. She revealed her ethereal figure, the moon-blue Hanfu suited her crazy well, leaving Elaine dumbfounded. This was the beastkin from back then? She's so beautiful!

"Y-Yes. Ahem, pardon my rudeness. Nine-san?"

"Yea?"

"Er.." Elaine rubbed her hands together. Nine noticed that she was wearing white gloves– so much for noble attire.

"What is it?"

She looked away.

Prune peeked into the ballroom, no one looked like they were going to interrupt this 'private' meeting in this open hallway.

"Later.."

Nine nodded, an expression of impatience.

".. will you.. will you like to accept my offer for a dance!" Elaine bowed deeply, stretching out her hands to Nine.

"Nay way. I don't know how to dance."

Instant rejection. Elaine felt her soul leave her body.. building so much courage to ask for an invitation just to be hit with a ball of reality.

"I'm serious, I don't know how to dance okay?"

"T-That doesn't matter, I'll guide you through. You merely need to follow my steps, I'm sure you'll be alright.."

"Yeah. Um.. no thank you. "

Elaine stomped her feet in contempt, she pouted at Nine.

"What kind of man are you!"

"Wrong man," Nine tilted her head– now a girl.

Elaine fummed, her face reaching a boiling red.

"Okay, fine. Just one dance. But expect me to fail like crazy."

"Fine!" Elaine glared at Nine.

Nine sighed. He didn't want to do it but.. he didn't want to look like an asshole either. After all, he had a skill in his 'stock of skills' called [Dance (SS)].

"Looks like I'm left out of the loop again," Prune muttered.

===

Wine, champagne, beer, spirit, whiskey..

I don't know what this is but I like the fruitiness of it. The alcoholic content hits quite hard but since demon lords don't get drunk I mean.. hey, no worries right?

"We'll have to wait for Her HIghness' signal, until then.. is it alright if we went and said our greetings to Rin's family?"

Liliath who kept glancing towards Kyoshi's direction nodded.

At the moment, he's being swarmed by people from all directions. Quite the popular chap I must say. Her Highness Siesta who had to follow him maintained a soft smile throughout, making me wonder if her previous messy presentation of herself 30 minutes ago was a joke.

"Well. Everyone has their own challenge to face," I said.

"Sorry.." Rin lowered her head.

"Nothing wrong about that. Let's go."

Just like Liliath, Rin was also having difficulties in fighting that fear of facing her family.

Weaving through the crowd, we came towards this section for young nobles. We'll start by letting Rin dip her toes– first her siblings.

July and April. Yup, it's those two alright. Well dressed nobles that are in a clique of other young nobles.

"Excuse me," canceling the concealment barrier at the interval where they were having a break between a conversation, Rin didn't dare to call them so I thought to break the ice.

July turned around.

"It's been a while July-sama," I said with a smile.

He took in a sharp breath and faltered. What an exaggerated reaction..

"July-sama.. how are you?" Rin, who stepped out from behind me, asked in a timid voice.

"R-Rin.. neesan," his pupils shivered.

Rin presented her resplendent self for her sis-con brother to see in all its glory. A crimson red dress with black thighs.. garters to boot!

"Control yourself," April grabbed July by the collar. Wheewh.. he was about to pounce on Rin there.

"Nee-san it's Rin-neesan!"

"Your conduct should be kept at its highest. What about it? It's as if you haven't seen her for a century?"

"Stop being so rude!"

The other nobles from the surroundings, surprisingly, giggled at the sight. It's not the sarcastic kind, it was the genuine 'oh, here we go again' kind of laughter.

I better get rid of certain stigmas I have about nobles. I thought they'd actually say something negative behind our backs or something.

Rin, July and April had their happy reunion.

"How are you?" April asked.

"I've been well taken care of, take you for asking, as for yourself?"

"There's no need to pry into that. I'll build my future with my own hands."

"It's alright to depend on others a little more.."

"And your point being? My circumstances aren't as fortunate as yours, who can I depend on that meets my standards?" April sneered.

"Um.." July stood there, unsure what to do.

"They've changed somewhat," Liliath said.

"Yeah. It happens. I'm sure you're meeting with your brother later will turn out alright."

Hopefully. I get that the rumor Her Highness told us about: Toren Kingdom making peace with the demon kingdom is a flag. But if we don't actually walk up to Kyoshi and talk, we'll never know what's the truth.

I checked the map again.

An orange marker beside a green marker.

Huh..

The Regressor huh? Go figure.

I guess he's done with whatever he had to do in the kitchen. He's out and about holding conversations with the influential nobles? Maybe?

"I want to meet the Margrave.."

"Why?!" July didn't seem all too fond of Rin's decision.

"I want to know the truth."

"I advise that you don't pry too deeply about the matter. You're digging your own grave," April said.

Rin fell into a dilemma.

Margrave Bougainvillea.. he's nearby.

"Though it might not be a good idea to mention this, at least we can go give our greetings?"

Rin nodded.

He's not too far away. Just a little distance away..

Liliath tugged at my sleeve.

"Hm?"

"S-Signal.."

I turned towards Her Highness' direction. She managed to pull Kyoshi out of the swarm, and was currently headed to the corner of the hall.

Right. This is our chance.

I'm surprised Her Highness was able to master the limited autocasting widget in such a short time.

In this case..

"Rin, is it alright if we first went and.. or.."

"It's alright.. Rin can go first.. I'm sure Her Highness can wait.."

"Liliath first. She hasn't had her turn. July-sama, April-sama, thank you."

"Where are you going next?"

"Somewhere," I said.

I held Liliath's hand tightly, and in small steps, we slowly made our way over..

Hm?

"Looks like the Margrave also noticed?" he was headed towards Kyoshi too, but from a different direction. Too bad he had to make a detour.

"Ah.. then killing two birds with one stone." Rin said.

"Yeah. I guess."

Where did she learn that? I'm pretty sure idioms don't exist in this world.

Liliath started resisting.

I slowed down.

"S-Sorry.. let me.. prepare myself."

"Alright."

"At this rate wouldn't the Margrave reach there first? " Liliath contradicted herself.

She took another timid step forward.

"Don't force yourself. We can always wait until the Margrave's turn is over.."

"I don't know when I'll have the courage again, it must be now."

"Okay."

We made our last spurt of the distance.

The mana composition of the concealment surrounding us dispersed into the air, Her Highness prodded Kyoshi to look this way.

"Big brother–"

"Ah.."

Spurt.

Her Highness and Kyoshi– both their eyes almost dropping out of their sockets..

Drip.

A streak of red splashed on my clothes.

Something in my heart tore off. I gripped my chest in pain– something that had been there just disappeared.

I turned around.

To Rin.

There was a black-red sword stabbed right through her chest.

Clink.

The fragments of her Philosopher's Stone fell to the floor.

She turned to me. There was a short flicker in her eyes–

It felt like the world stopped, everything else turned monochromatic, the colour in her eyes faded, blood came out from her lip, drawing a line down to her chin.

And then.

She exploded.

Red swords flew out.

The stench of iron.

The deep aura of death.

The pool of blood that dirtied the carpeted floor.

The viscera that stuck to my clothes.

The sticky sensation on my face.

...

BANG!

KSSHHHHH—

The sounds of two objects grinding into each other.

A sparkling sword shining like a galaxy–

Liliath's box barrier layer to an impossibly thick degree– the mana was so thick it was almost opaque.

Dozens of red swords came flying towards our direction– all of which likewise were contained within Liliath's barrier. 32 swords. Each one in its own little cage.

I turned to that person.

Right.

I should've noticed.

I should've known.

This asshole.

Liliath raised her hand in that person's direction.

From her hands condensed a small pure black orb, [Void Artillery]. Static ruptured the air, forming deep purple lightning to crackle. The air shook, and from the orb came forth a black beam ten times the size of itself. It tore through the air, headed straight toward..

Moirae and Laura stood in front of him and casted a multitude of barriers to intercept.

The three of them were blown out towards the balcony– destroying the side rails, they were thrown out into the sky.

I looked down to the ground.

There wasn't even a thing left of here that was recognizable. Blood and organs, pieces of her red dress, severed limbs and..

"D-Demon Lord!!" someone shouted.