The Melancholy of the Demon Army Officer
Translator: Tsukii
Editor: Ai
Read at Watashi wa Sugoi Desu!
Author Note:
The chapter this time is more of that. It also served for the foundation of the story that began next chapter
But it’s not like we’re doing anything weird. It’s just flirting time!
Or just a scene of sword polishing.
Chapter 108 – Deeds and Anxiety [A]
Night.
There was a large space where the room was illuminated by light.
The place where tables and chairs were lined up was a luxurious shop.
That restaurant in Leonhart City was where people could enjoy food and liquor, and it was considered to be high class where only heavyweights of the Demon Army may enter.
Those who set foot in the private rooms were demons with large builds. The demon who stood in front spoke out.
“We have a reservation.”
“Yes, we’ve been waiting. Your Excellency the great general ―― please come this way.”
Umu, the one who nodded, was the Great General Lee who was about a size bigger compared to other demon generals who also had big statures.
Coming with him were two demon generals and a demon captain, following the guidance of a gal demon — the clerk of the shop — who seated them. There was a large table made to match their size. When they sat on a similarly large chair, the demon captain who sat on the lower seat began to look around,
“Amazing… It’s my first time visiting this place.”
And raised a voice of admiration. He was a demon captain affiliated with the Leonhart army. He was able to come here due to the invitation of the demon general that had been seated.
Therefore, the demon captain originally wouldn’t be able to come to this place. After all,
“Hahah, I see, I see. Well, it’s not surprising. You need to be at least a demon general to come to this place after all.”
“I was already a demon general when I first came here, but I was still surprised.” 1
The demon generals spoke. Their voices weren’t as strict as when they were on duty, but sounded softer and nicer.
Following that, the Great General Lee turned his gaze to the demon captain,
“Umu, demon captain. You would have the chance to visit it yourself once you evolve into a demon general. It’s a good opportunity to get used to it.”
“T-thank you very much!”
The demon captain bowed his head in gratitude. Even though the great general told him not to be that stiff, that would be ridiculous. He was looking at him after all.
The Great General Lee was in front of him. He had the greatest authority in the Demon Army with exception of the maou, majins, and apostles, and he stood at the highest position the common demons could dream of.
A common demon could be promoted up to demon captain through success then wore the special suits for it, but they would need to evolve from then on to rise into higher position. There were several confirmed cases of demon captains evolving into demon generals, and there were also certain methods to become general as well.
However, among several demon great generals out there, as of now, Lee was the only confirmed case of a general who evolved into great general.
He was the most veteran in the Leonhart army where the elites gathered, involved in the management of this city and the Leonhart army, and could be considered the right hand man of Leonhart-sama.
The person who received a similar amount of trust to apostles was looking at the demon captain. It meant he had expectations for him to evolve.
Of course, demon society was a meritocracy, and it was especially true for the Leonhart army where the underhanded method didn’t apply. They worked under a pure meritocracy.
Therefore, it wasn’t determined that he would achieve his success. There were tons of capable demon captains out there. So he couldn’t let his guard down.
The demon captain reaffirmed his resolve and listened to the words of his superiors. While everyone ate the appetizer,
“How are you doing these days?”
“No well, we belong to the same army, so you should know without need to ask. There’s no problem in particular. Isn’t it, Your Excellency the great general?”
“Let’s see… Well, for me personally, I finally received some sort of letter of challenge from Carol-sama… does anyone know a good method to get away from it?”
Everyone looked away all at once. Great General Lee sighed. Having great status and closeness with superior meant having those kinds of hard times, huh. I’ll remember it.
Just as the demon captain thought of that, the demon general who first talked changed the topic,
“No, that’s not what I’m asking. Aren’t your brides increasing in number?”
When he heard that, the other demon general seemed to understand then nodded,
“There’s no problem about that, for the most part at least. It’s just… about my new bride, a cho-chin, she mostly hid in her dark room with the light turned off whenever I returned home most of the time. Then the light on her head lit up and seemed to invite me, but if I actually came, she would punch me. She said she wanted to beat me and violate me that way. But it seemed she didn’t like the fact it was ineffective, so she was always in her room and practiced punching. She would sometimes break things so I honestly wanted her to stop, but… there’s no problem other than that.”
“…Isn’t that clearly a problem?”
“…Shut up. How about yours? Isn’t it a battle note?”
The demon general seemed to be irritated and asked back to the other demon general. Said demon general then awkwardly scratched his head,
“Ah-… well, yep. There’s no problem… It’s just, because we’re together at work, the moment we come home, she’ll proceed to nag about the day’s operation and my command. She complains about bad things I did and how it was supposed to be done instead. She was submissive before she became my bride and back then I could be more stern, but once she became my bride, I couldn’t go against her anymore… and I’m supposed to be her superior…”
“O-ouh… it seems you’re having a hard time…”
Looking at his melancholy figure, the people there had subtle expressions. The demon general who asked the question earlier tried to change the topic and looked at the demon captain,
“…That’s right. What about yours?”
“Ah, err…”
The demon captain was a little confused for being suddenly thrown into topic, but eventually recalled,
“I do have a wife. It’s my childhood friend, a can-can…”
“Ooh, isn’t it great? So, how is it going between you two?”
“Are there any problems?”
The demon general which was melancholic earlier seemed to revive before anyone knowing and mixed in with the topic and asked as well. The demon captain had to answer. However,
“Even if you ask… we’re getting along normally. We’re good to each other as usual, though?”
When he spoke honestly, the two demon generals shrugged their shoulders and sighed.
“…I wonder why, even though we’re supposed to be more blessed, yet I couldn’t help but feel jealous about it…”
“…Having a quirky bride it’s share of trouble after all…”
“Ha-haah… we’re just doing normally though…”
Being normal is great, said the two generals. The demon captain wondered what’s so great about that. But then he got curious about something,
“…Aah, well… how about His Excellency the great general instead?”
“Muu…”
The topic shifted to Great General Lee who drank his liquor silently. Then he wore a bitter expression.
As the demon general saw that, he asked the great general as well.
“Now that I think about it, Lee-sama doesn’t have anyone, right?”
“Isn’t it about time for you to have one? If it’s Lee-sama, you could easily pick anyone you liked, right?”
“…But you see…”
Looking at groaning Great General Lee, the demon captain found that unexpected.
…I thought since it is His Excellency the Great General, having a bride or more than two would be normal…
That was something that commonly happened in the Leonhart army and this city.
Being the safest and most fashionable city in the demon realm, it boasted popularity in the demon realm. There were many gal demons that came to visit.
However, it was also half-considered as the city of meeting, and it was famous as the date spot as well.
Meanwhile, for them, who lived in said city and worked in the most elite army of the Demon Army――bluntly said, they were more popular than most demons.
They were getting used to life in this city. They lived under the roof of the building there, did a fulfilling job, had an outing with colleagues and subordinates on holiday and enjoyed their time there. It was a cultural and elegant life. It was greatly different compared to demons which lived in the wild.
Their appearance, who were used to such lives, was one of the reasons they were popular.
And the other reasons were something obvious as demons. It was strength.
In order not to shame the name of the most elite army of the Demon Army, they also put effort to make themselves worthy. They had a lot of mission and duty and often had troubles, but it also served for their growth. Therefore, even normal demon soldiers would be more popular compared to demon soldiers belonging to different armies.
It was already considered a status for being affiliated to the Leonhart army and lived in this city.
The demon soldiers seemed aware of that as well, so those who tried hard to achieve success weren’t few in number.
After all, being popular wasn’t the end of it. They could lead a better life once they became a demon captain. If they could become a demon general, their status would become even higher, the elite that only few in number.
Being a demon great general, it was easy to imagine. But Lee didn’t seem to take any bride, perhaps due to lack of desire.
The demon captain wondered why and looked at the great demon general, Lee then spoke with troubled tone,
“…It’s not like I wasn’t interested in that… it’s just, my current duty is more important…”
“…You sure are a stiff person…”
The demon general spoke in exasperation. The great general then frowned,
“No, I make sure to vent when I need to. Don’t I take my subordinates for meals, baths, or theater just like this sometimes?”
“Well, we’re thankful for that, but isn’t it better to have more color in life? Didn’t Leonhart-sama also ask whether you have someone you liked? The Leonhart-sama that we admire even made recommendations, so isn’t it alright for His Excellency the Great General to take initiative for it?”
“Uumu… That might be true, but…”
It seemed Lee was weak to logic, or rather, whenever Leonhart’s name was mentioned. Lee then put his hand on his head while at a loss. The other demon general made a follow up,
“If you make a harem like Leonhart-sama did, perhaps His Excellency the Great General would also gain depth like Leonhart-sama did.”
“Well, that’s… there’s room for consideration…”
…Why do you get shaken there…?
The demon captain inwardly thought that, but he saw the demon generals had a wry smile about it. Apparently, they also thought something similar.
It would be nice if His Excellency the Great General found someone he liked, but looking at him, it seemed it would take quite a while. Rather than that,
…Leonhart-sama, huh. I wonder what kind of life he’s having at the moment…
The demon captain was only affiliated with the Leonhart army for a short time and never entered Leonhart’s castle so he had no idea about that.
However, since the person in question was the supreme majin, it wasn’t hard to imagine he would lead the most elegant life imaginable. He should be able to do everything that comes to mind.
…I guess I should work hard to be a general at least…
With that in mind, the demon captain enjoyed the dishes and drink as he thought about the words to persuade Lee.
Tsukii Note:
Illustration time! For the two of three gal demons mentioned (battle note is excluded since already described when Carol first appears.)
Cho-chin: https://i.ibb.co/JynbPh5/Cho-Cho-Galzoo.png
A gal demon with the appearance of a teenage girl wearing a swimsuit. Her most notable feature is the lantern on her head, which is used to illuminate dark areas they prefer to hide themselves. They are very unaggressive and prefer hiding, but could put up a decent fight if they had to.
Can can: https://i.ibb.co/1mP83rd/Kyan-Kyan.png
A demon which is notorious as the most harmless species in the world. They have an appearance that greatly resembles young human girls with short green hair and bunny ears, but wearing nothing other than white underwear. They are always in good spirit and asks anyone they encounter to play with them, be it demon or human. They never fight and extremely weak and wouldn’t attack others even when they are attacked themselves.
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