I'll Hug You Tight
There are a total of four Demon Kings in Starlight. The Plague Demon King Laplace. The Pleasure Demon King Ankyle Paradox. The Regression Demon King Faye Nicare. And the Frost Demon King Aran.
What? So why won't you tell me what the young lady means to you? ...It's embarrassing, so I don't want to talk about it.
"No, you put me in your pocket and talked, so I couldn't hear! We're partners, so I believe I have every right to hear that much..."
The Blood Demon, who hadn't received a proper explanation, whined, but—
"A partner who clams up in a crisis situation?"
"..."
With that single line, I silenced the malignant romance-obsessed Blood Demon and soon gazed out at the now pitch-black window.
'Three days have already passed...'
Three days that flew by in the blink of an eye. The final day before the operation was drawing to a close before I knew it. During that time, we had finished all necessary tasks—operation coordination, ability explanations, and various preparations—and had moved as close as possible to Laplace's route.
I felt a little guilty about leaving without properly telling the young lady, but since it was for her sake, she would understand. If I brought the medicine, wouldn't she be so moved she'd throw herself into my arms and sob? Then I'd have to tease her to my heart's content.
"Heh heh..."
While I was letting out a foolish laugh, I noticed the temporary tent built for rest along Laplace's route swaying slightly in the wind.
"Isn't this durability a bit too weak?"
No matter how 'temporary' the tent was, it looked like it would collapse completely with a single tap. Just as I stood up to lightly touch the tent wall—
"Seb? Ah, looks like preparations are all done."
Chloe opened the door and walked in. After she whined that siblings should at least call each other by name or a nickname, we decided to drop formal speech and she started calling me Seb.
...If the young lady found out about this, it would be a disaster, but let's just move on. She wouldn't find out anyway, right?
"Chloe! Has everything been taken care of?"
The biggest concern we discussed today was handling the battle so it wouldn't affect the surrounding area.
"Yeah. We've sealed off the village, and ever since Laplace was spotted, we've completely locked down a 5km radius around it."
Due to the nature of the Plague Demon King, who spreads diseases accompanied by all kinds of pathogens, his very existence is a calamity. If we're not careful, there's a risk that something similar to the plague people on Earth have been struggling with for years could spread in this world. That's why the operation to subjugate Laplace must be carried out while keeping the surroundings under maximum control.
"The goal is the elixir that guy has, right?"
When creating a virus, the basic principle is to also create a vaccine. But Laplace, being a Demon King, doesn't follow such principles. However, there's an exception: the medicine he personally poured his heart into creating, commonly called the elixir. Uniquely, he designed it so that every plague he creates can be cured by the elixir.
"Yes. It's absolutely necessary to treat my young lady's Mana Retardation."
That's why what I must obtain from Laplace by any means is this—the elixir.
"Hmm, that certainly matches how you'd treat your most precious person."
...Why would you suddenly say that? I was trying so hard to hide it from the Blood Demon because it was embarrassing...
"Ooh... precious, huh..."
The Blood Demon, having heard that, was cheering with "ooh ooh" sounds. This is exactly why I didn't say anything...
"Hey, is that the answer to what the young lady means to this guy?"
The Blood Demon had revealed his existence to Chloe during the strategy meeting. He'd said something like, "I'm Sebastian's partner, please take care of me." Of course, he hid the fact that he was a Demon King.
'If she knew that, Chloe definitely wouldn't let it slide...'
Thanks to the emperor assassination incident Faye caused, the princess's hatred for Demon Kings had reached its peak. If I told her, who knows what would happen.
"That's right. You said she was your most precious person and your mental pillar."
Anyway, Chloe answered the Blood Demon's question with a proud expression. Is this what it would feel like if I had a real older sister? I kind of want to hit her.
"Must be nice... If I weren't in this state, I would've met a woman too..."
""...Huh?""
Chloe and I blurted out our doubts at the same time. It made sense—the voice coming from the glove was clearly a woman's soft, high-pitched tone. But she said she'd meet a woman... Ah, no. Our thinking was too narrow-minded. Was it called yuri? Women can like women too, right?
"Hmm? Why are you so surprised? Did I not tell you?"
Tell us what? You're making me anxious for no reason. Is this that coming-out thing...
"This Seat was originally a man. I ended up with this voice after being sealed inside this glove."
...Thankfully, it wasn't that. So it was a gender-bender, not yuri.
"I see. Well, that's a relief at least."
Chloe must have been thinking the same thing, as she let out a deep sigh and lowered her head. She was probably worried the atmosphere would turn awkward if a coming-out happened in this situation. I felt the same.
"Anyway, it's getting late, so we should get some sleep. Is there anything else you want to ask?"
After thinking for a moment, I decided to say something that needed to be said eventually.
"Chloe, are you concerned about the drugs within the Empire?"
At that, Chloe grinned and stretched lightly before speaking.
"Of course I'm concerned. Why wouldn't I be? It's practically a cancerous tumor in the Empire."
Sorry, but one of those cancerous tumors is my young lady. I swallowed the words that were on the tip of my tongue, put on a smiling face, and spoke as gently as possible after softening my words.
"It seems my young lady is trying to get her hands on drugs because her body is weak. If you have time, would you like to go with me to the drug dealers' base..."
Chloe nodded as if it were obvious.
"Of course. That was something I was going to have to do eventually anyway. If anything, I'm grateful you're coming with me."
The reason I wanted to go to the drug cartel's headquarters was not only to reduce the young lady's drug supply sources as much as possible, but also because the Pleasure Demon King Ankyle was hiding there. Now that I'd discovered a connection between that guy and the principal, I had to shake him down and find out everything.
"By the way, you're surprisingly bold. I didn't expect you'd try to raid the drug dealers' base just because your precious young lady got involved with drugs..."
Chloe's mind was probably thinking something like, 'Her way of thinking is completely different from a normal person's...' Thinking about the uncertain future made me feel slightly exhausted, but imagining the young lady smiling brightly after receiving the elixir, I quietly smiled.
Wait for me, young lady. I'll definitely save you.
***
Staring at the empty darkness that had settled heavily outside the window, I wondered how long I'd been lying in bed sighing. Before I knew it, anger was beginning to bubble up instead of longing.
"That butler bastard hasn't contacted me even once...?"
Of course, I knew butlers get about a week of vacation a year, so it's perfectly fine to rest without contacting anyone. But even so, suddenly disappearing from the academy without a word after tempting me so much isn't forgivable. He said he'd go to the principal's office and be right back, but there's been no news for three days—wouldn't even a goddess get angry at that?
Determined to make that guy experience the feeling of returning home alone to an empty house after his supporting butler suddenly vanished, I picked up a square device.
"What the hell is this bastard doing here..."
Displayed on the device was a map of the Empire with a single red dot marked on it.
"Even with a tracking device attached, I can't figure out his intentions..."
Yeah, this device shows where the tracker attached to Sebastian is located. I prepared it to monitor him in case he was going somewhere dangerous. Or, if he wasn't, maybe meeting another woman for a date.
"Why the hell is the Floyd family's young lady's butler at the Imperial Palace?"
Did he have an affair with the princess... No, we're not even dating yet, so it wouldn't be an affair. And it definitely wouldn't be the princess. It'd be more accurate to say a palace maid. But even so, doesn't this mean we've built some trust in each other? If he meets another woman here, isn't that betrayal!
"And suddenly..."
Maybe he locked eyes with a palace maid and got a room at an inn? Today he suddenly left the palace and went somewhere else. Since he managed to charm the Floyd family's young lady in just one day, he could probably charm a palace maid in half a day.
Suppressing the ominous imagination rising in my head, I quietly tried to calm my mind. Peace of mind, mental and physical stability. Think of birds chirping in the forest...
"Aaaagh!"
In the end, I couldn't hold back and kicked off the blanket covering me. Should I take some medicine? I can't stay still because I'm so anxious. It feels like someone's stealing my lover right in front of me, and it doesn't feel good at all.
He said he was going to find my cure, but how can I believe that? Then why is he going to the Imperial Palace? '...Honestly.'
I'd be fine if he just stayed by my side until I die. No, I'd rather he stay by my side forever, even after I die. Is it because this is the first affection I've ever received? It keeps growing even when he's not here, and that worries me.
"If he's meeting another woman, I'll bring her here no matter what."
If I beg Father as a final request and say I'll live as if I don't exist, he might help. Even if I have to get hurt in a few places, even if I have to beat that bad woman who seduced Sebastian to death, I'll definitely, absolutely be with him. From now on, I should eliminate all butler vacations.
"No, this isn't enough."
After racking my brain, I finally reached one conclusion.
"It's better to confirm it with my own eyes."
Whether that guy is really fooling around with another woman or doing something for me. I'll confirm it with my own eyes and decide what to do with him. Though I say that, that's secondary. More than anything...
"...I miss him. Really."
I want to meet him, hug him tight, and nuzzle my face against his chest. The butler-exclusive room of the Floyd family, which had become familiar after staying here for several days. Lying on the bed where Sebastian's traces remained, I buried my face in his pillow and thought. No matter what mistake he made, even if I end up kicking him in the solar plexus afterward, first I have to hug him so tight he can't breathe.