The Penalty Game
Seere nodded lightly at Nahen’s question. “Yes, a penalty. It’s more fun when there’s something at stake, don’t you think?”
“That may be true, but…”
The word “penalty” made Nahen uneasy. He couldn’t begin to imagine what this child might demand of him.
‘Still… she’s been fairly well-behaved lately.’
Recalling Seere’s recent conduct, he felt she wouldn’t cross any serious lines. After a moment’s thought, Nahen nodded.
“Very well. We’ll do as you say.”
“The penalty will be whatever the other person wants,” Seere declared.
“Understood.”
Nahen already had a penalty in mind. ‘Something like swinging a sword ten thousand times a day…’
It was the sort of demand that would make Seere’s face go pale. Swinging a sword that many times wasn’t difficult for him, but it would leave no time for actual work.
“Then it’s your turn to ask a question, Teacher!”
“Right…”
What should he ask? In a game like this, the more you knew about your opponent, the greater your advantage. Nahen was one of the people who knew Seere best. If he only asked questions based on what he already knew, the game would lose its fun, but the thought of whatever penalty Seere might impose made victory feel necessary.
If Seere realized he was only using information he already possessed, she would do the same. That would give the first-move advantage to her.
‘Even if Seere never told me these things herself, I’ll use what I already know.’
Nahen decided to draw from facts he had learned on his own.
“The person who stole pudding behind the chef’s back.”
“…How do you know about that, Teacher?”
“Who can say.”
When Seere had been eight or nine, her appetite had grown along with her during her growth spurt. Even after finishing her meals, she constantly sought snacks, even in the early morning or late at night. Nahen had quietly watched the Demon King sneak down to the kitchen to steal the puddings Mark had prepared, thinking how adorable she looked.
‘With all that bustling about, how could I not notice?’
He had followed her out of worry that she might wander somewhere dangerous, but Seere had never strayed, always heading straight for the kitchen in search of treats. There had been such a cute period in her life. Remembering it, Nahen chuckled softly.
“Time to fold, isn’t it?”
“…Tch!”
Seere folded one finger. Realizing he had seen everything, her snow-white cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
“My turn!”
“Go ahead.”
“There’s someone in Devata Castle you’ve thought was pretty—true or false!”
“True.”
The answer came instantly. Seere looked startled, while Nahen regarded her with a puzzled expression.
“R-really?”
“Of course. There are plenty of good-looking people in Devata Castle. Rea, Secily, Rin, and Commander Celestia too. There are many fine faces among the vice-commanders as well.”
“…Ah.”
Nahen smiled inwardly. Seere had probably meant to ask whether he had ever thought she was pretty, but had rephrased it out of embarrassment. Even if she had asked directly, the answer would still have been “yes.”
‘Objectively speaking, this child’s appearance is the most outstanding.’
Even if one searched for flaws among beautiful people, she seemed to have none.
Nahen spoke to the slightly disappointed Seere. “That was your question, wasn’t it?”
“Yes…”
“Then it’s my turn.”
He asked her, “In the past eight years, have you ever thought that ruling the Demon King’s castle would be fine even without me?”
Seere’s eyes widened at the question. Then her brows furrowed slightly as she answered in a louder voice.
“…I never did!”
“Be honest.”
“I really never did.”
Seere was stubborn. Watching her, Nahen felt both joy and a touch of disappointment—the former because she still needed him, the latter because she hadn’t answered truthfully.
‘Even without me, the Demon King’s castle would run perfectly fine.’
That was why Seere’s faction had been able to develop further over the past eight years. Even with the foundation Nahen had laid, it would have been impossible without properly utilizing it. Still, the fact that Seere claimed to need him so much made Nahen decide to let it pass.
“All right. Then you don’t have to fold.”
“…Then it’s my question.”
“Go on.”
Seere seemed to hesitate, clearly racking her brain for a way to extract information about Nahen that she didn’t already know.
“Teacher.”
“Hm?”
“You actually liked it when I linked arms with you, didn’t you?”
“……”
The moment he heard the question, Nahen thought, ‘…I really can’t afford to lose.’
He had no idea what kind of penalty she would demand. Nahen desperately shook his head.
“No.”
“L-lies! Men like women’s chests!”
“It’s not a lie. I have never once thought of it that way.”
Nahen reasoned that since Seere had lied earlier, it was only fair for him to do so once. It was petty, but she shouldn’t have lied first. Whether Seere failed to see through his flawless acting or simply couldn’t tell, she muttered gloomily.
“I worked so hard to grow them…”
“……”
Calling it “growing” like some kind of crop felt strangely surreal. Though in this world, such things were apparently possible.
“Ahem. Back to zero, then.”
“Yes…”
If he failed this question, Nahen would be at a disadvantage again. He needed something Seere would likely answer truthfully, yet something she had never told him before.
“Do you still sleep while hugging a doll?”
Seere’s room was still filled with dolls, most of them gifts Nahen had bought her when she was young. She answered with her head slightly lowered, perhaps embarrassed.
“…Yes.”
“Hoho.”
“B-because you gave them to me! I can’t throw them away!”
“I didn’t buy them for you to treasure for a lifetime…”
“They are my lifelong treasures!”
Nahen was glad she thought so. There were other questions he could have asked, but he avoided anything that might steer the atmosphere in the direction Seere seemed to want. Serious questions were likewise set aside. In the end, only lighthearted ones remained.
But Seere was different. This was her final chance, and she had no intention of hesitating.
She opened her mouth. “Teacher, honestly, I—”
“Hm?”
“…No, just a moment.”
Seere closed her mouth again and rephrased her question.
“Teacher.”
“Yes.”
“You said you would never leave me no matter what, but you’re actually going to leave, aren’t you?”
Nahen’s eyes widened slightly before slowly closing. After a moment, he shook his head.
“I won’t leave.”
“…!”
Seere understood. That expression and gaze were not lies—they were the truth.
“If that is what you wish, I will remain by your side without leaving.”
“Really? I’ll remember those words!”
“All right.”
“You can’t go back on them!!”
“My, my trust in you has dropped quite a bit. Even after giving such a definite answer, you still doubt me?”
“I-it’s because you were gone for eight whole years…”
Nahen curved his lips into a faint smile and gently stroked Seere’s hair.
“I’m aware that I made you anxious. At the very least, until you no longer wish it, I will always stay by your side. Rest easy.”
“Yes!”
Seere beamed, just like she used to. Watching her, Nahen folded one finger and said, “Then it’s my turn.”
One final question remained. Nahen had answered “no” to the previous question, and it had been proven true. If Seere answered this one, the game would end in her defeat.
Nahen wondered if he should ask it, but it was something that needed to be addressed. Carefully, he posed the question.
“Is it really true that there’s no other man who interests you besides me?”
“Yes.”
An immediate answer. Nahen broke into a cold sweat as Seere folded her finger. It felt somewhat anticlimactic, but the game ended in Nahen’s victory.
Yet Seere was smiling. She had obtained the answers she wanted, after all. Nahen stared at her in bewilderment.
‘Not a shred of hesitation… How am I supposed to handle this…’
Making Seere give up seemed incredibly difficult. Seere approached the flustered Nahen and whispered into his ear.
“You’re the best person in the world to me, Teacher.”
“……”
“I’ll accept any penalty. Anything.”
Seeing Nahen frozen stiff, Seere let out a light laugh and turned away. Before leaving, she added one last remark.
“Ah, I’ll overlook the fact that you lied to me. We each did it once, after all.”
“!?”
She had known all along. After Seere left the room, Nahen, now alone, wiped the corners of his eyes with his hand.
“Haa…”
#
“Are you leaving?”
“Yes. Thank you for your hospitality these past few days.”
At the entrance of Jepar’s castle stood its master, Jepar, along with Lerajie of the same Equites Faction and the faction’s leader, Barbatos von Ischwar. They had come to see Seere and Nahen off.
While they were being escorted out, Secily stood a step back, waiting. Barbatos spoke to Nahen.
“A shame. I wanted to spar with you one more time…”
“Brother, if you fight him again now, you won’t last and you’ll die.”
“Die? I am not so fragile. If I were to die from something like that, it would merely be the price of weakness.”
“If the opportunity arises later, I will face you again.”
“Oh, truly! I’ll remember that!”
“Hey, don’t just do it with Brother. Let me—”
“Lerajie, I’m next.”
“Who do you think you are, butting in like that?”
Nahen smiled faintly. They were a group that valued nothing but strength, but that very trait made them easy to deal with. Given their nature, they wouldn’t resort to underhanded schemes behind the scenes.
Seere also bowed her head in greeting. “Thank you for the training sessions, Lord Jepar.”
“Hm. Sparring with you was enjoyable. I hope you gained much insight from our matches.”
“What insight could you possibly gain from sparring with someone who only knows brute force? Lady Seere, you should train with me next time.”
“Lerajie…”
“I’d be happy to.”
Nahen bowed at the waist. “We’ll be on our way, then. Please, go back inside.”
“Very well. Travel safely.”
“Yes.”
“Everyone, please take care of your health.”
The three Demon Kings chuckled at Seere’s words, which seemed oddly mismatched for beings so far removed from illness.
“Right! I’ll keep that in mind!”
“You take care as well.”
“See you at the Demon Realm Assembly.”
Thus concluded their first meeting with these powerful Demon Kings. Nahen wondered what kind of faces they would show when they met again at the upcoming assembly. With that thought, he parted ways with them.