The Birthday of the Great Demon King
“Sitri, Your Majesty.”
“What…!”
“I have a concern these days.”
Today, as usual, Sitri, who had been training, lifted only her head while sprawled on the floor. It was because she couldn't move freely due to Nahen's magic power.
Nahen slightly furrowed his brows upon seeing Sitri's expression as she raised her head.
“What's with that look.”
“What's wrong with my expression!”
“It's the look that says you thought someone like me lives without any worries.”
Sitri averted her gaze slightly at Nahen's pointed remark. It was only natural that she found it unexpected for Nahen, who handled everything so effortlessly, to have concerns. So, she became a bit intrigued. What kind of worry could this monstrous guy have?
Sitri urged him to speak.
“So, what's the worry? I'll listen. Tell this big sis quickly.”
“Big sis, what nonsense…”
“Don't nitpick the details and just say it.”
“…It's about Seere.”
“Huh?”
Sitri tilted her head. Just a few days ago, Nahen had been proudly boasting to her like a doting grandfather that he could now make the teddy bear fall. Yet today, not even a few days later, he was saying he had worries because of Seere, which was bound to be puzzling.
“Did something happen?”
Sitri felt a slight sense of anticipation. She wondered if Nahen had perhaps quarreled with Seere or was finally tired of that little kid and thinking of leaving. If that were the case, she planned to hire him herself.
Reading Sitri's expression, Nahen narrowed his eyes and spoke.
“Just so you know in advance, nothing like what Your Majesty is expecting happened.”
“I, I wasn't expecting anything?”
“However…, it's because Seere's birthday is coming up soon.”
“…That kid's birthday?”
“Kid?”
“Se, Seere-nim.”
At Nahen's sharp gaze, Sitri immediately corrected herself. Then, realizing what Nahen's concern was, she let out a deep sigh.
“So, you're worried about the birthday gift?”
“Yes.”
“What…”
Sitri showed clear disappointment, having thought it was some serious concern. Nahen let out a dry laugh at her reaction.
“What's with that disappointed look. Did you really think I would abandon Seere and come under Your Majesty?”
“Ah… no? I never thought that.”
“Just in case, but give up on such expectations. I won't be leaving the 72nd floor.”
“…Got it. More importantly, if it's a gift, Seere-nim likes lots of things, right? There are dolls, pudding… what else was there?”
“Cake.”
“Right, cake. Since it's a birthday, wouldn't it be fine to just buy a big cake?”
Upon hearing Sitri's suggestion, Nahen let out a deep sigh.
“It's not that I haven't thought of such a simple idea.”
“Si…, simple? You…”
“But dolls are things I buy for her regularly, and pudding and cake are things she eats often too, aren't they?”
In summary, Nahen was saying he didn't want to give an ordinary gift.
“…So you want to give something a bit special?”
“After all, I'm Seere's first teacher.”
Nahen’s goal was to see the ending. To achieve that, it was important to max out Seere's favorability as much as her growth. Even to prevent the bad endings that existed in the game.
“What kind of gift would a girl like?”
“What do you mean?”
“Obviously something pretty and sparkly! Last time, Seere-nim also liked the shiny things when she came to the 70th floor treasury, right? What did she take from there?”
“She took Andromalius's crown. It's too big for her to wear, though.”
“Ah, right.”
Sitri pondered for a moment, then spoke as if she had thought of something.
“Then let's use that crown!”
“Pardon?”
“The crown. Wouldn't it be fine to modify it so Seere-nim can wear the one she likes?”
Nahen was slightly impressed. He hadn't expected Sitri to give such a proper suggestion, but unexpectedly, it was quite a good proposal.
“You mean entrusting it to a craftsman to shrink and refine it.”
“That's it.”
“It's rare for Sitri, Your Majesty, to give such a good opinion. I'm a bit impressed.”
“Huhu, of course! Who do you think I am……, what? Rare?”
Ignoring Sitri's complaint, Nahen began to worry about how to retrieve the crown. Currently, Andromalius's crown was in Seere's room.
‘If I ask for it, Seere would obviously give it to me, but….’
He wanted it to be a surprise gift. Asking Seere would make it not a surprise, which didn't align with Nahen's intention.
“Should I sneak it out while she's asleep.”
# That night, Nahen was walking down the corridor with cautious steps. He had an anxious expression, worried that someone might wake up. And there was one more person behind him. The maid Secily, following quietly with her fluffy fox tail swaying gently. She was the accomplice Nahen had teamed up with this time. More precisely, it was closer to Secily volunteering rather than Nahen choosing her. Upon hearing Nahen's story about wanting to give Seere a surprise gift, the moved Secily had offered to help actively.
“Secily, you're sure Seere is asleep, right?”
“Yes. I opened the door several times to check, and she was sleeping soundly, breathing softly.”
“Good.”
If Seere woke up, Nahen's entire plan would fall apart. The two of them opened Seere's door, tense as if stepping onto a battlefield of death.
“Hmm?”
But why was it? Seere, who should have been sleeping soundly, was sitting up with wide, sparkling eyes. Nahen and Secily, meeting her pure blue eyes, froze in place.
“Teacher!”
“Uh, uh? Uhh…, Seere.”
Nahen glanced at Secily with a slightly bewildered look. Secily looked at Nahen with an aggrieved expression. Regardless of the two, Seere came down from the bed and ran over to Nahen. Nahen lightly picked up Seere, who stretched out both hands asking for a hug.
“Hehe.”
“So…, Seere. Why weren't you sleeping?”
“I was sleeping.”
“Huh? Then why did you wake up?”
Seere smiled brightly.
“I felt you coming, Teacher!”
“…Huh?”
“I felt your magic power getting closer~!”
Nahen pondered Seere's words for a moment. Then he realized who the culprit behind this situation was.
‘It was because of me that she woke up?’
It was himself. Seere had woken up from sleep upon sensing Nahen's magic power approaching. Nahen stared blankly for a moment, then glanced behind him. Secily was looking at Nahen with slightly resentful eyes. Nahen slightly closed and opened his eyes to express his apology, then carried Seere to the bed. Seere looked at Nahen with curious eyes.
“What brings you here?”
“…I came to check if you were sleeping well.”
“I slept well!”
“It doesn't seem like you've even slept two hours yet…, you need to sleep more to have class and train tomorrow too.”
Nahen spoke while patting Seere's back.
“So, shall we sleep a bit more?”
“Ye~s.”
Nahen carefully laid Seere on the bed and covered her with the blanket. He tried to put her to sleep, but Seere just looked at Nahen with sparkling eyes and showed no intention of sleeping.
“…Seere? Can't you sleep?”
Nod nod.
Normally, even if it was a short time, waking up after a deep sleep was when one felt least tired. Seere, who had woken up after sleeping a little, was exactly in that state. At her eyes that didn't even feel sleepy, Nahen wore a slightly hollow smile.
“Then shall we take a walk with Teacher?”
“Walk!”
Seere sprang up with an expectant face. Then she stretched out her hands as if asking Nahen to carry her. Nahen picked up Seere and stood. Then he spoke to Secily.
“I'll be back after walking a bit.”
“…Yes, Nahen-nim.”
Secily was quick-witted. She was thinking of taking the crown while Nahen took Seere out. Nahen, seeing Secily's gaze and expression, knew she had understood his intention well.
“See you later.”
# Nahen, carrying Seere outside, looked up at the night sky. Seere also looked up at the sky and smiled brightly.
“Full moon!”
A round and large moon was floating. The difference from the generally imagined moon was that this moon shone blue. Unlike reality, in Evil Queen Maker, the moon in the demon realm was set to appear blue. Thanks to that, the night in the demon realm always created a scene with a bluish atmosphere. Whenever night came, Nahen would feel that he had entered the game world.
Nahen asked Seere.
“Is the moon pretty?”
“Yes.”
“Seere likes sparkly things, doesn't she.”
“I like them!”
Nahen smirked at the brightly smiling Seere. Then he carefully set Seere down on the ground.
“Shall we walk a bit?”
“Yes~.”
Seere held Nahen's hand tightly with one hand and hugged the teddy bear tightly with the other. Holding her two favorite things, Seere smiled happily.
“Hehe~♬”
Nahen and Seere, walking hand in hand through the garden, sat on a bench prepared in the garden. Nahen sat, and since Seere wanted to climb onto his lap, he lifted her up. For a while, the two of them stared blankly at the sky. The full moon shining blue, the twinkling stars. All things Seere liked.
“Pretty!”
“Indeed.”
Nahen spoke.
“Seere.”
“Yes?”
“I…, I hope you always grow up healthy. Growing splendidly is important too, but health is just as important.”
Seere tilted her head. It wasn't that she didn't understand Nahen's words, but she didn't know why he was suddenly saying this.
“So, if it's hard, tell me anytime. If you're tired, say you want to rest. You don't have to force yourself when it's tough.”
Nahen said this while recalling the memory of Seere having caught a cold before. Because Seere smiled so well, he was saying it in advance in case he missed noticing her condition.
Hearing Nahen's words, Seere looked at him for a moment, then looked again at the blue moon in the sky.
“I…”
“Hm?”
“I like Teacher's lessons. I also like the Teacher who took on being my teacher when no one else would. So, I've never thought it was hard.”
Seere's tone had become quite serious, but her voice was still childlike, which was cute. However, Nahen could feel Seere's sincerity in that cute voice.
“Even though the sword is… scary, I want to try more. Because it's something Teacher is teaching me.”
“…….”
Nahen looked at her for a moment, then smirked. Then he reached out and gently stroked Seere's head as he spoke.
“I didn't mean for you to become serious too. I made you feel burdened.”
“Uhm…, it's not like that.”
“Still, when it's hard, you have to tell me properly. Sufficient rest is as important as learning.”
Nod nod.
Seeing Seere, who listened so well, Nahen smiled comfortably. And he hoped that this child would not lose her current pure heart even when she heard all the truth.
‘Is it greed?’
Nahen left a slightly bitter taste at the end of his smile and slowly stood up. Now, Secily should have completed her mission.
“Seere, let's go back inside now. It's about time to sleep so you can work hard tomorrow too, right?”
“Yes.”