41 Chapter 7 (9): Meetings with family, part 3

Chapter 7 (9): Meetings with family, part 3

Of course, as Haru joined in on the fun, I had to ask a question, though I knew that I probably knew the answer.

"So, Haru... I take it that you joining in means you wish to marry me?" (Ryuu)

"I... yeah. I do. I mean, if I didn't already at some level, I wouldn't have even watched, I think" (Haru)

"Well, welcome to the harem, I guess" (Char)

After that, we went to the guild to sell more of the things we had lying around in our storage magic. When we entered, we heard people wondering what our ranks were, a few wondering if they should try to join our party or get us to join thiers, and then, from right next to us...

"Yo, Ryuu, fancy seeing you here! Care to spar again? I'd love to learn more by fighting you, even if it means losing to you again... Actually, hold that thought, I'm still sore about my last loss. Maybe next time?" (Iroh)

That got everyone murmuring, and I heard a few people saying things like "Iroh lost? To an ordinary half-elf?" "Him? Learning from a little girl?" and more like that, but he didn't care, he just walked up to me and tried to pat my head. I didn't let him, as I moved behind him faster than anyone could see, and caught his wrist with one hand while pinching the edge of his wing with the other.

"Ouch... fair enough. I'm not going to try to pat your head... still, you are really fast... I didn't think that a mix between an elf and a human could be that fast" (Iroh)

"What made you think I'm half human? I'm not" (Ryuu)

"Eh? What's the other half then?" (Iroh)

In reply, I silently revealed my horns, though not my wings, as my tunic didn't have an opening for them and I didn't really feel like taking it off, thus revealing my breasts to everyone.

"Does that answer your question?" (Ryuu)

"I guess so. You know, if it wasn't for the fact that you seem to be very close with your current party, I might offer for you to join mine" (Iroh)

This guy... he's making me into an object of gossip and, well, he is boosting my reputation a lot, but... I don't need his help for that. I actually want to be able to go where I please, so being known as the one who beat someone on the upper edge of S rank is... a bit restricting, I guess?

"Thanks, but no thanks. I don't wish to be in a party that would restrict my range of motion, and I don't think you could come with me when I go back to the human lands" (Ryuu)

"Wait, you're based there? Why?" (Iroh)

"Well, for one thing, over half my party is from there, for another, I like learning about how people there think and live. It means I can better know how to build friendly ties with them when and if I settle down here" (Ryuu)

"You know, you sound like the new Demon Lord, Miryuu Maou, but... I mean, you are a bit... smaller than her, and the name is different" (Iroh)

"Smaller in what way? I heard she's a young girl of about my height and age, right? Wait..." (Ryuu)

"Yeah... I was talking about... well, your boobs" (Iroh)

"Pervert... spotted..." (Elise)

"Eh, he's not as bad as Bradley" (Mae)

"That's a low bar... really low" (Tuare)

"That's like saying that Miryuu was covered up decently well when she was getting coronated, based on the comparison to those near her... after all, some of them were fully naked" (Char)

"Oh right, I almost forgot that you were able to watch that happen. I wish I could have seen what you saw, but... I had other things I was doing at the time, sadly" (Ryuu)

"Don't worry, you didn't miss much at all that we didn't or couldn't tell you" (Ver)

"Finally, her party speaks! I was getting worried that Ryuu might be the only one who wasn't mute" (Iroh)

"No, she's just the one who is best at speaking with others in a public setting. You didn't forget that we're still just inside the entrance to the guild, right?" (Char)

"Yes, while your conversation is quite fascinating, and you are an S rank, you are in our way, you know?" (Man)

"Oh, it's quite alright. I actually would like to hear how this plays out. I have time, after all" (Other man)

"Milord... you do have something scheduled for an hour from now, and so we don't have much t-" (First man)

"Raiser... that is something that doesn't need my presence, after all" (Second man)

I, and everyone else, looked at the two who were talking, to see a male demon in an impressive black robe with silver daggers sheathed all over his body, standing next to a shorter male elf in what I could only call a business suit, holding a small bundle of papers. Maybe he's the demon's adjutant? Actually... The demon looks familiar... where... oh... right.

"Wait... Is that..." (Adventurer A)

"First seat, the demon general Takigawa Lars!" (Adventurer B)

Yep. I knew it... I looked over at Tuare, who was looking rather stunned, and poked her in the back with my elbow.

"Huh? Oh, uh... um... I-it... it's been a wh-" (Tuare)

"Who gave you permission to speak to his grace? Know your place, lowly human" (Adjutant... Raiser, was it?)

"Fine, I'll say it another way... Hello, father" (Tuare, who had revealed her horns and wings)

The whole guild fell silent, and Lars looked at her, blinked, and then lunged at her with open arms.

"Tuare! I've missed you! THREE YEARS! YOU'VE BEEN TRAVELING FOR THREE YEARS, AND NOW YOU'VE COME BACK! Come, let us return so I may hear about what you did over a full banqu-" (Lars)

"Father... please stop groping my breasts... it's not right, no matter how abundant they may be... and besides, I still plan on continuing my journey, so I'm not going to return for long. And Raiser, remember that my mother, your boss's wife, is a human. I'd recommend changing how you think about and refer to humans" (Tuare)

"Speaking of changing how you think about humans, didn't Miryuu say something about that as well?" (Ryuu)

"Watch how you speak about the new Demon Lord. She demands respect, so you ought to refer to her as 'Demon Lord Miryuu Maou', should you wish to keep your head. Also, I must ask... who are you to intrude upon this discussion?" (Raiser)

"And how would you know that she demands that kind of respect? I would assume that you've never met her personally, considering the fact that she's only made one public appearance, when she gave a speech that didn't include anything about wanting respect. Still, this is a conversation for... somewhere else, I'd think. Shall we each do what we came here to do and then head to a location better suited for these kinds of talks? We are still blocking the entrance to the guild, and in the midst of several probable eavesdroppers" (Ryuu)

"Yes, let us do so... Raiser, please hold your tongue until we get to a private location. Also, she's a friend and former student of mine, and based on the fact that she is with Tuare, and had been in the same conversation as her when we got here, I'd say they are likely good friends too, probably members of the same party. In addition, unless Miryuu changed quite a lot in the year or so since I last spoke with her, which I highly doubt, she doesn't care about that kind of respect at all. In fact, she rather dislikes having people address her that way every time they speak, and she certainly wouldn't wish someone executed for such a thing" (Lars)

With that, the two groups split up, Lars and the now silent Raiser going to post a request, our party selling about half of what we had in our (or rather, my) storage magic for several dozen large gold coins and some change. After that, we met up with Lars and went to his mansion in the capital to talk, with nobody else in the room, not even any servants.