And so, blending in

"You are asking for quite the hard thing again. Well, I will do it though."

I headed to the smithy of Troid-dono with the Purple Demon Lord on

the request of Mister Friend. I asked him to help out in the creation of

demonic tools and he easily agreed.

I also order trick knives from him with their own peculiarities, so I trust

him wholeheartedly.

"That's Troid-dono! You really are reliable!" (Mix)

"The day of delivery and the cost of it won't get any more lenient even if

you flatter me. Anyways, that Nii-chan has really gone up the ranks in

the time I wasn't watching. From bringing Ilias to standing shoulder to

shoulder with His Majesty." (Troid)

I was wondering whether to open up about the truth with Troid-dono,

but he easily could tell 'You are not a human' just from a look of

Dyuvuleori-dono.

I didn't feel like I would be able to hide this completely even if I tried, so

I honestly explained to him and tried to persuade him. In the end, most

of the things I thought of to persuade him were wasted though.

"And so, do you have a blueprint or something?" (Troid)

"Rather than calling it a blueprint, we have something similar to

illustrations and mechanics of it though?" (Purple)

"Show it to me… It is similar to enchanting something." (Troid)

"If it is just imbuing a magic stone, then yeah, I guess? But you have to

add a monster on top of that though?" (Purple)

There's numerous weapons among humans that activate their magic by

pouring mana into them.

The gauntlet Pashuro used on Mister Friend was within that category.

Enchanted weapons that can activate composite magic by pouring

mana into them. It is true that they are strong, but they actually have a

lot of downsides.

First is how much energy they consume. Activating the magic structure

someone else prepared requires more than the normal amount of

mana.

In the case of the trick knives I use, the tricks to them are all done by

hand, so there's not much of a burden, but if it a weapon made by

someone else, only people with confidence in their mana would be able

to use it in actual combat.

Next would be the quality. There's the need for a decent amount of

space in order to engrave complicated magic structures, and also magic

stones and circles.

This leads to the weapon decreasing in strength and sharpness, and the

quality as a weapon would lower.

The weapon Pashuro was using had the threat of the black flames, but

the weapon itself was questionable.

It is a threatening enchanted weapon if the technique of the user is

high, but it is most often the case that it would be better to go for the

normal route if you want to master something.

The risk of not being able to substitute it if it were to break is pretty

high after all.

In the case of the demonic tools, those two points are apparently solved

to a certain degree. Have the demonic tool remember the quirks of the

user's mana and the mana construction, and it has several times higher

strength compared to an enchanted weapon.

The demonic sword of Girista-dono that could face the mana

strengthened Lady Ratzel straight on is testament of its quality.

"Can you secure monsters?" (Troid)

"No issues. If you need them now, I can leave some here, you know?"

(Purple)

The Purple Demon Lord says this and brings out one jewel and points it

to the ground.

When she did, devils began to crawl out from inside of it and laid down

on the ground.

Troid-dono moved his brows faintly, but doesn't seem to be too

flustered by this. That's impressive.

"…Isn't it harsh to ask an elderly to carry this?" (Troid)

"Oh, that's true, I guess? Want me to bring it inside?" (Purple)

"Processing devils is outside my expertise. It is enough to just get that

jewel. It seems like the sizes are varied, but the shapes are based on

your liking, right?" (Troid)

"Yeah. The size is normally as you see. The size used in demonic tools is

also already set, you know?" (Purple)

"Then, I will prepare the clay for the shape. Wait for a bit." (Troid)

Troid-dono said this and walked deeper in.

That person treated me properly like an adventurer despite knowing

my standing.

That blunt attitude is instead calming.

"…"

"…"

That said, this grouping is pretty awkward.

My prejudice towards Demon Lords was fixed since the matter of

Gahne, but when it comes to scenarios like this…

"…Uhm, how about checking the weapons around here to take as

reference for what shape you would like it to be?" (Mix)

"Right. Also, you can call me Purple, you know?" (Purple)

Hngh, she noticed that I was hesitating on whether to call her Purple

Demon Lord or just Purple…

"Then, Purple-dono. Looking at the Blue Demon Lord, I thought for sure

only close people could be allowed to call you in that fashion." (Mix)

"I wouldn't want everyone to call me like that, you know? But you are

his colleague, so I think we are close enough though?" (Purple)

"Also, I thought for sure you showed no interest in anyone aside from

Mister Friend, Purple-dono." (Mix)

"I won't deny that. I don't have a shred of interest in you personally

after all?" (Purple)

Wow, with such brazenness, I can't even feel slighted here. But maybe I

should be happy that she is not taking distance from me?

"It is pretty sad that I am not in your vision." (Mix)

"Oh, that's not true, you know? I am jealous of you after all." (Purple)

My relationship with Mister Friend is good, but it is hard to say it is the

relationship between a man and a woman when compared to Purpledono.

I worked my brain at the unexpected words, but it just doesn't click.

"Oh, what do you mean by that? It looks to me that your relationship

with Mister Friend is more desirable than mine though." (Mix)

"I am happy to hear that. It makes my hard work worth it, I guess? But I

am greedy, you know? I am jealous of all the relationships he has with

other women. Because I can see other sides of him that he doesn't show

to me." (Purple)

"…I see." (Mix)

The partner relationship with Lady Ratzel, the happy-go-lucky

relationship with Rakura-dono, the teacher and student relationship

with Wolfe-chan; for Purple-dono, all of those are different appearances

of Mister Friend.

So as someone who wanted all of Mister Friend, she finds any

relationship as a target of jealousy… That's interesting.

"You must have thought about his relationships with the other girls,

right? In your eyes, which relationship is the one you are most jealous

of?" (Purple)

"Right… If we are talking as a woman, it would be his relationship with

Lady Ratzel, I guess? You need courage to be in a relationship where

both sides can speak straight on about the paths they walk on after all."

(Mix)

"That's certainly worthy of being jealous of, right? But 'as a woman'

must mean that you consider his relationship with a man the number

one?" (Purple)

"Yes, of course. It would be his relationship with Ani-sama!" (Mix)

Ani-sama and Mister Friend are people that I respect greatly. Just

watching their relationship that has no barriers of social positions

really gets to my heart.

I would like to switch places with either one, but if I were to take the

place of someone, it wouldn't be the same… Maybe if I switched for

both… and well, that's my comical solo drama.

"You are breathing heavily there? Is it that good?" (Purple)

"Of course! When Mister Friend talks to Ani-sama, it is like thawing the

ice in each other's hearts -it melts the tenseness of the heart! Just

watching that is already a reward in itself!" (Mix)

"I-I see… But it is true that he is closer to men." (Purple)

Ekdoik-dono, Haakudoku-dono, Lord Domitorkofucon; I think all of

those pairings have created a good distance. I have no intention of

backing down in my statement that his relationship with Ani-sama is

the best one though.

"I am happy that he is treating me as someone of the opposite gender

though. It is a first-world problem." (Mix)

"You are pretty passive in your approach with him despite that

though?" (Purple)

"Of course… Mister Friend doesn't like excessive approaches after all."

(Mix)

"Oh my, are you throwing shade at me there?" (Purple)

"Not at all! If it is just one or two, it is fine-desu zo! But if everyone were

to be aggressive on Mister Friend, he might be fed up with it." (Mix)

"Doesn't look that way though… Despite everything said, he hasn't

refused anyone, right?" (Purple)

"Even if so, he is still a human. He will at least make choices. I would

like to avoid the possibility of him choosing the other world instead of

this one." (Mix)

"His former world… huh. But he must think this world is more

comfortable than that one though?" (Purple)

"But Mister Friend would sometimes call this world as: 'this world

here'. Have you not experienced that?" (Mix)

I would sometimes go 'hm?' when talking with him, but it seems like

that's a habit of Mister Friend.

When talking while conscious of it, he would say 'the other world', but

when speaking casually, he would say 'my world'.

There's almost no chance of misunderstanding with context, but I am

sure it is not only me who finds it off.

Purple-dono falls into thought for a while. And then, she nodded as if

convinced.

"Yeah, there have certainly been times when he has done that with me

too?" (Purple)

"Mister Friend still has lingering attachments to his former world… no,

he most likely still doesn't think himself as a resident of this world even

as of present." (Mix)

"And so, when the time comes when he has to go back… you think he

will return to his former world?" (Purple)

"There's a high chance that's the case. But as someone who has heard

the past of Mister Friend, the choice of remaining here should be plenty

alluring in itself. I am someone who would want Mister Friend to stay

after all. I want to make this a world he wants to stay in-desu zo." (Mix)

I have made a decent amount of friends as someone who became an

adventurer to escape from Ani-sama. But the only one that Ani-sama

can truly call a friend is Mister Friend.

If Mister Friend were to be gone, just how sad would Ani-sama be? Just

thinking about that is enough to squeeze my chest.

…I myself would surely have a big hole opened in my heart.

"…Good. I would like to join in on that intention of yours, okay?"

(Purple)

"…As in?" (Mix)

"I will provide him with a wonderful life; one that will make him forget

his former world. I wanted to provide him what he wished to begin

with, so it doesn't change my plans much though?" (Purple)

"Doesn't that mean it will be the same as usual?" (Mix)

"Not really? I will at least try to refrain from developments that would

displease him or make him sad, you know? It is vexing, but it is better

than losing him though?" (Purple)

Purple-dono wanted to see all the sides of Mister Friend. In other

words, she also had the intention of making Mister Friend suffer…

which she was hiding deep in her heart.

I see. It looks like I did good work here without knowing. Let's ready a

good reward for myself in the future.

"Then, let's say this is a secret alliance…" (Mix)

"Yes, looking forward to working with you, Mix." (Purple)

I respond to the handshake offered to me. I managed to hold the hand

of this person I thought I was distant from.

"…By the way, the outward appearance of Dyuvuleori-dono is that of a

man. How jealous are you of the relationship between him and

Dyuvuleori-dono, Purple-dono?" (Mix)

"I am of course pretty jealous of it, you know? But I have bullied him a

bit too much and he now doesn't talk to him in front of me though?"

(Purple)

Dyuvuleori-dono has been looking over here with an extremely serious

face. If he had the same stomach as a human, I am sure it would be full

of holes.

◇◇

"Hekuchi!"

"That was a pointlessly cute sneeze."

"That 'pointless' was unnecessary. Someone must be talking about me.

Must be Mix and the others who I am making wait."

I left Mix and Purple alone, but it should be okay, right? Dyuvuleori is

there too, but he is pretty much background when in the presence of

Purple.

Mix has high social skills. She is a former princess after all. I am sure

she will do well.

Yeah, I want to believe she is better than Rakura. Or more like, there's

no one who gets better after being influenced by Rakura in her slovenly

mode.

"Mix-sama uses the smithy of Troid in Taizu, too. I doubt she will mess

up the route." (Ilias)

"She won't on that front. If there's anything to worry about, it would be

that things could get complicated if they were to say anything weird

while explaining the situation."

That person is really good at seeing through things after all. There's a

high chance he will see through the identities of Purple and Dyuvuleori

in one go.

Even so, he is still a craftsman at core. He should accept obediently as

long as you are reasonable. I am sure Mix will be able to explain

properly, and if it does get complicated… I can just manage somehow, so

that's fine.

"But to think you would create new demonic tools which have left a

mark in history." (Ilias)

"Even if we are to create new magic tools, I don't know how useful they

will be in our fight against the Scarlet Demon Lord."

"I think it would be better to use weapons with higher quality than to

increase the tricks you can pull off though." (Ilias)

"You are pretty straightforward after all. It is better to keep it simple for

those types of people. But there's technique involved when people fight

each other, right? The special traits of the demonic tools should be of

use when breaking the equilibrium."

The level of the mana strengthening of Ilias far surpasses the efficiency

of the body strengthening through magic.

In the first place, pretty much all of the knights in Taizu are monsters.

They don't need magic, and have passive skills that surpass even magic

strengthening buffs. They really would leave buffers in tears.

The mana control of Wolfe has also gone beyond common sense thanks

to the teachings of Gradona. If those two were to use demonic tools,

they would need to do both controlling of the weapon as well as

fighting. It would have to be passive stuff like automatic stamina

recovery.

This time around, Purple will only be readying things that will activate

when you use mana on them, so we will have to make demonic tools

that are useful for people like those two.

"It really doesn't click to me when talking about fighting through the

power of the weapon." (Ilias)

"Don't say that in front of Mix."

"O-Of course not!" (Ilias)

Mix prefers varied battle styles because her strength is how fast her

brain spins.

Even if she doesn't have talent in physical skills, she has the methods to

defeat the strong. This is proof of her determination.

But even Mix feels somewhat inferior to people like Ilias and Wolfe who

have high specs.

It would be impossible for Mix to enter a fisticuff with Dyuvuleori no

matter how hard she works.

Well, this girl here being able to pull that off just makes her way too

much of a gorilla though.

We arrived at the smithy of Troid-san while we were having that talk.

The inside is pretty noisy.

"Excuse the intrusion… Wait, what are you doing?"

When I entered, I found the 3 at the exhibition shelves where the

weapons are lined up at.

It would have been fine if it were just that, but that sight was a bit

weird.

To be more precise, it is because Mix and Dyuvuleori were holding

weapons and posing.

"Ooh, you are here, Mister Friend! We were deciding on the shape of the

demonic tool, and we concluded that the appearance was also

important, so we are having Purple-dono confirm how we look while

holding a weapon!" (Mix)

"Isn't it important to draw other's eyes when facing someone?

Dyuvuleori, hold those two with each hand." (Purple)

"As you will." (Dyuvuleori)

Dyuvuleori, that's a 2-handed greatsword. I don't know what to feel

about seeing someone carrying a close to 2 meter slab of metal lightly.

"It gives off good pressure, don't you think?" (Purple)

"There's not many humans who can hold both weapons of that size and

fight, you know?" (Mix)

"Oh my, is that so? Can you do it, Ilias?" (Purple)

"Of course I can do that much." (Ilias)

Ilias grabs the same stuff with a smug face as if saying 'how's that?'. This

woman is seriously a gorilla. Not only in strength but also in the head.

"Don't compete. It is still in the prototype stage, so what's the point of

choosing the people to use at this junction?"

"Kuoooo… This is… pretty tough…!" (Mix)

"Also, Mix, don't mistake who you should be competing with."

Looking at Mix imitating them and staggering, it made me think 'aah,

she really is a girl', but just the fact that I had to think that was already

pretty messed up in itself. I have confidence that a waist or two would

be destroyed if I were to hold only one of them.

"I was stirred up to do it as an adventurer after seeing them carry those

weapons so lightly… Uwooah?!" (Mix)

"Watch out!"

Mix lost balance and she fell my way at full power, so I avoided her. Mix

skillfully protected the weapons and crashed onto the floor face first.

"…Mister Friend, this is the scene where you should catch me-desu zo…"

(Mix)

"I would be crushed by the weight of those swords. Do you want to

report to Marito: 'I have crushed Mister Friend'?"

"…Nice evade. But now that I think about it calmly, Purple-dono is the

one who will be doing the last touches, so it would be better for it to be

light." (Mix)

"Now that you mention it, that's true, I guess? In that case, Mix, can you

line up your knife-like weapons? Gather them too, Dyuvuleori, got it?"

(Purple)

"As you will." (Dyuvuleori)

"As you will, as you will!" (Mix)

These two have gotten strangely close. It seems like they have grown

closer after finding a common topic.

Mix had hostility and killing intent when she met a Demon Lord -Goldfor the first time. She has gotten pretty close to her now.

This also applies to Purple. Purple barely spoke to anyone but me and

Dyuvuleori. There's rarely any time when she has spoken to any other

people aside from the Demon Lords. And yet, it feels as if she is having

fun here.

"Oh my, is there anything on my face?" (Purple)

"The same as usual. Well, it seems like you are having a bit of fun

though."

"Right. I am having a bit of fun, I guess? Jealous?" (Purple)

The smile of Purple right now seems to be relaxed.

When she was dealing with Gold and Blue, it felt as if she was

competing with them in some sort of way, and when she was with me, it

felt as if she was a bit nervous.

But there's none of that right now. Maybe she has found someone she

can speak at ease without worrying about standings just like me and

Marito?

"I don't have much of a desire to monopolize things, so it actually looks

endearing."

"I see. So that's how I was being looked at just now?… That's a fresh

experience." (Purple)

"Yeah, goes both ways."

The result is that the prototypes for the demonic tools will be based on

knives, and the one who will be experimenting with them will be Mix.

The demonic tool creation began from a punishment, but it looks like I

will be able to get more results than I thought.