Chapter 33

"Even I have my limits."

That was the first words of the mad alchemist known as the Black Over Witch. I was taken aback by the unexpected response.

"No, Captain. Don't you always say with confidence that there's nothing you can't do?"

Upon hearing this line, Sefiro feigned ignorance, saying, "Huh? Did I say that?"

"I'm not a god. I can't make everything. So, what is this 'teppo' thing? I've never heard of it or seen it. Do you just want a simple iron tube?"

"No, it's an iron tube, but it contains gunpowder and iron bullets. When you light it, it fires the bullet."

Even after hearing this explanation, Sefiro had a puzzled look on her face. Of course, just explaining it verbally wouldn't make her understand.

If only I had a real one to show her...

As I thought this, a certain person's face came to mind.

"...Maybe that person has a gun?"

Or perhaps they know how to make one.

After all, that person was the one who quickly recognized the potential of these guns, used them, and brought an end to the Warring States period.

I asked Sefiro for permission to meet that person.

Sefiro still seemed to be confused about the situation, but she gave me permission to go to the Demon King's castle, Dovolberg.

On the way to Dovolberg, I returned to Ivalice.

The person I'm about to meet is the Demon King's general.

I want to cleanse my body with a bath before meeting him.

I can't meet him with a sweaty body.

Let me add that it's not because the Demon King is a cute young girl.

Well, my previous life was as a Japanese person, and I can't feel at ease without taking a bath once a day.

While thinking this, I entered the bath.

In this world, there isn't a habit of taking baths frequently.

Firewood and water are precious resources.

It's not possible to take baths frequently.

Even in my previous world, Queen Elizabeth I of England was said to have a "pathological obsession with cleanliness" just for taking a bath once a month.

In this world, it's similar. Commoners only take water baths or wipe their bodies with cloths.

Incidentally, my maid, Sati, takes a bath every day.

At first, she refused, saying, "It's too much to use the leftover bathwater from my master," but after I insisted, it seems that taking a bath is a good thing.

She soaks in the bath every day, humming a tune.

"---By the way, I'm not peeping."

I said this to no one in particular and then called out Sati's name.

"Sati, can you bring me a towel?"

The towel, which should have been prepared, was not there.

Sati is a perfect maid, but she sometimes makes mistakes.

Well, not really a mistake, but it's a problem that there's no towel.

I called out Sati's name again and asked for a towel.

The bathroom door opened silently.

Normally, Sati would say,

"Master, I'm sorry,"

and apologize as she entered, but today she was silent.

I thought it was unusual but didn't give it much thought.

My mansion is protected so that others can't easily enter.

The reason is that it would be troublesome if someone else entered.

As a general of the Demon King's army, there's a risk of assassination, but more importantly, it would be bad if my true identity was revealed.

Recently, I've been so caught up in the chaos of the demon race that I almost forgot, but my true identity is human. It would be bad if that was revealed.

Especially, if other demons found out, my life would be in danger.

I would be punished as a traitor, dragged before the Demon King, and beheaded or turned to ashes by a powerful magic spell.

"Or even worse, tortured and killed for fun."

I didn't want that to happen.

While thinking this, I took the towel from Sati.

Sati, unusually, threw the towel to me.

I wiped my face with it.

It had a musty smell.

I stared at the object that looked like a towel.

---It was a rag, not a towel.

"...This is the Captain's doing, isn't it?"

I immediately realized.

The loyal maid, Sati, would never do such a thing.

Moreover, as I mentioned earlier, this mansion has a barrier.

Only those with more powerful magic than me or those with my permission can enter freely.

Considering this, the answer was inevitable.

I turned around with a sigh and said,

"...Captain, can't you stop these pranks?"

Or rather, I said it with a bit of anger.

Even if she is my superior, or a sister who has taken care of me since childhood (in appearance only), I'm getting tired of it.

"Maybe I should revoke the Captain's permission to enter---"

My words stopped mid-sentence because the person there was not the Captain.

Moreover, it wasn't Sati.

An unexpected person was there.

She looked at me without moving an eyebrow and said,

"---Is that so?"

Hearing that catchphrase, I knew it was the Demon King.

The supreme commander of the Demon King's army, with twelve wings and a beautiful face.

The Demon King of the demon race was there.

I quickly put on the Robe of the Undying King, which was hanging by the bathtub, and turned my back to her.

---I think it's probably just barely safe.

The steam was probably in the way.

While thinking this, I tried to speak calmly.

"Your Majesty, it's been a while."

The Demon King replied with her usual phrase.

"Is that so?"

And continued,

"---Do the Undead take baths?"

It's a reasonable question.

However, it seems my secret wasn't revealed.

I sighed in relief and asked her to go to the reception room.

The Demon King obediently followed.

Perhaps my response was very impolite, but it's better than having my true identity revealed.

While thinking this, I straightened the Robe of the Undying King and headed to the reception room.

---

Clatter---

Sati's teacup was shaking, probably because the person in front of her was the Demon King.

She was so excited that her legs were trembling.

It's pitiful, but I can't let the Demon King go without tea.

Sati whispered in my ear,

"S, how many teaspoons of sugar should I add?"

I asked the Demon King,

"Your Majesty, how many teaspoons of sugar should I add?"

She held up five fingers.

It seems she has a sweet tooth.

She has a dignified presence, but she also has a girlish side.

Sati asked again,

"S, should I add gold leaf?"

It might be appropriate.

I thought so, but it seems the Demon King heard it.

"Such things are unnecessary."

She dismissed it with a single word.

Demons must have good hearing.

I need to be careful not to mutter to myself in the future.

The Demon King took a sip of the tea Sati served.

"---It's delicious."

She still only speaks in short phrases.

However, looking at her, except for the wings on her back and the horns, she really looks like an ordinary girl.

While thinking this, I took a sip of tea, and the Demon King suddenly said,

"---By the way, Ike. Is it true that you will be the Captain's proxy in the next duel?"

It seems she not only has good hearing but also good information.

I had kept it secret, but she must have found out somehow.

I decided to be honest.

After all, she probably came here to talk about this.

"Yes, I will fight as the Captain's proxy."

Upon hearing this, the Demon King murmured, "Is that so?" and placed her hand on her chin.

She seemed to be thinking about something.

I waited for her to finish her thoughts.

After a few minutes, it seemed she had made up her mind.

"---Ike, I want to entrust this to you."

The Demon King said this, chanted a spell, and summoned a 'wooden box' in front of me.

"What is this?"

"………………"

The Demon King didn't say anything.

She probably wants me to open it.

I asked if it was okay to open it, and her answer was the usual one.

"---Is that so?"

"…………"

I decided it was probably okay to open it.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have shown me this.

I cautiously opened the box.

What was inside was unexpected.

"---This is..."

I couldn't help but say it.

What I had been longing for was there.

The box contained ten guns.

They were flintlock guns.

I had seen them in a museum before.

Before I could ask if it was okay to touch them, I picked one up.

It was heavier than I expected.

Made of wood, it looked light, but it must weigh 4 or 5 kilograms, about the weight of a small baby.

It was also longer than I expected, about the height of a child.

Wow.

I couldn't help but gasp.

Guns are something that tickle a man's heart.

There's no man who doesn't like guns and swords.

I was reborn into a world where I could enjoy swords to my heart's content, but I never dreamed I would get to touch a gun.

I was lost in admiration for a moment, but then I remembered something.

I didn't understand why the Demon King had brought these guns.

I couldn't help but ask,

"Your Majesty, what is this?"

Her answer was not "Is that so?"

"These are flintlock guns."

"…Flintlock guns?"

I pretended to be surprised.

It wouldn't be wise to reveal my memories from my previous life.

However, my effort was in vain.

The Demon King said,

"There's no need to pretend. I know you have memories from your previous life."

"……"

I couldn't help but break into a cold sweat.

Sati, who was standing next to me, turned pale and trembled.

Sati, stop it. It's not just the memories from my previous life, but the fact that I'm a human that might be revealed.

I sent her a glance, but she seemed even more nervous.

Perhaps she couldn't bear to see this, but the Demon King said,

"There's no need to hide it."

"I know you are human."

"……"

I was speechless.

I looked at Sati.

Should I take her and run away from this mansion?

I'm no match for the Demon King now, but I might be able to escape.

I seriously considered it for a moment, but then I changed my mind.

If I think calmly, there's no need to do that.

If she wanted to get rid of me, she wouldn't be drinking tea so calmly, and there would be no need to show me the 'flintlock guns.'

Perhaps the Demon King is thinking about something.

Why hasn't the Demon King's army used flintlock guns before, even though they exist?

If I think about this, the answer is clear.

The 'flintlock guns' themselves might exist, but the 'gunpowder' to put in them probably didn't.

Perhaps the Demon King is expecting me to make gunpowder.

She must have realized that I understood this.

The Demon King, for the first time, relaxed her expression.

"---Before you were a demon, I have been watching you for a long time."

"…Is it because I'm the grandson of the guardian of the Nether, Romburg?"

She shook her head.

"No, it's not related. It's just a hunch."

"…A hunch?"

"However, my hunches are usually right. Everyone I've watched has achieved great things. Hashiba Hideyoshi, Maeda Toshiie, Akechi Mitsuhide, Takigawa Masatsugu. They all worked hard and helped me."

"……"

I never thought I would hear the names of such famous generals in another world.

They were all key figures in Oda Nobunaga's rise to power.

Am I being compared to such great generals?

I think it's an overestimation, but the Demon King said one last thing.

"Will you be the Hideyoshi of this world, or the Akechi Mitsuhide (the traitor)?"

"……"

I answered with silence.

She doesn't seem to know the history after she was killed by Akechi Mitsuhide.

Hashiba Hideyoshi took over the Oda clan and became the ruler of the land after Oda Nobunaga's death.

How should I answer that?

I was hesitant but decided to cooperate with the Demon King.

I offered my help.

"With my humble abilities, I will assist you."

Upon hearing this, she said her usual catchphrase and showed a smile for the first time.

"---Is that so?"

She usually looks mature because of her expressionless face, but when she smiles, she looks her age.

---Although, as a demon, her actual age is unknown.