The banquet did not end even past midnight.
I had never imagined that Demon Lords would be such heavy drinkers. Barbatos was especially amazing. She picked up an entire jug of alcohol and chugged it down in one go.
People cheered and applauded. It was insane. Also, Barbatos seemed to have taken a liking to me cause she kept forcing me to drink. If I tried to refuse slightly then she’d say, “Aaang? Are you trying to resist drinking the alcohol that I’m bestowing to you?” and got heated up. Was this not a barbaric person, or what?
Not being able to socialize with her any longer, I secretly withdrew to the hallway. Truthfully, I wanted to escape out the front gate, but there was the chance that I’d get caught by Barbatos.
Her outer appearance was that of a little girl but where was that tremendous amount of alcohol being consumed to? I couldn’t understand. In my opinion, I thought that scientist needed to go through her stomach as soon as possible. I was certain that a miniature black hole was in there…… The problem was that the science in this world was not advanced. As a result, it was impossible to find out. It was an unsolvable mystery……
My mind felt blank. I must have gotten drunk. I was walking through an empty hallway, and yet, everything in front of me felt like it was pulsating. Damn it. It was because that kid, born on the plains of Siberia, said “I’ll show you my hidden treasure.” and forced me to drink a concoction of 6 different alcohols. What did she mean by “Think of this as an honor. Not just anyone can taste this.”? Go drink yourself to death……
I could hear quiet footsteps behind me. Turning around, I saw that Lapis Lazuli was standing there. I courteously opened my arms.
“Ooh, Lala! My Lala! Your eyes are like azure and your voice is like a hymn sung in harmony!”
Ehem.
In actuality, I had spread my arms out in a bit of an exaggerated manner.
What? I’m drunk. It was beyond my control.
“…… Your highness moved too rashly.”
“What? I’m so great that you’ve fallen for me?”
“This one said that your highness has moved too rashly.”
“To the point that you want to smooch me? That’s great! If you knew how hard I worked to gain your affection, then you’d feel so sorry for me that you’d willingly offer me your lips.”
“Your highness.”
I shut my mouth.
Lapis Lazuli’s gaze pierced right through me.
“Your highness is reckless, irresponsible, and rash.”
“…… Are you not deeply moved by my victory?”
“Yes.”
“That’s a bit of a shock.”
It was as shocking as the time I had received a confession from a boy in the same class as me during elementary school.
“Paimon is not only the rank 9th Demon Lord, but she is also the leader of the mountain faction that is known as the greatest faction in the Demon Lord Allied Forces. She is in command of many loyal followers and has a close relationship to people in power on the human side. In simpler terms, your highness has turned one of the most important figures of the Demon World into an enemy.”
“Wait. Wait a second, Lala.”
I waved my hands fiercely.
“……I am not reckless, I am not irresponsible, and I am not rash. These are words I’m hearing for the first time in my life. That’s incredibly insulting.”
“Is that so? What kind of plan is it that your highness had to turn the richest man and the leader of the greatest faction in the demon world, into enemies?”
“That…… that is……”
It was no use.
My mind was still intoxicated by alcohol so I couldn’t think straight. It wasn’t an unsophisticated scenario where I could simply talk about it while being drunk. This was like the most elaborate machinery in the world.
“That is, it’s tremendously……”
“Tremendously?”
“Amazing…… and frighteningly great…… that kind of plan!”
“Your highness possesses quite the impressive persuasive ability. This one was so moved that this one had become at a loss for words.”
“My eyes and ears could be failing me at the same time, but your tongue sure is moving a lot for being at a loss for words.”
“It is a relief that your highness has enough rationality to notice that.”