'Welp, this is awkward...'
As I sat at the center top of the board table, looking to my right and left, I noticed sothing I should have thought of much earlier.
Seven people were seated before —three Adventurers, and then four of my top administrators.
'Haa... the atmosphere is really tense, isn't it? What have I done...' I stared at how the trio glared at one of my top leaders.
Their animosity was unfiltered, and I could see pure rage—coupled with lots of disgust—coming from their eyes.
"N-now, then... shall we begin the eting?" I smiled, trying to think of the best way to address the 'Elephant' in the room.
What was happening in the incredibly sparse room was simple.
My Demon Leader—Lilith—was being given the hateful glare by Adventurers, and for good reason.
I suppose this one was on , considering I never told them the details of how this town worked.
'In the first place, It's sothing unconventional... Demons living with normal people.'
That was why, when I introduced Lilith at the last minute, the Adventurers could not hide their repulsion—especially Asa.
It almost felt like she had a personal vendetta with Lilith—just like back then with Lucy.
'What's with cute girls and hating on Demons?'
Lilith was plenty cute, especially now. If not for those horns of hers, that protruded from her head, it didn't show at all.
Her chest was covered with clothing, so her Demon Core was hidden. Also, her hands had gloves and her feet had boots.
Almost all her Demon parts were hidden. Ah! I forgot her dangling tail.
Yep, that was also exposed... my bad.
"H-Hero, can I ask a question?" Asa raised her hand.
It seed she couldn't take it anymore. Yep! Her eyes seed to contain so much emotion, and I was certain she would be asking for answers regarding the Demon, Lilith.
'Ah shit, here we go again.'
"Of course." I nodded slightly, acting like the composed savior of humanity—because... I sort of was.
"W-why is a Demon... here?" Asa stuttered a lot.
Her eyes shifted uncomfortably, and it was obvious that asking that simple question was hard for her.
'Is she trying to be respectful and considerate because of my personality? I see... she doesn't want to seem rude.'
I understood Asa's point of view.
She just popped out of nowhere, with her comrades, asking for help. Wouldn't it be very nosy and mannerless of her to question my decision?
Yet, it seed her repulsion for the Demon was that intense. There had to be quite the history.
"Lilith is a Middle-Rank Demon I personally punished for her actions against this settlent.
She's my slave, and I'm using her—and the Demons that serve under her—to efficiently strengthen this place." I explained.
Of course, I owed Asa no duty to do so. If she didn't like being with a Demon, the door was always open.
However, there was no way I could ever be inconsiderate toward my dear friend, Asa.
"A-ah... b-but... isn't that...?" Asa still didn't seem convinced.
Her eyes darted hatefully at Lilith, who plainly ignored her.
If there was sothing I liked about the Mid-Demon, it was her tenacity. Even in the face of blatant racism, she was unhinged. Now, that was sothing to respect.
'I don't think I could ever handle it if soone treated that way...'
"Lilith is under my command, Asa. Sa as the others. Their race has enslaved humanity and the other races as long as the dawn of ti. Don't you think it's ti to flip the order of things?" Narrowing my eyes, I spoke with calm conviction.
"O-oh... I see... I apologize for my outburst, then." Asa's eyes suddenly widened, as though she had an epiphany.
Perhaps the whole slave issue resonated with her. Or, perhaps... she now despised for having that warped perspective.
The blond girl said no more—bowing and quickly returning to her seat.
'Ah! I didn't offend her, did I?' My mind suddenly rang in a panic.
Soone like Asa wouldn't tell if I had fallen low in her ter respect. She needed my help, after all.
Still, the re thought of having her treat with disgust irked .
'How do you manage this, Lilith?' I stared at the Demoness, who simply donned a blank expression.
Perhaps I would ask her later. I and the Demon girl hardly spoke these days. That had to change.
In any case, we had to hurry and start the eting. There was a lot to cover, and very little ti.
It was late, so we had to wait till the next day to make our move.
'Since it was easier for them to escape Dulum at night, I should also plan my entry into the city at that ti...'
That didn't an I couldn't leave this place earlier to observe the terrain and number of enemies before that ti, though.
Ultimately, it all depended on strategy, which was why this eting was important.
"Now, then, shall we begin?"
With Lilith, Lucy, Sarah, and Byron occupying the right end of the table, and the Adventurers occupying the left, I comnced our very important discussion.
*
*
*
'T-the Hero is... Sam is...'
As Asa looked at the man before her speak about the issues confronting them, as well as the steps to take, she only had one thought.
'... SUPER AMAZING!'
Ever since he chided her short-sightedness concerning the Demon Leader, Lilith, Asa now saw the Hero in a greater, more respectful light.
How could he have had such an ingenious idea? To have also executed it flawlessly and made Demons subject to him... what kind of being could do that except the Hero himself?
'Enslaving the ones who once enslaved us. It's perfect the more I think about it.'
rely killing the Demons would be a waste of their potential prowess for labor.
Besides, wouldn't everyone be letting them off easy if they simply died? The evil race had to suffer the humiliation and pain everyone else had endured for millennia
The Hero was the one who imparted her with such wisdom, and for that... she was imnsely grateful.
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