Chapter 88: Hero Prince, Virtuous Demon Lord, and the Shocking Past of the Tiger Eared Girl
「You’ve finally arrived, Adventurer Aria and her comrades.」
「Y-YESH!」
The kneeling Aria replied with a shrill voice.
Her body was stiff due to the nervousness.
It was impossible not to feel that way.
After all, the one before her was none other than the emperor of this empire, 〝Gaizer Ashura?.
Even though it was worrying that the empress seat beside him was empty, it was none of Aria’s concern.
「Please relax. You guys were the hero of Gladdstone, after all. You showed astounding bravery during the incident. That goes for you guys too, Stella and that Elemental Cat called Tama.」
「Yes, desu! It’s an honor for me to meet an esteemed personage like you, desu!」
「Nyan!」
Stella and Tama gave their greetings to the emperor with lively voices.
As for Stella’s speech pattern, although Aria had managed to get her to learn polite speech via crash course, the result was rather strange as they had run out of time.
「Uhm, allow me to express my gratitude for your efforts in saving Gladdstone. We will confer the medals to you guys later.」
Aria bowed again after the emperor said those words. Vulcan, Stella, Lily, and Faeri followed suit.
「Nevertheless… it’s been quite a while, hasn’t it, Vulcan?」
「Y-yes. It’s nyaice to meet you. It seems your majesty is as healthy as ever, nyaow!」
Suddenly, the emperor spoke to Vulcan, who replied with a respectful and lively voice.
This development left Aria and Tama speechless.
They were puzzled. Why did Vulcan, their comrade and the owner of a private blacksmith shop, could speak in a familiar manner with the emperor himself?.
「What’s the matter, Vulcan? You didn’t tell your comrades about your status? Even though it’s related to the reason I called you here…」
「N-nyaa… So it’s really about that matter, huh?」
「Yup, I know this will be hard for you, who wished to become an ordinary blacksmith, but… Well, I guess it’s better if my son explained the situation to you guys. Come in, Julius!」
「―Understood, your majesty.」
As per the emperor’s order, the gate beside the throne was opened.
A youth came out.
He looked to be about 180 cm tall.
And despite him wearing silver plate armor, it was clear to everyone that his body had been well-tempered from daily training.
His sky-colored hair reached the nape of his neck, and his sharp azure-colored eyes gave off the feeling as if they could see through everything.
The name of this young man was 〝Julius Ashura?―The Empire’s crown prince.
（… Julius! The hero prince who fought along the Archmage during the Demon God’s Dusk!）
Tama, who had heard of Julius’s name before, looked at him with respect.
Yes! Besides being the Empire’s crown prince, this youth was also one of the heroes who had fought alongside the Archmage to save the world.
「Nevertheless, it’s been a while, 〝Artifact Smith Vulcan?」
「「!!!!!!!!?」」
Both Aria and Tama couldn’t help but hold their breaths.
（A-Artifact Smith? That Vulcan-san!?）
（Woow! … So my suspicion at that time was spot on!）
Aria was really surprised.
Although Tama had considered such possibilities after seeing Vulcan’s reactions toward the world tree and the fountain of life… he was still surprised nonetheless.
「Nyaa… Is the reason you exposed my identity to help you make another artifact, Your Majesty?」
「Exactly, Vulcan! And that’s including Aria and the others too.」
「Eh… Y-YESH!」
Vulcan was― An Artifact Smith.
Aria and co’s mouths became agape when they heard of that fact. Thus, they stuttered when answering the emperor.
「Aria, and this goes for your comrades too… Will you join the 〝Empire Heroes Order?, an organization led by me?」
「E-Empire Heroes Order, do you mean 〝THAT? Empire Heroes Order!? A-And Me?」
Empire Heroes Order, it was an organization with the highest war potential within the Empire. Its members were either combat experts or heroes, and its leader was none other than prince Julius himself.
The order was famous for their contribution during the monster stampede, fighting against demon’s group conspiracy, and national crisis.
And it was Julius, the leader himself, who was inviting Aria and co to join the such a group.
「Heroes, what? Is that something delicious!?」
Stella, who didn’t understand the meaning of those words, let out a strange remark.
「And you are… Stella, right? To put it simply, we’re an organization formed to combat powerful monsters.」
「Powerful monsters! Aria, I want to join this Heroes or whatever!」
「W-Wait, Stella-chan!」
Julius’ brief explanation about the hero squad was an unbearable temptation for Stella, whose raison d’etre was Tama, food, and battle.
Aria was flustered when Stella declared that she wanted to join the squad.
「Your highness, can you tell me the reason for inviting Aria-chan? I can’t deny that the current her is strong enough, but I think it’s still too early for her to join the squad.」
「You’re right, Vulcan. I do have my reason for inviting her. The reason is yet to be announced, but―」
「Prince Julius, allow me to personally explain the situation.」
Taking everyone unawares, a woman―or rather, a loli―suddenly appeared beside the prince.
Her hair was ashen grey, and her eyes were golden.
She was a peerless beauty wearing a black gothic loli dress.
The bewitching smile on her perfectly-crafted small face gave a sense of immortality.
「… You startled me there, 〝Beelzebub?. Well, that aside, please take over for me then.」
「Fufufu, roger that, your highness.」
Julius rebuked the loli, who had suddenly appeared from nowhere, with a surprised look on his face.
The loli replied to him with an impish smile.
Tama and Aria became agape at the loli’s appearance.
（Beelzebub… She’s that 〝Holy Demonic King: Beelzebub?!）
Both Aria and Tama were screaming inside.
Suddenly―
「Fufufu, correct, Elf-chan. My name is Beelzebub, the one you guys refer to as the Holy Demonic King.」
The lol― The Holy Demonic King: Beelzebub said so while looking at Aria.
「「!!!!!!!!?」」
Aria was flustered.
Beelzebub had just affirmed her unspoken guess.
It was as if the loli’s eyes could see through her mind.
「You mustn’t surprise people like that, Beelzebub-samnyan」
「Fufufu… it doesn’t matter, right? Everyone is aware of me having the mind-reading ability, after all.」
Beelzebub again flashed an impish smile again when Vulcan reminded her with a wry smile on her face.
（So, the rumor about her mind-reading ability is true!）
Tama was convinced when he saw the girls’ conversation.
The loli in front of them was undoubtedly the one and only Holy Demonic King: Beelzebub.
Holy Demonic King: Beelzebub―
A long time ago, she used to be known as one of the seven demon kings, the apostle of the Demon God, the destroyer of the world.
But the righteous Demon King, Beelzebub, then abandoned her position and lent her power to the Archmage and this world’s heroes.
Rumors of Beelzebub having mind-reading ability was widespread.
Tama was also aware of it.
Aria had become flustered.
Before she could even mull over the invitation to join the Empire Heroes Order, another surprise in the form of the Holy Demonic King suddenly appeared in front of her. The surprise was even speaking in a familiar tone with Vulcan.
So, Aria was flustered, both inside and outside.
「C-Calm yourself, Aria-nya~n. Let meow explain everything before you hear everything from Beelzebub-sama.」
Vulcan, who couldn’t bear seeing Aria’s flustered state anymore, spoke in order to calm her.
After confirming that the emperor, prince Julius, and Beelzebub gave permission, Vulcan began narrating her story.
「First, what they said about me being an Artifact Smith is true, meow. There’s a reason why I can manage the smithery on my own without the Empire’s intervention. It was a reward for fighting along the Archmage―Maiya-chan[Note : Maiya-chan, the MC of author’s previous work and the husband[master] of the Sword Saint, Aria’s benefactor, a genuine TRAP!!!]―during Ragnarok. I gained the permission to operate my own smithery from His Majesty, as long as I didn’t create artifacts for my own convenience.」
「V-Vulcan-san… fought during Ragnarok… alongside the Archmage-sama?」
「Exactly, to be honyest, I never wanted to tell you about this. But I guess I’ve nyaow choice in this situation. Normally, my strength is that of a C rank adventurer, but after equipping my artifact, I become as powerful as an A rank adventurer due to my trait’s effect.」
「… EEEEH!?」
Aria let out God knew how many surprised voices in this day full of surprises. She was even more shocked when hearing Vulcan’s past.
Tama, who was at her feet, muttered in his mind, “I see now…”
Vulcan did tell Aria before that she was the old friend of the Archmage and Cedric, the knight captain.
Tama had no idea why a mere blacksmith had such acquaintances, but… now that Vulcan told them about her past, his doubt was immediately cleared.
「C-Come to think of it… Archmage-sama’s party used to have a werebeast hammer user called 〝Brutal Beast Princess?-sama.」
「That’s meaow.」
Vulcan resolved the last doubt in Aria’s mind with a wry smile on her face.
（Fufufu, what a cute child! If this revelation alone was enough to make her that flustered, I wonder what will happen when I tell her the main topic?）
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