Chapter 385: The Demon Lord and the Crimson Witch
TLN: Hey guys, Reigokai here!
We are back with Weakest Mage and, well, ZAP as well!
I was waiting for there to be a whole bunch of chapters accumulated for Zero Believers by this time, but…there’s only two.
I will finish releasing those first, and then jump right into translating the ZAP chapters which the author has already said in that series that they wanted to connect both stories with the After Story, so I guess those who are curious, check it out.
I myself don’t know how connected they will be, but that’s for us to figure out, I guess.
Anyways, that’s all.
Apologies for the delay! We are back to releasing every Saturday!
——-
April 20 is the release date for volume 13 of Zero Believers!
Princess Sofia’s expression looks great, doesn’t it? https://amzn.asia/d/07m7DhYH
I’ll write about the highlights of volume 13 in the afterword.
——
“Hey! What happened to the promise that you’d bring our daughter to Hell once she came of age?!” (Zepal)
The angry roar of Zepal, the Flame Emperor and Demon Lord of Hell, echoed.
“You’re so noisy! Lucy’s still just a chick. She’s nowhere near adult yet!” (Rosalie)
The one being yelled at was Rosalie, the Crimson Witch.
She was the same person who had just interrupted my fight with the Demon Lord with a flashy flying kick like a Rider Kick.
Apparently, from her perspective, she was trying to help me.
Incidentally, my fight with the Demon Lord ended in a complete mess and fizzled out.
“You’re the one who said fifteen is the age of adulthood for mortal realm elves!” (Zepal)
“Eeh, even if two or three years pass, it doesn’t make that big a difference, right?” (Rosalie)
The Demon Lord shouted while the Crimson Witch turned away as if it were a complete hassle.
By the way, the two of them are Lucy’s father and mother.
In other words, this was a married couple’s quarrel that even a dog wouldn’t bother eating.
“In the first place, I’ve sent thought transmissions to the mortal realm over and over, and every single time you ignore them! We promised you’d report on our daughter’s situation at least once a year!” (Zepal)
“Eeh, but I’ve never even met Lucy once a year to begin with.” (Rosalie)
“W…What…?” (Zepal)
The Demon Lord’s face twisted in shock.
Yup, yup. Rosalie the Crimson Witch is the hands-off parenting type.
Even back when I first met Lucy, she already said she hadn’t seen her mother in years.
I assumed that might be normal in this world, but apparently it was just plain abnormal.
Even the Demon Lord himself was openly angry at Rosalie for leaving their daughter behind while she flew all over the world.
“…………”
Lucy was watching the scene with a complicated expression.
“Lu-chan, why don’t you call out to them…?” (Aya)
Sa-san poked her in the back.
Well, this looked like it would never end if someone didn’t mediate.
“Eeh… me? Umm…” (Lucy)
Lucy was hesitant, as if she felt she had no choice but still wasn’t sure.
Well, it was her first time meeting her father, after all.
Fine, I guess I’ll mediate…or so I thought.
“Zepal. A marital spat is all well and good, but isn’t there someone else you should be speaking with?”
Someone intervened first.
It was Astaroth, the Ancient Dragon King.
What a sensible Demon Lord.
“Ngh… Astaroth… You’re right.” (Zepal)
The Demon Lord seemed to notice the surrounding eyes and regained his composure.
Meanwhile, Rosalie’s excited mood hadn’t changed one bit.
“Haah?! Outsiders can just shut up and stay out of it!” (Rosalie)
She glared at the Ancient Dragon King and yelled.
What a rough personality.
Even if it was Rosalie the Crimson Witch, angering the Ancient Dragon King shouldn’t end well…
“…………”
The Ancient Dragon King looked over at us with a troubled face.
Seeing that, Lucy hurriedly moved.
Shuin!
She teleported through space and appeared right beside Rosalie.
“Mamaaa! Come on, let’s be quiet for a bit…” (Lucy)
She grabbed Rosalie and started pulling her away.
“Hey, Lucy! Why do I have to be quiet?! I haven’t done anything wrong!” (Rosalie)
Even while saying that, she let herself be pulled along obediently. Maybe she actually felt a little bad about it.
Judging from the Flame Emperor’s earlier words, Rosalie was the one at fault here.
Promises should be kept, after all.
“…………”
While I was thinking that, Zepal, the Demon Lord of Hell, walked right up in front of me.
“Um…”
Just as I was about to speak…
“Please forgive my earlier rudeness. I am Grand Duke Zepal Pyrocraft, ruler of the 19th stratum of the Nether, Hell. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Takatsuki Makoto-dono.” (Zepal)
He gave an elegant bow.
(Huh…? At this point?) (Makoto)
Weren’t we fighting just a moment ago?
“Makoto, in situations like this, you should introduce yourself as well.” (Astaroth)
Astaroth prompted me.
The Demon Lord had suddenly turned into a manners instructor.
Still, that was helpful.
“I’m Takatsuki Makoto. Pleased to—” (Makoto)
“That’s incorrect.” (Astaroth)
Astaroth interrupted me midway.
“Why?” (Makoto)
“You are a familiar of Goddess Noah-sama, are you not? Why do you not say so?” (Astaroth)
(I see… So I should have said that from the beginning.) (Makoto)
It felt a little like leaning on Goddess Noah’s authority, which made me hesitate, but at least it would have avoided unnecessary conflict.
“I am Takatsuki Makoto, familiar and Apostle of Goddess Noah-sama. Please treat me well.” (Makoto)
“…Though I was unaware, I must apologize for having turned my blade against an Apostle of Goddess Noah-sama. As proof of my apology, I had intended to offer you subordinates from among my retainers, but……” (Zepal)
The Flame Emperor trailed off.
What? I wondered, and then several demons teleported into existence behind him.
“Zepal-sama! If it is a tribute to Goddess Noah-sama’s Apostle, please designate me!”
“Flame Emperor-sama! I too am prepared! I offer this body to the Apostle-sama!”
“I will accept any treatment! Takatsuki Makoto-sama! Please use my body however you like!”
The ones who appeared were all beautiful female demons.
Their apparent ages looked like early to late teens by human standards.
Every one of them was dressed in highly revealing outfits; not quite underwear, but close.
If I hadn’t been using the Clear Mind skill, I would have been shaken.
(Offering subordinates means… that kind of thing…) (Makoto)
I really didn’t like this.
I glanced toward Lucy and the others.
Naturally, Lucy and Sa-san both looked extremely displeased.
Lucy had a complicated expression, while…
(Eh? Takatsuki-kun, you’re not going to lay a hand on those girls, right?)
Even without words, Sa-san’s message came through loud and clear from her eyes.
Scary.
“Heyyy! Sending women to your daughter’s boyfriend… What the hell are you thinking?!” (Rosalie)
Rosalie yelled.
But this time, Rosalie’s opinion was correct.
Incidentally, the Flame Emperor also looked troubled, so this had clearly been outside his expectations.
He didn’t imagine that Goddess Noah’s Apostle would turn out to be his daughter’s lover.
“What is there to be troubled about? Just accept them, no?” (Astaroth)
The Ancient Dragon King looked puzzled.
This was the difference in common sense between an ordinary person like me and a Demon Lord.
(Now then… how should I reply?) (Makoto)
After a moment of thought, I answered:
“I already have Lucy, so I don’t need any other women. Looking forward to working with you from now on.” (Makoto)
The demon women who had stepped forward looked disappointed, but the Flame Emperor looked relieved, so this was probably “good communication.”
After that, we tried to return to the royal castle of the Water Country, but…
“At the very least, allow me to treat you to a feast!” (Zepal)
At the Flame Emperor’s words, a banquet was held aboard the magic ship they had arrived on.
I contacted Princess Sofia via thought transmission and explained the situation.
“Want to come over here?” I asked, but she declined with “Boarding a Demon Lord’s ship is a bit…”
Incidentally, the Crimson Witch of course joined the banquet, and so did the Ancient Dragon King.
“I failed in various ways this time… I’m in your debt, Astaroth.” (Zepal)
“That’s unlike you, Zepal.” (Astaroth)
From the earlier conversation, it was clear the Flame Emperor and the Ancient Dragon King were old acquaintances.
Astaroth sure knows a lot of people.
The Flame Emperor and Lucy formally greeted each other.
“Uuh… Father?” (Lucy)
“Umu…… You’ve grown…” (Zepal)
Lucy was nervous, but the Flame Emperor was even more nervous.
Heartwarming.
“Hey hey, when are boyfriend-kun and Lucy going to hold the ceremony? Call me, okay?” (Rosalie)
Rosalie-san was already drunk.
This person really lives free.
“If you want to be invited, make sure we can actually contact you.” (Makoto)
Rosalie was the type who was never around whenever we wanted to meet her.
“That’s right! You’re far too unreachable!” (Zepal)
“I’m busy with all sorts of things too, you know!” (Rosalie)
The marital spat started up again.
Lucy mediated between them.
It was noisy, but Lucy looked like she was enjoying herself.
If so, this must be good.
That’s what I decided to believe.
———————
New series started!!
The Case of the Extreme Sadist Bully Who Became My Pet
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4567jq/
———-Synopsis———-
I -Sasaki Shirou- wanted to change from the gloomy, bullied middle-school days I had endured.
I studied desperately and enrolled in a high school far from my hometown where no one knew me, planning a dazzling debut……or so I thought.
“Oh my, Sasaki? So you go to the same school.”
The main culprit who had bullied me, Kisaragi Rika, was somehow at the same high school.
(It’s over… my high school life…)
I despaired…but for some reason she didn’t bully me.
On the contrary, she was strangely kind.
She treated me to coffee at cafes and even took notes for me when I was absent.
…………Why?
On top of that, the elegant young lady Minazuki Mai, started getting involved with me as well………
Just what is happening to my high school life?!
——–End of synopsis——–
This is my first story set in modern Japan with no magic!
Please give it a read if you like.
Incidentally, it has a slight connection to Zero Believers, so feel free to look for it if you’re interested.
———————
——-From here, talk about Zero Believers volume 13——-
Before I knew it, it had been two years since the last Zero Believers volume.
I’m a bit anxious whether people have forgotten various things……
So let me introduce a few highlights of volume 13.
<Highlight 1>
Three brand-new original chapters set in the Thousand Years Ago arc!
There’s a new story about Anna-san.
Also, personally, the heroine of this volume is Cain.
That guy was truly a great character…
<Highlight 2>
The Moon Goddess Nia-sama appears.
Man, it’s a shame her appearance was delayed. Her design is that wonderful.
Clearly the only one whose worldview is different from everyone else.
Finally, about the next update.
I planned to update on the 20th of every month, but since Zero Sword manga volume 4 releases on May 8, I’ll update then.
Overlap’s release dates have changed recently…….
They used to release on the 25th every month, so the update schedule was simple.
From now on, it will probably become irregular.
Please continue supporting Zero Believers, Zero Attack Power, and the new series!!
Support my translations or commission me to translate a chapter of any series on Patreon!