Chapter 116: A Toast to the New Lord of Mireveil...
The enormous wooden platform built among the treetops swayed gently with the swamp’s breeze.
The sky remained completely covered by the same gray clouds that seemed eternal above Mireveil.
At the center of the platform, a makeshift table built from thick wooden planks held several bottles of the dark wine the swamp dwellers cherished so much.
Nox sat beside Rollo.
Around them were Yuri, the old man, the man with the axe, and the three Peques.
Each of them held a wooden cup filled to the brim with alcohol.
The atmosphere was completely different from the first time Nox had arrived.
Now everyone was laughing.
And the person responsible was, of course...
Yuri.
"...And then the King became gigantic!"
She waved her arms dramatically.
"This big!"
She spread her arms as far apart as she could.
"And Lord Demon Lord didn’t even get scared!"
Rollo burst into laughter.
"Really?"
"Of course!"
Yuri nodded enthusiastically.
"First, he defeated a whole bunch of Marauders."
She raised one finger.
"Then this tiny little thing showed up."
She raised another.
"And Lord Demon Lord made fun of him because he looked way too cute to be a king!"
Nox covered his face with one hand.
"...That’s not exactly how it happened."
"It is!"
Yuri answered without hesitation.
"Then the little one got furious."
She slammed a hand on the table.
"And turned into a gigantic beast!"
The Peques began making excited little noises, as though they were enjoying the story just as much.
Yuri continued.
"They fought for quite a while. But obviously, our Demon Lord won!"
The man with the axe snorted.
"What an exaggeration."
Yuri shot him a glare.
"I’m not exaggerating."
The old man started laughing.
"Leave her be."
He looked at the man with the axe.
"You’re only annoyed because the Demon Lord turned out to be even stronger than you imagined."
The man crossed his arms.
"I never said that."
"Of course you didn’t."
The old man replied.
"But your face is saying it for you."
Nox couldn’t hold back a laugh.
The man with the axe looked at him.
"You’re laughing too?"
"A little."
"What a bunch of terrible people."
Everyone ended up laughing.
Even the man with the axe finally let out a resigned smile.
◇◆◇
Rollo took a long drink from his cup.
Then he rested both elbows on the table.
"The truth is..."
He looked at Nox.
"...I still can’t believe you actually convinced those beasts."
Nox raised his cup slightly.
"Honestly..."
He smiled.
"...you were right."
Rollo raised an eyebrow.
"About what?"
"It wasn’t easy at all."
The demon set his cup down.
"I tried talking first, but they attacked me. Then I tried talking again, and they attacked me again."
Yuri burst into laughter.
"That part happened exactly like that."
Nox nodded.
"In the end, I didn’t have much of a choice but to fight."
He looked down at the wine.
"But once they realized I really could wipe them out..."
He looked back up.
"...everything became a lot easier."
Rollo laughed loudly.
"Exactly what I expected."
He grabbed the bottle, refilled his own cup, then filled Nox’s as well.
"Then..."
He raised his drink.
"Let’s make a toast."
Everyone looked at him.
Rollo smiled broadly.
"To Demon Lord Nox!"
He raised his cup even higher.
"The new Lord of Mireveil!"
The old man was the first to respond.
"Cheers!"
Yuri threw both hands into the air.
"Cheers!"
Even the man with the axe finally raised his cup.
The Peques immediately began hopping around the table.
"AUDE!"
"AUDE!"
"AUDE!"
All the cups clinked together, and everyone drank.
Or at least...
They tried to.
Yuri practically poured half her drink down her own chest.
The man with the axe soaked his beard.
The old man swallowed too fast and immediately started coughing.
Even Rollo ended up spraying wine through his nose while laughing.
Nox watched the entire scene.
Then calmly lifted his cup to his lips and took a small sip.
Slowly.
Without wasting a single drop.
He placed the cup back on the table.
Then looked around.
"...You’re all pretty terrible at drinking wine."
Yuri looked at him in confusion.
"Is there another way?"
Nox took a few seconds before answering.
"...I suppose not."
Rollo burst into another fit of laughter.
"I like you more and more!"
◇◆◇
Several more minutes passed between laughter and fresh bottles.
Nox eventually looked up at the sky.
It was still completely gray.
But something was changing.
The little light that managed to pierce through the clouds was beginning to fade.
The entire forest grew darker by the minute.
The demon set his cup on the table.
"...I think I should head back."
Everyone turned toward him.
"It’s getting late."
He looked toward the edge of the forest.
"And I want to reunite with my group."
Rollo slowly nodded.
"I understand."
He stood up.
"But remember something."
He gave Nox a friendly pat on the shoulder.
"You’ll always be welcome in this village."
Nox smiled.
"Thank you."
Yuri stood as well and walked until she was standing directly in front of him.
Then she lightly bumped him with her elbow.
"Hey."
"What?"
"Have you decided when you’re going to fulfill your promise?"
Nox raised an eyebrow.
"What promise?"
"The one about giving me a child."
The man with the axe spat out part of his wine.
The old man started laughing before Nox could even answer.
Nox shook his head.
"I never promised that."
"But you said you’d think about it."
"That’s not a promise either."
Yuri puffed out her cheeks.
"You’re so mean."
Nox chuckled.
"Besides..."
He looked her up and down.
"...you should probably take a bath first."
Yuri tilted her head.
"A bath?"
"Yeah."
"I don’t know what that is."
Nox closed his eyes for a few seconds.
"...Of course."
The woman looked completely sincere.
"And after the bath?"
she asked.
Nox finally laughed.
"After that..."
He shrugged.
"...maybe we can talk again."
Yuri’s eyes sparkled.
"Perfect!"
The old man nearly fell off his chair from laughing so hard.
Rollo laughed as well.
"What a ladies’ man."
he commented.
"The women don’t waste any time with you."
Nox raised his cup.
"...Thanks."
He thought for a moment.
"...I guess."
The laughter continued for several more minutes.
◇◆◇
Eventually, it was time to leave.
Nox put his coat back on.
The three Peques immediately jumped into his pockets.
Each one settled into the same place as always.
They had apparently decided those were their favorite spots.
Rollo shook the demon’s hand.
"Good luck."
Nox returned the handshake.
"Take good care of the village."
"It’s your village now too."
Rollo replied.
The demon smiled.
"You’re right."
Yuri stepped forward one last time and gave him a quick hug.
Then she stepped back.
"Don’t take too long to come back."
"I won’t."
The old man raised one hand.
"Kid."
"Yeah?"
"Thank you."
That was all he said.
Nox nodded silently.
Nothing else needed to be added.
He started walking.
He slowly crossed the wooden platforms, descended the hanging bridges, and finally left the village behind.
When he reached the edge of the forest, he looked back one last time.
Standing atop the final structure built among the trees were still Rollo, Yuri, the old man, and the man with the axe.
All of them waving goodbye.
And behind them...
An entire village that, for the first time in decades, was no longer waiting for the next war.
Nox raised his hand in return.
Then he turned around and, together with the three Peques, began the journey back toward the abandoned church.
It was time to reunite with Audrey, Misty, Dawn, Tessa, and Catherine.
And discover what they had found.