The well-Balanced Yamamoto-san Gets Caught up in a Death Game - chapter 84

Chapter 84

“Hmm, give me a moment.”

“Yes, of course.”

I racked my brain, desperately trying to come up with a clever excuse.

And then…

I had an idea!

“Let me ask you something… What do you think of this room?”

“This room?”

“Yes, this room.”

The messenger woman glanced around the inn room briefly, then lowered her gaze as if finding it difficult to speak.

“It’s… a simple, well-made room, I believe.”

“You can be honest. It’s a shabby, empty room, isn’t it?”

“No, I wouldn’t say such a thing…”

“I don’t mind this room, but I wonder what the Demon Lord would think if he tried to set up a meeting here.”

“The Demon Lord?”

“Look, this magic circle lets you see the other person, right? Wouldn’t that mean the room in the background would be visible too?”

“That’s correct.”

“If a shabby room appears in the background, wouldn’t the Demon Lord think, ‘Ah, they’re not taking this meeting very seriously’?”

“I don’t believe the Demon Lord is so narrow-minded…”

“But it would still leave a bad impression, wouldn’t it?”

“In terms of impressions, you may have a point.”

“That’s why I’d like to have the meeting with the Demon Lord at an appropriate place and time. So, I’ll hold onto this magic circle for now.”

“I… I understand…”

As the messenger woman wore an expression of slight dissatisfaction, I internally pumped my fist in relief at having successfully evaded the situation.

Phew.

For now, I’ve managed to avoid an sudden meeting with the Demon Lord.

Next, I need to buy some time and think of favorable conditions.

“Yamamoto-sama, may I ask something as well?”

“Huh? What is it?”

As I was secretly gloating, the messenger woman spoke up.

I wonder what it could be?

“I’ve been directly instructed by the Demon Lord to observe you in person. Therefore, I’d like to accompany you to observe your actions. Would that be acceptable?”

“Accompany me?”

“Yes, I’d like to stay close to you to investigate what kind of person you are and submit a report to the Demon Lord.”

Is that something you’re supposed to tell the person directly?

But the messenger woman seems dead serious.

Yeah, she might be the type who’s so serious that she lacks flexibility. That’s the impression I get.

“Well, as long as you don’t get in my way, I don’t mind.”

“Thank you very much.”

If I were to rudely chase her away, it might leave a bad impression on the Demon Lord’s side.

Let’s handle this peacefully.

“Kind response, Four Heavenly Kings points minus one.”

Hm?

“Um, I thought I just heard something about Four Heavenly Kings points…?”

“Yes. To submit a report to the Demon Lord, I’ve introduced a point system based on personally established criteria, thinking it would be easier for the Demon Lord to understand if I could report using a scoring system.”

“Huh. I see.”

I’m not interested at all, but she’s really put a lot of thought into this.

Just then, there was a knock on my room door.

“God. The dinner pasta is about to run out. If you want to eat, hurry up.”

“Oh no, that’s a problem!”

When Fuuka-tei runs out of their main pasta dishes, you can only order small snacks to go with drinks.

Moreover, those are charged separately from the meal price!

So it’s wasteful if you don’t eat properly when you have the chance.

Well, since we’re here, why don’t I go eat with the messenger?

“I’m going to eat now. Thanks, Tsuna.”

“Sure.”

While conversing through the door, I quickly stood up.

“That person just now…”

“Oh, that’s Tsuna, my travel companion. I forgot his real name because it was really long, but you can just call him Tsuna.”

“I see. Um… Casually forgetting a companion’s name. Four Heavenly Kings points plus one…”

Does that point system give you a plus for inhumane actions?

So the Four Heavenly Kings are supposed to be terrible people?

If that’s the case, I definitely don’t want to become one of them.

“Anyway, I’m going to get some food. Do you want to come along… um…”

“Envy. I serve as the Demon Lord’s secretary.”

“I see, nice to meet you, Envy-chan.”

“Pleased to meet you as well.”

And so, today I’ll be having dinner with Envy-chan.

■□■

We sat down at an empty table with Envy-chan, and when I called the waiter, they said, “We were just about to run out of pasta!” So it seems our timing was quite close.

I casually ordered today’s pasta special and looked at Envy-chan, who was staring intently at the menu.

To be honest, the only meal option is today’s pasta special.

Other than that, there are just a few choices for ale and snacks.

I couldn’t help but wonder what there was to be troubled about.

“Is there something you’re unsure about?”

“I’m having trouble because I’m unfamiliar with all these items. Don’t they have calorie bars?”

“Calorie bars…?”

No dining hall would serve calorie bars; that would cause a riot…

I asked the waiter just in case, but as expected, they didn’t have any. In fact, their response was, “What’s a calorie bar?” So I gave up and ordered the daily pasta special for Envy-chan as well.

“Having my menu decided for me… Four Heavenly Kings points plus one…”

Hey, the fact that you’re asking if there are calorie bars on the menu shows you don’t understand human country cuisine at all!

If anything, I should be thanked for making a quick decision, not resented!

“By the way, do they have calorie bars in the Demon King’s capital?”

“Um, I don’t know.”

Huh? What does that mean?

“I’ve only ever eaten meals in the secretary’s office at the Demon King’s castle.”

“You’ve never eaten out in the capital?”

“That’s correct.”

I was about to let it slide, but…

Wait a minute?

Even if I can understand not eating in the capital, why are you eating in the secretary’s office?

Isn’t there a grand dining hall in what’s called a royal castle?

When I asked Envy-chan about this…

“As far as I know, neither I, the Demon Lord, nor the other secretaries have ever used the dining hall. Instead, our office is always stocked with calorie bars and energy drinks.”

“Wait, you’re not eating just that while working, are you?”

“Basically, it’s just calorie bars and energy drinks. Theoretically, they provide complete nutrition, and it saves time. In fact, we couldn’t manage the country’s administration if we didn’t work like this.”

Huh? What kind of ascetic practice is this?

A life of nothing but calorie bars and energy drinks is like my state right before a deadline.

If that continues 24/7, 365 days a year, just how black is this Demon Lord’s army?

Or is it that the top management is bad at delegating work and ends up hoarding tasks?

No, if there are multiple secretaries and even they are in such a hellish situation, it seems the problem lies with the Demon Lord’s army as an organization…

I feel like I’ve found another reason not to accept the Four Heavenly Kings position…

“Here you go, today’s special: anchovy and cabbage pasta. Enjoy your meal.”

“Thank you~”

The pasta is placed on our table.

Mm, it smells delicious.

Nice.

“…”

Ah, Envy-chan has frozen up looking at the pasta.

Is this like an encounter with the unknown for her?

“Excuse me, customer.”

“Yes?”

“This customer isn’t staying at the inn, right? I’m sorry, but could you pay for the pasta…”

“Looks like they’re talking to you, Envy-chan.”

“Huh?”

Too busy staring at the pasta to listen, Envy-chan blinks in confusion.

Is she really the Demon Lord’s secretary?

I had an image of her being capable, but maybe I was wrong?

“They’re saying you need to pay for the pasta since you’re not a guest at the inn.”

“Oh? I don’t have any.”

“You don’t… What?”

Now it’s my turn to be confused.

Wait, you don’t have any money on you?

How did you travel all the way here then?

When I asked, she explained that in the Demon King’s realm, she prioritized searching for me, surviving on calorie bars and energy drinks day and night while gathering information. When she became too tired, she would borrow a room in the Demon Lord’s army barracks for a short nap.

Are you an idiot!?

You’ll die at this rate, kid!

And even after coming to the human country, she continued to survive on calorie bars and energy drinks while constantly using [Mana Sensing] to search for me…

“I forgot about the concept of money. There was no need for it in the castle, so I assumed it was unnecessary.”

“So you don’t have any on you?”

“I’m ashamed to say I don’t.”

“Sigh… I guess I’ll cover for you this time? Also, can I get one room for one night?”

“Yes, that’s no problem.”

So I ended up paying for Envy-chan’s lodging and meal.

I’ll have to find a way to get her to pay me back later.

They always say you shouldn’t be lax about money matters.

“Having meal and lodging paid for… Four Heavenly Kings points, minus one…”

I’m not treating you!

I’m just lending it to you temporarily!

Geez…

I’m already tired before we’ve even started eating…

Anyway, I start eating today’s pasta. Mm, the saltiness of the anchovies and the sweetness of the cabbage balance each other out nicely.

Personally, I wouldn’t mind if the flavor was a bit stronger, but I guess this level is just right to appreciate the taste of the cabbage too? It’s delicious, no doubt.

As for Envy-chan, she seems to have mimicked my eating style and put some pasta in her mouth, but… she’s frozen in that position.

Well, it’s probably a taste she can’t experience with calorie bars, so maybe she needs time to process it?

After about five minutes, she finally started moving again.

“Anchovy and cabbage pasta, Four Heavenly Kings points, minus ten thousand…”

That’s a rating for the pasta!

It has nothing to do with me!