"Ugh... lost... lost..."
A bruised and dirty Vera pretended to cry, looking very disheartened… mainly because she didn't expect Satan Ye to become more adept at wielding flames and ended up getting hit in the face.
But since she was a Witch Demon, it was just a matter of simple disfigurement, and her body quickly repaired itself.
"Your progress is obvious. The innate talent of monsters is truly enviable."
Yila said this while nodding in satisfaction, looking at Satan Ye who had a little proud expression on her face. He originally wanted to say something like, "Don't wear a victorious expression. As a king, you should be more composed."
But just as the words were on the tip of his tongue, he stopped himself… Perhaps praising her would be more suitable than teaching her.
"You did very well..."
Yila said this, patting Satan Ye on the head like a father, and then he turned to Hilena, saying, "My training regimen for Satan Ye pushes her to her physical limits. Afterward, I hope you can help relieve her physical fatigue."
"..."
"Physical... fatigue?"
Hilena seemed confused.
"Have a maid give her a massage. If there's a hot spring, let her soak in it and have her muscles massaged."
Yila said this while organizing the documents in his hand. After waiting for a while without getting a response, he looked up and saw Hilena's hesitant face. He asked, "Don't tell me, none of you maids, including yourself, know how?"
"Yes, the previous Demon King... didn't like the service of maids either."
Seeing Hilena's embarrassed expression as she spoke, Yila nodded and said, "I can guess. He used to tell me during our battles that he admired me and invited me to Demon King City for a man's duel."
But this was quite troublesome.
"I'm counting on you, Vera… have your arcane servant teach some of the maids in Demon King City."
Yila directed Vera, who initially pouted but then lifted her head and said, "Can't you do it too? Why not help with the massage yourself, or show Miss Hilena how it's done?"
Vera said this while reaching out with her mischievous hand towards Satan Ye, feeling her all over and exclaiming, "Wouldn't you like to touch her? Look at those small arms like lotus roots, see those tiny white silk legs..."
"Ahhh~ What?"
Amid Satan Ye's bewildered cries, Hilena slapped Vera's hand away, and with a smile, stopped her, saying, "Miss Vera, please do not trouble our Demon King."
"Alright, alright~ So, Yila, are you tempted?"
Vera said teasingly, as if luring a child with candy, "Isn't this more tempting than Isabella's legs? Don't tell me you've never secretly touched Isabella's legs before?"
"Really, I haven't... I've always shown respect like a proper vassal and wouldn't do such things."
Yila said helplessly, patting Vera's shoulder. He continued, "While the Demon King City's laid-back nature and your irreverence to the Demon King amazes me, the atmosphere isn't bad... I'm counting on you for the massage business."
Watching Yila turn and leave the training ground, Vera crossed her arms and commented, "Truly worthy of Lord Yila, the world's greatest vassal."
Nodding in agreement, Hilena asked, "Do you think it's really possible, as you mentioned before, that Yila might formally join Demon King City?"
"Hah~"
Smiling softly, Vera said, "I'm quite confident, as Yila isn't good at turning down requests from others. He's the type to push boundaries."
"If I were to describe him..."
Vera said this, searching for the right description, and with a sly grin, explained, "He's the type who, if you kneel and request, will agree to let you into his room. Kneel again, and he'll agree to let you sleep in his bed. Kneel yet again, and he'll let you sleep in his arms... And then~~"
"Hehehe... that's how he is."
"Hahaha~"
Vera and Hilena laughed mischievously, while the completely confused Satan Ye stood beside Hilena, tilting her head in puzzlement... Such topics were still too advanced for her.
——————————
"Blue Oyster Mushrooms... it seems they have some valid reasons to be a staple food in Demon King Territory."
Yila said this as he skewered a blue-capped mushroom with his knife and fork, analyzing, "The starch content is acceptable. They're easy to grow and suit the dietary habits of Insect Men and Fairies. I just wonder about the yield?"
"It takes about twenty days to harvest a batch..."
Hilena, who was serving Satan Ye lunch, answered and added, "For specific yields, you'd need to ask the Fairy responsible for growing Blue Oyster Mushrooms. Should I ask for you?"
"No need."
Shaking his head, Yila watched as maids brought the next dish, placing it before him and Satan Ye. He said, "It seems it's just enough for the residents of Demon King City Territory and us..."
"Satan Ye, do you have any plans for the afternoon?"
At Yila's question, Satan Ye looked up from her meal and turned to look at Hilena. Meeting the Demon King's gaze, Hilena replied to Yila, "Routine patrols of the Demon King Territory and surrounding areas. Is there something urgent? Should I cancel?"
"No, I was just asking."
Yila responded, feeling a bit awkward... because if he kept bringing up topics during the meal, who's the real Demon King here, him or Satan Ye?
But as the host of this gathering, why was Satan Ye so silent? What was she thinking?
"Mr. Yila, the massage that you mentioned earlier, Miss Vera's arcane servant has already demonstrated... can I ask, what's the purpose of such massages?"
Even Hilena kept engaging Yila in conversation... making Yila feel more like a "Powerful Minister," leading the situation. Suppressing this discomfort, Yila explained, "After intense training, the body aches the next day. Massages can provide relief."
That explanation would suffice. If he began to elaborate on "reducing tension in localized tissues, easing pain, promoting blood circulation, and helping break down lactic acid in the body," no one would understand.
"..."
"..."
In the silence of each with their own thoughts during the meal, Satan Ye lifted her head and said, "For this afternoon's patrol, Mr. Yila, could you accompany me? I have a lot of questions I'd like to ask."
"That's inappropriate, Demon King."
Yila almost immediately responded, shaking his head, "Given my current status, I am not fit to be consulted on matters encountered during your patrols. I can only assist in enhancing your combat abilities and..."
"..."
Halfway through his speech, Yila saw Satan Ye looking at him with a pitiful pleading expression and reluctantly changed his tune, "However, if you want me to, I'll obey."
"Thank you~"
...
Hilena's mouth twitched... It was clear that while the Demon King didn't grasp all of the earlier conversation, she did understand the part about Yila "not being good at turning down others' requests."