Chapter 185
Anniversary
Editors: Speedphoenix, Joker
“Our preparations have been completed . The two of you may now return to our living quarters . ” Lefi called for Nell and I through one of the portal-like doors placed all around the dungeon .
“Took ‘em long enough . Alright Nell, time to go . ”
“Mhm . Seems like it . ”
I grabbed the cushions we had been sitting on and returned them to the pile situated in the room’s back corner . I then opened the door, waltzed right into the hallway, and began to advance . Ten-odd steps later, I found myself face to face with Lefi, who had her arms crossed and her face adorned with a dauntless smile .
“You may only proceed if you close your eyes . ”
“I have to close my eyes?” I raised a brow . I was getting pretty curious .
“Indeed . Now shut them immediately . I am speaking to the both of you . ”
“Alright,” I said .
“Mmk,” said Nell .
I followed her instructions and closed my eyes, only to find myself immediately greeted by a cool, comfortable sensation as her hands closed on my own . As I only felt one of her hands, I assumed that Nell had been subject to the exact same circumstances . She soon began to move, so I followed her lead while focusing on my feet and making sure I didn’t trip .
“You may now open your eyes . ”
Following a prompt from the dragon girl, I opened my eyes . The first thing I saw was a literal mountain of food . The dishes laid out before me were so extravagant that a glance was enough for me to recognize that an incredible amount of time and effort had gone into each . My nose was just as attracted to the meal as my eyes were . Taking in the many delectable fragrances that had melded into the air was almost enough to make me drool .
My gut seemed to want to tell me that Leila had been responsible for the meal, but a second glance immediately disqualified her as the chef . It simply wasn’t neat enough . That wasn’t to say that the dinner table had been turned into some sort of convoluted mess . In fact, it was quite the opposite . Whoever had arranged the dishes was very clearly taking the would-be consumer into consideration . But unlike Leila’s handiwork, it wasn’t perfect . And that was the giveaway .
Leila possessed a deep understanding of the psyche . She knew exactly where she would need to place each and every dish such that your eyes would be drawn from one to the next without pause . The perfection with which she carried out her kitchen duties was akin to an artist’s signature, a signature that clearly seemed to be missing from the current setup .
After giving dinner a once over, I looked at the people situated around the table . The three of us aside, everyone else was already seated . Even the wraith girls were present in spite of their inability to eat .
“Wow . This looks great . ”
“Uhm… is this what I think it is?” asked Nell .
“So you have noticed?” The dragon crossed her arms and grinned .
I gave the table one last scrutinizing glance before turning back towards her . “Did you make all this, Lefi?”
“While I did indeed accept assistance from the children, tonight’s meal is undoubtedly my work,” she said . “What are your impressions? I believe you will find it a far cry from the last meal I prepared you . ”
“Definitely . I’m impressed . Really impressed,” I said .
The difference between the meal laid out before me and the last meal she had made me was as vast as the difference between night and day . Oh man, I remember those cookies . They were probably bad enough to kill . This though? This’ll kill for a whole different set of reasons . ‘Cause I’m about to gorge myself enough to catch type 2 .
Today’s Lefi brand meal was clearly the result of a near excessive amount of hard work . It was easy for me to imagine her doing her best and continuing to push her best efforts forward without letting her numerous failures get to her .
“Wait . Was this the reason you chose not to come with me to the demon realm?”
“Indeed,” she nodded,” it has been a year since our first encounter . I felt the need to put a foot forward for the sake of our anniversary . ”
Woah . The environment doesn’t really seem to change at all with the passing of the seasons, so I’d never actually realized, but now that I think about it, it really has been a whole year already . It’s been a year since Lefi and I met . And a year since I first came to this world .
“I wished to demonstrate that I was capable of growth . I found this the perfect opportunity to put together a celebration,” she said . “As your wife, it is imperative that I endeavor to assist you with the housework to the best of my abili—”
She didn’t get to finish speaking . I followed through on an impulse, picked her up, and started spinning her around before she could . I was simply too overcome with emotion not to .
“Thanks Lefi . You’re the best wife ever, and I love you to bits . ”
“C-cease this immediately! We are before all the others!”
She flushed a shade of red and even began hitting my arms to get me to release her, but I absolutely refused . Because I understood . It wasn’t that she wasn’t completely unpossessive . Or that she didn’t care . The Nell situation had bothered her, and she had been a bit anxious . She didn’t not love me . She was doing her best for me . She wanted to become the best wife she could because she wanted my attention . And that alone was enough to send me over the clouds .
It was a silly, roundabout way for her to express her concerns . But one that was adorable nonetheless .
It was just like her .
Perfect .
While she evidently remained a bit anxious, I knew there was no way I would ever lose sight of my affections for her . Because demon lords were incarnations of desire . Greed was a feature built into my system . Every last bit of treasure that I got my hands on would forever remain a part of my trove . And nothing would ever be allowed to escape .
“I-I understand your affections well, but you must release me! Our evening meal will lose its warmth should you continue!”
“Good point . There’s no way I could possibly let the meal my adorably wifey put together for me go cold . That’d be a sin,” I said . “Alrighty then . I’ll save all the hugging and spinning for later . ”
“You need not continue,” she grumbled .
The bashful manner in which she conducted herself only made me want to hug her all the more, but I didn’t want dinner to get cold, so I begrudgingly released her and began heading towards my seat . Likewise, Lefi began to do the same, only to come to a sudden halt when she realized that Nell had stopped following her .
“Are you not joining us?” she asked .
“Uhm… I think I’ll pass . I’d rather not get in the way of your first anniversary . It’d probably be best if I stayed at the inn until you guys are done celebrating,” she said, awkwardly .
“I do not see your point . This banquet is one in which you are more than welcome to partake . ”
“R-Really?”
Lefi reacted to the hero’s dumbfounded question was an exasperated sigh .
“My original intent was certainly for this banquet to be dedicated to Yuki alone . ” She rapped the back of one of her hands against my chest . “But that is no longer its sole purpose . It is also to serve as a celebration of your arrival, a so called welcome party, if you will . ”
The dragon’s tone was almost akin to that of someone speaking to a younger sibling .
“Now come, join us . ”
“Yeah, come on . Hurry up and grab a seat already . Don’t make me wait any longer . ‘Cause I really can’t,” I said .
“A-Alright,” stuttered the human .
“You should sit with us, Nell!” said Illuna with a big smile .
“Yeah, with us!” echoed Shii .
“Sure! Thanks, girls,” said Nell .
“Hey Nell, are you gonna be okay without a fork?” asked Lyuu .
“I think I’ll be okay with chopsticks . I’m not really used to them just yet, but I’m sure I’ll get used to them if I use them enough . Thanks, Lyuu!”
Wait a second… Wasn’t she supposed to be terrified of her?
“When did you two suddenly start getting along?” I asked .
“A good while ago, Master,” said the maid . “Nell’s a real nice girl, and she’s got this kinda sisterly feel to her, y’know? I just can’t not make sure she’s taken care of . ”
“That’s real rich coming from you, seeing as how you started shaking in your boots the moment you heard she was a hero . ”
“T-that’s just because I didn’t know her yet! But now I do . She’s real kind, so I ain’t scared of her one bit no more!”
“T-thanks Lyuu! You’re really nice too,” replied Nell, a bit shyly .
“Enough . I would be best for us to get to eating,” said Lefi . “Yuki, I shall allow you to do the honours . ”
“Huh? What? Why am I doing them?”
“Are you not the man of the house?”
“Riiiight, good point,” I said . “Well, uhhhh, alright . Everyone have their cups at the ready?”
“We’ve all been ready, Yuki!” said Illuna .
“Alright . Well, here’s to the first year of many to come . And to give a warm welcome to our newest resident . Cheers!”
“Cheers!”
And so, the banquet began . The cheerful, noisy atmosphere it carried lasted late into the night .