Chapter 148 The Demon Realm Villa
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Duke Crowley’s raid had ended in failure.
But that did not mean we came out unharmed.
A burnt smell still clung to the mansion’s outer walls. Inside, several pieces of furniture had been knocked to the floor by the blast, and their broken remains were scattered across the rooms.
The servants were busy cleaning and checking the damage.
After accepting Prince Liam’s arbitration, I had agreed to a fight with the Crowley family.
That said, the actual fighting would not happen anytime soon.
For now, I had to take care of one thing at a time.
”You saved me today, Elisabeth.”
”Not at all. If I could be of help, it would be my honor~desuwa. …Then, I shall see you again, Xenos-sama.”
Outside the Grimlock Margrave estate’s parking lot.
In the air still smoking with the scent of gunpowder, I exchanged a farewell kiss with the Empire’s princess. The soft feeling still on my lips and the sweet floral smell drifting from her dress covered over the dark mood from moments before.
I helped her into the carriage.
Her guard knight, Freya, glared at me as if she wanted to shoot me dead.
But her eyes held not just hostility; something more complicated simmered beneath the surface.
…Jealousy, maybe.
I leaned in to give her a farewell kiss too.
”Wh!”
She dodged at the last moment, but I pressed my lips to her cheek anyway.
Afterward, I extended my hand to help her into the carriage.
A gentleman’s courtesy.
”I, I do not need your help, you scoundrel!” Freya snapped, her voice cracking slightly.
Her sharp tongue was as fierce as ever.
But her voice cracked a little, and her ears, visible beneath her knight’s helm, were flushed bright red. I paid it no mind, took her hand, and guided her into the carriage.
From inside, Elisabeth’s teasing voice drifted out.
”My, Freya, your face is crimson. How adorable.”
The sound of the carriage wheels fading away stayed in my ears longer than it should have.
It seemed to carry with it her flustered embarrassment and the leftover warmth of our goodbye.
Thanks to Elisabeth’s help, I had been able to steer the negotiations in my favor.
(I am also curious about that disturbance in the Eastern Battlefield. I will need to gather information on that front as well.)
I saw them off, watching until their figures disappeared into the twilight light, then teleported to the Demon Realm’s castle. The world twisted, and the mild air of the human world shifted in an instant to the cool, crisp air that was unique to the demon realm.
Quite some time had passed since I had left Liliana and the others with Myuril.
I hoped they were not crying from loneliness.
With that worry nagging at me, I moved to Lucifiel’s bedchamber. Myuril was there. She greeted me with a small sigh.
”…Ah, you have come to get them,” she said flatly.
”How are they? Were they crying?”
To my question, Myuril replied with a look that could not quite hide her annoyance.
”Lucifiel-sama has been looking after them,” Myuril said, her voice carrying a note of dry humor. “She has taken quite a liking to them. Far from crying, they have been teasing the guards and having a great time.”
”I see.”
I had worried they might be lonely and in tears, but it seemed that worry was not needed.
Guided by Myuril to a separate room, I found Liliana and Mina having tea with Lucifiel. A spread of oddly shaped demon realm sweets, purple and green in color, sat before them, and both girls were happily stuffing their faces. Kuuko and Lumia, in their beast forms of kitten and lion cub, were curled up on a soft rug, lounging comfortably.
”Oh! It is Master!” Mina chirped, noticing me.
”Oh dear, have you come to pick us up already?” Liliana said, pouting slightly. “We were just starting to have fun.”
She looked genuinely disappointed that I had come to get them.
They had not been lonely at all.
”The four of us explored every corner of this castle!” Liliana reported with pride, her eyes bright. “We even found a secret passage!”
And they had not just been playing at exploration; apparently, they had been given their own private rooms by the Demon Realm’s princess, Lucifiel.
(Come to think of it, this one has been away from her parents for quite a while now, and she has never once shown a hint of homesickness, just living large in my estate…)
I could not help but admire Liliana’s unshakable toughness.
We cut the tea party short and were shown to the rooms.
The walls gleamed like polished obsidian, and instead of chandeliers, pale blue glowing ore hung from the ceiling. The rooms were big enough for several people.
I turned to Lucifiel.
”Are you sure? This is quite a large room,” I said.
”Not at all,” Lucifiel replied, her smile warm and inviting. “I had prepared this room for you some time ago, Xenos-sama. Please, use it as you wish. …I await your return anytime.”
She smiled, and her golden eyes shimmered with anticipation.
Unexpectedly, I had secured a vacation room in the Demon Realm’s castle.
I thanked Lucifiel and Myuril, then gathered Liliana and the others and returned to the estate.
A lot had happened in a single day.
The special weapon Chronos Weiss was finished. Elisabeth visited. Duke Crowley attacked. Prince Liam stepped in. And I got a room in the demon realm.
I left the cleanup from the raid to the servants and stepped into the garden for some fresh air.
Outside, dusk was settling.
Summer was coming.
Though the days were getting longer, this hour still carried a coolness in the air. The western sky blazed a burning red, and the garden’s trees and bushes cast long, stretching shadows.
I drew Chronos Weiss and ran through a few sword moves.
The handle settled into my palm as if it had been made for it.
Each swing cut the air with a satisfying whish.
Then I pushed mana into the blade and closed my eyes.
The weapon glowed faintly, and a low hum vibrated through my hand.
When I focused, I could sense everything around me with incredible clarity.
Spatial awareness. And then…
A leaf trembling in the breeze.
It broke free from its branch.
Slow motion.
I could slow the leaf’s fall. Not just the leaf; the world’s passing had slowed. The wind’s sound faded, and only my own heartbeat pounded loudly in my ears.
This, too, was the sword’s magic.
I was using magic related to time and space.
…A presence behind me.
I let go of my focus, and time went back to normal speed.
When I opened my eyes, the “Teleportation Demon” Ashraf stood there. How long had he been watching? He had appeared without a sound, as if shadows had taken human form.
Ashraf, in his perfect butler clothes, gave me a slight bow.
”To use magic that controls time, truly, you are remarkable, Xenos-sama,” Ashraf said, his voice smooth as polished glass.
He had been watching.
”Right. So, what do you want?”
”I have someone I would very much like you to meet,” Ashraf replied, his smile perfect but his eyes cold. “Would you trouble yourself to come with me?”
Him, wanting me to meet someone?
Ashraf’s smile was perfect, but his eyes did not smile at all.
(I really do not want to go. I can smell trouble from a mile away.)
I was not thrilled, but I figured turning him down would make me look small, so I accepted with as much great generosity as I could muster.
”Sure. If you are introducing me, it must be interesting. I will come.”
At my words, Ashraf bowed deeply once more, then melted into the shadows as if dissolving away. He meant for me to follow.
I reached out with my senses, tracking Ashraf’s faint traces.
A thin thread of leftover mana stretched out.
(Not the human world. …The Demon Realm’s frontier? A place far from the Demon Lord’s castle.)
Sensing his presence in another world, I teleported toward that spot.
—
Summary:
Xenos survives Duke Crowley’s failed raid and accepts Prince Liam’s arbitration for a future feud. He secures political favor with Elisabeth and her guard Freya, then visits the Demon Realm castle where Lucifiel gifts him a private villa. The chapter closes on Ashraf’s mysterious invitation, pulling Xenos toward an unknown meeting in the Demon Realm’s frontier.
—
Trivia:
Duke Crowley’s raid failed, but property damage and cleanup are ongoing.
Elisabeth’s assistance gave Xenos an advantage in negotiations with Crowley.
Freya displays visible jealousy and embarrassment toward Xenos, hinting at romantic tension.
The Eastern Battlefield anomaly is mentioned as a lingering plot thread.
Lucifiel had pre-prepared a room for Xenos in her castle, implying long-term interest or alliance.
Kuuko and Lumia remain in beast forms (kitten and lion cub) throughout the chapter.
Liliana and Mina show zero homesickness, already fully adapted to Xenos’s household.
Chronos Weiss grants spatial awareness and slow-motion time manipulation.
Ashraf’s meeting offer is met with internal reluctance, but Xenos accepts out of pride.
The Demon Realm frontier is far from the Demon Lord’s castle, suggesting a remote and potentially dangerous location.
Notes:
• Duke Crowley – Duke who governs the Dwarf Tribe territories. Thin, frail-looking, and indecisive. He fears conflict and avoids decisive action, concerned primarily with protecting his own position and concealing his oppressive exploitation of the dwarves.
• Crowley – Bearing the Bartholomeus family name, this cowardly, conflict-averse Duke of the Asgard Kingdom oversees the Dwarf Tribe’s jurisdiction. Outwardly posing as a protector of dwarven culture, he deceitfully exploits them and secretly orchestrates Princess Eil’s sale into slavery. He is relieved when Prince Liam’s attention turns toward the Grimlocks rather than exposing his schemes.
• Liam – Liam Asgard, the golden-haired, emerald-eyed Crown Prince of Asgard, is Liliana’s older brother, betrothed to Elisabeth, and liege to Elliot and Aldrick. Though possessing royal Light Mana and a sense of justice, he speaks with polished grace to hide a manipulative, calculating ambition. Scheme-driven to destroy his rival Xenos and obsessively steal Cecilia, he uses his authority to incite war.
• Elisabeth – Princess of the enemy Adrastea Empire, Prince Liam’s fiancée, and the game’s main heroine. Dignified and diplomatic even when cornered or falsely accused, she is targeted by Violetta’s assassination plot. While Xenos exchanges opinions with her, her heart has shifted from Liam to the protagonist, showing visible relief at his arrival while unconsciously avoiding relying on her fiancé.
• Xenos – Job: Heir to a high-ranking noble house; Relationship: Owner of Lilia; Has romantic connections with Elenor, Cecilia, and Lizel; Item/Magic: Summoning magic, [Substitution Collars]; Note: Was caught up in a Royal Palace explosion and missed three days of school. Pragmatic and calculating personality. Job: Noble of Grimlock family, protagonist; Relationship: Manipulator of Princess Liliana, pursuing Serena; Item/Magic: [Ring of Transformation]; Note: Reincarnated villain with game knowledge, calculating and arrogant. Job: Theater Owner and noble of Grimlock family; Relationship: Fiancé to Cecilia; Item/Magic: Game knowledge/metaknowledge; Note: Reincarnated villain protagonist who knows the original game script.
• Grimlock – Xenos’s family name.
• Freya – Guard knight assigned to Xenos. She acts as a direct subordinate and protector, showing familiarity with Xenos through her casual speech. Her composure breaks upon learning of the military threat, revealing her investment in the situation and concern for Elisabeth’s safety. Loyal knight and personal guard to Princess Elisabeth. Has fiery red-brown hair and a strong, prideful demeanor. Secretly longs for both Elisabeth and Xenos, hiding her desires behind professionalism. Princess Elisabeth’s loyal knight. Openly hostile toward Xenos. Sharp-tongued and protective of her charge. Shows intense loyalty to Elisabeth.
• Liliana – Known as the “Angel of the Asgard Kingdom” for her golden hair and sky-blue eyes, this princess is the younger sister of Prince Liam and Elenor. While maintaining a refined, angelic public facade, she is a manipulative mastermind who wields explosion magic. As Serena’s liege and the true culprit behind recent assassination attempts, she carefully hides her dark nature behind whispered, noble asides.
• Myuril – Faithful guardian of the Demon Realm’s princess Lucifiel. Appears in maid uniform. Serves as caretaker of the Demon Lord’s castle. Pragmatic and somewhat sarcastic.
• Lilia – Xenos’s fiercely loyal, trauma-resilient Head Maid is a lovely, pale, busty woman with long dark hair, a chest tattoo, and a nullified crest. Dressed in a black uniform, she maintains refined, icy elegance when disciplining others, especially Elenor. While formal and efficient with guests, she masks deep, jealous anxiety for Xenos, finding her greatest joy in serving him and sleeping by his side.
• Lucifiel – The princess of the Demon Realm. Warm, regal, and accommodating, she offers Xenos a private room in her castle. Her golden eyes shimmer with anticipation and quiet interest.
• Kuuko – Beastkin staying at the theater. Already asleep in the staff quarters.
• Lumia – Beastkin staying at the theater. Already asleep in the staff quarters.
• Mina – A personal maid for the Grimlock estate, serves Xenos with childlike devotion. With soft brown hair and a playful bunny kigurumi over dancer’s attire, she uses cheerful gyaru speech and remains oblivious to tension. She shares a loving bond with her brother Kai, cares for Lumiá, Kuuko, and the estate kitten, and holds a deep affection for Cecilia, recently announcing Serena’s arrival.
• Ashraf – A Teleportation Demon who serves as the guardian of Xenos’s mansion, protecting it against potential attacks. They possess presence-concealing magic, which the protagonist copies and uses to infiltrate the tea party.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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