Episode 150: Do You Like an Expressionless, Goat-Horned Maid Who Refers to Herself as "Boku"?

Helping out at the beach hut—actually, I’d been paid for it, so it probably fell more under the category of a part-time job—was finally over. We gathered on a nearly deserted stretch of sand to kill time until nightfall, when the operation was set to begin.

“To the Master’s friends of this world… I am the demon known as Lumia Asmodeus. It may be for a short time, but I look forward to your acquaintance.”

To ease the burden on Merli, I had re-summoned my self-proclaimed maid. She gave a polite, practiced bow and introduced herself to Shiki and the others. With features so perfect they looked sculpted and a face that never changed its expression, she reminded me of an exquisite doll—though she was, in fact, one of my most potent Summoned Beasts. One eye was hidden behind a fringe of hair, and for some reason, she was currently wearing a bizarre hybrid of a maid uniform and a swimsuit.

“She’s so beautiful…” Ayane murmured, blinking. “But, why the maid outfit?”

“That is because I am Master’s maid, is it not?” Lumia replied. She snorted proudly, unwinding the scorpion-like tail that had been wrapped around her leg and letting it sway. “I am his possession, his one-and-only tool. Serving him is my supreme priority.”

Possessing absolute confidence in her own appearance, she seemed entirely used to being praised; she didn’t even react to Ayane’s compliment.

“This idiot of Lust is merely calling herself a maid,” Baal cut in, her voice dripping with disdain. “There is no need to pay her any mind.”

“That would be you, Gluttony,” Lumia countered. “Your service lacks elegance. Why not follow my example?”

“You call interfering with the Master needlessly and making him degenerate ‘elegance’?”

“Ah, but that is precisely what a demon’s service is, is it not? That is my true desire. It is a tool’s instinct to want to take care of every single aspect of Master’s life.”

“Hmph. As I thought, I do not get along with you. I shall provide a proper example, so stay there and watch.”

To put it mildly, Baal and Lumia were not on good terms.

Just when I thought they were about to dive into a full-blown shouting match, they both turned to look at me, their gazes intense. It seemed they were both determined to prove that their specific brand of ‘service’ was superior.

“No, it’s fine… both of you, stop fighting.”

“B-but Master!” Baal protested. “I must teach this pink-brained demon the meaning of service!”

“Personally, I’m helped by both of you, so I don't really mind either way…”

Actually, it’s because their methods are different that I’m worried, I thought. If I leave everything to either of them, I’ll be heading straight for a life of total uselessness.

In Baal’s case, I’d fall into depravity because she’d handle every household chore until I forgot how to lift a finger. In Lumia’s case, there was the constant terror of being coddled into a stupor—a world where every single action I took was affirmed and I was praised even if I did absolutely nothing.

“Heh. As expected of Master,” Lumia said with a triumphant smile at Baal. “This is why Gluttony is so…”

“…I shall withdraw for now,” Baal muttered, looking frustrated. “However, I will let the matter be decided when the next opportunity arises.”

Lumia looked like she’d just won a major victory. It had been a while since I’d seen these two bicker like this. I wasn’t exactly relieved that they hadn't changed, but I felt a twinge of nostalgia—or something close to it.

“Oh, I have a message from Sloth,” Lumia added. “She says she wants to check on you. Apparently, she thinks you’ve been cured by the apple.”

“From Belphe?”

“Yes. When it comes to the phenomenon of healing, no one is better than Sloth. She was worried about you, so please summon her.”

Belphe Phoenix.

She was a companion who possessed the aspects of both a Divine Beast and the demon bearing the title of Sloth. She was better at recovery and treatment than anyone else I knew. Usually, she didn’t go out of her way to get involved with me, but she was a lazy soul who cared for her comrades and was twice as lonely as anyone else.

“The only other recent news is that Wrath has finally awakened.”

I felt a surge of relief. “That’s good. Is there anything from Dia?”

“Ah, well… he said he won’t lose next time.”

“That’s reliable. I’m glad Dia is safe.”

He was the one who had collapsed and lost consciousness alongside me back then. It seemed my companions had been treating him from the moment we returned. When I asked for more details, Lumia mentioned he was already fighting against others as part of his rehabilitation.

“Also, it would be wise to summon me during the battle with Envy,” Lumia suggested. “I believe our compatibility will be quite good.”

“Understood. Based on how the fight felt, you’re probably right. I’ll be relying on you.”

“I would be happy if you relied on me to your heart’s content. And so…” Her voice trailed off as her eyes narrowed. “Isn’t it about time you let me serve you?”

She brought the conversation back to her main priority with alarming speed. I only just noticed it, but her body was trembling slightly, as if she could barely contain herself. More importantly, she hadn’t looked at anyone but me for the last several minutes. She had even wrapped her long scorpion tail around my leg, and I got the distinct impression she had no intention of letting go.

“Well then, friends, I’m going to take Master back to the villa for a bit,” Lumia announced. “I would be happy if you didn’t interfere.”

“…Hey,” Shiki interrupted, her voice cautious. “What about Reima’s… will?”

“Now, won't you think about it, Miss Childhood Friend? Master is the one at fault for leaving me alone for so long. That is why, until the operation begins, I’m going to make it so he cannot live without me. So, let’s be alone for a bit, okay?”

“Wait a sec, someone stop Lum—”

Before I could finish my sentence, I was snatched up. Lumia summoned a dragon that caught me in its mouth, and I was carried off toward the villa. The others followed eventually, but no one moved to help me. Apparently, they had reached the collective conclusion that I was at fault for neglecting her and should be offered up as a sacrifice.

Until night fell, I was held captive and subjected to a relentless, overwhelming assault from a mountain of snacks.