"Anyway, I arrived on time today. That should be enough, shouldn't it? I am truly impressive!"
Diera cut the conversation short and puffed out her chest with pride. She searched our faces, clearly fishing for a reaction.
"……"
I glanced at Grom. He gave a small, weary shake of his head. Apparently, he didn't even have the energy to argue. With no other choice, I stepped in to respond.
"……Just see to it that you can keep this up in the future."
"Umu! I shall handle it as best I can!" Diera chirped energetically.
As she did, Grom leaned toward me, whispering so she wouldn't hear.
"She will most certainly be late next time. I would wager my entire fortune on it."
"I know."
We had repeated this exact exchange countless times. It had become a routine ceremony by now. I didn't actually take Diera’s oath to heart; I was merely granting her a perfunctory acknowledgement. If I didn't, she would start to pout, and dealing with her when she lost her temper was a nuisance.
As I reflected on the dozens of similar interactions we’d had, Diera patted my shoulder.
"By the way, Dwight."
"What is it?"
"I wish to visit the gambling house in the castle town…"
The moment those words left her mouth, Grom let out a low, pained lament. I understood his feelings perfectly. Feeling the onset of a headache, I managed to respond.
"I lent you money just a short while ago, didn't I?"
"Nay, that was different! I intended to return it several times over, but I was brilliantly outmaneuvered. It was by no means my fault. Umu."
"……I see."
Diera spoke with such rapid-fire excuses that I felt a sigh building in my chest. She, however, remained blissfully unbothered, her excitement only growing.
"I feel that I can win big today! Therefore, if you would lend me just a bit more—"
"That sounds like an interesting conversation. Pray, allow me to join you."
A voice cut Diera off. The Great Spirit stepped quietly forward from behind us. Diera faltered the moment she saw her, backing away as she addressed the newcomer.
"W-What is it?"
"The deadline for the money I lent you has long since passed," the Great Spirit said in a resolute tone. "What are your intentions regarding the repayment?"
Diera looked troubled for a moment, but she quickly set her face with an expression of reckless determination.
"I shall surely return the portion I borrowed from you this time as well—provided that Dwight prepares the funds!"
Diera shouted this with a flourish, pointing a finger directly at me. Her shining eyes were filled with a mix of desperate entreaty and expectation. Drawn by the gesture, the Great Spirit’s gaze turned toward me as well. Under the weight of both their stares, I had no choice but to nod.
"……I’ll think about it."
"My Lord…!"
Grom clutched his head in despair. He clearly wanted to object to me caving into her demands. Diera, on the other hand, had completely regained her spirits. She laughed triumphantly.
"I shall not forget those words!"
With that, Diera turned to leave with a light, airy step. I called out to her retreating back.
"Where are you going?"
"To select a gambling house! A heated battle is calling my name!"
Diera took off in a fierce sprint and vanished in an instant. Grom let out a deep, heavy sigh.
"Honestly, she is a failure in every respect."
"Though she does possess the dignity and administrative skill required of a Demon King."
"I cannot deny that, but…"
The world under Diera’s jurisdiction was remarkably stable. She placed a high priority on preventing racial discrimination, and overall public order was good. If there was a problem, it was the sheer number of gambling houses that had sprouted up everywhere. Cries of distress from those facing bankruptcy echoed throughout her lands.
Naturally, Diera herself was often among them.
The chaotic nature of her realm was concerning, yet strangely, there was very little actual conflict. It seemed as though a chronic addiction to gambling had somehow, in a roundabout way, fostered a sense of peace. I didn't quite understand the mechanics of it, but it functioned surprisingly well.
As I stood there exasperated by Diera’s behavior, the Great Spirit began to walk away. She looked back over her shoulder at us.
"I shall keep an eye on Diera. Rest assured, I will bring her back in time for the gathering."
"My apologies for the trouble."
"No, it is no trouble at all… I have developed a burgeoning interest in gambling myself."
I thought I saw a faint smile grace her lips as she murmured those words. Then, the Great Spirit departed.
"……Was that my imagination?"
"Nay, I heard the same," Grom whispered with deep emotion. "It seems five centuries is long enough to change even a Great Spirit."
It had been three hundred years since the Great Spirit abandoned her role as a Defense Mechanism. While she had initially clashed with the other mechanisms, they had since reconciled. I had noticed her personality softening over the years, but I never expected her to take an interest in gambling.
She had likely been a bad influence on Diera—or perhaps it was the other way around. While it was slightly concerning, it was probably a positive change in the grand scheme of things.