Kuromueina finished her conversation and returned with Shaltier, who had produced a mask from somewhere and put it on before following her.
After hearing the details from Kuromueina, Ein and the others felt their wariness ease slightly. They led Shaltier to the residence where Kuromueina and her family lived.
"Boy, oh boy—anyway, sorry for the trouble earlier. My bad. Well, if you want my side of it, you guys were the ones who sent that bloodlust flying first, but... let’s just say we were both in the wrong and let bygones be bygones. I’ve already let it slide. Oh, excuse me, seconds on the cake, please!"
Dumbfounded. It was the only word to describe the expressions of those watching Shaltier as she devoured one slice of cake after another. Faced with her breezy attitude—which made it impossible to believe they had been trying to kill each other just a short while ago—none of them knew quite how to interact with her.
Even Kuromueina, their usual source of stability, had apparently suffered some kind of shock. She was curled up in the corner of the room, muttering to herself, "I have great naming sense, I really do..." and making no move to join the conversation.
"Once again, my name is Shaltier. Nice to meet you... Oh, except for that gorilla over there. I don't need to be on good terms with him."
"Huh?"
"I mean, what’s with this unrefined gorilla? Is he a pet? Kuro-san, I’ll give you a pass on that huge lizard being a pet, but a gorilla is just going too far. I mean, where is the market for a pet gorilla, honestly?"
"A-A lizard?" Magnawell muttered, sounding wounded.
It seemed Shaltier had realized Megiddo was the one who had initially directed bloodlust at her, as she was being exceptionally prickly toward him alone.
Naturally, the short-tempered Megiddo was on the verge of boiling over, but he seemed aware that he had been the catalyst. He suppressed his rage with a sharp grunt and opened his mouth.
"Listen here, you... I’ve been sitting here listening to you go 'gorilla, gorilla'... My name is—"
"Ah, whatever. I’m not interested. It’s probably something like Gorilla Gorila or Gorillalion, right?"
"Hah? You looking for a fight, you little brat!?"
Even for the quarrelsome Megiddo, holding back once was the limit. However, at the word "brat," Shaltier’s eyebrows twitched.
"Oh? Hey now, you beastly animal. What did you just say?"
"I asked if you were looking for a fight! You little brat!!"
"...You said it twice, didn't you? A fight? Fine, pick one if you think you can, you muscle-bound blockhead. Shall I discipline you in Kuro-san's place?"
"Fine by me!"
Their eyes went cold in an instant. Megiddo and Shaltier stood up from their chairs simultaneously. Megiddo cocked his fist while Shaltier readied her knives, closing the distance in a flash to start the battle—only for both of them to be punched by Kuromueina at the same time.
"Gyah!?"
"Guoh!?"
"...No fighting."
""...S-Sorry.""
At Kuromueina’s quiet warning, Megiddo and Shaltier obediently stood down.
The atmosphere remained awkward for a short while, but eventually, Shaltier broke the silence.
"...So, what is it?"
"What?"
"Your name. For Kuro-san’s sake, I’ll bother to remember it, so hurry up and introduce yourself."
"...It's Megiddo."
"Megiddo-san, then."
"And you’re Shaltier? I heard you came from another world."
"Yeah."
Thanks to Kuromueina’s intervention, the two managed to engage in conversation, even if it was a bit stiff. Perhaps their distance had shrunk ever so slightly by having a spat...
"...Is that why you’re dressed like that?"
"...Excuse me? Like what? What’s wrong with it?"
"I mean, the clothes, the mask... Is everyone in the other world dressed like such a weirdo?"
"Sigh... To think you can't appreciate this aesthetic. You're hopeless. Well, I suppose it’s pointless to expect a sense of beauty from a meathead like Megiddo-san."
"...What?"
The air grew sharp once more. Between Shaltier, who couldn't resist a provocation, and Megiddo, who said exactly what was on his mind... they were a terrible match. Furthermore, since Megiddo rose to any bait immediately, another conflict was practically inevitable.
"No, no, don't worry about it. People look good in different things. For Megiddo-san, let's see... a loincloth and a club would be perfect. It fits that idiot look you've got going on."
"Oh, is that right? I suppose only a freak like you would look good in such a bizarre outfit..."
"Hahaha, Megiddo-san, you're so funny!"
"You're a real piece of work yourself..."
Both were smiling, but their eyes remained cold and empty.
"Ahahaha..."
"Fuh-hahaha!"
""I'll kill you!""
"...Do you want another round?"
The voice was quiet yet carried perfectly. Hearing it, Megiddo and Shaltier froze. Megiddo shifted into his human form, and they exchanged a firm handshake.
"Boy, I feel like Megiddo-san and I are going to be great friends. I look forward to working with you."
"Yeah, I’ve never seen a weirdo like Shaltier before. Teach me all sorts of things."
Though they gripped each other’s hands with enough force to pulverize iron, both maintained their smiles.
Watching them, Kuromueina nodded with satisfaction.
"That's right. Shaltier is going to be part of our family now, so we all have to get along."
"...What!? S-Seriously?"
"To be honest, that’s news to me too. I wonder how we arrived at that? How mysterious... Well, whatever!"
"That's a quick pivot. Are you just an idiot?"
"It's not like I have anywhere else to go. The bonus gorilla is a bit much, but it looks like life here will be fairly entertaining."
Sparks flew between Megiddo and Shaltier again as they spoke with bright, forced smiles.
"Oh, that's right! Shaltier, after we eat... want to go for a walk to deepen our friendship?"
"Oh, that sounds lovely. Let's go, just the two of us! Somewhere wide and empty would be best."
"Yeah, leave it to me! I know this area well... I know a 'place where it's fine to crush some trash'!"
"That’s a big help. I’m not familiar with the local geography... It saves me the trouble of searching for a 'place to bury a gorilla's corpse'."
From a distance, it looked as though they were merely laughing together, but in reality, both were radiating a demonic aura of pure wrath. Ein and the others watched with exasperated expressions, but Kuromueina alone was wearing a contented face, truly believing they had become friends.
"Another intense personality has joined us," Lilliwood remarked.
"Yes," Ein agreed. "My head hurts just thinking about the future."
"...New family... I'm happy... Ah... Ein... more tea..." Isis murmured.
"You are as much of a free spirit as ever. Here you go."
"...Thank you."
Thus, the eccentric girl from another world, Shaltier, joined Kuromueina’s family.
While her mastery of combat would eventually improve the strength of the future Six Kings as a whole, her appearance was destined to do something far more profound: it would change the very nature of the Demon Realm forever.