Although the Six Kings reigned at the apex of the vast Demon Realm, the executives who served as their hands and feet were, by necessity, incredibly busy. Eventually, the Underworld King, Kuromueina, proposed that these tireless subordinates be granted a concentrated period of leave to refresh themselves.
The other Six Kings agreed. They decided that the Month of Fire, following the relatively quiet Hero Festival, would serve as the vacation period for all executives. Information of the decree was transmitted across the realm in an instant by the Phantasm King, No Face.
Thus began the long-awaited holiday for the Six Kings' Executives. As one might expect, however, each individual spent their time in vastly different ways.
The executives of the Dragon King Faction—the Four Great Magic Dragons—met together once after completing their handovers to their respective subordinates.
"Hmm. This is the first time all of us have been granted a long vacation simultaneously," Fafnir remarked.
"Indeed," Eingana agreed. "This is a result of Magnawell-sama's kindness. We should accept it with gratitude."
"However, now that we actually have a month off, I'm not entirely sure how to spend it," Needsveld admitted. "Nothing comes to mind immediately."
Grandireas spoke with a slow, leisurely drawl. "Wouldn't... it... be... fine... to... just... sleeeep...?"
As they discussed their sudden windfall of free time, a sharp, eager smile spread across Needsveld’s face.
"Since we are all free, what do you say, Fafnir? Why don't we seize this opportunity to hold a mock battle—all of us together?"
"I refuse!" Fafnir barked instantly.
"Eh? N-now, wait... I’ll hold back, of course."
"Don't be ridiculous! Do you have any idea how many times you've said that, only to claim 'I’m getting into the spirit' or 'I’m fired up' halfway through? You always forget to hold back and end up beating us to a pulp!"
"Ah... well... I suppose I have. My apologies."
Fafnir rejected the suggestion with every fiber of his being. For him, combat with Needsveld was bordering on a traumatic experience he wished to avoid at all costs. To make matters worse, Needsveld was a quintessential battle maniac. While she never forced anyone to fight, it was a completely different story once the first blow was struck.
"...E-Eingana? What about you?"
"I absolutely hate the idea!"
"W-why? Just a little. If it's just a little..."
"Have you forgotten what happened the last time I was deceived by those words?" Eingana countered. "I agreed to a mock battle, and what was the result? 'Just a little more,' you said. 'Just one more match,' you said. In the end, you dragged me along for seven days and seven nights! Besides, it’s basically just me getting a one-sided beating. What on earth is fun about doing that during a precious holiday? I firmly refuse!"
"Ugh..."
Eingana no longer felt as uncomfortable around Needsveld as she had when she first joined the Dragon King’s service; in fact, they were currently the closest friends among the Four Great Magic Dragons. However, friendship was no reason to indulge a pure battle maniac.
Her shoulders slumped in discouragement, Needsveld turned toward the remaining dragon.
"G-Grandi—he's gone!?"
"...He ran away, didn't he?"
"...Could that guy always move that fast?"
The moment Needsveld had mentioned a mock battle, Grandireas had vanished from the scene at a speed that belied his massive frame. His trauma regarding combat with her was even more deep-seated than Fafnir’s or Eingana’s, to the point where he chose immediate flight over negotiation.
"Well then, we shall take our leave as well."
"See you in a month."
Ignoring Needsveld, who remained slumped on the ground, Eingana and Fafnir transformed into their dragon forms and soared away. Left entirely alone, Needsveld thrust both hands onto the earth, her expression twisted with regret.
"How... how could this be? Am I truly meant to spend the entire month smoldering with this unfinished business?"
The concept of "actual rest" simply did not exist in her mind. Her thoughts were occupied solely by what kind of training she could pursue. She already practiced normal drills to an extent that made the other dragons roll their eyes, so she had hoped to spend this rare holiday testing her mettle against strong opponents. Unfortunately, that hope had been crushed by the consequences of her own past behavior.
Despair began to well up in her heart, but a helping hand was extended to her almost immediately. While the other Great Magic Dragons could not fathom her mindset, there were others in the Demon Realm who could. Specifically, a group of pure battle maniacs who reached the exact same conclusions as she did.
"Flare-dono!"
"...Agni?"
Descending with a flash of crimson light was Agni, the head of the War King's Five Generals. She was Needsveld's best friend and one of the very few individuals permitted to call her by the name Flare.
Agni's hair, braided into a scorpion's tail, swayed as she addressed Needsveld with an excited flush on her face.
"Flare-dono, I heard you were granted a month of leave as well. How does your schedule look? Are you free?"
"Y-yeah... I have no particular plans."
"What a stroke of luck! Actually, I have organized an event to celebrate this precious holiday. Unfortunately, Ozma-sama won't be participating every day, but the four of us—myself, Epsilon, Kong, and Bacchus—intend to hold a 'One-month Continuous Mock Battle.' I came to invite you, hoping you might join us."
The Five War Generals were the most prominent group of combat enthusiasts in the Demon Realm. Naturally, they had no intention of spending their vacation on anything other than the fighting they loved more than food itself. They were enthusiastically diving into a plan that would make any ordinary person's head spin.
"W-what? Is it truly alright for me to join?"
"Of course! We welcome the strong at any time!"
"My... worthy rival!"
Needsveld's face filled with profound emotion at Agni's words. It was a ray of light piercing through the dark clouds, a vision of a hopeful future.
"I would be absolutely delighted to participate!"
"Oh, I knew you would say that! Let us train together as long as time permits!"
"Indeed!"
Eingana found Needsveld just as the one-month vacation drew to a close and they were finalizing their reports.
"Needsveld, how was your vacation?"
"Ah, Eingana. It was wonderful! Truly, I feel completely revitalized, body and soul!"
Needsveld answered with a beaming smile. She was clearly in high spirits, and it even seemed as though her scales had taken on a new, healthy luster.
"And what about you, Eingana? How did you spend your time?"
"Oh, various things. I went to the Hydra Kingdom to shop for clothes, among other things. What about you?"
"I spent the entire month engaged in mock battles with the Five War Generals."
"...Excuse me?"
"It was truly blissful. Megiddo-sama even dropped by several times to watch. Spending those days immersed in training without sleep or rest was pure heaven! I feel like I'm overflowing with vitality!"
"...I-I see. Well, I'm glad to hear you enjoyed yourself."
Hearing her friend describe a vacation that sounded like a nightmare with such genuine joy, Eingana could only nod with a strained expression.
(Why is she more energetic than she was before the break after a month of non-stop fighting without sleep? I will never understand her, and I don't think I want to.)
Dragon King's Faction: Fafnir: Normal Needsveld: Battle Maniac Eingana: Normal Grandireas: Normal
War King's Faction: Agni: Battle Maniac Epsilon: Battle Maniac Bacchus: Battle Maniac Kong: Battle Maniac Ozma: Somewhat normal