Chapter 9 : Demon King Purpure! Arrives at Moonlight Wharf

“Purpure is not a fool.”

We followed the river and moved honestly.

The width of the river gradually widened, and we were able to move toward ‘Moonlit Pier’ without any major problems for three days.

And around the time my stomach was about to rumble for lunch today, I could faintly see a village nestled along the river.

“It’s really okay, I tell you?

Moonlit Pier isn’t the kind of town Purpure is worried about~”

Maeve smiled brightly and pointed to the distant Moonlit Pier.

From afar, the city looked as if a giant dragon was wrapped around the river.

The smoke rising in the morning mist was like the dragon’s breath, and the large stone walls were reminiscent of the dragon’s scales.

I could also see ships constantly coming and going from the river.

The sunlight reflected on the surface of the water sparkled, and in that light, Moonlit Pier showed its beautiful appearance in full.

“Purpure is not a fool.

Purpure is a demon.”

Anyway, there was an obvious reason why I didn’t go straight to such a beautiful Moonlit Pier.

Because I am a demon.

Not just any demon, but a terrifying demon lord!

“It’s really okay these days, I tell you?

There’s no one who discriminates against and harasses demons.”

“That’s right.

There’s no need for Purpure to worry.”

It seems like you really think I’m a child and a fool.

There are things you can believe and things you can’t believe, you know?

There’s no way humans who discriminate against other races would just welcome a demon, right?

“Purpure will still cover her face.”

I have to protect myself.

I took out the black cloth I had put in my bundle and draped it over my head and shoulders like a hood.

“Purpure?

Are you doing that to hide your horns?”

“That’s right.

If I just hide my horns, Purpure…”

Should I say this or not.

“…is small.

They won’t pick a fight thinking I’m a demon.”

“Ehehe…

So cute!

Saint Dominicus!

Look at this!

Isn’t our Purpure so cute?”

No, why again!

Why are you suddenly saying I’m cute?!

What’s so cute about covering myself with a piece of black cloth for survival?

“Even so!

No.”

“Ah, awawawa?!”

Unlike when we were eating, Maeve quickly took the piece of cloth I was wearing.

“Gi, give it back!

Give it back!!”

“Wait a minute!

Purpure!

And think about it!”

Maeve shook her index finger.

“You want to hide your identity, right?

But if you walk around Moonlit Pier wearing this black cloth, wouldn’t you look more suspicious?”

“Awawa…?”

Maeve has gained intelligence?

Of course, I wasn’t ignoring that part.

But I thought it wouldn’t be a big problem since my horns are broken and I look young and soft.

“Don’t just cover yourself roughly like this.

Let’s see…

Sister Maeve will sew it for you, so stay still.”

“Sister Maeve can do that too?”

“What do you mean, what.

I may look like this, but I’m a hero, you know?”

Does that have anything to do with being a hero?

Maeve made a nasal sound and sat down.

Then she took out various items from her bag.

What, it’s not just random stuff, it’s proper sewing tools, isn’t it?

Starting with scissors, thread, and needles…

wait a minute, needles?

“You said you didn’t have any needles last time.”

“Huh?

Of course, I don’t have any?

This is a needle for mending clothes, you know?”

“…A needle is a needle!”

“Oh…

Really?!

Sorry, Purpure…

I thought there were separate tools for cooking, like a kitchen knife.”

Unlike what she said, which was embarrassing, Maeve was calmly moving her hands and turning the piece of cloth into a plausible cloak.

The needle, well, maybe she didn’t want to give it to me because she needed it to mend clothes like this.

Where else would you get a needle while traveling?

And it’s not just a roughly made needle, she’s using a very high-quality needle and scissors.

“It would be good if Purpure could cover her face more!”

“Hmm, really?

But if you cover it any more than this, you won’t be able to see anything.”

“It’s more dangerous if my horns are visible!”

“No, no.

Look!”

Maeve brought the roughly shaped cloak over my head and put it on me.

“If it gets any longer than this…

it will be like this.”

“Ah, awawa?”

What, I really can’t see anything?

I imagined being able to see about half, though?

I, who became a squishy trapped in a bundle, flailed my arms and legs.

“I, I can’t see!

I can’t see anything!”

“Right?

Right?

I’ll make it the way I shaped it at first.”

Maeve took off the cloak and started making it again skillfully.

When I see you like this, you look like a pretty normal person.

“If you have a cloak, it will come in handy in the future.”

“Purpure will keep hiding her identity.”

Because I’m a demon lord.

I won’t believe these fools.

I will save the demons who are suffering and being discriminated against somewhere and become a wonderful demon lord.

“Ta-da!

Cloak complete!”

Maeve quickly made a black cloak and put it on me.

I thought you would just make it roughly, but it even has a string to tighten the neck, it’s very well-made, isn’t it?

“I even quilted light leather on the inside, so you can wear it warmly.”

“I didn’t know Sister Maeve could be helpful.”

“Shouldn’t you be praising me now?!

That’s too much!

Purpure!”

Maeve shouted with a red face.

Well, what can I do.

Since you’ll become my subordinate later, I guess I can give you a pat or two.

“But you did well.

Purpure will praise you.”

“Pfft…

What’s that.”

Maeve smiled pleasantly and held out her blonde hair to me.

“If you’re ready, let’s head to Moonlit Pier right away.”

“How is it?

Is it okay now?

Purpure?”

I touched my body here and there with both hands.

“Wait a minute.”

I quickly walked to a nearby river with small steps.

“It doesn’t seem to be a problem to me.”

“That’s right.

It’ll be fine.

And there are really a lot of people coming and going in Moonlit Pier, you know?”

I don’t believe you, I don’t believe you.

In the first place, I remember all the bad things humans have done to demons, do you think I’ll just say ‘Awawa, then I’ll believe you’?

“Awawa…”

I touched my cheeks and body with both hands.

The small demon wearing a black cloak looked harmless no matter how you looked at it.

Thanks to the spectacularly broken horns, even if I wore the cloak, it didn’t look like I was bragging ‘I have horns!’.

“The length is enough that they won’t even know Purpure is a girl.”

“Red hair isn’t strange either.”

Even if I looked here and there, there doesn’t seem to be any real problem.

“I understand.

Purpure is ready now.”

Even if someone points at me for being a demon, they won’t harm me because I’m being dragged around by the hero party, right?

…Right?

They won’t suddenly change their minds when we enter the town, take off my clothes, or whip me, right?

“Ah, awawa…”

I had been too happy these past few days, and I let my guard down.

My heart was pounding along with the beautiful scenery of Moonlit Pier.

Under the warm midday sun, the wooden roofs lined up along the riverbank caught my eye first.

The small decorations at the ends of the roofs fluttered in the wind and made a soft sound that was really nice to hear, and I could also see ivy growing on the long stone walls.

And the huge, half-collapsed tower visible in the distance looked down on the city with its top hidden in the clouds.

“Awawa…”

Befitting the name ‘Moonlit Pier’, large and small ships were docked in a line along the river.

The workers unloading heavy boxes were ordinary humans with rugged muscles, but there were also beastmen with lots of fur or impressive snouts.

Among them, merchants in colorful silk clothes were busy coming and going, and the smell of unfamiliar spices and cooking wafted from the alleyways.

It was dangerously stimulating my appetite to the point where I thought my stomach might start growling soon…

“How is it?

Purpure?

No one is looking at us strangely or suspiciously, right?”

“That’s because Purpure is wearing a cloak.”

Beastmen were a race that was active here and there even when I was a proper demon lord.

And you’re working as sailors, right?

How do you know if they’re proper sailors or slaves.

“It would be better to eat before using the magic circle.”

Dominicus pointed to a building where people were lined up.

Unlike the surrounding wooden buildings, the building made of large stones felt strangely different.

Still, I could feel the heavy flow of magic coming from beyond, so I knew right away that there was a ‘magic circle’ in that building.

“There are a lot of people lined up.”

“That’s right?

It’s Purpure’s first time seeing it, right?

If there are that many people lined up, the examination will be strict, so we’ll have to wait an hour or two.”

“Then let’s eat first!

Maeve, keep your promise!”

I can’t be a fool who stands for two hours on the verge of hunger!

“Okay!

Saint, you agree too, right?”

“Of course.

Even the same suffering is very different when you’re prepared and when you’re not.”

Maeve smiled and took my hand, heading towards the street where people were strangely more crowded.

So this is where all the shops are?

Is it like a food alley in modern times?

As soon as I entered the street, I could see pure white smoke rising, and the smell that dangerously stimulated my appetite was strong.

It’s more authentic than I thought?!

“Awawa…

Oh, there’s an incredible smell.

The smell of oil…

It smells savory and delicious!”

It also smells like meat being deliciously grilled or stir-fried, doesn’t it?!

Now my stomach is in a state where it wouldn’t be strange if it started growling at any moment.

“Hmm, let’s not go to that inn we went to last time…”

You said it was an inn that sold stew with a lot of water, right?

I don’t like that either!

I can make stew myself!

“Purpure is worried…

I can’t imagine what I should eat to make it delicious.”

“Aww, so cute~ You can just eat anything!”

“But I want to eat the famous food of Moonlit Pier!”

As soon as Maeve heard my words, her eyes lit up and she pointed to a shop with her finger.

It was a two-story shop with a curved eave, and lanterns and blue cloth were hanging at the entrance.

There was a huge cauldron at the entrance, and the auntie and uncle who seemed to be the owners of the shop were constantly boiling something.

Inside the shop, I could hear the sound of people talking loudly as it was lunchtime.

“How about there?

It’s a shop that sells noodles.”

“It’s a pretty famous shop in Moonlit Pier.”

What was being pulled out of the cauldron were noodles.

The noodles, with white steam rising, seemed to dance in the air, and the sound of the broth boiling came to my ears like music.

Moreover, the savory smell of the broth kept wafting out of the shop.

“O, okay!

Purpure will eat here!”

The broth that has been simmered until it’s thick and has a deep flavor, and the noodles that are chewy and make a slurping sound…!

No matter how they’re combined, I was filled with anticipation that it would be absolutely delicious after confirming these two things.

“Okay!

Then follow Sister Maeve!

I’ll buy you a lot!”