Volume 2, Chapter 3: Acedia’s Neglect, Part 3: But that’s Definitely Strange

Volume 2, Chapter 3: Acedia’s Neglect, Part 3: But that’s Definitely Strange

The Pillow is way too competent, that I’ve no chances of victory.

Results are something gained by victory in battle.

Even if the battlefield changes, that fact remains constant. I glared at the pillow Leigie-sama was putting to use, as I considered my means.

The Lord of Sloth doesn’t give much thought to anything. That’s why whenever Leigie-sama looks at me, all that comes to him is, ‘Ah, so she’s still here, is she?’

He probably doesn’t care about anything. That is his form of nihility.

His strength of heart to protect himself was unrivalled. Leigie the Depraved’s soul was always subdued, and it would never be moved by emotion. That’s why he reached the position no one else had ever attained, the lone Lord of Acedia.

Since I’ve been secretly trying to burn up his pillows while he’s asleep, I can say for sure. He doesn’t even care about those. If he’s thrown off of the bed, then he’ll just start sleeping on the floor.

But I don’t really care about that.

What’s important to me, is that the current generation pillow is a pillow that can’t be burned. Meaning besides the merit that I had the capability of motion, that pillow triumphed over me in every way.

Handed down by the Great Demon King, apparently.

A pillow forged of the down of infant Fire Dragons.

As a pillow, he didn’t have a name. But he was an article so fine, it wouldn’t be strange if he was granted one by his craftsman.

He was probably a compensation for all those times Lize burned through his pillow. That’s why he won’t burn.

At present, Dragons were the only race living in the Demon World that possessed power rivalling Demons. Their characteristics were their high attribute resistances, and durability, and even from a General Class Demon’s powers, they weren’t so easily knocked down. However, they were small in numbers, and with that, the down of an infant dragon was more valuable than any average magical artifact.

Once the dragon grew up, its plumage would change to scales. In its feather state, it definitely didn’t boast the durability of scales, but still, it was much too great of an opponent for me to face.

By the way, this goes without saying, but among the Dragon Race, the greatest threat is their fangs and claws, as well as the attacks fired off from their tails. But now that it’s become a pillow it can’t attack or anything, so I’ve no need to worry over such matters.

“Damn you, Great Demon King… for you to get in my way…”

Even when I acted up in his bed alone, this lord showed absolutely no signs of giving a reaction. I’m not sure if he’s completely uninterested, or he’s truly sleeping.

Even when I lightly shake his body, touch his hands, or cling to him, he wouldn’t move in the slightest, and I believed him to be truly worthy of such a pillow.

How rude. Even when I’ve thrown away my pride to present myself as a pillow to him, Leigie-sama probably hasn’t even noticed something like that..

It was a major problem that shook up my dignity. And at the same time, it was quite futile.

While I was likely carrying out the most gruesome battle in this cruel world, I heard footsteps approaching the room.

There were two sets. The ones who come here are severely limited. It seems that assassins used to come here as well, but since Heard took over the surrounding area, that hasn’t happened as of late.

In that case, I knew who would drop by.

Lorna or Lize Bloodcross.

I don’t know much about the woman known as Lize.

What I know is that she’s part of Kanon-sama’s personal knight brigade, and that she was sent with the intentions of observing the Demon Lord as a member of the Order of Black.

I also knew she was relatively strong, but when you put it against Heard and Leigie, the stage was so different, that I couldn’t really feel that much strength from her. What’s more, the only chances she’s had to demonstrate such strength was when she burned up this man’s pillows. In a different sense than me, she was a pitiful woman.

As expected, the two sets of feet stopped in front of the door. I felt they would become a pain, so I dove my body deep under the covers, and clung onto Leigie-sama’s body.

I’m a pillow. A pillow that can move of her own will.

With a small sound, the door opened. In order to let the matter pass, I held my breath.

“Huh? Medea isn’t here?”

As I thought, it wasn’t a matter for Leigie-sama, but one for me.

Right, I’m not here. So please go away already.

There are Skills to conceal your body on the Sloth Tree as well. Right now, I’ve become one and the same with Leigie-sama, and they shouldn’t be able to sense my presence.

Lorna and Lize seemed to be having a quiet conversation about something. I can’t really hear them. I want to use a Skill to listen in, but if I did that, then in all likelihood, Lize would sense it. Sloth Skills were made on the premise that their user wouldn’t be doing anything.

If I move just a little further down the tree, then I should obtain one that lets me go about life without doing anything at all.

But unfortunately, my opponents are professionals at dealing with Sloth.

They are the brave heroes who have continued to serve one of the rare Sloth Demon Lords for many years on end. I doubt there’s anyone in this vast Demon World more adept at dealing with Sloth than these women.

The cover was town away, and I was bathed in light and cold air as I continued to cling to Leigie-sama.

“… There should be a limit to running away from reality…”

Lize sounded utterly fed up.

Fine. I’m fine with running away from reality, so please just leave me be.

A hand was placed on the arms I was using to tighten my embrace.

“Now, Medea. Separate. Yourself. From. Leigie-sama!”

It was a fearsome display of superhuman strength. For an estimated Knight Class like Lorna, it should have been unthinkable for her to be able to pull a General like me’s arms away.

But by some divine providence, my arms were just barely being moved away.

“Look, Lize. You lend a hand as well!”

“… Hah… why do I have to…”

Despite her complaints, Lize’s hands were put around my torso.

Her power was probably over mine. If it came down to pure power, I’d never win.

This is no joke. If I get dragged off now, I’ll get wrapped up in something troubling. There was no helping it, so I used a Sloth Skill.

“Unwork.”

My body instantly became heavier, and the bed gave off a creaking sound.

My rising arms, as if gravity had suddenly increased, came down on Leigie-sama once more.

The Unwork Skill increased one’s own weight, and among Sloth Skills, it was a rare Active. That weight increase wasn’t something on the measly level of two or three times over.

But still, with the bed receiving enough force for it to begin to creak, Leigie-sama showed absolutely no signs of waking up.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Lize’s frowned.

“Medea… for you to even use a Skill… how cruel…”

Shut it.

Even I can tell what’s cruel or not. I’m well aware of it. You don’t have to put it into words.

And at that moment, as I hid my face, Lorna’s voice entered my ears.

“Medea… if you don’t separate yourself, then I’ll also use a Skill, you know?”

“… !?”

Chills ran up my spine, and alarm bells went off in my head.

Lorna’s voice had been the same as normal. That’s why it was bad. Could it be I tread on the tiger’s tail?

No, wait.

Think about it calmly. Rank-wise, I’m above her. With the resistances I gained as Sloth, there’s no way Lorna, who hasn’t even had any combat training, would be able to separate me.

My heartbeat was heavy enough that my chest hurt. As if to contain it, I increased my grip on Leigie-sama.

Lorna’s hand touched the nape of my neck. That’s all she did, but a sensation as if a sword had been pressed to my carotid artery came down on me.

No, this is an illusion. As a Demon of Envy, I can say for sure. Luxuria barely has any physical prowess. She won’t be able to do anything to me.

Then just what is this fear encroaching on me bit by bit?

“Medea… make sure you say uncle when you give up, okay?”

“…”

“But perhaps you won’t even be able to speak at that point…”

“… W-what are you…”

The moment I opened my mouth, it happened.

There wasn’t a single wound on me. There wasn’t any pain. But my instincts raised a scream.

My Mental Corruption Resistance Skill continued activating itself without end.

It was a painfully popular passive Skill among Demons. Even held by children, that Skill could identify any and every Skill meant to corrupt the mind, and render them null and void.

It was the Skill that made Luxuria the weakest, and once you reach General Class, it could invalidate almost one hundred percent of all things.

That’s why no matter how many Skills Lorna uses, I can’t think it will bring any effect onto me.

The reason for my shocks was the contents.

The Luxuria Skill Tree was simple. Mental Corruption included, it allowed one to grant any and every status abnormality, and specialized in glamor.

On something quite repulsing, I unintentionally moved my head, and confirmed Lorna’s expression.

Because I intentionally made a movement, the Unwork Skill was undone, and my weight vanished.

With a calm expression, Lorna directed her deep blue eyes at me.

“Wai… w-what are you trying to do to me!?”

“…”

I could tell she had done something by instinct.

Again and again, without any signs of giving up, with numbers enough for me to feel fear, the status abnormality she continuously tried to cast was the one that Lust was most suited in handling.

Its name was 『Heat』.

This is no joke.

Even if I know it won’t affect me, I can’t take this as a joke.

“Take off your hand!”

“So you give in?”

But I don’t want that. I don’t want to feel like a loser.

In the first place, this is pointless. It won’t even work on a standard Demon, so there’s no way it would take effect on a Sloth like me. Her Mana will be the force running out first.

At that moment, I felt a bad premonition cross my mind.

How many times can she use it? How many tens? Hundreds? Thousands?

『Heat』 was the most basic ability of Lust. Even Demons who had just awoken to the Sin could use it. That means it barely had even the slightest Mana expenditure.

For a Knight Class like Lorna, then it wouldn’t be strange for that to number in the thousands, or tens of thousands.

As if she had seen through my thoughts, she let out a gentle laugh. Her laugh was quite reminiscent of Hiero’s, and their figures overlapped for a moment in my mind.

I was sure of it now. That a little sister like that gave way to a girl like this. No, that’s the other way around.

“… Medea. Just how much resistance will you put up? A thousand? Ten thousand? Kusu… my 『Rat Sleep』 may take a bit of time, but… it will take effect on you eventually.”

In the end, Status Abnormality Resistance was but a resistance… nullification based on identification. It wasn’t complete nullification.

The probability of it getting through wasn’t zero. It was ridiculously low, but, there are times when it would actually work. And at that time, I have no means of freeing myself from it.

Of course, the probability of it working wasn’t something high enough for me to train for it on the battlefield. That’s why I didn’t pay it any mind before.

But if you look at it the other way…

Lorna gave out a declaration like that of a death sentence.

“I’ll keep at it as long as it takes. If it’s something on the level of 『Rat Sleep』… My mana recovery is higher than its usage.”

“!?”

Meaning she can keep this up forever.

No matter how low the chances, if she was going to keep at it uptil it worked, then that was no different from one hundred.

Lize looked at Lorna with a cramped expression. It was probably the same as the look on my face at the moment.

“A-are you joking…?”

“…”

Even when she heard my chiding words, her smile didn’t chip in the slightest.

It was frighteningly ominous, and the information flooding into my head of how each and every attempt to resist the Skill had succeeded was uncanny enough to jolt my heart.

This girl… is serious.

“Just getting me in heat isn’t going to…”

… Isn’t going to be of any merit to her… I think.

As I was about to say, that, Lorna held her fingertip to my lips to stop me.

What was before me was a single Luxuria Demon. Her pupils stained with lewdness seemed to lick all over my body as they evaluated me. That was the first sexual glance I had ever received since I started hiding in Leigie-sama’s bed naked.

“… Kusu kusu… an unworking Medea… should just show off her unsightly form to Leigie-sama.”

“N-no, isn’t your intent changing…”

Thinking it bad, Lize offered some council to Lorna.

But in regards to that, Lorna threw out a carefree response.

“Lize, this girl’s Sloth is… just inactivity. It’s different to what Leigie-sama has.”

“Eh…?”

What’s different about it? That’s what Lize’s eyes were saying.

I was in complete agreement.

Just what’s different? Why not try giving an answer.

No, I’m still moving around a bit, so aren’t I more decent than…

At that point, from my ankle to my spine, a small impact raced.

It was simply too light, but the vividness of the sensation was enough to make my body leap without intent.

“Kusu kusu… look, it got you.”

“…”

The temperature of my body rose a little. A ticklish fever created a thin haze over my brain.

My thoughts begin to come apart. My body is hot. My heartbeat was resounding to annoying levels.

It got me. In itself, it wasn’t a fatal status abnormality. In the end, it’s just a basic Skill.

Even without a recovery Skill, something of this level should go away given enough time.

Sloth Skills cut off my senses. Because of that, the vision through my fevered eyes made it feel like I was watching the isolated events of another world play out.

I let out a hot breath, and directed up some words that were half me putting up a strong front.

“… Hah… something of this level is…”

“… You don’t know when to give up… Kusu kusu, you know what this is, right? Luxeliaheart. At this point… it’s your loss.”

A small light burned at the tip of Lorna’s right index finger. It was a characteristically pink light. I could instantly determine it was something from a Skill. Even what Skill it was.

Luxuria Skills were short range, and most of them wouldn’t activate without direct contact. In the first place, even if they did go off, they would be put down by status resistances.

But these unsurmountable demerits came with unsurmountable merit.

Luxuria was a Skill Tree to affect the mind. You have to fulfill the conditions first, but once that’s done, it can exhibit unrivalled power.

With me clinging onto Leigie-sama like this, I’ve no means to avoid it.

『Rat Sleep』 had not activated itself yet. After my resistances had been ringing off alarms for so long, they had fallen silent. Lust had its stages. First, to light the flame, then to spread the fire.

And this presents the main problem, my status abnormality resistance wasn’t going off anymore. Meaning I would be out in a single hit.

As if to enchant me, Lorna slowly brought her finger to my body.

Her slender fingers lightly brushed against the back of my neck. With just that, my mind, which was supposed to have been cut off from sexual passions, was thrown into disarray.

“I’ll make you bloom.”

I’m being driven mad.

That voice was filled with an ample amount of darkness. It wasn’t by much, but it was something I wasn’t able to stand.

At this rate, I’m going to have a mental trauma for the rest of my life. Or perhaps I’ll awaken to yet another sin.

“U-uncle! I give, I give up!”

Lorna looked at my face, before nodding once. That was enough to make my beat to jump up.

I don’t even know what’s going on anymore. I might cry.

“… Where’s your apology?”

“I’m sorry.”

“… Leigie-sama’s mattress has been stained… I’ll have to wash it again…”

She took a fleeting glance at the place I had been before looking down at me again.

The scary part was that I couldn’t see an emotion of anger in her. She was likely the type that could kill with a smile. If she had entered the army, then perhaps she would have become a soldier much more prodigious than I.

“Medea. Put on clothing at once, and take a seat. I have something to discuss with you.”

Her tone that didn’t ask for a yes or no, made me straighten up my back as I sat up on the bed.

Her eyes were shining. If I didn’t bring out as much speed as physically possible, Lorna was going to break me. That was the most repulsing, and unbecoming manner of a soldier.

“Y-yes.”

I lifted my still-itching body, and put on the clothes Lorna had prepared.

I pulled the undergarments over my flesh, and draped the battle clothing I had often worn before over them.

They were made of a mass of dark materials, and they didn’t boast enough defensive power to block a direct blow, but they had a special magic carved into them to mitigate attribute damage to a certain extent.

Naturally, they were stiff, and they didn’t feel too good to wear. That’s the reason why, once I had a slight change in occupation to be a pillow, I’ve never once put my arms through those sleeves.

This is… a bothersome scent tickled my nose.

I did take a quick look at the bed, but losing to Lorna’s smile, I reluctantly stood.

Honestly, I’m terrified. In the first place, I couldn’t even raise my head to look at her. She was an existence like a mother. I always feel like apologizing about this and that to her.

As I sat in a chair with good manner, Lize and Lorna stood before me.

Their eyes were serious. Of course they were. Never once has Lize ever had any business with me since I’ve become a pillow. I’ll say this time and again, but no matter how noisy it gets out there, the Castle of Shadows will always be at peace.

Could it be… I’m sacked? Just by spending a few months as a pillow? No, no, I mean, that’s my job to begin with… and firing isn’t something decided but Lorna or Lize. That’s Leigie-sama’s job…

There were bags forming under Lize’s eyes. I’ve heard she’s been busy lately. Even a moment’s thought could make me feel how heavy a responsibility it would be to work as Heard Lauder’s observing officer. My deepest condolences.

Lize hesitated, but soon started talking in the cold tone of a superior giving order to their subordinate.

“Medea Luxeliaheart, there is a single job for you.”

… Don’t want to.

I wanted to answer that, but the glint in Lorna’s eyes kept me silent.

The answer I gave a few seconds later wasn’t something by my own will.

“… What?”

Battle? That’s the one with the highest probability. I’m a former General. If you look at it from another perspective, that’s pretty much the only thing I’m capable of.

If it was battle against, I guess I’d manage one way or another. Even if it be against another General, it would probably work out. As long as they weren’t a monster like that Heard Lauder.

I mean, I have that thing I got from envying Leigie-sama, 『Miracle Wonder Lighthand』.

I can’t use the left hand portion of it, but for an average demon, the right hand was more than enough. Just as Zebul didn’t know of it, that Skill was an unknown entity that barely anyone had ever seen before.

It’s a pain, but if it will let me evade those eyes of Lorna, then it’s unavoidable.

I don’t want it… being thrown into heat outside of my will is the worst. This is why Luxuria’s so wicked.

It’s also the reason that, when I envied that Lilith Luxeliaheart, I copied not her status abnormality Skills, but just her Skills to create illusions.

Taking away one’s free will is really the work of a Demon. No, that’s what I am, but…

But the words that came out when Lize opened her mouth next were a bolt out of the blue.

And at the same time, they were the worst.

“In Leigie-sama’s stead, you are to answer Kanon-sama’s summons.”

“Eh? Why?”

I unintentionally blinked my eyes, and looked at the face of the Great Demon King’s apostle.

The fact that she looked apologetic for a second didn’t escape me.

On the other side, without a hint of apologetics on her face, Lorna gave me my answer.

“That’s obvious. It’s because Leigie-sama is busy…”

“Eh? What part of him is?”

I looked over at the bed.

As usual, Leigie-sama was sleeping, as if he were dead. Even when his surroundings are this loud, I have nothing to say about his ability to concentrate.

I wonder how Leigie-sama has lived a life this long… Recently, I’ve begin thinking about that reason once more, and I’ve no answer to it.

In the past, I thought that, since I wasn’t a Sloth Demon, I wouldn’t be able to fathom the answer anyways, but even after gaining Sloth, I couldn’t understand it.

Seeing me like that, Lorna gave a brazen declaration.

“Do you have knotholes for eyes? Can you not see that Leigie-sama is busy taking his rest in peace?”

“No, that is…”

Yes, I can tell that.

I understand that, but that is completely irrelevant to being busy, is it not?

I’m not that free either, you know? Like thinking about how to better become a pillow, or peeping in on other Demons, I’ve got quite a bit on my plate.

Of course, I won’t say that. It’s scary.

Lorna is a little off in the head department, so I helplessly looked to Lize. She was considerably the more decent of the two. And that’s exactly why she’s going through such troubles.

“… It’s a customary practice for Demon Lords, or representative General Class Demons to stop by Kanon-sama when she calls a meeting. At this point, you’re the lone member of Leigie-sama’s army, so…”

“That is…”

Exactly right. Leigie’s army of thousands has been reduced to a single pillow. But I don’t want to go.

This is where Leigie-sama should go. That is his duty as a Demon Lord.

No, really, its not just that I don’t want to go, if you think about it logically, isn’t that how it’s supposed to go?

As I tried to speak, Lorna interposed herself, and made an imposing argument at Lize with just her eyes.

After a moment’s hesitation, Lize averted her eyes, and spoke.

“Not moving Leigie-sama is part of the Great Demon King’s will.”

“Eh? Isn’t that strange?”

What is the meaning of this? Leaving that man asleep is part of the Great Demon King’s will?

She permits him to shirk off his regular obligations?

If the Great Demon King was to convene a meeting, it could only be one thing.

『Demons Round』

A round table opened only when the Demon World was to face a time of crisis. It’s getting noisy in the world outside, so it probably has something to do with that.

Demon Lords are generally self-serving, but there are few fools out there who would defy the Great Demon King. Those faces dispersed across the lands should all be gathered there.

And with it being a gathering of Demons who’ve raised their sins to their limits, it was an inevitable instance of putting the cart before the horse, where casualties were often reported.

So let me declare it. If a General Class went out, they’d be crushed in an instant.

“… That is the Great Demon Lord’s will. Medea, do you plan on opposing that?”

“… Eh? No… but still, that’s definitely strange…”

“By the way, up to now, Heard Lauder has always been the one going in his stead.”

…

Just how soft is everyone being on our Leigie-sama?

But I don’t want to go. I really don’t want to go.

Leigie-sama’s already the lowest ranking Demon Lord. You can’t just permit him to skip out. I get that if he was Rank Three, it may be permitted, but for the lowest ranked of them all to not even show up, I doubt there won’t be complaints. Right, there definitely will be. There’s no doubt there will be some political turmoil if the individual in question doesn’t step out himself.

Right. That’s right.

Within my head, my Mini-Medea was crying out such things.

But reality wasn’t so kind. Lize strained her voice to a lethal level.

“Kanon-sama even ordered for you, Medea, to be dispatched in his place.”

“… Eh? I was called by name?”

With unbelievable emotions, I looked up at Lize’s face.

I don’t get what she means. Why must I…

“Yes, you were called by name. If Leigie-sama’s asleep when you get there, then be a dear and go drag Medea out here, won’t you?”

“…”

I heard the sound of Lize’s arm being clad in flames. Her power was undoubtedly over mine.

Kanon’s figure came up in my mind.

Back when I had just gotten here, the figure of the observer charged with Leigie-sama.

That woman… she’s favoring the man.

A hopeless reality was coloring the world beyond my eyes in black.

She occasionally called him ‘niisama,’ and she was always soft on him, so I knew it would definitely bring about something one of these days, but with this terrible timing…

I was sure she was impartial…

And on the other side, the maid who did with me what she pleased landed in the finishing blow.

“Medea, if you meet up with Heard, make sure you ask him to let you join in his army, okay?”

“… Heard Lauder…”

I recalled the form of the man who detested Envy Demons like the plague.

This is bad. I’m so dead.

I hath been forsaken by all. And it all happened while I was asleep.

Did I even do anything bad? This is just too much.

“… Nn…”

In this situation where there was nothing for me to do, I fell flat over the table before me, and started crying to myself.