These dreams that shows my life in this world is getting annoying… 

No, rather, I want those dreams to keep going, but I need to wake up and face everyone here.

The match was decided abruptly and master is not even participating. He is dragging us in his plot to get what he wants.

The first round will be me against Balrog.

I mean…why me against this giant? Initially, Balrog told me that in terms of fighting, he is far below Diyu. Higan will be up against Diyu and the final match is Alstroe and Gria.

I was a bit confident with our fighting force as a team with Higan, but fighting in a one on one match, let’s see how I can hold my own. Master even forbids me from using Divine Ascension to Higan and naturally, to Alstroe-nee. I mean, even without anything, Alstroe-nee probably going to win if Master is really afraid of her might. 

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I got up from my bed. The cold air drifts the atmosphere. The chill quivers my body. Waking up, I peek outside to witness that the sun is already rising. Bored, I start walking out of my room to take a little stroll in the garden. 

I climb the stairs down and take the path leading to the garden. The fresh air wafts the place. It also brings nostalgia to me back when I was in the castle. The lone man who diligently trains to become strong was Ichirou-nii. Now, that I think about it, most of those dreams ends up with me sharing a nice chat with him.

I wonder if he is fine. I wonder if everyone is. I wonder, right now, what they are doing.

Upon arriving at the garden, this time, there was a lone vampire sitting, sipping on his coffee. His mustache vibrates as he sips on it. Is that even possible?

The man, Gria Hellbeing, looks at me and greeted.

“Oh, early riser for a little child, Good morning white one.”

“Good morning to you too, Lord Gria. Please do call me Asagao.”

“I will do so. What’s bring you here white one?”

“Haaa…well…I was just taking a stroll…”

“Is that so, do you mind if you join me?”

“I don’t, I shall join you there Lord Gria.”

“Do you want milk?”

“Please, do so.”

“Lirin, please bring the white one here a milk”

“Yes, Lord Gria, a glass of milk for Miss Asagao.”

“WOAH!”

She startled me! She appeared out of nowhere! How did she come so close without me noticing?! Well, never mind. I like how she even says my name instead of imitating his master calling me white one.

“Well then, do you have anything in mind white one?”

“You are going to give me life counseling?”

“Well, that depends on the situation you are in.”

“That’s very irresponsible to say. Very well… can you tell me about you being a reincarnator?”

“That’s a very rare question since almost everyone really doesn’t believe me or takes it seriously. I can only tell you about the details of the place where I came from because I just gradually forgets most of my memories in the past life as the millenniums goes.”

“That’s okay, please tell me.”

“Well, I remember that I was a man with a rich culture. In the place where I came from, it’s hot and there are sands and rocky places. The transportation is much more matured than here. There are things called cars from that world. In the advancement of our civilization, these cars are flying in the sky. The houses have unique technologies that serve human automatically making them lazy. As the advancement goes, the culture dies too. I died pretty old back in that world, so being reincarnated here, I was able to mature quickly, and the first thing I was, to bring the culture of my land here.”

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

“…”

Wait! Wait! Wait!

Flying cars?! Advance technology?! Are you for real?! But this just proves that he is not lying. That was a big shock for me! My mouth is gaping wide right now.

He looks at me intently and realizes something.

“White one, you are not of this world right?”

“Eh!? Um…But! Wait! Eh?! Well…”

“From your reaction, you twitch hearing those words like cars and technology. One would just question me about it. But it seems you are very shocked to know my origin.”

“…Umm… can you—“

“Don’t look down on me, of course, I won’t tell anyone. I am not so low as to spread rumors even if it’s true or not. I won’t ask you of your circumstances. But I’ll tell you this. You should not let that bottled up inside you. You need to tell someone about it someday. It’s not because you want to brag but you want to build up a deeper understanding with someone. It’s better if it came out from your own lips.”

“I see…”

Gria looks down. It seems there are some instances where telling this was needed. I bet something bad actually happened to him. Deeper and darker than we see him on the surface, he must be hiding painful memories in the corner of his heart.

But I don’t even know how to start talking about it with everyone…

“Sorry to show something unsightly, white one.”

“No, it’s fine… there’s something I want to tell you about too.”

“Oh, what could it be?”

“About Diyu, do you know ab—“

Before I can even utter the words that were about to come out from my lips, Gria makes a silence gesture shutting me up.

“White one, my dear daughter is earnest to be a friend of yours. Please, do be a friend to her. A friend should also not talk about their secrets to other people if you know they don’t want it to be known.”

“How…”

“I am a father, and I lived in this world for several millenniums. I do understand your concern, but it is not needed. I know how my daughter thinks. Because I am always watching for her safety, both her and Balrog, I treasure and cherish them.”

This man, Gria Hellbeing, know everything behind the actions of his own daughter because he is a father? I don’t get it.

Is this how a father is?

A father…

I suddenly felt an emptiness in my heart. Diyu is lucky…to have a father like this…no… to even have a father known to her… I don’t like this… I don’t like how I feel negatively towards Diyu… what is this feeling…

“As for the reason for me not claiming the throne to be the next demon lord… all I can say is that I don’t have the potential to lead the demon race.”

“Oh, why is that?”

“My daughter looks up to me back then because of my strength is known across the demon continent. It is certain that I am strong, but… I am not fit. Simply being strong is not enough and my daughter still can’t understand that. What the masses need is someone smart and someone who loves his own people more than him or herself. I don’t have much affection to other demons as I only care for my people in this city. The demon lord right now is someone I know and this demon lord love and cherish the people.”

“So…about your wife?”

“…That’s simply because of my prank…”

“…I see…”

After that, we only had a bit of chit chat about small things, while we are sipping on our drinks. I didn’t even realize that my milk was brought over by Lirin. It seems she doesn’t want to disturb our talk.

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It’s now the time of the match and everyone gather at the large field. The battlefield is as large as the arena in the heart of this city. I am really tense about this match but everyone is just chatting like they are just going to have a morning exercise. I feel stupid.

“Ok! Let us start immediately! Giving any intermission or speech is boring! Balrog and Asagao! Go to the middle of the field and ready yourselves!”

“Eh?! Already?! You are skipping formalities!”

“Well… this is just a friendly match after all.”

“Muh…”

“”Go Asagao!””

“At least Higan and Alstroe are cheering for me…”

Balrog and I go to the center of the field. Lirin is in the middle. It seems she will be the referee for the matches.

“Miss Asagao and Sir Balrog, are both of you ready? Please give me your confirmation.”

“I am.”

“I don’t feel like it, but I am.”

“Then, without further ado, the first match is now starting. En garde!”

On Lirin’s signal, the match starts. It seems both of us are hesitant to attack first. Balrog speaks.

“We really don’t have a choice little girl, forfeit now so we can avoid this battle.”

“You’re…already looking down on me…”

“Given on how young you are, yes I am. Well, if you can surprise me, then I think I can change the way I look at you.”

“Well then…”

[Barrier!] [Thorn!] [Force!] [Spin!]

I cast my specialty right off the bat. I don’t like how I am being looked down by this bull!

My barrier that is now barbed with thorns, spins with great velocity and is quickly approaching Balrog. He is visibly shocked about it.

But instead of trying to evade it, he just cast a spell.

[Full Body Fire Enhancement!]

Fire quickly covers his whole body. He looks hellish! Matched with a roar and a loud stomp, he soars high in the sky and positions his self for a slam.

BAM!

He clashes with my thorny barrier. The thorns of my barrier are getting chipped off! He spreads his arm like he is hugging my barrier. What toughness! My barrier shows sign of breaking so I flee outside of it. Needless to say, my barrier broke.

However, the path I was supposed to walk is now covered in flame. When I turn, a blazing bull is charging at me with great speed.  He lifts his knuckle overhead preparing for a punch.

[Morning Glory Three Layered Petal Barrier!]

BAM

The two barriers broke immediately but the last one held out for a second cushioning most of the force behind that punch. But regardless of how much it cushioned, I was able to dodge it while he burnt a small portion of my right arm. The fist that was intercepted by my barrier falls to the ground gouging it.

Hey! I definitely would die if I get hit!

Somehow… I feel helpless without any way to get back at him with serious damage. I need to hold down my own in this battle and I need to outsmart him.

“So, how was it? My attack?”

“It’s scary that you can scare away children with just its sight…”

“Well I have to commend you for holding out in my first attacks. To think that your barrier can do things like that, that’s new for me. However…”

“???”

“Your barrier lacks the amount of defense. I know that we just got dragged in this battle but… I kind of feel that… you only have the half-hearted resolve to pursue your goal or for strength.”

Eh?