On a normal day, inside of one of many of the multiple normal rooms of the Demon Lord’s castle, there was a strange girl scheming something. Of course, I, unluckily, found her red handed.

 

“Huh? What are you doing here, Phlum?” [Butler]

Well, she wasn't a strange girl, she was just Phlum. Well, that's true, she is indeed a strange girl, and she was clearly scheming something, but you get what I'm trying to say, right?

“W-What..?! N-Nothing, it's just…!” [Phlum]

As fast as she could, she grabbed an extremely big paper sheet, wrinkled it, and hid it behind her, acting as if it was the most natural thing to do in a random encounter.

“Mhmm…” [Butler]

Sadly, I’m totally curious about what that was, so I guess it is time to start a battle of wits.

“Hey Phlum, look out there through that window! Isn't that our Lady?” [Butler]

“W-Where?!” [Phlum]

Easy.

As she was distracted trying to find someone on the fields, that clearly wasn't there, I rushed towards Phlum, or more exactly, to her unwarded back. However…

“Stop right there, you ruffian!” [Fynx]

“What are you doing here!” [Butler]

Fynx appeared, out of nowhere, and now she was standing right in front of me, protecting Phlum’s back.

“Come on Fynx, aren't you curious?!” [Butler]

“Well…” [Fynx]

Before she was able to fully answer my question, another person joined our talk as she carelessly walked inside the room. She was so carelles, that she almost spilled the beans before realizing what was going on.

“Hey Phlum did you finished the… Oh. Maybe I should come back latter?” [Beatrice]

She turned back, as if nothing had happened, but right when she was about to leave, Phlum called out to her.

“Come on! Please help me!” [Phlum]

“Well, nothing of this will have happened if you have finished your work in time, you know?” [Beatrice]

“Come on! Just this once!” [Phlum]

“Allright…” [Beatrice]

Our Lady let out a long sigh before agreeing to whatever Phlum was asking her to do. However, it turned out to be something really simple because before long, she asked me to accompany her somewhere else.

They were obviously trying to hide something from me, but at the same time, since everyone here is a Demon, there's no way I’ll have a chance to find out.

Well, that's what I thought.

“Where should I put this cake? Not that I care though…” [Kirwa]

Just when I was thinking that, the only other Human in this place entered the room holding something even more mysterious: She was holding a carefully made and well decorated celebration cake. Just what is happening here in this place?

“Oh, come on! Is anyone one else coming?!” [Plhum]

“Took you long enough to ask, I was getting bored, you know?” [Anastasia]

“H-Hello…” [White Rabbit]

“What are they doing here?! Are we in danger?!” [Butler]

“Of course not! That's all in the past you know? I just accepted the invitation so I could see my beautiful Beatrice once more, fufu. Oh, congratulations by the way~” [Anastasia]

“P-Peace, peace…” [White Rabbit]

“T-Thanks…?” [Butler]

“Sigh… I'm not yours. DId you bringed what I asked you for?” [Beatrice]

Anastasia took something out of the bag she was carrying. It looked like a luxurious bottle of some oriental alcoholic drink. Just what are these girls planning?!

“I brought a lot of these, so let's drink together, Beatrice~” [Anastasia]

“Everyone is going to drink, so shut up, you are annoying.” [Beatrice]

“Awww, so cold~ It gave me chills.” [Anastasia]

“Gross…” [Everyone] 

“Even if I'm not a child, I can't drink just yet, you know?” [Kirwa]

“Oh, who cares about that, join us, you kid! Whakaka~” [Beatrice]

“I'm not–... Sigh… Just one glass…” [Kirwa]

“Hey, just what is…?” [Butler]

But just as before, I wasn't just ignored, I wasn't even able to finish what I was going to ask, because suddenly, a joyful pair appeared through the room’s door. Their translucent skins shone due to the daylight that entered through the window and both of them had ribbons on their heads: The reddish girl was wearing a light blue ribbon, while the other girl was wearing a reddish one.

“Whoa! Everyone is already here!” [Verónica]

“S-Sorry for being late… We brought some fruit from the forest. We really hope you’ll enjoy them…”  [Victoria]

Resigned, I walked to the nearest table and filled myself a glass of that drink Anastasia brought, and then drank it in one single sip.

“This is…!” [Butler]

“Delishious~! [Kirwa?]

A girl that I knew said while bumping her head with my shoulder. She was hardly staying up while moving her empty glass in the air.

Just how many drinks did she have? I looked at Beatrice, but she looked away as soon as I did.

I helped Kirwa to sit down in a chair and gave her a new glass filled with water.

“Drink it, you’ll feel better after a while…” [Butler]

“Yesh…” [Kirwa]

Right now there's so many people in this room that I can hardly get a glimpse of what everyone is doing.

They are talking, drinking, joking, and eating. I must say that this feels like a party, we even have a cake!

Now that I think about it…

“Just in time!” [Fluph]

“I told you that they have already started!” [Kaashi]

“Even you, uh…?” [Butler]

“Whats thats supose to mean?!” [Fluph]

“We walked all of our way here, you know?! [Kaashi]

“Yeah, yeah.”[Butler]

I took another sip of my glass, but while I was doing that, Phlum jumped over a table holding something in her hands.

“Everyone please, just a second!” [Phlum]

At her words, everyone went silent. She looked so cool that even if I wanted to ask what’s going on, it was clearly not the time to interrupt what she was about to say.

“This day, one year ago, we received a new member on our family. Even if he is not the strongest nor the clever, he is still one of our friends! So please, dear Butler, give us your thoughts about your first year here!” [Phlum]

The moment she finished her words, she extended the paper on her hands, showing a clearly handmade billboard made to congratulate me on this day, my anniversary here with them.

A lot of things had happened. There were relaxing moments, but there were also some that were really harsh, however, I can't say that I haven't enjoyed my stay here. However, if I have to say something then…

“Just… Sigh… Please keep on taking good care of me!” [Butler]

“Yeah~!” [Everyone]

It seems that life can be peaceful from time to time, even here, in the Demon Lord’s castle.

“Hey, don't leave me out of this, you meanie!” [The Maggot]

Yes, a peaceful life, even here, in the Demon Lord’s castle.