•Black Sheep• || The Devil is a Part Timer || Urushihara / Lucifer

༺Chapter 19༻

"Yeah, I don't think it's time to tell them yet...Even if they think they know." She whispered while sending him a small smile.

Hara scoffed and turned back to his computer.

"Don't give 'em too much credit. I don't think they're that smart to notice."

"Oh please, you aren't so high and mighty yourself," Aiko giggled as she playfully slapped his leg.

Just before she was about to start another conversation with her adorable NEET, Maou's voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Hey Aiko, you never really explained why you didn't want to interrogate Sariel,"

"What are you going on about?" Emi questioned him suspiciously.

"Before he threw him into the portal, Maou asked if I wanted to ask Sariel about my father. I politely declined,"

"You what?! Why?" The red-head asked surprised.

"Well, I honestly just didn't see the point in doing so anymore. If you would have asked me that a couple months ago, I might have taken you up on the offer," She fully turned in her spot to face everyone, "But now, it really just doesn't matter to me anymore who he is. I couldn't care less. I don't want any part of him..."

"That's fair enough, I guess," Emi added after.

The room was then filled with casual conversation. But it only lasted a few moments. For a certain blond's voice soon cut through everything with a seriousness in his tone that it seemed only Aiko picked up.

"...My liege," he knelt on the floor beside the table.

"Hm? What Ashiya?" Maou answered with food still in his mouth.

"I would like to ask for some time off,"

Everyone in the room froze on the spot.

"...Huh?" Maou's face twisted into confusion.

"Wow, can I take this as a sign the Devil King's army is collapsing?" Emi chided. But Maou completely ignored her comment.

"Time off? What do you mean...?"

"I apologize my liege, but..." Maou desperately grabbed a hold of the "house-wife's" shirt.

"What aren't you happy about?! Is this about that hot dog I bought on the way home the other day?! Or about the store receipt I lost?! I bought that two-ply paper by accident, man!"

He was rambling again...

"No, your demonic highness," he took his friend's hands off his shirt, "I have no complaint with any of that,"

"You don't?" Aiko commented, still trying to contain her laughter.

"It is just that...I fear our demonic forces will face ruin before long if this continues. My retiring from the front lines may allow us the chance to avoid this."

"What?! What are you talking about?! I don't get it, man!" Both men were standing now.

Ashiya's stare bore into his superior's before it glanced over to the females in the room.