Chapter 61

My special training with Angelica continued after that.

If she had been someone without motivation, she might have gotten bored and quit after about three days, but she kept up with it perfectly.

Then, five days later.

“Teiii!”

During our sparring session with wooden swords, Angelica landed a solid blow on my right leg.

“Oh! You finally did it! As expected of a Hero, that’s a fine growth rate!”

Landing a hit on a Demon King who is, even if only nominally, on the defensive is quite an achievement.

“No, it was just one lucky hit. It’s too early to celebrate. In a serious fight, I’d still lose by a landslide.”

Is this girl, Angelica, actually planning to beat me? I’ll praise her for that spirit.

“Hmph, you’re ten years too early. Swordsmanship isn’t my primary trade, you know. I fight using the full extent of my magic as well.”

It might be a bit childish of me, but I can’t let my daughter overtake me quite that easily.

“Even so, I’m the current Crown Prince, aren’t I? It would be bad if I couldn’t even lay a finger on you. I’m definitely going to surpass you!”

“Don’t forget those words.”

Ooh, the atmosphere is starting to feel quite “parent-and-child,” isn’t it?

Who knew that training would be the key to gaining Angelica’s trust. I’ll keep utilizing this in the future.

“Wait, this smell—”

It seemed Angelica noticed something.

“—Mama is baking cookies… No way, Demon King, you didn’t let this distract you, did you!?”

Accusatory eyes were pointed my way! Oh no, it feels like the trust is about to crack again…

“Well, that is… I did realize she was making cookies, but to say that prevented me from focusing on the battle… I would like to withhold comment as the facts are currently under investigation.”

“Why are you talking like a government official giving a canned excuse! You were totally distracted by it!”

Angelica started swinging her sword wildly.

It’s hard to deal with that when I can’t tell if it’s part of the drill or not, so stop it!

“It’s unavoidable! Once that scent tickles my nose, I start imagining things—like if she’s making cookies shaped like flowers or bears, or what kind of tea we’re having today! It’s only natural for idle thoughts to arise!”

“Demon King, you’re just looking forward to the tea break after the training! Your goal has shifted completely!”

“I’m not neglecting the training with you! I’m doing it properly! That part is the truth!”

My relationship with Angelica, as well as her improvement, seems to be moving at a pace of three steps forward and two steps back…

By the way, despite her complaining, Angelica was also wolfing down the cookies.

“Yeah, these have lots of butter and they’re delicious! Thanks, Mama!”

“You’re welcome, eat as much as you like~. It makes Mama happy to see you enjoying them~.”

Mm, a moment of family harmony. Priceless.

Also, on the table, besides the cookies, there was some unfamiliar fruit. It was a faint, darkish black—not exactly an appetizing color—but colorful doesn’t always mean tasty, so that was fine. The problem was what it actually was.

“Lateia, what is this fruit?”

I thought I had become quite accustomed to human society, but there are still things I don’t know.

“Oh, those? Some fruit grew on the ‘Binding Trees,’ so I picked them at noon~.”

“Pfft!”

Angelica and I choked at the same time. I actually sprayed a bit of my tea.

“Oh, you don’t have to be so surprised. I tried one, and it was very juicy and delicious~.”

She calmly ate fruit from a demon-land plant. Lateia really has nerves of steel…

“Lateia, please don’t go too near the ‘Binding Trees.’ There is a risk you might be, literally, bound.”

“Yeah! Normal people can’t dodge those things at that speed, so you can’t go near them!”

Angelica joined me in warning her of the danger. She is an adventurer, after all. She knows all too well the terror of being rendered immobile.

“It’s fine~. It tried to reach out with its vines, but I handled it~.”

“Mama, I’m sorry, but nothing is less reliable than an amateur saying they’re ‘fine.’ It’s dangerous, so stop it!”

“In that case, I’ll prove to you that it’s safe. You’re worrying too much, Angelica. The ‘Binding Trees’ are plants that can’t do anything except catch you.”

In the end, Angelica and I ended up verifying Lateia’s claim of being “fine.”

Since the “Binding Trees” don’t possess the power to actually harm an enemy, there is no real danger as long as there is someone present with the ability to free a captive.

The “Binding Trees” were illuminated by the moonlight.

“See? They’re practically overflowing with fruit, aren’t they?”

“Yes, there are quite a lot of fruits—but more importantly, it’s overgrown…”

The soil in this area must suit them perfectly, as they had grown remarkably in a very short period. Even the path leading out of the estate was nearly blocked. I hadn’t really noticed it during my daily commute, but at this rate, we won’t even be able to get through soon…

In Lateia’s hand was a pair of shears for gathering the fruit, and on her right arm hung a basket to hold them.

“Alright, here I go~.”

Lateia approached one of the trees.

Immediately, the “Binding Trees” extended its vines. To a plant, having the fruit it worked so hard to produce stolen is no laughing matter, so the thief becomes the primary target for capture.

“Mama, look out!”

However—

“There♪”

Moving the shears with a rhythmic grace, Lateia snipped the vine right off.

In that same motion, she clipped the stem of the fruit and dropped it into her basket. Other vines lunged toward her, but she dealt with them too—

“Hiyah♪”

She easily severed them with her shears.

Then, she clipped another fruit stem.

She truly moved like a butterfly and stung like a bee.

Angelica was speechless; clearly, she had no idea Lateia possessed such a talent.

“Lateia, that’s amazing! How can you even do that!?”

“I used to take dance lessons when I was a little girl~♪”

I had no idea dance allowed for this kind of thing…