"Well, I came on time today. That's good enough! I am so impressive!"
Diera forcibly cut off the conversation and proudly puffed out her chest.
Her gaze seemed to be watching our reaction.
"..."
I look at Grom.
He was slightly shaking his head.
He didn't seem to have the will to talk back.
With no other choice, I respond.
"... make sure you keep this up."
"Yes! I shall deal with it properly!"
Diera responded energetically.
At that moment, Grom brought his face close to mine.
He whispered so that Diera wouldn't hear.
"She will definitely be late. I would bet all my fortune on it."
"I know."
We have repeated similar exchanges countless times in the past.
It has become a regular occurrence.
I don't take Diera's promises seriously either.
I'm just giving her nominal approval.
If I didn't do that, she would sulk.
Irritated, he would be troublesome to deal with.
Reflecting on the exchange that had required not just dozens of such interactions, Diera tapped my shoulder.
"By the way, Dwight"
"What is it?"
"I wish to go to the gambling den in the castle town..."
The moment she said that, Grom groaned softly beside me.
I understood his feelings all too well.
Despite a headache beginning to form, I managed to respond.
"I lent you some money not long ago, didn't I?"
"No, that was different. I intended to return it multiplied several times over, but was most thoroughly outplayed. I am by no means at fault, indeed."
"Is that so?"
At Diera's rapid-fire explanation, I felt a sigh welling up.
Diera, unconcerned, grew more excited.
"I feel like today is the day for a big win! So if you could just lend me some more money--"
"That sounds like an interesting conversation. Please include me as well."
A voice cut through Diera's words.
Quietly stepping forward from behind her was the Great Spirit.
Seeing the sight, Diera flinched.
As she retreated a step, she questioned the Great Spirit.
"Wh-what is it?"
"The repayment deadline for the money I lent you has long passed. What manner of thinking is this?"
The Great Spirit spoke in a resolute tone.
Diera had been anguished, but she answered with a face showing she had steeled her resolve.
"What I owe you will be repaid in full this time too—provided Dwight supplies the funds!"
Diera shouted powerfully and pointed at me.
Her gleaming eyes were filled with supplication and hope.
Drawn by this, the Great Spirit's gaze turned my way.
Receiving the reactions of both parties, I could only nod.
"...I'll think about it."
"Demon King...!"
Grom instinctively clutched his head.
He seemed to want to protest my having accepted the demand.
Meanwhile, Diera had completely recovered her spirits.
She was grinning triumphantly.
"I won't forget what you just said!"
With that, Diera turned to leave with a light, graceful movement.
I called out to her retreating back.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going to select a gambling den! A fierce battle calls to me!"
Diera broke into a sprint and vanished in the blink of an eye.
Grom let out a deep sigh.
"Truly, utterly disqualified in every respect."
"He does possess the bearing and skill befitting a Demon King, though."
"I won't deny that, but..."
The world under Diera's jurisdiction was stable.
She placed great importance on preventing racial discrimination, and public order was generally good.
If there was a problem, it was perhaps the rampant proliferation of gambling dens.
Across the world, screams of bankruptcy rang out constantly.
Among those, naturally, was Diera herself.
Though the chaotic state was worrisome, conflict was strangely rare.
It was as if chronic gambling addiction had, in its own roundabout way, constructed a sort of peace.
It was hard to understand, but it functioned peculiarly well.
As they looked on, exasperated by Diera's words and deeds, the great spirit began to walk.
She turned towards them and spoke.
"I will keep an eye on Diera. Please rest assured I will bring her back before the gathering."
"I'm grateful."
"Oh, it's no trouble... I have some interest in gambling myself."
The spirit murmured, and she seemed to smile faintly.
With that, the great spirit departed.
"...Was it just my imagination?"
"No, I heard the same thing. Five hundred years can change even a Great Spirit, eh?"
Grom murmured, nostalgic.
The Great Spirit had abandoned its role as a defense mechanism three hundred years ago.
At the time, this led to conflict with other defense mechanisms, but they had since reconciled.
Though its personality seemed to have mellowed since then, to think it would take an interest in gambling...
Perhaps it was Diera's bad influence.
He felt a twinge of worry, but overall, it was probably a positive change.