The Punishment of A Demon General

How do I explain it to her? I can't just pretend like it's just her holiday 'cause I don't even know what it is!

'We get wasted, fight each other, burn effigies of human's most worshiped people, all while wearing costumes pretending to be human's most worshiped people so we can make fun of them.' I can't jus t say that, can I?

I mean, it's basically drugs, sex, and violence, all while wearing costumes and making fun of humans. How do I even possibly make that seem not against humans?

"Ilvia?" I cast a nervous glance at her, chewing on my lip, reminded of the awkward conversation I just went through with her before where she threw me off just like that because I wanted to go out on a date with her...

I mean, which part of that bothered her so much?! Why can't you just go on a date with me when I ask, you idiot!

"... I'll tell you later." Nothing better than a cop out! Ignoring her disappointed whimpering, I hop over and grab a large comfy shirt long enough to cover my body and toss it on... I need to go see Llorithen! Quickly!

"Hey, what are you in such a hurry f..." I've ignored the Heroine and I'm already out the room. I do my best to make it down the hall way in a sprint before I suddenly find myself tasting the floor, clutching the rug in pain with the sheer force I hit the ground.

Okay, I'm not that clumsy, why can't you just let me go, Heroine?! I squirm in frustration while I'm forced to eat rug, at the very least I know my slaves clean it well, it's just... Ugh!

"Honestly, I don't know why you ran away, but... I know you don't have to accept my apology, but at the very least you shouldn't ignore me like that!" My body is suddenly turned over by the insistence of her feet, groaning as I flop onto my back, doing my best to look down at her.

The pressure on my head is immediately released, allowing me to speak. "Y-you... ugh..." I bit my tongue when I fell, I didn't realize it, but there's a metallic taste in my mouth when I roll my tongue.

This is why you can't keep playing around! Don't you know people get hurt?! I want to complain but honestly it's not that big of a deal, it'll heal up in an hour or something, but that still doesn't make it easy to talk.

"Look, seriously. I'm sorry for last night... And whatever else I might've done to make you mad. I won't accept you ignoring me, though! Please say something." What, say gibberish, you realize you made me bite my tongue, you asshole?!

I furrow my brow at her in frustration, sticking my tongue out at her with a grumpy harumph. I feel a little satisfied when I see her go pale.

"... Uh... Hey, are you okay?" Yeah, I'm fine aside from the mutilated tongue, maybe you'll learn and stop trying to make me trip you evil psycho! I just puff my cheeks out in response, looking away from her.

I can feel gravity let up on me as she leans over to touch my cheek gently, trying to pry my mouth open with her fingers gently...

Honestly, this whole situation feels kinda lewd now as she holds my mouth open, staring into me, I decide to close my eyes and just accept it for now, at the very least she's distracted from the whole Holiday thing.

"Madam, seeing as you're busy shall we delay preparations for the celebration?" The Heroine and I both jump, looking over to see Llorithen watching over us both with his usual semi-blank stare, exhaustion ever present on his expression.

"Hhorihen!" Ow, okay, I'm not gonna try to talk with that... To my words he raises a brow but doesn't ask any further questions about my state.

I do my best to nudge the Heroine off, trying to point her back to the room, doing a little charades game with trying to get her to let me have some alone time with Llorithen.

"... Awh, but I'm hungry. Are... Are you sure you're alright?" I can't help but shiver under that concerned gaze of hers, my heart wavering greatly from the nudge. I decide to just nod rapidly and point in the direction of the dining hall instead, trying to give her a reassuring spank on the butt before I drag Llorithen off.

"Madam, where are we going?" Ughhh, I can't help it. I don't wanna talk like this, but...

"Ohhih." He just glances at me a while, trying to parse what the hell I might mean by that. I mean, I thought I said it pretty clearly, but...

"Madam, surely you can't mean the office, right? You're dragging me the completely opposite direction." ... Shut up, just guide me there! I begin dragging him back in the opposite direction like he said, huffing in annoyance.

"... Madam, I was lying you were actually going the right direction." Okay, what the fuck, Llorithen? I stare at him in frustration, wondering what his malfunction is today.

"Will Madam punish me? You won't, will you? After all, we'll be gone soon." My brow furrows even harder at that as I squeeze his wrist, literally dragging him this time the opposite direction in my frustration. So what, you're trying to get revenge because you think I won't punish you on your last days?!

With how insolent you've been since I got back, you're lucky I have better things to deal with today! Tomorrow I'm going to ride your ass until you realize just who your real master was this whole time, you cheeky fucker!

I drag him by his direction into my office, a fairly neatly decorated and small space with lots of... Books lining the walls.

+They're definitely a bunch of fantasy, romance, and smut novels.+

(Shut.)

I grab a sheet of parchment from my desk and a pen, scribbling down a note for Llorithen to read.

'How do humans celebrate whatever stupid holiday this is in their world? You better figure out how we can celebrate it like they do before the Heroine finds out and starts hating me for it! This is on your ass for not warning me in advance!' I toss the paper to him once I've finished writing.

I do my best to stare at him with a haughty and domineering gaze, his eyes glancing over the texts I had written a few times before he sets the paper down.

"I see Madam..." He says thoughtfully, running a thumb across the parchment a few times before stepping away. "Did you perhaps hit your head when you fell?" I can only stare at him blankly as he walks out, confusion filling me as I try to figure out what just happened.

Llorithen, this brat... Is he seriously trying to dismiss his duties purely because he's getting let off soon?! I slam my hands on my desk as I stand in frustration, the chair behind me sent back into pieces as I kick it.

After several deep breaths, I look around. It's only fair, right? I mean, I was never a good owner, so what even should I expect when I tell them they're going to be free soon?! I just can't stand for this, though!

Your ass is so going to be mine tomorrow! Opening the door as I attempt to rush after him, glancing both ways only to find the halls empty on either side.

... You bastard, where did you go?! I want to shout for him but I feel like that would make this whole ordeal even more shaming to me, screaming out things that could only vaguely resemble words.

I let out a deep sigh of frustration, pinching the bridge of my nose as I drag my feet while I walk, wondering where the hell he went. Obviously I won't find him so I'm not even going to try, but I can't just stand here either.

Everyone needs to stop acting so God damn weird lately! It's... Ugh. I roll my tongue around a bit in my mouth, the metallic taste finally stopped at least. I think I probably stopped bleeding a while ago, but I could still taste the leftover blood for a bit. The swelling definitely hasn't subsided yet, though.

I begin to do my best to hunt down a servant that can guide me to breakfast at least, if that traitor Llorithen isn't going to help me, then I don't know what to do anymore! The best I can do is just ask someone how humans celebrate it and try to get everyone together without him.

...

Of course, that isn't easy when everyone is missing! Normally I'd spot at least one by now, but where the fuck even am I?! Fuck, I knew I should have made them install signs in this place! I barge my way into a room to my side, finding some sort of... Maid's room, perhaps?

I'm unsure where the servant's quarter is here, so I elect to just close the door behind me, pulling open the window to crawl out, shutting it as I leave.

I drop to the ground, my clothes not quite suited for flying at the moment as I begin to search for the entrance of the house. At the very least if I just go in a circle I've gotta find it eventually! Or a gardener to guide me at least...

Of course, that would be the case if the gardens weren't empty too, why would I be so lucky?! I grumble quietly, trying to ignore the sounds of celebration beyond the walls of my home, reminding me of the possibility of the Heroine being even more unhappy with me today.

Ughhh... She's gonna hate demons even more now! Won't all of them?! I chew on my lip, imagining the expressions of all their faces when they're told about such an insulting holiday, and that I celebrated it regularly.

Maybe I should just run away. I mean, what's she gonna do, try and catch me?! If she's gonna hate me anyway, it's not like it matters! I ruffle my hair aggressively while I stare up at the bright sky, the sun high.

Thankfully the real festivities don't start until night, but there's always people who want to celebrate the entire time instead, I mean I usually get up early and do so, too! This... This is just... I walk over to a bench and plop down, exhausted from the racing thoughts.

I pissed off Greed last night, the Heroine is gonna hate me, Envy will probably be back soon to interfere with everything... I should really just run away.

How would the Heroine escape, though? There's no way some sort of convoy of all my servants would just go unnoticed and unscathed without my assistance, unless she can somehow get Greed to help.

I didn't even get to fucking pick out a costume for this year, either! I was gonna be that 'Pink Ranger' from the hero stories this time! I flail my legs in annoyance, sinking deeper into the bench, the back of my horns slightly scraping against the wood as I lower myself.

Well, that wasn't really set in stone, but still! I wanted to do it, and... I let out a miserable sigh, realizing that this is indeed going to be the worst Hallowed Fool's ever.

It's fine! I'll just... I was going to say 'I'll just enjoy myself even more' next year, but I won't even have servants next year, will I?

I click my swollen tongue in frustration. "Hihe huckh..."

+Life sucks indeed, Ilvia. Also... You have no idea how hard I laughed when I found out about how demons celebrate Halloween.+

(Mmh...)

+You don't have to bluuuush. Every demon did it, so it's not just you. Also, 'Pink Ranger' of all things, why 'Pink Ranger'?+

(... I just thought it was a cool idea for an outfit.)

+You... Fine, I won't press for now, but I'm suuuper curious, you know? It's almost Halloween again so if you wanna be 'Pink Ranger', we can do a couples outfit~.+

(...)

+You seem excited. Cute.+