#751 An Unbothered Man

I am Olba, a high-ranking officer in the illustrious Demon King’s Army. 

Specifically, I serve as an aide to a Heavenly One. 

I take direct orders from Lord Belphgamilia, the supreme commander of the army who has ascended to the highest rank among the Heavenly Four.

You could even see this as a pinnacle career position. 

There are no superior posts in the military aside from the Heavenly Four themselves.

While some may view this position as a “retirement seat” due to age or career progression, I, still in my youth and originating from a somewhat distinguished noble family, am being perceived as having the potential to vie for one of the Heavenly Four slots.

However, despite my advantageous circumstances, I intend to retire from the army soon.

The reason for my forthcoming retirement is marriage.

Conventionally, one might anticipate that it’s the women who retire due to marriage. However, my situation is a tad unique.

Firstly, as stated earlier, I have noble roots.

Moreover, within the Demon Kingdom, I hail from quite an illustrious family. Hence, I bear the responsibility to meticulously manage and pass it on to the next generation.

Having amassed significant experience in practical affairs within the army, I have reached a juncture where I must take on the mantle of the family head and carry out my duty to safeguard it.

The catalyst for this was my impending marriage.

That’s right; I’m about to get married.

My fiancée is rather an extraordinary individual and constitutes part of the reason why I must focus on my duties as the head of the family.

My dear fiancée, Batemy, used to be my colleague.

Before her retirement, she also served as a Heavenly Four aide for the current Demon Queen Astres.

With her atypical career trajectory, rising from the common people, she even induced mixed feelings in me, who is often tagged as a “product of nepotism.”

Nonetheless, her astute judgment and amicable demeanor saw her rise rapidly as an aide, soon becoming a dear friend and serving as a conduit between the two Heavenly Ones.

When her superior stepped down from the Heavenly Four, she didn’t just resign as an aide but also exited the army altogether.

She is now a seamstress, a profession she had always dreamt of after leaving the government service.

As a prospective spouse, she’s indeed quite a catch.

Despite her commoner origins, her robust track record of ascending to the position of aide to the Heavenly Four in the Demon King’s Army, and serving a Heavenly One who is now the Demon Queen, grants her direct access to the royal chamber.

In the demon upper-class society, there’s no loftier status; if she were active socially, she’d undoubtedly be inundated with marriage proposals.

However, I can confidently say that she’d reject all of those.

Because she’s interested in no other man but me, you say?

No, no... I can’t flatter myself that much.

I’m aware that she has a reason, a dream, that can’t align with the life of a noblewoman...

Her childhood aspiration was to work in dressmaking.

She retired and finally made this dream come true. Her activities are flourishing, and the clothing she creates has become a famous brand, setting trends in the Demon Kingdom.

But she’ll have to quit her profession if she marries into nobility.

It’s deemed improper for a high-class lady to hold a job.

With such a trend still prevailing, there’s no way she could conform to such a restrictive framework.

Although we have been dating for a while, we hadn’t moved toward marriage. But the reason I proposed to her lies therein.

You see, while we were in this state of indecision, a major incident occurred. A dragon attacked, and thanks to the Demon King’s approval, our marriage was sealed.

What does that mean?

What transpired?

I wanted to inquire, but for now, my marriage to Batemy somehow became public knowledge.

My biggest concern—Batemy’s work post-marriage—has also been resolved. I’m relieved that she can continue with her profession.

The Demon King opined that in the present era, where the war with humans has ended, and harmonious policies are advancing, the energy once channeled into fighting is reduced. We require a vessel to absorb the surplus.

Moving forward, it seems even the wives of nobles need to work and contribute to the household income.

I wholeheartedly agreed with that viewpoint, and it perfectly matched my desire for Batemy to continue her tailoring work even after our marriage.

Moreover, the theme of disarmament, suitable for peaceful times, is also convenient for me, who wishes to retire and focus on my duties as a family head.

The disarmament was a project that kicked off a few years ago, and its momentum is still ongoing.

That’s why my retirement was approved seamlessly, but I couldn’t ignore the significant influence of my superior.

Yes, that indolent individual would never fuss about retaining one of his subordinates...

***

And then, one day.

At the coffee house, Lounge Ares...

“To celebrate Olba’s future...”

“Cheers!”

...

My farewell party, hosted by my superior Belphgamilia, is taking place.

But why is the farewell party in a coffee shop?

“Huh? If we turned it into a grand event, it would become a ball or a dinner party, right? We’d have to invite guests, and it’s troublesome to meticulously consider factions and such.”

“Must you find every little thing an inconvenience?!”

There’s no way Lord Belphgamilia would want to undertake something as genuinely burdensome as that. That being said, isn’t a coffee shop a bit too casual? They don’t even serve alcohol.

“Well, isn’t it pleasant to infuse our farewell with the flavor of coffee? This bitterness is the taste of life.”

“You’re just fabricating things...!”

But by leaving the army, I’ll be free from Lord Belphgamilia’s persistent laziness

That in itself is a significant relief...

“Congratulations on your liberation from Lord Belphgamilia.”

“Th-Thank you...?!”

“That means one more chain shackling this free soul is gone. My role as a Heavenly One has grown even more significant...!”

“I leave the rest to you, sir.”

The one radiating an atmosphere that screams “celebration” but doesn’t feel celebratory at all is another Heavenly One, Lord Mamoru the Coveted.

Just like me, he’s one of the unfortunate souls burdened by Lord Belphgamilia’s indolence.

Until now, Lord Mamoru and I have been collaborating to make Lord Belphgamilia work and find him when he’s shirking his duties...

But from this point onward, Lord Mamoru’s load will only intensify.

He’s in for a challenging time...

“Well, for you, it’s a promotion through resignation, so I can sincerely say ‘congratulations.’ But when I contemplate my future...!”

“I entrust Lord Belphgamilia to you, sir...!”

“You make it sound as if I’m marrying him...!”

By the way, both Lord Mamoru, who is at the apex of the Demon King’s Army, and Lord Belphgamilia are married.

They were acknowledged for their abilities and married into the hereditary line of the Coveted-Holy Sword Zweiblau and the Corrupted-Holy Sword Viergelb. They are the so-called Taken Heavenly Four.

Therefore, they understand the highs and lows of married life much better than a young person like me.

They are life veterans.

I’d love to seek advice for a blissful marriage here, but...

“It’s troublesome.”

“It’s filled with hardship.”

It seemed difficult to obtain a proper response.

“But you’ve chosen a quite challenging lady as your wife, haven’t you? She was the aide to the former cold-hearted General Astres, wasn’t she? You can never tell how much of her superior’s ruthlessness has rubbed off on her.”

“General Astres was only cold-hearted on the battlefield. Now, she is an impeccable, dignified mother of the nation. And Batemy is passionate, far from cold-hearted, especially about her work.”

“So, is that why you decided to resign from your position as a soldier? If you’re as competent as you are, it would normally be possible to balance being the head of the family and working. If you had kept working hard, you might have even aimed for the Heavenly Four.”

“To achieve that, you need your wife’s support. I’m the opposite. I want to support my wife.”

Rising to the top of the military in the peaceful times to come would be nothing more than a ceremonial post.

Instead, isn’t it more fitting and beneficial to this era to disseminate the clothing Batemy creates all over the world?

“My mother concurs with that idea. I thought she was a conservative and traditional demoness who had lived in a noble society for a long time, but she surprisingly accepted it easily.”

“She probably conceded because she loves her son. But I don’t know how this will affect the treatment of the daughter-in-law, so be very careful. Well, it’s a tale that has nothing to do with sons-in-law like us.”

What a nasty comment...

It’s true that I hear a lot about marital problems post-wedding.

Not just in-law issues but also clashes of personality and financial difficulties.

...

Just when I was starting to feel apprehensive, two married individuals were right in front of me.

Can’t I get some advice from these life veterans?

“...What does marriage mean to you two?”

“Hmm?”

Lord Belphgamilia and Lord Mamoru.

The two of them seem to ponder with contemplative expressions...

“You should never get married!”

“Marriage is wonderful...!”

They each provide completely opposing viewpoints.

Which one should I believe in?

By the way, Lord Belphgamilia is against marriage, and Lord Mamoru is for it.

“When you get married... life feels fulfilling! Your life goals become clear! You become motivated to work even harder to protect your wife and children! Don’t worry, young man, marriage will enrich your life!”

“Mamoru’s marriage, although political, was with his childhood friend. It’s rare to have a marriage that encompasses both romance and practical benefits. You shouldn’t let his words sway you, Olba. He’s a world-class lucky man masquerading as a hard worker.”

The more I listened, the less I comprehended.

Well, that’s fine, the shape of marriage differs for each person, and I’ll build a unique form of marriage with my fiancée, one that’s not found anywhere else.