#672 Hard Workers Assembling at the Snowy Field

The Demon Kingdom’s Prime Minister, Lucife Focale, has registered to participate in a snowball fight!

“Alright, please wait a moment until we announce the teams.”

The receptionist is an elegant woman holding a baby in her arms.

She seems too refined for a commoner... Have I met her somewhere before?

It does not matter.

Ultimately, I decided to participate in this snowball fight, but before that, let’s review the rules.

It appears the basic rule of a snowball fight is to throw snowballs and hit your opponent.

...Hm.

If that’s the case, I may have done that in the past.

Back when I was a child, perhaps more than half a century ago... My memories are hazy.

But with such a simple and commonplace experience, wouldn’t everyone have done the same once in their lives?

However, the snowball fight that will take place today appears to be more refined as a sport, with strict rules and regulations in place.

It is not simply a matter of throwing snowballs at each other; rather, the number of participants in the competition, the method of determining victory or defeat, and safety measures to prevent unforeseen accidents are thoroughly regulated.

It’s not just a game.

It’s like a real war...!

“When it comes to betting lives, minimum rules are required...!”

As a civil servant, I have been in a position that affects the trends of the state, and I have felt that war is something close to me.

It’s like the feeling of wartime is coming back...!

Ahem.

Back to checking the rules of the snowball fight...

Each team comprises five people, and the organization randomly selects the team combinations.

...

...I see.

That might be a good idea.

A wide variety of races, from humans to demons and even merfolk, are participating in this event.

If these participants can form teams based on their own will, they may end up biased towards their own race, and if certain groups come into conflict, it could escalate into racial tension.

To avoid that, random selection can form mixed-race teams of humans, demons, and merfolk, avoiding racial conflict and generating a sense of solidarity among different races pursuing the same goal.

Doing so would help us get closer to the world integration ideal advocated by Demon King Zedan.

A snowball fight...!

It looks like just a simple game, but it’s actually a meaningful and innovative event.

“He’s the type to overthink every little thing, huh.”

I wonder why the receptionist is looking at me with sympathetic eyes.

“Alright, we’re ready. If your name is called, please step forward for the team formation announcement.”

Oh, they’re announcing the team formations.

I wonder who I will be teamed up with.

Please don’t let me end up with the Great Demon King, whom I want to torment the most!!!

*             *             *

Allow me to introduce the members of my snowball fight team, as per the announcement.

There are two humans, two demons (including myself), and one merfolk, making a total of five members.

Let’s start with me... Demon Kingdom Prime Minister Lucife Focale.

The other member representing the demon race is Mamoru the Coveted of the Demon King’s Army’s Heavenly Four.

Next up is Silver Wolf, an S-class adventurer from the Human Kingdom and the guildmaster of the Adventurer’s Guild.

Then we have Zoth Syra, the Prime Minister of the Mermaid Kingdom.

And lastly, one more...

“...?”

What... is this lineup?

It’s made up of such a distinguished group of people!

Two prime ministers out of the Big Three that make up this world are on this team.

Actually, before that, why are the prime ministers participating in such leisure activities?

In addition to that, there’s Silver Wolf, the S-class adventurer.

Being one of the most powerful individuals in the world in terms of ability, he became the highest-ranking member of the Adventurer’s Guild last year and, thus, a formidable figure of significant influence.

The Human Kingdom has already crumbled and does not exist as a nation, so it could be said that the Adventurer’s Guild—an autonomous organization—is their highest authority.

...That means the demon’s Prime Minister, me; the merfolk’s Prime Minister, Zoth Syra; and the Adventurer’s Guild’s master, Silver Wolf, are all here. The three leaders of the three major countries make quite an exceptional combination.

Is this some kind of summit?

No, it’s just a snowball fight.

What an enigmatic situation this is!

“Lord Mamoru...! Lady Zoth Syra...!”

“You both seem to be in good health...!”

“You must have overcome great difficulties to be here today. The same can be said for me too...”

“SELFLESS WORKAHOLICS, ASSEMBLE!!!”

And then, the other two leaders and Mamoru of the Heavenly Four joined hands while crying.

What is this mysterious solidarity between the three of them?

“Who would have thought that the Selfless Workaholics would reunite on the same team like this?”

“I remember it well! It feels like just yesterday when the three of us conquered the new Dragon Emperor’s castle!”

“Even in today’s snowball fight, it’s no coincidence that we ended up on the same team! This is fate! Our bond through hardships brought us together!”

The three of them shed tears together.

What is this unbreakable bond that sets them apart from everyone else?

I’m also technically on the same team as them, though?

“U-Um...! Mamoru, could you introduce me to them...?”

I can’t keep feeling left out like this, so I approach Mamoru, who comes from the same nation as me.

Mamoru is one of the Heavenly Four who inherited the title of “Coveted” and is a senior officer in the army.

Although there is a sense of difference in occupation between me, who is at the top of the civil service, and Mamoru, who is in the military, we are not complete strangers to each other.

“Prime Minister Lucife Focale! What a coincidence to meet you in a place like this!”

“It sure is.”

It sure is, I say!!!

On second thought, how come you’re here too? What happened to your military duties?

“The Demon King requests that key members of the army attend Orkubo’s Castle every year to promote harmony among the three races.”

Is that so?

“Does that mean the other Heavenly Four also participate?”

“No, sir, I’m usually the only one who comes every year.”

Hey now.

“Lord Belphgamilia naturally does not participate due to his usual laziness, while Aeshma and Leviasa are too busy with their work to come here.”

“Hey, if that’s the case, aren’t you in the same boat as them?”

“Hahaha, you can tell, sir? But since it’s impossible for all four Heavenly Members to ignore His Majesty’s quest, I somehow manage to adjust my schedule and come here alone!”

“That attitude of willingly taking on burdens is truly that of a selfless, hard worker!”

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

The three of them burst out laughing together.

What’s this aura I get from them as if they know each other full well?

“Who might this gentleman be? Could you introduce us, Lord Mamoru? You seem quite familiar with him, judging from your casual tone.”

“Of course! Pardon me, Lord Silver Wolf.

Seriously, how come they seem so close?

“This gentleman here is Lord Lucife Focale, the prime minister of the Demon Kingdom!”

“Oh, I see.”

The other side is made up of influential representatives from each faction, so I must address them formally.

“It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Lucife Focale, the prime minister of the Demon Kingdom. It is my humblest pleasure to meet the Prime Minister of the Mermaid Kingdom, Lady Zoth Syra, as well as the Adventurer Guild Master of the former Human Kingdom, Lord Silver Wolf.”

“Y-Yes...!” “Indeed...!”

“I’ve been wanting to meet each of you famous individuals and pay my respects. It’s a little awkward to meet each other under such circumstances, but I’m grateful for the opportunity nonetheless.”

“Oh, no, no, it’s nothing!” “Think nothing of it, sir! Likewise, it is a pleasure to meet you as well!”

Mm.

Both sides are showing polite manners.

I thought there might be some friction due to the fact that we are from different races...

“...?”

“...Kuh?!”

?

What’s wrong?

“How should I say this? What a hardworking person he must be...!”

“You can tell just by looking at him. This gentleman must have gone through countless hardships! He’s a natural-born hard worker!”

What are they talking about?

Suddenly, they changed the topic out of nowhere.

“As expected of the two members of the Selfless Workaholics, you can tell. Prime Minister Lucife Focale is the hardest worker in our nation and the strongest! He has suffered countless hardships from enduring Great Demon King Baal’s unreasonable demands for years!”

What are you on about, Mamoru of the Heavenly Four?

“What indomitable industriousness! It’s almost like an impedingly looming pressure...!”

“His hard work output is 90,000... 100,000... 110,000! It’s still going up...!”

What are they trembling with fear over?

The snowball fight team was supposed to have been assembled randomly.

However, some sort of fateful force must’ve been at work, as my team members ended up being very similar to each other in personality.