She was completely stark naked. Sitri was baring her enormous breasts and plush rear without a single thread to cover them. Even as I thought she had a nice body, she looked so pathetic that I reached for a nearby blanket to drape over her.
"Please, I'm begging you!"
The moment I drew close, Sitri latched onto my pant leg and started tugging desperately. If anyone walked into this tent and saw the scene, it would look like I'd done something unspeakable to her. And then—I saw it.
Something was standing at attention!
Beneath Sitri—something that no woman should possess, and something impressively massive at that, was making its presence known with a vengeance!
"Hyaaah?!"
"I'll do absolutely anything! Fellatio? Is fellatio what you want?!"
"No! Absolutely not?!"
I screamed the words out. Come to think of it, Demon Lord Sitri, ranked twelfth, had canon bisexual traits. But I never imagined she was genuinely "both ways." That sort of detail never showed up anywhere in the source material.
Sitri was a beauty with lustrous black hair. Large breasts, a slender waist, a voluptuous rear—she was a woman who had everything in all the right places. Except there was one extra place. That anomalous appendage overshadowed everything else. Even while soft, it was roughly fifteen centimeters long... big enough to make even the well-endowed men of my original world blanch.
Sitri raised her head. Blood was trickling from her forehead. Her eyes gleamed with a terrifying intensity as she spoke.
"If fellatio won't do... then sex—pure, unadulterated sex—is what you're after. That's fine. I'm good at it. Whether you prefer to do the penetrating, or be penetrated, or both—just say the word!"
"Eeeeeek?!"
Right in front of me, her breasts jiggled magnificently. Truly fine breasts they were. Getting buried beneath them would no doubt feel like heaven. But rather than arousal, what surged through me was the instinct for self-preservation.
That thing was no ordinary object. It was a monster born from the twisted mind of a deranged scientist who—traumatized by some form of bullying during his school years—had developed a deep hatred of women and maliciously created it to obliterate every last one of their reproductive organs. What the scientist had failed to consider, however, was that whatever could destroy a woman's reproductive anatomy could just as easily destroy a man's. In short, it was an apocalypse for humanity—a nuclear weapon that could drag even its own creator to ruin.
"I wouldn't be caught dead doing that!"
"Wh-why not? I can satisfy both straights and gays at the same time! If you're neither straight nor gay, then there's nothing I can do for you... Ah."
Sitri gasped as if something had just dawned on her. Then she eyed me with a deeply suspicious, narrowed gaze.
"This might sound strange, but... do you happen to feel sexual excitement toward animals? Even I'd have a hard time catering to that particular preference... No, I understand, honestly. But would you compromise if I wore an animal costume? I-I can even practice the animal sounds really hard."
"I have completely normal and ordinary sexual preferences!"
Sitri's face filled with confusion.
"Then why are you turning me down? Having both is obviously better than having just one..."
"Don't oversimplify everything like it's basic arithmetic!"
This isn't some buy-one-get-one-free promotion.
"Well, not to brag, but my womanhood is exceptional, you know?"
Sitri said, pressing her chest against my thigh.
"I can control every single fold at will. I can tighten strong enough to crack a walnut, or wrap around you soft as pudding! If you try me just once, you'll never be able to sleep with anyone else. Really, truly!"
"......"
For just a moment. A truly, vanishingly brief moment, I was tempted.
But I shook my head and quickly came to my senses. Even if Sitri possessed the finest womanhood on earth, I had zero desire to sleep with a woman sporting a fifteen-centimeter cannon. This was a matter of perception that went beyond mere pleasure.
"How many times do I have to say it before you get it? I'm not interested."
"Ah! You hesitated just now, didn't you? You did, right? My story tempted you!"
"That's an absurd accusation. Get out of my tent this instant."
I gave the order for her to leave.
"Paimon is a Supreme Demon Lord to begin with. To try to sweep away the life of someone of that caliber with mere physical attributes is outrageous. Consider today's conversation as having never happened."
"D-Dantalion."
Sitri bowed her head all the way down to my shoes. I heard the sound of her lips pressing against them — smack, smack. She was kissing my feet. For the 12th-ranked Demon Lord to grovel before the 71st-ranked Demon Lord like this was beyond excessive. It was deeply uncomfortable.
"Please, I'm begging you. Big Sister Paimon... you may not know this, Dantalion, but she's made significant contributions to the Demon Lord army over the years. She's not someone without shame or dignity. If you show her mercy, she will absolutely repay you many times over..."
If she had come out swinging — threatening that the entire Mountain Faction would seek vengeance if Paimon was killed — I wouldn't have been so troubled. The 12th-ranked Demon Lord certainly had the standing and the ability to back up such a threat. But Sitri had fully acknowledged both her and Paimon's wrongdoing, and was pleading in the most humble posture imaginable for some form of forgiveness.
It was the equivalent of a monarch of an entire nation kissing the feet of a commoner. And naked, at that. If she was going to go this far, then even if I had been dead set on killing Paimon, I would have had to reconsider.
Of course, the other side had no idea I had already decided to spare Paimon.
How could I use this?
"Hmm."
I grimaced. I was pretending to be deep in thought. Believing that I was deliberating over Paimon's fate, Sitri pleaded even more desperately.
"It's not just for Paimon, Big Sister. Of course, I'll repay you as well. If my body doesn't suit your tastes, I'll find another means — money, or anything else you want."
"......"
"I'll serve you like a perfectly trained handmaiden. Please, believe me!"
"Lady Sitri."
I composed my voice into something grave.
"I don't know if you're aware, but Paimon has slandered me before. There was supposed to be a public apology and compensation. However, considering Paimon's standing, I accepted only a private apology. She is someone I have already forgiven once."
"That, that......"
"There's no guarantee that something which happened once won't happen again. But when something has happened twice, it will absolutely happen a third time. Wouldn't you agree?"
"I'll make absolutely sure it never happens again!"
Sitri hammered her forehead against the ground once more.
"Whew."
I let out a sigh.
"......Very well. For the sake of your reputation, Lady Sitri, I'll let this matter slide."
"Is — is that really true!?"
Sitri's head snapped up. Her face was radiant with joy. Blood was still streaming down her forehead, yet she wore a full smile — which was somewhat terrifying. She now grabbed my shoe with both hands and showered it with kisses.
"Thank you! Lord Dantalion, truly, thank you! I will never forget this kindness!"
"It's not free."
"Of course! Just tell me anything! I, Sitri, would even lay down my life!"
I looked down at her and spoke.
"Whenever, wherever, whatever you wish for, it doesn't matter — if I make a request, you will grant me two wishes."
"Two wishes?"
"Yes."
I gave a nod.
"I don't have anything in particular I want from you, Lady Sitri. I simply saw the sincerity of your apology and decided to forgive Paimon. I can't make any demands right now. So in the future, when I find myself in need of your help, help me twice."
Sitri confidently thumped her chest with her fist.
"That much I can handle easily!"
"Are you sure? You must grant whatever it is. Even if my wish puts me at odds with Paimon."
"Oh, that's..."
She faltered for a moment. But whatever thought crossed her mind, she quickly nodded.
"...Alright. Whatever it is, literally anything. I'll grant you two wishes."
"Good. I'll hold you to it."
"If my power isn't enough and I fail to grant your wish, I'll compensate with my life. If Paimon isn't here, then my life has no meaning anyway."
Sitri looked at me with the utmost seriousness.
"Lord Dantalion, saving Paimon's life and mine is equivalent to saving two lives. One wish per life. Put that way, it's simple. I swear on my name and everything I am — whatever Lord Dantalion asks of me, I will make two of them come true."
The sincerity in Sitri's voice was unmistakable.
I was pleased. Not just because I'd received a powerful Demon Lord's oath for free, but because unlike Ivar Lodbrok, Sitri had admitted her own fault. She hadn't tried to weasel out of it politically — she'd acted with nothing but the single-minded desire to save Paimon. That purity of heart appealed to me.
I'd been fed up with the political maneuvering Ivar had put me through earlier. I'd been feeling gloomy, wondering if there was anyone in this world who wasn't at least a little political. And then Sitri showed me that innocent, guileless side of herself — praise or insult, I couldn't tell — and it lifted my spirits.
Squeezing political advantage out of such an innocent person really does make me irredeemable trash. Ha ha ha.
"But really, you don't want my body? I'd make it worth your while. Just close your eyes and enjoy it once..."
"I don't need it!"
For this one moment, at least, I screamed from the bottom of my heart. I truly, genuinely do not want that!
Night fell and the hearing was convened. The defendant, of course, was Paimon. Her mana was visibly tangled and in chaos, her condition clearly dire, but she dragged her ailing body to attend the hearing. Her complexion was nearly cadaverous, and throughout the entire proceeding she couldn't form a single coherent word.
In a room where every Demon Lord had gathered, I stood as prosecutor and charged Paimon with her crimes.
To everyone's surprise, the verdict I requested for Paimon was not guilty.
"...Considering these factors, while Paimon's hostility toward me is undeniable, there are grounds for leniency. The Mountain Faction took the vanguard in today's battle and contributed to the Demon Lord Army's victory. Paimon later repented and sacrificed herself for the Demon Lord Army."
I looked around at the assembled Demon Lords as I spoke.
"Crimes cannot be erased by forgiveness. Whether one forgives or does not forgive, the crime remains. It is a stain that can never be washed away. However, I believe one can compensate through good deeds of equal weight to the crime. Therefore, I respectfully request that a merciful verdict of not guilty be declared for the Mountain Faction and for Paimon."
I bowed my head and concluded my statement.
Applause erupted from the direction of the Mountain Faction and the Neutral Faction. In stark contrast, the Plains Faction looked thoroughly unimpressed. The aura they gave off was nakedly obvious: *We'll let it slide because even the person involved is being this way about it.* Lord Beleth in particular spent the entire hearing sniffing with displeasure.
Barbatos was... actually yawning openly. That guy really is something else. I respect him.
"I am personally grateful for this truly magnanimous decision as well."
That was Marbas, the Fifth Seat, who served as moderator.
"Agares, Gamigin, Barbatos, and I have all resolved here and now to unconditionally respect any decision Lord Dantalion makes. Does anyone object?"
This meant the highest-ranking Demon Lords were fully backing me. After hearing that, not a single soul had the audacity to raise an objection. Marbas nodded with satisfaction and made his declaration.
"Then this hearing hereby declares Paimon not guilty. There were regrettable incidents, but it is also true that our Crescent Alliance Army emerged victorious today. It is a modest gesture, but I have prepared a feast. I hope everyone will enjoy themselves."
The hearing concluded smoothly. It was a result both the Mountain Faction and the Neutral Faction could be pleased with. I could expect them to treat me favorably from now on.
More importantly, with this, the forces hostile to me—Dantalion—had been completely eliminated. The Mountain Faction owed me a debt of gratitude, the Neutral Faction was indebted to me as well, and the Plains Faction was simply my ally. Having no enemies to speak of was enormously important for survival.
Brother Beleth put his arm around my shoulder and steered me toward the Plains Faction's side. But before that, I happened to glance toward Paimon, and as it turned out, Paimon was looking right back at me. She bowed her head politely in my direction. Was that an expression of gratitude...?
And just like that, my first war came to an end.
From the perspective of the Crescent Alliance Army as a whole, the war had barely entered its opening stages. But from my standpoint, it was over. There was no longer any need for me to personally step forward. The plan to pit the main forces of the human army against those of the Demon Lords had already succeeded—and that was the sole purpose of this war.
Though the human army had suffered defeat in the opening battle, they had not yet fully assembled their forces. Reinforcements from the Frank Empire, reinforcements from the Kingdom of Sardinia, the army of the Kingdom of Bernicia—roughly a hundred thousand troops were still marching hard toward this location. They would engage the Crescent Alliance Army in fierce battle...
"Come now, Dantalion! Our hero! Let's see you drink long and deep like a true hero!"
"Down it! Down it! Down it!"
I felt like I'd maybe won the verbal exchange a bit too decisively, but oh well. Things don't always go according to plan in life.
For now, let me figure out how to handle this wine that Brother Beleth poured for me at the feast.
============================ Author's Afterword ============================
— End of Chapter <The Longest Fifteen Minutes>.
— End of Part 2.