Welcome to the Impregnable Demon King Castle

were to be your assistant?” 

Her face was red with nervousness as she spoke. 

“Not at all.
I’d love it if you joined us.
In fact, I’m sure I’d be able to do a better job if you helped me out with my work.” 

I reflexively responded. 

Those were my true feelings, but I was still a little worried about making a little girl work in the Demon King Army, even if it was just behind the scenes. 

But even if Blitz was a good person, Cashew wouldn’t really ever make much of a profit here. 

If changing jobs would ultimately help out Cashew’s situation, then it should be thought of as a good thing. 

I felt as if I saw Milla’s eyes tear up for just a second.
Maybe her instincts as a caretaker kicked in and made her worry a little bit too. 

Cashew slowly closed her eyes.
She was probably processing all the information in her head. 

Eventually her eyes opened up again. 

“Shopkeeper.” 

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“Yeah.” 

“I’m really grateful to you.” 

“Mhm.” 

“But… I want to help out Lem.” 

“Sure, sounds fine to me.
You’d finally graduate from this chump change job, I’ve got no reason to stop you.
Besides, there shouldn’t be any need to worry if it’s Lem we’re talking about here.” 

“…! T-Thank you!” 

Cashew nodded her head again and again with teary eyes. 

Blitz also rubbed his eyes while sniffling. 

What followed felt like it happened in an instance. 

Cashew brought us to her mother’s workplace, where Milla explained the situation.
It would ultimately be a part-time job, and she wouldn’t be participating in the dungeon defending whatsoever.
And even if by the off chance she did end up participating for whatever reason, it would be made sure that she wouldn’t be any danger.
Since Cashew herself was insistent on getting the job, she got permission. 

Even after I told her that I had changed jobs to becoming a monster, Cashew didn’t show any disappointment. 

She was happy for me, saying “Becoming Chief of Staff is a huge promotion, huh?” 

After being asked to take care of her daughter by her mother, I responded with “I will.” 

It seemed that Cashew’s family didn’t have a father, and there was a total of five family members, including a big sister, a little sister, and a little brother. 

…It’s no wonder that her mother was having trouble. 

But her mother was hesitant about letting Cashew take the job even after hearing about the pay.
She was still extremely worried about her daughter. 

She only let her take the job after seeing Cashew’s strong desire to work. 

I was relieved to see that she had a good relationship with her mother. 

Her mother asked us to leave her alone with Cashew for a little while, so we waited outside the workplace. 

The workplace was a second hand clothes shop. 

“…Milla, how much did you hear yesterday?” 

“Everything after the ‘Hello.’” 

That means she heard everything from the very start. 

That’s how she knew about my relationship with Blitz and Cashew. 

“So you knew that Cashew and I knew each other… Are you recruiting her for the Demon Castle because she’s a Demi-Human?” 

“Yes.
I also felt that it’d help you out to have someone you know working with you.
Besides, as Chief of Staff, you absolutely will need someone around to help you out.
What’s unfortunate, and I mean truly unfortunate, is that I won’t be able to be around as your assistant forever.” 

Milla seemed to really emphasize how unfortunate it was. 

“Cashew’s still a child, you know?” 

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“But you need someone who understands you.
Even if you are well aware of your own power, the others probably won’t expect much from you.
However, Cashew is one of the few people that truly understand the strength of both your heart and your magic.” 

“…It’s because no one’s ever praised me over the past 10 years.” 

Fenix was my best friend, but that didn’t mean we praised each other all the time. 

In the end, I had to believe in my own power. 

I guess it was so I’d get used to others judging me. 

“Then from now on, Cashew and I will praise you.
You’re an amazing person.
I won’t let someone hide what makes them amazing and not get properly recognized for it.
You’re an amazing Black Sorcerer.” 

“T-Thank you.” 

Stop that, you’re embarrassing me. 

“You’ve done well up until now.
There, there… Something like that.” 

She pet my head. 

“…Okay, I might be going too far there.
Sorry.” 

“It’s okay.” 

Our faces both grew red. 

It was actually not okay at all. 

I didn’t like that I actually enjoyed being treated like that.
Getting happy over having my head pet, what am I, a little kid? 

“Ahem.
Anyway, I’ve decided that you need an assistant who understands you.
You’ll be able to form contracts with many monsters with that ring, but in the end, they’re all under the direct command of the Floor Bosses.
So in order to gain more comrades, you’ll have to get permission from the Floor Bosses.
I don’t mind if you use my pigs… I mean, subordinates, but don’t talk to them while I’m not around.
Even if they do say anything to you, just know that anything they say will be a lie, so don’t believe them.
You believe me more than my pigs… I mean, subordinates, right?” 

Milla looked up at me with teary eyes. 

…I guess she usually calls her subordinates pigs. 

That’s the Vampire Queen Carmilla, all right. 

She was probably getting into character. 

But you’re not working right now, so please stay as the sweet Milla that I know. 

“It’s not like I’d instantly believe whatever anyone would say about you.
I’d always hear out your end of the matter.” 

“W-Well that’s good.
Thank you.” 

As we passed the time chatting, Cashew finally came out. 

“Sorry for the wait!” 

She seemed to be in good spirits. 

“All right, shall we head off then? Lem, Cashew.” 

And so the three of us headed to our workplace. 

To the Demon King Castle.