I'm Playing as a Nun.

Noisy chatter coming from somewhere.

But neither the children nor I pay any attention to that noise.

-Whoosh!

The blazing flames move freely along the tip of Iris's wand.

The flames, which crouched at the size of a palm, gradually expanded and began circling in the air, writhing like a living creature.

"Hohoho─"

Clap clap clap clap─!!

A proficiency clearly different from when she first learned fireball.

Today was the first time I learned that a skill previously considered just an attack spell could be used in this way, creating a scene like watching a performance.

Perhaps that's why.

I couldn't help but keep applauding, unable to contain my admiration for the magic Iris was showing.

"My goodness... I can properly call you a magician now...."

"Hmph! I am a grand magician now."

The curly white fluff awkwardly attached around Iris's mouth.

Plus, seeing the stiff tent spread like a robe behind her back, Iris seemed to be imitating the appearance of a grand magician.

"Ah, yes. That's right, indeed."

"I heard there was a kind-hearted Sister living here, so I, the grand magician, am showing magic without charging even a penny."

"As expected of the grand magician! Your thinking is truly different! I'm really moved."

"Hmph─ Well, this is nothing."

The other gift Iris had prepared for me was a magic performance.

Though the makeup was slightly lacking due to hasty preparation, the magic performance Iris showed me was far more impressive than expected.

When the first spark flew into the air, I momentarily stopped breathing and blinked blankly.

The flames weren't simply burning.

They moved alive at the tip of Iris's wand, crossing space as if dancing according to her will.

Each time the flames disappeared, their remnants in the air would rotate in circles, creating new forms.

"Iris kept singing about how she wanted to show you this."

"Really?"

"Yeah, seems she wants to be praised."

Aizen, who had been watching Iris's magic performance with an expression as pleased as mine, spoke softly.

Suddenly, Iris started flinching and frowning severely at Aizen.

"That's not true! I didn't show Sister my magic for such a trivial reason!"

"Then what was it for?"

"I just wanted to show how much I've grown. Now I can fight well without being scared even if monsters appear."

"Then you don't particularly need Levi's praise?"

"...Why are you deciding that...? That's up to Sister...."

"Didn't you want to be treated like an adult?"

"Sister is always an exception. Sister can do anything to me."

While endless trivial conversations passed between Aizen and Iris, I listened to every single word from the two children and showed a bright, happy smile.

However, I was already sufficiently happy and moved just by the children preparing various things for me.

In the end, it seemed the natural conversations and actions flowing in ordinary daily life made me even happier.

That feeling of warmth and comfort rising needlessly in my heart.

"While the skill is certainly extraordinary for her age, it's still a bit lacking. It would have been much more amazing if she knew how to use other magic."

Just then, that warm atmosphere was continuing comfortably.

The demon's voice delivering quite profound words came discontentedly from behind.

"Ah, sorry. I didn't know it would suddenly get so quiet."

"......"

Despite being deeply buried in the ground, the demon muttering to himself nonchalantly was both absurd and strangely interesting.

How could he speak so calmly in such a state? Was it because demons were born with different endurance?

"...Later, I'll definitely be able to use other magic too...."

"Of course, of course. Iris is still in the growing stage. Even now, she shows quite outstanding talent."

"Hmm, is that so? She looks still ordinary to me."

The demon kept subtly joining in our conversation.

And each word was making the atmosphere freezing cold like a nuclear bomb.

"Ah, I'm not particularly criticizing. It's just my opinion."

"Uuu.... I didn't show magic to be evaluated...."

"Haha, I know. Don't mind me and just enjoy yourself. You all prepared hard in your own way."

As soon as the demon finished speaking, I quietly stood up and lightly pulled out the demon, deeply buried in the ground with one hand.

"Huh? Why are you suddenly doing this?"

"I'm sorry, everyone. I'll be away for a moment."

"Were you perhaps offended?"

"I'll be right back."

"W-wait.... If you were offended, I'll apologize. I didn't say it with any ill intent...."

Not only intruding unexpectedly into a happy family gathering but also blatantly throwing cold water on Iris's cute performance.

This fellow deserves to die a thousand deaths.

.

.

.

"......"

First, I took the demon into the dark undergrowth, away from the children's eyes.

The demon, who had been confidently running his mouth until just now, kept his mouth shut tight and started to sweat profusely.

I stared at such a demon expressionlessly and let out a long breath.

"It seems I made quite a slip of the tongue. I apologize."

"What difference would an apology make now?"

"Still, I thought it would be better than not apologizing at all."

"You're quite brazen. Speaking politely doesn't make you a gentleman."

"Haha, I didn't mean to...."

-SLAP!

A crisp, pleasant sound echoing like an echo in the quiet forest.

The demon, slapped by me before finishing his words, blinked his eyelids slowly with a dazed expression.

"...What?"

-SLAP!

After a long silence, the demon finally opened his mouth and carefully uttered a word.

Simultaneously, once again, a crisp sound rang throughout the forest, making the surrounding atmosphere increasingly bleak.

"One slap for each time you open your mouth."

"No, wait a moment...."

-SLAP!

The demon started tearing up while rubbing his cheek, which seemed to sting slightly from being hit.

"Honestly, I'm not even surprised anymore when demons show up. But it's not right to disturb our time like this."

"I-I didn't mean to disturb... I just...."

-SLAP!

Again, this time, I didn't listen to the demon's words to the end.

Because he wasn't worth listening to at all.

"S-stop.... Actually, I'm not really fond of children...."

-SLAP!

"So what?"

"If my words have displeased you, I sincerely apolo...."

-SLAP!

The demon's face became increasingly swollen since I kept hitting only one cheek.

It was a miserable sight, almost painful to look at, but nevertheless, I continued swinging my hand without batting an eye.

"P-please stop hitting me... As you can see, I'm a demon but weak...."

-SLAP!

"I understand you doubting me... But I really don't have any hidden inten...."

-SLAP!

"It hurts... It hurts too much...."

-SLAP!

How much time had passed like that?

The demon, who had been getting slapped by me without rest, finally sat down weakly with his back against a tree.

Seeing how he couldn't offer any resistance even while being one-sidedly beaten.

His claim about being a weak demon didn't seem to be a lie.

"...I-is it over...?"

"Probably."

"Then I'd like to explain...."

"Go ahead."

"...Thank you...."

The demon sniffled pitifully with a completely swollen face.

To be honest, he was the weakest and most pathetic demon I had seen so far.

I thought he was hiding extraordinary power since he was squinting.

But actually dealing with him, he was really worthless.

"I didn't approach with any ulterior motives... I just happened to notice while returning from finishing work...."

"You seem to know the children's names too well for it to be a coincidence?"

"Ah, about that... Actually, it's because I knew of your existence...."

"Don't tell me rumors about us have spread throughout all demons?"

"No... Before explaining that, I should properly introduce myself first...."

With those words, the demon painfully raised himself from his spot.

Though his face was still miserably swollen, he started trying to look impressive while gradually emanating an ominous atmosphere befitting a demon.

"My name is Jermond Nadine.... Despite appearances, I'm active as an executive in the Demon Lord's army...."

"...What?"

"It might sound like a lie, but it's true...."

My mind went blank for a moment.

To think the demon I had been beating like a rat was actually an executive in the Demon Lord's army.

Moreover, he's not strong enough to be an executive, and his aura doesn't feel particularly dangerous either.

"I didn't become an executive through force. I'm a special case who became an executive purely by having my abilities recognized."

The demon continued speaking calmly with an expression that seemed to be defending himself.

His way of speaking somehow felt brazen, but on the other hand, I was also secretly curious about what this ability was.

"Ability?"

I asked discontentedly with a puzzled expression while tilting my head slightly to the side.

The demon then gradually showed an awkward smile and answered softly.

"I have one more eye. That eye can see things clearly as if they're right before me, no matter how far away they are."

"...?"

"I've been confirming all your actions with this eye. Of course, without anyone knowing─."

My brow naturally furrowed as soon as I heard the demon's answer.

"To put it in easy-to-understand terms, you can think of me as the Demon Lord's eyes."

"......"

"Perhaps you don't believe me?"

"No, I don't."

"...Well, can't be helped then. I don't usually show this, but... I'll make a special exception this time."

With those final words, the demon gradually revealed his third eye hidden on his forehead.

While it wasn't particularly impactful, staring at that eye didn't make my body freeze up, it wasn't surprising.

But I could definitely confirm that the demon's words were true.

"I don't tell lies. I only speak the tr...."

I lightly poked the demon's third eye with my fingertip, just in case.

At that moment, the demon tightly closed all his eyes and began comically shrinking his body.

"Even so, touching an eye with bare hands is too much─!! It's a real eye that could go blind if something goes wrong!!"

"Ah, it's real."

"You didn't believe me even after I showed you?!"

"I never know. It could have been just an illusion."

At my calm words, the demon frowned one eyebrow as if dumbfounded and burst into a hollow laugh.

"Well, since I've told you everything about me truthfully, I hope you have some degree of faith...."

"Thanks for showing me the third eye. It's peculiar."

"...What?"

"Honestly, Iris's fire magic was more interesting than that creepy eye. I should go back to watching that."

Even seeing the demon blinking all three eyes simultaneously with a puzzled expression, I maintained my composure until the end without batting an eye.

"Please leave now. This isn't a place you can join just because you want to."