16. SquabblesThe next day.

  At the academy, the demon lord was zily reading an illustrated book about metallurgy, yawning as he read it. Soon enough Tiberio approached him, trying to understand what his colleague was reading.

  "Are you reading something interesting today? I'm sure it's not the same as 'The badass hero'. "

  Agamennone rolled his eyes.

  "In fact, it is better. The plot is both way more coherent and way more interesting."

  The anthropomorphic lizard observed the book again, finally managing to read the title: "Metallurgy for commoners". He raised his eyebrow.

  "You are really drawing a comparison between a masterpiece of fiction and a book about metallurgy? It's an insult!"

  Agamennone gnced at him.

  "You managed to understand it... You are less stupid than i thought..."

  Tiberio sighed.

  "Again with insults... Why don't you just enjoy the simple things in life?"

  The demon lord suddenly got up.

  "I was doing it, but then you, like you always do, appeared in front of me and started to buzz me with stupid questions!"

  The anthropomorphic lizards showed little signs of distress.

  "If it isn't for me who is going to ask you anything about what you're doing? I wanted to help me but you only are an ungrateful bastard!"

  "I never asked for any help, you moron with a savior complex. You just shoehorned yourself in my social life. I'd be better without you, so, if you want to go, you'd only make me a favour!"

  Agamennone, highly agitated, pointed at the exit of the cssroom.

  "And to think i had almost resigned from even trying to get rid of you. Almost. Luckily it wasn't an impossible task."

  "Fuck you!"

  Tiberio stormed out of the cssroom while Agamennone was acting smug and ughed evilly, satisfied by the outcome. Meanwhile the anthropomorphic lizard, in his leaving the pce, met a blonde demon.

  "Has something happened?"

  Tiberio stopped, turning towards the speaker.

  "Ohi, Brando. How are you?"

  "Good, thank you."

  The demon then dispyed a concerned expression.

  "I see you are strangely agitated, has something happened to you?"

  Tiberio scratched his chin, unsure if telling him his problems or not.

  "Yeah, something happened. I've had a falling out with Agamennone over... The nature of our retionship. But honestly, it's nothing to worry about. He'll soon understand the errors of his ways and will apologize to me."

  Brando looked at him with a perplexed look.

  "You seem rather optimistic..."

  "I mean... He's completely and utterly wrong, he'll understand it sooner or ter and then he'll apologize to me."

  Brando was even more perplexed now.

  "Can i ask... What's the problem between you two?"

  "He says that he has not appreciated my attempts to... Connect with him and not making him feel alone in our css... And he was also very rude while telling me."

  The blonde demon sighed.

  "I mean... There are some people that... Don't mind being alone, you know? Some people even prefer to be alone rather than to being with other people."

  The anthropomorphic lizard became suddenly furious.

  "Bullshit! No one likes to be alone!"

  Tiberio then ran away from Brando, who started to giggle.

  'So... A wedge seems to have formed between the retionship of these two guys... It smells like an opportunity to me.'

  The demon then walked in the opposite direction of the one taken by Tiberio, walking until he found the css from which the anthropomorphic lizard left. He soon spotted the demon lord reading his book. At the same time Timotea, who was minding her own business listening to some music, noticed the demon and decided to leave the pce discretely.

  "I've heard you've had retionship problems with your friend."

  Agamennone, visibly annoyed, looked at his interlocutor. As always, he avoided direct eye contact.

  "There was no retionship, which means there aren't any retionship problems. Which also means that he has never been my friend."

  Brando scratched his chin.

  "Don't say things like that... You may not mean mean them but they still hurts..."

  "But i MEAN them! Now stop pying diplomat and leave me alone!"

  The demon lord returned reading his book, dismissing Brando by shooing him away with a hand gesture. The demonic adventurer was puzzled by the gesture.

  "Ok then, i'll leave you alone to ponder on your own words then... Still... If you need a retionship advice... I'm here for you."

  Agamennone's eye twitched.

  "I SAID SOD OFF! YOU'RE WASTING MY TIME!"

  Brando complied with the other person's request with an awkward smile on his face born from an initial expression of fbbergast.

  'Piece of shit! Daring to shoo me away! No one shoos Brando away!'

  Agamennone, now alone, continued reading the book, only to stop after a bit, smming the book on his desk.

  'Why i always attract annoying people!'

  He then slowly and zily left the cssroom. He wandered for a bit, until he, by chance, encountered a vending machine, where he bought a chocote snack. He started to eat it while searching a way to return to his cssroom.

  Around the same time Timotea arrived at Vionte's cssroom. She entered the room, finding her reading one of her questionable novels. She paused the music she herself was hearing and removed her earphones.

  "Vionte. I saw Brando buzzing around your... Agamennone..."

  The girl looked at her friend. She smiled at her, acknowledging her, before returning to read the book.

  "It's not really a surprising action..."

  The catgirl put a hand on the half-succubus girl.

  "Don't talk like stereotyped vilin... The 'all according to pn.' shtick"

  Vionte ughed.

  "S-sorry. It's just... I can't really do anything... Legal... And i don't want to become a criminal only to scare him away..."

  She looked away.

  "... But... Brando is trying to lower Agamennone's guard. The tter's quite unpredictable with his guard in the short term... I told him my version of who he is but i can't force him to trust me. But one experience may be one too te to have educational value... To synthetize... I have no moves at my disposal outside really cruel ones."

  Timotea blew out some air in frustration.

  "If this was a story we could have just ganged up on that guy and we would have solved the problem..."

  Vionte ughed again.

  "Well... It won't end well in reality... The regent may respect my mama but he won't tolerate her, or i, breaking the ws to get payback. Unless we manage to get him to attack us first unprovoked... But for that to happen things should have gone really wrong to him."

  The bck-haired girl sighed.

  "I really hate these situations. Almost as much as i hate him."

  Timotea started to tremble. The other girl noticed it with the tail of her eyes and invited her to sit on her thighs, something the catgirl did. The demonic girl then put the book on her desk and embraced her friend from behind.

  "Calm down... I'm here for you..."

  Vionte used a soothing and maternal tone. Her friend slowly yet steadily calmed down.

  "Vionte... Thank you."

  The indigo-haired girl smiled again in response, a smile then reciprocated by the catgirl. Timotea then remembered about the book.

  "And... Don't read too much of that stuff or your libido will rise to arming levels."

  The dark-haired girl then stood up, jokingly sticking her tongue out towards her friend while winking. The half-succubus blushed at her comment.

  "L-lessons are going to start soon... If you're slow you won't make it in time."

  The girl's tone was of mock aggression. Vionte put the book in her case, waving at Timotea as she left the demon's css.

  At the end of the lessons.

  Agamennone left the academy in his usual manner. Outside, near the exit Vionte was standing up observing the crowd. As she noticed her housemate, she waved her hand at him. He failed to notice her and continued to walk. Seeing that, the girl slowly approached him from behind.

  "Boo!"

  The young man reacted by clumsily turning around 180° that caused his case to hit hers. He was perplexed, but said nothing.

  "Did you missed your little stepsis, stepbro?"

  The girl was smirking.

  "Have you inhaled too much paint?"

  The girl was confused.

  "Why would someone inhale paint?"

  "You know... Organic solvents... Euphoric effects... Stupid and avoidable deaths..."

  "... I don't know how it is where you live, but here inhaling paint means death. No euphoria or simir things..."

  Agamennone did not reply, only aknowledging her statement.

  "Still... Why are you still using those weird terms?"

  The girl smiled.

  "To annoy you, of course..."

  However, her smile soon faltered.

  "I... Actually need to ask you a favour."

  The young man raised an eyebrow.

  "A favour? I guarantee nothing."

  The half-succubus nodded

  "I... Would like to... Fight you. For real."

  Agamennone raised his eyebrow.

  "Forget it. Also weren't you against fighting without reasons?"

  The girl panicked a bit.

  "I'm still of the same opinion but... Brando is going to target you sooner or ter. I want you to be able to at least defend yourself or being able to open yourself a escape route."

  The guy was left puzzled

  "You are still thinking that Brando guy's a menace? He seems just annoying in my opinion..."

  Vionte sighed.

  "Listen... I respect your unwillingness to trust me blindly. But i think you should listen to someone who has had way more experience with him..."

  The demon lord nodded.

  "From my experiences with him, i can tell you that he currently sees you as an obstacle. Not one to overcome, but one to dispose of. So... Let's make yourself less disposable, shall we?"

  The half-succubus smiled at the boy, who replied with contempt.

  "Do i have to, Ms. Smile for hire?"

  "You don't. But i'd advise you to train with me."

  The young man rolled his eyes.

  "I don't want to be beaten into a pulp!"

  The girl attempted to reassure him with a warm tone.

  "I don't want to beat you into a pulp... I just want to prepare yourself for whatever it's going to be thrown at you... A crash course of sort..."

  "That's something someone that enjoys seeing me beaten into a pulp would say!"

  Vionte sighed.

  "As i said, i've no interest in forcing you doing things. Still... I can't say how much you're serious and how much do you compin for compins' sake. And honestly, thinking i'd love to beat you to a pulp is rather offensive. So... Think carefully about your next course of action."

  The demon lord remained silent, still indecisive.

  "I... Don't like the idea. Not even a bit."

  The dy approached him, putting a hand on his shoulder.

  "That's perfectly fine. Only weirdos like to fight..."

  Her expression was warm.

  "So... Have you really decided not to train with me?"

  Agamennone diverted his sight from the girl, not answering her.

  "I understand... Let's go home then."

  The girl started to march towards home. As she walked away from the Academy, she turned around, noticing that her housemate didn't follow her. He was still in pce, turning his head between the academy and the girl.

  "Is there something in your head?"

  Vionte was being rather sweet. Agamennone, instead, was thinking and failed to hear the indigo-haired demoness words. Vionte, seeing this, gave a flick at the man's nose.

  "Ouch! What's got into you!?"

  Vionte smirked in a pyful manner.

  "I asked you a question... You were pying "Cumulonimbus Explorer" instead..."

  "Cumulonim-... Fancy words to say that i had my head in my clouds, huh?"

  Agamennone replied in a deadpan manner, only to realize something.

  "Or is that an actual game?"

  "Both, actually. "Cumulonimbus Explorer is a videogame where you have explore many clouds while also disposing of your enemies, mostly pigeons and gulls. It's mostly a niche game."

  "A niche game? I thought that killing pigeons and gulls would make for a very famous game just for the sheer satisfaction of killing such annoying birds. A great philosopher once said 'But it's not against any religion to want to dispose of a pigeon'."1 T. Lehrer, Poisoning pigeons in the park

  Vionte ughed.

  "Apparently such sadistic pleasure wasn't enough to make it sell much. And i also wonder what kind of philosophers you get inspiration from... And if you need to always be under surveilnce due to you being deranged..."

  The girls giggled as she said that. The demon lord didn't like such comment.

  "You are the deranged one between us."

  "As long as you believe it... Still... I asked you what's on your mind. You seem conflicted."

  "Huh..."

  The young man was really uncomfortable. He attempted to wander away only to be stopped by the dy.

  "I won't judge... I promise..."

  Vionte used a motherly tone, which wasn't really well received by the recipient.

  "It's not about being judged. It's about myself."

  The girl nodded, looking at his face.

  "Go on..."

  "I mean... Huh... If you're wrong and i indulge your thoughts... I'm going to let myself being pummeled by you for absolutely no reasons. But if you're right, and i refuse you... I'm going to get disposed by that Brando guy. I feel like this world hates me."

  Vionte was left speechless by his thought process. The man was also silent. After a couple of moments of pure awkwardness, the girl grabbed the the man's arm.

  "You know what's the course of action that would leave you with less regrets..."

  The man blew out some air from his mouth.

  "Fine, you've won..."

  Vionte, hearing such words, smiled, then she ran towards the academy, bringing her housamate with her, who almost fell on the ground from the sudden acceleration.

  Now returned at the academy, Agamennone and Vionte were on a training ptform. They were dressed with suits simir to their uniforms but sturdier and who covered all their bodies. The demon lord looked at himself in a perplexed manner.

  "Are these fancy weird clothes necessary?"

  "We are going to spar seriously. It's not just about learning moves and technique. This is a full fight."

  The girl, on the opposite side of the ptform where the man was tried to be calm.

  "And don't worry about making a mess... The ptform, the buldings, even the yard are enchanted so that they can absorb magic and then diffuse it. Otherwise we would end up with a very disfunctional city."

  The girl then sprouted her wings, flying above ground.

  "Tell me when you're ready."

  Agamennone observed his surroundings. still unsure of what he was doing.

  "I don't think i'll ever be ready..."

  The young man instinctively moved backwards.

  "I respect that. But sometimes you will be denied the right of choosing for yourself. Get ready, as i'll start soon."

  Her tone was serious, serious enough to make her housemate worry.

  "I knew i shouldn't have backed up from my decision to not participate!"

  "Don't panic. Take some deep breaths and rex."

  Agamennone followed her suggestion. It wasn't effective, and he reacted badly to this ck of effects.

  "You all should stop suggesting deep breaths for everything!"

  Vionte sighed.

  "Well... There's nothing wrong if you can't calm down... I think i'd have your same reaction if there's a danger nearby... I'm sure you know, however, that this is not an optimal reaction..."

  "I know, i'm not stupid!"

  The young man was agitated. Looking at him, a bit worried, the flying girl conjured a snowball of around 8 cm of diameter, ready for her attack.

  "I can't really bring myself up to be hard on you... So... I hope you're ready for a snowball fight!"

  Agamennone raised an eyebrow in confusion.

  "Are you going to throw snowballs?"

  "Yes, and you have to dodge them."

  "You don't dodge snowballs..."

  The indigo-haired half-demon was irritated by such response.

  "Then i'll use something more harmful... And this time i'll aim directly at you, no more telegraphed attacks..."

  The brown haired man panicked.

  "No, no... Snowballs are fine!"

  Vionte smirked.

  'He loves to compin... What will he say if i decide to add a little trick to the snowball?'

  The dy suspended the snowball over her head, then she enchanted it, making it appear ten times rger than how it really was. Agamennone was petrified seeing that.

  "Dodge!"

  Vionte threw the enchanted snowball at her housemate, using her magic to give it a good acceleration. The demon lord could only watch as the projectile approached him, before hitting it in the forehead.

  'As i thought, he's the type to freeze when danger approaches...'

  The girl looked at the young man. She saw that he remained still after being hit. She then flew toward her housemate, nding near him. She was a bit concerned.

  "Are you all right?"

  Suddenly, the man started to fall forward. Vionte caught him before he touched the ground.

  'I'm an idiot, i'm an idiot, i'm an idiot...'

  The woman put Agamennone delicately on the ground. She then recovered her case. After that she picked him up only for her to put the body on a nearby bench, using her case as a makeshift cushion, despite it being rigid.

  'I messed up badly...'

  The worried girl, who returned in her standard form, removed the man's helmet and her own helmet, then she waited next to him until the man woke up. He slowly woke up after some minutes.

  "Agamennone, you're finally awake! I'm so sorry for that little stunt! I didn't think you would faint."

  The demon lord slowly but steadily recovered his functions. He got in a sitting position, then he looked around, stopping his gaze at the sight of the half-succubus. He sprang up and attempted to sp the girl.

  "YOU UTTER MORON!"

  His attack was telegraphed. The girl managed to block his sp without any problem.

  "Calm down. I said i was sorry!"

  The demon lord pushed her away, walking away from her. Vionte panicked, unsure about what to do.

  "I-i-i..."

  The half-demoness could only see him leaving.

  "I want to expin myself! Don't leave me!"

  The boy didn't answer outside of a btant inverted V-sign. Vionte felt dejected.

  "Sorry..."

  However her expression then darkened. As a couple of tears left her eyes, she cast a paralyzing spell on the man.

  "HEAR ME OUT, PLEASE!"

  Agamennone felt a sudden force that forbade him to move. He heard the fast steps of the girl catching up with him. Soon, Vionte appeared in front of him. Her sight made Agamennone remember something.

  'She said once that with enough magic i could free myself.'

  The demon lord tried to use his magic seriously. He attempted to counter the dy's spell, without success. In front of him the half-succubus was hyperventiting, with an awkward smile on her face.

  "Let's remain calm, shall we?"

  She then took a deep breath.

  "Free me now!"

  The girl blushed from embarassment.

  "Promise me... Not to flee if i free you."

  "Sure..."

  The girl released the man from her spell. Agamennone, feeling it, attempted to run away, only to be grabbed by the shoulder.

  "You won't fool me with such an obvious tactic."

  Agamennone rolled his eyes.

  "Fine, you've won... Just set me free..."

  "Like i'll fall for the same trick twice when i've not even fallen for it the first time..."

  The girl used the a threatening tone, before returning to her usual one. The man was feeling uncomfortable.

  "Agamennone, let me expin myself, please..."

  "Fine, fine... Talk... I'd rather be alone but since you will not let me dl that..."

  The demon lord scoffed, showing his frustration.

  "I... know that the choices i've took now are rather extreme... However... I wanted to tell you that i'm sorry."

  "It's like the fourth time or something that you're telling me. I'm still upset with you."

  "But i... I didn't expect this outcome. I thought you would have been hit due to remaining frozen in pce as the worst case scenario."

  The demon lord was still upset.

  "You've thrown a boulder of snow at me!"

  "It... It wasn't really a 'boulder of snow'... I used a spell to make it appear bigger. It was just a regur snowball... I thought that you would take them more seriously... And i thought i would enjoy seeing your reaction to them..."

  The man's eyes blinked twice.

  "It was a trick?

  "Indeed. I used an illusory spell to make the snowball appear bigger."

  Vionte then giggled.

  "I just remembered how i used to cast such spells on my cssroom's door when i was little... My teachers soon grew annoyed by my antics though..."

  After that, the half-succubus sighed.

  "So... I know i already said i was sorry but... Would you accept my apology?"

  Agamennone briefly thought about it.

  "No."

  The girl was shocked. A tear left her eyes as she aknowledge the answer.

  "I-i... I understand."

  Suddenly, the demon lord exploded in ughter.

  "Pfffffff... Hahhahahahahahaha... You should see your face... You had a hangdog look on your face that was hirious..."

  Vionte was left shocked again. One of her eyes twitched, her hands were closed, her face was red.

  'How... He dared to py with my emotions! I... I deserve this but... It hurts nonetheless...'

  The dy took a couple of deep breaths, refraining herself from acting on her instincts. Meanwhile the young man was still ughing, looking at her with a curious expression.

  "Hahahaha... Now we are even. It hurt, didn't it? Like a boulder of snow."

  The girl crossed her arms, pouting. Then her expression changed.

  "Let's stop here... I don't want to make an enemy out of you... And i hope you share this sentiment..."

  Agamennone raised an eyebrow.

  "I don't want to make an enemy out of you, that would be stupid. But i wanted to get even. I thought i was dead seeing that snowball. I'm sure you would have done the same."

  The indigo-haired demoness gnced away from him, her face reddening.

  "M-maybe..."

  An awkward silence rose again.

  "Agamennone... Could you... Please keep for yourself that i've paralyzed you with a spell? It's... Not really legal here..."

  The girl was now looking at her housemate, still blushing and with an awkward smile on her face.

  "Sure... For the right price..."

  Agamennone smirked, only to be petrified by the girl's piercing stare.

  "I... I was joking..."

  Vionte scoffed.

  "I know... But i'm not in the right mood for a joke now... I'm not as votile as you are. Sorry..."

  Agamennone observed Vionte for a couple of moments.

  "So... Has the training ended?"

  "Just leave me a moment to... Recompose myself..."

  The girl sighed, while looking around to calm her nerves. A she was doing that, a cold, wet sensation started to diffuse from her head. She put a hand on her head and, managing to grap a white, powdery melting substance.

  'Snow?'

  She suddenly turned around, finding the demon lord with a smirk on his face. She giggled.

  "You... Ok then, time's up. I'll hit you with so many snowballs you'll turn in a snowman!"

  The half-demoness ran after the man as she conjured another snowball and threw it at him, hitting him in the neck.

  "Drat! That's the worst spot!"

  Vionte ughed heartily seeing his reaction.

  More or less at the same time, at the adenturers' guild.

  Tiberio entered the guild, approaching the counter, where the guildmaster, who was smoking nonchantly, and one of his employees were arguing.

  "This is my activity! I have the st word on how things works here. If you have any problem with this, you can always leave. And i smoke wherever i want. Understood?"

  "Understood..."

  The demon then looked at the incoming adventurer. He pointed at him

  "You see? You've made me look bad! I'm going to deduct 10% of your sary. Now scram."

  "But i work here!"

  "I couldn't care less."

  Tiberio was left perplexed.

  "Has something happened?"

  The guildmaster looked at him.

  "Nothing important. Still... You've come at the right time. Someone as dutiful and strong as you deserve a commission i was keeping for the right person. Come with me."

  Tiberio followed the guildmaster as he went in his own office. Meanwhile the other employee flipped the bird at him. The couple entered the office sitting at the opposite sides of the guildmaster's desk. The guildmaster's then took a pack of cigars, offering one of them to Tiberio.

  "Do you want one? It's free."

  "Thank you guildmaster."

  The anthropomorphic lizard took a cigar, lighting it with a lighter.

  "Let's talk about business then... I want to give you a special commission. One i wanted to find the right person for it, since it's about public security and it's needed a lot of bureaucratic stuff..."

  He handed Tiberio the commission's poster, who read it.

  "I have to dispose of some boulders? It seems easy."

  The guildmaster blew out some smoke

  "It is easy indeed. The safety measures are the things that take time... So... Are you up for it?"

  "Sure."

  Tiberio took the paper, putting it in the front pocket of his pants.

  "I was thinking... Have i the requisites to rise to E rank?"

  Tiberio became tense as he asked that. The guildmaster grinned.

  "Just one moment, let me see..."

  Saying that, Gennaro the guildmaster took out a notebook from his desk. He opened it. It was already on. He then opened a file called "reviews".

  "So... Tiberio de Vincenzi... F-Rank adventurer... Hmm..."

  Gennaro's eyes lightened up, giving Tiberio some hope.

  "35 commissions accepted and completed... You have your experience... I think you may be eligible to rise a rank, but there are still a couple of exams to partake."

  The anthropomorphic lizard was perplexed.

  "Exams? I'm not really the... Academic person."

  "Don't desperate. We are not going to ask you things like... Like... How to solve a quadratic equation..."

  Tiberio raised an eyebrow.

  "Everyone knows how to solve a quadratic equation..."

  The guildmaster was baffled.

  "Really? Still... We are not going to ask you to do such brainy stuff... We need you to know how to fight... How to survive in the wild... And some strategy... Some teamwork... A little sprinkle of diplomacy too... Maybe... Still... Things that are really needed in our works, not like... Huh... Hyperbolic branches..."

  "Hyperbolic branches are frequently used too..."

  Tiberio was left puzzled by the guildmaster's ck of basic math knowledge.

  "So... Train and study, my employee. And make this branch great. Like Brando does."

  "Understood."

  Tiberio stood up, leaving the office while still smoking the cigar. The guildmaster, however, stopped him, extending his arm towards him with his hand open.

  "Wait!"

  The anthropomorphic lizard turned towards him, blowing out some smoke.

  "Before you leave, Give me a contact, so i'll let you know when the commission is ready, you're free to take other commissions in the meantime."

  Tiberio nodded. He gave his phone number to the guildmaster before leaving the office. Gennaro smiled at him as he left. Once his employee left, the guildmaster waited for a bit before taking out his phone and making a call, which was answered after quite a long time.

  "Hello?"

  "Hi bro. I wanted to tell you that i've found a candidate for your scapegoat."

  "Interesting. And who it is?"

  The voice on the other side was curious.

  "A guy... Tiberio de Vincenzi... A promising adventurer actually."

  "Tiberio? Like... That stupid lizard 2 metres tall? That's actually great!"

  Gennaro scratched his cheek. Meanwhile, from the other side of the call a rather loud buzz suddenly appeared.

  "What's this sound?"

  "I'm drying my hair."

  The voice on the other side became louder too.

  "So... Why you said it was great that this Tiberio accepted the commission?"

  "Because he was close to Agamennone. However those two have had a falling out this morning... He's the perfect fall guy. An unhinged guy who resorted to murder his former friend for a trivial reason like breaking a friendship ."

  The guildmaster was puzzled.

  "Isn't killing for a trivial reason a contrived motive?"

  "Not at all. A lot of people kill for trivial reasons. Maybe not a lot, but they exists and are known. Adding one guy to this bunch won't make any difference."

  "If you say that..."

  The guildmaster now was scratching his hair.

  "... Still... I can't make this guy wait too much, you know? Choose a day and commit to it, then i'll persuade this Agamennone to accept the other commission and start your pn."

  The voice on the other side was cold.

  "I know it... Now i have to dry my hair. Bye."

  The call ended. The guildmaster put the phone on his desk, then he snuffed out his cigar in the ashtray. He sighed.

  "A thank you would have been nice."

  That night.

  Agamennone was working at the adventurer's guild, sitting on a chair while watching his phone with a bnk stare.

  "Etchù"

  The man wheezed, emitting a shrieking sound. Vionte, who was sitting on the counter blinked from the surprising noise. She then smirked

  "I think we may have exaggerated today..."

  "You have exaggerated! Especially when i couldn't retaliate more..."

  The man's tone was clearly one of a congested person.

  "The point wasn't hit me back, it was don't being hit. And you... Performed badly..."

  She smiled as she took out a sort of Dewar fsk from a little paper bag.

  "Still... I've made you some tea... It's inside an insuting container so it will remain hot for a good amount of time..."

  She then looked at her housemate with a devious yet pyful look on her face.

  "... I put in it all my love for you... And some milk too..."

  The demon lord stared at her. A frown was clearly visible on his face.

  "You're not a credible threat to weird me out."

  The half-succubus giggled, a bit red on her face.

  "I take it as a compliment. But a reaction would have been appreciated..."

  The girl then took out a wooden box, putting it near the thermos.

  "There are some handkerchieves, don't use them all though..."

  She then looked at the man's phone.

  "You have been ten minutes with your phone in your hands. You wanted to call Volframio and tell him to spare you tonight, didn't you?"

  Agamennone nodded. The girl scratched her chin.

  "Then what are you waiting for?"

  The demon lord looked downwards.

  "... I fear repercussions."

  The indigo-haired girl smiled at him, a mix between a warm smile and a smirk.

  "Don't worry... I'll be there to patch you up..."

  Agamennone turned towards her

  "You're useless, you know?"

  "Oh... I disagree... But let's cut it short before we end up arguing again from pying with each other..."

  The girl switched from a teasing tone to a calm one.

  "... Seriously, i'll be there for you if you need help."

  "I don't think you're nearly enough... I appreciate the thought though."

  The brown-haired guy then wheezed again, emitting another shrieking sound. He then took a handkerchief to blow his nose, then he crumpled it and put it in a pocket.

  "Someone's grateful for once... I thought you were only good at compining..."

  The girl's pyful teasing was met with coldness: the demon lord rolled his eyes and didn't reply.

  "I've realized something... Maybe you're more comfortable if you're compining... Call the captain and compin."

  The half-demoness smiled warmly at the guy, who was shilly-shallying. The dy then extended her arm towards him.

  "Give the phone. I'll start the call and you'll compin, got it?"

  Agamennone dithered again, looking around him. Seeing that, the girl snatched the phone from him.

  "Give it back!"

  The dy ignored the man. She searched through his contacts, finding a single contact: "Sex Molester". She feigned annoyance

  "Thanks for the nickname..."

  Then her tone changed to an inquisitive one.

  "Tell me... How are you going to call someone if you don't have his phone number?"

  "I... May have forgot about this detail..."

  The young man reacted awkwardly. Vionte then dialed Volframio's phone number on Agamennone's phone and called him. In the end, she gave the phone back to her housemate.

  "Now it's your turn. Give it your all."

  Agamennone didn't react, waiting for the call to start. It soon started. He gulped.

  "Hi."

  The man failed to answer.

  "I've said hi!"

  The voice on the other side showed a bit of annoyance, but the demon lord failed to answer.

  "With whom am i talking!"

  After Volframio showed enough annoyance at the situation, the young man finally reacted.

  "I'M NOT FEELING WELL SO I WON'T COME!"

  Agamennone closed the phone call, taking a couple of deep breaths and putting the phone on the counter. Vionte watched the scene, concerned about her housemate and sighing.

  "I... Think you've given it all... But i also think i'll have to call him ter to expin things better."

  Agamennone frowned but didn't answer. Vionte then dropped from the counter.

  "I know you enjoy my company... But as... Good times are destined to end..."

  As she said that, the demon lord made the pinched fingers hand sign. The girl caught the gesture and ughed.

  "Being serious though, i'm going home. I don't need to babysit you anymore, right?"

  Agamennone did not reply, only staring at the girl with some annoyance. Vionte giggled in response.

  "Goodbye."

  The half-demoness waved her hand at the demon lord who, this time, replied with the same gesture.

  Around the same time, as the call ended, Volframio, who was sitting in his office, was left petrified. He put his phone on the desk, then he looked at the ceiling of his office.

  "People these days..."

  He then sat at his computer, using it for work.