Thus, their warm welcome was no longer just an act.
Everyone surrounded Charlotte with smiles devoid of malice. It was an odd sight—one that reminded Allen of a gathering he'd once witnessed from a suspicious new religious group that had come up in conversation before.
Groh tilted his head and asked Charlotte,
"Even so... what exactly is the connection between the goddess and the Great Demon Lord?"
"Are you all acquaintances of Allen-san?"
"I wouldn't say we know each other..."
"I mean, we were kinda forced to become acquaintances..."
The men exchanged weary glances.
Allen had given them strict orders to keep his presence here a secret, but there was always the risk that someone might slip up.
(If you talk… you know what’ll happen, right?)
Just in case, Allen stayed ready to fire a long-range sniping spell at any moment. Fortunately, things didn’t escalate to the point where he had to use it.
"So, really," Groh pressed, "what’s your relationship with that guy?"
"Allen-san is... umm, well..."
Charlotte hesitated at the question, clearly unable to tell the full truth. After a brief pause, she began speaking in careful bits and pieces.
"I don’t have a home to go back to anymore. But Allen was kind enough to hire me as a servant… so, if we’re talking about our relationship, well..."
She stopped, looking slightly uneasy.
"...He’s my master?"
On the surface, it was the simple truth—an employer-and-maid relationship. But the words carried an unintended implication.
Allen clutched his chest.
“Guh!”
"Hey, big bro, you okay?"
"Just hearing this is giving me heartburn," Eruca and Miaha muttered, throwing him unimpressed looks.
Meanwhile, Groh and the others exchanged serious glances before turning to Charlotte with concern.
"Goddess, are you sure you're not being deceived...?"
"No, what if you're being threatened and forced into servitude, just like us...?"
"Damn it... Great Demon Lord! How dare you manipulate such a pure-hearted girl?!"
Before anyone realized it, their conversation had spiraled into collective resentment toward the so-called Great Demon Lord. The atmosphere was heating up like an angry rally.
"Those bastards..." Allen grimaced.
Though, deep down, even he had to admit that standing next to Charlotte made him look like a villain.
On one side, a Great Demon Lord who took down thugs with ease while humming a tune.
On the other, a kind and gentle girl, revered as a goddess.
They couldn’t have been a more mismatched pair.
And yet—Charlotte giggled softly.
"Thank you for your concern. But Allen-san is kind. This is just a misunderstanding."
"...Really?"
"...So even a Demon Lord has that kind of side to him..."
Though still doubtful, Groh and the others seemed to accept her words for now.
Charlotte beamed.
"Yes. Allen-san teaches me lots of naughty things!"
"...!?"
A shockwave ran through the group.
Completely oblivious to the tension, Charlotte placed a hand on her cheek and continued shyly,
"Just the other night, Allen and I stayed up all night doing something naughty. I knew it was improper, but… it was such a fun night."
Of course, the "naughty" thing in question had been staying up late eating snacks, playing games, and sleeping in until noon.
It was a fun night.
But still—
"...Big bro..."
"...Demon Lord..."
"...I really need to remind her not to say things like that in public," Allen muttered under his breath.
For the first time in his life, he deeply regretted his choice of words.