Help! I Think We Summoned A Demon King-Chapter 15: Hero Banquet II

Zorat was starting to understand the ways of this kingdom.

They were unapologetically discriminatory in their actions, and their overt displays of hostility were like a chilled drink on a hot day for him. Perfectly refreshing.

Zorat had grown to the pinnacle of all in his former life.

No lower being would even dare breathe too loudly in his presence, not to mention offending him.

Since there was no one to challenge and antagonize him, he had no one to add to the book of Zorat like he did all his foes when he was just an up-and-coming demon king. Making life decidedly boring.

If everyone worshiped you and saw you as their god, your excuses to let loose and carry out spontaneous massacres become limited.

Such was one of the struggles and dilemmas of Zorat’s former life.

Here, though, the antagonists were as bountiful as the ocean.

Even a guard holding the doors had called Zorat trash to his face.

He was still contemplating the joyous ways he would orchestrate their misfortunes when he was faced yet again with another spite to his person.

And there was just one man to thank for that...

The grand vizier.

This man, according to Florielle, is in charge of all the administrative duties in the palace. This includes the division of resources.

Though his actions align mostly with the prejudice the entire kingdom has for the item-box hero, Zorat prefers to put a name and face to such actions.

It still wasn’t clear if he was acting this way because of what he had seen of Zorat’s soul, or just because Zorat was the item-box hero.

None of that matters to Zorat either way, since he was actually relishing in the excitement he’s been experiencing in this kingdom on only day one.

Where Zorat wore a simply styled woolen coat, those his fellow heroes wore looked like cashmere dipped in gold, almost as flamboyant as what the princess and her friend were wearing.

The embroidery on the other heroes’ outfits looked almost royal; like proper nobles, they all appeared dignified and high status, while Zorat looked like an overly dressed squire.

Directly to the princess’s left sat Ariana, the class president and now hero of flame.

She looked gorgeous in her dress, her flaming red hair cascading in waves over her shoulders, eyes like shining ambers as they regarded the young man seated to her left with a look of concern.

Andrew, unlike the rest of the assembled heroes, wasn’t even touching the sprawl of delicacies on the large table. He appeared deep in thought and stoically handsome in those garments, looking more like a prince of the kingdom and less like a summoned hero.

To Andrew’s own left sat Ava, now the hero of stealth. Of course, she looked beautiful in her cute glasses and beautiful dress, her dinner gown held her ample bosoms generously, her pale white skin glistening in the hall’s magical glow.

Though she didn’t appear to be much interested in the banquet or the person who appeared to be attempting a conversation with her to her left. Her gaze would occasionally drift in a certain direction before returning to the vacant table space before her.

To her left sat the only other person who used glasses in the group, the academically inclined Jacob, and now hero of lightning.

To Jacobs’ left sat Lily, the hero of healing light, and the only one out of the group who was mawing down the feast before them with reckless abandon.

Zorat didn’t inherit much memory pertaining to Lily, but from what he did, he knew Lily was closer to Jacob than anyone else in the group. Probably why she’s seated there.

And when Zorat took in the entire seating arrangement, he realised they all were seated according to their relationships with one another.

Next to Lily sat Julia, the now hero of Shield and Roberto’s girlfriend.

She appeared to be trying to dissuade Lily from eating food anymore and seemed to be failing as Lily just continued shoving food into her mouth while she grinned sheepishly.

And to Julia’s left sat Roberto, the new hero of spear.

He appears to be.... Looking into a mirror, he held in his right hand.... while running his left hand through his hair and mewing at his reflection.

Next to Roberto sat the hulking Broddy, the new hero of strength.

He too was shoving down mounds of food into his mouth while he listened to the gorgeous lady beside him.

Erica, the hero of Bow, and Broddy’s girlfriend, sat at the end left of the long dining table, next to an empty seat.

I guess that’s my seat over there.

And it just so happens to be next to..... Hehehe

Zorat panned his gaze through the rest of the room.

He observed the royal guards in the corners, the maidservants on standby, even the ones passing by him.

He was amused to see that just as he had been watching from the shadows of the entrance, someone else had, in fact, been watching him too.

At the end of the wall of the banquet hall stood a familiar Fox-race beastwoman in golden armor and a large sword strapped to her side.

This was the same beastwoman who had dislocated Broddy’s shoulder earlier in the day.

The Royal knight commander.

And she was currently staring directly at Zorat.

How cheeky. Zorat grinned.

Seeing no further need to linger, he walked in steadily with his hands crossed behind his back.

His appearance caused only a little stir from the ministers and the other heroes.

He was soon ignored as they all got back to what’s important to them.

Only one person acted like their soulmate had just entered the room, their blue eyes glittering with sparks and expression contorting into pure delight.

Ah. this young lady again. Zorat thought as he moved to take the only empty seat in the hall.

"You are Caleb, right ?... Sorry, we didn’t really get to know each other well before what happened happened."

Surprisingly, just as Zorat sat down, Erica was the first to initiate a conversation with him.

Whether it was out of pity for being the item-box hero, or just genuinely curious to make a connection with another one of her classmates, Zorat didn’t really care what the reason behind her friendliness was.

He needed something from her, and better still, she opened the part for him.

"sigh. I know, right ?. what a whirlwind of a situation the day has been." Zorat responded in a soothing velvet voice as he held Erica’s gaze.

"You can say that again.... Am Erica by the way."

"Oh ... nice to meet....."

"HEY YOU!"

Zorat was interrupted mid-speech by a commanding voice projected in his direction.

He turned to see that the princess was looking straight at him.

Was she talking to me?

"You. Hero Of Item Box!"

Hehehe... would you look at that.