𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟕𝟒: 𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐚 𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐩𝐚𝐧

“Now, let’s lightly sweep the surroundings with a broom.”

“A broom?”

“This is called a broom, a tool used to gather the trash on the floor.”

“Oh!”

As I explain the role and method of cleaning tools, we proceed with cleaning around the throne. Demon King-sama is enjoying himself throughout, especially with the dustpan.

“It won’t fit, muuu.”

“The angle and sweeping technique are difficult, aren’t they?”

“Just a little more! Just a little more!”

When there is a lot to sweep, it goes in easily, but when there is less, it’s not so easy. In the end, there are times when you give up… It seems that this is a common struggle in any world.

Especially in the king’s chamber, where there is hardly any trash or dust, the difficulty level of sweeping it clean increases.

Demon King-sama is determined to make it clean no matter what.

“At times like this, you can also wipe it with a wet cloth.”

“We will do it with a broom!”

Demon King-sama, who finds a faint trace of dust on the edge and stamps his feet, is very cute.

In the end, unable to give up until the very end, he finishes blowing the throne after the sun has completely set.

Finally, he cast a preservation spell and the grand cleaning of the king’s chamber is complete.

Phew… I hand a towel with an enchantment to Demon King-sama, wiping the sweat off his forehead.

It took time, but it seems there is a sense of accomplishment.

“It was fun! But humans must have a hard time doing this every day.”

“Once you get used to it, you can finish quickly, but it’s still a bit tough. By the way, for Demon King-sama, who worked so hard, I will give you an apple candy as a reward.”

“Really?!” 

Although he suggested it himself, Demon King-sama did the cleaning properly until the end.

It would be nice to have a reward. Demon King-sama seems happy too.

“I’ll go get it from the kitchen, so please wait a moment.”

“I’ll go with you!”

“Then let’s go.”

Let’s also take care of the luggage while we’re at it.

As I gather the cleaning set, Demon King-sama brings the broom. I plan to wash and dry the cloth and return it to Meti-chan another day.

We walk side by side in the hallway. 

Leaving the cleaning set to a nearby servant, as we were about to head to the kitchen, Demon King-sama looked up at me and said, “Hey, Dairy.”

“What’s the matter?”

“Is there anything else?”

“Related to cleaning, you mean?”

“Anything that is unique to humans is fine!”

“Then it would be laundry. In the Demon Realm, we do it with magic, but in the human realm, everyone washes by hand or foot.”

“Foot?!”

“For large items that are difficult to wash by hand, we fill a bucket with water and stomp on it to wash. After washing, we wring out the water and hang it to dry…”

In this world, there are no washing machines or washboards. In the Demon Realm, it can be done quickly with magic, but in the human realm, it is completely manual labor.

Small items are washed by hand, and large items are washed by stomping on them with the foot. They wash them in a bucket.

It was tough during the cold season when hands would become numb.

However, since coming to the capital, I had no trouble because hot water was freely available.

I miss the time when I was in the village. 

As I gaze into the distance, Demon King-sama tugs at my clothes.

“Can we do that in the Demon Realm too?”

“There should be spare buckets, and if there are trees where ropes can be tied, it can be done.”

“Trees, huh? Then let’s go look for them now!”

“Right now?”

“The apple candy can come later!”

Eagerly, he pulls my hand and we run through the corridor leading to the backyard.

People around us were surprised, but perhaps because Demon King-sama was with me, they quickly made way for us.

“What kind of tree would be good?”

“As long as it’s not too thin. Also, it would be ideal if there are two trees to tie the rope between, allowing the rope to be stretched straight. And if it has good sunlight, that would be perfect!”

“Hmm, then that tree over there should be fine, don’t you think?”

Demon King-sama points to a distant tree.

There are no obstacles blocking the sun, and it can be said that it is suitable as a drying area. However, there was one problem.

“If we hang laundry there, it will block the sunlight for the flower bed.”

It’s just a hypothetical discussion about [creating a drying area], so there’s no need to think that far.

But as someone who knows that Gweil-san and Meti-chan are carefully nurturing them, I didn’t want to do anything that would interfere, even in a hypothetical situation.

“That’s why if we’re going to hang it, that tree over there might be better.” 

“Then, let’s prepare a clothesline over there for tomorrow.”

“Huh?”

“You must need a place to hang the laundry after finishing washing, right?”

“Demon King-sama, do you want to do laundry too?”

“Yes!”

It seems that the question of whether laundry can be done in the Demon World was meant to express the desire to do it. 

---