6. In which Laharl and Ozonne have interesting conversations
"Ugh..." Laharl groaned and stumbled out of the house. He walked through the flower fields into a grassy field outside the residence area and sat down on a rock.
"I've had enough...are they trying to kill me?"
Thanks to the short walk, the bags under his eyes faded, but he became even more tired.
"I'm sure that they're assassins sent by the rebels."
"That's impossible. Those guys never know when they're imposing upon someone."
"That's true. They're a bunch of unsalvageable folks."
"Exactly."
"Yeah- wait!" Laharl noticed the voice coming from behind him and turned around.
A young boy wearing a green bandanna stood there - no, although it's a bit harder to tell due to her short blond hair, she's unmistakably a girl, judging from the slight curve of her breasts. Of course, it wasn't bad enough to make Laharl feel sick.
I didn't realize that she was standing there - have my senses been dulled by vicious attacks of love? Laharl frowned.
"You're the Overlord? You're tinier than I thought." The girl said bluntly.
"Who are you?"
"I'm Ozonne."
Laharl thought he heard the name somewhere. And then, he remembered, "You're Flonne's sister, right?"
"So you heard about me? Yes, I'm the unfit daughter and sister."
"You're quite different from I've imagined."
Ozonne frowned at Laharl's words.
"Of course. The only reason I left that house was because I couldn't stand them anymore."
"You're not a devoted preacher of love?"
"Oh, stop kidding me. I get goosebumps just from thinking that I'm related to them by blood."
"Hmm? I can sympathize with that." Laharl smiled slyly, "So, why are you here?"
"I heard that we had visitors from the Netherworld, so I wanted to have a look."
"I see. You wanted to see me, huh. So, what do you think?"
"You're a weak and incompetent brat."
"What did you just say?" Laharl narrowed his eyes in anger.
"It's hard to believe that a the ruler of the Netherworld would come here to escape from them."
"A king is responsible for his underlings. As someone in a position of power, I can't just play around selfishly." Laharl spouted these words nonchalantly, even though Etna would probably faint from just hearing them.
"Are those the fruits of your kingly education?"
"Hmph. I was born to be king, I don't need any kind of education." Laharl crossed his arms and said indignantly. He stared at Ozonne's face.
After realizing that she's Flonne's sister, he spotted many aspects that are similar to Flonne's - the shape of her face, the slight tilt of her nose, and especially her hair color. But her eyes are completely different. They're a bit like Flonne's eyes when she's angry, but even more vindictive.
"Why are you so against the love and happiness that your family is so fond of?"
"Love? What's the use for some insubstantial thing like that?"
"Oh? Then what do you believe in?"
"Money." Ozonne replied bluntly.
"It is an angel's duty to save people, but they're still dropping dead one after another. Love isn't a solution to world hunger, is it? Just give them money."
"You're quite pragmatic for an angel."
"Because I hate those hypocrites acting like they have the moral high ground."
Laharl looked at Ozonne and smiled confidently.
"Hmm, I like you." Laharl patted Ozonne's back.
"So Celestia has these kinds of people as well, huh? I'm relieved. My ambition to stain Celestia with Netherworld ideas doesn't seem so far-fetched now."
"That was your plan all along?"
"Nope, thought of it just now."
Ozonne looked at Laharl's deadpan expression and burst into laughter. "You're a funny person!"
"I can say the same of you. I'll give you special permission to call me Laharl."
"Then call me Ozonne."
The two smiled at each other and shook hands.
"I should be heading back. I don't want Etna saying that I've run away."
"Don't mind them."
"No, as the Overlord, once I've accepted a challenge, I can't escape."
Laharl said and stood up.
"I'll be staying in Celestia for a few days, maybe we'll meet again." He walked back towards Flonne's house.
"Is he a masochist?" Ozonne tilted her head in confusion.
"But he's pretty interesting." Ozonne giggled and crossed her arms in front of her, unwittingly putting emphasis on her breasts, slightly better endowed than Flonne's.
-
(The next day, Etna is stalking the two of them)
"When are you heading back to the Netherworld?"
"Maybe today, maybe tomorrow. I don't have that much time on my hands."
Suuure, you always slack off. Etna thought.
"I see. You're right..." Ozonne muttered.
-Huh? She seems pretty sad. The Prince has already found his way into her heart in a mere two days? He's good.
"Damn! I haven't had this kind of fun in a long while!"
-Huh? Etna's shoulders slumped. I guess this means that they're just buddies. Etna felt disappointed and strangely relieved at the same time.
"Hmm~ This really shouldn't affect me~" Etna felt confused at her own complicated feelings, but as she pondered over them, the current situation progressed.
"You wanna come to my house?"
"Sure."
The two of them jumped down from the rock and moved on.
Woah! This looks dangerous! Etna instantly regained her energy and speedily took after them.
Ozonne's home was a house situated on the outskirts - maybe it shouldn't even be called a house. They were actually ruins, and stones deformed from exposure to the wind scattered around them.
"I didn't know that Celestia had ruins~" Etna mumbled to herself.
She looked for traces of Laharl, and heard voices from within.
"What a house." Laharl's voice sounded surprised.
"It's Celestia, so I can sleep peacefully in the wild. Plus, there aren't any words of love or friendship here."
"You're right."
It sounded like they sat on a chair after walking around for a bit.
"I can finally relax a bit. I have no idea what Lamington was thinking."
"What's the Netherworld like?"
"A place more vicious and dangerous than here. But everywhere is more dangerous when compared to Celestia, I guess. This place lacks the energy - it's no fun at all. Well, I guess there are some strangely spirited folks around." Laharl couldn't help but laugh at the thought of Flonne's family.
"I want to go there. I wish I was the one to fall instead of Flonne." Her voice took on a disgusted tinge as she talked about Flonne.
I probably shouldn't tell Flonne - Etna's thoughts were not demon-like for once. She couldn't predict Flonne's reaction, and would rather not get into trouble.
-
(After the fiasco in Celestia, Ozonne comes to the Netherworld as a participant in the exchange program)
"Hey! Laharl!"
There was only person who would call his name without any honorifics in the Netherworld. Laharl didn't even have to turn to know who she was.
"Ozonne."
Flonne's sister is an angel that came to the Netherworld in an exchange program. She wore a green bandanna and had the same blond hair that Flonne does. However, her short hair gave off a boyish impression.
"Long time no see,"
"I have something that I must do right now."
"Something that you must do? What is it?"
Ozonne looked nervous at Laharl's question. "You know....I'm an exchange student and all, so I have to learn something about the Netherworld."
Laharl stared at Ozonne, and decided not to pursue the topic further, instead changing the subject. "I thought you flew into another dimension."
Ozonne's expression changed into surprise. "I'm not stupid."
"Are you calling me stupid?"
"But Laharl, you fell for Flonne's lies..."
A while ago, Etna bought a strange pot that opened up a portal to another world. It's true that Etna was the one who pushed Laharl into it, but Flonne was present as well, so Ozonne wasn't completely wrong.
"You having a staring contest with the building?" Ozonne pointed at the Dark Assembly Hall.
"Yes. This is stupid."
"What about letting in some mysterious monsters and watching them wreck the place?"
"Exactly what I'm thinking. You being an angel is such a waste."
"Then I'll become a demon."
"How?"
"Easy. If I'm with Laharl, I can become a fallen angel."
"W-with me?"
"I'm talking about marriage, of course. But without all that bullcrap about love."
"T-that's..."
Laharl stuttered at Ozonne's nonchalant words.
"Ah, I have to go now. See you around." Ozonne flapped her white wings and left.
"What is she thinking..." Watching Ozonne disappear into the distance, Laharl let out a relieved sigh.
TN: So, that was pretty short. Does anyone have any idea what the 'pot' incident is? Prolly not Disgaea 2 since that takes place after this book, apparently. But I'm not that well-versed in non-Disgaea N1 games.