The second volume of the series. It was interesting to see how the author expanded the plotline after the initial developments of the premise. Azusa's life at the start of volume 2 is very different from her start at volume 1. She is returning from a red dragon wedding with her family of four; two surrogate younger sisters and two young daughters. Despite these changes, she is determined to continue her quiet and easy life in the Flatta highlands. Then "elder sister" Beelzebub stops by and announces a new development.
The Demon Lands want to honor Azusa for her role in ending the Red Dragon/Blue Conflict, which happened at the wedding she so recently returned from. So, the Demon King has invited Azusa and her household to attend a ceremony and receive a medal. That is the plot for this volume. What I like is how it structures this volume.
You see, each chapter is more or less its own story. They map pretty well as individual episodes from the anime. The idea of the Demon Medal Award enables them to link up in a way that works for a slice of life story. Beelzebub arrives during the Witch House Cafe story, and helps out before making the announcement. Because the event is still a ways away, it fades into the back of everyone's minds for the next event, the trouble with the corrupt governor. Then it pops up again when the household gains a new member, the ghost Rosalie. Even this event contributes to the meat of the Demon Medal Award plot because the Highlands Household is now aware of how...er.. vulnerable Halkara is to political trouble. As an author, I like this device. It is a flexible sort of structure that adds to each story without breaking the sense of slice of life.
As someone who read this after watching the anime, I want to point a few things out.
The Witch House Cafe happens later in the anime's timeline than in the light novel's, so many characters who were present for this event in the anime are not here. Also, there is a second part of the event that is not adapted into the anime's episode, probably for this same reason (i.e. exchanging content).
The trouble with the corrupt governor was not adapted at all. It was a funny event and shows the Highland Household do stuff other than combat, but I understand why. It is basically the beginning and ending of a story idea, no middle or development. What happens is the household flexing on this corrupt governor in a non-combat curbstomp.
Finally, there is a bonus story at the end. It is simple and adorable. It is too short to be its own episode, which is a shame, because Halkara is more than a comedic relief character here. She is still the butt of jokes, particularly at the end.
This is a light and fun read, just like the first. It is relaxing, and also has a few danger! moments too.
Trickster Eric Novels gives "I've been killing slimes for three hundred years and maxed out my level - light novel volume 2" an A+
