NOVEL NEXT Chapter 3 – I Became a Magical Girl (1)
Sluggish tentacles and slimy flesh. Just how disgusting is this body? I’ve enjoyed this form long enough, but that’s why I craved a new body.
To get even one step closer to my long-forgotten true self.
This subjugation is merely a release, not defeat. Even if another form emerges, I will still be me. I am the Demon King Takilas. At the same time, I am Private Jinwoo Lee, who died in a traffic accident.
No problem at all. I will soothe my desires in a new form. To become a stronger demon king, a stronger magical girl.
[Ready.]
“Honestly, the contract for the magical girl through the Cosmic Tree Yggdrasil was an ancient contract used by forgotten fairies long ago. So, we don’t know what happens during the contract process. It’s extremely rare for a being that isn’t a human girl to become a magical girl, and the exceptions are usually just for boys!”
[That doesn’t matter.]
I wasn’t worried. I could see the outline. This mysterious divine tree or whatever it is can’t overwhelm me.
[Connection. Now, give me a new body!]
Following the fairies’ instructions, I poured my magic into the connector.
And in that moment, I stood in a completely different space, overwhelmed by a powerful wave of magic engulfing my body.
[You are Yggdrasil. I thought you were just a tree.]
“Most would know it that way.”
Should I say it’s a single tree standing in the universe? This place was beyond my comprehension from the start. Beneath that giant tree stood a woman.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a being of equal standing.”
[You’re not surprised.]
“I’ve encountered worse in the past.”
She reached out, grabbing my tentacles and shook them up and down. She was quite a formidable being, at least on the level of a high-ranking seraph of the Celestial Realm.
“But since you came to me wanting to become a magical girl, you are also my pitiable and fragile child.”
[How hypocritical. I only skimmed through the contract, but labor laws were thrown out the window.]
“Sadly, my direct descendants have forgotten how to communicate with me. Other magical girls also forget all memories of meeting me…”
She smiled wryly, her eyes, as if inlaid with jewels, dimmed with weariness.
“So, will you deliver the message for me? Tell them to cease the heated competition.”
[I think you’re mistaken. According to you, I will become an ordinary magical girl. I may as well be Yuria or Rana, but do you really think other fairies will believe my words?]
“That’s true. Come this way, candidate for magical girl.”
She led me toward the tree. As I got closer, it was even larger than I expected. Even the World Tree cherished by elves doesn’t compare to this size.
[What are you planning to do now?]
“Originally, this was a place where children who came as candidates could realize their dreams, hopes, and potential. However, you have a caliber that surpasses all of that, so ultimately, the remaining task is to create your transformed body. After all, that was your original goal.”
The Yggdrasil that brought me here pointed to something.
“I’ll leave that issue to you. You can refer to the countless appearances of magical girls recorded in history.”
She urged me to place my tentacles on the tree.
Without thinking much, I touched my tentacles to the tree. At the same moment, a strong shockwave hit my body, just like when I first came here.
“Ugh…”
“Open your eyes and see your form. What comes next is up to you.”
I could feel it changing. My body was definitely transforming. Countless tentacles disappeared, and entirely different sensations arose. I had a nose; I had a mouth. I touched my face with my hands.
“Uhh… hahahaha!”
I couldn’t help but laugh. This was my longing.
My reflection was visible on the glossy floor. A beautiful girl with long, dark hair down to her waist and striking red eyes was looking at me.
Whether it was a slender girl’s body or the body of a chubby guy, what difference did it make?
Just having a body of a human instead of a monster made me feel ecstatic.
“Is it that good? I heard you could have been the king of a world, able to possess anything.”
“You might not understand, but this universe is broader than you’d think. And I’m far more pathetic than you’d imagine. That’s how it is. I couldn’t forget and kept longing for it.”
I steadied my emotions. It wasn’t over yet. I had obtained a body, but this body wasn’t free.
“Your personal color is… a deep black. The darker and denser the color, the heavier, darker, and colder the power.”
“Does it mean anything?”
“The form of magic girl’s power usually follows their nature. However, pure black is rare even in history.”
In other words, the darker the color, the gloomier, more aggressive, and rougher it signifies. But honestly, I couldn’t care less.
“Next is the outfit that matches your color. You can choose it yourself.”
Sets of clothes popped up in front of me. I hesitated slightly at the sight. Even I, who was quite excited, could see these weren’t ordinary outfits.
“Are you crazy?”
“The outfit also reflects the magical girl’s nature. The reason there are so few examples is… simply because there are very few magical girls with a similar nature to you.”
“Can’t there at least be something cute about it? This is just nakedness!”
For an entity with a hundred years of experience as a tentacle monster, my outfit was ridiculously revealing. Meanwhile, Yggdrasil seemed more troubled by the few examples that had appeared than by my complaint about how “revealing” it was.
“Damn it…”
I had no choice but to pick one. I chose the one with the most fabric coverage.
The basic setup was a top and a skirt. The white crop top with short sleeves was short enough to expose most of my belly, and the frilly black skirt was ridiculously short.
“The outfit and all the accessories reflect your values and tendencies, and act as power in themselves. The darker the monochrome, the colder the inner self. The more exposed, the more it symbolizes the repression within.”
“…Repression?”
The clothes were automatically put on one by one.
A black garter belt appeared, and black thigh-high socks were slipped over my legs. On my arms, black fingerless gloves that only fit on one finger climbed up.
A black leather harness was strapped to the upper body, linking to the skirt with straps.
Lastly, a glamorous uniform top gently settled on my shoulders. After all, it may look contrived, but it wouldn’t hurt to have something like this. It’s fitting for the authority of a demon king.
“This feels so awkward.”
“I think it suits you very well.”
“You wouldn’t know.”
Clicking my heels, I grumbled as I fiddled with the high-leg panty line that was riding up over my hips. It wasn’t just that it was the first time in a long while wearing clothes, but my body itself felt alien.
“But it’s still not over. Next is the armament. Do you need one?”
“Let me just make a quick adjustment.”
I didn’t need much. I briefly checked my inner magic. Everything was fine. So now I just had to find something to replace my tentacles.
“A weapon? Just give me anything.”
I smirked as I watched the shadow wriggling on its own. Now my shadow would be replacing my tentacles.
“Your weapon is now engraved into your body.”
Feeling a sharp sting, I looked at my abdomen, where a dark tattoo was being etched into my exposed lower belly. The placement was odd, much like the peculiar outfit.
“Now for the final step. It’s time to give you another name as a magical girl.”
“That’s unnecessary. I am the Demon King Takilas. That is my only name. A demon king denying his name is equivalent to denying those who follow me.”
“Very well. That should suffice.”
She handed me a ring engraved with my name. I put my connector in there and slipped it onto my finger.
“Takilas. My child, now leave this place and realize justice.”
“Hey, don’t use casual speech.”
I smirked. That was my last memory in that place.
*
“Ah…”
‘This is a disaster. Was this really the wrong choice?’
Yuria covered her mouth in astonishment as she watched her return. The being that appeared was entirely different from the one that had vanished using the connector.
Though she looked like an ordinary girl on the outside, the power she contained within was overwhelmingly immense.
“You’ve succeeded, my lord.”
“How interesting. My contract with you only applies in the fairy realm and Earth. Thanks to that, the remaining powers that cannot enter this body are now lingering in my shadow.”
Removing her cap, she smiled in fascination.
Lana and Yuria, the two fairies, kept a close eye on her every action.
“You two should return now. Finish up your business here, and I will come to find you. As you know, I’m not alone.”
She, Takilas, snapped her fingers. At once, a Dimension Gate began to sluggishly form. Yuria was shocked to see her using fairy magic so effortlessly.
“Surprised? Even though I look like this, I’m a demon king; you ought to recognize magic made of power.”
“…Then we will take our leave.”
Lana hurried toward the Dimension Gate. Yuria followed closely behind, swallowing hard.
‘She isn’t some sort of magical girl. The inner power she possesses is… the real demon king. Get a hold of yourself, Yuria. That fancy outfit she’s wearing is not mere decoration.’
Even as she crossed through the Dimension Gate, Yuria slapped herself in an effort to stay focused.
[…Robert! It’s urgent!]
As the gate closed and Takilas returned to her tentacle monster form, she called for Robert.
“Yes! Your Highness.”
[I will be out for a while. If there’s something urgent, contact me through the emergency line.]
“Y-You are going away?!”
[…Let’s just call it personal training.]
Takilas mumbled, unable to say she was going out to play. But it didn’t matter anyway, as she was the supreme being of the demon realm.
No one could stop this deviation.