NOVEL NEXT Episode 48 – Demon King Girl (8)
“Um, Senator.”
“There’s a lot of talk these days, isn’t there? I try to ignore it, but it just keeps coming.”
“That’s right. The atmosphere isn’t very good.”
In a dim office despite it being daytime, the nervous aide swallowed dryly at his casual tone.
It’s even worse since he brought bad news.
However, unlike the tense aide, he was feeling rather relaxed.
No matter how noisy society became, no matter how much the opposition struggled, he was steadily executing his desires with his followers.
“It doesn’t matter. If we push through like this, we can bury it all, completely.”
“Indeed, Takilas, the uncontrollable magic girl… Huh?”
But when both of them accidentally spoke at the same time, they both realized something was off.
“What? Wasn’t I just talking about the project that’s currently underway in our party?”
“Y-Yes?! N-No, Senator. I’m here to report on Takilas, who single-handedly killed an SS-class monster, Mamute, right in the middle of LA…!”
As his brow twitched, the aide shook his head with a quavering voice.
He pulled out a cigarette, clicked his tongue in disbelief, and lit it up.
“You’ve really lost your touch. What’s important now isn’t some wet-behind-the-ears kid.”
“B-But Senator, our party’s Park Young-jin was also killed by Takilas…”
“That guy, Park Young-jin, was just some unremarkable freshman who got too cocky because the party gave him a little push. It’s not like he would last long anyway. He would have been taken down quickly with some scandal.”
As he exhaled a puff of smoke, he smiled thinly and rose from his seat. While the aide stared in disbelief, he walked over to the window to look outside.
“Right now, a grand project is moving. While others are floundering in the swamp of the past. Magical girls? What does that even matter? The true strong ones are those who survive such disasters.”
“But Takilas is real. The US intelligence is also keeping an eye on her since she’s technically from our country…”
“Even so, she’s an individual. She’s just another member of society, living under a hidden identity.”
He shook his head.
Having confirmed that Takilas’s interests were solely self-centric and not true ‘justice,’ he didn’t genuinely consider her a threat. Because he would absolutely not strike first, and Takilas was unlikely to care about human political affairs at all.
“Seon-woong. You and I are the same kind of trash. Sure, there are some good people, but after doing this for decades, you can see right through it. Most of the party’s members are just like me.”
“Senator…”
“The division work is nearly done, and all that’s left are a bunch of clueless fools and a few powerless talkers. Even if they are a quasi-state on the verge of turning upside down or getting eaten, they are still a single group. No matter how strong a single magical girl is, she’s just an ‘individual’ based on this society. What good is that?”
He stomped out his cigarette, walking over to pat the aide on the shoulder.
“And soon, China will also get involved. They seem to be a bit annoyed. We just need to stay out of their way and collect what we can.”
“Them… Got it.”
The aide flinched but soon kept his mouth shut. He had instinctively realized that the senator disliked discussing this matter seriously.
‘Well, even if she’s rampaging, is it really possible to wage war against a country?’
As he left the room, the aide shook his head. Honestly, given the wild antics Takilas had shown lately, it did seem possible, but if such a situation arose, the magical girls based in Korea wouldn’t just sit still either.
*
“No, what do you mean? You want me to stay with her… I mean him… I mean, him?!”
“Exactly! Why should I have to live with this strange doll?!”
“…Are you saying that to me right now?”
Ren and Plesea both perked up at my words. I was so taken aback by their reactions that I couldn’t stop my hand from moving.
“Grrr…”
“Stop! That’s enough!”
In an instant, I slapped Plesea’s head, then kept kicking the fallen one while tugging on Ren’s ears, stretching them out.
This punishment continued until my mood improved.
“This is an order, Plesea. Is it because I look like this that I don’t seem like a Demon King?”
“I-It’s not that…”
Plesea mumbled with a twisted face. I tossed Ren, who was thrashing, at her.
“If you think this isn’t right, argue with President Rana. But think about it, how about all those countless achievements I’ve given you? If you won’t acknowledge that, I can just find a new job.”
“Okay, I get it…”
Ultimately, having successfully silenced both of them, I extended my claws and tore through the air creating a crack.
This was a quite useful magic I learned from the fairies. Without hesitation, I threw myself through it.
“I’ve been waiting since calling for Plesea.”
“It’s been a while, Robert.”
“…Yes. It’s truly been a long time. You look quite different.”
Robert, the butler of the Demon King’s Castle, looked down at me. We used to be at the same height, but not anymore.
After a moment’s hesitation, I transformed from Lee Jin-ah into Magical Girl Takilas. It just wouldn’t make sense for a Demon King to be in a plain white t-shirt and black shorts.
“Oh, you’ve gotten more splendid.”
“I have my reasons for not being able to change from this appearance. How about the others?”
“Don’t worry. I’ve already sent emissaries throughout the Demon Realm.”
“…What?”
I flinched at Robert’s words. I had completely forgotten to give a command to not do anything while I returned.
“Our true king’s return, the ruler of this Demon Realm, and the strongest being on this land, must be conveyed without fail! Given the suspicious glances from both the human world and Celestial Realm, naturally, we had to inform everyone of the Demon King’s well-being!”
“Ugh…”
Suddenly, Robert’s voice grew loud with excitement. But I was horrified. After all, looking like this made it natural for that to happen.
“Don’t worry, Your Majesty. Our demon kin’s eyes are not blind. No matter what form you take, your dignity remains unshaken!”
“Why are the human world and celestial realm involved? Wasn’t everything fine?”
Well, whether I looked like a young girl, a young boy, or an old woman, as long as the essence didn’t change, the demons wouldn’t care. I rubbed my throbbing head and asked again.
If this act had political purposes, I had to fulfill my duties as the one who became a king.
Here, I wasn’t Magical Girl Takilas, but Demon King Takilas.
“Long live the Demon King! Everyone, prepare!.”
I crossed the corridor of the Demon King’s Castle after a long time. With two legs, not creeping tentacles, clad in black stockings.
With Robert’s guidance, the immense doors of the Grand Audience Hall opened. This gigantic hall took up a whole floor, as wide as a soccer field.
The demons of our unified Demon Realm, filling the space, each showed their respect in their way as I walked by.
They were all the rulers of this land, my vassals, and formidable demons.
“Sorry for calling you when you’re busy, but as you all know, I’ve just returned from a little trip.”
I climbed to the highest seat and sat crookedly on the outrageously gaudy throne. In this form, my legs were too short, dangling in the air.
I could see numerous faces down below, all my people leading forces worth millions.
Each one was strong enough to stomp on any ordinary magical girl. Even that arrogant monster Mamute would barely get a seat here.
“The 72 regiments of the Demon King’s army report no issues.”
“…Looks good, Renes. I’ll take the detailed report later. Actually, I came here for a little vacation today.”
A gigantic dragon exhaled a puff of smoke, leaning forward to speak first. He looked like he was bursting to report something.
“Your Majesty. I must say one thing, if I may.”
“What is it this time?”
But once I allowed him to speak, a flood of work-related matters began pouring out.
This was the consequence of skipping out on work for fun, so I had no choice but to sit through it all.
“Recently, humans have sent word regarding the proposal of marriage between Princess Seria Rene Raose and Your Majesty!”
“Hah…”
But the subsequent words made me spit out my tea.
Simultaneously, my complexion turned pale. Now that I think about it, that did happen.
My hands trembled. I had completely forgotten about it.