After removing the spear that was tormenting my abdomen with Aru’s help, I immediately poured a recovery potion over it.
What would I have done if I hadn’t brought this? Though to be fair, I wouldn’t have gotten myself into such a life-threatening situation in the first place if I didn’t have potions…
The recovery potion seeped into the torn wound and flowed into my skin. My shredded insides were gradually healing.
Aru looked at me with worried eyes.
“Ouch… This really stings!”
“Keeeen… Is the young demon really going to be okay…?”
“I have to be. There’s no way I want to become an invalid.”
“Keeen, nyaan…”
Aru bowed her head and waist, pressing her face against my stomach. The wet, soft mass of flesh touched my belly.
“Hmm, what are you doing?”
“Mmm… Lick, lick…”
“Are you seriously licking me right now? Man, you’ve totally turned into a dog.”
“Grrr…! I’m not a dog…!”
“Woof woof, calm down. You were just crying your eyes out a moment ago, but now you’re baring your teeth like a little wolf pup.”
“Kung… Don’t say that. Kung.”
“That’s for me to decide, brat.”
Huddled up, Aru kept licking my stomach. I looked down at her from above, slowly raising my hand and placing it on Aru’s head.
Aru didn’t resist. She just went “Keeeng…” briefly without fighting back. Quite the improvement.
“Come to think of it, didn’t you say this felt good earlier?”
“Keeeng keeeng…”
“Can’t really argue with that, can you?”
Fanning my hand like a fan, I brushed Aru’s hair. Aru stayed still.
Curious, I pressed down hard on Aru’s head. Despite it probably feeling pretty uncomfortable, Aru didn’t struggle.
“Keeeng… Lick, lick…”
She just kept wagging her tongue over my wounded belly.
“This is fun. Fun.”
“Kung…?”
“Did you enjoy it too? I mean this prank!”
“Grrr… Kung kung! No more pranks! I hate it!”
“What are you talking about? Why stop something so good?”
Growling, Aru’s face turned red. Biting her lower lip, she forced out words.
“Grrr… It was scary…! I thought it wasn’t a joke! Kung kung…!”
“That’s the whole point! It’s not fun if the person involved knows!”
“Kung! It wasn’t fun at all! Never do that again!”
“And if I don’t?”
“Kyaaak… If not…!”
“Why, are you going to hit me? Are you going to attack your master, Aru?”
“Keeeng…”
Deflated, Aru’s head drooped. Burrowing her face into my stomach, she focused on licking the wound.
If it weren’t for her stiffly standing ears and bushy tail, she’d look like an ordinary dog person. What part of this resembles the epitome of pride – a wolf?
“Aru, you can’t do that to me.”
“…”
“Hehehe, no matter what you do, you’ll always be within my grasp.”
Whispering secretly, I cupped Aru’s face in my hand. Her soft cheeks squished like a deflating balloon.
“Got it?”
“Keeeng…”
“Answer me.”
“Alright… Kung kung… B-but!”
With her squished cheeks, Aru moved her lips slightly.
Why, what is she trying to say?
“While I continue the jokes, let’s do it safely! Kung kung!”
“Safely?”
“No dangerous stuff like today! I hate it! My heart almost dropped!”
Ah, she was worrying about me.
The three most useless worries in the world are worrying about politicians, celebrities, and Joker. What a fool.
“If we don’t risk our lives in magic shows, there’s no tension, right?”
“Tension! Doesn’t matter! Kung kung! I don’t want the young demon to die!”
“My life, my choice. Why are you butting in?”
“Kung! Young demon, you’re my leader now! You can’t die!”
“Who said I would? Gambling with my heart and committing suicide are different, man.”
“Kung! Kung kung kung kung! Kung kung kung kung kung!”
Ugh, so noisy. How does this Aru never get tired of barking? Doesn’t her vocal cords hurt?
Sss-.
Frowning and turning my head at the loud barking, the full moon was being obscured by clouds in the night sky. The blue light shining down dimmed.
As the light from the full moon disappeared, Aru’s body that had temporarily become adult-sized started returning to normal. She got shorter, her height decreased, and the length of the fur on her nose and hair shortened.
The wolf girl Aru returned to the scruffy-haired form I know.
“Keeeng… It’s uncomfortable.”
“Uncomfortable?”
“My clothes got torn while growing bigger because of the full moon. Kung.”
“Oh? That’s true. Here.”
Raising my recovered body, I walked over to where the sack was, picked it up, and took out a few pieces of clothing to give to Aru.
“What’s most comfortable? Pick one and try it on.”
“Kung… These. And these.”
What Aru picked were stretchy tank tops and dolphin shorts. Things that don’t exist in this era – I made them myself while riding in the carriage. Who would have thought they’d be used like this?
And why make girls’ clothing? Who knows when it might be useful for disguising as fifty-year-old uncles or seventy-year-old grandmothers, or vibrant young girls?
Don’t confuse this with the Demon King. The Demon King transcended the guise of flesh from birth and can freely switch between male and female forms if desired.
To identify the Demon King, it’s better to focus on the black sunglasses rather than appearance. The person in the world who looks best in sunglasses – that’s the Demon King.
While I was having these unnecessary thoughts, after receiving the clothes from me, Aru started taking off her ragged clothes to change…
“Hey, hold on! You’re actually going to change right here?”
“Kung? Isn’t that why you gave them to me?”
“You little brat daring in front of the Great Lord! Go change behind that tree!”
“Kung… Disgusting. Disgusting demon.”
“Disgusting is you! No one cares about a body like yours!”
Living among wolves, Aru has almost no inhibitions in her actions. While I don’t particularly care, if she acts like this when she goes out into human society later, it’ll be a problem. Moreover, one shouldn’t undress freely in front of someone of higher status. It’s a matter of etiquette.
Well, we have time. Over 500 years of education will suffice. Since Aru is absolutely obedient to me anyway.
Grumbling, Aru gathered the tank top and dolphin shorts I gave her and walked behind the tree I pointed to.
Alone now. Must be the aftereffects of the big ordeal, sleepiness is overwhelming and my eyelids are getting heavy. I lay down on the dirt floor covered in grass.
Zzzz-
My pocket is ringing. The rosary given by the Saintess is ringing again. Why has it been doing this since earlier? Need to find the nearby source quickly before any trouble arises, but I’m so sleepy… Just a short nap…
My consciousness faded there.
***
It’s pitch black.
This space filled with dark mists on all sides.
Within it, there is a person glowing with light particles. Particularly striking are her golden hair more radiant than gold itself and dazzling golden eyes.
She almost resembles Michael descended from the heavens. If concepts like <Justice> or <Hope> were given form, they might look like this. A small sun radiating righteousness, filling the space with brilliant light.
The Hero of Justice, Heavenly Hero Shine Stella.
The woman who received overflowing respect and admiration from the entire continent stands before me.
Her ruby-like golden eyes are cracked with bloodshot veins. What’s wrong? Is she in pain somewhere?
Her cherry-like lips, which had been clenched tight, open. A chilling phrase slips through the gap.
“Joker… You are a being that should never have been born.”
“I’ve never heard or seen anyone as wicked and strange as you. Not even demons would dare approach you to exchange business cards.”
“Just a pure embodiment of evil. There’s no other way to describe you.”
Oh, Stella is so angry at me. When did I hear those words? Ah, right.
When I sent Stella a ‘gift’ for her birthday. It was a very meaningful present for Stella.
“Kekeke.”
I laugh in the darkness. It’s the me from the past.
Wow, what a creepy laugh. That lonely friendless loser. Nothing’s changed from then to now.
“Angry? Angry? Angry? Angry?”
“…”
“Do you want to kill me? Cut off my neck and exact bloody revenge? Does uncontrollable malice surge up like a fountain?”
“…”
“Stella! Don’t hold back! Kill me now! Enact your revenge! Become a criminal yourself! Break your principles, step into the forbidden realm of corruption! Indulge in the freedom of being unrestrained!”
Stella silently listens to my sweet talk. At this moment, what reaction did Stella show after I finished speaking?
“…No.”
“Hm?”
“I… won’t fall for your schemes…”
“Hahahaha! Seriously? Genuine words spoken from the heart? Incredible! As expected, you’re perfect, Stella!”
“Kk…! You… you fiendish monster…!”
“Keke, that’s the highest compliment for someone like me, a villain. But my pride is hurt! Being compared to mere demons!”
Meeting the Saintess and not knowing love in those days – how foolish we were. So cute, both me and Stella.
While reminiscing about old memories after a long time, another woman’s silhouette gradually appears from the darkness.
The last hope of the continent, Saintess Maria.
Unlike Stella, draped in golden curtains, Maria’s chapped lips, white snow-like hair, and black worn nun’s habit catch the eye first. Black bandages stained with crimson blood are tightly wrapped around the Saintess’s eyes.
Though light surrounds her, it’s not as bright as Stella’s. Instead, it’s gentle. Which makes it even more special and beautiful.
She is the ideal and embodiment for followers of the Lord. Rather, she is the ideal itself. If the word ‘purity’ were given form, it would look like the Saintess. Holiness flows from every small gesture, soaking those around her. Reverence derived from faith deeply permeates the Saintess’s pristine figure.
“I shall embrace you.”
The words given to me by the Saintess were much shorter than Stella’s. However, unlike with Stella, I couldn’t come up with any response. Because I, the spawn of wickedness, couldn’t understand the human Saintess.
Though I wonder, if I had treated the Saintess the same way I did Stella, would she have still been able to say those words?
Still, the future where the Saintess falls is unimaginable.
Unlike Stella, who in the final moments was drenched in drugs and walked the path of corruption…
-Zzzz. Clap. Clap…
-Kung kung! Demon! Young demon! Wake up! Something’s wrong!
This place is a dreamspace within my subconscious. Somewhere that awakens buried memories.
And the sound coming from outside must be reality. Aru calling me.
-Zzzz. Clap. Clap…
-Leader! Young demon! Wake up quickly! Kung kung kung kung!
That crazy wolf pup is making noise again.
I need to wake up before my eardrums burst. The method is simple.
Take a deep breath, exhale in rhythm, one, two, three!
“Hup!”
There we go. That’s how you wake up properly.
“Kung kung! Young demon! You’re awake!”
The first thing to occupy my vision upon waking from the darkness was none other than Aru. Aru was shaking me vigorously with both arms placed on my prone body.
Which makes me feel nauseous, keh.
“That’s enough… My stomach doesn’t feel good…”
“Kung! Look at this! Look at this!”
“Why… I was having such a nice dream and you woke me up…”
After such a long time seeing the Saintess’s face, I was quite happy. If only I could have kept dreaming a bit longer, it might have ended like a wet dream in Tartarus’ night.
“Look at this! Kung kung! Something’s wrong!”
Despite my resentful scolding, Aru frantically waved her arm in front of me.
Following Aru’s arm with my gaze, at its end was an object measuring twelve centimeters wide and seven centimeters tall, composed of two sticks placed side by side.
Emitting a brilliant white light. Like when a Saintess raises divine power like a water fountain to heal someone.
Zzzz-
Hwaah-
The Saintess’s rosary trembled violently. Emitting the same level of light as when I killed my older brother Retavis.
“…What is this? Why is it doing this?”
“Kung! It’s weird! That’s why I woke you up!”
“Hmm, definitely strange. Good job waking me.”
“Kung kung! I did well!”
This is certainly an unusual occurrence. After praising Aru, I took the cross.
Clap.
Held in my grasp, the cross vibrated even more strongly. An incomprehensible phenomenon.
“Mmm… Young demon’s meat is delicious indeed… Gulp.”
Clap- Zzzz- Clap- Clap-
The sound of Aru chewing meat was soon drowned out by the cross’s vibration. I carefully examined it, turning and flipping it over.
But nothing changed. Only my suspicion grew regarding this bizarre phenomenon.
In the silent early morning filled with contemplation, only the vibration sound remained distinct.
Clap- Zzzz- Clap- Clap-
Continuing to observe, my eyes began to ache. The light surrounding the cross was blinding.
I closed my eyes. With one sense, sight, blocked, the other four became sharper. One of them, hearing, perceives the sounds of the world.
Zzzz-
Clap.
Clap- Zzzz- Clap- Clap-
Clap- Zzzz- Clap- Clap-
There is a sound. The sound of air vibrating. The sound produced each time the cross quivers.
Zzzz-
Clap.
Clap- Zzzz- Clap- Clap-
Clap- Zzzz- Clap- Clap-
There is a pattern. Or rather, a rhythm or beat. Anyhow, the important thing is that it is ‘consistent’.
Long once. Pause briefly. Short once. Another brief pause, short once, long once, short twice. Pause again briefly, short once, long once, short twice. This process repeats infinitely.
Zzzz-
Clap.
Clap- Zzzz- Clap- Clap-
Clap- Zzzz- Clap- Clap-
What is this?
There are no variations in pitch in the vibrations. Only differences in length and rhythm. This short but unique rhythm continues to loop.
“This can’t be…”
Something comes to mind. It’s absurd. However, the situation itself is already absurd. Isn’t the Saintess’s rosary an item that traveled back in time with me from the future?
The first thing that came to mind upon hearing the vibration was Morse Code.
An invention by the Prime Minister of the Empire. This simple yet crude Morse Code consisting of dots and dashes would later become a great weapon for the Continental Army in the war against the Demon Realm. A truly fearsome communication system that only humans could understand.
Of course, knowing the importance of information and codes, I had already learned it beforehand.
“Morse Code here… five hundred years before it’s even invented!”
Completely incomprehensible.
Still.
Still, if this really is Morse Code.
…Deciphering it wouldn’t hurt.
Zzzz-
Long line.
T.
Clap.
Short dot.
E.
Clap- Zzzz- Clap- Clap-
Short dot, long line, short dot, short dot.
L.
Clap- Zzzz- Clap- Clap-
Short dot, long line, short dot, short dot.
L.
Combined.
TELL.
To inform. To say. As a noun, telephone.
Gulp.
A dry swallow arose from the sudden situation. My throat was parched.
I extended my hand toward Aru, who was crouching and inhaling meat.
“Aru, water.”
“Kung.”
“Glug, glug-.”
The water flask Aru handed me refreshed my throat, but the thirst returned quickly due to the warm light from the cross.
Actually, it’s because of my own tension.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Maintaining a steady gaze on the cross, I moved my lips.
“Magic conversion.”
Wooom-
Extending my index and middle fingers, I generated magic power at the tips of my long nails.
“Communication magic.”
Zzzz-
I channel it into the vibrating cross.
Woooom-
Purple magic power seeps into the black rosary. The most corrupted divine energy enters the symbol of sanctity.
However, there’s no abnormal reaction. Since after receiving holy power from the Saintess, divine energy no longer rejects me. This holds true for the meeting of magic energy and rosary as well.
Crackle, zt, crackle crackle-
Mechanical noise arises. The noise produced when communication magic activates. Proof that my hypothesis was correct.
Without any measures taken, casting the Tell spell on something would be meaningless since there would be no
Ah, in this case, I’m the
[Aah-.]
The voice of the receiver from some unknown location beyond the rosary reaches me.
[Aah- Ah-.]
So familiar despite the brief separation, yet missed so much.
Plain and slightly faded, but worth accepting those flaws for its unmatched nobility.
Always calm, never rising above a certain tone, yet possessing a weight that cannot be easily disrespected.
Such is the voice of Saintess Maria.
[Mr. Joker, can you hear me?]
![[TS] The End of Magical Girls Has Come](https://i3.wp.com/darkmtl.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1737407792-8993-TS-The-end-of-magical-girls-has-come.png?resize=85,105 "[TS] The End of Magical Girls Has Come")
