As the situation settled down, I spoke again.
“The thing is, if we bring the Demon King, we can figure out to some extent.”
“Yeah. But the problem is how to bring that Demon King here,” Noah said.
It seemed like Noah was thinking of knocking the Demon King down and forcing them to talk.
But there really wasn’t any need for that.
“I used to be around the Demon King a lot over there.”
“So?”
“The Demon King…how should I put it…yeah, exactly like the old you, Noah.”
“The old me?”
Noah pointed at himself with his finger and tilted his head. Seeing this, I willingly described the old Noah.
“Dark, looked lonely, and when you approached, he would get all prickly.”
“Wait a minute.”
“But once you got close, when you tried to leave, they would cling onto your leg and not let go. Such a cute kid.”
“You’re saying I was like that in the past? Oh my…”
Noah fanned his face with his hand. In the middle of that, the fanning suddenly stopped.
“Hold on…you called me cute?”
“Huh? Why all of a sudden?”
“…Uncle, could it be that you’ve developed feelings for this Demon Kid-”
That’s a dangerous thing to say!
“No! They’re only about seven years old!”
“There’s no telling! You flirt with high school students, so why not kindergarteners!”
“No, I don’t!”
I pressed my temples hard. That kid really jokes around a lot. Or maybe it isn’t a joke…?
Anyway…
“Since I have an idea, do you want to come along? We’ve finished eating anyway.”
I drank the remaining soju and stood up first.
“Excuse me, the bill please.”
After finishing the payment and leaving the restaurant, the Magical Girls followed closely behind me. Along the way, Noah yawned widely.
It wasn’t surprising. It was late at night, and we had eaten a hearty, warm meal.
Ideally, I wanted to rest a bit before going, but…
“Kids, hold on just a little longer.”
“We’re pretty sleepy already…Is Uncle okay?”
“This method is only possible now because I’ve almost depleted my magic power. It’s hard to conceal inherent magic power.”
“What exactly are you planning to do?”
“Just wait and see. I’ll tell you when we arrive.”
Looking around for a while, we entered a secluded back alley. This didn’t stop there; we went deeper inside.
The place we arrived at was an empty space between buildings. Simply put, a very small clearing.
“This place will do. There are no cameras around, quiet and dark. It’s perfect for committing a crime.”
There are too many places like this, which is why there are so many crimes.
And something is about to happen right now.
“Oh, my back…”
I lay down in the center of the clearing. The Magical Girls looked at me with questioning eyes. Regardless, I proceeded with what I had to do.
“Kkomkmu, get ready too.”
“Wow, you’re really doing this.”
“That’s right. Even though it makes me look pitiful, what can I do? This is the best way to draw them out.”
Thanks to keeping Kkomkmu’s identity a secret, I can use them efficiently in this plan. It feels rewarding.
Then,
“Uncle.”
Noah came closer and poked me.
“If you sleep here, your face might freeze.”
“Sigh…I’d rather sleep. I need to finish quickly and rest…”
“Yes. So finish quickly. It seems like Kkomkmu knows what to do. What should we do?”
Their task from now on is very simple. Something they’ve done many times before.
“Step on me.”
“…What?”
“Crush me thoroughly. Get dirt all over my clothes. Make it look like I’ve been completely beaten up, understood?”
Whoa.
When I turned my head, I saw Noah whose face had gone pale.
“I…I’m not a sadist… If Uncle has such preferences, then…still…I’ll try my best!”
“No, it’s not like that, it’s just part of the plan.”
“Still, it’s a relief. Since Uncle prefers being hit…Ah! Of course, if Uncle wants, I’m prepared to take it too.”
…No, that’s not what I meant.
+++++
Kkomkmu headed toward the Demon King’s castle.
“Really, you’re treating me too harshly.”
How long has it been since I acted alone like this? The little tentacle spun around as it searched for the way.
Indeed, his advice to keep my identity hidden was correct.
“Who are you? Haven’t seen you before!”
“Me? I’m Kkomkmu, newly arrived!”
“Ah…welcome to the Demon Army. Let’s color the world together.”
“Yes!”
So easily, I passed through. If it had been known that I was his ally, I would surely have been eyed suspiciously.
After crawling for quite a while, Kkomkmu reached the Demon King’s playroom, or simply, the play area.
“Well then, shall we lure the Demon King?”
Even though I ended up becoming an accomplice in a mass abduction case, it’s not pleasing.
+++++
The Demon King was bored.
“Older Brother…he really left…”
Because the person who used to come every day and play with her was gone.
Shin Hyun.
That name had become a significant presence in the Demon King’s daily life.
“Lonely…so lonely…”
She absentmindedly shook a toy she held.
“What should we play today?”
It was the pink rabbit doll that the girl loved most. On the opposite side was a black cat doll. A doll he often played with.
Ordinarily, he would have asked something like, “What do you want to play?” using a higher-pitched voice that didn’t suit him.
“…Sigh…boring…”
The Demon King threw the toy away.
“Will I ever see him again?”
She missed him.
“Older Brother…I miss you…I want to see you…”
She wanted to see him again. For the Demon King, this feeling was new. She was a girl who was starved for attention and warmth before becoming the Demon King.
Once she tasted light, returning to darkness was naturally impossible.
That’s why the girl was even more tormented. The remnants of light he left behind shone too brightly.
“Older Brother is being too cruel…! If you were going to act like this, you shouldn’t have made me expect anything!”
The Demon King rolled on the floor.
Intense loneliness tormented her.
“Hmm…”
As the Demon King sighed repeatedly, she suddenly turned her head toward the door.
There was an unfamiliar creature there. It was black with tentacles, resembling an octopus she had seen in an encyclopedia.
Of course, compared to the real thing, it felt more character-like.
“Who are you?”
How in the world?
Did that thing really make its way here?
The Demon King’s sharp question made Kkomkmu flinch. However, the creature didn’t retreat and firmly said,
“Uh…I’m…Kkomkmu.”
“Kkomkmu?”
A name she had never heard before.
Could it be that it doesn’t belong to the Demon King’s army?
“Was someone like you in our army?”
“Of course…no.”
“…Not?”
Purple flames flickered in the Demon King’s eyes.
“Then how did you end up here?”
“That…”
“Don’t say ‘by chance.’ This is a place for my entertainment. It’s impossible to stumble in by chance, and only those permitted know the way. Speak now or I’ll roast and eat you-”
“Mr. Shin Hyun.”
Startled!
“Mr. Shin Hyun sent me. Will you believe me?”
“Older Brother!”
Realizing she had shouted loudly, the Demon King cleared her throat.
“Is that true?”
“Yes, I’m Kkomkmu, Mr. Shin Hyun’s partner.”
“Partner?”
“Yes. Kraken is the Villain created by the fusion of me and Mr. Shin Hyun.”
“Oh ho.”
“So, I am also one of his closest partners.”
There was such a secret.
“So? Why did Older Brother send you?”
At the Demon King’s words, Kkomkmu made a fuss.
As if it were some major event.
“Big trouble, Your Majesty! The Magical Girls are trying to capture Mr. Shin Hyun!”
What?
The Demon King’s expression twisted. So, those Magical Girls…
“Are trying to capture Older Brother?”
“Yes!”
“Then…what happens next?”
Tension filled the air with Kkomkmu’s words.
“Perhaps, you may never meet His Majesty again…uh…he sent me alone to ask for help.”
“…”
“Come quickly, Your Majesty! I know the way!”
“…Hmm…this won’t do. Originally, my body was bound here by contract, but…”
Grrrrr.
The Demon King clenched her chest tightly, and a sound of something breaking was heard.
“Your Majesty?”
“Cough…Just now, I forcibly broke the contract.”
“Are you alright?”
“It hurts enough to die…it’s tormenting enough to die…but, to meet him, there’s no other way.”
The Demon King hated it more than the pain.
Being left alone again.
“Guide me! I must go to Older Brother immediately!”
“Yes! This way!”
Though the backlash reduced her magic power…it doesn’t matter.
‘Wait for me, Older Brother! I’m coming to save you!’
For the first time, the Demon King stepped into the outside world.
The cool air and neon lights greeted the girl, but such things didn’t matter.
“Over there!”
“Older Brother!”
Landing with a dark aura, the Demon King saw it.
The dusty appearance of Shin Hyun and the four Magical Girls standing nearby.
It was too late.
Rage surged within her.
“You…you…you bastards!!!”
Hatred-filled magic tore through the air.
“I won’t let you go unpunished! I’ll separate your bones from your flesh, don’t even think of returning unscathed-”
“Ugh…”
“…Older Brother!”
“Marqueen…”
“Marqueen, wait just a moment. I’ll rescue you right away. First, I’ll deal with these guys…cough…the effects of the contract termination!”
“First, calm down. Hmm…do you want some candy?”
“Can candy even fit in my mouth right now! Just wait a moment. I’ll eliminate these guys and rescue you-”
Swish.
He cried out, pressing his neck against Blackheart’s sword.
“I…I’m a hostage! Immediately withdraw your magic and abandon the fight!”
“Older Brother…?”
“My Older Brother O, L, A, B, I. Do you want to see what happens next!? Immediately withdraw your magic and resolve this through dialogue!”
What on earth is he doing?
