Chapter 43 – Demon King Girl (3)
“Hey, news director. Guess you’re the only one left, huh? Why are you running away so pathetically?”
“Ugh, ughak!”
“Did you not expect to die? Over something like this?”
I couldn’t hold back my laughter. The news director, who had clumsily tried to escape from the underground parking lot, started begging with a tear-streaked face.
“Please… I’ll confess everything. I’ll apologize for everything. So just…”
“What exactly are you planning to confess or apologize for?”
“I… I know it’s false information, but I forced it out anyway, and I took bribes from Chinese sources to intentionally instigate division in the people through social news. And, and I also received ‘entertainment’ from women…”
As I repeated the question out of disbelief, a torrent of accusations spilled from his mouth.
The problem was that none of those confessions had anything to do with me. I didn’t care how rotten or wicked he was.
After all, because of the fairies’ laziness, over half of the modern Earth’s population would be targets for eradication.
I wasn’t here to work; I came to Earth for a visit, after all. As long as he didn’t stir up any trouble for me, I wouldn’t even care whether he was black-hearted or white-hearted.
“You seem to be misunderstanding something. I’m not here to judge you. Do you catch mosquitoes by meticulously accounting for every tiny sin? Like adding to your penalties because a mosquito bit your foot?”
“Ugh, ah…”
“You’ve probably convinced yourself that you’re something special, but there’s no need for some grand judgment when your pathetic life snuffs out. If you want a reason, find it yourself after you’ve kicked the bucket.”
I didn’t want to drag this out any longer. With a swing of my arm, a shadowy blade burst forth, slicing his body in half as he collapsed to the ground.
Now, all the cleaning up of the audacious fools who dared to touch me was done. Yet, for some reason, I still felt unsettled. No matter how many mosquitoes I swatted, I was still left with the bites; they were nothing but mosquitoes, after all.
“Why the long face? I killed them all just as you wanted. Are you having second thoughts now?”
“I’m just stressed out! It feels like I’m working harder than before!”
At Ren’s sharp comment about my killing spree, I scratched my head while stomping my foot.
Why does everything seem to be getting more bothersome lately?
Thinking back, since I ascended as the Demon King and transitioned into management mode, unworthy creatures didn’t dare to annoy me anymore.
Even if something did happen, I had competent aides and subordinates who proactively sought me out and efficiently managed things—dozens, if not hundreds of them.
But not now.
Now, I was just one of the absolute nuisances roaming this world, all alone, with more than my fair share of fools daring to crawl into my path.
And honestly, I was already too exhausted to enjoy the thrill of a struggle. There weren’t even anyone strong enough to challenge me anymore. What I really wanted was to feel the pleasures and nostalgia of Earth, which I hadn’t experienced in ages, but things had already gone awry.
“I want to take a vacation once this is over. Wait, that sounds weird. I want to take a vacation in a place I came on vacation!”
“What?!”
I muttered as I trudged back to the surface. Ren, seemingly stunned by my statement, fell silent, but my resolve was firm.
“Takilas!”
“Looks like you’re feeling a bit better, huh, senpai?”
Waiting for me at the exit was a heavily armed police special forces team and the Magical Girls, spotlight glaring down on them—most notably, Aria at the forefront.
I couldn’t help but smirk when I saw her. She stood in stark contrast to me and was remarkably persistent. Just seeing her made me consider recruiting her as a general for my demon army.
“That’s enough. I’m leaving now; I’ve taken care of business.”
“You broke your promise.”
“Oh? That bet?”
As Aria mentioned the bet with a trembling voice, I scoffed. Technically, if we went by ‘the rules’ we agreed upon, she could claim victory, since she had found me after all.
“But that’s a bit shameless, don’t you think? If I hadn’t shown up, it would’ve been you guys who were wiped out. Aria, your rash actions led to injuries and deaths among many. Would the Experiment Subject Girls have been rescued if I hadn’t intervened? The Magical Girls? And what about you?”
“Th-that’s…”
Predictably, her eyes shook nervously. While she put on a brave front, I could tell her inner self was quite fragile. Her will was stronger than most adults, but being just a high schooler, her hardened mentality lacked flexibility, shattering easily with just a little provocation.
“The bet is null and void. If you really want to, you can challenge me to a new bet with everyone here as witnesses.”
“A new bet?”
“Do you want to stop me?”
I chuckled, glancing at Aria and everyone else surrounding me, all of whom were quaking under the weight of my presence.
“Then just stand still. Do I look like a pleasure killer? I’m merely following the natural laws of this world that aren’t confined by its laws. If you’re really upset about it, keep coming at me.”
“Natural laws, huh?”
“The strong take everything. So, I’m always willing to accept a challenge.”
I explained the rules of the demon realm to them. But they probably weren’t oblivious to the fact that the survival of the fittest naturally applied even on Earth.
“But the cost of challenging me is naturally your life. If you don’t plan to challenge me, then get out of my way. I’m going to take a nap.”
With a sly grin, I waved my hand. A stir spread among those blocking the entrance. They had caught on to my implications.
“If you don’t step aside, I’ll take it as a declaration of challenge.”
That put the nail in the coffin. The panicking battle police stumbled in the face of higher commands and the palpable fear of the moment.
The Magical Girls were no different. At least Aria continued to glare at me, but I knew she wouldn’t make a move against me now.
“Don’t be foolish and make a stupid choice by listening to outdated, clueless leaders. In this moment, you decide your own lives. Is it really worth sacrificing your insignificant lives to challenge me, with just a finger of mine ready to crush you?”
“We are the police, guardians of the law and justice, protecting the citizens!”
Just then, someone stepped forward. I furrowed my brow, feeling a headache coming on. This kid—no, this fool thought I wouldn’t touch him.
“So, I will stop you, who creates chaos in society. That’s all there is to it.”
The young rookie police officer, smart enough to ditch his useless gun, clenched his fist and took a stance.
Looking closely, I saw no darkness in his body. In other words, he thought of himself as something untouchable—a natural monument.
“Think carefully. Just because you can’t be touched doesn’t mean you can’t fight.”
I stepped forward, cracking my knuckles. I just wanted this to end so I could go take a nap.
*
“There was quite a spectacle at the broadcasting station in the middle of the city… but oddly, the articles are quite objective and logical.”
“I heard one of the reporters hiding in the parking garage recorded the confession of the news director scared by Takilas’s threat. All the evidence has been discovered, creating quite a fuss.”
On the way to school early in the morning, I sat blankly by the window when I overheard Hong Soo-young and Kang Jin-soo chatting in the back.
At just 15 years old, why were they discussing social news instead of games or celebrities? Talk about being precocious!
“Did you hear?”
“About the news?”
Just then, Kang Jin-soo peeked his head in to ask me. I hesitated for a moment before simply nodding.
“…What do you think about Takilas?”
“That’s a sudden question.”
“Takilas said that because of the news reports, he suffered great humiliation and loss. The broadcasting station acknowledged that it was their fault in the end.”
I tensed slightly at the mention of my name, and as he whispered while looking around, it was clear he was referencing the incident.
“Isn’t that indirectly helping you?”
“That could be one way to look at it. But I don’t have any thoughts about it. It’s just unpredictable, so I suggest you too, just ignore it.”
“R-really?”
Seeing me smile, Kang Jin-soo seemed startled but then nodded as he slowly slipped away.
Just as I told him, I wished people wouldn’t mention the name Takilas.
I purposely created an openly fearful atmosphere by calling for challenges for that very reason. I aimed to instill total fear so no one would pay attention to me.
With just that, I could live quite well without any problems.
“Then can’t you just endure it? There are tons of people online cursing and mocking you, yet you’re not taking any action against them.”
[I’ve said it before; I’m a person who cannot be ignored anywhere. It’s simple to leave the internet alone. I just don’t care about it.]
However, I firmly shook my head at Ren’s mutterings. Even if people from the continent talked behind my back in the demon realm, I wouldn’t punish them for it. All I wanted was for people not to openly mess with me.
If they couldn’t even manage that, I had no choice but to relentlessly pursue and destroy them.
[Look at that. The one who got his arm broken after trying to mess with me has become a hero now.]
I chuckled to myself while checking the news on my phone during the remaining time.
“…Finally?”
And at that moment, I received a text. It was from Kim Soo-jung, saying she was discharged after fully recovering from possession by a demon.
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