Is There Such a Reality? -1

Two AM. A time when everyone is deep in sleep.

A man was running through a dark alley.

“Huff… huff…”

His breath had risen up to his chin. How on earth did things end up like this?

“P-please spare me!”

What kind of grudge does he have to do this! Why!

All I did was take a few photos of the currently popular Iris, try to find out where she lives, and discover her true identity, so why!

…Well, thinking about it. There are plenty of reasons to be caught.

…But still!

“Why are you chasing me! You damned bastard!”

“…”

“You have no reason to be involved in this!”

Why is that guy chasing after me with such anger!

The sticky sound of viscous slime continued to pursue him. The sound approached slowly, as if to strangle him.

“Hah…!”

And finally, he reached a dead end.

The man turned his head and spat out curses. A small knife was gripped in his hand.

“C-come out! Now!”

“…”

“I know you’re there, so come out!”

Step. Step.

The footsteps draw closer.

The sticky sound of slime draws closer.

Tentacles writhe dramatically from around the corner.

“…Caught you.”

“Huh… AAAAHHHH!!!”

“You pervert. Death penalty for voyeurs.”

The last thing he saw was—

“Not bad. Living openly as a villain.”

—the figure of Kraken, uttering incomprehensible words.

+++++

“…Whew.”

‘Pervert voyeur successfully arrested. Good work.’

‘Good job, Kkomul.’

They say crisis is opportunity.

It means that no matter how pinched the situation, there’s a way to overcome it.

No, in my case it might be a bit different.

‘A lowest-grade monster with no essence worth consuming. I had left him alone because he was a fairly well-known reporter.’

‘When someone crosses the line, they deserve punishment.’

‘That’s right.’

Though I couldn’t dramatically change the situation, I was using this opportunity to take care of business.

‘This will increase your infamy. Congratulations.’

‘I wonder how much more evil I need to accumulate.’

As Kkomul said.

I was now receiving attention incomparable to before.

After destroying the Association headquarters and spreading all the corruption and scandals inside, I had become a complete hot potato.

Hero or villain?

Those who view me favorably call me a dark hero or something.

Those who view me unfavorably call me a calamity acting on my own whims.

‘It’s all the same to me.’

Normally I had to be careful about my actions, watching people’s reactions, but now I don’t need to.

The days of being careful not to clash with other heroes are now over.

I don’t have to agonize over whether Noah might find out if I slip up, or whether I might cause her harm.

‘Who is it this time?’

‘Hmm. A religious group targeting Noah… or more precisely, worshipping Iris as a god.’

‘Ugh? What’s that? Iris as a god?’

‘Yes. It seems they’re now trying to actually bring Iris to them.’

‘That’s disgusting.’

‘Fan enthusiasm becomes poison when excessive.’

Thanks to that, I’m breaking bad endings without any worries.

It’s already been a month since things turned out this way.

During that time, I’ve eliminated more than three bad endings.

‘This is tough.’

I wanted to go home.

The accommodations provided by the Demon King were surprisingly comfortable, but there’s something about the atmosphere.

An uncomfortable atmosphere.

To the point where I want to escape immediately.

And the most painful thing is something else.

Beep beep beep!

The communicator rang.

A small-sized communicator that looks like a children’s toy.

No, it is a toy.

“…Haah… damn him.”

I cursed and answered the call.

A voice came from the other end of the communicator.

“Communication received.”

“…Kraken, are you there.”

“Yes, this is Kraken.”

“I heard you were busy, I wonder if I’m disturbing you.”

“No, it’s fine. I just finished.”

After a moment of silence, a voice saying “I see” came from the other end of the communicator.

What an annoying guy.

Keep communications short and to the point. No matter how many times I say it, he just doesn’t get it.

I waited for a while and then let out a big sigh.

I can guess what he wants.

“You want me to come now?”

I spoke informally.

Normally, it would have been an unthinkable act.

“Th-that would be fine?”

“Aren’t you going to make a fuss if I don’t come?”

“H-hmm… then I request it.”

The other side doesn’t seem to dislike it.

Rather, they seem to welcome it.

I hung up the communicator and concentrated.

When I closed my eyes, a surface of water with subtle ripples appeared.

I throw stones toward the water’s surface.

One. Two. Three.

With that, the ripples also increase to one, two, three, and undulate.

Just as I was about to throw the fourth stone, I was clearly reflected in the undulating water.

As if being dragged into a deep puddle, darkness surrounded me, and—

I found myself in the Demon King’s room.

How did I know? That’s simple.

“…Welcome, Kraken.”

“Yeah. You called me back exactly two hours after I left.”

“W-was it that soon? Ahem, I apologize.”

The Demon King, sitting solemnly in pitch-black armor. He greeted me happily.

I sighed inwardly.

‘…Haah… how did things end up like this.’

+++++

I became quite friendly with the Demon King about two weeks ago.

That day, I had just returned after a fierce battle with Iris and was exhausted.

Come to think of it, I had also just destroyed another evil organization.

In a situation where I was physically tired and emotionally drained, I became, what you might call… yes, quite cynical.

Stress had built up from trying to please the Demon King to extract information.

“Report.”

“…”

“Fought with Iris, half-heartedly. That’s all.”

I just want to rest a bit.

Dominated by such thoughts, I deliberately used a terrible tone with the Demon King.

He was probably irritated.

I need to go quickly. With that thought, I turned around, and the Demon King called out to me.

“Wait.”

“What?”

“I watched your battle. It was a bit… uninteresting.”

“…”

“Next time, do it properly.”

His words made me snap.

What kind of attitude is that when I’m doing this shitty job because of him?

In that moment of anger, I spat out harsh words at him.

“You’re talking nonsense, you crazy bastard.”

“…What did you say?”

“You, honestly.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s not fun, is it? This.”

I recalled the dialogue from the game.

A bad ending where you defeat the Demon King but Noah dies.

[Actually… this isn’t what I wanted. Ah… fighting isn’t fun after all.]

He felt pain rather than exhilaration in battle.

Rather than finding it fun, it would be more accurate to say he was pretending to find it fun.

“Why are you forcing yourself to do something that’s not fun?”

“…”

“What kind of being is a Demon King anyway? Why are you doing this? No, what the fuck is a Demon King in the first place—”

“Stop.”

“…Whew, fuck.”

The Demon King turned his head this way and that, then bowed his head deeply.

“How did you know that?”

“Would I tell you the method?”

“…You really are a strange person.”

“You… Demon King or whatever… aren’t you embarrassed?”

“I am not embarrassed. This is a nickname given to me by my creator.”

Creator?

Creator, he says.

“Like a father?”

“Yes. I wandered the world according to my father’s will, and finally returned here.”

“…Ha, do whatever you want.”

I turned around and tried to head back to my room.

But he kept clinging to me.

“Wait a moment.”

“Why. Again. What.”

“…Would you like to play with me?”

“I’m not into rubbing dicks.”

“Why would you rub that…?”

The Demon King tilted his head, which didn’t suit his large frame. He forcibly pulled my arm and took me somewhere.

This crazy bastard is unnecessarily strong.

The room we arrived at was full of toys.

Stuffed animals, toy blocks, mobiles flying in the air, and even a pool filled with balls.

I was dumbfounded.

Is this really where the Demon King plays?

‘This is just a playground?’

“I don’t usually let people in here, but… I can show it to you since you’ve figured out my real hobby.”

“I didn’t figure it out. I just said it looked boring.”

“W-was that it?”

This isn’t even dull-witted, it’s just…

Is this a Demon King? Just as I was about to say that—

“You should also release your transformation. There’s no need to be on guard here.”

“…What?”

“I’ll also take off my armor.”

At his words, I was suddenly overcome with anxiety.

No way.

‘Is he really gay?’

Was pretending not to know anything a trap to lure me in? Don’t tell me that under the armor there’s a naked muscular man—

‘This is fucked up!’

It can’t be. It fucking cannot be.

Being forcibly dragged here was already unfair, but to be forced into that?

To hell with the heart bug and everything, I’ll mess everything up and then die.

With that thought, I stiffened my tentacles.

Ready for a duel at any moment.

The armor fell with thuds.

And—

“…What?”

A dazed sound came from my mouth.

It was difficult to understand the reality before my eyes.

“Ugh… it’s heavy… uh… ugh…! Heave-ho~!”

Clang!

The black helmet fell with a loud noise.

Whether the helmet had a voice modulation function or not, the Demon King’s original voice reached my ears.

“What are you doing there? Kraken. Has the king not given you the opportunity to join directly? This is the true amusement of the Demon King!”

It was clearly the voice of a young girl.

+++++

“Brother. What are you thinking about so deeply?”

“…Haah.”

I sighed and looked at the little girl in front of me. She could hardly be more than seven years old.

Her bright, clear eyes were quite pure.

Who would think this child is the Demon King?

“What’s wrong? Are you sick somewhere?”

“…No, it’s nothing.”

My head throbbed.

‘Why is the Demon King in this form!’

‘Oh my, Shin Hyun didn’t know?’

‘What are you talking about?’

‘These days, it’s common sense that the Demon King isn’t a muscular man… but a pretty young girl?’

‘Whose common sense is that! Is there such a reality? Is there such a reality!’

After shouting at Kkomul-i, I looked back at the Demon King.

“Brother! Let’s play with dolls this time! It’s much more fun than watching people die!”

“…Sure.”

“Hehe.”

“…!”

“What’s wrong?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

“Then wait! I’ll go get the dolls!”

The bright figure of the Demon King running away.

Looking at that, I held my forehead.

‘Kkomul. I’m not having a fever, am I?’

‘I saw the same thing, so don’t doubt it.’

‘Right. Then I have to accept that as reality, even if I don’t want to.’

That being called the Demon King.

Yes, it might sound crazy, but—

She resembled someone too much.

Snow-white hair that dazzled the eyes and violet eyes reminiscent of violets.

Except for the slightly longer hair, and the much younger age.

‘…She looks too similar. What is going on here? Kkomul.’

‘How would I know that?’

‘Why… why on earth—’

Why does the Demon King look exactly like Noah?