episode_0071

※ The IF side story is not related to the main story. In particular, since the probability is low, please enjoy it lightly.

Small actions sometimes produce big results. Sometimes small differences can lead to changes that no one expected. This change may be just an imagination, but who knows? Could it be another reality that actually happened? No one knows which is right.

There was no one who could guarantee the possibility of the unknown.

“Ugh…”

There was not a single person on the dark night street. The night, illuminated only by the moon and stars, was filled with gloomy darkness, unlike the Demon World. And there were those who took advantage of the night and disappeared in the pitch-black darkness.

Long white hair that contrasts with the color of her skin, tied into pigtails. A superior body that is not covered at all and reveals all of the private parts. Pointed ears that are different from humans, and red eyes that shake anxiously to find a way to survive in a crisis.

“Huh…”

The woman leaning against the stone wall and catching her breath was Astaroth, the great ruler of the demon world and the strongest demon king. She was the one responsible for the collapse of numerous kingdoms and was known as the eternal nemesis of humans and a fearful being. She was unable to even stand on her own two feet due to her restraints.

“Ha, ha, ha.”

Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead and brushed Astaroth’s eyelids. However, because her hands were covered with gloves to prevent her from using her fingers, she could not even wipe away the sweat. Sweat seeped into her eyes and made them sting, so she closed them tightly and shook her head to shake off the sweat. His hair, tied in pigtails, was shaking, looking more like a dog than a demon king. The mouth that was forced open could not even swallow the sound of breathing.

“Inhale. Ugh, uh…”

Even though she was in a daze, she somehow managed to keep her composure. No matter how shameful and scary she was, she knew enough to know that it couldn’t be like this forever.

“U. Ugh.”

She lifted her back against the stone wall and got down on all fours. The Demon King’s body was not damaged by walking barefoot on the stone road and walking with his knees. However, even though he was a devil, he couldn’t run by crawling on his knees, and he couldn’t crawl faster than hopping on all fours.

Thanks to the necklace carefully fitted by her ‘owner’, she was able to blend in with the humans who saw her. No matter how late it is, there will be someone walking the streets outside your house, whether it’s a security guard or a drunkard. The Demon King crawled on all fours on the open road, groaning, and was barely able to reach the bottom of the wall across the road.

“Huh. Haha…”

The moment she raised her upper body again and leaned her back against the wall, she felt someone coming closer. She was very nervous and tried to press her body as close to the wall as possible. Of course, no matter how much she hid herself, it was impossible for her not to be discovered by anyone approaching her as she was not a dog or a cat. As the thudding sound got closer, she became so nervous that she couldn’t even breathe properly. The Demon King’s powerful power and magic had long been rendered useless by the piercing the owner had placed in her navel.

There was only one thought in Astaroth’s mind as his thoughts stopped in the face of the crisis of his life.

‘Why did it become like this…!’

The story goes back in time to a night when Astaroth was in trouble.

.

“How do those who are in charge feel?”

They were sitting side by side in the garden in front of Astaroth’s villa, spending time leisurely. Scarlett, who was sitting comfortably in a chair and drinking wine, immediately responded to Astaroth’s words.

“Yes. For example, my servant or maid. I don’t have that experience.”

Astaroth’s life was not without its ups and downs, but she never gave in, fighting or hiding from the threats that came her way. Even when she was much weaker than she is now as a demon lord, she had a power that surpassed that of most demons. No one is born a demon lord, but those who can become a demon lord are born with it.

“What? I’ve never done that either. Strictly speaking, I am serving the Demon King.”

Scarlett, once called Asmodeus, was a former demon king who ruled the demon world before Astaroth. She eventually succumbed after a brutal fight with Astaroth. Just as death was approaching her, eleven servants blocked Astaroth’s path.

Surprisingly, Astaroth showed mercy to Asmodeus. Moreover, she did not take the lives of her servants. Every time a demon king ascends the throne, it is a moment of new turning point in the history of the demon world where previous demon kings have died.

“That’s true too.”

Scarlett holds a grudge against Astaroth. But it wasn’t anything serious. Strictly speaking, it was love-hate similar to jealousy. Astaroth, who had shown Scarlett a mercy that would go down in history, did not greatly doubt her loyalty. However, Scarlett, who was promoted to the position of Demon King and given a new name, could never harbor loyalty to Astaroth, who was the one who made her forget her past glory and power. Although Scarlett had no intention of taking revenge directly, she was willing to support Astaroth if he was pushed to the edge, and if the slightest push would send him falling into the abyss.

“You always serve your subordinates and servants, but have you suddenly become curious about their psychology?”

Scarlett, who pretended not to know, actually knew.

‘Are you just sneaking around now? ‘What a filthy sow!’

Astaroth was actually a submissive. Of course, there was no way he would have shown anyone something that would damage the Demon King’s dignity, and Scarlett also found out about it by chance. Scarlett, a sadist and dominant to the core, was not pleased with the fact that the being who defeated and submitted her was a submissive. Maybe that’s what made Scarlett resent the Demon King.

“Shouldn’t a ruler embrace even the hearts of the insignificant?”

Just the sight of him naturally crossing his legs and tipping his wine glass overflows with the dignity of a devil king. Even for Scarlett, ‘Demon King Astaroth’ was a ruler she could not dare to approach. However, ‘Astaroth the sow’ was an insignificant being that stimulated Scarlett’s urge to step on it. For Scarlett, who was the closest person to Astaroth, aside from servants and confidants, it was a reality that made it difficult to hold back laughter.

So, Scarlett cast a thin fishing line. It’s okay to not take the bait forever. If she didn’t react to the fishing line, she was planning to serve the Demon King faithfully.

But if you take the bait.

“Then how about feeling like those people?”

Scarlett was going to have fun stepping on the foolish sow.

“Hmm. Quite…an interesting story.”

Scarlett laughed quietly. The face hidden behind the pretty smile was beaming, enjoying the joy of taking the first step toward revenge.

“Shall we talk in more detail? Demon King.”

The two talked quietly in front of the beautifully flowered garden. It was a secret story between the two of us.

.

Few people knew Scarlett’s true identity. Most demons knew Scarlett as one of those who served the demon king. Therefore, Scarlett was able to enjoy her freedom to the fullest without worrying about anyone. However, compared to the power she enjoyed as the Demon King, this pastime was nothing more than a trivial pastime for her.

“Oh my. Miss Scarlett. Be beautiful today too.”

Catherine, a noble lady dressed in an elegant dress, greeted Scarlett. The etiquette regarding titles in the Demon World placed importance on the relationship between the two, and Catherine added the other person’s name to the title as a sign of friendliness. The two exchanged friendly greetings and asked about each other’s well-being. The party, filled with demons dressed in fancy clothes, was so extravagant and large that it could surprise even human royalty.

“Your wife is more beautiful than me.”

Hiding one’s true nature from Scarlett was as easy as breathing. For Scarlett, not Asmodeus, these words and actions were rather natural.

“Hoho. Be humble. Come to think of it, Scarlett. I guess they brought in a new maid?”

This was what Catherine said when she saw the maid standing behind Scarlett. She stood upright with her ankles together and her chest out.

“You have a good sense of vision. yes. This is the new maid. Greetings.”

A red-eyed maid with white hair tied into pigtails bowed and greeted Catherine. As is often the case with maids who do not wear maid uniforms, she was wearing clothes that were little more than underwear.

“Hello. ma’am. This is Yasmin, serving Lady Scarlet.”

Normally, she wouldn’t be very interested in someone else’s maid, but Catherine gazed intently at Yasmin. The woman’s eyes darted up and down Yasmine and she smiled with interest.

“Would it be an honor to have this child join in my play today?”

Scarlett burst into laughter after hearing her wife’s words.

“Of course. ma’am! As much as you want. I will send it to you on time.”

The maid, or rather Astaroth, who did not know what ‘play’ was, just twitched her eyes. Thanks to Scarlett’s magic and makeup, no one recognized her identity. However, Astaroth, who became a maid serving someone for the first time in her life, was very nervous. She recalled what Scarlett had said before entering the party.

‘You remember, right? Today, the Demon Lord is not ‘Astaroth’, but my maid, ‘Yasmin’. No matter what happens, you must not reveal yourself or say or do anything that would expose your identity until I give you permission. Please be very careful.’

Scarlett and her wife naturally parted ways after a few words. Astaroth, who was following Scarlett, asked in a quiet voice.

“…Lady. Well, play is…”

Of course, Astaroth did not become Scarlett’s maid, but merely imitated the maid. However, in order to avoid being caught, Astaroth had to speak and act as much as possible like a maid. Scarlett, hearing her small voice, smiled and drank her cocktail.

“You can look forward to it. It must be quite fun, right?”

All Astaroth got from the question and answer just now was Scarlett’s wink.