Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Hawaii (1)
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The Hawaiian Islands, a U.S. state smack in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
When people hear the word "Hawaii," they all picture pretty much the same thing.
A brilliant blue sky and intense sunshine, exotic music drifting into your ears, and the crystal-clear turquoise waves of Waikiki Beach stretching out before your eyes.
Behind a bronzed beauty swaying her hips in a hula dance, the sun sets in a blaze of red. The number one honeymoon destination, packed with shopping malls— the ultimate resort paradise!
But everything I've described so far is just about Oahu, the third-largest island in the Hawaiian chain by land area.
Third-largest might sound impressive, but since the biggest island is larger than all the others combined, it's basically like comparing acorns.
That largest island is called Hawaii Island—the origin of the archipelago's name—but to avoid confusion, it's nicknamed the Big Island.
It's seven times the size of Oahu, yet its population is less than a fifth of Oahu's, and it sees even fewer tourists. That's the Big Island for you.
Even so, the Big Island boasts a major tourist attraction: Kilauea Volcano, the world's most active volcano. Kilauea has multiple craters, and within its caldera sits one called Halemaʻumaʻu Crater.
Legend has it that the fire goddess Pele lives inside that crater. During the day, it spews gas, but at night, flames dance alongside a lava lake glowing yellow.
Near that Halemaʻumaʻu Crater, on the pitch-black, scorched earth that contrasted sharply with its surroundings, stood a woman with vivid pink hair.
She had snow-white skin and a round, innocent face that made her a striking beauty, but her eyes burned with irritation, as if something was eating at her. Her arms were crossed tightly over her chest, mirroring her foul mood. She squeezed her eyes shut and let out a frustrated groan.
"Auuugh! Auuuugh! Deficit again this month, puyo."
She shook her head once, and her eyes snapped open, revealing beautiful pink irises that matched her hair perfectly. Thick teardrops welled up in her eyes, ready to spill at any moment.
"The Demon King is gonna flip out again, sla..."
She tapped her forearm restlessly as she paced around near the crater, then finally brought her fingers to her mouth and started gnawing on them.
Not just the nails—she shoved her whole finger in and chomped down.
Unlike what you'd expect, with blood gushing from between her sharp teeth, what fell out instead were soft, wobbly chunks of pink jelly.
Plop. Plop.
Plop. Ploooop.
The pink jelly bits bounced a few times on the ground before slithering back toward the woman's shoe, merging together with a squish. Moments later, a fresh, slender white finger sprouted from the stump with a pop!
"Ahng."
She blew on the newly grown finger as if the process had hurt, caressing it gently.
It was a sight no human could pull off, but of course, she wasn't human. Her name was Puyomi, the Pink Slime! She served as a strategist in the Demon King's army, no less.
Slimes, in truth, were nothing more than low-grade monsters driven by the base instinct to devour anything in sight.
Her mother slime had been your run-of-the-mill variety too. But one day, a mutation occurred during fission, and against odds of billions to one, a variant slime with an IQ of 145 was born.
-Mom, that's poop! Rotten stuff, puyo!
-Muuu?
-Uh, Mom. That's animal dung. You can't eat that, sla!
-Muu? Nom. Nom. Mmmmaaah!
-Aaaah! I hate this now, puyo! This species is beyond saving, sla!
Realizing she couldn't communicate with her birth mother or the other slimes around her, she broke away from the pack. After untold hardships, she made it to the city ruled by the Demon King.
She devoured every herb and potion rumored to boost brainpower she could find, studied her heart out with gritted determination, and eventually climbed the ranks. Her reward? A position as strategist in the Demon King's army.
"Back then, I thought landing the job was all there was to it, sla..."
Recalling everything from her birth to the cutthroat job hunt over a decade ago, Puyomi ground her teeth.
"Grrrk. I-I can't let it end like this, puyo."
The hope of low-grade monsters had been backed into a corner ever since the Demon King's push into the human world began.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A few months earlier, the Demon King had torn open a transfer gate high above the Pacific Ocean.
Emerging first from the pitch-black rift was the Demon King himself, shrouded in dark mist. Close behind came a white-haired beauty with cold eyes and a colossal golden giant of immense size.
And they weren't alone—countless monsters and demons followed in their wake. The Demon King, standing at the forefront and gazing out at the endless ocean below, tilted his head slightly and spoke.
"Where the hell are we?"
"..."
"No one knows? Sigh, Leah! Leah's been zipping around the human world, so she..."
The cold-faced white-haired beauty standing deferentially behind the Demon King spoke up.
"Pardon the interruption, my lord, but Leah's been locked up since that incident last time."
"Right. Then Mia... wouldn't know either. How is it that not a single one of you is useful..."
Hundreds of monsters and demons bowed their heads in embarrassment. Sighing at the sight, the Demon King tapped the pink blob perched on his left shoulder.
"Hey, pillow. Wake up."
"Puyo? Eek, eeeeek! Where are we, mi! I'm falling! Faaaalling!"
Puyomi, who had been fast asleep on the Demon King's shoulder, hadn't heard a peep about the invasion of the human world and suddenly found herself along for the ride.
After the commotion died down and she shifted into humanoid form, she trembled in the Demon King's arms, staring down at the dizzying sea below.
The merciless Demon King ordered her to find a suitable place to settle, and as the supposed strategist of his army, she had no choice but to point to the nearest island.
"P-P-Pac... Pacific... Th-that island over there must be Hawaii, sla!"
"Can't you drop that shitty sla-speak for once?"
"S-S-Sorry, puuuh."
"Ugh. If you weren't so damn squishy and comfy, I'd have fired you ages ago."
Cowed by the Demon King's icy words, Puyomi finally managed to stop her quirky speech.
"Y-You're so mean! We've got ten years of history together."
"Even pillows get replaced after ten years."
"Hnggu. W-Well, anyway, that island there is definitely Hawaii. I read about it in a book called The Distant Human World, Our Neighboring Human World. It said it's famous as a tourist spot!"
"Oh? Tourist spot?"
The Demon King's eyes sparkled as he rubbed his chin thoughtfully before speaking.
"And? There are a bunch of islands. Which one do we hit?"
"Uh? Th-That..."
Even as a once-in-a-generation genius among slimes, an IQ of 145 was a dime a dozen in the Demon King's army. As the Demon King said, she'd only been picked for her pillow qualities. There was no way she'd remember exact details from a comic she'd skimmed years ago.
With a trembling finger, she pointed to the largest island among them.
"Th-That one."
"Huh?"
Squeezing her eyes shut, she shouted at the Demon King's prompting.
"The biggest island's gotta be the biggest tourist spot!"
"Oho. I like the confidence."
Grinning, the Demon King nodded and turned to his legions below.
"I told you all before I came here! The times have changed! There are no more humans worth contracting with like in the old days!"
He locked eyes with each of his subdued subordinates, pressing on with his speech.
"The points from the lucky few we contracted with aren't enough to sustain the demon race anymore! You get what I'm saying, right?"
"Yes, sir!"
Their resounding reply echoed through the skies.
"Good. You all heard Puyomi. Perfect timing—we've landed in a tourist spot. We're gonna kiss human ass, give 'em the time of their lives, and rake in points and cash. Got it?!"
"Yes, sir..."
The response was weaker this time. Some demons visibly disliked the idea of clowning around for lowly humans, heads bowed low.
"Hey, you there. Yeah, you."
The Demon King's finger jabbed at one of the sulking demons, who jolted in surprise.
"Y-Yes, sir!"
A lamia with glossy black scales and a beautiful face lifted her head.
"Bruised pride?"
"N-No, sir."
"Bruised pride?!"
"No, sir!"
After staring into the lamia's eyes for a moment, the Demon King softened his tone.
"Lamia, Frishika."
"Y-Yes! Yes, sir!"
Her yellow eyes widened in shock that the Demon King knew her name.
"I heard you laid eggs last year but couldn't hatch them without 'black sand.' That right?"
"Y-Yes."
"My apologies. It's all my shortcomings."
"N-No, sir!"
The Demon King pointed to the plant-like demon beside her.
"Alraune, Liana."
"S-Such an honor, my lord!"
"Heard you're trying to get nutrient supplements for your mother's demon plants."
"Ah, aaaah!"
"Hang in there."
"Yes, sir!"
As he called out a few more of the downcast demons by name, their eyes blazed with fervor.
Nodding at the sight, the Demon King bellowed once more.
"We're living in a shit era where we struggle to feed our kids or care for our parents! But unlike the old days, humans are strong now! A few priestly types who counter us still linger! We won't lose, but our families and comrades back in the demon world will starve waiting. And you still want war?!"
"No, sir!"
"Yes, sir!"
"..."
Most shouted no, but every group has its idiots. The mood soured at the torturer's entrance, prompting self-policing among the demons.
"Which bastard was it? Who the fuck answered without thinking? Get your head straight!"
"I heard it. It was this prick."
"S-Sorry. I dozed off for a sec."
The fly-like monster fidgeted with its front legs in panic.
"Goddamn, we're talking demon world economy, and a fly's piping up..."
"Ahem! Ahehem!"
The murmurs cut off at the Demon King's fake cough. Regaining control, he roared.
"Everyone, stow your pride! We coexist with humans now. The fate of our families and comrades left behind rests in our hands! Everyone, fighting!"
"Aja! Aja!"
"Long live the demon race!"
"Demon King, you're awesome! Whee! Whooo!"
"Haha, come on now. You're embarrassing me—cut it out."
A rare warm atmosphere bloomed high above the Pacific, but because of it, they missed it.
Puyomi's pink pupils, still cradled in the Demon King's arms, and her pointing index finger at the Big Island, trembling like there was an earthquake.