Side Story: The Little Demon and the Modern World
A mountain of a giant lay sprawled on the ground. It was the upper demon that had ruled this entire region.
"Uwahahaha! I'm the strongest!"
A little kid perched atop its head. Long hair bleached pure white. Blood-red eyes. Two vigorously curved horns... that were a bit too big for her small frame.
"Get up! Let's fight more!"
The kid kicked the head with her feet. Thud thud.
"Groooaaah...."
Of course, it didn't so much as twitch. It had collapsed from exhaustion ages ago.
"...Hmph! Fine. I'm off!"
The kid hopped down from the head.
"Wheee!"
A puff of dust rose. She glanced around slyly. From cracks in the rocks, behind lava pools, amid crumbled stone pillars, in the shadows. Hundreds of eyes swiveled in unison.
'Here we go again.'
'Please don't come this way.'
'If she grabs me, she'll play until I drop...'
The little white demon dusted off her clothes and stood.
"......"
The sunless sky was always red. This place was.
Hell.
"......I wanna go hooome."
Her lips pouted. She craved something delicious. Ramen would do, even. But what was ramen again? Curly noodles in hot broth... Right, there was broth. Red? Or yellow? Maybe both. It was definitely tasty. She definitely loved it.
"Uuu...."
Her nose tingled. She wasn't crying. This body didn't cry. Never ever.
That was when it happened.
Far off, she felt a dimension twisting.
"......!"
She snapped her head up. Like a thread being tugged from some distant place, an oddly ticklish sensation.
The little demon jumped to her feet and stared that way. Fear of the unknown...? Well, a little. Just a tiny bit. A smidge.
But she was a great demon. It was fine. Probably.
"Wait for me!"
The little demon bounded off toward the distortion, hop hop hop.
***
There was a gap. A thin slit between spaces. A lowly demon was poking its head in.
"Outta my way!"
The kid flew a flying kick right into the low demon's head. It tumbled down with a crash.
The low demon looked up. Its eyes met the kid's.
"What?!"
"......"
The low demon slyly turned away. Then it backed off slowly before bolting in terror.
"Hmph. Knows when to scram, at least."
The little demon snorted and stood before the gap. Too small for a rift, too sloppy for a door. But it existed. A kind of summoning circle.
And it connected to...
'Earth.'
Her heart thumped. A place with sun, wind, and ramen.
"The place I came from!"
She wanted to dive in without hesitation. But actually, she hesitated a bit. One second. No, two. Half a second, maybe.
She jumped!
Whoosh!
Flames soon engulfed her little body.
***
It was an ordinary room. A narrow bed for one person. Textbooks and notes neatly stacked on the desk. A red circle marked on the calendar, with tiny writing below: 'Final Evaluation'.
The boy who seemed to own the room knelt before a meticulously drawn summoning circle.
"Please, anything... just come out!"
As he gathered his mana, the light grew brighter. Black smoke billowed, then purple flames shot to the ceiling.
The light exploded.
"Whoa!"
The smoke cleared. Something stood in the center of the summoning circle. Up to his chest in height. Snow-white hair. Blood-red eyes. Two vigorously curved horns. A naked little kid.
"Fuhahahahaha!"
The kid threw both arms up high, laughing. She flapped her hands excitedly, like something was hilarious. Her red eyes sparkled.
She dashed to the window. Climbed onto the bed, planted her hands on the sill. Sunlight poured through the glass. Real sunlight. Actual sun.
"......Hehe."
A giggle slipped out. She was back. On Earth.
"......"
Seha stared blankly at the kid before grabbing a blanket from the bed. He draped it wordlessly over her shoulders.
Poof.
The kid looked up.
"What's this?"
"You'll catch a cold."
"I'm a demon—no colds for me!"
"Still."
"......"
The kid pulled the blanket over one shoulder and peered up at Seha.
"You drew the summoning circle!"
"Yes."
"What's your name?!"
"Yu Seha."
"Yu Seha!"
The kid hopped off the bed to the center of the summoning circle.
"Thanks to you, I could come back! I'm in a good mood, so I'll grant you one wish!"
Seha blinked.
"Um... you're a demon, right?"
"Yeah, I'm a super great demon! Even archdemons tremble before me—a totally amazing demon!"
Seha blinked. She didn't look like any great demon. Generously, low-rank at best. And she looked really young.
"What's with that look?!"
"Oh, nothing. Demon lady."
"Hmph. Fine? So, what's your wish?!"
Seha pondered. He was an academy student. A summoner without a proper summoned beast, failing every day. Without one for tomorrow's final evaluation, he'd probably get kicked to the general track.
"Could you be my summoned beast?"
"Your summoned beast?"
"Yeah. I need one for the exam. I've been failing nonstop."
"What?!"
The little demon planted hands on hips.
"A summoner great enough to call me is failing? No way! I'll make you number one!"
"Thank you."
Grrrrowl.
A cute rumble echoed in the room. The little white one clutched her smooth tummy.
Thud. The blanket slipped off.
"I'm hungry."
"......What would you like?"
"Ramen!"
Seha rummaged through the closet first. Demon or not, he couldn't let a little girl wander naked. He pulled out the comfiest-looking T-shirt.
But it was huge on her.
"Can you wear it?"
"Hmph, easy!"
She snatched it and yanked it over her head. Her horns snagged.
"Urgh...!"
She wriggled. Seha stepped up and freed the horns.
Pop. Her head emerged. Sleeves past elbows, hem to knees. A total dress.
***
The two sat at the table. Seha sat normally; the kid stacked two cushions.
Surprisingly, she knew chopsticks. She lifted noodles.
Slurrrp—!
Broth splattered everywhere. On the T-shirt. The table. Seha's face.
"......"
The kid didn't care.
"Mmph!"
Her eyes widened, mouth stuffed with noodles. Slurp slurp slurp. She gulped broth. Grabbed the pot with both hands, chugged. The pot covered her face.
"Pwah—!"
She set it down, broth on her nose. Red eyes sparkled.
"Tasty!"
Her feet swung under the chair.
Seha chuckled. Eating so eagerly, she was just cute.
"By the way, what's the demon lady's name?"
"Me?"
She swallowed. Gulp. Stared at the ceiling.
"Umm...."
After deep thought, she looked back.
"Forgot!"
"......You forgot?"
"Too long ago."
Slurrrp. Another chopstickful, then she pointed at Seha with her chopsticks, pleased.
"You name me!"
"Me?"
"Yeah!"
Seha eyed her. Snow-white hair, red eyes. Red, but not scary. Vivid, clear, warm red. White hair like a whitey? Nah, too plain—she'd hate it.
"How about Dahong?"
"Dahong?"
"'Cause your eyes are dahong red."
She looked up at him. Maybe expecting something grander. Like Demon King or Lord of Ruin.
"Eh, fine."
But she nodded casually. Ramen mattered more now.
"One more bowl!"
"Sure, one sec."
Seha grabbed the empty pot and stood.
"Hurry! Lady Dahong's waiting!"
Dahong waved chopsticks, feet kicking wildly. Already using her new name—with honorifics.
Seha smiled, heading to the kitchen. Finally, he had a summoned beast. A bit unreliable, but everyone's first was like that. Tomorrow's evaluation got him excited.
"Slowpoke! What're you doing?!"
"Doing it now—."
Seha laughed. Water boiled. Dahong, two bowls down, headed to the balcony. Chin on the railing, peering out. Signs. Streetlights. Passing cars. Red eyes gleamed.
Seha washed dishes in the kitchen.
"Seha! I wanna go out!"
"Now? It's late.... Tomorrow?"
"No! Now!"
"No. Exam tomorrow—early bed. No clothes either...."
Muuuh! Dahong puffed her cheeks. Her summoner dared deny her?
Then she eyed the balcony. Railing to her chin. Jumpable, maybe.
She grinned. No one could stop her.
"......?"
Seha turned at the sudden quiet.
"......!"
Dahong was climbing the railing. Or trying—standing on tiptoes, one leg barely up. That was it. T-shirt hiked, exposing pale little butt.
"What're you doing?!"
Seha rushed over, rubber gloves on, and yanked her down.
"Eeeek!! Let go! I'm going out!"
"Okay, okay! We'll go out—just wait!"
"...For real?"
Dahong stopped struggling.
"Shoulda said that first."
Seha sighed, peeling off gloves.
***
They stepped out. Night breeze blew. Dahong's white hair fluttered. Somehow, she'd changed into a pristine white suit and red shirt. Seha said that outfit wouldn't do—she whipped it up instantly.
She strolled, humming happily. Seha trailed a few steps behind.
In an alley, Dahong stopped. A sound.
"Meee... meeee......"
A thin cry. And giggling laughter.
Dahong peeked in. Men. A small box in the middle. Inside, a pitch-black kitten huddled, trembling. Tiny red gem on its forehead, bat-like wings on its back.
One man laughed, nudging the box with his foot.
"What is this? Cat with wings?!"
"Meee...."
The kitten curled tighter.
"Monster kitten?"
"Kuhaha! Gem on the head—what toy is this?"
"That's why they dump it!"
Sulk. The kitten drooped its head.
Then.
Clack. Tiny dress shoes echoed.
The men turned. A kid in a snow-white suit stood there, hands on hips, chin up.
"......What's this kid?"
"Out this late?"
Dahong's red eyes swept them. Then to the trembling kitten.
"Hands off that cat."
The men snickered.
"What? Brat says what?"
"Go to mommy, kid—"
Wham!
Dahong's foot nailed a man's shin.
"Aaaack?!"
He hopped, clutching it. The others gawked down.
"I am."
Her red eyes flashed.
"A great demon from Hell."
A massive shadow rippled behind her. The men glimpsed their limbs shredded. By a woman like her—brutally, mercilessly.
"H-Hiii!"
So vivid, they shoved each other fleeing the alley.
"...Hmph. Just small fry."
Dahong snorted, crouching by the box.
"Mee...."
The kitten still shook. Jet-black as night. Dahong nodded, pleased.
"Mm! Cute!"
She extended a hand. The kitten cautiously lifted its head. Red gem forehead. Round golden eyes. It sniffed her fingertip.
Sniff sniff.
Dahong slipped a hand under its side, lifting gently. Astonishingly light. Tiny bat wings quivered. The kitten gazed up, curious.
"Dahong! You okay?"
Seha panted up.
"'Course. That was nothing."
Dahong cradled it preciously.
"Taking this."
"......Huh?"
"Wings and horn. It'll grow huge."
"Uh... um...."
Dahong held it to eye level. Gold eyes met red.
She spoke gravely.
"From today, you're Super Behemoth!"
"......"
"Mii?"
Super Behemoth tilted its head.
Seha ventured.
"Um, Dahong."
"What."
"The forehead gem looks like a ruby...... How about Ruby?"
"Ruby?"
Dahong eyed it. The kitten blinked.
"Meow."
"Hmm......"
She pondered seriously.
"Ruby.... Ruby...."
Rolling it on her tongue.
"Not bad!"
She grinned, hoisting it high.
"From today, you're Ruby!"
"Peep!"
Night breeze blew.
(Just Ruby in a fish tank 'cause it's cute)
