Birth Secret Bombshell and Barroom Seductions
Why is everything going crazy? After hearing everything Red had to say, I asked her straight up.
"Is all this for real? Not just some delusion of yours?"
"Do I look like the type who'd come up with bullshit like that?"
No, you're not that kind of character. And it's too detailed and consistent with reality to dismiss as fantasy. If Seres really was a clone made by the demon race from a fragment of the Heavenly God's body, it would explain everything. Why he has such immense divine power, and why he's so ridiculously beautiful.
...Then why didn't the original story spell it out?! Why does this damn novel have so many hidden settings?!
"Who else knows about this?"
With the situation clear, I went straight for the most important question. If word of a bombshell like this got out, I'd be in a world of trouble.
Fortunately, Red shook her head.
"Nobody knows now. Has was the one who told me, and that bitch got wiped out today with all her underlings."
"You didn't tell anyone else?"
"If I was gonna blab to someone else, why would I be here alone with you?"
Incredibly, this demon who'd tried to capture me had gone out of her way to tell only me.
"You seem pretty invested in this."
Red watched my anxious reaction and grinned like it was the best entertainment.
"Makes sense. If your origin story's this wild, even I'd be shocked. Hell, I was pretty floored when I heard yours."
"... "
"Yeah, that's the face I wanted to see."
What the hell kind of face am I making for her to say that?
Red smirked slyly and kept going.
"So, Seres, what now?"
"What?"
"Now that you know who you are, you just gonna sit tight? If the others find out, it'll get messy."
"...Nobody knows but you and me."
"But you never know. These guys are no slouches—they might figure it out on their own."
So what? What the hell do you want? I eyed Red suspiciously, and she reached out, brushing my cheek with her finger.
"If you want, I could take you away from here. What do you say? Just you and me, roaming the world. Smash whatever we want, kill whatever pisses us off. Live free, do whatever."
She purred it like a temptation straight out of hell.
"I wanna drink."
I responded with something else entirely.
"What?"
"The first thing I wanna do right now is drink! I can't handle this sober!"
No matter how tough I am, a bombshell like this origin secret wasn't something I could take calmly. I stormed out of the room.
"Hey, wait up!"
Soon, I heard Red hurrying after me.
"Where you going?"
"To drink!"
"Drinking and you're heading deeper into the palace?"
"There's a bar in the palace!"
"You nuts? What bar in the—"
Red's protests trailed off as she followed me and actually arrived at the palace bar.
"...Why the hell is there a bar in the palace?"
"Viol made it."
"Is that bitch right in the head?"
Red looked as dumbfounded as I had at first, then followed me inside with an incredulous expression.
"No way, they actually made it like a real bar."
"Give me a bottle of your strongest stuff."
I ignored Red gawking around and placed my order, but the bartender balked in surprise.
"Lord Seres, I can't. Her Majesty the Emperor forbade serving you anything too strong."
"Fine, then dozens of the weak stuff."
"D-Dozens? No, that's not allowed either!"
"It doesn't matter how much I drink—my body's not gonna have issues. Just give it to me!"
After some back-and-forth, I finally got one bottle of regular booze. I didn't even pour it into a glass—just chugged it straight from the bottle.
"Hey!"
This time, Red snatched it away from me and frowned.
"I get the mood, but take it easy. You'll ruin yourself."
"What's it to you? Weren't you the one talking about defiling me?"
"Gotta be healthy to defile you properly, right?"
She said it so brazenly that I froze for a second. Red seized the moment, grabbed the bottle like I had, and downed the whole thing herself.
"...Palace booze hits different. Pretty good."
"One more bottle."
"Enough."
Red blocked me as I reached for a fresh one.
"I wanted you loosened up, but this is overkill. I get it, but calm down."
No, you have no idea! This wasn't just about Seres's shocking birth. That he was born for the Maou's revival? Then the original Seres—me—would've been better off dead? His tragic end in the story was necessary for the world? It was all too confusing.
If I hadn't randomly recovered my past-life memories, it'd have been best for the world if I'd just died like the original. No one could guess my turmoil—they didn't know the original story.
"... "
"Hey, you okay?"
Unable to speak, I stayed silent as Red reached for me.
That was when it happened.
"Hands off."
A familiar voice warned Red. It was Viol, but... not her usual self. Way off.
She wore her usual black dress, but with a plunging neckline and slits showing off her legs, emphasizing her voluptuous figure. What the hell was she wearing?
I stared in disbelief, and Viol strode over, flaunting her bare legs. She glared at Red with dangerous eyes.
"What are you doing here?"
"Can't I be here?"
"This is my bar."
"Oh, right. Thanks. Great booze."
Viol tried to intimidate her, but Red slipped away smoothly. Viol clicked her tongue and turned to me instead.
"Why are you drinking with trash like this?"
"Wasn't drinking with her. She tagged along and started meddling while I drank."
"Really?"
"Why would I drink with her?"
Viol seemed to buy my honest account.
"True. Even the other girls wouldn't bother with a runt like her."
"What'd you say?"
Viol smirked at Red, who'd brushed off earlier jabs but now stiffened.
"What's wrong with me?"
"You asking 'cause you don't know?"
Instead of answering directly, Viol showed off her own fuller figure compared to Red's. Red had a normal woman's build, but in this world where all the women were bustier than me, she was on the smaller side—and it bugged her.
"...That's what you meant? Strutting around like you're in heat, that's all you've got?"
"Jealous much? Your tongue's gotten sharp all of a sudden."
"... "
Red shut up. In this gender-flipped world, it was weird seeing rom-com-style body wars. I watched their spat with fascination.
Then Red suddenly changed. She grew taller, her body swelling in places—especially her chest.
"This is my real form, actually."
Nobody bought the voluptuous transformation.
"What do you think?"
"...Dude, your chest is way too big for your frame."
She asked my opinion, but I was just baffled. Using shapeshifting for this?
"Eh, maybe hands-on would change your mind."
But Red didn't back down, sidling up to me in her altered, sexier form—bigger body, less clothing. Honestly, whatever.
I said flatly, "Sorry, you tried hard, but not my type."
"Then what's your type?"
"Slim build. Delicate frame, silver hair, pale skin, thick lashes, sparkling blue eyes..."
"That's you!"
I'd described the original Seres, but she thought I was joking about myself.
"If you're rejecting me, at least make it convincing."
"It's true..."
"So you're a narcissist? Fair enough, though."
As Red grumbled awkwardly, she got shoved back—Viol yanking her collar.
"You lost your mind for real?"
Viol glared at Red loitering by my side, dead serious.
"Demon scum gets in the palace once and loses all fear?"
"You're just as fearless. Quit yapping and let go of my clothes."
Should I intervene? Their stares were intense now—like a powder keg, unlike the playful vibe before.
Just as I moved to step in—
"Seres, here you are."
Sibylius appeared out of nowhere. Like Viol, in a revealing black dress with deep cleavage and leg slits, leaning against the door in a sultry pose.
Was the excitement making their demon sides show? Her eyes glowed a provocative red, unlike usual.
...Have they all gone mad as a group? What's going on?