The Demon King's Life (1)

EBC's confirmed three-part documentary series The Demon King's Life was a project broadcasting Yu Eunha's schedule over three weeks. Tasked as the CP for the project, Taeksu frowned at his junior PD, Ha Seongtae.

"Isn't this too packed? Three hours of footage, and it takes three whole weeks to shoot?"

At Taeksu's words, Seongtae shrugged. "Come on, hyungnim~ Even for a doc, three hours means three weeks minimum. Honestly, this schedule's already insanely tight."

"Is that so."

"We need incidents to happen, right? Three weeks is short. Usually, it's two and a half months."

"Back in the day, we'd just fabricate events and film..."

"These days, that'd get called manipulation in a heartbeat."

"True enough."

With how rigorously everything got fact-checked nowadays, it made sense. "Still, since the shooting's so dense-packed, it'll wrap quick. Probably 'cause she's a mage, too."

"Mages do always have drama trailing them."

"Yeah, and their schedules are jammed, so filming's a nightmare."

This shoot was borderline unreasonable, especially with the Ranking ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠War looming months away. A documentary right before her first one? Yu Eunha had made massive concessions.

"Since she made those concessions, we gotta give it our all."

Seongtae nodded at the PD's words. "Right. Part 1 focuses on practice, Part 2 on her chemistry with Isara. Part 3?"

Seongtae PD grinned like it was his ace. "Character shift. The Demon King's 'daily life,' you could say."

"...Daily life, huh."

Taeksu chuckled dryly and checked the project schedule. Seongtae PD's knack for dramatic framing was on full display.

"Human drama again this time?"

"You bet. In Korea, melodrama,, hardship, and triumph? They eat that up."

"Isn't that old-school?"

Taeksu shot back, but Seongtae just grinned. "Docs are reality. That heavy, real impact hits different."

Taeksu nodded, tidying the report. "Mind if I swing by for Part 1's training shoot?"

"Sure, come on over. Why, though?"

Taeksu scratched his cheek. "Uh, I kinda became a fan. From the last shoot."

Seongtae tilted his head. "She's just a talented junior mage, right? Like last year's champ Yeon Chae-a or that hotshot Park Seongjun a few years back."

"...You'll see when you meet her. She's weird."

"Weird how?"

Taeksu shrugged. "Not weird-weird. Just... uncanny. Her vibe's off the charts different."

The massive Bundang Training Ground in Korea hummed with tension, cleared out for the shoot. Broadcast crew bustled with lights and cameras, protective spells layered everywhere.

Seongtae PD frowned as they cast triple protection on the cameras. "Maksseom-ssi, is that really necessary?"

At his words, Lee Makseom, the head manager of Bundang Training Ground, snorted. "Honestly, it's barely enough. If those two go all out, the whole ground crumbles. That's why you signed the camera waiver."

Seongtae inwardly clicked his tongue. She's a fresh pro, just a 3-level mage. This much hype?

Korean magic towers loved this nonsense—bragging up their prospects like demigods. 1-level spells toppling buildings, 2-levels lethal without shields. All hot air to inflate the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠mage average.

Seongtae nodded along. "True, Mage Yu Eunha's incredible. Pro at that age? Even took down that prodigy Isara. Her magic blew me away."

A near-muggle on magic, Seongtae had no clue how strong Eunha really was. Beating Isara, who reportedly hit 5-level? Must be solid.

Though even Isara's got ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠some hype bubble, from what I hear.

Broadcast circles buzzed with gossip. Seongtae knew Cheonsung Tower pumped Isara hard.

Probably same with Yu Eunha.

As cameras finished setup, Yu Eunha arrived with Monica, stepping center-frame. The Demon King's Life kicked off with her training for maximum impact.

"Ignore us completely. Train as intensely as usual! No need to overdo—just keep it real!"

Seongtae PD stood behind the camera as shooting began—when senior CP Taeksu came sprinting up.

"Haven't started yet? Whew... Saved. Get to see Yu Eunha practice."

He panted, eyes on her. "That desperate...?"

"What else? Look, once you see, you're hooked."

Taeksu clapped Seongtae's back.

An hour into the two-hour practice. Seongtae panicked, eyes glued to the camera.

Fuck, what the hell is this...?

7-level mage Monica traded blows evenly with 3-level Yu Eunha.

And—

—Yu Eunha's incoming spell cracked the 6-level Absolute Defense right before their eyes.

"......"

The unmanned ceiling and floor shields already shattered, a total wreck.

"Whoa... Training ground's trashed."

"That's a 6-level spell, right? Does it shatter like glass?"

Taeksu and Seongtae's uneasy mutters drew a scowl from nearby Makseom.

"What, don't trust it? Monica-unnie's 6-level. Costs millions in ether alone."

"......"

Speechless, they stared at the devastation. "Knew it, but still..."

Seongtae sighed, unsure how to process. "Don't break rhythm now!"

"...I know!"

The 7-year-old girl was a bloody mess. Monica ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠whipped her mercilessly, barking sharp.

"Don't stop ether conversion!"

Bright ether orbs rained on Monica in response.

"Compress more ether! You did fist-sized last time, kiddo!"

"Chatting breaks my focus... does it not!"

Sky-blue lances shimmered into existence before Monica.

"Whoa, that's her Olympic spell, right?"

"Yeah... the one from her gold medal run."

Taeksu and Seongtae gawked blankly. Full-power 5-levels at a 7-year-old junior? This clip alone could land Monica child abuse charges.

But Yu Eunha countered casually.

Three spells erupted in sequence, flinging her forward to smash the lances. Water spears crumpled in her grip.

"Whoa..."

"Shattering 5-level magic?"

"This can't be..."

Their jaws dropped. "Kiddo! You're a beat slow! Told you, follow-ups matter on 5-levels!"

"Easy for you... to say!"

Before words ended, Monica's 6-level crashed down—a diagonal wave from above.

"Isn't that from her Olympic fight with Takers?"

"Yeah... against a 7-level."

Ludicrously, the 7-year-old desperately blocked, prepping her counter.

But—

Beeeep—

Her bracelet shrieked. Her 1000pt ether allowance: zeroed.

"...Tch."

"Should've dodged, not blocked."

"I know it well, but there was no time to counter."

"Said it: 5-level's bait for 6-level."

"Sheesh... Who uses high 5-level as bait?"

"Me! Your master! Every Olympian mage!"

"......"

Monica hugged her bloodied disciple, stroking her hair. Eunha's wounds vanished instantly.

"Good work. Bit lacking today?"

Eunha stretched. "Yesterday's injuries weren't fully healed."

"Oh? Should've healed with 6-level."

"No thanks! Do you know how much that costs per cast?"

Grumbling, Eunha stood and approached them. Despite the shield between, the men hiccuped.

"Hic."

"Ah! Haha! Y-Yu Eunha-nim? Training over?"

She narrowed her eyes at them. "Can you not see it? Ether addiction bars more anyway."

Her purple-tinged fingertips casually dismantled the shield. 6-level magic crumbled from that tiny hand.

Crack—

They gasped at the sparkling ether dissolution.

"Whoa."

"How'd you...?"

Eunha scratched her cheek, flustered. "S-Simple ether control. Don't air that footage."

"Y-Yes, ma'am."

She eyed startled Seongtae PD. "Won't it bore viewers?"

"N-No, absolutely not broadcasting."

Eunha tilted her head. "But... why the formal speech?"

"Ah?"

Only then did they feel their sweat-soaked backs. She smirked at them.

"Fear not. I am the Demon King—but your Demon King."

Taeksu PD inhaled deeply, nodding. "Let's start the interview."

He blurted the first burning question, lest the awe fade.

"Why train this hard?"

The 7-year-old chuckled, delivering a concise, weighty answer. It stirred even a jaded broadcast vet's heart.

Three days sufficed for it to sweep Korea.