Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Something Went Wrong
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Thud, thud. Holding Madness's hand, I headed home.
Of course, friction had arisen there, and there was no way I could keep working.
"Your Abyss Majesty..."
"Speak not a word."
Ignoring the voice calling out to me as best I could, I rubbed my stinging cheek where I'd been struck.
The inside of my mouth was slightly torn, a fishy taste lingering unpleasantly.
I recalled the face of the one who'd slapped me, calling me arrogant.
That ugly expression, drunk on a sense of superiority.
After offering my cheek, I'd poured every drop of my mana into punishing him.
I couldn't kill him.
Nor could I shatter his mind.
There were far too many CCTVs in this world, and far too many tangled human relationships, making it hard to carry out anything that would draw obvious attention.
But even without breaking his body or mind, there were endless ways to torment a frail human like him.
I'd placed a curse on that wretch, one that would keep him hiccupping nonstop for about fifty years.
A curse of endless hiccups that wouldn't stop during sleep, meals, or any situation.
It might seem trivial, but experiencing it firsthand would tell a different story.
As I continued walking, I spoke to Madness.
"Madness, go report it to the labor office and collect all the back pay owed to you."
"...Understood."
She'd already lost her job, so at least she needed to claim the wages she hadn't been paid.
If she got all her back pay, we could hold out for at least two months.
Madness replied in a gloomy voice, and I clicked my tongue briefly at the sound.
I was angry.
Not at Madness, but at myself.
Madness had endured such treatment.
Yet I, her lord, had been oblivious.
In truth, she'd borne it for my sake.
Since I bore responsibility for her mistreatment, I wouldn't shirk it.
But resolving to face it didn't make the uncertainty any less daunting.
A steady income was gone.
Until Madness found a new job, my streams would be our only source of revenue.
Some days, a single stream brought in tens of thousands of won, but it was inconsistent.
I knew full well that even if I'd earned ninety thousand yesterday, today might yield less than ten thousand.
"I'll have to put more effort into streaming."
Honestly, I couldn't claim to have tried hard so far.
I had no real content to offer.
I'd just turned on the camera, relying on my looks, and begged for donations.
Hardly something to call diligent.
Besides,
"Madness, how about acting as my stream manager until you find a new job?"
"...Manager, you say?"
"Yes. It's good that the communities are paying attention and viewers are growing, but that means more trolls stirring trouble too."
Yesterday's stream had shown me plenty.
Insults were something I could brush off, but if they affected the stream, that was a problem.
Especially now, with no steady income and relying on streaming.
To make streams run more smoothly, I needed a manager.
At least until the trolls from the communities fell away.
"Then I'll gladly take the role."
"Good. Once we're home, we'll discuss which ones to ban."
Fortunately, Madness accepted.
My steps felt a little lighter.
By the time we left the red-light district and entered the shopping area, it was already around 4 p.m.
Time to prepare for the stream.
As I walked the streets, a savory aroma caught my attention. I looked around and pinpointed the source.
Fried chicken.
I'd heard that on gloomy days like this, you should eat something delicious.
"Hmm..."
I wanted to treat Madness to some chicken,
but donations didn't hit my account instantly.
It took about four days to verify legitimate donations, and five days before withdrawal was possible.
Not even five days had passed—today was only my third stream—so I couldn't withdraw anything yet.
I'd have to wait.
Regretfully, I turned to look at Madness.
"Madness, let's have chicken next weekend."
"...Wouldn't it be better to save the money?"
"...I'm not using your back pay. I'll use my donations."
"In that case... thank you."
"Yes..."
No matter what, would I squander the money my subordinate earned enduring all sorts of humiliations?
What kind of image did I have in Madness's eyes?
A lord worthy of respect, greatness, and reverence—the King of the Demon Realm.
Wasn't that me?
The mood was too somber to ask now, but when things lightened up, I should inquire.
This was serious.
I straightened my back, walked tall and proud—albeit a bit stiffly—swinging my arms exaggeratedly.
Outside my domain, facing people's gazes made me shrink, but in front of Madness, I needed to appear more dignified.
I had to be her lord.
"Oh my, look at her. She's so cute, right?"
"Totally. Is she out with her sister?"
From across the crosswalk, I overheard a couple whispering about us.
They probably thought they were being discreet, but their voices carried louder than they realized.
I'd finally mustered some lordly dignity, only to be called cute. It felt like a heavy weight settled in my chest.
I knew it was a compliment, but it didn't sit well.
"Madness..."
"Yes, Your Abyss Majesty."
"I'm feeling down."
It was sincere.
Once home, I quickly tidied my hair and started the stream.
Six minutes late, despite rushing.
"Sorry I'm late, but didn't I show up anyway?"
I knew it was my fault, so I decided to play it a bit more shamelessly.
I knew an apology was proper, but today I wanted to look strong in front of Madness.
"Forgive me 'cause I'm cute!"
One chat vanished instantly, blocked.
...Wasn't that a bit much?
"Um, Sister? Couldn't you let that one slide?"
"Yes, it's me."
Madness suddenly shoved her face into frame, stared intently at the chat, and addressed the viewers one by one.
"Please refrain from saying mean things to my little sister."
"What."
My unconscious mutter held genuine feeling.
Unlike with me, dozens of viewers meekly obeyed Madness.
I felt profound betrayal.
"You lot... so obedient to Sister, unlike with me...?"
"Are you saying I lack appeal?"
No sexual appeal...
That's how it sounded.
I furrowed my brow. I had no intention of selling my body, but this was entirely separate.
"If your body is fifteen, that's fully grown, isn't it? I definitely have sexual appeal too!"
"I don't fully get this 'lol,' but don't brush it off so half-heartedly."
It irked me deeply.
With a sigh, I brushed my still-stinging cheek and focused on chat.
A familiar username from my first stream asked about my cheek.
Traces don't show easily on my face unless you look closely, but they seemed interested in me.
"Just got slapped a bit."
"No big deal. I'm used to it."
Back in the Demon Realm, plenty challenged me for the throne.
Most I overwhelmed, but some were bizarrely strong.
I won every time, but I'd taken solid hits plenty.
Compared to that, this was truly nothing.
"I've nearly died for real in the past. This is just a sting."
I shrugged it off nonchalantly, but the chat exploded strangely.
"...Did I say something wrong?"
Had I spoken out of turn?
Maybe I'd messed up?
Unsure, I shrank a little as I spoke,
and the chat flared even hotter in response to my question.
I must have touched something wrong.
Desperate to salvage it, I uttered words I really didn't want to.
"Um... I... I was wrong..."
......The chat failed to evolve.