A Starlit Night
"...Who are you."
Frey, staring blankly at the girl standing before him, cautiously posed the question.
"Who do you think?"
The girl looking down at him smiled faintly in response.
"........."
Frey glared at her in silence for a long while before finally tilting his head in confusion.
For some reason, he couldn't read the person standing before him at all.
"The Demon King."
"What!?"
Sneering at Frey, the girl declared.
"I said I'm the Demon King."
"Hiiiaaah!!"
The moment those words left her mouth, Frey tried to unleash a slash, but...
"...Huh?"
His body wouldn't move, leaving him with a bewildered expression.
"You can't attack me."
"W-Why..."
"No reason I should tell you that."
As the Demon King slowly stepped into the room, Frey began to break out in cold sweat.
"I'll give you a choice."
"A choice...?"
"Yes. Though it'll be quite cruel for you."
Spreading her arms wide, the Demon King continued.
"Kill everyone in this room and surrender to me, or just die. Pick one."
"What do you..."
"Choose the former, and I'll let you keep your position as second-in-command of the Demon King's army, just like you've been doing. How about it?"
Frey, who had been staring blankly, suddenly gripped his sword tightly.
"Hraaaah!!"
"I told you, you can't attack me."
As Frey swung his sword infused with star magic, it halted unnaturally mid-swing, leaving him in stunned despair.
"You... how are you doing this to me..."
"I know you're the Hero."
"What?"
"And I know your true nature all too well."
Lifting Clana, who had slumped onto the bed, the Demon King said.
"Come on, show me that true nature of yours."
With that, she tossed Clana toward Frey. He caught her in alarm and glared silently at the Demon King.
"What... are you talking about right now?"
"Kill her quickly."
Dismissing his actions with a wave, the Demon King commanded. Frey gritted his teeth and replied.
"No."
"What?"
Her eyes widening at his response, the Demon King soon smirked.
"Don't play games. Dodge once more, and it'll be your head that rolls."
"Fuck off."
"Pardon?"
But as Frey spat curses through clenched teeth, the Demon King approached him with a surprised look.
"You'll choose death over serving me?"
"Kill me and let these two go. Please."
"Hah?"
When Frey squeezed his eyes shut and pleaded, the Demon King stopped right in front of him, frowning.
"What did you just say?"
"You know it too. Without me, there's no one who can beat you."
"That's true, but."
"So kill me and spare them. With me gone, the world is yours anyway."
As Frey desperately appealed to her, the Demon King sighed and suddenly lunged at him.
"Fine. Surrender to me, and... I'll let you hold me."
".....What?"
"I'll make you mine. For a mere human loser like you, it's the greatest honor imaginable, no?"
Smiling slyly, she added. Frey stared at her quietly before scoffing.
"Bullshit."
He spat the curse briefly and tried to kick her away, but once again, an inexplicable force blocked his attack, filling his face with despair.
"Can't grasp the situation? Once I step out of the Demon King Castle, you're as good as defeated."
"Urgh..."
"Meaning, if I want, I could rape you anytime."
Stroking his chest with a finger, the Demon King murmured.
"Last chance. Get raped and die? Or fuck me and become mine?"
Hearing this, Frey closed his eyes quietly. Smiling, the Demon King whispered into his ear.
"Choose the latter, and it won't be a disappointing exper—"
"Kill me."
Refusing to yield, the Demon King scowled deeply.
"Why? Why refuse?"
"Simple."
Glare of pure hatred in his eyes, Frey intoned.
"First, the thought of mixing with you, the root of all evil, makes me want to puke..."
As the Demon King's face soured at his words, Frey smirked and continued.
"Second, you can't attack me, right?"
"What?"
"Otherwise, why would you even try to recruit me?"
Thrusting his neck forward, Frey taunted.
"Go on, kill me. Do it."
"........"
"Hurry up and try."
As the Demon King merely glared, Frey burst into laughter.
"See? You can't kill me after all."
"Hm."
"And the same goes for those two... and everyone else."
Frowning, he added.
"Why is that, Demon King?"
You have failed the Sudden Quest. (Failed to corrupt the Hero.)
Memories gained during this quest will be deleted on first attempt only. And as penalty...
And in that instant, an opaque system window appeared before the Demon King's eyes.
- Rumble rumble rumble!!!
"H-Huh?"
As the surroundings began to warp, the dazed Frey locked eyes with the Demon King, who had pulled away and was now glaring coldly at him.
"Y-You...!"
"No use realizing it now. Those memories will be erased. Though only this once, of course."
Too late, Frey's silver eyes met the Demon King's ruby ones, but before he could speak, she whispered softly.
"This isn't the end, Frey. No, it's just the beginning."
"No way..."
"Today, I declare war on you."
Desperately trying to say something, Frey was swept away into the encroaching darkness along with the Demon King.
"Of course, you won't remember."
The last thing he heard was her arrogant yet girlish true voice.
.
.
.
.
.
"Young master... please wake up."
"Ugh..."
Clutching my pounding head as I rose from the floor, I quickly hardened my expression and scanned the surroundings.
"What the hell? What happened?"
"I... just woke up myself, so I'm not sure."
Rubbing my sluggish head as if it had been soaked in alcohol, I slowly pieced together my memories.
"So... I overwrote Clana's memories, then got advice from you... and after that, the will..."
"No."
"Huh?"
Kania cut in with an angry look, so I scratched my head.
"No, just hypothetically. What if."
"...You mustn't even say it hypothetically, young master."
With her stern expression, I sighed quietly and turned to Clana.
"Is Clana... okay?"
"Her vital signs seem fine."
Gazing briefly at Clana's ragged breathing, I suddenly noticed odd noises from outside and cautiously peered out the window.
- Crackle! Zzzap!!
- Boom rumble boom!!!
"...What?"
A massive battle raged outside.
"Who are you?! Who dares interfere with me!!"
A mysterious figure wielding a familiar silver sword clashed fiercely with the Moonlight family's secret master, floating in the air.
"Kyaaak!!"
"Ugh..."
Nobles who had regained their senses fled in all directions, while Serena huddled next to our room, seemingly injured.
"Serena!"
Rushing to help her by opening the door, the secret master spotted me and bellowed.
"Frey Raon Starlight!!!"
"Whoa..."
Wondering what fueled that old man's scream despite his white hair, I figured I'd behead him first.
"Frey... don't."
"Serena?"
But as I drew my sword, Serena stopped me.
"If you use your power here... the other nobles will see how capable you are. That absolutely can't happen."
"But right in front of us, your Subjugation Curse..."
"You're more important than me, Frey."
Seeing Serena tremble as the curse's magic circle spread across her body, fury surged within me.
"Then at least let me..."
"You too, Kania. Use black magic, and you'll be hunted for life."
Kania stepped forward, but Serena just shook her head, intently watching the battle.
"...Who is that person?"
Following her gaze, I pointed at the mysterious figure locked in fierce combat with the secret master.
"That sword... doesn't it look familiar?"
"Huh...? Now that you mention it..."
Examining the sword as Serena said, it had a strikingly familiar shape.
"That... should be safely stored in our family basement."
After scrutinizing it closely, I muttered with a deep frown.
- Zzzing!!!
"Gaaahhh!!!"
In that moment, the fight reached its climax.
"Damn... some unknown brat..."
His right arm severed by the "brat's" strike, the secret master screamed, splattering blood everywhere.
"Give up already!!"
"...Huh?"
Hearing the mysterious figure's voice as they pointed their sword at him, I felt a strange sense of déjà vu and tilted my head.
"Gaaaaah!!"
Before I could think, the secret master went berserk.
"Disappear!!!"
- Zzzzap zap zap!!!
Gathering purple aura into a massive blade and firing it, it engulfed the mysterious figure and me.
- Crack crack crack!!
"Where do you think you're going!"
The figure deflected the aura with their sword and pursued the fleeing secret master, but...
"Damn."
The remaining purple aura hurtled straight toward us.
"Ahhh..."
Unable to reveal our powers, Serena desperately summoned moon mana with her fan, but it was far too weak against the aura infused with the figure's might.
"Frey! No!!"
"...Retract your mana. I'll finish it."
As eyes turned toward us, I urgently told Serena.
"If we act now, we can make it look natural..."
- Shiiiing...!
"...Huh?"
Gripping my sword tensely mid-sentence, a dazzling light suddenly flashed from behind.
- Boom rumble boom!!!
A massive golden bird collided with the purple blade, exploding spectacularly. Staring in awe, I slowly turned around.
"Hmmm..."
There stood Clana, exuding an emperor's aura with her noble expression restored after days of absence, emerging from the room in blinding radiance.
"Clana..."
Dazed, I swallowed hard, thinking of blood spurting from my mouth as I collapsed.
""............""
Kania, who had directly overwritten the memories, and Serena, who had pieced it together in that brief moment and tensed up, were equally stunned.
"Don't misunderstand."
Breaking the tense silence.
"I didn't save you because I like you. It was because of the oath—I had no choice."
"""Whew....."""
Clana's cold gaze, just like months ago, made us all sigh in relief simultaneously.
"Step aside. I need to clean up."
Glancing at us oddly before passing with a icy expression, I watched her with a smile until Kania whispered.
"Nothing's resolved yet. Her memories will return in weeks or months. We must find a solution by then."
"...Got it."
Tensing up again, I supported the staggering Serena and asked.
"Serena, if we chase the secret master now..."
"Too late. The curse's influence weakening means he escaped despite serious injuries."
"Damn it..."
Clenching my fist in frustration at her grim words, she added.
"It's okay. There's a way."
"...Really?"
"Yes. Probably?"
Winking, her uncertain reassurance eased me somewhat.
"Then let's get out. Too many eyes."
Thinking we'd wrapped things up, I tried to leave quickly, but...
"Wait."
"W-What."
Clana, passing by, paused and turned back, making me flinch and step away.
"I know a dessert cafe still open nearby. Let's go there."
"S-Suddenly why?"
Grabbing my arm and dragging me, I asked in confusion. Still cold-faced, she replied.
"Do I need to explain? We can't end your once-a-year birthday party like this."
"What?"
"On behalf of the imperial family, I'll take responsibility for you. Follow me."
Watching her blankly, Clana, who had been eyeing me disdainfully, scowled.
"This isn't because I like you. It's the oath forcing me. Don't think I enjoy this."
"N-No... you just said you were cleaning up..."
"The oath with you comes first. No more arguing—follow."
Overwhelmed by her intensified emperor's aura, I trailed behind awkwardly.
"...Happy birthday, anyway."
Clana muttered just loud enough for me to barely hear.
"Kania, what's going on with her?"
"I don't know..."
Behind me, bewildered, Serena and Kania murmured gravely.
'Well, we've bought weeks or months...'
In the chaos, I resolved anew.
Though Clana was now a ticking bomb hating me again, unlike before, I'd treat her as best I could.
Tonight, the stars shine so brightly.