Teasing the Demon King's Daughter
When I opened the classroom door and stepped inside, I spotted Carden clutching her head. I'd been worried I'd end up spending my academy life friendless from day one, but seeing a familiar face was a relief. Even if that face didn't look the least bit happy to see me.
I naturally slid into the seat beside her. The horns and wings that had sprouted from Carden's head were nowhere in sight.
"There are plenty of seats. Why don't you sit somewhere else?" Carden dragged her chair away from me, visibly displeased.
I grinned. "Come on. If something dangerous happens, the master has to protect you. I need to stay close."
I scooted my chair forward to close the gap she'd created.
"Hah..." Carden sighed. She must have given up, because she pushed her chair back into its original position.
"I put my chair back, so you should go back too."
"Nah, I don't want to."
Carden's fists trembled. It was thrilling to know I could control the Demon King's daughter's emotions like this.
Realizing that ignoring me was her best defense, Carden planted her face on the desk and pretended to sleep.
"Master, I know you're faking it."
"..."
She still wouldn't get up? "If you keep pretending to sleep, I might do something bad."
Carden bolted upright in a panic. "Y-you can't do anything perverted!"
"I never said I was going to do anything perverted."
"..."
I gave her shoulder a light poke. "Why did your mind jump straight to something perverted? Our dear Demon Princess..."
Her face flushed all the way to her neck as her body quivered. She was incredibly fun to tease. It was easy to see why she was so popular with the magic department students—she had that kind of charm.
Crackle.
Had I pushed her too far? Magical energy burst from Carden's body, and horns began sprouting from her head.
"Whoa."
I knew she couldn't actually harm me, but the intense magical reaction still made me flinch. I took a step back. This time only the horns appeared—no wings.
It looked like they'd go away on their own if I left them alone, so I decided not to interfere. I crossed my arms and watched her transformation.
Just then, the classroom door rattled open.
"Eek!"
Carden let out a cute little shriek because her horns hadn't retracted yet. I reflexively covered them with my hand. Her whole body flushed bright red the moment I touched them.
"Gasp! Sorry for interrupting!"
The female student who had opened the door took one look at us, blushed furiously, and fled.
"..."
"..."
A heavy silence filled the classroom. From that student's perspective, it probably looked like Carden and I were in the middle of some intimate moment.
Worried she might come back, I kept my hand over the horns for a while. About a minute passed.
"U-um... you can let go now..."
Carden had gone beyond red to looking like a perfectly ripened tomato. Too embarrassed to meet my eyes, she nervously tapped her index fingers together.
Her anger seemed to have cooled somewhat, but for some reason the horns still hadn't disappeared.
"Master, when do these horns go away?"
"Ugh... turn your head away for a second."
I didn't see what turning my head had to do with anything, but I did as she asked.
"Hoo, hoo, hooo." Carden took deep breaths, trying to settle her embarrassment.
After about ten seconds, her finger tapped my neck.
"You can look back now."
When I turned around, the horns had vanished completely. I didn't understand the principle behind it, but it was fascinating.
Carden drank some water, her throat apparently dry. Out of courtesy, I decided to apologize. After all, my excessive teasing had caused her horns to appear, nearly getting her caught and expelled by a student.
"Master, I'm sorry. I teased you too much."
I still didn't understand why the Demon King's daughter had enrolled in the academy, but she seemed genuinely intent on graduating quietly. She had mood swings, sure, but her true nature seemed fairly kind. Not that it changed the fact that she'd attacked me.
"No, it's... I should be the one thanking you. For covering my horns."
Carden fidgeted with her fingers as she expressed her gratitude. She really did seem to have bipolar disorder. One moment she was exploding with rage, the next she was in full shy maiden mode.
I couldn't understand how someone so easily embarrassed had attacked me over a can of cola.
"Master, why did you attack me in the first place?"
"Dad tried cola once and told me to do whatever it took to get it supplied to the Demon Realm. I even went to the Magic Tower, but they turned me away at the door since I was using a fake identity."
"So you attacked me?"
"I-I wasn't planning to kill you or anything. That's why I aimed for your leg. I lowered the power, too."
I'd been too busy dodging to notice, but it seemed Carden had adjusted her magic's output. Still, the fact that I'd nearly died didn't change. I had no intention of ever canceling the contract. She'd be working as my bodyguard for the rest of her life.
"Whatever your reasons were, the fact is you attacked me. We drew up a contract, so you'll have to protect me for life. You get that, right?"
"You don't have to keep asking. I'll protect you forever anyway, so be quiet."
"Huh? Really?"
I'd expected her to throw a fit at the idea of protecting me permanently, but Carden accepted it with surprising calm.
"Are you serious?"
"A contract is a sacred thing that must be upheld no matter what. Taking responsibility for someone like you is well within my ability."
"I... I see."
Her dead-serious attitude left me speechless. I could only nod awkwardly.
Rattle. Time had passed, and class was about to begin. Students gradually filed into the classroom.
"Hello~"
"Hi, Leni~"
"Hello!"
"Long time no see. Who's the person next to you?"
"Oh, just an acquaintance."
"Hmm?"
Surprisingly, Carden greeted every single person entering the classroom with a bright smile. It clearly wasn't her first time, because the students responded with familiar ease.
"Wait, since when have you been doing that?"
"I've been greeting everyone consistently since I enrolled."
"That's impressive..."
She was surprisingly diligent, completely at odds with the usual image of a demon.
Once the students had filled the room, the professor entered, placed a thick book on the lectern, and activated the voice-amplifying magic tool.
"Ahem. Sorry, but we jump straight into the material from day one. Starting on page four..."
Completely ignoring the usual first-day introduction, the professor launched directly into the lecture.
Having had a private tutor who'd reached the realm of archmage, I didn't feel any particular need to focus. Instead, I observed my surroundings.
Some students were already nodding off barely after the lesson began, while others stared blankly into space like me. From their attire, most of those slacking off or sleeping seemed to be nobles, while the ones paying attention were mostly commoners. People with more to prove really did work harder. Though there were exceptions like Carden, who studied with frightening intensity despite being born with every privilege.
Tap tap tap. Carden's eyes sparkled as she filled her notebook at incredible speed. A quick glance showed she was transcribing every word the professor uttered, even noting down his light jokes in dense detail. The sheer intensity felt almost manic.
I marveled at her fervor and twirled my pen idly.
By the time her new notebook was half full, the professor wrapped things up.
"That concludes today's lesson. Make sure to practice when you return to your dorm or home."
I packed my bag and stood immediately.
"See you tomorrow, Master~."
"Yeah..."
Carden apparently had no more classes today either and got up as well.
"..."
"..."
On the way out of the magic department building, our paths overlapped despite our clean goodbye earlier. It felt awkward.
[GOING DOWN]
The elevator, usually packed with people, was strangely empty. It was just the two of us in the spacious lift. Carden didn't say a word.
I couldn't stand the silence any longer and spoke up.
"Master, do you live in the dorms?"
"Yeah."
"You're heading back without eating?"
I'd heard the academy only served lunch, so dormitory students had to buy their own dinners.
"...I'm not eating."
"Why?"
"I spent all my allowance this month..."
The daughter of the richest being in the world couldn't afford a meal. It was so unbelievable I had to ask again.
"But you gave me a blank check. Don't you have money in the bank?"
Carden shook her head.
"That money belongs to the Demon King's castle. I can't use it for personal matters. The only money I can spend on myself is the allowance Dad gives me."
"Even though his daughter is starving?"
"There are no exceptions."
Carden was far more upright than I'd imagined. Impressed, I continued.
"...So what did you spend your allowance on?"
"I used it all to hire a bandit group."
I remembered the bandits who'd scattered in terror after a single spell. They weren't elite mercenaries—just common thugs. It shouldn't have cost enough to drain her entire allowance.
"How much did you give them?"
"20,000 gold."
I was speechless. Cani's monthly salary as chief maid of a count's household was only 50 gold. How could a group of bandits that panicked at basic magic cost that much?
"Master, I think you got scammed."
"Huh? I thought it was a bargain."
"...Why did you think it was cheap?"
"It's a job that risks their lives. You have to pay them properly for that."
"..."
It seemed my master had a rather progressive mindset about compensating dangerous work. Maybe the Demon Realm was actually a highly advanced society?
I sighed deeply and grabbed Carden's collar, pulling her along.
"I'll buy you dinner, so let's eat together instead of starving."
"Eek, but I don't want to eat alone with you."
"My maid will join us, so don't worry."
"In that case..."
Though embarrassed, she didn't refuse. She must have been hungry.
"Follow me. We'll take the carriage together."
Carden trailed after me obediently once food was on the table. We stepped out of the building at the same time.
"Gasp."
Coming out of the magic department building, I froze at the familiar face waiting in front. Mariné stood with her arms crossed, sharp eyes fixed on me.
"Mariné, h-hello?"
I hadn't done anything wrong, yet I felt like a criminal. My greeting came out in a stammer.
Mariné glanced at Carden beside me, radiating cold energy as she spoke.
"Who's that next to you?"