But then Rei Ao extended his hand toward Hijiri Kasuga, transferring a portion of the Demon King Element into her body.
"This..."
Black markings appeared on Hijiri's body, leaving her puzzled as to why Rei Ao would do such a thing.
Calmly, Rei Ao explained, "In the future, you would inevitably be entangled with the Demon King Element. This is just accelerating the process slightly."
"Besides," he added with a smirk, "I've decided that, as the Demon King, you'll be my queen. What do you think?"
"A q-q-queen?!"
Hijiri Kasuga's face flushed bright red.
Rei Ao approached her, gently ruffling her hair as he chuckled. "After all, when it's time to finalize the terms of our deal, the only thing you'll have left to offer is your body, right? Don't worryI'll take responsibility and make you the Demon King's queen."
"Ugh..."
Hijiri Kasuga understood the situation.
Deep down, she knew that once she gave herself to Rei Ao, she'd likely never fall for anyone else.
"But this is all so sudden"
She fidgeted nervously, clasping her hands together tightly.
"Haha," Rei Ao laughed. "Don't be so tense. I'm not saying the deal needs to be completed now."
Hearing this, Hijiri Kasuga sighed in relief.
It gave her some time to mentally prepare for what lay ahead.
Rei Ao rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "We'll discuss the next phase of the deal later. For now, I need to get back and meet my future mother-in-law."
He turned to Hijiri Kasuga. "As for the Demon King Element now within you, it's not suitable for you to remain in the surface world. You'll need to return to the inner world, right?"
"Mm"
Looking down at the surface, Hijiri Kasuga sighed. "It seems I'll have to say goodbye to my brother."
She had long been prepared for this moment.
Besides, her brother was mature and didn't need her assistance.
"Will you say goodbye in person or leave without a word?"
"I'll leave without a word. I hope he can forget about me."
"Forget?"
Rei Ao offered, "I can erase his memories of you if that's what you want."
"Huh? Is that really necessary?" Hijiri Kasuga asked, blinking in confusion.
In response, Rei Ao pulled her into his arms and said firmly, "I don't want my queen lingering in another man's thoughts. I'm quite possessive."
"Shall I erase his memories of you?"
"Mm!"
The intensity of Rei Ao's gaze and the warmth of his embrace made Hijiri Kasuga's heart race. She instinctively nodded.
Rei Ao grinned and sent a strand of black energy into Hijiri Kasuga's brother's mind.
All memories of Hijiri Kasuga were erased from his consciousness.
"As for you, Hijiri, I have a plan for your next destination," Rei Ao said. "You'll be attending the Royal Biblia Academy."
"But I'm an investigator sent by Royal Liber Academy," she protested, her innocent eyes filled with doubt.
"Heh, have you forgotten? I'm the Demon King now," Rei Ao replied with a smirk. "Whether they want you or not, I'll make sure you're admitted."
"Let's go."
The reason Rei Ao insisted on sending Hijiri Kasuga to the Royal Biblia Academy was simple: the existence of the Trinity Seven.
As the Demon King, he wouldn't settle for just one queen.
Taking them all was the true path of domination!
...
Sakurajima Mai glanced at the empty bathroom with a sigh of exasperation.
Her mother was arriving soon, yet Rei Ao had left.
So, she decided to ask about the situation in the group chat.
Sakurajima Mai: "@Rei Ao, are you coming back? My mom will be here soon."
Rei Ao: "Of course, but it'll take a bit. I'm almost done here. Just make up a reason for my absence for now."
Sakurajima Mai: "Alright."
Seeing Rei Ao's assurance, Mai felt relieved.
Facing her mother alone still made her feel uneasy. With Rei Ao around, she could remain much calmer.
Especially after the outrageous things she had said to her mom in the pastit was hard for her to face her now.
Frieren: "What's happening with the newbie? It seems urgent."
Shinoa Hiragi: "Yeah, something about a Breakdown Phenomenon. Sounds exaggerated."
In the middle of class, Shinoa wasn't paying any attention to the teacher's lecture. Even her usual surveillance of Yuichiro Hyakuya had taken a backseat.
The group chat was far more intriguing.
Rei Ao: "It's not an exaggeration."
Shinoa Hiragi: "?"
Stella: "Are you serious?"
Rei Ao: "Literally. The entire surface world is collapsingthink of it as the Earth's surface disappearing."
Yukinoshita Yukino: "The Earth's surface? That sounds like the apocalypse?"
Kato Megumi: "Doesn't sound much different from the end of the world."
Kato Megumi: "If the Earth's surface disappears, won't all life on it vanish too?"
Rei Ao: "Calling it the apocalypse wouldn't be wrong."
Sui: "Does that mean Hijiri Kasuga's world is beyond saving?"
Shizue Izawa: "Velgrynd always said planetary destruction could be reversed, but she also said Rei Ao's power isn't at that level yet."
Both Velzard and Velgrynd were confident they could achieve such feats.
But based on their understanding of Rei Ao's abilities, planetary restoration or reversing life's destruction seemed nearly impossible for him.
Yukinoshita Yukino: "So, her world is doomed"
Hijiri Kasuga: "Not at all."
Hijiri Kasuga: "Rei Ao has already restored everything and resolved the Breakdown Phenomenon."
Shizue Izawa: "Huh?"
Shizue Izawa: "Velzard and Velgrynd would be shocked. They'd want to know how that's possible."
Rei Ao: "To put it simply, I became the Demon King of that world and gained the power to reshape it."
Stella: "And?"
Rei Ao: "That's it."
Stella: "!!! You can't just sum it up like that! What about the process?"
Rei Ao: "I've got other things to handle. I'll explain later."
Frieren: "Sigh, it's a shame we didn't ask Rei Ao or Hijiri Kasuga to livestream it. We missed the entire process."
Hijiri Kasuga: "Actually, from Rei Ao's arrival to him becoming the Demon King and resolving everything, it all took less than two or three minutes."
Saeko Busujima: "Then it must've involved some kind of mysterious miracle."
Stella: "Ugh, I really want to know! Not knowing is driving me crazy."
Mabel: "Emmm, knowing or not won't change anything. I'd rather enjoy some delicious snacks."
Yukinoshita Yukino: "...Snacks are canceled for today."
Mabel: "Ah! Nooo!"
"What are you doing?"
Shizuku Kurogane gave Stella a look as she scratched her head in frustration.
"Hmph, I hate it when people leave cliffhangers!" Stella fumed, her face dark with annoyance.
Not knowing what had happened left her itching with curiosity.
"Aren't you curious?" she asked.
"Nope."
Shizuku shook her head decisively.
"If Rei Ao wants to tell us, he will. As one of his women, it's unbecoming to pry too much."
She smirked smugly at Stella.
"???"
Stella was full of questions.
Her expression and tone hit a nerve.
"What do you mean by that?" Stella demanded, veins popping.
"Nothing much. Just showing off," Shizuku replied with a smug grin.
"Ha? Showing off?"
Stella's voice rose as if she'd heard something absurd.
"Do you think being Rei Ao's girlfriend lets you show off to me?"
"Who said I like him? You're the one making assumptions."
"Is that so?"
Shizuku's smirk grew.
"If you don't like him, why are you so worked up?"
"Admit your feelings already. I think I overestimated you as a rival."
"I don't need to admit anything! I don't like him, and that's that!"
Stella clenched her fists tightly, sourness welling in her chest, though her pride kept her defiant.
Shizuku chuckled knowingly.
Having watched streams and conversations with Stella before, she understood her personality all too wellStella was the ultimate tsundere.
"Alright then. If that's how you feel."
As a friend, Shizuku offered some advice:
"Just so you know, if you don't act honestly, you might get overtaken again, Stella."
"If you don't believe me, just look at Touka Toudou."
~~~
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Chapter 176: Royal Library Academy, Bathroom Scene!
"Touka Toudou?"
Stella was puzzled as to why Shizuku Kurogane suddenly brought up her name.
But soon, she understood.
Touka Toudou had started speaking in the group chat.
Touka Toudou: "Reversing the elements, reshaping the world."
Touka Toudou: "So Rei Ao can achieve such feats?"
Touka Toudou: "How incredible... It feels like no matter how hard I try, I'll never catch up."
Kurono Shinguuji: "You don't have to think so much about it. Rei Ao is specialhis power is naturally overwhelming."
Kurono Shinguuji: "We just need to keep moving forward. Whether we reach him or not doesn't matter."
Touka Toudou: "Yes, I won't lose heart."
In her training room, swinging her sword, Touka Toudou's spirit seemed renewed.
She would take Rei Ao as her goal.
Even if she couldn't catch up to him, being acknowledged for her progress the next time they met would be enough.
Stella: "..."
Something felt off to Stella.
Was Touka Toudou's admiration for Rei Ao going a bit too far?
Suddenly, she snapped her head up to meet Shizuku Kurogane's playful gaze.
"Hehe, do you see it now? Touka Toudou's feelings are quite similar to many in the group."
"That admiration and fondness for Rei Aodo you really not know what it might develop into, Stella?"
"..."
Stella suddenly realized what Shizuku meant by "getting cut in line."
Rightshe was supposed to be one of the first in the group!
A strange, sour feeling welled up in her chest.
Meanwhile
At Rei Ao's home, Mai's mother arrived, pushing two suitcases.
Sweat glistened faintly on her forehead.
Mai quickly took the luggage and brought it into the house, her expression tinged with emotion.
It had been so long since she felt this kind of care from her mother.
This was a testament to the changes in their relationship.
"Where's Rei Ao? Isn't he home?" Mai's mother asked, glancing around but not finding him.
Mai glanced at the bathroom and made up an excuse. "He went out this morning. He'll be back soon."
"Mom, why don't you rest for a bit? Tohru and I are going out to buy some groceries."
"Alright."
As Mai left, her mother sighed softly.
Her daughter now resembled a wife taking care of her husband.
Without her noticing, Mai had changed so much.
Elsewhere
Rei Ao had brought Hijiri Kasuga to the Royal Biblia Academy.
Hijiri Kasuga, now drastically changed, had the following status:
[Name]: Hijiri Kasuga
[Leve]l: 15
[Abilities]: "Dragon Power," "Demon King's Consort," "Rei Ao's Blessing," "Inherent Device: Consort of the Demon King"
[Possessions]: "Ilias Fragment," "Astil Manuscript"
Rei Ao had officially acknowledged her as one of his consorts.
Shortly after their arrival, a man with silver hair tied in a ponytail and glasses appeared before them.
His gaze was fixed solemnly on Rei Ao.
"Demon King..." the man muttered.
The overwhelming magical power emanating from Rei Ao left him in awe and terror.
There was no mistaking itRei Ao was the Demon King, possessing power far beyond comprehension.
Yet, the man was puzzled. The Demon King wasn't supposed to emerge at this moment.
"You're the headmaster of this academy, right?" Rei Ao asked casually.
"Y-Yes Shall I greet the Demon King formally?" the headmaster responded cautiously.
The current world had no means of opposing a fully realized Demon King.
"Formalities mean nothing to me," Rei Ao replied with a dismissive wave.
"Besides, I have no hostility toward your academy."
"Then may I ask why you've come here?"
"For her," Rei Ao said, gesturing to Hijiri Kasuga.
The headmaster's gaze sharpened as he examined her.
The Demon King's energy within her was evident.
Rei Ao explained calmly, "Hijiri Kasuga is one of my chosen consorts. While I'm away, I want her to study here. Do you have any objections?"
The headmaster's eyes gleamed with understanding.
The Demon King planned to leave? And this girl was his consort?
Despite his curiosity, the headmaster dared not ask further questions and bowed deeply. "It would be an honor."
"You're quite agreeable," Rei Ao remarked, satisfied.
However, he added, "Just so you know, Hijiri Kasuga is from the Royal Liber Academy. I trust that won't be an issue?"
"..."
The headmaster was momentarily stunned.
A student from the Royal Liber Academy, now chosen as the Demon King's consort and sent here?
Though perplexed, he nodded. "No problem at all."
"Good. I'll leave her in your care."
Rei Ao's tone grew colder. "But if she's harmed or caught up in any schemes"
He raised his hand, and a massive black sun appeared in the sky above the academy.
"Ugh!!!"
The overwhelming magical pressure forced the academy's students to their knees, gasping for breath.
Even the headmaster struggled under the weight.
Rei Ao retracted the power as quickly as he had unleashed it.
"You understand my point," he said with a cold glance before patting Hijiri Kasuga's head.
With the Demon King's aura fading, he turned to leave.
"Take care," he said, disappearing into the void.
Hijiri Kasuga touched the lingering warmth on her head, lost in thought.
The headmaster didn't disturb her, gazing solemnly into the distance.
"The world is about to change," he murmured.
Nearby, a young woman with striking beauty, resembling Hijiri Kasuga, watched with a complex expression.
Quietly, she whispered to herself, "The Demon King my husband..."
...
A Familiar Bathroom.
Upon returning, Rei Ao's first sensation was the disappearance of the Demon King's status and the regression of his power.
However, it wasn't a complete regressioncompared to before, there was still a noticeable improvement.
[Name]: Rei Ao
[Level]: 55
[Abilities]: [Omitted]
[Possessions]: [Omitted]
[Description]: You possess the power to destroy planets and annihilate all existence in an instant.
A total increase of three levels, a result of the magical energy being absorbed and converted when he ascended to the Demon King's status.
Now that he had returned to this world, the Demon King's status had faded.
This meant that, in this world, aside from Rei Ao himself, there was no Demon King.
"The demon realm doesn't have a Demon King?"
