Chapter 108
The demon realm when Ellie took a leave of absence.
There was a certain high-rise building on a main street in the city.
If you secretly enter avoiding surveillance, you encounter a security guard with a hardened expression. After having your identity confirmed and entering a secret room, you could reach the hideout of moderate faction or dove faction demons.
Unlike the radical faction living in poverty under the empire's crackdown, this place was different. Though they generally hide their members, it was a hideout with luxury sofas and tables where gentle music box sounds rang out.
Ellie moved her hand and turned off the music box.
Then she walked to a table where two demons in formal wear were playing chess.
The one touching the white knight piece turned his head.
"You've come, Princess. Did you have any results?"
"None."
The old man sitting opposite narrowed his brow.
"There was no next Demon King among the second semester transfer students either? It would be faster to search in the demon realm at this rate."
"If there were more places to look."
Because we've already checked everywhere.
The birth year of the next Demon King was already prophesied. It's been over ten years since we checked that age group among demon realm natives. At this point, it's right to judge they're not in the demon realm.
"In the end they're not from the demon realm. The hawk faction guys will be furious."
Ellie snorted.
"Since when did the Demon King throne care about origins."
The knight piece tapped the chessboard tok tok.
"Surely, they haven't already passed away?"
Silence fell. It was difficult to rationally deny completely.
The empire knew the next Demon King's birth year too. No, since it was the grand temple's prophecy, they knew before the demon realm.
The first measure taken by the previous emperor and tyrant who first received and heard that prophecy was resolute.
The death of all children born that year.
The measure not distinguishing between empire and demon realm was really cleanly implemented thanks to competence unbecoming of a tyrant that caused public harm. Since he killed even those of noble birth in the empire.
It was so thorough that currently there's not a single second year student of that birth year at the academy.
At this point, it's enough to suspect the next Demon King already died then. Even the empire is implementing conciliatory policies towards demons based on optimistic outlook.
Though the tyrant faced fierce anger from imperial nobles and was deposed as the price, a dead Demon King doesn't come back.
"They'll definitely be born in December or January."
If they were born overlapping similarly with another year's timing, there's a possibility they fabricated being born in December or January to manipulate their birth year.
The needlessly competent tyrant knew that well too. He declared he would kill even nobles born in December of the year above and January of the year below.
Though the Craft family who had maintained neutrality respecting the imperial family firmly opposed when their hard-won successor was about to die, ultimately deposing him.
Actually the Craft family head died overexerting himself with a body weakened after childbirth, and the crown prince who cooperated with the deposition as a friend after ascending to the throne betrayed the Craft family with only a young idiot family head left, destroying them and strengthening imperial authority with the justification of disrespecting the imperial family by erasing his face, but thanks to that gaps were created in the tyrant's measures.
So Elisita herself, who could be in the same grade as January-born students, used her sub-identity to secretly enroll.
Luckily she was able to join the student council from enrollment and reach Sky Island's power core.
"Oh ho."
The old man moved the bishop on the chessboard. A pawn was captured and the opponent's king was attacked.
"Five move checkmate double attack."
"Oh, my rook. Because I was focusing on the princess."
"The young friend's excuses are long."
His gaze turned to Ellie.
"If you said there were no results, does that mean there was nothing even looking so broadly?"
"There was no suitable person."
Though I thoroughly checked abusing student council authority, there was no one I could expect to be the next Demon King.
"But there must have been someone who stood out. Given the school environment, grades would all be out too. Wouldn't the next Demon King have stood out like a nail? Among those born in December or January."
"There was one person but..."
"There was!"
At the expectant gaze, Ellie's expression became subtle.
"There's one born on January 1st. Smart enough to be first in written exams and leisurely hiding their realm, plus no antipathy towards demons."
If not for their bloodline, at least someone to carefully support as a pro-demon talent.
The demons who had already heard about student council life during vacation also had subtle expressions.
"You don't mean Craft do you?"
"That Craft. No way."
"So."
Ellie gestured for the demon who had almost lost to come out. When a seat opened, she sat in front of the old man and rearranged the chess pieces.
"Still, I'm thinking of examining Craft when my leave ends. Since an anti-demon frame was conveniently laid, I can decide whether to support them as pro-demon talent or not after seeing how they dealt with it."
I'll probably end up doing it.
Though it's difficult to grasp the inner thoughts hidden by the naive outward appearance, they really seem to have no antipathy towards demons.
If it was an act, there's no way it wouldn't show while living repeating tiring work in the same space.
"Supporting Craft? Many people will be angry."
"Since when did the demon realm care about origins in accepting people."
"Since there are no surviving retainers in the Craft family, you intend to support talent first? It would be interesting."
"No. Anyway the head of Grace Trading Company is a pro-demon merchant, so we don't need to needlessly interfere."
Since they're from a Craft family retainer household but felt antipathy towards anti-demon tendencies and ran away.
Ellie advanced the pawn in front of the queen two spaces.
"Pastel no Craft likes expanding the trading company by borrowing money..."
When the opponent acted, she moved her bishop then picked up her knight in advance.
"We can lend ignoring credit. They'll do business well on their own. This agenda is done."
She placed the knight on the chessboard.
"Tell me recent news. Bad news first."
"The Sky Island side trading company that was laying railway tracks at the port went bankrupt."
The demon spoke and became gloomy.
"Though the hawk faction's sky whale terrorism ended as a happening, the imperial bank lowered credit ratings of Sky Island trading companies using that as a reason and forcibly collected loans, so they went bankrupt without being able to do anything."
"That's too bad news..."
#
"Ah! Why! Demon!"
Pastel jumped hop hop in her pajamas.
Her hand almost reached the engagement portrait frames the demon was holding up high.
"Show me! Show me!"
『There's no need to look.』
The frames went up higher.
"Uwaa!"
Now I can't even reach near them!
"They're portraits that came for me to see!"
The pathos of potential fiancés who worked hard to please the great Marquis Craft...!
『Portraits sent for engagement are very beautified pictures. If you're fooled and exchange love letters or something, you'll only suffer heartache after getting married needlessly.』
I'm just looking at portraits, how far are you imagining!
"You mean demon will suffer heartache?!"
『Hmm.』
The demon didn't particularly deny it.
Uu!
Pastel trembled tremble tremble then shouted.
"That doesn't really matter!"
Just show me the engagement portraits!
『What did you say...?』
The demon was shocked.
Pastel took this chance to jump.
"Serious jump!"
Her light body flew up at once. She snatched the portrait frames and landed. The frames clattered together making noise.
"Phew!"
Actually it was a height I could easily snatch from, but I struggled to match demon's childishness!
She walked lulu lala leaving the frozen demon as is. When she piled the thin portraits on the bed, it was higher than her height.
"Ah~"
The fate of a popular person.
Engagement portraits sent regularly that demon didn't even tell me about and was disposing of just piled up this much when I simply collected them over time.
My popularity is burdensome sometimes~!
She collapsed onto the bed and grabbed a pillow. She set it up like a chair at the head of the bed and patted the space next to her pat pat.
"Demon! Demon! I'll specially grant you the honor of looking together!"
A chance that won't come again!
Only for demon!
『Hah.』
The demon walked over wearily. He checked for any dust on his formal pants then sat together at the head of the bed.
『Whatever you look at is false. Portraits only show what assets and prestige you have to employ good painters.』
"Yes yes!"
Pastel adjusted the backrest pillow and leaned on the demon. Her legs stretched out comfortably.
"Clap! Clap! It's portrait time!"
Clap clap! Clap clap!
"Demon! Demon clap too!"
『Hah.』
The demon neatly fixed the pink hair messily draped on his shoulder then raised his hands. Halfhearted claps continued.
Clap clap, clap clap.
"Good! First portrait!"
Pastel picked up a portrait.
A splendid human painting caught her eye at once.
Huk.
A peerless handsome man!
"Appearance evaluations aren't good, but he's an extremely handsome man!"
This much seems about 1.1 times demon!
Seems like a heavenly appearance that shouldn't exist in reality!
If I compare popularity levels, should I say about 0.8 times Pastel!
The demon frowned.
『This is too beautified even for beautification. It's better not to pay attention to such opponents. There's no truth in the relationship.』
Is it to that extent?
Like how it's good to do skincare if you want romance, isn't it polite to beautify the painting style a bit if you're going to give a portrait?
Well I don't know the customs here!
"Then I'll pass on this!"
She picked up another portrait.
"Wow! This person is a peerless handsome man too...!"
Seems about 0.9 times Pastel's popularity level!
Immediately breaking the record!
『There's nothing to see. Not even an inch of truth. It's right to skip this too.』
"Pass! Pass!"
Pastel waved her arms and giggled.
Looking at portraits with demon is fun.
Hehe.