Chapter 10: A Demon King Moves Forward

Professors came and left. Discussions among students during interactive sessions. While all of this was going on, Kuro kept a level head as though nothing was amiss. Nothing was amiss? Something was very much amiss—at every point in time, from the corner of his eye, he could see Irina.

Coincidence? He thought not.

Surely, all this was part of some elaborate scheme. And he was no less prepared for anything that she could possibly be plotting.

In the next couple of hours, Kuro would be done for the day.

He continued observing Irina, watching as she interacted with the other students. She did not let her “foreignness” affect her one bit, and everyone around admired her for it.

Still, he wouldn’t be fooled. He could see right through it.

Finally, the day had ended. It was time to return home.

Kuro, Hisashi, and—unsurprisingly—Irina, exited the faculty building. Kuro’s bag was slung across his shoulder as usual. Hisashi had his compact backpack—with yet another illustration of a choice anime character in line art—behind him. And for Irina, she clutched a bag with both hands that strongly resembled a black briefcase.

“Kuro, we should totally check out the new movie of that one manga this Saturday,” Hisashi said, smiling at Kuro while glancing subtly at Irina. “I heard Studio Cones would be animating it.”

For the first time in a while, Kuro finally spoke up. “They are? Sure thing. This Saturday, then.”

Hisashi quickly peeked beside Kuro to see the mute Irina. “Wanna come? It’d be fun.”

Kuro wanted to shake his head. His friend’s forwardness truly knew no bounds…

“O-oh?! I am sorry. I believe I would be occupied at that time…” Irina lowered her gaze as she said that.

“For real? Damn, bummer. There’s always next time.” Hisashi nodded reassuringly, giving her his best smile.

Kuro couldn’t believe Hisashi was trying to socialize with the one who’s possibly his greatest enemy. But, then again…it was Hisashi…

● ● ●

The three of them arrived at the college gates. They each threw a quick greeting at the old security guard who was stationed there.

“See ya later, Kuro, Irina!” Hisashi called out, waving, as he headed to his left. “And don’t forget to hop online tonight for a game of Caverns & Wyverns!”

“Don’t worry! I won’t,” Kuro yelled back, and at the same time, he didn’t. He had raised his voice, yes, but it wasn’t like he was straining it. Irina could not put her finger on the origin of that powerful—yet gentle—presence Kuro exuded.

Kuro was about to start walking to his right when he noticed Irina, deep in thought.

“Umm… You good?”

“…Yes, I was just thinking about a pressing matter.”

What she thought about was indeed important: where would she be living in the meantime?

There was the option to just fly back to her home in Russia, then return whenever she needed to for lectures and the like. But that would not be very efficient. It would be for the best if she was based in Tokyo for the time being.

“Please do not worry about me. I will be heading home now,” Irina added, smiling warmly.

The smile put Kuro in a brief daze—he snapped out of it remembering her true identity. That still didn’t change the fact that she truly was charming—

“Alright. As long as you’re good. See you around,” Kuro told her as he walked off.

Kuro immediately used Aura Pulse to monitor Irina’s position as he headed home. A necessary precaution. He kept it up till he was well out of range, far away from the college’s vicinity.

A part of him wondered why Irina had remained immobile, just standing where she was throughout his movement.

Strange… he thought.

He remembered he needed to have a serious talk with Talmarius on the events that transpired today.

Then, something undesirable happened.

“Lord Kuro!”

Kuro almost flinched at the sound of the voice, knowing what he was in for…

● ● ●

Ignoring the voice calling out to him, Kuro hastened his steps—

“Lord Kuro!!”

The voice was growing louder, drawing closer.

Kuro needed to hurry on out of the area—

“Lord Kuro?!!”

Suddenly, Kuro halted. That was the most viable option at the moment.

The owner of the voice—a girl who didn’t look much younger than Kuro.

Straight raven black hair with streaks of amethyst draped a little bit past her shoulders. Her eyes were an alluring shade of violet. By any standards, she would be classified as beautiful. Lips redder than a rose parted, and she spoke her next words. “I’ve been trying to call you, Lord Kuro!”

“Shhh…” Kuro shushed, holding a finger up, eyes darting left and right. “We’re in public…”

As she turned her gaze, she could see the uncomfortable stares from onlookers. Kuro’s expression went dour, aware that they must be thinking he had some weird kink.

This girl was Yuka Enka, one of his oldest companions. And here she was, dressed in her light grey jeans, and t-shirt that was only a shade brighter than her hair.

To any outsider they would look like a couple. But, between the facts that she was only a year younger than himself—she being seventeen—and him knowing her for a substantial amount of time, he started to see her more in the light of a little sister.

A hard-headed, often insufferable, little sister.

If he ushered another warning on the subject, it would make this the one thousandth time he’d done so. He had told her to not address him like that in public—not in private, either, for multiple reasons…

“It’s dangerous to meet out in the open like this,” Kuro warned, pointing a finger. “Why don’t you listen to me…?”

“How could I ever control myself around the mighty Demon King? The one I am sworn to serve, and…” She made a small squirming motion… “…the one I am betrothed to…”

“Stop bringing that up!” Kuro scolded, while she squealed.

Yuka had made this conjecture through a harmless conversation from eight years ago…

The two of them were playing in a field as the sun was setting. An ambitious Kuro pursued after the fleeing Yuka with fervor—he wasn’t planning on losing that game of tag.

“Can’t catch me, Lord Kuro,” Yuka teased, nimbly avoiding a swipe from Kuro’s arm.

“I’m gonna get you!”

Kuro was closing the gap, reaching for the edge of her blouse—

“Yuka? Kuro?” Mira beckoned. “How’s your duel going?”

“It’s going great. I’ve bested Lord Kuro!”

Kuro gnashed his teeth.

Mira smiled rascally, with the birth of a new initiative. “Well done, Yuka. You have managed a very great feat defeating Lord Kuro.”

Mira placed a hand over her mouth, trying to stifle a chuckle. Kuro watched on, distraught. Yuka had addressed him by that superfluous title so many times, his own mother started calling him that.

Kuro groaned in defeat.

It seemed Mira wasn’t done yet as she continued, “Don’t you think you deserve some kind of reward, Yuka?”

“Yes! A reward!” Yuka cheered gleefully before stopping herself. “But I can’t think of anything I want right now…”

“Is that so…?” Mira joked, glancing coyly at Kuro with a smirk. “I have a suggestion.”

Kuro shuddered. He was about to experience the other side of his mother.

“How does being engaged to Lord Kuro sound?”

An Ehh…?! boomed inside Kuro’s mind.

He had read some stories from the West in the past in which after a brave knight or hero rescued the princess, they’d often be offered her hand in marriage.

Why am I the one getting offered…?

As Kuro sulked, Yuka thought aloud. “E-Engaged?! To Kuro?!!”

She dropped the “Lord”? Kuro figured that it must have been quite the shock to knock her out of character like that.

“I-I mean, he isn’t all that interesting. And I’m sure he’d only wear me down. Would I even be happy m-marrying him?!”

Though Kuro was relieved, a part of him couldn’t help but feel insulted—a bruise to his ego, perhaps?

“But…” Yuka’s eyes relaxed as her countenance altered drastically. Her face turned a light red. “I-I guess I could agree to that… He’s not popular, so I may be the only person he could turn to. He’ll probably be helpless without me… Unless he’s okay staying alone forever—”

“JUST STOP!” Kuro yelled, promptly pursuing Yuka with a scary glint in his eyes.

Yuka shrieked as she evaded Kuro’s lunges, and Mira smiled from the depths of her heart at the sight of the two children being nothing but children…

Now…

“It wasn’t even like that! You’re twisting the facts, Yuka!”

“Oh my~ Lord Kuro, if anyone is twisting the facts, it would be you.”

As the two continued this back and forth, the people surrounding them had a wild variety of opinions.

Some felt envious that not only was he blessed with good looks, but he had a beautiful partner as well. Some felt pity, wondering how he’d settle this spat between lovers.

Others just enjoyed the drama from a fair distance.

But none would have known he was merely a Demon King, heading home, with a close friend in tow…