Clone-Asura tried to sit casually on the academy bed—hands in his lap, posture painfully polite—like someone who'd watched etiquette lessons instead of actually learning them.
Keith and Selene stood directly across from him.
Both suspicious.
Both staring.
Selene folded her arms.
"So… Asura."
Clone nodded too fast.
"Yes. Me. The Asura. Prince. Student. Totally normal demon prince child here. Mm-hm."
Keith's eyebrow slightly twitched.
"Let's start with something simple."
Clone swallowed.
"Oh no."
Keith leaned in slightly.
"Why were you sealed in a divine-class artifact meant for gods?"
Clone blinked.
"Excuse me wh—"
Selene's voice dropped, soft, dangerous.
"We were informed of only pieces of the incident. I want your version."
Clone panicked internally.
The real Asura never gave a script for "pretend to have been sealed by a divine relic while impersonating me."
He improvised. Badly.
"Well clearly I was sealed because uhh… because… I was… too handsome."
Selene stared.
Keith stared.
Clone kept going.
"You know—blinding charm, overwhelming beauty—dangerous levels of attractiveness—obviously needed containment—"
Selene blinked.
"…He really is Asura."
Keith nodded in tragic agreement.
"That stupidity is authentic."
Clone internally screamed, YES. NAILED IT.
Selene sighed, rubbing her temple.
"Honestly, I should have known. No illusion would choose such ridiculous phrasing."
Clone tried to look smug.
"Yes, well, I am uniquely ridiculous."
Keith's hand rested on his sword as he took a step closer.
"Where did the sealing artifact go after you escaped?"
Clone froze. Hard.
Crap.
He didn't know where the artifact went—only that the real Asura had tossed it somewhere that no longer existed.
Clone coughed.
"It is… um… resting. Peacefully."
Keith narrowed his eyes.
"Resting? Where?"
Clone whispered with dramatic importance—
"Somewhere… mysterious…"
Selene stared at him. Long… Very long.
"Why does that sound like he genuinely doesn't know?"
Keith actually looked impressed.
"He must've destroyed it. Only logical explanation."
Clone quietly fist-pumped behind his back.
✦ Tailor Shop Chaos
Tailor Shop — Demon Realm Village
Bolts of enchanted fabric floated overhead.
Mana-thread gloves shimmered.
Combat dresses glowed with runic embroidery.
Every mannequin looked like a battle-ready runway model.
Asura's eyes sparkled like a child in a candy store.
"Mary would LOVE THIS," he declared, holding a gothic silk dress that possibly had more lace than fabric.
Lucilla leaned in, examining the stitching.
"…Actually, she would. Good taste."
Rhazor pointed at a sign:
TAILOR — specializing in magical combat attire & noble formal wear
He whispered,
"Maybe don't mention 'noble' anything. We're undercover."
Asura nodded solemnly—then immediately pointed and shouted across the entire shop:
"EXCUSE ME, DO YOU HAVE PRINCESS-GRADE MATERIAL?!"
Several heads turned. Someone coughed. A mannequin rotated ominously.
Everyone turned.
Lucilla facepalmed.
Rhazor groaned.
The tailor, an elegant horned demon with silver spectacles, raised a brow.
"Princess-grade?"
Asura nodded furiously.
"For my instructor!"
The tailor blinked.
"…Your instructor?"
Lucilla internally screamed:
Please don't say Demon Academy. Please don't say Demon King's castle. Please don't—
Asura proudly:
"She's a Magi with terrible pajamas."
Rhazor slapped a hand over his face.
Lucilla whispered a tiny prayer to whoever was listening.
✦ Clothing Chaos
The tailor measured Lucilla.
Measured Rhazor's shoulders.
Then turned to Asura.
"…And how old are you, little demon?"
Asura puffed up—
"I am ag— I AM EIGHT."
Asura announced proudly.
Rhazor coughed to hide laughter.
Tailor nodded, unfazed.
"Very well. Eight."
Lucilla whispered to Asura,
"You're terrible at going undercover."
Asura pouted.
✦ Academy Interrogation
Clone Asura was sweating slime.
Keith crossed his arms.
"One last question."
Clone braced.
"Yes?"
Keith narrowed his eyes with dangerous seriousness.
"…Did you eat properly while sealed?"
Clone blinked.
"…what?"
Keith leaned forward.
"You don't skip meals. The Demon King would be furious if you weren't eating properly—"
Clone suddenly felt genuine panic.
He whispered in terror—
"…I… forgot to pretend to eat…"
Selene rushed over and held his shoulders.
"You poor thing!"
Clone melted inside.
What is happening—?!
Selene hugged him.
Keith nodded proudly like a father approving good behavior.
Clone stared at the ceiling, spiritually screaming.