"How did you find me?"
The question hung in the air, spoken by both Ryn and Olivia at the exact same time. An awkward, heavy silence followed.
Ryn's mind raced. He remembered a minor subplot in his novel—a group of "mob" demons who had infiltrated the academy to scheme with Class D. They were low-level fodder, easily discovered and executed halfway through the first arc.
I wrote them to be slaughtered, Ryn thought, a chill running down his spine. But seeing Olivia standing here... she's not just a sentence in a notebook. She's real.
Olivia was the first to break the silence, her eyes filled with a mixture of awe and intense curiosity. "My Liege, how did you escape the Demon Realm? The reports said the castle had fallen."
"It was... tough," Ryn answered vaguely, his heart hammering. He didn't want to get involved with demon politics, but as a Demon Prince, he had no choice.
"But more importantly, how did you find me here?"
"My Liege, I placed a tracker on your soul when you were a mere child. Have you forgotten?" Olivia tilted her head. "I sensed your presence the moment you stepped onto academy grounds."
"Right... the tracker," Ryn lied smoothly. "I suppose I've forgotten quite a bit. My memory has been... fractured since the escape."
"Oh, My Liege! You must have endured such suffering!" Olivia's voice rose in a tragic wail.
"But do not fear. We will take back everything that was stolen from us!"
"Shhh!" Ryn hissed, glancing at the door.
"Keep your voice down! If anyone hears a woman in my room, I'm finished before the first day of class even starts." He leaned in closer. "Are there others like you here?"
"No. I am the only one who has successfully infiltrated the academy," Olivia whispered, her fangs retracting as she regained her composure. "But the others are waiting in our secret base. Would you like to inspect your troops, My Liege?"
If things go south in the S-Class, I'll need a backup plan, Ryn reasoned. Even if these guys are destined to die, they're my only shield right now.
"Fine. Lead the way. But how are we going to get out without being caught?"
Olivia smiled, a predatory glint returning to her eyes. Her form shimmered, and her red eyes went dull, making her look like a perfectly ordinary academy maid.
She gestured for him to follow. They moved through the shadows of the dormitory until they reached a secluded balcony.
Without warning, Olivia transformed. In a flurry of shadows, she became a massive, dark-winged bat. Before Ryn could protest, she scooped him up.
"Hold on tight, My Liege," she chirped. "And try not to shake, or you might fall."
Ryn squeezed his eyes shut and gripped her fur. No wonder the original author—me—had these guys caught. A giant bat flying out of the S-Class dorms? It's a miracle they aren't dead already!
The base was less of a fortress and more of a nightmare.
Located deep within the capital's sprawling sewer system, the air was thick with the stench of rot and waste.
Injured demons lay on damp stone, their eyes hollow. Seeing that they were finally in a "safe" zone, Ryn decided to drop his human mask.
[Transform]
His brown hair bled into a striking, ethereal white. His eyes turned the color of fresh blood, and a two, jagged black horn erupted from his forehead. The power of the Malverkor bloodline flickered, though it was still weak.
"I-Isn't that...?"
"The Prince! The Prince has come for us!"
The sewers erupted in ragged cheers. Demons rushed toward him, some weeping as they collapsed at his feet. Ryn felt a strange weight in his chest—was it the Demon Prince's lingering emotions, or his own guilt for writing them into this mess?
Olivia led him to a deeper chamber. It still smelled of the sewers, but it had been cleared out. In the center sat a throne made of black iron, salvaged from some ruin.
It was beautiful, dark, and perfectly fitting for a king.
Ryn stepped forward, the system flickering in his peripheral vision as he took his seat. He crossed his legs and rested his chin on his hand, his red eyes glowing in the gloom.
___________________________
[System Update]
Charisma: F \rightarrow F+
___________________________
Four demons stood before him, their auras heavy and suffocating. Olivia took her place among them. A massive warrior with scales on his face and long, curving horns stepped forward first.
"My Liege, Olivia tells us your memory is clouded. Allow us to introduce ourselves again," the demon boomed. "I am Adorn, a Fire Dragon. Though I was unable to hold the front lines in the Realm, I would gladly offer my life to see you return to the throne!"
I don't remember writing a Fire Dragon, Ryn thought, keeping his face like stone. And why would you give up your life, you idiot? I need you alive!
Next to Adorn was a figure draped in white cloth, his face a void of absolute darkness.
"I am useless, My Liege," the figure whispered, his voice sounding like dry leaves.
"I am a nobody... a speck of dust. Please, do me the honor of killing me if I offend your sight."
Okay, I'll just call him 'Blacky,' Ryn decided. He's a real downer.
Finally, the last demon stepped forward. She was a woman with ebony skin, light blue cat ears, and a tail that lashed with excitement.
Her chest was... distracting, to say the least, overflowing from her tight leather armor.
"My Liege!" she chirped.
Before Ryn could react, she lunged. It wasn't an attack—it was a tackle.
"Oof—!"
Ryn was knocked clean off the throne. He hit the ground hard, his head disappearing into the "Barbarian's" massive chest.
Between the impact of the fall and the sheer hunger he'd been suppressing all day, his vision swam.
The world went black.
...
"How could you do that to My Liege, you barbarian!?"
"I was only greeting him! It's an expression of love!"
"Please... keep your voices down..."
Ryn's eyes fluttered open. The first thing he felt was something soft beneath his head. He was lying on the "Barbarian's" lap.
"M-My Liege! Are you okay?" Olivia asked, her face a mask of panic and relief.
Adorn and the others hovered over him, their faces filled with worry. Ryn tried to speak, but his throat was dry. He didn't care about the throne, the academy, or the rebellion.
"F... f..."
"Quiet! My Liege is speaking!" Adorn roared.
Ryn looked up at them with desperate eyes.
"F-Food... I need food, you bastards..."