Chapter 7 (3): Graduation and coronation
"Damnit, it's that time already?! FUCK! WHY NOW OF ALL TIMES?!?!" (Ryuu)
"What's going on? Why are demons here, and why is Ryuu acting like she knows what's going on?" (Ren)
"The hall hath been prepared, thy current attire matters not. All that is needed is for you to come, your majesty. Today marks the day that Miryuu Maou, the seventeenth Dem-" (Demon A)
"ENOUGH. I'll come, so you don't need to give the long speech. To you all, my fellow students, I guess, this is where I must leave, slightly early... Please, do watch, however. It's the least I can do for you. However, please don't talk about this if you don't need to, and think about who you do tell it to" (Ryuu)
I created a tiny portal that showed the throne hall of the Demon Lord's castle, and used light magic to project it so that everyone could see as wind magic made it such that they could all hear what was said. After that, I went with the four into the rift they created, and we moved to a prep room, where my clothes were changed out for a very... risque dress. Is this what passes for high-class now? It was even made for someone with breasts larger than mine, so I had to make mine change to fit, unless I wanted it to fall off of my body and reveal everything. A few minutes after I was brought, I moved out of the room and into the throne hall.
***** Student's PoV *****
What's going on? Why... why did demons... suddenly appear, and act as if they knew Ryuu? What was with that name they called her? Why did she go with them? What are we supposed to be watching? It looks like a throne room, the center aisle lined with demons, elves, dwarves, and very few humans, if any. Where is she?
"What... can someone explain what the fuck is happening?" (Ren)
"Watch and see. I think I know, and if I'm right, you really don't want to miss this" (Charlotte)
"It's... a once... in a lifetime... event... no... rarer than that... the last one... was... ten thousand years ago... so... if you miss this... your descendants... will never stop haunting you... or something like that" (Elise)
Once in ten thousand years? What the hell could that be?
"Ah, there she is. Uh... wow... that's... less fabric than a child's glove in total... maybe you shouldn't look" (Mae)
"Nah, it's fine. That's actually more covering than some of the other people there have" (Charlotte)
"Some of them... are literally naked... so... that's not saying... all that much" (Elise)
While they were talking, a girl... no... Ryuu... walked up the center aisle, but there was something different about her, besides the clothes. First, her breasts... were a lot bigger. However, that was less noticeable to the non-perverts than the fact that she had wings and horns. Ryuu... is a demon? While I was thinking about that, she reached the end of the isle and sat down on an ornate throne as though she belonged there.
[On this day, we do thus crown, the next Demon Lord. Here we now have, the seventeenth Demon Lord, Miryuu Maou, daughter of Diablo Maou. With this, our time to extract vengeance upon those filthy humans and their abhorrent society for the murd-] (Demon standing next to the throne that Ryuu sat upon)
As those in this courtyard gasped at the demon's declaration of war, as well as the fact that Ryuu is the Demon Lord, the demon's voice was cut off by Ryuu's hand gripping his throat, though she released it almost instantly.
[I would like to say something. I have no intention of going to war with the human lands. Just as some of us, like this fool here, view humans as nothing more than a blight upon the land, they view us the same way. I am not going to let this cycle of hatred and fear continue. I seek to change their minds through peace, not force. Besides, three of my lovers are half human, so I know they are not all bad, and I don't wish to kill those who did nothing wrong. I've already taken the first few steps towards a peaceful coexistence and cooperation with the human lands, and I think it past time for us to start to deal with our own problems. Those problems include the radical faction that seems to have been running rampant in the time when I was away. If there are those who oppose peace, they can only be seen as traitors trying to undermine my authority and go against my policies, and will be dealt with as such. I did not wish for this title, but as I have it, I shall do what I think is right, and that includes removing the radical faction, by force if need be. The king of the human lands is doing the same with the church that spreads the falsehood that demons create and control the magical beasts in the name of a nonexistent God of Light, one who took the name from the first seat of the demon generals, Lars] (Ryuu)
Few, if any, of us heard much more than that, as we were all reeling from learning that we had been in school together with the Demon Lord, some of us trying to flirt with her. Most had trouble thinking that the kind, helpful girl who was good at everything and used that skill to help others could also be the Demon Lord said to bring nothing but trouble to the world. Charlotte, Mae, and Elise were the only ones calmly standing there, and they bore expressions that said they were thinking "as expected of Ryuu" but, after a while, we began to focus on the ceremony again.
[... so hate me if you wish. Try to kill me, I'll take you on whenever and wherever you wish. I don't care about that, if it means you will accept peace. However... leave innocents out of it. That means our civilians, civilians in the human lands, and those whose only crimes are being related to an object of hatred. That means that those who wish to kill me should attack me and me alone. Don't drag my lovers into this. Those who try to kill me will be suppressed the first time, left injured the second, and maybe die the third. Those who drag others into it, however, die, or they will live to suffer for a long time. Now, I actually have a life outside of being the Demon Lord, so I wish to get back to that, as I believe that everything that needs to happen has happened] (Ryuu)
A demon in a butler's uniform moved forward, waved his hand, and a rift appeared in front of Ryuu, as well as one appearing near us.
[I still need to learn how to create these, actually... I'll have to delve into the Eternal Library some more] (Ryuu)
With that, she stepped through the rift, and appeared next to us, as the magic she had used to let us watch vanished.
***** Normal PoV *****
Ahh... that was stressful as all hell... I wish I had some warning beyond a vague "sometime relatively soon" which could mean anywhere from a few weeks to a few decades to a demon. Wait... I'm still wearing... this... outfit... that covers next to nothing...
"So, what did you all think? I didn't want to reveal it this way, but circumstances beyond my control forced my hand. Do you plan to spread rumors? I won't stop you if you plan to do so, but... What I said was true. I didn't want the title, but I was forced into the role at birth. I also have no plans to harm people just because of who they may be or their ideologies, unless they put said ideologies to action and try to harm others. Demons, and the Demon Lord, have nothing to do with the number or actions of magical beasts. I mean, we kinda do, actually, but the effect I, at least, have on their numbers is to reduce them by killing them whenever they attack, and the effect I have on their actions is to make them attack me over others. Many other demons are the same. Still, I would like to be able to live a normal life, or at least, a life that's not full of people changing their attitudes because of my being the Demon Lord... Also, to more than just a few of you... Enjoying the view?" (Ryuu)
I made no attempt to cover myself, as that would only add to their excitement, I think. As most of the important parts were covered to an acceptable degree, I wasn't feeling much because of it. I did, however, hide my wings and horns, and Ver (in her large wyvern form) moved around to my back and covered me somewhat with her wing.
"I see no reason to spread rumors, as those would need to be ingrained into the facts that you just stated, which is damn near impossible. Therefore, I will do nothing about this" (Ryan)
Several others agreed with him, and soon, only a few were still considering it.
"I... I don't know what to think... my father is a priest, my mother a priestess, so I was raised to think that demons were all evil beings... but... I like you, I found you to be a good person these last six months... and now... I don't know..." (Girl)
"The only rumor I want to spread is about how pretty you are, but even that I'm not sure about. I'd rather be one of the only ones to know that truth, and have time to woo y-" (Boy)
"Mind if I remind you that I have five female lovers and not a single male one? What does that say about your chances of success in wooing me?" (Ryuu)
"I know of three... who are the others?" (Ryan)
"A B rank adventurer who will be joining my party later today, and then..." (Ryuu)
[And then, there's me] (Ver)
Everyone looked at the large wyvern behind me, and then most laughed or looked surprised, a few with open jaws.
"Ah... I didn't know you had a thing for large flying lizards as well as pretty girls..." (Boy)
[If you'd like to see, I could become a pretty girl. You'd figure it out on your own within a few weeks or months, no doubt, as I wouldn't be in this form while in Ryuu's party, but I'd still have the same name] (Ver)
Ver shifted into her human form, aged 12 for some reason, and had her massive melons bared for all to see, as she forgot to wear her armor yet again. She didn't seem to notice, which also didn't surprise me.
"As I was saying, I can become a pretty girl if I want to. Any problems with my being Ryuu's lover now?" (Ver)
"Nope... none..." (one of the many boys with nosebleeds)
"Ver... you might want to wear something... you're kinda naked right now" (Ryuu)
"I'm only showing slightly more skin than you are, you know" (Ver)
"You're right... But my clothes aren't here right now, whereas you have yours with you" (Ryuu)
"Both of you! Get. Dressed. Now" (HM)
The two of us ran to our room, and Char, Mae, and, to a lesser extent, Elise, were left to answer some of the questions, most of which I learned were ones they didn't answer, such as "So, what would you say is Ryuu's weak spot?" and "Who in the harem has the most stamina?" as well as ones I wished they didn't answer but they did, such as "Are Ryuu's breasts firm or soft?" and "What would you compare the size and shape of her breasts to?", the given answers to which were "Extremely soft" and "Small melons with the shape of a goddess's tears" respectively. The headmistress was just watching, and waiting for my return.
"Uh... last question that I have... how soft are Ver's breasts?" (Perverted boy who'd asked several other things)
"Far softer than your dick is right now, but not as soft as it's going to get really soon... like, around the time I cut it off? I really don't appreciate those who ask people about a third party's body, especially when the person asked and/or the person asked about are part of my harem. Of course, if they are both fine with the question, I'd be okay with your asking, but..." (Ryuu)
"I dislike that question. Ryuu, Char, Mae, Elise, and Tuare are the only ones I want to have know that information. In any case, I believe that the graduation ceremony hasn't yet finished, right? Our room didn't go through the process, thanks to that interruption" (Ver)
"Oh, right... Well, let's get this over with. Ryuu will be graduating with the rank of A, Char, Elise, and Mae with the rank of B, Ver, surprisingly, is also a B rank... Anyways... If I recall correctly, the four of you all wish to go around on adventures, helping those in need and having fun? Sorry, five of you, with Ver, and six when Tuare gets added into the mix. Still, am I wrong?" (HM)
"No, you are not wrong, so far as I know" (Ryuu)
"Nothing to say here" (Mae)
"You are correct" (Char)
"I would... say the same... as them..." (Elise)
"If Ryuu's going, it'll be fun for me!" (Ver)
"In that case, I think that this is about it for today. As of now, you are all officially adventurers. I'd suggest you stay with your group if you don't have other plans, and to try to get some experienced adventurers to help you, at least at first, and to teach you what we couldn't. You can stay in your rooms for the next week, but after that, I expect the room to be in as good a state as it was, or better than it had been, when you first came here" (HM)