Demon King – Chapter 296 – Under the Night Sky

(tn: Extra long chapter!)

Hearing Eiru’s explanation, Yuki finally let out a breath of relief—good thing they weren’t already together, or he really would have had no chance…

“But back to what I asked. Does she like you?” Yuki still cared about this. After all, there is a big difference between a hypothetical rival and a confirmed one.

“No lying, okay? You know that if you try to fudge it, I’ll see right through you…” Yuki wore a half smile that made Eiru a little flustered.

“I I I…” The little Demon Lord tugged at her hair, looking hopelessly torn.

“If I tell the truth, you can’t hit me, you can’t scold me, and you especially can’t bully me…” She lifted her head a little. Seeing her so timid made Yuki feel both helpless and fond.

“Mm hmm, don’t worry…” He couldn’t help but smile bitterly at that. I dote on you as it is, how could I bully you?

“Actually, Yue Yue confessed to me…”

WTF? What? She already confessed? Yuki was stunned… Girls move that fast now? Then what was that business about faking a couple?

“But she likes the me who’s a boy, so I didn’t accept.”

“I see…” Yuki suddenly showed a wicked smile. “Then do you like her?”

Hearing that, Eiru froze. That was a kill question. This guy was a lie detector calibrated just for her. How was she supposed to answer?

If she said she liked Yue Yue, well, the Demon Lord had to admit the girl fit her tastes. She was pretty, had a cute personality, was kind to others and most of all, truly had feelings for her. If not for the fact that her real body was that of a girl, she might have accepted the confession already.

“I… I like her…” Blushing, the little Demon Lord answered honestly. There was no getting around him anyway.

“But it’s not that kind of feeling. It’s the… good friend, good sister kind of like!” She waved her hands, terrified he would treat her like a rival in love and tear her to pieces.

“Alright now, good girl… I get it. Let’s go buy the stuff.” Yuki scooped up the panicking girl, patted her back, and started toward the school shop with her in his arms…

——Dividing Line——

After they bought things and returned to the dorm, Yuki sat in his chair, replaying their conversation in his head. Looking now at her playing around with Jiaqi and the other two, he felt like a hole had been dug in his chest…

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Yuki knew his best friend was dense about her own affairs. So whether Yue Yue meant to pursue her as she was now was still hard to say…

Before, that girl had said she probably liked boys. But just now she also said that if Yue Yue pushed again to date, she would probably agree. How could Yuki not panic at that?

Add to that Jiaqi showing similar intentions. Compared to the two of them, Yuki felt he had no advantage at all. Not for any special reason, just because of what Jiaqi said earlier—they were too close.

“Hey. Why are you spacing out?” Noticing him staring like he was contemplating life, the little Demon Lord hopped over and smacked his shoulder hard…

“Ah? No, it’s nothing… I’ll shower first.” Yuki stood, grabbed his clothes, and headed for the balcony.

“Emmmmm…” Watching his back, Her Majesty tilted her head in confusion. Why did he look like someone who had just been abandoned?

By the time Yuki finished showering, only the girl hadn’t showered yet. After she went in, Yuki teamed up with Jiaqi to take down a certain someone who tried to peek. ¹ moshimoshi keisatu desuka?

But Yuki’s mood was still heavy. After handling that, he had no desire to hang around. Telling Jiaqi to keep an eye on things, he gave a quick bye to the other two and went up to the dorm rooftop to clear his head…

The cool breeze on the roof did ease him a little. But the same question kept circling in his mind—when would be the right time to tell Lu brat how he felt?

If he rushed it, not only would his chances of success be low because he hadn’t cultivated their feelings enough, but his existing relationship with her would also be significantly impacted. If he waited too long someone else would swoop in and snatch her first. Either way, he hated both outcomes…

He didn’t know how long he had stared at the stars. With a sigh, Yuki was about to turn back when he suddenly felt someone’s arms wrap around his neck from behind.

The small body pressed against him was too familiar to mistake. This silly girl. Why wasn’t she staying in the dorm? How did she run out here again?

“What are you doing out here? And what are you wearing?” Yuki turned, ready to pinch her cheeks, but widened his eyes at her outfit…

Floating in midair, the little Demon Lord wore the same trendy set from the day she revealed her identity. Cool and cute, with a hint of a teasing aura. Yuki’s eyes could hardly leave her.

“Didn’t you say I looked good in this? You looked down, so I dressed up to cheer you up~” Eiru did a little spin in the air as if showing off, then slipped her arm through his.

“Are you wearing panties?” Yuki joked, ruffling her hair.

“Nope… Just kidding.” Seeing his face immediately darken, the little Demon Lord stopped being cheeky and quickly corrected herself…

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“Good. You have zero sense of caution.” He tapped her forehead. After being teased by this adorable girl, Yuki’s mood lightened.

“So. What’s on your mind? I told you, if you have worries or ideas, you can tell me. I’m your good bro after all.” Holding her head, Eiru suddenly floated up and sat astride his shoulders like riding a horse, leaned down and hugged his head…

“Hey. Aren’t you afraid you’ll fall?” Afraid she would slip, Yuki raised his hands and held the legs that draped down his chest.

He had to admit, the two legs under the mismatched knee-high socks were criminal. ² yuki is a criminal 😀 As a total leg fetishist, Yuki couldn’t resist giving her thigh a couple of squeezes. The feel of the stockings was just too addictive.

“Hey hey hey, were you just copping a feel?” The little Demon Lord rapped his head in protest. “Even you can’t just touch my legs whenever you want.”

“I’ve touched them plenty already…” Yuki teased with a grin. “But you’re right. I do have something on my mind.”

“Then spill it. Maybe I can help with a plan? Let me guess. You’re upset because you can’t win over the girl you like, right?” She joked, squeezing his neck lightly with her legs, making him blush.

“Sigh… How do I say this?” Yuki calmed himself, then lightly patted Eiru’s thigh to tell her to behave.

Mischief aside, she knew when to read the room. She went still, as she wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her cheek on his head. It was hard not to marvel at how soft this girl was…

“The girl I like has always treated me as just a good friend. We’re so familiar with each other that she has zero romantic feelings for me.”

Oh. So that was Yuki and Yue Yue’s relationship. The little Demon Lord listened quietly, parsing information between the lines. ³ Eiru, you’re parsing jack shit.

“And now there are several people who want to pursue her like I do. I’m terrified they’ll beat me to it…” Yuki looked toward the far buildings with complicated emotions in his eyes.

“You just don’t want to hand the person you like to others… so why not just confess before them?”

“It’s not that simple. Like I said, we’re too close and know each other too well. She would never even think I would chase her.” Yuki paused, then continued.

“If I confess without building up romantic feelings, she likely won’t accept. If it were only a no, then that’s fine. But I’m afraid it would damage what we have now, and then we couldn’t even be friends.”

“I see. That is tricky…” Eiru shifted her weight back a little, rested her chin on his head, and thought about solutions.

“So you’re afraid a failed confession would cap your favorability and you won’t be able to go back to your former relationship.”

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“Yeah… And compared to me, the other two have huge advantages. One of them is strong enough that if he just all ins, he will definitely win. So I’m really nervous.”

“Seems being too close isn’t always a good thing…” Sitting astride his shoulders, Her Majesty the Demon Lord also found the situation thorny.

“So, Lu Brat, do you have any advice?” Yuki sounded her out. Her opinion and stance mattered most to him.

“For me, I think confessions need preparation. You need to build up a foundation of affection before you can actually make your move… But right now you’re in too much of a passive position. You can’t keep dragging this out.”

“So?”

“So you have to gamble. As soon as possible, pick a good time and ask her out to lay your feelings bare. In your situation, there’s basically no choice.” Eiru’s tone turned serious. This concerned her best friend’s life, and she did not dare be flippant.

“But… what if she says no?”

“Then there’s nothing for it. If you don’t push forward now, then once she gets a boyfriend she will distance herself from you anyway.” The little Demon Lord shook her head. There was no perfect answer here.

“Think about it. If you go for it and lose, you may be distanced. But if you don’t and someone else gets there first, you will be distanced anyway. Either way you lose. If you go for it, at least there is a sliver of a chance. And even if you lose, maybe she’s generous and keeps being friends.”

Listening to her analysis, Yuki fell into thought. He had to admit she made sense. He was convinced to a degree.

“Also, Stupid Yuki, have some confidence. With your qualities, I really don’t think many girls would turn you down.” The little Demon Lord floated off his shoulders and hovered in front of him, poking his chest with a finger with an exasperated expression. ⁴ Oh you’re one to talk.

“Don’t forget that mountain of love letters. You have no idea how attractive you look to others. A guy like you who’s rich, handsome, good tempered, and knows how to care for people is rare.”

Eiru honestly didn’t think Yue Yue would ruthlessly reject Yuki. Even if Yue Yue preferred the male version of herself, she had backed off because she was a girl, so there should still be room…

Her male self wasn’t ugly, but compared to Yuki although it wasn’t quite like a duck to a phoenix, she was at least a small sparrow next to him.

As someone who outshone Eiru in every way, the little Demon Lord thought that Yuki and Yue Yue looked like a good match. A handsome boy and pretty girl; with both of them kind. A natural pair.

Thinking like that, Eiru felt things weren’t as dire as he said. As someone close to both sides, as long as she played the bridge and promoted their relationship, it would probably work.

“Relax. I’ll go all out to support and help you. In the next few days I’ll butter her up and keep singing your praises. She’ll fall for you sooner or later.” With a plan forming, Her Majesty the Demon Lord was confident. As a mutual friend, she would love to see them together. ⁵ You idiot

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“Her? You know who it is?” Yuki was stunned. Was this girl imagining things again like last time?

“Of course. It’s Yue Yue… I’m not competing with you. And I think only you can give her the happiness she deserves.” Hands on hips, the little Demon Lord wore a smug look. I’m smart, right? Praise me.

Meanwhile Yuki stood there speechless. I give up. You are truly a talent.

“You set the time for the confession. Just tell me roughly in advance. And listen, girls love romance. You must choose the time and place well.” Seeing Yuki stunned, and thinking she had guessed right, Her Majesty the Demon Lord got even more pleased with herself.

“For example… like right now, under the starry sky on the rooftop. That’s perfect.” Eiru pointed at the sky and offered a very constructive suggestion.

“Anyway, do it soon. You must move before anyone else, got it?”

“Yeah. You’re right.” Yuki smiled in relief. He knew what to do next.

“Good. Then I’ll head back first~” Seeing his look, Eiru knew the knot in Yuki’s heart was untied, so she turned to drift back to the dorm to goof off.

“Hm?” Just as she floated a bit away, Eiru felt someone grab her hand.

“What now? Do you want me to keep you company?” The little Demon Lord frowned in puzzlement.

“Eiru…” Yuki tugged her in front of him and set his hands on her shoulders with a solemn and serious expression.

“H-Hey, what are you doing?” Seeing that expression, the little Demon Lord had a hunch. He was about to say something big.

Under the serene night sky dotted with brilliant stars, two figures were illuminated by gentle moonlight. Yuki took a deep breath, and poured all his feelings into the three most important words of his life…

“I love you…”

Translator Note

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