Concept Stories - All Hail the Demon King - Chapter 3

The rest of the school day went like every other day. It was long and boring and I wanted to stick my head in a vice. I couldn’t help but keep shooting looks at the new girl. Thankfully, everyone else was shooting looks at her too, so I didn’t stand out. However, she also seemed to ignore most of the other students gossip. A few girls tried to talk to her, but her short answers quickly started to cause them to lose interest. By the end of the day, she was mostly alone.

This didn’t seem to diminish her popularity at all. Instead, the word goddess started being thrown around. Her aloof nature and beauty only caused the other girls to admire her, and for the boys to crave her even more. It made it that much sweeter that she had chosen me. I didn’t understand her reasoning, but I was extremely happy. Of course, my school day didn’t go as smoothly as I had hoped.

After telling Danny about me and the new girl, I decided to keep my mouth shut about it the rest of the day. That didn’t stop Danny though from blabbing to everyone that this is what I had said. This got me struck with several spitwads, and even a paper note tossed at me with a death threat.

Don’t lie or I’ll kill you!

That was one of the messages I had received. I also got many scornful looks. By the end of the day, Danny had repeated what I said to so many people, I was starting to think he believed me.

“Are you really going out with her?” Danny asked at the very end of the day.

It was quiet reading, and people weren’t supposed to be talking. Everyone was supposed to take a book and read, but the teacher was at their desk ignoring us, and the majority of the students took the time to quietly whisper. Addy was reading from a book, her eyes focused, seemingly oblivious to the people all looking and whispering about her. She really did seem like a goddess.

“I already said I was…” I responded back.

He stared at me for a moment, and then looked away. “Whatever. The other guys say your full of shit.”

“They can keep saying that.”

The final school bell tolled, and I took off from class before I attracted any more ire from my classmates. I raced to my locker, grabbed my stuff, and started racing to the exit. It was the number one trick to not get beaten up. As long as you were the first one out of school, the bullies wouldn’t be able to set up an ambush for you. I had even picked my locker at the beginning of the year with that intent. As a result, I had rarely gotten beaten up this year, which was different from previous years, although I was anxious this time because I never had a bounty on my head that would be as large as the one today.

Yet, after I had gone on a successful date with this girl they all called goddess, it would make any repercussions down the line completely worth it. Any hit they delivered would be a hit out of jealousy, and we both would know it. I yearned for that sweet victory.

The hallway was getting exit, but most people were still talking or getting their backpacks. My coast was clear and there was a direct line to the exit. I started the run, my eyes focused on the goal. I left the crowd, about to reach the exit when a hand came out and grabbed me. I was yanked into a nearby closet. I hadn’t even known that room was accessible, because it was always locked from what I could remember.

Before I could start worrying about getting beaten up, I smelled a sweet perfume. My eyes jumped up to the person who had grabbed me, and it was the last person I could have expected.

“Nina?”

“Hello, Set.” She spoke, her voice deep, but feminine.

Nina was the hottest and most popular girl in school. Every guy dreamed of dating her, and every girl wanted to be her. She had fiery red hair, plump pink lips, and a curvaceous body that seemed like it didn’t belong a girl who was only a teenager. Her charm level was so high that even male teachers chased after her, although that was just a rumor.

Compare to Addy, it was hard to say which girl was more beautiful. Addy was very pure, and gave off an angelic feeling that made you feel satisfied, while Nina felt much more tempestuous, fueling dark desires that left you wanting more. They were both desirable, but as many difference as they had, they also had a lot alike, including being called goddesses and being seen as untouchable by the boys of the school. Yet, at that moment, her hand was holding my arm, and on top of that, we were in a closet together.

The mere rumor of me dating Addy had already put me in danger. If it was known that I was alone with Nina like this, only death would await me. She had many followers who could be said to be loyal to the point of insanity. They would do anything for her, and I meant anything. If she crooked a finger, they would move. A girl once got on her bad side, and after she expressed her dissatisfaction, something happened and the girl had to sudden move to knew schools. No one ever knew what happened though, and that was what made it so terrifying.

“H-Hi…” I spoke, feeling extremely hot just being in the same room with her.

This girl had never spoken to me in the three years we had attended high school together. Why did she suddenly speak now.

“Rumor has it that you’re dating the new girl.” Nina pursed her lips sensually, her finger running up my chest.

She had long, lacquered nails, and it tingled as it moved across my skin. She seemed to use the perfect amount of pressure to leave a bit of sensation that lingered.

“Haaah…” My body shook at the physical contact. “Th-that’s… just a rumor. “

“Is it?” She asked, her eyes locked on my chest. “Are you sure about that?”

“O-of course! How could I be dating a goddess- like ahhh!” Her nail suddenly sliced, cutting my chest.

She looked up at me coldly, but then a slight smirk appeared on her face. “You shouldn’t date her. She’s bad news.”

I felt extremely confused. Nina was warning me away from Addy? I couldn’t even understand her thought process. Did it have to do with Addy? Or me?

“You knew Addy from before?” I asked, swallowing tightly as I rubbed where her nail had cut.

“I know her type.” She pursed her lips. “She doesn’t suit… a boy like you.”

Is it a status thing? Was she worried that if a goddess dated a mere mortal like me, then her status would be tainted? I really couldn’t understand Nina.

“Who would suit me?” I asked.

“Perhaps… me?” She quirked an eyebrow.

“Excuse me?” I was certain I had heard her wrong.

She suddenly turned her back on me. “You know, the Demon King is dead.”

I blinked, trying to follow her sudden change in conversation. “Y-yeah, I heard.”

“Things will be changing soon, both in the human and the demon realm. During periods of great upheaval also brings great opportunity, for those willing the seize it.”

“Did you really say that we should be-”

She turned and put a finger on my lips, stopping me from speaking further. “Just think on things carefully. There are two sides to every coin. Don’t forget what side you’re on… and whose standing next to you.”

While I was still trying to understand her words, she opened the door and stepped out in a swift motion. I was alone in the closet. Not wanting to be seen leaving right after her, I waited a few minutes. With a sigh, I stepped out. By this point, most of the hallways had cleared out. I headed out the exit and started the path home. After exiting the school, I took the first turn, and then stopped. Standing there were six guys, and as soon as they saw me, they all stood up.

I held up my hands. “Hey, guys, I don’t have any lunch money now. I’ll make sure to bring some tomorrow…”

“Word has it that you’re bespeeching the name of the school’s new goddess.” The one guy who remained sitting spoke quietly.

“Hey… Carlos… bespeech? Seriously? Have you been using a word-a-day-calendar?”

“Teach him a lesson, boys.”

“Awwww… fu-”

I put up a good fight, if by put up a fight means getting into fetal position and protecting my vital organs. My arms and legs got pretty beaten up, but I protected my nuts and stomach. They didn’t seem that in to it, thankfully, as they gave up about ten minutes after. When you made no noise and remained in a curled-up ball, they did tend to lose interest quicker.

“Come on, guys, let’s go. This looser ain’t worth our time.” Carlos grunted as he stood up and walked over to me.

“I’m not- aahhh!”

He kicked me in the stomach just as I was trying to unfurl. “Stay away from Addy. She’s going to be my new girlfriend. She just don’t know it yet.”

He spit on me, and the other five walked off with him. When they were out of earshot though, I let out a laugh. They didn’t really believe the warnings. I was just an example intended to warn anyone else hoping to take a shot. I knew this, because had Carlos known I was really going out with her, he wouldn’t have left me walking. In the end, I’d have the last laugh.