The effects of the potion hit quickly and hard.
Just a few seconds after drinking it, Aio felt his head spinning, his body going weak and soft, and even his chest felt tight and swollen.
Wait, I can’t stay in these clothes, that’ll make people suspicious.
He hurriedly stripped off his clothes and tossed them aside before losing consciousness, then collapsed with a thud and blacked out.
***
Such a familiar sensation, it felt like drifting on the ocean, rising and falling with the waves.
After a few gentle tosses, it was as if a wave washed him ashore, and his senses slowly returned to his body.
It was familiar because this was how it felt when he was hit by a truck and sent to another world in the first place, a sense of rebirth and redemption.
But this time, she dared not open her eyes, because footsteps had entered the room.
“The last floor has been checked. No traps, and no sign of the Demon King, but… huh, why is there a girl here?”
A girl?
Looks like the Secret Potion worked.
But for some reason, even though this should be a wonderful thing, her heart felt strangely empty.
The rest of the Hero Squad followed up and asked from outside the door:
“A girl?”
“What kind of girl?”
“A very pretty girl. She’s so cute,” said the scout, the girl named Zero.
“And her chest is huge.”
No wonder my chest feels tight…
“That’s not what I asked, Zero. Did you notice anything unusual about her?”
“Not really. Does not wearing clothes count?”
A few minutes later, the Hero Squad gathered in the Demon King’s room.
Just as the girl had said, there was no Demon King, only a beautiful, cute, and unclothed girl with a big chest.
“So you’re saying the Demon King escaped using some unknown method, and deliberately left a stripped girl behind to slow us down?”
“From the scene, that really seems to be the case.”
“Why would the Demon King think this would work? He’s seen us before, he knows we’re all women.”
“Well, you never know~. Rumor has it, there are a lot of noble ladies in the King’s City who are into yuri these days. Not implying anything, but who knows if any of us~”
The conversation was getting a bit odd, when the calm, silent girl finally spoke up:
“Enough nonsense. Leah, go check her.”
Such a cool-headed statement.
The noisy discussion ended.
She heard someone step forward and whisper a light prayer: “O God, grant aid to our companions and mete out punishment to our enemies.”
A warm, gentle light fell upon her, making her feel cozy and comfortable.
“She’s human,” declared the Saintess.
That prayer, humans would be healed, but other races would be harmed.
It wasn’t very powerful, but it was a handy and accurate way to check someone’s identity.
Which meant, the Secret Potion worked perfectly!
Even though she was still in mortal danger, the thought of leading the Demon Race to technological revival made her unconsciously straighten her back in pride…
“Hey, look! Her chest just moved, is she about to wake up?”
Crap, quick, quick, what would a girl say upon waking up? Think…
“Hmm~”
“She’s awake, she’s awake! Hey, are you okay?”
A voice full of concern reached her ears.
The first thing she saw was a black-haired girl with a neat ponytail, dressed in a tight-fitting outfit, looking at her with genuine worry.
Her smile was so bright and sunny, but there was a small problem, she looked unfamiliar.
Aio had never seen her before.
Not the Swordswoman, not the Saintess, not the Magician…
Wait, it’s that sixth member!
Why does the sixth member have such a sunny smile?!
“You seem to have scared her,” the Magician girl tilted her head.
“It’s strange, she’s not afraid to stay naked in the Demon King’s Castle, but she’s scared now.”
“I… I was just so excited. I never thought someone would come save me. Oh, my name is Ella. I was captured by the Demon King years ago. Thank you for driving him away!”
Another new name for herself.
“I see.”
The girl in the tight outfit, Zero, smiled.
“Don’t be afraid. From now on, you’re free.”
Damn, she really is too sunny.
The Hero Squad didn’t seem suspicious of Ella’s words, since she’d already been checked as human. Besides, “capturing beautiful, cute, and busty girls” fit the Human Race’s stereotype of the Demon King.
“You’re really lucky,” the Magician girl said.
The blonde Saintess put her hands together: “It’s Divine Guidance.”
As if! It was the Demon Race’s secret technology, defying the will of the gods.
“So the Demon King escaped, huh.”
The Swordswoman walked further into the room, checking the windows and vents.
The Magician and Saintess followed, leaving only Zero behind to watch the girl.
“Do you have any clothes? You should get dressed first.”
“Okay… I have a small room next door.”
Ella got up from the floor, her body swaying a little.
Ugh, her chest felt so heavy.
There really was a room next door, a sunlit place for afternoon naps, complete with a wardrobe and mirror.
Inside the wardrobe was a Human girl’s outfit, prepared especially for the “Spy Plan.”
She never thought she’d be the one wearing it in the end.
Ella found the outfit in the wardrobe, a white button-up shirt and a coffee-colored short skirt.
It looked a bit like those anime school uniforms from her previous life.
It was a little tricky to put on, not sure if it just didn’t fit or what, but she managed to squeeze in and hurried to find a mirror.
“Ah…”
The killer, no, the sunny girl was right. She really was pretty.
In the mirror was a super cute beauty, with the ideal height and proportions for a young girl, and long, soft, pale pink hair like cherry blossoms from home.
Why shouldn’t Earth count as home, too?
Ugh, cute is cute, but isn’t this a bit too cute?
Ella reached out and pinched her own cheek.
It was soft and squishy, making her want to bully and adore herself at the same time.
She remembered what the person who handed her the Secret Potion had said: to ensure the success of the Spy Plan, they’d added ingredients to guarantee her appearance, even including the Succubus Bloodline Secret.
That made sense, but…
“So lacking in presence.”
Even her voice was soft.
Looking down, Ella suddenly noticed she hadn’t buttoned her collar properly, one button was missing, leaving a gap that showed a strip of snowy white skin, incredibly eye-catching.
She reached out to feel for the button, but couldn’t find it.
Maybe it was designed that way, or maybe it had popped off at some point.
But thinking about it, this actually… felt kind of imposing!
Right, right, size means presence! Demon Race, stand tall!
In the mirror, the cute girl straightened her slender waist, stuck out her chest, and lifted her chin, her proud curves thrust forward as if to display her boundless majesty.
Is… is this right?
Ella thought about it.
If someone saw a big white rabbit glaring at them, would they really feel a sense of presence or awe?
That can’t be right!
She stepped back from the mirror and collapsed onto the bed, a swirl of emotions in her heart.
To think that she, the mighty Demon King, after a lifetime of battles on this continent, had ended up like this.
Would she really have to spend the rest of her days as a busty girl, whimpering her way through life?
The Demon Race crowns its king through strength and builds its reputation through fame.
After today’s battle and with her current appearance, how could she ever return as the Demon King?
Even if she tried, no one would accept it.
“Miss Ella, are you dressed yet?”
The sunny voice of the killer girl called from outside.
“Don’t worry, if you need anything, we can help.”
Help?
You’re the ones who caused all this, what could you help with?
Can you help me return to my former glory?
…Can you?
Her ruby-like eyes spun with sudden inspiration.
Ella’s mind began to race.
If she could join the Hero Squad, with her wealth of life experience, tricking a few young people shouldn’t be a problem.
Once she had them under her control, not only could she avenge her humiliation, she could reclaim her throne.
“I’m dressed. I’ll be right out.”
Ella replied, sneaking a glance toward the door.
Should be fine, right?