Liya originally thought that, as a “strategic partner” and the “Strongest and Evilest Barrier King,” Hera would provide her with the highest level of hospitality and wouldn’t dare to be negligent.
— But she never expected that on the day of the birthday celebration, Hera would suddenly change her tune!
“I am deeply sorry for this.”
Hera spoke the words of apology, but her face wore the pleased smile of someone watching a good show.
She clapped her hands, and a crow spirit attendant behind her stepped forward, holding a set of servant clothes made of coarse cloth — it was even the short-sleeved coarse linen style worn only by the lowest-ranking servants.
“Lord Demon King, there was a slip-up regarding the fake identity. For your safety, this inconspicuous wine-pouring servant identity is currently the most suitable for you. Although it is a bit of a grievance, for the sake of the big picture, you should be able to endure this small setback, right?”
“Since things have come to this, how about… you go to the guest room to change first?”
Hera reached out, a subtle and ambiguous smile curling the corners of her lips as she made an elegant “after you” gesture.
“Are you trying to humiliate me?” Liya tilted her head, her gaze sharp as a blade as she stared fixedly at Hera.
A slip-up?
Heh, even if there really was a slip-up, anyone with a shred of emotional intelligence would never arrange a “male servant” identity for the Demon King.
Therefore, only one possibility existed: this neurotic Shadow Mage was doing it on purpose.
She wanted to provoke her.
But why?
To force her to leave?
Or to enrage her so she would blow up on the spot?
The more Liya thought about it, the more suspicious it felt.
She suddenly had a premonition that many unexpected changes might occur tonight.
If this were back when she was still the Demon King, she would have turned tail and run under these circumstances, never putting herself in a potentially dangerous situation.
But now… she had the Hero by her side!
Regardless of what strange flavor this soup had tonight, she had to step up and taste it!
Otherwise — wouldn’t she have brought the Hero along for nothing?
“Heh, no matter what you have up your sleeve, I am definitely participating in this birthday banquet tonight!”
Liya struck the majestic pose of a Demon King and gave a contemptuous smile.
“Then please, suit yourself.”
Hera shrugged and turned away gracefully.
Liya certainly wouldn’t be discouraged or stop there.
She still had many things to do at tonight’s “Demon King’s Great Birthday Greeting,” and many surprises prepared for this Duchess who dared to provoke the Demon King.
A fake identity?
That couldn’t stop her!
“We’ll just knock out a lucky guest at random and then attend the banquet pretending to be them!”
Liya immediately came up with a wicked idea.
“That makes sense!” Joan nodded repeatedly.
Thus, the Demon King and her loyal Hero sneakily slipped into the castle and waited in one of the small common lounges.
Soon, prey arrived at the door…
Thwack.
“Ow…!”
A chubby male noble fell to the ground.
Liya held a wine bottle and looked at him, unable to hide her troubled expression.
‘I don’t have any problem playing a fat guy… but my Pupu’s total volume isn’t enough.’
“Then let’s change spots and wait for the next one?”
Joan suggested.
“Fine.”
Not long after, the two ill-intentioned figures were squatting in a prayer room, and the next victim followed closely behind.
“Oh God, please forgive my sins. I couldn’t help but lick a succubus’s feet just now. Please protect me so I don’t get athlete’s foot in my mouth… Ow — !”
Liya silently lowered the wine bottle and flipped the thin noble over.
She took a serious look, then closed her eyes and took a deep breath, grinding her teeth in frustration.
“How about this one?” Joan asked curiously.
“No, too ugly. I will never appear with a friend looking like this!”
Liya shook her head decisively.
One person and one Pupu moved from place to place, committing crimes in various locations, but the nobles they knocked out never met Liya’s standards.
Of course, appearance was secondary.
The main issue was their status.
If the identity was too low-level, many of the upcoming actions would be difficult to carry out.
But when one door closes, another opens.
While waiting in another spot, Liya and Joan happened to overhear some very useful information.
“Have you heard? Duke Narand from the neighboring territory is going to be late because the White Goose River was diverted. I heard he brought that daughter of his who has never made a public appearance… I’m really curious what she looks like.”
“Haha, she must be an ugly woman.”
“Most likely, but who knows?”
Two nobles walked past the wardrobe where Liya was hiding, chatting and laughing.
Liya was deep in thought.
Just as she was wondering if she could use this news, Joan’s voice, tinged with anticipation, came from beside her: “Lily, why don’t you play the Duke’s daughter?”
“Huh???”
Liya was shocked.
Her first instinct was to retort with something like ‘This King is a Male Demon, how can I play a woman?’
Fortunately, in the nick of time, her intelligence returned, and she slammed on the brakes before she could say those suspicious words.
Under the Hero’s curious gaze, Liya broke into a cold sweat.
She suddenly realized — that was close!
She almost exposed herself!
In Joan’s eyes, she was a female Pupu!
A female Pupu who didn’t care about so-called “manly pride”!
It was only normal for her to be more willing to play a “daughter”!
She must never show any rejection toward women’s clothing!
Otherwise, she would reveal the fact that she used to be a mighty man! At that time, the Hero’s mindless 1700-hit combo wouldn’t be far off!
“This, this… this isn’t good, is it? After all, I’m currently playing the role of Demon King Liya…”
Liya pretended to decline hesitantly.
But this boy, the Hero, had clearly developed a boring curiosity about ‘how cute my Pupu would be as a human girl.’
He said with strong hope in his voice, “It’s fine. I can help you carry your clothes. When you need the Demon King identity, you can just change back.”
“But…”
“Lily, please. Your friend really wants to see what Lily looks like as a human girl.”
“…”
Liya was speechless.
Little brother, since you’ve put it that way, how can I find an excuse to object!
Fine!
It’s not like I haven’t worn women’s clothes before anyway.
I’ve even been a pet Pupu; what’s one more stint as a “Duke’s daughter”?
Heh, small problem.
It’s a total non-issue.
It just so happens that I can increase the Hero’s favorability for the “Demon King Liya” image.
In the future, when I face the Hero again, even if it only makes him hesitate for 1 second out of “pity for the fair sex,” it will be worth the effort!
The Demon King quickly reassured herself.
This was the super-strong mentality she had developed over years of ruling the demons.
By the banks of the White Goose River, it didn’t take long for Liya and Joan to intercept the late Duke Narand and that “never-seen” noble daughter, neatly knocking the group out.
Seeing the daughter’s face, Liya instantly understood why she didn’t like to show herself… it was because there was a Magic Pattern Scar on her face that was extremely difficult to remove, seemingly caused by a failure in magical cultivation.
A moment later, Liya stripped off the Duke’s daughter’s gown, wrapped her in a blanket, and placed her back in the carriage where the heater was lit.
Despite having worn women’s clothes as a “Pupu” countless times, Liya still couldn’t help but feel a surge of resistance this time.
But catching the Hero staring at her intently out of the corner of her eye, she sighed inwardly, closed her eyes, gritted her teeth, and began to change with a rustling sound.
Cool fingertips unfastened the buckles, peeling away the layers of the “Demon King Liya” disguise.
Her body was stiff as ice, and her heart was filled with shame and resentment.
However — as Liya felt the blue velvet and gradually fastened the deep blue gown that looked as if it were tailored from a winter night, this body, which was already accustomed to wearing dresses, trembled slightly, and a strange sense of shyness welled up naturally.
It was completely different…
Entirely and utterly different from when she was a Pupu…
The touch of the fabric was cool and smooth, clinging to the Pupu’s mimicked skin like flowing moonlight.
Inside, the exquisite corset, symbolizing the blossoming of a young girl, was tightened inch by inch.
Liya was forced to straighten her back, revealing a slender waistline she had never noticed before.
The perfect curve of her chest fully displayed a youthful “girlish charm.”
The pannier was put on, and layers of lace and silk spread out like petals.
The once-great Demon King, who had carried the entire demon race on her shoulders, actually felt her hips and waist grow heavy from this flower-like skirt.
Her steps involuntarily became a bit more gentle and cautious, like those of a lady.
Liya suddenly understood.
She understood why she felt so strange!
When she wore the little white dress before, she didn’t care at all because she was actually playing a Pupu named “Lily.”
Since it was a role, anything was acceptable!
But now… rather than saying she was playing the Demon King, it was more like she was using this name to release the true self suppressed within the Pupu’s body…
Now, it was her — Liya, the most demonic of all Demon Kings, the manliest of all men, the toughest of all guys — enduring the restraint and adornment of this beautiful gown.
However, the life of playing the Hero’s little pet “Lily” had changed something after all.
At the very least, it had greatly changed her threshold for accepting feminization.
The shame and resistance didn’t last long before they were gradually suppressed by the complex and gorgeous attire, replaced by a strange sense of novelty and excitement.
The elegance and narcissism in her bones began to make her unable to stop admiring her own “beauty,” and she even began to covet the charming posture she inadvertently revealed.
Using her Pupu abilities, Liya “grew” a head of silver-white hair at the back of her head, arranging it into a gorgeous and complex bun held in place by a butterfly hair ornament inlaid with fine power stones.
She lightly brushed her eyebrows and applied a thin layer of rouge.
Under the perfect makeup, her originally handsome features softened the majestic aura of someone long in power, adding a bit of pure and cute charm.
Joan seemed to swallow hard and was looking at her legs bashfully.
She simply raised them generously, intentionally pulling the snow-white stockings engraved with the family crest from her ankles to her thighs right in front of Joan.
The movement was both pure and seductive to the extreme.
Her silk-clad feet landed lightly as she stepped into crystal high heels adorned with tiny diamonds.
She leaned down, fastened the thin shoe chains with one hand, and took two steps.
It wasn’t as difficult to maintain her balance as she had imagined.
With the “Duke’s daughter” outfit complete, Liya walked over to the full-length mirror in the corner of the carriage.
The mirror was like a lake, and the elegant, charming “daughter” residing at the bottom, looking back at her, made even Liya feel a bit stunned and fascinated.
She couldn’t help but click her tongue in wonder: “As expected of this King. I’m handsome in anything.”
The beauty in the mirror really amused her.
She even began to imitate the standard demeanor of a noblewoman, tilting her chin slightly and lifting her skirt.
With her toes slightly apart and knees bent, her body lowered gracefully like a swan.
Glancing at the mirror, she could no longer see the disdainful fearlessness of the former Demon King; there was only the dignity and cold elegance of a Duke’s daughter.
The sense of shame had long since faded silently, replaced by a unique excitement like that of someone about to go on stage.
She suddenly thought — ‘Wait! I lost out! I lost big! If I had fought the Hero like this back then! Maybe he wouldn’t have had the heart to hit me with that 1700-hit combo!’