Chapter 612: Intermission ~~ The Agony of a Certain Demon Part 3 ~~

The royal capital of Symphonia Kingdom. In a brand new building on one of the biggest streets in the city, Elise, a High-ranking Demon, was happily smiling.

[Fufufu, finally! It's finally finished! My very own store! In the Human Realm's Royal Capital that I've longed for! Moreover, it's in a prime location on the main street!]

She had gained a strange connection with Kaito at the Six Kings Festival, which led to her receiving a word from Shallow Vernal that allowed her to open a store in the Human Realm that she had been longing for.

Moreover, thanks to the authority of Shallow Vernal, the God of Creation, the kingdom gave her their full cooperation and with a large number of people supporting her, her store was completed in the blink of an eye in a prime location on the main street.

[Uuuu, It's been a long journey so far. In the Demon Realm, fortune-telling wasn't very popular, and instead of fortune-telling itself, the good results of the fortune-telling was the one that became popular among the masses…… It's been a struggle.]

After muttering to herself, as if she was feeling nostalgic of the past, Elise tightly clenched her fist.

[……However, yes, my hard work has finally paid off! Well, it was mostly thanks to that Human-san. Yes, it was painfully mind-taxing, but other than that, I'm really grateful to him.]

After giving thanks to Kaito who wasn't here, Elise muttered to herself again, still in a good mood.

[……Now then, the opening finally starts tomorrow! For a change, let's take a look at our own fortune!]

Muttering, Elise took out a bunch of cards from her pocket. They weren't the tarot cards she had used at the Six Kings Festival, her fortune-telling method that was arranged for the masses…… Instead, they were special tarot cards that Elise uses when she performs "serious fortune-telling", filled with her strong magic power.

When Elise threw the tarot cards upwards, they started scattering in the air and began spinning in a circle.

Then, from the cards rotating clockwise, four cards spontaneously slip out and are placed face down on the table in front of her. The remaining cards were then bundled up again and returned to Elise.

[Now then, let's see…… I hope this turns out well.]

Saying this, Elise flipped open the first card…… the leftmost tone, and the result made Elise frown.

[Ughee, a reversed Noon huh…… That isn't a very good card.]

The first card, Noon, represents the "time of the year", and if it's in the upright position, it means that her actions are right on time, but if it's in reverse, it means that this isn't the right time……

[The second card…… Uweehhhh, an upright The Visitor…… I have a very bad feeling about this. A seriously bad feeling……]

The second card, The Visitor, indicates, "incidents". If it's in the upright position, it indicates an encounter or a visit, but if it's in reverse, it indicates a farewell or a trip……

[T- The third card…… Geeehhh!? A reverse Fortune, isn't that an ensured misfortune!?]

The third card, Fortune, indicates "influence". If it's in the upright position, good luck will come to you, but if it's in reverse, misfortune will come your way.

[F- Fourth card. Please! ……This is the worst! Seriously, this is just the worst!!!]

The fourth card that appeared was…… an upright King. This card indicates a "person", and thinking of this person her cards were corresponding to filled Elise with despair.

And then, "at the most unwanted time", a certain person appeared in front of Elise, who was holding her head.

[What are you making a fuss about all by yourself here, Elise?]

[……The person I least want to see arrived. My luck really is terrible today.]

[……That's an abrupt harshness from you.]

[So, what can I do for you? "Shalltear-sama"?]

With a really repulsed look on her face, Elise asked Shalltear, someone she could consider her boss.

[No, I was just thinking that it was about time for you to get serious already. In the meantime, I would like you to receive instructions from Pandemonium sometime tomorrow.]

[……It really is about that huh. Can't I just refuse or something like that? You see, my store opens tomorrow, okay? Even though I had finally got this store……]

[Ahh, it's alright. As for your store, I've modified all of the information about it, including the ones in the flyers, to say that it will be open the day after tomorrow.]

[……You're a devil. There's a devil here!]

Hearing Shalltear already made her move, Elise holds her head down again, her expression filled with despair.

[……Well, you can refuse if you want…… but in that case, "your true ability" might accidentally slip out of my mouth~~ Well, even I had those times too after all.]

[Uweeehhhh…… My boss just blackmailed me. Alright, I will properly participate in that battle against the God Realm. Just pardon me from that.]

[I also want for it to stay that way but…… I can't afford to do so this time.]

When Elise heard Shalltear's words, her shoulders slumped down and she smacked her face down on her desk. She is a High-ranking Demon with a lot of magic power, but she doesn't hold a peerage. She's good at fortune-telling, but she has no fighting skills…… is the information intentionally spread out to the public.

In the first place, back in the Six Kings Festival, not only did she exchange words with Shallow Vernal, "she even conversed with Isis at a close distance". That's something that "a mere High-ranking Demon who doesn't hold a peerage"…… could possibly do.

[Speaking of which, you're still the same oddball, aren't you? It's quite unusual for a Demon to "assess themself as weak".]

[I'm timid by nature, you know!? What would you do if I became famous and were assassinated!?]

[……There are only a few people who can assassinate you though…… Well, anyway, I'm going to have you move tomorrow.]

[Even though I just want to live a modest life as a fortune teller…… Even though I only served you when I wasn't famous because I wanted to make a living…… I made a complete mistake in my choice of workplace.]

As Elise muttered this, half-sobbing…… Looking at this strong, but timid girl with a dumbfounded expression on her face, Shalltear glanced around the store before she spoke.

[……Changing the subject, it's quite the great place you have here.]

[W- What's with you all of a sudden?]

[No, I'm just honestly congratulating you. Isn't it great? Your long-held dream of "opening a store in the Human Realm only with your fortune-telling skills" has finally come true……]

[Ahh, I have a bad feeling about this. I've got a really bad feeling about this.]

As if sensing what Shalltear was trying to say, Elise's expression gradually turned pale. And as if to ridicule such an Elise, a deep smile appeared on Shalltear's lips as she muttered.

[Moreover, you even had it built in a prime location on the main street, good gracious, as your boss, I'm delighted for you. By the way…… it was "thanks to who" again?]

[……U- Ummm…… It was…… thanks to Human-san.]

[In other words, you owe Kaito-san a lot, don't you? After all, he had helped you achieve your dream in the best way possible……]

[Ugghhh, i- if you say it like that…… It's a bit troubling.]

[I don't think this was the case…… but there's no way you would just brush that debt under the rug, right?]

[……I understand already! I'll also move for that Human-san! I certainly do owe him…… So, what should I do?]

Looking as if she had given up, after casually muttering her complaints, Elise stood up from her seat…… before she pulled "black tarot cards" out of nowhere.

Seeing what Elise is doing, Shalltear nodded in satisfaction and spoke.

[I will give the particulars to Pandemonium, so just accept her instructions. Well, "if you just speak", you'd be able to properly participate in the meetings……]

[Like~~ hell~~ I~~ will! What if they find out who I am from my voice!? I don't want your stupid peerage!!!]

[……You took out those cards now, so you're going to do it now?]

[The sooner I move, the better. I mean, I want to be able to face the opening the day after tomorrow as normal……]

Elise then threw the black tarot cards she was holding up above her. The tarot cards then spread out to the sides and formed a magic circle in the air, which then slowly descended to Elise's body.

[……Code: Phantom Menace!]

As she said the key words, the magic circle passed through Elise's body and changed her appearance, turning into a floating translucent ghost whose face couldn't be seen……

[Well then, I'm counting on you, "Phantom"……]

[……………….]

Nodding at her king's command————- The Ghost of Disasters began to silently move beneath the shadows.

<Afterword>

Serious-senpai : [……I know I'm repeating myself by asking this, are Phantasmal King's subordinates just filled with troublesome people?]

? ? ? : [……It's kind of hard to refute that.]