(AN: HEY THERE!!!

As many of you may have noticed, or not, we have changed covers! Yay!

And of course, this has to be asked...

WHO LIKES THE NEW COVER??? 

I just had to, ok? Don't judge me.

Anyways, this amazing new cover was made by none other than the talented artist Creaking_Shadow!!!

She's a very good friend of mine, so be sure to drop her a follow~.

Without further ado, thanks for your patient wait, and with that final thing out of the way...

Here's the chapter!)

"Anyone else calling me useless girl?"  

"..."

Yeah, don't mind my anger issues, okay? I knoe I have them, I'll deal with them some other day.

In any case, the scenery arounf me could be summarized like this: everyone remained silent as I stared daggers at everyone.

I did not care I was allowing my aura to run rampant with killing intent, all I knew was that this guy-demon-thing, now minced meat, had deserved what I had done to him.

I mean, the dude was already very dead. He was laying in pieces on the floor after all, but my point still stands. And that is besides the fact I am still angered. Everyone here deserved a good scolding, and I don't mind providing an overly aggressive one, if the situation requires it.

'Thinking it logically though, I might have a little of a trauma with the word useless... I should probably work on it sometime soon... Hehe~'

However, as I had been standing in the middle of the room, thinking, wondering, and somewhat threatening everyone present, something quite strange happened...?

 *Click*  *Clack*

"Huh?"

From one moment to the next, I felt a strange weight being placed on my head...?

It was very light and barely noticeable but something had definitely just been placed on my head.

"What is this?"

The room remained silent as I extended my arms and reached out in order to grab whatever had been placed on my head.

I rummaged through my hair for a second or so, before my hands came into contact with a slick surface with sharp and pointy edges. It seemed to be some sort of crown...

It was definitely something unnatural, and I was definitely confused as to how it had gotten there, but my confusion only grew as  I tried to pull it...

...

It wouldn't come off...?

...

'This is strange? I am pulling it with quite some strength, yet I feel as if I was pulling a part of me...? Just what is this?'

I tried pulling it time and time again, yet it didn't work?

The crown, tiara or whatever was laying in my head just wouldn't come off.

"Just what is this annoying thing? Why isn't it coming off?!"

I kept trying to pull the darn thing, but it seemed to be rooted in my head. I actually felt pain the harder I pulled on it. It wasn't any fun. I felt as if my skin was being burned and my hair pulled every time I tried to remove it.

I tried touching and feeling it further to get a better idea for what it was... And feeling it further only made me the more anxious, seeing as I couldn't take it off...

And the more I tried to examine what was now rooted in my head, the more my heart began beating, as what was now in my head... hadn't been there before...

It was pointy and spiked all around. The texture was that similar to glass, yet the friction generated upon contact was nothing similar to any sort of rare gemstone or slick surface I have encountered here in Estrea...

However, as my hands kept running along the unknown object protruding out of my head, I slowly began theorizing what it could be, and to my dismay, it wasn't something I was too thrilled to have...

...

'Please do not let it be what I'm thinking it is...'

That thought remained in my mind as I began to exasperatedly run my hands along what seemed to be...

A thorned crown...

...

"No no no no"

I really did not want an unremovable thorned crown on my head, alright?

Like, what would you think if you saw a girl with a thorned crown leisurely walking along the streets, huh?

Either she is crazy or she has the weirdest of fashion senses, and while the second one is not that inaccurate seeing my strange clothes 90% of the time, I still would rather not have people thinking I'm a freak...

'*cough* despite kinda being one *cough*'

But let's not mind that, alright?

In any case, I was definitely overthinking my sitiation as my thoughts began to race endlessly. However, in the midst of my despair, and my anxiety...

Something else I definitely had not expected happened.

Seriously though, what's with the surprises today?

Anyways... while everything remained silent, a sound became apparents... and it wasn't just any sound...

*Slow Claps*

...

Yeah...

Someone in the audience had begun clapping...

They were definitely slow claps, but they didn't sound ironic. Rather, they sounded like praise among fear...?

...

"What?"

It was definitely weird, unexpected and all of that, but there was no mistaking it... this was real...?

I immediately turned around and began scanning the area... I'm not really sure what I was searching for...

And I really did not expect what I did find...

What was in front of me, was none other than what seemed to be a small, innocent, frail, red, horned, demon girl, trembling in fear...

However, despite being scared, she held an honest smile as she looked straight into my eyes with a certain hint of respect and admiration.

I didn't understand her intentions, or that certain glare, and without much input from my reasoning, my dlubts quickly surfaced:

'Why is she clapping?'

The tiny female demon, with a face of porcelain, and horns which seemed to be made out of crystal, looked at me with glistening eyes of wonder, as she looked.

I could feel her quite literal sparks of admiration as her claps became louder and louder as she slowly stopped trembling.

I couldn't possibly fathom the reason for such a tiny, innocent, cute demon to suddenly begin cheering me on like some sort of heroine. I mean, I did just kill a pretty important looking demon just now, right? That guy Baltazar-or-whatever was surely no pawn if he was judging me instead of kneeling, like everyone else.

Those were my most sane thoughts at the moment as I tried to reason why the demon would suddenly begin clapping...

However, as I kept analyzing and thinking, yet another surprise came along...

Seriously, I'm going to die out a hesrt attack at this pace...

*Claps*

A second set of claps appeared...

Once again startled, I immediately tried to search for the source of the claps. And turning around, the source of the claps was none other than a tall red-armored humanoid demon with a pointy tail that seemed to resemble that of the characterization of the devil back on earth...

He was looking at me with the same glistening eyes of admiration as the little girl...

Despite this sudden new piece of evidence, this event only raised more questions than it gave me answers answers...

However, as I tried to walk over to the new clapping demon...

*Claps*

A third set of claps appeared...

*Claps*

And a fourth...

*Claps*

And a fifth, and a sixth...

*Claps* *Claps* *Claps*

One after the other, the demons who had been cowering in fear just a minute ago, the same demons who had not been able to utter a word or move a muscle, were now overcoming my still irradiating aura just to clap...

*Claps* *Cheering*  *Claps* *Cheering* *Claps* *Cheering*

Yep, from silence and fear, a sudden cheering crowd of demons who began applauding fiercely began appearing...

A crowd which was cheering...

Me...

""""" REIKA-SAMA!!!  REIKA-SAMA!!!  REIKA-SAMA!!!  REIKA-SAMA!!!"""""

"Uh..."

They kept cheering on and on, without me realizing a chorus had been created around my name as I was left petrified by the sudden change in the atmosphere...

But while that was indeed surprising, I wasn't really petrified by the surprise...

But rather my idiocy...

In between the chorus of demons cheering in their awkward and raspy voices, I was able to make out some conversations which showed me just how much I really need to learn to control my temper...

"Woah... Who would've guessed Reika-sama would be so strong...?" -Demon 4

"I definitely wouldn't have predicted for her to kil- well, annihilate Baltazar-sama in less than what my eyes could perceive" -Demon 5

"Yeah. I was a little nervous when she said she didn't want to become the demon lord, after all, no one with the potential to become a demon emperor or empress had appeared in more than a 1,000 years" -Demon 6

"Indeed, but in the end, Reika-sama chose to protect us and become the demon empress by fulfilling the only requirement, defeating or forcing a surrender from the other demon lord candidate! And that she definitely did!" -Demon 5

"Yeah, and one can clearly tell she'll make a fine empress. You can just feel the power irradiating from that crown of hers" -Demon 6

...

2 things immediately came to mind after hearing that small chunk of conversation among all of the cheering...

First: 'So it is a crown after all...'

And Second: 'I basically brought this upon myself, huh?'

...

I need to seriously reconsider the way I approach things...

But, as I lost all self-confidence in my instincts, I saw something that definitely enraged me a little...

Just looking around the room, past the minced meat that had become of Baltazar, and the crowd of demons, I could clearly see Scarlet wearing a smug look on her face as she rubbed her hands euphorically...

I just squinted my eyes in disbelief as I stared deep into my friend's smug and overconfident eyes. Turning my face a bit, I was able to make out Myria who simply held a wry smile along some quite uncharacteristic eyes of surprise...

Thus, without wasting a single second, I began making my way to Myria and the chuckling Scarlet who remained to stare at me with quite the grin. I was still unsure of what were the full implications of what had just transpired, but I was sure I would find out soon.

As I stomped my way through the crowd and finally arrived 4 or 5 feet away from where Scarlet and Myria stood. And without allowing them to utter a single word as I furiously approached, I yelled:

"SCARLET, WHAT IS THIS?! YOU PLANNED THIS DIDN'T YOU?! HOW DO I TAKE OFF THIS STUPID CROWN?!"

I did not really care about the audience cheering behind me, I honestly just wanted answers. And seeing as how Scarlet was literally brimming with joy seeing me as the new demon empress-or-whatever you want to call me, regardless of my unwillingness to do so, angered me quite a bit...

However, Scarlet, in being Scarlet, remained holding a bright and content grin as she kept eyeing me in... an unusual way...?

Even her voice was... uh... far mlre submissive than usual?

"Hehe~ Reika-Ch-Sama~ Congratulations on becoming the new demon empress~ I knew you had it in you~.".

...

Well, despite her use of 'sama' everything else about her... seemed pretty standard to me, especially the fact...

'She evaded the question..'

It was clear that she knew something I didn't and she wasn't even being too secretive about it.

In any case, without even minding her reply, I asked again:

"Scarlet, how do I remove this crown?"

...

"Ah, Reika-Chan~ I bet you'll make the great demon kingdom prosper~ I'm so proud~"

...

Grrr. She's definitely doing this on purpose.

It was too obvious... This is Scarlet who we're talking about here...

In any case, I wouldn't budge on my position. While I was definitely angered by the fact I had supposedly become the demon Empress-or-something unintentionally, I just wanted to know how to remove this crown right now.

Yeah out of all things I could think about right now... the thing that came to mind was the crown...

I don't want to look weird wherever I go, ok? Besides, this thing is probably linked with my status as demon empress anyways... Maybe by removing it I can stop this absurdity? Or am I just being too hopeful? Oh well, can't hurt to try, I mean, killing two birds with one stone sounds just fine by me.

As such, it doesn't matter if I ask in a bit more of a demanding manner, right?

...

'Hehe~'

...

"SCARLET, TELL ME HOW TO REMOVE THE CROWN RIGHT THIS INSTANT!!!"

...

I did not hold the slightest bit of my voice as the ground shook from the sheer volume and intensity I had just ordered at...

And while a normal person might've had their eardrums permanently damaged, this was just barely enough to get the message across to Scarlet...

...

'This girl seriously needs better listening skills...'

In any case, thanks to my order, Scarlet was finally able to process what I had just pleaded.

And in contrast with all expectations... she answered something I had not expected, when I really should've seen it from miles and miles away.

"I don't know~"

...

"You don't know?"

...

"Yes~ I don't know."

...

"You're kidding, right?"

...

"Nope~ I don't know how to fix this Reika-Ch-...Sama~ I have never seen a Demon empress' crown before~ I've only seen a demon king's and queen's seals, but a crown are big news for me~ I knew you would have so much potential~! Right from the moment I saw you, I knew you would be important. Of course, I never expected you to be chosen as the legendary demon empress, but who knows~? The world is a strange place~. In any case, to answer your question, you can't, you simply can't take it off~"

...

I simply buried my face in my hands as I tried to hide the embarrassment, disappointment and other emotions which resonated within me right now.

'Never being to take this thing off...?'

I mean, I still don't know how it looks like, but based on everyone's reactions... this is definitely not something normal...

I really had no excuse anymore...

I could only sulk and bask in self-pity as I tried to imagine how reality would move onwards from now on...

However... as I was left whining... a certain voice called out to me...

A very familiar voice...

And it said something... quite interesting if you will...

"Hey~ Reika-Chan~ it's not all bad~"

"Huh?"

Facing Scarlet once more due to her weird comment, I noticed something had changed in her expression...

It had moved from an innocent yet playful smile and gaze, into a teasing and... uh... submissive gaze?

...

Yeah, trust me, I don't understand either.

In any case, as I remained looking at her with a discontent glare... something quite particular happened...

"Reika-Ch-... Sama~ I've been meaning to tell you something..."

"Waih wah?"

These words dance around the air, as the room became silent once more, Scarlet wrapped her arms around me...

'Uh... what is going on...? No no no, this is too unpected, just what is happening today???'

I didn't know what to do or hlw to react but Scarlet kept staring deep within my eyes and soul. Her hair, her body, even her lips looked attractive regardless of where you would look. And most of all, her scent was a sweet fragrance which captured the fresh and lovely of her soul.

And as I remained in her arms, she slowly pushed her face towards mine.

"Wait! SCARLET! NO!"

With me being me, I, of course, turned away while shrieking in panic. However, only after having turned around were Scarlet's intentions clearer to me...

As I had turned around, I felt a soft breathing hit my ear. But before I could react, a soft whisper carrying a strong message echoed throughout my mind...

"Now that you're the new demon empress, we can be closer than ever, right? After all, who says there can't be two demon rulers?"

...

...

...

'Did I hear that properly...?'

...

...

...

'I did, right?'

I honestly had no words of what to say...

Immediately after, I was left speechless, Scarlet let me go as she took some steps back...

She looked... playful and teasing... and I was definitely anxious...

I really didn't know what to say or do...

I just knew I had to do something...

However, as I had begun to harden my resolve, I receive a light tap on my shoulder.

I didn't really know what was going on, so I simply turned around instinctively.

Behind me, was a large demon guard. He was similar to a knight in dark armor, yet so much more decorated by gemstones, fancy medals and the likes.

However, that is not the main point...

Without realizing, I turned around and as I faced the strange guard, and I instinctively asked:

"Uh, what is wrong?"

...

I was not sure what I was expected, but the strange demon took a quick bow, lowered his head and then proceeded to utter a message that I really didn't need to hear...

"Your majesty, we have intruders"

...

As the guard stepped back and the room became silent once more...

A single thought became present in my mind.

...

...

...

'I regret asking'