Demon King of the Royal Class

Chapter 302

“Then, is there a particular reason why you decided to participate in the cross-dressing contest?”

“Money.”

“Ah, the prize money. Right, that makes sense.”

The host seemed to ignore the beauty of contestant number 40 and continued to ask awkward questions. Although the contestant responded calmly, his grip on his dress tightened with each question.

As his embarrassment and shame increased, number 40’s discomfort became more apparent, and the expressions of the audience grew increasingly peculiar.

In truth, the behavior that number 40 was displaying was not at all different from the behavior exhibited by contestant number 24, the human tank, earlier. It was entirely the same.

However, first impressions mattered. People who had been disgusted by number 24’s actions found themselves inexplicably captivated by number 40’s similar behavior.

Dangerous thoughts began to spread through the minds of the audience.

‘I mean... I guess it’s okay, since he’s really cute...?’

“Then, if you win the prize money, what do you plan to do with it? Buy another dress, perhaps?”

“...”

Of course, the host didn’t stop his mischievous questions. The awkward smile on number 40’s face was enough to elicit sympathy from the audience.

—Stop bothering them!

—Yeah! Leave them alone!

—Ask normal questions!

Eventually, the audience began to criticize the host for making number 40 uncomfortable. They had established an emotional connection with number 40 without even realizing it.

“Oh dear, I might have gone too far. I apologize.”

“No, it’s okay.”

The host asked about everyday life and hobbies, and once the mischievous questions stopped, the silver-haired contestant was able to answer the various questions with a composed expression.

It was a typical Q&A session, but people found themselves wishing this final segment wouldn’t end so quickly.

“... I don’t think I should watch anymore,” Erhi muttered in a daze. He felt like he was slipping into dangerous territory.

“Yeah...”

“...”

The other two male students with him shared his view. Riana would usually have shot them a look of contempt, but this time she couldn’t.

“Why am I feeling jealous of a guy?” Riana muttered dazedly.

Then the host said, “Alright, let’s move on to the show—”

—Let’s do it later!

—You’re rushing it too much!

The audience even tried to stop the host from concluding the segment with the showcase. Number 40 laughed awkwardly, but that only fanned the flames further.

“It seems like contestant number 40 has made a significant impact on most of the audience.”

“Uh... I’m... sorry...”

“No, there’s no need for the contestant to apologize,” the host said firmly, trying to bring the segment to a close. “However, we can’t drag this out forever. We still have to get to the voting, and the competition needs to wrap up soon. So, what have you prepared to showcase to us?”

It was time for my showcase.

“I will sing.”

Singing was a common act in talent shows, so it wasn’t particularly new. Of course, no one had any accompaniment prepared, so everyone either sang a cappella or brought a portable instrument.

Although singing was a rather common talent, the audience’s eyes lit up at the thought of the mysterious and seemingly exceptional number 40 singing.

“What song will you sing?”

“It’s an original composition.”

“Oh, an original song. Are you a music major?”

Number 40 replied to the probing question with a subtle smile. “Who knows?”

And so, for their showcase, number 40 sang a song.

Everyone was stunned by the song, sung in that beautiful voice. Their voice was good, but the lyrics and melody of the song were so bizarre that people were left awestruck in a different way. The lyrics were about a woman weeding a soybean field, something no one had ever heard of before.

The contestant had introduced the song as “Chilgapsan[1].”

It was strange and unusual, but in many ways, it was sensational because such a style was completely new to the capital’s cultural scene.

***

After all the contestants had introduced themselves, it was time for the straightforward audience vote. The forty contestants returned to the stage.

All the contestants were on stage, from number 1, Connor Lint, who had given an unexpected underwear show thanks to the shocking evolution of his ability, to the mysterious number 40, who looked like they could immediately compete for Miss Temple.

There was no need to look at the vote count. Everyone, the audience and the contestants included, were staring blankly at number 40. The more they stared, the redder number 40’s face became, and despite the embarrassment, they forced a trembling smile.

This pitiful sight of number 40, who was on the verge of losing their mind from the unbearable shame, only further ignited the audience’s hearts.

Of course, the song they had showcased had also been surreal and unlike anything ever heard before in the capital, which lent a magical sense of charm to the performance.

When someone who isn’t viewed positively does something strange, they are called a weirdo. When someone who has a good reputation does something strange, they are called “sophisticated.”

Thus, the oddities of number 40 were put down to their own unique brand of personal charm.

“... They really must not have wanted to come out.”

No matter how number 40 appeared, everyone could agree that number 40 was genuinely struggling to endure being on stage.

There had to be a compelling reason behind it, and they began to whisper and speculate among themselves.

“... Just how much money do they need...?”

The only conclusion was that number 40 really needed the prize money.

“Whoever they are, they have to be incredibly handsome. So why not just enter the Mister Temple contest?”

“Who knows, maybe he’ll enter that too.”

“Ah, that’s true.”

Winning both the cross-dressing contest and the Mister Temple contest would mean double the prize money. All the spectators who had turned up to watch the competition were in agreement, sharing the same thought.

The males in the audience were curious about what number 40 looked like normally, while the females dreamed about just how handsome number 40 had to be in their usual appearance.

If he was so desperate for money that he’d entered the cross-dressing contest, it was only natural he would enter the Mister Temple contest as well. Everyone concluded that, by attending the Mister Temple contest, they might uncover the true identity of this contestant.

While everyone whispered among themselves, the Royal Class students alternated their gazes between Connor Lint and contestant number 40.

Although contestant number 1’s unexpected underwear show seemed to have been forgotten due to all the attention on number 40, Connor Lint was still filled with a mix of embarrassment and astonishment at himself.

Caught up in a complex emotional spiral of both confusion and joy, Connor Lint looked at his friends triumphantly, but even they were more focused on number 40.

Erhi de Raffaeli nudged Kaier Vioden’s side.

“Hey, why...”

“What?”

“Doesn’t it seem like that person is looking at me?”

Erhi was, of course, referring to contestant number 40.

“... What? No. I thought they were looking at me!”

“Wasn’t it me?”

Riana frowned at Heinrich and Kaier’s words.

“What are you talking about, you idiots? They’re a guy, right? If they’re looking at anyone, it’s me and not any of you.”

All four of them, sitting in the audience, thought number 40 was constantly glancing at them.

“It’s me.”

“No, it’s me.”

“I’m pretty sure it’s me.”

“No, obviously it’s me. What are you talking about?”

The four of them began to bicker over this trivial matter. Their thoughts weren’t just baseless delusions; they were actually correct.

Number 40’s eyes darted about constantly, occasionally making eye contact with those four in the audience.

Whenever they made eye contact, number 40 quickly averted his gaze, but he was clearly looking at them. This naturally caused some strange thoughts to cross the male students’ minds.

‘But it’s a guy... No, but still... No, definitely not. But what if...? Maybe they’re actually a girl?’

These bizarre thoughts swirled around in their minds, drawing them into a whirlpool of confused delusions. Of course, number 40 was just being cautious and not trying to send any signals.

Riana, however, was looking somewhere else this time.

“Hmm...”

“What is it?”

“Look over there,” Riana whispered to Erhi, pointing. “Doesn’t that person look a bit creepy?”

Someone in a black robe was standing at the very back of the auditorium, silently watching number 40. Of course, just as there were contestants like number 40 who hid their identities in order to participate, there were also spectators who wore hoods to conceal their presence at the event.

However, the excessively somber black robe was unsettling just to look at.

“... Yeah,” Erhi agreed, feeling a chill run down his spine which caused him to shiver slightly.

Those concerns were put aside as the voting began.

Contestant number 40, who had reluctantly entered the cross-dressing competition out of financial necessity, started to garner sympathy votes in addition to the votes they had already secured.

It was clear without even looking at the results that number 40 would win, and indeed, they did. It was a nearly unanimous victory, with no objections from anyone.

***

It was a hellish time.

“How do you feel about winning, number 40?”

“Ah, well... thank you very much. Yes, thank you.”

This was a finale straight from hell. As I clutched the crown and trophy that was awarded to the winner, I forced a smile, hoping this hellish time would end quickly.

[Event Completed - Cross-Dressing Contest]

[You have received 4000 Achievement Points.]

[Your Mana Status has increased by 5.]

[Your Magic Resistance has increased.]

In the end, after enduring this ridiculous ordeal, I had obtained my desired reward. Not to mention the prize money—twenty gold coins, which was twenty million won. It was, without a doubt, quite a substantial amount.

However, I couldn’t help but wonder if this money was worth the dignity I had lost and might continue to lose in the future.

Prior to this, my Mana had been at 14.2, and it had increased to 19.2. Just 0.8 more, and I would gain the talent of Mana Domination.

‘Yeah. I’m almost there now. I’m not far off.’

I had gone through all this—the various hellish moments, being awarded the crown and trophy, making the victory speech, and enduring the applause and cheers from the audience—for that singular reason.

The hysterics of middle school girls...

—Oppa! Take me!

—You’re prettier than me, so just be my unnie[2]!

The hysterics of middle school boys...

—Hyung[3]! Take me!

—Hyung, I...

Even the high schoolers were no different.

—Let’s be secret friends!

I felt dizzy.

I felt like I was going to throw up.

Despite the situation, I tried my best to maintain my smile because of the people watching who knew me.

It seemed they hadn’t recognized me at all, just as Vertus hadn’t recognized me earlier on. The host, who had tormented me with those awful questions during the Q&A session, was now grinning at me.

“Now then, as a celebration for your victory, could we have an encore of the song you sang during your showcase?”

“...”

Because of that request, I ended up belting out “Chilgapsan” once more. The sight of the bewildered expressions on everyone’s faces, completely unsure of how to react to the song, was quite amusing even in the situation I was in.

‘Do you guys even understand the sorrow of the Chilgapsan mountain ridge?’

Anyway, the cross-dressing contest was over. All that was left to do was to safely discard the trophy somewhere and return to being Reinhart without running into any issues.

“Hyungggggg! I... feel strange...!”

‘Ah... Maybe I should just kill you all and go to hell?’

1. A Korean song from the 1970s that is nostalgic and popular amongst middle-aged men. ☜

2. Term used by a younger female to refer to an older female. ☜

3. Term used by a younger male to refer to an older male. ☜