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There was an air of trepidation in Royan One. Dali had brought with him an object slightly taller than him, well covered by a dark purple cloth. "What is it? What is it?" Clara asked, intrigued. "It's definitely not another machine like the one Atori-sensei presented; it looks flatter" Allocer speculated, absentmindedly touching his canine muzzle. "A popcorn maker?" Iruma proposed, more hopeful and hungry than motivated by real reasoning. "A shield! A shield, indeed, I tell you!" Sabnock stated, crossing his arms over his chest with a triumphant expression, as if he'd truly guessed right. "I could use a straightener; my hair is more voluminous than usual today" Elizabetta hoped, touching her golden mane. Kerori pushed Camui away from the demoness with a single, elegant kick. "If you want, I can lend you one" she said, patiently waiting for the teacher to unravel the mystery rather than continue the guessing game.
"Whatever it is, it will show us all the magnificence of Iruma-sama once again!" Asmodeus exclaimed, nodding at his own statement. "And no, Iruma-sama. You finished lunch thirteen minutes ago. Snack is in two hours, it's for your health". Iruma's ahoge sagged, along with the boy's head, barely holding back tears over his missed early snack. "If it's not something that will shut you all up, I'm not interested. Let me sleep!" Agares whined, covering his ears with his hands, fluttering above Master. "I'm so excited, de gozaru!" Gaap exclaimed, lacing his fingers together, eagerly awaiting the revelation.
Dali chuckled and stood before the curtained object. "Calm down, everyone. I'll explain what it is. Well, you're looking at one of the Netherworld's oldest artifacts, and I went to great lengths to borrow it from the Ars Goetia Museum. As a Netherworld History teacher, I couldn't help but show you something that connects our demon past... with our future". During the suspenseful pause, he turned toward the object and, in one fluid motion, completely removed the purple curtain. A loud gasp of surprise emitted from the students.
"Ta-da!" the teacher exclaimed, pleased with the reaction he had fully anticipated. "What you are admiring with your eyes is 'The mirror that reflects the future'! It has been passed down from generation to generation by the Demon Kings, who are said to have used this mirror before every important battle to discover whether they would survive or not. It was even kept very carefully in the Demon King's chambers, until one day the Demon King Derkila-sama decided to remove it due to lack of interest in possessing such a precious possession. Anyone who has the courage left, feel free to step forward and take a look! Line up, everyone!"
The presentation captivated all the Misfits like fish on a hook. They immediately lined up, curious to see what they would look like in the future. One by one, they advanced toward the mirror, which reflected back the student's reflection, the version it predicted would be their future.
Allocer was first.
Accompanied by cheers and scattered whistles, Allocer took up position before the magic mirror. The mirror didn't appear to be enchanted, at first glance. Its edges bore the typical Netherworld pattern, with a horned skull at the top center. The mirror reflected the room, but no one in the room was visible. As Allocer approached, the mirror seemed to come to life. A purplish glow briefly illuminated the mirror's surface, then revealed a different reflection of the young student. In the reflection, Allocer was indeed wearing a muzzle as he often did after the Harvest Festival, but the one in the mirror was of a different shape, made of a visibly more valuable type of leather. The dog-like down that served as his hair was smooth and silky, creating a wavy effect that many girls would have envied. The clothes he was wearing were different too, an elegant suit suitable for special occasions like Deviculum, with a color scheme that perfectly matched his appearance, almost overshadowing his canine features. And last but not least, he was taller.
"Ohh, it looks like you'll be a demon working for the nobles!" Dali speculated, surprised and amused by the reflection. The Misfits also expressed their amazement, all speaking at once. Dali called them to order with a whistle. "Good, now let's proceed with the next one!" he stated, as Allocer returned to his place among the other Misfits.
"Well, if you'll excuse me..." Kerori murmured, moving forward to take a seat in front of the mirror. 'Will I still be an evidol in the future? What will I look like? Can we use this magic mirror as a prompt for a future concert?' she wondered. Kerori took a deep breath as the reflection changed. In the mirror, she appeared taller, with a confident expression, her blue hair long to her waist. Her clothes, like Allocer's, also seemed to be of undeniable quality. But there was no trace of her Kuromu wig, and the clothes she was wearing were anything but evidol-like. Wearing them, singing and dancing on stage was an impossible task.
"Excuse me, Dali-sensei," the girl asked, worried. "How far back in time does the mirror show the demon who uses it?" Dali cupped his chin thoughtfully, then stated, "I don't know, maybe only the Demon Kings used it. Well, next!" Kerori returned dejectedly to the Misfits, deaf to the compliments showered upon her confident and feminine appearance.
The next demon was Agares, but only because Master happened to lazily fly near the mirror. In it, Agares continued to sleep as he had been doing at that moment. But, and this caused a collective gasp, he appeared to have longer hair, which ended well below his back, as well as a more slender and mature physique. "Even a tiny demon like Agares-kun can still grow tall?!" Lied exclaimed in shock, voicing everyone's underlying doubt. "What a noise, be quiet!" Agares snapped, half asleep and annoyed by the chatter around him, which had risen several decibels. Master fluttered away, also looking different in the reflection, but no one paid much attention. "Next!" Dali called.
"Here I am, degozaru!" Gaap exclaimed, stepping forward. If there had been a gasp of surprise before, now there was a murmur of disappointment. Thanks to the white fur that covered Gaap from head to toe, he looked virtually identical, only taller. His hair was longer, but that was another small detail. "Don't worry, it's normal for those of your clan" Dali tried to console him, before summoning the next one.
Camui leaped forward, hoping to find in the reflection a version of himself totally different from the real one. "Tall, beautiful, womanizer! To me!" he commanded, making no secret of his desire. Even in his case, the reflection offered little cause for surprise. Like the other Misfits, he was also wearing fine clothes, a monocle, and... "An egg?" Iruma asked in surprise, his mouth watering. The sight of the egg in the reflection made him crave Opera's omelette. "My offspring! I'll have children! That means I'll have a wife! I need more information, oh blessed mirror!" Caim exclaimed, falling to his knees, begging the mirror to reveal the identity of the demoness with whom he would sire a progeny.
"Excuse me, thank you" said Elizabetta, approaching the feathered demon and gently pushing him away by the shoulders. The reflection showed a version of the girl, forcing the male demons present to cover their eyes. Iruma didn't understand the disproportionate reaction, but Asmodeus covered his eyes with his own hands while holding his own closed. "Such charm...! A new Lilith!" Dali exclaimed, whimpering. In the reflection, Elizabetta appeared taller, her horns longer, her hair sinuous and well-groomed. She, too, was wearing fine clothes, which covered, wherever they did, her shapely body. Clara applauded, while Kerori imitated the boys, her face flushed with excitement. "My, my, what a surprise" Elizabetta said pleasedly, taking one last look at her reflection before returning to her place among the Misfits.
Jazz was next. He whistled in amazement at his reflection, mentally breathing a sigh of relief. He'd been afraid he looked like the vile demon that was his brother Rock, but thankfully he didn't. In the reflection, Jazz appeared muscular, almost Sabnock-level, tall, with short hair slicked back from his forehead. "And what is that?" he asked himself, eyeing the black collar his reflection wore over the black T-shirt that further highlighted the shape and hardness of his muscles. It was something he felt he'd seen before, but he couldn't put a name to.
"Come on, Come on! Now it's my turn!" Lied exclaimed, distracting Jazz, who forgot that detail and returned to his seat. Lied clasped his hands in prayer, hoping for a reflection that would show a cool version of himself, possibly worthy of Elizabetta's attention. His hopes were dashed. Like Jazz, he wasn't wearing any stylish or expensive clothes, but a very ordinary tracksuit. He was a little taller, but still shorter than Asmodeus at the time. His hair was a little longer, just enough to tie it back and forget about it. In short, he looked very ordinary and banal. "Let's hope you don't become a shut-in after Babyls, eh?" Dali prodded, getting the desired reaction of pure desperation. "No, I don't want to! I'll try to study harder!" Lied exclaimed tearfully, moving away from the mirror, consoled by pats on the back from Iruma and Jazz.
"Guys, I don't want to skip the line, let's be clear. We're not even proceeding alphabetically, so talking about lines is a bit of a contradiction, don't you think? No, really, it's not that I'm dying to see what I might look like when I grow up, but we all know the joke where the last one to take the test is left and the others forget about him and lock him in the room, forgetting about him until they think about it while they're at home, warm under the covers. Let's avoid such clichés, shall we? And just for saying, am I the only one who noticed that under the clothes there's a black collar that should be taken into account as an unusual common factor or..."
Dali let out a heavy sigh. "Please, Purson-kun, take a seat or we'll stay until the evening" said the teacher, interrupting the interesting thought. Purson didn't need to be told twice and stood in front of the mirror. There, he was reflected a little taller, certainly taller than Lied, if only slightly. His wings had grown, from those adorable, fake-looking things he didn't even bother to reattach to a more than dignified pair. He wore the Purson clan leader's uniform, a sign that he would be taking his father's place. The immaculate white suit failed to hide the black collar, but by then Purson was too amazed by the revelation to notice. He smiled, then vanished into thin air. "See you at Momonoki-sensei's class, Soi-kun!" Iruma called to the void, glancing toward the front door. "Next!" Dali called, quickly changing the subject.
"And here comes one such as I! Show me what I will look like when I become Demon King!" Sabnock exclaimed, confident that he knew exactly what the mirror would show him. The magical instrument showed a reflection, but it was unclear whether Sabnock's wish had been granted or not. First of all, he appeared much taller, a sign that he was not yet finished growing. His hair was straight and very long, perhaps in honor of Derkila. He wore the necklace with the metals required when he activated his Bloodline ability, but there were plates of unknown metals, some that Sabnock himself recognized as uncommon and of great value, used only for the finest weapons. The clothing was still the same, with the addition of the black collar that had already been shown. "There is proof! Truly, I shall be the next Demon King!" Sabnock declared, satisfied. He ignored Asmodeus's spiteful criticism and returned to his seat.
Before he could even call out to the next person, Dali saw Clara leap forward, landing in a few bounds on the mirror's upper edge. She bent over it, her green hair swinging in the air, as she said, "I want to be super sexy like Nee-san and Kero-chan too! Come on, come on!" Dali blanched with fear that the mirror would be damaged. With a nonverbal spell, he lowered Clara from the mirror, placing her in the same place where the others had looked at themselves. The mirror revealed a slightly taller Clara, dressed in fine clothes featuring a corset that accentuated her ample chest. The ring was still present on the middle finger of her right hand, a symbol that her friendship with Iruma and Asmodeus would last for who knows how many years to come. She was beautiful, a beauty unlike that of the other two demonesses, but no less valuable for that. "Stupid Clara, think about what you're doing! You can't just climb on historical objects like it's nothing!" Asmodeus scolded her, grabbing her by the scruff of her school uniform and placing her back beside Iruma. Then he gave a short bow and took a seat before the mirror.
"Now, mirror of the Demon Kings, show me how I will serve Iruma-sama when he becomes Demon King" he said confidently. And the mirror did so. The reflection showed a slightly taller Asmodeus, with longer hair, so much so that the two small, leaf-shaped tufts that stood out on his head had become two elegant locks of their own. He wore light-colored clothes of great value, as if that were doubtful considering his high noble rank. His hair was tied with a blue bow much thicker than the one he currently wore. On the middle finger of his right hand, the ring had not left its place, not even for an instant. Asmodeus sighed with satisfaction. He was exactly as he had appeared in his vision when Iruma had won the Royal One. Nothing else was enough for Asmodeus to solidify his convictions, his determination, and his ambition. He bowed in thanks to the mirror and turned away from it.
"Wait, Iruma-kun! Give me a minute to take the bets! Something unusual will surely happen this time too!" Jazz exclaimed, half serious, half amused. "How dare you! Iruma-sama will be revealed by the mirror in all his glory as the Demon King! This is not a freak show!" Asmodeus replied, offended and ready to correct any damage to Iruma's reputation. He and Clara tackled him to prevent him from conjuring tall flames. "Hey, one such as I will be the Demon King! The mirror has spoken!" Sabnock resented, confused by that statement. "You wish!" Asmodeus retorted, firm in his conviction. Embarrassed by the feud, and fearful that Jazz might be right, Iruma approached the mirror. The incident with Atori's instrument was still fresh in his mind, and he wanted to avoid retorting. 'At least this time there's no ink, so everything should be fine?' he thought, more out of hope than true logical conviction.
Iruma stood before the mirror and gulped, awaiting the verdict. The mirror began to change his reflection to reflect what he would be in the future. But something went wrong. The mirror began to twitch, sporadic at first, then more and more frequently. Iruma's reflection appeared fragmented in several places, until it disappeared into a purplish haze. From it, he reappeared, but he was completely different. He was so tall that he barely fit into the mirror. Instead of one, he wore six golden rings on his fingers, each one displaying sharp claws: one for the index finger, one for the middle finger, and one for the ring finger. A long tail lazily flapped against the floor. Two white horns, long and slightly curved at the tips, jutted out from his head. Pointed ears protruded from his hair, which was long, straight, and dark purple, reaching his waist. But his bangs covered his eyes, hiding his gaze. A fanged grin answered his shocked expression.
Before anyone could think or say anything, or even mentally process what the reflection showed, a loud cracking sound was heard. The sound of shattering glass came from the mirror, one after another, with disturbing clarity. A cracking, shattering sound that made everyone in the room shiver. The mirror's surface revealed scratches, which sliced the reflection into several pieces, shattering it as a whole. The shattering continued until the mirror exploded. A shower of shards poured out from the edge, creating a chaotic pile of mirror pieces at the base. Iruma stepped back to avoid the shards, while the Misfits rushed to shield him from them and protect him. A confused, worried, and perplexed murmur of voices emanated from them, while Asmodeus and Clara held Iruma tightly and checked to make sure not even the smallest shard of mirror had touched him.
Throughout all this, Dali did not take his gaze from the mirror. His eyes were wide with horror, but for a reason other than possible stab wounds. "T-The mirror... the mirror of the Demon Kings... the magical mirror of i-inestimable historical value that I had to return at the end of the day..." he stammered in confusion, his face turning pale with shock. He let out a small, hysterical laugh, then fainted and fell to the floor like a sack of potatoes. Confirming Iruma was okay, they turned to help the unconscious teacher. Iruma took one last look at the remains of the mirror, a tangle of anguish weighing on his chest.
'That person... was really... me?'
THE END