CHAPTER 171: CHAPTER 170: LUCIVELLA’S DECLARATION

Royal Magic Academy–Central Tower Roof. The storm rolled in without warning. Students of the Royal Magic Academy gasped as black thunderclouds swirled over the capital, blotting out the noon sun. Lightning carved sigils into the sky, spelling ominous words like "Forever" and "Til Death Do Us Part."

On the highest spire of the Academy tower, a lone figure appeared: Lucivella Nightshade, Demon Lord Supreme.

She stood like a queen enthroned in the storm. A gothic gown of midnight silk clung to her perfect figure, embroidered with crimson roses that seemed to drink in the lightning. Her silver hair whipped dramatically in the wind, haloed by infernal radiance. Even the gargoyles bowed their heads.

And below her? The entire Academy courtyard, crammed with students, professors, nobles, guards, and unfortunately Rei Velvet, who had just regained consciousness from fainting at the World Congress.

He blinked groggily, rubbing his eyes. "Huh? Where... what day is it?"

[Good morning, Sleeping Beauty. While you were napping, global diplomacy collapsed, poultry staged a coup, and now your demon fiancée has staged a rooftop musical.]

[Mission Status: Critical.]

Lucivella raised one pale hand, and silence fell. Even the storm held its breath.

"My beloved subjects," she began, her voice rolling like velvet thunder. "The world seeks to question my claim upon Rei Velvet. They chatter of contracts, treaties, and mortal laws. But love is no treaty. Love is conquest."

She extended her other hand toward Rei, who visibly flinched. "And thus, I claim him. Body, soul, and destiny."

Students gasped, nobles fainted, Professors scribbled notes, some for academic purposes, others for smutty fanfiction.

Lucivella’s eyes gleamed scarlet as she made her declaration:

"In one week’s time, within the Demon Citadel itself, Rei Velvet and I shall wed. The greatest ceremony in history. The world is invited. The world will witness."

Her lips curved into a smile colder than eternity. "I’ll marry him first. Then you can fight over his remains."

Lightning struck the spire, exploding it into shards—yet Lucivella remained untouched, her gown fluttering like the wings of a fallen angel.

The silence lasted three heartbeats. Then, in perfect synchronization, five female voices rang out from different corners of the courtyard:

"Over my dead body."

Every head turned. Lilia stood upon the balcony, her holy staff blazing, white robes snapping in the wind.

Seraphina descended on wings of flame, halo crooked with jealous fury.

Emilia strode out from the dueling grounds, blade unsheathed and trembling with murderous intent.

Drakana landed in a shower of sparks, claws dragging across the cobblestones, smoke curling from her fangs.

Rosette simply appeared behind Rei, like she had been there all along, whispering the phrase directly into his ear with enough malice to curdle milk.

The courtyard collectively decided it was a good time to panic. Students scattered like pigeons, guards tripped over their own halberds, and several professors pretended to faint just so they wouldn’t be collateral damage.

Rei pinched his temples. "Please tell me I’m still dreaming. Please. Just once let this be a nightmare."

[Nope. 100% reality.]

[New Main Mission Added!]

[Attend the Demon Wedding (And Possibly Stop It).]

[Optional Objective: Survive the Bridal Bloodbath.]

[Pack a tuxedo and a will.]

Rei screamed internally.

Lucivella’s laughter rolled across the storm. "Over your dead bodies, you say? Very well. Bring your corpses to the ceremony, and I shall carve your objections into the vows."

Lilia raised her staff. "Rei belongs to me by divine contract. No demon wench will soil our sacred bond."

Seraphina’s wings flared brighter. "If anyone weds him, it will be by heaven’s decree, not hell’s!"

Drakana snarled, smoke hissing from her nostrils. "He’s mine. Mate-bonded by blood and fire! Anyone touches him before me, and I’ll char their bones into confetti."

Emilia brandished her sword, face red with fury. "Rei promised me first! Even if he doesn’t remember it, his destiny is mine! MINE!"

Rosette’s whisper slithered like a knife. "My master cannot marry while I still breathe. And I will breathe... forever."

The courtyard stones cracked beneath the sheer weight of yandere pressure.

Rei whimpered, "Why meeeeeee—"

[Congratulations, Rei. You are now the single most disputed piece of real estate on the continent.]

Students began selling "Team Lilia" and "Team Demon Lord" banners on the spot.

Merchants passed out betting slips for "Which bride kills Rei first?"

The Poultry Delegation, who had followed from the Congress, marched in chanting: "CLUCK IF HE WEDS THE CHICKEN GODDESS!"

Rei nearly fainted again. "Why are they still here?!"

Desperate, Rei stumbled forward, waving his hands. "STOP! Everybody calm down! We’re all... reasonable adults, right?"

Lucivella turned, eyes glowing. "Yes, darling?"

All five others snarled at once: "No."

Rei froze. "...I regret speaking."

[Charisma Check: Critical Failure.]

[World Stability: -45%.]

[You couldn’t negotiate your way out of a bakery discount.]

The storm darkened further. Five rival auras clashed with Lucivella’s demonic pressure, creating a hurricane of energy above the academy. Students clung to walls. Professors hid under desks. One unlucky goat was sucked into the sky and never seen again.

Lucivella’s gown shimmered blacker than night. "Prepare yourselves, petty rivals. In seven days, my beloved will stand beside me at the altar. You may come. You may fight. You may die. But you cannot stop fate."

The others shouted in unison, voices shaking heaven and earth: "OVER MY DEAD BODY!"

Rei screamed louder than all of them: "OVER EVERYONE’S DEAD BODY, CAN’T WE JUST NOT?!"

The bell tower cracked under the force of the competing energies. Half the academy collapsed into rubble. Magical wards shattered like glass.

And high above, Lucivella’s laughter echoed like a prophecy of doom:

"One week, Rei Velvet. One week until you are mine."

She vanished into a swirl of black petals.

Lilia swore divine judgment. Seraphina swore heavenly fire. Emilia swore eternal blood oath. Drakana swore fiery annihilation. Rosette simply whispered: "He won’t survive their vows. But he’ll survive with me."

The courtyard smoldered in silence. Rei fell to his knees, clutching his head.

[New Arc Begins: The Demon Wedding War.]

[Time Limit: 7 days.]

[Penalty for Failure: Global Funeral.]

[Hope you like cake. It’ll be your last meal.]

The courtyard was rubble. Smoke rose from collapsed spires, shattered windows glittered across the stones, and what was once a prestigious magic academy now resembled a warzone.

Students peeked nervously from behind overturned carts. A few entrepreneurial ones began selling pebbles as "official battle souvenirs."

A professor coughed dust from his lungs. "Ah yes... another Tuesday."

Rei sat in the middle of it all, hugging his knees. "This can’t be my life. This cannot be my life."

[Correction: This is absolutely your life.]

[Additional Note: Your life is now a major international crisis.]

[You should start charging admission.]

The five girls approached, their auras still radiating apocalypse.

Lilia slammed her staff down. "A crusade is inevitable. The heretic demon shall never claim what is mine."

Seraphina folded her arms, eyes blazing. "I’ll burn the altar to ash before it ever happens."

Emilia grabbed Rei’s shoulders. "You won’t marry her. You can’t. You’re mine. Remember the promise? Remember?!"

Rei blinked. "What promise—"

Emilia shook him violently. "THE PROMISE."

Drakana stomped close, claws gouging the flagstones. "If anyone thinks they’re getting him before me, I’ll eat the guests at the reception."

Rosette leaned in behind him, voice silk and venom. "I’ve already prepared the coffin. It will fit anyone who touches you first."

Rei’s jaw dropped. "ALL OF YOU ARE INSANE!"

[Statement Accuracy: 100%.]

[But irrelevantly they don’t care.]

Meanwhile, the student body decided they had had enough.

"Down with the Demon Lord Engagement!" someone shouted.

"No more collateral damage during exams!" cried another.

"Refund our tuition fees!" a third yelled, holding a broom like a spear.

Within minutes, half the Academy formed a protest line. The other half joined Lucivella Fan Club Chapter One, immediately designing black-and-red banners with Rei’s face Photoshopped into a tuxedo.

Rei groaned. "Why do I have a fan club and a hate mob at the same time?"

[Because you’re a protagonist, idiot.]

The professors convened in what was left of the staff lounge.

Professor Armand: "We must stop this insanity before the wedding destabilizes the continent."

Professor Lyra: "We should encourage it. Think of the research opportunities."

Professor Durn: "I vote we all fake our deaths and move to another dimension."

They unanimously agreed on option three.

Desperate, Rei crawled toward the rubble. "If I run now, maybe I can disappear into a quiet village, grow potatoes, never see another girl again—"

Drakana scooped him up with one clawed hand like he was a plush toy. "Where do you think you’re going, mate?"

Rei squirmed. "Please, just let me live out my dreams!"

Seraphina sneered. "Dreams are for corpses. And you’re not allowed to die until I decide."

Rosette tightened her grip on his sleeve. "Escape is statistically impossible. I’ve calculated 423 routes. All end in your recapture."

[Mission Failure Detected: "Escape Attempt #28."]

[Consequence: Humiliation.]

[At this point, why even try?]

Rei dropped to his knees dramatically. "Why... why me? I just wanted peace. Just peace! A simple life! No demons, no wars, no marriage pacts—just tea and books and naps!"

The five girls surrounded him in a perfect circle, shadows falling over his small, trembling figure.

Lilia: "Peace comes after the wedding."

Seraphina: "After mine."

Emilia: "No, mine."

Drakana: "Mine."

Rosette: "Mine."

Rei’s scream echoed through the ruins, startling several pigeons.

[Main Mission Updated: "Survive Until Wedding Day."]

[Timer: 7 Days.]

[Failure Condition: Death, dismemberment, or marriage (same thing in this case).]

[Bonus Challenge: Keep at least 3 kingdoms from declaring war.]

[Spoiler—You will fail.]

Rei collapsed backward, staring blankly at the storm-torn sky.

"...Seven days. Just seven days. I won’t make it."

Lightning cracked overhead. The bells tolled doom and so began the Demon Wedding War arc.

To be continued...