It Seems the Demon King Has Returned to a World Where Gender Roles Are Reversed - Chapter 15

Chapter 15 :

The sound of footsteps echoed closer.

Then, two shadowy figures emerged.

The shadows belonged to soldiers guarding the worksite.

They approached the pile of discarded lumber, glancing around suspiciously.

“…Tch, nothing here.”

One soldier grumbled, frowning.

“I told you, it’s probably just some fallen wood or something.”

“Damn it… what a waste of our precious break time.”

Muttering, the soldier scanned the area once more.

But no matter how hard he looked, there wasn’t even a single ant in sight.

“Ugh…”

Scratching his head awkwardly, as if embarrassed by his mistake, the soldier turned back the way he came. His companion followed, grumbling under his breath.

The area around the lumber pile fell silent once again. Then, with a faint rustle, a dirty cloth in the corner of the pile began to move.

With a soft *swish*, the cloth was lifted.

“…That was close.”

Seria and Ragna let out a collective sigh of relief as they emerged from under the cloth. Catching Ragna’s sharp gaze, Seria gave an awkward smile and scratched her head.

It had been a dangerously close call.

If Ragna hadn’t spotted the dirty cloth in the corner and used it to disguise them as part of the pile, they would’ve been caught. The thought of what could’ve happened sent a chill down their spines.

“Ugh… sorry.”

“…”

Seria, realizing she’d nearly caused a disaster, shrank back as she looked at Ragna. He let out a soft sigh and gently patted her head.

“It’s fine. Nothing happened, so don’t worry about it.”

“Okay…”

“But try to be more careful. Getting caught wouldn’t exactly be great.”

“Isn’t there some way around this?”

“Don’t ask me…”

If things continued like this, Seria would return to her homeland, and Ragna would remain stuck at the lumberyard.

The chances of them meeting again would be slim.

That was unacceptable.

Absolutely unacceptable. With that thought, Seria’s expression hardened with resolve.

“…Maybe we should just run away in the middle of the night.”

“Hey, hold on a second.”

Ragna looked at her, dumbfounded. Wasn’t that a bit too drastic?

“Isn’t there another way? Like, maybe taking me with you or something…”

“Take you?”

“Yeah, I mean… I’ve heard it’s happened before.”

Ragna recounted stories he’d heard from the old man.

Some of the lumberyard’s officers had taken workers as lovers and left with them.

But upon hearing this, Seria paused, deep in thought, before shaking her head.

“…That’s probably impossible.”

“Why not?”

“It’s not… I mean, it’s not like I want to leave you or anything!”

Worried that her words sounded like a rejection, Seria frantically waved her hands.

“It’s okay, I didn’t take it that way. But Seria, can you explain why it wouldn’t work?”

“Yeah, well…”

Seria sighed before continuing.

“It’s because I’m still just a ‘trainee’ at the military academy.”

“…Can you explain that a bit more?”

“Sure. So, I’m from Shreid, right? Just a trainee. And this place is a Union Kingdom facility. Technically, a low-ranking trainee like me from Shreid shouldn’t even be allowed to stay here.”

“But you’re here now, aren’t you?”

“That’s only because of special circumstances… or rather, because Shreid’s government pulled some strings to make it happen. They wanted me to train under Lady Karen.”

This was something Seria had mentioned before.

The reason Seria Brandsburg was here was to gain experience under Karen Steiner, a young hero from her homeland who had earned a place among the White Knights through sheer skill.

“Hm… I don’t fully get it, but they say I’ve got some kind of talent. A talent for piloting ‘Golems.’ That’s why they sent me to train under Lady Karen to nurture that potential… or so I’ve been told.”

Ragna nodded at her words.

There was no doubt she had talent.

The mana that had flowed into him from Seria’s body was no small amount.

Thanks to that mana, Ragna’s physical condition had improved from that of a barely functional magic user to something closer to a decent mage.

Even so, compared to his prime as the Demon King, it was still a mere fraction.

Yet, despite transferring such a significant amount of mana to him, the total mana within Seria’s body hadn’t diminished much. It was an absurd amount of mana latent within her.

If Ragna’s hypothesis was correct, her ability to pilot Golems was nothing short of a divine gift.

When such talent is discovered, it’s only natural for those in power to want to cultivate it as much as possible.

“So they used their authority to send you to train under a skilled mentor…”

“Yeah, something like that. And because I’m just tagging along here, I don’t have any authority to make claims about you.”

Seria’s expression grew somber.

In other words, there was no way for Ragna to gain his freedom through Seria.

The plan to pose as a lover of someone powerful and escape was doomed from the start. But then, *pat*, Ragna placed his hand on her head again, gently stroking it.

“Huh?”

“It’s okay. It’s not your fault.”

“But…”

“It’ll work out somehow.”

As he comforted her, Ragna’s demeanor wasn’t one of anger or disappointment.

If anything, it was calm and kind.

And for good reason Seria was his savior.

Despite his hatred for humans and his loyalty to the demons who once followed him, he had wronged her, forcing himself on her in a misguided act.

No matter the justification, it was something he never should have done.

Betraying someone who helped him and showed him affection was the ultimate taboo for Ragna, who had lost everything to betrayal.

That’s why he felt a rare softness toward Seria.

Feeling the warmth of his touch, Seria’s gloomy expression softened, and she gave a small smile.

Ragna smiled back. His calm wasn’t just because of his feelings for her. In his mind, another way to break through this situation had already taken shape.

To confirm it, he turned to Seria.

“Hey, Seria.”

“Yeah?”

“You said there are men who can pilot Golems, right?”

“…Yeah, there are.”

Ragna nodded, looking at Seria as she tilted her head.

That’s right.

She had mentioned it during their first meeting.

There were men, not just women, who could pilot Golems.

“But those men can’t go through the same coming-of-age ceremony as women, right?”

“…Probably not. I mean, I’ve never heard of a man going through that ceremony.”

“Then how do those men manage to pilot Golems without it?”

Seria scratched her head, thinking, before starting to explain.

“…Honestly, I don’t know much about it myself…”

“Anything you know is fine.”

“…Okay, then. Hm, how should I explain this… First, can I talk about mana?”

Ragna nodded.

He didn’t need an explanation about mana itself. As a former grand mage and Demon King, he knew more about it than anyone.

But it would be useful to hear how this world understood mana.

“Alright… So, mana is the force that surrounds this world.

It’s the power that allows everything to exist as it should humans as humans, animals as animals, plants as plants. It’s the force behind the cycle of life and death. That’s what mana is… or at least, that’s what they say. Honestly, I don’t fully get it either, so just think of it as this huge, incredible force in the world.”

Ragna chuckled and nodded at her vague smile.

“Anyway, that mana flows through the world, keeping it moving. And everyone in this world has it equally.”

“And?”

“Piloting a Golem means using that mana. You use the power within your body to give commands to the Golem’s body. The Golem moves according to the pilot’s orders… That’s the basic way knights operate Golems.”

“…But that sounds contradictory. If mana is something everyone has, shouldn’t men and women both be able to use it?”

“Yeah, you’re right. Men and women both have mana.”

“Then…”

“Honestly, I don’t know the details from there. But from what I’ve heard, the issue comes after that. To pilot a Golem, you need mana, but mana alone isn’t enough.”

Ragna’s eyes lit up at her words.

“So?”

“That’s where the ceremony comes in. Through a ritual hosted by the Papal Kingdom, knights can convert their mana into a power capable of piloting Golems.”

“The Papal Kingdom?”

“Yeah, the central city of the world. Its real name is ‘Tanga,’ but people usually call it the Papal Kingdom. It’s the heart of the Union Kingdom  and the one that conducts those rituals.”

“…Go on.”

“Right. So, through that ritual, knights can convert their mana into a sacred power commonly called ‘holy power’ that lets them pilot Golems.”

“…”

Based on her explanation, the “holy power” Seria described seemed to be the same as what Ragna called “black mana.”

As this realization hit him, his expression shifted subtly.

A power from the demon realm, once wielded by the Demon King to drive humanity to the brink of extinction, was being treated as sacred? Well, Ragna had only called it “black mana” because it came from the demon realm, not because it had any specific color.

“Hey, Ragna? Something wrong?”

“…No, it’s fine. Keep going.”

Seria nodded and continued her explanation.

“So, to pilot a Golem, you need to convert mana into holy power. I think you get that part. For women, the Papal Kingdom’s ritual makes that conversion possible. But it’s only possible for women. Men can’t undergo the ritual, and even if they did, they couldn’t convert mana into holy power.”

“Hm, Seria, if I’m not mistaken… can you tell me exactly what that ritual entails?”

“…”

“…Seria?”

“…Uh, well, the ritual… it’s, um…”

For some reason, Seria’s face flushed red, and she started fidgeting.

Ragna looked at her, puzzled, as she struggled to respond.

“…I mean, the ritual… it’s, uh…”

“What?”

“…It’s hard to talk about! Like, it’s something you’re not supposed to ask about casually!”

“Oh, sorry.”

Her sudden intensity caught him off guard, and Ragna apologized reflexively.

He glanced at her cautiously.

The ritual seemed to be something deeply significant, something difficult to ask about openly. Despite racking his brain, Ragna couldn’t figure out what it was. But pressing Seria further felt like a bad idea.

“Okay, okay! Don’t ask other people about it either! Some people get really embarrassed talking about the ritual!”

“Alright, alright.”

Her words only piqued his curiosity further, but Ragna decided to suppress it. The more pressing question was how some men could pilot Golems without undergoing the ritual.

“Okay, putting the ritual aside… how do some men manage to pilot Golems without it?”

“Hm… I don’t really know how to explain it. Like I said, I don’t know the details. But apparently, there are some guys who are born with an incredible amount of mana.”

Ragna nodded at her words.

Children born with vast amounts of mana.

If that was the criterion, gender wouldn’t matter. Five hundred years ago, the Magic Tower also prioritized innate mana capacity as the first requirement for learning magic. As a result, while there were more girls in the tower, there were plenty of boys too.

Ragna himself had been one of those boys.

“…And among those kids born with exceptional mana, some can do it.”

“Do what?”

“Convert mana into holy power. Or rather, it’s possible for both men and women to have that ability.”

“Even women?”

“Yeah.”

“…”

Seria’s words hit Ragna like a shockwave, and he let out a low groan.

Seria tilted her head, confused by his reaction.

“Ragna?”

“…”

Ragna couldn’t respond.

The revelation was too staggering.

Children born with vast mana were one thing that was normal.

But children born with the ability to wield holy power black mana innately? That was a big deal.

Because it went against the natural order. Black mana was a force from the demon realm, fundamentally opposed to the mana of this world. It shouldn’t exist here naturally. Acquiring it required complex magical rituals. That had been Ragna’s understanding as the former Demon King.

“…What in the world is going on?”

“Huh?”

Black mana was a force opposite to mana.

If mana was the power that preserved the world’s current state, black mana was the power of change destruction, even. It had transformed Ragna’s human body into that of a Demon King.

“…No, maybe that’s why it’s possible. A change passed down through generations… maybe it altered their nature.”

Black mana was a force of transformation.

If it accumulated through generations, it could reshape someone’s constitution, creating individuals born solely for black mana.

That wouldn’t be surprising, even if it defied the natural order. As Ragna nodded to himself, piecing it together—

“Ugh, seriously… Hey!”

“Ow!”

A sharp pinch on his calf made Ragna jump in surprise.

Rubbing his aching leg, he looked at Seria.

“What was that for, you idiot! Don’t forget you’re a knight!”

“And what about you?! I came all this way to see you, and you’re just mumbling to yourself when we don’t even have much time…”

Seria pouted, clearly annoyed.

Ragna, still rubbing his leg, gave her an exasperated look.

Her slave brand should’ve been suppressing her strength, but his thigh was probably red and swollen from that pinch.

If she’d used her full strength, it wouldn’t just be swollen it’d be torn to shreds.

Sighing at the thought, Ragna realized something. If black mana was the source of power for Seria and the women of this world, it explained the current situation.

Black mana was an impatient, volatile force. Even in small amounts, it strengthened the body.

Just like how Ragna’s body had grown stronger that morning, making tasks that once felt grueling now effortless.

To men who had only trained their bodies, this sudden change would feel jarring. It would be bewildering.

And the reason the world had become this way…

“Probably has a lot to do with me.”

The first human to research black mana was none other than Ragna himself.

It had been a desperate struggle to gain power after being cast into the demon realm with nothing.

Through that power, he had become the Demon King.

So, where did that power come from?

The research likely started there.

By studying how to harness black mana, they discovered a method that worked instantly for women, which was then applied to piloting Golems, creating the “knight” class.

“And that led to a society where women dominate men?”

The thought made Ragna chuckle involuntarily. Seria looked at him, puzzled.

“Ragna?”

“Oh, sorry, Seria. It’s nothing.”

‘Good grief… did I unintentionally get revenge on humanity?’

The invasion of demons he’d unleashed.

It had driven humanity to the brink, forcing them to rely on weapons that only women could wield.

As a result, the world had become profoundly warped.

“Pfft!”

Could there be a more perfectly ironic story? It was probably just a coincidence, but it was utterly absurd.

“R-Ragna, are you okay?”

“Sorry, sorry, Seria. I’m fine. Really.”

Barely suppressing his trembling laughter, Ragna took a deep breath.

But the twisted history of humanity and the reality it had created kept bubbling up, making him want to laugh again.

‘Come on, get it together.’

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Ragna refocused. He couldn’t keep laughing forever. He had things to do.

From Seria’s explanation, the power to pilot Golems called holy power was actually black mana.

And it seemed that men who could wield black mana were given special treatment and admitted to the military academy.

If that was the case…

What would happen if he revealed he could use black mana?

“Hey, Seria?”

“Yeah?”

“There’s something I want to show you.”

“…?”

With Seria looking at him curiously, Ragna took a deep breath and focused. The black mana flowing within him began to gather in his hand, swirling like mist.

“…!”

Seria’s eyes widened in shock as she saw the misty energy in his hand.

“W-Wait, Ragna! Is that?!”

“Yeah, exactly what you’re thinking.”

With a meaningful smile, Ragna looked at Seria, who stared at the mana gathered in his hand.

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Translated by Reversalnovel.web.id