It Seems the Demon King Has Returned to a World Where Gender Roles Are Reversed - Chapter 7

 Chapter 7 :

In a forgotten corner of the lumberyard, there’s an abandoned storage shed, once used to store timber from the work site. As the lumberyard expanded and the shed became too far from the main operations, it fell into disuse. Now, among the piles of discarded wood, two shadows flicker in the dim light.

The shadows belong to a teenage boy and girl none other than Ragna and Seria.

The two move closer, then apart, their silhouettes dancing in the quiet shed. A soft, almost whining voice echoes through the space. To an outsider, it might look like a secret rendezvous between lovers. But Ragna’s expression tells a different story less like he’s enjoying a clandestine meeting and more like he’s utterly exhausted.

And for good reason.

“So, anyway… hey, are you even listening?” Seria’s voice cuts through.

“Yeah, I’m listening,” Ragna replies, almost reflexively.

Seria shoots him a pouty glare, clearly unimpressed by his half-hearted response. Ragna swallows hard, realizing his mistake, and quickly gauges her mood.

“…Hmph, fine, whatever,” she mutters.

Ragna lets out an internal sigh of relief.

It’s been a month since he first met Seria. Their after-work chats in this empty shed have become a regular part of his routine. But in that time, Ragna has learned one crucial lesson: never argue with Seria or give her attitude especially not when she’s already fuming from a scolding by her superior.

“Anyway, as I was saying—” Seria starts again.

(Here we go again) Ragna thinks, stifling an inward groan as he fights to keep his expression neutral.

Seria’s complaints aren’t exactly earth-shattering. They’re the usual gripes about her daily life, mostly centered on her superior and instructor, a knight named Karen. Ragna’s mind flashes back to the stern blonde woman he’d met before. She definitely seemed like the no-nonsense type probably a terrible match for Seria, whose personality could be described as lively and bold at best, or recklessly impulsive at worst. Combine that with Seria’s apparent cluelessness about the ways of the world, and it’s no wonder they clash.

“…And then she says, ‘With that kind of attitude, how do you expect to protect the kingdom? You think you can become a knight like that?’ Can you believe her? Isn’t that just too much?” Seria huffs.

“Yeah, sounds rough,” Ragna replies, his response devoid of enthusiasm.

Seria puffs out her cheeks, grumbling like a disgruntled bird flapping its wings. Ragna can’t help but find the image oddly fitting.

“…Ugh, and it’s not just her. The vibe around here has been awful lately. It’s like my stomach’s all knotted up,” she continues.

“Something going on?” Ragna asks, a bit more engaged.

“Well… it’s like everyone’s staring at me weirdly. And sometimes, when people pass by, I catch them muttering snide comments. What did I even do wrong?” Seria’s voice carries genuine confusion.

(Snide comments… ah, I get it.)Ragna pieces it together. “Didn’t you say there’s a personnel transfer coming up soon?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah, I think I heard something like that.”

“That’s probably it. Everyone’s on edge because of it.”

“Hmm… you think so?”

“Pretty sure. Let’s be real this place isn’t exactly a dream job. It’s dangerous, far from any city, and all you see is trees, trees, and more trees.”

Seria pauses, mulling over his words, then nods. “Yeah, that makes sense. But why are they taking it out on me?”

Ragna gives a wry smile and stays silent. He can’t exactly tell her the truth: the Green Group officers of the kingdom alliance wearing green uniforms are jealous of her. Most of them are women who failed the knight training program, often because they couldn’t sustain adequate golem operation time. To them, Seria, who’s already been recognized for her potential and is fast-tracking through the knight program, is a walking affront.

If only she had some glaring flaw, they might feel better. But Seria? She’s got no obvious weaknesses. Sure, she’s impulsive and wears her emotions on her sleeve, but she’s not reckless to a fault. In terms of character, she’s open enough to befriend a man like Ragna, which is rare in this world worthy of high praise, even. Plus, she’s undeniably attractive and talented to boot. If you had to describe her, she’d be the equivalent of a charismatic, good-natured, and capable heartthrob. To the Green Group officers, stuck in this backwater lumberyard with no prospects of marriage or advancement, Seria’s existence is infuriating.

“Ugh… this is probably going to drag on until the transfers are over, isn’t it?” Seria groans.

“Probably,” Ragna agrees.

“Ugh, at this rate, I’ll collapse before I even make it back to the kingdom.”

Seria lets out a dramatic sigh, clearly stressed. Ragna glances at her. “Didn’t you say you’re heading back to the kingdom in about a month?”

“Yeah, something like that. I haven’t heard the exact date, but it’s probably a couple of months before the new academy term starts.”

“So, a month or so…” Ragna muses.

“Yeah… Man, I wish I’d met you sooner. Oh, wait if I had, you might’ve ended up in trouble in the Dark Forest again, huh?” Seria says with a playful grin.

Despite the looming separation, she doesn’t seem particularly hung up about it, her attitude light and carefree.

Ragna returns a faint smile, but inwardly, he’s calculating. (It’s about time to make a move.)

A month has passed since their first meeting, and their relationship has grown close enough to call each other friends. Honestly, the speed at which Seria opened up to him surprised even Ragna. Worried about moving too fast and ruining things, he’s been cautious, letting their meetings stretch to nearly a month. The result? A comfortable dynamic where Seria vents freely, and Ragna listens and responds just enough to keep her happy. It’s less like a romantic connection and more like a close friendship between same-sex peers. From what Ragna can tell, Seria doesn’t even see him as a man in that sense.

Which means it’s time to stick to the plan.

With the personnel transfers looming and the unpredictability of the kingdom alliance officers’ schedules, there’s no guarantee he’ll keep seeing Seria. He has to act now.

“Hey,” Ragna says, breaking the silence.

“Hm? What’s up?” Seria asks, blinking curiously.

Still smiling, Ragna continues, “A month… it’s a bit early, but I’ve got something I want to give you.”

“Something to give me? Wait, a gift?!” Seria’s eyes light up.

“Yeah, you could say that. Just a little something to commemorate our time together.”

Seria leans forward, practically bouncing with excitement. “What is it? Come on, tell me!”

“Whoa, calm down,” Ragna chuckles. “It’s a gift. If I tell you what it is, it ruins the surprise.”

“Hmm, true!” Seria nods, her eyes sparkling with anticipation as she stares at him.

Ragna meets her gaze and says, “Sorry, I don’t have it on me right now.”

“…Oh.” Her face falls, disappointment clear.

Ragna bites back a laugh and clears his throat. “I don’t want to risk losing it during work, so I keep it at the lodging.”

“Ugh, fair enough,” Seria grumbles, clearly itching to know more.

(This is working. I’ve got her hooked,) Ragna thinks, pressing forward. “The thing is, it’s tricky. We don’t know when we’ll see each other next.”

“No worries! I’ll definitely come back tomorrow!” Seria declares.

“Sure, but can you really guarantee that? What if that Karen lady puts you through some special training or something?”

“…Ugh, you’re right,” Seria admits, deflating slightly.

“And it’s not just you. The workload here keeps piling up. Night shifts are becoming more common, too. Honestly, I can’t say for sure when we’ll meet again.”

With the personnel transfers approaching, the kingdom alliance officers have been pushing the workers harder to boost their performance records. Injuries and deaths are up, but the officers don’t care workers are replaceable to them.

Seria lets out a frustrated groan, falling silent. In the past month, they’ve only managed to meet about half the time due to their conflicting schedules. She can’t promise they’ll meet tomorrow either.

“Hmm… I’d like to give it to you soon, but I can’t exactly carry it around all the time,” Ragna says, feigning thoughtfulness.

Seria makes a small, distressed sound, clearly racking her brain for a way to ensure she gets the gift.

Then, as if struck by an idea, Ragna claps his hands. “Oh, right. Seria, can you sneak out of your lodging tonight?”

“Tonight?” she asks, blinking in surprise.

“Yeah. If we can’t be sure when we’ll meet next, maybe I can give it to you tonight. What do you think?”

Seria hesitates, then nods cautiously. “Yeah… that could work.”

(Got her,)Ragna thinks, quickly continuing. “You remember that clearing in the forest, right?”

“The clearing? Oh, you mean the one we always pass by?”

Ragna nods. The clearing is a spot in the forest between the workers’ lodging and the officers’ quarters. It’s accessible via a side path that bypasses the main plaza, leading to either the lumberyard or the workers’ lodging. They know about it thanks to the old man, who, hoping for some “crumbs” to fall his way, had tipped them off about secluded spots and shortcuts perfect for secret meetings. This abandoned shed is one such place, and the clearing is another.

“Yeah, exactly. I’ll bring the gift to the clearing around midnight tonight. How’s that sound?”

On the surface, Ragna’s tone is calm and casual, but inside, his nerves are on edge. (What if she thinks something’s off? What if she suspects I’m up to something?)

He waits anxiously for her response.

But unlike Ragna’s nervous anticipation, Seria’s answer is refreshingly straightforward. “Sure, sounds good!”

“I’ll be there at midnight, then.”

“Got it. I’ll be waiting,” she says with a grin.

Her easy agreement catches Ragna off guard, and he breathes an internal sigh of relief. But then—

“Wait, you really won’t tell me what the gift is?” Seria presses, her curiosity getting the better of her.

Ragna chuckles. “If I tell you, it ruins the fun. Save the excitement for when you get it.”

“Hmph… fine,” she pouts, though her fidgeting betrays how much she’s dying to know.

Ragna laughs softly. “Don’t worry, it won’t disappoint. It’ll definitely surprise you.”

“It better not let me down!” Seria says, narrowing her eyes playfully.

Ragna responds with a light chuckle, but inwardly, he’s resolute. The gift will indeed surprise her just not in the way she expects.

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