An Aura Farmer's Guide to Another World-Chapter 41: Reporter’s in another world

The disparity in technology levels in this world is quite baffling. After being taken from Devil’s Island, I traveled to the capital of the Demon Empire, Velmora, by airship.

At present, I am seated in a carriage alongside the other members of the Night Squad, drawn by two horses as we proceed toward the train station.

Why can’t they make cars?

"You truly love me, don’t you?" I asked, glancing at Cupcake seated beside Lucy.

"Love you?" Cupcake’s eyebrows shot up. Her body recoiled, pressing into the carriage’s backrest as her eyes narrowed, a look of disdain crossing her face.

With her lips still sealed, Cupcake crossed her legs. The corners of her mouth twitched almost imperceptibly, as though she were fighting back a scoff.

The question hung in the air like a poorly baked soufflé.

"Love isn’t the word," Cupcake stated. "You belong to me. I own you."

"But... but you took care of my wounds after training with Lana," I stammered. "You fed me a healing potion, and after my shower, you even presented me with thirty different suits to choose from."

"If that’s not love," I questioned, leaning closer to Cupcake, "what is it?"

With a huff, Cupcake crossed her arms and turned her back.

As the carriage rattled over cobblestones, Evelyn, seated beside Cupcake, turned her attention to me.

Leaning in, Evelyn placed her hand on my thigh. "She treats you like her pet. There’s a difference between that and love."

"I am not her pet," I asserted, pulling Evelyn’s hand from my thigh. "I am her master, and she is my disciple!"

"She’s a captain and our Squad leader. You’re just a second lieutenant."

Evelyn pulled away, sinking into the backrest. Slowly, she began to lick her purple fingernail. "Now, if you’re her master in bed, that’s a different story entirely."

’Hmph!’

Lucy turned her head sharply, a dismissive "Hmph!" escaping her lips.

I glanced over my shoulder; Lucy was gazing out the window, deliberately avoiding my eyes.

A nudge of my shoulder made Lucy turn to face me. "I haven’t done anything with Cupcake," I clarified.

Lucy gazed deeper into my ocean eyes. "Why are you telling me that?"

"Well..." I averted my gaze, my eyes darting to the stone buildings outside the carriage. "It’s nothing.

***

The carriage delivered the four of us to the train station. As soon as I stepped outside, men in knee-length frock coats and derby hats immediately surrounded me.

Among them stood a woman dressed predominantly in black. She wore a long, flowing skirt that reached her ankles, a fitted bodice with a distinctive white ruffled high-neck collar, and white puffy sleeves gathered at the wrists.

A black bow adorns the front of her collar. A narrow brown belt cinches her waist, emphasizing her slender silhouette.

"You’re claiming to be the Demon King, is that true?" she inquired.

’Snap-snap!’

Three male reporters flashed their cameras, taking pictures of me.

They were using compact and somewhat boxy cameras, encased in a fitted brown leather carrying case that was partially open at the top, revealing the camera’s controls.

Pointed directly at my face, the cameras’ front featured their silver, circular lens assemblies.

’Snap-snap!’

"There have been reports in the newspapers calling you a false king, even a clown, just seeking attention. What’s your response?"

Closing in, the female reporter with dark hair in a bun shoved a recording device toward my face.

My gaze lingered on the reporters before shifting to the train ahead of us.

The train was a majestic, steam-powered beast. Its maroon body and seven carriages were linked by simple buffers and chain couplings, with a driving cab and a large smoke funnel prominently at the rear.

"I’m Elizabeth," she announced, invading my private space as if Cupcake, Lucy, and Evelyn didn’t exist. "I work with the Devil Diaries newspaper, also known as D&D."

Her rectangular recording device made contact with my lips, her eyes glued to mine. "Claiming to be the Demon King means you’re claiming the right to rule the Demon Empire," she pressed. "Are you attempting to take away her Majesty’s authority?"

Treating Elizabeth like a ghost, I pushed her aside and walked toward the train’s middle carriage, the rest of the Night Squad trailing behind me.

"If you don’t answer my questions, I’ll tell the world you’re a scam, a trickster crying for attention, a fake Demon King."

’Flash!’

I used my Positive Touch ability and flash-stepped, appearing directly in front of Elizabeth.

Elizabeth was startled, almost losing her balance.

I placed one hand on her back, gently holding her as I lifted her chin with my other hand.

"I need your address so we can talk privately," I murmured.

Her eyes darted to the swiftly approaching male reporters. "You don’t want anyone to know we’re going to meet?" she questioned.

"Yes," I replied, bringing my face closer to hers.

Elizabeth’s hand dipped into her ruffled high-neck collar, extracting a white piece of paper which she swiftly inserted into her mouth before anyone could notice.

"Kiss me," she whispered.

I blinked twice and pulled back slightly.

"Hurry up and kiss me," she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Smooch!"

I kissed Elizabeth. Her tongue then surgically transferred the paper from her mouth to mine.

Immediately afterward, Elizabeth violently pushed me away and fell back.

She covered her mouth, creases forming between her eyebrows.

"You pervert!" she brushed her lips.

She reached into her purse for a handkerchief, and then used it to brush her lips.

"Calling you a false king doesn’t give you the right to violate me."

Elizabeth was quite the actor. Seconds ago, she’d been begging me to kiss her, and now this. To top it off, she winked at me before turning her back and leaving.

’Snap-snap!’

I stood there like an asshole, while the reporters snapped pictures of me, smiling under their breath as they did so.

Is this the price of getting Elizabeth’s address without the public knowing?