THE DEMON KING'S EMPRESS
The Return of the Demon Queen 1

How surprised Chrysanthemum was to hear Lili's words. He did not believe what he heard. For 6 months, he disappeared from the selection exam. Even the king ordered all the palace guards to look for him in all corners of the country, including him. However, who would have thought if the disappearance of Lili would have this effect. He was forgotten by his friend. His heart was very disappointed.

"Lili, do you really not remember me?!"

"What are you really?! How important are you to me? And why do I have to remember you?!"

"It's..."

Chrysanthemum's mind and heart are deeply fucked. He was confused and didn't know what else to say. Lili saw the expression on Chrysanthemum's face. The plain, innocent, funny, sad, panicked face was all inside him now. He wanted his heart to laugh, but he was afraid to increase his sin. Suddenly, Chrysanthemum felt someone pat his right shoulder. He looked up and saw Lili smiling at him.

"Just kidding. Don't be so serious."

"Eh?!"

"How are you, Chrysanthemum?"

"Lili, Lili.... You... You don't lose your memory?!" krisna asked as she clasped Lili's hands tightly together.

"Of course not. Are you my best friend?!"

When Lili said the word "my best friend", Lili became reminded of memories in the past. That all this time, he never had a friend who was always there wherever he went and always accompanied him in times of joy and sorrow. He was always accompanied by some of his trusted guards and some of his pet beasts. However, he never had a place to lean and share. Family destroyed. His pride was trampled. And more painful and never forget, he relinquished his honor as he began to put his trust in the people he loved. But, what he got was the opposite. A betrayal in return. His family was destroyed without his knowledge. Bound by a marriage arranged by a previous king that leads him to destruction. This is what makes Lili close the door of her heart. Shutting himself off from the world. For years, he made lonely friends. Eternal loneliness, for him, was not something he should fear. But what is power. As strong as a woman, she also needs a backrest in her life. A person who would listen to his grievances, share his joys and sorrows with him without cornering himself. Does that simple thing exist?

"Thank you for being my best friend."

"I'm sorry, it's troubling you."

"It's okay. Oh yeah, what about your token? How much did you get?!"

"Tokens?!"

"Yes token. Don't tell me you're kidding me again."

"Tokens? A token? What's it like?!" lili said as she reached into her shirt pocket.

He took a purple cloth bag from behind his pocket and opened it. As Lili opened the cloth bag, a beam of light came out inside and there were many tokens floating in the air. Chrysanthemums are not fun. Before he parted ways with Lili, Lili managed to get one token. However, it had been six months since the disappearance of him, he had instead managed to obtain all the tokens in the test. When compared to Chrysanthemum who only managed to get three tokens in its exam, it was very different from Lili who got twenty tokens in the exam. This is an incredible achievement. Just this time in history, there was a disciple who was able to break the exam record in collecting tokens this year. This record was once achieved by the demon queen of the former alumni of this school. And now, that record goes to a girl who only spent a few months studying magic at that school.

"Wahhh, Lili.... you... How did you get all that?!"

"It's just luck." replied Lili while closing the cloth bag. Miraculously, the token went straight into the cloth bag itself.

"Luck? That's not possible. Lili, actually during these six months, where did you go?!"

"Why are you asking like that?"

"I just want to know what happened to you during your disappearance."

"Oh."

"Liliy? Everyone went looking for you. Even the king ordered all his guards to search for you in all corners of the country. But none of them managed to find you?!"

"I didn't tell anyone else to look for me. Why are they looking for me? Are you the same as them?!"

"Yes. I'm looking for you too."

"What about the other friends. Are they looking for me too?!"

"..."

"Why silence Chrysanthemum? Ahahaha, you don't have to answer. I already know. None of them came looking for me, right? Then, are all the teachers also looking for me?!"

"Yes. They're all looking for you, too. They are also responsible for this exam. So they all went looking for you for six months."

"Oh."

"Lili, if you don't want to tell me this. I won't force you. I'm so glad you're back safely."

"thank you. Oh yeah, how about we go out for a walk at the lantern festival tonight. Itung-itung as a celebration of my return here, how?!"

"It... Lili, sorry I can't."

"Oh come on, don't turn it down."

"I don't like crowds."

"Lied."

"really."

"Slices oh Chrysanthemums, you're young and you just love solitude. That's weird in my opinion."

"It's not like that. I just don't like crowds. I don't like solitude."

"Of course it's different."

"As far as you are. Tonight I'm going to go to your room."

"For what?!"

"For what? Of course go pick you up to go for a walk to the lantern festival."

"I told you I don't want to!"

"You sure you don't want to go?!"

"Yes!"

"Are you afraid of being seduced by men?!"

"I'm not afraid. Where is there such a thing?!"

"Alright because you don't want to. I won't force you and I won't pick you up. You can meet me if you want to come. Then I'll go first."

Seeing Lili leave him, there was a lingering feeling in his heart. Chrysanthemum then called Lili's name.

"Lilly!"

"What else is it?"

"All right, I'm coming."

"Where? Didn't you just say you didn't want to come? Why do you want to come now?!"

"You said, just to celebrate your return."

"Yes right."

"So I as your best friend also want to celebrate with you. That too if you want?!"

"Of course I want to. However, if you don't like the crowd. I can walk alone."

"It's okay. I'll keep you company."

"Are you sure?!"

"It's not because I don't like crowds."

"Then?!"

"I'm afraid I'll trouble others."

"Hahaha, where there's such a thing as Chrysanthemum. We go there just for fun. You don't have to think about anything else."

"All right then. But..."

"But why?!"

"I, Lili, may I stay in your room."

"Of course I can. But, why do you suddenly want to. stay at my place."

"It's okay."

"Are you afraid of losing me?"

"Yes." Yeah."

"Why?"

"Because you're my only friend and my family. I don't have anyone else "

"I understand. Now let's go back to the dorm. After all, my return was not welcomed here. It is true, the strong will always be seen as strong. And the weak will be a meal to those who are strong."

"Prophe Lili. At least, you still have me who will always welcome you."

"Yes. And I'm grateful for that. Let's go back."

"Mmm." said the Chrysanthemum while nodding.

Both of them left the place. Suddenly from behind, there was a wave of black aura that flashed in an instant and then disappeared.