Chapter 210 – The Tickle Monster.


    Once the formal ceremonies and such werepleted, Akagi and the Prime Minster moved to have a short joint press conference. The <i>Demon</i> navigated about as well as possible, trying to assuage people''s fears andy out her ns for her new nation. The Prime Minster himself was hammered with questions, and Akagi could tell that he was at the end of his rope. Thus she moved to cut the press conference short with a small twin announcement.


    "Before we finish up here today, I would like to make two announcements." Akagi''s words caused the muttering among the reporters to stop. "First, I am formally inviting all those who survived our time in Free World Online to apply for Citizenship in the Kingdom of Dumetor. The illogical persecution and anger towards these innocent people have been something that I''ve kept an eye on over thest year, and unfortunately, it seems that rather than re-integrate into society many have been cast out." Tsuchimi had been the first person to formally seek refuge in Dumetor, and Akagi knew that many others were in simr positions. "Any and all survivors, even those who did not retain their abilities, are wee in my new home." Akagi smiled. "A member of my government will follow up with details regarding the admission process and suchter, so keep an eye out for that."


    <i>{Now we wait and see just how many answer the call.} </i>(Akagi)


    "Does this mean you wish to monopolize the returnees?" Reporter Kirika asked unprompted, which earned her arge number of angry stares.


    "No, I do not need more power." Akagiughed. "I simply... I don''t..." She paused for a moment before continuing. "Something about those who went through so much hardship and pain being given nothing but further suffering is just not sitting right with me is all." Even she didn''t understand her own feelings on the matter, but just chose not to question it.


    "So you just want to... help them?" Kirika asked, unsure of her own question.


    "Yes." Akagi nodded. "I don''t intend to conscript them or even force them to use their abilities for my own needs." She continued. "If they wanted to be left alone in peace, then that''s what I''d do."


    "I see..." Kirika nodded. "And please excuse my rudeness." She apologized as she sat back down.


    <i>{Thatdy is something else. Who the hell else would blurt out a question to any high-ranking official out of turn? Especially in a situation like this} </i>Akagi appreciated Kirika''s fire.


    "I take no issue with it, so it''s fine." Akagi smiled. "And as for my second announcement." She snapped her fingers and went into Demon Lord Mode. <i><b>"I am pleased to announce that tomemorate the founding of my Kingdom. Dumetor will be hosting a tournament." </b></i>She continued. <i><b>"In one month, we shall host a contest of strength between this world and Omara''s best. Anyone is allowed to enter, not just returnees and Spirits. Details will be forting, so keep your ear to the ground. And of course, the victor will be granted a worthwhile reward." </b></i>She grinned. <i><b>"The winner will receive... a wish." </b></i>Her words caused a stir. <i><b>"My power is great, and I can do MANY things. So I figured what better incentive for a goodpetition than to grant the victor whatever they wanted, within reason of course." </b></i>Akagiughed. <i><b>"I won''t do something that interferes with my own designs of course, and I do have my limits so don''t go asking the impossible. So keep those things in mind while you theory craft, and I hope to see as manypetitors as possible." </b></i>She cackled as she vanished in front of the audience.


    _____________________________________________________________________________


    <Kana POV>


    "Did she <i>really </i>have to make that kind of an exit..." Kana sighed as she and her ss watched the news in ss. “Couldn''t she just walk out all smiles for the camera?”


    "I mean, this <i>is </i>Akagi..." Naomi was trying hard not tough as she whispered to her. “It would be out of character if she did this whole thing by the book.”


    "I was hoping she''d do the entire thing in cat mode." Mika whispered as she giggled. The thought of the Japanese Prime Minister doing this entire event with a catgirl was simply too much for her and she startedughing.


    <i>{That would have been simultaneously embarrassing and... and also very funny...} </i>Kana couldn''t admit to her friends that she would have liked to see such a sight. If nothing else, the hrity of watching the Prime Minster go through all this formality for a catgirl would have probably counteracted her dying on the inside from seeing her sister do something so stupid.


    "I wonder if Lady Akagi would take me in?" Misha asked herself quietly, though the girls still overheard her.


    <i>{Why did Onee-chan have to break Misha... She was such a good girl before, and now she''s...} </i>Kana sighed. Misha''s brush with death and subsequent ''awakening'' had caused her to change immensely, at least on this one issue. Beyond her whole obsession with the Demon Lord, she was otherwise normal, at least Kana hoped that was the case. <i>{I know Onee-chan didn''t do this on purpose, but I still feel bad...} </i>


    "The cult will soon have its newest Priestess!" Mika whispered whileughing.


    "It''s not funny, Mika!" Kana scolded her. "Misha is messed up because of what happened, so don''t beughing!"


    "At this point, there isn''t anything we can do about it, so just leave Misha alone." Naomi interjected. "She seems happy, so I think it''s fine."


    <i>{Yeah... sure... happy...} </i>Kana nced over at the girl who had a big smile on her face as she imagined working for her Lady in Dumetor.


    _____________________________________________________________________________


    "So, how does it feel to leave Japan for the first time?" Akagi asked Mika as Yumi pet her on the head. She''de home directly after the events at the Diet, leaving Kukurihime to handle her part alone.


    "Honestly, I''m not impressed." Mika answered as she took a seat on the couch across from her. They''d gotten out of school just a bit ago, and came to the estate to meet the newest ''monarch'' in all the world.


    "Yeah." Naomi agreed. "I was expecting the <i>Demon Kingdom</i> to have a bit more in the way of evil castles, moats ofva, and maybe some screams of the dammed. Its too quaint and cutesy here for my taste."


    "Smart assess..." Akagi sighed as Yumi scratched her ears. "I guess I <em>could</em> ask Silfana for decoration advice. She did have some pretty horror-esque design within hernd."


    <i>{Maybe I needva sharks withser eyes to keep out the intruders?} </i>(Akagi)


    "What, no cat theme?" Kana asked as she came from the kitchen spinning a water bottle in her hand. "You might as well show the world your true self." She pointed to her sister being scratched as a Catkagi.


    "You have <i>no idea</i> how tempted I was to go to this whole thing looking like this." Akagi smirked.


    "I KNEW IT!" Kana eximed. "I knew that was on your mind!"


    <i>{I hate that I wish you would''ve done it too!} </i>(Kana)


    "You should have." Mikaughed. "That would have been amazing!"


    "It would have been an <i>interesting</i> event if she did." Naomi was also giggling. "Everyone would be acting super serious and respectful as they spoke to the Demon Kitty about her new nation of evil."


    "When nyi nyexterminyate humyanity, nyi''ll myake sure I''m nyas kanyaii nyas possible meow~!"


    [When I exterminate humanity, I''ll make sure I''m as cute as possible!] Akagi spoke in nyanspeak, which made everyone but Yumi cringe.


    "Please don''t do that again..." (Mika x Naomi x Kana)


    "You have no idea how much hearing that kind of speech... <i>hurts</i>..." Kana sighed. She could barely understand Ara when she spoke like that. Former NPCs and yers had no problem understanding cat speak, but people from Earth or Omara were left bewildered by the catgirl''s words.


    "I know, but it was funny." Akagiughed.


    "And it was cute." Yumi giggled. "You should do that more often."


    "NOOOO!" (Kana x Mika x Naomi)


    "Yumi, don''t you dare encourage her!" Kana scolded her. "If you get her to start doing it with you, it will <i>spread,</i> and we don''t want that." She couldn''t imagine living with a Catkagi doing that 24/7.


    "But the kitty girl speaking all funny is so cute!" Yumi hugged onto Akagi. “Do it again, kitty!”


    “MEW!” Akagi gave a meow, rather than speak in cat.


    "This is the <i>one</i> thing I won''t relent on!" Kana was putting her foot down. "No cat speak! Please! Otherwise I <i>will </i>kick your ass!"


    "Don''t worry." Akagi smiled. "I won''t do it. I don''t really like it myself, to be honest."


    "Thank god..." Mika sighed. "I want kitty, but I don''t want kitty to start speaking like <i>that</i>." While she did find it cute, it was also very annoying.


    "Yeah, please just stick to meowing like you already do." Naomi agreed. “I like kitty meows best.”


    "MEW! MEW!" Akagi meowed as Yumi started to rub her. "Oh yeah, before I forget. Kana, I''m borrowing your girlfriend for a few days."


    "What are you doing to poor Hishya?" Kana sighed, figuring that Hishya was doomed.


    "<i>This time</i>, it''s going to be fun, so don''t worry." Akagi smiled. "We''re gonna go exploring in Omara for a few days, kinda like we used to do back in the day."


    "Oh... good." Kana was relieved to hear her girlfriend wouldn''t be returning as boots. "I was worried it would be some kind of crazy thing where you like... I don''t know, throw her intos for kicks."


    <em>{Wait, this time?}</em>(Kana)


    "So mean!" Akagi cried out in fake outrage. "What kind of person do you think I am?"


    "Think? More like <i>know</i>." Kana rolled her eyes. "You do all sorts of things to people because you find it <i>fun</i>, so don''t try acting all innocent. My skepticism of you ispletely warranted, and you know it." She''d seen what happens to those who Akagi ''yed with.''


    "Do you see this?" Akagi looked to Mika and Naomi for help. "My little sister is being so mean to me! She thinks her big sister is some kind of evil monster that takes pleasure in tormenting people! Isn''t that awful of her?!?"


    "No." (Mika x Naomi x Yumi)


    "Why did <i>you</i> say no?!?" Akagi red at the Priestess.


    "Because it was funny." Yumi giggled. "And also because Kana is dead on when ites to you and your antics. Even you can''t deny her words ring true."


    "See! Even <i>Yumi</i> knows you''re trouble!" Kana said with a smug look.


    <i>{Evil kitty is evil, and even your partner in crime won''t try and deny it!} </i>(Kana)


    "Such meanies!" Akagi huffed. "Perhaps I should unleash the <i><b>tickling</b></i>!" She threatened the girls with her most powerful weapon.


    "I think your tickles are banned under internationalw as a war crime." Mika shivered as she moved away from the danger, recalling the time she let Akagi tickle her, which was something that she''d immediately regretted.


    "Fear the tickles!" Akagi wiggled her fingers toward Mika as she cackled manically.


    "No tickles!" Yumi chopped her on the head. "Bad Kitty!"


    "Owchi! Yumi hasmitted kitty abuse! Is no one going to stick up for me?!?" Akagi looked to her friends for support, but was ignored.


    "Is it really that bad?" Naomi was the only one who never experienced Akagi''s tickling before, and had no idea how bad it was.


    "YES!" (Mika x Kana x Himari x Yumi)