Life Will Change Book 2

Chapter 17: Overthrowing the Demon King

Begin

~Normal POV

8/4 - Friday

Ango Natsume entered the bookstore with his usual confident stride. There was a crowd here today as well. Though for whatever reason, none of them noticed him. They were busy staring at the walls around them. Hm. It was probably nothing. He ignored this oddity and walked up to his editor.

"Good morning," He greeted, cheerfully. "I see there's quite a crowd today as well."

"Uh... yes... about that..." His editor stammered, nervously.

Ango was about to wonder what was causing him to act this way, but then he glanced at the walls everyone was intrigued by. His jaw dropped. There were little red and black cards plastered everywhere. Mostly they littered the walls, some were stuck to his booth, some were even placed on nearby pillars. He couldn't even count how many there were; since they were all over the place! And looking more closely, he saw a very startling bit of writing on them. They were addressed to him.

"What?! What is this!?"

"When the staff came to open the store this morning it was already like this..." His editor replied, "They called the police, but they were told to leave it as is- to preserve the crime scene."

Ango walked up to the wall of cards and read the text printed onto them.

To the ostentatious swindler, Mr. Ango Natsume

You are a depraved miscreant who holds others in contempt and steals their work, lining your own pockets all the while. We refuse to overlook the crimes you commit as you wear a false crown. Tonight, we take back the Desires you've stolen.

One card near it was flipped onto the other side. On it was a logo that he recognized instantly. The Phantom Thieves, the ones who caused such a stir in the country last year, were coming after him! He couldn't help laughing at the absurdity of it.

"Honestly, how stupid can you get?! Damn it, what nonsense!"

"I am the Monarch. My followers are loyal. That is... as long as I hold their Desires. No... Having those Desires is proof of my claim to power. Proof of my sovereignty! I won't hand them over... I won't give them up! You foolish heroes are nothing but talk. Come then, I'll crush every last one of you!"

~...

The gang was standing outside the station at their entry point for the Jail. Zenkichi was with them and he looked haggard after last night. They didn't care much for the details, but he'd accomplished his given task without casting suspicion onto himself.

"His cognition should have changed by now," Yusuke said, "Shame we couldn't go inside to watch his reaction."

"Thank you for helping, gramps-san," Haru said, smiling.

"I'm now officially an accomplice to the Phantom Thieves..." Zenkichi grumbled, hiding his face in his hands out of pure shame.

Akira laughed. "Yeah... feels pretty great, doesn't it?"

"Shut it, Kurusu..."

"Aw, come on, gramps, you did great," Futaba said, "As a reward, we can try to start calling you Zenkichi from now on!"

"Oh, joy..." Zenkichi replied, dryly.

"Yeah, Zenkichi, we'll make a phantom thief outta you yet." Ryuji said, patting his back supportively.

"Please don't say that..." Zenkichi pleaded.

"Alright, inspector, we got somewhere to be. See ya when we get back tonight," Akira said. "Let's go, people, we got a Jail to rob."