The Legend of the Flower Demon Lord

Chapter 30 - A witch thought she was better than a demon lord? Hah!

Chapter 30 – A witch thought she was better than a demon lord? Hah! ...Not that I am one.

A special moment in someone's life, one that has been described again and again as something more magical than magic. Body tingling, heart fluttering, fireworks sounding in one's ears. Yes, it's that dreaded moment used so often in romance novels and in fairy tales to awaken fair maidens – the first kiss! Or was it true love's kiss?

Regardless, what one might expect to hear at such moments is 'And they lived happily ever after.' Instead, I was hearing something very, very different...

"Hohoho! Listen to me, you trash!"

A huge bright screen appeared in the sky, with smaller ones spread throughout the cursed city as if to make sure everyone could see. On it, was a very obnoxious lady with bright green hair in pigtails, sharp features, and thin red lips that seemed to twitch in uncontained annoyance.

"..."

Then, horns sounded throughout in a deafening volume that made me flinch.

"Now that have I have all you trash's attention, let me congratulate one very lucky fellow! If you are seeing this message, it means some piece of shit trash has actually managed to pass through the dragon and kiss the lovely princess! Wow, congratulations!"

From my uncomfortable pose, I watched a smaller screen from the corner of my eyes. Then, leaning out of the kiss, I looked at the 'princess' in front of me, "...Did she just call me a piece of shit trash?"

However, he, the princess, had turned into a statue. His body shrunk into himself in shock, eyes wide and lips puckered, he simply stared without blinking. As I let go of him, he fell to the floor like a rock, still not waking from his trance.

I sighed, shaking my head as I looked at his frozen form, "Men will be men, huh? You are all the same, after all."

"Now that you have taken a few seconds to revel in that pride, let me tell you all what this means." The person on the screen cleared their throat and continued, "Phase one has been completed! Oh! Amazing!"

The voice congratulating was a hundred percent mocking.

"..."

"Now for phase two: The city will be in lock down, as a timer of ten minutes is set! If the max level of points is not reached on all challenges in that time..." A truly wicked smile slowly formed on her red lips, as she paused for tension. Then, revelling in the despair she imagined, she finally informed, "Every single person currently in this city will join the curse and be unable to leave, forever. Kyahahaha!"

It was truly a witch's laugh, just as described in the stories.

And there was truly despair all around.

"Ten minutes?!"

"But no one has been able to in years already!!"

"What is this?!"

"Mama!! Waah!"

Even children understood and were crying. No one could believe their ears. Stopping whatever they were doing, they screamed, fell to their knees, cried, ran into an invisible wall, did everything except try.

Only two people did not stop at all, not even hearing the voice since the beginning. Like the wind, they rushed from attraction to attraction, even before the timer had been set, maxing out points and collecting prize after prize.

"I will collect the most and best prizes for my dear Ellie! Woof!"

"My angel will surely smile upon me once she sees how much better my prizes are!"