The True Identity of the [King]!!

Time waits for no one. Regardless of whether people pay attention to it, wish to hold onto it, or even notice it slipping away beside them.

When one comes back to their senses, they've already grown up.

That's why... some people never want to grow up...

...

"Your Majesty the King, it is time to wake up." A blue Homu attendant, taking small steps with its short legs, respectfully opened a large, ornately carved door and approached the bed within the room.

"Mmm..."

In the vast room, centered was an enormous princess bed, five meters long and three meters wide.

A soft groan, thick with reluctance, emerged from beneath the duvet, which looked incredibly soft just by sight.

"Nooo... Just a little longer... just a little..." The [King] hid under the protection of the covers, unwilling to face the demon known as "waking up."

A single strand of hair, sticking up stubbornly [ahoge/cowlick], peeked out from under the blanket, flicking in annoyance.

Faced with the [King]'s coaxing offensive, the attendant appeared somewhat flustered and helpless.

"But Your Majesty... today is the Spring Festival. Everyone in the Great Homu Kingdom is waiting for you to preside over the ceremony. Besides, today is also..."

The Homu attendant bowed low, reminding the King again.

A small, fair hand emerged from a gap in the covers, reluctantly grasping the edge of the duvet.

"But I'm so sleepy, Hori... Can't the festival be postponed just a little?" The protruding ahoge bounced again, swaying left and right, clearly showing the [King]'s mood.

"Very well..." Attendant Hori bowed helplessly and began backing out of the room with small steps.

Just a postponement. His Majesty the [King] hadn't outright canceled the Spring Festival, which was already quite wise.

After all, His Majesty the [King] was still just a child... what was wrong with sleeping in a little longer?

Attendant Hori exited the room quietly. On the bed, the small white hand retracted contentedly back under the covers.

Five minutes later.

BANG—!!

The room door was kicked open, and a startled bundle shot upright from under the covers on the bed.

"What's wrong?!" The [King] sat up in bed, face full of confusion, staring fearfully at the kicked-open door.

A red Homu with a scar on its face held the door-kicking pose. Seeing the [King]'s small, startled eyes, this seemingly short-tempered Homu actually performed a gentlemanly gesture.

"Respected Your Majesty the [King]! As the saying goes, the morning is the most important part of the day!" the red Homu declared loudly. "Moreover, today is the Spring Festival! The grand festival everyone has been eagerly awaiting!"

"Only on this great holiday can the Homus safely use their own language to praise the even greater you! The greatest, greatest Your Majesty the [King]!"

This red Homu's words and actions were filled with unrestrained passion, completely oblivious to the increasingly dangerous look in the small [King]'s eyes on the bed.

"Hori..." Once the red Homu finished its heartfelt speech, the roughly awakened [King] spoke through gritted teeth to Hori, who had been waiting by the door all along.

"Drag Homu-la out and set him off like a firework!"

Homu-la: "?!!"

Hori shot the shocked Homu-la a look that could only be described as rolling his eyes, then silently bowed. "Yes, Your Majesty the [King]."

Ignoring Homu-la's wails, Hori grabbed Homu-la by the ears and dragged him away from the door.

The [King] watched Homu-la being dragged off, and most of the morning grumpiness instantly dissipated. Taking a deep breath, still feeling sluggish, the King twisted uncomfortably on the bed a couple more times before reluctantly starting to crawl towards the edge.

Ziiiiip— Slap—!!

As a familiar sound echoed across the skies of the Great Homu Kingdom, all the Homus looked towards the palace.

This sound meant one thing—their [King] was awake!!

In front of a magnificent dressing table, Hori, having successfully launched Homu-la, returned to the [King]'s side and began combing the [King]'s long, flowing hair.

"Your Majesty the [King], Homu-la is just easily excitable..." Hori said, fumbling slightly as he helped the [King] with grooming, trying to defend Homu-la, whom he had already sent skyward like a firework.

The [King] pouted petulantly. "Hmph, serves him right for waking me up like that every morning."

Hori broke into a sweat. He would absolutely never admit that he was the one who led Homu-la here.

"Your Majesty the [King], you should wear your formal attire today." After combing the hair that trailed all the way to the floor, Hori opened a massive wardrobe nearby, revealing hundreds of various gorgeous dresses inside.

"Formal attire..." The [King]'s expression fell slightly. Looking at all the cumbersome decorations, the King pouted but didn't object.

"Fine... After presiding over that... whatever festival..."

"It's the Spring Festival, the holiday Your Majesty personally confirmed," Hori reminded.

"And today is also when you reset the Homu identities..."

"I know, I know..." The [King]'s tone was full of impatience, but the body sat calmly, waiting for Hori to help put on the dress and accessories. "As soon as the Spring Festival is over, I'm changing back into my regular clothes, okay?"

"Yes, as you wish," Hori replied respectfully, selecting a magnificent purple princess dress and a set of gold and purple accessories for the [King].

---||---

Outside the palace, countless Homus now crowded the enormous square in front, densely covering the vast space.

Kiana Kaslana and the others had already squeezed their way to the very front, using their height advantage to look up at the high platform.

"Mei, what do you think the King will look like?" Kiana asked curiously, holding Mei's arm.

"I don't know..." Mei shook her head. "But we'll see the King soon..."

Bronya Zaychik stood silently beside them, her face expressionless, head tilted upwards.

Shu stood in a corner of the square, arms crossed, eyes fixed intently in one direction.

In that direction, shrouded in the shadows of a corner, stood a familiar cloaked figure.

The King isn't him... There are indeed other humans here, or maybe AIs...

Creak—

It was hard to imagine, but the mere sound of a large door opening instantly silenced the entire square. The sudden, eerie quietness involuntarily drew Shu's gaze towards the high platform.

Has the [King] finally emerged...?

"My beloved Homu subjects!" A somewhat familiar voice echoed from the high platform, reaching the ears of every Homu and human present.

That voice... it's a little girl's voice...

Shu frowned. But when his gaze landed on the person standing on the high platform, dressed in a magnificent purple princess dress, he froze.

"Shu—!" Mei's anxious call came through the comms channel. "Did you see?! The King is..."

Shu heard her, but for a moment, he couldn't form any words. He could only stare, eyes wide, fixed on the figure walking to the edge of the platform.

There was no mistake... that figure... that person was—

"Your King... the Great Magical Girl—"

"Sirin!"

"—greets you all!!"