Are you Innocent?

The girl's eyes, sparkling yet fierce, hold a quickness and bravery I've only just witnessed from her, and they manage to calm my spirit somewhat. She smiles fearlessly, flipping off the Demon Emperor with her middle finger.

"Thinking my dad is still in there, can you help get him back? Nappo?" she asks with confidence, but it makes me falter at my master's words. I certainly can't read her mind, but at the very least, I'll try to make sure Anya's 'dad' doesn't die.

"I'll try..." Only I remain unsure of my corgi form's abilities. Even though my magic is slowly returning, it's still far from matching the Demon Emperor's, who currently houses the souls of tens of thousands of demons.

"Deal with it with everything you have. Weaken it to its absolute limit," Master Aek states the rough plan, his expression serious and worried. "Don't underestimate it for a second. Once it's weak enough, anyone can grab and lock it down, and I'll rip out the demon souls and the Demon Emperor himself."

I grip the wand tightly in my mouth. Anya and the other mages take their ready stances; every gaze fixed unwaveringly on the final enemy. Silence engulfs everyone until a sudden gust of wind blows through, like a bell signaling the start of the final battle that will decide the fate of the Caronia world.

All the mages simultaneously fire spells at the Demon Emperor. Beams of light and magic projectiles fly towards him, aiming for impact. Of course, I want every magic bullet to hit its mark, even though my instincts might be sharp enough to just unleash a barrage of fire spells without holding back. The terrible memory of being defeated by him once before, half-dead, secretly fuels my fear of him. I shake my head, furrow my brow, and concentrate.

In a split second, that feels like time speeds up, and another gust of wind hits my face. My fur shifts unnaturally, and I sense something amiss. My eyes catch a shadow moving past like a ghost, but I think it's not... Next comes a rapid series of thudding impacts. I'm not fast enough to see 'who,' but when I turn back, I see Jack, Cher-Tam, and Master Aek lying on the ground, defeated. Only Sola, Anya, Fongbeer, and I remain. The other mage soldiers are also being taken down one by one by something.

I clench my teeth and try to transform again. If it's not mage mode, I'll be far outmatched against the Demon Emperor. Comparing myself now, I can control that form much better than before. This time, I won't fail.

"Nappo!" Anya shouts my name, forgetting that 'something' slams into her body. With incredible speed and power, it nearly cracks her ribs. She tumbles across the ground, and the wand flies out of my mouth, landing far away.

"I won't let you transform a second time, you corgi," the Demon Emperor snarls, standing over me before grabbing my neck with his large, rough hand, lifting me off the ground. Right now, I'm no different from a worthless dog. "Without your wand, you're just a mutt."

"Let Nappo go!" Anya roars, her fuse blown to the point where she does something no one expects. "Semma Binaza!!" Everyone is shocked as a purple beam shoots straight towards the Demon Emperor. He flicks his hand once, and the life-severing curse veers off, hitting the ground.

"Where did you learn how to use that spell...?" Fongbeer gapes.

"Let Nappo go, damn it!" Anya unleashes another barrage of purple beams. Of course, it's still ineffective. Sola fires a spell at his back, but he doesn't even flinch. His red eyes, overflowing with rage and power, tighten his grip on my neck, and I feel my neck bones starting to grind together, on the verge of snapping in two.

If that happens, the Caronia world will need to find a new corgi to replace me.

My consciousness is fading. My short legs weaken until my paws point downwards, dangling uselessly. No matter how many spells the mages bombard the Demon Emperor with, he shows no signs of weakening.

This is probably as far as I go...

A crimson moonlight shines solely on me. The light bathing my orange-yellow fur makes the adrenaline in my body surge more and more. My heavy eyelids suddenly feel light. My eyes widen, and I transform into a human, a red aura enveloping me. The Demon Emperor is so startled that he can't defend against the unexpected, and my fist slams squarely into his face. If I'm in this mode, wands become worthless.

My senses return fully. Magic overflows, bathing my body in light. All spells are gathered and stored in my mind, ready for use at any moment.

"Why is the moonlight suddenly shining only on him?!" the Demon Emperor bellows before my right fist slams into his torso again, causing him to cough up black souls from his mouth. He tries to regain his composure and desperately clamps his hand over his mouth. "I won't let you guys go, damn it!! Come back, you spirits!! I am your master.... Ugh!!!"

I unleash a forceful spell at his uvula, causing his body to contort automatically. Then, I warp behind him, grab both arms, bend them backward, and slam my knee into his spine. Not only that, but I activate a magic circle and bombard the Demon Emperor's back with tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of magic projectiles.

"Nappo!! Try your best!" Anya shouts encouragement.

"Aaaargh!! Return to me now!! My servant demon souls, all of you!!"

"I won't let them return!" I grip the enemy's wrist tightly and kick his back to force him to vomit more. Black souls gush uncontrollably from the Demon Emperor's mouth like a burst water pipe.

At that moment, Master Aek awakens from his unconscious state and witnesses the unbelievable sight.

"Now, Master!! Rip out his soul!" I yell loudly. When the Demon Emperor hears this, he thrashes wildly. I feel his strength waning, so I exert all my remaining power to hold his body in place. Suddenly, a number of chains erupt from the ground, flying towards and binding the Demon Emperor's limbs and body, pinning him down even more. The caster of that spell is Sola. She rushes forward and uses a strange spell, pressing the tip of her finger, which bears a heart-shaped mark, onto the Demon Emperor's forehead. Anya lunges forward to hug his arm, while Fongbeer uses telekinesis to help restrain her father firmly. "Hurry! It's the last chance!"

Master Aek holds his wand in his mouth and creates a magic circle on his palm. Then, he warps to the Demon Emperor and presses the magic circle onto his chest. A blinding light erupts, causing the Demon Emperor to scream in pain like a ghost being splArshaed with holy water.

"Aaaaaargh!!!"

"Animavagia Escida Rictonoo Inferno!!"

The young man chants the spell loudly, his right hand grabbing something before yanking it out with all his might. It turns into a massive, swirling soul floating in the air, obscuring the moonlight. The Demon Emperor's body goes limp, unconscious, and offering no resistance. At that moment, Master Aek commands everyone to attack the dark soul mass with everything they have. Drogadres drops everything in his hands and spews fire from his mouth.

Magic projectiles strike like a rainstorm. I release the Demon Emperor, letting his unconscious body fall to the ground, and fire explosive magic projectiles from my palms. Until I revert to my dog form, I grab a nearby wand – I don't know whose it is – in my mouth and fire spells relentlessly.

In just a moment, the black soul mass explodes in mid-air. A gust of wind sweeps through the area, blowing away the dark clouds until the moonlight shines down on the Caronia world, restoring power to the mages.

Everyone looks up at the sky, their eyes scanning the surroundings to confirm the Demon Emperor's permanent demise.

Yes...

"It's dead... dead... the Demon Emperor is dead!" Master Aek declares victory. "The dark arts demon race is finished!"

At that moment, everyone feels a wave of relief and thinks the same thing: 'The war is over.' Anya and I lie down, leaning against each other on the ground, exhausted. Sola goes to check on her husband and contacts the medical corps. Within moments, the government-affiliated medical corps army warps onto the battlefield. I observe their professional efficiency, casting spells to create clouds that block the crimson moonlight so that the medics don't faint from the overwhelming energy.

The unconscious mage soldiers are levitated with a moving spell and warped back to the hospital. Anya and I receive healing spells until we can walk normally. Of course, the wand I got from Milanya has vanished. Only the one I'm currently holding in my mouth remains because its leather holster disappeared somewhere.

We go to see Virgo, who is still unconscious. His vital signs are very weak, but no one dares to treat him due to their fear of him when he was a demon. Master Aek has to intervene and negotiate until the medical corps reluctantly agrees to treat him. However, due to his near-death coma, he needs to be transported to the hospital as quickly as possible, so it becomes their responsibility to warp him there, but they encounter a problem with paperwork.

"Who is related to this person?" Anya, Fongbeer, and Sola raise their hands.

"We're his daughters," Anya and Fongbeer answer simultaneously.

"I'm his wife," Sola replies confidently.

I sigh.

"I'm the family pet. Woof woof."

...........

After the war of the Caronia world, unknown to the general populace, concludes with the good news of the demon race's annihilation, they rejoice with a grand celebration. All war participants receive medals of valor from the Magic Emperor in the royal palace. I myself have to attend in human form. Anya, Fongbeer, Master Aek, Raymond, Carlos, Jack, Cher-Tam, and Sola also receive medals and are subsequently elevated to the rank of knight. Believe me, a corgi like me receiving the honor of knighthood is unbelievable, but it's a point where I can prove that a dog from a pet shop can go further than imagination.

The applause of the wizarding citizens echoes throughout the throne room, making my heart pound. I see Drogadres standing proudly, smiling at me. Although he played a part in bringing about the end of the demon race, he insists that a fire dragon like him is not worthy of any reward.

"I only wish to spread my wings and fly throughout the skies as the only dragon in this world," he says while swirling the wine in his glass. "You too, mutt. Do what you desire, whether as a pet or not."

"That's for sure, but I hope to be human more often," I say in my corgi form, perched on my best friend's broad shoulder.

"To do whatever humans can do? Transforming into a human every minute is probably impossible."

"A pet will always be just a pet, huh? Easy enough to understand." Droga Dress nods, lost in thought. "Now that I'm free, I might travel to faraway places to study this world, not just wanting to fly."

"Will you come back to visit?" I throw out a feeler.

"Who wouldn't come back to see their best friend?" he replies with a sincere smile that warms my heart with the friendship between different races. He picks me up and places me on the ground before sprouting red wings from his back and flapping them once, creating a gust of wind. The tall young dragon hovers above the ground, his eyes looking down at me. "Then I'll return, dear friend."

Then, he soars away, far beyond the sight of even an eagle's eyes. I look into the celebration before transforming back into a human and walking in, looking for my master. She's probably too tired and has fallen asleep on Sola's lap. She asks me to take her home, which I do along with Fongbeer. Of course, Sola allows her 'adopted daughter' to live under the same roof, giving her the downstairs guest bedroom as her private space and showering her with the love a mother can give, since she's the daughter of her husband, who is currently imprisoned and recovering in the hospital, still unconscious.

Virgo is being prosecuted for being the Demon Emperor, as well as for the riots, by the Caronia World Prosecutor's Office. He will be brought to trial if he recovers and his sanity returns to hear the sentencing. Undoubtedly, the severity of his actions as the Demon Emperor, who instilled fear in the wizarding citizens of Caronia, will likely result in the death penalty, the highest punishment currently in place.

This type of punishment hasn't been seen for hundreds of years. The prisoner is made to sit in a chair, their arms and legs locked, inside an empty room. With a wand, the executioner casts a spell to create illusions based on the prisoner's memories and manipulates those memories to drive them mad. The prisoner casts spells at the illusions, but they hit the walls, which are covered in a magic that reflects spells. Whatever spell the prisoner casts will bounce back at them until they die. It's the cruelest execution method I've ever heard of. And the duration of each execution varies. Some people take months to die.

No wonder... the highest punishment isn't handed down often because of this agonizing execution method. Even family members aren't allowed to visit because Virgo still has the status of a prisoner, who risks being promoted to 'death row inmate' at any time. I've seen Anya looking sad ever since the Demon Emperor's soul was destroyed, so I understand why. I can only look at his unconscious body, his wrists bound to the hospital bed with high-level magic chains, various tubes piercing his body and connected to strange, lifeless-looking machines to maintain his physical form, through a one-way security mirror that even the life-severing curse couldn't penetrate. Moreover, many elite mage soldiers are guarding and monitoring him twenty-four hours a day.

Until Virgo awakens from his coma and regains consciousness. Everyone except his family is wary and fearful when the young man makes eye contact. Officials from the court communicate telepathically with his mind instead of using a microphone to announce the charges.

"In the name of the people and the Caronia World Court of Justice Prosecutor's Office, we hereby announce the charges against Mr. Virgo, also known as the Demon Emperor, for the crime of intentional and cruel homicide using the illegal life-severing curse, violating Article 42, Clause 8, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 1, being both brutal and causing widespread public fear," the stern-faced prosecutor with eyes states the charges as written in the documents through the security glass, while the other party listens intently. Not a trace of evil remains in his gaze. But if he tries to resist, I'm ready to use my current human form to stop him myself. The prosecutor pauses for a moment before letting out a long sigh. His large, rough hands clench tightly, veins bulging. "I, as the representative of the Prosecutor's Office, hereby announce that... all charges are null and void..."

My heart sinks to my stomach, along with everyone else's. Of course, the mage soldiers exchange bewildered glances.

"Because thorough examination by expert physicians has confirmed that there is no shadow of a demon within his body, he is not considered a demon. And the past heinous acts are considered to have been committed by the demon using his body as a vessel. Virgo, as the vessel, is not guilty according to the Supreme Court's ruling. The Demon Emperor's soul has been destroyed; therefore, it is null and void. However, as the vessel who was complicit in allowing his body to be used, the court sentences him to mandatory community service and requires him to report to the court for the rest of his life."

Virgo's mouth hangs open before he quickly closes it to compose himself, then kneels and bows his head in thanks, sobbing loudly.

"That is all. Thank you and goodbye," the middle-aged prosecutor folds the papers with his wand and lets out a long sigh. Then, he warps away.

..........

Virgo is now resting in a private patient room. His condition steadily improves. Of course, the illness following the extraction of an emperor-level demon from his body poses a risk of spiritual damage to the vessel, so it cannot be completely healed with healing spells like physical wounds. His devoted wife, Sola, stays by his side, never leaving. She forgives his past actions and is ready to start a completely new 'family' life. He remembers that Fongbeer is his daughter with Luxuria, a result of a mistake during his time as the Demon Emperor. But he is a man who will take responsibility for what he did as a vessel.

Except for Anya, who may need time to adjust to the complete family she has longed for deep down for so long. I understand her as one pet to another, because I too offer all the love I have, whether in corgi form or human form. Who knows... in the future, Virgo might become my father-in-law someday. That could be a beautiful daydream in my second life. Believe me, I have completely forgotten my painful past life, leaving it behind to propel myself forward on my short, sturdy legs into the future.

I, in my corgi form, waddle over to Virgo, looking into his eyes, which are no longer bloodshot. He smiles fondly before reaching out to stroke my head and then leans down to pick me up, hugging and cuddling me tightly.

"You're a really good-smelling corgi, and so soft like a doll. My daughter made a good choice," he says. Yes... I'm trying to act like a bridge connecting their relationship.

"Yes..." Her face remains still and expressionless, her eyes fixed on her textbook, which has been the case for the past two days. But I will never give up on uniting the family I am now a part of.

"Excuse me," a familiar voice says from the doorway, accompanied by three soft knocks and the appearance of Headmaster Conner and his beautiful young wife, Phila. "How are you doing, my student? I heard you'll be discharged from the hospital in a week. Congratulations."

"Yes, Headmaster. I apologize for everything that happened in the past. My eyes were blinded by seeking too much power," Virgo says, placing me on his lap before bowing his head, his forehead touching the bed. But the elder man grasps his shoulders and lifts him up.

"What's past is past. Right now, you don't need to seek any more of that great power. Instead, focus on building a happy family forever. You have both a daughter and a wife to take care of, don't you?"

"Yes, Headmaster," tears stream down the young man's face with gratitude. "I will do my best."

Anya, glancing at her father from her book, seems to be thinking something over in her "It's lucky the government didn't come after you. Otherwise, you would have been finished along with the Demon Emperor," the headmaster says with a laugh. Although this sentence is clear to others, somehow... I feel a pang of unease.

I look at Phila. She looks back, winks, puts a finger to her lips, and sends a telepathic message into my head.

"Don't tell anyone that the Headmaster has bribed with the Emperor."

_____________________________________-

To Be Continue Ep.41