บท 158: HP
(Arthur POV)
With my Empirica business concluded - new industry connections established, contact lists filled with writers, directors, and actors, plus securing the blonde beauty Selina Taylor - it was time to return to Horn Kingdom.
Our first-class cabin held an interesting group: Sylwen maintaining her Megan disguise, and Selina Taylor, my newest talent, who'd need to relocate to Horn for upcoming projects.
I noticed her fidgeting as we settled into our seats. "Still nervous?"
Selina shifted uncomfortably, "Yeah... I've never been to the demon realm before. I'm kind of anxious about what I'll find there..."
"Just relax," I assured her with a smile. "You handle crowds brilliantly with such confidence. A foreign land shouldn't pose much challenge."
Her cheeks colored at the compliment. "I only look confident because I imagine everyone as cupcakes. My mother's trick for handling crowd nervousness."
"A classic approach," I chuckled. "The demon realm isn't so different from what you know. Just picture demons as humans or cupcakes - or fish, whatever works for you."
Selina's smile turned bashful, a blush creeping across her face.
"Something wrong?" I prompted.
She shook her head quickly. "No, nothing." A pause. "I'm just relieved the rumors about you weren't true..."
"Oh? Which rumors?" I knew perfectly well, but wanted her perspective.
Selina hesitated visibly.
"Go ahead, you can tell me," I encouraged.
She took a deep breath. "Well... people say Director Arthur bribes pretty women into his bed, takes advantage of them..." Her face reddened deeply at the admission.
Beside me, Sylwen barely contained her laughter behind her hand.
'Wonderful... I'd love to know who's spreading that nonsense.'
"Don't worry," I assured Selina. "I'm not that kind of person."
She nodded, visibly relieved.
"Unless I'm actually an incubus demon," I added playfully.
Selina's startled yelp was worth it.
"Just kidding," I laughed, enjoying her reaction.
I shifted our conversation to more serious matters, laying out my plans for Selina's career.
First, I wanted her to model for the upcoming "Playboy" magazine - a new venture I'd launch following Forbes Magazine's success. Beyond that, I envisioned her as the star of future film projects.
"Titanic" particularly came to mind. She'd fit the role perfectly.
I'd initially considered Firfel, but I couldn't envision her in the famous scene where she poses nude—it would go completely against her will.
***
(3rd Person POV)
Back in Horn Kingdom, Selina's nervousness lingered as she navigated the streets.
Arthur guided her through Hellfire Headquarters with an encouraging smile, particularly showcasing the vast, impressive expanse of Hellfire VFX Studio.
She peppered him with questions about future VFX-heavy productions like Lord of the Rings or The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.
Arthur maintained a knowing smile, keeping his plans close. Though he'd already begun developing his next VFX project, it would still require extensive location shooting.
Meanwhile, in Wales, Leaf Kingdom, and Deutschland, his Harry Potter novel had gained significant traction in the publishing world.
The newly established Hellfire Studio branch in Wales had begun casting calls for Harry Potter roles weeks ago.
Arthur regularly reviewed candidate photos from the branch, searching for the perfect young actors. While several showed promise, none yet matched his precise vision for the characters.
***
Five days later, the "Playboy" magazine's debut shocked Horn's publishing industry.
Vivienne graced the inaugural cover, headlined: "Half-demon Half-human Beauty!" The magazine distinguished itself with sophisticated aesthetics and polished presentation, incorporating lifestyle journalism alongside its alluring content.
Unlike typical succubus-focused magazines with their explicit nudity, Playboy's first issue featured Vivienne in artistic shots that balanced sensuality with restraint. Her participation, as an established star, challenged the stigma surrounding such publications.
The cover photo captured her in lingerie with artistic flair, while the magazine's high-quality content drew readers beyond mere physical appeal.
Within two days, Arthur's new publication achieved impressive sales.
Selina, initially hesitant about future cover appearances, found reassurance in Vivienne's confident approach.
She observed how readers maintained - even increased - their respect for Vivienne despite her presence in an adult magazine.
In the days since arriving in Horn, Selina had found an unexpected friend in Vivienne. Now they stood together in the magazine store, watching as male customers approached Vivienne with respectful admiration, politely requesting photos and autographs.
"See?" Vivienne gestured at the courteous fans. "A little freedom isn't harmful. There's nothing shameful about it, especially when you maintain dignity in the presentation."
Selina nodded thoughtfully, "I suppose... I was just worried about losing respect. Back in Tinseltown, celebrities look down on adult magazines."
Vivienne shook her head knowingly. "Just trust Arthur on this. He might not show it openly, but he holds deep respect for women. He'd never allow his talents to be degraded on any magazine cover."
The warmth of reassurance spread through Selina's chest at these words.
"Have you met with the director for the film project that Arthur assigned to you?" Vivienne asked.
Selina nodded. "Yes, met him already. He seems decent enough."
"If that director tries anything inappropriate, tell me immediately. I'll report him to Arthur," Vivienne's protective instinct surfaced.
Selina nodded gratefully at the offer.
Vivienne saw much of herself in Selina. Their shared humanity created an instant connection - as a half-demon, Vivienne often struggled to relate to pure demons.
Meanwhile, Selina's hesitation about Playboy began to fade. If an established star like Vivienne embraced such opportunities without fear, perhaps she could too.
***
In Wales, Arthur continued his recent pattern of frequent travel, with Sylwen - disguised as Megan - serving as his acting secretary.
His current mission: overseeing Harry Potter casting. Days earlier, a promising photo had crossed his desk - a child who perfectly matched his vision for the main character.
Now he needed to assess the boy's acting potential, though Arthur knew talent could be developed. Finding a child who physically embodied Harry Potter had proved challenging enough.
As their airship touched down and they headed toward Hellfire's studio branch, Cardiff's streets reminded Arthur strongly of his previous life's London.
In their taxi, Sylwen leaned close. "We're being followed, boss," she whispered.
"I know," Arthur murmured back. "Likely your old friends from the Skull Organization."
Sylwen's terse nod confirmed his suspicion.
Arthur felt confident despite the probable Skull Organization surveillance. They were likely investigating Sylwen's "disappearance," but their presence didn't concern him.
Upon entering the Hellfire building, staff immediately recognized Arthur, whisking him and Sylwen to an ongoing executive conference.
The fiend demon named Zack, Arthur's appointed president for the Wales branch, initially bristled at the interruption before recognizing his visitor. "Boss Arthur!" he exclaimed. "We weren't expecting you - you should have notified us!"
Arthur settled into the head chair with casual authority. "No need for notification. I'm here for one reason." He fixed his gaze on the room. "It's been weeks - I want to see our Harry Potter casting progress."
After Zack's detailed briefing, they proceeded to meet the potential cast members.
Arthur stroked his chin thoughtfully, contemplating approaching Lewis Light for a role to accelerate production. His attention fixed on a shy, bespectacled boy accompanied by his mother. "He looks more like Harry in person," he murmured.
"Your thoughts, boss?" Zack asked anxiously.
"You've done well finding him," Arthur nodded. "He matches my vision for Harry."
Zack released a relieved sigh.
"Now let's test his acting ability." At Arthur's word, Zack hurried to summon the boy.
The young boy shifted nervously before the assembled demons. Like most human children, his instincts warned him to fear beings like Arthur, Zack, and the other Hellfire staff.
"Please excuse my son's nervousness. He's always like this," his mother apologized.
Arthur offered a reassuring smile, understanding the natural wariness human children felt toward demons. "No need to worry. It's perfectly normal."
The mother's tension visibly eased at his response.
"What's your name, boy?" Arthur asked gently.
"My name is Daniel, sir," the child replied, eyes downcast.
Arthur caught his breath at the coincidence - even sharing the same name as the Harry Potter actor from his previous life.
"Daniel..." Arthur repeated thoughtfully. "Would you show me what you can do, Daniel?"
"What I can do?" Daniel looked up, confused.
"Yes. Your acting ability," Arthur clarified with an encouraging nod.
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บท 159: Miracle
(3rd Person POV)
Daniel's throat tightened as he stood before the panel of demons, their otherworldly features making his palms sweat. The weight of their expectations – and his mother's hopeful glances – pressed down on his small shoulders like a physical burden.
When he tried to perform, his movements were wooden, his voice barely above a whisper. Each word from the script felt like a stone in his mouth.
Arthur raised a hand, gently halting the audition. "Thank you, Daniel." His gaze shifted to the boy's mother, his expression carefully neutral. "Mrs. Hayes, I don't believe Daniel is quite ready for this role. The camera picks up reluctance, and right now, I'm seeing a very uncomfortable young man."
"Oh, no, you misunderstand!" Danica stepped forward, her fingers threading protectively through Daniel's hair. "He's just shy around new people. Especially..." She caught herself before saying 'demons,' but the word hung unspoken in the air.
Arthur leaned forward in his chair, his voice softening. "I've been in this industry long enough to recognize the difference between stage fright and genuine discomfort. My films are significant commitments – months of shooting, intense schedules. The lead actor needs to want this, truly want it."
The truth of Arthur's words settled heavily in the room. Even if Daniel was Harry Potter's mirror image, even if Arthur was willing to invest time training him, forcing an unwilling child into such a demanding role would be cruel.
"But he does want it!" Danica insisted, her grip on Daniel's shoulder tightening slightly. "Tell them, sweetheart."
Arthur held up a hand, addressing Daniel directly. "Let me ask you something, and I want you to be completely honest." His eyes, though supernatural in their intensity, held genuine kindness. "Do you actually want to be the star of this film?"
Daniel froze, caught between his mother's expectant gaze and Arthur's gentle inquiry. His mouth opened, but Arthur spoke again before he could force out the answer his mother wanted to hear.
"There's no wrong answer here," Arthur assured him. "If you're not ready for this industry – or if you're unsure about working with demons – that's perfectly fine. Talent doesn't expire. The door will always be open if you change your mind later."
Something in Arthur's words struck a chord. Daniel's eyes widened, surprised that this demon director had seen straight through to the heart of his hesitation.
The weight of his situation pressed heavily on his young shoulders.
The entertainment industry's reputation haunted him through his father's warnings – whispered tales of corruption that made no distinction between human, elf, dwarf, or demon productions. Yet here he stood, desperate circumstances forcing his hand.
His father's illness had stretched on for weeks, draining not just their hopes but their savings. He could see the worry lines deepening on his mother's face with each passing day. The choice before him felt less like a decision and more like an inevitability.
But Arthur's unexpected kindness – the absence of pressure – sparked something in Daniel. Drawing a deep breath, he squared his shoulders. "I want to be part of your film project."
Relief softened Danica's features as her son spoke the words she'd been praying to hear.
Arthur's expression turned serious, his eyes holding Daniel's gaze. "Then understand this – I accept nothing less than total commitment. Half-hearted performances have no place in my productions."
Daniel nodded, then surprised everyone – including himself – by speaking up. "Could I... could I ask for something in return?"
"Oh?" Arthur's eyebrows lifted with genuine curiosity. "What might that be?"
Danica tensed beside her son, maternal instinct sensing dangerous territory ahead.
"I've heard..." Daniel's voice wavered but didn't break, "that demons can perform rituals... healing rituals." His fingers twisted in the hem of his shirt. "My father... could you heal him?"
"Heal your father?" Arthur's question hung in the air between them.
"It's nothing!" Danica cut in quickly, nervous laughter bubbling up. "Please ignore him, sir—"
Arthur raised a hand, silencing her protest. "Your father is ill?"
Daniel nodded, determination replacing his earlier nervousness. "If my father gets better... I promise I'll give you my best performance."
"What are you thinking?" Danica hissed, horror coloring her whispered words. "Demon rituals? Have you forgotten our Solarus faith?"
Daniel turned to his mother, desperation clear in his young face. "The Solarus healers couldn't help him, Mom. Maybe Mr. Arthur can..."
A soft chuckle escaped Arthur as he caught their exchange. "Healing your father?" His lips curved into a knowing smile. "That's quite simple, actually."
Behind his casual demeanor, Arthur's mind raced with possibilities. This could be the perfect opportunity to test his {Rose Magic}'s healing properties on humans. Sometimes the most interesting experiments arose from the most unexpected moments.
"Really?" Daniel's face transformed, hope lighting up his features for the first time since entering the studio. The change was striking – gone was the nervous boy, replaced by a child burning with possibility.
Danica's skepticism warred with desperate hope on her face. Even the demon executives exchanged puzzled glances, their thoughts practically visible: 'Since when could our kind heal?' 'Does Boss Arthur possess some secret magic?'
Arthur met Daniel's eager gaze steadily. "If you commit yourself fully to the film and join my agency, I'll do everything in my power to help your father."
"I promise!" The words burst from Daniel without hesitation.
"Very well." Arthur rose from his chair, his movement fluid and purposeful. "Take me to him. While I can't guarantee a cure, I do have... methods that might help."
The journey to their home passed in tense silence – through Cardiff's winding streets, into a taxi that had seen better days, finally stopping before a weathered apartment complex that spoke of dignity struggling against poverty.
Inside, the scene that greeted them struck Arthur like a physical blow. On a narrow bed lay a man whose illness had carved away at him, leaving behind a shadow that fought for each ragged breath.
"Father!" Daniel rushed to the bedside, Danica close behind, her face etched with quiet despair.
Landon's eyes fluttered open, focusing with visible effort. "Daniel... Son—" A coughing fit interrupted his words, shaking his frail frame.
"Easy, Dad." Daniel clasped his father's hand, hope threading through his voice. "We found someone who can help you."
Another harsh cough preceded Landon's bitter words. "I told you both... to stop wasting money on those... Solarus priests!"
"No, Dad – we brought a demon!"
Landon's coughing ceased abruptly, shock momentarily overwhelming even his illness. "You what?"
His gaze found Arthur, fixing on the horns that marked him unmistakably as demon-kind. Disbelief and anger warred in his fevered eyes. "Why would you bring... a demon can't possibly..."
"But Dad, your stories always said demons could—" Daniel started.
"Those were fairy tales!" Landon's outburst triggered another coughing spell. "No demon today has the power to trade wishes for souls! That's just... fantasy..."
Arthur stepped forward, his presence filling the small room. "Save your strength. I'm here to heal you, not debate folklore."
"Get out!" Landon's rejection came between gasping breaths, one trembling hand raised in a dismissive gesture. "No demon can... help me now..."
The hopelessness in Landon's voice cast a shadow over his family's faces, their last threads of optimism unraveling. But as Arthur stepped forward with quiet confidence, something in his demeanor made them hesitate to look away.
Despite Landon's weakened protests, Arthur's presence was immovable as mountain stone. His hand settled on Landon's chest, and the man's resistance melted away beneath the weight of that demon certainty.
Arthur's expression sharpened as his {Rose Magic} probed deeper, mapping the infection that had taken root in Landon's lungs. "Why didn't you seek proper medical care? The hospitals have potions specifically for this condition."
Another coughing fit wracked Landon's frame before he could answer. "Forty dollars... for treatment," he managed, bitter irony twisting his words. "We scraped together fifteen for the priest... emptied our savings for that much..."
A flicker of compassion crossed Arthur's features. "Then fortune favors you today. This illness? It's well within my power to remedy."
"What?" The word escaped Landon in a breathless whisper, echoed by his stunned family.
Arthur's smile held secrets as he channeled his magic. The {Rose Magic} flowed like liquid light, and Landon's eyes widened as vitality flooded back into his limbs. The transformation was swift yet profound – weakness falling away like an old coat shrugged off his shoulders.
Landon sat up, wonder written across his face as he flexed his fingers, pressed a hand to his chest. "This... this is impossible," he breathed, voice clear and strong for the first time in weeks. "I feel better than before I fell ill!"
Joy exploded across Daniel's face as he launched himself into his father's arms. Danica followed, tears streaming freely as their family embrace tightened.
"Wait—" Landon's voice cut through their celebration, turning to Arthur with sudden wariness. "Is this... are you claiming one of our souls as payment? That's how the stories always go..."
A soft laugh escaped Arthur. "Nothing so dramatic. I have no interest in souls." His gaze shifted to Daniel, warming slightly. "I simply want your son's dedication to my film and agency. That's payment enough."
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