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Disgaea: Awaking the Queen of the Netherworld
Written by Michelle
Chapter 5 - Laharl Coming Out
In our previous scene in Chapter 4, Laharl slipped away to spend time with Sicily while Etna quietly crept up from behind. Laharl and Sicily are behind the Castle, where she eagerly awaits some quality sister bonding. Meanwhile, Etna is concealed behind a trash can, ensuring she remains unnoticed. "I wonder what Laharl is up to?" Etna mused to herself.
Sicily suggested, "Hey, how about we do something enjoyable instead of leveling up? I'm sure an Overlord like you deserves a little break." Laharl replied, "I usually prefer not to waste time, but I'll make an exception this time for us." Sicily recommends going to the amusement park. Laharl doesn't find this type of stuff, assuming, but decides to tag along. Laharl picks up the potion and takes a sip, transforming into a girl. Etna's expression is shocked as she exclaims, "Oh my god, what is going on?" She watches in disbelief as Laharl transforms into a woman. It seems impossible that someone like Laharl would willingly change into something he despises. Etna suspects that he must have been brainwashed to take such a drastic step. A rat appears by Etna. She freaks out a bit and knocks the trash cans over. Girl Laharl and Sicily hear a noise and wonder what it is. They turned around but found nothing except a rat beside an overturned trash can. Fortunately, Etna managed to conceal herself without being detected. "That was a close one. Now I need to go undercover," Etna remarked to herself.
Girl Laharl and Sicily make their way to the Netherworld theme park, which is filled with attractions, games, and food vendors. Meanwhile, Etna sneaks in wearing a Prinny mascot costume to stay undercover. She's not too happy about it, though, as she has to keep a low profile to avoid being discovered.
"I can't stand this ridiculous outfit; it's hot and smells terrible. If Laharl spots me, he might attack, especially if he and Sicily are under some brainwashing spell," said Etna
Etna also questions why Laharl would find any enjoyment in being a girl. Girl Laharl and Sicily are spending their fun time playing games and getting some ice cream. Girl Laharl and Sicily were happily seated, eating their ice cream when a group of demons suddenly rushed over to them. These enthusiastic, creepy fans of Idol Laharl Chan were taken aback to see her in person. They eagerly requested her autograph and made suggestive comments towards her. One demon even pulled out his phone to show her the latest update of the mobile game Netherworld RPG, which depicted Girl Laharl being sexually harassed and groped on screen. Girl Laharl looks completely shocked and unsettled by what she's witnessing. "Ugh… this is so frustrating! Can someone please get them away from me?" she exclaimed. She punches them away in her anger as if a strong gust of wind blew them back. After they were sent flying flies, they enjoyed the rest of their ice cream. "Finally, some peace," said Sicily.
Soon after, Etna wanders through the park, searching for Laharl and Sicily. She soon spots them engaged in a ring toss game, where Laharl skillfully lands a ring perfectly. As a result, he wins a large Prinny stuffed animal, which he presents to Sicily as a prize. Seeing her joy from winning the prize brings a smile to Laharl's face, a rare feeling for her as a demon. Etna can't help but be surprised by this unexpected scene. Etna wondered why he was having such a good time if this was Laharl. Something must have changed with him. Sicily spots Etna dressed as a Prinny mascot and, not realizing it's her, asks Laharl for a picture. "Hey there, kiddo! I'm the Prinny mascot for the theme park. Want to take a photo and get a hug with me, dood?" Etna said, using a deep voice to conceal her identity. Sicily grabs her camera and gives it to Girl Laharl for a photo. After they take the picture, they walk off while Etna expresses her fatigue, stating, "I don't believe I can endure this ridiculous suit for much longer." The scene transitions to a montage showcasing Sicily and Girl Laharl enjoying various rides and strolling along the theme park.
Flonne is observed engaging in a game of Exploding Penguins with a Prinny in the Castle's throne room. She selects a card from the deck that ultimately secures her victory. Playing the decisive card that concludes the match, she exclaims, "I won again." The Prinny expresses frustration, saying, "I keep losing. This isn't fair, dood!" Etna enters through the door, and Flonne is wondering where she is. Etna said that she was getting her nails done, and that was mostly it. The Prinny was about to mention that they spotted Etna sneaking away to track down Laharl, but Etna quickly silenced them before they could spill the beans.
"Be quiet, or I'll toss you so far that no one will hear you go boom," Etna warned, whispering to the Prinny.
Sweat drips down Prinny's face as they dash away in sheer panic. Meanwhile, Laharl (as a guy) and Sicily enter the room to find out what's happening. Flonne said that she was playing a game with Prinny and that Etna was getting her nails done. Sicily shared that she and Laharl had a blast discovering new stuff in Item World today. Etna, aware that this isn't true, playfully teases about having fun at a theme park. Laharl's eyes widen with shock as he exclaims, "WHERE DID YOU GET THAT IDEA?". Etna has a sly grin as she notices Laharl starting to sweat. She teases him, saying, "Wow, Prince, you seem particularly moody right now. Is it that time of the century again?". Laharl loses his temper and shouts, "SHUT UP! WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN!?" Etna tells him to chill out, and she is just joking. She also cracks a joke about Laharl behaving like a complete girl, causing him to sweat even more as he shouts, "W-WHAT!? WHO SAID ANYTHING ABOUT THAT!?". Laharl gets even more angry and tells everyone to leave him alone. Laharl storms off to his room. Feeling a bit annoyed, Flonne tells Etna that she shouldn't upset Laharl like that. Sicily chimes in, agreeing that Laharl has been under a lot of stress lately. With her usual sass, Etna responds that she was just teasing him and that Laharl will bounce back to his usual self in no time.
Laharl slams the door shut and locks it in a fit of rage. "DAMN YOU, ETNA!" he shouts, his frustration boiling over. "I know you're plotting something. I can't handle this any longer!" Just then, Etna quietly approaches and surprises him with a "Boo!" Laharl jumps in shock and demands to know how she managed to get inside. "I want to find out why you've been changing genders," Etna says, leaving Laharl with his eyes widened.
"W-WHAT?! That's absurd! You know how much I dislike being a girl. Don't you recall the pain and suffering I go through every time I transform into one?" said Laharl
"Oh, is that so?" Etna replied, pulling out a picture of Laharl and Sicily enjoying a picnic by the Sea of Gehenna. Laharl looked taken aback but quickly dismissed the photo, insisting it was a forgery. "Someone created that picture! I've heard that robots in the human world can make photos. I think it's called AI or something like that," Laharl said, his voice tinged with anxiety. Etna wears a self-satisfied grin, clearly aware that Laharl is lying. "Did you lose a bet? That makes sense. Why would else this happens, I have a hunch it was Hoggmeiser you lost to." she remarked. Laharl then yanks her out of the room, insisting that she leave.
Later that evening, just before everyone heads off to sleep, Laharl gathers everyone in the throne room for an important meeting. He slouches on his throne, clearly annoyed. Sicily, Etna, Flonne, and the Prinnies are all around him. "What's the big news, Laharl?" Flonne asks. Laharl gets off his throne and tells everyone the big news. Laharl exclaimed, "I'm fed up with everything here! No more playing around."
Laharl pulls a potion from his pocket and starts gulping it down. As he drinks, his body begins to shift, and he turns into a girl right before everyone's eyes. The crowd is left in disbelief at what they've just seen. "Laharl!" Flonne exclaims, completely taken aback.
"Yeah, that's right. I'm a woman now, and so what?" said Girl Laharl.
Flonne inquires about the reason, expressing Laharl's dislike for being transformed into a woman. Etna sensed something was off, but never expected Laharl to accept it so readily. She asks if he lost a bet or if someone is manipulating him. Girl Laharl takes a deep breath and says no.
Girl Laharl exclaimed, "I prefer this body, okay?! It's…it's more comfortable! It feels right! But it was so embarrassing to admit it! I'm supposed to be this big, scary Overlord, and nobody takes a girl Overlord seriously!"
"My mind insisted that this is my true identity and body, and it wouldn't let me rest. I felt I had no option but to accept my thoughts. Deep down, my heart desired this, and it was unwise of me to deny it. I still feel as strong as ever. I'm still Laharl, and I won't change just because I'm now a girl", Girl Laharl added. Flonne's eyes light up, and she tears up joyfully as she hugs Laharl. "Laharl! You're finally accepting who you are!?" she exclaims. Girl Laharl doesn't like being hugged too hard and tells her to back off.
"Well, I'll be damned. I never thought this would happen in a million years, but here we are," said Etna
Sicily mentioned that she had been aware of Laharl's true identity as a girl for the last few days and had been enjoying private moments with Laharl as a woman. Sicily told Girl Laharl, "No matter if you're my brother or sister, my love for you is the same." Hearing this stirred emotions in Laharl that she hadn't experienced in a long time, causing a tear to fall. "A tear? I can't remember the last time I shed a tear," Girl Laharl thought. Flonne wonders how Laharl switches between being a boy and a girl. Girl Laharl then reveals a needle, explaining that it's the antidote for changing back. After crushing the antidote, Girl Laharl smirks and says, "Oops,"
Girl Laharl's actions take everyone aback. Etna inquires if he plans to revert to being a guy, to which Girl Laharl confirms that this is the body she will maintain indefinitely. "Well done, Prince—" Etna hesitates, "Or should I call you Princess?" Laharl responds, "Princess? Nah, I'm more like a Queen! I'm still an Overlord, after all. Let my voice and power resonate throughout the entire universe!" Girl Laharl starts to do her iconic laugh as she sits back on her throne.
The Prinnes quickly shout, "Go, Overlord-Laharl chan, dood!" which makes Girl Laharl feel even more empowered. "If these losers can boost my pride, then I'm something amazing," Girl Laharl remarked as the Prinnes bowed before her. Flonne wonders how they managed to get the potion that transformed them into a girl. Laharl admits that she has a secret contact at a lab but won't reveal who it is. She also notes that there have been no strange side effects, even though she anticipated the worst from this individual.
Flonne suggests to Girl Laharl, "Next, we should set up a magical girl transformation sequence for you for a superhero show!" But Girl Laharl quickly warns her not to get carried away, maintaining her fierce attitude. Girl Laharl instructs everyone to go to bed for the night, reminding them that a new day awaits.
[TO BE CONTINUED?!]