Chapter 1
Hell.
It has been quite a long time since I fell into a world as dreadful as its name implies.
To the point where even my memories of living as a human in my previous life have become faint…
Yeah, I guess it’s fair to say that I’ve completely become a demon now.
“Ugh… Haa…”
And as a demon, it’s only natural not to show mercy to those who come at you with malicious intent.
Amid the demons collapsed on the ground, I gripped the throat of the one who ruled over them and asked:
“After seeing this much of a difference in power, you’re not thinking of trying again, are you?”
“I-I get it… I won’t challenge you again. I’ll acknowledge you as the king of this area, so please… Kehhk!!”
The demon leader rolled violently across the ground after being thrown away.
I could end his life here to avoid future problems, but even so, I decided not to lay another hand on them.
Even though I’m a demon now, I’m not entirely devoid of human sentiments.
I may not be a saint, but I’m trying to restrain the innate greed and belligerence that come with being a demon…
Because of that, I tend to prioritize whether something is beneficial or harmful to me rather than enjoying slaughter for its own sake.
If I have to kill, I’ll kill. But if it’s unnecessary, I prefer to minimize bloodshed.
“This again… My clothes are filthy.”
-Ssssshhhh.
Responding to my will, my magic reclaimed my clothes, restoring them to their clean state.
Once I confirmed my clothes were spotless again, I quietly left the area filled with collapsed demons and strolled through the middle of the street.
Tartarus.
The heart of Hell and the city ruled by the Demon King, the ruler of this realm.
Though its level of civilization lags behind that of the modern 21st century, as a city, it naturally had markets and the concept of currency.
A society driven by money, where everything is determined by wealth.
As money dictates all, the demons living in this city are obsessed with it, often acquiring it through plunder and exploitation.
A survival-of-the-fittest system where the strong monopolize everything.
Whether through stealing or dominating, the strong claim everything for themselves.
Conversely, the weak can only submit to the strong.
Even now, look around.
The weaker demons tremble at the sight of me walking through the streets.
“Eek…!”
“Why are you trembling so much?”
Turning to one of the demons, I asked quietly.
The demon responded in a trembling voice:
“W-Well… You defeated them, didn’t you? The organization that ruled over this area…”
Oh dear. It seems they view me as the new ruler of this street, having defeated the group that previously controlled it.
Ruling the streets, huh…
Well, expanding my territory would mean money rolls in without me doing anything, allowing for a more comfortable life in this Hell.
“Don’t worry. I have no intention of ruling this street.”
Even so, I decided to leave them be.
The reason was simple: I seek a peaceful life, and to live quietly in this Hell, I need to abandon many things.
With power comes those who covet it, followers who scheme to stab you in the back, and demons who compete for rank the higher you rise.
Even the things gained at the end of such endless conflict can be lost through another struggle.
To live quietly, it’s better to have no interest in money or power from the beginning.
Of course, even simply breathing requires money, but I can cover that by taking it from anyone foolish enough to challenge me.
-Clank, clank.
As I wandered the streets, content with that kind of life, I noticed the sound of armor clinking coming from the opposite side.
In Hell, where most strong demons degenerate into thugs, such a sound is rare.
Armor serves not only as protection but also as a symbol of formality and membership in an organized group.
Anyone who understands this would immediately know who these people walking through the street are.
“The Demon King’s Army.”
“Why are the Demon King’s soldiers in such a remote street…?”
The Demon King’s Army.
The military serving the Demon King, the ruler of Hell.
They contribute to establishing minimal order and discipline in the inherently chaotic society of demons.
“Everyone, halt.”
At the head of their procession, the leader stopped… directly in front of me.
He looked down at me and asked:
“Are you the one? The wandering demon who’s been annihilating the rulers of various streets lately?”
“…It seems you have business with me.”
It seems I might get entangled in something troublesome again.
With a bitter smile, I asked him quietly:
“Just to clarify, are you here to arrest me?”
While ordinary demons might be excused, demons of the Demon King’s Army are obliged to maintain Hell’s order and discipline under the King’s command.
Perhaps I’ve been ordered to be detained for causing disorder.
As I asked, he chuckled and answered:
“Of course not. We don’t concern ourselves with street brawls.”
Well, street fights among thugs wouldn’t fall under the ‘minimum order’ that the Demon King’s Army is tasked to maintain.
“But upon hearing the rumors of a lone demon who conquered several streets, I thought you might be quite useful.”
Above all, I could sense expectation in his gaze toward me.
Soon, he introduced himself and explained his purpose.
“I apologize for the delayed introduction. I am Amon, rank 7 of the Demon King’s Army. I have come to make you my subordinate.”
“…Subordinate?”
“Yes. I, personally impressed by your strength, have come to this humble street for you. Doesn’t that sound like an honor?”
An honor, he says.
Sure, weaker demons might dream of attaching themselves to a strong one, but unfortunately, I have no intention of living like that.
While serving a strong being offers their protection, it also means being at their mercy.
“You sound like you’ve already made up your mind without hearing my thoughts.”
“Haha, that sounds like a rejection.”
Amon spoke as though rejection wasn’t even an option.
“I’m sorry, but I have no intention of serving anyone.”
Scoffing at his arrogant demeanor, I spoke my thoughts clearly.
“Especially not a demon weaker than me.”
“…Weaker?”
His expression twisted.
It seemed my lightly spoken words offended him.
“You dare claim that I, Amon, ranked 7th in the Demon King’s Army, am below you?”
“My, it seems you’re quite upset.”
“Hahaha!! You arrogant fool! You got too cocky just because you threw a few punches on the street!”
-KWARRRRRR!!!
The ground shakes, and cracks form in the buildings.
The impact is enough to distort the surrounding environment just by releasing his power.
The strength possessed by a high-ranking officer in the Demon King’s Army is equivalent to an entire army on their own.
“Fine. Then let me show you clearly. Who I am, what kind of demon stands before you, and how you’ve thrown away such a great opportunity to choose death instead!”
“…Oh boy.”
As the rank 7 demon prepared to charge at me, I bitterly smiled and focused my strength into the hand I extended toward him.
“Well, I guess there’s no other choice. I don’t particularly like fighting… but I never turn away from a fight that comes my way.”
The rank 7 demon charged toward me.
And I, in turn, unleashed my power mercilessly against him.
And then…
***
“Ugh… Haa…”
After a fierce battle, the rank 7 demon finally collapsed before me, trembling on the ground.
Amon, unable to endure his internal injuries, coughed up blood as he glared at me with a twisted expression.
“D-damn it… What are you…? Someone with power like this… at least Four Heavenly Kings level… Ugh!”
In the chaotic street, with Amon collapsed before me, I stepped on his chest and adjusted my collar.
“The Four Heavenly Kings… That’s quite a nostalgic name.”
It wasn’t a completely unfamiliar term to me.
After all, the reason I survived in Hell as a former human was thanks to the help of the Four Heavenly Kings.
Or rather, the former Four Heavenly Kings, to be exact.
“How… How can a mere demon without any affiliation have this kind of power…!”
“I have no intention of telling you that, but you don’t think you can walk away safely after picking a fight with me, do you?”
Amon, who couldn’t grasp the truth, was left in shock. I grabbed him by the collar and raised him to meet my gaze.
Now, what should I do?
I usually avoid killing demons when I can, but this guy was rank 7 in the Demon King’s Army.
If I let him live, his pride would drive him to retaliate, and rumors of me defeating him might attract even higher-ranking demons.
“If you kill me, the higher-ranking demons will come for you! Even someone like you can’t handle all the Four Heavenly Kings…!”
“Oh, I didn’t know the Four Heavenly Kings were so compassionate to avenge their subordinates. That’s surprising.”
If they come, it’s probably out of amusement or the desire to test themselves.
Either way, it’s not a situation I’d welcome, so maybe I should bury him here to avoid such trouble.
Just as I was considering that…
-Bzzzzz.
A vibration sound reached my ears, and a bright light enveloped the side, drawing my attention.
What I saw was a circular light with a hexagram drawn within.
The texts inscribed around it were what is called ‘runes.’
Runes: A magical language used by humans, where the characters themselves wield mystical power.
“A summoning circle?”
I instantly recognized it.
It was a summoning circle used by humans to summon demons.
And the target was likely Amon, whose collar I was gripping.
“Hmmm.”
A summoning circle, huh…
Does that mean I can use it to leave Hell and head to the human realm?
By doing so, I could escape this unpredictable life in Hell, constantly on the brink of conflict.
“How lucky. Now I have a reason to keep you alive.”
There’s no way I’d harm the one who brought me such an opportunity.
I tossed Amon’s body aside and headed straight for the summoning circle.
I hoped the world beyond this circle would provide a peaceful life without fights.
-BZZZZZ!
As I wished for that, my vision was swallowed by the light, and after a moment, I realized I had stepped into a new and unfamiliar space.
It seemed to be a bedroom.
My body, appearing on the summoning circle drawn on the floor, lacked a clear form, as if shrouded in black mist.
Did my body disintegrate while crossing dimensions?
Well, it’s nothing I can’t solidify with magic, so it doesn’t matter.
What’s more important now is figuring out who summoned me to the human realm.
“A-a demon…”
My gaze fell upon a woman with black hair dressed in black sleepwear.
Her trembling eyes, locked on me, revealed the whirlwind of emotions she was experiencing in this moment.
“Did it… really summon one…?”
Her gaze held either fear or anticipation—I couldn’t quite tell.
Either way, for some reason, I felt a strange sense of familiarity toward her.
Feeling familiarity with the first person I encountered in this unfamiliar place… Why?
“…Jeremia Andersen.”
As I soon realized the reason and spoke the name, her eyes widened in shock.
“You… You know my name?”
“Yes, I know it very well.”
It’s a very old memory, but it remains vivid.
After all, she was the main villain in the game I played as a human, “Romancing Academy.”
To meet a character from a game after so much time has passed…
“Well, this is quite something. I don’t know how to feel about this.”
I had spent my time in places completely unrelated to the game’s background, only for such an unexpected connection to appear.
How bewildering could this be?
—
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