Chapter 1

Hell.

It’s been quite a while since I was thrown into this world, whose very name sends shivers down the spine.

So long that even the memories of my past life as a human have become hazy… Yes, I suppose I’ve fully become a demon now.

“Ugh, huff…”

And as a demon, there’s no mercy for those who come after me.

Amidst the groaning demons sprawled on the ground, I grabbed the neck of their leader, who stood above them, and asked,

“After showing you the gap in our strength, you’re not thinking of still coming at me, are you?”

“Ah, I get it… I, I won’t oppose you anymore. I’ll acknowledge you as the ruler of this area, so please… Ugh!!”

The Chief Demon was thrown and rolled heavily on the ground.

To prevent future troubles, it might be a good idea to end him here, but I chose not to lay a hand on them further.

Even though I’m a demon now, I haven’t completely lost the sentiments I had as a human.

I’m not exactly a saint, but I do restrain the innate greed and belligerence of a demon…

Thus, rather than enjoying slaughter, I tend to prioritize whether it benefits me or not.

If I have to kill, I will, but if not, it’s better to minimize the killing.

“This, my clothes got dirty again.”

-Swish.

The clothes, retrieved by magical energy, reformed in response to my will.

Confirming that the clothes were clean again, I left the place littered with demons and quietly walked through the middle of the street.

Tartarus. The center of Hell and the city ruled by the Demon King, the ruler of Hell.

Although civilization-wise, it’s behind the 21st-century modern world, as a city, it naturally has markets and the concept of currency.

A society run by money, where status is divided by money.

Naturally, since everything is determined by money, the demons living in this city are obsessed with money, and the way to earn that money is usually through plunder and exploitation.

The so-called Survival of the Fittest. Whether it’s taking or dominating, the strong get everything.

Conversely, it means the weak have no choice but to submit to the strong.

Look now. Aren’t the weaker demons trembling in fear as they see me walking down the street?

“Eek…!”

“Why are you so scared?”

Turning to one of the demons, I quietly asked, and he answered with a trembling voice.

“Th-that… Didn’t you defeat the organization that ruled this street…?”

Oh dear. It seems they consider me the new ruler of this street after I defeated the ruling group.

Ruling the street…

Well, if the area I rule expands, money will roll in just by breathing, allowing me to live more comfortably in this Hell.

“Don’t worry. I have no intention of ruling this street.”

Still, I decided to leave them be.

The reason is simple. I desire a quiet life, and to live quietly in this Hell, I need to let go of many things.

If I gain power, those who covet it will gather around me, those who serve the strong will always plot to stab me in the back, and if I rise high, I’ll have to compete with those above me for rank. That’s the nature of demons.

In the endless struggle, even what I grasp can be lost through more struggle, so to live quietly, I need to live without interest in money and power from the start.

Of course, even just breathing requires money, but that can be covered by beating up those who come at me and taking their money.

-Clank, clank.

Satisfied with that level of life, as I walked down the street, I suddenly noticed the sound of armor clashing coming from the opposite side of the street.

In Hell, where most who have some strength turn into thugs, it’s a rare sound.

Armor serves not only as protective gear but also as proof of belonging to a group that values discipline and order.

And those who understand that can immediately guess who these people walking down the street are.

“Th-the Demon King’s Army.”

“Why is the Demon King’s Army in such a remote street…?”

The Demon King’s Army. The army that follows the Demon King, the ruler of Hell.

They are the ones who contribute to establishing the minimum order and discipline in the chaotic society of demons.

“Everyone, halt.”

And the one who stopped at the front of the army’s procession was none other than me.

He looked down at me and asked,

“Is it you? The wandering demon who’s been annihilating the demons ruling the streets lately?”

“…It seems you have business with me.”

I might be getting involved in something troublesome again.

With that premonition, I smiled bitterly and quietly asked in return,

“Just to be sure, are you here to arrest me?”

Unless it’s an ordinary demon, those in the Demon King’s Army have the duty to maintain the order and discipline of Hell under the Demon King’s command.

So perhaps there’s an order to arrest me for causing chaos. With that thought, I asked, and he chuckled and replied,

“Not at all. Street fights are not something the Demon King’s Army concerns itself with.”

Right, fights among thugs don’t fall under the ‘minimum public order’ the Demon King’s Army needs to maintain.

“But hearing rumors of a guy who’s taken over several streets and still wanders alone, I thought you might be quite useful.”

Moreover, what I felt in his gaze was anticipation aimed at me.

Soon, he looked straight at me and explained the purpose of his visit.

“My introduction is late. I’m Amon, ranked 7th in the Demon King’s Army. From now on, I will be the master you serve.”

“…Master?”

“Yes, it’s none other than me who has taken notice of your strength and come all the way to this humble street. How about it, don’t you feel honored?”

Honored?

Of course, lesser demons might dream of parasitizing the strong, but coincidentally, I have no intention of living like them.

Serving the strong might grant me their protection, but it also means I could be oppressed by them at any time.

“This, you’re making assumptions without even hearing my opinion.”

“Haha, that sounds like you’re refusing my offer.”

Amon spoke as if refusal was unthinkable.

“I’m sorry, but I have no intention of serving anyone.”

Faced with his shameless attitude, I smirked and returned my thoughts as they were.

“Especially if it’s a demon weaker than me.”

“…Weaker?”

His expression twisted.

He seemed displeased with my casual remark.

“Do you dare say that I, ranked 7th in the Demon King’s Army, am beneath you?”

“Oh my, you seem quite angry.”

“Kuhahaha!! You arrogant brat! You’re too full of yourself just from throwing punches on the streets!”

-Crash!!!

The ground shook, and cracks formed on the buildings.

Just releasing his power caused enough shock to distort the surroundings.

The potential of a high-ranking officer in the Demon King’s Army could be considered equal to that of an army on an individual level.

“Fine. Then I’ll show you clearly. What kind of demon stands before you, and what a great opportunity you’ve thrown away to choose death!!”

“…This is troublesome.”

As he prepared to charge at me, I smiled bitterly and focused power into my hand aimed at him.

“I can’t help it. I don’t really like fighting… but I don’t refuse a fight that comes to me.”

Soon, the 7th-ranked demon charged at me.

I poured out my power mercilessly towards that demon.

And…

*****

“Ugh, huff…”

After a fierce battle, the 7th-ranked demon finally collapsed before me, twitching.

Amon, vomiting blood from internal injuries, looked at me with a distorted face and shouted,

“D-damn it. What are you? Someone with this much power should be at least at the level of the Four Heavenly Kings… Ugh!”

In the middle of the chaotic street, I stepped on Amon’s chest and straightened my collar.

“The Four Heavenly Kings… That’s a nostalgic name.”

It wasn’t an unfamiliar term to me.

After all, it was thanks to the help of the Four Heavenly Kings that I, who was once human, could survive in this Hell.

To be precise, it was the former Four Heavenly Kings, but still.

“H-how can a mere unaffiliated demon have such power…!”

“I have no intention of telling you, but you don’t think you can just walk away after picking a fight with me, do you?”

While Amon, unaware of this fact, was in shock, I lifted him by the collar to eye level.

Now, what to do.

Although I generally avoid killing demons, this guy is none other than the 7th-ranked in the Demon King’s Army.

With his pride, if I let him go, he’ll surely come back for revenge.

Even if it’s not him, if the news of his defeat spreads, higher-ranked demons might approach me.

“If you kill me, the higher-ranked demons will come after you! Even you can’t handle all the Four Heavenly Kings…!!”

“Oh~ I didn’t know the Four Heavenly Kings were so deeply bonded as to avenge their lower-ranked comrades.”

If they come, it would be interesting or I’d want to compete with them.

Either way, it’s not a situation I welcome, so I should consider burying this guy here to prevent that. Just as I thought that.

-Hum.

Suddenly, a vibration sound and light from the side caught my attention.

There, I saw a circular light with a hexagonal seal inscribed on it.

The inscriptions on the seal were what’s called ‘Rune Scriptures.’

Rune Scriptures. A magical language used by humans, not demons, where the characters themselves hold power.

“A Summoning Circle?”

I immediately guessed.

That’s what humans use to summon demons.

And the target is probably Amon, whose collar I’m holding.

“Hmm.”

A Summoning Circle, a Summoning Circle…

Does that mean I can go from Hell to the human world through it?

By going to the human world, can I end the life in Hell where fights can break out at any time?

“Lucky you. I have more reasons to let you live now.”

Well, I can’t harm the guy who provided such an opportunity.

I threw Amon aside and stepped towards the Summoning Circle.

I hope the world I’m heading to through this Summoning Circle has a quiet life without fights.

-Hum!

As I wished, a flash of light blinded my vision, and after a moment, I realized I had stepped into an unfamiliar scene.

The place I entered seemed to be a bedroom.

On the floor, the Summoning Circle appeared, and my body, which had emerged from it, was not in a proper form, like black mist.

Did my body get distorted while crossing dimensions?

Well, I can solidify it with magical energy, so it doesn’t matter.

What’s more important right now is who summoned me to the human world.

“A… a demon…”

Where my gaze turned, I saw a black-haired woman in black pajamas.

Her trembling eyes, aimed at me, showed that she was feeling a lot of emotions in this situation.

“Really… summoned…?”

Was that gaze filled with fear, or anticipation?

Either way, what I felt when I faced her was an inexplicable sense of déjà vu.

Why do I feel familiarity with the first woman I meet in this strange place?

“…Jeremiah Anderson.”

Soon realizing the reason, I uttered the name, and her eyes widened in shock.

“You… know my name?”

“Yes, I know it very well.”

It’s been a long time, but I remember.

After all, she was the main villain in the game ‘Romancing Academy’ that I played when I was human.

To encounter a character from a game after such a long time…

“This is quite perplexing.”

After rolling around in places unrelated to the game’s setting, suddenly having a connection like this is truly bewildering.

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