Chapter 2: Their Everyday Life
1
It was a space that combined both luxury and simplicity, exuding an elegant atmosphere.
It was the Demon King's Castle, Throne Room.
Sitting on the throne was the Demon King, Gent, the ruler of the Demon Realm.
A woman stood a step lower.
Sharin Rose. Though she was the most unsuitable human being to be in the deepest part of the Demon Realm, in a sense, she was also the most suitable person to defeat the Demon King.
In other words, she was the current Hero.
The Demon King and the Hero were facing each other in the Demon King's Castle.
It was a perfect setup for a final showdown.
However, there was no murderous intent between them. The air flowing between them was calm, almost as if they were close friends facing each other.
"You live in a surprisingly lavish place, don't you?"
Sharin spoke in a blunt tone. Her voice was slightly sharp, a contrast to the atmosphere, but it had a captivating quality that made anyone listening involuntarily turn to her.
"I don't like it, but my subordinates insisted. They wanted me to stay in a place fit for a king."
"Typical."
Sharin gave a wry smile.
"However... you really came here alone."
"I've known for a long time that you aren't the type to do something underhanded."
"Well, well, you're giving me quite a bit of credit."
"You're underestimating me. You think I'm soft and that you can easily kill me when I'm alone, don't you?"
Their words were a back-and-forth of provocation.
"Although... I'm surprised. That leech isn't here."
"You're talking about Lily? She certainly wanted to come along, but... I thought it wouldn't be fair unless it was one-on-one. This is a meeting between the representatives of the human world and the Demon Realm. No one else should interfere."
Seeing Gent's unusually serious expression, Sharin straightened her posture.
"I've had enough of this war. It's time to end it."
"We feel the same way, but..."
Before Sharin could respond, Gent raised his hand to stop her.
"Let me finish. There's something I've been thinking about. Do you know why this war has dragged on for so long?"
Sharin tilted her head, considering.
"Mutual hatred... is what I'd like to say, but the system itself is a major issue. The military power on both sides is balanced. In fact, if it weren't balanced, we'd have lost a long time ago."
Sharin shrugged her shoulders.
"Thanks to the Summoned Beasts, the 66 pillars. Without them, we would have been wiped out. We'd have put up a good fight, though."
The Summoned Beasts were creatures from various other worlds, brought to Domuspatria, the land where Gent and his people resided. All of them had extraordinary combat abilities.
At the time, both humans and demons each held thirty-three Summoned Beasts. This balance meant that the military strength of both sides was nearly equal. The key word here is nearly, because strictly speaking, Gent alone gave the demons the upper hand.
If Gent had unleashed his full power and didn't mind sacrificing everything to annihilate humanity, they might have been wiped out. But Gent had intentionally held back to prevent unnecessary destruction. As a result, the war had continued, with the demons holding the advantage. Gent, knowing that humanity had its own Summoned Beasts, didn't have any other way to end the war except through destruction.
Gent often said, "If humanity would just give up, the war would end."
Humanity, in turn, would likely return the same response to the demons. Despite being at a disadvantage, they didn't see it as hopeless. They still thought they could fight.
Gent understood this very well.
"The presence of the Summoned Beasts is just as important in the Demon Realm. We have the same number of Summoned Beasts, and it's because of them that we can stand against humanity. In the end, the reason this war has lasted as long as it has is thanks to the Summoned Beasts. Without them, the war would end."
"That might be true, but... no way."
"Yeah. We just need to seal the 66 Summoned Beasts."
If the 66 Summoned Beasts were rendered unusable, both humanity and the demons would lose much of their combat strength, making it difficult to continue the war.
"But sealing them alone won't be enough. The seeds of conflict will remain. Small skirmishes will continue for a while. That's why we'll install the <Wall of Lament> between the human world and the Demon Realm."
"<Wall of Lament>?"
"It's a wall created with high concentrations of magic. It blocks all forms of magic and physical things, it also prevents the movement of plants and animals. However, air and such will still flow through."
"So, you mean by preventing any movement between the human world and the Demon Realm, even small skirmishes will stop?"
Sharin, following up on Gent's explanation, asked.
"I'm glad you understood so quickly."
Gent nodded.
"With the Summoned Beasts, it's possible to break through the <Wall of Lament>, but without them, it would be impossible. The human and Demon realms will be nearly permanently divided, and without contact, there will be no reason to fight."
When Gent finished speaking, Sharin placed her hand on her chin and tilted her head thoughtfully.
"Sealing them and building the wall... It's not a bad plan, but..."
She trailed off, likely harboring some concern.
"There are two problems."
After thinking for a moment, Sharin raised two fingers.
"One is the massive amount of magic required."
The 66 Summoned Beasts were the strongest of their kind. With just 66 of them, the outcome of the war could be decided. To seal such monsters would require unimaginable amounts of magic.
"No problem. I have a way to gather the magic."
"So you're saying it's fine?"
Sharin replied, trusting Gent's words. She knew all too well the depth of Gent's power and trusted him because of it.
"The other problem is... in the end, the Demon Realm wins. Humanity will lose the trump card that is the Summoned Beasts, but you demons will still have your trump card—Demon King Gent."
In other words, as long as Gent remained, the demons had the upper hand. With the Summoned Beasts lost, the advantage would be even more overwhelming. With the Summoned Beasts gone, Gent’s power would no longer be divided by dealing with them.
Gent had expected this objection and already had an answer prepared.
"No problem. The balance of power between demons and humans will be maintained."
"What are you saying? You're seriously underestimating yourself..."
"I'm not. Because if I carry out this plan, I will die."
"What?"
"You said that a massive amount of magic would be required, right? That's true. Right now, even I can't gather that much magic. But if I sacrifice myself as a vessel, it will be enough."
Sacrificial magic. It was a spell that allowed one to gain immense magic by sacrificing their own life.
"You're saying you're willing to die for the world!?"
Sharin exclaimed, her face showing shock. Gent, too, was taken aback.
"Is that so surprising? You're willing to stake your life for humanity, aren't you?"
Gent thought what he was doing was not much different from Sharin’s actions.
"Besides, I know there are people among humans who are willing to become pillars of sacrifice. There have been many throughout history. It’s not that unusual."
"I never expected such an offer from the demons. For the one race we've despised and hated to offer to die to end the war and bring peace..."
"Can't believe it, huh?"
After thinking for a moment, Sharin shook her head.
"No. Now that I think about it, it’s not surprising at all. It actually feels like something you would do. I’m probably just surprised that such an offer came from the demons. I don’t like that a race we’ve loathed is now offering a hand to end the war."
"If this is an emotional issue, then we can separate it from the plan. If it's rationally possible, we can still carry it out."
"That's true. But..."
"Is there still something else?"
"If this plan succeeds, you'll die..."
Sharin lowered her gaze.
The conflict between the demons and humanity had lasted for millennia.
Over a hundred years had passed since Gent became Demon King, and in recent decades, the war had intensified and become more entrenched. Humanity's hatred had been growing stronger by the day... or so Gent had felt.
However, the Hero—Sharin—had been leading humanity's forces for about three years now.
The conflict had remained in a delicate balance, with the demons slightly ahead, but humanity had begun to push back.
On the other hand, Gent had begun to sense something odd in Sharin.
From her, he could feel not just hatred, but also a deep inner turmoil—anguish over killing demons. He had met others who had fought with such uncertain emotions, but they had always perished easily. A world where someone could survive with weak resolve was not a forgiving one.
But the terrifying part about Sharin was that, despite her inner conflict, she was still the strongest hero humanity had ever known.
Though she was weaker than Gent, if they were to fight one-on-one, she was the only human who would force him to take her seriously.
Gent was shocked that such a person was letting her emotions interfere with her resolve.
At the same time, he had expected that she would mourn his death.
That’s why—
"Don’t worry."
"I-I'm not worried!"
Ignoring Sharin’s protest, Gent continued.
"I’ll come back to life."
"C-Come back to life...?"
"In another world, that is."
Gent let out a small sigh. "Sorry, but I am the Demon King. Selfish, always seeking power, and living as I please. Stopping this world's war is just my own self-indulgence. I’m only doing it because I’ve grown tired of this world. And once I leave this world behind, I’ll live peacefully in another one. So—"
The Demon King gently touched the hero’s cheek.
"There’s no need for you to cry."
It was only then that Sharin seemed to realize she was crying. Her eyes widened in shock, and as her face turned bright red, she shouted back,
"I’m not crying!!"
2
He opened his eyes. The white ceiling and the lightless lamps came into view.
It seemed he had been dreaming. The memory was from the world before Aima reincarnated—back when he was in Domus Patria.
──It’s been a while since I saw this.
Seventeen years had passed since reincarnation. In the beginning, or rather, from the time he was around three years old, Aima had frequently dreamt of the previous world. But recently, those dreams had become less frequent. He had adapted well to this world, and especially to Japan, so the impressions of the old world gradually faded away.
──Maybe it’s because I got caught up in that yesterday?
For some reason, he had found himself in the death game "Hate Breeder." Magic was being used there, and Aima himself had used magic for the first time in a while. Perhaps that was why his memories from the past had resurfaced.
When he thought about using magic, the first thing that came to his mind was the day he had met with Sharin, just the two of them. Aima found it surprising. Having lived for five hundred years as a demon, was the conversation with Sharin really the most memorable thing during that time?
"…This isn’t the time for this."
Aima quickly jumped out of bed. Checking the clock, he realized there was little time left before he needed to leave.
He tossed aside his pajamas, changed into his uniform, and headed toward the living room.
"Good morning."
"Good morning, Aima."
"Good morning, Aima-kun."
His father and stepmother greeted him in this world. His stepmother was eating at the dining table, while his father was already on his way out of the house.
When Aima first became aware of his surroundings (around the age of three), his parents had already divorced, so he had little memory of his biological mother. They hadn't met much after the divorce.
Aima had grown up in a single-parent household for many years, so when his father remarried three years ago and he got a new mother, it was a bit of a fresh experience.
And with his new mother came a little sister.
"…"
A girl, about the same age as Aima, sat at the dining table, silently munching on her bread without looking at him.
Her hairstyle was trendy, and her uniform was casually worn, giving her a polished appearance overall. Unlike Aima, who was a plain, introverted type, she clearly belonged to the outgoing crowd. She was one year younger than Aima, a first-year high school student.
"Hey, Yua, you should greet Aima-kun properly," his stepmother scolded.
"……Good morning."
She replied with an indifferent tone.
"Geez... sorry, Aima-kun."
"It's fine. It must be confusing to suddenly have someone like me as a brother."
"Even if you say suddenly, it's already been three years."
"Doesn't matter how many years have passed, it's still annoying."
When Aima said that with a laugh, his stepmother sighed.
The girl—Yua, his stepsister from his parents' remarriage—was consistently cold toward Aima, hardly ever speaking to him. Even greeting him only happened when her parents scolded her for not doing so. Aima always mentally chuckled at how much she seemed to dislike him, but the words he said to his stepmother were sincere. It was no surprise that someone like him—an introverted guy at the bottom of the school social ladder—was unwanted in a home where they were suddenly forced to live together due to their parents' decisions. If he were a handsome, sparkling older brother like in a shoujo manga, things might have been different.
From the very first impression, it seemed Aima was the worst possible scenario for Yua.
When Aima and his father arrived at the restaurant for their first meeting, Yua and his stepmother were already seated.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Aima Shirahama."
Aima greeted them normally, and his stepmother responded with a polite "Nice to meet you. Please take care of us." But Yua,
"……"
Only shot a sharp glare at Aima, remaining completely silent.
"Well, Yua, come on, greet him."
His stepmother prompted her, and Yua quietly muttered,
"……Nice to meet you."
She said it in a barely audible voice, then turned away with a huff.
Even during the meal, Aima could feel her gaze on him from time to time, but whenever he tried to meet her eyes, she would look away.
This… Aima thought, was probably due to her disappointment in having such a terrible older brother. And the truth of that was proven by the way they had lived so far.
Aima did sometimes think he should try to make an effort to be liked, but… it was surprisingly difficult. He was never good with people, even back in his demon world life. He had always been a quiet person. Humans probably expected him to have an intense personality, being the so-called Demon King, and it seemed the low-ranking members of his demon army had similar expectations. Considering Aima's strength, it was understandable. However, Aima himself was simply a quiet person who happened to possess great magical talent, and who became the Demon King only because he wanted to save his people, not because of any desire for power.
However, in this world, Aima’s talents were not being put to use. What was truly needed here was communication skills. While his intellect could earn him high academic grades, being too good at it could actually make him a target for bullying, which made things complicated. Therefore, Aima made an effort to maintain average grades. But even then, that wasn’t enough to break free from the lower ranks of the school social hierarchy.
Well, at least he wasn’t being bullied, and he didn’t mind being alone. There wasn’t any sudden murder game breaking out around him, so the word "peace" was the best description. Aima was actually enjoying his life in this world.
However, for his stepsister, having someone like Aima around must have been a disaster, and he felt bad about that. "Sorry, I’m such a lame brother," he always thought to himself. He didn’t interfere with her, so he hoped she would forgive him.
"Well, I’m off."
As soon as Aima sat down, Yua stood up, grabbed her bag, and left the house. The extent of her avoidance made him feel more sorry than sad. They attended the same high school, but naturally, they had never gone to school together, not even during middle school.
Aima’s school, Gin’ei High School, was about a ten-minute walk from his apartment. He had realized in elementary school that he was weak in the mornings, so he chose a school he could walk to. It was also the perfect fit for his grades—neither too high nor too low—so he applied and successfully passed the entrance exam.
As he mingled with the crowd of students in uniforms heading through the school gates, Aima blended in as well.
Aima’s class was 2-F. As he entered the classroom, he quietly muttered,
"Good morning."
Since he didn’t have any friends, there was no response. It was just the usual routine. However, that day, something a little unusual happened.
As Aima was walking into the room, a student crossed in front of him, causing them to lightly bump into each other. In response, Aima instinctively stepped back to absorb the impact. However, to others, it must have looked like he staggered due to his lack of strength.
"Please watch where you’re walking."
The person he bumped into stopped and stared at him with a sharp gaze.
It was a female student. Her name was Yubuchi Yuri. She was the type of person who embodied the term "a beauty," with a refined and elegant appearance that made her look as if she had stepped out of a painting.
If she had any flaw, it was her piercingly sharp gaze. When combined with her flawless beauty, it created an aura so cold that it felt as though the temperature around her dropped to absolute zero. Because of this, she was often called the "Ice Queen."
Her beauty made it difficult for anyone to approach her, and in a way, she was somewhat isolated. Like Aima, Yuri didn’t seem to make an effort to socialize, so depending on how you looked at it, she could be considered a loner as well. However, in Yuri’s case, "solitude" was a more fitting term.
"Sorry…"
Aima apologized, but Yuri simply turned her face away and walked off.
"Wow, did you see those eyes?"
"Her gaze could kill you."
"I'd be dead if it were me."
"No, that'd be a reward."
"The Ice Queen is just too amazing..."
"Yubuchi's dislike for loners is famous. It’s his fault for getting close to her."
The classmates whispered among themselves, observing Aima and the others.
Aima, glancing at his classmates, sat down at his desk. Naturally, his gaze drifted to the front of the classroom, where a group of female students had gathered.
The outgoing girls from class were gathered near the front, chatting and laughing.
"And then, that girl is so good at UFO catchers! I was just staring at her!"
The center of attention was Okishima Nanaka. As she spoke happily, those around her responded with equal enthusiasm. She was the very definition of a top-tier social status in the school.
Yuri and Nanaka seemed to be opposites. Both were beautiful and at the top of the social hierarchy, but their positions were polar opposites. While Yuri maintained a solitary, aloof existence, Nanaka had the most friends in class.
"So, which one do you prefer?"
"I’m definitely Nanaka-chan. Her smile is just lethal. She’s kind to everyone."
"Huh. I like Yubuchi-san. I want to be stepped on."
"A masochist, huh..."
"No, trust me, once you get glared at by her, you’ll get hooked...!"
The two of them were the most popular girls in class, and likely ranked among the top ten in the school’s popularity standings. Nanaka had even placed second in last year’s Girls Contest. As for Yuri, she had declined to participate in such superficial events, so her exact popularity couldn’t be measured, but Aima believed she would be just as popular as Nanaka.
Aima’s eyes lingered on Nanaka. There was no change in her behavior from yesterday. When he arrived at school, she had briefly glanced at him, but there was no real reaction.
With everything being just as normal as always, it almost felt like yesterday’s events had been a dream. But Aima knew it hadn’t been a dream.
The atmosphere of the game center.
The feeling of his hand when he defeated the Gothic Lolita staff doll.
All of the memories insisted that what had happened was real.
The only possibility left was that it could have been a case of mistaken identity… but Nanaka had definitely called Aima by name, and Aima didn’t think he could mistake someone as prominent as her.
After everything that had happened, she was back at school, talking casually with her friends. Whether it was due to her top-tier status or Aima overthinking things, he wasn’t sure.
Despite the sense of unease, the teacher entered, and homeroom began, interrupting Aima’s train of thought.
3
As Aima absently thought about yesterday’s events, he found himself drifting off during the lesson.
"Hey, Shiranami. You're not paying attention in class."
As expected, the teacher at the podium scolded him.
The teacher was Jōka Takehiko, an English instructor. Through his thin silver-framed glasses, his eyes glinted as he stared at Aima with a nervous, irritable expression. He appeared to be in his mid-thirties, but his unusually thin frame and pale complexion made him look older—around his mid-forties, in fact.
"Sorry."
Since it was his fault, Aima apologized honestly.
It wasn’t that he was dozing off, and it was only the first warning, so Aima thought the lesson would continue. However…
"You think you can just ignore my class and get by, huh? Feeling confident, are you?"
Jōka continued with his sarcastic remarks, furrowing his brows in displeasure.
"No, that's not what I meant—"
"We're already in the second year. Next year’s the entrance exams. English is essential, no matter which track you choose. If you keep this attitude, you’ll be the first to fall behind."
Aima could feel his classmates' sympathetic glances. Jōka was the type of teacher who would pick a target and relentlessly lecture them. While some students might welcome a brief break from class, Jōka’s scolding was so nasty that even those watching found it unpleasant.
"Come up to the front and translate this."
"...Okay."
Reluctantly, Aima stood up and walked to the blackboard.
He stared at the lines of English text.
Grasping the meaning was easy. Having spent years reading magical texts, Aima was adept at learning languages. Since magical books used different languages depending on the era, Aima had developed an understanding of language evolution and the core principles behind it.
However, if he were to provide a perfect translation after being ridiculed, it would undermine Jōka’s pride, and he would most likely get targeted even more seriously. Jōka was the type to thoroughly bully students he disliked, so Aima wanted to avoid that risk.
Instead, he intentionally added a mistake to his translation as he wrote it on the blackboard.
"Hmph, it's decent, but still lacking. At this level, you won’t make it through the entrance exams."
Jōka continued his lecture, but since Aima’s answer wasn’t bad enough to warrant a long scolding, he was quickly dismissed.
"Shiranami... he's so... dull, isn’t he?"
One of the male students muttered softly.
"Hey, he can hear you."
"So what? It’s fine. He’s so quiet."
Two students whispered to each other. Their voices were pretty low, but Aima's sharp hearing caught every word.
It was clearly an insult, but it didn’t make him angry because it was the truth.
Besides, being dull wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, Aima thought. Not every day needed to be dramatic. Of course, if he were so awkward that it disrupted his daily life, it would be a problem. But as long as he could live normally, there was no issue.
There was no advantage to being number one. Aima had learned that after once conquering the world as the Demon King.
Being second or lower—having responsibility for subordinates—was a massive burden. There was also plenty of jealousy and harassment from below. Even a fly buzzing around would be annoying, no matter how much power Aima had. And on top of that, there were factional disputes that happened without his knowledge… And the responsibility for the outcomes of every battle was ultimately on the shoulders of the number one.
Compared to that, his current, ordinary life was comfortable and easygoing. Aima was content with his dull, introverted daily life.
So, despite that, he was not looking forward to going to the rooftop during lunch break...
He had made plans to meet someone there during the lunch break. It was very rare for Aima, who led an introverted, loner lifestyle.
When he arrived at the rooftop, the person he was meeting was already there.
A slender figure with a neat appearance and beautiful, sharp eyes.
"Good day, Shiranami-san."
"Hello, Yubuchi-san."
Yubuchi Yuri greeted Aima with a glare that seemed as though she could kill him on the spot.
If anyone else had been there, they might have assumed that Yubuchi, who disliked loners, had called Aima up to beat him up.
No one would normally think that someone as elegant as Yuri would engage in such violent behavior. However, the murderous intent in her gaze was strong enough to shatter her otherwise pristine image.
"You're the only one here, right?"
Yuri asked in a low voice.
"Yeah. The rooftop is off-limits, so no one would come all the way up here."
"I see. So, it's just the two of us here, then. In that case..."
Yuri's previously stern expression softened into a smile, and before long, it completely melted into joy.
"Gent-samaaa!!"
With arms wide open, she let out a sweet voice, almost like a high-pitched squeal, and leaped straight toward Aima.
However, Aima smoothly stepped aside, evading her.
"HEBUSHI!!"
Yuri, overestimating her momentum, dove face-first into the concrete floor.
"Hey, are you okay?!"
Aima hadn’t expected her to dive at him with such force and had instinctively dodged.
"I’m fine! If it’s for Gent-sama, I can lick the floor without a second thought. I’ll even lick your shoes if you want!"
Yuri then took a kneeling position, stretching out her hand toward his shoes.
"Stop messing around."
"I’m not messing around! I’m serious!"
"You're something else..."
Aima placed a hand on his forehead.
If any of their classmates saw this sudden change in Yuri, they’d be stunned. They might even think it was some kind of prank, or perhaps they’d think that Aima was blackmailing her with some weakness.
The truth was, Yuri was also a reincarnator, just like Aima. In their previous world, while Aima was active as a demon, Yuri had served as his right-hand servant, a familiar who had supported him for a long time.
She had the appearance of a plant-based demon, a blend of a lily flower and a human. Even back then, she was incredibly beautiful, often fending off the advances of many men. According to her, love was nothing but a waste of time when it came to carrying out her duties for Aima. While Aima didn’t mind if she had relationships or married, she was adamant about not indulging in those distractions.
Back then, she was called Lily. To preserve the remnants of that name, she used magic during her reincarnation to manipulate her parents and make them name her "Yuri," reflecting the sound of the original name. It seemed she still held her demon past in high regard.
Her loyalty to Aima was unmatched, and Aima trusted her absolutely.
However—
"Anyway, stop crawling and get up."
"Isn’t it fine? It's been a while since I’ve been able to bow to Gent-sama, and Lily is so happy. It gives me chills…!"
Her loyalty to Aima was so intense that sometimes it would go overboard, a flaw she’d had since their previous world. It seemed to have gotten worse since coming to this one.
"What would you do if someone comes?"
"I've cast a barrier to keep people away, so no one will come!"
"Then why did you check at first?"
"I thought maybe Gent-sama was bringing someone with him. If that were the case, I’d have to keep up the act, right?"
"See? I’m a capable person, aren’t I? Praise me, Praise me~!" The look on her face said it all. In truth, she was capable, but sometimes her overbearing nature could be a bit annoying.
Also, the reason she acted tough toward Aima most of the time was that if she acted normally, her subservient nature would leak out, and she'd end up overly affectionate, which would feel unnatural. It was true that Aima had suggested they get along as individuals, without the context of their past world, but he never expected it to turn out like this.
She explained it as:
"If I don’t keep my guard up, my feelings of deep admiration for Gent-sama will spill out. If a classmate saw that, Gent-sama might stand out in a bad way. I can't do anything that would hinder you like that!"
And so, that was her reasoning.
That said, her actions were too extreme. In front of everyone, she was icy cold, but when it was just the two of them, she was so obedient it almost felt like she’d lick his shoes…
—I’d prefer a middle ground.
Aima thought as he watched her, but as long as Lily was satisfied, he decided to let it slide.
That said, in order to talk properly, she had to stand up like a normal person.
"Just get up already. This is an order. I’ve been saying for centuries that I don’t like looking down on people from high places."
"Understood, Jento-sama!"
With that, Yuri straightened up and stood tall.
"Now, let’s get to the point."
"Yes!"
"Have you heard of a death game happening in this world? It's called 'Hate Breeder.'"
When Aima asked, Yuri immediately adopted a serious expression.
"A death game, Hate Breeder... I haven’t heard of it. Why are you asking all of a sudden?"
Aima went on to explain about the game he had been involved in the day before.
"That... clearly involves magic, doesn't it?"
Yuri's first impression was that.
It seemed that, like Aima, Yuri's primary concern was the existence of magic.
"With the current level of science in this world, it’s impossible. And if there were magic circles involved, then it’s definitely magic. And since magic is being used... it’s safe to assume that other reincarnators are involved in this."
"So, you think the same as I do."
Yuri’s thoughts aligned with Aima’s.
It was certain that those using magic to commit wrongdoings were reincarnators from another world. If they were the ones threatening this world... Aima couldn’t just ignore it.
Because, after all, he quite enjoyed the peaceful daily life in this world.
"Yuri. I need a favor. Please investigate the death game 'Hate Breeder.'"
"Understood!"
Yuri immediately responded, saluting.
"—Are you sure? You're a reincarnator now. You’re no longer my subordinate, but…"
Aima asked the question that had been on his mind for a while.
"Jento-sama...! Please don’t abandon me! I’ve devoted my life to you! I am so, so happy to be able to serve you again!!"
"I see..."
Aima let out a wry smile.
It was true that he had saved Yuri’s life, but he didn’t think it was something that warranted this level of indebtedness.
"Then I’ll begin today."
"Won’t you ask me why?"
"Once Jento-sama feels it’s necessary, I will follow. I’ve always done so until now."
An overwhelming level of trust. It almost seemed like blind faith. To some, she might appear as a puppet, thoughtlessly following commands, but Aima knew that was not the case.
The proof of that was──
"Well, if Jento-sama would like me to explain... Jento-sama wishes to stop the otherworld from destroying the peaceful daily life of this world, correct?"
──Without needing an explanation, Yuri understood Aima’s intent.
Aima loved peaceful everyday life. That had been true even when he was in the other world. When he was raised as a Demon King, the reason he agreed was because he wanted to give the demons a peaceful existence. Because of that, he was forced to live far from peace, but he had no regrets.
Until now, Aima had lived a normal life in this world. He understood that other world wasn’t all peaceful like Japan, and there were conflicts. But in this world, Aima was just an ordinary man. He wasn’t foolish enough to reach for the impossible. So as long as the people around him were living peacefully, he didn’t feel the need to take action.
However, in front of him──at least his classmate Nanaka had been involved. And with a death game taking place so close to him, his parents and younger sister might also be caught up in it. That was something he couldn’t tolerate.
"With that in mind, please leave the investigation to me, Yuri."
Her respectful bow reminded Aima of how she had been in the other world.
4
Yuri would likely do a thorough investigation on the general outline of the death game "Hate Breeder." Meanwhile, Aima couldn't help but feel concerned about Nanaka.
Nanaka had been a participant. The game seemed to offer money as a reward for winning, so it was highly likely she had joined for financial reasons.
Aima thought it would be important to gather information directly from the participants, so he decided to approach Nanaka.
However, a problem arose.
"How should I talk to her?"
From a school hierarchy perspective, it didn't seem ideal for Aima to openly approach Nanaka. Besides, he didn't have her personal contact details (like her LINE ID).
It seemed he had no choice but to approach her in a place where no one could see them.
So, after school, Aima followed Nanaka as she made her way home. He had been secretly observing her in class and noticed that she was leaving school alone. If he wasn’t careful, it might look like stalking, which was sad. But it was an opportunity. Nanaka usually hung out with various students, so it was uncertain when she might be alone again.
Nanaka seemed to be heading straight home. There were still other students around the school, so Aima didn’t approach her yet. Nanaka had a wide social circle, and it was likely she would run into someone she knew.
──Now, it should be okay.
As the students dispersed, it was just Nanaka and Aima, a little behind her, so he prepared to speak.
But,
"Hey."
Someone spoke to Nanaka first.
It was a pair of men, looking rather rough. Their hair was bleached, and from the style of their suits and open-collared shirts, they didn’t seem to have respectable jobs. It seemed like they might be up to some malicious flirting.
As soon as she heard their voices, Nanaka stiffened.
"W-What do you want?"
"Come on, don’t play dumb. We've been to your house a few times, remember? It’s about that thing... that thing."
It seemed that Nanaka knew them.
"I’m in a bit of a bind here. Can you make it work?"
"Well, that was the plan, but it’s fallen through... today was supposed to be the day, but it didn’t go as expected..."
"We can’t wait any longer. Hey, why don’t you come work at our shop? We’ll pay you daily wages, and we can settle it that way."
From their behavior, it seemed like Nanaka might have borrowed money from these men. This matched with how she seemed to need money when participating in the death game.
"A shop...?"
"You heard me. It's a place where you provide various services to men."
"I think you'd definitely be able to become the top one. Us older guys really like girls like you."
The situation was taking a turn for the worse.
Aima decided to intervene. Nanaka was clearly in trouble, and he wanted to talk to her afterward, so he couldn’t let her be taken somewhere shady. Their interests aligned.
"Hey."
"“Huh?”"
The two thugs shot angry glares at Aima. But they had no effect on him. He had no fear, after all. Even if he overestimated their combat abilities, they were no stronger than a goblin child. A single finger from him could crush them both.
That said, showing off his demon lord powers in broad daylight, especially in front of his classmates, was a bit much. It was better to keep his identity as a reincarnate a secret, as that would help him lead a peaceful everyday life.
——Now, what should I do...?
"What are you to this girl? Her boyfriend or something?"
One of the thugs approached Aima, peering into his face.
"No, just a classmate."
"Then you better get lost, for your own sake. You don’t want to get hurt, do you?"
"I can’t leave a classmate in trouble."
"Oh? Playing the hero, huh? You’ll regret this, kid."
The two thugs narrowed their eyes and looked down at Aima.
Their bodies blocked Nanaka’s line of sight, and at that moment, Aima quickly drew a magic circle with his right hand.
The magic took effect on the two men.
"Regret, huh? Let’s see about that."
Aima quietly muttered.
Then…
"“Huh…?”"
The two men let out confused sounds.
And gradually, their gazes drifted upward.
"What's the matter?"
"“Eh, ah, eh…?”"
The two men stumbled backward and fell on their butts.
––To them, it must have seemed like Aima’s height was slowly growing. His face appeared to elongate like a wolf's, with sharp fangs visible, and claws growing on his hands... They were under the illusion that a three-meter-tall beastman had suddenly appeared in front of them.
Aima had cast Illusion on the two of them.
Nanaka was watching him with a puzzled expression. Since Aima had concealed the magic circle from her view using the two men's bodies, she couldn’t tell what was happening.
"If you’re not coming, I’ll come to you!"
"“Hiiiii!”"
When Aima let out a roar, the two men scrambled to their feet in a panic, almost tripping as they hastily ran away.
Nanaka stared at him in shock.
"Huh? Huh? Huh?"
"What’s this? They’re pathetic for their mouths."
Aima said, pretending to be surprised.
"To run away just from a little intimidation... I wonder if they can survive in the world of the yakuza."
"Is that how it is?"
Nanaka seemed half-doubtful. Since she wasn’t affected by Illusion, she must have thought it looked like Aima simply spoke to the men, and they ran off. It probably seemed unbelievable, but she likely had no choice but to accept it as the truth.
"By the way, Okishima-san. Who were those guys?"
Aima shifted to the main topic.
Immediately, Nanaka’s expression darkened.
"Uh... Well. Let’s go somewhere else and talk."
5
Gent-sama has finally made his move!
The realization of this fact sent a genuine shiver through the heart of Lily—now known as Yubuchi Yuri.
From the moment Yuri became aware of her surroundings in this world, she immediately rushed to Aima's side. At just three years old, she had ridden the train and stood in front of his house. His location was easily determined by detecting his magic power.
Upon meeting Aima, Yūri immediately said:
"Please allow me to serve you in this world as well! Let us conquer the world together!!"
But Aima replied:
"In this world... I plan to live a simple life."
Yūri wanted Aima to seize the world. In the previous world, if Aima had decided to wipe out all humans, he could have easily taken control of the world. His kindness, however, was what kept him from doing so. That, too, was part of his charm, but Yūri couldn't help feeling frustrated.
That was why she thought that this time, it would be different, and they would conquer the world together.
However, if Aima did not wish for that, then she would accept it, as it was his wish. Yūri quickly accepted and left his side.
Even after that, she continued to keep in touch with him. When she entered high school, she moved to the same town (which is why Yūri currently lives alone).
Though Aima had commanded that she not serve as his subordinate, she insisted on staying close by his side. In return, she obeyed his order to keep their relationship a secret, and with a heavy heart, pretended to dislike Aima.
But──
──Gent-sama truly was never just an ordinary human!!
This time, Aima had decided to stop the schemes of the otherworldly people who were indulging in a petty game of death.
What a noble ambition! This is the attitude befitting the Demon King!
After school, Yūri followed Aima to ensure she could support him whenever needed. As for the investigation she was tasked with, she had her familiars—rats, pigeons, and bats—gathering information. For now, she focused on prioritizing Aima's support.
Aima had rescued their classmate, the gal named Nanaka, from two thugs. Yūri was impressed by his graceful ability to defeat them without revealing his true identity.
To explain the situation, Nanaka seemed to be taking Aima somewhere. The two of them were walking toward the downtown area. Yūri, using her magic to conceal her presence, followed them.
As she walked for a while, Yūri felt a strange discomfort.
A faint sound.
The regular rhythm was cleverly concealed, but it was impossible to deceive Yūri’s sharpened ears. Always on high alert to ensure that Aima was not in danger, Yūri kept all her senses finely tuned.
The discomfort wasn’t related to the sound itself. It was not unusual for someone to walk quietly, muffling their footsteps. The problem was that there was a sound, yet no presence.
Yūri focused her attention on the sound.
──There.
There was a woman walking along the road opposite Yūri's path. She should have been in plain sight, yet Yūri hadn’t noticed her at all. The woman had completely erased her presence. She was likely using magic. However, the woman had only muffled her footsteps through skill alone, and the faint trace of them was what Yūri’s ears picked up.
The woman was clearly tailing Aima. Following Gent-sama... She had guts... Yūri instinctively felt the urge to cast a killing curse but held herself back. This was Japan—casting flashy magic would end up causing trouble for Aima.
However, she couldn’t simply ignore this. It was the role of a subordinate to clear any danger approaching their master beforehand.
"Excuse me."
The woman turned around in surprise, clearly not expecting to be addressed. It was likely due to Yūri approaching while hiding her presence.
The woman had a refined appearance. She wore the same school uniform as Yūri and the others.
"Do you need something?"
The woman asked nonchalantly. Her shock lasted only a moment before she quickly regained her composure.
"That's my question. You…"
Yūri was about to ask if she was following Aima when she realized the woman’s face looked familiar.
──This woman, she’s Gent-sama’s younger sister.
She was his stepsister, born from his father’s remarriage. Her name was Yua Shiranami.
Normally, she should be someone to respect, so Yūri felt it was right to apologize for her rude question. But she didn’t feel inclined to do so. After all, this woman despised Aima. Damn it, how is it that such a woman is Gent-sama's sister? If I were his sister, I could legally adore him and serve him with all my heart... But she doesn’t even greet him in the morning. I’d love to kill her. Yet, Gent-sama still treats her properly as a sister, so I can't do anything about it.
But why was this sister tailing Gent-sama? And she was clearly using magic. Who exactly is she…?
Unable to ignore it any longer, Yūri decided to ask her directly.
"...It seems you're following your brother. Why is that?"
"It’s none of your business."
Yua said that and resumed tailing Aima.
"It’s not none of my business."
Yūri hastily followed her.
"What’s your relationship with Aima?"
"U-um, I’m... his classmate..."
It was difficult not being able to tell the truth.
"Hmm."
Yua gave her a scrutinizing look.
"I’ll explain because I don’t want you to think I’m a stalker or a brocon, but I’m not following him."
"Eh? Then why are you following him?"
"I’m following the girl next to him. Okishima Nanaka."
That was a possibility Yūri hadn’t considered. Aima’s presence was so overwhelming that Yūri hadn’t even thought about other factors. It was fine to have high loyalty, but letting it cloud her judgment was dangerous. Yūri reprimanded herself harshly.
"So, why are you following Okishima?"
"I’m a fan. She’s a model and really popular. At school, she’s basically an influencer. Whatever fashion she wears becomes a trend throughout the school. Haven’t you heard about her?"
Yūri hadn’t.
"Aima and Nanaka don’t really seem to match, so I’ve been wondering why they’re together. Even if I am his step-sister, he’s still her brother, so if he’s blackmailing her or something, I’d have to smack him and save Nanaka."
Why does this sister have such a low opinion of Gent-sama? Her perception is beyond faulty—it's like a black hole. Perhaps it's because Gent-sama is too good at hiding his claws... but as his subordinate, it’s frustrating.
Having apparently explained everything, Yua started walking ahead.
Yūri followed behind.
"Why are you following me?"
"I’m just a classmate of both of them, so if there’s any problem, it could be bad."
It was a lie, but she couldn’t let this suspicious stepsister out of her sight. There was no doubt that Yua was using magic. Yūri had to carefully monitor her to make sure she didn’t cause trouble.
Aima and Nanaka entered a manga café in the entertainment district. Yūri and Yua entered as well. She considered sending a familiar to eavesdrop, but luckily, they were able to enter a room next door, so there was no need for that.
＊
–– What are they doing?
Aima thought as he entered the manga café room with Nanaka.
He knew Yūri had followed him. Today, since he had finally allowed himself to start working and giving out orders, she had likely started her service. It wasn’t necessary, but she was a diligent person.
Yūri was within expectations. The problem was Yua.
What does she want? She couldn’t be following Aima, so perhaps she had business with Nanaka?
"Alright, here, no one will overhear us."
Although Aima was aware that there were two women listening in next door, he didn’t mention it. He would deal with them later and focus on Nanaka first.
When he focused, the narrow private room for two made him feel tense. Their thighs were inevitably touching.
During his time in the other world, Aima had never taken a first wife. And it wasn’t that he had many concubines either. He hadn’t engaged in romantic love for five hundred years. He could also say he hadn’t had the time.
–– I was swamped, in many ways.
If Aima ever had free time, he would rather help his subordinates with their concerns or attend their parties. His time was so limited that he had no room to dedicate time to anyone special. Because of that, he had little experience when it came to relationships, especially compared to his long life.
"Yesterday, White Wave was there too, remember? The game."
Nanaka, with her typically close proximity for a gal, leaned in toward him. Due to Aima’s physical age of seventeen, his body reacted involuntarily, making him feel flustered. He scolded himself, thinking Now is not the time for that, and refocused on the conversation.
"Yeah. It felt like I stumbled into it."
"That can happen, huh? The organizers said they’d keep it all secret, but maybe they’re actually kind of weak."
Nanaka laughed casually.
"So, does White Wave not need any money or anything?"
"Yeah."
"I see…"
Her face looked slightly lonely.
For a brief moment, the closeness he felt with Nanaka faded, as though he had been distanced from her.
"I joined this of my own will," she said.
"Was it because you needed money?"
"Yeah. My family’s got a huge debt... those guys from earlier were debt collectors."
Aima started to understand the situation.
"You probably can't believe it when you see me, but my mom and dad, they're really serious and responsible. They worked hard and built a house with their own hands. But I guess because of that, they started gambling earlier this year. I think they got involved with some bad people who introduced them to illegal gambling, and they kept losing, piling up the debt... and then they borrowed money from scary people."
"That's your parents' debt, right? Okishima isn't involved, is she?"
"That doesn't matter to them. They're just trying to take whatever they can from anyone they can."
When Aima looked at her, confused, Nanaka smiled wryly and said, "White Wave, you’re so pure."
"They say someone like me can make money no problem. If I go to the nightlife district."
"Ah..."
Even Aima understood that. At the same time, a burning rage surged from the pit of his stomach.
"That's terrible," Aima muttered.
"Yeah, it's the worst. But the money they borrowed is from my parents," Nanaka replied.
"..."
"I have pride too, you know? I’m not saying working in the nightlife district is a bad thing... but that's something for people who actually want to do it. I don’t want to. I’m doing modeling because I have goals. And then... I got this."
Nanaka took an envelope from her bag.
It was a fancy white envelope, decorated elaborately—an invitation to the death game.
"You probably don’t recognize it. Seriously, I just kind of stumbled into this," she explained.
"I was basically kidnapped," she added.
Taking the envelope, Aima carefully examined the invitation.
There was no trace of magic left on the invitation. It was a letter that had been made normally.
The letter detailed the meeting location and other specifics, along with the prize money amount.
The amount—one billion yen.
"With this much, I could pay off all the debt. They told me I just had to play the game, so I went, desperately clinging to any hope... but it was way worse than I thought. I almost laughed at how ridiculous it was."
Nanaka let out a weak laugh, but Aima remained serious.
A death game targeting people with debt.
"I was thinking of pretending it was all a joke if it was just a death game. Honestly, it seemed like something out of a dream. But once they saw me getting involved with those thugs, I figured I couldn't pretend anymore. Please, don’t tell anyone in the class."
She moved in closer.
It felt like a honey trap. Aima felt a pang of sadness. She had said she didn’t want to sell her body, but now, it felt like she was half giving herself away to him.
"If this gets out, there will be rumors, and I might get kicked out of my friend group. I... I still haven’t given up on having a fun high school life."
"Don’t worry. I’m a loner, so I don’t have friends to talk to," Aima said, somewhat gruffly, pulling away from her.
Nanaka looked confused for a moment, then said, "I’m... sorry."
She said, laughing.
He had only told the truth, but perhaps she thought he was trying to be considerate.
As proof of that,
"Aima, you're really kind."
She whispered those words softly.
"Ah, can I call you Aima? We came to the manga café together, so it feels like we’re friends now."
"Huh? Ah, sure, that's fine..."
"You can call me Nanaka."
"That’s a bit of a high bar..."
"Eh, come on, just call me Nanaka. ‘Okishima’ feels too distant, right?"
"Alright, Nanaka."
"Yeah, that’s the vibe!"
Aima felt a little thrown off by the sudden shift to a more casual, "gal" style of communication. He had never been good at that sort of thing.
"Alright then, since we’re here, let’s read as much manga as we can!"
Nanaka seemed to change gears quickly. She skipped out of the room, and a few minutes later, came back with a massive pile of manga.
"Nanaka, do you like manga?"
"Huh? Didn’t you know? It’s not like I’m hiding it or anything... I’m actually a pretty big otaku."
Aima thought about how his information-gathering skills at school weren’t exactly top-notch.
"You, Aima, are pretty loaded with manga too, huh?"
Aima had also brought a large pile of manga that he hadn’t read yet, as it was a good opportunity to catch up.
"I read quite a bit too."
The differences between the world Aima had lived in and this one were numerous.
One of the biggest differences was the quality of fiction.
There hadn’t been light novels or manga-like reading material in Aima’s former world, so when he started reading them, he became completely hooked.
"Oh! I’ve read this one! It’s really good!"
Nanaka leaned in closer to try and get a glimpse of Aima's hands, brushing against his elbow and letting off a pleasant scent that made him instinctively tense up.
"Actually... I've read some of the ones you brought."
"Oh! Nice! Then, when we’re done, let’s talk about them!"
From there, they fell into a comfortable silence, both engrossed in their manga.
It was a refreshing feeling for Aima since he hadn’t had someone to share his hobbies with before.
For some reason, the tension that had been in him before had melted away. It felt as though Nanaka had become part of the group, in a way.
"Ugh, I read so much!"
As they stepped out in front of the store, Nanaka stretched her body with a big, exaggerated movement. Her substantial chest jiggled, causing Aima to avert his gaze without thinking.
"We didn’t really talk much after all."
"Well, that manga was just way too interesting! I couldn’t stop once I started! So..."
Nanaka pulled out her phone.
"Let’s exchange contact info. We’ll talk more next time."
"Huh? Is that okay?"
"Of course! Seriously, it’s rare to find a gal friend who actually reads manga, so you're a treasure!"
"Well, if you put it like that..."
Aima and Nanaka exchanged LINE accounts. This was the first time he’d done so with anyone other than his parents. He hadn’t even exchanged contact details with his sister, Yua.
"See you tomorrow, then."
"Nanaka."
"Yeah?"
"If we ever end up in the same death game... I’ll make sure you win. Or rather, I’ll make sure no one becomes a victim."
"…"
Nanaka’s face shifted for a moment, as if surprised, before narrowing her eyes.
In her expression, Aima could detect a mixture of resignation, with just a hint of something resembling happiness.
Nanaka didn’t take Aima's words too seriously. She probably thought it was impossible, but she accepted his feelings. That was the impression Aima got.
As proof of this, she gave a small "Thank you" before walking away.
"........"
Aima thought to himself.
—Nanaka called me her friend.
Helping a friend is the obvious thing to do, right?
It was a slightly different motivation compared to the battles he fought in the other world.
Aima now had one more reason to fight in this death game.
