Chapter 372: The Demons of Hell, The Inspector's Grievance
At that moment, Lucifer remained blissfully unaware that she had been played by her own hellhound back home. She was far too busy, wantonly casting her senses across the Pokémon world in search of a worthy challenge.
The act itself was a stunning display of her immense power. As her demonic energy surged outwards without restraint, a wave of primal fear washed over the planet. Weaker Pokémon scattered in terror, while the world's strongest creatures, whether slumbering in ancient lairs or roaming their territories, were jolted awake by the invasive, oppressive presence.
Standing in the middle of a vast grassland, Lucifer spread her arms to the sky, her laughter echoing with unbridled joy. "Hahahaha! This is exhilarating! This feeling of finally unleashing my magic without restraint! Hahahaha! Now, where is Mew?! Why can't I detect it? Are all Mythical Pokémon such secretive little creatures?!"
Freed from the presence of her lover and family, Lucifer had fully reclaimed the bearing of Hell's high queen—the absolute certainty of controlling everything around her. The pure arrogance of Pride, the sin she embodied, radiated from her in evident waves.
Anyone who dared approach her now would be mercilessly crushed by the sheer pressure of her magic, their heart squeezed into pulp before they could even scream. Men, in particular, would stand absolutely no chance of survival.
'Hm? Did I just feel a door open?'she thought, a flicker of confusion crossing her mind.'No, there's no door here... It must have been a hallucination. As if those useless girls back in Hell could ever figure out I'm in another world! Woohoo!'Her attention snapped back to her hunt.'Eh? This presence... Ah! It got away!'
Without a moment's hesitation, Lucifer shot into the sky, moving so fast she didn't even leave a shadow behind. She had set an alarm for herself; for the next few hours, she intended to thoroughly indulge in the freedom she had been denied for so long.
Back in Hell, Pandemonica adjusted her glasses, a thick stack of documents clutched in her hand. She marched with grim determination towards Lucifer's office, her path taking her through the familiar, monotonous corridors. Along the way, she spotted a familiar silhouette. It was Justice, casually strolling towards some unknown destination.
"Yo! Pandemonica," Justice called out with a cheerful wave. "Where are you headed?"
"To submit a report," Pandemonica replied, her tone flat and professional. "Lady Justice, and you?"
"Gonna go chat with Judgment," Justice said, grinning. "I'm off! Hey, if you see Lucy, let me know! See ya!"
With a final wave, she turned and sauntered away. Watching her go, Pandemonica felt a pang of something she couldn't quite name—a mix of bewilderment and raw envy. Justice was the former Grand Inquisitor, and though she was now retired, her status remained lofty. With no official duties, she was free to wander around all day.
Pandemonica, on the other hand, was drowning. Her work was a never-ending deluge. Her reports were never quite perfect, and occasionally, a submission would be deemed substandard. She was the sole receptionist for the entirety of Hell, a world of beyond understanding vastness. How was one person supposed to handle it all? Pandemonica couldn't even remember the last time she had laid down in her own bed and enjoyed a full, soundless sleep.
Reaching the grand doors of the queen's office, she announced her presence. "Boss! I'm here to submit the documents!"
Silence.
She tried again, louder this time. "Lucifer!"
Still no response. No guard came to open the door, and no command came from within. With a surge of boldness born from exhaustion, Pandemonica called out her name directly. When only silence answered, a single eyebrow arched behind her glasses.
A sly thought began to form in her tired mind. Clutching the documents, she muttered to herself, 'If my official purpose is to find the Boss in the human world to submit a report... then I should be allowed to take a little walk while I'm there... Boss... you can't blame me for this.'
With that, a rare spark of enthusiasm ignited within her. She turned and ran back the way she came, her sudden burst of energy startling a demon who was idly strolling down the corridor, a cigarette dangling from her lips. The demon exhaled a plume of smoke, placing her hands on her hips as she watched Pandemonica's retreating form.
"Hmm? Monica?" she mused, a suspicious look on her face. "What's got her so lively all of a sudden? Rushing off to see a lover? Ha! Never thought I'd see the day. Must be some kind of artsy, tough-guy type, I bet. Ugh... how disgusting."
Meanwhile, in the quiet morning light of the human world, Cerberus spotted Courage descending the stairs, stifling a yawn.
The three heads smiled in unison and waved their hands. "Courage! Courage! Courage! Good morning!"
Courage managed a sleepy smile. "Mm... Good morning, Cerberus." She rubbed her eyes, her gaze sweeping the room. "Eh? Where's Lucifer?"
The question made all three of Cerberus's heads pause, a look of shared confusion on their faces. It was a bit too complex for their straightforward, canine minds.
Before they could stumble through an answer, Ren spoke up from where he was reviewing his notes, his voice calm and even. "Lucifer went for a walk. She's been a bit down since Yuko went home, so she decided to go out and clear her head."
Courage nodded in understanding. "Oh, so that's it. I didn't realize Lucifer was so sentimental." She sighed softly. "But with Yuko gone, it really is strange not seeing her lazing around every day. It's hard to get used to."
"She'll be back soon," Ren assured her. "By the way, Courage, what has you up so early? Aren't you usually still getting your beauty sleep at this hour?"
A weary sigh escaped Courage's lips. "That's why I just put on a face mask. But the cosmetics and toner Sonoko recommended are really effective, aren't they, Ren? Do you think the results are good?"
Ren tilted his head, his eyes appraising her for a moment. To him, she looked as radiant as she always did. He offered a small smile and beckoned her closer. Puzzled, Courage walked over to him.
The next moment, the milky white skin of her face and neck flushed a brilliant, deep red.
Ren had reached out and gently pinched her cheek. For Courage, whose hints and affections were already as subtle as a brick, this simple gesture was a lightning strike. She knew, with absolute certainty, that this was something Ren only did with Kirari and the others he was in a confirmed relationship with. The implications sent a jolt of pure, dizzying excitement and overwhelming embarrassment through her, nearly making her faint on the spot.
She froze, her voice barely a whisper. "Ren... Ren! How could you..."
He smiled, his thumb gently stroking her skin before he pulled his hand away. "Hmm. It seems the effect is indeed very good, Courage. Your skin is very well-maintained. It feels just like high-quality silk."
A wave of joy washed over Courage, chasing away some of her shyness. "Really?! That's wonderful!"
"Of course," Ren said with a light chuckle. "You know there's no benefit for me in tricking you about something like this, right?"
Courage blushed again, a happy, bashful smile gracing her lips. "To be praised by you, Ren... is truly a wonderful feeling."
"It's just an honest observation," he replied gently, before shifting the topic. "Speaking of which, when are you going to pick up Lady Nakiri Mana?"
"Hmm... I'll leave after eight," she answered, her professional demeanor returning. "But I'll need you to prepare some desserts, Ren. Lady Mana is having trouble eating again. She's been subsisting on pure fruit desserts, and only those with the most minimal processing."
Ren nodded, his expression turning serious. "No problem. It's about time for her visit. But she has recovered a good deal of her health, hasn't she?"
"Yes! We even had a video call while you were competing, Ren, and Lady Mana looked much better!" Courage reported happily.
"That's good to hear," Ren said. "Which reminds me, you all have a busy day ahead of you, don't you?"
Hearing this, Courage let out a dramatic, heartfelt sigh. "That's why it's so upsetting! I worked overtime last night, had to get up at the crack of dawn, and I still have a mountain of work to get through today. I seriously want to retire..."
"Lady Nakiri Mana probably wouldn't agree to that," Ren teased. "But if you're that busy, then we won't wait for you to go out later. See you when you get back."
"Oh..." Courage's shoulders slumped, her voice a small, wistful pout. "I want to go play, too..."
[Akarin's Note:
Enjoying the story? Dropping a quick review, comment, or Power Stone means the world to me and keeps these daily updates flowing!
Want to read 50 chapters ahead or just want to help keep a shameless translator alive? (My livelihood actually depends on this, haha 😭). You can support me directly here:
(P.S. Just remove the brackets and replace the [.] with a regular dot . to use the links!)
✨ Patreon (50 Advanced Chapters): patreon[.]com/AkarinTL
☕ Ko-fi (Support / Sponsor): ko-fi[.]com/AkarinTL
🔗 All My Links: linktr[.]ee/AkarinTL
Thank you so much for reading and keeping this project alive!]