~Hachiman POV~
It was another day after I was brought here. It seemed like my body had recovered a bit.
To be honest, it healed freakily fast, but if I were to run, it would probably still be difficult.
Lately, that dream still haunts me. It will probably be like this for a while. At first, I intended to have Grayfia cast some kind of magic to prevent dreams like that.
...Of course, that's assuming that type of magic even exists. But thinking about it carefully, maybe a dream like that serves as a reminder to prevent me from forgetting the loss of all those children, so that I can repay the price of what that bastard did to them.
"Are you thinking about something?"
After finishing the meal or whatever, I was now walking behind Grayfia to meet the great Maou.
Normally, when talking about a Maou, it would be an evil existence, which is my duty—wait, no, the Hero's duty to subjugate the Maou, according to the textbook formula of an isekai light novel or manga that you can find scattered all over general bookstore shelves.
A Maou usually sits on a formidable throne in a dark, gloomy castle, chuckling while planning world domination or something like that. But then again... in a world where my normal logic doesn't work like this, wishing for it to go according to the plotlines I've read would look a bit delusional.
I let out a soft sigh while my eyes remained fixed on Grayfia's back, which was so upright and perfect it was startling.
Her stride was silent and elegant, each footstep flawless, unlike me, who was struggling just to keep this broken body walking straight, which was already taking everything I had.
"No... I was just thinking whether the 'Maou' of this world would wear sharp, spiky armor, or if he would appear in a form that makes an ordinary person like me want to turn right back around and go to sleep in bed instead."
"...Ahem... It is not like that."
If you looked at the side of her face, you could see that she was suppressing a laugh.
I replied with a flat, indifferent tone in my original style that had stuck with me since my days in the Service Club. No matter how much the situation changed, this sarcastic habit of mine seemed stronger than some cheat skills in an alternate world.
To be honest, having to face the 'pinnacle' of the Devil race while my physical condition still felt like scrap metal that had just passed through a shredder wasn't pleasant in the slightest.
For a peace-loving person like Hikigaya Hachiman, involving oneself with the nobility or the powerful is a deep-red level risk.
But well... there probably wasn't anything left to lose. If I were to lose something, I would have lost it a long time ago. For now, I could only trust Grayfia.
"And how did you know I was pondering just now? Was it because of magic?"
Is there detection magic like that too?
"No. It is just that your facial expression was too clear. It looked as though you were daydreaming."
"...Huh?..."
How could she answer like that while she was walking ahead of me without turning around even a bit? I don't believe it; it must definitely be because of magic.
"We have arrived. This is the office of Lord Maou."
The two of us stopped at a large double door.
'It's huge!—No... it's bound to be huge from my perspective with a child's body like this.'
Thud… Creak…
After opening the room door, I saw a crimson-haired man with shoulder-length hair sitting on a chair in front of a desk with a solemn expression.
And I could see a current of power surrounding this man's body from my left eye. I must say, it was incredibly raw, wild, and dense.
The pressure radiating out wasn't just a matter of the atmosphere, but it felt like a heavy rock was placed on top of my lungs, making it difficult to breathe. My left eye—that problematic eye of mine that perceives this crazy 'power'—was protesting by throbbing until I inadvertently narrowed my eyes to suppress the pain.
'So this is... the pinnacle of Devils.'
I swallowed hard, trying to keep an emotionless face steady. In my mind, I began calculating an escape route according to the survival instinct of Hikigaya Hachiman, who values his life above all else.
…But before I could begin to imagine an escape plan, Grayfia took a step forward and bowed elegantly.
"Sirzechs-sama, I have brought the child."
The red-haired man who, a moment ago, looked like he had stepped right out of a painting of a cold Maou suddenly looked up. That solemn gaze changed in the blink of an eye when he looked at me. He broke into a wide smile—a smile that looked a bit too 'radiant' for someone who is a Maou, to the point where I couldn't help but feel suspicious in my heart.
"Ah... You've arrived. Nice to meet you, Hikigaya Hachiman-kun."
He rose from his desk, walking straight toward me with a casual demeanor, entirely contrary to the aura he radiated just a moment ago.
I quickly bowed my head slightly as a formality according to the remaining social manners I had left.
"..how do you do?, Maou-sama."
"Just call me Sirzechs. Make yourself at home, you don't have to be that tense."
How could I not be tense! Doesn't he know his own status rank? Is he teasing me right now?
In my Hikigaya Hachiman dictionary, the phrase 'make yourself at home' isn't registered for a situation where a literal Demon King is standing and grinning broadly right in front of my face.
Besides, that aura of kindness radiating out was even scarier than the murderous aura of villains in manga. People with such exalted positions who act friendly are the real danger, because you will never know what they are thinking underneath that charming smile.
"Understood. Uh... Sirzechs-san."
I forced myself to call his name while shifting my body half a step backward, following the instinct of a herbivore trying to stay away from a predator disguised as a saint.
His gaze didn't look down on me with disdain like the typical nobility I had imagined, but instead, it was a gaze filled with curiosity…
Like a child who just found the strangest new toy in the box, and that's what gave me goosebumps.
Grayfia, who stood behind me, still maintained her perfectly still composure like a North Pole ice statue as usual.
Don't you think about helping to defuse this awkward atmosphere even a little bit?
Or is this the first test of audience with a Demon King? Enduring a smile so bright it blinds your eyes?
"It seems your body has healed better than expected.
It has only been 3 days. Even with magic, it shouldn't have healed this fast."
He spoke like that while tilting his head slightly, as if he were searching for some kind of possibility.
"Uh… there must be some of that, I suppose. Matters of miracles."
I replied while avoiding eye contact.
"Hahaha! Yes! Yes! Perhaps it might really be as you said. It seems you are just as Grayfia described."
"Hm?"
I turned my face toward Grayfia, but saw her eyes closed, acting as if she knew nothing about it.
'Did she say something strange about me?'
Then I turned back to Sirzechs and asked,
"Did she say something about me?"
"Oh, about that, she said—"
"...Ahem!.."
Grayfia cleared her throat to halt this conversation.
"Uh… well, let's move on to another matter instead."
It seemed she didn't like having people gossip about her, especially when it was going to happen right in front of her.
'Can't be helped. I'll just have to ask her directly myself later then.'
"Hachiman-kun, can you please tell me about what happened at that place? Actually, by the time I arrived there, all evidence had already disappeared without a trace."
He asked with a serious face.
"..Sigh.. The story might be a bit long."
"Don't worry. I like listening to mysterious stories of that sort anyway."
Hm? Likes listening to horror stories? Is he a psycho? No, wait, he's a Devil, so it wouldn't be strange if he were…. Whatever.
"The story goes that——
.
.
.
.
.
.
(After finishing the tale)
The silence after I finished speaking was strangely heavy. Not a scary silence, but a type of silence where the air in the room felt instantly heavier.
Sirzechs sat listening without interrupting even once the entire time I narrated.
The face that had been grinning broadly just a moment ago had completely vanished, replaced by an unreadable expression. Something in his blue-green eyes looked like a faint fire was lit, but it wasn't a fire born of amusement.
"...Thank you for telling me, Hachiman-kun."
His voice lowered noticeably. I just nodded slightly, not knowing what else to say. It wasn't a matter where one could sit and say "No problem, it was a fun story" anyway.
"The name 'Fergus'…"
He muttered that name softly while leaning back against the backrest of his chair, fingers lightly tapping his chin as if thinking deeply about something.
"Interesting."
'Interesting?'
I thought to myself. The person who caused the deaths of dozens of children is the one who is 'interesting'? But looking at the context, I guessed he didn't mean it that way... I hope so.
"Grayfia."
"Yes."
"Please record this name in the watchlist as well. Priority One level."
"Understood."
The response between the two of us was concise and swift, but it sent a certain chill down my spine. Not because of fear, but because I knew what it meant.
Sirzechs looked at me once more, this time with a gaze that was harder to evaluate than before.
"You said your parents gave their consent from the very beginning."
"...Yes,"
I replied with a flat voice.
"And how do you feel about that?"
I paused to think for a moment.
Not because there was no answer, but because I wasn't sure if I should speak straightforwardly. In the end, I decided that in a situation like this, lying wasn't very useful.
"Nothing in particular."
Sirzechs raised his eyebrow slightly.
"It's just…"
I looked out the window, looking at the sky of the Underworld. 'It looks better than it should.'
"If I were to be angry, I probably wouldn't know how to be angry. Because I never felt that the two of them actually possessed 'parenthood.' The feeling is like… something that can never be lost, because it was never there to be lost from the start."
I turned back and found that both Sirzechs and Grayfia were staring at me with different expressions. He smiled, but it was sadder than before. As for her… she averted her eyes before I could read them.
"You are a very remarkable child, Hachiman-kun."
"Thank you."
I replied automatically.
"But I'm not quite sure if that's a compliment."
"It is a compliment."
He laughed softly before saying,
"And regarding the offer I gave to Grayfia—"
"I accept that offer."
I answered before he could finish speaking.
Sirzechs nodded with a satisfied smile before walking back to sit at his desk comfortably, as if everything had proceeded exactly as expected from the very beginning.
"In that case, from now on, I will have Grayfia train you then."
"Hm? Grayfia-san?"
To be honest, earlier when I said 'I will ask Grayfia to teach me,' that was because the atmosphere carried me away. Besides, sometimes I don't know how to act around her either… it's a bit awkward.
"Is there any problem with me teaching you?"
Her tone of voice, even though calm, carried an underlying displeasure.
'Shit! Scary!'
"No, no! It's not like that. It's just... just—"
"Just what?"
This time there was a slight coldness.
'Hey, why do you have to get upset.. what to do.. what to do.. Oh!'
"Think about it, you hold the position of Head Maid, right? Therefore, the duties and responsibilities you are handling, aren't they already more than enough?"
"You do not need to worry about that matter. I have already sorted it out.
Furthermore, wasn't it you who wanted to ask me to help teach you earlier?"
"..Ugh.."
Why did you have to bring up that matter right now?
"Hahaha! Give up, Hachiman-kun. Once Grayfia has made up her mind, it is difficult to make her give up."
He felt amused by the sight in front of him.
"And although it is a bit late, 'Welcome to the Underworld,' Hikigaya Hachiman."
After finishing speaking, I walked straight toward the exit door along with Grayfia.
But before stepping out of the door—
"Hachiman-kun."
I turned back toward Sirzechs' voice.
"Good luck."
He spoke like that while smiling.
Hm? Why did it feel like his voice emphasized the word 'luck' abnormally? I'm not going to hell or anything, right? No, wait, this Devil world is hell itself, isn't it?
(Break)
The sound of our footsteps echoed softly along the marble corridor once again, but this time the atmosphere was indescribably different from when we came. It wasn't quiet because it was formal, but quiet because each side had something in their own head.
"You are walking slower."
Grayfia's voice sounded without her turning around.
"...My body is still not very well."
I answered shortly, which was half true. The other half was that my brain was processing too much.
She slowed her pace slightly, not by much, but just enough for me to keep up.
I wasn't sure if that was intentional or not, but I didn't ask.
…
.
.
.
Returning to the guest room, Grayfia opened the door for me and stepped inside first, inspecting the room briefly in the style I was beginning to get used to, before turning to speak in the same flat tone of voice.
"Please rest for today."
"Understood."
I replied while sitting down at the edge of the bed. The weakness accumulated throughout the morning began to multiply once my body received the signal that 'we have reached the lodging.'
Even though I wanted to train right away, it seemed my body wouldn't quite cooperate. Besides, pushing the body too hard might cause development to slow down.
"Uh… may I ask what the training program looks like?"
"Yes. Since your body is currently not yet stable,
magic training or anything that requires physical strength would be inappropriate. Therefore, tomorrow we will begin by studying history first."
"..Sigh.. At least it's not mathematics."
I muttered softly.
"What did you say just now?"
"No! It's nothing. Just talking to myself…. And from now on, I'll be in your care, Grayfia-san."
"Likewise."
She replied while smiling slightly.
"If so, I shall take my leave now."
She walked straight to the door and left the room.
Thud
After Grayfia left, I sat pondering my life goals from now on.
Originally, I just wanted to live life relying on a rich girl, staying at home without working as a house husband, according to my lazy nature.
From now on, it would probably be difficult to do that. Plus, I still don't know the origin of the substance injected into my body either…
Does God hate me or something?'
What will my life be like from now on?
Come to think of it, I feel like this world I was reborn into… is strangely familiar somehow…
(Break)
The next morning,
Right now, I was sitting on a chair in front of a study desk, listening to Grayfia narrating the history and origins of the various factions, mostly focusing on the Underworld side.
Grayfia's voice resonated clearly through the silent library. She didn't use a single book, but instead had a faint silver magic circle projecting a simulated image in mid-air, like a high-performance projector that made me see the overview of the past war clearly enough to be chilling.
"In this world, the main factions are divided into three large sides."
Grayfia used a slender staff to point toward clusters of energy glowing in different colors.
"Consisting of Angels from Heaven, Fallen Angels who were banished, and lastly, our race, the Devils."
She swept her hand through the air. A simulation of a chaotic war filled with loss appeared.
"In the distant past, all three sides fought a prolonged war called The Great War. It was an era of bloodshed where the Devil race lost many purebloods, including the four original Maous as well."
"Four?"
I frowned.
"Then what about Lord Sirzechs-san?"
"Sirzechs-sama is one of the four current Maous."
"After the war ended and a shift in power occurred,
Sirzechs Lucifer-sama, Ajuka Beelzebub-sama, Falbium Asmodeus-sama, and Serafall Leviathan-sama ascended to the positions to restore the Underworld from ruin."
She lowered her hand. The simulated image dissolved into a spray of light before changing into the hierarchical structure of Devil society.
"What you must remember by heart is the caste system. Currently, the Devil race is driven by a system called Evil Pieces, which was created by Ajuka-sama to replace the depleted number of Devils. This system will turn humans or other races into Devils. They will be called Reincarnated Devils.........…."
Grayfia continued to narrate at great length.
Hm?
This is no different from a slave system. It's a slave system with a new coat of makeup. It's something I rather detest.
But looking at it from another angle, it might be a new opportunity for a life too.
This matter would probably have to be seen later, whether the King they serve treats them well or not. Even so, I still have doubts.
I raised my hand to ask.
"I have a question."
"Please go ahead."
"Don't the Devil race reproduce like humans? Is that why they use this method?"
"That is a good question. In that regard, there are 2 main reasons. 1. Because the birth rate of Devils is extremely low. Becoming pregnant and giving birth to a child of pure blood is very difficult and takes a long time. Sometimes it might take over 100 years."
"The 2nd reason is because the impact of the Great War reduced the number of Devils, which might allow other factions to take the opportunity to attack and wipe out the Devil world easily."
She explained smoothly without a single hitch.
After that, Grayfia felt like testing my intellect, so she asked,
"Now then, Hikigaya-kun, from everything I have told you, do you think there is a most critical weakness in the current structure of Devil society?"
I stared at the magic circle floating in front of me while narrowing my dead-fish eyes slightly.
Grayfia's question seemed to gauge whether I was 'awake' enough to listen to serious matters yet.
"A weakness, you say..."
I muttered while scratching my messy head.
"If I had to guess from my perspective based on the bad habits of humans I've encountered, a caste system created to replace the population size is just creating a new form of 'inequality,' plain and simple, isn't it? Even if you change from an ordinary person to a Devil, if there's still a division of pieces into Pawn or Queen... in the end, it's just changing the playground into a battlefield with the height levels of social classes acting as a blocking wall anyway."
"...."
Grayfia raised her eyebrows slightly. Her cold gaze flickered as if accepting my pessimistic (but realistic) perspective.
"An interesting answer... The inequality of bloodlines and piece ranks has indeed been a problem eating away at the structure of Devil society all along."
She pondered for a moment.
"…You are a very intelligent person, even though your words sound harsh, they are realistic."
"Because it's the truth!"
I emphasized with pride in myself while holding my chin up slightly.
Grayfia felt slightly amused by my innocent demeanor.
"Now then, let us continue to the next matter."
"Wait a minute! How many hours are we going to study like this?"
I had a bad premonition.
"At the very least, 6 or 7 hours."
Huh! 6-7 hours is the minimum?
"....Can you reduce it a bit? My body has only just recovered."
This should be the best excuse for now.
"No."
It seemed she read through his intention. Her voice was absolute.
"Why?"
"Because this is a study that does not emphasize physical energy."
What about mental energy then? Did you intentionally leave that part out?
"But—"
"No buts."
"..Sigh... Understood, Sensei."
"Hm?"
Grayfia was slightly surprised by the new form of address.
"Is there something wrong?"
"Nothing. You may call me whatever you wish, as long as it is not in public."
"Oh?... Yes ma'am."
Hm? She's acting unusual today.
7 hours later....
Thud…! My head slumped onto the desk exhaustedly, as if my brain had been used past its limit.
Ah.. now I understand why Sirzechs said 'good luck.'
"Now then, that will be all for today."
"...In that case, I'll just sleep right here then."
"...Now then, Hikigaya-kun, please get up."
"...Another ten minutes please."
"No."
"...Then how about five minutes?"
"No as well."
I let out a loud sigh without removing my head. My left cheek was pressed tightly against the cool surface of the desk, which felt indescribably comfortable.
My brain right now was like a sponge packed with water to the brim that couldn't be squeezed anymore.
The history of the Three Factions War, the Evil Pieces system, the structure of Devil society, the hierarchy, the 72 Pillars, the treaty agreements, the Rating Game system—
Stop, stop first. My brain is about to restart itself.
"Hikigaya-kun."
"...Yes."
"If you sleep on the desk, your neck will hurt when you wake up."
I slowly lifted my head with immense effort, and found Grayfia standing beside the desk, holding a glass of warm water that I didn't know where she had grabbed from.
"...Thank you."
I took it and drank slowly. The warmth flowing down my throat made my shutting-down brain startle awake slightly.
Grayfia was still for a moment before saying,
"You absorbed more information today than I anticipated."
"...Does that mean tomorrow the content will increase further?"
"..."
The silence that followed gave an answer clearer than any words.
"Sigh..."
I placed the glass down and leaned back against the chair, looking up at the library ceiling that was way too high.
"Sensei."
"Yes."
"You are very kind to me."
I spoke with a slightly sarcastic tone.
"Of course."
I looked at her face for a moment.
"...To the point that it feels very scary."
The corner of Grayfia's mouth shifted up slightly for just a fraction of a second before returning to her normal expression.
"You may go rest. Tomorrow we begin at eight o'clock in the morning."
"...Eight o'clock."
"Yes."
I stood up with legs that were slightly numb, then walked out of the library without turning back.
Won't I just die tomorrow at this rate?