Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Right now, Iruma was very confused, because ‘what implies being rank 5.5? Is something going to happen to Ali? If so, what?’ and other worries about the scala, but right now there was also another more dominating thought, and that was…

‘…WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW?’, that single thought was going through the blue haired human, because two seconds ago, he was in his room, and now he was in some kind of theater room where more people seemed to be appearing out of thin air.

“Iruma-sama!!” was the first thing he heard as soon as Azz appeared which was followed by “How glad I am to see you here” while crying of emotion. They would’ve talked more about the situation but suddenly they were both knocked over by something they immediately recognized as Clara.

“Yaaay, I found Iruma-chi and Azz-Azz, I win. What do we play now? Do you think we can play with that big screen?” Said the girl once she got a strike on her friends.

“As fun as that sounds Clarin, I think you have to calm down for now” said a new voice in the zone, which upon turning around they could see it was Lied who was reunited with the rest of the misfit class and teachers Robin, Shiida, and Balam who were trying and failing to calm down the confused and scared students, and Kalego, who was attempting to silence the turbulent students.

“Guys! You’re here too! What a relief…” Exclaimed Iruma to which Jazz intruded to say “well… I wouldn’t call it a relief, we still don’t know where we are or how to go back home”. “A-and somehow more people k-keep a-ap-appearing, suddenl-” Said Kerori who was interrupted by a sudden light as if to prove the point.

“E-eh?” spoke a female voice with a silhouette of long red hair and ear-like horns.

The student council president, Ameri Azazel, was completely clueless as to what was happening, but instead of trying to figure things out herself, the moment she saw that figure, with blue in eyes and hair and that rebel hair, Ameri blurted out immediately.

“Iruma!? How are you here!? Where are we!?” “Huh? Well, uhh…” needless to say Iruma had no Idea at all of how to answer to any of those questions, not like it seemed necessary anyway because other figure who was with Ameri spoke “of course you’d be involved in this stupid student of mine.” Bachiko Barbatos, the master of Iruma, said with a tone that felt like a mix of disappointment and anger “What kind of mess did you get yourself into this time, huh?” continued the member of the 13 crowns.

“Now, now, there’s no need to get mad like that” spoke a voice that wasn’t here just a moment before.

“The chairman is right, there are more important matters at hand” Spoke a cat looking demon with a not very expressive face.

“Yes, like the two beautiful ladies that have joined us!” said a bird demon who had nothing to do with the previous two.

“I don’t think that’s the point Opera-san is trying to make……WAIT! OPERA!? GRAMPA!?” said Iruma as if dumbfounded by the fact that he hadn’t noticed them there because unlike the others he didn’t seem to appear, from one moment to other they were just… there.

“Well, looks like everyone is here” suddenly said a voice no one could place or recognize “The exhibition will start soon” it declared.

“Exhibition? What exhibition? And who may you be?” asked Goemon more in curiosity than actual worry, because who knows? Maybe this weird entity was friendly.

“Hey, don’t be so careless!” reprimanded Kalego after seeing the lackadaisical attitude of his student, but instead of the monotone tone that they were expecting, the voice spoke with an almost abnormal friendliness with a fully playful demeanor. “Oh, yeah, those details, well it doesn’t really matter since I’m not gonna speak to any of you after starting so you don’t need to call me anything”

“So can I just sleep through this?” asked Agares who was starting to get tired of this nonsense and just wanted to sleep, besides, it was clear that whatever that was had no actual interest in them.

“Oh, c’mon don’t be like that~ besides I just want to show you things that happened since the day before last year classes started”

“Hm, why such a specific time huh?” inquired a rather curious Sabro, because there must be a reason for such a creature to want something of that exact time, but what?

Meanwhile Iruma was starting to get pretty nervous. (He knew what had happened that day)

“Well, I just know some of your secrets I decided to show you as it were a TV show, thoughts included, oh but we’ll skip the intro and ending songs, but in exchange a little extra called “sukima””

‘Why?!’ Thought Iruma already knowing that his secret was absolutely going to be revealed, but being more nervous than scared.

“Y-you m-m-must know that is an invasion of privacy, we have no reason to comply!” said Ameri, who could barely refrain from blushing thinking about if her crush on Iruma would be revealed to him (sheisnotreadysheisnotreadysheis-) “Is that right chair-demon?”

“I’m afraid we have no better option” declared Sullivan but internally he was just glad for any excuse too see again the coolest moments of his grandson, besides he knew his grandchild’s friends, they wouldn’t try to do anything to him (and if someone tried, he could do some “things” to deal with it)

“Really!? Well, no problem for me, I missed the first days so I would love to see what happened!” proclaimed an overly excited Robin to which the only response he got was kalego frying his face to what no one batted an eye.

Shiida was panicking. It was safe to say that she was nervous the last time she was suspected for an attack against the students, but she had managed to clear her suspicions, but if this “exposition” thing revealed that she was a member of the six fingers, she and the plan would be done for, but it seemed that there was no way of escaping that room.

“One cannot collect too much knowledge, I say we start an get this over with no judgements for what those “secrets” may be” suggested Allocer trying to get to an optimal solution.

Balam didn’t like this, neither did Bachiko, if it was revealed that Iruma was human, who knows what the other demons would do?

Still, as Iruma’s master Bachiko would fight anyone who actually tried to eat her one and only student if they dared.

Balam couldn’t do the same, but as a teacher he had to try to protect Iruma (but how was he supposed to?)

Seeing as Sullivan wasn’t going to do anything to avoid it, Opera decided to take at least some measurement. “I suggest an agreement to not hold or use the secrets revealed against anyone with repercussions on anyone who tries to use them” Opera insisted as to make at least some resistance to impulsive actions.

“Tsk, you’re the one who would usually use them, so if you’re serious, then fine” said an already tired Kalego, how long was this going to be again?

Azz and Clara were very uncomfortable with the situation, they had talked with Iruma about each having their secrets and they knew Iruma wouldn’t change a thing of their relationship at all, after all, they’re Iruma’s soulmates, and they wouldn’t treat Iruma any different either. (Doesn’t change the fact that they were very uncomfortable with something so personal being shown like that to everyone)

“W-well, i-if th-th-there’s no way around then I guess…” said a rather stuttering kerori who was absolutely convinced this was going to show her as kuromu, at the very least she could feel satisfied by the fact that probably Irumi, Alice and Clarin were also gonna be exposed.

“Well, if there aren’t any objections, then…” said Lied as he embraced himself to be shown crossdressing those two times with Iruma.

“Then roll it!” finished Jazz, knowing very well that he was going to be teasing everyone for their secrets, but nothing more. He wasn’t an insensitive jerk like his brother.

“Ah, wait!” tried to interrupt Shiida, but it didn’t matter

“Great! Then, here we go!”

And so, the exhibition begins…

Chapter Text

[Rather than the purple sky of the netherworld, the screen first showed a dark grey sky, with a boat in the middle of a turbulent sea]

‘So, we begin from here uh?’ thought Iruma. It would be bad enough if it began with Sullivan asking him to become his grandchild, but it seemed they were getting a full explanation.

“Eh? Does anyone recognize this place? Doesn’t look familiar to me” asked a genuinely curious Robin, who was just excited about getting to understand his students better.

“I do not know of it” answered an eager Allocer because, this was more than a secret, this was a whole place he hadn’t ever heard about.

Ameri recognized such place, not because she had been there, but rather because it was the same way it was portrayed in First love memories, the human world. (She immediately decided to stay quiet about that)

“Nope, no idea” answered instead a more relaxed Lied upon seeing he wasn’t on the focus of attention.

“If no one does, then why is it showing it to us?” Sabro was dealing with enough nonsense as it was, he didn’t need a “This never happened” thing now to leave him more confused.

[As if to answer Sabro’s question, the screen showed Iruma and someone else working with some kind of fish “Iruma, I leave this to you! Don’t let a single one drop” said who appeared to be a coworker “No!” “If you let one fall, I’m paying you half salary” was the only thing the coworker said before running off.]

“Huh?” was the sound that left the mouth of almost every demon at once, those who knew he was human were surprised at seeing a 14 year old boy working in such unsafe situation, was it something normal for humans?

But those who didn’t couldn’t even form a question in their heads, let alone voice it (Why was Iruma in a place no one even knew it existed? Maybe that was a good start)

“That’s mean how can you trat him like that you meanie” Sullivan said hotly, as he seemed not a bit surprised.

[“Iruma Suzuki, 14 years.” spoke an unknown voice which everyone was quick to see as a narrator “He is being forced to work on a tuna fishing boat. Speaking bluntly, his parents were scum and forced him to sustain them”]

“Suzuki? But you appear as Sullivan at the school’s registers.” Commented a doubtful Robin, who didn’t understand much. This casual remark raised everyone’s confusion.

“Could it be that his parents go for another last name?” Azz gave an explanation that not even himself was convinced, but he was too confused.

Azz had believed this whole that the reason Iruma was not so knowledgeable was due to the fact that his grandfather sheltered from the outside world, yet here he was, seeing Iruma working in a completely unknown place. Did he make too many assumptions?

Meanwhile, Lied was thinking something else. ‘Was this a secret of Iruma?’ Why wouldn’t he tell them about it? They had reassured him (after clearing Azz misunderstood) that they were friends.

“Oh, how did you end up there, Iruma-kun?” asked Elizabetta who looked at a nervous Iruma.

“Actually, I think I can see how that happened” jumped in Jazz wanting to poke a bit at Iruma. “Eh, Iruma come with me to a completely unknown and mysterious place to do hard work with fish!” “Ooh, of course!” joined an amused Clara at the chance to play mimicking Iruma-chi.

Iruma himself couldn’t even be embarrassed because that was pretty much how it happened

(No one wanted to address the fact that his parents were such a piece of trash)

[“I can’t lose half my salary” said a worried Iruma before fish started falling from everywhere in the storage and he had to maneuver to dodge them, in one moment he stumbled and rolled to avoid one, but another one was about to fall on him when all of the sudden everything stopped]

If his parents were usually like that, Robin questioned to himself while failing to be subtle at looking at the chair-demon, was Iruma nearly getting actually hurt the last straw for his grandfather to act? He wondered that upon recognizing that magic.

Come to think of it, Goemon realized, they didn’t even know who Iruma’s parents were. At the battlers exhibition, had only been his gramps and Opera, that is a pretty big contrast.

Not for the first time Bachiko thought about how such parents were trash.

[Iruma seemed rather taken aback for that when reality itself began morphing and he found himself tied and in front of a slim figure with two horns on his head, who slapped a sign on him that read ‘sold’. “Sold?! What is…?!” Asked a now very scared Iruma to which the demon in front of him just laughed before the two of them disappeared.]

That same question the blue-haired boy once asked was surging through a lot of heads right now.

Jazz thought that such a situation somehow looked familiar, though he couldn’t quite point out why.

Allocer could, but decided not to speak.

‘What did that stupid demon decided to do this time?’ This exhibition had only started and Kalego already felt too tired to continue.

Seeing this, Ameri came to understand quickly that this is how Iruma arrived at the netherworld ‘did he feel like a hostage or an item in a shop?’ She didn’t like this line of thought, mostly because she couldn’t outright deny it.

The whole misfit class seemed to freeze at once, because what they were seeing right now was probably the most absurd thing they will ever see.

[Sullivan was now carrying his new bargain through magic to what Iruma could only look in shock as they travelled across the netherworld when he was able to pull himself together to ask “Where am I? Who are you?”  to which all Sullivan did was reciting a spell that Iruma did not understand because he could only answer with a confused “What?” before the powerful demon snapped his fingers]

Iruma… did not know Sullivan? Even Shiida could tell that was strange, and she could see that in everyone’s face.

Even Kalego was shocked, even Balam was surprised, even Agares was jolted awake by this.

“Uh? Why Iruma-chi does not know his old folk?” Clara was the only one capable of voicing the question out loud.

“I don’t know Clara” answered Asmodeus too confused to even mock her for her attitude towards one of the most powerful demons that existed.

[Not giving them any time to process the information, the Sullivan onscreen told Iruma “Now you will understand the demon language. Iruma Suzuki, you are in the netherworld.” the confused human could only ask at the absurd statement “The netherworld?” which the former then referred as “The world of demons.” Iruma was alarmed by this as he asked in shock, “D-demon...? I understand you now.” he managed to understand through the chaos. Sullivan proceeded to explain “Because I put a spell on you.”]

Sabro noticed something. ‘More than not being familiar with his own grandparents, he seemed not to know what demons were.’ How was that possible?

‘No, surely not even him would do something THAT stupid.’ Kalego thought, already imagining what kind of stupid thing the irresponsible chair-demon had done.

‘So that is how he did it.’ Balam realized, it was bad enough to bring a human to the netherworld, but it was worse to drag him out of the blue like he did.

Bachiko admired Sullivan greatly, really, but it was hard to defend something like that.

Lied was confused. Did this mean that Iruma was not a Demon? If so, what exactly is he?

The person in question was doubting how to explain the situation to everyone now that it was probably necessary. ‘Sorry guys, I didn’t told you because I was afraid of you because I thought you might try to eat me if I had told you I’m human’ did NOT sound like a good way.

[“As a demon, I can use magic.” Explained Sullivan to a boy who had no notion of magic at all. It seemed that only NOW Iruma was starting to understand the creature in front of him “A demon?!” He asked, scared. “That’s right, a demon. My name is Sullivan. Iruma, your parents sold your soul to me.” Finished explaining the situation the demon before laughing]

Non-demons capable of making deals with demons. No, it couldn’t be, humans were myths, Alice tried to convince himself, legends, they did NOT exist, and even IF they did, no matter how irresponsible, they probably would not be idiotic enough to give the soul of their son to a creature that was considered their predator.

Contrary to the shock everyone was having, Clara only felt distressed at the thought of a parent selling their kid like that, no matter to who, family love was one of, if not the more Important thing for a child. If her mama were to sell her, she would DEFINETILY cry for weeks.

Probably because Opera had never thought about it, Opera had never realized how, had it been any other demon, Iruma would have been very probably dead for some time by now.

‘Humans do not exist so there must be other explanation.’ Asmodeus tried to find another explanation!

‘Surely, even if they were bad parents, Iruma-chi’s parents wouldn’t!’ Clara refused to believe that a parent could do such a thing.

[Iruma too, seemed in disbelief. “My parents sold my soul…?” he couldn’t believe it either. “They would never…”]

And just like that Azz fears were deemed true, Iruma-sama seemed to believe that such thing was at the very least, possible to do, and the only creatures who could partake in deals with demons without being demons themselves… were the mythical humans.

Sabnock had also tied the knots, as did those who were smarter in class. It made sense then, for Iruma not to tell them this secret, the fact that humans are considered no more than food for demons was well known in the netherworld, it was even in the anthem. Had Iruma feared that they would eat him?

Azz knew he did not left a good first impression on Iruma-sama that first day with his aggression, so he wasn’t really offended by such a thought, after all, everyone would be as careful as possible when put together with his predators, but the knowledge that Iruma and him were not even from the same SPECIES… it felt like he had been just made aware of a distance between them he never even knew existed.

“He really did it, he really had to go and…” muttered Kalego to himself but everyone heard it.

“I-I don’t get it, what’s going on?” Asked Lied, who didn’t have a clue on whatever was happening. He wasn’t the only one, those in the misfit class who weren’t that smart were also lost on the information.

Clara, meanwhile, had her mind somewhere else ‘Yeah, they wouldn’t! They cannot!’

[Yet her hopes were crushed by the very own Iruma when he stopped midsentence with a deadpanned look on his face, to an angry and bitter look and thought. ‘Actually, they totally would…’ as if to answering Clara’s thoughts himself]

With that Jazz jolted, finally remembering, it was similar to how Furfur had sold him and Allocer before the harvest festival, so he reminded him of his brother and he hated it, and it seemed Iruma’s parents were of the same kind.

Clara was on the verge of crying. ‘They would, they DID!’ But she had to keep herself together, it definitely was rougher for Iruma-chi and if his parents hadn’t given him any love, then she would!

Ameri was angry, how could ANYONE get rid of Iruma? Even worse his parents! Even when she had a duty that demanded it after speaking with him just a few times, she had decided against it. Had they even bothered at all?

“Could anyone answer us? We still don’t know what all of this means” requested rather shyly Goemon, who wanted everyone to be on the same page.

Professor Robin was the first to snap out of his thoughts to answer. “Creatures capable of holding deals like this with demons while not being demons only exist in myths, legends…” “Humans.” Finished professor Shiida for him.

Iruma tensed, Sullivan started eyeing everyone, those who had tied the knots finally started to settle the thought, those who didn’t were rendered speechless, and those who already knew were embracing for worst case scenario.

“WHAAT?!” In the end, Lied was the first to react. To Lied Iruma was like a little brother. Hell, they had even argued about who was the little brother of the relationship! (With a stubbornness he didn’t think Iruma was capable of) and if he was human then he probably, no scratch that, DEFINETELY had been, at least at some point, scared half to dead of them, of HIM! He felt really sick right now.

Chaos then began. “How?!” “Is it really possible?!” “But what about the magic?!” “-The ring of gluttony!!” Questions and theories shot from everywhere in the misfit class and only more doubt raised out of this surrealism.

“Sir, I think you should give them an explanation” Opera recommended to Sullivan, who just chuckled a bit before statin “It’s fine, besides soon it’s the part where I explain it to Iruma-kun.”

That explanation would not do much, Opera knew, but didn’t press further.

“Silence!” an extremely dark voice cut off not only the voices, but also the thoughts of everyone who turned to the source of said voice.

[“What is that?” Iruma asked upon seeing a mysterious building, unlike anything he had ever seen. “It’s my mansion.” Answered Sullivan before smiling darkly, which only scared Iruma even more as he screamed. “What are you going to do with me?!” as they arrived.]

Kalego was looking furiously at Iruma, not with the usual unfriendly face, but rather a look of pure rage, as if the moment he did a wrong movement, he would be done for. “Is that true, Iruma?”

“…yes” managed Iruma after what everyone considered the longest few seconds of their lives.

 “Just what do you think you- ngh?! No, it is clear you had no say in all of this” Kalego managed to tone himself down just barely, familiar or not, human or not, Kalego was a teacher and Iruma a student, his policies as a teacher made no exceptions and would act fairly, but there something he had to address, to which he turned to face Sullivan.

“What the hell were you thinking?! Not only is Illegal, but also incredibly dangerous to bring a human to the netherworld! Do you even realize the amount of damage you could have caused?! Not only Iruma! You could have ruined the 13 crowns good name and reputation among demons and also Babyls’! Just, what were you thinking?!” The professor demanded him to answer if only for some peace of mind.

At first, Opera had thought similarly, at first Opera had asked Sullivan why, with the amount of orphan demons, adopt a human. Now Opera understood, now Opera saw the amount of impressive traits that no demon held. Opera also knew that it had to be Iruma’s actions the ones to explain it.

“Ah well, you see…” Sullivan stated. “I just think they are cuter the more trouble they are!” He didn’t seem the slightest bit concerned.

Such answer only infuriated Kalego even more.

[Once they were in the mansion, Iruma was reflecting on his situation. ‘This time… They definitely went too far!!’ were his thoughts as Sullivan showed him a call with his parents.]

Somehow, the expression “Going too far” seemed to be falling short, Sabro considered.

Right now, Clara was only capable of grunting.

[The parent on the phone was explaining the situation to Iruma. “Out of curiosity, we tried to summon a demon but then it actually worked!”]

“Summon a demon…?” Robin was perplexed by this. He knew humans could make pacts with demons, but to summon them was unexpected.

Kalego had his mind on something else ‘Out of curiosity?’ he couldn’t stand brash, inconsiderate, and random subjects like the chair-demon, and this little remark infuriated him, he had suspected Iruma’s nature but to be a situation like this…

[“He told us he’d give us money in exchange for you, and we just couldn’t resist!”]

“Huh? Sullivan-sama told them…?” Sullivan himself had told Bachiko how Iruma ended up in the netherworld, but she had assumed that his parents were the ones to offer the deal.

Balam was just as confused.

“I don’t have a single regret!” Sullivan proclaimed with a joyful tone while squirming in delight.

[“You know that even if we’re separated, we’ll still be watching over you, right?” Then the voice seemed to turn to the other parent. “Ah- have some donperi!” and then some gulps. That was their last message to their children.]

Iruma was trembling slightly, if there was someone capable of watching over him, even in the netherworld, it was his parents.

Jazz wanted to hit them right now, it felt exactly like listening to general Furfur.

Kerori was stuttering. “D-Do-Do-Donperi?!!” that wasn’t exactly cheap, just how much-? “How much did you pay them sir?” She turned to Sullivan.

“No biggie.” He answered completely calm.

“That’s not an answer!” Lied freaked out, Sullivan just laughed it off.

Iruma had never stopped to think about it, grandpa always doted on him, how much had he spent to get him alone?

[Sullivan put the final nail in the coffin by affirming one final time. “Yes, I’m a demon.” And Iruma could only look back on his parents’ attitude. ‘They’ve always lacked common sense.”]

Bachiko considered the worst part of this, the fact that Iruma knew this was ridiculous and yet he never even complained. What a moron.

[Next it showed a flashback of a barely year old Iruma standing up for the very first time.]

Ameri HAD to force herself to hold back a squeal, Iruma as a baby was just too adorable! It helped her calm down a bit.

Azz was drowning in his own delight, Clara thought it would be nice to have her costume to play as kids for a bit right now.

[“Honey look! Iruma stood up!” Iruma’s mother told the father, who enthusiastically said back. “Wow! Good job! I guess you’re ready to be independent now!”]

“Eh?” Was the sound that came from every demon.

[His parents did not wait. “Let’s go fishing, Iruma!” “Stay safe!” And Iruma, even at one year old deadpanned fearing the worst. “At the early age of one, Iruma was forced to face the real world.”]

“Age… one?” Shiida could not believe what she was she was hearing, to do this they might as well kill him outright.

“Dude!” Lied said talking to Iruma. “There are things you should not accept!”

Iruma knew this, but he just couldn’t say “no”.

Purson then speaks in an accusing tone. “You’re always doing what they ask you for, you have no limits, you don’t know, where are the limits, do you?”

Iruma wanted to cry, not because of the words, but because he was absolutely right.

[‘… I can’t believe this…’ Iruma finished his thoughts while sobbing on the ground. “I see…” Sullivan noticed. “I believe you should be angrier at your parents for their behavior.”]

“As if Iruma could get angry! Right Asmodeus-kun?” Jazz incited some banter. “Asmodeus-kun?”

Azz was looking down on Jazz as if he was missing a crucial piece of information, it wasn’t wrong.

Iruma pouted, he was very capable of getting angry.

Lied knew that was true, he had been really pissed off at the harvest festival by Orobas.

[His past self agreed with the present Iruma. “I am angry!! That’s why the next time I see them… I’ll… I’ll… tell them how mad I am.” He finished not even shouting anymore.]

‘I wasn’t capable of actually doing that, but I’m happy with the way things ended.’ Iruma thought while remembering the experience of the harvest festival.

[“Well… I guess you’re not used to being angry…” Sullivan concluded.]

Ameri could attest to that, he remained polite no matter the situation, anger had probably never blinded Iruma, but the worst kind of personalities seemed to realize it first.

[Sullivan stood up and walked towards Iruma. “Well, I never thought this’d be easy. And I don’t intend to let this chance go, now. I think we’re ready.”]

“Ready?” Allocer noticed bracing for the worst. Iruma survived this he knew, but how much was a close call? Did the chair-demon actually eat humans?

“You aren’t planning on eating him right sir?” Gaap asked far less subtle asked, he didn’t like the idea of a friend dying, even less like that.

“What?!”

“Don’t say things like that!”

“Silence!”

“Ueeeeh?!”

“Oh, don’t worry about that, you guys.” Sullivan said with a warm smile.

[Iruma found himself in a comfortable chair completely surprised by the situation. “Uh… what is this?” he asked. “This is my ultimate super deluxe pampering set” Sullivan told him with a cup of tea in hand. “Pampering?”]

It’s not like Iruma didn’t understand the shock of everyone, but from the very beginning, his grandpa had treated him like that.

[“You see, I’m actually a bachelor but I’ve aaalways dreamt of having a grandchild so, Iruma-kun… do you want to be my grandson?” Asked Sullivan to a shocked Iruma, whose mind couldn’t process the absurd turn of events]

It was so absurd, that even though for the last year Iruma HAD been Sullivan’s grandson everyone just turned to the screen dumbfounded, they stopped whatever discussion they were having along questions and thoughts died in their minds.

“Huh?” Lied muttered.

“What?” Jazz asked, mostly to himself.

“Did he just…?” Kerori couldn’t even think of a way to finish that question.

“Buy himself a grandson?” but Goemon could.

“Looks like it?” half answered, half doubted himself Agares. This was too confusing, he seriously couldn’t go to sleep?

Kalego, having given up, just went back to his place. He would figure out how to deal with the situation.

“Y-yeah, I was pretty surprised too.” Iruma suddenly joined. Understandably, he had not said anything since the reveal, and no one knew how to address him. Should they get to the point? Do a little banter to ease tension?

“If you wanted to bring a human, you could have at least brought a fine young lady!!” Suddenly burst Kamui.

“No! If anyone was to come it should be definitely be Iruma-sama!” Azz said hotly, ignoring how such an in character from the birdlike demon, brought him a sense of normalcy and relief.

[“I have been alone for a long time. And it’s always been my dream to have a grandchild!” Started explaining now his request Sullivan.]

Feeling now a bit more at ease, Lied said “Well, why not both? If it was the chair-demon’s dream to have a grandchild, why not two that looked for each other as brother and sister?” he played along trying to keep the mood light.

Sullivan suddenly perked his head up as if he had just been granted with the most valuable piece of wisdom of all time.

“No sir, you will not.” Opera said to him.

“But…” “No sir, you will not” and just like that he had been shot down as fast as he got the idea.

[“A grandchild…?” was the only thing Iruma was capable of grasping, before Sullivan got on his knees and started bawling his eyes out. “I get dead envious when Levy and Belial brag about their children! I’ll buy you anything you want, and I’ll spoil you to death! So please? Please? Come on, come on, say yes.”]

‘That’s better.’ Clara thought to herself while nodding. Clearly Iruma-chi’s parents couldn’t even be called that, but the old demon clearly loved Iruma-chi, just like her and Azz-Azz. She didn’t know anything about humans outside of the school anthem, but Iruma-chi was anything but food, he played with her more than anyone else, and he was head over heels for her, she was head over heels for him too, and…

(Azz-Azz still loved Iruma-chi, right? He wouldn’t leave them both now, right?)

[Iruma tried to get some personal space from the demon before asking. “You bought me, isn’t that right? Can I refuse?” “I’ll respect your decision. If you don’t want to, you can say no!” reassured him Sullivan]

‘He wouldn’t say no’ Ameri knew. Ever since that first “please” Sullivan was basically guaranteed a grandson. (The entire last year was just the final evidence.)

The misfit class was well aware of Iruma’s inability to say “no” but had the chair-demon known or had it been a happy coincidence?

No matter what the case, this was clearly the same Iruma they all knew, Azz concluded, so maybe it was alright to keep treating him like usual. ‘Ahh, to lack the strength of a demon, be unable to fly and yet be able to get through a scala exam, truly something Iruma-sama can do!’

[Iruma started to panic as he realized something. ‘What do I do…? In my whole life, I have never said no!’ thought the human being adopted already fearing his own answer.]

“Yup, that does sound like Iruma alright, he’ll just need his big brother to look out for him more carefully now.” Lied joked having reached a similar conclusion to Asmodeus.

“The evidence is solid.” Followed Allocer referring to the last year’s reiterated affirmation that Sullivan was Iruma’s grandfather.

“Yes, Iruma is really a kind kid huh?” Finished Elizabetta, without any mischievous intention as opposed as her tone suggested.

She was right, Kerori knew. Iruma had told her that he wanted not to draw attention to himself, and yet he had drawn attention to himself multiple times to help them.

-Iruma didn’t want to draw attention to himself! Was it because of this?

Bachiko thought that they were taking it suspiciously well, some looked indifferent, some looked like they were trying to accept it and there were some that even looked to have completely accepted it. She hadn’t cared much besides the shock when Sullivan told her, but with a group this large of demons, either they all really cared for Iruma enough to not let it change their behavior… or someone was up to something.

She hoped, really hoped, that it was the former. But, in case it was the latter, she would have to be prepared.

‘Do not try to fix what is not broken.’ That applied especially to living beings, Balam thought. Whenever a word of concern or appreciation towards Iruma came, he couldn’t feel his buzzer going off, so they were honest. If someone tried to interfere with a being that had no problems, they could end up creating a problem themselves, so it was probably better to let them work this out themselves.

[“Exactly.” The narrator… well, narrated. “Iruma Suzuki is a complete pushover.” The scene cut to a flashback of Iruma in a boat brooming while another person told him. “I leave it to you.” while Iruma calmly said. “Alright.” “When they ask him something…” then, the flashback changed to Iruma trying to help an old lady “Sorry…” said the old lady who didn’t want to bother too much. Iruma only replied once again with “It’s alright!” “Even if he isn’t asked at all…”]

Agares didn’t understand Iruma at all. “Don’t you ever get tired?” he asked Iruma. As a demon helping strangers wasn’t something that came naturally, and he specifically wasn’t one to make such efforts, but who knows? Maybe it’s normal for humans.

[The scene changed drastically to Iruma escaping while crying, obviously scared of some people in suits while gunshots were heard in the background. “Don’t worry about chasing me!” the narrator then followed with “Even in ridiculous situations… He never refuses anything.”]

“…Perhaps it would be good for you to learn to say no to some things” said Robin for once without his usual excitement. He didn’t know how humans’ minds worked, so, he didn’t know if he should change the way he teaches Iruma, but he had the feeling that he did not messed up this time, mostly because Kalego wasn’t frying his face, but also from a gut feeling.

“Right, as for example, when a demon… asks you to become his grandson!” Kalego himself confirmed, he knew Iruma’s bad habit of taking too much by himself, but THIS… was just ridiculous.

[“He’s such a pushover that even he finds it sad.” finally concluded the narrator, while the flashback finished and it came back to a nervous Iruma.]

‘So it wasn’t common among humans either.’ Ameri noted. She had always seen that characteristic attitude of him uncommon in demons, and her only other reference to humans was “First love memories” so it was strange to see that it wasn’t common either for them. (Truly, Iruma was one of a kind no matter the race huh?)

Iruma had never been more grateful for his inability to say no, after all, ever since Sullivan had adopted him, his life became wonderful, with friends who cared about him, even seeing everyone so worried about him even if they didn’t say it out loud made him feel like his worries at first were nonsensical and baseless, he even had forgotten about justifying why Lied was his little brother, lost in his own delight.

[Opposite at his present self, his past self was scared thinking ‘This is too crazy, anyone would refuse, right? If I can say no…’]

“Yes, they would, and yes, you should have.” Shiida did not hesitate. Not refusing to that would be like walking to the nearest alleyway and asking the most dangerous thug in the place. “Hey! Could you stab me in my most vital organ?” But she knew “Iruma” and “basic survival instincts” did not really get along.

[Now Iruma started speaking aloud. “W-well…” but he was interrupted by Sullivan “However! That’s why I ask you from the bottom of my heart!” he continued in a messy non-dignified way. “I beg of you! Think of it as helping a dying old man, Iruma-kun! Please!”]

With that, Jazz knew, the chair-demon had just pushed the three Iruma buttons. He had begged of him, asked him for help and asked with “please” he knew that ranking of words of memory by now. He decided for a bit of teasing, now that everyone but Kalego was back on good spirits. “Well, looks like he got you good eh Iruma-kun?”

Iruma sensed his cheeks turning reddish from the embarrassment. “Eh? Oh-um y-yeah, I guess so, ha, ha.” not that he regretted it, but it would be nice if he wasn’t so easy to read.

[While Iruma’s despairing face was clear to everybody, the narrator returned. “The words that affected him the most are:” then Iruma gave a shocked reaction because he knew wat was coming.

“In first place, “please”.”

“Second place, “help”.”

“Third place, “I beg of you”.”

Next thing that happened, Iruma was stamping a contract to become Sullivan’s grandson. Sullivan celebrated, while Iruma slumped and thought sadly ‘I’m now the grandson of a demon…’ to which the narrator finished with a “His 14 years of misfortunes conditioned him to accept everything.”]

Bachiko groaned, she had the feeling that if another demon found out about him and asked him, “Hey, can I eat you? Please.” He was very much capable of accepting.

‘If Iruma-chi had not lived that bad… he would have said no?’ that mere thought of Iruma-chi choosing a life without them, if not for those things she couldn’t even call parents, Clara wanted to cry, badly, she was already sobbing and tearing up.

“Clara?! What’s wrong?! Calm down!” Iruma was the first to notice and try to comfort her.

“Clara, what’s gotten into you?! Everything is fine! We’re here! See?!” Asmodeus tried to calm her down since he was a bit more collected than Iruma and knew how this girl needed more than she let out, the reassurance that they would not leave her.

“Clarin, if you’re worried about someone turning on Iruma, no one is going to do that.”

Even though it was meant as reassurance, the atmosphere became tense, everyone had avoided acknowledgement of Iruma’s origin after the reveal, because of that.

However, it seemed that that or Azz words seemed to snap her out of her cries. “Really?” she asked, although no one knew if to Azz, to Lied, or to who.

It didn’t mattered to Iruma, the answer was the same anyways “Of course, I won’t go anywhere” he promised, and he meant it.

“F-fine, don’t you back down!” Clara said as she finally calmed down, believing what her friends told her.

[“Now that that’s solved…” Sullivan said before snapping his fingers, then, the room transformed into a luxury bedroom. Iruma was very confused as he asked. “What happened here?” Sullivan didn’t acknowledge the question as he just decided to explain the arrangement for the future.

“As my first grandson, I’ll give you food, clothes, shelter…” he snapped his fingers again, and Iruma found himself with the Babyls uniform. “What happened?” Asked once again Iruma, Sullivan decided to just finish the previous statement. “And education! You’re perfect! How adorable!”]

Balam suddenly remembered that all of this was just the day before classes started. Iruma had been inscribed as the honor student, most likely because of the short notice, but he wasn’t even familiar with magic. It was honestly astonishing that he learned so quickly from him.

[“I’ll enroll you in a demon school.” Finished explaining Sullivan, Iruma trying to keep calm asked. “A demon school?” Sullivan had started to cry while explaining. “Your parents forced you to work since you were little and you never went to school, right? But don’t worry! I already did all the paperwork! I’m your grandpa, after all!”]

“Wow…” Sabnock had a newfound respect towards his rival, not only did he lack culture for being of another species, but also, he didn’t even have basic education, however that was for humans, and yet his grades were the ones to improve the most at the theorical exams of the first year.

A king needed knowledge, Sabro truly believed that, and Iruma was getting it surprisingly fast, considering that he just had his first contact with the netherworld.

[The grandchild was dumbfounded. “Grandpa…?” he asked perplexed at such familiarity. The grandparent hugged himself and trembled ““Grandpa” sounds so good! Let’s take a photo on your first day!” he said clearly exited.

“H-hold o…” Iruma tried to stop him in vain. “Although there has never been humans in the school, they won’t eat you if they don’t discover you’re human.” “They’ll eat me if I’m found out?!” Iruma was getting now panicked.]

With that, the light mood suddenly vanished as if by the very magic of the chair-demon.

“No! to most, even if you told them, they would laugh at the idea of humans existing. A teacher would call the authorities, and surely there aren’t students stupid enough to try to EAT another student!” Ameri tried to calm down the panicking Iruma, momentarily forgetting that this was a memory from over a year ago.

There absolutely were idiots who would try, Sabro considered, after all he had been such an idiot a year ago. He had tried to beat down a teacher on the first day to try to prove that he was the strongest. If he had known about a human at school back then he probably would have tried to eat him, just to prove he was better than other demons. He knew better now, and he wouldn’t do such a thing now, but he knew there were students stupid enough to try.

(Fortunately, he was also not stupid enough to say this aloud right now.)

“I-I see” contrary to the comfort Ameri hoped to give him, the thought of being reported, scared him out of his mind, his breath was ragged, the possibility of not being able to be with everybody made his body unable to move.

“Iruma-sama!” Azz placed himself at arms reach of Iruma to comfort him, he didn’t know what was scaring him so much, but he didn’t need to. After all, all he needed was Iruma to feel comforted and not scared. It didn’t mattered that at least at the beginning, he had been afraid of them, when clearly, he needed him right now.

“Iruma-chi don’t worry! I will deal with this!” Clara suspected what he was scared of because of what the redhaired lady said, so just as Iruma-chi would be there for her, she would be there for Iruma-chi.

Ameri was confused, that was not the reaction she had expected, had she said something wrong? Had something happened to him that made her reassuring comment that they wouldn’t eat him, scary?

For once the misfits felt lost on what was going on with Iruma, usually, he’s an open book, but now… what was he so scared of, if not being eaten?

Iruma’s breath stabilized and he just said. “Thank you, guys, really.” He would figure out what to do when they get out, but for now, this was enough.

With a confused mind and an uneasy concern, the rest of misfits and Ameri turned back to the screen after seeing Iruma calm down.

Sullivan eyed everyone and smiled softly ‘ah, how wonderful it is to have friends.’

Opera decided to warn him of his bad habit. “Sir, I suggest you start getting more careful with your wording, sir.”

Sullivan, pretended not to hear it.

[“Tah-dah!” Said Sullivan, before pouring a purple liquid on Iruma which then he explained. “This perfume has hidden your human smell, don’t worry.” “W-wait, I think, actually…” Iruma tried to protest]

“Hm, how does a human even smell? How could someone recognize it? If a human lady approached me, how would I recognize it, to approach her properly?” Kamui asked, and he did it genuinely. To be able to communicate with all species, you had had to understand the species, after all no matter what, a lady is a lady.

“I think it would be better to treat them like normal” answered a cheerful Iruma who knew that, despite some of their… habits, all his friends were really good people who would get along just fine even with humans. “Besides, I think the perfume is more for the beasts than anything else.”

Ameri could attest to that, she hadn’t noticed any change in his smell during their date, but that beast had tried to eat Iruma. At the time, it seemed like a reaction out of nowhere, but had the perfume worn off with the water?

[“It’s a relief you’re such a good kid.” Sullivan said, interrupting Iruma who turned around in confusion. “Had you refused… you wouldn’t have left me any choice but to eat you for dinner…” finished the demon, now on a scary and dark tone with his wings out.]

“T-that was a joke, right? Y-you wouldn’t have actually done that right?” Asked not Iruma, but Asmodeus. He did not know how it worked, but he really, REALLY didn’t want it to be like that, and so he really, REALLY hoped that was no more than a rotten joke of that carefree playful demon, even if he had no evidence of that being the case.

Ameri could see her father tell a joke like that in a similar way, so somehow, it made it easier to see as a joke. After all, even if he surely wouldn’t confess trespassing to the human world, he could make up an excuse to ‘send back a strayed human who somehow wandered his way to the netherworld.’

The other misfits could only turn to Sullivan in disbelief, except Clara who was glaring daggers regardless of the fact that he was one of the three most powerful demons.

“No comments.” With a light and unserious tone, Sullivan answered, as if to say “yes, I would, but that’s not a problem anymore.” Opera noticed that last detail, while criticizing mentally the poor sense and timing of the chair-demon’s humor.

‘He gives nothing but headaches.’ Kalego thought in a condemning sense.

Iruma could list at least two reasons to understand that that had been a joke. Not only had Ameri’s father (The one responsible for sending humans back to the human world) made a similar joke to him, but also, with his wings open like that and such an exaggerated pose, it was similar to when he wanted to draw his attention, whenever he spent more time with Opera.

[His past self did not have such information, as such, he stopped himself from continuing speaking with a yelp, Sullivan only noticed that and he asked. “What were you saying?” To which Iruma could only answer scared “It was nothing!”]

Iruma turned around, with the intention of explaining that it was only was a joke, but one quick glance at everyone’s face and his honed instincts from 14 years of misfortune (Even though he’s 15) told him that it was probably better to wait for everyone to calm down a bit.

Iruma turned back to the screen and for now he only got out an awkward laugh trying to communicate to everyone that it was alright if they found it funny or they saw it purely as a joke, it didn’t really work.

Clara was the only from the misfits who could look at Sullivan right now, but it was a cold stare with no playfulness, she didn’t even say anything which worried Iruma the most, because that felt really out of character for such a cheerful girl. Ameri was doing her best not to do the same, barely restraining herself. To scare his own grandson with a joke so bad after having known each other for barely an hour. It was hard not to get mad.

Alice Asmodeus was mad, but unlike the green haired idiot, he could not glare at a demon in such an important position, so instead, he looked down and wondered about… a lot of things actually. He was not someone to cling to past mistakes, but, if that’s how he had seen the grandparent who loved to dote on him more than anything else, what had he seen that first day, in the place of who he saw as a dignified, proper, noble and upstanding demon? He felt like he didn’t want an answer.

[“This will be your room.” Things were starting to calm down. “It’s mine?” asked now Iruma with his thoughts a bit more collected. “As tomorrow you have to wake up early, make sure to sleep well. Good night.” Finished now Sullivan, although Iruma tried to say more. “U-um…” But the door was shut right in front of him.]

“That sure was a way to spend your first day here.” Thought aloud Jazz, his own experience getting sold for money was not that pleasant and he still hadn’t beaten his brother or Furfur even once, well he had a plan to beat his brother next time, so it was fine.

“I already knew the outcome, I did not experience that firsthand, and yet, I remain confused” followed his partner in suffering.

After that brief exchange, the room was dead silent, though it was not a comfortable silence, neither was it tense. The only way anyone of the presents could describe this silence was… awkward.

[The screen did not care about that, Sullivan went humming through the hallway when he passed by Opera who bluntly told him. “This whim of yours is truly mad.” Sullivan didn’t seem to acknowledge what he was just told, so instead, he just blurted. “Opera.” The latter did not pay it any mind “With the number of demons you could adopt, why did you settle for a human? What were you thinking” asked the cat-like demon.]

“What do you think Kalego-sensei?” Asked Robin to his coworker.

“He wasn’t thinking at all” Was the only response he could believe as of now.

“Pera-sensei! You knew!?” Asked a surprised Clara. Before she could get a proper response, Kamui stood up and spoke “It seems that this is a good time to clear things, so, is there anybody else that already knew?”

“I’ll protect Iruma-chi!” screamed a green blurry figure before latching onto Iruma as if her life (or his) depended on it.

“Oi, stupid Clara don’t latch like that, you will bother Iruma-sama! I’ll just make a barrier like at the rookie hunt.” reprimanded Azz.

Iruma was really happy right now, in fact, he was probably the least awkward right now after Sullivan, who was fawning next to Opera about how “Iruma had so many great friends.” Seriously. Things might be uncomfortable, but-

‘Go away human.’

- No one was giving in to their demon instincts to eat him-

‘You lied to us.’

- No one was rejecting him-

‘Humans and demons cannot coexist.’

- They weren’t-

‘You don’t belong here.’

- He was glad, up until now, whenever he thought about telling people things just took a turn for the worse, first Kiriwo-senpai and then his own trauma, he was so, so, SO glad now that he didn’t even know what kind of face he was doing right now. He felt like mixing crying, laughter, relief and pure joy.

“I-it’s fine guys” he managed to say. And then the two of them reluctantly let go.

[Sullivan did not look as cheerful as a second ago, even so, his only response was. “Nothing. You’ll understand someday, Opera.” And then he walked off while letting a cheerful “I’m so excited for tomorrow!” and Opera just sighed, not understanding.]

Indeed, one day Opera understood.

“I knew.” Cut abruptly Bachiko.

Iruma, confused, stuttered. “E-eh? Master?!”

“If they are gonna know, then might as well spill the beans already” she explained.

“That is way too reckless miss!” Panicked Balam.

“Eh, not like they weren’t gonna know anyways, is better if we work it out now, besides, you already knew.” Said the archer. It wasn’t as if she didn’t understand where that worry was coming from, but trying to keep that secret was a lost cause from the start, so it was better to prepare for what was coming now.

“Huh?!” Was the only sound to come from Balam’s students. Eventually, Sabnock found himself capable of asking “Are all the masters aware of this?”

“No, no, at least I didn’t.” Robin confirmed.

“I can confirm that only the four of us were aware of this fact” Opera informed the others.

“Glad to know.” Said Allocer. He didn’t even want to imagine what Furfur could pull from this, if he got hand of this information.

“No fair!” Clara screamed.

[Iruma found himself contemplating the room. “My own room… I had never had one. My whole life has been hell.”]

Kalego found himself frowning at his companion. “How exactly did you find out Shichiro?” he asked. Instead of Balam, Iruma answered. “I-um, I slipped up” he hadn’t looked this nervous, looking at the floor for quite some time.

Azz found himself dizzy, Iruma-sama had let his guard that much with one of the teachers, but not with him? Why? But he had let him know he had a secret, maybe he should consider that enough.

Kalego could feel his migraine getting worse. “Are you not aware of your situation!? How many times have I told you to stop taking unnecessary risks huh?! Have you no sense of self-preservation?!” Seriously, telling a demon that you were human was probably one of the fastest ways to die. Only a few like Shichiro would not act on instincts like that genuinely. Had it been himself, the only reason why he would not get rid of him was because Naberius Kalego, as a teacher, did not make exceptions of any kind to students’ treatment.

“I-I’m sorry sir!” apologized the one in danger of such situation.

‘What should I say?’ Ameri pondered. ‘On the one hand I imagined that Iruma could be human.’ she recalled their firsts times they spoke. ‘But on the other, I never confronted Iruma about that.’ Should she say it? It didn’t matter anyways since it was ALL going to be shown apparently.

[Iruma accommodated himself in bed, but he looked uneasy. “It feels like a dream. A weird dream” And with that, he went to sleep.]

“Yeah, I would’ve just assumed I was dreaming a while ago” Stated Lied “I can practically hear you go “It wasn’t a dream!” at least if it were me, I wouldn’t have to deal with my sister’s…you know.”

Jazz followed suit with “I get what you’re saying, really… my brother is someone I could get behind not having to deal with anymore.” He said with a hint of venom in his voice, seriously, his brother only knew how to make a fool out of anybody without any shame.

“Huh? No, it’s not like that” Lied corrected his classmate “It’s just that sometimes I’d wish she weren’t so… intense.” Seriously, she was the kind of demon that was easy to trick by a good presentation.

“I get what you mean.” Surprisingly said Iruma, who had a mixed look between tired and serious.

“Oh, what is this about? Mind letting me into the details?” Tried to blend Elizabetta.

“That is private information Nee-san!” Lied had never sound so panicked, not even during the Walter park attack.

[After waking up and examining his surroundings, Iruma shouted in disbelief “It wasn’t a dream!”]

“Hey, you were right Lied-dono” Goemon exclaimed. It didn’t truly matter what Iruma was, he still only wanted to make a hundred friends, so it didn’t look like eating a human would help with that, if anything, the opposite.

“Of course I was, I also got right how many weapons would hit him in the first day. Didn’t I? Didn’t I?” Proclaimed proudly the controller user. Meanwhile Iruma could only chuckle at the memory of how that first interaction with the misfits had been.

“Can you predict my success rate with the ladies?!” Kamui butted in. Lied without even turning to look at him just said. “Zero.” He answered without missing a beat.

“WHY?!” he complained. Loudly.

[“Iiruma-kun! Good morning! Did you sleep well?” Greeted Sullivan excitedly while Opera just stood past the door.]

Iruma stopped to remember how back then at those first days, Opera didn’t really warm up to him, it was weird to see that now since they were a lot closer, but in a strange way, it was nostalgic.

[They were now near the entrance ceremony sign. Sullivan was submerged in delight from this new experience. “What a joy! My grandson’s going to school! I want a photo. Stand next to that Iruma-kun.” Iruma did just that while pointing at the sign and asked. “Next to this?” Then, Sullivan raised his hand, shrouded in magic and quickly launched a spell on Iruma who suddenly found himself capable of understanding that the sign read. “Entrance ceremony…” He realized this fact and thought to himself. ‘Oh, I can read it!’ He turned to look at his new grandfather. ‘This must be another of Sulli… of grandpa’s spells’]

“Wait, Iruma.” Ameri addressed the boy. “You can’t actually understand the demon language?” she asked, feeling slightly embarrassed despite not even having finished what she was about to say. “Well, if you want… I can spare some time to teach you properly… not for any specific reason!” Now blushing a lot offered.

“That’s not necessary, I’ve been teaching Iruma a lot of the netherworld, so I can add that if it proves to be necessary, besides, a teacher should be the one to take care of that.” Balam said trying to get some weight out of the ones close to Iruma.

“Oh, don’t worry, Opera has actually been teaching me” Iruma tried to ease them both.

Then everyone turned to see Opera, who was oddly pale with downcast ears and a tired surprisingly easy to read expression. Opera then said with an uncharacteristically low voice. “Yes, good job, may we change the subject.”

Kalego found himself glad to be able to see this right now.

“Ah, I-I see.” Ameri replied while lamenting the loss of a chance to get closer to Iruma.

[Iruma went with a simple peace sign, while Sullivan went with a triple 6 with his hand. Opera took the photo. “What a joy! My grandson’s going to school!” Repeated Sullivan. “His firs little bag! How cute!”]

“Wait isn’t this…?” Started Kerori.

“The photo that the chair-demon showed at the ceremony? Yes, it is” Purson shot back.

A lot of the presents startled back from the shock of remembering that Purson Soi, was in fact, there.

[While on the way Iruma decided to try and talk to Opera. “E-excuse me, your name was Opera-san, right? The school…?” Opera didn’t wait for him to finish, instead, pointing forward Opera said. “That way.” Iruma looked and became shocked at the look of the school.]

“Hm, how different are human schools Iruma? You seem too shocked” Asked Lied, who was starting to get used to the new information.

“Um, well… they… it’s hard to explain… they…look more average buildings, I guess? Oh! And they have no magic” Iruma did his best at explaining with simple terms and his limited knowledge of school. He did not need more misunderstood like with “Friends” and “Fireworks”.

“That clears nothing Iruma.” Told him Bachiko, and he knew that was right, but he couldn’t explain better.

[“The demon school Babyls.” Said Sullivan to Iruma while some demons flew over them on the way to school.]

“Looks like we’re gonna appear soon!” Lied exclaimed while bopping childishly. “I hope I get an introduction fit of the main cast with a close up!”

“Hm, indeed, that would be fit for a demon king so I should get a presentation as such!” agreed Sabnock.

“Yay, we’re gonna meet soon Iruma-chi! We’re gonna meet soon!” Cheered Clara when…

“Hm, Azz-Azz?”

Asmodeus was nervous. He remembered that day clearly as one of the most valued days of his life, but what were Iruma’s true thoughts on it? Iruma had told him how he remembered that day, if that had been truly the case, it didn’t look good. At first even after he started serving Iruma-sama up until the first exam, he had never stopped to see anyone’s perspective, but his.

“It’s nothing” he managed to say.

“Are you sure?” Iruma asked, clearly worried about his friend.

“Let him be rival. Right now, he needs to confront his own thoughts” Advised Sabro, who knew how it was to regret a fight of the first day.

“A-alright.” He conceded.

[The student council was greeting students at the entrance. “Good morning, everyone!” “Morning…” “I don’t hear you!” “Good morning!” The trio had arrived and Sullivan spoke. “I’ve gotta prepare some things, so I’m leaving.” After that he teleported, leaving a confused Iruma and an uncaring Opera, who the former tried to speak to. “U-um, what about you Opera-san?” “Have a nice day.” The latter said back, not even halfhearted “Th-thanks”.]

It was weird to see Opera being so distanced with Iruma. By the time the battlers’ exhibition began, they were as close as a normal family, and that was known to everyone.

‘It’s just like Iruma-kun huh?’ Lied realized. After all, he himself had went from seeing him as a mere classmate, to his own younger brother.

Jazz could see how that went, after all, he also cared a lot about Iruma. Iruma was at the top of his list of people who he cannot allow his brother to meet.

[Iruma braced himself while going in. The student council noticed him. “Hey, you” they called Iruma, which terrified him. “M-me?” he asked already scared.]

Ameri considered this really sad. After all every member of the student council was a really good demon, so seeing Iruma so scared and trying to avoid them… it stung.

Iruma didn’t like the uncomfortable looks of everyone, he had to show that he wasn’t that scared anymore. But how could he prove something like THAT while not looking forced?

[Sullivan’s words resonated within Iruma (“they won’t eat you if they don’t discover you’re human.”) ‘Th-they’re gonna eat me…!’ thought Iruma scared out of any rational thought.]

“The have no reason to!” Purson said. “Most demons don’t even believe in humans! And there’s no reason to believe you specifically, are one!” He finished arguing. Logically, he was right, emotionally, it made sense for Iruma to be scared, but it really hurts, the panicked members of the misfit class seemed to agree.

Such fear was the most basic of survival instincts, after all, Kalego thought that when facing a danger with unknown variables, it was best to expect the worst.

“Well, they’re not so hard to get along once you know them, right?” Ameri asked Iruma in a hurried attempt to calm everyone even a bit.

“Yeah, they were really kind when I was in the student council.” Iruma reassured, glad that Ameri had given him such a head up.

“I-I see” Asmodeus said, trying to sound like he was not just recovering from a heart attack, he was failing miserably.

[But instead, all Johnny said was “The auditorium is that way.” While pointing past Iruma. The latter took the chance to run away. “Yes, I’m sorry!” he apologized before running, while thinking. ‘Thank goodness! They don’t know I’m human!’]

‘What would he think of this?’ That was the main doubt crossing through Ameri’s mind right now. They were all honorable, but they take their job just as seriously as her. Would they report him? Would they stand by the anthem? (She tried to ignore the shiver that went up her spine the instant the thought entered her head) If her theory had been proven right from the start, she would only have to report it to her father, but she did not know much more of the process, and that terrified her.

[In the background, Ameri could be seen walking to the rest of the council when she noticed the blue hair student.]

“Oh, you were there Ameri-san?” questioned Iruma without any real thought about it, besides. ‘Meeting her like this could have probably avoided a few misunderstandings.’

“Yes, I didn’t think much of it at the time… but, probably it would have been a clearer introduction.” She responded, also without too much thought.

“Huh? How did you two meet then?” Curiosity got the best of Clara. Kerori and Elizabetta raised their heads, clearly interested in the story.

“Idiot, that is not something you can ask so casually!” Azz reprimanded the green haired demon, as usual.

“Why not?” “Yeah, I got quite curious myself” “Mhm! Mhm!” shot back the trio of girls.

Ameri was quick to shoot back to the traitors, even if fully embarrassed. “It’s not something relevant right now, so I see no need to explain.”

[True to what Ameri had told Iruma, when she was asked. “Is something wrong, president?” She just answered. “No, it’s nothing.”]

“Really?” Much to Bachiko’s embarrassment, her cousin had been the one to ask.

“Really!”

Jazz suddenly intervened, with a clear smirk. “Well then. Iruma-kun! Help us out with this, tell us how you met pleeease.”

“Iruma! I beg you, please don’t tell them!” With the president so panicked, Lied thought that maybe this was more interesting than he thought.

Conflicted with two opposites requests, the only thing Iruma could say in the end was. “It was chaotic.” And that was that.

Lied was giggling to himself when he finally spoke. “You know, with the way you’re tell it, I think I want to see it spoilerless, if only for it to be funnier.”

[An axe was swung against a teacher, missing and damaging the floor. “What is the meaning of this?” the teacher asked.]

“Ugh!” Sabnock choked out, professor Buer and him were on good terms after he properly apologized, but it remained one of his most shameful memories to date.

“Eh?! A fight with a teacher on the first day?” Robin was the only one surprised by this.

“And we know who that idiot is.” Muttered Kalego feeling that all the stress of the last year was going to come back at him tenfold.

“That doesn’t even seems like a secret.” Complained Bachiko. Up until now, it seemed that Iruma had been the only exposed one.

“It is not.” Sabro replied in a serious tone with no humor to it.

[As opposite to his present self, Sabro was smirking while he explained. “I’m putting my skills to the test before the entrance ceremony. I’ll be famous if I defeat a teacher! Strength is everything!”]

[“I see. You’re an Idiot.”]

“I see. You’re an Idiot.” Said both Blushenko and Bachiko who didn’t know all that well the student.

“He is.” Kalego said.

“Kalego-sensei, that’s no way to address a student.” Robin tried to defend.

“Silence.”

He tried.

[Iruma arrived at the auditorium, he looked like he wanted to cry and was trying his best not to shake. “Hey, doesn’t something smell good?” A bull-like demon asked, this caused another demon to sniff around and Iruma to let out a squeal.]

“Oh yeah, the staff was trying some new dishes for the menu” Sullivan explained to the now uneasy crowd.

Opera just sighed.

“With all due respect sir, couldn’t you… choose a less troubling timing?” expressed Balam.

“Ho, ho.” He just laughed off.

“How many nerve-wrecking moments like that are left?” Lied asked. He knew there were scary moments in the misfits’ class, but this was JUST BEFORE THE ENTRANCE CEREMONY.

“I don’t know if I want an answer to that” Kamui refused.

“Actually, it gets better around the ranks assignment.” Iruma explained, although most of his classmates did not know what to do with the information.

Asmodeus had memorized his face, if he dared do anything to Iruma-sama he would make sure that he regrets it in his final moments.

[‘Don’t stand out… Don’t stand out!’ Iruma tried to make himself as small as possible.]

“So much for that.” Purson mocked, he knew how it ended, with Iruma drawing himself to the center of attention of every situation, and dragging him to it too, even when he was an expert of going unnoticed.

[An overall view of the students was shown as Eiko was talking to Gaako. “I hope we get in the same class.” “Right? I’m so nervous!” Iruma noticed and thought to himself. ‘Oh, a normal conversation.’]

Alice got along with Eiko as a fellow Iruma follower, maybe he should introduce each other, but maybe that would only make Iruma more nervous, he braced himself and asked.

“I actually have talked with her Iruma-sama, if you wish I can introduce her to you.”

“Hueh!” Ameri gasped. ‘That cheater!’

“Haah!” Clara snapped. Iruma-chi would play with her.

“Iruma has a harem already, don’t give him more!” all the boys screamed.

“I see.” Asmodeus conceded.

“Azz-kun!?”

“Eh?” Robin didn’t understood, his colleagues just sighed.

Opera refused to look at anyone.

Bachiko was laughing, hard.

Sullivan was just giving a sweet smile at the students.

[“Mami! Uu-chan! Konchie! Keebow! Sin Sin! Ran Ran!” Clara was seen calling her family while the students closer to her covered their ears.]

“Oh!” Clara returned to her senses. “It’s-” However she was suddenly interrupted by Azz who said. “We just heard it, no need to say it again.”

“Boo, you’re no fun sometimes Azz-Azz.” She pouted.

[‘Maybe it is a normal school…’]

“It is not, make no mistake Iruma.” Kalego warned. Iruma couldn’t help but to find it ironic, because…

[“Silence.” Kalego said upon arriving.]

Such was the impact that the students on both the past and present stopped making any noises.

[‘Is he a professor? How scary.’ Iruma thought dumbfounded at the reminder of the situation.]

“At least you haven’t thrown away all your common sense.” Kalego said, lowering the bar to a point he didn’t think he was capable of.

[Dali-sensei started the speech. “Thank you for waiting. It’s 6:06, we will now formally begin the entrance ceremony for the demon school Babyls.” “All rise! It’s time to sing the school song.”]

It was out of place, but compared to the tense expressions of the other demons of Babyls, Kalego had a mocking smile, he was petty, and he knew that no actual protection was needed.

“Can anyone distract me with literally anything? I don’t want to listen to it right now.” Said Agares.

“Yeah, it doesn’t feel good to think such thing about a friend.” Goemon agreed.

“Hmm.” Allocer was thinking, about how would it feel, being in an unknown place with deadly creatures with a song dedicated entirely to eating beings like you.

He didn’t like it.

[“Humans only exist to be our food

Suck them dry, soul, blood, flesh, and all”

‘I’m just air… air… air…’]

Clara hadn’t cared much for the song, she just liked to sing it, but now, she officially hated it. No one would eat Iruma-chi, NO ONE!

Ameri was proud of the school, but she loved Iruma a lot, and seeing him so scared of everyone… hurt. Would it be alright for her not to like the song?

Asmodeus couldn’t breathe, he felt that he was about to faint.

Lied considered such an experience, traumatizing, he turned toward Iruma, trying to comfort his little brother but…

“Hmhmm hm~ “

He was… humming.

[“Tremble at the sound of black wings as we take flight

For we are demons”]

“I-Iruma…?” Ameri was the most shocked out of everyone.

“Hm?” he didn’t seem to notice anything wrong. ‘Wait. I’m humming to a terrifying song!’ he then realized.

No one had any idea of what to say, or even if they should say.

Shiida started to consider that Iruma might have lost all sense of self-preservation by now, it made sense considering his behavior at not taking dangers at face value.

[“As this song pours forth from our red lips”

‘I need to do everything I can not to stand out…’

“Scream for us, for we are demons.”]

The silence was too awkward for everyone, so Iruma decided to finish humming, somehow, the atmosphere only got worse.

Shiida was now convinced that Iruma could not sense danger until it was right in front of his face.

[After the anthem they announced. “Now some words from the chair-demon.” A student cheered. “The next demon king!” Iruma seemed not to understand as he questioned to himself ‘The king of the demons?’]

 Sabnock was too busy recovering from the shock of before to even explain why he should be the demon king. But when Allocer managed to ask Iruma. “Is it different for humans?” Curiosity managed to pull him together. How was the strongest of humans decided?

“Um… well, depends on where, I think, but mostly, people vote I guess, but I don’t really remember.” He didn’t have real experience with politics, so he could only guess.

[“Iruma-kun!” suddenly Sullivan’s voice came through and Iruma could only look in shock. “It’s me, your grandpa!” He said while waving his arms frenetically. The grandson was mentally collapsing. ‘He’s the chair-demon!’]

“Sir, we’ll have to work on your communication skills.” Opera informed as a matter of hand.

“Nooo! I don’t want to.” He cried while rolling on the floor.

“Opera-sensei, would you teach me too? I want to make a hundred friends, so please!” Goemon begged Opera.

“I think possibly that’s the only training you don’t need.” Agares said, knowing full well how it was to constantly deal with everything he tells his friends.

[The students were naturally surprised, while Iruma tried to hide himself with his uniform. “Iruma?” “The chair-demon’s grandkid?” Sullivan then confirmed. “That’s right! My grandson will attend this school! He’s just so adorable!” Iruma himself was begging internally for one thing. ‘Please don’t say anything weird!’]

The ones who weren’t present that day were naturally surprised by such an entrance.

“He made the speech about Iruma-kun?!” Robin blurted out.

“Looks like it.” Shiida deadpanned.

Bachiko didn’t even bothered to comment on it. “You should know better than that.” But she criticized her student.

“That’s fair.” Iruma resigned.

Opera had long since given up on trying to mix Sullivan with common sense.

[“In fact, this is a photo I took… with my dear grandson!” Iruma could only gasp in shock. ‘He gave me away!’ And then proceeded to bury his face in his hands.]

Clara didn’t like that sentence, she knew what he meant, but she didn’t like it at all because it reminded her of…

(“your parents sold your soul to me.”)

[“I’ll give copies later!” He said cheerfully. ‘No one wants that!’ Iruma refuted, although only in his mind.]

Ameri would actually quite like that, maybe she could ask the chair-demon for one, but… would he still have it? (Probably.) and even more, she couldn’t just ask for something like THAT while Iruma was RIGHT-!

“Actually Iruma-kun. I, in fact ran out of copies that day.” Sullivan informed.

“Huh?! Ho-?” Iruma stopped himself mid-sentence, only to look at Asmodeus and notice, all the eyes of the room were on him, for some reason Ameri looked bothered.

Alice didn’t pay mind to any of that. “Thank you for the copies that day sir.” He thanked Sullivan. He got them from him the very day after swearing loyalty to Iruma.

“Eh?”

“No problem, Asmodeus-kun.”

“Eh?!”

[“With this being said… bye bye!” he said before leaving the stage.]

“That truly was an unexpected speech!” Robin was holding back his laughter.

“I don’t think that counts as a speech.” Shiida argued.

“It doesn't.” Bachiko had to agree.

[‘He basically just ended up talking about me…’ Iruma agreed, and prayed for something that would not happen. ‘Please bring the poster home with you. Don’t pass it around, please… aaaaah… everyone is talking about me… wh-what should I do?’ Finally, the ceremony proceeded “Now will speak the representative of the new students.” Asmodeus stood up after that and started walking toward the stage. “The representative of the new students, Asmodeus-kun.” The female students were gossiping to themselves. “He’s so cool.” “So that’s him…” “I want him to curse me!” “Hm… I guess he passes.”]

The student in question seemed to be very uneasy, he was really worried about what Iruma thought of that duel.

He wasn’t lying when he said he was moved beyond tears for Iruma’s compassion, after all…

He had mocked him and challenged him for his wounded pride and attacked endangering other students, so despite the demon law stating that the loser must serve the winner.

Anyone else would have left him on the ground after knocking him.

Anyone else would have resented him and looked down on him.

So learning that Iruma had not only not held a grudge, but also cared enough for him to personally take him to the infirmary, he had never seen anyone so willing to help others.

“Well, looks like we’re finally getting to the fun part.” Teased Lied.

“Glad you enjoyed!” Sullivan celebrated.

‘At least someone enjoyed that’ Iruma deadpanned internally, remembering how petrified he was at first, then the shock of learning he almost blew himself up and then the duel.

[Iruma breathed a sigh of relief. ‘He’s getting all the attention…’ he thought feeling out of danger.]

Jazz decided to bring him back to reality, even if they both knew by now how it ended. “How did you prepare your speech in so little time, Iruma-kun?”

“Did you improvise?” Allocer threw a follow up question.

“And what you said really got you attention.” Kerori could not see any reason for Iruma to do something so outstanding this time around.

“Hm, Iruma talked?” Shiida asked, surprised because Asmodeus was the one supposed to give the speech.

“Oh yeah, I read about it in the school’s newspapers.” Robin said.

‘In the newspaper?’ Bachiko noticed. “What the hell did you do this time?” she asked angrily at his student.

Iruma deadpanned with a look of mild frustration and said. “I read a note grandpa gave me.”

With that both master and professor understood, it was nothing good.

Kalego’s patience was running out. ‘The chair-demon…’

[“There has been a change, the one who will speak will be… the honor student, Iruma-kun.” ‘Why?!’ Was all Iruma though angrily, already reaching his limit at the amount of nonsense he could take.]

“Oh? So you CAN get mad huh?” Bachiko said with a smug smile, she honestly wondered sometimes if Iruma was even capable of being angry.

Iruma didn’t know how to answer to that, precisely because his master was someone he had gotten angry at one point.

Azz had seen Iruma angry at Walter park, but the feeling was really different.

“Sometimes he has a surprisingly short fuse I’ll admit” Ameri acknowledged as well, thinking of their date and how when she accidentally played too hard at volleyball, he fired himself up, or when she thoughtlessly asked if he would carry her if she asked and he just did.

“Ameri-san?!” Iruma was surprised by her comment.

“Yes, that would indeed seem to be the case.” Opera added.

“That’s not true! Right Clara, Azz-kun?”

“It’s part of your charm Iruma-sama.”

“Iruma-chi, you’re short!”

Iruma gave up on that point.

[The students were equally shocked. “Eh? Why?” “Iruma?” “He?” Meanwhile, Iruma himself was thinking. ‘It can’t be…’ From the corner of the stage, Sullivan could be seen with a camera giving a thumbs up. Iruma screamed internally.

‘I knew it! Grandpa’s speech made things so awkward…’ then he was called upon stage “Iruma, to the stage.” He braced himself and stood up.]

“Now we’re getting to the fun.” Lied proclaimed.

“I’ve seen this, I’m going to sleep.” Agares announced.

[“He looks like a child.” Dosanko said. Iruma was now the focus of every student, some murmurs could be heard “He’s not even shaking in front of this crowd.” “He’s got guts.” But Iruma disagreed. ‘It’s been so sudden that I’m stiff.’]

Lied wanted to be able to laugh at this, but he knew that it was more than scenic fear.

Purson wanted to say that he related since he also wasn’t capable of talking to crowds, but to Iruma it must have been quite literally putting his life on the line.

[“Your speech, please.” Iruma was utterly lost. ‘My speech? How the hell am I gonna…?’ Suddenly the photo at his side fell in front of him, and there was a message from Sullivan.

(I send this message to you so that you won’t trip and fall throughout your upcoming school days.

Love, Grandpa)]

“Wait…” Shiida started noticing something dangerous that the past Iruma was completely unaware of. “That message is…”

“A forbidden spell.” Bachiko finished with anger clear in her tone. It wasn’t common for her to get mad at Sullivan, not in the least, but even she had her limits to his antics.

“So it was true after all!” Robin exclaimed with an out-of-place smile.

[‘Huh, A-Am I supposed to read this? Hell, I’ll have to read it.’ Iruma grasped out of that message.]

“No, you’re not!” Shiida screamed. She didn’t want any student to get injured, and even less to one of them to just blow up themselves.

“At least we know it ends well…” Ameri found comfort in that information.

Bachiko at this point was just grunting, so was Kalego.

“Seeing how you were, it’s actually kind of awesome that you read it without stuttering.” Jazz complemented

[Iruma sucked a breath and started.

“Aberuhauke…” Every demon now looked terrified, with the exception of the Valac.]

Contrary to the screen, the audience had mixed reactions.

The more responsible ones and the ones who hadn’t been there safe for Robin were feeling quite tired.

Those who were more laid-back were also having a blast watching this with a sense of security.

And then there was Sullivan who was gushing all over Iruma.

[“Tarutoudari… Iusabebe…” Even the teachers seemed uneasy. But some of the misfits who didn’t have much of a reaction, Allocer and Elizabetta, and then Lied and Jazz who were flat out laughing. The student council was also shocked. ‘It feels as if the atmosphere has changed.’ Iruma noticed.]

“At least you didn’t ask or stopped.” Ameri told him.

“It was a really close one though!” Iruma, now conscious of what he did screamed.

[“Risutouru… Aburuze… Sutoumanu… Aberuge… Uru… Mahoraba…” Sullivan was filming all of what was happening seemingly overjoyed. “Tsurezaza.” Iruma finished, then he glowed for an instant and the students cheered. “No way!” “Amazing!” “Seriously?” “He did it!” “He said all of it!” Iruma was now confused and a little scared. “What a guy!”]

Reciting unwarily forbidden spells, telling a teacher that he was human on a whim, getting lost on Walter park, going to the crumbling building to save some random children… truly, to Balam sometimes it looked like Iruma had a death wish.

“Man, it’s even funnier the second time.” Lied said with a look that made obvious he was holding back his laughter.

“And I didn’t even know…” Iruma lamented.

“Iruma-chi, you’re dumb.” Clara said with a smile plastered on her face. Iruma couldn’t think of anything to say to that.

But Azz could. “What did you expect!” His voice sounded in a more regular, although still shaking voice. “Iruma-sama had barely had any contact with the netherworld by then, even less with magic! And yet he recited perfectly the spell on his first try! Truly glorious!”

Clara didn’t even want to respond because Azz-Azz was finally starting to sound like normal.

Iruma shared the feeling.

[Dali-sensei went to Iruma and reprimanded him. “Hey! Why did you recite a forbidden spell?!” he demanded an explanation.

“Forb-Wha?” Iruma couldn’t even finish his words in confusion.

“It’s taboo! If you were to stutter or read it wrong, your body would have exploded. It’s common knowledge! He said, and he was angry.]

Balam understood his coworker, he really did, but Iruma had…

[‘No freaking idea!’ Iruma’s though aligned with Balam’s while he had an almost heart attack. ‘I didn’t know it was that dangerous!’ Iruma was now trembling.

“That was dangerous and crazy…” Dali-sensei started.]

Kalego considered this to apply to a lot of situations, really Iruma seemed to never know where to draw the line between “Carrying a responsibility” and “Endanger yourself recklessly” it was something he warned him even nowadays.

[“But also totally awesome!” He finished. Iruma was now speechless with mouth fully opened in shock.]

Kalego disagreed with that last statement, both then and now.

[“Only an idiot would use that spell. And maybe demons that don’t fear death.” Iruma decided to ask. “Just out of curiosity, what does the spell do?”

Dali-sensei humored him by answering. “If it goes well, you won’t trip or fall for the day.” This caused Iruma to look even disappointed. “That’s it?! How sad…” Asmodeus was gritting his teeth.]

Only those who don’t fear death would do it, Sabro was convinced of that. He was the kind of idiot Dali-sensei was speaking of, he knew, but if he was going to do something that dangerous and deadly, it would have to be for a reason worth it, and that spell was just not worth it.

“The letter was quite literal huh?” Bachiko asked to no one in particular.

“And a risk too high.” Kamui answered though.

[Iruma was walking through a hallway, thinking about the situation. ‘That was horrible… anyway I should have a word with the chair-demon.’ He looked at the message and concluded. “I guess he didn’t mean any harm after all… but at this rate he’ll get me killed with his antics…”]

That was one of the many reasons Kalego couldn’t stand the chair-demon after all, Iruma was right about this.

[Iruma was then interrupted by another demon. “Hey, you.” The demon called.]

Iruma could only laugh awkwardly at that first interaction.

“Azz-Azz? What are you doing?” Clara asked with an unease that refused to go away.

“Wait. Clarin, you didn’t know?” Lied asked, genuinely surprised by this.

“I was…” She thought back to those three that used her as a free ‘whatever you want card. “Playing…” She said uncharacteristically seriously.

Iruma knew what she was talking about. He didn’t like it, neither did Azz.

[However, before Clara could have an answer, Asmodeus and Iruma were now in the courtyard. Iruma was shaking with fear. ‘I couldn’t refuse and went with him… but wait… i-is he going to eat me?’ was what he asked to himself.]

Azz felt extremely sick at the mere thought, he would like to go back in time and punch himself for letting Iruma-sama even have such a fear.

[A fireball was suddenly thrown Iruma’s way, he barely dodged. “I am Asmodeus.” The demon presented himself.]

“Eeeeh?!” Clara screamed.

“Huh?” Bachiko deadpanned.

“W-Wha?” Shiida stuttered.

“So it was true…” Robin confirmed to himself.

Balam couldn’t blame them for the confusion, after seeing their relationship when he met Iruma, he was astonished when he realized they were the same from the duel.

Azz would pretty much appreciate it if the earth decided to swallow him right now.

[The fear had turned off Iruma’s brain as he asked instead of a rational question. “Are you going to eat me?”]

“Stop making comments like that!” Kalego snapped.

“Yeah, are you trying to be found out?” Purson had to agree, that was probably the worst thing to say.

[Asmodeus seemed not to pay it any mind though. “I was supposed to give that speech.” His voice radiated hatred. “You… you were obviously asked to give the speech out of the chair-demon’s favoritism!”]

Nothing of this made any sense to Clara, she didn’t like seeing this, so she braced herself and asked. “Azz-Azz, do… do you not really like Iruma-chi?”

Everyone was in disbelief for these words, Bachiko hadn’t spoken almost at all with Asmodeus, but even she could tell how much he appreciated Iruma.

To the ones in Babyls though, if you were to tell them that the one speaking like that to Iruma was NOT Asmodeus, but an identity supplanting alien, they would have an easier time believing it.

Clara wanted to believe that it was wrong of her to think that, but she had also thought that… (“They would never…” ‘Actually, they totally would…’)

Azz wanted to be offended by such a question, to scream at her for being stupid enough to actually consider that… but it was obvious how it pained her to ask such a thing.

“If you truly thought that, you are even dumber than I thought.” It came of not even half as aggressive as usual.

It was enough to comfort Clara, just barely.

[“Even the spell was his idea, wasn’t it?! T-This is so frustrating…!” Iruma had a bad feeling. Asmodeus did not care. “I even had these clothes made just for today! After you stole my moment of glory, I have the right to see if you are worth of it. Don’t you think so?” he threatened Iruma, who was somehow more surprised to see the students cheering on. “They are having a blast! Why are all these students…”]

“It’s not everyday something like this happens, you know?” Lied justified.

“My money was on Asmodeus-dono that time.” Goemon joined.

[“I called them.”]

“Eh? You called them Asmodeus?” Elizabetta questioned.

Azz didn’t want to look at… anyone at the face right now. He had been blinded by rage that day, the previous day he had prepared thoroughly, and he felt robbed, but…

[“Come on… in front of everyone, prove to me that you’re superior with your body!” He said as he threw a fireball that caused a big explosion. The students around cheered loudly. Asmodeus continued to launch attacks nonstop.]

“Such an amazing power for a first year!” Robin exclaimed. It was probably on pair with the third years.

“Iruma-sama truly is incredible! He achieved victory without receiving a single hit! Truly something only Iruma-sama could do!” Azz bragged about his friend, really, he had made the duel to have everything in his favor, yet he lost.

Clara was confused looking back and forth at the Azz-Azz on the screen and the one here, were they really the same demon?

Ameri could understand Asmodeus change. Iruma had the capability to make those around him change as well as him, it was something she admired of him, and how the misfit class managed to get the royal one after all.

[“That’s Asmodeus for you! No other newbie could handle fireballs like that! Asmodeus really planned this well. It’s more like a public execution than a fight!” the students commented on the one-sided offensive. “He’s amazing, but…” “He missed all of them.”]

“Of course my attacks wouldn’t be able to hit Iruma-sama, truly he’s capable of dodging anything!” Azz was now shading proud tears.

It was curious to Iruma how he seemed so tense just a few moments before the duel started, yet now he seemed to be back at his usual self, it was a relief.

[Iruma could be seen barely dodging the fire that came in his direction, while he tried to get Asmodeus’ attention. “Hey, wai- calm down!” now he was crouching on the ground, the “duel” continued. “Why, you…” Asmodeus muttered as he threw yet another fireball. Iruma kept dodging. ‘I can’t hit him!’ Finally realized the aggressive demon, he didn’t stop though.]

“Iruma-chi, dodge!” Clara screamed suddenly before throwing a ball of paint.

Both Iruma and Azz, more than used to her antics just moved their heads to the side before she even finished talking and the ball went straight to the ground.

“Ooooh, nice dodge!” She said with a thumbs up. Everyone looked at this with amusement.

Kalego had enough with the memories, he didn’t need more things happening now.

[Both challenger and challenged were panting on the ground. “Iruma managed to avoid all the attacks for 20 minutes.” Asmodeus getting frustrated. “You bastard… why can’t I hit you?!” He asked his opponent, his usual composure gone. Iruma could only apologize in fear. “I’m sorry… I’m sorry!”]

“So he refused to listen huh?” Sabnock directly accused Asmodeus. It was the same as when he refused to escape the monster in Walter park after nearly dying and knowing it was way out of their league.

Alice had to agree there. He had realized at the execution cannonball that he had only thought of himself, but it had taken him even longer to break that habit.

(He… He HAD broken that habit, right?)

The whole misfit class, down to the ones that had fought that day agreed on something, it felt unnatural to hear Azz speak like that about Iruma.

[“How did he managed to do such feat? It’s all due to his bad luck.” The narrator explained. The scene changed to memory of a baby Iruma being used as bait for fishing.]

“Huh?” Even the carefree Lied, the cheerful Robin, the inexpressive Opera and the spiteful Kalego were left aghast by the image.

“Th-They’re…” Elizabetta was at a complete loss for words, and for what Kamui considered the first time in his life, he too was speechless.

“Using Iruma as…” Ameri was too angry to even finish the thought. As the student council president, it was her duty to look out for the students, as a sempai, it was her duty to look out for the underclasses, and she just cared a lot for Iruma, so seeing them disrespect all her values in only one picture was...

“Fishing bait… how… how dare they…!” Azz felt nothing but burning hatred for them and his distaste for fish got to a low he didn’t even think possible.

Clara was just growling at the sight of Iruma-chi’s parents. She hated them. Hated them!

[Now the memory changed to a kid Iruma with a little backpack and a net facing nervously a bear four times his size. “After living through hell because of his parents,”]

“So that was it!” Lied suddenly exclaimed. He had wondered for a while how Iruma came to have such attitude at the harvest festival.

(“The points can come later!” Had ordered that time Iruma. “First we have to turn this forest into our home!”)

“Huh?” Iruma was surprised by this sudden intervention.

“I honestly thought that you prepared that way for the harvest festival as a part of the training.” Lied confessed to him.

“What kind of training did you think I gave him?!” Bachiko screamed offended.

Lied thought back to all the errands they made and said shaking. “I’d rather not say.”

“Huh?!”

[Now the flashback was the same as at the start of the episode, where Iruma was running in fear, and then back to him dodging fish on the boat. “He became an expert of avoiding anything that is dangerous, painful or terrifying.”]

Balam knew it wasn’t normal for demons to care much about others, but to literally build an automatic system in their own son’s mind through trauma… they were somehow, worse than demons.

Kerori considered her family to be cold, but this was beyond that, it was awful.

[Back at the present moment, Iruma wanted to escape his situation as fast as possible. “Now I can apologize…”]

“Apologize?” Azz didn’t understand why Iruma should apologize when he hadn’t been disrespectful in any way.

“It’s the most efficient way to end things fast.” Allocer understood. If the conflict raised from Asmodeus feeling stolen from, then if he conceded, he would be able to retire.

“Yeah.” Agares agreed, as he was far from a hard worker, he would do whatever took less effort and just be done with it.

[A diagram of Iruma was shown. “His attack points are null, but his defense is infinite. If that power had a name, it would be: “Overwhelming Crisis Evasion Capability.” For good or bad, Iruma is a completely harmless human!”]

Iruma deadpanned. He did not think his dodging abilities needed to be named.

Azz was proud of the name of such a unique ability.

“Overwhaling?” It was too long for Clara.

No one even bothered to correct her.

‘Zero attack huh?’ Bachiko noticed, that wasn’t the case anymore, she knew, he had his bow and her teachings now.

[Iruma started speaking. “Hey, I’m sorry…” But the students spoke louder. “Iruma is awesome.” “He hasn’t attacked a single time.” “Is he saying he’s not worth his time?”]

Sabro knew that was not the case, just like with the guardian, if Iruma could overcome a threat without fights he would, and the people around would follow, it was one of his rival’s greatest strengths.

[“Are you saying that I’m not even worth of your attacks?” Asmodeus felt the words of the other students get to him more than Iruma’s.]

‘The same problem as always’ Kalego noticed. He knew he had to be more aware of his surroundings, he hoped that would happen sooner than later.

[Iruma tried to deny it with all his might. “No, no, no! I’m no more than a miserable insect!” He tried to excuse.]

“A little advice Iruma-kun. If someone’s mad at being treated as lower than you, you don’t downplay yourself.” Jazz decided to pick a bit of fun to his friend.

“That!... Actually makes sense!” Iruma admitted, without any arguments to refute it.

[The students picked up on that weak spot and used it. “That means you’re lower than an insect!” “Why don’t you run away, coward?” “Yeah! You tell him!” They added fuel to the fire. Iruma tried to deny the claims. “Y-You’ve got it all wrong!”]

“Told you.”

“Now!” Iruma retorted.

[Asmodeus stood back up saying. “How dare you?” Then prepared a fire sword. “If magic doesn’t work, I’ll use martial arts!” he announced as he sprinted towards Iruma. “I’ll tear you apart!”]

“I don’t think that’s how it works Azz-Azz.” Lied expressed.

“Of course not.” Azz answered, this surprised many of his classmates who expected a cold response. “Iruma-sama would never fall for an attack like that!” With that they were brought back to reality.

Lied decided to leave it be.

[Iruma just moved to the side while keeping Asmodeus’ momentum. More details were given by the narrator. “He can use his opponent’s strength to parry their attacks. Another part of his Overwhelming Crisis Evasion Capability.” Asmodeus kept running blinded by rage in Eiko’s direction. “Eiko!” Gaako screamed.]

Honestly, Azz had forgotten about that part. He never apologized for that incident, perhaps he should the next time they have an Iruma meeting.

“Talk about the wrong place at the wrong time” Purson said with a dry tone.

“It could be worse” Kamui added.

For some reason she seemed familiar to Ameri.

[‘He’s going to hit that student! He’s blind from rage-’ Iruma noticed and immediately turned around to stop him. “Watch out!” He screamed.]

‘Of course that’s when he jumps in’ Ameri thought, lacking any real surprise. It was just like Iruma to put himself in front of someone in danger, at Walter park, at the harvest festival and even at the first day of school in the netherworld.

No one was surprised by this, even if Kalego was convinced such attitude would only get him killed trying to carry everything himself. At least now, he understood where that came from.

[He grabbed Asmodeus by the hips, but the momentum was too strong to stop it by himself, he noticed this, when the two of them lost balance.

‘We’re gonna fall!’ but just as he thought this, the forbidden spell activated.

The sword missed Eiko and instead crashed into the ground. Dali-sensei’s words resonated through the screen. “If it goes well, you won’t trip or fall for the day.”]

“I’m confident that is not how you avoid drawing attention to yourself.” Purson said.

“I know!” said back an exasperated Iruma.

‘He could’ve done nothing.’ Kerori thought grimly.

‘That would have drawn almost all the attention on Asmodeus with a negative perception.’ But of course, Iruma, the human who needed to not be found out, couldn’t let that unknown demon that could eat him get hurt.

[The student council arrived after the clash. “What happened?” “A duel on the first day?” “What are they doing?” The students were perplexed. “Those who witnessed the duel that day would later say…”]

Azz knew what it was, he had read that day’s newspaper at least six hundred and sixty-six times, and he agreed.

“Yes, it was an absolutely perfect…”

[“…German Supplex.” The narrator finished in synchrony with Azz as it showed Iruma with his feet on the ground bending back with Asmodeus hitting the ground. The students cheered.]

“Truly perfect!” Sullivan exclaimed.

“Yes, indeed truly perfect!” So did Azz

“It was an accident?!” This surprised Robin, who only knew it had happened.

“Hard to believe.” Shiida murmured.

[‘I’m finished…’ Thought Iruma. When the newspaper got published, the biggest article was. “Chanting a forbidden spell at the entrance ceremony. Gave the head of the class a concussion. Behold, the thoroughbred honor student Iruma’s amazing attack!”]

Bachiko was having the time of her life. “Ha, ha, ha! Nice going dumbass!” She laughed.

Kerori was clenching her hands hard, Iruma noticed, but couldn’t find anything to say, for a couple different reasons.

[Kerori was clenching her hands hard on the newspaper.]

“Oh, Kerori, what’s wrong?” Elizabetta asked.

“Huh?! I-I-” Kerori stuttered when she realized something, this is probably going to show Iruma finding out about her.

Ameri noticed her uneasy and said. “If it’s too private you don’t have to tell.”

“A-alright, thanks.” She sighed a breath of relief. The other misfits were concerned.

[At Sullivan’s office, he and Iruma were having a conversation. “I’d expect nothing less from my grandson. You have a great future ahead!” he told a panicked Iruma. “What am I going to do? I did something terrible! I have to…!” He was afraid]

“Y-You? Iruma-sama, I issued the duel and I lost fair and square.” Azz felt conflicted, on the one hand he knew it was because he ended up hurt.

But on the other hand, it felt like an insult to his decisions.

[No one either onscreen or outside had time to say anything more because Asmodeus abruptly entered the chair-demon’s office. This caused Iruma to let out a scream. Asmodeus walked up to him and Iruma scared said. “A-Asmodeus-kun…” The former one prepared a gesture and Iruma covered himself.]

The view of Iruma shielding himself from one of his closest friends was unnerving to everyone, they didn’t know what to say, SHOULD they even say anything if things between those two had ended like that?

[Instead of any sign of aggression, he was met by Asmodeus kneeling to him. “Huh?” Iruma was really confused. “I am at your service, Iruma-sama!” Proclaimed the previously aggressive demon. “Huh?” Iruma was no longer scared, but still really confused.]

“Naturally.” Stated Azz, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“That has to be the fastest hundred eighty turn I’ve ever seen.” Commented Lied.

Iruma could only laugh awkwardly, he was with Lied on this one.

“Azz-Azz!” Clara exclaimed, the Asmodeus onscreen being a lot more like the one she knew.

[“I have no objection to my defeat in the duel.” Explained Asmodeus. “I even heard you carried me to the infirmary. I, Asmodeus was moved beyond words.” Iruma tried to say anything to him. “Huh? Uh, I…” He failed. “Demon law dictates that the loser must serve the victor.”]

“Which is precisely the reason so many demons refuse to have duels in the first place.” Sullivan actually explained to Iruma.

“Oh…” Iruma muttered, if that was true, Azz-kun really was ready to serve him if he proved himself, that brought a little smile to Iruma.

[“Therefore…” Asmodeus raised his head, Iruma was too shocked. “I’ll do anything in my hand to help you conquer the school!” Asmodeus said with a much cheerful tone and a smile.]

“Yaaaay! Go, go, Iruma-chi go!” Clara rooted them.

“I-I don’t think that’s…” Shiida was suddenly interrupted by Kalego.

“Don’t.” He only said that.

Shiida decided to stop.

[“H-Hold on!” Iruma tried to stop him to no avail. “Let’s start with making the entire student body your servants.” Asmodeus continued happily.]

“He’s got more support by the staff than the students.” Kalego remembered the Royal one incident.

[Iruma let out a scream louder than the ones before. Asmodeus proceeded to ask. “Iruma-sama, who shall I slay first? Please give me your orders.” Asmodeus requested as Sullivan and Opera peeked from behind.

“Iruma-kun, can I make this the main picture on the school’s website?” Sullivan asked. “Please don’t!” Iruma begged. “Iruma Suzuki, fourteen years old. Entered the demon school Babyls and got his first subordinate.” In the end Iruma managed to scream. “No!”]

“I see it and I don’t believe it, Iruma saying no!” Jazz exaggerated.

“Well, I do.” Lied proclaimed remembering how they didn’t arrive at a conclusion on who was the little brother.

Brother…

He was the one to address the elephant in the room.

“I-Iruma.” He called, his voice shaking.

“Eh, what’s wrong Lied?” Iruma asked somehow looking calmer than any demon in the room.

Clara was clinging to him. Azz was eyeing them with suspicious eyes. Lied couldn’t blame them, but he was his friend and brother too.

“You… You are not afraid of us, are you?” he managed to ask.

It would be logical of Iruma to say that he was, or maybe try to hide it, Kalego thought, but it was obvious to him that…

“W-Well, are you going to eat me?” He seemed more uncomfortable at asking the question than at the actual chances.

“N-No!” Answered the whole misfit class at the same time. “Of course not!” Lied reassured him.

“Nononononononono!” Clara was repeating while nudging her head on his back.

“I could never-” Ameri couldn’t even finish that disgusting thought.

“Then the same goes for me.” Iruma finished with a smile. Kalego truly considered him to have lost his mind.

“Ah, I see, thanks.” Lied said, he didn’t seem convinced nor did the other students, even Clara and Alice were looking at him with worry. He noticed, he couldn’t bring himself to say anything, if this showed events from the whole last year, then he had time to let them re-adjust.

Kalego silently looked at Balam, who just nodded, so everyone is being honest. That somehow surprised and was obvious at the same time to both teachers.

Bachiko noticed how the three teachers that didn’t know hadn’t answered yet, she was going to confront them but…

“Kalego-sensei, how are we supposed to teach a human? Do we still apply the no exceptions rule?” Robin asked.

“If possible, I would prefer if he wasn’t hurt” Shiida said.

“Silence.” Kalego said. “We have to act and manage the situation carefully.” Making an enemy out of Sullivan was a bad idea, and even if Iruma was human, Kalego had his principles as a teacher and a pact with Iruma.

A pact-!

Seeing how the teachers were interacting on their own, Bachiko relaxed a bit. She wasn’t really worried about her cousin, but the other two were a different tale.

And so, with a bit of insecurity from the students, the next chapter started.

Sukima:

[“Iruma-sama, you can ask me anything.” Asmodeus was telling Iruma. “A-Alright, but I don’t need anything now.”]

“If not for the context, this could literally be anytime!” Jazz joked.

“I am always ready to serve Iruma-sama!” Azz replied with a wide smile.

[Eiko was on a corner, watching them. “Iruma-san saved me.”]

That was true, Azz remembered, he still had to apologize to her, but how?

“Oh, I never checked if she was alright after that. I should speak with her.” Iruma realized.

Iruma getting closer to yet another woman? Ameri was getting quite furious.

[“I would like to thank him and get closer to him…”]

‘Huh?!’ Ameri refrained from screaming, just barely. She would not allow that.

Perhaps Azz could help her with that, as an apology.

[Asmodeus looked in her direction with a mad look, leaving Iruma confused, and Eiko with a heart attack. “Is something wrong?” Iruma asked him. “I just felt a presence.” Asmodeus explained.]

He really should do that as an apology, shouldn’t he?

[“Scary. He’s so scary, oh my gosh, he’s scary.” “Will she be able to thank Iruma? You can do it Eiko-chan!”]

“I feel kind of bad now.” Iruma said awkwardly.

“Not fair!” All the boys screamed.

The adults sighed for several reasons.

Ameri had only one thought right now.

‘Good riddance, Asmodeus!’

Chapter Text

[A few cacti could be seen next to a window and there were thunders outside.]

Kalego recognized the place, it was his own home, but he was too angry to even care.

Do not make a mistake, it wasn’t Iruma, the human with the pact he was angry at, he could understand why he didn’t tell him or act like that.

Neither was he mad at Balam for taking part in this hiding Iruma’s nature thing, it made sense for him to want to protect a living being, especially a rare specimen, more so he had talked with him about it, to protect Babyls’ student Iruma, he had refused an answer from Balam about the peace disturbing human Iruma.

No, who he was really mad at was the random, do things on a whim, chair-demon. The only one capable of bringing a human to the netherworld for seemingly no reason!

[Kalego was looking at the newspaper, a black cat peeked through the window.]

“Oh, Kalego-sensei, this seems to be about you! Think you’re gonna have some secret exposed?” Teased Robin, whose mind worked in a simpler way than Kalego’s, Iruma was a student, and there were no exceptions to students.

To Kalego, anyone who threatened the peace of Babyls was an enemy, but at the same time, he understood that Iruma was dragged.

Still, it wasn’t good that he became attached, and trying to get rid of him by force would result in listing as enemies at least two of the thirteen crowns and one of them being one of the three greats. To say the situation had to be treated carefully was an understatement, the easiest solution would be to keep this in the dark while convincing the other two greats to take hands in the matter, but there was no proof and if they refused…

Little to nothing could be done.

It was unnatural of him, but for the first time Kalego pondered on the option of letting it be in the dark, at least for now.

[Kalego was preparing for the day. “Today the new students will summon their familiars. You better be prepared. Iruma” Kalego said in an almost threatening tone.]

Iruma deadpanned at the memory of how Kalego hadn’t even tried to hide his dislike for him.

Jazz was about to mock Kalego for becoming Iruma’s familiar in the end, he turned to the professor and...

Kalego’s face looked deadly serious, not the usual malice of not being able to deal with them, but rather the same dark look that he had when he denied them the royal one at first, but then it changed to his usual disapproval.

Shivering, Jazz turned back to the screen, not really understanding what was going on.

Bachiko noticed as well, she didn’t trust that look at all, Balam was worried for his companion.

Kalego resigned, after not seeing any viable options, to, for now, wait and see without acting any different, he could figure what to do with the full picture once they end, right now he needed information to proceed.

Shiida remembered how Iruma had been a target that almost costed them being found out. Was Baal aware of…?

[The mirror cracked.]

Lied, who wasn’t aware of that interaction, decided to crack a joke.

“Well, we know at least where that bad luck came from!” He mocked, expecting Kalego to get utterly mad.

“Bad luck?” Robin asked confused about what they were talking about.

“Oh, I forgot we didn’t tell you.” Commented Purson, he did not elaborate though.

“Didn’t tell me? So you know something! Is this not another secret then?” He concluded.

Kalego just sighed.

“Kalego-sensei?” Goemon asked surprised by the attitude of the professor.

“Eh?” He was brought back to reality, his students had noticed him, that was not good at all.

“Is something wrong?” Asked Kerori who knew this wasn’t normal for him.

“It’s nothing, I’m just tired.” He lied smoothly, Balam decided to go along with him.

“I understand that, I am too.” Agares mentioned.

“You have been resting for half the previous episode.” Allocer counter argued.

[The scene now changed to what seemed to be a memory of Iruma with her mother.]

Clara, the same instant Iruma-chi’s mother appeared, clinged to Iruma-chi while hissing like a cat.

Azz’s face became devoid of joy as well while imagining the different ways he would like Iruma’s parents to get retribution for their actions.

Ameri was thinking about what kind of punishment would be the most fit for them.

Iruma cringed at their appearance.

No one was giving them a kind look.

[“You are a really good kid Iruma.” His mother praised while patting him on the head.]

That was at least one thing Elizabetta could agree. “He truly is.”

“Right? Right?” Bopped Sullivan.

‘It’s something normal for a parent to say.’ Ameri thought, although for some reason it made her uncomfortable.

Jazz and Allocer could tell there was something wrong, their experience with Furfur told them that much.

Shiida was used to scheming, she just waited for the other shoe to drop.

[“You always do what we tell you.” She “praised”.]

‘There it is.’ Though Bachiko who hadn’t bought that sweet tone for even one moment.

Doing as you were told could be the right decision sometimes, Sabro knew this, especially when someone far more experienced instructed you, but to bring only that as a good characteristic was like praising a servant for their efficiency, rather than an individual for their traits.

[Iruma was just smiling innocently, happy to see his mother happy.]

For some reason, Ameri thought back on when she first asked Iruma for his dreams.

(“Until now I only thought about what other people wanted…”)

What a way to rot a memory.

[Then his father appeared, he had a lot of boxes behind him. “Iruma, could you move these boxes?” He requested of his son.]

Opera liked to take advantage of a blind spot in a deal of any kind, so Opera noticed how he hadn’t asked for help at moving the boxes, but rather moving them all on his own.

“Treating Iruma-sama like a servant… how could they!” Azz said while sobbing dramatically.

To Robin, this kind of seemed irrelevant, a lot of parents gave duties to their children to help them be more independent. It was only distasteful due to the added context.

Sabnock had done mundane work like that with his brother, and even his father, but that seemed a bit too much for a little child.

“Doesn’t that look like too much?” Lied asked voicing the doubt his classmate had.

[Iruma went fast and excitedly told his dad. “Of course!” with a big smile on his face.]

“Well…” Ameri started. “He does help just as much the school body, so perhaps we should see it as an experience?” Ameri suggested, looking really unsure of it.

Iruma remembered this dream and how he wished the stuff they asked him were that simple.

[Then next to a part of the room that had bottles, cans and papers everywhere the parent continued. “Can you clean after that?”]

“Huh?” muttered the confused Kerori.

[Iruma, already with the proper tools in hand replied. “Of course!”]

To Clara, this was a situation she was unfortunately familiar with. They only kept him around because he was useful and then got rid of him because they didn’t want to be with him.

She felt like throwing another vending machine, the question was. ‘One for each or the same for the two?’

[Then his mother added. “And then the bathroom?”]

Bachiko felt this sting with a familiarity she hated to admit.

[Again with proper tools in hand, he said. “Of course!”]

She too, had used Iruma as errand boy, and she didn’t like to see any resemblance between her and such scumbags.

Wait, there was also Lied, wasn’t he?

[It was now the father the one patting Iruma. “You’re such a good boy, Iruma.” He praised.]

Such fake sweetness was something Kamui, as a gentleman, could not stand.

[“In that case…” He let go of Iruma, who wondered with a curious look what was going on as now both parents spoke together. “Can we sell you to a demon?” They said while still smiling.]

‘Thank you.’ This was probably the only thing Iruma was grateful to them.

“Of course not!” Shiida exploded. For as seriously as she treated her duties as one of the six fingers, she didn’t want them to get injured.

Kalego agreed with Shiida, truly, but…

That idiot literally did not know how to deny someone.

[The background turned dark, Sullivan could be seen with a menacing look and scary presence.

Only now Iruma stuttered. “O-Of…” Sullivan smirked.]

“Wait, wait!” Lied screamed. “This is going too fast! That was not how…”

“So, it’s a dream then.” Agares stated. He was more familiar than anybody with the tendency of dreams to jump from one thing to another.

“A-ah…” Toned himself down Lied, it made sense, but a clue would’ve been nice.

[Iruma then woke up screaming. “Of course not!”]

‘If only you said that to them…’ Seriously, Kalego considered that the only reason the whole thing had gotten so out of control was because when in time to stop it, Iruma hadn’t put any limits.

“Were they the same at home, Iruma-kun?” Jazz had a bad feeling about this, but if they resembled his brother to that point, at least Iruma and him could cooperate.

“I only went home a few times, so I’m not really sure myself.” He said nonchalantly.

Then he noticed how everyone save for Sullivan and that meant from the gloomiest and most indifferent, to the one most cheerful and carefree demon were looking at him that screamed “Ridiculous” into his head.

“O-only a f-few times…?” muttered Goemon, who clearly couldn’t understand anything right now.

“In fourteen years…?” Balam shot the next question, he knew Iruma had managed to adapt fine to the netherworld, but if since he was a baby, Iruma had only been a couple times at home, that implied…

[“Eh?” Iruma muttered upon waking up in his new bed, he then remembered what had happened. “That’s right, I…”]

Azz understood the implications, not even having a home and having to go by himself from one place to another, it was basically growing up in the wild. He could feel a murderous intent crawling up on him.

Clara didn’t understand what that meant, but what she heard was bad enough to make her feel the same.

Both of them were clenching their teeth.

Kalego remembered how Iruma himself had acknowledged being too desensitized from fear until others got in danger too, he REALLY was too used to it.

Lied wasn’t taking it much better, those two were messed up on a scale of their own.

[Regardless of the fears of the past Iruma or the emotions of the present spectators, Sullivan slammed open the door screaming. “Good morning, my dear grandson!” A close up on Sullivan happened while he continued to speak. “Your grandpa is here.” The narrator picked up a summary of Sullivan. “This is Sullivan. A demon” Iruma greeted back. “G-Good morning.”]

Ameri could only describe the irony of being better off in the netherworld, with your predators being everywhere than at his world with those of his kind, was “depressing.”

She was definitely not the kind to lower her head, but had it been her, she would probably had avoided as much contact as possible.

“Hm?” Balam noticed something peculiar. Sullivan’s hands… were hurt, what could it be strong enough to actually harm one of the great three?

[Iruma seemed like he wanted to say something. “U-um… grandpa?” he started.]

Sullivan marveled at the sound of that word.

[Sullivan marveled at the sound of that word. “What a beautiful word.” Iruma now seemed to be awkward, but at least he was smiling this time around. ‘I am now the grandson of a demon.’]

“You should stop thinking like that.” Bachiko advised Iruma.

“Yes, the sooner you get it, the easier to everyone here.” Purson told him. It was enough knowing, they didn’t need a constant reminder.

“No.” Bachiko said, it was actually for the best that he remained conscious of that fact but… “It would be dangerous if someone was to put an honesty spell or similar while he is thinking that.” If he was worried about that, even relax tea would do.

“And your more proper to slips of the tongue if thinking about that.” Kerori added, as a dem-dol she knew this on a deeper level than the other around.

“Oh, I see, I see!” Took notes Robin.

[Iruma’s face, although still smiling, seemed a lot more uneasy when remembering that fact. “This is Iruma Suzuki, he’s fourteen years old. He’s a miserable boy whose parents sold him to a demon.”]

Allocer considered the narrator objectively wrong, a lot of things could be considered miserable in this situation, but Iruma was not one of them.

“Miserable…” Sabnock pondered aloud, perhaps at the time that was correct, after all, he had done nothing but accept whatever order was thrown his way with no ambition at all. The Iruma from right here seemed to have changed a lot.

[They were now in the dining room, Opera was serving the food and Sullivan started a little chat.

“Did you sleep well?” He asked with a light smile, to which Iruma could reply with a little bit more of naturality.

“Y-Yes.” He still was pretty nervous thought.

“Don’t hold yourself back, eat as much as you want. You’re still a growing boy.” The demon gave permission to Iruma, who replied with an “Okay.” And prepared to eat.]

“This feels more like I imagined Iruma.” Lied admitted.

“That’s what I thought as well.” Followed Elizabetta.

“So did I! What a coincidence isn’t that right?!” Kamui used the chance to speak.

“Hey! I said it first, don’t leave me out!”

“That’s what everyone thought.” Said flatly and in a cold tone Kerori, who knew this could go long. Both guys gasped and conceded the point.

Iruma was seeing, just happy that everyone is the same as usual.

[‘Although it takes courage to taste the netherworld’s food,’]

“It takes courage? What do you refer to with that Iruma-sama?” Azz tried to understand better the true nature of Iruma, because no matter if human or demon, it had been Iruma’s heart what truly made Iruma unique for him, such strength of heart, by the little examples they had seen of humans, was not all that common for humans either.

Besides that, he had sworn loyalty to Iruma on multiple occasions, and Alice Asmodeus was a demon that respected decorum over anything else.

“It’s just that I wasn’t used to how it looks.” Answered Iruma without breaking a sweat, really, now that the secret was out, at most he felt awkward about those first days.

Robin perked up on the topic and invited himself. “Just the looks then? You don’t have any problem with the taste or aftereffects, right?” He was trying to get as much useful information on the student as possible.

“Effects?” Shiida questioned, then panicked. “You don’t get hurt when eating, do you?!” She asked with genuine concern, she had given him ice cream that time, she would feel horrible if that was truly bad for him.

[The past Iruma finished his thoughts before his present self could answer. ‘it’s really good though’.]

Seeing how he was eating so happily, Shiida breathed a sigh of relief.

Balam decided to clear any possible misunderstanding. “As for aftereffects, I have confirmed no symptoms are noticeable.” He confirmed, to which everyone seemed calmer.

“Oi, if it was bad for him in any way, then all he has to do is not eat it.” Bachiko added, considering this discussion pointless.

Opera shuddered, even if it was bad for him, he would still eat it, it was the same Iruma that used all of the ingredients and refused to discard even the eggshells. That monster they tried to call food still chased Opera in nightmares.

For only one moment Kalego’s mind stopped analyzing scenes, for Opera-senpai looked completely defeated, he let himself enjoy that little moment.

[Iruma then started eating with a delighted face and thought about how he had been eating by now. ‘I’ve never been able to take my time with the food… how yummy. I need to eat while I still can.’ Those were his thoughts while gulping down the food.]

‘Feels like the instincts of a wild animal.’ Balam realized, to take each and every chance to eat, it didn’t feel natural.

“While you still can…?” Kamui muttered aloud.

“It somehow keeps getting worse.” Criticized Jazz.

Clara was feeling disgusted, that sounded like Iruma-chi wasn’t gonna eat again.

Azz didn’t even know where to start addressing such statement.

[Opera came with a drink for Iruma. “Here is some Hell Grey tea.” Iruma took it and thanked Opera. “Oh, thank you very much.” He started to drink, when Sullivan told him. “Today will be your first school day.” The reminder shocked Iruma so hard that he spilled his tea.]

“You forgot?” Elizabetta was the one to ask.

“I get it.” Lied said. “It’s one of those things you just don’t stop to think about. Happened to me too, I almost got late that day.” He joked, though the truth was that that day, he had considered taking a lazy day and skipping school, but then remembered that they were supposed to summon familiars and decided to go.

“You seriously can’t focus on anything but your games, huh?” Reprimanded Bachiko, that was the exact reason demons never finished her lessons.

Lied wasn’t sure whether to get mad at such comment after Robin’s training, or laugh awkwardly at such honesty.

[The scene changed to a view of Babyls. “Exactly. Iruma assists the demon school Babyls as Sullivan’s grandson.” The narrator summarized. Iruma was sweating bullets and had gone pale. ‘I don’t want to go…’ he was begging in his mind.]

Iruma was now glad to go to school, so much that if you now told him that Babyls seemed like a scary place, he would chuckle and say that you were imagining things.

What would have done Asmodeus had Iruma truly decided not to come? He had been waiting for hours for him, so he didn’t know.

Kalego was wondering what exactly had pushed him to actually attend.

[‘If they find out I’m human, the demons could eat me!’ He continued to fear.]

Lied couldn’t take this anymore. “Alright, I feel I need to ask! Why exactly are humans considered food?!” He shouted more to let out the Idea that he didn’t understand than expecting an actual answer.

“Dunno, never cared much for it.” Bachiko answered, she had her own business to take care of thank you very much.

This answer, however, only infuriated him more. “You student is a human! And you knew it! You should care a bit more!”

Ameri notice something peculiar, here was Lied, a common demon screaming furiously at one of the thirteen crowns for not caring about someone else, such thing usually should be insane to even imagine.

Bachiko smirked, noticing this as well. “Then surprise quiz! Who knows the reason?” she asked bluntly.

The human in question could take a guess, but was the effects of his blood the only reason…?

[“I wanted to tell you something…” He tried to tell Sullivan of his fear.]

Iruma’s thoughts were cut off by Sabro. “Is a proof of status.” He affirmed, confident in his answer. “Not only are they extremely rare in the netherworld to the point of being considered a myth. But also, a way to demonstrate superiority to other species.” He explained his theory.

“Dunno about that.” Lied was trying his best to calm down. “I honestly until now I just thought that they were like… some kind of… exotic animal, you know? Not so… like Iruma…” The end felt more uncomfortable.

“Me too.” Jazz admitted.

“I didn’t think anything.” Clara stated proudly.

Balam found that strange. “Really? I covered them in my fantastical creatures classes.”

“Sorry, we weren’t really paying attention.” Goemon said casually.

“I was trying to sleep.” Agares didn’t even bothered.

Azz sighed at the lot of them, so did Shiida.

“Well,” He noticed how things would be bad for everyone if they kept coming with their own theories, so… “I think it’s not a good thought to discuss right now.” He said.

All of them tensed and turned to Iruma who reassured them. “It’s alright, really.” They decided it was not alright.

[“It’s about school…” Sullivan remembered the school and cut him off. “Ah, before that…” Opera was prepared and said “Yes.” And with a snap of the fingers, raised a curtain full of presents for Iruma.]

Jazz knew Iruma wouldn’t be capable of discarding such good intent, as opposed to his brother or to take such things regardless of the intent, like he could do. “So they bribed you, huh? And here I thought you were innocent like a child.” He joked.

“I-It’s not like that!” Iruma denied, now fully embarrassed. “I-It would be wrong of me to reject him that after he bought all that for me…!” He stuttered a bit, but everyone could see that it was mere embarrassment and not fear.

‘How cute!’ Sullivan considered that to be absolutely adorable, Ameri agreed, Kamui not so much.

[“I splurged a bit to celebrate you starting school!” Sullivan exclaimed with joy while showing the gifts.]

“A little?!” Kerori blurted, surprising even herself. That was indulgent, even by superstar standards.

“That is more material than requested chair-demon, it’s going to go to waste!” Robin considered such an exaggeration unnecessary.

“But Iruma needed it!” Pouted one of the most powerful demons in the netherworld.

[Iruma had a similar feeling to the professor. “All that? But you already gave me a lot of things yesterday…” he was honestly surprised.]

Jazz considered that in this case Iruma was worrying over nothing, the ones that let themselves be stolen are the losers, but here he was literally gifting it to him.

[But Sullivan acted as if it was the most normal thing in the world. “That was to celebrate you becoming my grandson. This is for entering school.” He explained in the sweetest tone possible.]

Azz could only nod and hum in approval, that was the only right way to treat Iruma-sama… unlike whatever the hell those two were.

“So many things!” Clara said nonchalantly, it was the same with her mommy when she was going out, maybe it was the same for every... no, no it wasn’t… but he was fine now with them.

‘It’s like my father.’ Ameri though sweetly, maybe their families were more similar…

Maybe their current families were more similar than she thought, that made her happy.

Meanwhile another bunch of demons were having a lot simpler thoughts.

“A…” Elizabetta started.

“A d-do…” Goemon followed.

“Doting…” Sabnock said.

[Iruma only said what they were all trying, with the exact same look of shock. “A doting grandfather!”]

Lied wasn’t all that surprised. Was it a lot? Of course, but Iruma had told him that when he asked for a game console to play with him, he almost got him six hundred and sixty-six, and that was truly doting on another level.

[Next moment, Sullivan took out a handkerchief with Iruma’s name sewn at hand. “Ta-dah! Opera and I made some embroidery! Well? What do you think?” He told Iruma.]

‘Ah.’ Balam realized what had hurt the chair-demon’s hands, it had been his efforts to do something of his own for Iruma, it was honestly a nice thought.

‘For him to take something so seriously.’ Kalego realized this was more than a mere whim, otherwise he would have made Opera take care of that. Did he actually have a motive for this? Or was he merely driven by affection, even in such a short time? He would have to observe him too.

“Kalego-kun, don’t you know it’s rude to stare at people like that.” Sullivan said without having turned to Kalego for even a single instant, but most of all, it was a warning to Kalego, his whole body felt it.

[Iruma was now getting more nervous. “I-It’s lovely…” He said as he tried to talk with his grandpa. Said grandpa just waved and said. “I’m not used to doing embroidery, but I had fun.” Iruma now noticed the injuries in his hands.]

Jazz was surprised with how even the great Sullivan had things he wasn’t good at.

Agares had a different opinion. “If you’re not used to it, then why not just buy a personalized one?” He asked the chair-demon.

“I just wanted him to have something made by me.” He said while wiggling.

“Yes, being hand-made has a unique charm!” Elizabetta stated, though it wasn’t in a romantic sort of way like she would expect, it was still precious.

“I agree with that.” Ameri proudly declared, it was the same as the cookies she worked so hard to gift Iruma, it made her heart flutter.

“Then why not something easier to make?” Suggested Lied who considered that the obvious thing to do.

“Iruma-kun said he didn’t want to draw attention, but I wanted it to be special! So that’s the only thing that I could come up with!!” Said Sullivan while tearing and sobbing dramatically.

Alice could understand Lied’s perspective, it might not look like it, but to anyone else he would do that and just get something that showed the Asmodeus family status and be done. However, to Iruma it had to be special, that’s why he fought so viciously against that fish until morning to provide Iruma-sama the best dish possible!

Clara was used to people asking her to give them things, so she could understand giving simple easy to take things, but their relationship was special, they were friends, so things should be special too.

[“And this too!” Sullivan took a beast-like clock and gave it to his grandson. “Here’s your hellraiser clock so you can get up in the morning without being late.” The clock started making noises, which let Iruma speechless, with an awkward face.]

Azz remembered seeing that hellraiser clock in a pretty good state, he seemed to have grown fond of it.

[“Tell me, what did you want to talk about?” He motioned Iruma to continue. He gasped in surprise at being reminded that he was trying to say something. “Well, u-um…”]

“Aaaand he’s gonna give in, isn’t he?” Purson knew how these initial fears and precautions ended up being useless to the now famous hero of Walter Park.

Allocer considered it a good thing that Iruma was scared, at least at first. Regardless of how… distasteful that was for them, fear was the primal survival instinct of all conscious beings.

Kalego thought about how Iruma seemed to be completely desensitized from danger, so it was… something, to at least know that at the bare minimum, he could still feel fear.

[“Is about school…” he started, Sullivan was waiting with a smile on his face. “School?” he waited for Iruma to continue. “Um, I…” “You?”  The situation repeated, and it did one again. “Uh…” “Hmm?”]

Bachiko could only facepalm at the exchange between those two, the attitude of Iruma was still a work in progress, but at least it had improved from THAT.

[Iruma couldn’t fight against that pure look of joy, he gave in. “I… want to go.” He received the clock and the narrator returned. “Yes, Iruma Suzuki is a total pushover.”]

“Even when they don’t ask alright.” Kerori murmured with a hint of irritation, that was why he always got MORE attention than HER, the DEM-DOL! She clenched her hands.

[Then at the entrance of the mansion, Iruma left. “Okay, I’m off.” It was brief. Sullivan was waving him off. “Have a good day!” He sounded a lot more enthusiastic than Iruma. “Take care.” Said Opera.]

“On foot?” noted Lied.

“Of course!” Alice jumped from his place. “Iruma-sama takes good care of his rou…tine…” He stopped himself as if realizing something.

“So, exercising, huh? Man, what a pain… eh? Azz-Azz?” Lied was puzzled as to what was so shocking to Asmodeus to have him that dumbfounded.

Sabnock was the first to tie the knots. “According to the stories, humans have a lack of wings and thus cannot fly.” He presented the knowledge.

“Eh?!”  exclaimed those who didn’t pay attention in classes.

“B-But what about the flying exam?! It was literally our first test!”

“That is… hard to explain.” Said Iruma himself, he still wasn’t sure of how those birds caught him.

Jazz tried to come up with a rational answer to that. “You-how- but…” He didn’t.

[Sullivan and Opera waited until Iruma was out of sight and when that happened, Opera asked the same question from the previous day hoping for a better response, Sullivan shrugged the question again and he pulled out a camera “It’s just that they’re cuter the more trouble they are. And now to follow him. I’ll film his first walk to school.” He said as he started walking.]

“Huh?” Iruma was surprised by the first time for the viewing, he had no idea that had happened. “You were following me, grandpa?” He asked without any real thought about it, it was surprising, that’s all.

“Chair-demon.” A voice calm, mature and serious addressed the demon. “May I have a copy of the video?” Azz requested of Sullivan.

“Asmodeus-kun.” Sullivan replied, with a focused stance. “As unfortunate as it is, that will not be possible.”

“Huh? May I know the reason why?”

“Because…”

Before their conversation with unmatching topic and tone could continue…

[They were both interrupted by Opera grabbing Sullivan by the suit and dragging him back to the mansion. “Today you’ll work from home.”]

“Opera is such a meanie!” Sullivan cried dramatically. Opera just sighed, refusing to say anything.

“Is that… normal?” Shiida, the least familiar with their dynamics, asked.

“Yeah, pretty much.” Robin exclaimed, with the supportive proof of everyone’s indifferent reaction to such weird scene.

[Sullivan tried to either escape or convince opera to let him go. He wiggled while screaming. “Wait! Opera!” he failed at both.]

“Now we know who wears the pants in the house.” Lied teased.

“I’ve never imagined the chair-demon not getting away with what he wants.” Goemon shared.

‘There was also the time at the student council.’ Iruma recalled.

‘Wait. My reputation as chair-demon is falling down! I gotta do something.’ Sullivan monologued internally, while Opera embraced for the worst.

[Iruma was walking to school with a gloomy look when some demons flew past him while singing the anthem. Iruma got a shiver up his spine.]

Azz didn’t even bother trying to hide his hostility towards anyone that scared Iruma like that, he would take measures. He thought that while failing to grasp the irony of how he had been one of the first to scare him even worse.

“Hm…” Lied was wondering something, seeing how Iruma appeared to have a bad impression about demons, he looked back at their first interaction in the misfit class, then to the others in the room first interaction with his brother. “Did anyone make a good first impression?” He asked, though the only one he didn’t know was Balam-sensei’s and funnily enough, Clarin’s.

“Oh, I did! I did!” Clara jolted.

“That was anything but a good impression!” Azz reproached, he still remembered how, even by Clara standards, that day she had been extremely chaotic and exhausting, even if at the time Iruma-sama had to remind him how it actually was their first meeting.

The green-haired demon brought forward her best deadpanned face and said. “Azz-Azz, you don’t get to say anything after yours.” She said this with a bit of spite and smirking, it was clear that Iruma-chi and she had gotten along the best from the very start.

“Gah!” Azz couldn’t refute that.

Balam looked a bit uncomfortable. “Well knowing the rumors about me, it is to be expected that mine wasn’t really… good.” He explained, although he seemed more embarrassed than anything else.

Asmodeus knew what it was.

[The demons were arriving at school and the trio of Haruno, Azuki and Konatsu by the door, when Ameri passed by greeting with a “Good morning.” To which the three of them replied with a greeting of their own. “Good morning president.”]

Lied eyed everyone and then got to a conclusion, paling with dread clear in his face. ‘So, somehow Clarin got the best impression?’ If that overbearing, chaotic girl was the top bar, things didn’t look really good.

“I think it is lovely to just be natural when you first meet. You’re showing yourself as you are after all.” Elizabetta placed her own opinion.

“Yes! I fully agree!” Exclaimed Kamui, and contrary to what one may believe he meant it. A gentleman should always be a gentleman, no matter to who or when.

Ameri considered that right as well, to pretend to be someone you are not, only to get in their good graces… that was an ideal, not an ambition, she herself had to be reminded of that last year.

Lied was about to shout in agreement to nee-san, but stopped after seeing the conflicted look on Iruma. ‘That’s right, for him…’

Iruma felt a pain in his chest, he thought it was good to be honest, he knew that there are people who lie to take benefit of others (He had his own amount of experience being lied to) but he didn’t like the thought that he had been lying to his friends this whole time.

Shiida felt frustrated, she couldn’t explain why.

As much as Jazz wanted to agree, things were never that easy in the outside world. Furfur had made SURE that he and Allocer would keep that in mind. Be it, to protect yourself, to make use of others or just to make connections, it was important to have a friendly and approachable front.

Allocer thought this did not apply to Iruma, who somehow managed to have that front while being entirely genuine.

“Not so sure about that, it could cause more problems than anything else to just be open about everything.” Added Kerori, thinking about her work.

“What she said.” Purson HAD to agree there, most of his life had been spent hiding away after all, even when there was so much he had wanted to say… Purson had lived until recently not interacting with anyone, so he could take easily someone not telling him everything.

[Dosanko suddenly jumped in front of the screen stating. “The breeze feels lovely again this morning.”]

Sabnock did not have a full opinion on this, to be open allowed you to communicate better with others, but to be too open would result in your weaknesses being exposed.

“I don’t care, as long as they aren’t annoying.” Agares decided. He had enough with one Gaap, the experience of the harvest festival was one he did not need to repeat ever again.

“Me neither, I mean, I’m going to try to get along anyway, so it doesn’t really matter.” Goemon placed his thoughts.

“Of course you would.” mumbled Agares under his breath.

Alice was at a loss right now, he respected decorum, but he was entirely honest with his thoughts, then again if Iruma-sama’s secret had been revealed on the first day, what would they have done? Besides, he, too had his own secret…

[“Man, I don’t know what to do.” Complained Quichelight.]

Right now, Ameri didn’t know either.

Robin considered they were overthinking it. Some people were open, some people were not, if they weren’t you should help them open up, that was his view on the matter.

“If you get along, then there is no problem, right?!” Was Clara’s opinion on the matter. She had something she didn’t want to tell others and Iruma-chi had his own, but they were still friends.

Opera preferred someone honest, no matter how foolish at times, over some polite trickiness, even if Sullivan’s case was sometimes… difficult to deal with.

[Grave asked his companion. “What happened next?” “C’mon you guys…” Western tried to get them to stop.]

That simple question, unrelated to anything going on right now, got Kalego’s mind wondering once again. ‘What now?’ Having a human in the netherworld COULD bring chaos, after telling Iruma to stop getting so used to danger, both options seemed hypocritical on his end, but if everyone was as willing to cooperate as they seemed there might be an… “approachable” solution.

[“Enough chatter!” Ameri reprimanded.

“Yes!”]

“Yes!” Iruma exclaimed.

“Huh?” Lied stuttered.

“Eh?” Kerori questioned.

“Iruma?” Ameri asked surprised to see him jump like that.

“Ah, sorry!” Iruma noticed after his own reaction. “I was only used to hearing you in that tone at my time in the student council, so…” He couldn’t bring himself to finish.

“Ah, I see…” Ameri didn’t feel offended, she was very proud of her charge, but she didn’t want Iruma to have that impression of her!

(“You’re a lovely lady no matter what.)

On second thought, it wasn’t a big deal.

[“Listen, as the demons that you are, you must intimidate the others with your voice. Projection is the basis of intimidation! Don’t slack off!” Ameri continued. “Yes!” The student council shot back as one.]

Ameri was just glad Iruma hadn’t heard THAT at the time.

[The council returned to their activities with a firmer posture and louder voice. “Good morning! Good morning, everyone!” “Continue.” “Good morning! Good morning, everyone!”]

“Morning! Morning!” Clara said to the vision of the past, no one paid attention to it, it seemed like the most normal thing that had happened in the last half hour they’ve been here.

[Some students were talking about the activities for the day. “Today we’ll summon familiars!” “How will mine be?”]

“Ugh!” Kalego choked on the memory, noticing only now how this thing was going to show him getting turned into Iruma’s familiar-

Wait, Iruma’s familiar!

“Kalego-sensei?” Robin, completely unaware of what happened at the event, asked his coworker.

“Oh,” Opera perked. “You still don’t know, professor Robin?”
“Huh? Know what?”

The misfits were holding back their laughter as hard as they could.

Kalego wasn’t even paying them attention, he was starting to understand what had truly happened that day. If he was right, that brought a whole new point of why it was dangerous to let a human in the netherworld.

(He never thought he would be relieved knowing that it was Iruma in a situation like that.)

Seeing how nobody answered him, Robin turned back to the screen, he would get the full picture soon enough anyways.

[Iruma tried to pass by everyone silently, making himself as small as possible. Meanwhile, the students kept talking. “How exciting!”]

Looking at him trying to hide like that, Bachiko failed to understand how he had ended up pulling stunts like at the dem-dols games or when she got her place in the thirteen crowns.

Seeing him like that Sabnock considered him to look like an average wimp, there were also a lot of wimpy demons, and thus with only sight it was nearly impossible to guess he was an entirely different species.

For the greater good of everyone’s mind Allocer decided to wonder aloud. “One has to wonder, how exactly are humans so different to us?”

“Yeah! How?!” Clara wanted to know why would someone consider Iruma-chi food.

“Exactly!” Lied shouted as well. “Every time I heard about them was like that, but... it’s like…” He seemed to be struggling to find the correct words. “Like eating a random child on the street!” He managed to finish, wishing he could erase from his mind such mental image.

[‘Are they from the student council?’ Iruma thought while pondering his options. ‘I’ll do whatever I can to not draw attention.’]

Ameri agreed with the question, in first love memories the environment wasn’t all that different from what she knew. “It is rather… unsettling, I have to admit.” She expressed, if only to comfort Iruma even if it was just a little bit.

Kamui said to this. “I understand, I too would prefer to coexist with them rather than have them be mere food.” Really, no matter what the species, he would communicate-

Could he talk with Iruma without the spell or was that somehow different… it didn’t matter.

Purson joined as well. “If we can take the heavy things off soon, better, I don’t want to have a constant panic if possible.” His tone was dry, he wasn’t in a good mood right now.

Somehow the most relieved was not Iruma, but rather Balam. Who, to not stick out placed an option for the students. “Maybe it’s easier to understand from other perspective.” He knew it wasn’t the case, he had asked Iruma a lot of things himself after all.

“Eh?” Iruma asked at such an unexpected action.

Asmodeus turned to his master, with a dumbfounded expression. “Balam-sensei, what do you mean with…” He asked with a tone of genuine confusion. He didn’t get what he was saying.

Gaap did. “Oh! Iruma-dono, how do humans see demons?” He asked in an almost unnatural friendly way, though everyone who knew him also knew it was honest to a fault.

“Oi! Don’t be so blunt!” Alice remarked, even though he only realized what those words meant NOW.

Agares sighed.

[Asmodeus jumped right in front of Iruma and greeted him. “Good morning, Iruma-sama!”]

Iruma was completely used to Azz-kun acting like that, so he didn’t pay it any mind and instead answered the matter at hand. “No, no it’s alright- Well, not exactly, but… I don’t mind” he stumbled on the answer.

“Are you sure Iruma-sama?” Azz tried to prioritize Iruma’s will to anything else, no matter the situation.

“Yes.” Iruma reassured him, then turned to Goemon. “Well…” Nevertheless, it still was a pretty ugly vision to share, so he thought about his wording. “There are a lot of different stories but…” His expression twisted uncomfortably. “Basically, most of them are… if you meet a demon, you’re dead!” He finished in a hurry.

Opera thought it was as appropriate as it was distasteful.

“Oh.” Goemon didn’t think too hard on it they’ve known each other for over a year, there was no need to overthink things now. “Well, I doubt anyone in here has that idea in mind.” He casually said one thing that if said at the wrong time or to the wrong individual could be awful.

Luckily, he said it to Iruma. “Mhm.” He nodded with a genuine smile plastered on his face.

‘Not like anyone would actually try to pull something like that.’ Bachiko realized looking in Sullivan’s direction, he could just erase their memories or even get rid of them, of course if she didn’t get them with her bow before.

[“I’ve been waiting for you for six hours and six minutes!” Asmodeus joyfully declared.]

“Azz-Azz, you don’t sleep?” Clara asked looking at him with a weirded out expression.

“Of course I do, Idiot! But I had to be prepared for Iruma’s first day!” He justified with emotional tears, Iruma-sama had told him that it wasn’t necessary, but he thought it was only reasonable as a servant.

“He wasn’t even going to show up that soon.” Purson said back. “You only wasted your time and energy.”. When it came to Iruma, Asmodeus seemed to lose all common sense, Purson also gets along with him, by a lot, along with Lied but this was exaggerated.

“Are you disrespecting my loyalty to Iruma-sama?” Asmodeus threatened, Purson decided to vanish.

“Oi! Don’t hide! I know you’re still here!” The misfits were laughing at such exchange, even Iruma himself.

Balam was surprised, it was normal for a demon to abide by the demon law and serve the winner of the duel, but this was as if his entire personality changed that very instant, he really just needed to calm down, didn’t he?

Bachiko wasn’t surprised at all, she had met a lot of powerful demons, but when they got involved with Iruma, they all seemed to turn into doting idiots.

[Iruma was still nervous and unsure on how to speak to this demon. “G-Good morning, Asmodeus-kun.” Then the shock of the words finally hit him. “S-Six hours?!”]

Kerori noticed how strange it was to Iruma to address him as “Asmodeus” rather than “Azz”, the only other time was during his evil cycle and even then, he said “Alice”.

[Asmodeus kneeled and continued telling his decision. “Yes. In silence, since the dark of the night.” Iruma was really shocked by this, so much that he momentarily forgot to be scared, and screamed at Asmodeus. “Asmodeus-kun! It wasn’t necessary!” The demon raised his head with a look of clear, genuine confusion. “Is that so?”]

Robin reprimanded the student. “Missing your proper sleep can affect severely your performance at school as well as your health! Be sure to get the proper amount of sleep.” He gave the best advice he could think of.

Lied turned to him, mouth open. He was both speechless and so angry that he wanted to scream, HE had made HIM stay awake playing nonstop for days!

“Understood.” Asmodeus said with a void politeness, as much as he respected his superiors, it was… difficult to respect Robin of all teachers.

[“Oh, by the way, please call me Azz.” Asmodeus requested of Iruma.]

“Hm?” Sabnock did not expect that, he Imagined it had been his rival’s or the weird creature’s Idea, it certainly wasn’t an image easy to attach to that arrogant demon.

“It was your idea?” Ameri too, was surprised, whenever Iruma spoke that nickname he never, not once seemed to be forced, he really spoke of him warmly and happy to have him by his side…

‘Maybe I should consider using nicknames with Iruma too…’ The mere thought of Iruma calling her a special name, one just from him to her, made her blood rush to her head. ‘No, no, no, there is no need for that, there are others who call him “Azz” too it seems to be normal for friends, and my ambition is far greater than that!’ She tried every excuse that she could think of.

Jazz decided to mess with him for a bit as payback for the bat time he gave the Magical Tools Research Battler. “Azz here might try to act otherwise, but he’s just a big softie. It’s like a big kid from time to time!” he provoked.

“I get what you say.” Lied murmured, Azz was like a sultry, moody kid as opposed to the hyper-energetic Clara, when he read a freaking parenting book to take care of Clarin, some instructions seemed to be suitable for Azz-Azz too, but as he told Azz-Azz, it wasn’t a bad thing, they were still school kids after all, so he acted like a normal kid.

“Oh, really?” Azz intruded, looking unusually calm with a tone impossible to read. He had a conversation like this with lied before and he knew he wasn’t the best at social interactions.

Lied hadn’t been teasing, he had blurted out his honest opinion without thinking. Despite that, they were now giving it a lot more thought.

Another voice equally honest to Lied’s interfered.

“Yeah, I can see that too!” Iruma mindlessly spoke, he considered that one of the reasons he and Clara got along so well.

[Iruma seemed a bit nervous about this sudden casual friendliness. “Azz… -kun?” he confirmed with Azz.]

Azz turned to Iruma aghast. “I-Iruma-sama?!” that was not the image he wanted Iruma to have of him, though.

“Hmm?” Iruma tilted his head, not understanding Azz’s confusion.

Upon seeing the relaxed expression on Iruma’s face made Azz consider that perhaps, such an impression isn’t a bad thing, especially when compared to…

“I had no idea you shared that view, I was just surprised.” He decided that he wasn’t really all that bothered.

“Thank you Iruma.” Said Purson, who had decided to reappear next to Iruma.

Iruma gave him a thumbs up.

[“Yes.” As Azz then stood up and approached Iruma, his face paled, he knew that whatever was going to happen next, he wouldn’t like it. “Allow me to carry your bag.” He was right. “Don’t worry!” He said trying to avoid drawing attention.]

As an expert on going unnoticed Purson knew it was a lost cause. “You might as well command him Iruma-kun, the fact that he even offered is going to bring attention to you, so better to treat it as something natural.” He advised.

“Still, it wouldn’t be right!” Iruma answered a lot more firmly than his past self. Purson then remembered a little detail. ‘Right, he’s the ultimate nice kid.’

He refused to take advantage of others and had everyone willing to help him in any case, Iruma had the talent of a natural leader, there was no doubt in Ameri’s mind.

‘What a waste’ was what Kerori considered, she had used beast servants at the harvest festival, but also some students that followed her, and so, she considered senseless to have a fan so devoted to you and not take any benefit from their support.

[As expected, the students noticed them. “Oh, it’s Iruma, the honor student.” “Did you see the news?” “Looks like he really turned him into his servant.” Iruma was lamenting his poor situation. ‘I already made myself stand out…’]

“Hehehehe-!” Clara was laughing at the event created by Azz-Azz. “Azz-Azz, you brought the attention to Iruma-chi!” She told in between laughs.

“You do that too!”

“Tch, tch tch…” she mocked. “All I do is play, you go “Behold! Iruma-chi!””

‘She’s right.’ The whole class, even Iruma and Asmodeus thought at the same time.

If someone were to ask Opera, the opinion they’d receive would be that they’re all three were equally childish.

‘He really blends in…’ Kalego noted, he still didn’t know why Narnia had given him such an ominous warning about Iruma, how had he known?

[The two of them were walking together when Iruma asked “Um… Where exactly are we going?” Azz explained a bit more about that. “You’re in the same group as me, Iruma-sama.” “Group?” Iruma didn’t know what he meant.]

Suddenly, Clara screamed. “Eeeeeeeh?!” everyone turned in shock.

“Clarin?! What’s wrong?!” Panicked Lied, last time he imagined it was the fear of how they would take Iruma being human, this time he had no idea.

“No fair Azz-Azz, I was in a different group!” She pouted.

Lied deadpanned, so much for worrying. On top of that Azz-Azz had a smug smile as if bragging. He had been Iruma’s partner for the harvest festival, but he didn’t turn it into a big deal.

“Weren’t we on the same group?” Sabro asked, he didn’t remember much of that day besides his own familiar, but he had the impression that they had at least seen each other before.

“It is true that none of us seems to have a full appearance in this “exhibition” yet.” Allocer noted.

“So much… and we haven’t even seen the full Iruma squad?” Agares complained, he knew this was going to show the last year at its fullest, but this felt like it was going for too long already.

“When will the young ladies appear?! I want to see it!” Kamui was getting impatient.

Iruma had to admit, he was getting tired of being the only one to appear.

[“Yes!” Azz stated excited. “They will divide the 163 new students into a number of groups, and we’ll prepare until classes begin. It can’t just happen all at once” He explained, surprisingly Iruma understood. “I see.”]

The thought of having to deal with another hundred and fifty students more made Kalego shiver.

[“Today is the familiar summoning ritual. Let us go to the Familiars’ hall.” Azz informed Iruma.]

That was right, with everything going on, Lied had completely forgotten that this is what had happened that day. Despite the fact that Iruma summoned Kalego, everything besides culture seemed to be alright with humans and demons, seriously, he was getting more doubts than answers.

Information about humans was extremely classified, Kalego knew, so all he had was a hunch, but if it was correct then… the situation could be even worse than he considered.

[“Familiars?” Iruma asked, he had no notions of what familiars were.]

Shiida stayed speechless at such question, familiars were vital to survival against powerful beasts, Iruma had been surviving for YEARS on his own, yet he didn’t know about familiars? What kind of place was the human world?

Balam once again marveled at the thought of such an indulgent word, where the beasts were the kind that didn’t even need familiars to be fought off.

This didn’t came as a surprise to Ameri, luckily, “First love memories” provided a varied amount of insight about the human world.

Goemon and Lied knew that they had no idea of how was the human world, so it was easy for them to just accept what Iruma said or thought.

Robin considered a good idea to ask outright. “Do humans not have familiars?” If the students defined the future of the netherworld as the teachers affirmed, he would need to know as much as possible about this student.

“Eh… not that I know of.” Iruma answered, actually not really sure because, well, his parents casually summoned a demon.

[The image changed to a representation of a summoning. “It’s a Babyls tradition. After entering the school, the students summon a magical beast that becomes their servants.”

“Those are the familiars?” Iruma wanted to confirm. Azz knowing he was right continued, and the screen showed different silhouettes of beasts while he explained. “The type of beast that summons a student will determine their initial rank.”]

Sabnock had summoned a kelpie that day, something to be proud of, but Iruma had managed to summon another, well a demon, and a rank khet at that.

wait.

He had always seen it as summoned another demon, but could it be that it was different because he summoned a demon?

“That is not exactly right Asmodeus-kun.” Balam lectured the students. “It is only an early assessment of your abilities to then contrast it with the flying test.”

“I see, thank you for your correction, sir.” As opposed to with Robin, Azz this time showed genuine respect and acknowledgement of the clarification.

“Huh?” The green-haired teacher could notice something had been different but couldn’t place what.

[“Ranking up leads to academic success in Babyls.” Azz finished the explanation and Iruma seemed to appreciate it. “Aah, I see.” But internally he was panicking. ‘I wonder if familiars also eat humans…’]

Lied took a deep breath, it was becoming… a little easier for him not to tremble when Iruma suddenly brought up a thought like that, most of the other misfits seemed to also be dealing with it in their own ways.

Sabnock was frowning, with an unusual stoic expression.

Elizabetta and Ameri were having a conversation, trying to divert their thoughts.

Allocer was reciting aloud the theory of the entire last year’s classes.

Goemon was trying to wake Agares up.

Agares was awake pretending and trying to sleep through.

Kamui was standing next to Jazz who was grunting with his face burrowed in one hand.

Purson was pulling Iruma’s cheeks while just staring disapprovingly.

Asmodeus was trying to stop him while recovering from the shock of such sudden thought in a conversation they had together. He wasn’t making progress in any of those.

Clara was clinging to Iruma and staring daggers at Kalego while hissing like a cat. Those two seemed like they were taking it the worst of them all, which if you knew how close they are, it was reasonable.

Somehow, Iruma only seemed to be worried about how the others, other than that he was completely calmed.

Bachiko didn’t know what Iruma’s familiar was, but it didn’t seem to matter as he was worried about familiars as a whole.

Considering that his familiar was a demon, Agares thought that he wasn’t all that wrong.

‘You should worry about their masters.’ Kerori thought, in the end it didn’t matter if the beasts ate them or not, because they would follow their master’s orders.

“Don’t you worry about that, remember that a familiar cannot attack or disobey their master.” Robin said optimistically, Iruma was worried about nothing in this situation, he considered.

Kalego wasn’t surprised by Iruma being the one to notice how familiars were dangerous, but it surprised him how even now he seemed to be the only one who noticed.

[The duo arrived at the hall, where other demons were already attending. Lied and Goemon were talking to each other, Kerori was on her own. The two of them were walking in. “I’m a bit nervous.”]

Ameri remembered being somewhat nervous herself, when she summoned hers, it was normal, and for the first time since the beginning it felt like a relatable nervousness rather than a fear for his life, it was somewhat endearing.

Elizabetta noticed something curious, the president was…

“Ame-chan, you seem happy. What’s that look for?!” She jumped from curious to eager, after all it was not everyday you got to see the president Ameri with a lovestruck smile like that.

“Huh?”

“Lady red-hair?” Clara got intrigued as well.

“!” She noticed the dumb look she had in her face the whole time. “I-It’s a nostalgic event!” She tried to slip. “That’s all! It was endearing!”

“I understand it!” Asmodeus looked back on that day full of joy, for it was the first day he actually got to spend with Iruma.

[“By the way, the results will also determine our classrooms.” Informed Azz. “Really?” This seemed unnatural to Iruma.]

Allocer would like to know how they managed education, but…

(“Your parents forced you to work since you were little and you never went to school, right?”)

It seemed that was a question that would remain unanswered, shame.

[Eiko was there too, and seeing Iruma made her smile widely and blush.]

Ameri felt frustrated seeing another woman interested in Iruma the same way she was, Clara saw Eiko as a threat that would try to get Iruma-chi away from her, if that happened, she would use her new seducing techniques, no one would take him away!

Iruma was feeling awkward, mostly because in the end he never spoke with Eiko.

Opera had never heard Iruma speak about her, but it wasn’t likely that Asmodeus-kun kept scaring her off, mostly because those two got along really well for as long as Opera has been a teacher at least.

[“And the administrator who will be guiding us through this is quite famous.” Azz kept telling Iruma as Eiko’s mind ran back to when Iruma saved her the last day. “Although he’s strict and frightening…” Eiko heard from Asmodeus as she came back to reality, Iruma was worried about what he was just told. “Administrator?”]

“Oh, that’s Kalego-sensei! You were in charge of that last year too, isn’t that right?!” Robin pressed his superior. A face clenching his face was there the next moment, he screamed in pain. Everyone turned their faces away, with a single thought.

‘Sorry Robin-sensei, I’m not going to fight him…’ Even Iruma was doing his best to avoid being called for help.

“Shut up!” Kalego snapped.

If his suspicions about humans were right, this ridiculously big mess could become even bigger.

Shiida didn’t understand, what had Kalego so mad to react like this.

[Eiko then tried to approach Iruma. “Iruma-sa-” but…]

Robin was knocked unconscious, no one made any comment.

[The door was busted open and behind it, an imposing figure stood. All the students turned their attention to the figure, interrupting whatever they were doing. Kalego frowned at everyone. ‘The scary teacher.’ Iruma noticed while nervous.]

It had been a reputation that Kalego had been working on, even as a student, though the misfits seemed to make a joke out of him every chance they had.

Iruma thought that it was ironic how the “scary teacher” had been the one to insist on him to stop getting into dangerous situations.

[“Silence.” Said the demon teacher while entering.]

“Eggie-sensei… no one is talking!” Clara informed the teacher. Kalego flinched a bit.

“You’ll have to forgive him.” Opera intruded, Kalego was now getting scared. “Kalego-kun has a bad habit of entering places like that, I’ll have a talk with him to prepare for next time.”

“What the hell are you planning!” Kalego shouted, getting on his guard.

“You wound me with your words Kalego-kun. I just want to handle this matter in a professional way.” Opera said with the most deadpanned voice possible.

[Kalego then turned to the students. “I’m Naberius Kalego, your advisor. I am always in charge of this ritual. Why? Because I am dignified at all times. I will determine whether you lot are useless trash or useful trash.”]

“Kalego-sensei, teachers should not address students as trash!” Robin shouted nearly at the same time he woke up. “The students are the ones who will determine the netherworld after a- UUAAAAAAGH!” And he was instantly almost knocked out again.

Bachiko didn’t know if to feel impressed by Robi’s persistence or embarrassed at how he kept repeating the same mistakes over and over.

“Hmmm, Kalego-kun can be so dramatic sometimes…” Sullivan expressed with an exaggerated sigh.

[He then started approaching Iruma. “For example… if a certain trash were to use the scenery given by their grandfather to recite a vulgar spell and then have the nerve to cause a ruckus… I could expel them immediately.]

Looking back on it, even without the new perspective, it was easy for Kalego to see that it was Iruma’s usual inability to say no, he was extremely easy to manipulate if you knew to just ask the appropriate things.

It was with that thought that the teacher of Babyls figured out how to handle the situation… at least by now.

[Right now, Iruma wasn’t even capable of reacting properly, he was paralyzed with his previous smile. Kalego kept speaking. “The same way, if a certain trash tried to attack a teacher the first day,” Kalego clenched his hand with the newspaper. “I could expel them immediately.”]

“Tsk. I know I was in the wrong, there is no need to keep reminding me.” Said Sabnock in an unusually pained voice, first that and then the flying exam. ‘I certainly behaved at my worst then.’ It was less similar to a king and more like a beast.

Shiida considered that at least it was progress the fact that he became aware of that.

[Kalego receded a bit from the close up with Iruma and spoke in a more general direction. “I will expel anyone who fails so you’ve been warned.” It was more of a threat, and he didn’t bother to hide it. Everyone seemed to notice and Azuki, Haruno and Dosanko commented on it. “How scary.” “Right?” “I wonder if his sternness is what makes him so charming.” While the first two seemed nervous, the latter was enjoying it apparently.]

Lied tensed involuntarily at Dosanko’s apparition, the memories of the devi-mixer looming in his head. Iruma, jazz and Sabnock enjoyed it, but his own strategy collapsed on him, if he ever tried that again, he would plan it appropriately and go with the Boku alliance.

(He shared with Iruma the young kings title, and surely Purson of all people wouldn’t steal the attention from him, right?)

‘Wait, I already have Nee-san in my heart!’ He reminded himself through sheer will.

Sabnock noticed the weird attitude on Lied. “Hm, something wrong?” He addressed directly.

“Ah, n-”

“Don’t worry Sabnock.” Purson interrupted Lied, who was really shocked, was he… covering for him?

“It’s just him having stupid thoughts as usual.” ‘No, he wasn’t!’ Lied screamed internally, the externally. “Hey, I wasn’t thinking anything stupid! And what do you mean as usual?”

The “conversation” died on Purson’s end. Lied was screaming uncomprehensible things, Jazz was laughing as hard as he could, Sabnock was confused, he didn’t expect such a simple question to end like this.

Bachiko felt like she was wasting her time right now.

[The teacher slammed the video explanation board and said. “Silence.” And the video got in full screen with the explanation.]

Seeing his creation, Sullivan started squealing in joy. “Oh, I made this!” He repeated over and over.

Seeing his creation, Kalego had to brace himself to endure.

[“Super easy! Familiar-Summoning Course!” A heart-like creature. Next in a simple background and facing a parchment.

“One: draw a circle in blood on some parchment.” Then in a magic circle with a candle in the middle.

“Two: head into the magic circle with said parchment.”

“Three: hold the parchment right above the candle in the middle of the circle.” The parchment started to produce smoke. “Four: the smoke will take a form, and your familiar will appear!” The now form-defined smoke made a noise. “Okay, let’s all-”

“That’s enough.” It was interrupted by Kalego slamming the screen on the floor]

In the room, only Shiida was surprised. She noticed this. ‘Is this normal among teachers?’

The students meanwhile were talking among themselves.

“He really can’t stand cute things, uh?”

“He really hates them.”

“Why does he hate them so much?”

[“He slammed it on the floor?” One of the students was in disbelief as much as Shiida.

“Looks like he doesn’t like cute explanations.” Another answered.]

Kalego couldn’t understand what part of that was “cute” instead of nerve wrecking.

‘It was cute…’ Shiida kept the thought to herself, she had just seen how her coworker took it.

[“Be sure to use the parchment with my seal on it. I will notice any falsification. Don’t try anything funny…” Kalego instructed, staring at Iruma in that last sentence. Gaako, who was a bit nervous asked. “U-Um, is there any danger?”]

“So it wasn’t only Iruma…?” Ameri was honestly surprised by this, it was normal for a human who had only been in the netherworld for a day, but she didn’t expect other students to be scared at summoning a familiar.

Clara heard her and misinterpreted. “She’s human too?!” She screamed in shock.

“No, you idiot!” Azz replied.

“Th-Thay was not what I meant!” Ameri shouted as well, she didn’t expect to be heard and even less to get to that conclusion.

“Ah!” Clara understood that and turned back to the screen.

Kerori had no idea of what had just happened.

[“What a foolish question.” Kalego immediately shut down the doubt. “You will be summoning a subordinate and making it serve you. That’s what familiars are.”]

That way of addressing familiars… hadn’t Robin heard something similar last year?

[“And should a familiar disobey its master…” Then he exemplified by blasting the presentation so hard it created a hole. “There will be punishment. That’s how deep this blood pact is.”]

‘It was.’ Kalego had never been more convinced of anything than how severe the punishment was, he himself had experimented it.

[“Make sure you are prepared.” He warned everyone while obviously regarding Iruma, although it felt more like a threat, one that worked on Iruma. ‘He’s so scary!’ Kalego then stood in front of the circle. “That being said, line up.”]

‘Well, that backfired.’ Thought with amusement Jazz, only not saying it out loud because Robin would be hilariously surprised when he finds out.

“Luckily for us, Iruma-kun didn’t mess up any way the ritual- pf…” Lied did his best at holding back his laugh, even if Kalego had ended up as his familiar, (and was glaring directly at Lied now.) it was really nothing big, so much for worrying about Iruma being human. In the end it wasn’t even such a big deal.

[Iruma connected a few dots in his head. ‘I guess he didn’t find what I did in the entrance ceremony amusing.’ Azz approached Iruma to talk with him. “He’s not even trying to hide his hostility.” Iruma had noticed that. “No…” he said rather shyly. “I’ll gladly charge him if you give the order!” He offered with clear joy.]

‘That idiot…’ Kalego found it frustrating. He had just heard that something like that could cost him expulsion and yet he was offering that.

[In what Kalego considered a miracle Iruma showed common sense, reacting with shock to the words of the demon. “No, no! I would never order you that!” He denied. Azz seemed bummed for that. “Ah, no…?” Kalego heard them and screamed at them. “You! Line the hell up!”]

“You’re an idiot.” Sabnock said flatly. That would’ve caused problems not only for him but also for Iruma, and that conflicted his ambition, he wouldn’t have called him an idiot if his desire was to fight a teacher, but it wasn’t.

“I don’t want to hear that from you!”

“Azz-Azz, you’re dumb!” Clara followed.

“Neither from you!”

“Do you need Iruma to tell you?” Agares asked to the one who had been on the verge of bringing himself unnecessary, frustrating problems.

“Ghk!” Asmodeus was left speechless, he didn’t think he could endure that.

“I don’t think Iruma-dono can say something like that to a friend.” Goemon expressed.

[Eiko was the first to summon her familiar, she was pretty nervous and she gulped. She then proceeded with the ritual and an animal-like smoke. “Next.” Kalego kept the line going. Dosanko went with a much more confident attitude. “Took you long enough.”]

Ameri was pouting at Eiko’s appearance, it was clear that she was… interested in Iruma, but they apparently hadn’t talked ever since, if she found out Iruma’s secret, it could be huge so better for it to stay like that.

[By this point, the other students had finished summoning their familiars. “Wow, that’s amazing!” Iruma was actually enjoying this, the students were really happy about having their familiars, and Azz’s turn arrived. “It’s Asmodeus!” They had quite high expectations, Iruma turned around to see.]

The demon in question had a plain look of indifference. He had seen first handed what happened that day, he knew the whole-

(“A-Are you going to eat me?” The memory of that duel whispered on his ear.)

Perhaps it would be productive to try and analyze his past actions.

Balam saw the change in expression in his student and became really proud, it was good that he was taking lessons from experience.

[Asmodeus quickly bit his finger and drew a perfect circle and proceeded with the ritual. A giant snake appeared, it was almost like a dragon, the demon stared at it, the beast stared back, then it enrolled itself next to Asmodeus.]

Familiars resembled their masters, Kamui knew, and the times he actually heard the Gorgon snake, it was as imposing as the picture in front of him right now.

[The students gasped in amazement, even Iruma seemed delighted.]

With how he seemed to start getting comfortable, Goemon truly considered that there was no problem at all with the fact that Iruma was human.

Robin knew that, even if he blended in, the matter HAD to be addressed, but Kalego-sensei was doing the heavy thinking, so he would remain positive about things.

Balam knew as well, but he trusted Kalego to make the most appropriated approach.

Bachiko didn’t know if she could trust the teacher or not, she wasn’t precisely good at reading demons, but it was clear that he was not taking this all too well.

Shiida wasn’t sure if she should be thinking about what comes after the “exposition”, what has already been revealed, or what is showing right now.

[Azz addressed Iruma now with a smile. “Iruma-sama.” He called.

“Th-That’s amazing, Azz-kun! It’s so cool!” He said completely delighted with what he just saw. Both master and beast bowed slightly. “We’re honored by your words.”]

Compared to before, or at the time of summoning, Azz openly showed a delighted expression at being praised by Iruma-sama. “Such an honor…” He appeared to be at a loss for words at the event of more than a year.

‘It’s still a work in progress.’ Balam lost a bit of the earlier pride, he still got lost in his head sometimes, but at least he was more open with his thoughts, it was something.

“Azz-Azz, you’re making a weird face.” Clara informed. Azz replied with a smug smile. “Whatever you say cannot affect me, for my familiar has been praised by Iruma-sama!” he rubbed that fact on her face.

Clara gasped in shock at the unexpected attack, but she already used the “played with little Iruma-chi” argument, so she couldn’t think of anything to say.

Azz laughed triumphally, Iruma chuckled awkwardly.

[‘A gorgon snake…’ Kalego was taking notes mentally. ‘It’s not surprising given the Asmodeus’s lineage.’]

This brough Azz out of his euphoria, the thought of his mother would always, without failure, break his composure.

[“But this is nothing compared to the familiar you will summon.” Azz set high expectations, Iruma bummed internally, he failed at not letting it out.]

Jazz was grinning. “That isn’t wrong, am I right, Kalego-sensei?” He teased.

“Shut up!” Kalego snapped.

“Don’t be like that, Kalego-sensei” Mocked Goemon.

“Yeah, yeah, take it easy.” Lied was having a lot of fun.

‘Why is Iruma’s familiar such a big deal?’ Bachiko didn’t get it, what was so funny? What even was it?

[‘He’s this powerful, and he still lost to Iruma? That’s hard to believe. However…’ Kalego was trying to assess Iruma’s strength, while still taking notes. Iruma was trying to lower Azz’s expectations. “I wouldn’t be so sure…”

Kalego got to a conclusion, or at least a decision. ‘Well, we’ll know soon.’]

He wasn’t a really big shot, Iruma knew, in terms of power be it physical or magical, everybody in here knew that, Iruma was sure of that, but that was one of the reasons he appreciated his friends so much.

Kalego hadn’t been wrong about that, he had confirmed it countless times, but somehow, he always seemed to have the proper resources to have his way in any situation.

Iruma had a knack for getting others on his side, Jazz considered. Almost everyone in the misfit class treated him like a little brother, that’s why he explained the concept of friends after all.

As far as Sullivan was concerned, Iruma didn’t need to be strong, he was fine the way he was. He just needed to keep being adorable.

Lied wasn’t precisely strong, he was aware of that, precisely because of that he sticks to his bloodline ability and games. In that sense, Iruma and him were really similar.

‘Power goes beyond fighting.’ Allocer considered that anyone who failed to realize that was already lacking a great component of power, and one should always make a proper measurement of their capability.

[“Your turn, Iruma.” Kalego called the human. “Yes!” He then walked to the circle, he was obviously nervous, but the other students didn’t notice. “Look, it’s Iruma’s turn.” They were really psyched up at seeing the one who defeated Asmodeus.

“The honor student!”

“What kind of familiar will he summon?”

Iruma on his end was trying to calm himself down but couldn’t help but think. ‘Everyone is looking at me.’]

Lied had been in that crowd that day, he had been paying attention to Iruma that day, did that make him part of the problem? It didn’t seem to bother him NOW but… “You just were the hot topic at the time, you know?” He said instead, he would think about it later, he couldn’t allow himself to be so careless now, before it had almost costed him a rank, now though, it could cost his closest friend’s life.

Goemon also felt like he needed to explain. “No one expected anyone to outdo Asmodeus-dono at the time.” He knew he wasn’t one of the closest to Iruma, but they were friends nevertheless, it was normal for him to worry.

Kerori refused to make eye contact with Iruma, she hadn’t cared much for the results of the duel, but she had been mad about the popularity that he got from it, Iruma knew it, and she was aware of this.

Sabnock wasn’t one to be drawn by rumors, but even he was interested in the student that defeated the top scorer, he was just glad that he didn’t try to do anything stupid.

[‘But since I’m human I don’t have any magical powers.’ Iruma noticed, still he had to go along the instructions, so he hesitantly bit his finger and awkwardly drew a circle in the parchment.]

“Wait,” Curiously it was Agares who wanted to ask something now. “So, all the magic was just… the storage from the ring?” He asked, he knew he wasn’t the smartest of the class, but devices like that usually work in relation to your own magical output.

“Y-Yes…” Iruma answered, somehow, he seemed more awkward about this, than about being uncovered as human.

Kerori understood now, how that tree had grown so exaggeratedly that day.

Balam could understand that. Even if they didn’t understand the impact of a human in the netherworld, Iruma had been taught thoroughly just how important magic was to demons.

Allocer also could understand this, and as curious as he was, he took a look at Iruma’s hand, and only now noticed the symbols that were not there the first time he saw it, he didn’t considered worth it to ask about it, it seemed he had found a way to leverage the magic output so…

“It’s not a problem as I see it.” He thought aloud, only that was what the others in the room heard.

Bachiko had to agree, even if her student was… unnecessary reckless, ass long as he actually had a way to defend himself, it didn’t matter where that came from, it was his.

Goemon had learned a few times already how it was more important to have a better control of your abilities than to have more power, Walter park and lady Vepar made sure to drill that in his head.

Iruma turned his head towards Allocer and…

“*sniff*”

He was crying, no one could make any comments, they knew how important magic was in the netherworld, but to them Iruma was more important than his magic, this too was probably a heavy weight on his mind.

“Thanks…” He managed to say between sobs.

To Azz, this moment was bittersweet, he would never think less of him for something like this, he had seen him struggling with education to what he considered the most basic, it wasn’t his magic he admired, there were more powerful demons there. It wasn’t his brain or brawn either.

What Alice Asmodeus considered the most fascinating thing about Iruma, was his unparalleled compassion, uncommon will to help others with any problem, and his persistence in no matter how much he stumbled, achieve his goal…

It was the strength of his character.

Was it bad that he felt like he should’ve known at least about this?

Clara was just giving Iruma a comforting smile, she didn’t mind those things at all, they played together, they loved each other and that was all that mattered.

Allocer was getting nervous, he didn’t expect Iruma to have such a reaction to something he said so carelessly. “Ah, well…” He was having a hard time coming up with the right words.

“You can use it, so does everyone else, this doesn’t change a thing.” Sabnock affirmed, his rival had his resources, it would be stupid on his end to not use them.

Jazz had to agree, he was used to being treated like trash by his brother, so that was something that he wouldn’t be able to make fun of.

‘Not like he uses magic that much anyways.’ Lied thought. They’ve hang out a lot of times, they’ve trained together and participated together in a festival in which everyone used magic a lot, yet Iruma only did it when absolutely necessary.

[While placing the parchment on the candle, Iruma had a thought. ‘Didn’t he say that if I failed I would be expelled?’ Then realization hit him. “Expelled?!’]

The shock of his own voice made Iruma flinch, coming back to his senses. Had things truly went the way he expected, whether he went back to the human world or not he wouldn’t be able to be with everyone…

He found himself clenching his hands, his own past thoughts were making him angry.

[Iruma found himself a lot more cheerful. ‘That’s right! Isn’t it a good thing if I get expelled from the school?! If I get expelled, I’ll be free! If I can’t summon anything during this lesson…’ He was now crying in relief as he thought. ‘Thank goodness! I’ll be able to go back to the human world!’]

Clara immediately clinged to Iruma, so did Azz. Iruma had promised them that he wouldn’t leave them but hearing him think the opposite was so unnerving, that they needed comfort from his presence.

Iruma also found comfort in their closeness.

Kalego thought that it almost felt like a cruel joke of the world that at the time they both wanted that, and the situation ended up like this.

“But… he summoned his familiar, I saw it.” Robin couldn’t help but notice, besides, something like someone being literally unable to summon a familiar would have come up in the news.

Come to think of it, Robin never managed to find a copy of that day’s newspaper, but the other teachers didn’t say anything about something different happening, and he really tried to get the best picture of that day for his lessons.

“Really?” Shiida hadn’t tried that much, she hadn’t even been that curious, but the situation only was making it weirder and weirder.

Lied and Jazz shared a mischievous look.

“Well in that case, better look for yourselves!”

“Enjoy!” The two mischievous demons told their teachers.

‘They really are evading the topic, why?’ Bachiko caught them immediately, though she didn’t press them, it WAS about to happen after all.

“Oh…” Robin didn’t seem too sure either, but ultimately smiled in his usual cheerfulness and said. “Alright then!”

[The students didn’t have the insight to know Iruma’s thoughts, so all they saw was…

“Look, he’s smiling so much.”

“This must be a piece of cake for him.”

Even Azz was amazed at his face. “Splendid, Iruma-sama!”

Kalego too had taken that look on Iruma’s face the wrong way. ‘The nerve of him, smirking like that! He’s exactly like him! Yes, that obnoxious, unrestrained demon with no regard for others…’]

“Sorry…” Muttered Iruma.

[Kalego was getting furious with his own thoughts. ‘He personifies the three things I absolutely despise…’]

“Sorry…!”

[In the end he couldn’t help but scream, at least mentally. “He is just like the stupid chair-demon we have!” he mentally pushed an image of Sullivan.]

Opera approached Kalego, who could only brace to deal with whatever he was going to hear.

“Kalego-kun, that’s not a good way to address your superior, perhaps you should learn again with me.” Opera reprimanded.

“Like hell I would!” Kalego didn’t want to even imagine what that demon had in mind.

“Oh, Kalego-kun, how could you say things like that?!” Sullivan was pouting, exaggerating in an obvious way. Kalego felt like he was about to explode.

[“To think of all the things I went through because of him…” He started to complain. “He docked my pay in half on a whim.”]

“I had to prepare things for my grandson!” Sullivan excused himself, Kalego did not believe him.

[“He forced me to present his stupid tutorial.”]

“What is so bad about it?” Shiida didn’t share that opinion.

“Yeah, it’s cute, what’s the problem?” Robin pretty much liked it.

[“He even caused havoc at the entrance ceremony!”]

This time, no one objected, not Sullivan, not the grandson, not even those who admired them the most.

Kalego managed to think during this part about how he had an impression on Iruma so wrong, that it circled back to being right, in a way he didn’t even consider possible.

He wasn’t naturally obnoxious, but he was so stubborn on his way of doing things that it became obnoxious.

He isn’t unrestrained, but he has no idea of when or where the limits were.

He was always taking in consideration others, but then others followed him and he kept endangering himself without considering that they too got in danger.

[“But I am the one in charge of the familiar-summoning ritual!” He was acting clearly out of spite. ‘If he messes up even a little, I’ll immediately expel your precious little grandson!’ Kalego thought while Iruma happily expected that same outcome.]

“Buuuu, you’re such a bully!” Sullivan kept pouting.

Iruma wasn’t surprised by his teacher’s thoughts, at the time he had expected that to happen.

[The narrator started speaking. “However, these two, who shared the same goal, did not expect what followed. Summoning. The ritual in which demons summon magical beasts and make them their familiars.” Then, the narrator said something that only left Balam, Kalego, Sullivan and Opera unsurprised. “It is also the ritual in which humans summon demons and make them their familiars.”]

Balam had made the connection a while ago, there had to be a reason as to why Kalego was Iruma’s familiar, but…

“Huh?” Iruma asked.

“Huh?!” Bachiko didn’t know this, even though she was one of the thirteen crowns.

Purson didn’t choose to shut up, words didn’t come to him right now.

“Eh?” Kerori didn’t understand.

“H-Ho-” Lied couldn’t even finish.

“W-What?” Azz managed.

“Humans…” Agares muttered.

“S-S-Summon…” Kamui couldn’t believe his ears.

“Demons…” Robin had never heard of something like this.

“And…” Goemon tried to say.

“Make…” Suddenly, everything made sense for Allocer.

“Them…” Elizabetta was in shock.

“Their…” Jazz was trembling.

“F-F-Fa…” Shiida felt extremely dizzy.

“Fa…miliars.” Ameri managed to say.

And with that, chaos was unleashed.

“What?!”

“No way!”

“They… Uuaaahh!”

Incoherent screams and noises could be heard through the room. Opera understood the commotion and decided to let them vent.

Sullivan thought that they were exaggerating a bit.

“Iruma! Y-You didn’t…” For some reason or another, Shiida was the one to ask this.

The human in the room was looking just as scared as anyone else. “N-No! Of-”

“Ridiculous.” Kalego interrupted everyone.

[The circle started to glow in an unnatural way, surprising everyone, including Kalego and Iruma. “The parchment had Kalego’s seal on it,”]

Everyone became quiet at the intervention of the teacher, his response had managed to draw everyone’s attention.

“If he had made any other pact, you would know the second it was made as you would be summoned.” He stated objectively, this was exactly what he feared, Iruma could be supervised here in the netherworld, but if they sent him back to the human world, someone could manipulate him and find that exact information, no matter if Iruma wanted or not.

This was the exact reason Kalego decided that he would cover for him for now.

“Do you understand now just how dangerous the situation is?” He lectured the students who clearly, hadn’t been taking the situation seriously.

[“And Iruma is a human.”]

Just a while ago, Lied had wondered what exactly made humans so different from demons, now he knew and it was terrifying.

Clara seemed to be doing just fine, in fact she seemed as if she was getting a game idea, no one could understand how she was so calm.

Sabro was shaking too, but not for the same reasons as the others. ‘A human… blood pact… that makes demons his servants?’ It was true that rather than the ring of Solomon, it was the Gluttonous Feeder Ring but…

He shall make one and all of his servants.

He shall form blood pacts and heal all demonkind.

He shall descend from a foreign realm

And wear the golden ring of Solomon on his right hand.

The fact that even if different, Iruma still got by chance a-

‘What if it wasn’t a coincidence?’

One of the three greats brought a human, who filled almost the whole prophecy, and then THAT happened? He was beginning to think that there was more thought to his decision than he said.

[“Which means…”]

“Do you understand? With the appropriate parchment, any of you could’ve turned in his familiar.” He finished the warning in his voice clear. ‘That must also be why it happened twice.’

“Anyone could become Iruma-sama’s familiar?” Asmodeus said with a shaking voice. Then his shakiness and fears turned off as realization hit him.

Clara hadn’t been in shock before, but the sentence spoken by Azz seemed to hit her too. However, she was faster to ask Iruma.

“Iruma-chi! I wanna transform too! Can I?” she asked with joy clear in her eyes. Kalego saw that she hadn’t been paying attention at all.

Ameri considered pretty bad that she seemed to know exactly what she was doing, and even worse that after the shock she wasn’t even a bit worried.

‘Transform?’ Robin didn’t know what she meant by that, but still he spoke. “Hold on!” He told the student. “This isn’t as simple as a transformation spell, you’d be compelled to behave as his familiar!” He was aware that maybe he was too nervous, but still, it had to be said.

Logically speaking, Robi was right, Bachiko knew, as naïve as he was, he wasn’t stupid, those who got that wrong regretted it VERY strongly but…

The misfits turned to Clara in hopes of hearing a rational response, Clara looked thoughtful for a moment and said. “… It’s Iruma-chi.”

With those few words every demon who was worried just a second ago, deadpanned, they turned to Iruma who was still trembling as if he was the most unsure of that out of everyone.

[“!!- I did it! There it is.” Iruma said upon noticing that the ritual had worked. “So this is… my…”]

Everyone who had been scared after the revelation, those who weren’t and even those few who knew from the start that there was no reason to worry about him, all shared one collective thought.

‘He is.’

Right now, Lied felt completely stupid for even getting scared in the first place. ‘It’s Iruma, what was I imagining?’

Right now, the fact that it was Iruma was the only thing that kept Jazz from having a heart attack, he didn’t know about other humans, but he had heard enough about two of them that were no best than his brother and… ‘They absolutely can’t find out.’

“So much worry, for nothing.” Kerori was sure the impact of the moment had gone as fast as it came.

“Iruma-sama I’m better suited to be your familiar!” Azz suddenly shouted in opposition to Clara’s petition.

“Eh?”

“But I wanna transform! Iruma-chi! Please! Please! Please!”

“Agh!” Iruma was cornered.

Kalego regretted ever trying to warn them.

‘They could almost pass as their familiars as they are.’ Goemon thought, Iruma was the only human here, so it was probably fine.

[“famili…ar?” Iruma ended up questioning rather than stating, as he was met with Kalego’s upper body.]

“Eh?” Robin had forgotten that Iruma’s familiar right now was supposed to be a demon, he also had forgotten about the seal, he was confused.

“I-It really works…” Shiida couldn’t help but observe.

‘So that’s why they were acting like that.’ Bachiko concluded.

[The two of them just stared at each other, not seeming to recognize what just happened. The other students turned to see Kalego’s lower half sticking out of a portal. The two involved looked down at the portal through which Kalego was being summoned. Eventually, they realized and their faces twisted to an expression of shock, pure distress could be seen in both expressions.

Eventually, the two screamed. “Whaaaaaaat?!”]

Robin felt like screaming like that right now, but for some reason, he couldn’t.

Suddenly a hand touched his shoulder, it was Kalego’s. The other teachers seemed to have snapped out of it and were looking at Kalego with a serious expression.

“Listen well, we are going to discuss how to proceed, so pay attention.” He informed Robin, making sure the students didn’t hear them.

“Y-Yes, sir.” Robin wasn’t so careful, but luck seemed to be on his side, as no one heard him.

…

[“Which means the demon Kalego was summoned by the human Iruma to be his familiar.” The narrator made sure everyone understood.

“What the hell is this?! What the hell did you do?!” Screamed Kalego, furious.]

Kerori had thought this before but, it was probably the most ridiculous thing they all would EVER see.

[“Uh… I-I have no idea!” Screamed Iruma, panicked.]

Iruma had no idea right until a few minutes, he was still freaking out.

[“Anyway, just- just stop this! Stop the summoning right now!” the panic continued.]

“Iruma.” Kalego called in a plain voice, somehow, even though the voice didn’t sound threatening, everyone tensed.

Iruma turned to his teacher and familiar. “Y-Yes…”

Bachiko wasn’t worried about what he would say, Robi had been part of the discussion and even though it could not look like it, he knows what he’s doing.

Sabnock and Asmodeus weren’t really nervous either. Balam appreciated all living things, so things should be fine, yet Asmodeus remained on guard to defend Iruma in case of need.

Every teacher was looking at Iruma seriously, even Robin, who had been smiling when they asked for the Royal One. “It will be better for everyone to cover for you, but if word slips any further, I will have to take measures.”

That last part sounded like a threat, Goemon noticed, but Iruma…

“Thank you!” He said bowing, and he meant it.

“You idiot! You still have to be extremely careful! You hear me?!” How could he act as if everything was already solved?

“Yes! But still, thank you!” He could stay, He could stay!

Kalego grunted and decided to leave it at that.

Ameri was really happy for Iruma right now, it was obvious in her face. Elizabetta noticed, she didn’t say a thing.

[“Y-Yes, sir!” Iruma went to the lower half and started pulling him out.

“You’re tearing my legs apart! You’re going to rip them off! You fool!” Kalego shouted in pain. Iruma stopped after hearing him, he gave instructions.

“You have to push!”]

Robin was wondering now how he had never heard of something that huge, “Transformation” fell short.

Lied was seriously doing his best to hold his laughter, so were Purson and Jazz.

Kalego knew what was about to happen, he braced himself.

[“I’m sorry!” Iruma shouted as he then started to push the professor’s legs.

“No! Not my leg! Come over here and push my head-” Kalego tried to tell Iruma, but Iruma had pushed his whole body through the summoning portal. “Hey!” He screamed, but then he exploded in smoke.

“S-Sensei?!” Iruma was getting even more scared.]

Opera was having a really good time, Kalego knew that he wouldn’t hear the end of it.

“Next time…” Kalego was grunting. “You will not use my seal!” He ended up screaming.

“Right!” Iruma didn’t mind that at all, there would be a next time, that was enough.

Opera couldn’t stand this. “That’s not a proper way to address your master Kalego-kun.”

“Shut up!!” Kalego snapped.

“Opera-san! It’s alright!” Iruma tried.

“Iruma-sama, such behavior is not an apt one from your familiar. You should train him better.” Opera stated.

“Y-Ye-”

“Like hell that’s going to happen!” Kalego wasn’t sure of how much he could take.

[The other students were extremely shocked. Iruma was horrified. Kalego was a fluffy bird, both master and familiar were surprised by this. “Huh?!” Iruma choked. Kalego looked at his own “hands”, then at his body and they stared at each other.]

That was exactly how Robin remembered Iruma’s familiar, but knowing it was a fellow teacher was…

Why had no one told him?

‘Cute.’ Shiida’s thoughts were cut with that appearance.

[Kalego collapsed, Iruma screamed. “Sensei!” Kalego’s thoughts were eating him from the inside. ‘No! It can’t be…’]

‘Apparently, it COULD be.’ Jazz thought worried, he was basically the class’s big brother and he would care for them the same way he wanted a big brother.

He trusted Iruma, he really did, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t a relief to know humans didn’t know either.

[“Are you alright, sensei? It is you, right?” Iruma asked, now voice full of worry.]

‘Of course that’s what he asks.’ Ameri wasn’t surprised in the least. Even in the netherworld, where demons would probably take benefit of having another demon, let alone a teacher as a familiar.

[Azz approached. “Iruma-sama.” He called. Iruma, nervously, spoke to him. “Azz-kun! Something terrible has happened…” But before he could finish, his subordinate started crying.

“I am moved beyond words!” He said in tears.

“Why?!” Iruma didn’t understand.]

Sabro could understand. Context aside, having a demon as a familiar was extremely cool, if it were him, he would brag about such merit all day.

“Ha, ha, ha!” In the end, he couldn’t help but laugh, honestly, he always got dragged into those kinds of situations, it was laughable, almost comical.

Robin, hearing him, laughed along, for no real reason, it was just nice that at times like this they could laugh.

[“To think that you were able to make Kalego your familiar…” Azz agreed with Sabnock’s amazement, and he kneeled. “What?!” Iruma understood even less. The other students though, they were amazed. “A demon summoned another demon?” “No way!” “That’s never happened before!” Eiko got in the scene. “Amazing!” She too, complimented.]

‘It was only amazing because it was an exception and not something normal, but…’ Kerori thought with mixed feelings, it was terrifying that it was normal for humans, but it made less shocking Iruma’s summoning, somehow.

It was really something amazing, Lied understood that. He himself had been amazed at the time, Iruma at first could give a whole different impression compared to how he was.

‘It’s curious, at first he acted both so similar and so different from now at the same time.’ There was this time when he couldn’t even look others in the face, and there was now when he hid his face in class to eat snacks.

Jazz could see how he hadn’t changed at all, the fact that Flufflego was still as fluffy as his Split wolf was evidence enough.

Ameri saw that Iruma couldn’t see even now how big that summoning was. “It was really something never seen before, the news were really big that day.” She informed Iruma.

“Huh?” Robin was now more confused.

“Don’t be so surprised.” Bachiko told him. “You work there, shouldn’t you know?” She was aware that he didn’t, but Robi wasn’t one to do things halfway, so how come that he didn’t know?

“Well, I asked other teachers and looked for the newspaper of that day, but I never found or heard anything like that!” He defended himself, he didn’t doubt what the president of the student council said, it made sense, but how come he never heard of that? He was also a teacher.

[Azz was now so excited he was blushing. “I knew you were secretly enraged by Kalego’s attitude toward you! You put him in his place!” The noble demon was beaming with joy.

Iruma tried his best at denying it. “No, no, no!” It was an accident! How do I explain…?”]

‘It seriously looked like a petty act from an unusual demon.’ Shiida noted. It was almost more frightening, the fact that hadn’t she been given the proper context, she wouldn’t have suspected a thing either.

Ameri didn’t know how to feel about any of this. Perhaps she should be worried about the safety of the student body or the staff, maybe she should fear that someone could figure that nature of summoning and find the true nature of Iruma, but right now…

She could only feel even more grateful at the fact Iruma was so much like he was.

To Kamui, beasts and demons weren’t all that different, after all, he could understand all of them, so, as a gentleman he treated them equally. Iruma didn’t have that introspection, but the proper treatment seemed to come naturally to him.

It is true that Bachiko never asked for details about Iruma being human, but she thought that she would’ve liked to know this when Sullivan told her.

[“Inconceivable.” Kalego, in his new form raised from the shock. He was grunting, clearly furious. Iruma turned after hearing his voice. “Me? Me?! A familiar?! You can’t be serious! Nullify this contract immediately!” He screamed, his fury had managed to turn him from the fluffy little bird to much more beast like creature. “Or I’ll…”]

Jazz took back his thoughts about familiar Kalego, he had been training to do something similar with his Split wolf.

Agares would feel more intimidated if he hadn’t seen him take down the merged beast at Walter Park with extreme ease, the appearance didn’t mean anything about his power.

Balam tensed seeing the threat from his classmate. “Um… Kalego-kun-”

“I know.” He interrupted, he remembered this part too well.

[Before Kalego could even finish that threat. “Aaaaaaaaaagh!” The punishment was inflicted upon him. “Sensei!” screamed Iruma at that same moment it happened, Kalego collapsed again. Once again, even though Iruma had no idea of what to do, the other students were amazed.

“That must be the punishment!”

Eiko was just enjoying the moment.

“That’s amazing!”

By this point, Iruma’s face had gone pale.

“I guess familiars really can’t disobey their masters.”]

It wasn’t just that they couldn’t Robin knew, it was extremely rare for a familiar to even TRY to disobey their master. Although this one was the most extreme case of rare he’d ever seen.

“Eggie-sensei!” Clara screamed, a bit late to the shock that once hit Kalego.

[Once again in tears, Azz shouted. “You slayed me once again, Iruma-sama!”

Iruma was, once again reaching his limit mentally, this time saying it out loud. “Seriously, why?!”]

Lied wanted to laugh, but he was feeling both too tired for it, and like this wasn’t even that funny.

[Later in the day, Iruma and Kalego had gone to see Sullivan in his mansion. “Oh, ho, ho!” He laughed. “Oh, boy! No one had summoned a demon in the past.” He casually waved off. The chair-demon then explained to those two that. “Nullifying the contract? Forget about it.”]

Purson had to say this. “It’s a blood pact.” He said sternly. “Kalego-sensei, you warned us about the severity of a blood pact.” He stated.

Kalego didn’t dignify that with a response.

‘Rude, and here I was trying to be helpful.’ Purson regretted even trying.

[“The ritual will keep you together a full year.” The chair-demon explained. “If you try to undo it by force, you’ll both die, I think.” He said as a casual remark.]

Such was the nature of blood pacts, Asmodeus was aware of this, but… it shouldn’t be treated so… casually.

Allocer noticed something. “It’s been more than a year by now. you weren’t able to nullify the pact at the time?” He asked sarcastically, since he knew the stunt the whole class pulled to renew Kalego’s contract.

The only response Kalego gave him was an angry grunt.

Iruma chuckled awkwardly.

Allocer decided not to press any further.

[Kalego collapsed one more time. Iruma screamed “Sensei!” One more time.

The narrator returned. “Unable to nullify the contract. Iruma Suzuki, fourteen years old. Acquired a familiar on his first day of school.” Kalego’s mind was spiraling ‘Me? A familiar? Me?’]

Clara didn’t understand what was so bad about it, she played lots with Falfal, so being Iruma-chi’s familiar would mean that they could play even more than they do now.

[“The shock sent Kalego to bed” The narrator’s words were supported by the image of a gloomy Kalego in bed.]

And after he got out of bed, he got into more trouble because of those three, Kalego remembered.

 [“Iruma’s rank couldn’t be determined.” Now the image changed to next day’s school billboard. “As a result, Iruma’s popularity grew even more as the demon that turned another demon in his familiar.”]

At this point, Purson had always gone unnoticed, but Purson didn’t always use his bloodline ability.

It was because Purson didn’t use his ability all the time that he knew Iruma could’ve avoided attention, but he had terrible luck.

Kerori was once again clenching her fists. ‘It was all. Just. A coincidence!’ She wanted to scream, but she refrained.

Everyone noticed Kerori’s behavior, but pressing anymore would be redundant, it wasn’t their business.

Lied knew why she was acting like this, but he couldn’t say anything without telling on her.

[The students were murmuring, they seemed to be a little scared of Iruma. “I heard he turned Kalego his familiar!” “How does that work?” Meanwhile Kerori was passing by and she heard this. Once again, she clenched her hands.]

That kind of impact was what Robin expected from something like that, but somehow, for some reason, he NEVER heard of…

But, well… it didn’t matter anymore, he considered.

Vine had told Iruma once that he was scary, when he did, he imagined something like this.

[Professor Momonoki was looking bashfully at the newspaper. “How cute…” she said.]

Kalego valued his intimidating image as a source of respect for him, but ever since the misfit class was formed, that image has been severely injured, this was one of the pieces of evidence.

[Other teachers were walking by. “Did you hear about Kalego-sensei?” Momonoki quickly hid the newspaper behind her. “This has never happened before!” They went off, Momonoki-sensei breathed a sigh of relief.]

Robin had asked them the events of the days he missed, he looked for the newspapers, he asked the teachers if there was a reason Kalego was so angry at him at first… he felt a bit hurt at the fact that NO ONE told him.

[Everyone was looking at Iruma and Asmodeus walking through the hallway, Iruma noticed. ‘Everyone’s attention is on me… This wasn’t supposed to happen.’]

‘NOTHING of this was supposed to happen.’ Kalego thought. ‘If not for…’ He had to restrain himself a lot to not shoot an angry look at the chair-demon.

‘It didn’t even stop at that.’ Iruma deadpanned, Iruma wasn’t bothered by that as much as he was then, but he certainly didn’t intend to do even half the things he became known for.

“Only Iruma-kun could accidentally become a celebrity!” Jazz laughed. Lied nodded, Iruma didn’t even try, but he was the most popular boy in the class.

“It’s only natural that everyone appreciates the greatness of Iruma-sama.”

[Iruma backed away, thinking. ‘I need to not stand out.’ Azz interpreted as if he was following his lead. “This way, Iruma-sama.”

“Oh, right… um…” he tried to play along.]

‘Once you draw attention to yourself, you can’t go unnoticed.’ That was the reason Purson had prohibited standing out, it was rare that they were willing to look past the music festival thing precisely for that, he knew that ever since that duel with Asmodeus, Iruma’s plan was literally impossible.

[“Were we getting our textbooks?” Iruma asked to be sure nothing crazy was going to happen this time.

“Yes! For subjects such as the basics of being a demon, curses, pharmaceutics, and the art of torture! I can hardly wait!” Answered cheerfully the demon, while Iruma seemed horrified at the thought of such subjects.]

‘What kind of knowledge was imparted among humans?’ Sabro couldn’t help but wonder. Was it similar to theirs? Were they completely different?

Ameri was curious as well, besides, the horrified look on Iruma’s face made her think that she needed to understand. She decided to ask. “Iruma, what kind of subjects do humans learn?”

Bachiko groaned, she thought that this didn’t even matter.

To Allocer, it really mattered, he imagined Iruma lacked the knowledge, so he didn’t ask, but now the question was shot, and his attention was on the answer.

“Well…” Iruma started with a contemplating look, which later was replaced with a frown.

Sabnock got curious. “Is there something wrong?” Was it something they’d find distasteful? They seemed pretty good at that.

…’What was it?’ Iruma honestly couldn’t remember, he barely had gone to school with all his works, he knew they were different, but. “I have no idea!” he let out dramatically.

Unfortunately, this created the impression that he didn’t know at all, rather that he forgot.

Clara was getting angry, REALLY angry.

Ameri was really frustrated.

Iruma didn’t notice because he was still trying to remember.

[Iruma tried to play along Azz’s enthusiasm. “Y-Yeah…” he smiled uncomfortably. Then he deadpanned internally. ‘I need to make sure I don’t stand out…’ He made sure to remember himself. Iruma was brought back to reality by the voice of Asmodeus screaming. “Hey, you lot!”]

 ‘And then the one with a lack of awareness’ Kalego felt like after this, he would take a leave of absence.

[“What do you think you’re doing?” Asmodeus reprimanded the three students that were walking by. “Make way for Iruma-sama!” He demanded. “Please stop!” Pleaded Iruma.]

“Open the way for Iruma-chi!” Clara cheered.

Lied laughed at Clarin’s attitude, they were always like that.

“That’s the Iruma squad to you” Jazz was laughing too.

Clara gave them a proud smirk.

[Azz didn’t hear or perhaps listen to Iruma, because he summoned his gorgon snake. “I told you to make way for Iruma-sama! I’ll turn you into ash!” He screamed.]

Lied felt really familiar with that threat, he tried to make a joke about Iruma with Azz-Azz, and he almost got burnt down.

Sabnock felt angry watching his classmate. ‘What a joke. He swore to serve Iruma, and yet he ignores his orders.’ It was almost a dishonor of the demon law, at least Iruma didn’t seem to hold a grudge about it.

[The three unfortunate students screamed and then run for their lives, now screaming. “Heeelp!” Iruma, in an attempt to make Azz don’t make him stand even more told him. “Don’t worry! Azz-kun, it’s not necessary!”

Azz reluctantly seemed to understand it. “No? If you say so Iruma-sama.” He confirmed, after that he undid the summoning.]

“Asmodeus.” Ameri called. Asmodeus might be close to Iruma but that attitude toward other students wasn’t one that sit well with her as student president.

The figure of the student council president was one that Alice Asmodeus respected, so he answered in a dignified way. “Yes?”

“That treatment to other students could get you in trouble, as well as implying an attack on a member of the staff, be mindful of this.” She warned.

“I understand.” He did, he had brushed off the other misfits at first, but they were friends of Iruma-sama, so he had started to try to know them a bit too.

Kalego knew that he had understood nothing of what Ameri had just told him.

Iruma didn’t even seemed to recognize anything that was going on, he was still trying to remember.

[“I cleared the path. Let us proceed.” Said Azz cheerfully, seemingly not treating seriously what he was just told, Iruma acknowledged this and was scared by this, the students around him seemed to notice as well, they were having a hard time themselves. “S-Sure…” The human gave in, but internally he was despairing. ‘I’m going to become the air… No matter what.’]

Whenever Purson wanted that, he did exactly that. Iruma … wanted to be more like him? But it had been Iruma the one who made him stand in the spotlight.

The view of Iruma-chi scared of one of his soulmates was something Clara couldn’t stand. “Azz-Azz! You were bad! You scared Iruma-chi!” She said.

“Ghk!” Now, the full weight of his actions hit Azz, now he truly started to wonder if perhaps it would make Iruma have an easier time if he were a bit more natural with other students, like he did with his comrade.

Opera was just glad that Iruma-sama seemed to be doing better now than at first.

[They arrived at a classroom. “Oh, it must be here.” Azz noted, then from the inside a feminine voice screamed, and a bunch of clashing sounds.]

Clara immediately brightened at that sound, it was…

“Uh?” Lied recognized that voice, but he was caught off guard.

“Eh?” Kamui didn’t expect a lady to appear so suddenly.

That scream, that day, brought Iruma back to his senses.

[Azz immediately covered Iruma with his arm. “Something is happening inside.” He said, getting on his guard. Then the door was busted open and a round green blur crossed shouting. “Rolling!” and impacting against a bunch of boxes.]

“Ah…” Bachiko didn’t know what the hell to say, she now recognized that blur as the girl Iruma was always with, but this…

“So…” Jazz deadpanned. “That was the first time the Iruma squad got together, huh?”

[One of the boxes flew towards Iruma and Azz, the latter knocked it off seriously, while Iruma stood in shock at the clash.

“A-Are you okay?” Iruma asked to whoever it could be that crashed like that, then…

“Striiiiike!” Rose a shouting demon of green hair, who then started laughing.]

“It’s me! Azz-Azz! Iruma-chi! It’s me!” The same demon screamed within the theater.

“Yes. Yes, you are.” Azz deadpanned, it wasn’t anything weird the fact that she was with them.

“Yeah, it felt like you were missing, right?” Iruma was much more cheerful.

“Yaaaaay!” Clara celebrated.

Ameri felt a bit jealous.

[“A girl?” Iruma questioned aloud.]

The question echoed inside Ameri’s mind. It had taken her an embarrassing amount of time to notice that she was, in fact, a girl. Iruma had noticed from the beginning… it also seemed to be the first time Iruma hadn’t been actually scared at meeting someone, that last bit hurt more than she expected.

A dumb smile was finding its way to Clara’s face. ‘A girl…’ Even at first, Iruma-chi had seen her as a girl, not as a weird creature.

“I see…” She poked Iruma.

“Huh?”

“I see, I see…” She kept poking Iruma.

“C-Clara! T-This again?!” Iruma wasn’t sure what was going through her mind, he wasn’t exactly worried, but he was confused.

‘Again?!’ Ameri had lowered her guard too much, she had to do something.

Among all of this Shiida had a peculiar thought. ‘It’s like everyone forgot about the familiar thing.’ The fact that they all seemed to trust Iruma so much left her speechless.

[“U-Um…” Iruma tried to talk to her, Azz stopped him.

“You mustn’t speak to her, Iruma-sama!” Iruma didn’t seem to understand, but it was already too late for Asmodeus.

In just one moment, Clara had gone from looking at them with sparkling eyes to have sprinted all the way to them and started speaking.

“I’m Clara! And my right foot is Connor, and my left foot is Murf! My familiar is Falfal!” She told nonstop to a backing down Iruma, she then continued to explain. “See, I was trying to grab some teaching aids, but I got too excited and crashed! Hey have some candy!”]

Iruma noticed that little part a bit better now, since he wasn’t actually in the middle of the chaos. ‘Even then…’ she had offered that candy, so that he wouldn’t leave immediately. He was glad that Clara was his friend.

[Clara kept being extremely energetic. “When you see a bunch of stuff piled up, don’t you just wanna go “Kaboom”?! You do, right?!” Her eyes were sparkling once more. “I’m gonna do it again, so watch me, okay?!” She immediately went to the pile of boxes and started piling them up again while singing. “If it’s for Daddy, I’ll skip to my lou…”]

That had been so fast that no one could even react to it properly. Lied felt a familiar fatigue he hadn’t felt since Clarin was in the games Battler.

Ameri’s jealousy had been replaced with confusion. What was going on? She knew she was energetic, but usually was short and straight to the point, was this the way she usually introduced herself?

Bachiko decided it wasn’t worth trying to understand.

[“If it’s for Mommy, I’ll pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake…” She continued to sing. Iruma was rendered speechless. “If it’s for Konchie, I’ll skip to my lou…” She just kept going. The only thing Iruma appeared to be able to get from all that, was her name. ‘Clara?’ “If it’s for Keebow, I’ll pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, yeah!” Clara was now finishing the song.]

“…Yeah!” Clara finished alongside her past self, no one seemed to notice that she had even been singing alongside the viewing.

Kalego was definitely going to be sick by the time they finish this.

Eventually Elizabetta was the one to break the confused silence. “You sure were having fun, right?”

“That’s one way to call it.” Bachiko still wasn’t sure of what she just saw.

“The firsts days got you hyped up, eh Clara?” Goemon asked playfully.

“Mhm, mhm!” She nodded without hesitation.

“Can someone shut her up?” It was way too noisy for Agares.

…

While the students had more exchanges like that, Balam realized something.

‘All the tension from just a few minutes ago… has vanished.’ All the worry about Iruma being scared of being eaten for being human, the fear of humans summoning demons as familiars, as soon as things were starting to become more familiar to everyone, that information is like it turned easier to assimilate.

‘They are pretty comfortable with their current status, so, even if excentric, that familiar behavior was exactly what they needed.’

Shiida was starting to lose grip on the amount of events going on at a time.

Lied was now getting relaxed. ‘Those were probably the biggest shocks. So it’s best to just enjoy the show now.’ Seriously, even if a embarrassing secret or a dangerous time are shown, it wouldn’t be anything so crucial. If more things like that kept going on, he would go paranoid.

Iruma was really happy to see his friends easing up with the situation, he also forgot about trying to remember human subjects.

Sullivan watched every exchange and couldn’t help but smile happily.

A bunch of friends, a stressed teacher and a caring staff, that’s how the group could be defined right now.

And so…

The show goes on.

Su-ki-ma

[Kalego was preparing for the day. “Today the new students will summon their familiars. You better be prepared. Iruma” Kalego said in an almost threatening tone.]

“Huh? Didn’t we see this already?” Robin didn’t know why show them something two times.

Kalego hadn’t really been paying attention the first time, but he knew there had been more signs.

[The mirror cracked.]

“That really was bad luck.” Jazz laughed. “Right, Kalego sensei?”

“Silence.”

Instead of silence, Lied joined in the laughing.

[A strip on Kalego’s boot broke]

“Huh?” Purson saw where this was going.

“It really is bad luck, Kalego-sens-AAAAAArgh!” Robin wasn’t mocking, but his bad timing cost him pissing off Kalego.

Sometimes Bachiko questioned if Robi actually was an idiot.

[A black cat crossed several times in front of Kalego. ‘A black cat…’ He noticed]

‘Those were warning signs’ Allocer realized.

“How many things do you think happened that day?” Goemon asked.

“More than we thought at least.” Kerori said bluntly.

[‘I have a bad feeling about this.’ Kalego thought.]

“Well, that was right in the end.” Elizabetta said, she still didn’t know how to address that.

“Yes, it is.” Ameri agreed.

[“This is two hours before Kalego was summoned as a familiar.”]

“Two hours before Eggie-sensei, was Eggie-sensei?!” Clara screamed.

Kalego had just one wish.

[And then an image of Kalego as a familiar.]

‘Let this year be over soon…’ He begged internally.